NOVEL NEXT Vol 3. Chapter 11: Home
Lukas stood just outside the Ilagron Estate, the chill of the early morning clinging to the air as the first blush of dawn crept across the horizon. The sun's slow rise spilled gold and crimson over the rooftops of the quiet village, painting the sky in colors too fleeting to last. The Dragon Lord watched it in silence, his arms crossed loosely, the weight of the coming day pressing against his chest.
Today, they would leave for Linemall. The choice had been made long before the sun had risen.
Word of the princess Rosalia's "kidnapping" had begun to spread across Hiraeth like a fire through dry grass. Even if she stayed hidden in this small, out-of-the-way corner of the world, there would be whispers, suspicions and eyes always watching out for her.
Lukas doubted it would not be long before Daerion began setting his men on her trail especially now that the King of Nozar knew what she was truly capable of. Whatever Daerion needed Rosalia's power for, well, that was up to Elion to uncover; hopefully it would be found in Varian's records which the man had already begun working to decipher.
But Rosalia would not remain here.
Because Rosalia would be coming with him to Linemall.
It was a decision many would call reckless—bringing a human into the Kingdom of Dragons had been unthinkable since the Great War.
Time had done little to dull the mistrust that lingered between their peoples.
Many humans still carried resentment for the dragons' old strength, and the dragons, in turn, bore scars too deep to forget; Valkari Ishtar had been proof of that. But even she, Lukas hoped, was trying to put that behind her.
Lukas had no patience for such grudges. If Hiraeth was ever to know true peace, someone had to take the first step. Lukas understood why Linemall had locked its gates and buried itself away from the rest of the world.
It was fear. Fear of another war. Fear of loss. Fear of what lay beyond their borders. But fear was just a weak shield that Lukas would not allow his people to hide behind any longer.
Rosalia would walk openly at his side. Lukas would not smuggle her in as if her presence were a shameful thing, a crime to be hidden. She was family. She was his people now, and she had earned her place among his kin. The thought of introducing her to the others—the ones in Linemall who had waited seven long years for his return—brought an unexpected warmth to his chest. For all the darkness of the past month, for all the blood and loss, Lukas could not deny that he was eager to set foot in Linemall again.
The creak of the estate's front door broke his train of thought.
Lukas turned to see Jesse stepping outside, his hair still tousled from sleep, his eyes squinting against the dawn light. The young dragonborn gave a quiet greeting and took a seat besides Lukas on the wooden steps, glancing out at the sunlit fields.
The Draconic Summit was only weeks away. The return to Linemall was inevitable.
"We leave for Linemall today." He declared once Jesse had rubbed the grogginess from his eyes.
Jesse's smile faltered. The longing in his eyes was unmistakable—he missed Linemall as much as Lukas did. But the truth settled heavy between them. Going home meant leaving Ilagron Village behind. It meant leaving Velena. And for Jesse, it meant knowing he might never see her alive again. Yet Jesse did not argue. Whatever feelings stirred inside him, whatever questions or doubts he might have held, he kept them buried within.
Lukas was his Lord. Jesse's loyalty had been sworn, and with said loyalty came with obedience.
"How long do we have until we depart for Linemall?" Jesse asked.
Lukas shook his head, giving him a somber smile. "You aren't coming with us, Jesse. It will only be Rosalia and I who will be returning to Linemall."
The young dragonborn froze, confusion flashing across his face, the words sinking in with the slow heaviness of an anchor. For a heartbeat, Jesse said nothing, searching for the right response.
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Lukas smiled faintly, though there was no mockery in it, only quiet understanding. "It's clear," Lukas explained, "that Velena doesn't have much time left."
The words struck deep. Jesse's jaw tightened.
"You'll stay here, Jesse. You'll continue to serve as the Head of the Merchant Guild. And you will continue to be here for Velena, until the very end."
Lukas could see the battle in his eyes—relief on one side, knowing he would not have to leave Velena's side, and guilt on the other, the guilt of breaking his oath to follow Lukas till the ends of the world.
Jesse had promised to stand by his Lord no matter what. To not return to Linemall with him…
Lukas rested a hand on his shoulder, his grip steady.
"She needs you more than I do," Lukas assured him. "When it is done…when she is gone…then you can return to Linemall. Whether you make it in time for the Draconic Summit does not matter to me. What matters is that you spend what little time you have left with her."
The weight in Jesse's chest shifted, not disappearing, but becoming something bearable. His eyes lowered, his voice rough as he promised, "I'll return to you as soon as I can. I promise."
Jesse pulled Lukas into a firm embrace, the kind that needed no further words.
When they stepped apart, the understanding between them was final.
The young dragonborn would remain here, in Ilagron Village, with Elion and Velena. And when the day came that the Countess of Ilagron Village took her final breath and was laid to rest, Jesse would bury the woman who had come to mean more to him than he could ever have imagined.
The rest of the day moved swiftly, the hours slipping away before any of them realized it.
Elion promised Lukas that he would continue to investigate Varian's records, swearing to uncover the truth by the time Lukas returned.
Rosalia, at first, hesitated when told she would leave for Linemall that day. The thought of putting even more distance between herself and familiar ground made her uneasy. But she also knew Lukas was right—Daerion's reach would not extend into the heart of the Kingdom of Dragons. And truthfully, a spark of curiosity burned in her. Rosalia had heard of Linemall in stories and seen it only as faded sketches in old textbooks. Now, she would be able to see it with her own eyes. She had left everything behind in Easthaven, so there was nothing to pack, no possessions to cling to.
Their preparation took far less time than one would expect. There was no need to pack, no need to burden themselves with supplies. This journey would be instant. They would return to Linemall the same way they had once left it.
Within hours of hearing the news, the princess stood ready, her eyes bright with a mixture of anticipation and the faintest edge of fear. Light from the setting sun glimmered across the still waters of the Ilagron Estate's pond as Lukas and Jesse worked side by side, their hands moving with the practiced precision.
Runes took shape in the soft earth around the water's edge, etched in flowing lines that pulsed faintly with power. It took time—adjusting each curve, refining the sequence—until at last the final mark was drawn. But Jesse had done this before.
The pond's surface flared with sudden brilliance, a bright white light that shimmered like polished silver. The air around it thrummed with energy, the faint scent of ozone prickling at the edge of the senses.
The gateway had finally been opened.
All they had to do now was to step through it and hope that the runic arrangement would do as intended.
Jesse and Rosalia stood together for a moment, speaking in low tones that they politely gave them space for.
Both Elion and Lukas stood a few paces away, their eyes on the rippling light.
Suddenly the Kraken flared to life in his mind, his voice edged with unease. "Are you sure that I can step foot into Linemall?"
Lukas exhaled slowly, slightly irritated. He had answered this question more times than he could count. "Yes."
The oath the Kraken had sworn on the River Styx had already been undone. Still, Lukas understood the worry. He had seen firsthand what it meant to break such a vow—the way Celina, the Divine Knight, had paid the cost in blood and agony. It was no small thing to risk. But Lukas' tone was steady as he reassured his familiar one last time. "You have nothing to fear."
When Lukas turned back, Jesse was pressing a gentle kiss to Rosalia's forehead.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she stepped toward Lukas, her eyes holding a mixture of resolve and uncertainty.
Then, Rosalia gave Lukas a small nod to let him know she was ready.
It was time.
Jesse and Elion moved to the side, their expressions solemn as they watched the two approach the portal.
Rosalia reached for Lukas' hand without hesitation now, though he could feel the faint tremor in her grip. He gave her fingers a light squeeze, meeting her eyes with a silent promise; he was going to keep her safe no matter what.
Lukas made one last look over his shoulder.
"I'll see you both soon," he told the two.
Then Lukas stepped forward, letting the momentum carry him into the glowing light. The water's surface rippled without wetting them, and the world folded away in an instant.
The pond, the estate, the village; it all disappeared in an instant.
Lukas was finally returning home, to Linemall; to the Kingdom of Dragons.