We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Tear of the Moon, Drop of the Full Moon
On a full moon night. The people on the ground witnessed a rain of shooting stars pouring down, blocking the moonlight. They saw a giant winged dragon flying ahead of the meteor shower. The winged dragon, beautifully shimmering in a golden color close to silver, flapped its wings northwards. In the sky, the meteor shower chased after the winged dragon as if pursuing it. On the ground, a golden divine army advanced north, following the winged dragon. However, the golden divine army was trampled by the meteor shower that fell from the sky, turning into golden stars lying on the ground.
“Unforgivable. Unforgivable. Unforgivable…”
On the back of the winged dragon heading north at a speed that no one could catch up to, a miko was crouching, shedding tears of blood from her eyes. The miko knelt down and curled into a small, four-limbed posture. Her abdomen was stained with blood, and her entire body, having lost its color, had a cold, sallow hue. However, contrary to her fading life, infinite magical power overflowed from the miko’s body, rising to the sky as particles of light. These particles of magical power, like twinkling stars, soared to a heaven no one could reach, then rained down upon the surface as pale-tailed shooting stars, trampling everything.
“Leila, please regain your sanity…”
The winged dragon whispered gently to the miko on its back. But the words did not reach her ears. The miko, called Leila, twisted her face in anger, her shoulders trembling.
“I will not forgive the divine race. They deceived me, took advantage of Shantia’s kindness, and… the Spirit Tree… the Spirit Tree…”
At Leila’s words, Shantia, the winged dragon with wings of gold close to silver, looked back far into the distance. Ahead of the meteor shower. The summit of the Spirit Mountain, which spread out widely, was flickering red. Until just the other day. A young Spirit Tree existed there peacefully. The Spirit Tree and its sanctuary that Shantia had protected. Now, it was sinking in a sea of fire.
At first, it was a single divine being. Leila had saved a lost and starving male divine being. Leila, a miko with a kind heart, was the head miko of the village within the sanctuary protected by Shantia. Although it was a small village, Shantia loved it because it was filled with good humans. One day, a male divine being was brought there by Leila’s hand.
As a miko’s duty, Leila helps those who are suffering, regardless of their race. However, in retrospect, it brought about only the worst possible outcome. Somehow. The male divine being found out about the Spirit Tree, infiltrated the sanctuary protected by Shantia, and searched for it.
It contained a human village within the sanctuary. To keep the existence of the Spirit Tree and the sanctuary hidden from the outside world, they had concealed it thoroughly. In fact, for about three thousand years, Shantia had been able to continue protecting the Spirit Tree on the Spirit Mountain. However, the male divine being deceived Leila and successfully infiltrated the sanctuary.
Perhaps Shantia had been careless. Perhaps she had been too elated. The pride of having protected the Spirit Tree for three thousand years had turned into arrogance. She had taken on a disciple, the guardian of the next generation, and had become complacent.
The male divine being secretly investigated the sanctuary, found the Spirit Tree, and summoned ten thousand divine soldiers and a million heavenly beings from the main country.
“I will not forgive them. Not the divine race, not the heavenly race, not any of them…”
Leila was crushed by self-blame. As a miko, she had performed a miracle of the Goddess. She had protected the people, animals, and dragon race living in the sanctuary from the heavenly army covering the sky with a miracle of the Goddess and was elevated to the rank of a saint. However, Leila fell quickly. Enraged, she broke through Shantia’s final barrier and attacked the divine being who had reached the Spirit Tree.
Fallen in anger, Saint Leila went berserk with the infinite magical power dwelling within her body.
Meteor Crown. The second-highest great magic among all offensive magic spells. Normally, it is a miracle that occurs after rituals performed by hundreds or thousands of miko, followed by a grand recitation. One of the highest-tier magic spells. However, Leila, who had become a saint and fallen in an instant, activated the Meteor Crown infinitely by herself, trampling the heavenly and divine armies.
She hadn’t asked for the Goddess’s miracle. If they were discovered by the divine race, the Spirit Tree could no longer be protected. But at least, she wanted to save her close friend, Leila. Shantia had the power to protect Leila from countless beings. But now that she had fallen…
A saint is an honorable being. However, if one falls, they only bring disaster. Every miko, every cleric knows this. That is why. Before the fallen Leila spread further misfortune, she had to be sent to the Goddess. One miko bravely confronted Leila. Shantia could not stop her.
A miko is not allowed to commit suicide. This applies to saints and fallen beings alike. To send Leila’s soul to the Goddess before she caused further destruction, someone had to stain their hands with blood. However, Shantia could not do it. She could not kill her close friend with her own hands. What weak hearts. What pathetic beings. Shantia knew her own weakness.
The miko who confronted Leila was a skilled one. However, no one could match Leila, who had become a saint and fallen. She could only manage to inflict a fatal blow to Leila’s abdomen. The miko was killed in retaliation. Leila, fallen in rage, lost her self-control and unleashed her anger indiscriminately. Although it was a fatal blow, it did not result in immediate death, and Leila spread ruin.
Shantia had no choice but to make a decision. She had caused an irreparable tragedy due to her foolish heart and fragile spirit. But she had to take responsibility for the aftermath. The secrets of the Spirit Tree could not be handed over to the divine race. Shantia set fire to the Spirit Tree with her own hands. She had to erase what Leila had tried to protect even with the Goddess’s miracle, with her own hands from this land. It was a sin. But it was the only path left.
“I’m sorry.” Shantia apologized to the Spirit Tree as it instantly burst into flames.
“Don’t worry about it. Mother Dragon. The gentle dragon who has watched over me since I was a sapling.” The Spirit Tree itself ignited, engulfed in flames. After bidding a final farewell to the Spirit Tree, Shantia flapped her wings to fulfill one more remaining mission. If Leila were left as she was, not only the sanctuary but also the Dragon Peaks extending to the east could be affected. Leila’s life, which had become a faint flicker of light. However, with the power of her magic, she could potentially devastate the sanctuary and the Northern Dragon Peak before her life ended.
With the enraged Leila somehow on her back, Shantia headed for the northern limit. If she reached the sea, the damage could be contained. However, Leila’s Meteor Crown, her rage and loss of self, rained down mercilessly even on Shantia. Pierced by meteors all over her body, Shantia headed for the Northern Sea. Finally, she reached the vast, endless ocean.
“Leila. Look. See how the sea expands. Once, when you were young, you rode on my back.” Shantia spoke, but Leila’s ears were deaf. As Shantia stopped moving, the meteor shower caught up to her and rained down into the sea. The dark, ink-colored ocean shimmered beautifully with sparkling particles of meteors. In the sky, there was a full moon and shooting stars. On the sea, a plain of flashing, undulating waves spread out.
“Ugh… ugh…” Leila, huddled on her back, moaned. Shedding tears of blood and staining Shantia’s back with her blood, Leila writhed in pain from her rage.
“Hey, do you remember? We used to walk around the Spirit Tree often, didn’t we? The Spirit Tree fruits we found and ate then were so delicious. I still cherish the jewel from that time. It’s the first jewel you gave me, infused with all your magical power.”
Perhaps Shantia’s words reached her. Perhaps her thoughts reached her. A gap appeared in Leila’s heart, other than rage.
“Ughhhh…” From Leila’s mouth, which could now only emit groans. However, Shantia felt the overflow of happy memories and nostalgia from that time through the small gap that appeared in her heart, and Shantia smiled.
“I’m sorry, Shantia.”
“No. I’m the one who should apologize. If only I could have shared even a fraction of your suffering…”
“No, it’s okay. I couldn’t protect the Spirit Tree, but I was able to save everyone. Forgive me for falling. I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“You did well. As the guardian of the Spirit Tree, as a saint, and as a dragon’s miko, you fulfilled your duties splendidly.”
“Is that so? If Shantia says so, then perhaps it is?”
“Fufufu, yes.” Shantia laughed cheerfully. For a moment, Leila’s rage-twisted face broke into a smile.
“Now, go to the Goddess first. I’ll follow soon. Let’s play together again.”
“Yes. I’ll be waiting. This time, let’s play with the Spirit Tree, the Goddess, and everyone.”
The small gap that had appeared in Leila’s heart was swallowed and disappeared into the vortex of rage. However, from Leila, who was huddled and sobbing in anguish, no more infinite magical power and star particles gushed forth. On Shantia’s back, Leila’s life light began to fade. Shantia, hovering in the air, turned her long neck and continued to gaze at the weakening Leila. Leila’s shed blood touched Shantia’s wounds, and their blood mixed.
“I’m going now…” To the last words that slipped from Leila’s lips, Shantia replied, “Go well.” Leila’s body suddenly slumped, all strength leaving her. As Leila collapsed, Shantia’s eyes saw Leila’s soul rising to the heavens as a dazzling light. Leila’s soul journeyed to the Goddess. Soon, Leila’s physical body also transformed into particles of light, its outline blurring. Everything about Leila disappeared from Shantia’s sight, who had continued to gaze at her tenderly until the end.
“The saint, Leila, has gone to the Goddess. You don’t need that anymore, do you?” Shantia, her back now empty, shifted her gaze to the high heavens. As if asking Shantia, a person descended from the sky far above. A person without wings floating in the air was a strange sight. However, for the person who descended before her, it was likely an easy feat. The person who gently landed before Shantia was clad in a pure white cloak. A cloak intricately woven with beautiful decorations and embroidery. But it was not originally pure white. It had spent countless years with this being, and its color had faded.
“Sin hunting is unnecessary. Leila’s sins have been absolved.” Floating before Shantia was an incomparably beautiful woman, bathed in the moonlight. A beauty that surpassed any work of art created by will, any fictional beauty. She did not possess color, just like the pure white cloak. She had long, beautiful hair that could be called either white or silver. Her cheeks and lips lacked the warmth of crimson. Her eyes were gray, the only color she possessed. And in the hands of the incomparably beautiful woman was a pure white greatsword.
Holy Sword, Sin Stripper. A sacred greatsword created to guide fallen saints to the Goddess.
“Old friend. I have committed a sin. But Leila is different, isn’t she?”
“That is so.” The woman smiled sadly.
“Oh? Are you feeling sad? I’m happy. It’s been hundreds of years since I’ve seen you show emotion.”
“I do possess emotions.”
“Fufufu, yes. Hey, would you mind staying here a little longer?” At Shantia’s words, the woman nodded. Shantia’s life was also fading. She had sustained countless wounds from the rain of meteors. Yet, she had been able to fly this far for Leila. But Leila was no longer in this world. Shantia sensed her own impending death. Shantia knew that the woman before her had appeared to guide the fallen saint Leila to the Goddess. But please, she wanted her to witness Shantia’s death. For Shantia, an ancient dragon of long life, the lives of those around her were fleeting and short. She had witnessed the passing of many friends. For such a Shantia, there were only a very few beings she could call friends, who were also long-lived and with whom she had had dealings for ages. And one of them was the woman before her.
“Hey, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“When I die, please deliver my soul to Dragon Peak. I’ve heard that humans and dragons coexist and prosper there.” The woman solemnly promised Shantia’s wish, befitting a dragon who had interacted with and lived alongside humans.
“Will I be scolded by the Goddess?”
“What a foolish thought. Why would you be scolded?”
“Because I burned down the important Spirit Tree.”
“No one is perfect. All living things eventually die. Like you. And I will too someday.”
“Fufufu, I’m relieved if you say so. Well then, I’ll be waiting for you on the Goddess’s lap with bated breath. Oh, I don’t mean I want you to come quickly, you know?” The woman chuckled, a low rumble from her throat, at Shantia’s words.
“Oh my, it’s been hundreds of years since I’ve seen you laugh so heartily.”
“I do laugh sometimes.”
Feeling the intense pain enveloping her entire body and her life draining away with the flowing blood, Shantia continued to exchange trivial words with the woman.
“Oh, the boy has arrived.” Shantia looked behind her.
“Master! Shantia! SHANTIA!!” Shantia and the woman both gave a bitter smile at the black shadow flying at high speed across the sky, now illuminated only by the faint moonlight, the glow of the meteors having disappeared. Flying at high speed before Shantia and the woman, who greeted him with a look of exasperation, was a winged dragon with black, glossy scales. This black dragon was also an ancient dragon species and possessed a colossal body that could dwarf ordinary dragons. However, compared to Shantia, who had lived for four thousand years, it was still small.
“Shantia! I won’t forgive you! Divine race! I’ll destroy your country!”
“There, there, what a noisy boy.”
“Who are you calling a boy!”
“Silence, witch!” The black dragon snorted, puffing its nostrils.
“Shantia, wait. I will heal those wounds with my abilities now.”
“Fufufu, it’s not necessary. I don’t have much time left.”
“What… Don’t give up…” The black dragon, who had been brave until now, was suddenly overcome with sadness.
“Boy. It is time for you to stand on your own. Leave my protection and travel the world. And someday, become a magnificent guardian of the Spirit Tree. It is foolish to run on hatred.”
“Will I be able to fulfill that duty…?”
“Don’t worry. Rely on my friend if you encounter trouble.”
“What? You’re going to push the responsibility of this troublemaker onto me?”
“Isn’t it alright? It’s my last request.”
“This must be the tenth time you’ve made that ‘last request’.”
“I will definitely become a guardian that Shantia can be proud of!”
“Make sure to protect what’s precious so you don’t lose it.” Shantia entrusted to the young black dragon what she herself had failed to do.
“Well then, this is my last gift for you. Take this…” The black dragon received what Shantia held on the tip of her giant claw.
“These are memories between me and Leila. If you cannot find a Spirit Tree to protect, then nurture these.”
“I will accept them with responsibility.” The black dragon nodded deeply to Shantia.
“…It seems we have many guests tonight.” The woman, who had gently watched the parting between Shantia and the black dragon, looked towards the continent. The heavenly army, filling the sky, was advancing, blocking the moonlight.
“Insignificant insects. I will annihilate you all!”
“Wait, you fool.” The woman restrained the black dragon, who roared in anger. Although the woman was much smaller than the black dragon, by simply being touched by her hand, the black dragon was immobilized. As Shantia, the woman, and the black dragon watched. Suddenly, the sky began to cloud over. Thick, black clouds covered the full moon sky. Thunder gradually began to rumble, and an overwhelming magical power filled the land and sea as far as the eye could see. An endless shout of anguish rose from the heavenly army. Immediately, a rain of lightning struck the heavenly army, instantly erasing the celestials from the sky. A few moments later, a deafening roar reverberated throughout the world. In the direction Shantia and the others were watching. Where the celestials had vanished, and beyond the thick black clouds, a giant stood. The giant, in the form of a woman, plunged its feet into the sea with the lightning strike and proceeded towards them. Parting the sea, the giant approached, raising massive waves. The black dragon rumbled low in its throat.
“It wasn’t in time…” The giant, submerged up to its chest in the sea, advanced to where Shantia and the others were and gazed at them sadly.
“No, it was in time. Old friend.”
“Grrr. The Giant Demon Lord…”
“Oh, boy. You’re alive?”
“Silence, old woman!”
“Hehehe, you’re only strong in spirit.” The one called “Giant Demon Lord” by the black dragon laughed, its chest rising and falling. Waves rose in the ocean in accordance with its mirth.
“If the land you protected were a demon country, you would surely have been in time.”
“I’ll say it again, it was in time.”
“In time for what? Even if it’s in time for your death, I feel no joy. What you protected was the Spirit Tree, wasn’t it? It wasn’t in time to help protect the Spirit Tree.”
“I’m happy to be able to meet my friends and disciple like this at the end.”
“I… am not happy…” The demon king of the demon race shed tears. The Giant Demon Lord, like the woman called the witch, was an old friend of Shantia’s. A dear friend who lived longer than herself.
“I will destroy them. I will burn the divine race with my lightning and erase their country from the continent.”
“Oh my, a typical thought for a demon. But what about killing innocent bystanders?”
“I don’t care. If they are of the same race, they are equally guilty.”
“But if you rampage too much in the east, that person will get angry, you know? You are currently ruling the central kingdom, aren’t you?”
“Hmph, I don’t know!”
“Good grief. Don’t cause more trouble. If that person gets angry, I’ll have to clean up after you.” The witch sighed at the Giant Demon Lord’s anger.
“Hey, Rosa. I have a request.”
“What is it? I’m currently thinking about how to get revenge.”
“Fufufu. No one can stop you when you’re angry. But, just one promise. No matter how much you rampage, please protect only the place where the Spirit Tree was.”
“I don’t need to be told. I will protect it for hundreds, thousands of years. It is the only place where we could find solace. I will not hand it over so easily to the divine race.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that. Ahh, I have no regrets left. I will go to Leila…” Everyone knew that Shantia was gradually weakening. The flapping of her wings grew weaker, and she began to descend. Although the witch’s power kept her afloat, it could not sustain her life. Shantia smiled at the witch.
“May happiness eventually find you.” Then, looking at the Giant Demon Lord Rosa, she gave a bitter smile.
“Don’t rampage too much, okay? And someday, when someone emerges to inherit my will, lend them your help.” Finally, she looked at the black dragon, her vision blurring.
“I couldn’t convey everything, I’m sorry. But I’m sure you will become a wonderful guardian. I guarantee it, Sleigsta.”
“I swear by my name, Sleigsta. I will surely become a guardian of the Spirit Tree and raise someone who will inherit Shantia’s will.”
“Fufufu, I will be watching over you on the Goddess’s lap, along with Leila.”
“I will definitely reclaim the Spirit Tree Sanctuary. I swear by the name of Demon Lord Rosa. And by the way, I’ll protect the one that young Sleigsta raises. Well, if they visit my demon country, that is.”
“Good grief. You’re just going to make me clean up after these problem children, aren’t you?”
“Fufufu. Because isn’t that your role?” Finally, they all laughed together. And then, they watched over Shantia, whose consciousness was beginning to fade.
“Thank you…” Shantia knew that the witch had been easing the pain throughout her body until the end. She also knew that Rosa, who spoke frightening things, was not solely focused on revenge. And she knew that Sleigsta had inherited her will. She had no regrets. She could depart with a peaceful heart. Watched over by her friend and disciple, Shantia quietly closed her eyes. Shantia’s entire body transformed into particles of light. Particles of light, silver-like gold shining like her scales, danced gently over the sea and disappeared into the sky.
What remained was one jewel shining with rainbow colors. The witch caught the jewel, which was about the size of a human head, in both her hands.
“What will you do with it? Will you pass on Shantia’s Dragon Jewel to someone unknown?”
“It is Shantia’s dying wish. It will be delivered to Dragon Peak.”
“I believe the Dragon Race lives there.”
“There is a tribe that has guarded the Dragon Jewel since ancient times. Shantia will be taken there.”
“Fufun, then I shall protect that tribe and watch until the one who inherits Shantia’s Dragon Jewel appears.”
“Oh? Aren’t you supposed to be protecting the Spirit Tree?”
“As usual, you’re a foolish child.”
“N-no! It’s… while protecting the Spirit Tree…” The black dragon Sleigsta, who suddenly averted its gaze, exchanged glances with Rosa and the witch.
“Dragon Peak, huh? It’s a bit far. But I must keep my promise. Until the one who inherits Shantia’s will appears, I will relocate my country. And while I’m at it, I’ll take the western side of Dragon Peak from the divine race.”
“You simply want revenge, don’t you? Well, it doesn’t concern me.” The demon, the dragon, and the human. These peculiar three then inherited Shantia’s wishes and dispersed into the sky.
About two thousand years later. The witch saw a new star, shimmering with a color close to silver, appear in the sky above the eternal snowfield. The Demon Lord closed her eyes on her throne and sensed the birth of a Dragon Princess in the depths of the Dragon Peaks to the east. The Guardian Dragon, beside the Spirit Tree, knew that the next caretaker had inherited Shantia’s Dragon Jewel. The Guardian Dragon took out a jewel of the Spirit Tree, which it had never shown even to the caretaker.
“Eventually, this will be needed.” Placing the jewel in the moss-covered plaza, a gentle breeze blew.
“I will grow it, I will grow it.” The jewel floated up on the wind and disappeared into the trunk of the Spirit Tree towering behind it.
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