I slowly descended, more and more. I didn't know where I was, but the cool water against my skin. The ocean, it all felt calming.
Very calming.
But the thing was that it no longer felt like water clinging onto my skin—no. I moved my hand around but I couldn't feel it at all.
Everything was pitch black, remainder me of the abyss that I seemingly spent 10,000 years in, but not to this level.
I turned, and landed gracefully on what seemed to be like a platform. Staring below was like stained glass of someone who's back was turned. There were multiple portraits, but none filled out.
He looked pretty lonely, the black cloak shielded his figure. But the tail was present, as well as the thick horns from the head. I looked around, still, pitch black void.
Where am I?
I stretch out my arms, I don't feel like I'm in water, but this space didn't feel real either. I jump, there's slight pause in gravity, a slight delay, but I come down onto the platform with my heavy boots anyways.
Am I dead? No…can't be. I can't possibly be killed that easily…for if that were the case, I think I would have another consciousness to worry about, and assuming that they haven't made themselves present entirely, that can't be the case.
Dreaming? Cloudjumper did get me pretty good. But that's what I expected. I didn't even have enough time to deduce her actual race. She can't be Dragonoid like me. Her tail is thinner, thicker scales.
Serpent? But serpents don't have wings. I don't have wings either, but still. I didn't see any scales on her skin as well.
Wyrm? No…Aarx said they were extinct. Close guess, though.
Hm…what about Dragonkin?
Dragonkin, yeah, the direct descendants of dragons themselves. They retain more appearance of said dragon than outright humanoid. More draconic features than us Dragonoids which are just 50/50.
In game lore, they are widely considered to be the true descendants of dragons, so more than likely her parents are actual dragons. Which that also makes sense for her agile, mobility, and speed. If Dark Dragons has [Infernal] magic, then Crimson Dragons have increased mobility and speed, and combine that with already the high stat of Dragonkins as well, you practically have a flying speed demon.
No wonder why my speed never caught her off guard, it was speeds she could easily track, and easily surpass if she wanted to.
She didn't have any horns, which I assumed means that she has to be Pre-Alpha stage. A Pre-Alpha Crimson Dragonkin managed to at least get me good in terms of combat. That's rare. I'm an Alpha Dark Silver Dragon, and yet I still somehow got caught into the midst of things.
Still, I wouldn't say I got my ass beat. Half the time I have to hold back. Which…resulted in me not winning—yeah, I got my ass beat.
Less thinking on Cloudjumper, even the subtle thought of her brings back scenes of memories I do not want to relish in. My tail gets too excited for it. But I continued to look at the stained glass more and more.
Nothing looked out of place, and so I'm just supposed to stand here? Be confused? For how long? Forever?
What would Vaniti think?
It wasn't long before I heard the sheen of magic, mana, and the combination of both. Turning my head, I saw it on the ground. Chains. Silver chains.
Why would I need chains—?
My hands quickly patted my body. The chains.
They're gone.
The ones that are used to keep—
No, I need them.
I ran over, got on my knees and tried to put the chains on again. But they weren't magically rotating around me anymore, no. It was as if they weren't deliberately taken off. I would never.
But…but someone would. Maybe.
Cloudjumper? No…she's Pre-Alpha…I doubt she knows the mechanic behind true names…but I can't underestimate her.
Sultan? He's knowledgeable in dragons…so him knowing my true name, and would it could unleash would be devastating.
Koga? Jonah? Vaniti? None of them, no.
So…who would do this…?
Just then, I heard footsteps, on the stained glass. Slow, delicate. My [Dragon's Authority] didn't proc, no danger…but my tail straightened as if it was. What's going on?
I slowly turn, and there, he was.
Black midnight cloak. Stone silver hair. Tail sweeping the ground. Black pants and black boots. Light brown skin, and silver eyes.
More than enough for me to realize that…this wasn't somebody else. And all the more sense as to why [Dragon's Authority] didn't proc.
Why would it proc against someone like that?
Who's exactly me.
He yawned, vicious fangs flashing and bearing. I never noticed how sharp they were…or how noticeable they were as well. I wa so used to standard teeth that even my tongue feeling for these fangs felt normal as if they were standard teeth.
"So," He begins.
His voice is different from mine. We may carry the same face, body, skin tone, and anatomy. But it was different. Darker. Older. Wiser.
The best thing I could say would be a narrator voice…but even that would be disrespectful.
He crossed his arms over his chest. But I spoke before he could.
"Don't get any ideas. I'm not, and will not work with you." I make it clear. He scoffs, leaning back before floating in the air.
"You think it's cooperation I'm asking for? You humor me entirely," He begins.
"I grace you with my presence, and this is the warm welcome?" He asks. He sounds so ancient, too ancient. If any of the 10,000 years seemed to affect anybody, it had to be him.
"It's not a warm welcome. You came here because of one reason alone, and I know why," I tell him.
"I have it under control. Now, get me out of this and—"
What breaks my concentration, as well as sentence was his slow clapping. He couldn't help, but grin. Condescendingly. He knew more than me, and I know that. I also know why too.
Because, in a way.
He's the true me.
The one I tried to hold back so much.
He's…
The Dawn.