Vacuse soon realized that there is more to being an heir. It’s not just about giving orders. It’s also about what to do and what not to do. There are a lot of things not to do.
Immediately after the pathway rite and after everyone was dismissed, Captain Yemi came to Vacuse and immediately took him away to his new wing in the palace.
Captain Yemi is the Captain of the defensive squad, part of the squad that makes up the Dragon Guard that guards the Dragon Lord and the palace.
The Dragon Guard has a lot of squads under it, and the defensive is one of the core squads. They are the ones that are directly responsible for keeping the Dragon Lord and his heir alive.
Or, making sure they don’t die in a fight.
They are also the real elite of the Vorrakyn, also known as the Dragon Knights.
They would have been Dragon Riders when the family was at their height.
Anyway. They had taken Vacuse to his new wing in the palace, and Captain Yemi’s team had taken control for his protection.
"The New Dawn will need to go through a lot of training. They must know their job and how to serve you," Captain Yemi Aelarion said. He had green eyes that were sharp and direct.
Vacuse’s new room was big, and it combined together with a study. He was currently sitting on a chair, facing the man. "Aelarion. That’s one of our family’s vassals, right?"
Captain Yemi swept into a proper bow. "The Aelarion family will always serve the Vorrakyn. I am the second son of Count Aelarion."
Vacuse nodded while he rubbed Rith’s head. "Count Aelarion. If it was in the past, our vassals alone ruled cities and counties. They raised armies of Dragon kin and went to war in the name of the Dragon family.
"Was it three generations ago? Your family’s ancestral land was used to fund the war we had with the Orc, as none of the Western Dukes would come fight with us.
"Do you know that in the past, the West was known as the spear of the Empire, and we were kings in this land? Wherever the Dragon’s flag is raised, it is promised that there will be victory."
Slowly, Vacuse’s voice drifted into silence.
Captain Yemi shifted. "Why are you telling me this... My Lord?"
Vacuse smiled gently. "Through the years, a lot of people have been dissatisfied with my family. Tension beneath. We had become past glory without use. They had no need for us in the Empire or the West.
"We were insulted and shunned. Even the Emperor no longer keeps audience with our family, and all doors were closed to us.
"What do you think will happen when the Dragon suddenly shows its head? What will they think? That we will take revenge on them and claim what was once ours with blood and fire? They are right. But what steps do you think they would take to stop us?" Vacuse raised his brows.
Captain Yemi swallowed. "I don’t understand."
Suddenly, Vacuse laughed and broke the tension in the room. "Ah! I’m just warning you that you’ll have a very tough job protecting me in the future!
"And! The sacrifice of the vassals won’t be forgotten," Vacuse said the last part seriously.
There was silence in the room now, and the Captain looked awkward as he quickly excused himself and got out of the room.
Vacuse smiled and looked at Rith in his hand. "I don’t think he knows about his family’s betrayal."
Rith opened his eyes and glared at him. ’..his family is a betrayal?..’
"Yes. They betrayed us once. Joined Duke Frexon. As he became Count, they got their lands back and were at the forefront during the war. The Last War."
When the three Dukes finally put their differences aside and fought the Vorrakyn. Some of the vassals changed sides and came down like a hammer.
The Orcs too came at them.
Nobody helped the Vorrakyn. No region. No Emperor.
So, Drenvar called a Dragon with the blood of his children.
Vacuse’s eyes glittered like a blade. ’...that bastard... he thinks we were just like dogs that could be slaughtered for an end means. I need to think of a creative way to kill him...’
Rith’s voice came into his mind.
Vacuse still found it very strange, but he was slowly getting used to it.
’..Brat, you need to learn about the Void. I’ll ask you, what is the Void?..’
Vacuse didn’t answer with his mind. Instead, he spoke out loud with a frown on his face. "Void? Is it part of the element?"
Rith opened both of his eyes, shook himself free from Vacuse, and then flew to the back of another chair far from them. He fixed his purple eyes, and they were filled with scorn. ’..element? You don’t even know what the Void is? I guess I really have my work cut out for me..’
Vacuse’s eyes twitched, even the eye that was closed. "It’s your job, right? To teach me. That’s what the Void Dragon said."
Rith hissed softly. ’..I am the Void Dragon. Listen, brat. The Void is not a place. It is not a force. It is not even an element. It is what remains when all else has been removed. No mass. No time. No thought. No meaning. It just is..’
’..It is not evil or good. It has no emotions. Void Magic, therefore, is the deliberate act of reaching into this non-state and channeling its... effects..’
Vacuse frowned. "How can we channel what doesn’t exist? How can we use something that is nothing?"
Rith nodded. ’..Good, you’re asking the right questions..’
’..The Void is the absence of something. It exists and does not. It can’t be explained. You can only feel it on your own. After all, you have the Void in you now. How does it feel..’
Vacuse frowned, and then it deepened when he thought more about it. He looked at the tiny dragon with doubt. "It feels as if it has mass though. Didn’t you say the Void doesn’t have mass?"