Chapter 33

Kronveld was not allowed to regain consciousness.

He was far too dangerous and unpredictable.

Three mages from the monastery continuously maintained a spell of enchanted sleep over him.

His fingers, hands, legs, mouth, and eyes were securely bound so that he could not cast a spell.

All his injuries had been healed with magic.

A magical pendant was placed around his neck, draining every trace of mana from his body.

In this condition, he was prepared for transport to the Four Crowns, where he would answer for the death of Galsius.

Then Archer felt the spirit of the monastery become agitated.

Afraid.

Dumo retreated deep beneath the earth.

“Dumo?” Archer asked.

“He is here,” Dumo whispered, barely audible.

“The Dragon has come to Mos.”

The monastery bell began to ring.

Every monk hurried toward the main entrance.

Archer, Sol, and Anka ran with them.

When they reached the gates, Archer could perceive through the Unger bandage that the monks had crowded around the entrance but were refusing to step outside.

“Anka, stay inside,” Sol said.

“Archer, Farvin and Dola Ray are outside.

“They’re talking.

“I don’t see the Dragon.”

“Let’s go talk to Dola Ray,” Archer said.

“I’m sure she came here for us.”

“Let’s go,” Sol replied.

They walked across the green grass of the island of Mos, leaving the safety of the monastery walls behind.

As they approached Farvin and Dola Ray, Farvin turned toward them.

“This guest has come for you, Archer,” he said.

“I’ll leave you now.

“Please, be careful.”

Farvin walked back toward the monastery.

“You took my mage,” Dola Ray said in her pleasant voice.

“Kronveld is alive,” Archer replied.

“He attacked us first.

“We took him into custody.”

“Yes,” the ambassador said.

“He lost his temper.

“But he may still prove useful once he wakes up.”

“Dola, it’s over,” Archer said.

“Kronveld was responsible for everything that happened to Arkonia and Planet.

“He is the man from the Dreurg prophecy.

“We’re taking him to another world, where he’ll answer for Galsius’s death.

“The Dreurg prophecy will not come true.

“Arkonia’s campaign against the Lilians must end as well.

“Let’s put an end to all this strife.”

Dola Ray laughed.

“What... what is it?” Archer asked.

Suddenly, Archer felt an overwhelming attraction to Dola Ray.

He couldn’t see her, yet somehow, through every other sense, he felt that she had become even more beautiful.

To Archer, there was nothing in the world more beautiful or more wonderful than this woman.

Her presence was so pleasant, so utterly overwhelming, that his body began to fail him.

His legs suddenly went weak.

He fell to his knees.

“Archer, what’s wrong?” Sol asked, crouching beside him.

“Yes, Archer,” the woman said.

“What’s wrong?”

“You...” Archer managed.

“You’re the Dragon.”

Dola Ray laughed.

The effect vanished instantly, and Archer slowly began to recover.

“Sol, help me up,” Archer said, still weakened by her influence.

Sol helped him to his feet.

“You’re the Dragon,” Archer said.

“I am the Dragon,” the woman replied.

“What do you want?” Archer asked.

“I came to thank you for the gift of billions of souls,” Dola Ray said.

“I haven’t been this full in thousands of years.

“It’s a pity you cannot give me mana in equal abundance.

“But you have done me a great service nonetheless.

“In return, you may ask for a reward.”

“You will leave Planet,” Archer said.

“Leave this world alone.

“Let it live.”

“Easy,” Dola Ray replied.

“This world never interested me very much anyway.

“Its population is only a few tens of millions.

“Far too small a harvest.

“I think I’ll find another world richer in souls and mana.”

“No,” Archer said.

“Wait.

“What can I do to keep you from attacking worlds?”

“Provide me with a reliable source of souls and mana,” the woman-Dragon replied.

“I gave you billions of souls,” Archer said.

“Yes,” Dola Ray replied.

“Souls are to me what food is to you—what food is to humans.

“But humans need water as well as food.

“And I need mana just as badly.”

“I’ll find you mana,” Archer said.

Dola Ray laughed.

“Why would you do that?” she asked.

“So you won’t harm other worlds,” Archer replied.

“Yes, but what do you get out of it?” the woman-Dragon asked.

“Knowing that I did the right thing,” he said.

“Oh, you poor, poor fool,” she said.

“The gods blessed you with a kind heart, didn’t they?

“And now you can’t simply be content with what you have.

“You have to help others.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Archer said.

“Yes, but you’re fighting against the elements,” she replied.

“You’re fighting against nature itself.

“Worlds inhabited by humans and races like them will always be imperfect.

“And how many such worlds can you possibly help?

“A handful.

“There are infinitely many of them.

“The universe, meanwhile, is indifferent.

“That is its natural state.”

“I’ll find mana for you,” Archer said.

“And I’ll provide you with a regular supply of both mana and souls.”

“I don’t think that will be enough,” Dola Ray replied.

“What else do you want?” Archer asked.

“Food for the mind,” she said.

“Being well fed is pleasant.

“But manipulating entire worlds—secretly controlling millions of intelligent beings—is even better.

“There is something deeply satisfying about it.

“I wouldn’t trade that pleasure for any amount of souls or mana.”

“Then why can’t you manipulate worlds for their own benefit?” Archer asked.

“Because my nature demands sacrifice.

“It demands a harvest,” Dola Ray replied.

“Look at the predators of Planet.

“They hunt other creatures and feed upon them.

“You don’t tell them, ‘Don’t do that.’

“You understand that they simply cannot live any other way.

“Nature made them what they are.

“And nature made me what I am.”

“I don’t believe a Dragon is incapable of overcoming its own nature,” Archer said.

“Dumo told me there is nothing that can rival a Dragon in intelligence or wisdom.

“Are you really incapable of exercising self-control?”

“I exercise plenty of self-control,” Dola Ray replied.

“It is because of my self-control that you are merely blind instead of dead.”

“Then stop terrorizing other worlds,” Archer said.

“Offer me a worthy alternative,” Dola Ray replied, “and I’ll consider your proposal.”

“A worthy alternative...” Archer murmured thoughtfully.

“Food for the mind.”

Then he had an idea.

“I can offer you one worthy alternative.

“Join me, Sol, and Anka.

“Become our fourth companion.”

The woman-Dragon laughed.

“Travel with us from world to world,” Archer continued as the woman laughed.

“Help us help those worlds.

“Help us build civilizations.

“Build instead of tearing down.

“Create instead of destroy.”

“Yes, that would certainly be an interesting sight,” Dola Ray said after finally laughing her fill.

“A Dragon helping people.

“That would be something.”

“Why not?” Archer asked.

“We’ve already given you plenty of souls.

“Come with us, and we’ll find you plenty of mana.

“You need food for the mind?

“Fine.

“The adventures Anka, Sol, and I have are every bit as interesting as the dramas you create.

“Look at me.

“I’m an immortal traveler between worlds.

“I have a magic brush capable of bringing almost anything I draw into reality.

“And I remember absolutely nothing about myself or my past.

“I travel with an undead woman who stopped decomposing and now barely differs from an ordinary human.

“And I travel with an artificial man in a robotic body who created copies of himself in a basement and absolutely refuses to regard them as replacements for himself.

“I think you’d fit right in with us.

“A Dragon seems like the natural next addition to our unusual little group.”

“A Dragon will not submit to a human,” Dola Ray said.

“You don’t have to submit to anyone,” Archer replied.

“Everyone in our group is free to do whatever they want.

“Yes, we pursue a common goal, and we help one another.

“Look at Sol.

“Giving you billions of souls was his idea.

“His initiative.

“And just now he told Anka to stay inside, even though he isn’t our leader.

“Our group is a collection of autonomous beings.

“We’re friends.”

Dola Ray laughed.

“And how does it feel to be without a head, autonomous being?” she asked Sol.

“Unusual,” Sol replied.

“I have to rely on the auxiliary sensors in my space armor.

“But I’m not human.

“A head isn’t essential for me.”

“Yes, you certainly fooled Kronveld with that,” Dola Ray said.

“So what do you think?

“Archer wants me to join you.

“What do you want?”

“My own goals were accomplished long ago, largely thanks to Archer,” Sol replied.

“Now I simply accompany him because I find it interesting.

“Do I want you to join us?

“No.

“I have no such desire.

“But I understand that the alternative could be catastrophic for other worlds.

“So I support Archer’s proposal and invite you to travel with us.”

“You are either very brave or very foolish,” Dola Ray said.

“Inviting a Dragon into your group is absurd.

“Archer, do you understand how dangerous I am?”

“Maybe not,” Archer replied.

“But I’m following logic and intuition.

“And they’re telling me that you belong with us.”

“I’m not some animal, Archer,” Dola Ray said.

“I cannot be tamed.

“I cannot be changed.

“I will always be a Dragon.

“And humans will always be food to me.”

“Yes, but look at us,” Archer said.

“We’re talking.

“We’re having a conversation.

“You came here to thank us for the gift of hundreds of billions of souls.

“Everything about our relationship so far has been remarkably civilized.

“I think that’s a good beginning.

“And I think we can continue interacting in the same spirit.”

“I think,” the woman-Dragon replied, “that you’re getting a little too comfortable.”

Archer suddenly felt the ground shift beneath his feet.

He fell.

Sol disappeared.

The monastery disappeared.

And Dola Ray’s slender body began transforming rapidly into something utterly inhuman.

She became a reptilian creature with a long neck, four legs, wings, and a long tail.

And the reptile grew.

And grew.

And grew.

Until it reached a size beyond anything Archer could comprehend.

Archer sat on the ground as every instinct in his body screamed at him to hide.

To freeze.

Not to move.

Not to breathe.

His hands trembled with a wild, inhuman fear.

His heart hammered frantically.

His head spun as his mind struggled to comprehend what was happening.

The Dragon completed its transformation.

It was a monster of colossal proportions.

It lowered its enormous jaws toward Archer and spoke in a deep, terrifying voice.

“And now what, Archer?

“Will you still take me into your group?”

The Painter felt tears fill his eyes.

His body wanted to run.

“Wait,” he managed.

He began forcing himself to his feet.

With trembling hands, he pushed against the ground and rose on unsteady legs.

His heart felt ready to burst from his chest.

His mind wanted to scream:

Have mercy!

He gathered every ounce of will he possessed.

And against every instinct in his body, he walked forward.

Toward the Dragon’s jaws.

“Yes, I-I’m afraid,” Archer said, stammering.

“But that d-doesn’t...

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

Archer walked as close to the Dragon’s jaws as he could and placed his palm against one of the creature’s enormous scales.

“You belong with us,” Archer said.

“I’m not going to tame you.

“I’m not going to change you.

“And if humans will always be food to you, then so be it.

“But I’ll still keep trying to convince you not to eat them.

“You belong with us.

“Together, we can do more.”

In that instant, the illusion dissolved.

Archer could once again sense Sol nearby through the Unger bandage and the monastery behind him.

He was standing beside Dola Ray.

And his palm was resting against her cheek.

She took his hand in hers.

“Fool,” she said in her gentle voice.

“I need to sit down.”

Archer felt his legs weakening again.

His heart was still pounding wildly in his chest, and his hands were still trembling.

But now he could once again feel Dola Ray’s pleasant magnetism.

He sat down on the ground.

She knelt beside him and released his hand.

“Even if I join you,” she said, “sooner or later we’ll disagree.

“We’ll have conflicts.

“We won’t be able to find a compromise, because we see the world—and life itself—far too differently.”

“Then I’ll try to see the world through your eyes,” Archer said.

“And if you can, try to see it through mine.”

“No,” Dola Ray replied.

“I have lived many lives in human bodies.

“Dola Ray is not my first incarnation.

“I know perfectly well what it means to be human.

“And your view of the world and the universe does not appeal to me.

“Yes, I find all your human drama entertaining.

“But no matter how many lives I spend as a human, I feel no kinship with your kind.”

“Yes, but did humans ever accept you as a Dragon?” Archer asked.

“As who you truly are?”

“No,” she replied.

“But I don’t need to be accepted.

“I need to be feared.

“That is enough.”

“All right,” Archer said.

“I’m afraid of you.

“We’ve established that.

“But I also accept you for what you are.

“And I still think you should join us.”

She sighed deeply.

“I’m going to ask you a question, Archer,” Dola Ray said.

“And if I like your answer, I’ll join you.

“Here is my question:

“Would you give your last life for this world?

“For this Planet?

“Yes or no?

“And why?”

Archer thought about it.

He remained silent, feeling the wind against his face.

It seemed as though the entire world had gone still.

“No,” Archer finally answered.

“I would not give my last life for this world.

“Because even with only one life remaining, I could potentially help dozens of worlds.

“Perhaps hundreds.

“My life could give rise to trillions of other lives.

“I can do more good while I’m alive than my death could ever do for this one world.

“That is my answer.”

Dola Ray nodded.

“I like your answer,” she said.

“I’ll join you.

“But if I find traveling with your group boring, I’ll leave.

“And remember, Archer:

“You said we are all autonomous.

“I do not belong to you.

“I do not obey you.”

“I understand,” Archer said.

“You’re our companion.”

“I am your companion,” the woman-Dragon repeated.

“There’s a well of inexhaustible mana inside the monastery,” Archer said.

“You can drink as much as you want.

“But first you’ll have to break bread.

“It’s the tradition here.”