28. The Key!

Ryan looked between the pedestal and the crystal and noticed a platform with an indent on it... of the shape of a sword. He removed his hand and moved toward the platform and observed the indent.

'It's definitely of the same size...' Ryan thought, 'Damn... is this really a fusion with the Fate universe? Is Gaia going to send monsters after me?' He thought while looking at the indent. He turned back towards Aura and saw her looking curiously at him as well, and he also saw some hope in her eyes.

He turned back, considering his options. [What you are about to do is quite illogical master, we don't know what will happen due to your actions if you proceed.] Aria warned.

'I know... but I don't know why but I feel this is the right decision... well, sometimes you need to run before you walk.' Ryan thought and brought his hand together, and a golden light flashed, revealing Excalibur in all its golden glory. Clasping it between his palms, he slowly inserted the blade into the indent.

Immediately the platform shined and multiple rune lines activated, moving from the pedestal to the ward stone, and he felt himself connect to the castle like Hogwarts. The castle thrummed, announcing a new king as taken his position.

"Huff... This has definitely got to be what people call 'feeling high'" Ryan muttered, retracting from the feeling of extreme awareness over the castle.

"Congratulations on passing the test My Lord. Allow me to truly welcome you as the Human King of Avalon" Aura said and took a knee. Ryan recovered from the weird feeling and looked at Aura.

"Thank you, Aura. Also, no need for My Lord or other titles. Just call me Hadrian. Also, you said Human King, so is there a Dragon King here?" Ryan asked. Considering he saw Dragons here, it was the most likely conclusion.

"I cannot call you without your title My Lord, you are a king and should be addressed as such. And there indeed is a Dragon King, and I suggest you should meet him. Dragons are prideful creatures and do not like being looked down upon." Aura spoke.

Ryan nodded and said, "So, where should I go?"He asked.

"Lady Albion should be outside by now. She would guide you to their land." Aura spoke, but Ryan's brain froze for a second. Albion was a lady? Also, how should he find who is of what gender?

"Aura,... how can I tell which Dragon is of which Gender?" He asked.

"Most female Dragons are talkative while the males are grumpy and hot-blooded, except for the elder ones. In their case, you need to see the prominent features on their head. Most male Elder Dragons have their scales arranged in the form of a beard, while the female dragons are quite slimmer and have sharper eyes." Aura told as she instructed Ryan towards an open field where Ryan sensed Albion land.

He had sensed her ever since she entered the wards around the town, but he focused on Aura's knowledge. "Thanks for the info Aura." He spoke.

"I'm happy I could be of your use." She spoke with the same expression as always.

They exited towards the ground where Albion saw them and spoke, "Well, congratulations on becoming the King of City Avalon Hadrian." Albion said and bowed a little.

"Thanks, Lady Albion," Ryan spoke.

Albion then to Aura and said "Well, it seems you finally to serve Aura. Good for you."

"Yes" Aura spoke, and Ryan for the first time saw a smile grace her face, while it was a small one, which disappeared like it never existed. Aura then turned to Ryan and asked, "My lord, would you like to use a fling carriage or have one of the Wyverns fly you there?"

Ryan thought for a second and answered, "Hmm, I'll pass both for when I have time. For now, I'll fly alongside Lady Albion" He spoke and turned to Albion, "If it doesn't bother you."

Albion and Aura were stunned for a second before Albion spoke, "I thought flying magic was hard to learn for wizards. It seems you are quite a talented one."

Ryan was stunned for a second and gave a wry laugh, looking away while scratching his cheek. Albion and Aura were confused at his reaction but the former shrugged it off as it was probably a human version of accepting praise and spoke, "I do not mind you flying alongside me, but do try to not lag behind" She spoke and flew up.

Ryan turned to Aura and asked, "Are you coming with us."

"Ah, I'm afraid I cannot," Aura replied and Ryan nodded.

"Then I'll be back soon." He said and shot off to the sky while Aura was again surprised since she did not sense any magic just then.

"Please lead the way," Ryan said, reaching the flying Albion, who smirked and increased her speed. Ryan smiled at the challenge and followed her closely.

*A few minutes later*

Ryan had underestimated the size of Avalon when he had heard it was an island. He had still not seen any sign of Avalon connecting to an Ocean, and he was actually traveling VERY fast. The sound barrier? He had broken through that ages ago and also found how to not create one even after going way faster than supersonic speeds.

But while his top speed was high, it can't be called his reaction speed as it took time for him to accelerate to reach these speeds. While Ryan marveled at the size of the island, Albion looked at him with a complex expression. It took her years of experience to increase her flying speed this much but a hatchling that could be said to be younger than any dragon on the island currently kept up with her without any problem. Moreover, he was looking around more than paying attention to maintain his speed. 'Have the wizards progressed this much?' She thought, a bit concerned.

While Ryan wasn't even close to how strong the elder dragons were, the fact that a wizard of the age where the hatchlings still hadn't gotten their flight perfect could be this strong was still concerning. But she knew better to judge someone as a threat without knowing better. After all, the Pendragon Castle's test was said to evaluate the kid, but most Dragons except the leader and council had no idea what this criterion was. It also didn't help that Ryan was almost like a phantom, and if Albion couldn't see him she wouldn't believe anyone was actually there.

Ryan, unaware of Albion's turmoil, had given into his childish instincts and was looking around everywhere with stars in his eyes. He suddenly felt like passing through a veil and looked ahead. The next moment Ryan became breathless for a second. There was a huge mountain in front of him, but that was not the cause of his getting startled. It was his instinct.

Ryan could tell that there were multiple beings on the mountain which would make him look like an ant. For the first time in his life, Ryan felt scared. He needed to be at his A-game here. He gulped involuntarily when he heard a chuckle. He turned and looked at Albion who was the source of the chuckle.

"Ah, I guess you sensed their presence. Don't worry too much, Elder dragons are quite patient, unlike the young ones. You would be fine... probably" Ryan deadpanned hearing the last word, making Albion chuckle again. He again looked up and took a deep breath. He was sure that at most the beings up there may try to test him, but he has not done anything to harm their kind, nor is he powerful enough to be a threat to them. And it's better to meet powerful beings of neutral alignment than encounter some other being who doesn't care for mortals and try to 'show him his place.'

As Ryan flew upwards, some form of pressure settled on him and it kept increasing as they went towards the peak. Albion landed on the flat land below the peak and Ryan followed suit. He followed her as she walked upwards and he found the tip of the mountain was a plate surrounded by thrones made of stones, and on each sat a dragon. All the dragons sitting were quite different from Albion as their size and facial structure showed them as elderly.

In the middle of them sat a dragon bigger than all of them, but one highlight of them was that they had feathers as well. Albion bowed and spoke, "Lord Fafnir, I have brought the lord of castle Avalon."

Ryan was surprised to hear his name. Fafnir was said to be the dragon who had fought Seigfreid, and most human texts wrote about Seigfried killing him, which clearly was not the case. And Ryan was sure the one in front of him was the Fafnir of Legends because he could sense the aura of power and experience oozing from all the elder dragons.

Ryan felt the pressure he was feeling increase exponentially the moment all eyes landed on him, especially those of Fafnir.

"Hmm... so magic has chosen you to inherit the throne of Magical Britain?" Fafnir spoke, and his voice carried a vibe that sent energy waves through Ryan's body, who wondered just what did he get himself involved in.