Chapter 148: Mystical Elevation of Sakolomé.

The sun gently filtered light through the foliage of the floral dimension that Velda and Rivhiamë were carefully shaping. On a large carved wooden table, Rivhiamë sat elegantly, a steaming cup of coffee between her fingers, Shushu quietly perched on her head like a living crown. Opposite her, Velda, leaning on the table, observed the rows of freshly planted flowers with an almost satisfied look.

Velda sighed, then glanced at her accomplice:

— You already know quite a lot about human habits, don't you, Rivhiamë.

Rivhiamë shrugged with a small smirk.

— It's more relaxing, you know. Living like a demon, conquering worlds, roaring in chaos... it's exhilarating, but it's exhausting.

She took a sip of coffee, briefly closed her eyes, then continued:

— These kinds of moments... they're more peaceful.

Velda stared at her with an almost shocked expression.

— You really do strange things... and apparently fun ones.

Just then, Sakolomé approached, his clothes a bit rumpled, traces of dirt on his arms and a bit of dust in his hair. He shook himself lightly, trying to get rid of what was bothering him, then straightened up with a small guilty smile.

— It's done, I replanted everything, he declared proudly... with a hint of embarrassment.

Velda crossed her arms, squinted, and replied dryly:

— Hmph. I'll check later if you didn't plant the seeds upside down.

Shushu chuckled on Rivhiamë's head, while she herself softly giggled.

— Ah... so you're the famous flowerbed destroyer? Watch out, father, you trampled Velda's sacred peonies. She could banish you from the dimension!

Sakolomé scratched his neck, laughing softly, a little ashamed.

— Well... it's fine... I said I was sorry!

Velda finally relaxed her mock stern look and sat down at the table herself.

— Enough chatter. What brings you here?

Returning to seriousness, Sakolomé told them about recent events. He spoke of Ysolongue, their meeting, the pains she carried, and the tragedy of the Heirs. He even mentioned Ebon Woe, the Black Grief, and Ysolongue's will to erase her memory.

After a long silence, he concluded:

— I'd like to know if you know anything more precise about the Dragon Heirs... and above all, is it possible to find them? To locate them? I would like... to repair what has been broken between them.

Velda frowned, her expression suddenly more serious.

— The Dragon Heirs... You mean the ten children of Orlongue, those from the world of myths?

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes shining with a darker hue.

— They are not mere creatures, Sakolomé. They are ancient, powerful entities, almost as old as the laws that weave the mythical world itself.

She paused, then resumed in a more serious tone:

— I cannot afford to observe them directly. They would sense it... and I have no desire to have dragons or superior entities on my back. However, Erasa Arlongue... I could try to contact her.

Sakolomé, surprised, frowned:

— Erasa Arlongue?

Velda nodded.

— Erasa was originally a demon... just like me.

A brief melancholic smile crossed her face.

— When I was still an ordinary demon, without much hierarchy, she protected me. That day, I was about to be killed in that mess... and she saved me.

She then turned her head toward Rivhiamë.

— Rivhiamë, you know Erasa, don't you?

Rivhiamë nodded softly.

— Only by name. I've never seen her. Besides, you and Erasa were born at a time when I didn't even exist yet.

Velda confirmed with a slight nod.

— Indeed. Erasa became a true legend among demons. She merged with Arlongue, the Black Dragon, one of the Heirs of the Dragon God Orlongue.

— Yes, that's it! said Sakolomé, intrigued. You really seem to know your stuff.

— Yeah, replied Velda, crossing her arms. I did quite a bit of research after leaving the world of the Underworld. And then... some feats of ancient demons came to me like echoes, through the very fabric of existence.

Sakolomé hesitated for a moment, then asked:

— So, Velda... Would it be possible to contact Erasa Arlongue? So I could meet her in the world of myths?

Velda shook her head regretfully.

— I'm sorry, but no. And I can't try to locate the other dragons either. The mere act of observing them could raise their suspicions... and they might turn against me.

— But Velda... you are incredibly powerful. What exactly are you afraid of? asked Sakolomé.

Velda gave him a calm look.

— And what do you know about my power?

She slightly averted her eyes.

— Just because I'm powerful doesn't mean I seek conflicts. I love peace. Even troubles with mere humans can irritate me. I hate disorder.

Velda let out a long sigh, eyes half-closed:

— Nothing is more soothing than peace...

Sakolomé raised an eyebrow, amused:

— A demon talking about peace? Who would have thought.

Velda turned abruptly toward him, outraged:

— What are you implying?! That all demons are filthy barbarians? Well no, my little one! Get that straight in your head!!

Sakolomé laughed softly:

— Haha, sorry Velda, I get it. Not all demons are brutes. Actually, I've already noticed that with you.

Velda sighed again, but this time with a small smile. She took a sip of coffee before continuing more calmly:

— Listen, Sakolomé... If you want to search for the other Heirs, you'll have to do it alone.

She paused, then added:

— But I can still give you a worthy starting point. A solid clue, let's say.

She straightened up a bit, eyes fixed on the horizon.

— In the world of myths, Orlongue foresaw that his children would eventually divide. So, he left in the Cave of Evoressence an egg... A dragon egg that will only hatch when someone truly worthy lays hands on it. The egg of the eleventh Heir.

Sakolomé's eyes widened:

— An eleventh Heir?! But how do you know all this? Ysolongue never told me.

— Because she probably doesn't know herself, replied Velda. This truth is buried very deeply.

She lowered her voice, as if confiding an ancient secret:

— Orlongue revealed it himself in the Lake of Secrets, a unique place in the world of myths. No one can contain all its whispers... They are beyond infinity.

Sakolomé frowned:

— Whispers?

— Yes, Velda continued. When you listen closely to this lake, it's as if you hear all the voices of the world of myths, through all ages, at once. Eternal truths, secrets, confessions... everything is there. But it's dangerous. If you're not wise enough, what you hear can destroy your consciousness. Only Deviants... or gods, basically great mythical beings like me, can withstand such a flood without sinking.

Sakolomé:

— But why don't the Heirs have access to it?

Velda shrugged, her gaze darkening slightly:

— It's a mystery. Maybe Orlongue wanted the Lake of Secrets not to be meant for them. Or... there's something even they must not discover.

Sakolomé crossed his arms, thoughtful:

— Hm... this is really strange, all this. But by the way... why can't you contact Erasa Arlongue, then?

Velda slowly shook her head:

— Because she cut all ties. On all levels. It's as if she's preparing for something... or seeking absolute silence. No way to communicate with her for now. Even through the subtlest planes.

— I see...

Sakolomé straightened up, palms clapped confidently:

— Well. In that case, I'm going to that famous Cave of Evoressence. Ysolongue will be happy!

Velda crossed her arms, a bit annoyed:

— Hum... that means Rivhiamë will leave me again, huh?

Rivhiamë, smiling, sipped her coffee with Shushu perched on her head:

— Can't wait to be done with all this, Sakolomé. I had lots of plans with Velda.

Sakolomé shrugged with a conciliatory smile:

— Don't worry. I'll do everything to settle this quickly.

Velda, as if suddenly remembering something, straightened up:

— Ah, Sakolomé, I forgot to tell you: I elevated Rivhiamë.

Sakolomé blinked, intrigued:

— Uh... how so?

— I raised her to the rank of Great Demon. She's no longer comparable to the Rivhiamë of before. She is now at Omnigod level 1.

— Omnigod... 1? repeated Sakolomé, a bit lost.

Velda nodded:

— Yes. It's a classification among the gods who govern certain worlds. These entities reside in states of consciousness called Suargaloka. They are detached from any causal framework, transcended, existing far beyond matter and stories. They rule worlds such as those of Myths, Existence, and others... well, let's say those where life and breath proliferate. I won't list everything, it would take too long.

Sakolomé frowned:

— They are really detached from all causality?

Velda:

— Yes. Totally. The Suargaloka is a state that surpasses universes, Méracloxes, Delzluhud, giant dimensions, and even sibylline worlds. These gods are sometimes called Omnipotents 1, that's their other name.

Rivhiamë leaned toward Sakolomé, chuckling:

— She tells you too much. You won't understand everything, you know. Let's just say I now have the level of gods... the weakest ones, at least.

Velda sighed, mock exasperated:

— Ralala... always that human weakness. One day, Rivhiamë, you'll have to explain everything properly to him.

Rivhiamë replied with a wink:

— Don't worry, I plan to.

She turned to Sakolomé:

— So, when do we leave?

— Tomorrow, declared Sakolomé confidently. Tomorrow, we go to the world of myths to settle all this.

— Sounds good! replied Rivhiamë enthusiastically.

As Sakolomé turned on his heels to leave, Velda's voice stopped him:

— Sakolomé!

— Yes? he said, turning around.

— Your body is too weak to withstand the current Rivhiamë. She could reduce you to dust unintentionally. Come closer... we'll try something.

— Uh... okay?

He approached, a little nervous. Velda placed a hand on his head, closed her eyes, then opened them abruptly, plunging her fiery gaze into Sakolomé's. Suddenly, dizziness seized him, everything around him blurred.

— What's... what's happening to me?! he stammered before collapsing unconscious to the ground.

Three hours later, he opened his eyes. He was lying in a bed. Velda, Rivhiamë, Shushu, and even Gorgonax were staring at him intently.

— Aahhh! shouted Sakolomé, startled. Why are you all staring at me like that?!

Velda, sharply:

— Shut up. I raised your level, too.

Sakolomé sat up, looked at his hands, surprised:

— I feel... nothing special.

— That's normal, replied Velda. I transcended your consciousness up to your being. You should be careful now: your energy is more powerful. Try not to do anything foolish.

— Why did you do that? he asked.

— Because you're making a pact with Rivhiamë, and you're not even able to use your own mana. Hers is far too evolved. And your body, still too physical, wouldn't have survived.

She crossed her arms.

— So I made sure your existence rests directly on the being. I couldn't go further. Just with this energy, you already risk collapsing as a near Deviant. You need to start manipulating your own mana to hope to maintain this state.

Sakolomé, shocked:

— Wait... My state of existence now is the Being? No more body, soul, spirit, story... all that?

Velda nodded:

— Exactly. But be careful. The Being is the foundation of all you were. If it's destroyed, you cease to exist. Definitively, erased from existence. Unless you become a d'Chōshinku, in which case even that wouldn't matter.

Sakolomé sighed, a little dizzy:

— This is really getting complicated...

Velda grimaced:

— Tss... You should shut up and thank me. Thanks to me, you are no longer subject to structuring and intentional causalities. I pushed your being into a form where causality becomes blurred, that of silence, almost unreal. It was the only way to allow you to absorb a minimum of Rivhiamë's mana without dying. You'll need some time to adapt. But with her help, you should get used to it.

Sakolomé looked at his fist, clenched it gently.

— Thank you, Velda. That's really... kind of you.