Reawakening: Primordial Dragon with Limitless Mana

"There are a few things you should know about the dragon realm before you just walk into the place," Fiona said, her tone carrying the weight of someone who had seen too much. They had finished their lunch, the three of them wandering lazily across the wide lawn, but her words immediately pulled the air tight.

Hades turned his head, eyes narrowing. "You've been there before?"

Fiona nodded slowly. "I have traveled the world. Before I became... what I am now to the people here, I had no purpose. To find it, I wandered."

Hades hummed, but his expression betrayed a quiet curiosity. He could feel the walls she had around herself, but at least, after their earlier talk, they weren't as sharp as before.

Beside him, Luna remained silent, though her steps betrayed her eagerness. She wanted—no, needed—to know more about the realm she had yet to step into.

Fiona's gaze hardened. "The dragon's realm is not like this place of peace and green. It is cruel. And considering your lineage, you must be very careful of the three clans."

Luna's head snapped towards him. Panic struck her voice. "Wait! You told her about your lineage?"

Hades's shoulders stiffened, embarrassment flashing across his face. "She… guessed. She knew I belonged to the only family that worships the Dragon of Chaos. But she didn't know I was his blood."

Luna froze, her voice trembling as her eyes widened. "Hades… you know you can't tell anyone that. Not even someone I trust with my life."

Fiona's low hum carried no comfort. "She's right. If I had been born five centuries earlier, I would have killed you myself for being connected to that entity."

The words hit him like a stone to the chest. His head dropped. "I… yeah. I'm sorry. I'll be careful."

Fiona let out a long breath. "Careful or not, sooner or later the entire realm will know."

Hades frowned. "Even if I move in secrecy?" He had hoped to slip into the realm, train, and only reveal himself when he was strong enough to stand against anyone.

But Fiona shook her head. "The very air of that realm brims with energy. The moment you breathe it in, it will seep into you, and your presence will be like a beacon. It won't take long before the clans realize that a calamity has arrived."

Hades winced, his chest tight. Goodbye, peace.

Luna broke the silence, her voice low but sharp. "Do you know anything about what happened a thousand years ago? Why do the others hate the Dragon of Chaos?"

Fiona hesitated. Her face shadowed for a heartbeat before she spoke. "Other than the chaos he's blamed for, I've only heard whispers. Don't take my words as the absolute truth."

But when she glanced at the two teenagers, their eyes burned with expectation. She sighed, a heaviness settling on her shoulders.

"I heard Zerathos was the youngest, yet strong enough to rival even the eldest—the Primordial of Life." Her voice faltered, the weight of blasphemy hanging on her tongue. She worshipped him, yet still she spoke.

"...Some say the chaos began when Zerathos defeated his elder brother in a duel… and then forced his mark upon his brother's wife."

"...!!"

The world seemed to stop. Hades froze in place, his feet refusing to move. Luna's gasp tore through the silence as she stared at him, horrified.

Inside, Hades's heart pounded violently. 'Is she… telling the truth?' he demanded an answer from the inner voice.

But the silence in his mind was deafening.

He bit down hard on his lower lip, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. His chest felt heavy, twisted.

Was he truly the bastard Samarella once called him?

Fiona soon added, her tone softening, "As I said, I don't have any evidence of the words I spoke. So… don't take it too seriously."

Hades was the first to answer, his voice steady but low. "I understand."

There was no point in tormenting himself over events that belonged to a time a thousand years buried.

He could not change the blood that ran through his veins. He could not erase the shadow of his past. But he could decide what kind of man he would become now. That much was his choice.

He clenched his fists, a silent vow tightening inside him. He would never let himself turn into that.

Lifting his gaze, Hades looked around at the quiet stretch of lawn, at the fragile peace wrapped around this moment. For the first time, he let himself breathe in its calm.

The blood of the Primordial Dragon of Chaos might flow within him, but that didn't mean he had to walk the same path of ruin.

Not now. Not ever.

...

They decided to stay here for today and leave tomorrow early in the morning.

"Are you sure you would be fine?" Luna asked for the third time as she looked at Hades who had settled over the bed.

The redhead sighed, "I am fine, Luna. Don't worry about me and just go."

They weren't sleeping together today, for obvious reasons.

Not only because it would have been...awkward but also because Luna had to catch up with her grandmother.

During the day, Hades had been around most of the time so surely now they want to spend some alone granddaughter-grandma time.

Luna smiled at him before leaning toward him and giving him a sweet kiss.

"Good night," she said before making her way out of the room.

Hades sighed as he folded his arms behind his head and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling for some time.

Then he suddenly called out, "Maylie, can you come out?"

From under the bed, a shadow emerged and once the darkness faded, there she was.

Hades sighed, "I didn't know until today that you keep stalking me." Fiona told him about Maylie's presence in his shadow. He was both shocked and exasperated.

"I apologize, young Lord, but your safety is my duty." She responded, not a speck of remorse in her voice.

Hades sat up and looked at her, "What if I don't want you to follow me?"

"I apologize but until the ascension, the only person whose words I follow is the Matriarch."

Hades grumbled, it was pointless.

Moving his head away, he exhaled a weary sigh.

Then he looked back at her and asked, "The person you call Matriarch...is she my mother?"

"Yes, young Lord."

Hades hummed before asking, "Hmm...how is she like?"

A very subtle shift in her facial expression as the lady spoke, "Courageous, cruel and gorgeous."

Hades's brows elevated, "That's quite a way to describe a person."

Not so long after he closed his eyes as a few words left his lips, 'Well, I hope she doesn't outright reject me.'

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.