What I thought would be smooth, and peaceful journey would end up in a tragic journey instead. We were attacked by bandits, while I had help from Ashborn, and Jin-Woo warning about my surrounding, we were all fighting defending each other, I was mostly helping my father defending my mother, as I realized looking around the Twin Horns were also mostly defending my mother, as I looked at her She was paranoid, she was holding her stomach like she was feeling in pain, but still, she tried to protect something inside, then it hit me.
"She's pregnant" Me, Jin-Woo, and Ashborn said in unison
My spirit to fight grew as I chopped down every enemy I faced but a voice rang inside me
"Arthur your mother" Jin-Woo's voice rang
As I looked towards her she was near a cliff, behind her a water cannon was fired behind her. I rushed towards her pushing her to the side and taking the full blow of the water cannon. Even as my vision began darkening, I was able to see the battle coming to an end. Father and Helen had just managed to kill the leader. Angela, providing Jasmine with backup, allowed them to put the whip-user on his last stand. Meanwhile, I spotted Durden as he was desperately conjuring a spell to save me, but I knew it was too late; the spell had knocked me too far away.
Still, I was comforted in the fact that everyone will be okay. Maybe the only thing I would regret is being unable to see my baby sibling.
With that, I felt the cold grip of sleep steal me away.
Damn... I had always wanted to be an older brother.
"What are you doing coat yourself in mana" I heard Ashborn's voice shouting at me, as I snapped back to reality, and augmented myself in a layer of mana reducing the damage I received when I fell to the ground.
...Mother...
...Father...
"COUGH!! COUGH!"
I opened my eyes again, with towering trees and dangling vines filling my vision as I lay on my back. However, this time, the excruciating pain that I was welcomed by told me I wasn't dreaming.
Where was I?
How was I alive?
"Something was coating their mana on you to slow down your fall, protecting you," Jin-Woo said to me
"Stay alert" Ashborn added
I tried to get up, but my body doesn't listen. The only thing I was able to manage was to turn my head, and even that involved a series of throbbing pains in my neck.
Looking to my right, I spotted my knapsack. I slowly turned my head to my left, gritting my teeth through the pain.
My eyes widened at the sight and I immediately had to resist the urge to vomit. To my left was what was left of the conjurer I had dragged down with me. A pool of blood surrounded the corpse, whose body probably had more broken bones than ones still intact. I could see the white bones of his ribs jutting out of the sunken cavity of the chest with a pile of his entrails beside him. His limbs were sprawled out at unnatural angles, with the mage's skull shattered in the back with some brain matter oozing out along with blood.
His face was frozen into an expression of surprise and disbelief, except for his completely red eyes, as a trail of dried blood was still visible from his eye sockets. I couldn't turn my head away fast enough. With my already weakened body being assaulted with both the gruesome sight and repugnant smell, I vomited what was left in my stomach until I was left gagging dry heaves.
Even in my past life, I had never come across such a badly mangled corpse. With the nauseating stench and insects feasting on the gore, I couldn't help but feel sick. With parts of my face and neck covered in my regurgitation, I finally managed to turn my head to rid my sight of the mage's grotesque remains.
How was I still alive?
I couldn't help wondering what had happened while I was unconscious. The mage was alive up until the landing... so what happened to me? I questioned myself as I saw the corpse of a mage in front of me.
'Oh, you're awake.'
I instantly got into a fighting stance, gritting through the pain from the sudden movement, with my knife in hand, turning to face the carcass.
I swear to God if this corpse is the one that's talking...
A melodic chuckle made me look around for the source of the voice.
'Do not worry. You won't have to worry about that corpse reanimating.'
The voice that seemed to come out of nowhere had a dignified, yet soft quality emanating a sense of royalty. It was a powerful and resonant, yet silky and soothing sound that made you want to trust it.
Still, on guard, I managed to mutter a less than elegant response.
"Who are you? Are you the one that saved me?"
"Yes, to your second question. As for the first, you will soon find out when you arrive at my dwelling."
This voice seemed sure that I would try and find it.
As if reading my thoughts, she continued, "I am the only one that will be able to get you home from this place, so I advise you to make haste."
That jerked some sense into me. That's right! I had to get back home! Mother! Father! The Twin Horns! My baby sibling! Are they alright? Did they reach Xyrus safely?
If the voice could take me back home, I had no choice but to find it.
"Ahem, dear uhh... Mr. Voice. May I ask for the directions to your location so that you may bless me with your presence?"
The voice let out another soft chuckle before replying with, "Don't you think it's a little rude to call a lady 'Mister'? And yes, I'll show you the way."
Ahh... so it was a lady.
Immediately, my vision shifted into a bird's-eye view. Zooming out, a location that was roughly around a day's trip to the east came into sight and lit up before my vision shifted back to normal.
"I recommend departing immediately. It will be a lot safer traveling during the day than when it gets dark." Gently chided the voice.
"Yes Ma'am!" I quickly picked up my knapsack before trotting towards my destination.
It became less painful with each step and, by mid-morning, I was only left with a few aches here and there. Whatever that lady did was some powerful magic. I've never heard or read of casting a spell with that much of a distance. Or maybe she left after casting the spell right before I landed? Then how could she have known that we were falling, and why did she only save me? The more I tried to solve the mystery, the more questions I seemed to end up with.
Hearing a faint gurgling sound, I headed towards the direction, spotting a narrow stream.
"Yes!" I exclaimed.
I was filthy. My face and neck still had the stench of stomach acid, while my clothes were torn and caked with grime. Almost sprinting, I cannonballed into the stream, vigorously scrubbing clean my face and body. Taking off my clothes and after briefly washing them, I laid them down on a nearby rock to dry. After finishing the refreshing bath, I walked towards my still damp clothes when...
'Kukuku... how pleasantly carefree.'
Reflexively, both my hands shot down to cover my precious area as I hunched my back, trying to make my body as small as possible.
'Don't worry, there wasn't much to see.' I shuddered as I almost felt the Voice wink at me.
I could hear the sound of Jin-Woo, and Ashborn laughing inside me trying so hard to stop.
How rude! My pride...
Grumbling, I almost wanted to argue that my body wasn't developed, but I chose to ignore the Voice and put on my clothes.
'Aww... don't pout. I apologize,' the Voice stifled a laugh.
Calm your mind, Arthur. A king must be calm...
I then changed my clothes into something more wearable.
"Nice to meet you uhh... Ma'am? Miss. Rocks?
'I'm not a rock, nor a cluster of them. There is a crevice between the back of the adjacent rocks. That's where I'll be,' the Voice chuckled.
Looking around, I managed to spot the small gap, about the width of an adult, between two of the larger rocks that were leaning against each other. The slight breeze coming out from the crevice told me I had found what I was looking for. If it weren't for the Voice directing me to this exact location, I would never have even noticed the small fissure.
'Child. Go on and enter through the crevice, but strengthen yourself with mana before you do.'
I can finally meet Mother and Father soon!
Without a second's hesitation, I slipped in through the gap easily while willing the mana to strengthen my body.
I had expected a platform to step on but instead, I immediately plummeted down the dark hole.
The voice had failed to warn me that I was going to be doing a vertical fall.
'I guess that was why she mentioned using mana to me' was the thought that ran through my head as I descended, screaming at the top of my four-year-old lungs.
Rubbing my butt, groaning, I slowly supported myself up.
"We finally meet child."
I felt the blood drain from my face as my mouth gaped open and my eyes bulge. Feeling lightheaded as my legs failed to support me, I crumbled back onto my aching butt, staring at the one who's been helping me this whole time.
"W-What are you?" I managed to stammer out.
Despite having lived two lives, what my eyes saw, my brain refused to believe. A monster, for a lack of a better word, which easily towered over ten meters high, was seated cross-legged, on a crudely carved throne of jagged stone with an arm lazily supporting its head.
"Calm down Arthur," Jin-Woo said
"If things turn out for the worst we'll help you," Ashborn said
Sung Jin-Woo POV
As I studied the creature's mana I turned towards Ashborn.
"It's as strong as the frost monarch," I said
"Agreed" Ashborn nodded also interested in the creature
As Slyvia, the creature introduced itself to Arthur, talked with Arthur me and Ashborn were also having a conversation about how Sylvia's mana was also similar to The Absolute Being's. Seconds to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, days to a week, and week to months. Time passed by quickly. When Sylvia agreed to teach Arthur, Arthur was reluctant at first, but then soon agreed to be taught, as Sylvia slowly taught Arthur I was also listening with Ashborn because of the limited information we had on this world, although we did have shadow soldiers to do that for us, I and Ashborn agreed to at least learn about this world ourselves so we don't get too bored. As Arthur was meditating I got out from his shadow along with Ashborn. When we appeared the creature in front of us got startled, but soon calmed itself as she asked. "What can I do for you two?"
"We're just watching over Arthur no big deal although we are curious about your race," I said
"My race?" She asked surprised
"Your armor can't fool me I know your true figure is that of a dragon" I replied
She sighed, and nodded "I am indeed a dragon, but how did you figure it out? This armor was made to conceal my identity and presence" She asked
And that was when I brought her to the Void to converse.
Sylvia' POV
As I was watching the boy meditating I saw his shadow move, as I blinked a few times to make sure suddenly two figures appeared from the boy's shadow one was a man, while the other was a huge, muscular shadow with glowing flame-like purple hair, glowing purple eyes, two curved black horns, and sharp claws. He also wore jet-black armor and a long smoky black cloak. As I prepared to attack I asked "What can I do for you two?"
"We're just watching over Arthur no big deal although we are curious about your race," He said
After hearing those words I canceled my spell but then realized what he said
"My race?" I asked surprised
"Your armor can't fool me I know your true figure is that of a dragon" He replied
I sighed, and nodded "I am indeed a dragon, but how did you figure it out? This armor was made to conceal my identity and presence" I asked
And that was when everything got dark, and I was in a cave with eight pillars towering high in the center a few meters from reaching the roof of the cave. The cave was very big, like a hundred times bigger than my place, as I inspected the cave the two figures was up there standing on two pillars, as I soon realized that I was in my dragon form I quickly scanned my body, but the wound I was trying to contain was no longer where it was supposed to be.
"Don't worry I only brought your soul here, your physical body should be still outside probably sleeping." The big shadow said as he snapped his finger, and I suddenly appeared beside him
A screen was shown to me, as I watched the whole story of the two figures I gave them a respectful bow and said "We were fools to call ourselves gods, when there are beings like you that existed in other worlds"
"Please no need to bow, I and him are the last of our kind" He sighed
"Even tho I'm supposed to be asleep right now, not babysitting the of you two" the shadow figure grumbled
The man just chuckled as even I felt the shadow figure glaring at the man. As time passed by we had a conversation about my race, and how our magic works
"So Aether is higher than mana but lessers can't control them. Wait I mean more like they can't handle it?" Ashborn asked interested in the aether
"Yes Aether is the foundation of creation where as an example aether is a cup, and mana is the water" I explained
As I looked outside I could see Arthur slowly waking up, the two figures also noticed this and sent my soul back to my body, as Arthur woke up.
"How was it?" I asked Arthur
"It seems like it's going well" Arthur answered while yawning
As time passed by I eventually started creating the portal Arthur would have to pass, as I was creating it I coughed out blood, my body trembling from the pain my wound gave.
Arthur POV
As I watched Sylvia create the portal I noticed her wincing every time she pushed mana into the portal, until she coughed out blood.
"Syliva are you ok?" I asked
"I'm fine child," She said with a weak voice
I paused for a second, struck with the realization...
Why didn't I notice this before?
She had been getting worse while creating the portal.
In order to send me home...
She was sacrificing her life so I can meet my family.
"Indeed she is, but she has been dying for a while even before you arrived Arthur" Ashborn said trying to comfort me
As soon as Ashborn finished his sentence Guilt washed over me. I felt guilt by his words
Sylvia let out a deep breath, knowing that I had realized what was going on. Managing a sheepish smile, Sylvia whispered, "Art. Yes, I am dying. But I will get angry if you blame yourself, thinking that you are causing this. I have been dying for quite a while now. You are doing me a favor by allowing me to leave this forsaken cave a bit faster."
As soon as she finished speaking, a bright golden glow radiated out of her body. Shielding my eyes from going blind, I tried to focus on the shape forming from where Sylvia once sat. In place of the ten-meter titan-like figure was a dragon even larger. From her snout to the end of her tail, she was clad in a pearl white coat of shimmering scales. Beneath her iridescent lavender eyes were glowing golden runes that marked her neck and ran down to spread around her body and tail like a sacred engraving. These markings reminded me of a very elegant, almost celestial, tribal pattern, branching out harmoniously and with purpose like carefully placed vines. The dragon's wings were pure white adorned with white-bladed feathers so fine and sharp that they could put swords forged by master smiths to shame.
The golden light enveloping the dragon dimmed until it fully replaced the once titan-shaped being.
"There now... Do I look a bit more like a Sylvia?" Sylvia let out a toothy smirk.
"S-Sylvia?? Y..you're a dragon?" I said.
"Now That I am in this form, we do not have much time. Yes, I am something you humans refer to us as 'a a dragon'. The reason I am dying is that I had been inflicted with this wound after narrowly escaping from my captors. I had sensed one of them approaching dangerously close a few days ago, so I feel that my time of hiding is drawing to an end. This form will alert them of my location, which is why I only have time to explain what is necessary. I am giving you this to take care of from now on."
One of her bladed wings unfolded and revealed a translucent, rainbow-colored stone the size of two fists. With a myriad of colors and shades, this stone resonated an aura that made me hesitate in holding it as if I wasn't worthy.
Without waiting for me to respond, she continued, "Everything will reveal itself when the time comes so just hold onto this and do not let anyone know that you have this. Most will not know what it is but everyone will be attracted by the aura it emits."
Sylvia then proceeded to pluck a feather from her wings with her claw and hand it to me. "Wrap the stone in this to conceal it."
After doing as told, the once divine radiant stone merely appeared to be a smooth white rock, pretty, but ordinary.
While I was studying the feather-encased stone, I felt Sylvia's snout gently brush against my chest where my mana core was.
Taken aback, I looked up to see Sylvia's purple eyes and the gold markings blaze brighter than they had when she first transformed. As the markings grew dimmer and then disappeared, Sylvia pierced her tongue into my core and wisped out a golden smoke that crackled in sparks of purple.
A sharp yelp escaped my mouth as I blinked, confused and surprised. I continued to just stare at her as she moved her head back, leaving a trail of blood from a hole in my worn-down shirt. My sternum had bled, but when I ran my hand through the area, there was no wound.
Sylvia's expression had grown visibly pained and weak; it was apparent even for a mighty dragon that was even bigger than her previous illusion. What caught my attention, though, was that her once shimmering purple irises were now just a dim yellow with the beautiful runes that flowed across her face and body now gone.
Before I had the chance to ask what she had done, a giant explosion interrupted me.
I whipped my head up to see that the ceiling of the cave had been blown off and what came into vision was a figure that reminded me of Sylvia's previous form. Clad in sleek black armor and a blood-red cape that matched its eyes. The figure's pale grey skin matched the clouded sky in the background. The horns were different, though, as this entity had two horns that curled down and under its ears, lining its chin.
"Run now Arthur" Sylvia shouted
"Lady Sylvia! I advise you to stop your stubbornness and hand it over. You've already caused us quite the trouble after hiding yourself! If you submit, the Lord may even heal your wound," the entity reasoned impatiently.
But as soon as he finished his sentence he stood there frozen at the sight in front of them as Ashborn manifested appearing from my shadow his dark thick black, and purple mana suffocating the whole cave. He then pointed a pure black long broadsword towards the entity.
"What are you," The entity said his voice trembled as his knees were also trembling from the pressure Ashborn let out
"Death, I am death" Ashborn answered before walking towards the entity calmly. When Ashborn arrived in front of the entity he asked
"Now what are you, you don't seem to be dragon nor the other three races," He asked with an authoritative voice
"He is a scythe a weapon from the other continent an alacryan" Sylvia managed to answer while coughing blood, as I ran towards her to try and help her but I was stopped by a black and purple ant that came out of my shadow walking towards her, as the ant raised one of its hand above Sylvia's wound as green mana particle started to form in his hand as Sylvia's wound slowly closed. As soon as the wound close I could see Sylvia's relieved face as the face she wore when in pain was completely gone. The ant then walked towards me and sunk back into my shadow.
"What was that?" I asked Jin-Woo
"You'll find out eventually, now watch how Ashborn controls mana, learning it may help you later on," Jin-Woo said
As I looked towards Ashborn he wasn't just controlling mana around him, no it felt like he was ordering the mana around him to do whatever he wanted, as I saw the entity kneeling on the ground his face staring at the cave floor.
"Can I kill him?" Ashborn asked as he turned to Sylvia
"Yes you can," She said and then turned towards the entity
"Goodbye Cadell," She said as Ashborn's sword plunged through the entity's body
"Thank you Ashborn," Sylvia said
As Ashborn slowly walked to me and pat my head "You did well by not running immediately Arthur" He said
But as I was going to sit another familiar figure appeared from my shadows
"Brother Jin-Woo Now that the problem has been resolved how do we hide a giant dragon," I asked
"Calling me brother ey you already feel comfy around me?" Jin-woo asked with a smile
"Do you have any plans on returning home, or are you going to stay with Arthur?" Jin-Woo asked turning his head towards Sylvia
"If I were to stay with Arthur it would mean that a lot of danger would come for him ..." As Sylvia's sentence was cut off
"You do know I literally have a pocket dimension linked to Arthur's mind right?" Jin-Woo said
"That could work," I said excitedly
"As long as you don't mind," Sylvia said
"I don't mind so that's settled," Jin-Woo said as he turned to me
"Thank god you're not actually a four-year-old dealing with three different voices inside your head," Jin-Woo said
"Agreed," Ashborn and Sylvia said
"Wait you also know Sylvia?" I asked
"Yes I know but Arthur we've been so close together why don't you start calling me grandma rather than my name," Sylvia said
"First of all that would be disrespectful since you are of a higher species, second of all we've only been together for a few months," I said
"And you call Jin-Woo your brother" Sylvia sighed
"Why shouldn't I he's been with me since I was born here, and he is also human," I said confused
"You haven't told the boy?" Sylvia asked Jin-Woo
"I give Arthur special treatment he will uncover my secrets when he is capable enough as for now him knowing nothing is for the best" Jin-Woo replied
"Now the problem is my beast will," Sylvia said
"Huh?" I asked confused turning my head to Jin-Woo as he also inspected me his grey eyes glowed purple
"You're right there seems to be a problem with the boy," He said as he turned to me
"Umm It's also my first time giving a will, I think I'm actually the first dragon to even give my will so I am limited with what I can help since in my race we never had a beast will," Sylvia said shyly
"For now let's exit this cave but before that" Jin-Woo said as he turned towards Cadell's body
"ARISE" He said
At first, nothing happened but a pulse of mana radiated around us as they gathered into Cadell's body slowly but surely the black and purple mana manifested what it seems like Cadell. As it stepped towards us and knelt on the ground in front of Jin-Woo
"Your name shall be Cadell," Jin-Woo said
"Thank you for bestowing this lowly servant a name," It said its voice deep but plain
"What just hap..." I stopped my sentence when I saw Jin-Woo raising his finger motioning me to stay quiet. I just stood there and watched as Cadell slowly entered Jin-Woo's shadow, and his presence disappeared immediately after.
As I stood up Sylvia disappeared into my shadow followed by Ashborn, but Jin-woo didn't follow, as his body was enveloped by shadows Jin-Woo reappeared as a boy older than me around fifteen years old. Then Ashborn started to talk inside my head
"It seems like you chose to walk beside the boy," he said
"Now go through the portal" Ashborn continued
"As we exited the portal we were greeted with the sight of a forest big, and misty
"The forest of elshire," I said in amazement
"Now stop dazing around or the mist will kill you boy," Jin-Woo said as he walked in front of me