Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! Read at your own risk. There's still original stuff in here, but if you haven't gotten to this point in the anime/manga, then some things may be ruined for you. I advise catching up to the anime/manga if you haven't already (for more reasons than just reading my story)! Thank you and enjoy!
Fairy Tail—The Master and the Dragon
Chapter 103
The Fairy Tail guild hall was filled with an air of excitement, completely overshadowing the glum expressions of the many members dreading Makarov's decision. The Tenrou group was thrilled to participate in the Grand Magic Games and immediately began discussing the best way to spend the three months before the competition.
Gracie squealed with glee as she danced about. "Man, I'm so pumped! I can't possibly wait three whole months!"
"The time will fly by. We need to make sure we use this limited time wisely," Erza smiled.
Lucy looked at the ceiling as she thought. "I wonder where the best place to train would be?"
"I've given it a lot of thought and I think I have just the place." Erza stood with her hands on her hips and head held high with pride.
Angel sweatdropped. "You've had a whole 5 minutes to think, though."
Erza ignored Angel's comment. "I believe our team should go to Akane Beach for a training camp. The many different elements would be perfect."
Natsu leapt into the air. "I'm all for that idea!"
Gray nodded. "True. The waves will help me to work on my control and power."
Lucy beamed. "That's a great idea, Erza!"
Wendy hugged her book. "I can study Grandeeney's spells a lot there!"
Erza turned towards Gracie. "I'm sure we can find a suitable sparring space to enhance our swordsmanship."
Gracie's eyes were sparkling. "The beach! Oh, I am so in! I haven't been to a beach in forever! Doesn't that sound awesome, Niky? Let's do it!" She turned to look at Nikolias. However, Nikolias was nowhere to be found. "Huh? Where'd he go?"
Angel whipped around and scanned the guild. "Damn it! How does my darling keep vanishing without my noticing?"
"Shadow dragons are scary that way," Gracie sighed. "Well, what about you, Angel? Feel like a beach trip?"
"If my darling goes, then so shall I," she replied.
Gracie smacked her forehead. "You need to cut the cord, girl."
"Juvia wants to go, too!"
The group turned to see Juvia standing rigidly behind them, hand held high in the air.
Erza smiled at her. "You're more than welcome to join, Juvia. I'm sure the ocean is a perfect training place for you."
Juvia nodded vigorously, her head practically a blur. "Yes, exactly! That is exactly why Juvia wishes to go! There are no ulterior motives whatsoever!"
Gracie nudged Gray in the ribs. "Hear that? No ulterior motives whatsoever!"
"What do you want from me?" Gray huffed. "And cut that out!"
Levy, Jet, and Droy walked up. "Mind if Team Shadow Gear tags along?" Levy asked.
Lucy nodded. "Of course! The more the merrier!"
Levy turned to Gajeel. "What about you?"
Gajeel smirked and pointed to Panther Lily, who was perched on his shoulder. "Lily and I will be doing some intensive combat training. We'll pass."
Levy smiled sadly. "Oh, okay."
Gracie slung her arms around Ash and Sky's shoulders. "And you two?"
"What's a beach?" Ash asked.
Gracie gasped. "You…You don't know about beaches?"
Ash's cheeks became red and she looked away. "Sheesh, sorry for being stuck in Calione our entire lives."
Gracie's eyes teared up. She pulled the girls closer. "That's so sad! You have to go!"
"What's it like?" Sky asked.
"Sand! Sun! Waves! Sexy swimsuits!" Gracie cheered.
Sky tilted her head in confusion. "I still don't get it."
"Makes sense. She didn't exactly describe it well," Gray said. "Plus that last part was unnecessary."
Gracie grinned mischievously. She released Sky and Ash, struck a suggestive pose, and held her arms underneath her breasts. "Hoh? You make it sound like you aren't dying to see so many lovely ladies in their swimsuits."
Gray's whole face went red. He jerked his head to look away. "Stop makin' me out to be some kind of pervert!"
Juvia pumped her fists. 'Juvia must not let Gracie or the others win over Gray-sama! Juvia must do her best to steal his heart with a sexy swimsuit!'
Erza stepped in to help answer Sky's question since Gracie had distracted herself with teasing Gray. "A beach is a sandy place near the ocean where people go to relax, swim, and play games."
"Oh," Sky said. She looked at the ground. "We don't know how to swim, though."
Ash groaned. "Yeah, good point. Plus wet places aren't great for my flames. When I get too wet I end up feeling nauseous. Maybe we should find another place to train."
"Come with us then!" Elfman called out. He walked over with Lisanna and Cana. "Mira, Lisanna, Cana, and I are going into the mountains to camp out and train up like real men!"
"But we're girls," Sky blinked.
"That's okay! Girls can train like real men, too!"
"I don't know," Ash said. "Will you be going high up?"
Elfman crossed his arms. "Hmm…I think so, yeah. Why?"
Ash bowed. "Thank you, but we'll have to pass. High altitudes aren't good for Sky."
Sky followed her sister's lead. "Yes, thank you. Sorry."
"How are high altitudes bad for her?" Natsu asked.
"Does she get sick like you do when you get wet?" Wendy asked.
Ash scratched her head. "Wellllll…not exactly."
Sky fidgeted in embarrassment. "I get silly."
"Silly?" everyone echoed.
"She loses her balance a lot and says a lot of strange things. Also, she ends up laughing at nothing, like, all the time," Ash explained.
Everyone sweatdropped. 'So she acts drunk?'
"Speaking of Mira, she's not with you?" Erza asked.
"Nikolias pulled her into the kitchen a moment ago. He said he had something to talk to her about," Lisanna explained. She put a finger to her chin. "He looked kind of serious."
"In the guild hall? How bold, Niky," Gracie snickered.
"I don't think I like what you're insinuating!" Angel snapped.
"Can you not spread weird rumors?" Everyone looked over to see Nikolias and Mira walking over from the kitchen. Nikolias huffed. "Seriously, why are you like this?"
"Well if I wasn't I wouldn't be me. But that's beside the point!" Gracie leapt forward, clapping her hands together. "We're going to the beach for training, Niky! Doesn't that sound fun? You're coming with, right?"
Nikolias gave her a smile. "It does sound fun. Unfortunately, I won't be going."
Gracie looked dejected. "Aww, what? Why? I was hoping to go to the beach with you and everyone. It's been so long since either of us have been there."
"Sorry," Nikolias said.
"Where are you going to go then?"
Nikolias looked at her with determination. "I've decided to go back to Shile."
Everyone looked shocked, save for Angel, Ash, and Sky.
"Whoa, Niky. You sure about this?" Gracie asked softly.
"I am."
"That's a big deal. What made you decide to go there?"
"What better place to train then the place where I grew up?"
"So then what were you talking to Mira about?"
"I asked her to come with me. There's a place that I want to take her that will be good training for her as well."
Mira nodded then looked apologetically at Elfman. "Sorry, Elfman. I know you were excited to go to the mountains. But this is something I really feel I have to do."
Elfman shook his head. "Don't worry about it, big sis. If you think it's the best place for you to get stronger, then go for it! Tackle it like a man!"
"Thank you, Elfman."
"Darling, can I come, too?" Angel asked. "I don't know where this Shile place is, but if it's where you grew up I would love to visit there with you."
Nikolias sighed. "It's not like we're going there for a vacation. I'm going to be doing nothing but training for three months."
"I promise I won't bother you. I'll work hard and get stronger, too!"
Nikolias looked into Angel's amethyst eyes. They were locked onto him, reflecting her resolve. He scratched his head. "As long as you understand that I'm going to be training pretty much non-stop and are okay with my not being able to spend really any time with you, then I guess you can come as well."
Angel's eyes shone with happiness. "Thank you, darling!"
"Yeah, whatever." Nikolias suddenly felt a light tug on his sleeve. He looked to see Sky standing beside him, her face flushed as she looked at the ground. "What is it, Sky?"
Sky looked up at him shyly. "Can I come?"
"You, too?"
Sky nodded. "I want to train where you train."
Nikolias smiled and pet her head. "Ah, how can I say no to you? Fine, you can come."
Sky smiled brightly.
Nikolias looked at Ash. "I'm assuming you're coming then?"
Ash blushed and quickly looked away. She shuffled her feet and folded her hands behind her back. "If you're offering…thanks, we appreciate it. We weren't sure where we were gonna go."
"You know, darling, you let them come awfully quickly," Angel said with narrowed eyes. "That felt a little unfair."
"Aww, Niky loves his little sisters," Gracie cooed. Steam erupted from Sky and Ash's ears as their whole faces turned red.
"Yeah, yeah, shut up," Nikolias huffed. "Well, I plan on taking off as soon as possible. Get together whatever you might need for a three month stay near a mountain."
"Okay!" the girls all cheered.
"We'll meet out in front of the guild hall in a couple of hours. It'll be a bit of a long flight to get there just so you're aware."
The girls nodded their understanding and left to begin preparing.
"Niky?" Gracie walked up to him and put her hands on his shoulders. She couldn't help but feel a little worried about Nikolias. This would be his first time going back to the mountains where he grew up with Dagor and all the Half-Dragons and dragons since they were all slaughtered. She wasn't sure how it would affect him. She gave him a smile that expressed her concern. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Nikolias smiled and nodded. "You got it. Honestly, I planned on inviting you, too, Gracie, but you sound pretty excited about the beach."
"I appreciate the thought. Maybe next time, okay?"
"Yeah. I want to show you."
"Thanks, Niky. That really means a lot."
"Man, I was gonna ask you to show me some new moves at the beach," Natsu groaned.
Nikolias chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint. But really, new moves shouldn't be your focus, Natsu. Focus on building up your power and strengthening what you already know. Then who knows? Maybe new ideas for attacks will come to you."
Natsu crossed his arms and nodded, though he was still clearly disappointed. "I guess you're right. Man, I really wanted to learn a really powerful new move!"
"Umm, Nikolias?" Wendy said, stepping up with her book held close to her chest. "Since you won't be coming to the training camp on the beach with us, do you mind if I ask you a question now?"
"Of course. What's up?"
Wendy tightened her grip on her book. "Do you…know Grandeeney?"
Nikolias blinked. "Grandeeney? No, can't say that name rings any bells. Who's that?"
"She's the dragon who raised me."
"That so? Sorry, but I don't know her. Mind if I ask what brought on that question?"
"When we went to see Porlyusica, after she gave me this book of spells from Grandeeney, she mentioned that Grandeeney wanted to thank Prince Nikolias."
Nikolias raised an eyebrow. "Really?" He crossed his arms and furrowed his brow as he thought. "How strange…I would swear I've never met any dragon by the name of Grandeeney. Though I don't know any other reason for her to call me by that name. And thank me for what?"
"She didn't say."
"Hmmm…I'll keep thinking about it and let you know if I remember anything."
"Okay."
Nikolias turned to the others. "Well, I better get ready myself. Best of luck, guys. Train hard and see you all in three months." He waved as he walked off.
"Right! Thanks, Niky! You too!" Gracie cheered before spinning around and thrusting her fist in the air. "Alright everyone! Let's get this epic training camp under way!"
"""""Yeah!"""""
THE NEXT DAY
The sun was high in the sky, reflecting off the clear blue ocean water and spreading warmth across Akane Beach. The sounds of seagulls, rolling waves, and laughing guests filled the air. The aromas of various foods offered at small beachside shops spread far to draw in hungry beachgoers.
Gracie's head was practically on a swivel as she took in the sights with glee. She was wearing a plain white bikini and her blonde hair was tied up in a high ponytail. "This place is amazing!"
Erza nodded, her hands on her hips. She wore a pure black bikini. Like Gracie, her scarlet red hair was tied up in a high ponytail. "Yes this truly is the perfect place to train." Her head was held high, still feeling great pride in her idea.
""THE SEA!"" Gray and Natsu bellowed as they took off for the water. Gray was wearing pale blue swimming trunks. Natsu's were a pale orange and his beloved scarf was tied around his waist like a sash.
Gracie giggled. "Oh silly boys." She then took off running after them. "You won't beat me to the water!"
"Juvia wishes she could chase after Gray-sama!" Juvia cried, but nerves kept her from doing so. Her bikini was indigo in color and her blue hair was tied up in messy pigtails.
"Not you too, Gracie!" Lucy called after her. She was wearing a white bikini with pink floral patterns. Her blonde hair was also tied in pigtails.
"Let them have a bit of fun," Erza chuckled. "We're in for a lot of intensive training. We have to make sure we find time to unwind as well."
"I guess you're right," Lucy smiled. She stretched her arms high above her head. "I'm going to find a place to get started with my training."
"Right. We'll meet back here for lunch."
"Okay!" Lucy agreed before cupping her hands around her mouth. "Natsuuuuu! I'm going to start training! I'll see you for lunch!"
Natsu waved behind him as he ran. "Right! Good luck, Lucy!"
Lucy waved as she walked off.
"I'm going to get started, too!" Wendy said excitedly. She was wearing a two-piece green swimsuit with only a bit of her midriff left exposed to the sun. Her dark blue hair was pulled back in a high ponytail. "I really want to start learning Grandeeney's spells!"
Erza nodded. "Right. I think we all should find where we would like to start training. Like I mentioned to Lucy, we'll meet back here for lunch. Dismissed!"
"Right!" everyone cried before dispersing across the beach.
Natsu dove into the water and swam down as deep as he could. He could feel the pressure of the water building on his body, but he continued his descent until his feet were on the bottom of the ocean floor. He closed his eyes, focused on his magic power, and unleashed a mighty Fire Dragon Roar straight up. The large pillar of flames tore through the water and broke through the surface. Waves rolled out, pushing many surprised swimmers closer to the shore.
Gracie stood her ground against the waves, putting all her strength into her legs. She could feel the strain in her muscles as the waves tried to push her back. "Impressive! Can't believe he can unleash that much power with all that heavy water pressure!"
Natsu came to the surface and took some deep breaths. "Not enough! I've gotta increase my power! One more time!" He took a deep breath and dove back down. Moments later, an even larger pillar of flames burst upward from below, creating mightier waves.
"I'm not gonna let you beat me, Natsu," Gray said. He looked around for a less crowded place to practice his magic and swam off.
Gracie punched her palm. "Too true! Time to work on some lower body strengthening! Bring on more of those crazy waves, Natsu! You won't knock me down!"
Lucy giggled as she watched Natsu and Gracie start their training. She took a seat in a shaded area towards the back of the beach where she felt she could have the most solitude to aid her concentration. She took out Capricorn's key and summoned him.
Capricorn, wearing his black butler uniform, bowed to Lucy. "What can I do for you today, Lady Lucy?"
"I want to do something about my weaknesses, Capricorn. I thought you might be able to help me to train."
"A most admirable goal. If it is within my power, I will gladly assist you. What specifically do you wish to focus on?"
"I'd like to work on my magic power stamina. I feel like it could help me better utilize the power of the Spirits."
Capricorn nodded. "I see. To increase your magic power stamina, you need to build up your spiritual strength and grow the depth of the magic container within you. Take a meditative position if you will, Lady Lucy."
Lucy closed her eyes, crossed her legs, and rested her arms on top of her knees. She took several deep breaths.
"Feel the land. Feel the wind. Feel all the energy around you and within you. You must feel it with your flesh, your bones. Then you must breathe, as if you're becoming one with nature."
Lucy slowly inhaled, then exhaled. She began to activate her magic power. It began to gently swirl around her, moving the air and sand.
"Most excellent, Lady Lucy. Continue as you are."
Lucy focused on the power she was releasing, focused on all that Capricorn had instructed, but she could feel herself slipping and growing fatigued. 'This can't be all I have. Keep pushing!' She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to will herself to keep going.
"Release a little more magic power," Capricorn instructed.
Lucy kept pushing herself. However, after a few more moments, she collapsed onto her back. The magic power that had been swarming her had vanished. Her skin was thick with sweat. She panted heavily as she looked up at the sunny sky. "That really is tough," she rasped.
"It is a difficult training regiment. However, I believe you are capable. Lady Layla went through the same kind of training to strengthen her Celestial Spirit magic."
Lucy sat up. "Speaking of my mother…hey, Capricorn. Have you ever heard of primordial magic?"
"You're referring to the magic at the beginning of all magic, correct?"
"Yeah. Hades said he wanted to obtain all the primordial magic. But it's odd. I remember my mother mentioning it to me back when I was little, but it didn't sound dangerous or have anything to do with Zeref or some Grand Magic World."
"What is it exactly that you are trying to say, Lady Lucy?"
"If the primordial magic that my mother spoke about is the truth, then Hades could never have gotten it, right? I mean, primordial magic is something that you can't even imagine. It seems easy to obtain, but in reality it's very difficult. And while it's a strong power above all other forms of magic, it's also a very weak power." Lucy put a hand over her heart. "My mother always told me that all magic comes from love. And ever since I met Natsu, I can tell that I've gotten stronger. Because I love him and want to get stronger to fight alongside him and keep him safe. That's why…I think the primordial magic is actually 'love'."
Capricorn smiled. "Indeed, that is a wonderful interpretation."
Lucy blushed. "If Hades had thought the same way, maybe he never would have pursued such dark power."
Meanwhile, as Lucy worked on her magic power stamina, the other Fairy Tail members at Akane Beach were all busy training in their own way.
Gray was using his Ice Make magic to freeze the incoming waves. As he did so, he worked to create ice snakes that built off the waves and wrapped around him.
Juvia was using her Water magic to float above the ocean. As she focused on floating, she simultaneously created several perfect cubes of water to levitate in the air around her.
Erza and Gracie found a spot on an overlooking cliff clear of pedestrians to practice swordsmanship. They worked on parrying and striking all in real-time to hone their reflexes and counter attacks. They also had to be careful not to fall off.
Wendy was sitting against a rock as she read Grandeeney's book. She sighed. "I don't know what this word means. I wonder if Nikolias could have helped me to understand…" She shook her head. "No! I can't keep relying on Nikolias! He's already helped me so much. I can do this!"
"Trying to study?" Levy asked as she walked over. She was wearing a red and white striped bikini. She held out her red Gale Force Reading Glasses. "Maybe these can help you. Also, feel free to ask if there are any words you might not know. Maybe I can help you!"
Wendy beamed. "Thanks, Levy! Actually, I was just stuck on a word now!"
Levy smiled as she sat beside Wendy. "Sure! Let's take a look."
THAT NIGHT
The day flew by and soon the sun had set. The Fairy Tail members all headed to the Akane Hotel to wash away their fatigue and get some much needed rest.
"Man, nothing beats a hot bath after a day full of awesome training!" Gracie said, stretching her arms above her head.
"I have to agree. My body feels much looser," Erza smiled.
The girls had just finished their bath and were heading back to their rooms. They walked along an open walkway that lined the inner perimeter of the hotel. Tall stalks of bamboo grew in patches surrounding a small pond.
"Juvia barely got to see Gray-sama," Juvia pouted.
Gracie clapped her on the back. "Aww, cheer up! You both were training hard today."
"I feel like I'm starting to understand Grandeeney's spells!" Wendy cheered excitedly while pumping her small fists.
Levy nodded. "You certainly seem to be a fast learner, that's for sure."
Wendy giggled as she blushed. "Thanks!"
"Still, you must be careful not to push yourself, child," Carla warned.
"I know. I'll be careful."
"I wonder if everyone is training as hard as we are," Levy pondered.
Gracie's thoughts immediately went to Nikolias. She smiled. "You kidding? I know they all are giving it their all."
"Guys, look!" Lucy gasped. She ran over to the handrailing and looked up at the sky with a large smile. "The view of the stars here is breathtaking!"
Everyone came up next to her. The sky was clear and all the stars were shining brightly like diamonds.
"Maybe everyone is looking at the stars, just like we are!" Wendy said.
Gracie leaned against the railing and rested her head on her arms as she gazed up at the sky. 'Niky…I hope you're okay.'
"Nikolias?"
Nikolias blinked and looked up. "Hm?"
Mira looked at him with concern. "You were spacing out. You haven't touched your dinner."
Nikolias looked back at the untouched bowl of soup he held in his hands. The heat had almost completely gone. "Ah, you're right. Sorry about that. And after you worked so hard to cook it for all of us."
"The soup isn't what has me worried."
"Do you have a stomachache?" Sky asked innocently.
Nikolias shook his head and pet her head. "No, I feel fine. Thank you for your concern, Sky."
Sky blushed, but she didn't look any happier. "If you say so…"
"Still darling, you really should eat," Angel said. She, too, looked concerned. "You've been flying for many hours. Even for you that had to be taxing. Surely you need to eat and rest."
"You're right, I know. I didn't mean to worry any of you. I'll eat." He picked up his spoon and put a large scoop of cold soup into his mouth. He was sure it was delicious—everything Mira made was delicious—but for some reason, the taste seemed dulled.
Ash spit on the campfire, re-igniting the roaring flames to keep the pot of soup hot. "Not eating isn't what has us worried, you know. You're not acting like you normally do."
"Nikolias, if you need to talk to us you can. You can tell us what has you so preoccupied," Mira said.
Nikolias looked up at the starry sky. "I'm just…thinking about returning to Shile. I wonder what expression I'll have."
"Expression?" Angel asked.
"Will I be happy to see where I grew up again after all this time? Angry? Depressed? Or will I feel nothing? I don't know. It's silly, but not knowing is making me anxious."
Mira reached out and placed her hand over his. "You have us with you. We'll be your support."
"She's right, you know. We've got your back," Ash affirmed.
Sky hugged his arm. "You aren't alone."
Angel smiled warmly. "So don't hesitate to lean on us, okay darling?"
Nikolias gave everyone a warm smile."Thank you, everyone. Really, that means the world."
Mira clapped her hands. "You're very welcome. Well it's late. Let's finish eating then get some sleep."
Everyone nodded. They finished their meals and set up their sleeping bags. Everyone put their bags close to Nikolias's and quickly fell asleep. Nikolias stared up at the stars and smiled. 'That's right. I'm not the same as I was. I'm not alone anymore. No matter what happens tomorrow, I have them. For that, I truly am grateful to all of you—more than you can possibly know.' He closed his eyes, comforted from feeling the closeness of others as he drifted to sleep.
"Well, here we are."
Nikolias landed on the ground. Everyone hopped off and he transformed back to his human form.
"Darling, I…I don't understand," Angel breathed as she looked around. "Where are we?"
All that was here was a wasteland. Any debris that remained was small and unidentifiable but was most likely pieces of buildings. The ground was black and charred. Simply put, everything, including the very earth, was dead.
Nikolias stared out at the wasteland with a blank expression. "Welcome, everyone, to Shile."
Angel, Ash, and Sky were speechless. Mira, who knew the story, said nothing as she silently stood by Nikolias.
"But…there's nothing here," Ash said.
"I guess no one wanted to resettle here," Nikolias replied. "Makes sense since the soil is unusable."
"But I'm confused. I thought we were going to train where you grew up?"
"Shile is where I was born, but it's not really where I grew up." Nikolias pointed to the mountains in the distance. "That's where I grew up. We'll be heading towards those mountains."
"You grew up in the mountains?" Sky asked.
"Yes, that's where I lived with Dagor."
"Who's Dagor?" Ash asked.
Nikolias started walking towards the ruined town. "The dragon that raised me."
The girls followed behind him.
"Where are we going?" Sky asked.
"There's a spot I'd like to visit before we fly over to the mountains," Nikolias replied. "Somewhere I'd like to pay my respects."
"What happened here?" Angel muttered. She couldn't wrap her head around what she was seeing. It was as if a devastating explosion had swallowed everything in flames. "Even if the town was abandoned, the sheer destruction here…if anything there should be overgrowth. But nothing is growing anywhere."
"Angel," Mira said softly, trying to subtly warn her not to pry any further.
"It's okay, Mira," Nikolias said. "I don't blame her for being curious. It's perfectly natural to be confused." He looked over his shoulder. "I can tell you if you want. But you may not like what you hear."
Angel froze. The look on Nikolias's face, the tone of his voice…he seemed like he was hurting. Seeing him look like that, trying to force a smile, scared her. Hearing his soft voice trying to suppress emotion ripped through her heart. She clenched her fists. Her shoulders trembled. "No, I…I'm sorry, darling. I shouldn't have asked. It was insensitive of me."
Nikolias stopped. "Angel…" He turned back around and walked towards her. He placed a hand on top of her head. "It's okay. You don't have to apologize."
Tears spilled from her eyes. "But darling…"
"I wasn't lying. If you want to know, I will tell you. I don't mind telling you or Sky or Ash because you're all important to me. You're part of my family. I'm not afraid to tell you about my past because I trust you all."
Angel lunged at Nikolias, tightly embracing him as she cried into his chest. "Please forgive me, darling! I feel like I've hurt you and that's something I never wanted to do."
Nikolias calmly pet her head. "There's nothing to forgive. And you didn't hurt me. I fully expected you to ask questions, so I was prepared. So, do you want to know?"
Angel slowly nodded. "Y…Yes. I want to know. I want to learn more about you, darling. But only if you swear it won't cause you pain."
He turned to Ash and Sky. "And you two? If you don't want to know, I can tell Angel later."
Sky and Ash both nodded. ""We're curious!""
Mira sighed. "Nikolias, you're sure?"
"I am." He turned to look out at what used to be Shile. "Tell you what; we'll visit this spot, I'll show you around the place where I grew up and where you'll train, and then when we're all settled I'll tell you everything. Deal?"
The girls nodded their agreement, their curiosity building.
"Good. Now let's keep moving."
The group continued through the burnt wasteland until Nikolias suddenly stopped. He was staring at the ground, but there was nothing there. He kneeled on the ground, lowered his head, and closed his eyes. The girls stood around him and said nothing. Mira had also closed her eyes and bowed her head, but she stayed standing with the other girls.
Several minutes passed before Nikolias rose to his feet. He took a deep, slow breath and exhaled slowly. Then he turned around and smiled. "Thanks for waiting. I'm all done."
Mira walked over to him and took his hand. "We can stay longer if you'd like."
"No, it's okay. I said what I needed to say to them. Now how about we head to the mountain?"
Nikolias transformed into his dragon form and lowered himself to the ground so the girls could climb on to his back. He took off for the nearby mountains. Through flight, the trip was incredibly short.
He landed on a vast field at the base of the mountain range. The field was encircled by a small forest. Holes were sporadically placed in the grass, some shallow and others quite deep.
After the girls dismounted and Nikolias took his human form, he gestured to the field. "This field will be used for your training. Don't be afraid to let loose. This field was designed for dragon-caliber attacks."
"It's quite an expansive field," Angel noted.
Sky closed her eyes and smiled. "The breeze feels wonderful."
"Sky, we'll be able to get some good combo practice in!" Ash said excitedly.
Sky nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"
"I'm glad you think so highly of the place," Nikolias smiled. He slowly walked off with a fond expression. The girls followed. "I have a lot of great memories here." He stopped in front of a shallow, wide hole. The edges were charred. "This is where Alec and I fought for the first time after he went through Dragon Spirit. He was so gung-ho and sure he could finally beat me that he challenged me the moment he got back from the ritual. He lost in a second."
He continued to an area where there were three deep, long cuts running parallel to each other through the earth. "This is where Grego first mastered Light Dragon Flashing Talons. Modest as he was, he was trying to hide his pride and excitement, so he ended up standing there and trembling, trying to suppress a big smile."
He walked up to a broken tree and stopped. The toppled half had completely rotten. Nikolias gently touched the bark of the tall stump with his full hand and rested his forehead upon it. He closed his eyes and smiled. "And this is where Chloe practiced her Wind Dragon Aerial Cutter. She worked so hard for so long once she became a Half-Dragon. For months she tried to cut this tree down with that technique, practicing and practicing until she was falling over from exhaustion. And the look on her face when she finally did it…she was so happy. She ran up to me and for the first time I could truly sense confidence in her." He straightened back up. "Sorry. I got a bit lost walking down memory road."
"Take all the time you need," Mira smiled.
"It seems things were quite lively here back in the day," Angel said.
"Lively doesn't do it justice," Nikolias said with a chuckle. "Even though each dragon and child had their own private training spaces, we still would test out our newfound power in battles against each other. This field went through hell and then some and its scars from the past are a testament to that. Still, I think you three will make excellent use of this old field."
"Us three?" Angel repeated.
"You, Sky, and Ash."
"But what about you and Mira? Don't tell me you two will be training alone together! Daaaaaaarliiiiiing!"
"Calm down," Nikolias sighed. "Mira and I aren't training together. Like I said before we left, Mira will be training somewhere else that will be useful for her."
"Yes, I'm really looking forward to it!" Mira smiled.
"What about you?" Sky asked.
Nikolias looked up at the mountain peaks. "I'll be training up in the mountains."
"What's up there?" Ash asked.
Nikolias transformed into a dragon and lowered his body down. "Why don't I show you?"
Nikolias flew them all up higher into the mountains. Soon they came across a small cliff that Nikolias landed on. The girls hopped off and he returned to his human form. They all stood before a massive set of closed stone doors. The form of twin dragons climbing upwards had been carved into the stone but had weathered significantly.
"It's magnificent!" Mira said in wonder.
"Amazing," Angel breathed. "I've never seen doors this large in all my life. And this beautiful artisanship is so unique!"
Sky stumbled over to Nikolias and hugged his arm. "Big Brother, where are we?"
Nikolias was surprised by Sky suddenly grabbing onto him. He looked at her. Her face was flushed. "Sky, are you feeling okay?"
Sky smiled wide and gave a tiny hiccup. "I'm wonderful! The air up here is really tasty!"
"Tasty?"
Ash peeled Sky off Nikolias's arm. "Sorry about that, Nikolias. The thin mountain air tends to make Sky act strangely."
"Nooooo! Give me back to Big Brother!" Sky wailed, flailing her arms in front of her.
"Geez, Sky! Control yourself!" Ash scolded.
Nikolias smiled warmly. "I don't mind. Honestly, she's making me feel a lot better right now. I thought I was going to start crying soon, but Sky easily replaced that sadness."
"You were going to cry, darling?" Angel said in surprise. "What exactly is this place?"
"This is the Grand Hall of Dragons. This is where my father, Dagor, ruled as King of all dragons."
Angel and Ash were stunned. Ash ended up relaxing her grip on Sky, who took advantage of the opening to quickly wriggle free and latch onto Nikolias's arm again.
"Did you say 'King of all dragons'? That's who raised you?" Ash asked.
"So darling…does that mean…you're a prince? Of all dragons?" Angel cried.
"That was a long time ago," Nikolias answered softly as he stared at the doors.
"Darling, I always knew you were incredible, but I never would have imagined something like this!"
"It's really not something to make that big a deal out of," Nikolias said. "Here, I'll show you guys around. You'll be the first humans ever to step foot inside this Hall, aside from those who eventually went on to become Half-Dragons." He put a hand on Sky's head. "Do you mind letting go for a moment? I'm going to need two hands to open these doors."
Sky pouted. "I don't wanna, though…"
"If you let go now, I'll carry you inside. How does that sound?"
Sky's eyes sparkled. "Big Brother will carry me?! You promise?!"
"I promise."
Sky nodded happily and released her hold on Nikolias. She rocked on her heels and waited as patiently as she could.
Nikolias approached the doors, pressed a palm on each door, and set his feet. He began pushing with all his might. His muscles bulged, his veins throbbed, and he grunted with effort. Slowly, the doors began to open inward. Once there was enough room for them to walk inside, he stopped pushing and squatted down.
Sky ran over and climbed onto his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his shoulder. "Big Brother is so comfy and warm," she breathed. She sighed contentedly.
Angel huffed. "I wish darling would carry me…"
"Never mind. Let's head inside," Nikolias said as he stepped into the pitch-black Hall. "Sorry Ash, do you mind providing light for a moment? My fire doesn't have much light to it."
Ash nodded as she set her hair on fire. "Leave it to me!"
"Thanks. As soon as I see a torch, we can light that and use it going forward."
Nikolias led the way inside with Sky on his back. Ash followed behind him with Mira and Angel taking up the rear. It didn't take long to find a torch high up on the wall. Nikolias used his shadows to grab one and pull it down. Ash was able to set it ablaze.
"Once we get to my father's throne room, we'll get a lot more light," Nikolias said. "The roof has a massive opening to fly through, so sunlight naturally fills the room. If we keep the doors open, most of the Hall should be illuminated as well."
"IT'S HUUUUUUUUUGE!" Sky shouted. She leaned back until her back was parallel with the floor and thrust her arms out. She burst out laughing as she listened to the echo of her voice.
"Easy back there," Nikolias said. "Don't fall off."
Sky pulled herself up and wrapped her arms around his neck again. "You're silly, Big Brother! You would never let me fall."
"You're the silly one," Nikolias chuckled. "But you're not wrong."
"I really am sorry about this, Nikolias," Ash groaned in embarrassment.
"She is right, though. This place is much larger than I would have thought from standing outside," Mira said. "The dragons really built this place?"
"Yep, with nothing but their claws, tails, and fire."
"Dragons made all of this? Even the doors?" Ash asked.
"Everything."
They soon came upon a set of stone doors on the right. The design on these doors was that of a long, narrow-bodied dragon holding two orbs in its claws. Since the door had not been subject to the effects of weather, the design was far more polished and defined than the one outside.
"What's this door lead to?" Angel asked.
"This is the Tomb of Knowledge," Nikolias answered. "This is where the dragons kept the knowledge of their past. I've never been inside myself since my father told me that only the King or the Keeper may enter."
"What's a Keeper?" Mira asked.
"Keepers are the ones that record information. Each King has always appointed a dragon who could be trusted with our history. It was a big responsibility." Nikolias smiled. "Yor would have been amazing had he gotten the opportunity."
"Who's Yor?" Angel asked.
"The Vision Dragon Chaist's son. He was incredibly thoughtful and had a memory like a steel trap. He would have done our history proud." Nikolias took a deep breath before moving on. "Let's keep going."
After a while more of walking, Nikolias stopped in front of another set of doors at the far end of the hallway. These ones were different than the entrance to the Hall as they were made of wood. The outer wood had deteriorated significantly, but the doors stayed standing. Nikolias sighed. "Sorry, father." He gently pushed on the doors. The moment he applied pressure, the doors fell and crashed to the floor. Splinters of rotten wood flew into the air and kicked up age-old dirt. Sunlight poured into the hall.
"That's too bad," Mira said.
"It's a shame, but it's been such a long time that I'm not surprised," Nikolias replied. He walked into the Main Room where his father had ruled. Everything looked the same. The room was very open with plenty of space. He looked to the left where he and the other Half-Dragons would line up after being summoned and perform roll call. He looked to the right where Dagor and Sheek would hold meetings with other dragons. Straight ahead was the vast throne that his father once sat upon. Strong emotion welled within him and threatened to burst out. For some reason—while seeing the old town of Shile, the field where he and the others trained, and the entrance to the Grand Hall were difficult for him—seeing this empty throne room for the first time in hundreds of years felt like too much. Perhaps it was because this was the last place he saw his father.
Mira stood beside him and put a gentle hand on his arm but said nothing. However, that simple gesture gave him comfort. His heart felt more at ease. Still, he could no longer fight back the tears as they streamed freely down his face.
Sky hugged him tightly and buried her face in his back. "Big Brother, I've got you!"
Angel walked up and leaned gently against him. "It's okay, darling. We're here for you no matter what."
Ash shyly took hold of Nikolias's shirt. "You're not alone."
Nikolias laughed and sniffed. "Thank you, all of you." He wiped away his tears and bowed low towards the throne. "This is long overdue, but thank you for everything you did for me, father."
Sky nodded. "Thank you for raising Big Brother."
Angel, Ash, and Mira each bowed their heads.
"Thank you for guiding my darling."
"Thank you for teaching him to be so kind and helpful to people."
"Thank you for helping him to become the wonderful person he is today."
Nikolias chuckled. "I wish you could meet the wonderful friends I have, father." He straightened up. His eyes shone with tears. "Goodbye, father. Be at peace." He took a deep, shaky breath. "Alright. Why don't we head back to the field? We can have a quick lunch and then we'll get started with training."
As the group ate their lunch back at the massive training field, Nikolias kept his promise and told Angel, Ash, and Sky his story. Even Mira learned some new information that Gracie's story hadn't possessed. Needless to say, no one was actually eating—Nikolias was too lost in telling his tale and the girls were too mesmerized, hanging on every word that their food never touched their lips.
It took a long time to complete the story. Nikolias finished with describing his battle with and victory over Gorn. Once that was done, he gave a tiny smile. "And there you have it. That's everything."
The girls were all speechless. They didn't know how to respond.
Nikolias balled his hands into fists. It was the first time he had described his past since he told Gracie. It hadn't gotten much easier to tell, especially while sitting at the training field he had shared with his friends. And he was just as terrified to tell Angel, Ash, and Sky as he had been when he told Gracie and when Gracie told everyone at Fairy Tail.
Sky sniffed and buried her face in her hands. Tears leaked through her fingers. Her body rocked with sobs.
Ash put a hand on her sister's shoulder. She was trying to fight back tears. "Sky…"
Nikolias closed his eyes and hung his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you all. I've done a lot of terrifying things, so I can't blame you for being afraid of me now. Maybe I shouldn't have told you…"
Mira's heart felt tight. She knew he was afraid to tell his story, even though he had been willing to explain everything. She knew he feared having people he cared for see him differently. She placed her hand atop his. 'Oh, Nikolias…'
Sky lunged at Nikolias and hugged his arm. Her tears were hot on his skin. Her face was flushed from crying. "I'm not scared! I could never be scared of you!" She looked up at him as massive tears flowed from her icy blue eyes. Her lips were trembling. "So please…don't say that!"
"Sky's right," Ash affirmed with a nod.
"But…you're crying, Sky."
Sky shook her head. "Because you've been through so much and had been alone for so long. It made me sad. I never want you to be alone, Nikolias!"
Angel placed her food down and stood up. She strode over to Nikolias and wrapped him in an embrace, holding his head against her chest. Tears fell from her eyes and into his hair. "Thank you, darling. Thank you for sharing your story with us and trusting us. That couldn't have been easy for you. Thank you for satisfying our selfish request." She held him tighter. "Now please believe that no matter what, no matter what you've done in the past, we love you and nothing could change that. We could never fear you because we love who you are."
Mira smiled at Angel's words. "She's right, Nikolias."
Nikolias's eyes widened in surprise for a moment before slowly drifting closed. He chuckled. 'I really am a fool.' He squeezed Mira's hand. "I believe you, Angel. Thanks. I needed to hear that."
Once everyone had calmed down and eaten their lunch, they stood.
"I'll be flying Mira over to her training spot and then I'll be flying up into the mountains," Nikolias explained. "You three can get started with your training here. We'll meet you back here tonight so we can all have dinner together."
The girls nodded. Nikolias called out his wings, scooped Mira into his arms, and flew off.
After dropping off Mira, Nikolias landed in front of the open doors of the Grand Hall of Dragons and walked inside. He couldn't help but wonder—had he not already entered with the girls, would he have been able to take that first step? Would he have been paralyzed at the closed doors of the Hall, too afraid to enter? He shook his head of the thoughts. 'It doesn't matter now. Focus.'
The halls were much easier to navigate. The faint light from his father's open throne room was giving him just enough light for his strong eyesight to allow him to see where he was going.
He stopped in front of the Tomb of Knowledge. "This is it. This is where I'll find answers. I just know it." He pressed his hands on the doors and paused. His father had always told him that until he took over for him as King, he could never enter the Tomb. "Forgive me, father. But I need to know more. I need to get stronger." He pushed the doors open. They scraped loudly as they opened.
The Tomb of Knowledge was far more spacious than Nikolias could have ever imagined. Strange pale orbs floated in the air all around, illuminating the entire area. Massive stone tablets stood erect and in nearly perfect rows, filling the whole chamber as far as the eye could see. He walked up to one of them and gently brushed his fingers along the smooth, cold stone. He could see characters etched into the stone. They were in surprisingly good condition. He only wished he could read it. "Father never taught me this language. I wonder what it could be."
He walked deeper inside. He couldn't believe how much information was stored here. It had to be at least thousands of years' worth of knowledge. All the tablets had the same types of characters inscribed upon them. "Is this some kind of ancient script once used by dragons? I see no similarities between this and the language father taught me." He huffed. "Damn it. It's going to be difficult to get anything helpful from this if I can't read it."
Eventually he came upon the back wall of the chamber. The rocky surface was decorated with a carved picture. A massive, regal dragon floated in the air, fire spewing from its open maw. There appeared to be some kind of ring above its head. Thousands of dragons flocked beneath the floating dragon, their heads bowed. "What in the world is this?"
"Well this is a surprise."
Nikolias whipped around. His black blades shot from his arms. His eyes went dragon-like as he scanned the area. However, he saw no one. "Who's there?"
"Who indeed?"
The strange voice seemed to be coming from everywhere yet nowhere. Even Nikolias's strong hearing could not locate the voice. It was as if the voice had filled the entire chamber.
"How dare you enter this sacred Tomb!" Nikolias shouted.
"Amusing. I do believe I should be saying that to you. I am most certain you are aware of the law regarding this place."
Nikolias gritted his teeth. "How would you know anything regarding the law of the Tomb of Knowledge?"
"How? Because I was told."
"Told? By whom?"
"By the King of this mountain."
Nikolias's eyes widened. "By my father?" he whispered.
"No, not your father. By one of his predecessors, long ago."
Nikolias's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
The orbs of light that were floating around began to gather before him. They began to grow into a large mass and take shape. Before long, the orbs had taken the form of a large dragon. Its long, thin, colorless body gave off the same pale glow as the orbs and seemed to be translucent. Bushy eyebrows and a thin, wispy moustache and beard gave the dragon the appearance of age and wisdom. It sat on its haunches as it towered above Nikolias. It looked down at him with gentle, glowing, pale eyes.
The dragon gave a slight bow of his head. "You may call me Osh. I am the Spirit Dragon that presides over the Tomb of Knowledge. It is a true honor to finally meet you, Prince Nikolias."
Nikolias was shocked. "You know who I am?"
Osh nodded. "Of course. King Dagor loves to talk about the little whipper-snapper he decided to raise."
"Whipper-snapper?"
Osh cleared his throat. "Yes, well…never mind that. Now, for the matter at hand. I do not wish to be rude, Prince, but the law is clear; only the King and the Keeper may enter the Tomb of Knowledge. As the guardian of this Tomb, it is my sworn duty to ensure this law is followed. There are no exceptions, not even for the future King. Surely Dagor has made you aware of this."
Nikolias nodded. "You're right. I know the law very well."
Osh shook his head. "Honestly, what will your father say?"
Nikolias blinked. "What will he say? Don't you mean what would he say?"
"I meant what I said. King Dagor will certainly have something to say to you about sneaking in here."
Nikolias was silent for a moment as he studied Osh's face. He saw sincerity. He heard no lies. Which meant—he didn't know. "Osh, my father, King Dagor…he's dead."
Osh's body became rigid. "What? What do you mean?"
"King Dagor, all of the dragons in this mountain, all of the Half-Dragons excluding myself…they all died nearly 800 years ago. They were murdered by a mad hum—I mean, a mad scientist named Gorn."
Osh was silent as he absorbed the information. Eventually he sighed, his body relaxing somewhat. "I see. I suppose that would explain why he had not entered the Tomb in so long."
"Pardon my question, Osh, but how could you not have known? I can only imagine that there was a commotion when Gorn launched his attack. Didn't you hear it? If you did, you could have left this place and helped everyone."
Osh shook his head. "I cannot perceive anything that happens outside of this Tomb. I only learn new information from what I receive from the King or Keeper upon their visits. Yet even if I were able to perceive the outside world, it would matter not. As a Spirit Dragon, I am bound to this location. I can never leave. That is the duty I accepted."
"Really? You can never leave? Though it would explain why I had never seen you before."
"Yes. Prince Nikolias, if I may be so bold as to ask you for a favor, could you show me?" Osh asked.
Nikolias tilted his head. "Show you? Show you what?"
"Show me what happened."
"How would I do that?"
Osh straightened up with pride. "As a Spirit Dragon, I have the ability to connect with the souls of living organisms. It allows me to view the memories and experiences of others. It allows me to gain new knowledge."
"An interesting ability. Of course, if you knew my father, I don't mind showing you what I experienced, but…I'm afraid to say that I didn't see much. In fact, I only recently discovered what happened to my father and the others myself."
Osh closed his eyes. "I thank you for your kindness. I am willing to accept whatever you can give."
"What do I do?"
"Just close your eyes. I'll take care of the rest."
Nikolias did as he was instructed and closed his eyes. Streams of pale light slowly snaked out from Osh's body. They gently wrapped Nikolias in a cocoon from head to toe.
A few minutes passed. Osh hummed and the light around Nikolias withdrew back into Osh's body. "I see. I understand now."
Nikolias opened his eyes. "Sorry. I'm sure that wasn't all that helpful."
"True, I would have liked to have seen the events for myself to better understand. However, hearing this Gorn's recollection of the events will suffice." Osh's eyes narrowed. "To think the Dragon Spirit would act as a double-edged sword. I never would have imagined that to be possible."
"I'm impressed that you found such specific memories in such a short time."
Osh chuckled. "For Spirit Dragons, it is not much of an accomplishment. But I do thank you for your kind words, Prince." He then bowed his head. "Now, I hate to be so blunt, especially after you have given me precious new knowledge, but I must ask you to leave. Even if there is no King ruling this mountain, the law remains."
Nikolias bowed very low to the ground. His eyes were screwed shut. "Forgive me my rudeness, Osh, but I can't do that."
"Prince Nikolias…"
"I'm sorry, but I have to find answers and this Tomb is the only place I can think of that could provide those answers for me. Once I find those answers, I'll leave."
Osh shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot allow you to search these records. The law is clear."
"Please, Osh!"
Osh sighed. "I cannot allow it. However, in recognition of your status as the future King, I will answer any questions you have—provided I know the answer."
"I accept your terms." Nikolias straightened up. "Thank you, Osh."
Osh nodded. "Now, ask your questions."
"Right. Osh, can you tell me how I can get stronger?"
Osh blinked. "Come again?"
Nikolias stepped forward with determination. "I want to get stronger! I have to get stronger!"
"Stronger?"
"Yes, stronger! I can only train for three months. I can't waste any time! Surely there is knowledge of some powerful technique or ability recorded in this Hall."
Osh stroked his beard. "Stronger, you say…but Prince, as a Half-Dragon your strength should be unrivaled. Why would you want more strength?"
Nikolias clenched his fists. "Unrivaled strength, huh? Yeah right. I've lost so many fights recently, fights that I can't be losing if I'm to protect those I care about."
Osh seemed surprised. "You have lost fights? Against humans?"
"Yes. Granted they used magic, which is a concept I'm still learning about, but that shouldn't be reason enough for me to lose to them."
Osh's eyes sparkled as he leaned forward. "Magic? What in the world is magic? I have never heard of such a thing. Such tantalizing new information!" He cleared his throat and fixed his posture as he tried to regain his composure. "My apologies. King Dagor taught you all of his techniques, correct?"
"Yes, he has."
"Even his Three Great Techniques?"
"Yes, even those."
Osh was shocked. "Even with his Three Great Techniques at your disposal, you have been unable to claim victory every time? This 'magic' must be impressive."
Nikolias scratched his head. "Well…I mean, it's not like I use my father's Three Great Techniques."
"You do not use the techniques?" Osh narrowed his eyes. "I see. Prince Nikolias, will you allow me to view your memories once again?"
"My memories? Which ones?"
"As many as you will allow of your lifetime."
"My whole lifetime, huh? That's a lot of time to cover."
"I am aware. However, I feel that viewing them will grant me valuable insight towards answering your question."
Nikolias nodded. "If it will help me to get stronger, you can look at whatever you wish."
Once again, Osh and Nikolias closed their eyes. The pale light wrapped Nikolias in a cocoon. They stayed like that for quite some time as Osh analyzed Nikolias's memories and experiences.
When he had finished, Osh withdrew the light back into his body. He opened his eyes and looked at Nikolias. "I have finished, Prince. I now understand."
Nikolias opened his eyes and met Osh's gaze. "And?"
"Magic is truly fascinating. So many different kinds. Truly a marvel. Though I must say, I am most curious about this 'Dragon Slayer Magic'. There is something about it…"
"That's not what I meant. Can you tell me how I can become stronger?"
"Oh, of course. My apologies. I do tend to lose focus when new information presents itself." Osh shook his head. "As for how you can become stronger, there is nothing for me to say on that matter. You are already strong enough."
Nikolias felt like he had been punched in the gut. "What? What do you mean I'm strong enough? In seeing my memories, you saw every battle I've been in, right?!"
"Yes, I viewed every battle."
"Then how?! How can you tell me I'm strong enough after seeing me lose so many fights?!"
"I had my suspicions, but seeing you fight with my own eyes has made me certain."
"Certain of what?"
"Prince Nikolias, you have been holding yourself back."
Nikolias froze. "H…Holding back?" He shook his head violently. "What the hell? There's no way! I fight to win every time!"
"Yes, I agree. You always fight to win. However, you have never fought with all you have. If I am being completely honest, Prince, I am surprised you never noticed."
"What does that even mean?!" Nikolias could feel frustration and anger boiling inside of him. "I haven't fought with all I have? That's bullshit!"
"Calm yourself."
Nikolias closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Osh. What I said was rude. But still, I don't understand." He looked down at his hands. "I always give my best, so to hear that I'm holding back confuses me. How? How have I been holding back? I've never once thought that was the case."
Osh nodded. "I understand your frustration and confusion. I will do my best to explain."
"Thank you. Please do."
Osh cleared his throat. "Put simply, you are afraid of yourself."
"Afraid of…huh? What? I don't understand."
"You are afraid of the raw power you possess and subconsciously fear the ramifications of using your strength to its fullest in battle."
"Afraid of my power? Surely you're mistaken, Osh. I've felt nothing but pride in my abilities granted to me by my father."
"Do not misunderstand, Prince. You do not hate your power. However, you are afraid of harming others inadvertently, so you do not allow yourself to use more than a sliver of your true strength."
Nikolias ran a hand through his hair. He was still struggling to accept what he was hearing. "Okay, so how long have I been doing this?"
Osh closed his eyes. "Since the moment you razed Shile to the ground and slaughtered its inhabitants using one of King Dagor's Three Great Techniques; Shadow Dragon Meteor Storm."
Nikolias's eyes widened. "Since back then?"
Osh nodded. "Yes."
"But…after that day, I felt nothing but anger and sorrow from having lost everyone I cared about. I hated humans because they took so much from me out of fear and that hatred only grew with time. Over and over humans took from me. So then why? Why would I have held back my strength? Wouldn't it be the opposite?"
Osh shook his large head. "I will not deny that you felt resentment in your heart. That much I could sense from your memories. However, despite all that, you have never wished to bring harm to humans, save for a very select few. Upon seeing the destruction you wrought upon the people of Shile when your power went out of control, you were horrified. The thought that you had caused such devastation without being fully aware was too much to fathom, especially after such a traumatic experience at Gorn's hands. You subconsciously forced upon yourself mental limitations to keep your abilities suppressed."
Nikolias tried to think back. Was Osh right? Had he really been keeping his abilities suppressed all this time because he didn't want to hurt people? "I've been suppressing myself ever since Shile?"
Osh shook his head. "From what I could see, you have only completely removed your self-imposed limiters one other time; the day you destroyed Argon."
Nikolias clenched his fists. "When the Red Eye self-activated."
"Yes. In all your other battles, you were concerned about causing too much destruction. You were terrified of killing others beyond your target without realizing. Thus, your self-imposed limiters kept your power suppressed, only allowing a fraction of your true strength to be released."
"So all this time, I've been losing fights just because I've been afraid of causing too much destruction and killing people inadvertently?" He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "Seriously? What is wrong with me?"
"Nothing, Prince. It was that very kindness that made Dagor believe you to be the perfect successor."
"So then to get stronger…"
"If you only have three months, take that time to cleanse yourself of these limiters. Then you can use your strength to its fullest at any given time."
"I see. If that is your advice, I'll try. It's worth a shot I guess." Nikolias chuckled softly. "This wasn't what I was expecting. I thought I would find some great technique that I could use. Oh well."
"It is as I said; you are incredibly strong. You must simply get out of your own way."
"Thank you, Osh. I truly appreciate your insight." Nikolias's face became more serious. "Now if you don't mind, before I leave as promised, can I ask you just one more question?"
There you have it! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time!
