The Silver Bell

A man in a straw hat was picking at the ground. Sweat poured into his eyes, and his shabby clothes only tentatively shielded him from the scorching rays. He had much work ahead of him and was diligently pulling weeds with his earth-black hands. Behind him, tender sprouts were already rising.

Crows flew in search of a seed that had fallen past the bed, but the man worked diligently. Overcoming fatigue and routine, he gradually prepared the ground and planted the seeds. At the beginning of his bed, the sprouts were already sprouting gold.

Barely finished here, he climbed the hill and carefully loosened the ground beneath the many flowers. The lush, motley vegetation framed some mysterious spot in the center. When he had finished, the man walked along the neat path and sat down on a flat rock.

Taking a breath, he looked out into the distance. Suddenly, a delicate bell on the tree above rang with a crystal melody. The man couldn't believe his eyes and stared at the signal that had been silent for ages. Amazing eyes filled with tears.

"You're back... you're finally back, Dai-Kun..." Giving vent to his feelings, the man with the soul of a gray-haired old man wept silently at his friend's grave.

(On the planet Pittsu)

"I'm against it," Legion replied grimly, "no one else will have a drop of my blood."

Cal and the Marshal looked at each other in surprise, and only Liam looked at the frowning dragon with a pursed lip. Taking him aside, he whispered softly:

"It has been many thousands of years, no one knows if the Lord is alive. But if he is, he will come for you."

"Why would he come looking for me?"

"Do you remember how you died?"

The dragon turned away, unwilling to speak.

"Don't you want to know how he survived your death?"

The dragon looked at the man.

"He cut all ties with humans and locked himself away on his planet. He took your body with him."

"..."

"Why do you think the Overlord created the lake of rebirth?"

"..."

"They say he sacrificed something of great value to gain knowledge of how to give dragons a second life."

"…"

"Who do you think he wanted back?"

"What does my blood have to do with it?" Legion spoke at last.

"Because it was the only way he could get you back to the Lord if he had to."

"He's certainly long since created his dragon army and forgotten me," Legion turned away again.

"And if he hasn't?"

"Who says I want to see him?"

"In that case, forget it," Liam turned to leave.

"Well... have it your way," muttered the dragon.

Cal used the dragon's name appeal, and he was haunted throughout the ceremony by the feeling that the Legion resisted the procedure. But it was done, and the dragon retired to his own space at once.

As the day drew to nightfall, the guests bowed politely, and Cal was not at all surprised when the marshal kissed him and Liam on the lips.

"Take care, and I hope to see you again," the marshal admonished them as they boarded the luxurious carriage again, "my horses will take you straight to the platform. It was a pleasure to meet you, good-bye! Give my regards to General Tishow!"

The last words came to them from somewhere far away. Cal was overwhelmed with impressions and was silent all the way, as was a slightly pensive Liam. As Head of the Academy, he had access to many things, and in particular to some very ancient scrolls in which eyewitnesses to the battle had described the death of Dai-Kun.

It said that amid the battle, the dragon assumed the form of a man and was promptly slain by the enraged beast. Witnesses claimed that he had deliberately set himself up for that fatal blow and went on to describe how painful his death was for the Overlord.

Liam reread the scroll many times, for he, too, was in pain at being separated from Cal, and in the pain of the Overlord, he found a reflection of his sorrow. The carriage drove them smoothly forward. Liam moved into the seat next to Cal and squeezed his hand.

Tomorrow was the last day before their separation; he hoped to spend it wisely, though the apprentice should have time to pack his things.

"I hope I'm doing the right thing and the general is the right person to take care of Cal," Liam worried, squeezing his apprentice's warm hand.

Cal looked at him in bewilderment, not sure why he was suddenly so gentle, but enjoying his touch he decided to be sensibly silent. There was the sound of a waterfall and they saw the platform. Stepping out of the carriage they took only a few steps and found themselves at home. From somewhere on the side, the Third Elder called out to the Head.

Jumping off the platform, he hastily met the secretary and after listening to something said secretly in his ear, his eyebrows went up:

"No mistake? Is this really what I think it is?"

"Yes, Head, the information is reliable."

"In that case, we'll have to see for ourselves." Liam sighed and took Cal under his arm and signaled him with his eyes.

"What?" Cal didn't understand, and then froze and quickly put on Leon Duvall's appearance, covering himself with gooseflesh from fright.

But the Third didn't seem to notice and was already hurrying back. Cal and Liam went home. It was dark outside, and they walked, as they had the day before, across the lantern-lit bridge. When they got home, they found the box.

After examining it for poison or other danger, it was found to be clean. Opening the box on the kitchen table, Cal was surprised to find jars of strawberry jam, dried apples, colored stones, potions, and a note.

Liam peered over his shoulder with interest. Opening the letter they were surprised the writing belonged to an early era and was nowhere to be found. Liam took the sheet and studied it intently for a few minutes. Then his face lit up with conjecture, no, certainty, and he studied the letter again with admiration.

"What did it say? Did it make any sense?" Cal inquired, losing patience.

"Exactly, just as I expected," Liam glowed.

The twinkle in his eyes made Cal crave the clue even more. He sat down opposite him and stared intently at the Head. He made a theatrical gesture of unconcealed joy, put the letter aside, and said in an excited voice:

"There's a Dai-Kun's master on the horizon!"

"The Light-bearing Overlord?"

Liam nodded solemnly as if he had won the lottery.

"So this is from him?" It finally came to Cal's attention.

He nodded, "His lordship welcomes you and encloses Dai-Kun's favorite treats and medicines that are as effective as the best in our time."

Cal whistled. The lord seemed to him someone out of the realm of legend, an untruth concocted by humans to explain complicated things in the world order, but for him to be a real...human? Cal stood up and took everything out of the box.

Carefully taking the fancy jars of jam in his hands, he couldn't believe that the Light-bearing Overlord had personally prepared it himself and even closed it in jars...

As he considered the treats, he wondered one thing: "Why now?"