The Man, The Myth, The Dragon

If I deny, right here and right now. I'm not only lying to myself, but to Vaniti as well.

If…if I agree, and confirm. I become the Sovereign everyone fears.

Vaniti looked ahead, directly right towards me. "I…I never understood it, Ryuuzen. From the moment we first met. I knew it. You were the Dragon Sovereign. I never questioned it. Maybe…I served you out of fear and nothing but that."

"But you saved my life, and I could only repay you in my loyalty to forever protect and serve you. I no longer feared you…but respected you. And now…you want to run away from your past…why is that?"

Vaniti.

You…no, there's no way I could've known before she's known.

She's the one asking the hard questions…and I can't answer them. Not truthfully, not ideally, not realistically. Nothing.

I looked down. Ashamed.

"It's nothing but a lie," I tell her.

"All of it. I've…my entire being and identity has been twisted and corrupted for everyone and anyone to fear. You've seen me, Vaniti. When I walk, death doesn't follow. I'm…a nice person. Aren't I?"

Vaniti doesn't hesitate to nod, but it didn't feel satisfying. She would always agree, at least in her warped view of me. She respects me more than I could ever respect myself. That goes a long way.

She trusts me way more than I do in myself. She…fell for the myth, but not the person. And I have no power against that.

"When I was young…I think, the details I barely remember—we learned about the Sovereigns. Your history seemed…tragic, in its entirety. You did everything by yourself. You had no one. And yet, you wanted only one thing. I think that's why I'm so loyal to you,"

"I…didn't have any of that. I was…lonely. You were…lonely."

Then, with a single step forward, she moves.

"I didn't want you to suffer alone, so, I made a vow. That…if somehow, somewhere, in any lifetime that I would see you. I would make sure that you wouldn't be."

I try to shake my head, but nothing happens. I'm too shocked too. Vaniti…she doens't realize it. She doesn't realize the extent of what she's doing. If word gets out that the Sovereign of Strife is here in Aurea Islands right now?

I would form a new page in the history book.

And Vaniti would be right there. She would be placing herself into my myth.

I…don't need that. I can't have that.

She's my Consort. I swore to help her get strong, not sweep her into my troubles.

The vow? What vow…wait. Don't tell me.

The blood pact when we first met.

Was that…was that her making the vow right then and there?

I outstretch my arms to disarm the entire situation. "No. No–no, Vaniti you don't understand. I'm trying to safeguard your future. Everyone fears the name of Ryuuzen, and yet in this day of age nobody recognizes me. That's…good!"

Her hands rested on her hips. "And if? I swore to be by your side. No law of society, morality, or technicality will separate me from you. How long will it be until everyone recognizes Ryuuzen the Sovereign?"

"What will you do then? Whatever action or measure you decide to take, I will always be by your side. Is that not what being a Consort is?"

She's asking the hard questions again. One's I barely have the answer to at all. Why is she so adamant…?! Why does she keep choosing me? 

Be by my side? Until what? Until the world burns around us? Until I become the myth they all fear again?

"Being my Consort is helping you get strong, Vaniti. I only helped you because I saw how helpless you were. The moment you get stronger than me by just an inch, you are no longer my Consort, you are your own, Vaniti."

She flinches, as if my words hurt her. No…Ryuuzen, there's no if, it most likely did. She looks down towards the ground, in dejection.

No, no…Vaniti. No I didn't mean it like that—fuck. Do I always have to mess everything up?!

She took off one of her gauntlets, then the glove itself. Then, with her palm spreaded out, she showed it, facing me.

"As…as long as this scar is on my palm, I am your Consort until the ends. I've sworn to never lose you again, Ryuuzen. If this is your subtle way of separating from me…" She trails off, and then, I could hear it.

The spiritual hum of her magic.

"I will prove to you myself, that I am worthy of being your Consort."

I chuckle, nervously. "N-no…you're bluffing."

She didn't budge, didn't flinch, her face made no other expression other than it being neutral. She didn't respond. But I could see the faint white outline on her hand, now being clenched tightly.

She's…crazy.

There's no way she would fight me to prove her status.

…

…

…

I think…that's it.

That's the thing.

I straightened myself. Vaniti is…crazy, there's no doubt about that. She's made her decision…and so now, it doesn't look like brainwashing or anything like that.

It's her choice she's making willingly, even willing to fight against me, to prove such.

Say, if I separate from her now, what becomes of her? The same Spirit Elf that fought continuously for 4 days? The same one who rejected rest and recovery in favor of just being…there?

No one else would understand Vaniti, or comprehend her entirely. The only reason why she admires me so much is because she vowed to never leave my side.

In this day of age, that loyalty is rare.

And then, I think back to the dungeon.

But…it could also get you killed, Vaniti.

I don't know why I couldn't find…or get myself to trust her entirely. Maybe because I've never really trusted anyone growing up that wasn't my parents or siblings. Anyone else I trusted managed somehow to misuse and abuse my trust.

And even now.

As this elf has fought tirelessly, effortlessly, to not only impress me, but stand by my side through any action I take.

I still find it hard to trust her. Why?

I can't talk her out of her loyalty. It's too…resolved. Undying. Too convicted.

I sigh…the hum of her magic dies down, for now at least.

"Vaniti…do you realize the implications of this? Of siding with me? With…the Dragon Sovereign from the Dark Age?"

She nods.

"Of course, and not once, had I ever regretted my decision." She speaks so warmly of it. As if the mere thought of her decision brings her happiness and joy. If I'm being honest?

It probably does.

With my tail, it's raised. It lands on both of her shoulders, one at a time, and then I speak.

"Then…it's official. Firstly, you are Vaniti the Spirit Elf. Secondly, you are the Consort of Calamity, the only true second-hand to the mighty, and fearsome, and terrifying Dragon Sovereign from the Dark Age."

"Ryuuzen Valeflame."

Because if the world wants to make, no, force me to be the myth, then I have no choice but to play along, right?

Despite me wanting to clear my reputation, I don't think I will, as of now.

I'll see where it goes.

And at least, try to dig deeper on how my name was completely turned around like this.

Alongside Vaniti, of course.