Chapter 53: The Gates of Draktharion
The carriage descended from the skies, its Emberwing Cranes gliding downward with practiced grace before their claws touched the ground. The wheels rolled forward as the birds transitioned from flight to walk, their wings folding against their sides. This was the same for every flying carriage that had arrived.
Order and peace. No matter how powerful your identity was, except for a select few, your carriage was expected to walk through the gates, not fly over them.
This was the absolute law of Draktharion City.
Lucien’s gaze lifted to the gigantic gates of Draktharion City. They towered before him like the maw of a sleeping titan, carved from obsidian and bone, the surface of the gates etched with draconic runes that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow. A deep, oppressive draconic aura radiated from the gates, heavy and suffocating, enough to make an ordinary person buckle, their knees giving out under the weight of the pressure.
To enter the city, one must possess sufficient strength. Or at least, the ability to withstand the dragon aura that pressed down like an invisible mountain.
Lucien felt nothing. The aura washed over him like a gentle breeze, barely registering as more than a faint scratch against his skin. Beside him, Seraphina remained equally unbothered, her expression calm and unreadable.
Cupcake, however, let out a small chirp, its scales flaring with warmth as it instinctively pushed back against the pressure.
Lucien’s lips curled into a faint smile as the carriage walked through the gates and into the bustling streets of Draktharion.
The population was dense; dragonkin moved through the crowds with their scaled features and proud bearing, their tails swishing and horns glinting under the sun. Humans were among them too, their presence albeit smaller, not as much as that of the dragonkin. Other races were present but not as numerous as the dragonkin and humans; volkins with their volkoid features, elves with their pointed ears, and many other races Lucien couldn’t immediately identify.
It was an eye-opener for him. This was the first time he had been in such a large crowd, surrounded by so many different races all moving in unity.
The streets were lined with countless stalls, each offering something different. Some sold exotic fruits that glowed with a faint Originat; others displayed armaments forged from well-known materials; armor, talismans, cultivation manuals, rare herbs, everything a cultivator could need was laid out before him, waiting for the right buyer.
There were merchants offering information, guiding those who had just arrived into the city, telling them more about Draktharion City. But of course, such information came with a price.
The carriage stopped midway as it had entered the city. From this point onward, they were expected to descend.
Cupcake yawned as it was woken by the noise, stirring from its slumber. It climbed whatever it could to look at the outside world, its eyes glowing with stars.
"Cupcake, over here," Lucien called out as he and Seraphina prepared to step down from the carriage.
Cupcake let out an excited whine and bounded into Lucien’s arms.
He stretched his hand to Seraphina next, who smiled as she took it, and they stepped out from the carriage together.
As they did so, all eyes turned toward them. The bustling crowd seemed to pause, conversations fading into hushed whispers as everyone stopped to look at the couple before them.
Lucien’s black hair waved gently in the air, his dark eyes holding an air of mystery. His sickly pale appearance only seemed to add to his allure, touching the hearts of many women who watched with growing curiosity. His black outwear hugged his frame, and his charm radiated effortlessly, drawing gazes from every direction.
Seraphina’s golden hair made her appear like an angel descended from the heavens, her golden eyes burning like a holy flame. Her white gown complimented her figure perfectly, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly grace.
Together, they were like god and goddess descending into the mortal world, their presence commanding the attention of everyone who laid eyes upon them.
"Who are they?"
"I haven’t seen them before. They aren’t even among the popular young masters and young misses of the Dragon Continent."
"Maybe they are from a hidden noble clan or even an ancient clan."
Before Lucien could fully register it, the crowd began to murmur about them, whispers spreading like wildfire. News of their appearance flew throughout the location, carried from mouth to mouth.
As for them, they had already walked off the streets with Kelvin following close behind. Ignis had stayed behind to monitor the carriage.
As they made their way down the bustling streets, the attention they received only grew. Lucien wasn’t surprised by this, their looks alone were enough to draw eyes from every corner.
His gaze wandered across the crowd, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. But his eyes couldn’t help drift to certain parts.
So big. How are they even carrying that?
Some questions arose as his gaze landed on certain figures passing by.
"Are you having fun looking?" Seraphina’s cold voice doused the excitement he had been feeling.
He immediately turned to her, only to see her looking at him with an angry expression and an obsessive gaze that sent a chill down his spine.
He scratched his head, trying to defend himself. "Well, it wasn’t my fault... my eyes just wandered on their own. I wasn’t even paying attention to them, I was just... observing the crowd. You know, for safety reasons."
Seraphina’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sharpening like a blade. "Safety reasons?"
"Y-yes," Lucien stammered, his voice faltering under the weight of her stare. "A true originator must always be aware of his surroundings. I was just... surveying the area. Making sure no threats were nearby."
Cupcake, still nestled in his arms, let out a small, innocent chirp, as if agreeing with its master’s flimsy excuse.
Seraphina let out a low, dangerous hum, stepping closer until her face was mere inches from his. "Is that so?"
Lucien swallowed hard, his back instinctively straightening. "Absolutely. Completely. One hundred percent tactical observation."
A tense moment passed. Then, Seraphina’s expression softened, just slightly, but her eyes still held that possessive gleam.
"Good," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper that only he could hear. "Because if I catch you looking at anyone else like that again... I might have to remind you exactly who you belong to."
Lucien laughed nervously, nodding rapidly. "Understood. Crystal clear. Won’t happen again."
"Or do you think I should just burn them to ashes? Then you won’t have to look at them anymore. Issue solved," Seraphina whispered thoughtfully, her fingers lightly tracing his arm.
Lucien’s body shook from her words. He knew she really meant it.
"You can’t just kill innocent people," Lucien said in a serious tone, his voice firm. "They didn’t offend us."
Seraphina saw his serious gaze and paused, then let out a light laugh. "Just kidding," she said, waving her hand dismissively.
But Lucien didn’t miss the flicker in her eyes, the one that told him she wasn’t entirely joking. He sighed inwardly, already knowing this wouldn’t be the last time he’d have to talk her down from such thoughts.