the last sovereign of infinity

Lucien did not sleep.

That, admittedly, was less surprising than it should have been.

The Infinite Mindscape had many qualities. It was ancient. It was mysterious. It was, apparently, an endless realm hidden within his soul that contained a cryptic immortal with an unhealthy obsession with tea.

What it wasn't was conducive to rest.

Especially when said immortal insisted on speaking.

"You snore."

"I do not."

"You did during your sixth life."

"I find that difficult to believe."

"That's because you've forgotten. It was rather impressive, actually. At one point, a mountain spirit mistook you for a territorial beast and attempted to challenge you."

Lucien slowly lowered the book he had been pretending to read for the last hour.

"Do you ever stop talking?"

The Last Witness considered the question while pouring himself another cup of tea.

"No."

"I feared as much."

The old man smiled.

The Infinite Mindscape had changed since Lucien's first arrival.

Or perhaps he had simply failed to notice it before.

Beyond the stone pathway and the endless sea of stars stood countless doors stretching into the distance. Some were made of gold. Others appeared to have been carved from crystal, obsidian, or stranger materials Lucien couldn't identify.

One door, however, stood apart from the others.

It was enormous.

Black.

And wrapped in chains thick enough to bind a mountain.

Something about it made his skin crawl.

"What is that?"

The Last Witness didn't need to ask which door he meant.

"Trouble."

"That isn't an answer."

"It is an exceptionally accurate answer."

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

The chains surrounding the black door pulsed faintly, as though something behind them was breathing.

"What's inside?"

The old man was silent for several moments.

"Your ninth bloodline."

Interesting.

"And why is it sealed?"

The Last Witness met his gaze.

"Because reality would prefer it remained that way."

That...

Raised significantly more questions than it answered.

Before Lucien could ask another, the old man snapped his fingers.

The stars vanished.

The Infinite Mindscape dissolved around him.

Lucien found himself back in his room, staring at the ceiling.

"What was that for?"

"Dawn is approaching."

Indeed, pale light had begun to seep through the windows.

Today was the Awakening Ceremony.

Today would determine whether Lucien Arkanis remained the disappointment of House Arkanis or became something more.

Strangely, he found he didn't particularly care.

He had died.

Repeatedly, if the Last Witness was to be believed.

The opinions of a noble house seemed somewhat insignificant by comparison.

Still...

The old man had mentioned bloodlines.

Plural.

Lucien suspected his ceremony would be anything but normal.

---

The estate was already awake when he left his room.

Servants moved through the halls carrying ceremonial banners bearing the crest of House Arkanis. Nobles dressed in elaborate robes conversed in hushed tones as they made their way toward the central courtyard.

Apparently, his potential humiliation was considered a social event.

How charming.

"Brother!"

Lucien looked down to find Elara running toward him with all the grace of a small hurricane.

"You came!"

"I was under the impression attendance was mandatory."

"It is!"

"Then your surprise seems unwarranted."

She frowned.

"You're weird."

"I've been informed of this repeatedly."

To his surprise, she laughed.

Children were strange.

Aiden appeared shortly afterward, accompanied by several young nobles who all carried the sort of expressions Lucien had come to associate with people who considered themselves important.

"Try not to embarrass the family."

"Good morning to you as well."

His brother blinked.

"You're in a good mood."

"Am I?"

"That's considerably more personality than you usually display."

Interesting.

Apparently, the previous Lucien had been quieter.

That made sense.

Growing up as the failed son of a Great House was unlikely to produce particularly cheerful individuals.

The central courtyard of House Arkanis was breathtaking.

White marble pillars surrounded a circular platform engraved with thousands of glowing runes. At its center stood a crystal nearly three meters tall, its surface shifting with colors Lucien couldn't name.

Power radiated from it.

Ancient.

Immense.

Hungry.

"Well," the Last Witness remarked. "That's unfortunate."

"What is?"

"They're using a Dragonheart Crystal."

Lucien froze.

A what?

"Ah. Right. You don't know what that is."

"Then enlighten me."

"It's exactly what it sounds like."

Silence.

"...You're telling me someone removed the heart of a dragon and turned it into a ceremonial artifact?"

"In their defense, the dragon was already dead."

That somehow failed to improve the situation.

The gathered nobles fell silent as Lord Cassian Arkanis stepped onto the platform.

"Today, we witness the Awakening Ceremony of House Arkanis."

His voice carried effortlessly across the courtyard.

"For generations, our bloodline has guided this kingdom. Today, another member of our family shall take his first step upon the path of magic."

Lucien noticed the subtle pause.

Not confidence.

Hope.

Interesting.

Cassian wasn't expecting success.

Neither was anyone else.

"Lucien Arkanis."

He stepped forward.

Whispers immediately erupted throughout the crowd.

"That's the one who failed, isn't it?"

"A second ceremony? How unusual."

"I heard his mana channels are defective."

"Poor child."

Lucien ignored them.

He had been called considerably worse.

The Dragonheart Crystal stood before him.

Up close, he could feel it.

A heartbeat.

Slow.

Ancient.

Waiting.

"Well," the Last Witness said. "This should be entertaining."

"I dislike that tone."

"It's the tone I use immediately before disaster."

That was not reassuring.

"Place your hand upon the crystal," Cassian instructed.

Lucien complied.

For one brief moment, nothing happened.

Then—

The world stopped.

His vision blurred.

Suddenly, he was no longer standing in the courtyard.

He stood atop a mountain beneath a sky filled with unfamiliar stars.

Something enormous blocked the horizon.

A dragon.

No.

Calling it a dragon felt inadequate.

It was larger than cities.

Its scales gleamed like liquid gold while its eyes contained the weight of countless ages.

It looked at him.

And smiled.

"You took your time."

Lucien's breath caught in his throat.

"You..."

The dragon lowered its head.

"I have waited a very long time for this moment, little king."

"Who are you?"

The creature's laughter shook the heavens.

"Have you forgotten me already?"

Something stirred within him.

A memory.

A hand resting against warm scales.

Laughter.

An endless sky.

Pain exploded behind his eyes.

"No matter." The dragon's voice softened. "You always remember eventually."

"I don't understand."

"Of course you don't."

Why did everyone keep saying that?

The dragon's expression became strangely gentle.

"Listen carefully, Lucien Arkanis."

Its golden eyes narrowed.

"They are waking."

The words sent a chill down his spine.

"Who?"

The dragon looked upward.

Beyond the stars.

Beyond reality itself.

"The ones who killed us."

Us.

Before Lucien could ask what that meant, the world shattered.

---

Screams echoed throughout the courtyard.

Lucien opened his eyes.

The Dragonheart Crystal was no longer merely glowing.

It was burning.

Golden flames erupted from its surface as cracks spread across the ancient artifact.

"Impossible!" someone shouted.

The air trembled.

Mana surged violently in every direction.

Lucien looked down.

Golden scales had appeared along his right arm.

The crowd fell silent.

"No..." an elderly noble whispered. "That can't be..."

The scales spread further.

His golden eyes began to shine.

Above the estate, the storm clouds parted.

And something answered.

A roar.

It came from beyond the mountains.

Ancient.

Powerful.

Alive.

Every person present went pale.

Cassian Arkanis rose to his feet so suddenly that his chair shattered.

"Impossible."

The Dragonheart Crystal exploded.

Golden light consumed the courtyard.

Within that light, a massive silhouette appeared behind Lucien.

Wings.

Claws.

Eyes like burning stars.

The phantom dragon looked down upon House Arkanis with unmistakable amusement.

And then, to the horror of everyone present...

It bowed.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Lucien heard someone faint.

Reasonable.

He was considering the possibility himself.

"Well," the Last Witness said after several moments. "That's significantly worse than I expected."

"Worse?"

"Lucien."

The old man's voice carried an unusual amount of concern.

"Do you know how many dragons currently exist in this world?"

"...No."

"Three."

That seemed manageable.

"Correction."

Lucien suddenly didn't like where this conversation was going.

"Four."

The phantom dragon released a deafening roar.

Far beyond the mountains, another answered.

Then another.

And another.

The world had changed.

Lucien could feel it.

Somewhere, hidden in places untouched by time, ancient beings had opened their eyes.

And all because a ten-year-old boy had touched a crystal.

How unfortunate.

As the golden light slowly faded, the final words of the dragon echoed through his mind.

"Find me, my king."

Lucien stared at the shattered remains of the Dragonheart Crystal.

He had the distinct feeling that his life was about to become considerably more complicated.

The Last Witness laughed.

"Oh, it absolutely is."