Chapter 175
Alter was traversing the center of the snowy plain accompanied only by Brillie.
His father had tried to dissuade him, but after much difficulty, he had received permission in the end.
Tiksa the Frostbane had probably sealed her body somewhere around here.
"Is it here? It's not as far as I thought, is it?"
"There are no wizards in the northern territory... and for some reason, monsters never attempted to approach this area."
After searching the surroundings for a while, Alter soon dismounted from his snow-white horse.
Brillie followed and quietly placed her hand on her sword hilt.
"It's shrouded in mist, and the slope is steep. In such conditions, hiding a body wouldn't be too difficult."
Swinging his right hand in the air, Alter caught the hidden flow of mana.
With a light gesture, the camouflaged landscape began to revert to its original form.
"It's much narrower than I thought."
"The body of a dragon couldn't possibly fit in here. Doesn't it seem even smaller than before?"
"Smaller? How?"
"How could a dragon possibly conceive descendants with a human?"
"Well, now that you mention it..."
Brillie, though puzzled, stayed close by Alter's side.
Indeed, a vast gap existed between humans and dragons, right down to their very species.
If someone wanted to overcome that gap and continue their line, it would require a tremendous anomaly.
"She said she wanted to extend her companion's lifespan. To do that, she would have had to give up a great deal."
"Most don't even live past a hundred years."
"And if she wanted to leave for another world... even magic wouldn't solve it. According to the academic methods, one would need to break the law of nature."
"I can't even begin to imagine. What was she planning to do?"
"Perhaps... that is..."
Alter fell silent in front of the thick ice wall, seized by a heavy silence.
Brillie observed carefully for a moment, then suddenly became flustered.
"There's someone in the ice! How could this happen?"
"One must be a dragon, and... the other must be the priest."
After looking between the two frozen figures, Alter was finally convinced.
If a human wanted to propagate their line, they would naturally seek out a mate of the same species.
Thus, Tiksa the Frostbane transformed her own body into that of a human and bore affection with her companion.
"You mean the dragon turned into a human?"
"There must have been no other way."
"Then... that means you can't simply be considered a dragon's descendant, can you, Alter?"
"To be precise, I only inherited the dragon's mana. That's why the horns and wings were made of ice, remember?"
"Hmm... That's a relief. I was worried something might go wrong..."
"You thought I might give birth to a dragon?"
"D-don't misunderstand. I was just concerned, that's all."
"I fully understand what you mean. But if that were really possible, it would have caused a controversy ages ago. Since nothing like that has ever been documented, I've been vaguely aware of it."
Alter had long pondered the matter of continuing his bloodline.
No doubt the mark of the dragon's blood remained, but on the surface, it scarcely showed.
By intentionally altering the species, he'd ensured only the dragon's mana had been passed on.
"... I don't think your concerns are wrong, Brillie. Considering the actions of dragons so far, it's only natural to wonder."
"To be honest, I've thought about calling in other powerful people. But since this is a personal issue, it should be resolved between us."
"That's right. And since you're already so strong, Brillie, I don't think we have to worry."
"I'll tell you in advance. If I decide, I'll cut them down immediately. I won't go easy on them just because they're your ancestors."
"Yes. Please, go ahead."
Alter released his mana and slowly reached out.
The freezing of time was a unique technique that only Tiksa the Frostbane could manifest.
By applying that principle, Tiksa had frozen her own body, but being sealed deprived her of her own will.
Thus, she had wished that one of her descendants, versed in temporal freezing, would come and release her.
'If they were truly someone I had to fight... Mother would have warned me in advance.'
Touching the magic within the ice, Alter twisted its origin.
The magic in the ice wall gradually faded, then melted away.
Soon, the two inside the ice were freed from stasis and slowly opened their eyes.
"Is this finally the time? It seems a great deal of time has passed."
The man, blue-eyed, looked at Alter and Brillie.
His sky-blue hair fell over his forehead, and his body appeared frail.
Above all else, it was hard to consider him a dragon, so feeble was his inner mana.
"After being released from stasis, do you become this weak?"
"There's no helping it. Humans are weaker than dragons."
"But some mana remains, doesn't it?"
"I used half for myself and my companion, the other half you possess. It's all useless now anyway."
Tiksa the Frostbane muttered indifferently and checked on her companion.
He was the priest who had served her, the only human she had ever loved with affection.
To be with her companion here and now had been her one wish; there was nothing more to regret.
"... That was a reckless decision. Didn't you lose your power to the Frost Witch?"
"I had accounted for as much. But the way to take it back wasn't ideal, so I'll apologize for that."
"A dragon can apologize?"
"It was all born from my own greed. Since you are also my descendant, I can't shirk that responsibility."
"..."
Alter hesitated for a moment, then closed his mouth.
He didn't want to assign blame for things already in the past.
Besides, she had at least passed down the power to eradicate dragons, so he ought to be somewhat accepting.
"You're wary of me. Do I seem that suspicious?"
"Because you're a dragon. I'm sure you understand the reason."
"Hmph... Of course I do. My kin made a mess of things. If not for Ru the Luminescent, things might've gotten much worse..."
Tiksa the Frostbane glanced over Brillie, then turned away.
From a human point of view, it was only natural to view dragons as enemies.
Rather, the fact that they hadn't brought in the powerful and their forces was itself a concession.
"Are you going to leave now?"
"I'll have to soon. There's nothing holding me back anymore."
"Then this must be our first and last meeting."
"Just live a happy life. That was your mother's wish as well, so you must."
"Are you planning to live out your days, accepting death as a human would?"
"The life of a dragon is long, longer than a human's, but it's monotonous and empty. I don't want to live that way."
Tiksa the Frostbane lightly swept her hand, splitting open space.
A rift appeared, leading to another world; Alter and Brillie watched silently.
"Ru the Luminescent will likely leave as well. She'll want to return to her original world. If she does, there will be no dragons left in this world. Well, this is farewell."
Tiksa the Frostbane turned with the priest and stepped into the rift.
Alter, gazing absently at the priest, thought of his mother.
The priest, his own ancestor, so closely resembled his mother.
"... Nothing happened after all."
"Maybe this is how it should be. We should return."
After watching the rift vanish, Alter returned to where his snow-white horse awaited him.
If Tiksa the Frostbane was telling the truth, then at last, true peace had come.
From now on, he would pursue a quiet life, looking only to his companion.
'Mother... is this the future you hoped I would reach?'
* * *
Ru the Luminescent gazed down at Tiksa the Frostbane as they met.
She could no longer be called a dragon and seemed so much feebler than in the old days.
Yet, of all dragons, she alone had adapted to this world; perhaps she had reached a loftier realm than any other.
"How have you been? You held up pretty well for yourself."
"... Where are you going?"
"Where else? Somewhere comfortable to live."
"Is there not a way to stay in this world?"
"No. That's not possible. Even if I am human now, I was once a dragon. I didn't personally cause trouble, but my conscience isn't clear."
"So you mean to leave for a world where you will not carry that guilt?"
"Well, something like that."
Ru the Luminescent pondered over the history of dragons, then nodded.
Tiksa the Frostbane, aware of her kin's sins, wished to separate herself from them and this world.
"Since I can no longer bind you by order... all I can do is watch over you."
"You're returning to Hazlodein, aren't you?"
"My assigned task is finished, so returning now is the right thing."
"I've always told you... don't be tied down by order. That sort of life has no joy, you know? Well, I'm off."
With a brief wave, Tiksa the Frostbane vanished through the rift.
Ru the Luminescent lingered in thought for a moment, then stood up.
"With every beginning comes an inevitable end... I, too, must seek a new beginning."
* * *
Alter was appreciating the snowy scene together with Brillie.
In the end, they had returned to their homeland, so they could not leave immediately.
At least the weather was warmer than before, so the place did not feel as unwelcoming.
"... I thought I'd never put down my sword. At one time, I believed it was everything."
"At that time, it must have been your everything."
"Yes. Had I not picked up the sword, I couldn't have come this far. But perhaps now it is time to set it aside."
Enjoying the peace, Brillie turned her head slowly.
She had fought all this time for her companion; now, she had to dream of a comfortable future.
To truly reach that future, she needed to build a real home.
"Are you sure it's alright? Your entire life is bound up with it, isn't it?"
"I want to live for you, Alter. Isn't that what a wife should do?"
"I understand your meaning... but I hope you won't put down the sword. It's your pride, isn't it? As your husband, I want to protect that pride, at least."
Taking Brillie's hand in his, Alter replied earnestly.
She didn't need to abandon everything she had built for his sake.
Just having her as his wife was more than enough.
"Stay by my side always. Even if I die like this, I'll never forget you."
"I will live only for Brillie. If we can share our final moments together, I will not be unhappy."
"I love you. Truly."
"I will love you for a lifetime, Brillie."
After a moment's hesitation, Alter stepped closer to Brillie.
Brillie gently closed her eyes and waited for Alter's warmth.
At last, the two shared a kiss, exchanging mutual affection.
- END OF MAIN STORY -