As Nivaan heard the Spirit's voice, he extended his hand slightly. A mysterious force surged forth, seizing the Spirit and pulling her toward him. With the Guardian Dragon now trapped inside his sphere, the original barrier began to fade, but before it could vanish completely, Nivaan spread his fingers, and a new barrier of his own flickered to life, sealing the space once more.
"Let me go!" the Spirit cried, her voice echoing like thunder.
In desperation, her form expanded, turning into a towering figure of light and mist that blotted out the sky. Yet despite her immense power, she couldn't move an inch, as if invisible magic bound her in place, tightening with every flicker of her resistance.
"Shut up, or I'll end you now," Nivaan warned.
When she still continued, he reached out and a strip of shadow-magic snapped across her mouth, clamping it closed. Her eyes widened, but not a sound escaped until he chose to unseal her..
"Remain silent. You will not speak unless I permit it," Nivaan ordered, his hands buried in his pockets, eyes like ice.
The spirit didn't respond. A sudden crack of thunder tore through the air, striking her directly. Lightning wrapped around her form, forcing a cry that couldn't escape her sealed lips.
Her hair flared wild and her eyes bled faint trails of ash. She still refused to submit, even as bolt after bolt tore through her.
Finally, she collapsed, trembling, her body flickering like mist. The once-proud spirit now knelt, desperation etched across her face. She tried to plead through the magic still binding her lips, her muffled voice echoing in the air.
Nivaan sighed, releasing the seal with a flick of his fingers.
"Now," he said calmly, "Answer me."
"Do you know Solvaar?"
"I know Solvaar." She replied.
Her answer sparked a faint light of hope within Nivaan, He could finally get a hint on these gods.
The spirit continued, her tone heavy with sorrow.
"Solvaar… was once a god who ruled this world millennia ago. A being beyond light and shadow itself. But one day he simply ceased to exist. No one witnessed his fall, no one sensed his passing. It was only 2000 years ago, the world only learned of his death during the Great World Summit… when his divine presence failed to appear for the first time in eternity."
She continued, her voice trembling as ancient memories resurfaced.
"When he failed to appear at the summit, the Five Great Dragons and the Thirteen Spirits visited into his divine realm. But what they found…",
her gaze darkened
"the God Solvaar himself, seated lifeless upon his throne… with his own sword buried deep through his chest."
Nivaan's eyes narrowed as he processed her words, curiosity flickering behind his calm expression.
"Wait… Solvaar is dead? Then what about those messages I received when I killed the those candidates? Are these so-called candidates chosen to become the next Solvaar? But then…" his thoughts darkened, "how did the original Solvaar die in the first place?"
When Ignivar, the Divine Spirit of Fire, tried to approach Solvaar's body, his entire form was suddenly drawn into it, devoured by the corpse itself. Moments later, Solvaar's once-lifeless body stirred. A blinding radiance burst forth from him, a divine brilliance so intense that it nearly erased everyone present at the scene.
"Two of the Great Dragons were consumed by the light… and seven of the Spirits died that day," she explained to Arthur (Nivaan).
She hesitated, then asked, "But… how do you know about Solvaar? Who are you?"
Arthur's gaze sharpened, cod and unyielding. "Who gave you permission to ask questions?"
Fear flickered across her face. Nivaan's eyes narrowed as he continued, "Then tell me, what happened to his realm after that?"
She swallowed, her voice trembling. "We don't know… the great beings never tried to enter it again."
"I see," he replied, expression unreadable, as if a new understanding was already forming in his mind.
The spirit knelt on the ground, bowing low to Arthur (Nivaan), trembling as she tried to figure out how to save the Guardian Dragon. She waited anxiously, uncertain of what he would say next.
"This dragon will be my pet from now on," Nivaan declared, voice firm and unyielding. "So don't even think of interfering."
"I… I understand," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
Inside the sphere, the Guardian Dragon roared in frustration, his voice shaking the air. "Save me, you damned spirit!" he banged violently against the barrier that held him captive, but the sphere's unyielding walls refused to give way.
Nivaan and the spirit noticed the spear trembling violently. With a calm motion, Arthur (Nivaan) drew that spear with Guardian Dragon into his very soul. The spirit's eyes widened as a familiar, overwhelming power radiated from him. Fear laced her voice as she whispered,
"That power… its essence… it's the same as what we sensed lingering on Solvaar that day," she whispered, voice trembling.
Nivaan's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in his mind. Did Lumivahn kill him then? But… who is Lumivahn, really?
"Go away Now. And never speak of what happened here to anyone," Nivaan ordered. With that, he activated a curse, binding her soul to his will.
The spirit shot away, powerless, while Nivaan began his descent, removing the barrier. All eyes turned upward as Arthur (Nivaan) slowly descended onto the platform, calm and commanding, as if he owned the very air around him.
Triston's voice was tight with urgency as he reached the ground. "What did the Guardian Dragon want with you?"
Everyone present bombarded Arthur (Nivaan) with questions, their curiosity and fear barely contained. Calmly, he wove a fabricated story, blaming it on a simple misunderstanding. The nobles nodded and accepted his explanation, there was no way for anyone to uncover the truth of what had really transpired.
"I'll take my leave now," Arthur said, signaling that he wanted to return.
But Triston and Elara blocked his path, concern written across their faces. Lyra had also returned, pleading to accompany him, but Arthur (Nivaan) shook his head. Without another word, he turned and departed, leaving them behind.