Chapter 518: When The Nights Are Darkest
“I could not stop the dragons, there was no one left who could. I was entrusted by my father and my queendom to protect the people of this world and I failed. Countless elementals died, and after the world was broken, the dragons claimed their sweet victory.” Ananta smiled maliciously, “But it was not to last.”
“You see, the World Soul is bound to this realm, and when the realm was Sundered, fractured into ten, she felt it, all of it. Her pain was so great that for the first time, ever since Love, her own essence fractured. And she poured all of her pain and loss into that one moment and gave birth to the Calamities.”
“The Calamities?” Stryg whispered.
“Yes,” Ananta nodded. “Five titans, the sons and daughters of the World Soul. They were born through ordinary titan mothers, yet they’re essence was forged from the fires of the Sundering. Unlike Love, each was born for a single-minded purpose; the eradication of the dragons.” Ananta’s cold smile widened. “The dragons were at the height of their power, yet the Five were walking Calamities, more powerful than anything the dragons had encountered.”
“Love was born from the brightest Aspect of the World Soul, but the Calamities were born from her darkest Aspects and when they came of age, each one sought to fulfill their purpose. Fear found the dragon lords’ weaknesses and she used it to tear down their defenses. Whereas Hatred resorted to more direct tactics and attacked their lairs, slaughtering those he encountered. Agony sought out the dragons’ nests and snuffed the life of every unborn hatchling.”
“They killed the children?” Stryg asked.
“They killed everyone. The Calamities were relentless, it didn’t matter who or what stood in their way, they massacred the dragons and tore down their newfound kingdoms until there was nothing left. The few remaining dragons were forced into hiding, and even then the Calamities hunted them down, one by one.”
Ananta’s smile fell. “Until one day, after many years, the Calamities suddenly stopped. You see, it was no longer enough to kill the dragons, for they had mated with the lesser elemental species, and their hybrid offspring, what you call ‘chromatic species,’ had spread into all ten Realms.”
Stryg frowned. “I don’t understand. Why does that matter? They wanted revenge on the dragons, not others.”