NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: Lord of The Seas
For thousands of years, Kuria Prison had been unbreakable.
This was a fortress carved from the depths of Linemall's seas, where monsters, traitors, nightmares, legends and myths were locked away. It was built by Lukas' ancestor, the first of the Drakos bloodline and perhaps the strongest Dragon to have ever lived. Thalorian Drakos, the first of his name.
Thalorian had been the one to build Kuria. But it had always been more than just a prison. It was a promise made by the Drakos bloodline, a promise to the people of Linemall that no enemy of the dragons would ever walk free again. House Drakos had made sure that promise was never broken, even during the Great War which ravaged the draconic race.
Until now.
The news of the Kraken's escape had spread like wildfire. For the draconic kind of the Seas, the Kraken was more than just a criminal; he was something right out of the folktales their mothers used to tell them before they went to bed.
The Cthulhu had been considered to be a dying race that was nearing extinction, the notorious enemy of any dragon who lived within the Seas. No one believed that they were a threat, at least not like they once were. And now that nightmare had come to life in the worst way possible.
Kuria had stood for millennia, unchallenged. No one in living memory had ever escaped its grasp.
If the Kraken had broken free, then what else was possible? What other nightmares could escape to terrorize the Seas?
The towns, once lively with trade and laughter, now carried only hushed conversations and hurried footsteps. Merchants locked their doors. Even the rowdiest taverns fell silent. Because the Kraken was out there. And worse, he could be anywhere.
His power was unlike any other. It was the power over the mind. His voice could twist reality, turning brothers against each other, sons against their mothers. No one knew how far his influence had already spread.
But it wasn't just fear that was affecting the Seas.
It was doubt.
For the first time in decades, the nobles and Dragonborn of the Seas found themselves at a crossroads.
Who would they follow?
The newly awakened Lukas Drakos, heir to a forgotten throne, or the Kraken, a name that had haunted their bloodline for generations and now controlled their economy through a currency of his creation?
House Drakos had ruled these waters since the first Dragon Lords carved their names into legend, but time had eroded their power. And now, as the Kraken's grip tightened, an unspoken question loomed over Linemall like a storm on the horizon:
Was the Age of Dragons finally over?
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Lukas sat in the office that had once belonged to all the previous Dragon Lords before him, slumped over his desk.
Katrina had gone to report what had happened to her grandmother, the Lady Kaitlyn Drakos.
Lukas had sent away the guards, dismissed his attendants, and let the silence settle in. He needed to be alone with his thoughts and let the events that had just transpired to sink in.
The Kraken was on the loose.
Lukas sat up as ideas whirled around in his head, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the wooden desk. He needed a plan, a new one. He knew now what his opponent was capable of and what he had to do to put an end to this whole mess.
Lukas just had to make sure everything was done right, executed perfectly to a tee. He could not allow for any margin of error, no matter how small. This was more than just a battle of strength now, it was mental warfare.
It was the type of fight he loved the most. And it was one that Lukas excelled in.
When round two came around, Lukas would not lose again.
A hard knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Did these dragons not understand when Lukas said he wanted to be left alone?
"Come in." Lukas said begrudgingly with a soft sigh but the annoyance faded as he realized who had stepped into his office.
It was Samuel Sterling. The warden had broken an arm which was now in a sling, thanks to Lukas but otherwise Samuel seemed just fine. Behind him, stood his son Jesse Sterling.
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They both greeted him with a bow, paying their proper respects to the Lordling.
Samuel was the first to speak. "I came to thank you, Lukas."
"For?" Lukas asked, intrigued. But he knew the answer. He honestly just wanted to feel a little better about himself after what had happened earlier that day.
"For sparing my life." The dragonborn's voice was rough, but there was no hesitation. "And for proving that you are a better man than I expected. The Sterlings…have been at odds with House Drakos for centuries, ever since the Great War. I think it's about time we put that to rest."
Lukas was not expecting that and he didn't even know what to say in response. Lukas still knew frighteningly little about the history of Linemall and its inhabitant, he had not even realized the two families had history that still had not yet been settled.
Before he could respond, Samuel and Jesse got down on one knee and lowered their heads towards Lukas.
Lukas had been expecting gratitude but this? This went far beyond expectations.
"From this moment forth, House Sterling swears loyalty to you, Lukas Drakos." Samuel vowed, awaiting his response.
"I…I heard what you did for my father. Thank you. We will provide any information you need to bring down the Kraken." Jesse followed up, flashing him a genuine grateful smile.
The boy seemed a lot less moody now that his father had returned home, Jesse and his brothers probably had not seen Samuel for a while now considering the position of Warden was a full-time gig.
Lukas studied Jesse, then Samuel, and saw something he hadn't expected. Genuine respect. Trust. The weight of an oath not made lightly. It seemed that the Sterlings had decided where their loyalties lied.
"Thank you. I appreciate it. Truly." Lukas said.
Samuel exhaled, glancing toward the chair. "May we sit?"
Lukas nodded and Samuel hesitated for only a moment before speaking again. "I am ready to return to my duties as Warden of Kuria."
Jesse shot him a look of concern, clearly the boy had not known his father would say this.
"But you're still injured, no?" Lukas gestured at his arm which was in a cast, it didn't look like he'd be returning to work any time soon.
"This is nothing you should be concerned about, I w-"
"No. From this day forth, you will be stepping down as the Warden of Kuria Prison. You've done your part, Samuel. Be a father to your sons. Be a member of the court, one of the dragonborn, an advisor. House Drakos will need your knowledge and perhaps...even your guidance." Lukas ordered, interrupting Samuel before he could say another word.
Lukas could use a dragonborn of his experience and power at the Palace. He needed all the help they could get here. Not to mention, Lukas already had someone in mind who could be Samuel's successor to become the next Warden.
Samuel looked relieved but Jesse looked like he was almost about to cry as he nodded towards Lukas in thanks. Jesse knew Lukas had done it to keep his father out of harm's way and the boy would not forget this.
At the end of the day, even as ruthless as the kid was, Jesse Sterling was still a kid and he loved his dad more than anything in the world; even money or power.
Samuel did seem a bit curious though. "Guidance? What could I possibly hope to guide you in? You are far more powerful than I, my Lord."
"The magic you used against me," Lukas said. "The magic of the winds. I want you to teach me how to wield it."
A slow smile tugged at the old Dragonborn's lips. "I'm afraid I can't do that, my Lord. The Divinity of the Skies is one that belongs to House Sterling. This is a magic created by the Dragons of the Skies, my Lord. You…are a Drakos. You are born to wield the power of your forefathers. You are born to wield the Divinity of the Seas. And there is no better person to teach you this other than Lady Kaitlyn for she is the greatest sorceress that the Seas have ever seen in thousands of years."
"You flatter me, Sam. It's been a while since I've seen you. Time has not been kind to you old friend." A familiar voice spoke from the doorway as Lukas stood to greet the Royal Consort.
"Lady Kaitlyn, time has not made you any more pleasant either." Samuel shot back but with a respectful bow, remaining as cordial as ever.
Samuel and Jesse both rose from their chairs, understanding that it was time to take their leave. They glanced at Lukas for permission to leave and he nodded in approval.
"I will be in touch soon, Jesse. We have much to discuss." Lukas told the young boy.
Jesse had talent. Talent that Lukas would need for his plan to work. But with that, the Sterlings took their leave.
Lukas had been dreading his next meeting with the Lady Kaitlyn Drakos. He had promised her he'd take down the Kraken and now the Kraken had escaped from Kuria Prison. The Seas of Linemall were in absolute panic over the news.
Yet the Lady Kaitlyn did not scold him. She did not berate him for his choices. Instead, she studied him with an unreadable expression, and when she finally spoke, her words were soft but firm.
"You…are your father's son, Lukas. More so even than my own, Rodan." Lady Kaitlyn finally said.
Lukas didn't know what to say to that either, on the fact that he did not remember his older half-brother Rodan; let alone his father who had passed long ago.
"You are like your father because you love your people, Lukas. At first, I was not sure of you. You bear a striking resemblance to Jaren. But you seemed hungry for power and I worried that was the only thing that mattered to you. It seemed I was wrong. I'm sure of it now."
Lukas didn't want to admit it but the more he thought about it, the more he truly liked being here. He liked where he was now. He liked who he was now. For the first time in his life, he was fighting for something more than just his own self-worth. He was fighting for more than just his own sake.
Lukas was fighting because...he was beginning to care. He cared about these dragons, he cared about the Seas. He cared about these people, people that he was more than willing to fight for.
"What are you sure of?" Lukas asked.
"I am sure that you are the heir to the throne, Lukas. And it is time I teach you the magic of the Drakos Family. You've relied far too much on your physicality, though impressive, will not get you far. There are many powerful beings in the world of Hiraeth and you will need to become powerful enough to protect Linemall for any who threaten its safety. And when you do eventually master the Divinity of the Seas, Lukas Drakos, you will no longer just be a Dragonborn..." The Royal Consort stepped closer as she spoke, the weight of her presence pressing down like the ocean itself.
"...You will be the Dragon Lord of the Seas."