Since the talk with Annerose, Mikael had stopped stressing over every little detail and every small mistake. He would no longer continue his self-deprecation and accept that what the others told him was the truth. That he was good enough and that he had nothing to worry about.
Now that he had finally accepted that, he felt that he could truly begin his new life with a clean slate and a healthier state of mind. The mistrust that was caused by thirteen years of betrayal and misfortune was finally gone.
After Mikael stopped crying and had collected himself, he felt so, so tired and said that he wanted to sleep, which Annerose accepted with no complaints. This led to Mikael going to bed at three in the afternoon and sleeping uninterrupted until he woke up in the middle of the night.
...
In Mikael's room, there was a total lack of illumination, save the little moonlight that penetrated the room's small circular window. He did not feel fully rested yet, but since he had slept for such a long time and had as a result missed dinner he was absolutely starving.
It felt as if he had no strength, struggling to get out of the bed without falling to the floor. Legs shaking, he managed after great difficulty to get to the door without incident, and slowly but surely made his way to the kitchen.
To find his way, Mikael used magic to make a Light orb in his outstretched palm to guide the way towards the kitchen, which now appealed to Mikael as heaven, as hungry as he was. He kept the light small and did not exert himself so much so that he would quickly tire out even more.
After reaching the large dining hall, which in the dark appeared like something from a haunted castle, giving off a gloomy aura, Mikael continued to the door which connected the room to the kitchen.
The kitchen had many cabinets of silverware, plates, large knives and other kitchen tools. The floor consisted of stereotypical white and black tiles and there were also a counter and a rectangular table set in the middle of the room.
On that rectangular table, there was a note written in few words that read, "Food in the Big Closet. -Annerose". The note was most likely written in as few and simple words as possible so that Mikael would be able to read it since he was still relatively early in learning to read and write.
"Big closet..." Mikael thought to himself. What could be meant by that. The note was probably referring to one of the cabinets but had used closet because "Cabinet" was currently a word too complex for Mikael to read. So there is food in one of the cabinets in the room, and a big one, most likely in one bigger than the others.
After slightly intensifying his Light orb so that it would spread and at least somewhat illuminate the rest of the kitchen, Mikael spotted a cabinet that differed from the others. This cabinet was a little larger than the others but the major difference was the material.
While the other cabinets in the kitchen were made of wood, this one was made of metal and had only one large door. Mikael had never seen anything like this before, so naturally, he was wary. He slowly approached the large, looming, metal furniture, spurred by the promise of food, which was to a deathly hungry Mikael akin to salvation itself.
Slowly opening the large door, a cold breeze emanated from within. Then Mikael spotted the salvation promised to him. A salvation that took the form of sandwiches set upon a dinner plate.
He immediately grabbed the food and took a bite. The sandwiches consisted of turkey, cheese and eggs. Simple but heavenly delicious to Mikael in his starved state. Even though the sandwich had probably been there for many hours, it was still cool and in a perfect state for consumption.
Mikael quickly deduced that this was the result of the metal cabinet which was very cold inside. He had heard about storing food in cold rooms in order for the it to last longer, but never with a method such as this cabinet. He could not even begin to understand how it worked and he did not really care much at the moment as his hunger outweighed his curiosity.
...
After eating all the sandwiches, Mikael once again began to feel a bit tired and ready to go back to sleep with a satisfied stomach. He went back out to the hallway and followed it to his room, opening the door and entering it. Now so tired that he could not wait to sleep, Mikael put out his light and made his way towards his bed–
!?
Mikael was perplexed. After taking a few steps into his room, searching for the bed with no success, he realized that it was not his room at all. Instead of the familiar wooden floor, there was now hard rock and moss beneath his feet and a sound of dripping water in the distance.
He must've taken a wrong door which led to this unfamiliar cave. The doors inside the mansion look pretty much all the same and Mikael had already witnessed doors leading to places they shouldn't. "But why a cave?" he thought as he tried to look around but all he could see was a deep darkness.
Though he was curious, Mikael also quickly realized that he probably shouldn't be here alone. Especially during the night. Then it would be best to just go back to his room and continue to sleep peacefully. Reaching that conclusion, Mikael quickly turned around and reached for the door handle so that he could go back. However, the door was nowhere to be found.
...
In his state of sleepiness, Mikael was in a daze and did not remember how far into the cave he had gone in search for his bed. Relighting his Light orb, he tried to locate the door, looking all around him and making the light as strong as he could manage. But to no avail.
No matter how much he looked, he could not find the door and now he grew even more tired due to using magic as hard as he could. Then the light completely died out and Mikael was now alone in the dark, in a cave located who knows where. Feeling alone and afraid, he tried to think of a way to locate the door, but just when things couldn't get worse, they did.
And they did so in the form of loud, rhythmical breathing coming from relatively close to Mikael. He knew that this was not his own breathing, but the breath of something way bigger than a human. The smell that he suddenly noticed was intense. This "something" was radiating a smell of something burnt.
Mikael's breath quickened, and fear took over his emotions. The fear of not knowing what lay hidden in the pitch black darkness. He felt cold, shivering, and the need and want to escape the darkness grew stronger by the second.
But in his panicked state, Mikael could only fumble in the dark, fruitlessly searching for the missing door. It felt hard to breathe and sweat was soaking his clothes. What was in the darkness? Is it coming? When is it coming?
These thoughts filled Mikael's head again and again, waiting for whatever it was to come out lunging and attack him while he was filled with some of the greatest amounts of fear he had ever felt. Second only to the terror yesterday. While Mikael's panic went on without end, the rhythmical breathing continued uninterrupted with no consideration for Mikael's plight.
Nothing was happening. Nothing was coming for him. Realizing that, Mikael managed to calm down somewhat, slowing his panicked breath, and the thoughts of fear no longer hindered his reason.
Now that Mikael could think more clearly, he thought that the sound of the loud breathing sounded similar to the breathing of a sleeping person. "Maybe whatever is lurking in the dark is sleeping?" he thought. It is nighttime after all.
If the creature in the cave was a predator actively hunting Mikael, it did a very poor job. Not even trying to hide the sound of its breath and was breathing way too rhythmically, which seemed highly unnatural for someone awake. Concluding that that was the case, Mikael managed to muster up some strength with great difficulty, fighting his fear and his instincts screaming at him to flee as fast as he could, never looking back.
He created a new Light orb in his palm, once again bringing light into the world, though its power was as weak as one puny lit match. The weakest light Mikael had ever managed to produce.
Slowly, Mikael crept his way toward the source of the breathing, towards the sleeping creature and possibly towards a quick death. Shaking violently with each step, he managed to close the distance. Each step felt like a victory over his fear, pushed forward by his strong curiosity, creating this newfound courage.
Even though the light he had did not reach far, Mikael stared as hard as he could forward, towards the source of the breathing. And finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mikael reached the sleeping "creature".
...
The first thing he saw was a wall of deep obsidian lizard-like scales obstructing his entire field of vision. Again, he heard the sound of rhythmic breathing, now coming from his left.
The head must be over there.
Following the wall of scales to his left, Mikael came closer and closer to finding out what type of creature lay sleeping there. His body shaking with both fear and curiosity. Then suddenly, his eyes registered slight movement. It came from the creature.
And when Mikael quickly shifted his head slightly upward towards the sudden movement, his breath caught in his throat, his body completely frozen. He had indeed reached the head of the creature and now he was staring directly at one of its gigantic eyes. It was the same color as amber with a vertical pupil, staring right back at Mikael, just as intently and curiously.
The beast had awakened from its sleep and had immediately discovered Mikael, who was suspiciously sneaking around its cave.
It raised its head, elevated to a position of maybe ten meters above Mikael. Looking down at him as if he was a midnight snack. The terrible fear that Mikael had somewhat managed to fight off returned with its full might once again, causing his body to uncontrollably shake.
What would happen next? Mikael was afraid that the answer that floated in the back of his mind would be correct. But while paralyzed with fear and long since lost his Light orb, the entire cave was set alight in a flash.
White, pure light like the sun covered the entire cave revealing the creature's form for Mikael to see. It had a large body covered in deep obsidian scales, four legs, a large and long tail, a long neck with a lizard-like head at the end, decorated with horns, and most notably a pair of two giant wings. And just now, while observing its features, Mikael noticed its massive magical aura. This was undoubtedly a dragon.
...
However, now that Mikael could clearly see, he saw that this particular dragon was covered in lacerations all over its scaly body, most notably on its head and torso. He could see the bright, pink and juicy flesh that would normally be completely hidden under its scales all over the body. The wings were also heavily damaged and looked to be in no condition for flight and its right eye seemed to be completely blind due to a deep cut.
While surveying the dragon, Mikael was also confused as to why it would even bother brightening up the cave for him. Did it have poor eyesight in its left eye as well? Wondering this, he stared at it curiously, though still paralyzed by the fear, and then the dragon took in a deep breath before it began to speak.
"Who are you and how did you come to enter my cave?"
The words that came out were intelligent and comprehensible, completely contradicting what Mikael thought would happen. The dragon's voice was deep and compelled the listener to listen closely and respectfully.
After asking a most logical and obvious question, "why was there someone in its home?" it took a big sniff of the air and continued.
"The scent on you is not only that of yourself but also of a close acquaintance of mine, Siegfried. What is your relationship to him I wonder. Perhaps a servant? Or maybe even an offering to dear old me?"
Shaking with intense fear, Mikael tried speaking, but could only make unintelligible noises. Fear of death filled his mind and he did his best to answer the massive creature.
"E-ehm… uhm, u-em… I, I-I'm, I am Mikael. Siegfried's a-adopted son…"
With his stuttering declaration, Mikael managed to cough up his own name and introduce himself to the towering dragon. The dragon slightly narrowed his eyes at Mikael's introduction before making his own.
"Greetings then, Mikael. I, am Belegor. A dragon and a friend of Siegfried."
So his name is Belegor, Mikael thought, slightly less intimidated due to Belegor's own words of introduction.
"Did you perhaps stumble through the wrong door at his mansion? He really should indicate better which door leads to what. In fact if you just try different doors, you will find multiple places like my cave."
Really? Does Siegfried just leave them unlocked where anyone can enter just like this one? If so then he really is sloppy for such a "powerful wizard" as he calls himself.
Once again, Mikael noticed Belegor's wounds all over his body and was very curious as to how he got them. And Belegor sensing Mikael's stare, replied.
"I received these wounds long ago and I am currently recuperating here while Siegfried, my friend, is helping me heal them. He told me he had recently found a possible solution. I believe this concerns you as well?"
It certainly did. Belegor was referring to the blood samples Siegfried took once a week from Mikael. He had said he wanted to use the regenerative powers in Mikael's blood for his research. Then the research he was referring to must have been to heal Belegor.
"Y-yes... He told me I have, regenerative powers in my blood. Because I'm part Human, and part Angel. According to him..."
After having one question answered, Belegor asked another.
"Since you are his "son" now. Have you seen the "Archive" as well?"
The "Archive of Athanasius". Yes he had seen it on his first day here, but not since. The room that stretched to the horizon was said to hold many artifacts and a lot of knowledge. That was all Mikael really knew about it.
"It's a large room filled with artifacts and books, right? Like a big library...?"
"Only a "big library"!? Is that all that you think it is!?"
Belegor slightly raised his voice in surprise at how little Mikael thought of it. The word library didn't justify how incredible it really was.
"That archive holds all the accumulated knowledge of humankind throughout the centuries. Compared to that, a library only holds a fraction. And the libraries of this world vary in size and content.
However, the Archive has everything you can imagine. Books about virtually anything. As long as something has been written and published, there is a large chance that you can find it there.
And all the artifacts as well. Though, it does not have everything, it is still the largest collection in the world. Weapons, tools and more with various effects can be found within the Archive. Do you now understand the importance of it?"
Mikael now, for the first time began to understand it a little more than compared to just a moment ago. Almost all knowledge that humans have gained and the large quantity of magical artifacts could be found in the Archive of Athanasius. Truly incredible. Even if he read it all or tried all the artifacts he probably would only have use for a small fraction of it.
Magical artifacts though. What could they be? Siegfried had presented the grimoire to Mikael and many things just like it must be present in the Archive then. He had also mentioned he had many mythical creatures as well. Like unicorns and griffins. They must be in their own rooms then. Just like Belegor.
Mikael was still in the middle of learning how to read. Once he had a firmer grasp on it, he could start reading the books from the Archive. The topics it holds was endless. All from History and magic to agriculture and sewing. Truly a treasure trove.
He had decided. He will continue to study diligently in Siegfried's and Annerose's classes so that he would get much more better at magic and gain the ability to access the knowledge Siegfried's archive holds. With this newfound determination, Mikael raised his head towards Belegor, eyes full of excitement. The fear he held before had virtually disappeared and this new emotion had taken its place.
"Thank you for the talk! It was very informative!"
With a bow, he declared thus. And Belegor looked down on Mikael, deeply interested.
"That is good. I had quite a bit of fun as well. I only have Siegfried to talk to and even he is often busy. If you could, would you like to visit me occasionally?"
Mikael once again raised his head and was completely dumbfounded by the request the mighty dragon, Belegor asked. After a moment of silence, Mikael's mouth just curved into a smile and he answered the dragon cheerfully.
"I'd love to! Then we can talk more then, right, Belegor? As friends?"
Now it was Belegor's turn to be dumbfounded. He had not expected Mikael to suddenly be this comfortable around him. Even proposing to become friends. It was definitely something he did not expect at all. And Belegor too, could only form a smile and answer happily.
"Yes. I would love to be friends as well, Mikael."
With this unexpected interaction between a dragon and a young boy, a new friendship would blossom strongly over the years. Never to be broken by any of the two recipients. Truly a "Until death to us apart" type of friendship.
...
After the conversation between man and dragon, it had gotten quite late. The tiredness that Mikael had neglected came back to him now that he no longer feared Belegor. Now able to trust him through his crimson eyes that told him he could be trusted.
Belegor noticed this as well and was kind to show Mikael the way to the door. In the bright light it was quite easy to find it since it stood out like a sore thumb. It was literally a normal wooden door in the middle of a cold, wet and moss-covered cave.
He returned to his room and flopped down onto the bed. Feeling like he would melt and sink into it. He was tired and now, Mikael could finally rest with a satisfied stomach and a new friend to boot as well.