Vol. 5 Ch. 50

“Twilight Tower Master?”

“Yes. He’s a Dragon King from the same era as Odin, a figure of great prestige among the dragons. Unlike most Dragon Kings who crave power, dominance, and glory, the Tower Master has spent his life in solitude atop Sky City, far removed from worldly struggles,” Claudia explained slowly.

“His detachment from worldly matters has its advantages. It gives him ample time to pursue his interests. For me, that means studying ancient books and documents left by our predecessors. For him, it means delving into the history of the Dragon Clan.”

“I believe he might have some useful insights for you,” Claudia concluded.

Leon nodded thoughtfully.

“Alright. I’ll make my way to Sky City.”

He smiled faintly. “You mentioned that the Tower Master is an old relic, but I didn’t expect him to be an expert on Dragon Clan history. Maybe he really can provide some answers.”

Turning to his mentors and Claudia, Leon gave a quick bow.

“Master, Mistress, Senior, I’ll be on my way now. I’ll come visit again when I can.”

“Take care, Leon,” Charlotte, his former mistress, reminded him warmly.

“Got it, Mistress. You and Master look after yourselves too,” Leon replied with a grin.

“Oh, and please say hi to Apba for me. Let her know I miss her!”

Waving as he spoke, Leon left the sanctuary, guided by a Sea Dragon guard.

Watching Leon’s departing figure, Claudia exhaled deeply, a look of relief crossing her face.

Charlotte noticed and couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, why do you look so relieved?”

Claudia snorted softly and shifted her gaze from Leon.

“That disciple of yours takes something from me every time he comes here. This time, he didn’t, so of course, I feel relieved.”

Charlotte chuckled, amused by her sister’s jest. “He’s still young, Sister. As his elders, we’re supposed to support him, aren’t we?”

Claudia squinted at her younger sister before reaching out to pinch her cheek lightly.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you implying I’m unwilling to help him? I’ll have you know I absolutely do not want to help him! Not even a little.”

Charlotte pouted, rubbing her sore cheek. “Alright, Sister, I was wrong. Let go!”

Satisfied, Claudia released her, only to flick her forehead for good measure.

“There, now I feel better. What? You’re giving me that look? Are you upset because I’m bullying your mistress, Taggar?”

Taggar, who had been silent, gazed pensively in the direction Leon had left. After a moment, he spoke in a low voice.

“Claudia, can you do me a favor?”

“Have I not done enough for your Cosmod family? What now?”

“Leon mentioned wanting to learn new techniques…”

Claudia smirked. “Ah, so you want me to be his sparring partner again?”

“No,” Taggar said, his tone serious. “This time, I want to teach him something myself. He calls me Master, and it’s time I lived up to that title.”

Leon and his dragonhawk companion departed the Atlans waters of the Sea Dragon Clan at dusk.

During their journey to Sky City, they made a brief stop by a riverbank.

Patting the dragonhawk on the shoulder, Leon declared, “Watch as I catch us a big fish!”

The dragonhawk tilted its head, its expression skeptical. Normally, wasn’t it the human’s job to sit back while the animal hunted?

But before the dragonhawk could process its confusion, Leon had already taken off his boots, rolled up his pants, and waded into the river.

The dragonhawk’s inner thoughts:

Should I teach him how to fish?

That thought alone showed how little the dragonhawk understood Leon’s peculiar ways.

Who said fishing required tools? With a crack of thunder, blue lightning surged through the water.

Moments later, dozens of fish floated belly-up to the surface.

While the dragonhawk was still processing this absurd display, Leon emerged from the river with an armful of fish. He started a fire on the riverbank and invited the dragonhawk to join him for a meal.

The dragonhawk, preferring raw food, swallowed a few fish whole, flapped its wings, and let out a grateful chirp.

Leon gave it a thumbs-up before resuming his fish roasting. Though they couldn’t speak the same language, the two communicated effortlessly through gestures and expressions—a skill Leon had honed during his childhood with Apba.

After replenishing their energy, they continued their journey.

Hours of flight later, Leon arrived at Sky City just before dawn.

Since this visit was unplanned, there had been no prior notice, and the Tower Master hadn’t sent anyone to greet him.

Leon didn’t mind. Patting the dragonhawk’s wing, he said, “Sky City is restricted to dragons only. You stay here and wait for me. I won’t be long.”

Whether or not the dragonhawk understood, it seemed to nod in agreement.

Leon then entered the city, finding his way to the Tower Master’s domain.

The path to the Twilight Tower was familiar. Even without a guide, Leon navigated the streets with ease. The tower stood at the heart of the city, its peak visible from anywhere.

The pre-dawn darkness meant few dragons were about, sparing Leon the usual interruptions for autographs and photos.

At the base of the tower, a guard approached and, recognizing Leon, immediately saluted.

“Your Highness, forgive us for not welcoming you sooner.”

Leon waved a hand dismissively. “No need for formalities. I just happened to be passing through and wanted to chat with the Tower Master. Is he available?”

“The Tower Master has instructed us to allow Your Highness entry at any time.”

“Wow, I feel important,” Leon joked, though he couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.

The guard ordered the doors opened, and Leon stepped inside. Another attendant greeted him and escorted him to a room at the top of the tower.

“The Tower Master is waiting for you inside, Your Highness,” the attendant said, bowing.

Leon nodded and knocked on the door three times.

“Come in,” came the reply.

Entering, Leon found himself in a warmly lit room, evidently the Tower Master’s office. It bore a resemblance to the royal halls of Dragon Kings.

The Tower Master stood on the balcony, hands clasped behind his back. At the sound of footsteps, he turned to face Leon.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. What brings you here today?”

Leon appreciated the directness. It was clear the Tower Master knew this wasn’t a casual visit.

Leon stepped forward, apologized for the unannounced visit, and quickly explained his purpose.

However, he omitted certain details about his human origins, instead providing a simplified version of events:

“Shadow orchestrated recent attacks and claimed I am the greatest obstacle to the return of a ‘Great Being.’ That’s why I’ve come—to ask if you know what this ‘Great Being’ might be.”

To Leon’s surprise, the Tower Master didn’t seem shocked.

He gazed out at the brightening sky, silent for a moment, before saying,

“It seems it’s time I told you something.”

Leon frowned slightly. “What… are you referring to?”

“Your Highness,” the Tower Master said slowly, “have you ever heard of…

Ultimate Fear

?”