Auryn did as he planned. He returned to the warehouse the next night. Observed the agent's routine from a distance.
The spy left his safehouse at dusk. Met two contacts that had same nervous energy. He returned to the abandoned warehouse at midnight like he did previously.
It was professional and careful but also predictable. Something he could exploit.
When he wasn't running from Lyra with the excuse of surveillance, he was mostly training with fire magic and learning more about his physique and transformation.
His body healed faster than expected. The more he accepted his dragon nature and draconic impulses, the easier it was to heal.
Auryn opened his groggy eyes on the third day of his surveillance when familiar text appeared in his vision.
Golden letters formed in the air before him.
Hmm.. did the system upgrade? He thought.
---
[HOST STATUS]
Name:Auryn Ignisar
Soul: Julien Moreaux
Race: Dragon (Pureblooded Prince)
Rank: 2 (Drake) — Progress: 34%
Mana Capacity: 1,520 / 1,520
Regeneration: Passive
Innate Abilities:
- Fire Magic (Rank 2 - Adept)
- Draconic Transformation (Partial)
- Claws / Horns / Scales (Unlocked)
- Wings (Locked)
- Full Transformation (Locked)
- Draconic Aura (Intimidation): Recovered
System Skills - Inheritance:
- Author's Eyes (Active)
- Function: Reveals narrative roles
- Range: 50 meters
- Limitation: Overrides normal vision (shows only auras, no visual details).
- Gates of Avarice (Active)
- Function: Summon/store claimed items instantly from hoard link
- Restriction: Must physically claim item first (touch + intent to own)
- Current Inventory: Cinderfang (Legendary Artifact), Travel supplies
- Hoard Link (Passive)
- Function: Dimensional storage / Link to all hoarded.
- Contents: Everything hoarded (Territories, bonds, artifacts)
- Note: Draconic instinct—must claim items to store (ownership assertion)
[More Inheritance / Skills Unlockable - 3]
Notifications:
- Progress: Fire manipulation pathways widening. Throat pathway development accelerated (dragon's breath training effective).
- Integration: Life Anchor Amulet intact. Soul stability: 74%
Quest Log: None active
Achievements: Legendary Artifact Claimed (Cinderfang)
---
He dismissed the screen with a thought. There was progress with his training but his rank was still too low. His brothers easily dwarfed him in rank.
Rank 3 within reach. Maybe if I survive fifty more chapters—
He stopped himself. Thinking in chapters was odd. The novel's structure still haunted him. At this point he was living the life and not a reader.
Focus…. He reminded himself. Tonight I make that bastard squirm.
He walked into the study and immediately he knew something was off. A familiar scent lingered in the air.
Lyra?
The faint scent of her perfume was unmistakable.
He looked at the table, noticing the documents weren't as he left them.
She searched while I was out. Looking for what? Proof? Another attempt at my handwriting?
If she compared them… then she was definitely close but it wasn't anything I couldn't attribute to my damaged hand.
He pushed the worry aside. He had bigger fish to fry. He would deal with the agent first. Then Lyra.
---
[FLASHBACK - Evening of previous Day]
Lyra had slipped into the study after he left.
She'd watched him leave earlier. Dark cloak. Purposeful stride. Going somewhere.
She didn't concern herself with that tonight. Tonight, she needed answers.
The desk held territory reports. Tax logs. Patrol schedules. Nothing personal.
But the margins. Scrawled notes in corners. Reminders and calculations.
The handwriting was different.
She pulled old letters from her pocket. A love letter from before. Back when she believed he cared.
Auryn's original handwriting was elegant. Flowing. Each letter deliberate. Almost artistic.
The new handwriting was shorter, duller and incoherent. Ink missing on some areas like he was still learning how to use a quill and ink.
It's him. But it's not.
She locked the letters away. Returned to her chambers.
Journal entry: "Handwriting confirmed different. Not poison damage, complete style change. As if someone else learned to write his name or is learning."
At this point she knew something was different about him. Something fundamental, not the poison.
Tomorrow. I confront him tomorrow.
No more delays. No more doubt.
I deserve the truth. He is my husband
---
[Present Day, Evening]
Auryn finished strapping on his gear when Borin entered.
"Lad. We have a problem."
Auryn looked up. "Marten?"
"Aye. And it's worse than I thought." Borin dropped parchment on the desk. "Five ravens yesterday. Three more today. All to Castor's estate."
Eight ravens in two days. That was excessive.
"That's panic."
Borin leaned forward. "Or escalation. Something's happening and Marten's losing his nerve."
I refused council and started training aggressively again.
I'm not acting like the weak prince anymore.
Maybe they're realizing I'm someone else now.
"The agent you're hunting tonight," Borin snapped him from his thoughts. "Could be connected. Timing's too suspicious."
Auryn considered. "You think Vaedon knows i'm changing?"
"I think your brother's not stupid. And you're not subtle." Borin's eyes were serious.
"Be careful. If Marten's panicking, if Vaedon's escalating... this could be more than a spy."
Auryn touched his dagger hilt. "I'll handle it."
Borin sighed. "Famous last words, lad."
"Famous last words…. " The words echoed as the door closed.
Auryn stood. He focused his mind and steeled his resolve.
Vaedon's reacting. Good. Means he's noticing. Time to remove one of his pawns. A new king is on the board.
---
He left his chambers. Dark cloak. No visible weapons. He looked like he was taking a routine tour.
He moved through the castle. Servants nodded. Stepped aside. Guards saluted.
His authority was unquestioned now. His aura passively intimidating.
He arrived at the abandoned district. The warehouse loomed ahead. Dark and isolated.
Lantern light flickered inside through skylight cracks.
He climbed the adjacent building silently. Reached roof level with the skylight.
He peered down. The agent was there, back turned. Reading documents by lantern light.
Time to get answers.
Auryn positioned himself at the skylight edge. No Cinderfang yet. He was saving it until necessary.
His fingers curled around the hilt of his dagger. The darkened steel brandished.
He took a deep breath.
And dropped.
KRASH!
A/N
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