Dawn of a New Day

To keep the legacy alive, we spread the tales of those we remembered. Down from each generation to the next. It looked bleaked, but at the peak of the Golden Age, some legends have been remembered more than most.

Especially you, Sovereign Ryuuzen, because now…we've finally come to understand how history bleeds into the pages forever.

"What do you mean Aarx?"

That…you, Ryuuzen. Sovereign of…Strife, Ruin, and Death.

Huh? I look towards Aarx, shot him a confused look. He only scoffed.

Sounds like he's accepted it infinitely more times than I have.

Eventually…and somehow, your name became…entangled. Distorted. History no longer remembers you as the legend you were…but of the heinous crimes committed amongst our species. 

The next generation of Dragons couldn't tell the difference, and it made it all no better that you were a Dark Dragon as well, Sovereign Ryuuzen. I mean all this to say that…at a certain point, when one wanted to keep the offsprings set in attitude, you were the nightbed tale of keeping them in check.

A humble dragon, I remember you to be, but often not is it that society, when reshaped, and reformed, decide the definition of all things collectively. You became the…the Calamity King, God of Catastrophe, and sooner or later…everything bad that happened to Dragonkind in the past…you were to blame for. Exception for the Genocide.

What?

I didn't bring death. Not once, not at all! The Golden Age literally reframed me, and only Dragonkind knows! If it wasn't for Aarx…then who would see me as such?

After being stuck and trapped in stone for 10,000 years…I was only remembered in ruins? I wasn't forgotten…but I was misnamed!

The Sovereign of Strife, huh? Sounds like bullshit. And not to mention I was reduced to just a mere boogeyman's tale to keep dragon kids in check? Are we serious?

We overlooked the plane of Ashlight Bastion, standing at the rooftop…or not necessarily the rooftop, but the highest point of the building. It was clear that after so long…most of the building was weared away. Degraded.

Orange as far as I could see. Orange skies. I don't remember it looking like this, though. It was clearer, blue so bright. White clouds so amazing. The atmosphere was different than before.

If I looked hard enough, I could see some stars just shining greatly to give out their strength against the orange filter of a realm we were in. Which only made me think on how large everything is, really.

Because everything was a game, I already assumed that natural universal law…or dimensional law took place. I don't know a lot about all of this science stuff to be honest, but I could only speculate a few things.

The stars that I was seeing right now is not the same stars that I saw on Gaia. I knew that much. From everything I knew about the game's lore, the devs always made it clear that this place, Ashlight Bastion, existed solely outside of the living universe.

And even then.

Ashlight Bastion doesn't look what I remember what it should be anymore. It hurts…but time passes.

I don't know why I expected it to be different otherwise.

I'm…sorry. But as I've tried, my words no longer mattered to the generation of the next. They believed in what they only wanted to see.

I turn toward Aarx, "No worries, big guy. I'm just glad you're still here. Alive and kicking. Don't worry for my sake."

I reassure him, and he looks a little relieved now. Even if I almost failed to do so. I could only imagine had Aarx not remembered…or his memory transpired him. 

Just…just how did my name…my title, my very essence, get stretched beyond oblivion? I don't know…I don't think I'll ever know, to be fair.

Because at this current state, I'm not sure of my capability of beating the Echo Witch, or anyone else for that matter. Because if dragonkind as a whole has split up and is no longer unified…then what does that mean for me?

Or the other Sovereigns?

Shit. What if the Sovereigns are just as strong as me?

Can I beat them?

Would I even be able to beat them?

I took a long sigh. Lowered down, and sat at the edge of the ledge. The chains around my cloak clinked—I forgot they were with me only for a moment. Must've been nothing but background noise.

This made it a whole lot harder, now. What if Vaniti finds out about this destroyed perception of me? What would she do? Leave?

What if she already knows?

I could only look at Aarx. There's just…so much he doesn't know yet. About me, about the things I've done and how I got here and everything that has come and went.

For a moment, I think it settled into my mind.

That…I'm no longer the player anymore.

I used to think it dictated me with…Guide, or the System. UI, Menu, scales and stats. I don't have that anymore so what made me…the player? Players are good, protagonists of a story.

If this world was heading into a DLC like state…I wouldn't be a player.

The world forced me to be a hidden lore boss without my permission.

I was blamed for everything bad about dragonkind…why? Maybe because there had to be a scapegoat somehow. I bet they were glad when the genocide happened.

So…truly.

What would happen if they realized I'm still alive?

Aside being the [Dragon Sage] and trying to obtain that...do I…do I even want to be remembered correctly?

At all?

No…I have to be.

I want to be.

Because if I don't…then the biggest punishment is the image I let go by.

Until…until I'm given a huge reason as to why I shouldn't, I'm going to try.

Because last time I checked, I didn't go looking for a legacy.

I didn't ask to be…powerful.

But since the game left, servers died, history became bent with all of the data and focused it entirely on me. Do I blame the Dragonkin…? I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't. They…they are only kids.

…then adults, the elderly. Why should the 17-year-old try to play grown-up over his own reputation? Does that genuinely make sense?

I turn towards Aarx, just maybe, with a little hope in my heart.

"Aarx, truly. Thank you." I begin.

"For everything."

Smoke escapes his nostrils, I stand up now, dusting my hands off.

For what? I've done merely nothing in assistance towards you.

I shake my head, "Despite what you believe, you've done the opposite. I know what I'm going to do now."

He tilts his head, and I stick out my hand, raising one of my fingers.

"One," I begin.

"I'm going to become the next Dragon Sage,"

And then I raise another finger.

"And two, through that, I'll reshape the world, and change my reputation."

Aarx looks shocked, even coughed slightly. Fluttered his large, scaly wings. I don't think he believed me for once, but I didn't laugh, and so his trust in me slowly grew.

D-Dragon Sage…? The almighty power of it?

He even sounds shocked.

I only nod.

He looks away for a second, as if there hasn't been something he's telling me this entire time. I mean…there is no Dragon Sage to my knowledge. If millions of players couldn't achieve it, what makes me think that the entirety of Dragonkind could?

Well…they had 10,000 of years…and maybe the Sovereigns also got it? But that's impossible, I was one of the closest. I wasn't the closest, but I was there.

Maybe one of them also knew…? Nah, can't.

But I refocus my attention on him, he looks, shocked. And bows his head.

For what?

Towards me?

I didn't realize it, but smoke appeared behind me. Hot, nostrils behind me. My hair swayed in the wind gusts that it conjured. I didn't hear flying—that's the thing.

I didn't feel anything, except for my spine feeling hot.

Uncontrollably hot.

"Shi-shit, right here? Right now…?!" My lips trembled, it's about to happen. No wonder why it felt hot. No wonder why Aarx was bowing down again. He didn't have to just bow down to me. 

He also had to bow down to him.

Before I could turn around, my back launched back, as if I was pulled. I fell back, and expected myself to be freefalling and flying through the air. I closed my eyes—no, just blinked, and expected myself to hear the sound of wind gushing.

But it didn't arrive.

I hit the ground hard, instead. The sound of mana, magic brimming around me died down. My spine cooled down in heat, and my eyes shot open. I looked around.

I wasn't in Ashlight Bastion anymore.

No…no, no…!

Aarx was going to tell me something…!

I could hear the sound of panting, jagged panting. I slowly got up and turned around to see her. No one else but her.

Vaniti. She sat down, panting. Breathing hard.

But there was a worried look on her face.

But…even then, my anger got the best of me.

"V-Vaniti…! What did you do…?! Aarx was going to…" I trailed off, notice me raising my voice. Vaniti only winced like a puppy. She slowly got up, and hugged me greatly.

"I…I didn't know what to do…!" Her voice raising, almost on the verge of tears—no, sounds like someone who's been crying for the longest. Heavy sobs, now died down.

She hugs me and holds me closer than she ever has.

"I…I thought I lost you!" She breaks the hug, and for once I get to see her eyes. Emerald and Pearl. Where's her blindfold? She can barely see me now. Is the premise of that more important than using a blindfold?

"W-what happened? I was just in there for…"

I look around, actually.

Bodies.

Bodies.

Bodies.

Bodies.

Bodies.

Blood.

Weapons.

Gear. 

Littered.

Littered.

Littered.

"Y-you were gone for 4 days! I searched everywhere in the cave and…and you weren't there! I didn't know what do and…and…" Vaniti goes on.

I take a step back.

Looking at my hands, and then to Vaniti.

Blood littered in different colors of her gear.

What…?

I was only in there for just…an hour.

Was…was I gone for that long?