Reincarnated As A Dragon With A Godly Inheritance
Chapter 32: Train

Chapter 32: Train

"You’ll have to forgive me," Rauk said, pouring deep red wine into a glass. "We don’t have ale. Try this instead."

They were seated in what Kaedros guessed was a study. Dusty old tomes lined the walls, many bound in cracked leather. A few broken weapons hung from hooks, dull reminders of forgotten battles. Rauk had cleared just enough space on the table for the wine.

Kaedros lifted the glass and took a sniff. The wine was rich, dark, almost like blood. But it tasted like crushed fruit. Vibrant. Full of life.

"Red wine is enough," he said, and took a seat across from Rauk.

As he drank, Vexa loomed silently behind her master, her eyes locked on Kaedros like a drawn blade.

"I can’t help but notice the absence of servants," Kaedros said. "Or life, for that matter. This whole place is dead quiet."

Rauk took a slow sip. "My father gave up on Solmere years ago. The only thing he ever cared about here was the Vines. And even that wasn’t enough to fight for."

He set the glass down. "I asked for men, but he wouldn’t spare even a servant. Said if I wanted to waste time in Solmere, I’d do it alone."

Kaedros glanced at Vexa. Rauk caught the look.

"She’s been with me since I was a child," he said. "My loyal guard."

Kaedros nodded, understanding the weight of such a bond, having even one person in your corner from the very beginning.

"But I doubt you came just to admire my wine collection," Rauk said with a wave of his hand. "Why don’t we get to it?"

Kaedros downed the rest of the glass. "I’ll join your team," he said, "but only on one condition."

Vexa narrowed her eyes. Rauk leaned forward with interest. "And what condition is that?"

Kaedros chose his words carefully. It was his only out. If Rauk rejected the demand, he could walk away clean.

"I want the forbidden zone core after the raid."

The silence was deep. Thick.

Kaedros smiled inwardly. No way he’d accept that. This was the perfect.

"Done," Rauk said.

Kaedros blinked. "...What?"

Rauk shrugged. "It’s already mine. The forbidden zone. The Celestial Order handed it to me. I can give you the core if I want."

"You own the Forbidden zone?" Kaedros asked, stunned. "Aren’t you supposed to be broke?"

Vexa’s glare intensified, but Kaedros ignored it.

"The Order gave it to me," Rauk replied with a half-smile. "Likely as a bribe to make me ignore what’s happening here in Solmere."

Kaedros sat back. This was worse than he thought. The Order. The bounty hunter’s Association. All the threads were connecting now. And they were all leading to something dark.

This raid might very well be Rauk’s last. And it seemed they wanted to drag him and Taria down with it.

Eventually, Kaedros stood and made his farewell. He left the castle more confused, and more furious, than when he arrived.

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

"So... how was he?" Rauk asked as he refilled his wine.

Vexa frowned. "He’ll be powerful. He has raw potential."

Rauk knew how hard that was for her to admit.

"But don’t you think you’re putting too much hope in a low-rank Ascendant?" she asked.

"I want people whose loyalty is real. That means people who rise with me. He and his partner, they’ll be part of that."

"You still don’t have my approval," Vexa muttered. "And I want you to stop. It’s too dangerous."

Rauk stared into his wine.

"I have so many plans," he whispered.

"Solmere is just the beginning."

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

With all the power of his ’stage five’ Kaedros punched Taria in the stomach, neatly dodging her spear thrust as he did so.

Taria grunted, stumbling back a step before spinning her spear into a defensive stance. She pointed it at him and used a technique.

Mana surged through her body, doubling her strength. She launched forward, her enhanced speed closing the distance in a blink. She brought her spear down from the right, then jabbed with her free hand from the left, hoping to bait him into taking a hit.

But Kaedros caught her punch with his left hand, twisting her wrist just enough to throw off her balance. Her spear thrust went wide.

"Damn!" Taria scowled, jumping back again. "You got me again. You’re a Mage! Why are you this good at close combat?"

Kaedros smiled faintly. "You learn what you need to survive."

Not entirely true.

"Are you using mana to boost your strength?" Taria asked, wiping sweat from her brow. "A normal mage shouldn’t be this strong."

Kaedros raised an eyebrow, scanning the training room. The bounty hunter’s association’s rented chamber was empty except for the two of them. His pointed glance made her wince.

"Sorry," she muttered.

She believed he was a Sorcerer, and he intended to keep it that way, especially in public.

"Yes," he lied smoothly.

Even in his human form, traces of his true nature bled through. Boosted strength. It let him withstand her blows easily, and she had no idea.

"Lucky you," she grumbled. "Feels like you’re faster than me, too. You using mana there as well?"

"I’m like two stages higher than you," Kaedros replied.

"It’s just two stages," she waved it off and dropped to the polished floor, breathing hard. "Doesn’t make that much difference."

Kaedros frowned. "Maybe not right now, but one stages usually does mean a lot."

"Generally?"

"Path and mana cultivation method matter more than you think," Kaedros explained. "That’s where the real difference comes in. Especially when comparing same-rank Ascendants."

"I’ve been wondering about that," Taria said. "There are people with the same level as me in the warrior class, but their strength and speed are completely different."

Kaedros nodded. "That usually comes down to how to their mana cultivation method."

She looked confused, so he continued. "You know that rush of power you get after killing a monster or... a person?"

Taria gave him a sharp look at the mention of ’person,’ but Kaedros just shrugged.

"That power takes a while to settle into the body. Where it goes, strength, mana core, agility, it depends on how your mana cultivation instincts channel it."

"Mages need more mana," he continued, "so most of our mana goes into our core. That’s why we’re weaker physically. Warriors are the opposite, more strength, less mana."

He twirled his fingers with mock solemnity. "Some Ascendants though, their mana cultivation method force their mana specific areas, ignoring the natural balance. A warrior might boost strength and neglect agility. Makes them strong, sure, but clumsy and easier to counter."

"Of course, there are exceptions."

"But?" Taria pressed, sensing an unspoken warning.

"But leave that kind of customization for when you’re around rank five," Kaedros said. "That’s when it really matters. When your cultivation method might focus on something like only speed or strength. Entirely. For now, this is just the foundation."

"That’ll take years," she muttered.

"Don’t be so sure," Kaedros said. "Lord Rauk wants to power advance you during the raid, remember?"

"Shouldn’t more Ascendants doing that then?" she asked skeptically. "Using Forbidden zones level faster?"

"They would—if they owned one," Kaedros replied. "But forbidden zones are rare. Most are controlled by the King, the Nobles, or the Celestial Order. I heard the Association manages a few, but not many."

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Which makes Rauk being gifted one... suspicious. Forbidden zones generate wealth and offer controlled battle zones to train Ascendants. Either he’s being manipulated, or he’s more connected than he pretends to be."

"Does it matter?" Taria asked. "We just need to keep our heads intact."

Kaedros had already explained how dangerous this raid was going to be. She knew walking into that forbidden zone wasn’t a mission it was a death sentence.

But it was also a way for Kaedros to boost himself. Killing monsters around won’t be just enough. He needs larger amounts of mana to cultivate and experiment with his new powers.

"We can keep our heads, and maybe get something more out of it," Kaedros murmured, his thoughts drifting toward the forbidden zone Core.

Taria studied him.

She wondered about his past sometimes, especially now. He didn’t seem afraid. If anything, he looked... eager. As though he was waiting for something.

"You should mask that excitement, Kael," she said. "Not all of us have secret, rare paths "

Kaedros paused, letting the words settle.

She was right. He wasn’t afraid.

But it wasn’t just because of his hidden powers or his ability to shift forms.

No. Deep down, Kaedros enjoyed this, schemes, tension, the careful balance of life and death.

In the Dragon City, such games were reserved for beings older and more powerful than him.

Here? He was free to play. And maybe he wanted to play and gain experience before he head to Draconic City.

"I guess I’m just excited to see how it all plays out," he said with a lazy grin.

Taria shook her head.

"Hope it doesn’t play out with our heads rolling," she muttered and stood, brushing off her legs.

"Not while I’m there." Kaedros’s mind flickered to the offensive spells he hadn’t yet tested. He had a lot about the seed of Light of Annihilation that he hadn’t tested.

’....this raid will be useful...’ he thought. ’...one way or another..’

Taria hefted her spear. She would not be deadweight this time. She swore that to herself. "Let’s go again."

"Don’t push too hard. I’m not the best training partner for you. We need to find you a spear-user."

Taria dropped into her stance. "Or are you just scared?"

Kaedros smiled.

He spent the rest of the day showing her just how wrong she was.