Chapter 1546 Emerald's Growth & Acquiring The Wind Dragon's Bloodline
"E-Emerald?"
Emerald's mother was slightly surprised as she saw her son rejecting her love. He had grown very pampered and might have accepted this if he hadn't meet us beforehand. However, he had truly changed, rejecting her pampering and her love. As he didn't want to be spoiled anymore.
"That's enough, mom… I know why you exiled me from the clan." Emerald said. "And I know why I deserved it too! I was lazy, and I wasn't growing stronger. Despite having been born with a special power, I never developed it. And I… I committed a grave sin; one you never punished me for. I killed them… I killed two of my siblings. Even if by accident, that cannot be forgiven! I need to learn, to control my powers… And to grow as a person. So I can… So I can use this power to protect and save people instead of hurting them."
We never knew he had done such a thing. Everyone remained in silence. The Wind Dragons seemed well aware of that, but Surtr screamed with a loud "WHAT?!" while I kept myself calm. Though it was hard to believe… Emerald accidentally killed two of his siblings by accident? That's… horrible. And it also might be one of the reasons why he's always afraid of everything, particularly of using his powers.
"Emerald…"
"He has truly grown a bit, huh?"
"Well said."
"But you shouldn't feel guilty about what happened, little brother."
"You were too young back then, and we were too careless."
"No…" Emerald sighed, responding to the words of his siblings. "I have to take responsibility for this. Being exiled is… What I deserved. And I will not come back home until I know I deserve it. That might take me many years, but I won't stop."
His mother's golden eyes widened in surprise over his very mature words. And then, she smiled sweetly after hearing him talk. She nodded silently, as if she had been secretly waiting for these words.
"I see. I suppose you pass, my dear son." She said.
"I pass…?" Emerald raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I was testing you, my dear." His mother giggled. "I wanted to see how far you've grown in these years since your exile. I tested you by giving you the comfort and love you've been wanting for so long. Yet your sense of responsibility overcame your desire to go back to the comfort you once desired. You've passed the test, well done. You're now… I recognize you as my youngest son, Emerald."
"E-Eh? You didn't before?" Emerald wondered.
"Oh I did, but before this, you were my dear little pup, Emerald." Giggled his mother, teasing him even more.
"I-I am not a pup anymore!" Emerald groaned. "And… well, I guess you're not wrong. I was… I always acted like a child. I need to get my shit together."
"You had already gotten most of it together, kid." I nodded, patting his back. "You must be Alf, the Primordial Dragon Mother of the Wind, right?"
"That's right." She nodded. "And you must be Drake, the Dragon King, right? I have heard many things from you from my other siblings. And I am really grateful you've taken my son as your apprentice, teaching him everything he has learned now. It is thanks to you that he has become a man now, no longer being a child."
"Well, I can only attribute myself so much. Most of that was his own work. He already had the potential, he simply had to become confident on himself, to believe on his own strength and his own convictions." I laughed. "I only gave him a little push, the rest… Well, it could be said he soared the skies by himself."
"Master Drake…" Emerald was about to cry due to how emotional my words sounded to him. "T-Thank you so much for being there for me! I-I… I am grateful, really and truly grateful!"
"It's fine, I haven't done much yet. We'll be training a lot soon." I laughed. "Well! Ah, and this is Surtr, he's also a young apprentice. The last fire dragon, apparently. And an amazing dragon at that. He'll be your son's friend."
"N-Nice to meet you, Lady Alf." Surtr said, rather overwhelmed by her presence.
"I see, I do know about you as well, little Surtr." Nodded Alf. "Thank you for helping my son! I hope you can become his friend. He might be rough around the edges, but deep down, he's a really good person."
"Hahaha, I'll try!" Surtr laughed.
"Mom! You're embarrassing me in front of everyone!" Emerald got all embarrassed, covering his face.
"Hohoho, well, isn't that the job of a mother?" Laughed his mom. She was indeed quite carefree, like every Wind Dragon here. "So, I assume you didn't just come here for a visit?"
"I have come here so I could awaken the Wind Dragon Bloodline. Part of my growth as a Dragon King is to acquire the Bloodlines of all Families. Once I do, the power of [Creation] will finally be unlocked, the true strength of the Dragon King." I explained. "Or that's what I've been told."
"Hmmm…" Alf looked at me with her sharp, snake-like eyes. "Of course, why not? After all, you've brought my child back to me, this is a beautiful reunion. And also you've helped him quite a lot. Very well, have you ingested our blood yet?"
"Not yet." I said. "Emerald's the only available dragon that could feed me their blood but well, we have not had time to ask him."
"Oh, here!" Emerald suddenly pulled out a large bottle full of a red liquid from his Wind Pouch, a special spatial pocket hidden within the wind he could open and close to save things. "Please take this, Master Drake! I've collected my blood a day ago. I forgot to give it to you before we got here."
"Emerald! Well, thank you." I smiled, quickly drinking the blood and absorbing its powers.
[You have absorbed the Blood of Emerald, the Wind Dragon of Heaven's Winds.]
[You have unlocked the [Wind Dragon Bloodline (A)]!]
[Your Wind Affinity is already at its maximum Rank. Therefore, it has evolved into the [Storm (S)] Affinity!]
"And now, let me awaken it fully for you." Alf said. "After this, you will need to drink another two wind dragons' blood to complete it, right? Make sure to come see me in Alfheim."
"I will!"
FLAAASH!