Chapter Eleven

City of Trênt

Thousands of citizens gathered in the plaza to witness the passage rites of the City's Lordship. The former City Lord Kyle Snow stood at the top of the podium while Cai was waiting in the wings for the Passage of Rite to commence. Citizens looked at Kyle with loath, like daggers it pierced his heart to see his former citizens turn against him due to his mistakes. On the other hand some are understanding enough to give him the "sorry" look. It may not be much but to Kyle, simple gestures like this were appreciated and he know in his heart that he has to make it right. He stood up from his seat as the noisy crowd turned to look at him in his eyes. They were petrifying, never in his life did he fear his constituents but now he witnessed how dear the Vjorns are to the citizen's hearts. Silence, awkward silence. He steeled his resolve and tried to look in each and everyone of his citizen who stood before him. And then he started "I cannot express how sorry I am for the mistakes I made"he paused then continued on looking at his citizens one after the other. Then he smiled "but a child of twelve forgave me for my sins a week earlier. In fact he smiled at me and said "I cannot blame you, it was your chance to cement your position in the city and no man will be able to resist that"" he quoted. "But I realized he was wrong too. There was a man who resisted that urge for decades... It was Cai Vjorn. He held power for long but never desired the position I held. He silently protected the city that his House founded while the Noble Houses did our dirty politics but he stayed true to his heart. To his honor. I thought before he was unworthy due to his lack of knowledge in politics but when I look at each and everyone of you. I know you loved Lord Vjorn and that defies even the most bothersome politics. Your loathsome looks are proof enough that he won you not with his campaign but his heart. But before I abdicate my rule. I want to let you know that-" he paused then materialized a golden sword and kneeled "I, Kyle of House Snow. First of my name swear to support the Founding Father of Trênt ,House Vjorn, to be the sword that cuts their enemies. To be the shield that defends their honor. I swear to the Thirteen Gods of New that if I break my oath, may the roots of Herald pierce my soul. So Gods help me" he recited as a massive red light flooded the whole podium. Cai's eyes widened in shock as he witnessed the unusual event before him "An oathkeeper and a blood oath" he muttered in his breath. An oathkeeper is a rare existence that may swear oaths to the Thirteen Gods, by doing so they gain strength while fulfilling their duties. A blood oath on the other hand is an oath sweared to the Thirteen Gods that wagers their life on the line. Anyone who swears a blood oath will be pierced to death by the Herald if the oath is broken. To swear a blood oath is the most loyal act an oathkeeper may ever do. As the blood oath was confirmed by the Gods. Kyle stood up with his golden sword in hand. "As the hundred and sixth proclaimed City Lord of Trênt I hereby abdicate my Lordship to Cai of House Vjorn, please step forward" he announced. Cai still shocked on what transpired, stepped forward towards Kyle. "I swear an oath to serve your House and now I need you to swear an oath for the city will you accept?" he asked. "I do" Cai responded with resolve. "Please raise your left hand and repeat after me" Kyle said and Cai just nodded. "I, state your name". "I, Cai of House Vjorn third of my name". "Swear upon the Thirteen Gods". "Swear upon the Thirteen Gods". "That I will lead the City of Trênt to the best of my abilities". "That I will lead the City of Trênt to the best of my abilities". "That I will rule with the citizens by my side and to never abandon my duty even at the direst of times". "That I will rule with the citizens by my side and to never abandon my duty even at the direst of times". "I will be the light that guides the Frontier even at the darkest of times so Gods help me". "I will be the light that guides the Frontier even at the darkest of times so Gods help me" he echoed Kyle. As the oath was finished the golden sword emitted light that shone for seconds. Kyle then bended one of his knee while offering the golden sword to Cai. "Lord Cai of House Vjorn, the city is yours". "Oathkeeper Kyle, thank you" Cai smiled. Suddenly a dragon's roar was heard in the entire City of Trênt as if to solidify the Rite of Passage as the City Lord was now the Horned Dragon, Cai Vjorn. Everyone applauded despite the sudden dragon's roar. In their mind it was destiny but at the other corner of Trênt it was destruction. Kyle slowly stood up and looked at the crowd before him. Long was gone the loathsome stares. Every citizen brimmed of happiness and he liked the new look the citizens gave him. When he was City Lord he can see their looks of respect, when he betrayed the City he was given the dagger like stares and now he was given the looks of admiration. In an instant he was no longer the Tyrant but the Oathkeeper and he intends to keep his oath.

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Outskirts of the City

Skye stirrred from his sleep as a warm feeling flooded his senses. Skye slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by a campfire. Kieran was silently watching the flames dance as he sat up. "Had a good nap?" asked Kieran as he noticed Skye waking up. "Yeah, you?" Skye replied. "Yeah we kinda dozed off right there"Kieran chuckled. No one spoke for a long time as they stared at the campfire. Everything was peaceful and they wanted to stay that way for a long time but they knew that won't last for they have to discuss what just happened. "Kieran, do you know anything about this?" Skye broke the silence. "The what?" Kieran replied innocently. "Your fate, my fate, Dejvra's fate, Crato's fate" Skye replied "Our fate". "Ahh" Kieran pondered but didn't reply. "I swear to God Kieran, if you won't talk-" Skye threatened. "Okay. Okay I was just contemplating" Kieran said. "It's thinking, you old man" Skye joked. Both chuckled and then Kieran's face turned to a serious one. "You know the Thirteen Gods right?". "Yeah, of course" Skye replied. "You see, some dragons can communicate with the Dragon God. I am one of those" Kieran started. "I figured" Skye replied "on to the details then". "I wasn't suppose to unlock my fate until a few more years but I kinda unsealed it on my own. And when I did, I took the Tribulation of Balance. I'm guessing you took that one too". "So that's what it's called huh" Skye mused. "Yeah. So after I passed the Trial. Crato appeared and Old Gramps Jiaolong started training me." as Kieran was about to continue his story a thought interrupted him "Is there any private place we can discuss this. This is a very sensitive information. Somewhere only the two of us can hear anything not even the Gods" he stated seriously. "Dejvra? Can you do it" Skye asked. "Of course" Dejvra muttered "Let me take control of your body. It's something you can't do for a long time even with our merged form. And if I do this it will weaken me, I may not be able to seize control of your body for the next months". "Kieran, you heard him, is the information something worth the sacrifice?" Skye asked seriously. "Yes, I assure you"Kieran nodded. "Dejvra if you may" Skye said as he surrendered his control and Dejvra immediately seized it. Skye's hair began changing to abyss black as his eyes turned to void. Massive spiritual essence influx was being utilized that it flooded Kieran's senses. "Kieran, let me help him" Crato whispered to his thoughts. "Okay" Kieran affirmed as he immediately delved back to Crato's realm. Kieran's hair turned to gold with silver hues, his eyes began to shine with cosmic radiance as his form began to etherealize. "Let me help, old friend. Like the old times" Crato said as a he created a golden dome of spiritual essence. Dejvra just nodded as he had no choice. The golden dome was being covered by a black smudge that interrupted any form of scrying. A magic that defies even the Gods. Crato then created a golden ward to gather ambient essence to power the black dome of darkness. This way they don't have to supply the magic with every essence they have. Spatial fluctuations began to creep inside the dome, then darkness enveloped everything. Then nothingness. Suddenly the golden ward flashed to existence, so did Skye and Kieran. As Skye seized back the control he looked at the surroundings and he sensed nothing. He tried his echolocation but he didn't receive any feedback. "You two stay in this form, while in the dome" Crato advised. Kieran was next to seize his body in control. "Where are we?" he asked. "I don't know" Skye answered. "Dejvra you sure Gods can't even look or hear us in this place". "Not even the Old Gods can, those Thirteen can try" he said with pride. "Ok. Kieran, now we're sure. Continue the story. I don't think you can sustain that state for long". "And you can?" Kieran asked as he felt the burden of his current state. "Believe me, I can sustain this form for more than an hour" Skye said almost proudly. "Okay fine, tell me your secret after we discuss this". "So when I told you I can communicate with the Dragon God, that was not by the regular offer something and Dragon God will grant audience type of thing. The first time I met the Dragon God was when I was very young for my blessing. And when I saw him. I just knew he was lonely. Not just lonely, lonely. Like he was dying inside. And instead of the regular blessing he hugged me and said "You will suffer the same fate as mine. To gain something irreplaceable and be forced to decide whether your desires or greater good. I'm sorry child, the only thing I can do is seal your fate for now. It's the only thing I can do for you to not suffer the same loneliness as mine" I still remember those words till this day. After that meeting I receive visions. The first vision was the Dragon God telling me to never let anyone even the Gods know what he was about to share with me. I've seen everything from the eyes of another human, elf, dwarf even a dragon. All of them has a similarity they wield the same element as mine ,Light, Holy Light in particular but they seem to have lived in different ages. I see them love.. I felt them love... Then death. Despair comes afterward. I don't remember much after waking up but there is a feeling of emptiness after I wake up. Like I have lost something so dear to me. It lasts for a long time. And I hate it..." Kieran narrated his story. It was Skye's turn to be silent with the revelation. "Skye?" Kieran asked. "Skye?... Skye!" Kieran nudged Skye as his friend was in a state of trance. "Yeah? Sorry I was just lost in my thoughts" Skye said while looking in Kieran's eyes. "Do you know something?". "Kinda.. I-I've read nine different books who mentioned the same sightings of the dragons that appeared when we took the Tribulation. They are all from different ages. Like history repeating itself, over and over again" Skye stuttered nervously. "What kind of mess am I involved with?" the two boys thought. "That's another clue, we should try to find more clues about our fate.." Skye said glumly. "Hey! No need to look so down. There is no point in letting something that we can't understand as of the moment bother us. We have time. I'll leave the thinking to you, you look really good at it. While me, i'll just protect you while you're at it. If I didn't spar with you, I might think you're an absolute nerd". "Nerd? Do I really look like that?" Skye asked with a hint of sadness. "Wow this guy's really sensitive, isn't he?" Kieran thought to himself. "Dude, I was joking. Cheer up! You're a dragon, a dragon can't be a nerd" Kieran offered. "I guess so" Skye said still not convinced. Living a sheltered life, he was really concerned on what others might think about him and his friend just told him he looks like a nerd. "But I workout a LOT" Skye thought to himself. "We shoud disperse this magic. I kinda have a limit on this state if you remember" Kieran broke Skye's train of thought. "Yeah" Skye said but as expected the bond he shares with Kieran tells him he's still upset with the "nerd" comment. "Dude, really you don't look wimpy at all. We sparred and a nerd won't be able to spar with a dragon". "What? I'm not upset at all" Skye offered. "We have something like a bond. I know how you feel, you can't lie to me" Kieran said. "Oh. I'll disperse the magic first then." he said and focused on dispersing the magic. "Ok? Me too" Kieran was not happy at all and dispersed the foundations and wards Crato created. As the magic dispersed both of them let their merged forms disperse. "You're still upset" Kieran reminded, not willing to drop the conversation until his friend cheer up. Skye sighed at Kieran's persistence. "As I told you, I don't have any friends before so I don't know why, but you being my friend I kinda took your opinion of me seriously. So tell me honestly. What am I like? Do you think i'll make more friends? What would others think of me?" Skye asked in quick succession. "Look, you are my first friend too but I don't care what others think of me. I just live my life. A dragon doesn't listen to a sheep's pointless yapping" Kieran reasoned. Skye thought about Kieran's advise for a moment and cheered up afterwards. "Thanks, for cheering me up" Skye said sheepishly. "No need, brother" Kieran replied "It bothers me too you know. With our bond I kinda feel what you feel too". "Yeah and I don't need our bond to know your hungry" Skye chuckled as he heard Kieran's stomach growl. "It's getting late let's get back to the caravan. Selena might be worried about me being eaten by a dragon" Skye said. "Ooooh.. Who's this Selena babe?" Kieran teased while elbowing Skye playfully. "Stop! Selena's just a friend". "Is that so?" Kieran looked at Skye while raising his eyebrows up and down comically. "Seriously, stop. She might stop being my friend if you act like that" Skye said innocently. "If you say so. Don't be angry at me if I steal this Selena babe myself" Kieran said playfully. "Being with Kieran would be a pain in the butt" Skye mused to himself as he opened a spatial rift back to the caravan.