5 Chapter 5: Dragnof
Swoosh*
On a dark starless night.
High above the skies, a lone large figure flew fast, taking the clouds to hide its figure for caution and safety as it scanned its surroundings from time to time.
It has a quadrupedal body build, sharp claws, tough beige scales, large wings, and a tail, with a smooth, armor-like underbelly.
There were sharp protrusions on the various parts of his body: large tusks jut out from and curve around either side of his jaw.
It has two large horns that stick out from the back of its head; two long maxillary canines protrude from its bottom jaw; its chin is rather sharp; it has a horn on its snout; the scapulars of its wings also feature large, spiked protrusions.
As the figure flew, it checked its back from time to time wondering why would a naked human drop down from the skies, and right in front of it.
This figure was a dragon. He very much wanted to know why a human, a naked one at that drop from high up the skies, but as the human was unconscious, it waited for it to wake up and continued his flight to report to his queen.
Even though there was a war between dragons and humans and dragons against dragons, it was glad that it was the one to chance upon the human.
For if it was any dragon, they might have taken the human as a snack to fill the gap in their teeth.
Though curious, it continued hastily because of the importance of his findings and must be reported to its queen.
As the dragon continued its flight, hours passed and as cautious as it was, it was able to avoid any ambush from the enemy or even being spotted.
Soon, the Kingdom of his Queen was within sight.
The Kingdom was massive and was surrounded by walls.
The Kingdom was guarded by Dragons that patrol their surroundings along with some humans who looked too tense but ready for anything.
Seeing the Dragon approaching, the patroling Dragons and Humans alike put their guard up, ready to fight the incoming Dragon.
But upon seeing the familiar Dragon as it came near them, they couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief and let the dragon pass by them.
- - -
Slowly, the dragon landed on the plaza where flowers and fountains decorated its surroundings.
The dragon looked at its back to see if the human had woken up, but upon seeing the human still asleep, it didn't know what to do and thought that he might just as well consult its Queen about it.
Walking towards the entrance for dragons, it slowly entered.
As the dragon walks the hall, two humans talk as they walk in front of him, and when they see the dragon, they greet him respectfully.
The dragon talked with the two humans briefly and then made his way forward, but his head looked at his back as the two humans talked while checking the human at its back that he noticed to be moving.
Soon, a light coming from a door came into view, and as it neared it, it could see some dragons and humans talking with each other happily.
Within the hall, the dragon saw its Queen, in front of the fountain, a figure of a dragon stood at the center surrounded by flowers.
Seeing the kneeling red-haired woman in front of the Dragon figure and the flowers, he couldn't help but smile and say, "Irene." His voice delighted upon seeing its Queen healthy.
The Red-Haired woman stood up slowly, turning to her side, and with a smile, she greeted, "Belserion. You've returned."
The dragon named Belserion still had his neck tilted towards his back, as the human it was carrying started moving more, seemingly about to wake up.
Seeing Belserion, the red-haired woman spoke with concern, "You don't look well."
Belserion grunted, "I fear it is only a matter of time until the dragons from the West consume all the humans there and make their way here to Ishgar.
It may be too late to stop them." Finally giving his report.
The Red-Haired woman looked downcast, not believing what she just heard, "Dragons... Eating Humans..."
The human at Belserion's back moved more, seemingly wanting to get up.
Belserion noticed it but took no heed. "The very idea is very blasphemous in Ishgar. We've only come this far by working with humans."
The red-haired woman was saddened, "Yes. And the dragon's knowledge and power have helped humans progress this fa-..." Before the red-haired woman could finish speaking, a black flame burned at Belserion's back, making Belserion look at its back in pain.
"ZAGAROT!!!"
Their conversation was abruptly stopped by a roar.
Luckily, Belserion was fast to react and threw the human at its back away.
"Wh-what?!" The red-haired woman named Irene was taken aback and shocked, and so were the other dragons and humans within the hall.
"Zagarot! Don't! Don't do this!"
"AHHH!!!!"
The black flame that was thrown away from Belserion's back kept shouting.
"Belserion! W-what is that?" Irene trembled looking at the black purplish flame that destroyed everything it touched as it continued wrecking the ground.
Belserion whose back hurt couldn't help but say, "This is the other one I wanted to report, but seeing how this human's state, he must be under some kind of dream. A hurtful one."
"Then what do we do? If he continued, the palace might burn down!" Irene panicked.
The dragons helped the humans out of the hall and gathered around the shouting figure.
Belserion stared at the human. 'Zagarot? How could this human know this name?! This flames!'
"Irene! Get back." Belserion ordered, not wanting his Queen to come to harm upon by those flames for it knew how dangerous they were.
"ZAGAROT!!!"
The human shouted once more, and the blackish-purple flame burst forth, destroying everything.
Belserion, the one called the Sage Dragon knew a thing or two about the tales of old.
It couldn't believe its ears hearing the name of an old myth.
Seeing that its Queen had taken cover, Belserion gathered its magical power, the deepest of its magical or draconic energy, and sent it towards the human.
A green light the size of a fist slowly traveled towards the human it brought, and the flames of destruction gave way to it, soon, it stopped upon the human's head and slowly, it entered it, calming the human down.
"Urgh." Belserion was weakened, digging upon the deepest of its roots draconical energy was not an easy thing, and it could be seen that Belserion was greatly weakened.
The human soon calmed down, and so did the flames, returning to his body, leaving a naked unconscious on the scorched ground.
"Irene, I leave him to you. He should wake up in a couple of hours. Do not worry, he has calmed down." Belserion said and slowly walked away followed by the other dragons that were too afraid of the flames and helped Belserion to rest.
Soon, Belserion was out of sight.
Irene was too afraid but Belserion's words were of no doubt.
Seeing the naked male in front of her, she the Queen couldn't help but blush and at the same time curious.
Instructing the maids, they soon carried the human to a room with the help of some dragons.
- - -
Three weeks passed.
Ethan didn't know what happened after Zagarot said farewell to him.
What Ethan could remember was the words of Zagarot in his mind as he fused with Zagarot's True Body.
"This Realm is Sealed. Sending you out of this Realm is possible but you cannot take your Flesh.
I did not want you to wander in the Realm of the Living as a soul.
So, I put some things in your Magic Circle to ensure you will live and arrive at the Realm of the Living.
What? Do you think I will teach you Draconic Language and Magic Circles?
Too easy, brat! I am the First Dragon!
And for that, I must use my True Body to at least reform my own.
It may not be as strong as your body was before because of the seal, and to accomplish this, your magic reserves were also used, half of it, permanently. But do not worry my child, you can still get it back.
Because in return, you will get my endless Vitality, to what extent I do not know.
But I assure you, living for thousands of years is my gift to you.
I hope you reach your goal and wish.
That 'Being' said so.
Live a Happy and Full Life, my child."
"Ah yes! It will hurt but, you'll get through it.
I believe in you!"
- - -
Chirp*
Chirp*
Roar*
Startled, Ethan finally got out of the hell of a dream.
Weak.
That what was Ethan was feeling.
First, he tried opening his eyes. It was heavy, as if his eyes were covered in lead.
He calmed himself, not forcing his eyes to open but concentrating on his other senses; his hearing and smell.
Hearing some women saying that he moved, his eyes trying to open and someone going to call someone, Ethan could make it that he was not in any immediate danger but more of a patient that brought happiness upon his gaining consciousness.
Ethan relaxed himself and slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry, but still better.
Ethan tried moving his limbs, and nothing was wrong.
Ethan tried moving his hand to rub his eyes to get the blurriness away. Albeit slow, it worked, Ethan could now see better.
looking at the ceiling, "Medieval?" He blurted.
What Ethan could see was that he had seen from his previous life's internet shit.
"Medieval it is then. He thought.
He could tell that there was nothing that may resemble any of the modern things he knew but bricks and old things.
Tilting his head, he saw a Red-Haired woman excitedly walking towards him, but with caution, "Hello? How are you feeling?" She asked.
Oh, right.
I tried opening my mouth...
Damn, I can't speak. My throat is dry.
"W...wa.ter." I hardly say.
Like a bulb lighting on their heads, they hastily went and fetch me water to drink.
Then again, thanks to the dragon named Belserion, they didn't try pouring the water into my mouth while I lay on the bed.
A maid slowly helped me sit a little and let me drink to water my throat.
As I watered my dried self, I coughed a little, couldn't help it, "Thanks."
I thank the maid as she helps me put some on my back to let me sit comfortably.
With my sight now better, I couldn't help but ask, "What year is it?"
Watching the Anime and Living in it ain't the same thing!
"Its X324." A grumpy voice said.
I looked at it and saw... "Belserion!?" I couldn't help my mouth because of surprise.
Taken aback, Belserion leaned near me but was stopped by Irene, "Who are you?!" Her guard up.
Knowing that Belserion just picked me up and knowing his name without a prior meeting was something anyone would guard up to, especially now that the humans and dragons are at war.
Without answering them, I bowed, "Were you the one who rescued me? Thank you."
Irene looked at the bewildered Belserion but chose not to speak and let the dragon question. "Brat, who are you? Is Zagarot still...?" He couldn't finish his words.
Ethan stared at Belserion's eyes, Belserion's eyes were of hope and anticipation, but Ethan's was that of sadness.
"He told me the void of hundreds of years," Ethan replied, he was hurt.
Belserion teared up, making everyone who saw questioned.
Belserion asked softly and with hope, "Was he..." Belserion did not know what to add.
The Dragons and humans that came to the now-awaken Ethan's room were all left dumbfounded.
They had never seen the Sage acting like this!
Ethan looked downcast, clenching the quilt, "Was Zagarot's wish achieved?"
Ethan knew but he still asked, hoping that things were not like how the Anime he had watched wasn't the same.
Belserion knew what Ethan was talking about.
As a Long live species, he knew the tale of old and lived through it.
But he couldn't do anything about it.
He was called a sage, but sage at what?
The humans don't know, but Belserion understood.
Looking at the human, Belserion apologized, "I'm sorry."
Ethan gritted his teeth, "Damn it! Then what was Zagarot's sacrifice for if what you all hoped for was nothing but end up like this?!
He shouldn't have done it and just let you all die out!"
"You! You don't speak to Belserion like that! If he hadn't rescued you, you wouldn't be alive now!" Irene interjected. Hearing the man accuse her protector couldn't help but be angry.
"Irene!" Belserion angrily reprimanded his Queen. "Don't speak! He has every right!"
Ethan forced himself to get up, feeling hurt at his father's sacrifice yet no result but war.
Belserion understood Ethan's intention, he leaned his head close and closed his eyes. "I am Sorry."
Ethan with what strength he could muster brought up his fist, trembling.
He punched, but Belserion did not do anything.
Ethan retracted his hand and punched again.
Ethan continued punching, even though it might not even be a tickle, but for Belserion, every touch was a tear in his heart.
"Damn it!"
Ethan was angry.
Irene and many watched as Ethan punched Belserion but like a touch.
Ethan cried, he felt hurt, truly hurt.
Zagarot's hope and wish ended up with dragons wanting to kill humans while not many dragons resisted, they were just a few.
- - -
Months passed as Ethan recuperated.
The destruction of Ethan's body and using Zagarot's True Body to recreate his own took time to get used to and stabilize.
After meeting Belserion and pouring his frustration out, Ethan's clouded mind cleared, and apologized to the Dragon and everyone.
Ethan did not know how long the merging and recreating of his body took, but it shouldn't just be a couple of years, that much he could tell since Zagarot said he would be sending him at a relatively peaceful time, which was between X200's to X300's.
Ethan didn't know Zagarot's full capabilities, but judging from his Dimensional and Time magic that he wasn't taught about, and his Destruction and Creation Magic, the current dragons of this era are nothing compared to Zagarot.
Ethan's magic was also halved, it was used during the merging process with Zagarot's True Body, but compared to the results, Ethan couldn't help but thank Zagarot again, from the bottom of his heart.
Although Ethan's magic reserve was permanently gone, it wasn't like he couldn't get it back. He could, but it would take a long time.
The result was, that Ethan could become just like any normal human, without any dragon parts, but could still use dragons, Zagarot's, and his magic.
Then Ethan could also just become a True Dragon, his form, becoming a full-fledged dragon, which he was not able to accomplish before. His magical capabilities would also rise if he did transform into a full-fledged dragon. But Ethan's half-dragon half-human form could also be activated whenever he felt like it.
Ethan's body also became much sturdier, before, crashing against a few mountains only left him a few broken bones, now, even if he was flung and crashed against tens of mountains, he wouldn't break any bones of his.
Truly, Zagarot's sacrifice was a lot and Ethan swore to himself that the least he could do was stop the dragon's war, human and dragon's war, and stop this madness.
Ethan felt he could do it, he just needed time to fully get used to his current body and new capabilities.
Merging with Zagarot's True Body not only made Ethan's body sturdier but there was also much new knowledge.
What Zagarot taught Ethan before was that of pure destruction magic, his strongest ability, and not the others.
As Zagarot claimed as the First Dragon, Zagarot's true capabilities were not only of Destruction and the not taught Creation Magic. Zagarot was capable of Dimensional and Time magic.
It also explains how and why Zagarot was the one who guarded the Realm of the Damned and guarded the Abyss, if he did not have this many capabilities, then why would he be the one and not others?
Ethan's elemental capabilities were; Wind, Fire, Earth, Water, and Lightning, he didn't know why he could use such elements even before learning draconic magic, maybe it was thanks to those shiny stones down below the hole before?
Then the Destruction Magic that was learned from Zagarot, and Creation Magic which in accordance, was Nature Magic, then Dimension and Time...
"I have much to learn and master," Ethan grumbled, annoyed.
"Would you please stop that?" Ethan annoyingly looked at the red-haired woman trying to pull him out of his room.
"Come out already! I learned a new magic and am about to show it to the people of the Kingdom. Maybe with this, I might be able to also make humans learn Dragon's Magic like you do!" Irene pulled hard, excited at the prospect of humans being able to use dragons' magic and use it to fight against the dragons.
Upon learning that Ethan could use Dragon's Magic without any backlash, Irene, the dragons, and humans alike started researching it, making Irene learn Enchant Magic much earlier than she would have.
Irene and Belserion asked Ethan how he did it but with his promise to Zagarot, he just replied with "Magic Circle" which stumped them all as he did not further elaborate and kept his mouth shut.
Although Ethan showed he could use Zagarot's Magic, draconic magic, he did not show anyone his other forms; his half-dragon half-human, and full dragonification, and kept it to himself.
"Alright, alright! Stop pulling! Would you at least act like a Queen? A proper one?" Ethan surrendered and got up, following the excited red-haired queen outside, towards the plaza where the citizens of the kingdom awaited.
As Ethan stayed at the Dragnof Kingdom, he grew close to many dragons and humans alike, but more with the dragons who happily taught Ethan about their respective Elements.
Ethan wanted to hone his elemental magic more since he didn't have anyone to teach him more about it before and could only use his imagination.
With the dragons teaching him, Ethan's elemental magic became more profound and stronger, his arsenal many. He liked Lightning magic more since it gives him speed along with wind, his fire magic was destructive enough, enough to melt clothes from meters away just from its heat.
Water Magic was good, he could create a hot bath any time by heating it with fire magic.
Earth magic was a handy one, he created an underground laboratory for himself, to hide away from the annoying red hair sometimes, which didn't last long since the dragons snitched him.
Ethan passed his days peacefully, but never forgot about his promise to himself; to stop the dragons from further killing and make them live peacefully alongside the human race and others that are still surviving.
As Ethan watched Irene's performance and the people's disbelieving eyes, he couldn't help but smile, watching the happy red-haired queen at the people's acceptance of her newfound magic and demonstration.
'Fuck the story. I'm living in it and I'll do what I want.'
And so, time ticked as days passed...
