For thousands of years, Kuria Prison had been unbreakable. This was a fortress carved from the depths of Linemall's seas, where monsters, traitors, nightmares, legends and myths were locked away. It was built by Lukas' ancestor, the first of the Drakos bloodline and perhaps the strongest Dragon to have ever lived.
It was more than a prison.
It was a promise made by the Drakos bloodline.
A promise to the people of Linemall that no enemy of the dragons would ever walk free again. The Drakos Household had made sure that promise was never broken, even during the Great War which ravaged the draconic race.
Until now.
The news of the Kraken's escape had spread like wildfire. For the Dragons of the Seas, he was more than just a criminal; the Kraken was something right out of the folktales their mothers used to tell them before they went to bed. The Cthulhu had just been a figment of their imagination, the notorious enemy of any Dragon who lived in the Seas. And now that nightmare had come to life in the worst way possible.
Kuria had stood for millennia, unchallenged. No one in living memory had ever escaped its grasp. If the Kraken had broken free, then what else was possible? What other nightmares could escape to terrorize the Seas?
The towns, once lively with trade and laughter, now carried only hushed conversations and hurried footsteps.Merchants locked their doors. Even the rowdiest taverns fell silent. Because the Kraken was out there. And worse, he could be anywhere.
His power was unlike any other. It was the power over the mind. His voice could twist reality, turning brothers against each other, sons against their mothers. No one knew how far his influence had already spread.
But it wasn't just fear that was affecting the Seas. It was doubt.
For the first time in decades, the nobles and Dragonborn of the Seas found themselves at a crossroads. Who would they follow? The newly awakened Lukas Drakos, heir to a forgotten throne, or the Kraken, a name that had haunted their bloodline for generations? The Drakos family had ruled these waters since the first Dragon Lords carved their names into legend, but time had eroded their power. And now, as the Kraken's grip tightened, an unspoken question loomed over Linemall like a storm on the horizon:
Was the Age of Dragons finally over?
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Lukas sat in the office that had once belonged to all the previous Dragon Lords before him, slumped over his desk. Katrina had gone to report what had happened to her grandmother, Lady Kaitlyn Drakos. He had sent away the guards, dismissed his attendants, and let the silence settle in. He needed to be alone with his thoughts and let the events that had just transpired to sink in.
The Kraken was on the loose.
He sat up as thoughts whirled around in his head, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the wooden desk. He needed a plan, a new one. He knew now what his opponent was capable of and what he had to do to put an end to this whole mess. Lukas just had to make sure everything was done right, executed perfectly to a tee. He could not allow for any margin of error, no matter how small. This was more than just a battle of strength, it was mental warfare. It was the type of fight he loved the most.
A hard knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
Did these Dragons not understand when he said he wanted to be left alone?
"Come in." He said begrudgingly with a soft sigh but the annoyance faded as he realized who had stepped into his office.
It was Samuel Sterling. He had broken an arm which was now in a sling, thanks to Lukas but otherwise Samuel seemed just fine. Behind him, stood Jesse Sterling. They both greeted him with a bow, paying their proper respects to the Lordling.
Samuel was the first to speak. "I came to thank you, my Lord."
"For?" Lukas asked, intrigued. But he knew the answer. He just wanted to feel a little better about himself after what had happened earlier that day.
"For sparing my life." The Dragonborn's voice was rough, but there was no hesitation. "And for proving that you are a better man than I expected. The Sterlings…have been at odds with the Drakos Household for centuries, ever since the Great War. I think it's about time we put that to rest."
Lukas was not expecting that and he didn't even know what to say in response. He still knew frighteningly little about the history of Linemall and its inhabitants: Dragon Kind. He watched as both Samuel and Jesse got down on one knee and lowered their heads towards Lukas, shocked at their display of fealty.
"From this moment forth, the Sterling Family swears loyalty to you, Lukas Drakos." Samuel vowed, awaiting his response.
"I…I heard what you did for my father. Thank you, my Lord. We will provide any information you need to bring down the Kraken." Jesse said, flashing him a genuine grateful smile. The boy seemed a lot less moody now that he had his father back home, he probably hadn't seen him for a while now.
Lukas studied him, then Samuel, and saw something he hadn't expected. Genuine respect. Trust. The weight of an oath not made lightly.
"Thank you. I appreciate it. Truly."
Samuel exhaled, glancing toward the chair. "May we sit?"
He nodded and Samuel hesitated for only a moment before speaking again. "I am ready to return to my duties as Warden of Kuria." Jesse shot him a look of concern, clearly he had not known his father would say this.
"But you're still injured, no?" Lukas gestured at his arm which was in a cast, it didn't look like he'd be returning to work any time soon.
"This is nothing you should be concerned about, I w-"
"No. From this day forth, you will be stepping down as the Warden of Kuria Prison. You've done your part, Samuel. Be a father to your sons. Be a member of the court, a Dragonborn, an advisor. I will need your knowledge and perhaps even your guidance." Lukas thought it was better if he could use a man of his experience at the Palace. They needed all the help they could get here and he already someone who could be Samuel's successor to become the next Warden.
Samuel looked relieved but Jesse looked like he was almost about to cry as he nodded towards Lukas in thanks. He knew Lukas had done it to keep his father out of harm's way and he would not forget this. At the end of the day, even as ruthless as the kid was, Jesse Sterling was still a kid and he loved his dad more than anything in the world; even money.
Samuel did seem a bit curious though. "Guidance? What could I possibly hope to guide you in? You are far more powerful than I, my Lord."
"The magic you used against me," Lukas said. "The magic of the winds. I want you to teach me how to wield it."
A slow smile tugged at the old Dragonborn's lips. "I'm afraid I can't do that, boy. The magic of the winds is a Sterling secret. This is a magic created by the Dragons of the Skies, my Lord. You…are a Drakos. You are born to wield the power of your forefathers. You are born to wield the Magic of the Seas. And there is no better person to teach you this other than Lady Kaitlyn for she is the greatest sorceress that the Seas have ever seen in thousands of years."
"You flatter me, Sam. It's been a while since I've seen you. Time has not been kind to you old friend." A familiar voice spoke from the doorway as Lukas stood to greet the Royal Consort.
"Lady Kaitlyn, I see time has not made you any nicer either." Samuel shot back with a bow, remaining as cordial as ever.
Samuel and Jesse both rose from their chairs, understanding that it was time to take their leave. They glanced at Lukas for permission to leave and he nodded in approval. "I will be in touch soon, Jesse. We have much to discuss."
With that, the Sterlings took their leave.
Lukas had been dreading their next meeting. He had promised her he'd take down the Kraken and now he had escaped from Kuria Prison. The Seas of Linemall were in absolute panic over the news. Yet she did not scold him. She did not berate him for his choices. Instead, she studied him with an unreadable expression, and when she finally spoke, her words were soft but firm.
"You…are your father's son, Lukas. More so even than my own, Rodan." Lady Kaitlyn finally said.
Lukas didn't know what to say to that either, on the fact that he did not remember his older half-brother Rodan; let alone the father who had passed long ago.
"You are like your father because you love your people, Lukas. I was not sure of you. You seemed hungry for power and I worried that was the only thing that mattered to you. It seemed I was wrong. I'm sure of it now."
He didn't want to admit it but…the more he thought about it, the more he truly liked being here. He liked where he was now. He liked who he was now. For the first time in his life, he was fighting for something more than just his own self-worth. He was fighting for more than just his own sake. He was fighting because he…he was beginning to care about these people. He cared about these dragons, he cared about the Seas. Because he wasn't alone anymore. He had people to care about. He had people to fight for.
"Sure of what?" Lukas asked.
"You are the heir to the throne, Lukas. And it is time I teach you the magic of the Drakos Family. You've relied far too much on your physicality, though impressive, will not get you far. There are many powerful beings in the world of Hiraeth and you will become powerful enough to protect Linemall for any who threaten its safety. And when you do eventually master the Magic of the Seas, Lukas Drakos, you will no longer be the heir."
She stepped closer, the weight of her presence pressing down like the ocean itself.
"You will be the Lord of the Seas."