Chapter 16 - 12: Master and a Contracted Beast (2) (1/2)
Dmitri simply threw his sight towards Ketu who instantly nodded as though telling him, he should do the talking.
He cleared his throat.
”As far as we know, Ertheon was separated into two realms. However, from the past ages, these two different entities were originally forged in a piece with only one Supreme Ruler.”
Taking a brief pause, Dmitri sighed and flopped his bottom on the cavern floor, crossed his legs into a seat.
And he continued.
”He's nourished the world with his ever-graced ability. In fact, his authority was rather unparalleled as if he'd no weakness at all. No one dares to overthrow his power.”
His lips were pulled in a smile but were immediately overshadowed by his seemingly sorrowful eyes.
”Not until the very first non-pure blooded child opened his eyes in this world. And in just a blink of an eye, every nook of his domain bore these same children. He just realized he'd lost control over the pure-bloods sieging over the weak and dawned the birth of the Blood Lineage System. He'd no choice but protect them as it became his selfless weakness over the strong.”
Gazing on the cavern floor scattered with fractions of spirit stones, he gently leaned on the slate scales that stood behind him.
”As a consequence, a terrible war emerged. His incomparable power was far beyond the rebels but he couldn't unleash it by protecting his subjects. Bit by bit, rebel pure-bloods pushed over the Supreme Palace. By that, just at the brink of the massacre, he'd no other choice but to use his Innate Ability 'Creation'.”
He threw his sight on the young 'prince' (Ziro).
”…don't tell me…”
”Yes. He created the two realms separating the pure-blooded from the rest… only at a cost of his life. But because of that, his blessed vessels, treasures, and contracted beasts lost their one and only master.”
”…!”
The young 'prince' seemed lashed in a realization as 'he' rushed 'his' gaze towards Lady Ketu.
Dmitri's gloomy eyes went half-closed.
”It was as you think it is. Lady Ketu, was one of the seven Contracted Beasts of the Supreme Ruler.”
The young 'prince's eyes slowly widened, and 'his' head drooped.
”…it must've truly hurt to lose such kind master.”
”… I just know, it really is. By then, all the seven Contracted Beasts were flung on the lower realm; each carried the Seven Pearl Treasures of their master and guarded it with all might. Eventually, they became known to be the Seven Sacred Beasts in the mortal realm.”
******
The ambiance floated a heavy air which made all Dmitri's words quite dramatic.
The longer Ziro hears it, the more complicated she felt. Her fear not long was overly crunched by her new emotion towards Lady Ketu.
She pitied the monstrous beast upon her. Truly, an immeasurable power only weighs the tremendous cost. She already felt to lose someone important. It was truly painful as if she couldn't continue to live, and even pulling her lips to show a faint smile, she couldn't force herself to do it.
Once more, she waited for the swordsman to continue.
”But, due to lack of mana source, they tend to be in a long slumber. And once the full moon shines every half a hundred years, it'll brim tremendous amount of life force… and those were the time Lady Ketu and the rest tend to lose control of their well-being.”
Faint creases on Ziro's forehead formed. Why this story was seemed quite familiar to her? Was it in former Ziro's memory?
But it wasn't. Pondering for a few seconds, she rummaged inside her head in regards to her query.
When the puzzle came to stick together, her furrowed eyebrows were pulled straight, lifting her eyes into a wide shot.
”They'd turn into a moon-eating beast.”
”…they did.”
Even though the swordsman's reply was at centipede's length, Ziro felt the ominous sorrow of Dmitri from his voice.
Moon-eating beasts! From her previous life on Earth, this belief was really an interesting story amongst elders as their ancestors believed in the beasts that devour the moon during its extreme luminosity, they said.
Ziro was taken aback and bore a quick glimpse on Lady Ketu. She quickly ċȧrėssed her scalp, couldn't believe this is what a moon-eating beast looked like.
Drunk with execration, the swordsman parted his lips with a dragging sigh.
”As from then on… mortals feared them. Some hunted them in search of the Pearl Treasures. It's just frustrating. The lower realm should be glad. They're saved and yet, the last remnants of the Supreme Ruler were snared instead, as though making it a pricey item rather than a savior's treasure.”
Dmitri forcedly clenched his fist punched on his ŀȧp.
”…”
Ziro watched the swordsman bȧrėd his molars.
Was this the reason why Dmitri was extremely bitter towards the royalties? She thought. Looking back on Lady Ketu, she could not rack her brain on how come this gentle-looking giant serpent-lady becomes a monstrous beast.
Her thoughts only resorted to an agreement with what Dmitri said.
”Where are the other sacred beasts?”
When the scared beast heard what she asked, Lady Ketu smiled wryly…
~Separate. One in Fugao. Other in Eleseiya. As for the rest, I don't know.~
…and immediately answered inside their heads.
Fugao, a country-sized tribe in the edge northwest of the Pearl Continent, right after the mountain ranges of Ruzas and several miles above a colossal trench.
But… the other one…
”In my home country?”
”No need to fret. Although, one of the sacred beasts was there, he was still asleep. Besides, Your father firmly protects the sanctuary against the hunters and collector. Well, of course, together with the formidable general Lixardo.”
”You seemed to know a lot about my father. In fact, not just him, but about me too.”
”I owe him the greatest depth.”
”What is it?”
”…”
No reply came. Instead, Dmitri just replaced it with a sigh.
”It'd be better if you don't know. In any case, he's one of the kings I truly respect.”
Truly respect? Did they know each other?
When a long blew of Dmitri's breath spewed, Ziro didn't pursue even further as she thought they might end up arguing the same thing as before.
”Jumping to the main point. Lady Ketu's life force had already been depleting in the last decades. We feared the protective wandering forest might not be able to hold hunters finding this place much longer as it consumes too much of Lady's energy.”