The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL]

It would be best to tackle the important disclaimer at this point:

Not that Riley didn’t care enough about the world or anything like that, but there were times in a person’s life where it would be hard not to react with a very clear no.

And unfortunately for Riley Hale Dravaryn, who had just spent a blissful week thinking that maybe he could really do this, today was apparently that day.

Because, as he faced what was certainly a colossal corpse with an excavated chest right in front of him, all the black dragon could mutter under his breath was,

"...Oh hell nah."

__

Ah, but explaining that would be too confusing even for the most discerning individuals, so to better understand just what the hell that was about, it would be best to go back to two hours prior to such a discovery, where said Riley Hale still felt the warmth of the sun against his skin.

"Wow. That actually worked!"

Riley, dressed like he was about to either rob a bank or raid a tomb, looked around the opening of the mountain cave they had just found. It was nothing but rocks and more rocks, with a darkness that stretched far back for anyone who didn’t have eyes like his or Kael’s.

"Do we just walk in, or do you want to rest?" Kael asked, his tone casual as he looked at his twig with mild interest. He couldn’t really care less where they were. All he really cared about was whether he needed to take out the mat that his twig said they always needed to pack.

"Ah, I’m good. I don’t need to rest yet," Riley replied, still scanning the area. "I just didn’t think we’d find it on the first try. I had about three other options after going through a process of elimination, but it seems we actually got it right away."

See, the Moonveil Codex helped when it came to mapping out the ancient ley lines and comparing them with those the MBE had been monitoring. Just like how land masses could move, it wouldn’t be surprising for there to be changes when it came to the ley lines.

However, what really mattered to Riley were the areas of Eryndra that weren’t mapped in either of the two accounts.

Why?

Well, because those would be the areas that would have interested his ancestors, who really had such extravagant hobbies as crypt-building in their spare time.

And so seeing this now, he couldn’t help but smile.

"You’ve already confirmed?" Kael asked, a hint of curiosity slipping through.

"Yeah. Because right there," Riley said, pointing deeper into the cave, "seems to be the best spot. Ah, but it’s also mostly because I can sense a familiar seal."

Riley didn’t really want to focus on that because mentioning his pre-casted blood runes might trigger Kael again.

Ahem.

"...Then let’s go. Even if we stand here, it’s unlikely for anyone to come and meet us."

With that, the golden dragon stepped forward, already heading deeper into the cave as if he simply wanted to get the task over with.

"Wait."

Riley caught his arm.

"We’re not going in. Going that direction would be a very bad idea."

The golden dragon paused, turning slightly.

"What?"

"That’s a trap," said the last Iltheran, his tone more serious now.

"According to what I know, it shouldn’t be deadly, but I’d rather not waste time hallucinating about my goals and dreams only to get thrown out of the cave after just getting here."

"A trap?"

"Yeah. It seems like my ancestors really learned from building the clan’s crypt and basically improved this one by leaps and bounds. So now there are traps just to get to the actual entrance. The funny thing is that it’s not even here."

Then again, laying traps here would make it really convincing for anyone really bent on getting in.

Kael tilted his head, arms crossing as he let his twig continue.

"I believe the real entrance is outside. It looks a bit different from what was passed down into my memories because there used to be far bigger trees, but from what I know, it’s definitely not deep inside the cave."

Riley moved along the side, his gaze sharp as he searched for odd rock formations and the slightest disturbances in mana.

Then he looked up.

Sure enough, there it was.

An oddly shaped rock.

"Found it."

Without hesitation, he jumped.

It wasn’t particularly cool, but hey, that was one jump he wouldn’t have been able to do before, even if they extended his legs.

He landed on the rock with a bit more force than necessary, not even realizing that Kael had already reached out a hand to help him up.

Only when he got up to dust his hands did he see the golden dragon in an awkward position.

"Oh, sorry, honey," Riley said, shouting back. "I got too excited. I wanted to try it out myself!"

Kael didn’t respond verbally. He simply jumped up after him with ease, his movement smooth, graceful, and effortless, highlighting the stark contrast with Riley’s questionable attempt.

But that didn’t matter. Even if he ended up jumping like a frog, it would be impossible for the graceful swan to exchange him for someone else.

It was already too late for that.

More importantly, his jump may not be on par with the other dragons, but he made up for it with his sleuthing skills.

Because just like Riley said, they had gotten it right.

__

Getting in would have sucked without the inheritance.

Maybe it would have been possible with insane luck, but it would certainly have taken ages and a death wish, so Riley was just glad they had opted to look for his inheritance before attempting this.

But why?

Because just as that thought crossed his mind, a huge ass iron spear shot past his face, close enough that he felt the sharp rush of air brush against his skin.

"What a welcoming place, huh?" Riley muttered, swallowing as he kept moving forward anyway. He wouldn’t die right away, sure. But the idea of getting was not something he wanted to test.

They continued through the branching paths, Riley leading based on what he could piece together from the inheritance he received. Each turn wasn’t random. It just took a bit of time as he tried to navigate it, as his ancestors had.

He was just about to point out the next direction when—

"Wait."

Riley paused mid-step.

"Huh?"

Kael, who had been following him, didn’t answer right away. His gaze shifted slightly, his expression tightening as he focused on something Riley clearly hadn’t noticed.

"Someone’s been here."

Riley blinked, then frowned lightly.

"Well, isn’t that because Elder Zephyros actually lives here?"

If anything, Riley had been hoping for that.

At least then they’d know the elder was alive.

Even if it meant getting attacked for trespassing.

Of course, that would cost him his yearly salary bonus after he made such a bet with his mate, but at that point, he’d take the confirmation. He could deal with the financial consequences later. Or better yet, lean on his husband’s resources if needed.

So really, if Elder Zephyros wanted to show up, anytime would be great.

But the way Kael’s brows drew together made it clear that wasn’t what he meant.

Riley was about to ask—

"A lot of bodies."

"...Sorry, what?"

Now the black dragon guide was properly confused.

"It wasn’t as obvious near the entrance," Kael continued, his tone even, "but from here, it’s clear. Whoever entered didn’t really know how to get inside."

Riley frowned, trying to process that, but before he could respond, the golden dragon lifted his hand and made a small, deliberate motion.

Something shifted. Actually, more like something peeled away.

And the moment it did, Riley’s breath caught.

"What the—?!"

What had once looked like a bare iron cavern twisted into something else entirely.

Bones covered the ground.

Not a few.

Not scattered neatly.

Everywhere.

Some were crushed, splintered into jagged pieces. Others lay twisted in unnatural positions, as though the bodies they once belonged to had been broken mid-motion. Dried blood stained the iron walls in dark, uneven patches, some smeared, some pooled, all of it long since hardened into something that clung stubbornly to the surface.

The metallic scent that went far beyond iron suddenly thickened, assaulting the noses of the visitors who had been safe from it just moments ago.

"Ugh!"

Heavy enough that Riley could almost taste it.

A glamour had hidden all of it.

Until now.

"Seems they were moving forward by triggering the traps," Kael said.

Riley flinched despite himself.

He pressed his lips together, forcing his focus back into place.

"Then we need to hurry," he said, his voice tighter than before. "Ideally, just four more rooms and we’ll reach the main crypt."

But they didn’t even need to get that far.

By the third room, Kael, who had sensed that something was wrong, stepped forward and blocked his path.

Riley, who had been concentrating, stopped short as he bumped against his husband.

"Hey, what—"

But the complaint immediately died in his throat.

Kael wasn’t looking at him; instead, he was looking up intently.

Riley followed his gaze.

The chamber they had just reached opened into a massive hall, its ceiling stretching high above them, the iron walls absorbing what little light there was instead of reflecting it.

And there—

Something was pinned against the wall.

Something enormous.

Riley’s mind lagged behind his eyes for a brief, disorienting second before everything clicked into place.

And when it did, his legs nearly gave out.

A dragon had been driven into the wall.

Its sheer size dwarfed the space, its lower body cratering the ground beneath it as though it had been forced there with overwhelming strength. Its wings were spread wide, but they weren’t free. Massive slabs of stone pinned them in place, holding them against the wall like restraints that had no intention of ever letting go.

Its head lolled to the side.

Its neck—

Pierced clean through by a massive stake that anchored it in place.

That alone should have been enough.

It was already too much.

But Riley’s gaze dropped.

And that was when his breath truly hitched.

Because the dragon’s chest had been torn open.

Not cracked.

Not pierced.

Torn.

Ripped apart with brutal force.

And where there should have been something—

Where every dragon should have had one—

Was a missing dragon heart.