Chapter 663: Kael Dragonborn.

"It may be your name in the world you came from, and I will not take that from you. But to the rulers of Nerathis, it carries no weight. If you wish to stand before this world, then you need a name this world will understand."

Ferrakar explained in a firm tone and Kael...

His eyes moved toward Lavinia.

Lavinia froze.

For a moment, she did not understand why he was looking at her like that.

But then she did and her eyes widened slightly.

"Kael..."

Kael smiled faintly, then he turned back toward Ferrakar and—

"Kael Dragonborn."

He announced calmly, his blue eyes shining intensely.

And the moment Lavinia heard those words, her face changed. First, it was shock, but then, her eyes softened, a small, warm, proud smile appeared on her face, a smile that she tried to control, but failed.

Her heart fluttered strongly.

Kael was taking her name.

The meaning behind that was clear.

A Marriage.

Yes, they didn’t hold a ceremony, they did not make it official yet, but none of that mattered, just Kael taking her name was more than enough for now, it made his intention very clear and this action announced those intentions to the world.

Lavinia couldn’t ask for more at this specific moment.

Ferrakar noticed her reaction, then his golden eyes moved back to Kael.

"Dragonborn."

He repeated that word.

There was almost amusement in his voice.

"A bold choice."

Kael only smiled.

"You are not only announcing yourself, you are directly challenging Drakthar’s Royal Family with your name."

"I’d argue I have a better claim to that name."

Kael only grinned as he looked at Lavinia and held her hand.

"I am married to the purest Dragonborn with the strongest potential."

Lavinia smiled at those words.

Ferrakar looked at Lavinia, then at the Elementals around her and he—

He didn’t deny those words.

A human loved by the Elementals.

She would indeed be the Dragonborn with the strongest potential.

"Very well."

The Steel Dragon nodded as he looked at the two humans standing in front of him, then, the air around him changed.

Both Kael and Lavinia felt the change instantly, the entire land seemed to become still, the wind stopped moving, the snow falling from the sky slowed, every person in the Heights, who was still shocked by the phenomenon they saw in the sky, now felt a strange pressure pushing against their chest.

Their eyes moved on their own and fell on Ferrakar, the Steel Dragon spread his wings, making the ground beneath him tremble.

Kael took one step back while holding Vaelor, Lavinia stood beside him, their eyes remained fixed on Ferrakar.

Then the Steel Dragon opened his mouth and—

"People of Nerathis."

He spoke.

As one of the Guardian Beasts, his voice directly connected with Nerathis and through it, it spread through the sky, passing over even the tallest of mountains, vastest of forests, rivers, cities, borders, towers and palaces.

It reached every single corner of Nerathis, corners Kael and even Lavinia did not know about. Every single person, be it the poorest man begging on the roads, or a ruler sitting on a throne—

Every single one of them heard him and he—

"My name is Ferrakar."

The Steel Dragon continued.

"The Seventh Dragon of Steel, Guardian of the Iron Veil, protector of the Velmourn Name and from this day forth—

I choose Kael Dragonborn."

The instant those words were said, the entirety of Nerathis shook. The strongest nobles of the Kingdoms, even the Demi Gods who were resting in the night, opened their eyes and turned in the direction the voice came from.

Kael Dragonborn.

They knew this name.

Kael.

It was the Hero’s name.

And...

To think the Hero now had the Seventh Steel Dragon with him.

Just...

What in the hell was happening?

Didn’t the Hero run away? Wasn’t it said that he was too scared of the responsibility he was being shouldered with and broke down?

How was he... back?

And forget about him being back...

He was back with a Guardian Beast?

A Steel Dragon at that?

What...?

How many years had it been since they even heard the Steel Dragon’s name?

Why would an entity who had not appeared for centuries suddenly appear now?

Such questions spread everywhere.

Drakthar, however, had it even worse.

After all, what they heard wasn’t just Ferrakar’s return, or him choosing Hero Kael—

They heard the name Kael Dragonborn.

It was a direct challenge to their name.

The Hero was openly declaring his stance against them.

It was... humiliating.

Edric Dragonborn, the Prince of Drakthar, froze when he heard those words. He was currently inside a dark room where nothing was visible, there was no window, no source of light, nothing.

No one knew what he was doing here, or who he was meeting with.

However, if Kael was in the same dark room as him, every single one of his Bonds would have told him one and only one thing.

Power of corruption.

Of course, right now, it didn’t matter. No one knew Edric was here, and no one would. Edric himself only heard that announcement.

His face turned frosty at the name Kael Dragonborn, but he didn’t dwell on it.

He continued what was important.

On the other side, on the more lavish side of Drakthar, inside the King’s grand chambers. King Alden Dragonborn heard those words as well and they made him pause whatever it was he was writing in his diary.

He looked outside his window, in the direction the voice was coming from and he...

He smiled.

Now whether it was a hopeful smile or a cruel one, even his most trusted advisor didn’t know because reading Alden Dragonborn was simply impossible.

After a two-second-long pause, the King of Drakthar’s focus returned to his diary and he continued writing, ignoring everything the Dragon was going to say next.

"From this day forth, I protect Kael Dragonborn. And until the day my steel turns to dust, a direct attack on Kael Dragonborn shall be treated as a direct attack on Ferrakar, the Seventh Dragon of Steel.

Any hand raised against him with the intent to break him, will be a hand raised against me."

Any army that marches to claim him, will march against my steel.

Any kingdom that seeks to chain him..."

Ferrakar’s golden eyes then shone intensely, then—

"Will learn that chains break before Dragons do."

And with that—

The Steel Dragon alone threatened every single Kingdom that existed in Nerathis, regardless of their strength.