Chapter 769: Seren Curious About Drayce's Father
Under Evanthe's guidance, Drayce and Seren made their way to Agartha. After teleporting to a distant location high in the snowy mountains, they came to a stop.
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Evanthe looked worriedly at Seren, who was held tightly in Drayce's protective embrace. "How are you feeling, Seren?"
Seren felt tired and a little dizzy after the teleportation. She thought she had grown accustomed to it after teleporting with Drayce many times, but she realized she was wrong.
"I don't really feel good," she replied weakly, burying her face against Drayce's chest.
"Mother, it's the first time she's traveled so far at once. We should let her rest," Drayce suggested, concern etched on his face.
"You're right," Evanthe agreed. She walked closer to Seren and gently patted her head. "The journey to Agartha is more challenging than normal teleportation across the human kingdom. We will try to make it easier for you."
Seren nodded weakly, and Evanthe used a magic spell to create a resting place for them amidst the cold, snowy mountains. A small cottage appeared, complete with a fireplace, multiple lamps, and an energy barrier surrounding it to keep the snow and cold wind out.
Drayce carried Seren inside the cottage and gently laid her on the bed while Evanthe brought thick animal hide blankets and covered her.
"Although we've used magic to keep the cold at bay, we still can't completely defy nature. You'll feel the cold, but you should be fine," Evanthe added.
Wrapped in the warmth of the blankets, Seren nodded and buried her face inside them, struggling with the cold air. Even the red stone around her wrist wasn't helping. Evanthe offered her a potion, which provided some comfort.
"Dray, stay with her. I'll prepare some food and a warm drink," Evanthe said, ready to step outside.
"Mother, stay with Seren. I'll take care of the rest." Drayce couldn't let his mother do everything, especially when he felt it was his responsibility to protect the two most important women in his life.
Evanthe smiled softly, understanding his sentiment. "Alright," she agreed and sat by Seren's side.
After Drayce left, Seren asked, "Mother, get inside the blanket. You must be feeling cold as well."
"Shall I?" Evanthe chuckled. "I'm afraid a Dragon might not be too happy to see his mate being accompanied by someone else in bed, even if it's another woman."
"He won't mind. He loves you as much as he loves me," Seren assured her, "I mean both Dray and Erebus."
"As you say so," Evanthe said, slipping inside the blanket to lie next to Seren.
"It feels much warmer now," Seren commented, feeling the comforting warmth from Evanthe.
"If it were Drayce instead of me, you'd feel even warmer."
Seren suppressed a shy smile. "Mother, can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"It's about Drayce's father," Seren said hesitantly. "If you don't want to…"
"You can ask."
"Why couldn't you be with him despite him being your soulmate?" Seren asked.
"He is the most powerful being in these three realms. When someone is so powerful, they are bound by certain rules," Evanthe began. "When he became the lord of absolute darkness to protect all three realms, he was required to take a vow that he would live his life alone, without a family or children."
"Why such a rule?" Seren asked. "Shouldn't he be rewarded for protecting the realms?"
"When someone is powerful enough to protect, it becomes their responsibility to do so, as nature has chosen them by blessing them with such power. There is nothing to be reward about. Being able to protect is the reward itself," Evanthe explained.
"As for why he was asked to take those vows, they believed that if a powerful being like him were to extend his bloodline, it could become a threat to those already holding power."
"You mean the gods?" Seren asked.
"Yes."
"But he still has a son now. That means the vow was broken," Seren said, feeling a surge of worry.
"It was."
"Then, was Drayce's father punished?"
"He did break the rule, so yes, he was punished," Evanthe said, her face remaining expressionless, not revealing the emotions she kept hidden.
"Does Dray look like him?" Seren asked curiously.
Evanthe nodded with a sigh. "I carried him in my belly for nine months, but he has a few similarities with me. Anyone who had seen his father, can tell they are blood related."
"Then, his father must be truly good-looking, just like Drayce," Seren commented.
"You should say Drayce is good-looking like his father," Evanthe corrected with a faint smile.
"Yes, that's what I meant."
Seren wanted to ask more, but seeing Evanthe unusually calm, she hesitated to inquire further about him. Instead, she shifted the topic to someone else.
"Mother, have you thought about returning home?" Seren asked gently.
Evanthe shook her head. "Maybe I am not courageous enough."
Seren understood the unspoken meaning. "If you return, I believe you will be accepted with an open heart," she said, referring to Theron.
"I would have to be shameless enough to expect that," Evanthe replied with a small, wistful smile.
"It's worth the try."
"I will think about it once we've taken care of the important matters at hand."
Seren was glad that Evanthe hadn't outright rejected her suggestion. "Once we return, I'll take you to visit Prince Keiren's son."
Evanthe nodded in agreement.
Drayce returned, carrying a meal and freshly brewed tea for the three of them. He saw the two women comfortably lying inside the same blanket, talking. A warmth spread through his heart at the sight of them getting along so well, like a true family.
Evanthe looked up at Drayce. "It seems I'm fortunate enough today to eat what my son has cooked."
"He cooks really well," Seren added with a smile.
"Does the King of Megaris often enter the royal kitchen to cook for his wife?" Evanthe asked as she got out of the blanket and helped Seren sit up.
"No, but when we teleported back and forth between Megaris and Griven during Prince Arlan's wedding, we stopped at random places, and he cooked for me," Seren explained.
"So, today, I'm lucky too," Evanthe said with a soft laugh.
"Mother, if you stay with us always, I'll make sure both of us get lucky often. We'll make the King of Megaris cook for us," Seren said, looking at Drayce. "You don't mind, do you?"
"I'll do whatever you two want," Drayce replied calm and serious, serving the meal for them.
Evanthe turned to Seren, "All your words are always directed towards making me stay with you two."
Seren smiled awkwardly as if she was caught. "Umm, let's eat, I am hungry."
Evanthe chuckled.
"The aroma has made me hungry as well," Evanthe remarked as she draped the blanket around Seren, leaving enough space for her hands to move freely to eat.
"Mother, won't you feel cold?" Seren asked, concerned. "We can share the blanket while sitting."
"I'm fine, and it wouldn't be that comfortable while eating." Just as Evanthe said this, she was surprised when a warm robe was draped over her shoulders. It belonged to Drayce.
"I don't feel cold," Drayce said, his voice calm. As a dragon, he was naturally warm.
Evanthe accepted the robe, touched by her son's care. They then proceeded to eat.
"Hmm, it's indeed tasty," Evanthe commented, savoring the meal.
"Didn't I tell you?" Seren chimed in, enjoying the food as well. "Having spatial magic to keep things is great too. We can cook anywhere using the ingredients."
Evanthe nodded. "You shall learn it as well once your core is stable."
"I will," Seren promised.
"How long will it take us to reach there?" Drayce asked.
"To avoid overwhelming Seren with teleportation, it will take a few days, maybe four to five," Evanthe informed him. "Reaching Agartha itself is not easy."
After finishing the meal, Drayce let the two women sleep together in the bed while he opted for the floor.
"Are you sure you don't want to sleep with your wife?" Evanthe asked.
"I'm fine here," Drayce replied, closing his eyes and folding his hands under his head.
"In the spatial space, I only had one small bed, thinking it would be for you two," Evanthe mused. "Next time, I'll make sure to have two." As she spoke, she used a spell, and a thick blanket appeared in the air, gently covering Drayce.
Drayce quietly accepted it and settled in to sleep, comforted by the knowledge that Seren was safe with his mother by her side.
Drayce had heard it when Seren and Evanthe talked about his biological father. He never thought about him before because he had always considered Theron as his father. But hearing the talk about Him, Drayce felt curious.
Was his father, the Devil, punished by heavens for breaking the rule and having his won child? If so, the punishment must be brutal. He wondered how was he and why did he even do something which was punishable. Did he truly love his mother that much. What was their story even. He wished he knew about it.
Maybe one day he would ask his mother directly.
He asked himself if ever wished to meet his biological father, but answer was not clear. Even if he meet him, will he ever accept him as his father? He had no answer for this as well.
When Seren asked if his mother plans to return Home, he knew she was asking it for Theron's sake. But Drayce had no answer whether he wants his mother to reunite with him. Everything felt so complicated.