The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL]-Chapter 260: Forbidden Flames and Old Truths

He straightened, kneeling up on the seat, and reached forward to cup Kael’s face between both hands. He held him gently but firmly, palms pressing on his golden dragon’s cheeks like he needed to make sure the dragon was looking only at him.

Riley found it amusing how that would’ve been unthinkable days ago, and yet now he’s out there doing something outrageous.

Kael’s golden eyes widened, startled. The confident twig smiled at him, sincerity glowing in his expression.

"None of that is on you," Riley said. "In fact, except for that monster, I think everyone else just acted based on what they believed was right at the time."

He kept Kael’s face steady, both thumbs resting just below his eyes.

"And yes, a lot has been lost. But I also believe that going through all of that is what let me become who I am today."

He took a breath, steady but soft because it sounded so cliche and yet oh so true.

"I gained a family. Parents who treated me like their own. And the cutest little brother who long thought I was the greatest thing since sliced bread, even when I was just skin and bones."

A short laugh slipped out of him.

"And I lived a life that gave me a different perspective. Most would think becoming human is like getting nerfed, but after going through the dragon trials and looking back at everything I handled with nothing but human wit, I realized how fortunate I have been."

He leaned in a little closer, eyes warm but lit by a spark of amusement.

"And imagine this. We still ended up together, even with me as a human. If I had grown up as a dragon, what would our bond have been based on? Daily shell buffing?"

Kael’s brow furrowed at that, confused and slightly offended at the idea.

Riley only laughed and leaned forward to plant a loud, exaggerated smooch right on that furrowed spot.

Then he added, "We have so many years ahead of us now. We just have to root out the traitors so we can finally be rid of them."

Kael’s face was still smushed between Riley’s hands, and he gave him a questioning look.

Riley nodded sagely. "Uh-huh. Because, unfortunately, only the good die young, since the devil looks after his own. And someone who could frame an entire dragon clan? That one ought to be immortal."

Kael stared at him, slowly processing the strange human proverb.

Riley only tightened his hold on his cheeks with a proud nod, as if this explained everything.

Because honestly, how could anyone expect him to believe that a clan that had produced dragon lords would be unaware of something even a descendant of his clan’s butler knew?

And would any clan seeking a greater position risk their necks for something they should have known would seriously destroy them?

Probably not.

But what do you know, Riley was headed somewhere with his thoughts, because his mother said, "That’s actually one of the reasons why we couldn’t just return you."

"Aside from your slumber and how, because of the seal, you began releasing mana, one reason Lord Rueben asked that you be kept hidden was because of all the odd inconsistencies he noticed as more things came to light."

"Inconsistencies?" Both Kael and Riley turned toward Renee.

"Yes. Because dragons cannot wield forbidden flames, nor would they survive being engulfed by them. And from what they know, that is the very reason it was sealed in the first place."

"Seeing the estate burning with it was one thing. But because Lord Rueben saw how the monster could wield it against him, there were too many doubts to ignore. Others would not have known about that, and it seemed like even Lord Kael didn’t see the monster wield it, but the old man did."

"Back then, the vassals asked the same thing. How could the monster be a dragon if it had been able to both use and survive the flames long enough to commit all those crimes? But at the same time, how could it not be a dragon, or at least related to one, when it had been able to enter a dragon’s tomb to unseal the forbidden flame?"

Renee then pointed at the fang. "See, even if the vassals had known about dragon remains and their benefits, none of us would have been able to get this for you if it hadn’t been specifically left where you were originally placed. If your ancestors left this inside a crypt, then that would’ve been out of reach for us because those tombs wouldn’t allow non-dragons inside."

"And then there was the use of the secret path. Entering by accident through that area was possible. The marks the monster left weren’t exactly covert. But Lord Rueben knew the general place where he last saw that monster, and the two areas were nowhere near each other. So how could it be a pure coincidence that it was leaving through the secret path again?"

The vassals tried to come up with explanations, but nothing fit. Then they heard about the white dragons being wiped out, and they realized something was really wrong.

No one knew what the intruder was, or why it was specifically looking for the egg, but whoever was involved in the attack was deeply rooted in dragon society.

"Lord Rueben was adamant about keeping you safe, and from then on, the vassals searched for different ways to hide you."

Riley felt a tight warmth in his chest. He was touched in a way he could not hide. So many people had wanted him to live.

He swallowed and asked, "Lord Rueben... did he...?"

He could not bring himself to ask if the old vassal had died because of him. He only wanted to know what happened.

Renee smiled gently. "He passed from natural causes. He survived long enough to pass on more knowledge, including information about your inheritance."

Riley let out a breath he had not realized he was holding. Relief washed through him. Lord Rueben had made it out alive.

But someone hissed at the word inheritance.

Thyrran.

Riley flinched, then scrambled, as if suddenly remembering that the guardian, err, familiar would now be anywhere around him. "Oh. Right. The fang! Thyrran, you said I needed to get my hands on my inheritance, right? Here it is!"

Thyrran hissed. "Young Master... How can that possibly be your inheritance?"

Riley’s eyes widened. "But it was left for me."

"Of course," the guardian replied. "But that is not the inheritance. That’s merely sustenance."

"???"

Lawrence stepped in. "Lord Thyrran is right. While something like that could be a type of inheritance, it is not your birthright."

He glanced at Kael, inviting him to explain.

The golden dragon nodded. "Unless it’s actually inside that space, then yes, that couldn’t be it. A dragon’s inheritance is usually the collective knowledge of its predecessors. There can be material things, but the true inheritance is knowledge. It is why dragons seem to understand what to do even when young. Like how to shift between forms."

Riley blinked at him, trying to process that.

Then his eyes grew huge.

He gasped.

Because sure enough, how does one actually change forms?

Panic started rising in his chest. He turned to his mother. "Mom. My inheritance. What do I do? Where is it?"

"I have an idea where it is stored," Renee said. "But son, you can’t go out like that."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Sweetheart, right now, you physically look like a human. Other humans probably wouldn’t think anything different as well. But to everyone else, you’re like a little beacon with your draconic mana. If you go out like that, everyone and their cousins will know you’re not human."

"!!!"

"Shit. What do I do? How do I hide this?" Riley asked, clutching his head.

Thyrran replied, utterly unimpressed. "Practice."

"You can practice that?"

"Yes. And since you are going to do that anyway, you might as well bring that child along. After all, with the seal lifting, he’s going to discover several new things about himself."

"???"

Riley stared blankly for a moment.

Then it hit him.

And it couldn’t have been clearer when he looked over to his mother, who had that kind of knowing smile.

If his mother were a full drake...

Then Liam, his sweet cutiepie brother, had to be part drake too.

Riley almost fell over.