A quiet filled the carriage, stretching on as Zarak seemed lost in thought. He was not much of a talker, and it showed.
Noticing his thoughtful expression, the princess leaned back slightly, a small, encouraging smile on her lips.
"If there's anything on your mind, feel free to ask," she said. "This carriage is enchanted, no sound will escape it unless I allow it."
Zarak glanced around, taking in the faint runes entwined into the surface of the carriage, pulsing with subtle, magical energy.
The spell ensured that whatever was said here stayed within these walls. Reassured, he leaned forward, his gaze sharpening with interest.
"Do you know anything about those attackers?" he asked, his voice steady yet carrying a note of curiosity. "That ambush didn't seem random. It was planned."
The princess tilted her head, studying him before nodding.
"You're right," she replied. "It was no coincidence."
"But... why target you?" he asked, watching her closely.
A faint smile touched her lips. "Are you truly curious?"
He nodded.
"Somewhat," he admitted, his tone calm.
The last attacker, especially, had piqued his curiosity. The figure who managed to escape had felt
different
. The dark aura that figure had emitted felt as if it did not belong to this realm.
Furthermore, His skill had not affected that figure at all, something that didn't happen often. And there was an unsettling element, that one had no soul.
In this world, each and every sentient being had one, even animals and creatures he'd encountered in his travels.
But that man had felt empty, like a shell with something crucial missing. Which only intensified his curiosity.
The princess observed him in silence, her gaze unreadable beneath her veil. Then she spoke.
"I know a little about them," she said slowly. "This group is new, but they have been systematically targeting people of influence across the land; nobles, wealthy merchants, military leaders. It seems they seek out those who hold some form of power."
Her tone turned colder. "Which would explain why I was on their list."
"People with influence..." Zarak murmured, piecing things together. He frowned, pondering her words. "But what's the purpose? What could they gain from such a targeted approach?"
The princess shook her head, her expression somber. "We don't know their exact motives yet. The few attackers we managed to capture knew almost nothing; only symbols, a few strange rituals, and promises of power. They operate from the shadows, and by the time we're aware of their presence, they're already gone."
Zarak's mind raced, considering the implications. Whoever these attackers were, they were no ordinary criminals or mercenaries. They had a purpose that went beyond typical violence or revenge.
These attackers had skill and resources, likely backed by someone who knew how to destabilize authority and create fear.
"There's more than one Dragon King?" he asked, his tone full of wonder.
"Oh yes!" The old man nodded eagerly. "There are six Dragon Kings alive in this age. Each of them rules over their own land and empire, each considered a force of nature in their own right."
Zarak tilted his head, pondering the revelation. "But why are they called Dragon Kings? Do they possess the powers of a dragon?"
The old man gave a wistful smile, shaking his head. "Something even more potent, lad. They carry the blessing of the mythical Dragon God himself, or so it's believed. They're like human embodiments of dragons, feared and revered by all."
"Dragon God..." Zarak murmured, mulling over the term.
He'd heard stories of the mythical being, but as far as he knew, it was a figure that existed only in ancient lore, something of legend, like the dragons themselves.
The old man's voice softened, as if speaking of secrets barely remembered by time. "Of course, it's all speculation. No one alive has actually seen a dragon. But the power these Dragon Kings wield is real enough for the entire world to bow to their presence."
Zarak nodded slowly, the weight of the old man's words sinking in. So, the princess's father was one of these six Dragon Kings, a ruler not just by blood but by a power that set him apart from ordinary men.
The absence of such a figure, he realized, was more than just a gap in leadership; it was like a mountain missing from the landscape.
Zarak nodded recalling the dusty tomes he had poured over back in the Holy Land.
In the ancient records, dragons were not mere myth, they were real, majestic beings who once roamed the lands, creatures of such immense power that they could bend the world to their will.
Yet, curiously, the texts never spoke of their downfall, leaving a void as deep as their legends. He could only wonder if any trace of them truly lingered in the world.
"You know quite a bit," came the princess's voice, her dark eyes now fixed on the old man with a hint of appraisal.
The old man chuckled, tipping his head in a humble gesture.
"I'm a wanderer. It's my second nature to collect bits and pieces of the world's forgotten tales." He smiled, a touch of mystery glinting in his gaze.
"Even so," she continued, "not many know of the Dragon King title."
The old man chuckled, leaning back with a mischievous grin.
"Ah, well, maybe I've walked paths few others have," he said, chuckling under his breath. His laughter carried a weight that seemed to hint at countless untold stories.
Zarak listened intently, his curiosity mounting. He finally asked, "If the Emperor has the Dragon God's blessing, does that make him the strongest powerhouse in the empire?"
The princess's gaze shifted, her expression cooling as she considered his question. Then, she slowly shook her head.
"Father Emperor is indeed one of the strongest," she replied, her tone steady, "but he is not the strongest."
Zarak's brow furrowed, fascinated. "Then who could possibly surpass the Emperor?"
He knew emperors were usually considered the highest powers in the mortal world, rulers with influence and power above all.
A faint smile curved under her veil.
"That," she said, "would be the Holy Scion."