Reincarnated As A Dragon With A Godly Inheritance
Chapter 56: Good thing!

Chapter 56: Good thing!

"What do you mean maybe we’ll eat?" Taria demanded, stepping forward. "We’re hungry."

Thalso turned to her, his voice cold. "This is not a place that bends to your needs. Once you enter Throne of Ruinlight, you are under its rule. You are subjected to its will."

"And if we demand not to be?" Kaedros asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Death."

"And if we try to leave?" Taria’s eyes flicked to where the gate had returned to its original position.

"Death."

"I guess we have no option now," Rauk muttered.

"I guess not," Kaedros replied quietly, his eyes still on the towering towers. "What is this place, exactly?"

"It still surprises me that you know nothing of Throne of Ruinlight" Greylord said, his voice just a shade sharper. Though his face was hidden beneath the helm, Kaedros felt those unseen eyes burning into him. The heat in that gaze matched the strange presence he had felt watching him earlier from the castle.

"Especially you," Thalso added with clear emphasis. "It’s a surprise."

"First, let’s go in," he continued without waiting for a reply, striding toward the massive doors of the castle.

They were tall and dark, made of rich wood etched with runes that shimmered faintly. Kaedros couldn’t read them. The doors opened without a sound, and the group stepped inside.

Massive stone pillars lined both sides of the hall, but where tapestries should have told the castle’s history and triumphs, there was only emptiness.

A long black stone table stretched the length of the chamber, flanked by matching chairs, all carved from the same material, stark and imposing.

"I’ve been in enough castles to know there should be tapestries," Kaedros remarked, uneasy.

"There would be," Greylord said, walking ahead of them. "But not until my master returns."

At the far end of the hall, an elevated platform held a single throne, covered by a dark cloak. Even from a distance, Kaedros could feel its presence, like heat radiating off stone. Not unpleasant, but...welcome.

He didn’t like this castle. Not one bit. And yet he was drawn to it, a part of him felt comfortable just being inside. And yet, he felt as if he shouldn’t be.

His gaze fixed on the throne again, and something shifted.

He stepped forward, blue eyes dilated, movements trance-like. His hand reached toward the cloak covering the throne, feet carrying him closer as if drawn by an unseen force that was far beyond his control.

"Kael? Kael!" Taria called out, but got no answer.

"Leave him," Thalso said. His tone was controlled, but his fingers drummed on his armored thigh.

He’s restraining himself, Taria realized. She watched the man in seamless armor take a slow step forward, his hand brushing toward a weapon that wasn’t there.

They stood frozen, watching as Kaedros climbed to the throne, stopping directly before it. His hand rose, almost touching the cloak, as though he meant to remove it.

Then he snapped out of it. His eyes cleared. He blinked, looked around in confusion, and stepped back.

"What... what am I doing here?" he asked, startled to find himself at the foot of the throne.

"You were admiring the throne, it seems," Thalso replied flatly. But Taria heard it, the disappointment he tried to bury in his voice. "A foolish thing, I might say."

Kaedros turned to him. "I... I don’t remember coming here. What are you talking about?"

Thalso pointed a firm finger. "Only HIM can sit on that throne. You, human who is not human! You’ll burn if you try to seat on a throne that’s meant for something more."

His voice rang through the stone hall, sharp, angry and filled with disappointment.

Who is HIM? Taria wondered. And why were you watching so closely, Thalso? Why call Kael a human who is not human?

Kaedros said nothing. He returned to his companions, eyes lingering on the throne. The hall felt hollow, like it had once been something more, a grand thing. He tried to picture it filled with people, but it wouldn’t come. It just felt empty.

"Who sits on that throne?" he asked.

Thalso turned. "My master."

Kaedros opened his mouth, but Thalso was done with that topic.

"You will tell me your names," he said. It wasn’t a request, it was a command.

"I am Kael," Kaedros began.

"Taria."

"Rauk. Rauk Lythienne."

Thalso nodded. "For formality’s sake... who leads this team?"

As one, Taria and Rauk turned toward Kaedros. He gave a small nod. "I do."

"Very well, Kael. I will give you a short explanation of what Throne of Ruinlight is. We never had to go through all this before, candidates always knew where they were coming to."

His tone carried judgment, as if blaming them for their ignorance, or the portal that dumped them here.

Not that Kaedros thought Thalso was actually in the dark. He probably knew more than he let on.

"Throne of Ruinlight is a place where the strong come to receive the mantle," Greylord said. He raised a hand to halt the questions forming on their lips.

"The mantle is... power. You will be tested here to see if you are worthy of receiving it."

Kaedros’ heart skipped. "What power?"

"You don’t need to know that, since you are so ignorant," Thalso snapped, his manner shifting again. His patience had thinned since Kaedros approached the throne. "You will train. And if you’re worthy, you will receive the mantle, and the responsibility that comes with it."

"A question before we proceed," Thalso added. "Do you want to continue?"

Rauk shrugged. "Power? I want that."

"I’ll follow Kael’s decision," Taria said with a confident smile. She knew Kaedros. She knew how he thought, even if he kept things from her. Above all, she trusted him.

Kaedros thought of the Draconic City. Of the plan he had for Rauk. He smiled slightly as he thought about the Codex, the seed of light of Annihilation. And the familiarity he felt.

"Why not? I’ll continue."

"Good. Good." Thalso clapped once. "But I should warn you, those who came seeking Throne of Ruinlight before you were far stronger. And now, they are dust."

Kaedros nodded slowly. "And what would’ve happened if we’d said no?"

He couldn’t see it, but he knew Thalso was smiling, and it was not a kind smile.

"I would have killed you, of course."

Kaedros smiled back, just as cold.

"Is that so? Good thing we chose to continue, then."