At the foothills of Dragon Peak, we live.
Dragon’s Song – Part Two
It felt like being at the bottom of a deep lake, crushed by immense pressure, yet still sensing the flow of water.
Within a collapsing world, we clearly grasped the flow of Amira’s voice, which commanded all things in nature.
“But what should we do now…?”
Ruiseine was perplexed.
It was understandable, though. We had only just managed to grasp the flow of Amira’s voice. To save the world and Amira, the path ahead was crucial, yet we hadn’t found any concrete solutions.
How can we save Amira? That much, we knew clearly.
We simply had to seal Amira’s voice this time, for real.
As divine beings, taking away the voice necessary for spell manifestation could be tantamount to denying existence. However, it would be better than letting Amira die.
Alex’s anguish. Alf’s love. The villagers’ compassion. And above all, Amira’s own endurance. How much hardship must they have endured? Amira’s life, where she desperately suppressed her voice despite being able to speak. The pain of those around her who knew this and could only watch.
To resolve all of this, sealing Amira’s voice was the only way.
However, none of us were skilled in seal magic.
While I had grasped the flow of Amira’s voice, I myself didn’t know how to connect it to a seal.
“That’s not right. You’re mistaken.”
“…Ares?”
By joining hands and channeling our strength and emotions into the circular flow, our thoughts had been conveyed to everyone. That’s why, when I showed anxiety, everyone else’s expressions clouded over.
But Ares, standing to my left, looked directly at me and shook his head.
“Who are you? What have you learned and gained until now? No matter the time or place, you must never lose your ‘Elnea-ness.’ You have always shown us your ‘Elnea-ness,’ which is why we, and others, have trusted you and walked with you.”
“My Elnea-ness…”
Everyone had always been by my side.
Through difficult training, fierce battles, and even joyful daily life, everyone had walked the path with me.
Ares explained that it was because I had always acted in a way that was “like me.” But then, what was this “like me”?
I met Old Man Sleigsta, honed my skills, and connected with everyone. I also formed bonds with various beings in different regions and overcame many difficulties.
What kind of “self-identity” did I show during those times?
Receiving Ares’s words, I pondered my thoughts. But strangely, unlike me, everyone started laughing.
“Whaaat? Why is that!?”
I was bewildered. Was my “self-identity” that funny?
“Because, you see?”
Mistral, smiling to my right, looked at me as if to say, “What could possibly be so troubling?” Everyone else was also laughing, wondering why I hadn’t realized it, amidst the collapsing world.
“Hmmph. My Elnea-ness…”
What had I done? What had I gained?
I became even more troubled. Then, everyone spoke in unison: “You’re not acting like yourself when you’re troubled like this.”
“Not being troubled is my ‘Elnea-ness’…? Ah, I see!”
Finally, I understood. Who I was. What I had learned and gained. These were simple questions that didn’t require any contemplation!
“I am Elnea Eris, one of the Eight Dragon Kings! I trained under the Ancient Dragon Species and mastered the Dragon Sword Dance and Dragon Arts!”
Once I knew the answer, everything else became simple.
“Everyone, please cooperate with me?”
To which they replied, “You’re always cooperating with us,” and laughed again. Their smiles gave me encouragement.
I took a deep breath, expanded my consciousness, and shouted, pouring all my feelings into it.
“Amira, I’ll definitely save you!”
My voice, imbued with strong emotion, dissolved into the world. And in the world, where a storm raged and thunder roared incessantly, it certainly reached Amira.
“…That’s impossible. My Older Brother’s wounds won’t heal. I hate a world without my Older Brother!”
At first glance, it sounded like a rational response. But it wasn’t. Amira was being consumed by her own “voice that commanded all things in nature,” which she had unleashed, and her rationality had collapsed. As proof, she clung to the dying Alf and only screamed, not allowing Ruiseine or Madrine, the miko, to heal him. Moreover, she continued to release her power, trying to destroy the world.
“Even so, we will help Amira. And the world as well, by the way?”
Compared to saving Amira, restoring the world was merely an “aside.”
“My Older Brother was always by my side. He got angry for me when I couldn’t speak. He cried for me. And yet… and yet!”
Alf had always fussed over Amira. When Amira bravely charged into battle, he fought alongside her. When Amira was suffering, he took care of the people around her on her behalf. I believe it was Alf who watched over and understood Amira better than anyone else.
“I can’t forgive this. Why is Older Brother hurt?! Why does Older Brother have to die?! Older Brother did nothing wrong! It’s all my fault!”
“No, that’s not true. No one is at fault. Amira, you’ve done nothing wrong!”
“No, no, no! It’s my fault. If I weren’t here, Older Brother would have been freer. He wouldn’t have been hurt!”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Alf didn’t get hurt because of Amira.”
“Lies!”
Amira shouted.
“If only I weren’t here, Older Brother wouldn’t have ended up like this!”
Tears of blood flowed from Amira’s purple eyes. Overwhelmed by despair, she denied everything, her soul screaming.
“I wanted to repay him someday. I wanted to thank the villagers who always took care of me. I wanted to help Brother Alex, who always kindly lent a hand when I was in trouble. And for Brother Alf, who was always my ally, I wanted him to be happy. But… but!!”
Amira herself understood the love of her family and the village people better than anyone. She had truly accepted the feelings of those who tried to give her a normal life, despite her own abnormalities. Yet, that happiness was brutally destroyed by a man who plotted treachery and an overbearing noble. That’s why Amira screamed. Now, on the verge of losing Alf, she despaired of everything and wished for the world to collapse.
With every scream from Amira, the world crumbled further. The eerily discolored sky cracked, the atmosphere raged, and the earth vanished. If someone was hurt or unfortunate because of me, then such a world should cease to exist. It was a profoundly contradictory and devastating wish. However, swallowed by the voice that commanded all things in nature, Amira no longer had the awareness to discern whether it was a righteous thought or a misguided wish.
In that case, I shall provide the answer. We will share the feelings in place of Amira.
“Amira, you don’t like the current world, do you? Then, scream to your heart’s content!”
“E-Elnea!?”
Mistral’s eyes widened in surprise at my sudden declaration. I replied with a smile.
“No, it’s okay. If Amira feels despair, then she can break the world as much as she wants. Because I believe that’s the dark, true emotion she’s been suppressing deep within her heart all this time.”
“What do you mean?”
When everyone tilted their heads, I elaborated.
“Amira lost her self-control due to Alf getting hurt, and as a result, she’s been taken over by her own voice and is rampaging, right? But isn’t it precisely because of that, that her true feelings, which she can no longer control, are leaking out? People don’t say things they don’t want. When their hearts are rampaging, they don’t wish for things they haven’t even considered. So, I believe that what Amira is screaming now are the emotions she’s been suppressing deep in her heart.”
Her words of love for Alf weren’t lies. Her affection for Alex and gratitude towards the villagers were also true. However, I believe her self-loathing and despair for the world were also genuine. That’s why, now that she’s rampaging, Amira is trying to destroy the world.
“Then, isn’t it even worse to provoke her?”
“No, that’s not right either. Amira can scream as much as she wants. If she feels despair, she should just let it all out. After all, she’s been enduring it for so long, right? So, I think she’s allowed to vent her pent-up frustration.”
“Even if the result is the collapse of the world?”
Mistral frowned suspiciously, and I smiled.
“Yes. Let’s have Amira release all the frustration she’s been holding onto. But, Mistral. I am Elnea Eris, you know?”
My stating my name caused the frown to disappear from Mistral’s brow, which had been looking suspicious until then.
“…Yes. You were Elnea Eris.”
Looking around, I saw that everyone had also broken into smiles.
“So, you mean you’ll let Amira vent all her frustrations and then, Elnea-kun, you’ll save her?”
“Of course, I’ll need everyone’s cooperation!”
This is what “my Elnea-ness” means. No matter what happens, I will definitely save those I’ve decided to save. In the face of such determination, the collapse of the world is a trivial matter!
“Amira!”
As if not to be outdone by Amira, I also screamed.
“If you don’t like something, shout it out! It’s okay to reject what you hate!”
Without me telling her, the irrational Amira continued to scream.
“No, no, no! Older Brother! This world!”
The destructive voice that commanded all things in nature was stained with despair. And the voice that would destroy everything began to crumble even the curse of the Giant Demon Lord. Countless tornadoes tore through the thunderclouds, scattering them. They swallowed the thunder’s roar and transformed it into lightning that destroyed the world.
“Elnea-kun, the curse!”
“Ruiseine, it’s alright. We no longer need the Giant Demon Lord’s curse to help us.”
After all, unlike Amira’s endlessly emitted voice that commanded all things in nature, the Giant Demon Lord’s curse was finite. Once the curse contained within the jewel was completely expelled, there would be no more. But it was already enough. Thanks to the Giant Demon Lord’s curse, we had gained time for a comeback. From now on, we will face the voice that commands all things in nature with our own strength.
“Now, everyone. Let’s seal Amira’s voice!”
At first, I was at a loss as to how to seal it. But after hearing Ares’s words, I understood. My “Elnea-ness.” If that’s the case, then I can think of a way!
We released all the emotions and power circulating within us. We diffused them into Amira’s world, where she commanded all things in nature.
“Sefina, don’t ever let go of the tip of Amira’s power, alright?”
“Leave it to me. No matter what happens, I won’t let go!”
Amira’s voice, which even repelled the Giant Demon Lord’s curse, continued to destroy the world. However, thanks to Sefina’s ability to blend well with the power of all things in nature, our unleashed power spread throughout the world without being rejected.
In a world that was collapsing, where it was impossible to tell the ground from the sky, we continued to release our power while falling endlessly amidst rain of earth fragments. Nimia flapped her wings, causing the power that had spread across the world to surge powerfully. Feeling the waves, I gave direction to the power.
The arts I’ve mastered are Dragon Arts. And Dragon Arts are arts that manifest the caster’s intentions. If that’s the case, then I should be able to create a flow even without performing the Dragon Sword Dance! The diffused power gradually began to swirl. However, our power, which had allied with the power of all things in nature, was not recognized as an anomaly. Amidst the collapsing world, our power steadily spread, creating a grand flow.
“Older Brother, don’t die! Don’t leave me alone! No, no, no, no!!”
Amira continued to scream. In her desperate attempt to prevent Alf from dying, she continued to utter the voice that commanded all things in nature. However, Amira’s voice could not save Alf. On the contrary, the power, tormented by the despair of losing her brother, ran wild and destroyed the world.
“It’s okay. Scream all you want! You’ve been holding back for so long, so just let your voice out! And leave the rest to us, alright?”
Amira had been holding back her voice, even though it wasn’t sealed at all. Yet, when Alf was hurt, she couldn’t bear it and screamed. Amira’s voice rejected everything and destroyed the world. In such circumstances, what could we do? I believe it was to accept and heal Amira, who was despairing in sadness, rather than denying her.
The power that circulated within us spread throughout the world, carrying our emotions. I created a flow for it and brought it to the next stage.
We had seen it before. The Dragon God, gently watching over her kin from high above. The King of Dragons, who could reveal his presence even without a physical form.
If Dragon Arts are arts that manifest the caster’s intentions.
The power of our emotions, spread throughout the world and swirling like a storm, began to materialize. An entity that pierced heaven and earth, looking down from high above on all things that continued to fall and collapse. If Amira wanted to destroy the world, we would embrace and heal the broken world. If there was only sadness, we would bestow compassion.
A colossal dragon, shaped by Dragon Energy, appeared overhead. Its entire body, dyed in verdant green by the power of the Spirit Tree, spanned as far as the eye could see. The sight of it slowly flapping its wings, filled with Spirit Power, was majestic, as if the Dragon God had descended. However, the super colossal dragon that appeared high in the sky was not the Dragon God. It was the manifestation of our emotions. Therefore, the colossal dragon possessed powers that would normally be impossible. Its eyes, imbued with Hōryoku, gently looked down upon the world. Then, the collapse began to slow down.
“The Goddess created all living things, and at the same time, she created this sky, sea, and earth. Therefore, our healing Hōjutsu can heal not only living beings but also the world.”
“Also, the Goddess forgives all her children, doesn’t she? She embraces them with loving affection, even if a mischievous child acts up a little.”
So, the Goddess would forgive Amira, who tried to destroy the world, wouldn’t she? Even if the world were broken a little, it would be alright, right? Well, we might get scolded if we overdid it, but? If so, we should end the commotion before the Goddess gets angry and protect Amira instead!
“It’s alright. We are always on Amira’s side. So, you don’t have to hold back anymore, just speak your mind. We will save Alf and the world too!”
In reality, the way to save Amira was very simple and easy. No matter what happened, we just had to keep looking at Amira and remain her ally. But we were misled by those around us and didn’t realize such a simple thing until it was too late. So, this time, we want to allow Amira’s selfishness. If she wants to scream, she can scream until her throat is hoarse. If the world is destroyed because of Amira’s voice, we will repair it.
Amira continued to scream. As if in response to Amira’s screams, the colossal dragon far overhead let out a roar. However, it was not a terrifying roar that instilled fear in those who heard it. Rather, it was a gentle roar filled with compassion. Every time Amira screamed, the colossal dragon roared as well.
“Amira, trust us.”
“Amira-san, we will definitely save Alf!”
“Compared to Nina and me, this disturbance is nothing. So, go ahead and be selfish.”
“Compared to Yufi-onee-sama and me, this problem is nothing. So, be as selfish as you want.”
“Hahahaha. Amira-sama, please express your true feelings without hesitation, as I will fully support you!”
“You know, Priscilla wants to play house with her sister again!”
“Nyan also wants to play a lot, nyan!”
“If you’ll regret it later, then give it your all now. Otherwise, you’ll bear deep sin, like me and Rin.”
“But any sin can surely be atoned for. So, don’t be afraid of anything.”
“The Goddess always rewards effort. If Amira has been enduring for so long, then a wonderful destiny surely awaits her in the future.”
“If you want, let’s all go look for it! No matter what destiny awaits, we will surely accompany you!”
Our emotions became the colossal dragon’s roar and echoed throughout the world. Amira’s screams and the colossal dragon’s roar resonated. It was as if Amira was singing the main melody, and the colossal dragon was playing the accompaniment.
“I… I…”
Perhaps noticing our emotions and the colossal dragon’s roar, Amira finally looked up. Amira, who had not taken her eyes off Alf cradled in her lap until then, raised her purple eyes to the sky far above. Then, she saw the colossal dragon that covered the collapsing world.
“…Beau…tiful…”
Amira let out a tiny sigh. For a moment, I felt as though I saw a glimmer of reason in her deep purple eyes.
“Amira, believe in yourself. Believe in the world. And believe in us!”
The colossal dragon, gracefully flying high overhead, slowly began to close its wings. As if gently embracing the collapsing world.
We don’t know how far the Giant Demon Lord had calculated. However, looking at the jewel, which had expelled all its curses and was falling with a rainbow glow, I saw the end point.
Like a mother embracing her child with love, the colossal dragon slowly converged, emitting its lullaby-like roar.
Into the jewel of the Spirit Tree.
