Alistair exchanged a glance with Riseth, who raised an eyebrow as they watched Sotarr approach King. Sotarr had so far refused to interact with King in particular. He had been reluctant to help with their summons in general, often saying the time wasn’t right to teach them, but he hadn’t offered any input at all when it came to King.

  King held his head high as he met Sotarr’s eyes, their humanoid forms standing equal in height. Alistair couldn’t help but wonder if that was a subconscious or deliberate choice on King’s part—or perhaps just a coincidence.

  Sotarr gave a polite nod, his smile unwavering. "I congratulate you on your ascension, young one. I had no doubt you would achieve it, though I hadn’t expected you to become a progenitor."

  "Thank you," King said curtly while maintaining eye contact.

  Sotarr let out another chuckle. "Apologies for my standoffish behavior until now. Not only is it considered poor etiquette for a dragon of my station to involve myself in a wyvern’s ascension, but it would also have diminished the outcome of your ascension. Even teaching Alistair was already skirting the boundaries, and I didn’t want your records to be tarnished by my actions."

  Realization crossed King’s face, and he gave a polite bow, his demeanor visibly less strained. "Your consideration is appreciated, Master Sotarr."

  "Do not call me master, for I am merely the teacher of your summoner," Sotarr replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "I am, however, surprised to see that you chose to remain with Alistair after your ascension. I wouldn't have been surprised if you took the opportunity to sever your pact and join his clan or even strike out on your own,"

  King let out a huff before shaking his head. "I owe Alistair my life, and I greatly benefited from his teachings and care. I am not so ungrateful as to leave him at the first opportunity, especially since he would grant me my independence if I asked for it."

  "A wyvern of pride indeed... though perhaps I should now say dragon?" Sotarr remarked, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "So, you will stay true to your commitments?" he questioned.

  King raised his chin, his draconic eyes locking with Sotarr’s in a challenging gaze.

  "I will continue to follow him and enjoy the perks our relationship provides," King said. Then, with a faint smirk, he added, "If he and Riseth ever fall behind or can’t keep walking their path, I wouldn’t mind taking them under my wings as my summons."

  Alistair and Riseth let out a simultaneous laughing scoff, prompting a wave of laughter from the group as the tension in the room dissipated. Though Alistair didn’t take King’s words too seriously, he appreciated them—even if they were made in jest.

  Sotarr’s eyes wandered from King to Rovari and Zephi. "I apologize if this may cause offense, but while I understand that, in your role as Progenitor, you might feel the urge to take many matriarchs, I would advise you not to be too hasty in your choice of wife—or wives," Sotarr said, his tone measured. "Envy is an ugly thing and has been the downfall of many immortal lives."

  "While I appreciate the advice," King replied his tone firm, "the choice of who may become a matriarch of mine is none of your business. Though, if it puts you at ease, no, I do not plan to take the silver as a future matriarch."

  Alistair felt that Sotarr had known that but had taken it as an excuse. He likely thought Rovari to be unworthy of being King's mate. While their bonding had certainly been fast, Alistair didn't appreciate Sotarr butting into the King's business all of a sudden, though he suspected that too, was part of Dragon culture. Rovari didn't speak up, only clinging to the King, her gaze averted from Sotarr's piercing gaze.

  Sotarr must have sensed Alistair's disapproval as his gaze flicked to him and Riseth before he let out a resigned sigh.

  "There is one more matter I need to address. As a Progenitor, your existence is unique, and under the Draconic Accords, a dragon of sufficient station must claim temporary guardianship over you and your lineage. This is to ensure the lineage’s survival and its smooth integration into the wider multiverse while respecting the traditions and structures of dragon kind," Sotarr explained, his tone steady but firm.

  King was about to say something, but Sotarr raised a clawed hand.

  "If not me, another may claim and mark you, which could lead to complications. This will not restrict your freedom or affect your records unless I am forced to intervene on your behalf in an emergency. I do not need to ask for your permission, but I do so out of respect regardless. Do you accept my guidance?" Sotarr asked, his tone calm but resolute.

  King gaped for a moment, his gaze shifting to Alistair, who, after a moment’s consideration, gave him a nod. Relenting, King turned back to Sotarr.

  "I accept and appreciate your guidance," King said, his tone steady.

  Sotarr nodded, a faint smile tugging at his draconic features as he extended his hands, his claws gently touching both King and Rovari.

  "I, Sotarr of the Lyraxis Ascendancy, claim the Vexaldris line as my personal wards, in accordance with the Draconic Accords," he declared, his voice echoing with magic and authority.

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  A bright light appeared, and bands of magic not too dissimilar from the draconic ascension appeared, briefly weaving between the three of them before vanishing.

  "Be warned that your line’s concept is a shunned one. You would do well to grow strong and keep a low profile," Sotarr cautioned. "I will instruct you and your mate on our culture and rules at a later date."

  He then turned to Rovari, his expression softening slightly. "I congratulate you on your first clutch. Be sure to guard it well," he said, his tone genuine. The words hung in the air, and Alistair noticed the faint ripple of realization spreading through those present—none of them knew she was already carrying eggs.

  "I thank you, great one," Rovari replied, her voice steady and proud, though her gaze still carried a flicker of deference as she met Sotarr’s eyes. The pride in her tone made it clear she took her responsibility seriously.

  Sotarr nodded, seemingly satisfied, and turned his attention back to the realm. "Now, tell me what you know of this realm. Perhaps it will provide you with an opportunity to grow strong without revealing yourself," Sotarr said, his gaze flicking briefly toward King.

  After they explained most of what they had learned and encountered within the realm, Sotarr murmured, "Ah, another Realm Lotus has descended. That is indeed a great treasure." His voice was so quiet that Alistair and Riseth almost didn’t catch his words.

  The deeper implications weren’t lost on Alistair as he pondered what Sotarr meant by 'descended.' Descended from what? he wondered, but before he could voice his question, Sotarr interrupted.

  "What are its properties?" Sotarr asked, his tone curious but measured. "There aren’t too many of these in the wider multiverse, and the Lyraxis Ascendancy itself only possesses one—with fire and storm affinities."

  "A mixture of water and storm-related concepts, from what we can tell," Riseth replied.

  This seemed to pique Sotarr’s interest. "A close sibling to our own, then," he murmured thoughtfully.

  Sotarr began to pace, walking a full circle around the portal, his piercing gaze never wavering as he scrutinized it. Finally, he came to a stop beside Alistair and Riseth once more.

  "A Realm Lotus is best treated as a being, not a place," Sotarr said, his tone firm. "It has its own kind of intelligence. Don’t concern yourselves with its affinities not matching your own—that matters little."

  Alistair considered his master's words, letting them sink in as he studied the portal before him. "That makes sense. One of the Hirsin questioned whether or not I would claim this humble lotus for my bloodline, and the magic in the realm seemed almost... excited by my response."

  He almost missed it, but for the briefest of moments, a flicker of excitement crossed Sotarr’s expression before it was reined in, replaced by a toothy smile.

  "Excellent," Sotarr said. "Claiming this realm for your bloodline should be a high priority for your clan. But be warned, threats beyond your grade may appear before you can prove yourself worthy in the eyes of this Nivareth. Pace yourself; this will likely take years. You also cannot afford to neglect the happenings in your fledgling universe, or you will miss far too many opportunities."

  His gaze sharpened as he continued. "Bonding with a Realm Lotus will forever empower your bloodline and bring a host of benefits, too many to count. But perhaps the most important for you will be the bloodline guardian."

  Now, not only Alistair and Riseth were curiously listening, but the rest of Alistair's family that had inspected the portal stopped what they were doing, keenly listening to what the Dragon had to say.

  "What exactly is a Bloodline Guardian, and what did you mean when you said this lotus has 'descended'?" Riseth asked, her magenta eyes fixed intently on Sotarr, keen not to miss even the slightest reaction.

  "A Bloodline Guardian is a being created by the Lotus," Sotarr explained. "It will be tied to your bloodline forevermore, serving as its protector to the best of its ability. Though it starts as a mere infant, with the right care, it will quickly grow to surpass even the two of you in power, which is invaluable in your situation."

  He paused briefly, his gaze thoughtful. "As for what I mean by 'descended,' it refers to the Lotus’s origin from a higher plane. In that realm, such lotuses are considered almost mundane. They descend into the lower planes to find a promising bloodline to bind to, seeking the opportunity to achieve true greatness."

  "Wait, there are higher planes? As in, beings more powerful than gods?" Alistair questioned.

  "Not quite. It’s not too dissimilar to how this realm works," Sotarr replied, waving his hand to gesture at Nivareth. "There are many planes and realms of existence—some higher and larger than others. But it’s too early for you to concern yourselves with this. You have far more pressing issues in the present." He paused, his tone shifting slightly. "Forget that I even mentioned it."

  Alistair furrowed his brow. He wasn’t sure if Sotarr was being entirely truthful or deliberately misleading them. Still, Sotarr was correct about one thing—it wasn’t the time to worry about such matters, so he let it go.

  "You mentioned we should pace ourselves," Riseth said, her tone thoughtful. "But according to the Hirsin, once we brave the storm and face its challenges, we won’t be able to encounter it again. We could miss out on potentially incredible rewards if we abandon the challenge. What if our enemies are of too high a grade, or the dangers exceed what we can handle? Is there truly no way to face the challenge again when we’re ready?"

  Sotarr shook his head. "I will need to confer with the family members of the bloodline that possesses the Lotus, as I don’t have all the details. However, the Lotus generally does not present insurmountable challenges if it favors you. Based on what you’ve told me, it seems to like Alistair. With the two of you connected through Resonance, it will likely favor you as well."

  He paused briefly before continuing. "Even if your opponents are of a higher grade, they may still be the kind you are capable of defeating—or avoiding entirely to gather the treasures they guard. And if my guess is correct, you may even be able to exchange those scales to face a challenge of your choosing. That is how most realms of this nature tend to operate."

  Alistair felt a pulse from the realm, almost like a tug beckoning him to enter once more. A quick glance at Riseth confirmed she must have felt it too.

  Sotarr looked between the two of them. "It seems the realm wishes for your return," he said, brushing off his spectral robes. "It’s also not particularly pleased that I’ve spoiled so many of its secrets. But rest assured, it likely holds many more secrets and wonders yet to be discovered."

  "Be sure to frequently leave the realm and not lose yourselves in its beauty and challenges," Sotarr warned, his form growing less substantial. "Many have lost their way in such places, endlessly chasing the next challenge."

  "I’ll be in touch," he added before vanishing once more.