Author's Note: It appears that my last chapter has confused some people
(what else is new?), so I'll have to clarify. Yes, there is a second
Dragoon lurking in that Spirit. In previous chapters, you'll notice that I
never actually described the crystal as the Guardian Dragoon Spirit, and
that's because the Guardian Dragoon isn't the only one it can summon. No,
Rayen is not evil, or at least not yet (stress and guilt may drive him over
the edge, you never know). As Shike put it, he just went berserk. But don't
worry, all of that will be explained in this chapter.
If I've said this once, I've said it a hundred times, but I'm going to say it again. I don't know how the romance thing is going to turn out. I will get to the romance deal when and/or if it's important to the story. That may not be for a while yet. I'm sorry if I seem snappish, but I'm getting really sick of being asked that constantly.
No, Rayen is not the Murderer. The Murderer is the evil part of Soa, the opposing force of the Creator. Again, all of that stuff will be explained in this chapter.
Chapter 55
Ironically, Rayen slept peacefully that night, for once. He awoke early; however, to find a visitor had arrived. A woman stood looking out the window of his temporary lodgings in the Crystal Palace at the snowy streets of Deningrad below. Rayen felt that if she were not standing directly in the dawn's soft light, she would have been cloaked in shadow, not because she necessarily enjoyed their company, merely because they were instinctively drawn to her. A mane of raven hair traveled down her back, halting at about her knee level. She was dressed in deep violet armor embossed with gold, and a rapier hung comfortably from her belt.
How ironic that she dresses in violet, Rayen thought as he recognized her nearly instantly, for the flower for which she is named could be little less like a violet. Rose.
Her voice was wistful, and rang hollowly as if it came from far away. "How much Deningrad has changed since my companions and I were defending it."
Despite the enormous amount of respect he held towards the Dragoons of the past, Rayen could not resist a wisecrack. "Do you visit living people in their bedrooms often?"
Rose shot him a dark glare, and he shrugged. "So why are you really here?"
"You released a dark power yesterday, did you not?"
Rayen grimaced. "I would have preferred to forget about it. What exactly was that?"
Rose heaved a sigh that sounded like a soft gust of wind. "Well... we'll start at the beginning. After the creation of Endiness, a horrible war broke out between all the species as they jockeyed for supremacy. Both entities of Soa attempted to bend this war to their own agendas. But the result worked in neither side's favor. The Winglies seized control over the other species and ruled until the First Dragon Campaign. However, during the struggle, the Creator made one last resort in case all else failed. That thing was the Dragoon Spirit you now hold.
However, the Murderer was aware of its creation. Using dark energies, the Murderer corrupted the Spirit, and the Apocalypse Dragoon was the result. Because during its creation both gods slipped a little of themselves into the Spirit, it was imbued with incredible power, power far exceeding the other Dragoons. This worked out well for the Murderer, because the Apocalypse Dragoon was the ultimate tool of destruction. If all of the other plots for the world to be destroyed failed, then the Apocalypse Dragoon would rise and annihilate Endiness, and creation would start again.
Once the Creator learned of the Murderer's deeds, revisions were made to the Spirit to make it less dangerous. First, the Creator kept the Spirit in the ethereal realm, and it would only be able to return to the earthly plane of existence if it was brought there by a mortal who knew how to bring it to Endiness, as you did. Second, the Creator put a seal on the Spirit by creating the knife, which would only break the seal if in the presence of both the Spirit and one who would bear the completed Spirit.
Now, because the Spirit would no longer be a driving force for good, the Creator put in a special method for the bearer's selection. The bearer of the Spirit may not actually come in contact with the Spirit during his or her lifetime, for knowledge of the Spirit's existence is only given out when the Spirit is needed, when all else has failed. The bearer is chosen upon their birth, and when the bearer dies, a new one is chosen. The bearer of the Spirit is the person who has the greatest capacity for both protection and destruction. Therefore, the bearer of the Spirit is the ultimate keeper of the balance of nature."
Rose seemed to be finished, so Rayen spoke. "How do you know all this?"
"Because had all else failed in the quest to defeat the Moon Crisis, I would have received the Spirit as well. I was the being that was held the greatest capacity for both good and evil for the eleven millennia of my lifetime. Of course, I did not learn this until after my death. Although my methods of dealing with problems were slightly less... diplomatic that most, my intentions were always good, if a little misguided, so I was chosen to be the bearer of the Spirit should need arise. But it never did. Melbu Frahma was defeated without the help of the Guardian Dragoon. Now is the first time the Creator has considered the danger great enough for the Spirit to be returned to Endiness. You are the first true bearer of the Spirit."
Rayen rested his chin on his folded hands. "So I have the greatest capacity for both good and evil?"
"Yes. Although you remain good by nature, your dark emotions are quick to rise and seize control. You see, the Spirit you hold works like a prism; it reflects your soul. It takes your emotions and gives them form. When you use it for the protection of the Endiness, the armor of the Guardian Dragoon clothes you. But when you use the Spirit out of anger, fear, hatred, or any of the hopeless feelings the Murderer cursed us with upon creation, the Apocalypse Dragoon takes hold."
Understanding dawned on Rayen's face. "Of course... 'Frivolous usage of the Spirit will cause you to underestimate its powers'... the Creator's warning! It makes sense. The way the Spirit reflected the light when I stood on the Crystal Palace... it was warning me that all it did was reflect me..."
"Yes. But you were deaf to their advice." She wasn't scolding him. It was merely a statement.
Rayen buried his face in his hands in exasperation. "I've been a fool."
The Black Monster's ghost shook her head vehemently. "No. You were meant to see all this."
Rayen looked up at her, puzzled. "What?"
"If the Creator wanted you to avoid releasing the Apocalypse Dragoon, you would have been told outright. The Creator wanted you to get a glimpse of the danger, while the Murderer wanted you to see just enough of the destruction you can cause to haunt you... or tempt you."
"Which is why such a small group was sent out on its own."
"Yes." Rose's face grew grim. "Have you ever felt so angry, so afraid, or so sad that you would rather just destroy all that has wronged you?"
A dark look came to Rayen's azure gaze. Yes, he had experienced that, more times than most would guess.
Rose continued. "Everyone does, some more than others. But of course, that is impossible. Except for you. You really can do all of that, and that's exactly the sort of knowledge the Murderer wants you to have. That's why such a small faction was sent out yesterday."
"Of course. First and foremost, I am their puppet."
Rose waved a hand. "We all are, there's no escaping that. But you are the one who their plans rest most heavily on. The scales of nature are tipping towards destruction, you were given the Spirit to correct the balance, or, if you should fail, bring about the world's annihilation."
Rayen sighed. "But there's one thing I don't understand. Why was the knife given to Melbu Frahma?"
"It wasn't. It merely fell into his hands by winds of chance. An intriguing coincidence, nothing more." The shadowy form of Rose began to fade. "My time upon this plane is nearly over. I was given a temporary reprieve from death to come and bestow you with this knowledge, and now that my task is completed, I must return. Farewell, and heed the lessons you have been given. Or you will once again be forced to learn the hard way."
A chill wind blew through the room, although the windows were not open, and when Rayen blinked, the apparition of Rose was gone.
Author's Note: OK, I realize that this chapter was both short and boring, but it was basically Rose just explaining everything. So Rayen isn't the Murderer, but there's a little bit of both gods hidden inside his Spirit. Which Dragoon he activates depends on when and why he uses the Spirit. Okey dokey? Good. If you've got any questions about the story so far, don't hesitate to drop them into your review.
If I've said this once, I've said it a hundred times, but I'm going to say it again. I don't know how the romance thing is going to turn out. I will get to the romance deal when and/or if it's important to the story. That may not be for a while yet. I'm sorry if I seem snappish, but I'm getting really sick of being asked that constantly.
No, Rayen is not the Murderer. The Murderer is the evil part of Soa, the opposing force of the Creator. Again, all of that stuff will be explained in this chapter.
Chapter 55
Ironically, Rayen slept peacefully that night, for once. He awoke early; however, to find a visitor had arrived. A woman stood looking out the window of his temporary lodgings in the Crystal Palace at the snowy streets of Deningrad below. Rayen felt that if she were not standing directly in the dawn's soft light, she would have been cloaked in shadow, not because she necessarily enjoyed their company, merely because they were instinctively drawn to her. A mane of raven hair traveled down her back, halting at about her knee level. She was dressed in deep violet armor embossed with gold, and a rapier hung comfortably from her belt.
How ironic that she dresses in violet, Rayen thought as he recognized her nearly instantly, for the flower for which she is named could be little less like a violet. Rose.
Her voice was wistful, and rang hollowly as if it came from far away. "How much Deningrad has changed since my companions and I were defending it."
Despite the enormous amount of respect he held towards the Dragoons of the past, Rayen could not resist a wisecrack. "Do you visit living people in their bedrooms often?"
Rose shot him a dark glare, and he shrugged. "So why are you really here?"
"You released a dark power yesterday, did you not?"
Rayen grimaced. "I would have preferred to forget about it. What exactly was that?"
Rose heaved a sigh that sounded like a soft gust of wind. "Well... we'll start at the beginning. After the creation of Endiness, a horrible war broke out between all the species as they jockeyed for supremacy. Both entities of Soa attempted to bend this war to their own agendas. But the result worked in neither side's favor. The Winglies seized control over the other species and ruled until the First Dragon Campaign. However, during the struggle, the Creator made one last resort in case all else failed. That thing was the Dragoon Spirit you now hold.
However, the Murderer was aware of its creation. Using dark energies, the Murderer corrupted the Spirit, and the Apocalypse Dragoon was the result. Because during its creation both gods slipped a little of themselves into the Spirit, it was imbued with incredible power, power far exceeding the other Dragoons. This worked out well for the Murderer, because the Apocalypse Dragoon was the ultimate tool of destruction. If all of the other plots for the world to be destroyed failed, then the Apocalypse Dragoon would rise and annihilate Endiness, and creation would start again.
Once the Creator learned of the Murderer's deeds, revisions were made to the Spirit to make it less dangerous. First, the Creator kept the Spirit in the ethereal realm, and it would only be able to return to the earthly plane of existence if it was brought there by a mortal who knew how to bring it to Endiness, as you did. Second, the Creator put a seal on the Spirit by creating the knife, which would only break the seal if in the presence of both the Spirit and one who would bear the completed Spirit.
Now, because the Spirit would no longer be a driving force for good, the Creator put in a special method for the bearer's selection. The bearer of the Spirit may not actually come in contact with the Spirit during his or her lifetime, for knowledge of the Spirit's existence is only given out when the Spirit is needed, when all else has failed. The bearer is chosen upon their birth, and when the bearer dies, a new one is chosen. The bearer of the Spirit is the person who has the greatest capacity for both protection and destruction. Therefore, the bearer of the Spirit is the ultimate keeper of the balance of nature."
Rose seemed to be finished, so Rayen spoke. "How do you know all this?"
"Because had all else failed in the quest to defeat the Moon Crisis, I would have received the Spirit as well. I was the being that was held the greatest capacity for both good and evil for the eleven millennia of my lifetime. Of course, I did not learn this until after my death. Although my methods of dealing with problems were slightly less... diplomatic that most, my intentions were always good, if a little misguided, so I was chosen to be the bearer of the Spirit should need arise. But it never did. Melbu Frahma was defeated without the help of the Guardian Dragoon. Now is the first time the Creator has considered the danger great enough for the Spirit to be returned to Endiness. You are the first true bearer of the Spirit."
Rayen rested his chin on his folded hands. "So I have the greatest capacity for both good and evil?"
"Yes. Although you remain good by nature, your dark emotions are quick to rise and seize control. You see, the Spirit you hold works like a prism; it reflects your soul. It takes your emotions and gives them form. When you use it for the protection of the Endiness, the armor of the Guardian Dragoon clothes you. But when you use the Spirit out of anger, fear, hatred, or any of the hopeless feelings the Murderer cursed us with upon creation, the Apocalypse Dragoon takes hold."
Understanding dawned on Rayen's face. "Of course... 'Frivolous usage of the Spirit will cause you to underestimate its powers'... the Creator's warning! It makes sense. The way the Spirit reflected the light when I stood on the Crystal Palace... it was warning me that all it did was reflect me..."
"Yes. But you were deaf to their advice." She wasn't scolding him. It was merely a statement.
Rayen buried his face in his hands in exasperation. "I've been a fool."
The Black Monster's ghost shook her head vehemently. "No. You were meant to see all this."
Rayen looked up at her, puzzled. "What?"
"If the Creator wanted you to avoid releasing the Apocalypse Dragoon, you would have been told outright. The Creator wanted you to get a glimpse of the danger, while the Murderer wanted you to see just enough of the destruction you can cause to haunt you... or tempt you."
"Which is why such a small group was sent out on its own."
"Yes." Rose's face grew grim. "Have you ever felt so angry, so afraid, or so sad that you would rather just destroy all that has wronged you?"
A dark look came to Rayen's azure gaze. Yes, he had experienced that, more times than most would guess.
Rose continued. "Everyone does, some more than others. But of course, that is impossible. Except for you. You really can do all of that, and that's exactly the sort of knowledge the Murderer wants you to have. That's why such a small faction was sent out yesterday."
"Of course. First and foremost, I am their puppet."
Rose waved a hand. "We all are, there's no escaping that. But you are the one who their plans rest most heavily on. The scales of nature are tipping towards destruction, you were given the Spirit to correct the balance, or, if you should fail, bring about the world's annihilation."
Rayen sighed. "But there's one thing I don't understand. Why was the knife given to Melbu Frahma?"
"It wasn't. It merely fell into his hands by winds of chance. An intriguing coincidence, nothing more." The shadowy form of Rose began to fade. "My time upon this plane is nearly over. I was given a temporary reprieve from death to come and bestow you with this knowledge, and now that my task is completed, I must return. Farewell, and heed the lessons you have been given. Or you will once again be forced to learn the hard way."
A chill wind blew through the room, although the windows were not open, and when Rayen blinked, the apparition of Rose was gone.
Author's Note: OK, I realize that this chapter was both short and boring, but it was basically Rose just explaining everything. So Rayen isn't the Murderer, but there's a little bit of both gods hidden inside his Spirit. Which Dragoon he activates depends on when and why he uses the Spirit. Okey dokey? Good. If you've got any questions about the story so far, don't hesitate to drop them into your review.