The Inner Odyssey

Drakon walked through the citadel of the Ember Clan. Both his steps and heart were heavy.

The reason?

What he was about to face.

Or rather, who he was going to face….

Drakon dreaded this meeting for more reasons than one. Not the least because he always felt small and insignificant after they finished.

…Weak and inferior.

Like a little bug.

The Ember heir shook his head.

He studied the lavish corridors of his home to help distract himself from his nerves. Plush rugs spread as far as the eye could see. Chandeliers fitted with mana crystals hung from the ceiling at certain intervals. On the walls, breathtaking paintings were also displayed.

Some of them depicted a few harrowing battles closer to the inception of the Apocalypse. Some included pictures of extinct Fire Beasts, such as the Mighty Dragons.

Others merely settled for drawing a roaring blaze.

But the most important and grandiose of them all…

Was set up right in the very heart of the Citadel.

It portrayed a valiant man staring up towards the heavens. Flames surrounded his figure, providing an awe-inspiring sight.

This man was no doubt a great hero.

…And the founder of his clan.

Already accustomed to the mural that depicted his great-grandfather in stunning detail, Drakon didn't linger. Instead, he nodded silently to the guards standing outside the door which outlined where his meeting would take place.

Drakon allowed an indifferent mask to slip on his face. He hoped it would hide his intense discomfort. Taking a deep breath, the Ember heir stepped forward and rapped his knuckles on the door.

"Who is it?"

An authoritative voice that brimmed with power resounded from the other side.

"Drakon."

He called out in response.

There was a brief pause before the voice spoke again.

"Come in."

The Ember Heir took one last breath before he entered the lion's den. Immediately, a wave of heat assaulted Drakon's senses.

The source was none other than a man wearing a red robe.

…The Patriarch of the Ember Clan.

A person who also unfortunately happened to be his father.

The room Drakon had entered was simple. It was wide, almost expansive.

Tatami mats covered every inch of the floor.

His father, Magnus, sat close to the centre, his back to him facing the far wall. The Ember Clan's Ancestral tablet was in his hands.

…A safeguard to protect it from any external threats.

That, and Drakon also knew that his father wanted to use it to see if it could help the Patriarch rank up further. A dark expression flickered across his face.

To the far left of the room, an impressive hearth crackled softly.

He took a shaky break and forcefully stopped his limbs from shaking.

This room was a source of great trauma for him.

Drakon gritted his teeth, banishing the dark memories from his mind. He wasn't here to enter a petty squabble. He had a more important reason for requesting this meeting.

Drakon sensed something almost imperceptible brush against his figure.

Suddenly, he saw the Patriarch shake his head.

"What do you want?"

The Ember heir clenched his teeth with greater force as he heard the blunt and slightly cold tone. He knew then that he had disturbed his father's meditation.

Drakon took a deep breath to calm his rage.

Then, with as much calmness as he could muster, he uttered:

"I would like permission to use the Clan's Ancestral Pool."

Silence shrouded the room.

Drakon froze and held his breath, not daring to move an inch. The silence continued for a few moments before the temperature in the room abruptly rose.

"Why?"

Drakon began to sweat under the intensity of Magnus's aura.

He resisted the urge to step back and straightened.

"I want to start over and fix the mistakes I made. This time, I want to make sure I consolidate my foundation."

The Ember heir replied truthfully. He also added a hint of sincerity in his voice, something he hadn't done in a long time.

The action slightly surprised Drakon.

Was seeing the extent of the love Celeste held for Alden really enough to shake him up like this?

Apparently.

'It's weird. I'm not sure I like it.'

Drakon found his recent behaviour to be a little strange. There was no denying that it was for the better, though, considering it had helped open his eyes and make him aware that he had to change. Especially regarding his core.

Only by starting anew could he remove that frustrating bottleneck.

Drakon inwardly hoped his father would accept. Though, knowing the man, he probably wouldn't care about what he did.

Like always…

It was how Drakon had gotten away with doing so much, even when he behaved unreasonably or even tyrannically at times. There was only one thing the Patriarch of the Ember Clan cared about, and it wasn't him.

Drakon internally shook his head at his father's crazed pursuit for strength. A hint of bitterness couldn't help but resurface in his heart.

"Is that all?"

Magnus spoke in a cold tone, a contrast to the growing temperature inside the room.

"Yes."

Drakon responded firmly.

Just when he feared his skin would start to burn, Magnus's fiery aura suddenly winked out.

"Very well. You may leave. Do not disturb me again."

Faced with that answer, Drakon only clenched his teeth and lowered his head.

"Thank you for the opportunity, Father. I will not disappoint."

There was no response.

Suppressing his emotions that threatened to boil over, Drakon silently turned around and left the room. He ignored the guards standing outside, clinging tighter to his indifferent mask.

Drakon was afraid that if he didn't keep his expression neutral, all the hurt and frustration he had let build up over the years would explode forth. And that would be counterproductive.

It was better to keep sealing them away. Maybe in the future, fate might hand him an opportunity to deal with the mess inside him.

Right now, though…

He had much more important things to do.

Drakon's indifference slowly faded into determination.

The Ember heir quickly made his way over to his Clan's Ancestral Pool… ready to destroy his core.