"It's already late, and you're still here outside only wearing your pajamas," I turned to Asher who just appeared out of nowhere, on my balcony—standing on the balustrade like he's some kind of shinigami.
I am currently here at my balcony, sitting at my favorite couch for stargazing.
"Asher... I was waiting for you," after class with Aunt Chan earlier, I had to rest. When I woke up, Asher was already gone, and my next class' lecturer had arrived.
"Why?" He asked. Jumping down from the balustrade and reaching his hand out to me. I accepted his hand and he teleported us to my room and pointed at my bed.
I walked towards it and took a seat.
"I want to ask about the Zariah Empire. You've been living for hundreds of years. You must've known about it, no?" He summoned a wooden chair beside my bed and took a seat there.
"Alright, ask away," Wow, he seems docile right now and... and exhausted? I wonder where he went.
"Err uhm, first. Are you alright?" His facial expression stayed resting. He then took a deep sigh.
What the heck? What did he do all day?
"I'm fine. I went to Abel and asked if he found a way to enter Azrael's realm, but still no leads. He suggested that we should start searching for the Essence Tree instead," Essence Tree? If I'm not mistaken, that is a sacred tree, isn't it?
"Why suggest the Essence Tree?" I asked.
"The Essence Tree bears holy crystals as its fruit. That's why," Eh?
"Then, isn't it easier to look for the Essence Tree? After all, it's just here in our world, right?" He slowly nodded his head.
"Yeah. But the Essence Tree doesn't stay in just one place. It changes location every ten years, and we haven't seen it for the last 200 years," what? For real? That means...
10, 20, 30...
It had already changed location 20 times within that 200 years?
"Then, for the last 200 years, it has already changed location 20 times?" He nodded again.
"Anyway, shouldn't you ask me your questions now?" Ah, that's right.
"Ah yeah. So, the Zariah Empire, right? It was an empire lost to history. I thought that if the Gods were involved, then you should know about it..." I paused.
"Yeah, and?"
"How did the divine beast become an evil dragon...?" I asked.
He stayed quiet, only staring at me. I did the same, waiting for him to answer my question. Even Aunt Chan has no idea of the dragon's origin. I'm sure this almighty incarnation of Creo knew something.
"Well…" Asher paused, turning his head away from me.
"Oh, of course it's alright if you decided not to tell me right now. As long as it won't affect my future," I added.
"Yeah… but you'll eventually get caught up with it. After all, the one who turned that dragon into something like that was the same person who tried to sacrifice you for dark magic two years ago," Huh?
Then it's just natural that he would tell me about this!
"Same person…" I murmured.
"Yeah, the Demon King,"
What the fu—
"Then, are you going to answer my question?" I asked again. He nodded his head and leaned on the backrest of the chair.
"The Divine Beast was created by Raini. The Creator of All Creations. Let's say he was our uncle…"
Ehhh?! The Astras' uncle?!
"Wow…"
"He was tasked in guarding and protecting the Essence Tree. It was his responsibility to ensure its safety," What… the evil dragon who once led an empire, and was the cause of its destruction is the same dragon who was responsible for the Essence Tree's protection?
That was unexpected.
"The Essence Tree is connected to everything in this world. All life in Lumia makes this tree grow even more powerful. And the holy crystals it produced are made by the abundant mana particles of this world. These holy crystals then fall off once matured, and the mana will go back to the roots of the tree… once again sustaining its life," Wow, that was kinda complicated to take in…
"This tree became the target of the demon king, and wanted it for himself—it was the dragon who fought and risked its life to protect the Essence Tree. Losing his sacred origin and becoming tainted by dark magic while doing so. He lost his name and soul to the demon king. But his duty was fulfilled… he fought the demon king for five years, until the Essence Tree changed location,"
What? Raini didn't even help him? That's… just so sad. The dragon fought hard, but received no help from his creator. If it were me, I would fall into despair… wait, what if that was the reason why the dragon became tainted by dark magic? Dark magic fed on negative emotions after all. And he fought the demon king for five years? Five freaking years?!
"This dragon became the demon king's subordinate. They both created the Zariah Empire. Since the demon king can't find a better vessel for himself in order to land in this world, he used the dragon to lead the Zariah Empire. This empire became a trading place, not just for items and resources… but information as well. They did this to get information about the Essence Tree. However, this empire had also caused many catastrophic events that the Gods took notice of them—causing the destruction of the Zariah Empire. Every human was struck by the divine light. Some had their souls taken, to be embraced by Raini, while some were sent to the underworld in order to repent for their sins," Woah… the history of the world is much more complicated than the ones I've read. And this story that Asher is telling me right now is only written in the book that is being guarded by the Priests below the cathedral of Ciera Empire.
I wonder why the priests were assigned to guard the book? Oh, it's not like I don't trust the cathedral, of course. Sir Kiernan is there, so there should be no reason for me to doubt them. Hmm… maybe because the Gods were involved in it? I mean, the history of the Zariah Empire probably tells a lot about divinity and sacred beings.
Hmm, I see, I see.
"However, the divine dragon. His soul was taken by Virexon. And he's using this to bind the dragon to him, and to make the dragon form a pact with him. Since the dragon already lost its soul, and is just a wandering puppet of the demon king… he had no chance to atone for his sins. Thus, he stayed here in Lumia alone. Virexon abandoned him, and left him in the land where the Zariah Empire once stood," No way…
The dragon's story is so sad that it hurts my chest.
First, he was left to deal with the demon king and received no help from his creator. And then, his next master also abandoned him…
"Why are you making that face? Feeling sorry for the dragon?" I flinched and looked away from Asher.
He got me right.
"Well… the dragon seems pitiful," I replied. Asher didn't give me a reply, but I can feel his gaze.
"Right…" I slowly looked at him, only to see him making that expression… as if he's also feeling the same way as I am about the divine dragon.
"But, well… that's it for your question. Do you have more?" I shook my head.
Actually, I have a lot of questions for him. But after hearing the dragon's story, I don't want more information for now. I feel like I need more time to prepare my mind and heart for the whole story of this dragon…
"You should go to sleep now, then. You have your swordsmanship class tomorrow," Ahh, that's right…
"Hmm," I replied, nodding my head.
"Sleep well,"
He mumbled. I gave him a smile and lay on my bed.
"Good night, Asher."
He better stay there in that chair, because I might have a nightmare after hearing such terrifying and pitiful story.
"Yeah, I'll stay here until you're asleep,"
What a nice Astra—only tonight though.
***