The World Dragon's Heir - Chapter 723: Why They Moved

Chapter 723: Why They Moved

“You know, I really do need to hear the full story behind this other world, and why there is a Wavemates National Academy there, or whatever you are calling it.

It’s clear that you’re all still loyal to the dragon King’s lineage.

But if there is such a strong force, why are they in another world, and why are you only now returning? You said it’s because there was a graduating class after Wistover was retaken, but you could have come to collect Dominic or assist him at any point in the past.” Alexis demanded.

“Lord Asmodain is our highest political authority, and in his opinion, a King needs to take his territory on his own. If Lord Dominic had decided to gather an army and go to war to retake Wavemates from Dagos, we would have sent troops to support him.

But sending bodyguards to protect a child would have prevented him from growing as he needed to, in the opinion of the headmaster of the Academy.”

Benedict paused, then continued his explanation. “The Academy was set up to hide the fact that so many Sorcerers and others live an inordinately long time. The humans were getting a bit too stabby about the fact that some creatures like the bog witches, Elves and some others live for more than a thousand years.

It was safer to relocate the majority of the civilized nonhumans to another location, and none of the continents on this world were suitable.

There are still some here, obviously, but all the older and more powerful ones relocated. It was also due to the limited mana levels in this world. For someone like me, it might slow my growth, but other than that, it’s hardly noticeable.

For others, it’s nearly crippling.

Many of the Fae species had to flee back to their own realm centuries ago.

The dragons just got sick of the shorter lived species and left. That’s how we ended up on that particular world. There were a number of dragons that were on good terms with the Dragon King, and they let us set up on the world they had populated as a game preserve.

You could call it a living pantry, given the dietary preferences of the dragons. But they call it a game preserve.

As it is, there are no real threats there, no nations that might go to war, and enough magic that natural disasters are highly unlikely, even if the region where we built had a history of them.

It doesn’t.

For nonhumans, it’s an ideal spot to be, and I suspect that for the two of you, perhaps just for Lord Dominic if my estimate of your lifespan should be a bit off, it will be a fine spot for retirement.

That’s the trap that the Dragon King ran into, and the one that his old friend the Necromancer King is stuck in.

If you stay in power too long, everyone forgets how to operate without you.

And then that becomes a threat to everyone with power.

Now, the old man was about done with living, and that was his choice. But for most, the logical option is to step down and hand the titles and power to the next generation.

We’ve got plenty of history that tells us why it’s a bad idea to serve so long that you pass over entire generations of children, or even grandchildren.

The ones who eventually get the power won’t appreciate it, and they’re too disconnected from the upbringing to be considered proper heirs. That’s less of an issue for a dragonkin, who might still be having children at hundreds of years old.

But it will cause chaos among his children if he wants to hand the title off to someone with a century less experience than some of his other heirs.”

Alexis nodded slowly. “So, you’re saying that you expect Dominic to live long enough that the King will want him to step down and pass down the title, long after I’ve passed.”

Benedict shrugged. “Probably not much longer than you. Dragonkin get a bit maudlin when their bonded mates die, and don’t usually last much longer unless they find a new purpose in life.

But a Noble Lady’s body undergoes some changes when she is carrying a child, and when that child is more dragon than human, the changes can be significant.

Now, I don’t expect you to grow claws, though it is possible.

More likely, because there is already magical blood in the Cygnian Royal Family line, you’ll see a longer than usual lifespan. Much like the Techno Witches and some others with high magic levels do.

If you’ve got an old Troll or an Elf here in town, they’d know better than I do.”

Alexis shook her head. “I think that the oldest person in town is Pops, and he’s a Dwarf.”

Benedict smiled. “Dwarves are a curious species. It’s nearly impossible to tell if they’re drunk or sober. Assuming you can find them before they’ve started drinking for the day, that is.”

The Guard Commandant brushed his long hair back, and long ears popped out from underneath, highlighting the nonhuman lineage just as surely as Dominic’s horns did.

But that wasn’t what Alexis had focused on.

“You said ’when the child is more dragon than human’. Why do you think that the child is more dragon than human? I’ve seen dragon eggs, and they’re enormous. Plus, they’re like crystalline stones.”

“The timeline. Dragonkin have shorter gestations when they’ve got more dragon blood. Their natural healing abilities allow them to grow faster in the womb.

If they’re particularly powerful, the whole process can be as little as two months, and let me tell you, there is nothing quite like seeing a belly visibly grow every day. It’s a bit freaky.”

Dominic chuckled. “That sounds like personal trauma. I take it you have siblings?”

“Indeed. Five of them still living. Some of the older ones remained here when my father left, and they were lost in the war. But I’ve seen the process more than once because my father has strong healing magic.”

Right, Elves were supposed to have excellent healing and nature magic affinity, much like the Trolls.