The Queen and an Emperor

Ashton climbed the winding path that split off from the main road. 

Each step he took the castle grew taller and taller, until he stood under its outer wall and it blocked out the sun.

[Truly magnificent...] He thought as he stretched out his arms and placed his hands upon the wall.

Without the touch of the sun's light the red volcanic rock appeared black and felt ashy as he swiped his palm across it.

Ashton smelt the ash, and it smelt sulfuric.

It opened his eyes to how powerful dragons truly were.

[Thousands of years of passed, yet these rocks still stand impervious despite all indication of being flammable... And Emperor Alexander slayed their creator...]

Despite the rocks being called volcanic, in truth they were created when a dragon rose from deep within the ground. Its breath loosened the earth that had grown over it then its physicality solidified it.

It was a calamity in and of itself, but the dragon given the name Vorikeen by humanity, continued to raise destruction across the continent. 

Villages were burnt in mass, cities became coffins of rubble that buried millions at a time, kingdoms older than magic itself toppled, and religion wavered.

Vorikeen was considered evil. The worst creature that mana had ever spawned.

Until it met the newly crowned Alexander Harman. 

Vorikeen flew into his borders and started it usual destruction. It wasn't seeking the elimination of humanity, nor did it find its actions pleasant, it hardly could form conscious thought.

It had slept for too long and couldn't remember who or what it was. It only knew that it was untouchable and did whatever it willed, which is how it met its end at the hands of history's only 8th circle mage.

Ashton was still caressing the ashy walls of the castle, trying to measure the power of the two legends and imagine the scenes depicted within the story books his mother used to read to him.

His eyes were closed as he was focused on imagining the battle, but then a blue light burned through his eyelids.

"Would you like to witness the memories of the dragon Gaina"

Ashton didn't hesitate, he didn't take a moment to feel his surprise, or to admire the Aether Systems majesty.

He confirmed his willingness as soon as he read the prompt in the air, and then the color in his eyes vanished leaving only the whites of his eye balls.

The clouds in the sky started to float left across the sky, the trees that filled the lands around him shortened again and again until they became swallowed by the ground, even the hill he was standing on flattened.

[Is time reversing?]

Ashton was aware of everything that happening around him. As the landscape changed and became unrecognizable, the clouds still floated in reverse and the sun and moon rapidly changed positions in the sky until they reversed so fast it became a white blur.

Then finally, a man dressed only in slacks without shirt or shoe was left flying in the sky.

His hair was auburn and flowed below his waist in a braid with a jawline sharp as a blade. Deep and intense blue eyes that looked as if they held the oldest and most powerful of knowledge.

Ashton could recognize the figure, the entire world could. He was the man that shaped society and left behind a line to rule it.

But what struck him more than the founder of his country, was dragon that was fleeing from him.

Vorikeen had a gash across its midsection, the drops of blood that spilled out from its body left craters in the ground as if it were a solid.

And for such a large creature, it was flying through the air faster than Ashton could believe, as if the air dared not resist him.

Ashton felt himself pulled along, bound by unseen chains wrapped around his limbs and tied to Vorikeen's flight, but he could still move his head and look around.

He saw Alexander following.

The smile on his face was calm. And Ashton got the feeling that he wasn't giving it his all to chase after them.

(Ugh. What is happening? Why is my body wounded...)

The beast's voice struck Ashton's mind like a thunderclap, each syllable rattling his astral form. His mind rang and his astral body started to disperse while the scenes around him sped up.

But by the time the Aether System pieced his essence back together, the battle before him had already progressed until its end and Ashton screamed out in anger.

"NO! Rewind this memory right now!"

(It cannot be rewound human.)

"Who is that..." Ashton turned around but there was nobody there.

(Relax little child. I cannot hurt you. Not even within my memories.)

"Vorikeen. Or should I call you Gaina?"

(Vorikeen... that is a name I have heard you humans refer to me as for so long. It means Brave and unyielding to my kind, but what is the human connotation child?)

Ashton was overwhelmed with information and the scene before him.

The dragon he knows as Vorikeen was a woman. 

She has polymorphed into a human like appearance and speaking with Emperor Alexander.

Her skin was porcelain, like a human who had never seen the sun. 

Her hair was brown matching her dragon scales, and was curled like a noblewoman who had visited a hairdresser for an iron.

She was holding her abdomen from her injuries, and she had a tear in her eye.

(Stop admiring my beauty little one and answer my question.)

"How are we even speaking? You have been dead for much too long for any imparted will to still be lingering... Just resume this memory I am busy within my reality."

(First off, do not compare the will or the magical intent of my species to that of a human. And secondly, I will hold you here for as long as this queen wants. So, answer my question. What does Vorikeen mean to you?)

[This dragon is so full of herself. She died under human hand yet still speaks so highly-]

(I can hear your thoughts child. And I will not ask again.)

"HA" Ashton threw his hands up and grinned, "Fine. But why are you so... insecure about it?"

(HAHAHHAHA!)

Gaina's laugh started dispersing Ashton's body, but this time she exerted her own power to hold it in place. 

(Me? Insecure? The queen of earth magic? HAHA!)

"Former queen you mean."

(Humans are blissfully unaware of the world they reside in. As a monarch rank dragon, I will never truly die. My soul is eternal. No matter how times my body perishes, my scales will find me again.)

"And how long does that take? Do you know how long you have been dead?"

(Of course I do. I already told you I can hear you humans talk in reality. And I would have already been reborn by now, I am primed for it, but my remnant will holding this space together is preventing it.)

"So what? You will be born anew when you let go of this memory?"

(It is not entirely that simple. My soul must go through a purification that will wash my past incarnations memory, then I will hatch anew.)

"Psssf!"

(Human! I find no humor in what I have said. Stop laughing at this queen!)

"No no sorry. I was just- Hahah. Imagining you, a "queen" being turned out of another dragon in an egg."

(Ridiculous! Disgusting! As a monarch level dragon, mana is both my mother and father. Fool!)

"Okay I get that. But why have you not just reincarnated then?"

(Because... I do not want to forget.)

"Forget what?"

Ashton's question caused Gaina to fall silent, but after a moment the memory continued to play.

Gaina had finally regained her consciousness, and Emperor Alexander explained the destruction and pain she had caused within human society and to nature.

He told her of the estimated human lives lost in her rampage, and the incalculable number of animals she had vanquished, which caused her to cry out in shame.

"The others will think I broke the pact." She kept saying over and over.

Emperor Alexander only flew above her, still smiling as if he had no stake in the situation, until Gaina transformed back into her true form, then Alexander's face became serious.

But Gaina didn't want to battle, she offered her flesh in atonement.

"Human ruler, finish your cause and take my life. My bones will never wither, my blood can breathe life into the deceased, and while my scales aren't eternal, they may outlive an eon."

Alexander's face lifted and he lowered his sword.

"Why are you hesitating human? I have cast a scar upon your race, so end me here and now!"

"Ruler of the earth and queen of queens, why are you so eager to throw your life away?" Alexander held out his hand, "If you seek atonement, then live amongst the human race and help those who may be so lucky..."

"No- wait... how do you know of me?"

"To reach my realm, I have traveled far and wide. Crossed oceans, explored the clouds, and went deep within the heart of this world. I have seen truths and cut down lies. Many of the cultures I have met and lived among foretold the existence of monarch dragons, and judging how you have created those red rocks you must be Gaina."

The memory paused again, "It was just getting good. Why have you stopped it?" Ashton asked.

(There isn't much more to see. I had to convince that monster human to kill me for hours.)

"I see... I have always heard that the battle between you two was fierce and lasted days. Nobody would believe me if I said you willingly let yourself be killed, especially considering how you are remembered."

(Yes... Explain to me what Vorikeen means now!)

"It means evil that seeks redemption... At first you were just given a menacing name, but it was Emperor Alexander that spread the name Vorikeen." 

(Ha! Why would that monster not just use my true name... Foolish!)

"Maybe it is because he knew you would return one day, and he didn't want your name to be smeared by the past."

(He did seem kind like that...)

"Anyways... I don't want to be abrupt, but I must get back. I am in the midst of battle in reality."

(I know little rat. I saw you sneaking about, but do not worry. Time should have not moved outside of this space.)

"Still. Release me."

[Maybe it is about time I should release myself...] Gaina thought.

(Fine. But I have one last question. How did you enter this space? I never called you inside...)

"I dont know... I blinked and was inside of here."

(Hmph. It is punishable by death to lie to a queen. Liar.)

After Gaina called out Ashton, his astral body shattered, and he opened his eyes in reality. The sun was already set, and the guards voices atop the wall were different.

[Who is the real liar? The moon is out and there has been a shift change... How much time has passed?]

Ashton took his hand from the wall and walked away, but a hard object met his foot and rolled away.

[That... It couldn't be.]

He bent over and picked up the oval object. It was heavier than stone, warm in his palm, and shimmered faintly with an inner light.

[Didn't she say it would take time? That she needed to be purified?]