Chapter 4 - Echoes of Betrayal, 04.

Pierre looked sincerely at Mrs. Peyton and said, "I want to know everything, please." Mrs. Peyton began, "Your parents were the perfect couple, each in their own way. Balraa Galahah, a respected White Dragon, politician, and member of the Galactic Council, controlled the 'Eternal Ice.' He was sociable, unlike the other dragons, who despised different races." She continued, "He married Bentmunt, a powerful member of the Samash Lolarsa, an influential subdivision of the White Dragon clan." Pierre listened attentively as Mrs. Peyton narrated his parents' story, until the revelation shattered his idealized view of a "Perfect Father" and "Perfect Mother." He was a bastard. In the Dragon clans, it is tradition for men to perform in a traditional play during the winter solstice. It is a symbol of respect and intelligence, usually part of a dragon's rite of passage. The dragons cross the eternal lake during the winter solstice, a test of skill and determination, usually part of a day-long tribute ritual. His mother, Sigune Volker, was a powerful mage who mastered ice magic, despite not being a White Dragon. She managed to cross the frozen lake, which caught the attention of Balraa Galahah. He fell in love with Sigune and abandoned Bentmunt to be with her, which was not well received by the Dragons, who considered Sigune vulgar, of inferior lineage, and unworthy of being with a high-ranking Dragon. Balraa and Sigune left the Planet of the Treon Alliance, where Dragon clan traditions were valued, and moved to a nearby planet. Even so, Balraa continued to lead the clan, even from a distance. A year later, Sigune became pregnant and gave birth to a son with the characteristics of a White Dragon — you, Milanion. These twists in your parents' story caused significant conflicts and changes in their lives. "After two years away from the Planet of the Treon Alliance," Mrs. Peyton continued, "Balraa Galahah began to regret abandoning Bentmunt and getting involved with Sigune Volker." He realized he had made a mistake by leaving his perfect wife, who supported him in his political responsibilities and in leading the clan. He decided to win her back. Pierre interrupted, "Was Balraa feeling guilt or were these two different kinds of love?" Mrs. Peyton looked at the young man she had cared for since he was a child and continued: Bentmunt, still hurt by Balraa's infidelity, allowed him to get close again, but she wasn't willing to forgive him easily. This caused great turmoil for Sigune, who had felt unhappy and out of place since Balraa left her. Now, with Bentmunt's return, she felt even more isolated and vulnerable. The fact that you, Milanion, were born with all the characteristics of a White Dragon only increased the tension, as the White Dragons did not accept Sigune's presence and considered her vulgar and inappropriate. Sigune struggled to keep her family together in this hostile environment, constantly pressured and judged by others. She knew Balraa's love for her had faded. "I was programmed and activated in the Snowsagitta Galaxy, on one of Balraa's planets," Mrs. Peyton said, "and these memories remain in my database." She continued, "Sigune activated me in a moment of despair when she realized Balraa would leave her. She knew her son, a White Dragon, belonged to him." Sigune couldn't understand why the dragons didn't accept her. She was as skilled in ice magic as anyone else. But these thoughts made her bitter. Days later, Sigune, acting normally, ordered me to gather some things. She took a spaceship and fled to Galaxy APH 00A, a dangerous and uninhabited region with large fluctuations in the space vacuum. When we approached the vacuum, Sigune was expressionless. She looked at me and said that everyone considered her evil because she was different from the dragons, but that didn't make her a bad person. She loved Balraa. "Her son was a pure White Dragon, and she loved Balraa. Her love was greater and more intense than Bentmunt's." Sigune ordered us to enter an escape pod, saying that Balraa would soon find her. Before we entered, she keyed in coordinates and handed me a large sum of Intergalactic Ringgit coins and three magical stones: Avalamite, Cantheite, and Petanesia. She said these stones should be given to you when you turned 25. "She said we would be received on a planet that was already prepared, and that the space fluctuations would prevent Balraa from finding us quickly." Sigune remained on the ship, sending the pod away so that Balraa wouldn't notice her escape. As we approached a giant black hole, an immortal cosmic entity was born from the space vacuum. A universal force of life — primordial psionic energy, almost impossible to find, but destructive enough to obliterate the entire ship and the surrounding space. We left the pod and abandoned the ship minutes before it exploded, but a bright and intense light passed through the pod. At that moment, Mrs. Peyton struck her chest, her voice filled with emotion as she said, "And then, something incredible happened. A heart was born in me, though not a real one. And your white hair, Milanion, turned red like flames and sunlight." Pierre was about to ask an urgent question about… With excitement in his voice, Pierre asked Mrs. Peyton about Zoltán, the Black Dragon. "Has he married yet?" But Mrs. Peyton's answer disappointed him. "We are millions of light-years away from the planet Treon Alliance. Why does it matter?" she asked, confused by Milanion's lack of focus. Realizing his mistake, Pierre felt a deep sadness in his heart. He wasn't the romantic partner of his idol; he wasn't a villain, a sub-villain, cannon fodder, or even an extra. Just a mixed-blood person, without a defined place. There are loves in life that never materialize. He sighed deeply, holding the three stones Sigune had left for him. Shifting his attention, Pierre asked Mrs. Peyton how old he was. He realized he understood the language she spoke, even though it wasn't from Earth. So, some traces in his memory belonged to Milanion. "You are 23 years old, Milanion. You should rest. After all, the journey has been exhausting," she replied. Lying down, Pierre reflected on the tragic love story involving three people. He thought about Sigune, knowing there were many ways to love, but that her love for Balraa Galahah was impossible. To him, Sigune's love reminded him of the story of Icarus, who, with his wings of feather and wax, ignored the warnings and flew too high. Balraa, to Pierre, was like Zeus, the traitor who regretted and acknowledged his mistake, but with a bastard son. Sigune Volker had put herself in a fragile position; Balraa had all the power to reject her. If he had arrived a few years earlier, he would have explained to Sigune that importance and function always unite to define who obeys and who commands in a relationship. He understood well that true love is a giving without expectations of gain. However, Pierre understood that the human mind can be deceptive, attracted by illusory glimmers that mask reality. In moments of weakness or desire, it's easy to mistake the glittering reflection of shards of glass for the solidity of a true diamond. Subtle envy and the pursuit of happiness that belongs to others can blind even the most perceptive souls, making them believe that what they don't have is exactly what they need. The only real victims in this story were Bentmunt, betrayed, and Milanion, without a family. The great explosion made him wonder what could suppress the skin of a White Dragon, feeling a mix of curiosity and fear. During sleep, Pierre had several dreams in which he was the firebird, feeling the scorching flames in his body. At the same time, he was also the white dragon, feeling the ice running through his veins. He flew through the sky, illuminating the darkness with his golden flames, while the scales of the white dragon gleamed in the moonlight. As he flew, he felt an incredible sense of power, as if he could conquer anything he desired. But this feeling was quickly interrupted when he realized that something was wrong. The powers of the firebird and the white dragon began to conflict, making him feel weak and disoriented. Then, Pierre woke up, exhausted from the turbulent dreams. He had revived, but by the Gods, he felt as if he was already dying.