The silence of the evening was shattered by the ferocious roars of the drake. It stormed towards the estate's main gate, its massive frame a blur of muscle and scales.
The ground trembled beneath its pounding footsteps, and its sharp claws left deep gouges in the earth.
The tall iron gates, attached to the estate's imposing walls, stood no chance against the beast's fury. The drake hurled itself at the thick, reinforced doors with unstoppable force.
With a deafening crash, the gates splintered and flew open as though they were mere twigs. The creature roared again, the sound reverberating through the estate and sending servants and guards alike into a frenzy.
The drake's rampage, however, came to an abrupt halt.
Its snarls turned to curious grumbles as it skidded to a stop before a lone figure.
Everyone at the gates was stunned and stared at the now calm drake and the figure standing before it.
The sudden turnabout made everyone puzzle and left them deeply confused.
Jolthar stood calmly amidst the chaos, his expression unreadable. The drake lowered its head, its golden eyes meeting Jolthar's in a moment of silent recognition.
Then, to the astonishment of everyone present, the creature's fury dissolved entirely. It lowered its massive body and became docile, a complete contrast to its earlier aggression.
Within moments, the clatter of hooves and the shouting of orders announced the arrival of Lorryll and the estate's knights. The riders pulled up sharply at the shattered gates, their expressions shifting from urgency to disbelief as they took in the scene.
The once-uncontrollable drake now sat motionless, its immense bulk relaxed and unthreatening.
"What is this?" Lorryll demanded, dismounting his horse with an angry scowl. His sharp eyes darted between the drake and Jolthar, brimming with suspicion and anger.
Behind him, knights exchanged uneasy glances, whispering amongst themselves.
Maena and her retinue, watched the unfolding scene from a short distance with bemused expressions. Her silver-haired lieutenant leaned in to whisper something to her, but Maena silenced him with a raised hand, clearly interested in how this would play out.
"It's not a threat anymore," one of the knights muttered, bewildered. "It's just… sitting there."
Lorryll's jaw tightened.
"Kill it!" he barked, his voice ringing with authority. It was the second time the drake had gone to Jolthar, which only served to heighten Lorryll's rage. He no longer cared about the beast or who it was given to.
At the sound of the order, the drake let out a low growl and shifted its massive frame slightly, but Jolthar stepped forward, placing himself between the knights and the creature.
"You'll do no such thing," Jolthar said, his voice calm but firm.
Lorryll's eyes narrowed, his hands balling into fists. "You dare defy me, outsider? That beast destroyed our gates and endangered everyone here! It deserves death."
Jolthar met Lorryll's fiery gaze without flinching. "The drake isn't a mindless animal. It came to me, and I've tamed it. Killing it now would be senseless—and wasteful."
The knights hesitated, unsure of whether to act on Lorryll's command.
The tension in the air was palpable.
Maena heard about the drake tamed by Jolthar when he first came to the estate. She watched how the drake submitted to Jolthar and how it was acting around him. She just watched how Jolthar dealt with the situation.
Lorryll stepped forward, his boots striking the ground with deliberate force. His tall frame loomed at the gates, and the tension in the air grew palpable. "Move aside, you insignificant worm," he commanded, his voice loud and dripping with disdain.
Jolthar didn't move. His stance was firm, his expression unreadable, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of defiance.
Lorryll sneered. "Just because you swagger around with the name Kaezhlar doesn't mean you belong to us, you filthy, worthless mongrel." His words were sharp, meant to wound.
The gathered knights and servants exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to intervene.
Jolthar's jaw tightened, his voice calm but resolute as he replied, "It's just a normal beast, and it didn't mean any harm, only terrified of you might him."
Lorryll's face darkened, his knuckles tightening around the hilt of his sword. "You dare stand against me?" he snarled, the words barely above a growl.
Without hesitation, Lorryll unsheathed his blade, the sound of steel sliding against the scabbard cutting through the tense silence.
In that instant, a burst of raw power erupted from him, an aura so fierce it felt like a storm had been unleashed at the gates. Invisible energy radiated outward, rippling through the air like a raging tempest. The ground beneath Lorryll trembled as he took a step forward, his eyes blazing with a dangerous intensity. "You will regret challenging me," he declared, his voice low and filled with a promise of impending doom.
The knights staggered under the force of it, some dropping to one knee as they struggled to stay upright. Servants gasped, clutching at walls and pillars to keep their footing. Even the air seemed to grow heavier, charged with an oppressive weight.
In his twenties, Lorryll was already a Tier 6 swordsman—a prodigy among his siblings. His mastery of aura was renowned within the Kaezhlar clan, and his skill with the sword had earned him accolades from both family and rivals. This was no mere display of power; it was a warning, a declaration of dominance. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on Nove1Fire.net
Yet amidst the chaos, Jolthar stood unmoved. His feet remained firmly planted, and his eyes locked on Lorryll with unwavering focus. His clothes fluttered wildly in the torrent of energy, but his composure remained intact.
Even the drake, which had previously gone berserk, seemed unbothered by the swirling force. The creature sat beside Jolthar, calm and silent, its massive head turning slightly as though watching the unfolding drama with mild curiosity.
Jolthar watched Lorryll release his aura with a keen interest. It was the first time he saw someone with such a pure aura as him, such a potent, raw aura. Lorryll was only a tier 6, but his aura had such a strong dominant nature; truly, Lorrlyy lived up to the name of Kaezhlar.