Chapter 2: Having tea with God

Taking a walk through God's home, Azar could not help but be amazed by everything he saw. He was experiencing the afterlife, meeting God himself, and from what he could tell, joining him for tea in a mystical garden in the clouds.

"Azar, though I love your true majestic dragon from," God smiled kindly. "Well you see … the chair and the tea table … you know … not suitable for a 50-foot dragon…".

"Oh, I see…." Azar understood what God meant by that and turned into his humanoid form.

"Ah, I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience. To be honest, I did not expect to have guests in my home."

"You did not expect guests but you have four chairs around the tables !?" Azar raised an eyebrow. God awkwardly scratched his head.

"Ehm,.. so anyway !" God redirected the conversation. "Please have a seat, I have the best tea in the world. That I can guarantee.". That promise was undoubtedly true. He was God, after all. But there was one problem.

"Do you have anything else but tea !?" Azar bluntly asked.

"What? You don't like the best tea in the world? You haven't even tried it yet !"

"Yeah … dragon and vegetable don't really mix … sir … I mean God... I mean sir God."

"Just call me God, or Carl if you like."

"Carl !? Your name is Carl !? God's real name is Carl !!!?"

"What's wrong with Carl !?" God gazed at Azar with his more devilish side turned toward him.

"Nope, nothing! It's a great name! A brilliant name! That was all I was going to say !"

"So why don't dragons like tea ?"

"Dragon drinking tea is like you catching a tiger with a vegetable diet. Though we could eat vegetables and herbs, we would prefer meat instead."

"So …. a cup of blood !?"

"What !? NO! I'm not a vampire !" Azar grunted. "Just give me some wine or something."

God happily poured some freshwater into a cup, and then to Azar's shock, the water in the cup gradually changed into red wine right in front of his eyes.

"Thanks …" Azar sniffed the liquid first to confirm it was truly wine.

God gave Azar a curious look.

"So … is this the work of the transformation magic of yours or is this how you would actually look if you were a human!?"

"This is the only form that I know. Our physique and condition as a dragon will determine how we would look as a human."

"You meant to tell me, all you ate and drank were meat and wine and somehow you get to look like that !? Damn !" God pointed at Azar's broad shoulder, muscular chest, and eight packs.

"Aren't you God !? Shouldn't you like … I don't know… know this from the start !?"

"How am I supposed to know every single one of you down there? Do you realize how many living creatures there are !!!?"

Azar nervously drank his wine as he reminded himself who he was talking to.

"Ehm… Anyway, this is not what I want to talk to you about, Azar" God then opened a portal and took out a mirror within that portal void. God gave him the mirror, and in it, Azar saw the visions of the present and the future.

The war was still wagging even after Azar's demise. The corpses of humans and other creatures piled up into mountains. Their blood had soaked the lands, turning rivers red. Azar felt a slight tightness in his chest. He felt like he had failed as a king, failed to save his people, failed to stop the war. The fate of his kingdom and the humans were the same. Wars and death would destroy both kingdoms.

"Why are you showing me this !?" Azar felt the fire of anger raging within him. "To morch my failure ! To torture my soul !?". God remained silent, and Azar continued to spill his rage.

"Why am I here !? What am I to you ?! Why can't you just let me rest in peace and just save your creation from my kind yourself !?"

"You're all my creations, Azar" God finally gave him an answer "Humans, dragons, succubus, werewolves … every living creature is my creation and treasure each of you all the same"

"Really!? Somehow I doubt that !!!" Azar looked at the vision in the mirror that was showing his people were getting slaughtered by the humans. "I'm not saying you have a favorite child but …."

"What happened down there, I am only partly to blame." God took a jip of his tea and continued with saddened eyes. "I created all of you and I let you live in harmony, on your own free will. Greed, lust, and everything else after was all yours doing. That I do not take any part in."

Azar gave a long sigh. He understood what God meant, "You know, I never blame you for anything. Well… mostly because I did not believe that you exist.."

God almost choked on his tea after he heard what Azar got to say.

"I mean of course I believe you know," Azar waved his hands, "But you know, down there, I was not a believer. Like … for example, humans make you look just like them and just slap bird wings on your back. While in our culture, my ancestors told us that you looked more like us, with a goat head and strong mighty claws …."

"Ok listen up! I don't know how many times I have to explain myself! I NEVER had a goat head ok! I once went through a phase and tried to grow A GOATEE! I tried it, and I can't pull it off! Somehow people just misinterpreted that I was turning into a goat! That was the last time that I received fashion advice from my parents !"

Azar's eyes widened, "You have parents !?" he asked bluntly.

"That's not important right now." God just swiped Azar's question away " What I want to say was I love you all equally and it does hurt me to see all of my creation destroy themselves for nothing."

Then Azar had a spark light up in his mind. "God, can you show me that past !? Can you show me who really started all of this conflict ?"

God shook his head and leaned back on his chair. He gave Azar a cold and serious gaze, then asked coldly.

"And what do you expect to gain from that? Looking back to the past? Thousands of years before ?"

Azar was silenced by God's question.

"Does it matter, who really starts it first? So what if the human who struck first? What are you going to do? And what if it was your kingdom who was to blame? Are you going to bend your knee and submit ?"

God's words cut Azar deeper than any blade could. Only then, Azar fully understood that they were all doomed from the start. None of the parties was ever going to win. They were all meant to perish in the end. Azar's face grew grim and depressed.

"You were only ever trying to win, trying to make your actions right. You never really tried to stop."

"But didn't my kingdom stop retaliating against the humans for hundreds of years ?"

"Did you ? Did you choose to do so? Or was it because you understood that you were too weak to win? And how did it payout? Doing nothing while something horrible was going on right in front of your eyes, does not make you good ? Your people still perished, wars still wagging endlessly! So tell me, Azar, what have you truly accomplished as a king to be considered good ?"

"I …" though Azar tried and tried to keep himself at a higher standing than the humans. But they weren't wrong when they told him that he was living in a lie. A lie that he was doing good, a lie that he had made any sort of difference. Nothing changed, nothing at all.

"Nothing … I have accomplished nothing … I failed as a king … I failed as a dragon … my people, my friends had lost their lives to a meaningless war and I failed to stop it … and now the world would bear the same fate as I have ..."

God chuckled a little. Azar turned toward him with confusion on his face.

"Interesting, such a fascinating being I have created. Demon by birth, angle by heart. How fascinating !"

"Excuse me !? What was that ?"

"Answer me now Azar. What do you truly feel about humans ?"

Azar gave God's question some serious thought and then answered, "I pity them."

"Oh ?! You pity them ?"

"Yes. They have so much potential within them. Together, they had managed to perform miracles. They showed great ingenuity and intelligence. But they were too immature, too easily manipulated. Their minds in comparison to ours, are fairly simple-minded."

"You do not seem to hold a grudge against humans, even though they killed your people, even though they killed you ?"

"I do not forget what they did" Azar's amber eyes flashed with fire for a second. "...But I do understand them".

Azar sighed longly and said, "Those humans, or as they like to call heroes, are only doing what they've been told. They were performing their duty to their motherland. I can't judge them for that. My people would also do the same if I were to order them. Though I am truly sad and angered for what they have done to us, I also know that we weren't any better. I know that we have done unspeakable things to their people in the past as well."

"Yes indeed, humans are fascinating creatures as well. They evolved beyond my expectation. But they also had too many flaws."

"Do you know that they still think that I am the one that caused all of this !?" Azar laughed half-heartedly. "They truly think that I actually am immortal, that if they kill me then they would erase all evil in the world in one go."

God felt a good amount of embarrassment from Azar's words "Yes, they tend to blame others for their mistake and hardship rather than facing it themselves …."

"From what I've gathered, humans seem to blame us for everything. Any disease or natural disasters that they could not stop. The corruption and misinformed nature of their race."

"Yes, how unfortunate …."

Azar suddenly realized something.

"God, why didn't you intervene? You must have known what was going on. So why … Why did you let us fight for thousands and thousands of years? Why did you just sit here and watch us destroy ourselves ?"

Azar realized what he was asking could potentially provoke God, and there was no telling what he might do to Azar when he got angry. But Azar had to know, no matter the cost, this was the chance of a lifetime.

God sat in silence for a while. His eyes grew heavy with dread and regret.

"I … can't," God told him in a soft and husky voice. Azar could feel the weight on God's shoulder with every word he said.

"You all think that I'm the almighty, that I control everything. But the truth is, I can only create you and watch as you grow and evolve. I can't directly intervene with your world. I can't take over your free will. That would be against all that I stand for, what life stands for. So I can only sit here and watch as my beloved creation perishes …."

"Have you ever tried at least ?"

"OF COURSE I HAVE !" God shouted. He slammed his fists on the table as thunders started to roar all around Azar. "I've personally stepped in many times in the past. I lead humans through the edge of extinction. I taught dragons how to perform magic. I taught you all love and peace. I led you all to the route of enlightenment. !"

"But then … you just started killing each other … then comes wars… greed, lust … I never taught you that… And no matter how hard I try, I can't change the minds and hearts of all of you..."

The thunder stopped, and from underneath, Azar could hear the sizzling sound of rain falling from the clouds he was standing on. He could even smell the humidity in the atmosphere. God had stopped talking and was looking down from the clouds.

"So why am I here? What do you want from me ?"

"I want you to save my world !" God bluntly told him

"Even if I wanted to, how can I save the world when even you can't !?"

"Because you're the only hope for the world, Azar. You've lived your life as a dragon, hunted by men, witnessed your friends and people die at the hands of humans. But still, you have the kindness in your heart to sympathize with them. You are what this world is missing."

Azar now felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was still in disbelief at what he had heard "I'm … the world savior !?... Surely this is a joke ! …"

God shook his head slowly. "I wish it was, Azar. Truly I do. But this world is at its breaking point. If nothing changes then the vision you just saw will be the only fate of this world and all those who live in it."

"... So what am I supposed to do? …"

"I want you to lead the humans. I want you to guide them to the right path."

"What !? How am I, a dragon king, supposed to lead the whole human race ?"

"Simple, I'll turn you into a human" God smiled like it was no problem at all.

"WHAT !!!" Azar shook his head aggressively. "There is no way I'll give up my body for a human's !"

"Why not !? Humans have a very sophisticated body. Every cell in their body is meticulously…."

"They look weird and weak as Hell !!!" Azar started body-shaming the human race. "Those hairless creatures had the softest skin I have ever seen. I heard that it is so soft and defenseless that normal human beings usually get a thing called a paper cut. A PAPER CUT !!! They bleed because paper can injure them !"

God just sat back and let Azar complain. Of course, God was not going to change his mind, but it was a good chance for him to see how different each of his creations viewed each other.

"They don't have wings! Their body proportion is all over the place! How can a dragon, like myself, ever survive in a human body !??"

"Azar, can you look in the mirror please," God told Azar. And in the mirror, a picture of a naked female human appeared. Dark brown eyes like molasses in the firelight beneath thick black lashes. She had a heart-shaped face and perfect healthy white skin without a freckle or scratch on her. Wavy brown hair hung past her shoulders. An hourglass-shaped body with lively and luring breasts, a slender waist, and healthy wide hips. The woman hit every golden measurement in terms of beauty for a human.

"Tell me, what do you see, Azar ?"

With just one glance, Azar gave God a confident and unapologetic answer "What an ugly and sorry creature…."

"Can you elaborate ?"

"Well, this one looks like a tree branch. I don't know if this one is starving, sick or something in between. There is no meat under her skin, let alone muscle. A mild wind blow would be enough to kill this one. And just look at the body proportion, it makes absolutely no sense. Why do all the fat and nutritious elements seem to only focus on her breasts while her arms and legs look like twigs? And from what I learned, that part of her body is soft. Basically, this one just has two pointless bags of meat stuck on her chest which would prevent her from some basic everyday work and training. In addition,..." Azar continued complaining about the human strange physical body and how it did not make sense to him. On the other hand, God listened keenly and nodded his head sometimes like he was also sharing his point of view.

"Can you believe that those humans actually think that I have any interest in taking advantage of their females? Give me a break! They are just __."

"Alright Azar, I think I got a general idea" God cut him off. "So you don't find this one attractive am I right ?"

"Do you really have to ask !?!"

"That's a pity, I thought I would get a better reaction. This is a fine example of a healthy and attractive 23 years old female human."

The moment Azar heard those words, his stomach turned, his face turned green, and he felt extremely noxious. He bent over the tea table, looking like he was about to vomit any second.

"You disgusting bastard! What is wrong with you celestial being! What you're doing is sick !"

"Wait !? What ?! What did I do !?"

"Why are you showing me a naked image of a human child and asking me if I find it attractive !? What is wrong with you !"

"She is not a child! She is a fully grown adult !"

"She isn't even 1/10 my age! And why do you have an image of a naked human child in your mirror ?!"

"HEY! HEY! Do not start spreading ill rumors about me! This is not a child, I guarantee you that! And another thing, I do not have an image of a naked female human on hand! This is a magical mirror you dummy ! I can just ask and it will appear !"

"Awh… I think... I'm going to vomit …" Azar was still obviously not over it.

"Oh Jesus Christ, suck it up, will you! We have more important things to talk about !"

"Who the Hell is Jesus Christ !?"

"Don't worry about him. He's just my neighbor. He lives like four clouds from here."

"There is a whole neighborhood full of Gods !!!!!"

"Not important right now !"

After a while, Azar finally pulled himself together.

"Please tell me that there is a damn good reason why I just pull something as disgusting as that on me."

God felt a little annoyed. "Of course I am. You're going to be sent back as a human. You need to understand and act like one."

"We are still going with the human body plan! If being a human is so important to your plan, why don't you just choose a human in the first place ?!"

"Because Azar, I need someone who also understands the hardship and reality of your kingdom. Someone kind and honorable such as yourself. Someone who would not blindly bias against one race or the other. While humans only see different races as enemies and treat them mostly with hostility. You, a dragon, and a king who was born to be the enemy of humans, to hunt them, to hate them. You somehow find a way to understand them. And I need you to help them, the humans, to understand other races and most importantly understand their own."

Azar sighed. There was no changing God's plan. And to be honest with himself, it wasn't like he had any other option anyway.

"Well, at least can I keep my power as a dragon !?"

"Yes … but only after 10 years …" God tried to sweep that information under the rug without Azar noticing.

"10 years !!!???"

"Yes, and even after that, I would like you to keep your true power a secret …."

"Why ?! What's the point !? Why do I have to live 10 years as a weak, pathetic human !?"

"Because Azar, that is the only way you can truly understand what it's like to be human. To see the world and their true condition, through their eyes."

"But even after all of that, hiding my power, that makes very little sense. Don't humans tend to follow those who have a lot of power? Shouldn't it be easier for me to lead them as, for lack of better words, a god among them ?"

"That's true Azar, humans will listen and obey you if you show that you are indeed a god. But they would only follow you blindly. You can't change how they think and believe by telling them what to do. If you become a god and lead them, the human will forever rely on your guidance and will never learn to think on their own. Nothing will change. They will continue to believe that the only way to make a difference is to become a godlike being and powerful enough to destroy their enemies. You can't ever set an example for them by being this powerful and indestructible god. You have to get through to them by becoming an ordinary good man."

Azar was surprised by how much this god had thought about his plan. It was just not a random plan, Azar concluded.

"You have tried this before, haven't you ?" Azar asked softly.

"Yes … throughout your history, I've tried this method many times …."

"Aren't you supposed to be this almighty and knowledgeable being? How can you fail ?"

God smiled kindly toward Azar. "Because I'm also a living being, Azar. I also have to learn from my mistake, like the rest of you… I also have to try and fail. And I can never stop trying. The lives of all my creation depended on me."

Azar had ruled his kingdom for 80 years. He had been through many hardships and losses. So he fully understood what it felt like to have people looking for him for guidance. What a burden it was to have the fate of millions on his shoulders. The expectation that Azar himself always made the right decision, to never fail at anything. And he could only imagine what it felt like to have the fate of the whole world on your shoulder.

Azar gave a long sigh and told God, "Fine, … I'm in."

"Wonderful !!" God stood up and cheered. "Now let's get you started immediately, there's no time to waste !"

"Wait! Wait! Can you at least elaborate your plan a little! I don't even know what I am supposed to do here !"

"Oh, I almost forgot, just be your honorable self Azar, and follow the North Star. Your 10 years journey will end when your power is unsealed. Then the second part will start."

"What? That's it? Walk for 10 years in one direction !? Second part !? What !!!!!!!!!"

"Don't worry about it. I have set everything for you. Just follow the North Star and be yourself."

God walked him through the clouds. Azar had never seen someone look so cheerful before.

"Ok, so can I at least keep my face and name ?"

"Yeah,... I think we can work with that … no problem."

"And will I gain some special power or anything !?"

"Special power ???"

"You know, I am doing God's work here. Shouldn't I get some sort of reward or power to aid me on my journey?"

"Oh … ok … I will give you the strongest power I can give a living being… Luck !"

"Luck !? That is it !???"

"Not just luck, unimaginable godlike ridiculous Luck !!!!" God shook Azar's hand and sealed the deal.

"Wait, is that for real !? That sounds like an extremely vague ability. Are you trying to trick me ?"

"A god's honor !" God put a hand on his left chest and promised Azar.

"How do I even know that is where your heart is !?" Azar raised his eyebrows, questioning God's every move from that point. And God had enough of it.

"Ok, captain Ask A Lot. Your mission starts now !". God flicked his fingers, and Azar suddenly free fell from the clouds.

"Just remember! Follow the North Star and be kind !"

"DAMN YOU CARL !!!!!" Azar shouted from the bottom of his lung as he helplessly fell back down to the realm of the living.