The Kingmaker System Chapter 750 - 749. The New World Tree (4)

Reina quietly made her way towards the Dark Elves again. Those who noticed her approaching instinctively stiffened before bowing their heads, the memory of the Dragon’s Presence still lingering vividly within their hearts.

"L-Lord Dragon..."

Their greeting carried far more fear than reverence.

Her gaze swept over the gathered Dark Elves before settling briefly upon Fior and Yttriva. Only then did she look towards Aelfric, who had already stepped forward with the rest of the Elders.

"I won’t be able to leave this island for another five days," Reina said matter-of-factly. "You’ll have to accommodate me until then."

The Elf King’s eyes lit up almost immediately.

"It would be our honour, Lord Dragon." Inclining his head respectfully, he continued, "If it pleases you, we shall prepare a room for you within the palace."

Reina’s eyes drifted towards the grand palace that overlooked the World Tree. Considering how close the battle had taken place, it was almost miraculous that the ancient structure had escaped with so little damage. After a brief glance, she nodded lightly before looking back at the gathered Elves.

"I’ll also require someone to attend to me while I’m here."

The moment those words left her lips, several Pure Mana Elders stepped forward almost simultaneously.

"I-I would be honoured to serve you, Lord Dragon!"

"No, please allow me!"

"I have served the royal household for centuries. I am more than qualified."

Their eagerness nearly bordered on competition, each hoping to earn even the slightest favour from the newly acknowledged Dragon God. Reina regarded them with an unreadable expression before her attention quietly shifted towards the Dark Elves, who had remained where they stood without uttering a single word.

Realising where her gaze had settled, Xeveris exchanged a brief look with Ermid before both stepped forward.

"If it would please you, Lord Dragon," Xeveris said respectfully, "you may also choose anyone from among our people."

Reina gave a small hum in acknowledgement. Without another word, she lifted her little hand and pointed towards a single figure standing amongst the Dark Elves.

"Him."

For a brief moment, nobody reacted.

Then every pair of eyes turned towards Fior.

The silence that followed was almost tangible.

Confusion spread across both factions alike, while Fior himself remained rooted to the spot, clearly unable to comprehend why the Dragon had singled him out of everyone present.

Vaelorion’s expression changed immediately. Despite the fear still lingering from his earlier encounter with the Dragon’s Presence, he instinctively stepped forward.

"B-But Lord Dragon... he’s—"

"A troublemaker," Reina finished calmly, cutting him off before he could continue. "I know."

Her gaze never left Fior.

"That is precisely why I chose him."

The simple answer left the gathered Elves even more bewildered than before.

Yttriva slowly turned towards her grandson before lowering herself into another respectful bow.

"You are our saviour, Lord Dragon," she said quietly. "However... I must ask you to reconsider."

Her voice wavered with every word.

"My grandson and I have already been exiled from this island. We no longer belong to the Dark Elf Tribe, and..." She lowered her head even further. "I’m afraid he would no longer be able to serve you."

Instead of replying immediately, Reina began walking towards her.

The clearing had grown so quiet that the soft sound of her footsteps echoed distinctly across the exposed roots of the newborn World Tree. With every step she drew closer, Yttriva could feel her heartbeat quickening until Reina finally came to a stop directly before her.

Instead of looking at the elderly Dark Elf, however, Reina turned her attention towards Fior.

"All the more reason."

Yttriva’s eyes widened.

Reina regarded the silent pair for a long moment before asking quietly, "Tell me... do either of you have anywhere else to go?"

For several seconds, Yttriva simply stared at the little Dragon standing before her. At length, she slowly shook her head.

"No, Lord Dragon..."

Her tired eyes wandered across the island she had called home for centuries.

"We were born upon this island. We lived our entire lives here..." A faint, bitter smile touched her lips before fading just as quickly. "We always believed that, when our time finally came, this would also be the place where we returned to the earth."

Her voice trailed away.

There was nothing else to say.

Beside her, Fior remained completely silent. His head was lowered, his fists clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles had turned pale, yet he neither protested nor pleaded for himself.

Reina quietly observed him before returning her attention to Yttriva.

"Then," she said, her voice gentler than before, "if you were given the opportunity to live in a place where your race isn’t weighed before your character... where your past doesn’t condemn your future... would you wish to go?"

The question left both grandmother and grandson utterly speechless.

Not because they wished to refuse, but because the possibility itself had never existed within their lives. Around them, even the surrounding Elves had unconsciously fallen silent, each of them listening to the conversation unfolding before them.

Reina continued in the same calm tone.

"It won’t erase what has happened. It won’t excuse your mistakes, nor will it spare you from the consequences of your choices."

Her icy blue eyes settled upon Fior.

"But it will give you the opportunity to become someone better than you were yesterday."

Only then did she look at both of them together.

"If that is a path you truly wish to walk, then I can offer you a place among those who once stood where you stand today."

The clearing remained silent long after her words had faded.

Even those who had not been the intended recipients of the offer found themselves quietly reflecting upon them. Several Dark Elves lowered their heads, while even a number of the Pure Mana Elders wore thoughtful expressions, their earlier prejudice momentarily forgotten.

Off to one side, Zale watched the exchange unfold with a smile that carried more fondness than amusement. Folding his arms across his chest, he let out a quiet chuckle.

"There she goes again," he murmured to himself. "Picking up strays."

Reina either failed to hear him or simply chose to ignore the comment. Her gaze remained fixed upon Fior and Yttriva.

"I’m not asking for your answer immediately," she said. "You’ve lost your home only moments ago. Five days isn’t enough to mend that, but it is enough to think."

She paused before continuing.

"I’ll remain on this island until then. If, after those five days, your answer remains the same..."

For the first time since walking over to them, the sternness in her expression eased ever so slightly.

"...then my offer will still stand."

She turned away, taking a few small steps towards the palace before speaking one final time.

"Until then, the two of you will remain at the palace as my guests."

Neither Fior nor Yttriva answered.

Yttriva lowered her gaze, her weathered hands trembling ever so faintly, while Fior simply stood where he was, staring at the small figure walking away from them. Moments ago, they had resigned themselves to spending the rest of their lives wandering without a home. Now, for the first time since their exile had been declared, someone had offered them a future instead.

Before either of them could gather their thoughts-

"Hey, what about me?"

Issyrha’s indignant voice cut cleanly through the silence.

Reina stopped mid-step before slowly turning around, her small lips forming a tiny ’o’ as though she had only just remembered the older Dragon’s existence.

"...I forgot."

Issyrha’s eyebrow twitched.

"I noticed."

Reina looked genuinely unapologetic for all of half a second before saying, "You should return to Sestia. Everyone there will be worried if I suddenly disappear for five days."

Her expression grew a little more serious.

"Tell them everything is fine here. And don’t let anyone come to Edrisyl. Uncle Silas is fine if he insists, but no one else."

Issyrha narrowed her eyes, studying the tiny Dragon standing before her. After a long moment, she released a weary sigh.

"So you’re ordering me around now?"

"I’m sorry."

The apology came so flatly that it sounded less like remorse and more like a statement of fact.

Despite the irritation tugging at the corners of her mouth, Issyrha found herself unable to remain annoyed. Looking at Reina’s tiny, pale figure, she could only remember the immense price the young Dragon had paid to plant the new World Tree and simultaneously saving the world by thwarting the Demon Lord Summoning ritual.

The child standing before her was, in truth, the strongest Dragon alive, yet at that moment she looked as though a strong breeze might carry her away.

"...Just don’t overdo it while I’m gone."

Shaking her head in resignation, Issyrha stepped back as a magnificent pair of frost-white wings unfurled from her back. The surrounding air immediately grew crisp, countless crystalline flakes drifting from the feathers before dissolving into the wind as she beat her wings once and rose gracefully into the sky.

Reina watched until the white silhouette disappeared beyond the clouds before shifting her attention elsewhere.

"You should return as well, Dwarf King," she said, looking towards Erisgrirlum. "You’ve done more than enough here."

The old Dwarf lowered his head respectfully.

"It was an honour to fight alongside you, Lord Dragon."

Only after Erisgrirlum stepped back did Zale quietly move forward, a hopeful smile already spreading across his face. It was obvious he was waiting for something.

Reina looked at him for a long moment before sighing softly.

"...And good work, Zale."

The Merfolk King’s face lit up instantly.

"Thank you, Master."

His satisfaction was so obvious that even Issyrha, now little more than a distant speck in the sky, would probably have rolled her eyes had she seen it.

"Master," Zale asked after a moment, "once you’ve recovered... would you like to visit the Nelius Ocean?"

Reina considered the suggestion before giving a small shake of her head.

"Not yet."

The disappointment that flashed across Zale’s face lasted only an instant before he noticed Reina’s eyes lingering on the ring adorning his finger- the Holy Weapon, Serathil.

Without waiting to be asked, he crouched down until they were nearly at eye level and extended his hand.

"I didn’t ask to see it," Reina said flatly.

"I know."

A grin spread across Zale’s face.

"I just thought you might want to."

Reina narrowed her eyes at him. Ever since being reduced to the body of a child, people had begun treating her with an odd sort of indulgence. It wasn’t malicious, but she found it strangely irritating. For the first time, she found herself wondering whether Solcarion had experienced the same frustration whenever she unconsciously treated him like an overgrown child despite him being far older- and infinitely stronger- than herself.

.

Setting the thought aside, she reached out and lightly touched the transparent mana stone embedded within the ring.

The response was immediate.

A soft chime echoed through the clearing as silver segments unfolded one after another, flowing over Zale’s forearm like living scales before weaving themselves into the elegant blade of Serathil. Sunlight danced across its crystalline edge, clear enough for Reina to see her own tiny reflection staring back at her.

She frowned ever so slightly.

Neither she nor Zale had supplied the weapon with mana or aura.

It had awakened solely because she had touched it.

The sensation felt strangely familiar.

Reina quietly studied the transparent mana stone embedded within the ring.

Every Holy Weapon forged from a Dragon’s remains possessed one. Whether the weapon had been fashioned from bone, scales or any other part of a Dragon’s body, a fragment of its Mana Heart always rested within the mana stone. Even after death, the Dragon’s essence endured, choosing the one it acknowledged as its wielder.

She had encountered only two such weapons before. Crown Prince Arian’s sword had carried a Dragon whose lingering spirit had willingly spoken with her, while the sword of Sestia’s First King still housed a fading essence that had remained dormant even in her presence.

As her fingertips rested upon the crystal, she felt it once again.

An ancient presence slumbered deep within the mana stone, and it acknowledged her presence.

Zale watched her quietly for a moment before speaking.

"It’s said that this Mana Heart belonged to the one and only Moon Dragon. During the Great War against the demons, they fought valiantly until they were martyred, their body sinking into the depths of the Nelius Ocean. My ancestors recovered the Mana Heart and preserved it, eventually forging it into our Holy Weapon."

Reina listened in silence, her fingers lingering upon the crystal for another brief moment before she finally withdrew her hand.

The Mana Heart emitted a soft pulse of light. In the next instant, the silver scales composing Serathil dissolved one by one before flowing back across Zale’s arm and returning to the ring as though nothing had happened.

"Return and get some rest," Reina said.

Zale smiled and lowered his head.

"I’ll see you again, Master."

Watching the Merfolk King depart, Reina shifted her attention towards Aelfric.

"Lead the way."

The Elf King inclined his head and quietly turned towards the palace.

Reina followed after him, though she had scarcely taken three steps before she noticed that neither Fior nor Yttriva had moved from where they stood. The two remained rooted to the spot, watching her retreating figure as though still uncertain whether everything they had just heard had truly happened.

Stopping, Reina glanced back over her shoulder.

"What are you waiting for?"

Yttriva seemed to startle before instinctively looking towards her grandson.

Fior slowly raised his head, meeting Reina’s gaze for a long moment. Whatever hesitation still lingered within him quietly melted away as he finally took a step forward, Yttriva following close behind.

The Pure Mana Elves watched the pair walk after the young Dragon with guarded expressions. Unease still lingered in many of their hearts, but not a single one dared voice an objection. Having personally experienced the consequences of opposing the Dragon God’s will, none possessed either the courage or the foolishness to challenge her decision again.