DMHS 65

More exactly, when either the mate dies or the dragon dies, the unseen bond between the two is cut.

Kian learned this fact at Hellenos’s wedding.

– But what happens if the one you chose as your mate does not choose you?

– A dragon that fails to obtain love falls sick with lovesickness and dies. As time passes the body and heart dry up, and in the end the dragon breathes its last.

The conversation did not end there. Kian, who realized that the relationship between a dragon and their mate could not be compared to human marriage, couldn’t help but ask.

– Then what if the mate dies?

– The bond ends.

– You mean the dragon dies too?

– No. It is better to say the bond is cut. The longing for the departed partner disappears. The memories with the partner remain, but the emotions that were felt vanish.

– You mean the dragon does not even miss them?

– That is right. All feelings once directed toward the partner disappear. Strange, right? If it were not so, a dragon that lost a mate would drown in sorrow and die, so it seems like an instinct designed for survival.

– Then are there dragons who lost a mate and then took another?

– There are. Most of them are like that. For us, a life without a mate has no meaning.

That was why Kian planned to disappear in front of Lucien while pretending to be dead.

If Kian died, not only would the feelings Lucien held disappear, but he might also take a new mate.

Someone might said it was an overly grand and troublesome scheme, but at the time Kian could not think of a better way.

‘My decision has not changed.’

Kian still thought that leaving while pretending to be dead was the best method.

‘I used to think laying an egg was unbearably disgusting….’

Now, what felt like the bigger obstacle was that after laying the egg he had to leave for the Dragon Realm.

The kingdom was chaos itself. Betias said they had done their duty, but Kian’s thought was different.

Kian would stay until the end to prevent the kingdom’s destruction. If his efforts failed and the kingdom, and beyond that the world, was destroyed, then he thought disappearing with it was his fate.

‘Do not think too deeply. I have gained time, so that is enough for now.’

The next day, with preparations complete, Kian and Lucien left the inn.

Frederick and Daisy had been given the mission of suppressing the turmoil in the west. And since they could not take the princess to the territory of the Delian tribe, which could be called an enemy nation, the number of visitors was decided as the minimum, just two.

‘Lucien said he did not want an escort.’

A mage from the Third Tower cast a teleportation spell.

When Kian and Lucien stepped onto the magic circle, the circle shone with white light.

“I hope you find a clue, but it is all right even if you do not. Please return safely.”

“I hope it will be a good journey.”

“If there is another chance later, please take me along too!”

Daisy, Frederick, and the princess each gave their farewell. Kian also waved to them.

“I will be back soon. Please take care of the kingdom while we are away.”

When he turned his head, he saw Lucien giving a careless greeting.

Lucien noticed his gaze and looked back. Jewel-like eyes brighter than gemstones held Kian inside them.

Thump.

In that instant heat spread across his face. His ears felt like they would also turn red, so Kian cleared his throat and hurriedly turned his head away. He felt a gaze of puzzlement from behind.

“Mm…?”

Fortunately the white light rising from the magic circle filled his sight.

When he closed his eyes he felt a bit dizzy and something warm held his arm.

‘He is always kind.’

When he opened his eyes, the two had arrived at the mouth of the River of Creation.

There was an outpost at the location overlooking the fan-shaped spread of the river. It was the representative borderland between the kingdom and the Delian tribe and a place where both sides negotiated.

Because there was no special event now, no one was visible other than the soldiers stationed at the outpost.

Then from beyond the river, a man on horseback appeared.

“That must be him.”

Just as Lucien said, the man stopped before them. After dismounting he pulled back the robe that covered him, revealing the ash-gray hair and gray eyes unique to the Delia tribe.

“Excuse me, are you Lord Lucien the Gold Dragon and his mate Lord Kian?”

“That is right.”

The Delia tribe and the kingdom used the same language. But because they had lived without exchange for a long time, there was a distinct accent in the speech of the Delian.

“We welcome you with joy. I am Bashim, son of Parat. Because of the news that the descendant of one of the heroes would visit for the Festival of the Ocean, everyone is excited. Please follow quickly.”

The letter the chieftain had sent also contained similar words. Kian asked a question.

“What is this Festival of the Ocean?”

“It is an event where all the tribes gather in one place and praise the Goddess. It is held once a year, for a week, and today is the last day.”

Bashim answered as he drew lines on the ground with his staff.

“Please step up.”

Kian stood on the magic circle and naturally looked down. The circle was similar to the one the kingdom’s magician had drawn a moment ago, yet different.

The circle activated, and Kian arrived in the middle of the desert.

From the horizon far away a sandstorm blew. The sun shined fiercely.

When he turned his body, a sight that was hard to believe waited for Kian.

‘So this is the oasis village I only heard about.’

The structure of the village was simple. At the center was a crescent-shaped lake. As the slope went upward, taller buildings were placed, and as it went downward, wooden-framed portable tents were set up.

Kian confirmed the building located at the highest point of the village.

“Seeing the eagle statue, that must be the temple.”

“It is the highest temple dedicated to the Goddess, called the Fountain of Celestia. This is the village where the festival is held.”

“Do you usually stay in another village, Bashim?”

“This is the desert, so it is hard to get food. If you move a little farther east, there is a grassland area, that is the main place where we live.”

As the village came closer, the noisy sounds grew louder.

Men, women, and children alike had gathered around the lake.

“It is just noon. At this time everyone gathers at the lake and sings the Song of Creation together. Would you also like to hear it, Lord Lucien and Lord Kian?”

“That is good.”

“All right.”

From far away the sound of a horn was heard.

Buuuu.

The noisy people all closed their mouths, and silence fell.

A voice that sounded like muttering or humming was heard from somewhere.

“One star stopped its breath….”

In answer, a voice came back from another place.

“The sky embraced two destinies.”

People began to walk slowly around the lake. They sang in one voice.

“From the split starlight the sister and brother descended to the world.”

The song continued like a dialogue given and received.

“The sister, with warm breath, made all things sprout.”

“The brother, with the blade of darkness, swept away the old filth.”

“Praise Yahdreir, who rules balance with fairness. Praise Celestia, who truly leads harmony.”

“In the endless cycle we all flow as part of it.”

“Destruction is not the end, and the beginning always stands behind it.”

Buuuu.

The song ended with the blow of the horn. The people left by the lake knelt and prayed.

The solemnity that filled the ritual weighed heavily on Kian’s shoulders.

“How was it?”

Kian opened his mouth at Bashim’s question.

“It is not my place to leave an evaluation. The song just now, was that the myth of the Delian tribe?”

“That is right. The twin siblings were born, the younger brother Lord Yahdreir destroyed the old world full of chaos, and the elder sister Lady Celestia built the new world.”

Kian recalled the last words of the song.

‘Destruction is not the end, and the beginning always stands behind it….’

Recently Kian had seen a similar sentence.

“Bashim, do you know the phrase ‘Dawn is born from the heart of darkness’?”

“Well. I have never heard that sentence before, but I can guess the meaning.”

“What does it mean?”

“It is similar to the creation myth I just told you. To make something new, there is a need to break what already exists. We believe there is no eternal winner or eternal loser. It is like when dawn comes and the day begins again.”

Bashim smiled faintly. His relaxed tone sounded like he was saying, ‘That is only natural.’

‘As I thought, these matters are deeply connected to the Delia tribe.’

Kian quietly spread a mana field so Bashim would not notice.

The places he had stopped by so far. Starting from the capital, through the village of the Fourth Tower, and the borderlands, Kian measured his current location.

‘The place where black magic was activated is not far from here.’

And now was the festival period, when all the Delian clans were gathered in one place.

Among the people gathered at the lake, it was fair to think there was a shaman who used black magic.

Kian recalled the two men who had led the song.

“Who were the people singing earlier? The two who stood on either side of the lake.”

“They are the son of Jamar and the son of Asif. In a few days, one of them will be chosen as the next chieftain. The seat that has been vacant for three years will finally be filled.”

Kian asked again, pretending not to know.

“Was there another successor before?”

“Ah, I… just now I spoke wrongly. Please act like you did not hear.”

Bashim fidgeted and was flustered. Kian confirmed that what was written in Ibrahim’s letter was true.

‘So Gimere Harkin really was the next chieftain of the Delia tribe.’