"As you wish, Your Majesty."
Selene bowed gracefully, her silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight. White runes shimmered beneath her feet, and in a flash, she was gone—leaving behind the faint fragrance of lilies and a fading glow.
The air in the chamber shifted almost instantly.
The regal authority that had filled the room—an invisible pressure that made even the strongest dragons tremble—melted away. What remained was a warmth so familiar that my heart immediately relaxed.
The majestic Dragon Queen, ruler of a continent, turned into someone much softer: my mother.
Lucia Nova.
Her golden eyes, once sharp as a blade, now reflected the gentle shimmer of candlelight. She leaned forward, brushing her fingers through my hair with a tenderness that felt like sunlight.
"Mother," I said, blinking up at her curiously, "are you… really the Queen of Dragons?"
Her lips curved into a soft smile.
"Yes, my dear. Mama is the Queen of Dragons—the ruler of the entire Dragon Continent of Draconia," she said, planting a kiss on my forehead. "Mama is very powerful, you know?"
I tilted my head. "Powerful? How much?"
Her laughter chimed like soft bells. "How much, he asks…"
She lifted me gently onto her lap and sat cross-legged, her silken gown flowing around us like a sea of gold. "Then listen carefully, Mellicas. If you're curious about power, you must understand how this world works."
I nodded, eyes wide.
"When you awaken your Magic Core, you connect to what we call the Records of Soul—the Akashic Records," she explained, brushing a lock of silver hair away from my face. "That's when your journey truly begins, at Rank 1."
"From there," she continued, tracing small glowing symbols in the air, "you ascend through the ranks: Rank 2, Rank 3… all the way to Rank 9. That's the peak of the Mortal Realm."
She waved her finger, and each symbol turned into a tiny glowing orb floating above us.
"After that, you transcend mortality. You become something greater."
The orbs changed shape—becoming dazzling, golden spheres, radiating divine light.
"The Primordial Rank, then the Transcendent Rank, the Eternal Rank, and finally…" Her eyes gleamed as her voice grew quieter, filled with reverence. "The Infinity Rank. The apex of existence. A being who stands beyond time and the laws of the world."
My mind swirled with awe.
"There are transition stages too," she added. "Half-Primordial, Half-Transcendent, Half-Eternal… but there is no Half-Infinity. Once you reach Infinity, you are complete."
Her tone softened. "Your body, soul, and spirit become one—perfect, unchanging. A being that even the world itself must acknowledge."
"Are… are you Infinity Rank, Mama?" I asked, half afraid, half in awe.
She smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes. There are fewer than fifteen Infinity beings across all of Elvenorah. And I am one of them."
She paused, eyes distant for a moment, as though peering across endless skies.
"Among the Vampire Race," she began, "there is Queen Lilith Tepes. She rules the Vampire Continent of Nocturnia with grace and absolute authority. Five noble clans serve beneath her, each led by an Eternal-ranked pureblood. The Tepes bloodline is ancient—strong enough to rival dragons in sheer magic."
She chuckled softly. "Lilith and I are good friends. She's elegant, but also mischievous. I once caught her trying to teach your sister how to charm people with blood magic. Let's just say that didn't end well for her."
I blinked. "So… vampires exist here too."
"Oh yes. Along with demons, angels, devils, witches, humans, elves, dwarves—and dragons, of course."
Her eyes softened again. "This world, Elvenorah, is vast. Eight continents, eight great races, and a neutral land in the center where all can meet without war."
She gestured toward the far window. I followed her gaze. Through the massive crystalline panes, I could see the shimmering horizon—the radiant skies of Draconia, painted in hues of gold and crimson. Floating islands drifted among the clouds, where colossal dragons soared, their scales glinting like gemstones.
My mother's voice carried pride as she spoke again.
"The Demons have Lucifer, another Infinity-ranked being."
She sighed, rubbing her temple lightly. "A dear friend, but also the laziest person alive. That woman would rather sleep through a century than attend a single meeting. I had to ban her from visiting for a while. She keeps tempting me to skip my duties."
I chuckled softly. "She sounds… interesting."
"Interesting is one way to put it," she said, smiling. "She governs through her Seven Overlords—Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Envy, and Pride. Each embodies a Sin and stands at peak Eternal Rank. Together, they rule the Nine Floors of Hell."
"And the devils?" I asked, eager now.
"Ah, the devils are different," Lucia explained. "They dwell in the Abyss, a realm of eternal darkness beneath the world. It has 666 Floors, each governed by a Devil Lord. They are not truly evil, but they thrive on contracts. Power, in exchange for something of equal value—often something you can never regain."
She looked me straight in the eyes. "Never make a contract with one unless you're prepared to lose what you love most."
I swallowed hard and nodded.
"Both the Abyss and Hell are separated by a void called Oblivion Rift, where even light fades. Lucifer's palace floats right on the border between them—half in shadow, half in flame."
"So she really lives there?" I asked in disbelief.
"She does," Mother said with a faint smile. "Though she spends most of her time sleeping or reading. Truly a hopeless NEET."
I laughed, unable to help myself.
She smiled at the sound, then continued, "The Angels, meanwhile, inhabit the radiant continent of Elyssia. Their leader, the so-called Heavenly Father, is also Infinity-ranked. He commands Nine Angel Kings, each representing a divine virtue. They are the sworn enemies of demons, bound by divine law. To them, darkness, death, and destruction are forbidden arts."
Her tone shifted slightly—less reverent, more thoughtful. "They see themselves as the world's guardians, but even light can burn if it shines too harshly."
Her gaze softened as she returned to the present.
"And finally," she said, "comes our continent—the Dragon Continent of Draconia. The land of flame, sky, and might."
She leaned back slightly, her wings—translucent and shimmering with hues of starlight—unfolding just a little. The faint sound of scales brushing against silk filled the air.
"There is only one Infinity-ranked being here," she said quietly. "Me."
For a moment, the room itself seemed to bow to her words. The air grew heavier, the light dimmer, as though the world recognized its queen.
Then, as if realizing what she'd done, she smiled softly again and stroked my cheek. The pressure vanished like mist.
"Four noble dragon clans serve beneath our royal line," she said gently. "The Scorch Dragon Clan, led by Draig, masters of flame. The Frost Dragon Clan, under Albion, who command ice and cold. The Poison Dragon Clan, ruled by Hydra, whose venom can melt mountains. And the Nature Dragon Clan, governed by Kiyohime, keeper of life and forests."
Her golden eyes softened. "And above them all stands Clan Nava—our clan. It used to be just me and your sister, Milim. But now, you are our newest star, Mellicas Nava."
I blinked, still trying to process it all. Royalty. Me. The son of the Dragon Queen.
Before I could speak again, my mother stood and stretched her wings briefly, then folded them back gracefully. "That's enough history for one day," she said warmly. "Your little head might burst if I keep going."
She walked toward the bedside table and picked up a strange silver tablet. Its surface glowed faintly with runes, yet its shape reminded me unmistakably of an iPad.
"Alright, dear," she smiled warmly again, "which movie do you want to see? You can pick from this list."
The interface looked like something straight out of Earth's streaming services. There were thumbnails, genres, and descriptions. All the available movies were clearly meant for children. Still, I picked a romance one… for research, of course.
She tapped the screen a few times. The room dimmed. The blank wall in front of our bed shimmered, becoming a high-definition screen. I gawked.
Magical projection technology? 8K resolution? This world is insane.
The film started—a generic story about a lonely boy who finds friends and a girlfriend. Heartwarming, sure, but cliché. I feigned excitement like a good little boy.
But then, the best part arrived: the kiss scene.
I turned to my mother with a puzzled expression. "Mama… what are they doing?"
She chuckled, ruffling my hair. "They're kissing, sweetheart. It's what lovers do."
"Lovers?" I tilted my head.
"Yes. When two people love each other very much, they're called lovers."
I paused, blinked at her with innocent eyes, and then smiled brightly. "Mama, kiss!"
She looked at me, amused, before leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on my lips. I smiled like a fool.
"Want one more?" she asked, giggling.
I nodded enthusiastically, and she kissed me again—this time, longer and warmer.
Snuggling into her chest, I felt sleep begin to take me. I instinctively latched onto her again, drinking slowly from her warm milk as the sound of the movie faded into the background.
Moments later, I was fast asleep.
Lucia looked down at my peaceful face, brushing my silver hair with her fingers. Few things in this world brought her joy like holding her son in her arms.
With a contented sigh, she kissed his forehead, whispered something a mother should not, and pulled the blanket over us both.