The Day After - II

The Warbringer:

*Step, Step*

It took about a day, in human time, flying from Earth to the nearest spot from which I can enter "The Temple of Time", realm of dragons, sanctuary for my lord, for all of us dragons. Now to put an end to everything I have to report my status and get my name back. And prepare for what is in store for me, whatever my lord will want. 

As I'm approaching his chambers I get the feeling of expectation, something weird for someone as old as myself, but it's been so long since I've become ... warbringer, warbringer this is the person I started to be in my long life work, but now I'll get to be myself.

"Bow in the presence of the dragon lord!" A guard screamed as I entered the hall, looking down to the base of what started to be the staircase to the royal throne I kneeled. 

Dragons like every other important house are taking pride in their decorations, and in their lavish palaces, nobles, elites, we value image, appearances more than some would care because it's a shield to protect our pride. And so the royal palace is decorated in emerald and gold, with long corridors, firmly crafted decorations and luxuries displayed in carefully arranged rooms all over.

The throne room is a high ceiled cathedral with long pillars holding status of the previous dragon lords, honoring their name and what they did for our kin. It's true that we get to live a long life, but that doesn't guarantee we won't be killed in our long life, and betrayal is no stranger to anyone in this universe. 

Even the current dragon lord, the longest one as well, has gotten in this position by betraying and slaughtering his father, his older brother, and his mother is incarcerated by his orders, a really cruel lord, but a fair one when it comes to judgment, all of us in "The Temple of Time" agreed.

"Raise your face, look at me, and speak." He demanded in a cold tone.

I looked up at my lord to see his face that hasn't aged, his turquoise eyes, smooth white skin, with long hair that peeked out of his hood covering his head, and the white long robe marked with emerald gems at wrists and waist, with drawings of the various lines signifying the universe connecting ultimately at the top of his head. 

The meaning beyond that display is that the dragon lord has seen all, will see all, have solved everything, and will solve everything. In other words it's for pride, our greatest ally, as one of the superior races we along with the other scums that got to be blessed by "The Greater One" are affected by this phenomenon.

Taking the appropriate time after he finished talking, I started "Oh you lord of dragons, supreme one above time itself, I, your servant have completed my long almost everlasting mission. I informed the human lessers about what's coming and gave them information as I previously did with the others as well... Now with my mission over please, I beg you, allow me to return to serve by thyself, give me my name back and free me of my duty as the warbringer." I said in a pleading voice, begging almost for this chance, even if I knew it was not necessary I needed to be humble ... to know my place.

My relationship with the dragon lord is amicable in the best days, but in situations like this when it's something official, where ears are everywhere I need to make it look real, and give no doubts about my loyalty or give no hint that I'm more than a humble servant to my lord.

Acting as an agent for him along with my usual role of the warbringer brought great risks but we didn't get caught, despite my convictions, my thoughts that some races should not take part in this. I did my job as I was instructed and collected while giving information as my lord asked me to. I need to keep pretending for the eyes of the world now more than ever.

"Indeed ... it's been quite a journey for you, my loyal servant, and I'll grant your wish as your reward. From now on you are relieved of your duties as the warbringer and you'll claim your true name back. You will also be rewarded with a greater position than before, you'll be in charge of the special taskforce, the elites, military strategy and training in other words, do you understand ... Bahamut?" He said with a piercing glare, keeping his cold tone and looking straight through my eyes, into my brain.

I couldn't help but just look down and shiver a bit when I gave him my response "I'm grateful for your generosity my lord, I'll gladly accept everything you give me, I can't thank you enough for all this ..."

"Enough." He retorted. "Everyone here leave ... I want a private conversation with the new strategic head here." He demanded and so everyone but me left. "Get up and tell me how this journey marked you."

His majesty wants to understand everything to make sure he controls everything he can, so his demand was nothing special back then, when he asked me to remember details about intriguing planets, and not now when he puts me to speak about them. What he's looking for is information, if anything sparked my attention. 

That should be for his ears, and his ears alone, not risking any eavesdrop. After all, sometimes you can't trust your own kin, and there are ears in the palace from the other high races as well, no one knows when they are listening. I thought as his majesty put on a sound barrier.

"Yes, your majesty... My journey was long and it wasn't so different, some planets are more advanced in other directions than others, example being the Luyten, a more rocky planet but this brought technological advancements to exploit the natural resources there, abundant precious rocks, and other minerals. By this point it should be a trade centered planet, one that swore their alliance to angels. 

Enaiposha was another intriguing one in my journey, the planet who's made entirely out of water is now housing the strongest water type elementalists, few of them could gain control over another concept with the little exposure they had to it. What's intriguing is how they will survive once and if they step out of the water they might be strong but their rationality is limited, and they are not ready to face the surprises of the cosmos. Now the planet is allied with the demons, producing slaves and succubuses, training nymphs to seduce that's the public face ,while in secret torturing warriors into trying to "clay" them to their maximum potential, truly pitiful.

And then in the vast sea of stars, when you just travel you can see them, sometimes ... the huge snakes, the ones that threaten the entire universe like an ocean, just minding their own business casually destroying planets, floating in the space itself, as they are the absolute ruler of it. Their huge bodies are obstructing solar systems without even realizing. You see them just floating there, in the depths of darkness, having their eyes on you, and their rows of teeth preparing to strike if necessary, the leviathans." And I came to a stop trying to not make this brief longer, waiting for my lord's response.

"Interesting but nothing new, we knew all of this already after the negotiations for alliance, and as for the leviathans, that's how they have always been, animals. I guess I can't say I'm surprised but I have to ask, have any of the planets you have visited given you the idea that they might pose a threat to us?" No emotion displayed on his face.

"Why are you testing me my lord, you already know the answer to this question ... no ... there are planets which have the aura of potential around them, but nothing could be of a threat to us as you already knew ... my lord, may I ask a question?"

"Ask."

"While I was in the middle of my speech on Earth I started feeling something familiar but terrifying at the same time there, I don't know what it is, or what it could've been. And I'm ashamed to say but ... it gave me chills, while it's not a threat, that planet is worth keeping an eye on, maybe even make them allies through more underhanded methods if I may suggest that." I said in my humblest tone possible, lowering my head to the lowest point on the floor.

"Keep your head up ... we will not intervene with the decision the civilization there will make, and we cannot go that low as to use underhanded methods. As for what you sensed, it's better for yourself to pay no mind to it, Bahamut. If the time comes you'll learn, if it doesn't then treat it like you never felt it, we will keep doing our best like we always did to make allies but we will not pull strings on this. If we do, we might infuriate THEM."

*Gulp*

I couldn't help but swallow the nothingness in my throat at that time, while my lord attitude remained unchanged, and his tone remained the same cold at face value, one could feel a subtle change if you knew him well enough, which indicates one thing only. I should forget everything I felt about that place and just treat it as a normal location, nothing more, nothing less.

"Yes, as you say your majesty." I said as I prepared myself to leave.

"Before you leave, I need to inform you that taking the lead of my elites is no easy feat, strategy, training or not, you will have to deal with a lot more than that. And also make sure you set a meeting with the other three high races and the ten sephirots ... six months from now, we need to discuss what is going to happen next ... and extend an invitation to them as well."

"Them?"

"They call themselves "The End", they are a faction led by the three individuals who received blessings from "The Greater One" for their accomplishments. As they seem to be powerhouses we need to at least notify in advance. That meeting will be about the course of action we will be taking, no one will oppose their participation, I can guarantee you that."

"As you wish ... but if I may ask, how do I find them, where should I extend the invitation?"

" ... The Black Parade."

I had a dumbfounded expression hearing his words, I knew, we all knew about the special individuals that got blessed, they have been around for ages, but not taking the spotlight. To think they would form a faction. It is hard to believe, they seemed to have different goals, so what could be that united them at this point, what happens now that couldn't unite them before, why would they take the spotlight now, when they haven't done it for all this time. I asked myself in my own head, my lord noticing my uneasiness.

"The Black Parade is a public group, 'recently formed' and led by one of these special individuals, his name is Ragnarok, send a letter to The Black Parade, they should be easy to find as they host entertainment programs for the ones who pay more, almost like a circus, if you send them an official letter, he'll surely get it."

"Now now, no need to get so worked up just to invite us to your little group chat. I heard you loud and clear, and I'll deliver the message to my fellow colleagues. I can guarantee my attendance, but I can't say the same for the other two." A voice said from within the throne room sound proofed walls, and my lord expression slightly frowned.

"Since when you were listening?" My lord asked the voice in the walls.

"Who knows, and why would I tell you anyway, you're lord of dragons, but you're not my lord." The voice said in a humorous tone. "Anyway as I said I'll deliver the message oh you mighty lord of dragons, and I'll also take the liberty to look into this Earth your loyal servant advised you about, now if you will excuse me I have some items I want to trade ... but which city and where should I pick? Oh I know! Kaenbara in the great trade center Luyten should do, hahahahaha. Well as I said I'll take my leave, until I may have the opportunity to perform on stage for you again gentle-dragons." And then the voice vanished.

How could he mock my lord like that, eavesdropping since the beginning, interrupting, showing such insolence, even for a blessed being that's unacceptable. I could feel the burning rage boiling inside me, as I took a step forward and I pleaded to his majesty "Please, let me go after him!"

"Sit!" He retorted faster than ever "You'll do as I say and nothing else ... no matter how valuable I have no use for non loyal and rebel dogs, do you understand ... Bahamut?" His voice resonated in my head with absolute authority, there is no room to discuss this.

"Yes ... I'll inform the other leaders and the ten sephirots about the meeting, your majesty, the latter party already knows, and after that I'll go and prepare for my new duty ... I'll take my leave with your permission."

"Leave."

...

As the huge doors closed behind me, I started walking the long corridor towards the informants room, the message had to be sent, and it had to be quick, I'll waste no time in doing such a task now that I've regained my name... But to think we could not sense his presence during that entire time ... no ... I couldn't do it, I'm sure my lord let him hear on purpose, yes it was on purpose, it had to be.