The Heir Of The Last Dragon

6. Farewell in the Crystal Room

The light from the thousands of crystals hanging from the ceiling of the Eldertree cave blinded Ethan's eyes for a moment. This room was unlike the narrow corridors they had passed through before, this was a giant dome where the air felt sweet and warm, a stark contrast to the aura of death that had been chasing them from the surface. In the center of the room, a pool of clear water emitted a thin white vapor that smelled fragrantly of sandalwood.

"What place is this?" Ethan whispered, as he lowered his father’s body, which was beginning to feel stiff.

"The Sanctuary of the Guardians," Isyra answered. She lowered her hood, revealing a face that was exhausted yet still looked firm. "The roots of the Eldertree absorb life energy from within the earth and filter it here. This is the only place where the shadow poison cannot spread."

Bryan immediately laid Mr. Eldravar on a bed of soft moss near the pool. He wiped the sweat from the old man’s forehead.

"Ethan, look. His breathing is starting to calm down."

Sure enough, as soon as Mr. Eldravar inhaled the air in that room, his agonizing cough subsided. His skin tone, which had been a pale gray, slowly began to show a hint of life again. However, Ethan knew this was only temporary.

Isyra stood at the edge of the pool, staring toward the dark tunnel on the opposite side of the hall.

"We cannot carry him any further, Ethan. The journey after this will pass through steep cliffs and underground monster hunting grounds. Taking him along will only kill him faster, or worse, slow us down until we are captured."

Ethan clenched his fists. "You are telling me to leave him here? In this hole in the ground all alone?"

"He will not be alone," interrupted a voice that emerged from behind a crystal pillar.

A middle-aged man in ancient monk’s clothing appeared. His movements were incredibly smooth, almost silent. In his hand was a wooden staff whose tip glowed dimly. Isyra bowed her head slightly as a sign of respect.

"His name is Silas. He is the guardian of this sacred place," Isyra explained to Ethan, who had already prepared to draw his sword. "He has guarded the remnants of the dragon clan’s history here for decades."

Silas approached, examining Mr. Eldravar’s wound with a wise gaze.

"He will be safe here, young man. The water of this pool will put him into a state of stasis. The poison will not disappear, but time for him will stop turning. He will not feel hunger, thirst, or pain until you return with the antidote."

Ethan fell silent.

He looked at his father, who was now sleeping soundly. A great wave of guilt hit his chest. Since his mother died, he had promised he would not let his father suffer alone. However, he saw his father’s hand, blackened by the poison, a reminder that if he were selfish and kept bringing him along, he would only hasten his father’s own death.

"How long can he survive here?" Ethan asked hoarsely.

"As long as the Eldertree still stands," Silas answered calmly. "But remember, if you fail in the Valtherion Valley, Axandra’s darkness will reach these roots, and everything will end."

Bryan stood up, patting Ethan’s shoulder firmly.

"Ethan, he is right. Your father will be safer here than with us, who are constantly being hunted. Let him rest. Now, it is our turn to work."

Ethan took a deep breath, trying to swallow the bitterness of reality. He knelt beside his father, whispering a soft promise in his ear that he would return.

Rion, who had been observing Silas with great caution, approached Mr. Eldravar and licked his cheek once, as if giving a sign of farewell.

"Alright," Ethan stood up, his eyes now glinting with a sharper determination. "We will entrust him here."

Isyra nodded.

"Our time is short. Nayana, check our food supplies. Bryan, you must be ready, because after this gate, we will enter territory where the king’s trackers no longer use human eyes, but the scent of monsters."

The friction between Ethan and Isyra that had occurred earlier still left an awkwardness. Ethan did not say much, but he began to notice the way Isyra interacted with Silas. There was a sense of respect and knowledge that ordinary people did not possess. Isyra was not just a runaway princess; she was part of a larger plan.

"Why do you care so much about my father’s fate?" Ethan asked suddenly while they were preparing their gear.

Isyra paused for a moment while sharpening her slender sword.

"Because losing a parent is a hole that can never be closed, Ethan. And because I need you to focus. If you keep worrying about his safety every time we fight, you will make another fatal mistake."

Ethan snorted, but this time he did not retaliate with anger. He knew Isyra was right.

Suddenly, Rion let out a different kind of shriek. The small dragon’s body began to emit hot steam. His blue scales, which were previously soft, began to harden and form sharp patterns along his spine. His wings stretched wider, and for the first time, Ethan felt a denser surge of power flowing through their soul bond.

"He is beginning to change," Silas murmured while observing Rion. "He is absorbing the crystal energy in this room. His first transformation has begun."

Rion flew in circles around the ceiling of the crystal hall; his movements were now much faster and stronger. He spat a clump of frost-fire that froze one of the crystal pillars until it shattered into pieces.

"His power is increasing, but be wary, Ethan," Silas warned. "The stronger he becomes, the greater the burden you will receive. If you do not train your mind, that dragon’s power will burn your soul from the within."

"I am ready," Ethan replied shortly.

After giving his final respects to Silas and ensuring his father was asleep under the protection of the pool’s energy, the group began to move toward the gate at the end of the hall. Bryan and Nayana walked slightly ahead to ensure no scouts had managed to penetrate the root crevices.

"What is our plan now?" Bryan asked while checking his dagger.

"We will take the Shadow Path toward the valley," Isyra explained. "Axandra will think we remain on the surface. If we are fast enough, we will reach the valley border before his main forces realize they are chasing empty shadows in the Valtherion forest."

Ethan walked at the very back, staring at Rion who was now perched back on his shoulder. Rion felt heavier, and his body temperature was more stable. The feeling of loss regarding his father he tucked away into a small box in the corner of his heart, turning it into fuel for an anger that was now more measured.

"Isyra," Ethan called softly.

The woman turned without stopping her pace.

"Thank you. For the necklace, and for this place."

Isyra fell silent for a moment, a reaction she rarely showed. She nodded slowly before refocusing on the path ahead.

"Save your thanks until we succeed in killing Axandra, Ethan. The real journey has only just begun."

They then stepped out of the Eldertree’s crystal light, entering back into the deeper darkness of the underground corridors, toward the destiny that was already waiting at the end of the road.