The Monster King's Legacy

The following day, the elders once again gathered in the grand council hall. Lance had readied himself both physically and mentally, following Kaethara to meet the elders.

The atmosphere in the grand council hall was thick with tension as Lance stood at the center of the platform, his heart steady despite the intensity of the moment. The towering figures of the dragon elders surrounded him, their glowing eyes fixed on the human who dared to take a step into their sacred traditions.

Kaelthara stood beside him, her imposing presence a silent pillar of support. Aelyndra watched from the sidelines, her golden eyes filled with a mix of worry and pride. There were several other dragons that would normally not be around, Lance himself couldn't tell if they too were elders, or they were just there to witness what was about to transpire.

After a few pleasantries, Elder Thoryx rose, his deep voice reverberating through the chamber. "The human, Lance, you stand here to swear an oath, a bond not lightly given and never broken. Do you understand the weight of this commitment?"

Lance nodded, his expression resolute. "I understand."

The Thoryx's gaze sharpened. "Then kneel."

Following the order, Lance dropped to one knee, his head bowed. Two other elders joined elder Thoryx, and together, they began to chant some king of ritualistic and ancient words. The air grew heavier as the elders began chanting in the ancient dragon tongue, their voices weaving together in a deep, resonant harmony.

After a while, their chants subsided as Elder Thoryx stepped forward, towering over Lance. "Repeat after me, human." He said.

Lance raised his head, meeting the elder's gaze.

"I, Lance, pledge my loyalty to the dragons."

"I, Lance, pledge my loyalty to the dragons," Lance repeated, his voice steady.

"I swear to uphold their values, protect their sacred traditions, and serve their cause with unwavering resolve."

"I swear to uphold their values, protect their sacred traditions, and serve their cause with unwavering resolve."

"I accept the risks of the path before me and pledge my life in service to the dragon god's will."

"I accept the risks of the path before me and pledge my life in service to the dragon god's will."

As the final words left Lance's lips, a surge of energy coursed through the chamber.

Elder Thoryx then turned away from Lance, speaking in an unfamiliar language he could not understand, out loud, his voice sounding like a great storm as he basically raised his voice. A sudden golden light then set ablaze seemingly out of nothing, settling around Lance, and the air hummed with raw power. Lance felt the weight of the oath settle over him, a tangible presence that seemed to bind him to something far greater than himself, something he couldn't even begin to fathom.

It remained like that for about a minute, all the dragons watching him closely until it all died down, leaving a lingering golden hue surrounding him.

One of the elders that had participated in the earlier ceremony stepped forward, her gaze cold and calculating. "The oath has been taken. But know this: the chasm may reject you outright. If it does, no dragon will intervene to save you. It's not that we choose not to, but that we can't."

Lance nodded, his expression unwavering. "I understand."

Kaelthara's voice cut through the tension, firm and unyielding. "He understands the risks. And if he succeeds, it will be a testament to his worth."

Some elders grumbled in low tones, before Elder Thoryx raised a claw for silence. "So be it. The human has sworn the oath. May the dragon god judge him fairly."

Just as the council's decision was made, a golden light that had lingered around Lance extended towards him, wrapping around his arm like a glowing band. The energy settled into his skin, leaving behind a shimmering mark resembling a dragon's claw wrapped around his wrist.

Lance looked at it with a questioning gaze before Thoryx explained things. "This mark," the elder intoned, "is a symbol of your oath. It binds you to your word and connects you to the dragon god's will. Break your oath, and the mark will consume you."

Lance stared at the mark, feeling its faint warmth. "I won't break it," he said firmly. 'Who wasn't to die?'

The elder nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "We shall see."

As the council dismissed, Kaelthara led Lance and Aelyndra out of the hall and into the open air of the Sacred Peaks. The cool breeze was a welcome relief after the oppressive weight of the council chamber.

"You did well," Kaelthara said, her voice carrying a rare note of approval. "Few could have stood before the council and spoken with such conviction."

Lance exhaled, the tension finally leaving his shoulders. "I just said what I was told after all. Besides, how can I let fear stop me?"

As night fell over the peaks, Lance stood on a rocky outcrop, gazing out at the vast expanse of the dragon lands, his thoughts cutting back to his experiences and those he had left back at the growing goblin city as of when he left. The mark on his wrist glowed faintly in the moonlight, a constant reminder of the oath he had taken.

Aelyndra joined him, her presence warm and reassuring. "You've come a long way, Lance. No matter what happens, I'm proud of you."

Lance smiled, glancing at her. "Thanks, Aelyndra." He said, as both of them watched the sky in silence.

The journey to the chasm wouldn't be for a few more days, so Lance still had some time to relax and prepare his mind. There was no turning back now either, so there was no need to contemplate it.

As he had being there for a year, Lance had some kind of working relationship with a few of the dragons, mostly those of Aelyndra's generation and the old dragon that oversaw his training before Kaelthara took him under her.

Since news travels fast, every dragon had heard of what was going to happen, and just like a news of the century for a human, it was such a big deal. After all, it was a big deal when a dragon was said to enter the chasm, talk less a human who had only been training for a year. Then again, Lance had gained so much respect from every dragon for the mere fact that he was still alive. Even though the elders would discredit him so much when it concerned the idea of entering the chasm of life, outside that, even they held a special type of respect for Lance somewhere in their hearts, knowing how special of a person one would have to be to endure and survive under Kaelthara for so long.

Soon enough, the D-day had come, and it was time to make the journey.