Dragonlord

Ep 116. Long Time No See. (5)

A rather familiar sight was unfolding before the dragonlord’s eyes.

After summoning a translucent piece of chalk, Karas began to explain – just like his lectures from before.

Although, a royal palace wall had to replace the chalkboard. But it did the job.

“There are largely two reasons why Lavnore is considered the worst mage to walk the star – the first being his understanding of magic as a discipline.”

Writing a basic spell formula on the wall, the crow professor then proceeded to summon a sphere of water levitating above his palm.

“In large, what mages learn is a conversion process from formula to spell: interpreting a formula, then forming a spell accordingly. This is the foundation of using magic. However, in Lavnore’s case, the reverse can also be established.”

With a small flick, the sphere of water in Karas’ hand was soon replaced by a sphere of fire.

Following suit, the professor began to write out fireball’s spell formula on the wall.

“A reverse conversion from spell to formula. This is only possible with a thorough understanding of magic’s nature, and even for the gifted few, the practice is normally limited to basic. This is because advanced spells tend to grow exponentially more complex in their formulas. Only two individuals were ever capable of performing this reverse conversion with ease…one of them being the Akeian emperor, Amadeus Lavnore.”

When Karas flicked his hand once more, even the fireball disappeared from his hand.

“By converting others’ magic into a formula, Lavnore is then able to adjust and improve upon said magic. And because he’s able to perform this reverse conversion on any magic at will…he came to imitate even the dragonkin’s magic. Further, he succeeded in converting a dragon’s very existence into a concept spell.”

Serenis narrowed her eyes at the professor’s last remark.

She’d seen concept spells before – but the ones she’d seen were objects, an interpretation of a passing myth or legend. They’d never been based on living entities, much less a dragon.

And, even if such a thing had actually occurred, the question remained:

“…How?”

The professor meekly shrugged in his answer.

“…During the empire’s invasion into the Dragon’s Valley, there was a dragon by the name of Ephea that led the tribe through their conflict. After it had become clear that Lavnore couldn’t be stopped by magic, she drove him away using brute force instead. But in their ensuing battles, Lavnore’s understanding of Ephea and the dragonkin continued to grow. This understanding was then used in forming experimental spell formula, and…before long, he was able to sculpt a working concept spell based on Ephea. After that, even brute force couldn’t drive him away.”

“…”

‘This is what it was, then.’

Bruton had mentioned the emperor ‘imitating’ a dragon’s true form. It was starting to become clear what that had actually meant.

After a brief pause, the professor continued on with supplementary details.

“Talent alone wouldn’t have made Lavnore the threat that he was at the time. He was, in his words, merely human; his body and mana were both severely limited. The second reason why Lavnore is considered the worst mage in history is because he’d eventually overcome these two restrictions on his own.”

“…Is that not because he’s nourished himself with the kin’s strengths? Eline had said as much.”

“It probably is, at least in part. Even back then, he was keen on assuming a dragon’s powers as his own. But even before facing the dragons, Lavnore had experimented with alternative methods of overcoming his human limit. The first solution he turned to were mana pills – I’m assuming you’re familiar with these?”

“Condensed mana designed for consumption, yes? I’ve seen them being sold in Partivine.”

“That’s correct.”

After sketching an outline of a person’s body, the professor then drew a small circle within it.

“As you said, mana pills are just that: condensed mana. They’re designed to quickly counteract the consumer’s mana depletion. The problem is, our bodies tend to reject large amounts of external mana directly entering our own circuits. This is why it’s recommended that you take no more than one pill per day. The second will usually incur a stinging pain across the entire body, and the third often causes the circuits to explode, killing the individual.”

“…Then that’s not exactly ‘overcoming,’ is it?”

“It wouldn’t be, no. Hence, Lavnore devised a way to circumvent the body’s rejection.”

Afterwards, Karas proceeded to draw a similar picture beside the first. Only this time, the person’s eyes were crossed out, signalling that they were dead.

“Once the body dies, no rejection can occur to external mana. Lavnore uses this principle to restore his mana indefinitely: after overdosing on mana pills to replenish himself, he suicides each time.”

“…What?”

“…Of course, I say suicide, but it’s closer to shutting down the heart for a time. He prepares a spell in advance to shock himself back to life just about when the body finishes harnessing the pill’s mana.”

“…Shock?…is that not dangerous? What if the shock fails?”

Karas shrugged back to Serenis’ question.

“Then he dies. It’s a method only the insane could attempt – there’s no actual guarantee a shock spell would restore the heart’s activity.”

“…”

“Well, that’s his way of combatting mana issues. However, he is vulnerable for a time during the method’s employment. Even if he appears dead, it’s best you exercise caution.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Now, as for how he overcame aging and other physical limitations…this is quite simple. Do you remember the artifact Aldrid made you?”

“Do you mean the bracelet? I’ve left it with Patrick before departing the city…”

“Yes, exactly that. You see, humans consider Aldrid’s artifacts priceless treasures due to their vitalizing effect. There are two others besides the bracelet you were given. One is a family heirloom that belonged to Caldon’s monarchy, and the other is…”

“…?”

Karas briefly hesitated before finishing his sentence with a guilty expression.

“…A ring that Mother Nature is said to have gifted to the dragonkin. Obtaining this ring was a key reason behind Lavnore’s decision to invade Dragon’s Valley.”

“…”

“After acquiring the two treasures…Lavnore ceased to age. In fact, he lost age to return to his prime. I don’t recall him ever being ailed by a sickness or poison, either. But conversely, should these artifacts be taken away from him, his age should return to normal.”

Serenis nodded her head in silence. At this point, she was too tired to be surprised about every little thing.

Somehow, without even doing anything himself, the Akeian emperor was continuously growing in reasons to kill.

✧ ✧ ✧

“Give it back!”

“Hmph. To think a corpse would demand from the living…”

No matter how many times he slashed, Aymeia’s flames continued to strike at him. And the ensuing attacks were accompanied by a small realization.

‘…She was never using her divinity.’

Regardless of their current appearances, the Twelve were all of mankind at birth. After extracting their divinity, it was only natural that they’d return to the powerless human beings that they once were.

But as far as he could tell, Aymeia was gaining strength, not losing it. Despite the huge, bleeding cut stretching across her shoulder and chest, the deity seemed unbothered in the slightest.

“…It’s time you returned to dust, Aymeia.”

The assailant’s blade was once again coated in a veil of light, striking into the star deity’s stream of fire. The strength behind the strike fanned out tenfold, collapsing an entire mountain behind them.

But this time, Aymeia’s flames refused to dissipate to her assailant’s attack.

Instead, they held fast onto Aymeia’s body as she danced around the blade’s length, striking back in return.

“Give it back!!”

When the star deity stretched out her hand, a small ember ignited into her palm. Unlike the orange lights shrouding her, the ember retained a pure, white color.

And as the ember expanded to shroud Aymeia in a veil of white fire, the earth sizzling beneath her began to completely melt, turning to an expanding pool of lava.

The man reflexively covered his face from the intense heat.

Despite lacking direct contact, his clothes were beginning to lit aflame; it was as if the entire vicinity was slowly turning to a living hell.

But for those watching the scene from afar, the spectacle of white and orange flames was nothing short of beautiful.

“Oh my, I didn’t know she could use that…are you sure you want to though, Aymeia?”

Seeing the white ember his creation had summoned, the Reaper’s lips turned to a wry smile.

Unlike the deity that he was watching.

“…Hf…ah…!”

When the colorless flame began to enshroud its summoner, a searing pain swallowed her whole. The screams she’d held back for so long began to slip out of her mouth.

‘Just…a bit further…’

Aymeia stretched out her burning hand towards the unmoving assailant. Her feet sunk into the lava beneath her as she took another step, letting out a terrifying sizzling noise.

One more step. One more step, and she could take back what he’d stolen from her.

But when she took her last step, Aymeia’s legs finally gave away. The deity collapsed onto the molten ground before reaching her assailant again.

And following suit, her flames wither away to nothing.

All that remained was a burnt, wounded girl, lying motionless on the ground before an armed assailant.

“Hah…how ironic, Aymeia. Can’t even wield your own strength properly, can you? And I was just considering that I should take you more seriously. How pointless.”

“…”

‘…L…ord…’

Despite the man’s ominous gaze upon her, Aymeia couldn’t bring herself to rise again.

Her flowing memories began to blur out once more.

Their face, their voice – everything became tainted, fading beneath waves of pain from her wounds.

Struggle as she might, the deity could no longer keep her eyes open.

And in the creeping darkness, she quietly whispered under her breath.

“…I wish…you were here.”

You always were.

But somehow, you never were.