C11 There Is Another Rule!?

"Father, seeing you now is like beholding an angel—you've finally come to save me."

Igrel clung to Carrick's calf, tears streaming down his face as he wept.

"...Igrel, your father's a dragon, not an angel."

Carrick, puzzled by his son's strange demeanor after a year's separation, felt a wave of frustration wash over him.

"Father, what have you done to Igrel? Has the child lost his senses? He can't even tell a dragon from an angel."

Carrick raised his eyes to Renafam, who appeared utterly indifferent, and pressed him for an answer.

"What else would I have done? Training, endless training, and more training. That's all there is to it."

Renafam turned to face Carrick as he spoke.

"Let Igrel rest at home this time. Bring him back in a month. He has many tasks ahead, training you never had. I'll make sure Igrel makes up for everything."

Renafam gave Igrel a brief look, his words trailing off as he turned to leave.

"Father, isn't this too severe for Igrel?"

Carrick hesitated before expressing his concern.

"Too severe? Do you expect me to pamper him as I did with you? Do you want him to end up like you?"

Renafam stopped in his tracks, his exit halted, and he retorted sharply to Carrick.

"I..."

Carrick faltered, struggling to find a reply to Renafam's probing question.

"Listen, Carrick..."

Renafam tilted his head slightly, casting a peripheral gaze at Carrick.

"I already made that mistake once. I won't let Igrel suffer the same fate as you. We dragons gain our say through power. You've lost the privilege to discuss this with me. This is the outcome of your own choices. Had you been more committed earlier, I wouldn't have to be this firm now."

"I'm sorry, Father..."

"The fault is mine too, for not teaching you better. I should be the one apologizing. A young dragon may inherit memories, but they still need our adult guidance to learn. No matter the species, the elders must nurture the young, helping them grasp the social fabric of their kind and form a sense of proper conduct."

Renafam let out a soft sigh as he gazed at his son standing before him.

"Your excessive indulgence has created a disconnect between you and your contemporaries. Falling behind little by little, you ultimately lost the ability to compete with your peers and descended to the bottom rungs of dragon society. The one who has let you down the most is me," Renafam said, his voice fading as he made his way to his cave, leaving Carrick and Igrel standing outside.

"Father, you..." Carrick murmured softly, watching Renafam's silhouette disappear into the cave's depths.

...

"Igrel, has this past year with Grandfather been hard on you?" Carrick suddenly asked as they journeyed back, while Igrel was admiring the scenery.

"Why do you ask, Father?" Igrel turned away from the distant view to look at Carrick.

"It's definitely been tough. My ancestral memories tell me that a young dragon like me should be living happily, free from the pressures of survival. Instead, I've had to endure the pain of magical oppression every day. I've nearly cried many times, only to be shouted back into composure by Grandfather," Igrel confided, picking up on the real concern in Carrick's question.

"Memory suggests that dragons are naturally lazy. The Dragon Clan may be fierce and warlike, but that's for the youth who have cultivated a fighting spirit. What young dragon or hatchling has faced what I have? But..." Igrel paused, looking down at his claws.

"I can feel myself growing stronger every moment under Grandfather's guidance, and I cherish this feeling. Whenever I reflect on it, all the past hardships seem worth it. Dragons establish their status through strength, and Grandfather has always made sure I understood that."

Igrel smiled, meeting Carrick's gaze.

"Has Grandfather told you everything?"

At the sight of Igrel's smile, Carrick felt a twinge of embarrassment. It was somewhat painful to be seen by his son in such a diminished state.

Memories tell me that dragons are inherently lazy creatures. Though our kind is known for being combative and warlike, that only comes with the fiery spirit of adolescence. Who among the young dragons and hatchlings would willingly endure such hardship as I have? But...

Igrel's tone shifted as he looked down at his own claws.

"Under Grandfather's rigorous training, I can feel myself growing stronger by the minute, and I relish this sensation. Whenever I think about it, all the pain I've endured seems worthwhile. In the Dragon Clan, power dictates status, and Grandfather has always taught me that."

"As you age, the crushing pressure of competition will inevitably bear down on you like a ferocious beast, regardless of your own desires. The other dragons won't care if I want to compete with them or not, but to survive here, strength is essential. What would come of constant retreat? Father, you've demonstrated that all too well."

Igrel smiled slightly, looking up to meet Carrick's gaze.

"Has your grandfather told you everything?" Carrick asked, feeling a touch of embarrassment at his son's knowing smile—it's never easy for a father to be seen as weak by his child.

"Yes, during my time with Grandfather, he's shared a lot with me. He's quite the talkative dragon. He's pushing me now so I won't regret lacking strength later. I may not fully grasp the ways of our kind or how to interact with other dragons, but one thing's clear—there's no harm in learning more now."

"Listen to your grandfather," Carrick advised, his gaze fixed ahead, his voice low. "I ended up in this predicament because of my own stubbornness. I don't want you to go through the same failures—it's not a pleasant feeling."

"Father, do you have any regrets?" Igrel asked.

"There's nothing to regret. I chose this path, so I must bear the consequences, whatever they may be. I don't have the right to complain," Carrick replied, his wings beating steadily.

"Although, there was a time I truly did regret—when I despised my own powerlessness for causing the loss of one of my children."

"Wait! A child?" Igrel caught the word in Carrick's speech and paused, taken aback.

"Yes, Igrel, besides Vera, you should have had another sibling. Garcia laid three dragon eggs..."

"What happened then?" Igrel pressed.

"Well... Shortly after Garcia laid the eggs, before we could take you to the incubation chamber, there was an accident."

"It sounds like it's going to be a long story."

"It is. I wasn't strong enough back then. Amidst the turmoil, I could only save you and Vera. The third dragon egg vanished, and that dealt a crushing blow to both Garcia and me."

Carrick closed his eyes in pain, his expression laden with sorrow.

"Your grandfather berated me for being so worthless that I couldn't even protect my own child, and he severed ties with me. That separation lasted for decades. In fact, I was quite shocked to receive a message from him a year ago. I had thought I'd never communicate with him again in my lifetime."

"If that dragon egg were still alive, it should have hatched by now. But how could it? An unattended dragon egg easily turns into a dead one. It's nothing more than a fantasy of mine," Carrick said with a wry smile.

"This conversation has taken such a turn that I'm at a loss for words..." Igrel rolled his eyes and remained silent.

"What happened next?"

"Well... shortly after Garcia laid her dragon egg, before we had the chance to take you to the hatchery, an accident occurred."

"Since I've matured into a teen dragon, today is the first time your grandfather has ever spoken to me like that. He's never shown me any warmth before. It seems your presence, Igrel, has really brightened his spirits," Carrick reflected.

"His good mood certainly hasn't caught on with me..." Igrel didn't respond, simply listening in silence to Carrick's tale, offering the occasional nod or murmur of agreement.