Reincarnated As A Dragon With A Godly Inheritance
Chapter 64: For your food

Chapter 64: For your food

Kaedros opened his mouth. "How did I come by it?"

"It’s a spell I found in a very old library. There was a rumor that it was made my a Dragon."

Chef snorted. "A Dragon indeed. So that’s what happened."

A heavy silence followed.

"What’s this all about?" Kaedros asked after a while.

"That sigil," Nyra said softly, "the one that appears when you use that so-called skill... it’s familiar. Very familiar. We’ve seen it in—"

"Enough," Thalso cut in, voice sharp and final. Nyra fell silent immediately.

But it was enough. Enough to confirm Kaedros’s suspicion.

The spell was created by a very old Dragon in the Draconic City, it was a sun spell but it forced light applications. It was called very genius by everyone because of that.

That means the Dragons were connected with Throne of Ruinlight.

He didn’t know how to feel about it. So much had happened since he arrived in this world. His thoughts were spiraling, and then his stomach growled.

Maybe it was time to stop overthinking and focus on the basics.

"...We’re hungry," he said simply.

Everyone turned to him, Taria, Rauk, even Chef and Nyra. They had expected him to press for more, to demand answers about the sigil. But Kaedros was just... hungry.

Chef snorted. "Then eat."

"Nyra. I need it," Thalso said, looking at her.

"Oh... that," Nyra said, her eyes flaring with arcane light. A swirling black portal opened above her, and three metal cuffs dropped to the floor with a dull clang.

"There," Thalso picked up one of the solid cuffs and held it up. "You’ll wear this."

Kaedros eyed it warily. His first instinct was to inspect it with his awareness, but then he remembered. That didn’t work here.

"What is it?"

"A mana-resisting cuff," Thalso replied. "Once it’s on, it cuts off your ability to channel mana completely."

They all stepped back instinctively.

Cut off their mana?

That was their greatest tool for survival. Without it, they’d be defenseless. They won’t be Ascendants.

"Why?" Kaedros demanded. He knew Thalso wouldn’t do anything without purpose.

"Because you rely on it too much," Thalso said without flinching. "Your physical ability is so lacking it’s pitiful. You need to strengthen your body before you layer it with magic. That’s how you build a warrior."

With that, he tossed a cuff to each of them.

Kaedros caught the metal, it was surprisingly light for something so solid. He couldn’t see any rune or markings on it.

How had they made it mana-resistant without enchantments? He’d have to ask Nyra later. For now, he slid it onto his left wrist. The metal shrank, adjusting snugly to his arm.

"Wow... it’s like I’m not even wearing anything," Taria murmured, swinging her arm experimentally.

"Same here. I thought it’d be heavier," Rauk said, sounding surprised.

Kaedros opened his mouth to agree, then staggered.

His balance vanished.

His mana was gone as if it had never existed and it left him reeling.

His image flickered. His dragon form nearly surged to the surface, but he held it back. Barely.

His body felt heavy, foreign and sluggish. He hadn’t realized how much he’d been relying on mana just to move.

"This is horrible!" Taria hissed, tugging at the cuff on her wrist. "I feel sick. What is this?"

"Don’t bother," Thalso warned. "Only one of us can remove the cuffs."

Rauk stood silent. He didn’t know how to describe it, but it felt like something inside him was just... missing. A hole where mana used to be.

Kaedros tried weaving a spell in his mind. He built it carefully, but when it came time to power it with mana, there was nothing.

"Now that that’s settled," Thalso said, "your training begins. Immediately. You remember the rules of the castle, don’t you?"

Earn everything.

With a gesture, he opened another portal. Several weapons clattered to the ground their cold clanging echoing against the stone.

Kaedros blinked.

Another portal just like that as if they were just creating a simple spell.

How were these people opening portals at will?

He wanted to ask but first, he studied the weapons that dropped to the ground.

They were forged from the same grey metal as Thalso’s armor.

A broad-tipped spear.

A slender short sword.

And a long sword with a jagged hilt.

"Pick them up," Thalso ordered.

His tone was flat but excitement buzzed beneath it and Kaedros didn’t trust that at all.

But they obeyed.

Kaedros picked up the slender short sword.

Rauk chose the longer blade.

Taria naturally went for the spear.

Kaedros raised his sword for inspection. It felt light, almost like a dried stick but there was a dangerous strength hidden in its balance and edge.

"How are we supposed to fight like this?" Taria asked, leveling her spear. "We have no mana. Even our strength is reduced. We’re... we’re just human!"

"It’s your choice," Chef said. "Earn your food, or go hungry. It’s not like you need food right now, do you?"

Taria’s stomach growled audibly.

She flushed, then squared her stance. "Fine. What are we fighting?"

"Me," Chef replied, calmly unhooking the blade at her hip. It looked like a kitchen knife, but the length made it a short sword. The grip was thick, meant for precision under pressure, not war but it gleamed with danger.

"I thought we were supposed to fight your subordinate," Kaedros said, frowning.

Chef shrugged, the folds of her robes shifting slightly. "I changed my mind. We said we would train you. Did you think that meant games?"

"No... but you’ve taken our mana," Rauk said, gripping his sword awkwardly with both hands. It was obvious he’d never held a weapon like this before.

Chef’s eyes glittered. "The only thing I’m giving you is that I’ll bring myself down to your level."

Thalso and Nyra stepped aside, giving her space. "Now. try not to die."

She launched forward, suddenly, shockingly fast and was instantly face-to-face with Rauk.