Chương 1256: 1286 - Cold and Black

"What did you do to them?!" Ryonos demanded, his hands locked on Leon's shoulders. Despite the vehemence of his demand, Leon still took a moment to breathe easier with Anushirawan out of his ark. Losing the nails was a blow, to be sure, but he'd studied them enough to know that they were nothing special aside from their enchantments, and he'd already copied them down for later study. Not having the physical nails around to study wasn't going to be a great loss.

'Shouting horse shit really does work,' Leon thought with a trace of satisfaction. Standing up to an Elemental King was no small thing, and Anushirawan could've easily disregarded all of Leon's arguments if he'd wanted to. With his power, his word would've been law, and there wouldn't have been much Leon could've done to stop him.

Having the dragons show up was certainly a boon, and likely played a part in the Sun King accepting Leon's explanation, but without the leaders of the Great Dragon Clans physically there, the Sun King could've done what he wanted in that moment. For his part, Leon was satisfied with how everything worked out. He could've pressed against the Sun King more when it came to financial compensation, especially for Clear, but getting the man off his ark and off his back was a more than valuable prize.

It seemed his satisfaction was visible, as Ryonos glared at him, his rising ire reflected in the increasing volatility Leon could sense in his thirteenth-tier aura.

"You smile despite wielding such profane power?!" the White Dragon hissed.

"Ryo!" Serana shouted angrily as she stamped over.

"Release my son!" The White Dragon ignored her, his shining eyes remaining locked on Leon… until Leon grasped his wrists and squeezed. He didn't go too hard, but on his ark, surrounded by his subordinates, he wasn't going to allow himself to be manhandled. No King could afford such public humiliation and remain King for long.

"I'm more than willing to talk," Leon said as he pulled Ryonos's hands from his shoulders.

"That is, if you are, too…"

"Then talk," Ryonos growled.

"Not here," Leon said as the other dragons gathered around, silently pressuring them both to explain their positions.

"Let's go somewhere more private…?"

"Yes!" Jennifyr declared as she strode over and laid a hand on Ryonos's arm.

"We are all kin; let's act like it." Ryonos took a deep breath and visibly settled his aura. The accusation in his eyes went nowhere, however, but Leon could work with that. As Jennifyr handled Ryonos, Leon turned to the rest of the hangar and ordered everyone to get back to business. He'd mobilized a significant portion of Storm Herald's military contingent just in case his meeting with the Sun King turned violent, and with the Sun King gone, they had to be stood down.

That took some time, but half an hour later, Leon found himself alone with the other dragons in his family's private chambers. His wives were nearby, as were his Paladins, but the seven dragon heirs insisted on being with him alone, without even his family present. Mildly insulting, but Leon understood their behavior well enough to let it go. Almost as soon as the door closed behind them and the privacy enchantments activated, Ryonos repeated his question.

"That power you used on those Lords, Leon. What is it?"

"Ryo," Jennifyr whispered.

"Is it necessary to jump down young Leon's throat like that? We should take the time to welcome our new nephew to—""Answer the question," Ryonos interjected. Jennifyr blinked in surprise, but the grave way Ryonos glared at Leon kept her from pressing further.

Leon himself grinned to cover his growing discomfort as the other dragons, including his mother, turned their eyes upon him, awaiting his response—a response that he ensured was long in the coming as he started slowly pacing, turning his options over in his mind.

'The truth? What do I even tell them? I can't even tell them much about it, only where it came from. But can I even tell them that? Even if they're friendly, why tell them about the Iron Needle if I don't have to? What if word gets out and some Anax comes knocking on Artorion's gate, demanding to be given my Clan's Universe Fragment? What would happen if Kamran and his coterie learned that I have it? I can be ignored, but a Universe Fragment can't be…

'But they are known for supporting each other; the Great Dragons might be some of the only people who are worth trusting… and they helped me out with the Sun King, if only by showing up.' Leon turned his golden eyes back to Ryonos, noting the man's posture: standing straight with his feet apart and arms across his chest. A casual, if defensive, stance, but one that reinforced his unyielding demand. He wasn't going to let this go…

'What did he find in that power? What can he tell me about black lightning that I don't even know? Would he tell me if I'm not transparent?' To buy himself some time, Leon asked, "Regardless of how this discussion goes… I'd like to ask a favor that I will absolutely repay if needed."

"That," Ryonos intoned, "depends on the favor."

"I'll admit this, then, before asking: I'm somewhat unfamiliar with the power you're asking about. It's something I can only do in emergencies since it's damaging to use. Not as damaging to me as it seems to be to those I use it on, granted, since those burns heal easily enough, to be honest. And I'll… I'll speak with you about it, if you insist. Since you were able to heal it, though, you must be quite the skilled healer."

"I healed those injuries as best as I could," Ryonos revealed.

"For the sake of my everdark brethren, I concealed what I couldn't heal, too. That power… did horrific damage to those men, more than they realized. If they were forced to live with those injuries longer, they would've realized it."

"What kinds of injuries are you talking about?" Jennifyr inquired. Ryonos scowled deeply, his mouth opening and closing several times as if searching for the right words.

"There were… they sustained significant damage to their bodies, that much was obvious. Damage had also been done to their hearts, making the connection between their bodies and their soul realms fragile. Or more fragile than they were before, I should clarify. Further, their bone marrow showed traces of necrosis. They may have recovered on their own, but as it was, significant damage was done not just to their bodies, but also to the magical foundations they'd built within themselves.

And to be clear, that was just what I discovered on a cursory examination; they may have had more insidious damage that I missed."

"That's… severe," Jennifyr said as she turned back to Leon.

"Extremely," Ryonos said.

"But what I found most shocking was the trace of the magic left behind. I have never felt something so… malign before. It felt like merely sensing it exposed me to the same kind of soul realm damage that Leon inflicted upon those Lords."

"They got off light for getting in my son's way," Serana said with pride, seemingly not caring at all about Ryonos's explanations, even as the other six dragons appeared somewhere between disgusted and mildly perturbed. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I'm usually inclined to agree," the Red Dragon said, the scales framing her face sparkling mischievously.

"But my radiant brother, was that power truly so… uncomfortable?" Seven pairs of eyes turned in Ryonos's direction, and he finally averted his gaze from Leon, if only for a moment.

"It… it was, yes. The damage… the soul realm damage is terrifying enough. What I sensed within that power…" His eyes turned back to Leon.

"There are some powers in the universe that no living being ought to deal in." He stared at Leon expectantly, clearly wanting more details. Varon, however, remembered Leon's request earlier, as he jumped in before Leon could say anything and asked, "What was your favor, Leon?" Leon smiled gratefully at the Green Dragon, then asked Ryonos, "Did you hear what I told the Sun King?"

"Some of it," Ryonos admitted.

"You were aiding an injured vassal."

"He'd been kidnapped," Leon explained.

"Kidnapped while searching for a way to contact the Great Black Dragon Clan…" His golden eyes found his mother, and she smiled briefly before she turned deadly serious.

"Someone tried to stop you from finding me?" she asked.

"Maybe," Leon answered.

"All I know right now is that Clear Day—that's his name, 'Clear Day'—was kidnapped, and that during his imprisonment, enchanted nails were hammered into his skull. I copied their enchantments, but have yet to study them. Clear remains unconscious, and we don't know if he'll wake up or what state his mind will be in if he does. I want… I would like to ask for your help in healing him, if you're able." Several seconds passed as Ryonos visibly considered Leon's request. Finally, he said, "I will see what I can do.

But I want to know everything you can tell me about that power you used."

"Easily done," Leon said, making his mind up in that very moment. The Iron Needle would remain relatively confidential, but he didn't need to reveal it to cast black lightning. He raised a hand and let black-as-night bolts of lightning arc around his fingers. A strangled cry of revulsion fought its way out from Ryonos's lips, while Nyra, silent so far, shrieked in delight." Black lightning!" she cried, rushing forward to examine it closer.

"My aureate sister," the Gray Dragon said calmly, grabbing Nyra's arm before she could press her face against Leon's hand and the dark power curling around it.

"Control yourself." He was an impressive figure, tall and heavily built. He stood as strong as a mountain, with hints of gray scales peeking out from beneath his tunic's neckline.

"Let go, Ianu!" Nyra complained.

"I have to see that!"

"No!" Ryonos cried out.

"Don't even think about touching that!" The Red Dragon stepped forward and laid a hand on Nyra.

"Nyra, dear sister, listen to Ryonos."

"Why?!" Nyra shouted.

"He wouldn't tell you not to unless he meant it," the Red Dragon replied.

"Of course, there is no power that is beyond the reach of a dragon, but caution is sometimes warranted."

"It's more than warranted, Karina," Ryonos whispered as he took a hesitant step toward Leon.

"Leon… how did you…?" He trailed off, raising Serana's hackles.

"Don't leave us in suspense, my radiant brother! If you see something wrong with my son, then speak up!"

"Wrong…?" Ryonos whispered.

"Wrong?! Something wrong?! My everdark sister, this isn't wrong, this is impossible! Leon, how are you doing that?! Do you have any idea what it is you're wielding?!" Amused and concerned at the behavior of the White Dragon, Leon replied hesitantly, "It has… so far denied my attempts to study… It's particularly lethal, though, and it injures me when used."

"Then stop using it!" Serana pleaded, her eyes sharpening with maternal concern. Leon did as bid and ceased conjuring his black lightning. It had been brief and weak, no more than a display rather than a true expression of power, but the nerves in his fingers still tingled unpleasantly, and the skin below his wrists had noticeably reddened.

"That was…" Ryonos whispered, his eyes closing for a moment as if to mentally debate how much was worth sharing. When his white eyes flashed open, he stated gravely, "That was death. There can be no other explanation." Silence fell upon the chamber as even Nyra stopped struggling.

'Death?' Leon silently wondered.

'What…?' The Thunderbird wasn't present; otherwise, he'd pick her brain about this. He was certainly going to be summoning both her and the Great Black Dragon once he had a moment, though…

"Death?" Ianu asked as he released the no-longer-struggling Nyra. His deep voice was just as grave as Ryonos's, his eyes alight with understanding.

"My radiant brother… are you sure?"

"It is the same fell power that I felt when I studied within an Aesii," Ryonos confirmed.

"That power, Leon, speeds those you strike it with into… whatever comes next. Whatever awaits us in death, if anything at all." Silence stretched as Leon waited for the punchline. This couldn't be anything other than a joke, in his opinion; even if he wielded the power, it just seemed… too far-fetched. To have seven dragons present, and all now looking at him, deeply concerned…

"I don't…" Leon whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"Death," Ryonos repeated.

"Have you never wondered what it was, Leon? What comes after when you close your eyes for the final time? When you depart from the physical world, never to return?"

"I was hoping to meet my Ancestors," Leon easily said, his voice wavering only slightly.

"To feast and fight and revel in the glories we won."

"That might be true," Ryonos responded.

"It might not be, too," Jennifyr added.

"There have been rare cases where men have died and come back," Ianu explained didactically.

"What comes after life has always fascinated mankind, and those who glimpsed the other side have always been the subject of great curiosity."

"They haven't helped much," Karina added scornfully.

"No," Ryonos said.

"But it is from these scattered reports that we know that Aesii seem to be involved somehow. Leon… how did you come by this power? You already bear the power of the Thunderbird and the Great Black Dragon… how did this other power come to you? And how can you stand to use it? You are alive; death cannot be wielded by the living. You should've been killed the moment you tried…" Even Serana didn't speak up in his defense now, his mother choosing instead to stare at him with just as much curiosity as the other dragons.

Leon yet hesitated to tell them about the Iron Needle, but he could say that he was quite tempted, now.

"I… can't say," Leon said.

"I don't know all that well, myself. Wielding this power hasn't exactly given me an intimate knowledge of just what it is…"

"A Universe Fragment," Ryonos stated definitively.

"That can be the only explanation. Some piece of a great whole that fell into your hands and bestowed power upon you that you don't understand. Does that sound familiar?" A long sigh slipped past Leon's lips.

'Why not? They basically already know everything else…'

"The Iron Needle," Leon slowly said, his tongue reluctant to form the words.

"One of the Universe Fragments of my Clan. Jason Keraunos took it with him on his failed conquest. I retrieved it nearly two centuries ago. Just as it gave my Ancestor her lightning, so too did it give me a gift." Ryonos sighed long and deeply.

"That is… comforting, in a way. When Universe Fragments are involved, even the impossible can become possible. Even giving the living the ability to wield powers beyond the living. Leon… be careful about using that lightning of yours. It is more dangerous than you can imagine."

"I'm the one wielding it," Leon said.

"I'm well aware of its danger. It reminds me every time I use it." Ryonos smirked.

"That… makes sense. A power granted by a Universe Fragment, but you are still alive. Death is still anathema to you."

"What does that mean for his lineage?" Serana asked, her voice laced with trepidation.

"That remains to be seen," Ryonos said with a deliberately mysterious smile.

"If I'm right," Leon said as he thought back to the strange third energy within the Ancestor Gem, "it shouldn't impact my lineage at all. Hopefully. The Great Black Dragon himself told me that I wasn't forming a third bloodline, and I'm inclined—""What?!" the other dragons shouted almost in unison, Serana the sole exception.

"He speaks to me when I'm insistent enough," Leon admitted. Ryonos staggered back as if struck, while Karina sank into the nearest armchair. Only Ianu seemed relatively unfazed, still standing where he was as immovable as a mountain.

"You are quite the collection of oddities, Leon," he said with a smile.

"I'm willing to bet that there is quite a bit more strangeness to you that you haven't told us about. Perhaps even more than you know about."

"Perhaps," Leon cheekily replied.

"Ryonos… I would like to know more about this power, though, if you're able to teach me anything. If I'm going to wield it, I'd rather know what it is and what can be done with it than not bother with it at all."

"That is… wise," Ryonos said.

"Unfortunately, there isn't much I can teach you. I can identify death, but that does not make me an expert in it. Experts in the ways of death are… rare. I can only think of three, and all of them departed the realm of life long ago." Leon nodded, disappointed but not surprised.

"What can you tell me about them, then? You said that some people even returned from the dead before?"

"There are many stories of such feats," Ryonos said.

"Paddling back up the Aesii," Ianu stated.

"Defeating an embodiment of death in some game of chance," Varon added.

"Ooh! And running from death until it's too tired to chase!" Nyra exclaimed.

"None of these are more than stories," Ryonos said with a good-natured smile.

"In all my time in my Clan's archives, I haven't come across any credible reports of returning from death save for one method, repeated a bare handful of times: through the power of a Heartwood Tree." The other dragons fell silent, their expressions filled with obvious reverence. Leon, however, felt his heart nearly jump out of his chest. His attention sank into his soul realm, to a nearly-forgotten corner of the vault he'd built to contain everything that he carried with him.

In this secured corner, sealed in a simple wooden box, lay a seed, cold and black…