Dragon

ㅤ The sword capable of granting victory over Dhaos had formed its shape. But it didn't yet possess the required power. "The blade must be tempered with frozen flame and drenched in the blood of seven dragons," Origin informed. "Well, maybe we'll find dragons…" Klarth racked his brain, trying to remember where they even lived. "That's unlikely…" Arche noted pessimistically. "Quiet!" Klarth reprimanded her, returning to his thought. "But… frozen flame?" "I can't even imagine such a thing," Cless admitted. "I've never heard of anything like that," Mint said, not adding any enthusiasm. "There's no need to worry," Origin hastened to reassure. "I'll send one of you to where everything necessary is available." "Alone?" Klarth became wary. "Even my strength isn’t enough for more." The insistent stares of all his friends instantly made Cless feel uneasy. However, he didn't deny it: the sword was his, and therefore the responsibility for seeing the matter through to the end was his. Taking a deep breath, Cless resigned himself to his fate. "I'm ready!" he said decisively, looking Origin in the eyes. At that moment, a time warp seemed to open before him. But he only had to blink to find himself in a completely different place. A gray platform, soaring toward the sky. "Serge?" the unfamiliar voice rang with hope. Cless turned towards the girl in the red jester outfit, the only bright spot in the place. Her hope quickly gave way to sad disappointment. There was so much pain in her smile, so much longing in her eyes, that Cless' heart involuntarily sank. 'What a pity…' read her face. "It was naive to think I'd be able to see him one last time, explain everything. Say goodbye…" she said, as if to herself. Something gurgled and stirred behind the girl! A huge, fleshy mass, struggling to form something viable. A struggle appeared on the girl's face, as if she were hindering the process. "It looks like I won't be able to wait for him anymore…" Her body gradually began to dissolve, merging with the air and joining the mass like ghostly particles. Cless didn't know how to react. Fear and incomprehension gripped him, and sympathy overwhelmed him. "Do you feel sorry for me?" the girl smiled encouragingly. "You shouldn't. After all, I'm no more. And what will soon awaken will bring destruction to all of humanity if you continue to doubt. The Dragon God doesn't trifle with humans…" 'A dragon?' Cless barely remembered his mission. And it was hard to believe that that something had anything to do with dragons. "If you see Serge…" she continued, now invisible, barely perceptibly, "don't tell him I was here…" "But…" 'What's your name?' Cless wanted to ask, but didn't have time. The risen monster didn't even remotely resemble a dragon, yet its mere presence inspired unprecedented power. Cless almost gave in to despair. "I must defeat Dhaos… I can't die here…" Gripping his sword hilt tighter, Cless prepared for battle. He wasn't the first to attack. A young man with an unusual weapon practically leaped at the monster. "Serge, don't get too excited!" "We're with you!" A girl and another young man rushed into battle to support Serge. Casting aside his emotions, Cless joined them, concentrating on one thing—victory! Hard-won… Before the heat of battle had even died down, it appeared—the Frozen Flame. There was no other way to describe it. Cless couldn't say for sure if it was truly a flame, but that's what it reminded him of. The Flame illuminated the darkness with a bright light, but was swallowed by the dust raised by the sudden storm. Unnatural, like the flame itself. The Eternity Sword responded, absorbing the light, feeding on the power of the "flame". The wind grew stronger—he had to close his eyes. When Cless opened them, he found himself surrounded by worried friends. Mint immediately began healing. And Cless… simply stood there, silent. Beyond the battle and chaos, the image of the girl in the jester costume returned to his mind. And this image refused to disappear… "There…" Cless tried to say something. "Don't worry, you won't have to fight anymore. There were seven dragons in one." 'No… Not that…' Cless wanted to ask something completely different. But suddenly, he realized: 'She is… the dragon…?' "She said… she's gone…" Cless looked at the bloody sword. It just didn't fit in his head that the girl was part of the dragon. And it was as if he had slain her, not the monster… Sacrificed her… 'I'm no more,' her words echoed. Cless shuddered, turning pale. "Cless?" Seeing the torment on his face, Mint tried to ease his soul with conversation. Cless turned away, choosing to remain silent. He never told his friends what had happened in that strange place… ㅤ