NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Linemall, The Kingdom of Dragons
It took a while for both of them to compose themselves after their emotional reunion.
Lukas could not imagine how much pain this woman had to go through, waiting for her son to wake up from his coma. Her name was Selene. It seemed that Selene was the only one left who continued to hold onto hope that the youngest of the noble Drakos bloodline would return to her.
Lukas had never been a good liar in his past life and now he saw no point in doing so, especially not to this woman who cared for him so deeply.
He had told her he did not remember much and it broke his heart to tell her that he did not remember her. He asked her, almost desperately, to tell him everything. He wanted to know who he was, what he was, where they were now and how long he had been in that coma for.
The woman smiled, holding his hand tight and giving it a small squeeze. That was all she needed to calm him down.
"Let's go for a walk, shall we?" Even though it was a question, Selene did not wait for an answer; gently leading him and Lukas followed without hesitation. It was just something about her that made him know that he would be alright if he stuck with this woman.
They walked through hallways and down spiral staircases.
They walked through libraries, great dining halls and past numerous bedrooms.
Lukas was impressed by the grand palace but what stood out to him was the emptiness of it all. This place had been abandoned long ago. He realized it quickly, the reason why there had been no one else to tend to him when he woke up.
It was because they had thought he was a lost cause.
No one thought he would wake from his coma.
"How long was I…"
"One hundred and eighty eight years, Lukas."
He took in a sharp breath of air (or was it water because they were under the sea? He had no idea honestly) and realized Selene was not joking.
"Wh…what am I? What are we?" Lukas asked.
His mother paused for a second before opening the doors to the entrance of the palace. "See for yourself."
He had already stopped listening to her, watching in wonder in the world he had been reborn into.
Lukas saw a city and it was unlike anything he had ever seen before. He had always thought it'd be dark and gloomy this deep under the sea. It was far from it.
Schools of radiant fish wove between towering coral-like structures that formed the city's foundations, their colors shifting like a living aurora.
Massive stone monuments, carved from deep-sea rock and enchanted with ancient runes, rose and seemed to spiral towards the very surface above.
Bioluminescent moss and glowing anemones had crawled up the walls, lighting the city with a soft, ever-changing glow.
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The streets were flowing currents, allowing for effortless movement.
Giant serpent-like creatures soared gracefully through the water above, their scales reflecting the city's luminescence like liquid gemstones. Lukas noticed some of them had wings while others like his mother did not. Their offspring played in open plazas where water flowed in controlled whirlpools. He could even see some humanoid serpent-like creatures, just like his mother.
The market place was bustling but tranquil, with floating stalls held in place by enchanted anchors. Merchants sold enchanted pearls, rare deep-sea herbs, and weapons forged in volcanic trenches. There was laughter, music, and the warmth of a society that he'd never seen before in the modern world.
"This is Linemall. This is the Kingdom of Dragons. This is our home, my son. This is the last place in Hiraeth where our people can be safe. It is a sanctuary for all draconic kind."
A youngling who was smaller than the length of his arm moved through the water with curiosity towards him and he watched as it circled around him in fascination.
His mother, Selene, smiled and nodded encouragingly.
Lukas reached out a hand and the youngling did not hesitate to nuzzle against it with joy.
It nipped at him playfully and he let out a small laugh, the youngling's sharp teeth gnawing at his fingertips did not hurt him; rather they tickled more than anything.
"Speak to him, my son. Not with words but with thoughts." Selene instructed.
And so Lukas did as he was told and reached out with his mind.
Was this how dragons communicated? Lukas had no idea how all of this worked but he might as well give it a shot.
Eyes closed, Lukas concentrated on projecting the thoughts in his mind, a greeting to the youngling. He wanted to portray a sense of warmth, where words would not be needed.
But nothing happened. For a second, Lukas felt stupid. What if he was doing it all wrong?
Then he felt it, a sudden connection.
A pathway that formed between his mind and the world outside of it, there was no mistaking it. This was it. Lukas sent his greeting, trying to convey warmth and kindness, through this link with all of his might.
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder which made him open his eyes.
The youngling was no longer attached to his hand but it seemed to look at him in awe.
It was not just the youngling however.
His eyes widened as he looked past it to see the entire community of dragons staring at him.
His message had not just reached the youngling, it had seemed that he had gone a little overboard. He was uncertain how they would react but before he knew what was happening, they had all stopped what they were doing.
Merchants and customers, young and old, it did not matter. They looked towards him and lowered their heads in respect. Lukas could only nod awkwardly to acknowledge their gesture and then the entire town erupted in celebration.
"Spread the word!" His mother shouted, grinning from ear to ear. "Spread the word that Lukas Drakos is alive once more!"
It was a test, he realized.
Lukas watched in amazement as the entire town cheered and he could not help but laugh. He would cherish this moment while it still lasted, taking his mother by the hand and joining in with the crowd's celebrations.
This was Linemall.
This was his home now.
Little did Lukas Drakos know, this peace would not last.
His message had reached far further than he had intended it to. What meant to be a greeting had become a declaration. He had himself made known to all in Linemall and he would need to be ready to answer those who chose to respond to such a bold greeting.