At that moment, Darian and Lanaya were walking toward the Goddess Temple. A large group of guards followed behind them.
In the city streets, several young men looked at the princess with expressions of admiration.
Lanaya was seen as an incredibly beautiful and almost intimidating figure among the kingdom's citizens. That was because everyone in this universe loved and idolized individuals with draconic traits. It was a sign of power and high status — especially in women, since the image of the Dragoness Goddess, who saved all living beings and blessed them, had been passed down through generations.
As for Darian, he looked completely sloppy in comparison, not showing the slightest hint of power. People saw him as a low-status human with barely any draconic bloodline. To others, he just looked like some carefree country bumpkin.
Lanaya didn't leave Darian alone. She kept pressuring him, asking again about the line of people he had mentioned earlier. At times like that, Darian would deliberately act amazed at the magnificence of some building, then ask the guards about the place's history. That way, he managed to change the subject over and over again.
But the princess was like a child. Possibly, her strong bloodline had affected her mental development. Darian had seen this before in some Mannaz, since dragons had very different lifespans and development compared to humans. Physically, she looked like an adult, but mentally, she was quite different, and being spoiled by her family only made it worse.
Even though Darian was clearly trying to avoid the topic, she didn't notice. Seeing him constantly change the subject, Lanaya got irritated:
"I've asked you so many times, and you still refuse to give me an answer. Don't you have any manners at all?!"
Darian was speechless. Who was the one without manners here? He clearly didn't want to answer, yet she kept pushing. How was that reasonable?
Prince Davion had asked her to take Darian to the Goddess Temple. But as soon as they left the gates, the princess started pressuring him for information that didn't even exist. When she wasn't asking about the line of admirers, she questioned him about the Golden Scale Kingdom, since she had heard Darian was someone "well-known" there.
"Princess, please, give me a break. I really don't know anything about that kingdom. How am I supposed to answer you?" Darian gave a bitter smile.
"Liar. You killed one of their princes. After becoming an enemy of the Golden Scale Kingdom, didn't you come to my kingdom to take refuge?" Lanaya snapped, convinced he knew about the hostility between the two kingdoms and had come here because of it.
Darian looked her straight in the eyes, then spoke slowly and coldly:
"Respected princess, there are a few things I need to make clear. First, I've always fought my own battles, and my path, since the day I was born, has been built on the bones of my enemies. I've never asked for anyone's protection; not in the past, not now, and not in the future."
"Second, when you speak to me, watch your words. Just because you're a princess doesn't mean others have to give you everything you want because of your status or your beauty."
"Third, don't be so arrogant, because your arrogance has no foundation. If it weren't for your kingdom's upbringing and resources, no matter how talented you are, you would never have reached your current achievements. Everything you have was given to you by your father, your mother, your brother, and the people of the kingdom. You didn't fight for any of it. Or can you name a single thing you earned by your own merit?"
Lanaya's expression darkened, and she shouted in fury, "You're provoking me!"
"Don't say something so ridiculous. I don't provoke people for no reason, and I don't let others provoke me without a response. I'm just telling you something obvious and showing you the line you can't cross with me." He replied completely emotionless.
"You!" Lanaya's hand tightened on her sword, and her aura began to gather. All the guards behind them were shocked. What was happening? How could she want to start a fight over just a few exchanged words?
These guards were Davion's men, while Darian was the prince's most important guest. If those two started fighting, they wouldn't even know who to side with.
"Brat, calm that temper down and learn some manners. I don't have any bad intentions toward you or your kingdom. I also don't want to beat you. Words are just words; there's no reason for them to end in blood." Darian crossed his hands behind his back, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
The Darian who had seemed like an older brother instantly turned into a ruthless killer. Lanaya's heart was flooded with terror as she met his eyes.
Darian was only slightly annoyed, and a subtle killing intent flowed from him. He could've suppressed it, but he let a bit slip out, allowing the princess to feel it.
Lanaya had grown up in the royal castle and spent most of her life cultivating. Even though she was powerful, her experience and intelligence were painfully limited.
She trembled, her face pale. Darian gave a faint smile and said:
"Forget that kind of attitude you use with your big brother. I already told you, not everyone needs to spoil you. At least I won't. I'm going to the Goddess Temple alone; you can head back."
Darian turned and kept walking.
Lanaya stood there, frozen, for a long moment. She wanted to cry, but didn't dare. She didn't know what to do.
Suddenly, she clenched her teeth, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and ran after Darian.
"Why are you following me?" he asked, turning around and speaking coldly.
"Who would follow you?! This is the city of the White Scale Kingdom, and I'm the princess. This is my home, and I can go wherever I want. What does that have to do with you?" Lanaya grumbled.
In truth, she was terrified and felt that leaving or going back to complain would make her look like a coward. To prove her courage, she deliberately chose to follow him.
Darian looked her up and down. Seeing her stare back at him, he said nothing more. He just kept walking, with her by his side.
All the guards let out a sigh of relief. As long as they didn't fight, everything was fine. They hurried after them.
As soon as they left, a middle-aged man in gray robes watched them from a bar in the city. To anyone else, he looked like just an ordinary old man. Even the strongest cultivators wouldn't be able to see through his disguise.
"This kid, Darian, is really capable. Quite a fearless character." The man nodded, a hint of approval in his voice.
He was none other than King Ostarion, father of Davion and Lanaya.
Beside him stood a woman who looked very similar to Lanaya, also in disguise. Her fists were tightly clenched, her expression full of concern.
"Do you see something special in him? Will my girl really be okay?" she asked anxiously.
"Hard to say... but little Davion talked to him last night. The two ended up getting close and trusting each other. He's a young man with good instincts, and he entrusted his sister to this Darian, hoping he might be able to help her. All we can do is hope," the king said, equally uneasy.
...
"Darian, I'm twenty-two years old. How old are you?"
While they walked in silence, Lanaya seemed to forget her earlier frustration and took the initiative to talk to him.
Darian snorted at her simple, carefree mind. "Twenty-five."
"Ah? So you're already a full-grown adult. At that age, both commoners and people from the royal family are already married with kids. But you're just wandering around alone?" she mocked lightly.
Darian almost stumbled. He was sure Niara and his mother wanted that too, but his life was way too turbulent. He steadied himself and chose not to respond.
Seeing that, Lanaya let out a light laugh. "Hehe, you're older than me. How about I call you Uncle Darian?"
He shot back, "Hm, not bad. When I see your father, I'll just call him big brother."
Lanaya stopped abruptly and almost jumped. "You bastard! How dare you say something so disrespectful about the king! If you try that, you'll be executed on the spot!"
Darian smiled, then looked ahead and quickened his pace, spotting a tall, simple structure.
"Ah, we're here!" Lanaya swallowed her anger and hurried after him, entering alongside him.
That was the Goddess Temple, and there wasn't a single person guarding the entrance. But… no one would dare do anything even slightly improper inside, because any disrespect toward the Sacred Goddess would result in execution.
Right past the doors, there was a long, well-lit corridor.
After a few steps, Darian asked something he had heard from Prince Davion. "You got kicked out the last time you came here?"
"Fuck off! All I did was grumble and complain a little, and they kicked me out! Don't you think they're petty?!" Lanaya whispered, irritated.
Darian felt the entire interior of the place and sighed in admiration. Niara had really left something extraordinary behind for people to train and improve their bloodline. That temple was a true treasure.
"You just don't understand them. Just being able to enter this place is already a rare opportunity you couldn't buy, no matter how many resources you had. The priests kindly allowed you in, and you disrespected that kindness. Of course, they'd be furious. Think about it: what if you gave candy to a starving person, but they had never seen candy before and thought you were offering them a pile of shit, then got mad at you for insulting them? Wouldn't you be angry?"
"That's a good point, but did it have to sound so disgusting? Couldn't you have made a more elegant comparison?" The princess shot Darian a sharp glare.
Darian shook his head. "I'm not an elegant person by nature, much less a noble. So why would I bother pretending?"
"But I'm a woman! Can't you hold back a little?" she snapped.
"You're a woman? I just see you as a badly raised little girl." Darian kept walking.
"Hey, wait a second!!" Lanaya shouted when she saw him move ahead and leave the corridor without her.
On the other side, as soon as they stepped out, they found themselves in a green plain. But the sky was also green, and a terrifying draconic pressure pressed down on everything below.
Lanaya took a step, then her legs trembled, and her face turned pale; she almost dropped to her knees.
Darian stepped forward and grabbed her hand, supporting her so she wouldn't fall.
"Come on, I'm here," Darian said, pulling her a few steps forward. She was breathing heavily, but feeling his support gave her some sense of security. "Breathe slowly and focus your mind ahead. Actually, this environment is a kind of training for your will."
"Training? Will?" She looked confused.
"Yeah. This place suppresses you, stripping away all the power from your bloodline and cultivation. That way, when you lose everything you rely on, you can return to your original state. This is a way to temper your will. You're still very young and lack experience. In your eyes, mud is dirty, so you don't want to touch it. But you've forgotten that everything on the ground was born from mud and the earth itself. Everything you eat, everything you use, came from mud. Do you think the sweet fruits you eat are clean? Your shoes touch the ground every day, yet you still think it's filthy?"
"Everything beautiful and amazing was built on the lowest foundation. Even the kindest people were once the most vile and hated. Life is harsh for everyone. When a person has nothing to eat, when there's no guarantee they'll live to see the next day, the only thing on their mind is survival. Only after securing their survival do they start seeking higher things. Because of that, many people chase those things until they forget the essence of life. Cultivators are the same, and this place exists to make you turn your attention back to yourself."
Darian spoke slowly as he guided her forward. When Lanaya had come here in the past, she relied on stronger guards who supported her from a distance.
A priest saw that and came to complain, since everyone was supposed to advance on their own. Naturally, Lanaya insulted and cursed him, refusing to accept it, and ended up being expelled.
Darian was only holding her hand, supporting her physically and mentally without letting her fall. All the weight and pressure were still borne by her alone. Fortunately, she really did have good talent. Slowly, Lanaya's steps became steadier, and she managed to hold herself.
After some time, the sound of clapping echoed. Lanaya was still lost in thought, but the two of them had already reached a small pavilion without even realizing it.
There, they saw a man in white robes standing in front of the pavilion, softly clapping his hands.
"Your understanding, esteemed guest, is admirable. I hope you'll grant this humble servant the honor of chatting for a bit. I have a fine drink and some Goddess Dew."
"You… you're inviting us? Are you serious?" Lanaya got so excited that she almost slipped again. If Darian hadn't been holding her, she would've embarrassed herself.
The man smiled faintly and spoke with elegance. "As long as you follow the rules, I wouldn't dare expel an honored guest again. Just answer a few of my questions, and I'll give you the Goddess Dew."
It was the very same priest who had kicked the princess out before. Anyone could enter the temple, but they had to advance on their own until they reached a priest, proving they were worthy of receiving that treasure.
"Please, come in." The man smiled and gestured.
Inside, there was only a space of about ten meters and a table. On it, a jar and a few cups were arranged simply.
"Have a seat. I made this drink myself. Please, try it."
The priest took out an immaculate white cloth and carefully cleaned his hands. Then he picked up two small cups — amber-colored and just over two centimeters in diameter. After that, he took a small jar and gently poured a tiny amount of liquid.
The cups changed color, turning a darker shade of red. A strong fragrance filled the air. Lanaya swallowed.
The man gestured, and the princess, already eager, carefully lifted the cup with both hands and brought it to her lips. She sniffed it lightly and took a small sip. Then she drank it all at once, finishing it completely.
Darian, on the other hand, drank calmly.
"What an amazing drink! I've never tasted anything so good!" Lanaya exclaimed, delighted.
"Thank you very much for the praise. May I ask what exactly makes it good?" the man asked.
"I…"
The princess immediately went speechless. She cursed herself for talking too much. Now she had no idea what to say. But she was quick-witted, and suddenly smiled.
"Uncle Darian is a master at evaluating things. He'll give you a satisfying answer, so I don't embarrass myself."
Darian almost spat out his drink, but quickly held it in.
"Uncle Darian, aren't you going to say anything?" she nudged him when she saw him just staring at her in silence.
Noticing the man looking at him, Darian sighed and said:
"The drink is good because your understanding of the essence within the Goddess Dew is refined. You spent several days preparing the water and all the components with utmost care, because doing this is also a form of cultivation. If I'm not mistaken, your bloodline stopped evolving a long time ago, and you found a kind of joy in this. You even feel like you're progressing again, even though you believe it might just be your imagination, right?"
Darian spoke confidently, leaving Lanaya stunned. She was already prepared to be thrown out along with him.
On the way to the temple, Darian had heard that the priests were the only ones who could approach the Goddess's mark and, from time to time, collect a few drops of the Dew.
It wasn't that others couldn't try. The problem was that the pressure and power coming from the mark left by Niara were far too intense for the mind and soul of anyone who dared approach. That was why only the priests, with their exceptional resilience, could do it.
They devoted their lives to it because that Dew was what allowed the royal family to preserve their bloodline without losing density across generations. On top of that, the priests cultivated both their minds and bloodlines at the same time. That was their payment.
At that moment, both the princess and the priest were completely shocked.
"You are truly incredible, sir. And your analysis is correct," the priest praised.
"Then, my final question… could you give me some advice or a few words on why I can't progress any further?" he asked sincerely.
Darian nodded slightly.
"I wouldn't dare say I can give you advice. However, the reason is simple. You have a fatal flaw. That's why you're doomed to never progress again."
Darian's words immediately changed Lanaya's expression. She looked at the priest and, as expected, his face had darkened.
"May I ask what you mean by that?" The priest took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
The princess could clearly sense a trace of anger in his voice. She stood up nervously, but Darian remained seated, his expression completely indifferent.
