The Cursed Colossus

Meldior guided us through the network of caverns until we reached a natural platform suspended over a vast chasm that seemed to fall to the very end of the earth.

The platform was held in place by a massive stone bridge that connected it to solid ground.

Even before crossing the bridge we could make out the imposing rock formation, but once we stood before it, it was clear it resembled a dragon at rest.

"This is…" Coletto began.

"You know it?" Merite asked.

"I’ve heard stories… but they’re from Lady Lirlien’s time. She would certainly know more about it," Coletto answered, unwilling to speculate.

"Hmm, I see," Merite said, clearly dissatisfied with the response.

After noticing Merite and Coletto’s cold reaction to the statue, Meldior seemed to show a hint of relief on his face. Nodding slightly to himself, he led me to the feet of the stone colossus.

"Lord Zendal, as you can see, the curse that keeps this creature petrified grows weaker by the day," the old mage at my side explained. "Before long, the dragon will be free to devastate the surface."

Is that something you can actually see? Or is he just talking about the cracks? Better stay quiet and let him keep talking…

"As I was saying, my intention had been to seek help from the Isle of Mages. But seeing that you are reasonable, powerful, and above all magnanimous, I hoped to ask if you might help me put an end to this threat. Of course, I will handle most of the work myself. I only ask for your support."

For some reason it felt as if he was trying to buy me with flattery, but at least he was willing to take on the more dangerous part… and there’s no harm in a little flattery.

"Fortunately, the dragon is still petrified," Meldior went on. "It’s possible that attacking it might weaken or break the curse holding it in that state. That’s why the Demon King’s army never came to finish it off either. But if we strike it hard enough from the start, we’ll gain a clear advantage for when it finally awakens."

"For my own reasons I agree that we shouldn’t leave a dangerous creature roaming freely in these caverns, Meldior," I said, stepping closer to the dragon and deactivating Veil of the Rising Sun as I did so. "But it wouldn’t hurt to hear its story first."

Something told me that unlike with the Kuranos, this time it could be done.

"Lord Zendal! What are you doing?!" the mage exclaimed.

When I touched the cracked stone that covered the creature, I could feel different threads, or rather, ropes. They were formed of magic and wrapped around the being within, holding it in place.

"Arkutesal."

The words Arkem (destiny/fate) and Betesalca (to end/finish) came to mind. It wasn’t the first time; by now I was somewhat used to creating magic on my own. I needed to unite the words, but not just glue them together. They had to be combined in a way that allowed the magic to flow properly through them, whether that meant adding new elements or not.

"What language was that?!" Meldior forgot for a second where he stood and let himself be swept away by a researcher’s curiosity. But the cracking of the stone quickly brought him back to reality.

What I had done was sever the continuity of the restraints binding the dragon. In my mind, it was as if I had cut those ropes in half, but in truth they seemed to have vanished entirely.

Things never turn out exactly the way I planned… Still, the result was the same, so I won’t complain.

Suddenly chunks of rock began to fall over our heads, forcing us all to step back. Meldior raised his staff, still scolding me with his eyes, while Coletto and Merite readied the spear and swords they had brought.

Scaly skin, which looked like dark jade, almost black, began to emerge from beneath the stone, and its eyes, once they opened, rivaled Merite’s in their fiery glow.

But while my spirit’s eyes (pact still pending) were a brilliant, spark-like orange, the dragon’s burned with a deeper, more enigmatic gleam, like lingering embers in the dark.

The creature began to rise heavily, shaking off the remaining chunks of stone clinging to its back.

"Lord Zendal! Be prepared!" Meldior shouted, moving to stand at my side.

"That’s my place!" Merite cried from behind me, but she was ignored.

"Master, leave this to me," Coletto declared, stepping in front of me.

"Even though you’re almost as calculating as Lirilien, at times you’re as bold as Merite," I said, placing one hand on Coletto’s shoulder.

"Only when it comes to you, master," Coletto admitted, blushing a little. "And maybe because of Merite’s bad influence."

"Hey!"

"But I already said we were going to talk first," I insisted, using the hand I still had on my other spirit to push her back behind me. Her expression as she was moved out of position was kind of adorable, I won’t lie.

I walked a few steps ahead, moving past Meldior, who looked at me with concern, and stopped face-to-face with the dragon that was staring at me intently.

"So? Do you also want to trade blows before we can talk?" I asked.

…

The dragon stared at me for only a few moments longer, but finally lowered its head in a sign of submission.

"I am deeply grateful that you freed me from my prison. My name is Rafal, guardian of Coaliren."

"Coaliren? That’s the lake where Endalor stood at its center… There were rumors about this region… But the lake… there are no ruins…"

Meldior’s mutterings behind me were distracting, but I decided to set that subject aside for now.

"So Rafal, you won’t fight us just because I freed you from that curse?"

"I would prefer to avoid a confrontation. The Origin Dragons entrusted me with the care of this land, and if I fight you, I am certain I won’t live to tell about it."

Origin Dragons? Something like the Primordial Spirits I have heard about?

"What a cowardly dragon! And you call yourself a guardian?" Merite shouted, offended for some reason.

"I know a liquor made from snake sealed inside a jar. Wouldn’t it work just as well with a dragon?" Coletto added.

Is it because they heard this was the land of Endalor, and the dragon was supposed to guard it?

"Don’t misunderstand me, young spirits," Rafal replied in a deep voice. "I have no qualms about giving my life for my mission. But I cannot guard anything if I perish in a meaningless battle."

"Meaningless?" I asked.

"Those two young spirits follow Lirilien, don’t they? From what I know, her mission and mine are similar."

"So you know Lady Lirilien, after all?" Coletto asked, not looking particularly surprised.

"Booh-booh! You’re wrong, lizard!" Merite declared with a mocking grin while crossing her arms. "Lady Lirilien and we now follow Zendal."

I think Merite understood that this ancient dragon, even wounded, could defeat both her and Coletto without much difficulty. Yet she didn’t seem to care in the slightest…

"Zendal?!" the dragon exclaimed in surprise, then grimaced in pain. "Grrgh!... Forgive me for appearing so unsightly. It seems my wounds did not heal while I suffered under that curse."

Meldior raised his staff and looked at me with an expression that reminded me of a puppy waiting for me to give the order. But after I shook my head, he lowered it, disappointed.

"I know a place where you can heal your wounds. Lirilien is there as well, and she can update you on what has been happening in the Abyss, at least."

At that name, the old mage’s eyes also lit up with enthusiasm.

"It’s also an ideal place to study magic," I added with a shrug. "Meldior, I imagine there’s no longer a need for you to return to the Isle of Mages?"

"But Lord, it’s not as if Sir Rafal has allowed the existence of human kingdoms above his head…"

"Don’t worry," I said, placing a hand on the old man’s shoulder now. "Something tells me there will be no need to keep guarding this place so jealously…"

"But master, do you mean to bring these two to Myrthalas, to Orb?" This time it was Coletto who whispered in my ear.

"A mage and a dragon? Of course, they’re on my checklist of things I wanted to get. First came the spirits though," I said while stroking Coletto’s head. She hadn’t quite understood me, but apparently she no longer cared after the caresses.

"Ah! Why! That’s unfair! I get my turn too!" cried a voice from behind me.