Somewhere deep in the southern reaches of Loranthel, Mytri walked along a mountain spine lined with massive statues looming over him.
His tattered brown cloak fluttered in the wind, and fastened around his neck was a red cape riddled with holes. Dark red stains clung to it, dried deep into the fabric.
He walked carefully; every step shifted loose stones from the long-forgotten road beneath him. The road had been long claimed by vines, its edges were lined with demon statues, many already toppled on the road or their remains scattered down the mountainside.
Mytri glanced right and looked up at them. He saw a partially broken demoness, her clothing was broken away exposing a bluish glow from within. Each standing statue held a sharp spear with a crest on each side of the spearhead that was of an eye with a slit for a pupil.
Something shifted within him as he took in the appearance of the statues. Every male statue was carved with impossible muscle, their forms bared without restraint. The demonesses beside them were no different after all, hips widened, waists narrowed, stone shaped into deliberate excess.
Vines crept through the cracked stones, some leaves were faintly glowing, casting a cold, shifting shadow.
Mytri scoffed at the sight of it, his grey hair whipped in the wind.
Mytri's gaze lingered only a moment before he looked away.
"No shame…" He muttered.
He exhaled quietly. "They deserved better than this…"
"What were the thoughts behind them? I pity those female and male demons of which those statues are modeled after. Although demons are mostly long gone, it's wrong for them to be still standing. It's just… degrading the history of their species…" Mytri thought to himself.
He sighed and looked towards the end, where a marvelous cathedral welcomed him. A structure embodying the living beauty and modesty of the natural world.
"Was this place… conquered? It might be. Even the worst architects wouldn't have this much of a difference in style, or am I putting too much faith in them? I truly don't understand…"
Mytri ceased to be curious and stared at the gates ahead. Wooden and meticulously etched with a figure of a woman under a veil with a crescent moon on her veil.
He placed his palms to the wood and stopped for a moment, "Forgive me, dragon. You must die so my student can live," Mytri said outloud as he pushed the gates open.
Staring right into the darkness he walked in saying, "It saddens me. Your life will be taken by the end of it. Yet evil always catches up with one.
***
Inside a cathedral, purple carpet lined the path in the center of the building. On each side it was filled with countless pillars extending into the darkness above. They were like the firmament that held the skies.
Into them were engraved disproportionate statues, the hollow indents that held them seemed like they were too big for them.
They were filled with statues of demons who leaned forward onto the sword that was struck in the ground. Mytri glanced at them and gave them no second thoughts.
Periodically from the darkness ahead, a strong gust of wind hit Mytri, like a boulder falling from the mountain side. The wind had a rhythm to it, every five seconds a gust of wind flew at him.
Mytri walked for what it felt like hours, observing in his peripheral vision the statues. Each time one passed, he sighed. He did not know why he did that.
Just ahead a massive body of red emerged sleeping on the ground, it was breathing in and out rhythmically.
"There you are," Mytri said. " You were wasting yourself for twenty years here! Today you will finally join her!"
His words were loud enough to stir the dragon away. He opened his wrinkled eyes, pushing scales aside, his third eyelid slid open revealing a golden eye with a vertical slit for an eye, "Who shall interrupt my deepest dreams?" The dragon said, yawning as he lifted his head high, "Are you prepared for the consequences of your actions—" The dragon stopped abruptly mid-sentence, his pupils narrowed and low rumbled almost a whisper, "Mytri. I had hoped you were a ghost."
"It's been… twenty years since I saw you. And you still look the same old self; how is that possible for a human? Hah, it baffles me." The dragon chuckled. "Your mind must be clouded, so I'll remind myself, I bear the name of the Meheret! The—"
"I'm not that old; I know who you are." Mytri said,
"Ah? Is that so? Care to explain to me, since you seem to be deeply knowledgeable in that area, while being a walking, living encyclopedia?"
"Meheret, former holy general of the Dragon King, am I right?" Mytri's tone softened slightly as he looked up at him.
"So you still connect those pathways within your mind, Haha! It's good to see you, old friend."
"Me too… me too," Mytri muttered.
Meheret observed Mytri's face and easily read his expression. "So my time has come to an end? Am I right?"
"I'm sorry…"
"Oh don't be…" Meheret said. "I deserve it; at least you can give me a dignified end."
Mytri took a deep breath in, looking at him with grey eyes; his wrinkles seemed to shift. "I, Mytri Von Makkalen, vow to give you a proper fight, Meheret. You will die with dignity. Dignity worthy of a dragon."
Meheret looked up at the sky through the hole in the ceiling. "It's truly the end… May I know why now?"
"It's… my student. She needs your heart to live a little longer."
The dragon smiled, tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I see…"
Meheret looked at Mytri, slowly lowering his head to the level of Mytri's head. "Is that so? Then I'll gladly give it away to her."
"Thank you." Mytri said.
"Don't be. If it was for my student, I'd do the same thing. It's only natural to care for the family."
"Of course, that's what family is for… and I hope she rests in peace in heaven. I hope it hasn't tormented you over the years."
"It still feels like yesterday." Meheret closed his eyes, reminiscing about the scenes. He says, "I still remember Levrevi running down the meadows, laughing and calling for me. Her laughter was like a soothing melody to my heart, after all… she was my daughter."
Meheret stood up, looking up at the sky, taking in the cold wind from the outside. "If only I were stricter… They wouldn't have kidnapped her…"
"Me too Meheret…," Mytri said, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.. "Don't blame yourself; it was the fairies' doing and fault, as too were the elves. They should've retreated when they still could, but they did not."
"Even though… Looking back, I regret my madness. My madness."
Mytri tightly gripped the hilt of his sword. "Enough. It was their fault. Fairies should not have taken Levrevi away as a hostage. The elves should've retreated seeing the risks. But both sides did not. It happened; that's all in the past. Stop dwelling on something that cannot be changed."
"She's in a better place now."
"Of course…" Meheret said, "I'll soon join her… Oh how I longed for this… Then, Mytri… please, give me a proper fight, a proper death, old friend."
"You're… not angry?" Mytri asked,
"No, Mytri. I'm not. I deserve it, those lives I took, those countless precious lives I burned… I regret it."
"I see… Then, Meheret, I'll bring your joyful yet dignified fight!" Mytri shouted.
"BRING IT ON! I WON'T HOLD BACK." Meheret shouted atop his lungs, shaking the foundations of the whole cathedral.
Mytri lunged forward, blades flashing as he struck in a deadly arc. At the same instant, Mehered drew a sharp breath and unleashed a torrent of scorching fire that roared toward his opponent.
By the end of it, only one would still be standing.