The Informative Dinner

The Informative Dinner

In the humble stone-and-wood house of old Olwen, located on the edge of the village, warmth radiated, with its stone walls and wooden beams illuminated by the soft light of a flickering candle flame. The aroma of stew and fresh bread filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of burning logs. Olwen, an elder with silver hair, kind eyes, and a weathered face, sat at the wooden table, serving stew into two earthen bowls.

Olwen placed a bowl in front of me and smiled. "Eat up, child boy. You need your strength," he said kindly.

I took a sip with the spoon, but my curiosity overpowered my appetite. "Olwen, can you tell me more about the continent? Like my dragon and yours, you said it was once full of magic and dragons. I want to know more."

Olwen's eyes shone with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. "Kerin, you can call me Grandpa if you like. Yes, Kerin, the continent of Asbenia is a place of wonders and mystery. It was filled with magical creatures long before our time and governed by majestic Gods."

Kern's eyes widened. "Gods? Do Gods exist?"

"Oh, they existed, and they were very real," replied Olwen, stirring his stew thoughtfully. "They were the guides and protectors of our world and civilization. Each race had a God that embodied a different meaning and concept. There was Fotia, the God of Fire, whose power could transform the coldest land into a desert. Then there was Vepó, the God of Water, who could summon the most powerful storms and flood lands and mountains. And many others, each as magnificent as the last, like us humans, who have the Goddess of the Blue Sky representing wisdom."

Listening to him, I got excited and leaned forward, hanging on every word. "What happened to them, and why isn't it talked about anymore?"

Olwen sighed, his expression growing somber. "Well, it has been a long time since the era of the dragons. Besides, the rulers stopped caring. It is said that a great calamity befell Asbenia. The balance of magic was broken, wars spread across the continent and beyond, and that's when the other races began to disappear, leaving humans victorious, and the Gods no longer appeared. Some say they were hunted by those seeking their power. Others believe they went into hiding, waiting for the day when balance would be restored."

"Do you think they'll ever come back?" Kern asked, his voice filled with hope.

Olwen gazed into the fire, lost in thought. "Maybe, someday. If the balance and harmony of that era can be restored, then maybe, just maybe, the Gods will return to Asbenia."

Kern's eyes sparkled with determination. "Then Grandpa, how did we get our dragons, and why did Kevrey look at my dragon with disdain and say those things?"

Olwen smiled, feeling a swell of pride in his chest. "Hahaha, what a good boy. Since I'm happy, I'll tell you the legends that circulate the continent. Although I am a native of the island, in my youth, I was curious to explore the world and travel, and I learned a few things." He stroked his beard, white as salt or clouds, reminiscing about his past.

"They say that after the end of the era of the Gods, hundreds of thousands of dragons appeared, each different. The era of dragons had not yet begun, remnants of the previous era created an era so chaotic and senseless that it lasted about 10,000 years. Many races had retreated, and we were left devastated. But according to legend, the saint of humanity, the Goddess of the Blue Sky, appeared and in her great compassion made a pact with the supreme dragons." He paused for a moment as if trying to remember.

"The contract established that the surviving race would become companions, ruling the world together to prevent further destruction."

I nodded resolutely. "Oh, that's fantastic. I can't imagine all those legends and stories."

Then Olwen continued, now talking about the elements of the dragons.

"And what Kevrey said is that the elements of dragons have been classified because each one brings a certain magical energy. If he's not wrong, and my sight hasn't failed me, your dragon has the elements of fire and crystal, which are lower-grade elements, just like my dragon," Olwen said as he ate slowly.

"So, will I be as powerful as you?" I asked nervously, still having doubts.

He looked at me with eyes full of sadness and concern. "The truth is, as we were taught in the legion, each element has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, the crystal element is the weakest of the lower-grade elements, while fire is the second strongest."

"There are eight lower-grade elements, from strongest to weakest: water, fire, metal, earth, nature, wind, ice, and crystal, which produce crystals that most nobles desire for decorative purposes."