NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: Dragon's Breath
Chapter 19: "Dragon's Breath"
Thrain endured the lashes in silence, his screams having faded into nothingness as his voice gave out. He had lost track of how many strikes he had suffered, and even the guards delivering the punishment grew weary, forcing them to switch.
But as the fresh guards raised their whips, a sudden burst of blue light engulfed the room. When it faded, Thrain stood completely healed, his body unmarked as though the punishment had never begun.
King Arin, Thrain's father, watched the miraculous display with a faint smile of satisfaction.
Despite the restoration, the punishment was far from over. The guards resumed their task, the crack of the whip ringing out once more.
Daelan, unwilling to witness any more, turned and slipped out of the throne room, seeking solace in the quiet outside.
Flames erupted from the direction of Thrain's domain, followed by the deafening roar of an explosion. Daelan watched the chaos unfold, a grim smirk playing on his lips. "I knew they'd eventually make their way here," he murmured.
The guards stationed outside the throne room hesitated, unsure whether to investigate or remain at their posts.
Daelan bided his time, waiting for the right moment. When he spotted Lynx approaching, he struck with precision, a bolt of lightning crackling through the air and incapacitating the guards instantly.
Lynx froze at the sight, his breath hitching. He recognized Daelan immediately, the infamous leader of the Onyx Sentinels. The realization sent a wave of doubt through him—he knew there was no way he could take on someone of Daelan's caliber.
But Daelan didn't attack. Instead, with a calm and deliberate gesture, he beckoned Lynx and his group to approach.
…
As they approached, Lynx carefully rehearsed his words in his mind, choosing them with great caution. In contrast, the Bijins seemed utterly unconcerned, their focus sharp and direct.
"Where's Thrain?" one of them asked.
"Is he hurt?" another pressed.
"Why was he summoned at night?" Emiri demanded.
These were the questions they fired off without hesitation, leaving Lynx shaking his head in silent exasperation.
Fortunately, Daelan appeared unbothered by their bluntness. With a calm demeanor, he responded, "Thrain is inside."
Akane narrowed her eyes, her voice quiet but firm. "I could feel that," she said. "But what exactly is going on?"
"You could feel that?" Daelan asked, his eyebrows arching in surprise. "And who told you Thrain was hurt?"
"So he is hurt, then," Hikari shot back, her tone sharp and accusatory.
"We're just concerned, sir," Lynx interjected, his voice steady but cautious. "You see, Thrain caused some trouble a few days ago, and that's why you were summoned. We're just curious about the punishment he's receiving."
Daelan appeared to accept the explanation, his demeanor softening slightly. "Well, he's in there enduring 10,000 lashes," he replied, his tone disturbingly calm. "But, if you think about it, it's really more like 100,000."
"What?!" they all exclaimed, their shock palpable.
"Lower your voices," Daelan snapped, his eyes narrowing. "If you go in there, trust me, it'll only make things worse for him—and disastrous for you. So, if you're smart, you'll drop this and walk away."
"If that's true, why don't we hear anything? Why isn't he screaming?" Emiri asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
"His voice is probably gone by now," Daelan replied casually. "But I think it's more than that—it's the blue flames. In some way, he's likely adapted to them already. You can feel it, can't you?"
At this, the Bijins averted their gazes, their silence and shifty expressions speaking volumes.
"Look, all you need to do is return," Daelan said firmly. "Don't worry about Thrain—he'll be fine."
With that, the group found themselves sent back, their painstaking efforts to escape reduced to nothing but wasted effort.
"Should we really go back?" Akane questioned, her voice tinged with reluctance. "I mean, we've already come all this way."
The Bijins began debating, their arguments growing more animated by the second.
Lynx finally interjected, his tone decisive. "That man is probably the strongest person in the kingdom. It's best if we leave. Did none of you see how he zapped all those guards without even trying? He's one of the few who can do that. Even you three don't have that kind of ability."
"Now that I think about it, we probably should've stayed inside," Lynx admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "Either way, those guards back there are going to expose us, and I'll definitely end up in trouble. Maybe not you three, but I sure will."
"If you're worried about the explosion," Hikari said calmly, "it didn't actually kill anyone. The puppets saved all their teammates, and the guy who caused it passed out."
"That's a relief," Lynx replied, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.
Upon reaching Thrain's residence, the guards were already alert, with those who had been stationed elsewhere having returned to their posts. The guards stared at the Bijins as they walked in, as though nothing had transpired. The Bijins, in turn, stuck their tongues out at them, teasing like children.
"Told you," Akane said with a grin. "You should've let us go, and nothing would've happened."
…
Daelan entered the room just as the punishment came to an end. The usual burst of blue flames didn't heal Thrain instantly, but from where Daelan stood, he could see the flames slowly seeping in, gradually healing Thrain's battered body. "Guess he's out of mana," Daelan muttered, walking to his side.
The king began speaking, his voice heavy with authority. "You have served your punishment. You've endured what no human could—what should've been a death sentence. Your actions warranted such a punishment." He paused, his eyes drifting toward the councilors. "I wonder who made these rules," he mused, before turning back to Thrain.
Looking at the councilors, the king continued, "I trust he has received his due punishment." They all nodded in agreement.
"You are free to go," the king concluded. "But starting tomorrow, you'll be at the academy."
Thrain, however, barely registered the king's words. His body was pulsing with heat, a strange combination of power, weakness, and pain. It was an overwhelming, confusing feeling he couldn't comprehend. Daelan noticed Thrain had yet to move, even after being dismissed, so he stepped in, guiding him forward.
"Why is it so hot in here?" one of the advisors complained, wiping sweat from his brow.
Daelan, drenched in sweat as well but determined, didn't stop. He kept moving until they were outside, where Thrain suddenly released a magnificent jet of flame from his mouth. It roared with the intensity of a dragon's breath, accompanied by the dramatic sound of crackling fire, leaving everyone watching in stunned silence.