It started because of an affair between two ancient beings that created the most powerful offspring to challenge the Gods.
King Ralzeoth Ul'burn. An opponent of the Gods, a pursuer of the most feared magic, and the mender of hearts. He disguised himself as a human to dwell amongst them. Tainting their hearts and mating with clueless women he had wooed to give birth to chaos.
These babies looked human, but their ears and rapid growth, said otherwise. Thus, humans confused them for Elves, whom they lived with in peace separately on Ehert. So separately that future generations came to understand such elves as mere myths.
Still, these half-bred offspring tainted the minds of mankind, who were convinced that the elves wanted to change them or enslave them for being weaker.
The elves were puzzled, and hurt, by these claims. For they did not know it was the Mirrikhian King at work. But they did acquire clues through use of their magic. This clue was in the form of trickery.
Ralzeoth left behind traces of tainted magic in the form of illness that spread only through the hearts of magic-tuned elves.
This madness swept across their people. Causing an outrage. They attacked their own kind, and attacked the already afraid humans. And Ralzeoth watched from within the chaos, wearing a twisted smile as the humans and elves slaughtered each other.
As for those who remained intact--parties made of kings, queens, warriors, healers, and/or mages-- they found Ralzeoth at an empty field. Convinced by his true form, that he was a dragon.
Dragons were known to be peaceful and wise. Offering prosperity, wisdom and riches to those with a promising future.
Besides their selfless spirituality, they were also known for their love of playing at the minds of beings lesser than them through magic and shapeshifting, like a jester, but nothing harmful.
Of course, the battle against Ralzeoth would not have occurred if that still remained true. And neither would a happy ending.
All parties that surrounded this fearsome dragon, who possessed such soft features, would perish at his hand.
The battle against Ralzeoth had commenced with the killing of a beloved friend.
It lasted for what seemed like hours without rest. The tide never changing and their placements, chaotic. But all of Ralzeoth's foes had a plan. They just needed to distract the dragon in order to have their most powerful members power themselves up in preparation to deal a final blow to his life; his dragon core. It was going to be easy.
Or so they had thought.
"Idiots." Ralzeoth grinned, flashing his bloodied fangs at the terrified parties. "I can read your thoughts just as well as I can read your moves. And you are nothing."
At the end of his sentence, a mage shouted at him in retaliation. For she had the burden of carrying the souls of her fallen allies for their last departure.
"We won't give up." The shaky mage snarled through a pool of hot tears and blood. Her curly brown hair fighting against the burning wind. "We will make you fall."
Ralzeoth rose his arms, his human form rearranging itself to one of a large, opal white dragon about the size of a canyon. He flashed his great teeth at the heroes with a low chuckle, spreading all four of his semi-transparent grey wings as he rose his head. A head full of two pairs of horns curving back and over his head like a crown.
"Unbelievable..." One of the heroes stammered as they regained their ground against Ralezoth's great roar.
"You'd best believe it." Another hero muttered under her breath as she held onto her sword with a nervous gulp.
All watched in intense fear as the dragon stood on his hind legs, chanting words in the ancient dragon language that none knew.
After he had finished, his white-golden eyes pierced the nearest foe in a trance. All the other members noticed this, and attempted to snap their friend out of it.
"Get a hold of yourself!!!" One cried.
"No use. He's mine now." Ralzeoth chuckled before stomping on the ground with his front legs and pushing his open jaw forward, ready to release hellish rainfire on his enemies.
It seemed like a tragedy. Like they had no way of winning of many of their magical attacks, spells and swords could not pierce the magic protected scales on his body. And the fire he released, engulfed every material it could consume.
This battle lasted for fifty years with the dragon hiding and ambushing his foes. Befriending many whilst wearing many different faces.
"It's no use!! We're doing nothing!" Son of one of the 12 human royalties, Prince Alastir Sinclair, scoffed in utter defeat. "No race is safe from this damned dragon."
All these leaders of various different clans and species, were desperate. Because they were all vulnerable to the attacks of this fearsome dragon. After all, they have never fought against one before, ever in the entirety of Ehert's existence. The thought never even crossed their minds.
"I have a plan." One of the other human royalties, King Ornalus Carnosa, announced. "But I need the cooperation and the magic of all."
Soon their group of the most powerful leaders, including the Light Elf Ruler and the great mages of the entire era, decided upon a plan. One that could work, if all were willing to bet their lives.
During their planning, two surprising visitors arrived to support their plan. The first human, Hyumo, and the first Elf, Elf. Rumored Gods amongst people whom also thought they were mere myths, were merely immortals in disguise. It was surprising to all, except the demon king and current Elf rulers.
They yearned for an answer as to why they left all on their own, but decided to focus on the enemy at hand.
Hyumo and Elf gave away their immortality to support their plan against Ralzeoth's rule over all living beings. At first they wanted to search for the creators responsible for Ralzeoth's creation, but kept their sight ahead: to trap the dragon.
"Why trap them? We must kill them!" The Lord of Dwarves retaliated against the plan. "That's the only way to securing our future!"
"Rest assured, Galbasco." Elf began. "Ralzeoth is no ordinary foe nor an ordinary dragon. For his origins come from one of extreme pain and forbidden love that made him an unkillable beast that does not sleep."
"It's true." Hyumo added. "I was in charge of analyzing him and all reports came in as unknown. He has no weaknesses, no place to call his own, and no death bed."
That's when Ralzeoth inherited the name-- the Immortally Damned Dragon.
All understood their situation as soon as they came to an agreement and a few weeks later, they reached out to Ralzeoth to submit to his rule.
"Yes...." Ralzeoth huffed in satisfaction when all the foes showed up in front of him to his freshly made castle. "Submit to me and I'll let you live. That is a promise."
And in the blink of an eye, a few human mages screamed out the spell that would trap Ralzeoth and ensure the end of the battle.
And then a staff of wood, pressed against his back directed at his dragon core, sending various incantations that would bind him motionless and unable to fight. Pressed him onto the cracked ground of his castle.
"WHAT IS THIS?!!" Ralzeoth roared as the staff emitted jolts of magic into his mana-stream. He attempted to turn to his dragon form, but the magic would not let him. "YOU---!"
His sharp whitish yellow eyes pierced his foe-- Hyumo and Elf. Who stood before him with these empty expressions. He reached out his claws to their ankles, perhaps as a last attempt to kill them.
The next part was like seeing a painting painted by a God who stopped time just for that single moment when the unknown staff user poured her entire strength into pushing Ralzeoth deep into Ehert's crust, further down and down with the help of plants and such that made way for she and her foe. Both traveling down until they were out of sight.
That's when peace fell upon Ehert once again.
With Ralzeoth never heard of again, and the unknown ally never forgotten for her bravery...
Ezephyr looks up at me without his usual smile on his face. I even noticed that in the dreamscape, it is impossible for the infected to escape the magical cracks.
"I know now that Aina's story only spoke half of the truth. After all, she told it to me with a face that looked like it wanted to puke a few times throughout. Lying makes her physically ill. Such as identity of Ralzeoth's creators, what Ralzeoth truly is, and a few others. I was scared each time because I thought she would puke on me at any moment. Do you understand how frightening that was, Arsin? To watch her saggy cheeks puff up? To feel sudden impending doom--"
"Alright, I get it, Ez. The elder traumatized you, there's no need to repeat."
"Anyway, a few years after Ralzeoth was sealed away, an act had been passed. A new law imposed by Hyumo and Elf themselves, prohibiting and limiting the capabilities of living dragons.
About 96% of their 20k population was cut. With the survivors having either ran away far from the realm, or sincerely wished to work beside humans and other races and clans as advisors, teachers, warriors, etcetera, to maintain peace and pass down their knowledge. And your companion is no different. Who is here as a commander of an army of the Council of Justice."
"So if he's here then that means he harbors no ill-will." I argue. "That means he genuinely wants to aid and protect. Not follow in the footsteps of Ralzeoth."
After all, this is Attor we are talking about. A genuine friend with a crazy calm and laid-back demeanor, perverted sense of tendencies and humor, as well as a clear eye on respect and care. He might be holding back some pain from his life and maybe also did do nothing when I faced the Council's judgment, but he has been nothing but protective of me.
Ezephyr drops his gaze.
"I only meant to bring up the story as a warning of your Feienx. Dragons, although now limited on our realm with the rest bringing positive change, still harbor discontent and rage towards those who slaughtered their kind." He explains before slightly tilting his head at me. "What would you do if all the mortal inhabitants of Ehert, who deemed your kind as unworthy to live, slaughtered them all while allowing a few to live?"
"A part of me is in a cage, banging against the metal walls with his body nearly drenched in blood, screaming and cursing at those who destroyed his kingdom. While the other is at a plain field with nothing but confusion, fear, and minor curiosity in his eyes."
That's what I want to say to him. But I refrain from it and instead go with a more shorter answer-
"I know it all to well." I respond. An answer to which Ezephyr's wings slightly twitch at.
"I- my apologies." He says and takes a step back. "Well, I shall leave you be. Have a good slumber."
Now I am left alone in the dreamscape to figure out my most invasive thoughts and concerns.
Is Attor truly a threat? Will he betray me?
This question continues to haunt me, even in the next morning.
"Hey, I'm going into town to fetch for some food. Any requests?" Attor asks, standings before me as I sit on the couch adjusting the laces on my shirt.
"I don't think I'll need anything." I grumble as I struggle against my sharp nails jabbing at my own skin as I loop the laces together. "Fu- how does this shirt even work??"
It makes no sense. Sin, tell me how to make this shirt close! Considering how many times I pull at the lace, I can hear the fabric slightly snap one thread at a time, leaving me to think: expensive = complicated.
Which is not so different from the modern world where high valued fashion could be nothing but a simple g-string and band-aids on the nipples. Or an overly complicated heap of armor needed to be put on a certain way and order but ends up cutting you and leaving you with your arms stuck.
"Ah, royalties and their fancy garments. So pretty yet old fashioned. No one uses tunics nowadays. Here, let me..." Attor states as he reaches out for the strings, pulling them and the collar of my shirt. I want to warn him but it's too late.
Riiiiip.
"...oops."
Attor ends up tearing open my tunic, now leaving me with a robe-style tunic where the cold can now freely grope my bare chest.
I let out a deep and disappointed sigh.
"Thanks..." I huff, deciding to take off the shirt completely. "Now you owe me two thousand dollars."
"Dollars?!" Attor cries. "Where can I find USA currency in a place like this? We only take--"
I throw my shirt at him. "Bring me a bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries and some Doctor Salt instead. ASAP."
"Wouldn't you prefer something more better?" Attor mumbles through my shirt. "I think I saw a little restaurant that serves something that looks like Korean Potluck."
"Korean Potluck??" I stammer, my mouth immediately watering.
I failed to consider how when our two worlds merged, that famous world dishes would be brought here as well. Perhaps, if luck permits it, that spaghetti would be here too. Or my previous order can be granted as well. I could kill a man for some Doctor Salt.
"I would advise against that." Ezephyr says as he walks into the room with a paper in his hand. "Seems that news of your escape has reached this so called Oasis."
"Oooh, that's too bad." Attor breathes. "I'll be sure to bring some french fries if I find any."
"Wait, what do I wear--"
"Contact me through the dreamscape if you require anything." Ezephyr's voice informs me from within my head. And I touch it in awe. Never having known that telepathy exists in this world.
And out the door he went, along with Attor. Leaving me alone.
I turn to the window with a deep sigh, watching them go their separate ways into the mob of people walking around.
"I shall remain shirtless then." I mumble to myself.