by : BlackbeardtheBear
Largas looked around, but everything remained unchanged, just as it was when he first arrived.
"What do you want? Why did you bring me here?" Largas asked, turning to face Fei Long.
Fei Long, now a green, shapeless mass of energy, floated above a platform adorned with golden dragon designs and emerald decorations, seemingly crafted by human hands.
"I did not bring you here. You came here on your own," Fei Long said in a simple tone.
Largas frowned in confusion. "I came here on my own? But I have no idea how I got here."
Fei Long chuckled softly. "It must be because your mind is now linked with me and this emerald lake."
From this conversation, it became clear that Fei Long did not summon Largas; rather, it was Largas's own mind that had somehow connected with the emerald lake due to the dragon disaster. Largas's face grew tense, feeling uneasy upon hearing this, and he could still sense the presence of the red dragon in the green energy that was Fei Long.
Largas tried to make sense of it. "So, what am I supposed to do now?" Though his exterior appeared calm, inside he was seething with frustration. He gazed at the green energy of Fei Long with suspicion and distrust. Fei Long, sensing Largas's inner turmoil, fell silent as if contemplating something, preparing to make some sort of offer to Largas.
"Hmm... Is it so? Well then, do you still harbor anger and hatred towards that red dragon?" Fei Long asked, deliberately probing Largas's feelings to confirm something.
Largas paused for a moment before replying, "Of course, I still hate it, but right now I can't do anything about it." His face remained grim because, despite his desire to kill the red dragon, he was powerless.
Despite appearing emotionally detached about the dragon disaster, deep down, Largas's heart was still burning with rage. He had not only lost his father but also his home, which held fourteen years of memories, both good and bad. He lost everything.
Fei Long, hearing this, fell silent as if lost in thought. "So, you realize how powerless you are, human?" Even though Fei Long was just a green mass of energy, Largas could feel a sense of pity emanating from it. "Yes..." Largas answered quietly.
"I understand your feelings," Fei Long said. "Anger and hatred can be powerful motivators, but don't let them consume you entirely. You may have lost your father, but you still have your mother and sister, don't you?" Fei Long's words made Largas reflect deeply. "I know..." Largas replied. Fei Long fell silent again, and Largas sensed the dragon's sympathy.
"Well, human, don't be so sorrowful. I, Fei Long, have a proposal for you," Fei Long cut through the sadness before making an offer. "You see this place, don't you? How magnificent it is. And you must be wondering what I truly am."
As Fei Long finished speaking, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and strong winds began to blow, accompanied by thunder. The mass of energy on the platform slowly expanded into a large egg, which began to crack open, revealing a dragon as tall as a mountain.
"Let me introduce myself again. Forget the name Fei Long. My true name is Veridian, the Emerald Dragon who rules this emerald lake and was once the Sovereign of All Dragons."
The revelation of Veridian's name made Largas recall childhood tales of the fearsome and majestic emerald dragon, as large as a mountain with wings that could block out the sun.
Largas was stunned but had suspected Veridian was a dragon, though he hadn't anticipated that Fei Long was a false name. "Veridian... Why use a false name?" Largas asked, confused.
"Well... because it was the name of the Dragon God I killed," Veridian said in a straightforward tone, though there were deeper reasons he did not reveal.
"And using its name allowed me to take advantage of humans," Veridian said with a laugh. "Look at this beautiful platform and altar. I deceived humans into building it in the name of Fei Long. Haha!"
"Killing the Dragon God... Long?" Largas's mind struggled to keep up.
Veridian, hearing this, remained silent. "Humans probably call them 'Long.' Despite being called gods, they were much weaker than expected."
According to Veridian, the Long were considered gods because they were revered by the people of the Eastern Continent, where an emperor once possessed one of them. This made Long become gods in the belief system, spreading across continents for thousands of years, even though they were far from divine in power.
In a dull classroom, a 14-year-old girl named Shina gazed out the window, listening to the monotonous lecture from her history teacher. The topic was the dragons that once roamed the world, including Veridian, the Emerald Dragon, one of the most ancient and powerful dragons in the magical realm.
Veridian's appearance was awe-inspiring and intimidating, with emerald green scales that shimmered like finely cut gemstones. These scales were not only beautiful but also incredibly strong, capable of withstanding attacks from weapons and magic alike.
Its eyes, dark green and profound, were said to hold vast knowledge and experiences from millennia. Legends claimed that anyone who gazed into its eyes could see the past and future, though there was a risk of becoming lost in these visions and losing one's identity.
The dragon's wings were enormous and robust, with intricate patterns that resembled ancient artwork. When Veridian flew, its shadow cast a foreboding presence over the land, and the sound of its wingbeats echoed like a looming storm, instilling fear in all who heard it.
Its breath was a chilling, icy wind that could instantly freeze everything it touched into emerald-colored ice, both beautiful and dangerous. Veridian could command the elements around it, summoning storms, rain, and lightning to aid in combat or to defend itself from intruders. Moreover, Veridian had the ability to communicate with various life forms through telepathy, earning it great reverence across the continent of Aiseret.
However, one day, Veridian mysteriously vanished. Scholars concluded that Veridian had battled and been slain by the Dragon God Fei Long from the Eastern Continent, who was believed to possess divine powers and control over weather.
In truth, Veridian had easily defeated Fei Long and had assumed the name Fei Long for many years, using it to manipulate humans into delivering magical crystals and gemstones as tributes. This deception allowed Veridian to continue his influence while being perceived as a lesser deity.