Chapter 49

When he returned, the previous drama was quickly resolved.

Seraphine was mostly upset that he had kept something from her for so long, especially because she thought there were no secrets between them. 

It was a childish reaction, but quite relatable. 

Also, at sixteen, she didn't always have her emotions and hormones under control, and then there was the pregnancy.

But the drama had almost resolved itself before he had even returned.

Lysandra had spoken to Seraphine - she was the one of the two who understood that having secrets was not always blameworthy. Something Seraphine had yet to learn.

But as they say, difficulties that are overcome together forge stronger bonds.

After everything had been clarified and the tension had subsided, he returned to the staircase he had found.

This time, however, he did not come alone, but with 200 of his Warborn who accompanied him.

But as he approached the staircase again, the weird feeling that had overwhelmed him before had disappeared, as if whatever was living down there had taken flight.

The corridor led down into a vast network of tunnels and chambers that stretched out like a labyrinth. 

But it wasn't a labyrinth in the conventional sense - it was more of a chaotic maze of corridors that seemed to have been built without purpose or order. The paths seemed to branch out randomly, as if the original builder had not followed a clear plan.

Kaelarys immediately noticed the dampness that covered the walls and floor. It was as if the sea itself was seeping through the walls, and yet that was not what surprised him the most.

In the midst of these wet, dark corridors, there was no trace of nature. 

No plants, no moss, not even the ubiquitous fungi one would normally expect to find in such damp environments. It was as if nature shunned this place.

Another detail caught his attention: all along the walls were statues, elaborate and detailed.

They represented creatures of the deep sea. Even octopuses were depicted.

It was unmistakably clear that no wild creatures lived here, but intelligent ones.

But he had already realized that the first time he saw the statues.

He thought that whatever was lurking down here was simply a dangerous animal that had set up its nest here and that whatever had built it was long dead.

But it looks like he was mistaken. Whatever or whoever had built this was still alive.

He knew that this tunnel system needed closer monitoring. So Kaelarys decided to send a small force of 500 Warborn out in all directions of Azorath to search for similar tunnel systems. 

Days and weeks passed as they scoured the land, but they returned empty-handed.

Whether they found nothing because there really was nothing else to find, or whether the mysterious inhabitants of the tunnel system had long since disappeared, remained uncertain. 

It was a riddle that only time itself could reveal the answer to.

Months passed and Kaelarys went on with his life while the search progressed in the background.

The days passed and Seraphine's belly grew steadily until the long-awaited day of birth finally arrived.

Endless hours passed before the first cry of the newborn filled the air. It was a powerful, loud cry that made the room echo.

When Kaelarys saw his son for the first time, he was overcome by a wave of indescribable emotion. The tiny creature lying in his arms seemed so fragile and yet so perfect. He felt an unconditional love flowing through him that he didn't think was possible.

Kaelon, as they called him, had the same shining eyes as Seraphine and the silver hair that every son of Valyrian descent had.

Kaelarys would have loved to drop everything to spend every second with his son, but his duties called.

And so he spent his days continuing to shape and secure the city, while Seraphine lovingly cared for Kaelon. Lysandra, who would soon become a mother herself, kept her company and helped her where she could.

While the construction of the Temple of the 14 Gods made steady progress, it was something else that gave Kaelary particular pleasure - his fleet.

He had put Xandor in charge of this project because he considered him the most capable man for the job. As it turned out, Xandor had not only met his expectations, but exceeded them.

Kaelarys visited the shipyard regularly to check on the progress. Every time he arrived, he could see the steady progress that was being made. But in the beginning, the biggest problem was building the first ship at all.

The project was on a scale that surpassed anything that had been done before. The ships built under Xandor's supervision were enormous, both in size and complexity. For most of the workers involved in the project, it seemed like a hopeless endeavor.

They saw the gigantic hulls and wondered if the ship could even float in the sea. A failed project in the eyes of many.

Kaelarys, however, knew better. The doubts of the others did not affect him; he knew that it was only a matter of time before the ships were completed and his plans took shape.

The first few weeks were the most difficult as Xandor had to work with a shipyard that was not even ready for normal ships. Let alone for such monsters of the sea, but somehow he managed.

He had the parts built piece by piece and step by step, the ships began to take shape.

When the first ship was finally completed and set sail for the first time, the skepticism that was initially visible on the faces of the workers had completely disappeared.

Another thing that filled him with great pride was that more and more people, especially merchants, were hearing about Azorath. News of this up-and-coming city spread quickly, and with each passing day more merchants heard of the potential wealth and opportunities Azorath had to offer.

Merchants from all over the world bought the luxuriously built estates to further emphasize their status and flaunt their wealth.

However, this had a double meaning: on the one hand it was good for the growth and development of the city, on the other hand it also meant that the other dragon families became aware of Azorath.

Of course, the dragon families of Valyria had known about Azorath before, but most had dismissed it as an insignificant endeavor. Valyria had made several attempts to gain a foothold in Sothoryos in the past, but all of these attempts ended in disaster.

The hostile nature, dangerous creatures and diseases of the land had so far thwarted any attempt to establish a permanent presence.

But Kaelarys was different. His vision for Azorath was larger, more thoughtful, and borne of a tenacity that could overcome even the greatest obstacles.

Now that the city was growing and prospering, it was inevitable that he would attract the attention of the powerful.

Kaelarys was aware of this and prepared himself carefully for what might come.

He knew, however, that even if the other families tried to gain influence over Azorath through political pressure or other maneuvers, it would not work.

House Baelaeron was powerful and ancient and had many friends.

They also had many other dragon families as allies and could fend off other political attacks.

And Kaelarys will personally see to it that any attack on Azorath or his family does not go unpunished.

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Another shorter chapter, but again I see no reason to stretch it.

Yours,

Jasonenrick!