Side Chapter 7- Meeting of Dragons

Side Chapter 7- Meeting of Dragons

[Fafnir POV]

I was lazing around in my cave, Emma laying curled up beside me snuggling into my wing after spending a grueling week of managing the souls of the departed with the Death Spirits. I had long since gained a new respect for the beings after seeing and helping with their work. Just thinking about all of it made me tired and caused me to yawn. When I was about to go to sleep again to escape this tiredness, I heard something. Seemingly echoing off all of creation the sound of a roar could be heard. Taking a few seconds, I deciphered where it came from and sighed.

“Emma, my love. I need you to wake up a moment.” (Fafnir)

I gently poked her on the arm a few times when she groggily sat up and looked around.

“Whasit?” (Emma)

“Something has come up that I must attend to.” (Fafnir)

She tilted her head cutely and only after a minute did she finally register what I said.

“Where are you going?” (Emma)

“Valkyr. A meeting of dragons has been called and I must attend. It is mandatory.” (Fafnir)

“I can’t come with you, can I?” (Emma)

“Unfortunately, not. While it isn’t a rule, we can’t bring our spouse if we want, I don’t want you to be away from here for too long. Gods know these meetings can take ages.” (Fafnir)

“Why can’t you just stay?” (Emma)

“Because I’ve been away for far too long. I need to know who is still alive and who is not. As well as to make sure none of them are getting...arrogant. Plus I want to meet this Eblana and her sister. If they are going to be around my daughter, I need to make sure they won’t be bad influences.” (Fafnir)

“But won’t Eblana have to decline? She should be in the same situation as I am.” (Emma)

“She’ll be there. Like I said, attendance is mandatory.” (Fafnir)

“Who made that rule?” (Emma)

“I did. It was to ensure none of the lazier ones ignored it when important matters needed to be discussed. Matters that involve the world at large.” (Fafnir)

“...” (Emma)

She started looking at me with an adorable expression, trying her best to convey her want to come with me.

“Emma, I really do want to bring you, but I can’t. I-” (Fafnir)

Just then a Death Spirit appeared in its shadowy glory. It did its best to bow before letting its feelings known.

“Hahaha!” (Emma)

“Are you sure, little spirit?” (Fafnir)

Apparently, the spirits could handle the load of managing things without Emma and mine help for a bit, but we couldn’t be away for longer than two months. Now that my one worry was taken care of, Emma immediately started packing some stuff into a storage ring while I stood at the mouth of our cave and stretched my wings. Half an hour later and Emma was climbing onto my back.

“Are you ready, Emma?” (Fafnir)

“Yep. Any idea how long this is going to take?” (Emma)

“I’ll be flying as fast as I can, so it should take about a week and a half at best.” (Fafnir)

“Fun...where is this Valkyr place anyway?” (Emma)

“The other continent.” (Fafnir)

“Continent?” (Emma)

“Oh right. It’s far away, but we can take a shortcut that most mortals can’t.” (Fafnir)

“Yay for adventure!” (Emma)

“Oh, and before we go, no pushing anyone downstairs, even if they annoy you. We are attending a meeting of dragons, there will be many you will wish to punish, but you must leave that to me. I need to regain my image as a proper queen.” (Fafnir)

“...But doesn’t that also make me dragon queen too? What if I’m asked to prove myself?” (Emma)

“Your status as our little one’s Valkyrie is more than enough. They’ll be able to tell...or at least the smart ones will.” (Fafnir)

Deciding we spent too long just standing and talking, I took to the air. It didn’t take long for us after that to run out of land.

“...We live that close to all this water? And it’s so loud, even through all the wind.” (Emma)

“Yes, but the ocean air is so refreshing.” (Fafnir)

I felt Emma move and peek over my shoulder.

“It’s so blue...but why does it feel so...unsettling?” (Emma)

“Its depths are unknown and many monsters more powerful than most anything you find on land live here. It’s why only the most daring or stupid people ever try to challenge it with the art of the sail. I’ve only ever known one person who was truly successful at it, and they died a most cruel death at the hands of those horrors of long past.” (Fafnir)

I thought back to that young man and his overflowing confidence and the image of his final moments as his life’s work was devoured by that tentacled behemoth.

“Faf?” (Emma)

“Apologies, my love. Sad memories of a friend.” (Fafnir)

A moment of silence followed as I reminisced, only the sound of the wind and sea and Emma’s warmth on my back keeping me from being swallowed up by other past regrets and memories that welled up.

“Faf...” (Emma)

“I know what you are thinking, Emma, and my answer is no. This person is long dead, his soul having long rejoined the eternal cycle. And I also wish to not put unneeded pressure on our little one. She’s already done something against the natural order twice, even if she is one of the two that holds the highest Authority to allow it. I don’t want her taking undue risk in continuing to resurrect anyone she feels compelled to in service of our family or her own goals.” (Fafnir)

“Are you going to bring that up in this meeting?” (Emma)

“That, among other things like this Eblana always refusing to meet with us. It’s rude to continuously decline our request when she accepted the tiny red one’s.” (Fafnir)

“I think she’s probably just intimidated. While I’m used to it and Keeno and the others are Keeno and the others, you do give off a regal yet domineering aura.” (Emma)

“That’s just proper dragon etiquette.” (Fafnir)

“Then maybe she’s just scared for her sister? From what Red told me, even when they met, she seemed extremely skittish.” (Emma)

“Hmm. We shall see.” (Fafnir)

The rest of the day and the following week were spent telling Emma more about the world as I remembered it as well as seeing the sights of the sea. Interestingly, there were several small islands I didn’t remember popping up here and there, the smoke of small volcanoes wafting into the sky. Other times we saw several of the sea’s creatures fighting over territory or food in bloody, violent clashes that usually ended up with both parties too injured to live on and a third or even fourth claiming the spoils. Emma was star-struck as she witnessed all of this, further cementing my determination to take her around the world once our little one claimed her Divine Throne. Another two days passed, and we could finally see continental land.

“Faf, that place seems...strange.” (Emma)

“The one unpleasant part of this trip; flying over the swamps of Tamist. Thankfully, it’ll only take a day at most by air.” (Fafnir)

“Is there a dragon here?” (Emma)

“Yes. He was a regal, dignified old man, even for dragon standards. He chose this place as his home to show that even a race as strong and proud as ours must show humility and understanding of weaker races. Choosing to live in a place like this...he was one of the best of us.” (Fafnir)

“Is he dead?” (Emma)

“He wasn’t when I last came this way, though he was growing weak in those days. I’d be surprised if he had passed on by now. I just hope any offspring he had share his sentiments.” (Fafnir)

That day passed slowly as the humidity and smell of Tamist’s swamps permeated into everything. Even then it didn’t stop us from seeing some interesting sights. We flew over several places that could be called villages made up of small huts standing on tall supports, all with chimneys breathing out smokes of different colors and consistencies. A few of the mortals that lived there looked up as we flew by, but their reactions were that of caution, bordering hostility, giving me a foreboding feeling. I raised my awareness until we finally crossed the border into the forest country of Valkyr.

“So many trees! It’s like a different kind of ocean!” (Emma)

“Indeed. And the trees are so much taller and lusher than I remember. Shu must be very proud.” (Fafnir)

“Is that the name of the dragon in this country?” (Emma)

“Yes. Of all the dragons I know, she’s the one I was closest to. Not romantically, mind you, but more like a sister or close cousin. She was my confidante for many occasions.” (Fafnir)

“Hmmm. You’re mine. I’m all you’ll ever need...aside from Keeno.” (Emma)

I laughed loudly and spun in the air, letting Emma enter a short free fall before I caught her and hugged her to my chest.

“Of course, my love. You and our little one are all I will ever need.” (Fafnir)

I tossed Emma up again before righting myself. She landed on my back and steadied herself, her shouts of excitement ringing loud in the wind. By the end of the day, we’d made it quite a distance into Valkyr. The trees grew taller and thicker as we went until we finally found the place we were headed. A tree so tall its topmost leaves and branches spread above the clouds. The closer we got to it, the more splendorous its massiveness became. Only when we were about to land on some of the branches above the clouds, did we feel a pull in the direction of the heart of the tree.

“Faf...” (Emma)

“Yes. It’s the Dead Zone of Valkyr.” (Fafnir)

“I’m actually kind of sad thinking about what’s going to happen when Keeno takes this one. All I can imagine is this entire forest withering.” (Emma)

“Nature is resilient, Emma. Those goddesses will make sure that this place isn’t destroyed by the taking of a source of abundant Life.” (Fafnir)

“I can see that, but I’m still not so optimistic.” (Emma)

“We can only wait and see, my love. We shall leave that to our little one to figure out in the future.” (Fafnir)

“I have. Several things, actually, and I will get to that, in fact, some of those reasons will be expounded on in the coming explanation. Younger, the reason the Dead Zones are disappearing is due to the Advent of the Goddess of Death.” (Fafnir)

At this revelation, Shu’s and Volundr’s eyes went wide. Calus l’s did as well and the sound of his chair falling to the floor as he shot up echoed around the room. Eblana and Loughshinny chuckled, and Emma smirked. Smaug raised an eyebrow, but other than that didn’t really have a reaction. Calus’s thunderous voice then resounded about the room.

“Advent of the Goddess of Death!? Are you certain!?” (Calus)

“Specifically, she is the Goddess of Death, the Blue Sun, and a new, third Authority we will not disclose for now.” (Emma)

“Explain human...no...Apostle!” (Calus)

He looked around the room and gestured, trying to get the others to understand or exemplify his revelation only to freeze when he looked at Eblana.

“You as well?! What in in the name of all the Divine is going on for two Apostles to be in this room?” (Calus)

“Your shock is indeed warranted, Calus, but things must be explained in order, so calm yourself and save any questions for when the explanation is over.” (Fafnir)

He grumbled something under his breath about how he wished he brought his favorite scribe before dropping back into his seat. The gesture caused the room to shake, making Smaug startle awake. I rolled my eyes at him before clearing my throat.

“Before explaining more, I will give a warning to all of you present, if any of you dare to attempt to harm this fledgling goddess, I will personally see to it you meet the cruelest of ends, be it by my teeth, claws, or her swords. She is my daughter, last of my bloodline. Hehehe, though any end you meet by my hand will pale in comparison to what you will face after you die, be it by my hand, hers, or her Fated One’s.” (Fafnir)

“Who is the Fated One?” (Volundr)

“The Goddess of Life, the Orange Sun, and Magic: Amaterasu.” (Eblana)

“I see.” (Volundr)

He closed his eyes in contemplation before opening them, a soft smile spreading across his lips.

“If what you say is true, then may I make a request?” (Volundr)

“It depends on what it is, old friend.” (Fafnir)

“If all you say is true, then she should have absolute control over fire, yes? Then...she can finally extinguish the phoenix’s flames that plague my home and help its old vibrancy return.” (Volundr)

“Hmm. While I cannot say what she will or will no accept, I can at least inform her of this request.” (Fafnir)

“Is it alright to say where she is going now?” (Eblana)

I couldn’t help but let out a small, imperceptible sigh.

“Young one, what is it you are being taught in this new age? Asking such a question after Volundr has spoken his request gives such answer away.” (Fafnir)

“...Apologies.” (Eblana)

“What’s done is done. She is on her way to Lokir as we speak along with a group called the Radiant Knights. Like I said previously, I will relay the message, but her answer will be her own. Now, continuing on, in order for her to fully unseal her Divinity, she is absorbing the Dead Zones. A gift of Divinity from her wife, as she calls it. She had taken Vanir’s, Falheim’s, and Odeen’s. She plans for Lokir’s next. After that, none of us know just yet.” (Fafnir)

“What have been the aftereffects of this so far?” (Shu)

“From what we were told, it rained harder in Vanir for roughly a month before things calmed down and the rain actually stopped there.” (Emma)

“In Falheim, though it was more due to that despicable place’s own nature that caused it to happen, a tide of undead attacked, and several other, smaller outbreaks have occurred and been snuffed out.” (Fafnir)

“In Odeen, though it was from a separate matter entirely, snow has begun falling, and still hasn’t stopped, though it ranges from storms to light flurries. On a mission I as given, Lou and I took the chance to survey the land and found that it extends to the borders of all of Odeen and, with the exception of Solheim which has always been a land of snow and ice, are unaffected. As if a barrier has been erected around the entire country, stopping at every border.” (Eblana)

“How are you sure it is not due to the fall of the Dead Zone? It is what made Odeen a land of eternal Spring, is it not?” (Shu)

“We have been told by Goddess Amaterasu herself that it has nothing to do with the Dead Zone nor any other gods of our world. Combined with testimony of my Lady herself, we concluded that it is solely due to the death of Baldr Odeen by means of a plant called mistletoe. A phenomenon she called Fimblventr.” (Eblana)

“...” (Shu)

“Knowing this, Shu, and the fact that we have easy means to contact the Divine, we shall go ask the gods themselves if your work will be undone by the disappearance of the Dead Zone. Will this assuage your worries?” (Fafnir)

“...Only when I can know the answer will they be assuaged.” (Shu)

“As much as I treasure you as a friend, Shu, I will not go and disrupt my daughter’s journey just to bring her here. I will, however, mediate a meeting between the two of you once she reaches here in time. Hearing validation from me, while you will most likely accept a part of it, will not make you stop worrying, so having the one in question explain it in as immaculate detail as you wish would.” (Fafnir)

Shu closed her eyes, the worry that was eating away at her finally breaking her cool façade. After reaching its peak, her expression fell, and she sighed.

“Then I will leave that to you, my Queen. Though may I ask to know what your daughter looks like as well her name?” (Shu)

“That is an acceptable request. Calus, are you still mildly proficient in illusion magic?” (Fafnir)

“I am, Fafnir, though I haven’t practiced it in many years, so my skills are, as the humans say, rusty.” (Calus)

Emma and I began describing our little one, with some inputs from Eblana who saw her last and the things that have changed after she absorbed Odeen’s Dead Zone.

“Grand mystics that flow through this world, like blood, grant shape to the picture in my mind.” (Calus)

In the center of the table an image of Keeno appeared in exquisite detail. Emma and I both smiled at the image. Though she was slightly taller than when we last saw her, it was good to know she was in good health.

“Four tails...it’s been so long since one of the kitsune have had one so powerful...it brings back memories.” (Volundr)

“...” (Shu)

“Is something the matter, Shu?” (Loughshinny)

I looked over to Shu to see her cheeks tinges a slight pink.

“Shu, my daughter is spoken for.” (Fafnir)

“I-I know...but her eyes are so beautiful...” (Shu)

She looked away to refocus her thoughts before looking back.

“I apologize, my Queen. Old proclivities of mine resurfaced for a moment.” (Shu)

“No need to apologize, Shu. We’re all dragons, we all have our proclivities.” (Fafnir)

“Huehuehue.” (Smaug)

The disgusting laughter that reminded me more of a pig than a dragon brought my attention over to the disrespectful pile of excrement. His face was twisted in glee while he sat up straight for the first time. The odor coming from his body became all the more overwhelming as the grease from his folds warmed up in the light of the suns beaming down from above.

“What a lovely little strumpet. A gaze as fierce as lightning and a body as elegant as-*belch*-a masterwork of art.” (Smaug)

“As. I. SAID! My daughter is taken. Get all of those obvious thoughts out of your head before I rip it from your neck.” (Fafnir)

My rage at this disrespectful bastard’s obvious lust manifested as my wings appearing and unfurling and my core glowing brighter as the heat around us slightly increased.

“Ah. There it is, I knew the old Queen was still in there.” (Calus)

A tinge of fear welled up in his eyes and he looked down, muttering under his breath. I caught a few words of what he said, something about becoming an Apostle himself and even gods falling for his alpha charms. I was about to stand up and show him the reason why I was Queen of Dragons when Emma and Eblana stood up, their rage just as evident as mine and projecting sinister auras. Eblana’s Soul Weapon manifested as the pointed end of her staff was pointed at Smaug’s neck. Emma’s Soul Weapon, a serrated pair of daggers were poised at the base of his wings, ready to slowly saw them off.

“As the Queen said, get those thoughts out of your mind before WE have to end you. And know, if we do so, there is no future for your soul.” (Eblana)

“My daughter is not for you to lust over like some dog in heat. We can kill your mortal body, shave your soul to dust, and present that dust to her and Amaterasu to burn to nothing.” (Emma)

Smaug froze up and a new odor began wafting off of him.

“Get out. You’ve shown nothing but disrespect through your actions and no pride as a dragon. Begone from here, you lizard.” (Fafnir)

In the depths of his beady little eyes a spark of rage was lit. He stumblingly stood up and a light was building in his chest, aiming at Emma. Leaping from my own seat and spreading my wings wide, I flew across the table and picked up the heaping mass by the neck. Shooting through the vines and ending at the edge of the tree platform, dangling him over the edge.

“I’m showing mercy by not ending you now, which is probably a mistake. However, if I EVER get word of you even going as far as calling yourself a dragon again, you will regret it. You tarnish the name of your ancestor.” (Fafnir)

He opened his mouth to wheeze something, but I dropped him before he could say a word. After falling for a good bit, he transformed to his original form and shakily flew away. Staring after him for a while, I turned around and found Emma waiting there.

“Shu postponed the rest of the meeting. Let’s get you bathed; you probably feel disgusting after handling that thing.” (Emma)

I only nodded and the two of us went inside.

Chaos Realm:

Ray: Payto!

I know, Ray. It will be dealt with. That thing is a waste of space. I’m going to enjoy watching it die by Keeno’s hand.

Way: At least it’s a foregone conclusion.

Naturally. I won’t leave such a stain on one of my worlds.

Ray: ...

Don’t say a word. I know how hypocritical that sounds.

Ray: Fine then. But erase that thing’s shine’s connection to me.

I’m already running all the interference I can, but that thing is like a cockroach.

Ray: Annoying, disgusting creatures.

Indeed.