As Umbryx and Arytho descended towards the markets as they viewed it on a mountain top from afar, the lively scene below them would unfold. The markets were carrying so many different delicious smells from the bustling stalls and vendors, their bright canopies covered in dark reds, blues, and oranges were creating ever lively curtains against the stone-paved streets. Endless waves of people and dragons moving around, weaving between displays of rare gems, intricate weapons, and exotic foods, their voices blending into a constant hum of activity. All of these things just show how alive The Vermillion Realm has become throughout the years.

Umbryx looked around, then turned to Arytho with a puzzled expression.

Umbryx: “Why did you send us here, ain’t we supposed to be at the markets”.

Arytho stayed quiet for a moment, looking among the vast floating islands stretching out before them. With the wind blowing through the grass and their faces as he finally spoke with a soft voice.

Arytho: “This is where we used to train with Grandfather Draco, The same place the three of us stood together, before the war”.

Umbryx’s gaze shifted to the stone ledge beneath their feet, remembering the final conversation with their grandfather. He let out a chuckle before speaking.

Arytho: “I remember he would make out fly around the whole realm 100 times in a few minutes while chasing us, everytime we were late to training”. Arytho's sad face would change into a smirk as he responds with. “Yeah……then he would punish us by making us punch cursed demon skulls until our hands were bloody, which could even take blows from Father”.

Arytho’s smirk faded into a more contemplative expression.

Arytho: “You know, even after all of that training, I can’t remember seeing him ever showing any other emotion during training… except when you nearly quit training before he left, due to your hands getting so torn up and bloody after hours of punching the skulls and Grandfather was getting worried so he tried to stop you”.

Umbryx’s gaze softened as the memory surfaced.

Umbryx: “Yeah, that was the first time I saw him without his usual stern look. I never saw him worried before in my life. Not before refusing to stop and he stopped me by hitting me in the head and told us to take a break”. Arytho raised an eyebrow. “Then I had to go and it some Phoenix Teardrop Balms from Dr. Ignis for your bloody knuckles”

Umbryx nodded thoughtfully as he recalled something that happened earlier that day, which had fueled his anger during training. With Umbryx thinking back to that moment, the reason for his growing frustration became clearer. Umbryx glanced at Arytho saying to him.

Umbryx: “While you were gone, Grandfather Draco asked me if anything happened which made me as frustrated as I was. I told him I had lost a fight against Draken Stormreaver the day before, which is why I was so determined during training. Arytho listened intently as Umbryx continued, Grandfather then asked if I had let Draken win by giving up. I told him no, I didn’t give up. That’s when he told me something important. He said that as long as I didn’t give up, that’s what truly matters. He explained that defeat is as much of a teacher as victory, if not more. You can’t only take victories in life you will lose it’s inevitable; what matters is that if you are willing to open up to change and see new opportunities that were foreign just a few moments ago and learn from them.”

Umbryx’s expression softened as he remembered his late Grandfather’s words.

Past Draco: “Draco laughed and patted my head, saying, "Don't worry Umbryx, as long as you remember my teachings and stay open to change with your head still attached to your shoulders, navigating life will be easier”.

Arytho’s expression grew more tense as soon as I mentioned Draken Stormreaver.

Umbryx: “You seem more tense when I mentioned Draken Stormreaver, has that got to do with why we are here?”.

Arytho hesitated for a moment before responding.

Arytho: “Well, there’s a reason the markets are busier than usual today. Today is the Eternal Fire Tribute Festival. We’re celebrating Grandfather’s death and honoring his strongest fighters, the ones who helped take down Lordanis and put down their lives to not only people but to all of creation”.

Umbryx nodded, now understanding the importances of the festival, but still curious on one thing.

Umbryx: “Is that why you’re still feeling down? Because of Grandfather’s death?”.

Arytho shifted uncomfortably.

Arytho: “No… it’s more than that. Draken Stormreaver was one of the fighters who went to the war. And… so did you. You represented our family alongside Father if I remember correctly.”

Umbryx would have flashes of moments between the day all the fighters left for the war and the couple hours into the war where he saw Draken fighting off Lordanis’s forces.

Umbryx furrowed his brow slightly, glancing at Arytho with curiosity.

Umbryx: “I don’t remember much from the war to be honest, but…. what are you getting at?”

Arytho hesitated for a moment, then sighed.

Arytho: “It’s not just that. You remember Selene Stormweaver, right? Draken’s younger sister?”.

Umbryx’s eyes narrowed in recognition.

Umbryx: “Yeah, of course. But what about her?”.

Arytho is clearly looking even more uneasy.

Arytho: “She’s going to be my next opponent in the Flame Heart Tournament. You know, the one where each of the noble clans has a champion chosen by the head? I’ve been selected to represent the Draco clan and survived the first test which was to survive in The Forsaken Depths for a week… just like you did 14 years ago”,

Umbryx gave Arytho a long look, realizing the same feeling he had and now his brother had the pressure of having to carry that same weight.

Umbryx: “That’s a big deal. You’re following the same path I did”.

Arytho nodded, his voice quieter now.

Arytho: “I know. But Selene… She's one of the strongest in the tournament. And Draken’s sister. There's pressure to make the family proud, just as you did back then.”

Umbryx stands up to put his left arm on his right shoulders, his expression serious but encouraging.

Umbryx: “You’ve trained for this. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Not me, not Father, not Grandfather. You’re representing the Draco clan because you’ve earned it and you have something no one has.”

Arytho looked puzzled.

Arytho: “What do I have?”

Umbryx’s expression softened as he explained,

Umbryx: “Selene may be able to create miracles with her inherent lightning magic, but you have the unique ability to break those miracles and forge even greater ones. You’re the only one who has inherited Grandfather’s wish-granting powers.”

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Arytho’s eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and realization dawning on him. “You really think so?”

Umbryx nodded.

Umbryx: “Absolutely. Don’t sell yourself short. Come on, let's get something to eat ”.

With that out of the way, Umbryx releases his wings as he descends to the markets with Arytho followed close behind, his own wings unfolding as he soared after his brother quickly heading to the markets. Now, both Umbryx and Arytho finally arrive at the bustling markets on the main island where their Grandfather’s Palace is. The breathtaking aroma of fresh produce and the lively chatter of vendors filled the air. Umbryx and Arytho settled down at a stall, enjoying a breakfast of juicy Charcoal grape cake, their dark, rich flavor a satisfying start to the day.

As they ate, Umbryx glanced around and asked

Umbryx: “By the way, where’s Father been?”.

Arytho took a moment before replying to his question, “He’s been on an important business trip with someone in the Ao Pūrākau Runga. He’ll be back later today”.

Umbryx frowned slightly in confusion.

Umbryx: “What exactly is the Ao Pūrākau Runga?”.

Umbryx shrugged, a sheepish smile on his face. “I was just wondering if you knew about it. You know, just making sure you had the right idea.”

Arytho chuckled softly, as he wasn’t buying that he obviously was lying. He played along as he remembered Umbryx saying he has memories that

weren’t his own mixing with his actual memories.

Arytho: “Ah, I see. Well, to understand what the Ao Pūrākau Rungaa is, we need to talk about Te Kore and how it works. Te Kore or as it’s often known name, The unknown, is a nexus construct that contains an endless amount of higher conceptual realms which stack onto each other infinitely. Everything is kept together by the Te Rākau Pūmau o te Ao (The Eternal Tree of Creation). This tree is said to be created by the man marked in dark tattoos from long ago before anything existed as it serves as the mainframe of all creation. Its influence spans from the deepest depths of the Te Moana Nui o ngā Ao Whāiti (The Great Ocean of the Multiverses) to the highest peaks of the Te Rangi Tōnui (The Great Sky Beyond).

Umbryx: “So what exactly does The Unknown contain? How many realms are there?”

Arytho: “The Unknown itself holds realms like our home, which exist on the lower parts of the unknown like roots for a tree. These said roots represent the infinite realms that hold all archetypes like demons or us dragons for example while these realms being unbound by dimensionality. This is what we call Whakapapa o Te Kore (The Genealogy of the Unknown). It's the foundation, connecting every realm, idea, and concept. Now before we talk about the higher realms you need to know some things which are going to sound like nonsense to most people”.

Umbryx leaned forward, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Umbryx: “I’m already deep into it now, so lay it on me, little brother”.

Arytho’s tone grew ever more serious.

Arytho: “The Unknown is beyond any notion of existence or non-existence. Everything, from concepts to ideas, is ultimately an unreality. Take things like numbers,there are things like ‘unspeakable numbers, numbers beyond infinity, but even those… they're just illusions. Unfathomable infinity is nothing more than an arbitrary limit. Concepts like incalculable, measureless, boundless. They’re all artificial distinctions. Even when you think you’ve grasped what infinite actually is, you haven’t. It’s just another layer in the Unknown’s illusion”.

Umbryx raised an eyebrow, trying to absorb the long explanation.

Umbryx: "So… even our understanding of reality is just another piece of this grand illusion?".

Arytho nodded, his voice unwavering.

Arytho: “Exactly. What we perceive as definite numbers, boundaries, or even the very concept of existence itself, these things are merely shadows cast by the Unknown. As we ascend through its realms, these illusions become increasingly abstract in nature. The Kāwai Tūhononga, or the Branch of Connection, contains various Platonic realms. For example, Te Whenua Moemoeā, the Land of Dreams, is where dreams are formed; Kāinga Mākutu, the Home of Magic, is the source of all magic; Te Pūtakenga o te Ao, the Origin of Worlds, is where creation begins; Te Rangi Tūhāhā, or Heaven, represents the celestial realms; Wāhi Pātea, or Hell, reflects the opposing forces. And these are just a few among many which serve as

necessary existence for all creation”.

Arytho continue explaining.

Arytho: “The Ao Pūrākau Runga (Higher Narrative Realms) is governed by beings known as Tūmatauenga Kaitahi, the Supreme Narrators. Tūmatauenga Kaitahi wields an extraordinary power: the ability to manipulate fiction itself. These beings command and shape any narrative or setting born from imagination, unbound by historical or factual constraints. Essentially, they control the worlds within these fictional realms, influencing not just the events and characters but the very fabric of the stories themselves.

Tūmatauenga Kaitahi's influence extends far beyond mere narrative adjustments. They can manipulate characters, alter destinations, adjust powers, and even reshape fundamental concepts that exist within the imaginative realms crafted by others. The reach of this power is immense, as the realms governed by the Supreme Narrators are as vast and complex as all of creation itself, just showcasing the vastness and depth of their control”.

Arytho paused for a moment before addressing Umbryx’s second question.

Arytho: As for how many realms exist within Te Kore, the answer is that there are far too many to count. Like I said before, The idea of numbers, even those beyond infinity, is an arbitrary illusion. Distinctions like incalculable, boundless, or unspeakable are meaningless here, making the number of realms effectively unquantifiable”.

Umbryx, intrigued, asked.

Umbryx: “What about Te Rangi Tōnui (The Great Sky Beyond)? What do you know about it?”

Arytho replied,

Arytho: “I don’t know much about that realm. All I know is that it’s considered the highest point of existence. It’s where the man covered in dark tattoos, known as The Light, fought against his counterpart The Great Evil long ago.”

Umbryx nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Too bad we don't know too much about it.”

Arytho looked at Umbryx and said,

Arytho: “So that’s my overall breakdown of the Unknown. But remember, this is just a brief overview of everything. There’s much more to it that I might explain one day when the time is right of course.”

Umbryx, intrigued, asked,

Umbryx: “How do you know so much about all of this?”

Arytho replied with a thoughtful nod.

Arytho: “Grandfather Draco knew these things. He shared a lot with me before he... left us. Kinda wished I got to see all of those places. Hopefully

that helps you get a better understanding on how everything works”.

Umbryx looked at Arytho with a huge grin.

Umbryx: "I already know, I just wanted to pass the time."

Arytho chuckled.

Arytho: "I knew you were just trying to stall."

The two of them shared a laugh, the camaraderie evident in their easygoing exchange. Just then, Darius Scorchwind, a fire dragon who was a member of the Scorchwind and Arytho’s friend, approached them from the air.

Darius: "Arytho I finally found you, your match with Selene is about to start in a few minutes."

Umbryx waved him off with a smile.

Umbryx: "Go ahead and get ready. I'll be at the arena after I finish the rest of this delicious Charcoal grape cake”.

Arytho nodded, saying his goodbyes before taking off to prepare for his duel. As he watched Arytho leave, Umbryx thought to himself”.

Umbryx: "Nothing could get better than this”.

A few minutes later, Umbryx had finished his Charcoal grape cake and was ready to head to the arena to catch Arytho's match. As he prepared to fly off, his gaze fell on someone passing by who looked strikingly like Arytho. The resemblance was uncanny, but something about the figure seemed off

to Umbryx.

Before he could react, a familiar voice echoed in his mind loudly, the same voice that had warned him about the one-eyed man earlier.

Familiar Voice: "Don’t follow him. Leave now”.

Ignoring the warning, Umbryx called out.

Umbryx: "Arytho, where are you going?". But the figure didn’t respond and continued walking purposefully.

Umbryx, concerned, pursued the doppelgänger through the bustling streets. The crowd around him had thickened significantly, making it increasingly difficult to keep track of the figure. As he pushed his way through the sea of spectators, the resemblance to Arytho grew even more convincing, but the figure remained elusive.Desperation mounted as Umbryx squeezed through the tight crowd, his eyes scanning frantically. Just when he thought he might catch up, the figure slipped from view and seemed to vanish into the throng.

Frustrated and anxious, Umbryx's search grew frantic. In his haste, he collided with someone. Stumbling backward, he looked up to find himself face-to-face with a one-eyed man, the same figure the voice had warned him about. Before he could react or utter a word, everything around him dissolved into darkness. The sounds of the bustling crowd faded into an eerie silence, and Umbryx was enveloped by a profound blackness, leaving him helpless and disoriented once again.