House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men: Chapter 525: Drakkengards III

(Drakken's POV)

I was sitting down on the table, watching Vaella write on a paper. She had a focused look on her face, strands of her hair dangling down. From my angle, to her side, she had a beautiful look on her face. I couldn't help but stare at her with nothing but pride and joy, my beautiful daughter. 

I was leaning my head on my arm while I had my elbow on the table, "What is it you are writing, daughter?" I asked her, "You have quite the focused look on your face." 

"Recipes." She said softly, her eyes not leaving the paper, "Ointments and tonics. I wish to become a healer, one who can help people." 

"I see." I said

So she wishes to be like her mother. That is not something that surprises me, I even expected it. 

"Father...." She said as she stopped writing and set the quill down, "What is Infernis?" 

She looked at me, her eyes staring right at me. 

"Infernis." I repeated the word, "What of it?" 

"W-What is it?" She said with a slight frown

"Where did you hear that word?" I asked her

"I heard you mutter it one day." She said, "It has been bothering me for quite some time." 

"Infernis....." I said, "It is a place." 

"Oh." She said, "Is it somewhere near?" 

"No." I said, "It is far.....very far away....." 

"How far?" She tilted her head

"When nightfall comes." I told her, "You will walk outside and look up into the sky. Peer into the stars and focus into the void between them. Infernis.....is beyond the cosmos, further than your eyesight can comprehend. It is beyond the barriers of this reality. Infernis is out of grasp." 

"Is....that were you are from?" She said softly

I nodded, "That is correct." 

"Can you go back?" She asked

"No." I said, "It is impossible. I am here, there is nothing that I can do about it." 

Or so I will let them think. 

"I see...." She looked down, "Mother called your homeplace the Land of Gods..." 

"In a way, that is true." I said, "But Infernis is but a world, filled with Magic. With power greater than you can comprehend. You've seen what I am capable....the power I hold. But the Drakken you see before you is nothing but a shell of his former self." 

"What?" she looked at me, "What do you mean?" 

"My true power is capable of shaking the very fabric of this reality." I said, "There is a reason why I stockpile power to the point I can do many things. I am nowhere near my original strength, I am severely weakened. Twenty years in this state.....and it angers me so. But there is nothing I can do about it. I am still the most powerful being in this place, so it shouldn't matter." 

She leaned back on the chair, "Do you miss being as strong as you were?" She asked, "Do you miss Infernis?" 

I looked up, "I do." I said, "I miss Infernis. I miss fighting powerful Sorcerers who can give me a good thrill. I miss waging wars on Nations that have a chance of fighting back, using their great powers as counterattacks. I miss my home, that is the truth." 

"Do you want to go back?" She asked me, her eyes glimmering with curiosity

I gave her a slight smile, "Does that matter, my child?" I asked, "I am here. With you. Come here." 

She got off her chair and walked towards me, crawling up to my lap and sitting down on it, "Yes, Father?" 

I caressed her cheek, "My sweet Vaella." I said, "What is most important in this world to me is that my children grow strong and powerful. Powerful enough to be above everything in this world. It is not an unhealthy obsession that will warp my senses. No....it is an expectation that I have. It is the confidence that I have. I know that my children will be the greatest beings in this world. No matter how little I think of this backwater place, it is your home. You were born in it." 

She smiled and leaned into me, "I wouldn't want you to go, Father." She said, "I love you." 

I wrapped my arm around her, "You're my daughter." I told her, "I will always take care of you. Even when I'm not physically with you. One day, you will be The Trinity's most beloved figure, I can assure you of that." 

"I...." She said softly, "I just want our Family to be whole....and happy...." 

"I know." I said, "But sometimes.....family will endure hardships. We will be no different. But worry not.....if anyone wrongs my family, my wrath will destroy them." 

"I know that." She chuckled, 

"My strong papa....." 

****************

"I....." Maegelle said softly, "I hope it is another girl." 

I turned to look at her, "Hm?" 

We were standing on my balcony later that night. She wanted to sleep with me tonight, so I will do that. 

I was going to visit Viserra tonight but my beautiful wife wanted company, so that's okay. 

"Four children." She looked at me with a smile, "Two boys and two girls, no? Make it even." 

"I suppose so." I reached for her belly, "Four of many children of yours." 

"Yes...." She said, "But my blood, the ones I bore.....four...." 

"Hm..." I said

"I love them all." She told me, "Don't get me wrong. I'd do anything for them." 

"I know that." I told her with a nod

"Drakken...." She looked to the side, "There is something that has been bothering me for all this time." 

"What is it?" I asked as I pulled her closer, "What troubles you?" 

"Back in Dorne..." She said as she looked at me, "When you lost your temper out of nowhere.....you said something.....you cursed the sky...." 

My face hardened, "Hm..." I said, "That outburst, huh?" 

"What did it mean?" She asked

I pulled away, "Nothing." I said, "Forget about it." 

"Drakken." She started, "You acted if someone was controlling things. Controlling yo-" 

"No." I cut her off, "That Bastard is but a coward. I knew it was his doing.....when the Chaos Demon Gods converged and cursed me. Valkren draining my power and sealing me......all of that.....it was his doing. Everything went by his design, his planning. Over there. In Infernis. But here...." 

"H-Here?" She said softly

"I'm the one in control." I told her, "Everything......has been rewritten by me. The Great War.....it will happen. Not because of Him. Not because of Them. Not because of The Grand Design. No. It is my plan, MY Design. Dragons...they're here for a reason. The Great War will ravage this world.....yes.....it is my War. Mine....." 

"My Dance of The Dragons."