2026-03-01 16:00:07
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Chapter 227 GENERAL RITA
The green flames around the woman's body flickered once, then died completely. They didn't fade,they just vanished, like someone had flipped a switch.She crossed the office in quick strides, her boots clicking against the marble floor. Each step was purposeful, determined, eating up the distance between her and Jabber.Then she was there, her arms wrapping around him and pulling him into a fierce embrace.Jabber's whole body shook. His hands came up, gripping the back of her shirt like he was afraid she'd disappear if he let go. A sob tore from his throat,ugly and raw and completely unguarded."I thought…" His voice was muffled against her shoulder. "The letter said you and dad were…""Shh." Her hand came up to cradle the back of his head. "Not here. We'll talk about it later."The two girls had been hanging back, but now they rushed forward."Big brother!"The older one reached him first, wrapping her arms around his waist from the side. The younger one latched onto his other s
Chapter 226
The Empress held his eyes for another long, uncomfortable moment. Then, apparently satisfied that he'd been properly cowed, she turned her attention back to Jabber.Her expression shifted again. Not quite as warm as before, but not as cold as the look she'd given Asta either. Something in between,stern, expectant, but not actively threatening."Now then." She settled back in her chair. "Jabber. I'm going to ask one more time. What actually happened to you in that dungeon?"Jabber's mouth opened.And that's when they heard it.A woman's voice, coming from outside the double doors. Loud. Sharp. Filled with barely contained fury."I don't CARE what your protocols are! That is my SON in there and I WILL see him! Now get out of my way before I MAKE you get out of my way!"Everyone's heads turned in perfect synchronization.Flora's eyes went wide. Mira's arms uncrossed, her hands dropping to her sides. Old man Kael's eyebrows rose slightly,the most emotion Asta had seen from him since the
Chapter 225 THE DRAGON'S AURA
The question hung in the air like a blade suspended by a thread.Everyone went completely still. Flora's hands remained clasped in front of her, but her knuckles had gone white. Mira's arms stayed crossed, but her jaw tightened. Old man Kael stood like a statue, his expression unreadable.And Jabber just stood there, staring at the Empress with wide eyes. His mouth opened. Closed. No sound came out.The silence stretched. Five seconds. Ten. Twenty.The Empress waited patiently, her steepled fingers not moving, her sharp eyes never leaving Jabber's face. She had all the time in the world, and her posture said as much.Thirty seconds."I asked you a question, Jabber of the Sunarising Clan." Her voice was still pleasant, but there was an edge to it now. "What actually happened to you in that dungeon?"Jabber's throat worked. His lips parted again.Asta saw his friend struggling and couldn't take it anymore. The words came bursting out before he could stop them."It was the weird Crysta
Chapter 224
Because they had.The hallway ended at a set of double doors. These were different from all the others they'd passed. Larger. Made of dark wood that looked ancient, with silver hinges and handles that gleamed even in the dim corridor light.A plaque beside the door read: EMPRESS - SOVEREIGN RULER OF THE DRAGON NATION.Kael stopped in front of the doors. He turned to face Asta and Jabber, his expression serious."Listen carefully." He said, his voice low. "Answer her questions honestly. Don't try to hide anything or make excuses. The Empress values truth above all else. Understood?"Both boys nodded."Good." Kael reached for the handles. "And for the love of all that's holy, try not to piss her off."He pulled the doors open.The office beyond was massive. Easily three times the size of any classroom Asta had ever been in. The ceiling soared overhead, painted with a mural of dragons flying through clouds. Bookshelves lined one wall from floor to ceiling, packed with volumes that lo
Chapter 223 THE SUMMONS
Old man Kael stood in the doorway like he'd materialized out of thin air. His white beard caught the afternoon light streaming through the windows, making him look almost ethereal for a moment.Then he spoke, and the illusion shattered."Oh. Good. You're both out of bed." His eyes swept over them,Asta standing beside Jabber's bed, Jabber sitting up with tears still wet on his cheeks. "So you two. Come with me."Neither of them moved for a second. Just stared at him."Now?" Asta asked."Yes, now." Kael's tone left no room for argument. "The Empress doesn't like to be kept waiting."That got them moving.Asta's hand fell from Jabber's shoulder. Jabber swung his legs over the side of his bed, his bare feet hitting the cold wooden floor. Both of them were still in the thin cotton clothes the healers had changed them into,simple pants and loose shirts that were easier to work with for medical treatment.They glanced at each other. Some unspoken communication passed between them in tha
Chapter 222
Jabber started.But Asta was already moving. One step. Two. Each one sent jolts of pain through his body, but he kept going. Crossed the space between their beds in five careful steps.He stopped beside Jabber's bed, standing there for a moment. Trying to find the right words. Trying to figure out how to say what needed to be said.Then he just gave up on words and reached out.His hand settled on Jabber's shoulder. Warm. Solid. Real.Jabber's eyes went wide. His whole body went rigid with surprise. Slowly,so slowly,his head turned. His gaze traveled up from the floor, past Asta's hand on his shoulder, up to his face.Asta was smiling.Not a forced smile. Not a pitying smile. Just... a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes."You're not weak." Asta said quietly.Jabber's breath hitched."You're one of the strongest people I know."The tears that had been building in Jabber's eyes finally spilled over. They ran down his cheeks in twin tracks, dripping off his jaw onto the blanket
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