"The Emperor's Tomb?" Grim repeated, trying to process the significance of what Lin was telling him."The four Dragon Kings haven't always ruled the Sea Realm?"
Lin shook her head, retrieving a small book bound in what appeared to be treated sharkskin. "That's the simplified history most believe. The truth is more complex."
She opened the book. The writing was in a script Grim didn't recognize, but the illustrations showed a massive dragon.
"Before the Four Dragon Kings, there was one ruler—the Dragon Emperor," Lin explained. "He created all dragons. Gave life to the sea realm."
"What happened to him?" Grim asked.
Lin turned the page, revealing an illustration of a massive battle. "The Great Calamity. No one knows exactly what caused it—the records were largely destroyed. What remains certain is that the Emperor sacrificed himself to save the sea realms."
She pointed to the final illustration—the Emperor's form dissolving into light, surrounding four smaller dragons.
