"Woah..." Going back to Ashter, he noticed a change in his body. Like Gabriel, his body is coated in his magical abilities.
"Krooo...?" Bismuth, who took a bunch of blows, noted this.
Everyone, however, roared, having seen such an incredible battle, who knows what will happen next!
"Seems we're going towards the finals," Janus said, as Lukas, ever so observant, only explained:
"He's growing by the second... It's astonishing... Platinum Rank Dragons were only beings meant for the royal family... None really had raw training like this child... It's astonishing..." He said, fascinated by this man. As Bismuth and Ashter hugged, they celebrated victory.
***
"..." Gabriel, on the other hand...
"I can't even get mad. That was fucking awesome." He smirked, as he didn't expect him to grow so quickly.
"... I'll keep on training..." He said to himself,
"I'll challenge you when we grow old. Maybe on the battlefield... Yes... As comrades in arms."
But with June...
"Hup! Hup!" She was practicing. The other matches ended in many victories, losses, etc...
Only 15 would continue. But this... This tournament-style battle is simply for show. It allows students to fight one another and allows them to show their skills. Only 15 will continue, where 8 will proceed to the 3rd match, 4 to the 4th, and lastly... The winners.
"This thing doesn't matter at all." Ashter realized this,
"Is it simply to boast the power of an academy? If so... Why haven't I been interacting with the others?" Saying this to himself, he NEVER had an interaction with the other academies. It's as if they're busy doing their own thing while continuing alongside them... It was...
Weird.
'This entire story seems... Weird...' Ashter thinks to himself...
'Super weird...' He continued, as...
"You're right, human!" Spoke...
"!?!" Ashter's eyes widened,
"What in the-"
"I didn't think you'd easily figure out that something WAS wrong! Tis is I! The Simulation!"
"Simulation?" Unfamiliar with the word, the Simulation soon responds,
"Yeah! You think someone as raggedy as you would EVER gain the power of such a beast! It killed you all instead of bonding with you! Hahaha! I made a realistic simulation, huh?" Simulation explained, but...
"B-But everything... I-I lived through... I felt hungry, I felt pain, I... How...?" Ashter is... He's-
"Wow, you did forget who you are, huh, Alaric?" Simulation mentioned the name... Alaric...
"Alaric...?" Ashter grew confused... That name is so alien...
"B-But what about everyone I know... How about the people I loved!?! HUH!?!" Ashter soon grew enraged, furious by this fake reality now crumbling in a mere second.
"Hey, I specifically told you to remember why you're here! For entertainment, for an adventure! To keep your true identity intact! But nope! You demigods just HAVE to be so ignorant, huh!?!" Simulation soon insulted,
"Demigod?"
"Oh for the... Yeah, you're a demigod. Of course you are! How else would your lovely creation, Simulation here, grant you this reality!?! You begged me 'Oh my lovely creation, grant me a life devoid of my godly position and give me the life I once wanted and more!" Simulation said, confusing the man...
"Y-You're...!?!"
"That's right! This is ALL a simulation! A universe created from the River of Castalix! A complex river and garden that's a part of your domain! You better come out, though, this reality needs to end for some modifications." Simulation explained, as a bright light flashed...
"!?!" And the now-known Alaric awakened.
"...?" Looking around, there are a bunch of flowers and multiple streams of crashing waterfalls. Getting up, he noticed...
"Where...?" He is...
"..." Alaric soon gains some sense of self.
"Ouf... You did get into that simulation. Out of the other 183 simulations, this one you liked! What? Did that Cale woman please you so?" Simulation is soon seen. Its body is a ring with a singular eye in the middle.
"... Ah... I-I must've. Thank you, Simulation... Augh... My head HURTS!!!" Crying to himself, he pouts about his head banging like a drum.
"Hmph. Seems even a god retains some of their humanity. Fortunately for you, you can't die even from a minor headache, so live with it!" Ordering this, Simulation soon wonders the rivers.
"I'll see if I can prepare a better simulated work for you, boss. So get to know your peers!" Simulation ordered, as stepping around, Alaric noticed many islands around in the brightened skies,
"Woah..." Alaric gazed at it, smirking even.
"Alright...!" Running, he jumps, as flowers platformed his ascent into another realm, slowly remembering her peers and such,
"Junala." Ashter steps to find Junala, a demigod of war and pride. Master of the art of battle.
"Alaric. I didn't expect you to be here. What a damn good surprise. You left me here with nobody to battle for the next YEAR-!"
"Oh come on... You know how I am... Simulations take time and energy to-"
"Don't give me that smooth talk crap! The mortals down there have potential, but none come close to beating me in a fight. It's boring living for thousands of freaking years just to be disappointed!"
"How's everyone else?" Alaric soon questioned,
"Oh? Them? Nothing much. Gallinum is still giving the storms a run for their money..."
***
"HAHAHA!!!" Gallinum is seen striking thunder on the mortals, storms were their plaything, as he only laughed louder,
"YOU MORTALS DARED TO DEFY ME!?!"
***
"Right..." Alaric said, as soon...
"Welcome back. Little god." Spoke...
"Alissia," Alaric said, the god of winds, she commands them to the tough, guiding the people back home and allowing birds to soar into the skies!
"How are the other gods?" Alaric wondered,
"Oh, they're doing fine! But Junala was saying nothing but seeing how your latest-"
"Alissia... Don't we have some BUSINESS to take care of...?" Junala glared as Alissia smirked,
"What a feisty one. Oh well, nothing will-"
"BOSS! BOSS! I'VE FOUND THE BUGS! So much, so little time to get it clean, but I fixed it all!" Spoke Simulation,
"Hm?" Soon, the three gods stood in Alaric's realm, as Alissia touched the waters,
"Oooo! It's smoother than the previous ones!" Alissia soon smiled brightly,
"Hehe, as my master's humble and most impeccable creation-"
"You're my only one."
"- I, Simulation, have fixed the problems with this river of water! Seems the entrance was so rough it fixed up your memories! You got lost in your reality, and I fixed it, so do thank me when you finish your simulated experience." Simulation giggled, as despite it being a ring, its singular eye was all the more expressive.
"... Maybe we should have an assistant of sorts. I could use a few years for myself." Junala expressed her desire for rest, at least, as the boring mortals drained her of any motivation... Give it a few years, and she'll grace them.
"Hm... Well, I do have the clouds... Hm..." Alissia soon snapped her fingers, as...
"Vrrr...!" A cloud splits, turning into a white and dark gray cloud.
"... How do you do this?" Alissia wondered,
"You pour a tiny bit of arcana into your little creation. It'll then take a life of its own." Alaric instructed her, as Alissia soon formed...
"Woah!" Her eyes twinkled as a split colored cloud formed. Black and white together, her eyes sparkled as she held it.
"T-This is my creation!?! My creation!?!" Alissia's eyes watered,
"YOU'LL BE CALLED COTTONCLOUD!!!"
"?" Alaric recognized that name... Or part of it.
'... Cottonbun...' He remembered the dragon from that one reality... Cottonbun...
"..." He hopes this wasn't from that water stuff. Maybe she experienced that simulation in full? Who knows. Then again, the mortals gift them with fruits and lavish items, so the cotton might resemble this dual colored cloud?
"?" But soon an altar glowed not too far, in the middle of the six islands, resembling the demigods are seen. An altar that receives offerings, and, well...
"Seems our little pastimes will have to be put on hold. Come." Junala said, as the currently present three demigods go to the altar. Beneath their feet, specific elements of their being are seen.
After all... Alaric has the domain of knowledge.
Junala is war...
Gallinum is the storm...
Then there's Alissia of the skies.
There are also the other two, resembling the earth and the cycles of life and death.
"?" The three demigods stared at the altar... Noticing...
"Oh." A few prayers and offerings, the demigods tend to them, as...
"Seems I won't be needed." Alaric tried to leave, but...
"Master!!! Master!!! The simulation is awaiting you! Come, come!" Simulation said that, as the simulations are nearly instant, but since discovering it, Alaric had been neglecting his duties.
"Uh..." Looking back...
"Ah, sorry, Simulation... I'll have to tend to my duties... Even if nobody is giving me some lavish things..." Turning back, Junala is seen inspecting a jar of wine.
"Ah!!! Look at this cloth!" Alissia shows some divine cloth that could be used for some nice clothing. Cottoncloud nodded, being Alissia's personal creation.
"Eh!?! But you said that those mortals don't deserve your knowledge-!"
"HUSH! What if Father hears you!?! He'll erase you if he wants to!"
"AH!!! Lord Dominael!" Simulation panicked,
"D-Don't mind me, Lord Dominael, sir! If you hear me!" Simulation apologized.
***
The River of Castalix... It was once a singular stream of water. His island produces the waters that rain down on the world. From each stream, an entirely new universe. He formed it after wishing to manifest stories for him to read and study, but this was interactive, and it became his simulated world where he could live stories told by the mortals from below.
But with this comes discovery, knowledge beyond human comprehension, and he answers prayers by granting reasoning beyond what they could ever consider in their lifetimes.
In fact, all of the six demigods are born from the creator, the god above all, Lord Dominael. He... Had a history of mingling with mortal women, including his mother, who died a long time ago. But ever since birth, he had a knack for wanting knowledge. Alaric was once a political figure in his human life, being the neutral they needed, always adhering to both sides, and making a choice that supported both parties.
Soon, he ascended to godhood and brought vast wisdom and knowledge to humanity.
Of course, there are his brothers and sisters. Gallinum was born from a mermaid, a beauty beyond words. Of course, that made him the god of storms and therefore the seas.
Junala was similar to everyone else, the other 4 demigods, born from a human. But that human was a barbarian woman, and with her daughter, she brought victory to the battlefield, and Janala became the goddess of war and victory. Many pray to her for victory on the battlefield.
Alissia is a human too, but this woman loved the skies, and Alissia's birth brought some slow but meaningful fruits. She was attuned to the skies, knowing when disasters happen, using the winds to search for land, etc. She became the goddess of the winds and sky.
The other demigods rule the earth, including life and death.
These six demigods have ruled the world since.
***
"Another long day of prayers..." Alaric sighed, sitting at a desk in his domain. Flowers bloomed, and the arcana swirls around him, bringing him books as they flip pages to whatever they wish.
"Political disputes... Whether or not my husband is faithful? By Dominael above..." Alaric grew frustrated-
"Uh, boss... Ya know I am here! Your humble creation! The one who held ya together for HUNDREDS of years!?!" Simulation said,
"No, I am good. My father would have my head if he knew I was giving my creation my job. I'll be done in a week flat. Then... Sigh..." Alaric sinks into his chair.
"Reasoning with myself is already hard enough..."
"Then maybe I can bring you the wine from the Goddess of Romance? She has the BEST wine after-"
"Wine sounds nice," Alaric said, as he got up,
"Go and message Dionysus that I shall be on his doorsteps," Alaric ordered, as Simulation giggled,
"Hehehe, of course, boss-!"
"And Simulation."
"Hm?" Simulation turns back, unsure if-
"You won't be getting any of it until we get back."
"... Understood, boss." Simulation bows their ring body and flies off to message Dionysus, the god of wine.
***
Within the realm of the Greek gods, those most familiar with... A dark skinned man with slightly darker brown hair is seen. His eyes a green, he sips on a drink, twirling it in a glass.
"... Hm?" He soon noticed...
"Hello, lord Dionysus!!! It is I, Simulation!!!" Simulation said, bowing to Dionysus.
"Simulation, what a surprise. It's been two years since we've seen one another. How has it been? Is your creator still in his little fantasy realms?" Dionysus wondered,
"Hehehe, it is not me on vacation, sadly. But my creator wishes to have a drink with you! He is in favor of your wine compared to the other gods!"
"You don't say?" Dionysus smirked,
"Fine. I shall let him in." Dionysus said, as he suddenly got a scent of flowers.
"Rose of blacks and blues... Unnatural but very fitting. Welcome back, Alaric, son of Dominael, nephew of Zeus himself." Dionysus said as he grabbed a jar of fresh and high-quality wine.
"Dionysus, thank you for letting me indulge myself. I am sure uncle isn't exactly happy I am here?"
"Oh, of course not. He despises his little brother more than his other brothers. After all, Dominael took in six wives and never more. He's... Eh... Perfect? Compared to Zeus." Dionysus explained, as Alaric nodded, as he poured himself a glass.
"Being the one who reasons with the mortals, I just... Needed a drink." Gulping it down, it had a strong and fruity flavor.
"Just how I like it. You know, Dionysus, if I were a mortal, YOU would be the one I wish to be a student of. Your wine is... Wow!"
"U-Uh, boss... C-Could I maybe-"
"No." Alaric denied the Simulation of a sip,
"Hahaha! That's a great deal of flattery! How're those silly simulations you got back in your domain? How are the flowers?" Dionysus wondered,
"They're doing alright. I praise my father for granting me my divine powers. Being a mortal is such a chore!" Becoming a bit drunk, Alaric sighed,
"Ah..." Placing the cup on the table...
"Hm." Dionysus twirls his hand, and more wine forms in the cup.
***
"A-Ah...! You see! I-I managed to get a breakthrough! I-I don't... Ah..." Alaric was OUT of it.
"B-Boss!!! BOSS!!!" Simulation was worried,
"Demigods are such weird creatures... But I won't deny his tastes are only that of the divine.
"..." Dionysus soon thinks, as he was a lot older than Alaric, wonders how he can spice up his role of reason within the people.
After all, Zeus and Domineal both agreed to split the universe into two. Where they're connected but separated.
"... I'll just write it down," Dionysus said to himself, as suddenly...
"Oh, if it isn't my little demigod! I didn't expect you to cross over so suddenly!" Spoke...
"Aphrodite... It's a pleasure to see you stop by after... A few times a week." Dionysus soon greets her, Aphrodite, the goddess of romance, love, and desire.
"Oh, stop. You're making me blush!" Aphrodite smiled,
"Ouf, he seems... Wow." She never expected him to get WASTED,
"Well, he has taste only fit for a god. I get lonely sometimes, dear. I need a friend around to keep me-"
"You do realize he swings both ways, correct? After all..." Aphrodite soon lingers on the chest of the god of wine, the goddess is then stopped by...
"MISS APHRODITE! Not in front of my boss! Please!" Simulation buds in,
"Oh, isn't this that little messenger he has coming in and out of this realm?" Aphrodite said, as Dionysus nodded,
"Yes. Fortunately, he isn't drinking despite his being a ring-"
"I have a mouth! My humble creator just doesn't allow me to use it. He says it's- "Oh right." Simulation realized that he needed to be sober to carry him back.
"Aw... Heading off so soon?"
"Hng..." Alaric groans, having crashed out from the wine.
"Yep. My boss will be upset if he gets into another argument with Lord Zeus after all. Chaoi!" Simulation soon, somehow, picks Alaric up and drags him back home.
***
It has been a while since then... As...
"Welcome back to the simulation! Things have changed since the first one to make this story feel... Epic." Simulation giggled,
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just hope I don't go nuts and lose my memories again." Alaric said, as his consciousness fades... And...
"Welcome back to the Dragon Riders of Castalix-" Simulation then scoffed,
"Nah! Let's go with something more profound! More interesting... Yes! I got it! My boss, welcome to the "Tales of the Draconic Hiers!" Simulation proudly said, as Alaric nodded,
"Alright... Let's see what this simulation has to offer."
End of chapter 1.