Val opened her heart and mind. She was eager to hear all that Aglaope had to say. To learn about a world lost was quite exciting.
"Our people, often called sirens, are of the water, and we pay tribute by continuing the ancient blessings. It grants us long life, health, and a means of protection. It has never been used as an offensive weapon, but a shield. We have never meddled in the affairs outside of our own." Aglaope took a deep breath. She was delving into a past she dares not think of. "But we never turned away those who sought knowledge. We guarded our secrets well, but we never saw the danger. In fact, very few did until it was too late."
There was a long pause. Val didn't want to push her, but she was dying to know more.
"There was a man who went to each temple to learn the knowledge each held. The priests and priestesses of each gladly shared what they had. Once he learned his fill, he went away. No one knew where to, but it was assumed he continued his studies as a scholar. Life went on, but creatures began to appear. They were relatively harmless, but we're born of the dark arts. It was not uncommon, as with the light comes the dark. No one saw a threat, and so more creatures came. When the creatures disappeared, then came those who were consumed by dark magic. They willingly have themselves over. This began to concern those who paid attention, but most thought that it was just the greedy becoming lost to their ambitions. And when willing participants were no longer found, the unfortunate became the victims." Aglaope paused and picked up Val's hand. "They were cursed. They were usually tricked into agreeing to giving their souls in servitude. How did he get you to agree?"
"Agree?" Val stared at Aglaope. She couldn't really recall. "The only odd thing that happened was when I handed over the Hecate earrings. I had to say that I gave them to him of my own free will."
"Hmm." Aglaope hummed as she looked at Val's hand. "The Hecate earrings are made of gems forged with his own life essence. By having you claim ownership, you were really saying that you belonged to him."
Val gaped in silence. She couldn't believe that in a few words, and she sold herself to the devil. She didn't know what he did exactly, but it must have been a great evil to be the center of this tale.
"What happened to those who were cursed?" Val asked nervously.
"He used them to build his army. They lost their own will to serve his." Aglaope answered calmly. "Some turned into mindless creatures. Others were able to retain some sense of self, and maintained some autonomy. But no matter what outcome, he used them to plunder as many resources as possible. He sought power at the cost of all else. It did not matter that the spirits that maintained our balance were dying. His desire for power was all consuming."
"So, he attacked the temple?" Val asked, assuming the reason for their location.
"He attacked all of the temples. Some fell completely, and others stood, but at a cost." Aglaope looked away.
"But he's not active right now, right?" Val asked. "So, he's been defeated before."
"Yes," Aglaope breathed deeply, "but at a great cost. The seal they created to contain him also blocked the life stream of this world. It has caused magic to slowly fade away, and eventually the world itself will die with us."
"Why would they do that?" Val was perplexed. What kind of solution was this?
"The counsel of men believed they could restore it after the evil had been defeated. Their conviction gave them the confidence to act swiftly and on their own accord. There were those who were opposed, but their voices were drowned out. Now we are what is left." Aglaope looked Val in the eyes.
Val felt a rush of emotions. She felt anger and sadness. Normally, she could care less about the affairs of others, but this is the whole world. How could they condemn everyone? Who gave them the right?
"After the seal was put in place, chaos ensued. There were wars between factions. Humans turned against those of us born of magic. Draco eventually came out on top. He subdued the majority of the territories under the possession of a magical tribe. Humans decided to live separately from us, calling us the evil." Aglaope paused with eyes full of sorrow. Then her face changed to a more encouraging expression. "But Draco is actively working on bringing back the flow of the life stream. But he has been working for a couple of centuries already with no real progress, until recently."
"What do you mean?" Val asked with a tinge of hope in her voice.
"I am unsure. I am his wife, but not one he favors. We have a marriage based on mutual benefit. It was a polarizing decision for us to form a union. Dragons are a proud people, and bloodlines are of utmost importance to them. For us, survival is more important. Thus it was not a hard decision to take his protection." Aglaope explained plainly. "I do know that Cosmo has been collecting what Draco requires to complete his task."
"I see." Val responded blandly. She truly did not know how to respond. She was speechless to hear a version of history that she had never known existed.