Fear? Do I feel fear?

Yes.

I, who has drunk the blood of a thousand dragons, feel fear.

There are three things a person can do if faced with something they fear. They can run back, they can stand still, or they can move forward.

If one runs away from the thing he fears, sooner or later it will catch up to him. He is merely prolonging the agony. If one stand still, not daring to do anything about the thing he fears, time itself will move him forward. He will experience what he fears sooner than the person who runs away, yes, experience it he will, but he will be fearful for a relatively shorter period. The person who moves forward meets his fears earlier than the other two, but he also gets over with it quickly. In the end, he is fearful for the shortest amount of time among the three.

I am too lazy to run away. If I just stand still and watch my fears coming closer, that’s more frightening, my time would be wasted feeling afraid while doing nothing. However, if I run straight towards it, I can deal with it swiftly and gorge on a mountain of food afterwards. Actually, I would prefer standing still, but, alas, I do not have the power to stop time. So, until I have the power to stop time, I choose the third option. It is faster that way and it will be less taxing on my nerves.

I am not a brave man. Just a lazy one. A lazy but efficient man that will rush headlong through his fears and overcome them swiftly. A man that knows fear, nonetheless.

-Dragon’s Blood Drinker Emperor KrsytFallen

An untitled book

(Single known copy- Fahllyr Great Horn Stronghold Vault)

“Just confirming again. There was nothing in the data orbs?”

“Absolutely nothing, Jel. We already told you about it yesterday,” Felix said.

His younger sister, Felixia nodded her frizzy hair beside him. She adjusted her glasses and said, “Brother should just apply with the Department of Engynareum, he just dabbles with engynaretech all the time. Although he’s very good in sealcrafting, he is way better in dealing with tech even if he did not go to the College of Engynareum.”

“Still, I found it surprising that you guys snuck around the data rooms of the geezers while they were out greeting Darl’s dad,” Jel said. “They just want to get in his good graces. Still, Lord Malachi’s Powercore Armor looks so cool!”

“Actually, Harvey was the one who thought of going there while everyone was away,” Felix explained while giving Harvey an acknowledging nod.

Harvey was walking behind Felix and Felixia, twirling his golden curls, which looked like rays of the sun that formed a nest on his head. He replied, “My father has taken me there a few times while he was overseeing the work of the sealcrafters mapping the possible effects of the mana node. It was interesting to see how they simulate possible new mana streams and which cities will be greatly benefited. Stuff like that. Of course, I’m not allowed to touch anything.”

“Look at you kids, doing stuff on your own, playing detective to uncover some great mystery that will probably threaten the safety of the empire?” Jel said with a fake condescending smile.

Felixia stuck her tongue out at Jel. “Hey! We just have a few years between us. We’re the same age as the junior Fahllyr junior trainees. I don’t see you calling them kids.”

“How can you be so sure of my age? Fahllyrs don’t normally look like their age since our lifespan is twice the norm.”

“Well, you can’t be more than nineteen, since you’re a few months younger than Aileen. Although, you guys normally finish your stint here by eighteen. Why are you still here anyway?” Felix asked. “I know Aileen’s here because her elder sister did not want her to come back until the suppression of the rebels was done with, so she got delayed.

Jel shrugged her shoulders. “My family wants me to study sealcrafting from the elder Fahllyrs who stay here. Supposed to stay here, mind you. Even if they are supposedly retired and supposed to stay here and help in training the younger generation, they are out most of the time. Attending social gatherings, delivering a speech in a university in some foreign country, doing research in the grakking middle of nowhere… They don’t sit still even if they’re more than a century and a half years old! It’s a miracle that one of the elders is here right now. Good thing he came with Darl’s dad and actually stayed. Dunno when he’s going to leave.”

“They don’t want you to go, because if you go, then Aileen will be the one who will be in charge of the trainees here. The temple will burn down in less than a week. She doesn’t have the temper to be in charge of anything,” Harvey said with a grim face. “They want Aileen to go first before letting you go. Then it’s Darl who will be in charge.”

“That’s not so far from the truth actually,” Jel said with a laugh. “Probably it will take her a couple of weeks to destroy everything. Anyway, going back to what I was talking about earlier, are you really sure that they did not conduct any tests? What if they just deleted their data afterwards?”

“Hey, do you doubt my skills in digging around data orbs?” Felix said while folding his arms across his chest. “How many times have I told you that there’s always a trace if people delete data. In fact, even if you smash the data orb, I can still probably get something from its pieces.”

Jel’s playful face turned serious. “So they really did not conduct tests on the energy stream from the mana node…”

“After you expressly told them to,” Felixia added in a sing-song voice.

“That’s what I told you yesterday,” Felix said and added a sigh. “Perhaps they’re just ignoring us since we are kids.”

“They can’t ignore Jel,” Harvey said.

“True, I’m practically representing the Fahllyr family when I speak here. Makes me think there’s something more to this than meets the eye.” Jel looked at Felix. “Who knows, they may really be covering up something.”

“See! I told you before, this is important!”

“I honestly thought this was not important before but I am convinced now. There was probably someone who countermanded my order. Someone high up. I doubt Praxus would do it,” Jel said, glancing at Harvey.

“My dad won’t do that,” Harvey said simply. There was no hint that he felt insulted. “He wants to please everyone, sometimes it’s really embarrassing to watch him, but there’s no way he will disobey Jel, when she speaks for the Fahllyrs. My dad’s motto in life is to get in the good side of everyone.”

“Unless the one who countermanded Jel was someone very important that they could actually disobey Jel without even an explanation. They essentially let Jel's instruction pass into one ear and out of the other”

“Another thing that makes me think that there’s something sketchy here was that they did not do any tests whatsoever after I discovered that there was a power interruption,” Felix said.

“What?” Jel’s eyes widened. “So even before our meeting they did not actually do anything? Are you absolutely sure about this? And why did you tell me just now?”

Felix smiled sheepishly. “I did say that there’s nothing from the data orbs. Before or after you gave your orders. No tests whatsoever to investigate about the power interruption. There’s also nothing before it happened. It’s like they don’t care.”

“What the grakk?” Jel threw her hands up in the air. “I know it’s just a teensy weensy power interruption but we’re talking about the mana node here. If something happens to that thing and we don’t get any more energy…we’re so dead. The empire will be severely weakened.”

“I don’t think it’s the mana node though. It has probably something to do with the citysigil. We need to examine its design so that we can see whether it has an intermediate seal or something.”

“Worth a shot,” Jel began to say then she noticed several old sealcrafters dressed in green robes coming their way.

“Good afternoon Lady Jel,” the sealcrafters said the ancient bunch in unison while giving a bow of respect.

“Good afternoon, my great granduncle is expecting you.”

“We are grateful, my lady, for giving us this opportunity to meet with the great Adept sealcrafter Matteo Fahllyr.”

“My lady, if there is anything you need, we would gladly oblige.”

Jel stared up the ceiling while pretending to think. “Nothing comes to mind as of yet. You should hurry. Uncle Matteo does not like waiting,” she told them.

“Hey aren’t those the guys from Delphine Hall?” Harvey asked. He had seen his father talking to them before outside the corridor leading to Delphine Hall.

“Yup,” Jel said simply while she continued walking.

“Hey!” Felix exclaimed; it finally dawned on him. “You followed Harvey’s plan.”

“It was fortunate that Uncle Matteo was here. I’m actually not sure if he’s my great granduncle, I should probably add another ‘great’ there.” Jel scrunched here nose. “Still, I find it annoying to talk to those old guys. They turn all nice and respectful only when they need something from you.”

“Ah, well politics still exists very much in this temple,” Harvey said.

“True.”

“So we’re going to Delphine Hall?” Felixia asked excitedly while skipping ahead of them. “You’re actually actively participating in this plan?”

“We can’t have Felix’s theory go to waste. I’m not going to be the one to go inside anyway. I’ll just break you in,” Jel said with a mischievous smile. “I can’t really get afford to get caught doing this. Aileen probably could, but she’s useless for sneaking around.”

“I’m fine with that; I’m the one who wanted to poke around in the first place.”

“Wow, taking responsibility. You’re becoming mature and all that.”

“It’s like my brother has changed,” Felixia said. “He’s serious when it comes to this power interruption business. He doesn’t even joke around anymore!”

“My guts are telling me that something fishy is going on. Who knows, we could really end up being heroes of Krysperia.”

Harvey said, “Did it occur to you guys that this is probably something that the higher ups doesn’t want the public to know? Or they’re probably hiding something that has to do with the security of the empire, and we’re unknowingly trying to expose it.”

“That did occur to me,” Jel replied. “Still, we’re going through with this. This is interesting don’t you think? And also a tad suspicious. The suspicious part is enough reason to break into Delphine Hall. You guys already broke in the data rooms in the inner temple.”

“But this is much more serious. The sealcrafters hide all their important stuff there. There are probably some scrolls of Emperor Krystfallen stored there.”

“How are we going in there anyway?” Felix asked Jel.

She grinned and held up a metal bracelet with mana lines and glowing crystal studs.

“Wha- that’s a control for the security of the temple? But I thought that you gave it to-”

“I gave Darl the main one. This one only controls the security systems for the more important parts of the temple; Delphine Hall for one. Just for the corridor though. We still need to get past their own security for the door going inside.”

“Jel can surely break that one!” Felixia shouted down the corridor.

“We’re a relaxed looking bunched,” Harvey observed while flicking his golden hair back.

Jel wore the metal bracelet on her wrist cracked her fingers. “Well, fellow detectives of the empire. Here we are. The entrance of Delphine Hall.” She pressed something on her bracelet. “Aaand deactivate.”

High Priest Eleazar came from the Congregation of Mandolin City, near the north-western fringes of the empire. He was on an official visit to meet the bishop of the Church of the Dragon and to report on the affairs of the believers in his city.

The high priest was quite exultant that he was able to come to Krysperium. The Church in his city has flourished since he was placed at its helm. A beautiful temple was undergoing construction, funded by the local noblemen that have been converted. Certainly, the bishop would be most pleased with his accomplishments.

The wrinkles on his face rippled as a slight smile flitted momentarily. The nobles in his city were willing to do anything he asked of them. Faith! They had faith! They follow what they say as a representative of the Church. A servant of the God Paximillon, implementing his will on the material plane. He had them in the palm of his hands.

Mandolin City was also very close to the neighboring kingdom, Almeiron. The proud Almeirons. It would be very easy to spread the teachings of the Church of the Dragon abroad once they have a strong following on the border cities fronting this kingdom. Almeiron has a very strict policy against proselytization of other religions that go against their state religion.

Heathens, High Priest Eleazar thought. The conversion of the Almeirons, that was his great dream. It would be a great legacy if he accomplished such monumental task. He needed the support of the bishop. If all the cities bordering Almeiron was converted then it would be simply a matter of time before their religion start trickling into the heathen kingdom. Pressures of commerce can easily break open borders that barred missionaries.

Two high priests were conversing with Eleazar. He was told that the bishop was not available for that day. No matter. He planned to stay until the coming of age ceremony of the princess. The two high priests assured him that he would have an audience in the next few days.

Truth be told, the thing he was looking forward to the most in his visit to Krysperium was basking in the light of the Dragon’s Heart. A fraction of the connection of all existence can be felt on its most basic level just by being in the presence of the Dragon’s Heart. His own heart pined for such sensation once again. It felt like another sense was created deep within his being. An intense craving to feel its light once again. To be one with everything.

He could have stayed in Krysperium as one of the administering high priests to the bishop, then he could have enjoyed the unearthly happiness the orb brings when the bishop was the one presiding over the service. But Eleazar was not contented with that. He was willing to be away from the orb for a long time if it meant that he will get it later.

Yes, he plans to wield it someday. To be Bishop Eleazar.

Mandolin was his starting point. Almeiron was they key. All of the north would be under his Congregation.

The two high priests that kept him company were close confidants of the bishop and were the most senior among their ranks. Both of them were deeply interested in the proposal of Eleazar to extend their reach into the heart of Almeiron. Once Almeiron was converted, the other kingdoms that were not very welcoming towards the Church of the Dragon would follow suit.

“Eleazar, I am truly surprised at how far the city of Mandolin has come. The kingdom of Almeiron has always exerted some influence on your border city, swaying it to their own religion of worshiping lesser powers they considered gods. Now, a majority of Mandolin has been converted.”

“Paximillon blesses our way. I dream of a Forkspear that is united in faith,” Eleazar said in a clear mellow voice. The people always loved hearing his sermons. He has convinced himself that it was due to his charisma that the majority of Mandolin has chosen to be converted. The voice of a representative of Paximillon that won over the hearts of even the most tight-fisted noble.

The high priest to his right nodded his head. “We all dream of that future, Eleazar. It was also the dream of Emperor Krystfallen. For his blood was spilt.”

“That ours might flow.”

The peaceful silence of the room was interrupted by a hurried knock on the door.

“What could that be?” The other high priest asked. The knocking persisted so he waved his hand and the door opened. “Come in.”

Five priests went inside the room with thrilled expressions; some of them even had tears in their eyes. Eleazar raised his brow towards the other high priests; their stares told him that they also did not know what was happening.

“High priest Benjamin, Brother Nathaniel has glorious news.”

Another priest stepped forward, a clean-shaven middle-aged man who had a wild look in his eyes , he was also sweating and a bit short of breath. Doubtless, he had been running before coming to their presence.

“Nathaniel, that’s my name.” He bowed down to them. “High priests, I bring news of a miracle. The Emperor speaks to us!” His voice was shaky from barely contained excitement.

“A miracle?”

“What are you talking about?”

The high priests all looked at each other.

Eleazar felt his heart skip a bit. What was this feeling? A feeling of anticipation? Of what?

“Brother Nathaniel, explain to them what you have seen.”

“The claw chip!” The one called Nathaniel was staring at the ceiling with his hands shaking before him. “I saw it! Lightning! The claw chip of the Emperor Krystfallen had produced lighting! Thousands of pilgrims and my brothers in the courtyard had witnessed it! The claw chip brought forth lightning from its core!”

“The crowds are bowing before the silver column outside. We have seen them from the windows of this building. Several of our brethren have run towards this miracle,” another priest said.

“It was true! I was praying and meditating on the balcony while focusing on the holy relic when it suddenly flashed and shot forth several bursts of lightning.”

High Priest’s Benjamin’s face crumbled as he broke down in tears and knelt on the floor. "I was waiting for this my whole life!" he cried out. He began chanting ancient prayers from the scrolls of Emperor Krystfallen.

Eleazar did not know what to think. His heart was raising and there were goosebumps on his skin. A burning feeling was welling up inside him. Is this the warmth from hearing the message of a miracle?

“We should go to the courtyard! Everyone should go there and verify if this is true. We should also inform the bishop!”

“High priests! If the most holy relic of the Emperor Krystfallen has revealed its power after the passage of five hundred years, there is a likelihood that the other relics are also manifesting their powers as we speak!”

“Brother Nathaniel has a point! That is the reason why we have hurried here. Forgive us for the earlier disturbance but we felt that all the relics should be monitored if they are part of this miraculous event.”

Eleazar looked at Benjamin; he was grovelling on the ground, relentlessly professing his faith. He then turned to the other high priest for his decision.

“Bu-but the bishop is not here. Is this talk of a miracle all true? I still find it quite hard to believe myself.”

“Let lightning strike me if I speak of any falsehood! I have seen a miracle!” Nathaniel declared with conviction. All his brother priests witnessed his profession of faith, for they too had seen the miracle albeit from a distance, nevertheless, the flash of light from the holy relic was something out of the ordinary.

There was something nagging in the back of Eleazar’s head. They had to do something about this. Confirm whether it was true or not. His fellow high priest was still skeptical while the other was in his own world of prayer.

“If the claw chip has shown its power then it is probable that the Dragon’s Heart is also showing its power as we speak! We should not waste time,” Nathaniel said. “The moment I saw the miracle, it felt as if I was witnessing the Great Emperor Krystfallen fighting his last battle. His claw chip is using the power it had used five hundred years ago. The Dragon’s Heart was also used in the last battle of Emperor Krystfallen, there is a great chance that it is also showing its light. Perhaps this is a reminder from Paximillon of his servant’s sacrifice.”

The Dragon’s Heart? Eleazar’s heart raced at the mention of his most coveted object. The Dragon’s Heart emitting even a miniscule portion of its power when it was welded by the Great Emperor would be levels above what the bishop can ever hope to produce. Eleazar can’t even begin to imagine that height of sensation that he would be feeling if he was showered by this holy light even for just a second. The orb was calling for him. He can feel it.

“I will go to the courtyard to confirm this miracle!” High Priest Benjamin attempted to stand up but his knees wobbled. A couple of priests assisted him. “You two should proceed with haste to the Vaults of Inheritance to see whether the other holy relics are spontaneously demonstrating their power.”

“But we don’t have the permission from the bishop! He told us to open it only in the direst of situations.”

Eleazar scowled inwardly. He could hardly believe what his brother high priest was saying. Can’t he feel it? The orb was calling for them. This high priest probably has taken for granted the blessings that they experience every church service. There was aching and longing in his heart for the gift of the Dragon’s Heart for all the years that he has served in Mandolin city. Perhaps his counterparts in Krysperium has grown numb to the sensation that the orb brings.

“We cannot let this opportunity pass! If something did happen with the other holy relics, how will you explain it to the bishop?” Eleazar said. He should convince his brother high priest to go to where the Dragon’s Heart was. He knows that it has activated. He should be there! He has waited for far too long.

High Priest Benjamin has already left the room assisted by a priest. The other priests looked at them for their decision. Eleazar took it upon himself to lead the group. Even if he cannot open the vault, his brother high priest can, for he has a high rank and enjoys the trust and confidence of the bishop. The other high priest had no choice but to follow him. Eleazar can see that he also wanted to see if anything had happened to the holy relics that they kept.

They passed priests and initiates who were running towards the courtyard, the news has already spread, everyone was excited, and why wouldn’t they be? Dragons wre a rare find in Krysperia since the time Emperor Krystfallen has destroyed their nest located at the present day Krysperium, but it was common knowledge that dragon scales continue to exhibit some of their residual power even if the dragon from where it came from has long died; that was why they are used to make powerful equipment that lasts for several lifetimes. For five hundred years, the claw chip has lain dormant, a truly peculiar case among dragon body parts. But now, it has shown its power. Indubitably, the Dragon Emperor spoke to them, imparting a message that they were yet to decipher.

Eleazar felt that they would be enlightened regarding this message if they consult the Dragon’s Heart.

A dozen priests and initiates chose to follow them instead of going out with their brothers to worship the claw chip. The priest Nathaniel was calling out for others who wanted to go with them to the Vault of Inheritance. Eleazar smiled. This would make it harder for his brother high priest to refuse opening the vault; the clergy following them had hopeful faces, yearning to witness a miracle.

They passed several hallways, corridors, and also a couple of portals, to reach the heart of the inner temple. Eleazar could hardly remember the path to take to the Vault of Inheritance. It has been thirty years since he has visited this part of the temple. He slowed down his pace and let his brother high priest lead the group. It would be best that they do not unknowingly ‘trespass’ the parts of the inner palace that the other occupying groups have claimed as their own, although unofficially. All of these groups, the sealcrafters, the Fahllyrs, and a few others, have their own treasure room; a closely guarded treasure room that they do not want to show to other groups.

Their group stopped before a wall that slowly dissolved after an incantation from the high priest; it revealed a narrow corridor lit with light orbs every few meters. The priests and initiates chattered excitedly, it was their first time seeing this hidden pathway.

Eleazar saw eyes of the other high priest flicker towards the people following them. “We should share everything that Paximillon will reveal to us once we reach the vault. Everyone here has the right to witness the miracle. Fret not, brother. The bishop will understand. Let us hurry for we might miss the miracle!”

Four gigantic men stood in front of the Vault of Inheritance. Members of the Draconyx Discipulus, the military arm of the church. They wore layered pure white robes bordered in red over their white armor that was fashioned to look like dragon scales. If they were surprised at the number of people approaching, their faces did not show. They gave way when they saw the high priest leading the group.

Eleazar patted his brother priest on the shoulder. “Decades I have spent away from Krysperium to serve in Mandolin. I believe that Paximillon is giving me a message, I believe God is giving all of us a message. After checking the holy relics here, we should meet with Brother Benjamin, then we will report to the bishop. It is best if we check everything first.”

“You are right brother Eleazar.” He placed his palms on a triangular sigil etched into the thick stone slabs of the vault. With a deep breath, incantations rolled from his mouth, elemental essences of light gathered around his hands like a swarm of fireflies. The thick walls slowly began to move.

The high priest moved away from the wall and instructed the priests and the initiates to stay. There were several important treasures they kept inside that he did not want them to touch.

Eleazar hastily added that they would call them if there was a miracle, he saw that they were slightly disappointed at being left behind.

His brother high priest beckoned him to follow inside. The room was rectangular in shape, it had a high vaulted ceiling supported by thick stone pillars. High wooden shelves with ornate carvings and glass casings lined the walls. Each level of shelf contains treasures and relics from saints long departed from this world. One whole stretch was dedicated to holy writings. This was truly a great inheritance from the believers of olden times.

The most important piece was from the Dragon Emperor Krystfallen.

This is it. Eleazar wanted to see the precious Dragon's Heart. He needed to feel its light shine on his soul once aga-

“What a mess,” Aya said while stepping over the unconscious bodies of the two high priests. “This guy’s really cool though, the other old priest guy was hesitant to open the vault, but you persuaded him!” he said to the unconscious body, prodding it lightly with his foot. “You actually made my job easier. I thought I had to act harder. I was never a theatrical person. I was even considering copying the face of a high priest or something, but you came along. Nice job!”

"They changed the lighting in this room?" Aya observed. Light orbs were hanging in the air, not attached to the walls as they normally should. How are they connected to the mana node? Does this room have a different power system? That would be a good feature for a treasure room, Aya thought.

He hurriedly walked down the length of the room, not even sparing a glance at the precious artifacts stored inside. The Dragon’s Heart was displayed on a pedestal at the end of the room. Aya had no doubt that it was protected.

Time to use his dragon claws.

He shed off his disguise and returned to his original appearance. Hexagonal silver scales bordered black quickly covered his skin like flipping the page of a book, where a human hand once was, a slender serpentine hand took its place.

"Just a standard tri-seal reverse energy shield. The problem is that it has three ultra high-grade mana crystals powering it. I need to get this thing out fast."

The claws reached out for the orb, but the force field held them back. Slowly, the golden claws pierced the shield, Aya fed more power to his claws. The blood runes had begun invading his body once again. He surmised that he has reached the limit when using his draconic powers, yet he pressed on. Just a little more. He did not anymore care if he was detected. His goal was already in front of him. Just get this thing and leave.

His scales were repelling the energies of the shield but the thick mana flowing from the crystals were pushing back, repelling any foreign object. An intense pressure was building up; if it was an ordinary human hand, it would have been already flattened into a sheet of flesh thinner than a piece of paper.

Claws finally grasped the orb, with one massive tug, the orb plopped out of the circular shield. The blood runes has covered his whole body, they were already pulsating and smoking. He really strained the limits of the curse.

"Nice job, me!" He said while examining the orb.

Aya unhinged his jaw and swallowed whole the Dragon's Heart.

"Or I could just have placed it in my basket?" He felt around inside his robes to make sure the basket was still there. Fortunately, the robes were large and thick; it was easy to hide something underneath. He just made his body thinner around the waist and positioned the basket to look like it was his belly. It was a hassle to shift some of his organs aside to make space for the basket, but it was worth it because he did not want to leave the basket behind. It had served him quite well.

Aya dusted his hands together and quickly walked back to the exit. Where should he go next? Should he go to the courtyard and go out from where he entered? Thousands of people should have already heard about the miracle and flocked to the courtyard; he could blend among them. But more people means more temple guards, probably even city guards, and worse, those annoying white golems.

So out the outer temple? Or the back of the inner temple? Aya does not think that they have security in place against people jumping out of the window, they would have focused on keeping people out rather than in.

He was near the exit of the vault when he stopped as something caught his eye.

One of the displays on the shelves looked familiar.

With a punch from his draconic hand, the flimsy enchantments protecting the lesser treasures gave way.

He delicately grabbed an obsidian necklace with his claws and took it out of the shelf.

"Hey, it's the necklace my first master gave me! I doubt these priests know how this works. They probably don't know this is a sword. I thought I lost this thing."