While Tarixi guided out Karsys and Zylara, Aurelian turned his attention back to Bael’tharax and Bahamut. The younger watched the elder from beside Aurelian, tail flicking idly in curiosity, not unlike a cat, while his golden eyes regarded the leviathan with interest. Aurelian could feel the burning desire to know what was coming echoing across the bond he shared with Bahamut, and would have been lying if he said he didn’t share the younger dragon’s desire for knowledge.

Aurelian understood the fact he was a tolerated guest, more than an entitled participant however, and so remained steadfastly quiet while Bael’tharax shifted to look at both of them in silence. The leviathan’s massive golden eye moved across each of them assessingly, and then he lowered his head closer to properly face them while rumbled with a growl of consideration.

“LONG HAS IT BEEN MY TASK TO WATCH OVER THE SECRETS OF THE REALMS. SECRETS WHICH NEITHER OF YOU ARE PREPARED, YET, TO KNOW.” His large head seemed to shift to fully encapsulate each of them while he spoke, before returning to a position whereupon he could watch them both together. It was probably a subtle movement for Bael’tharax, but for Aurelian it was a motion that shook the world inside the immense cavern.

“WHAT I MUST DO HERE AND NOW IS A RITUAL OF DRAGON KINGS, AND A NECESSITY FOR THE WAR TO COME. THOUGH NEITHER OF YOU WILL KNOW THIS, IT WAS MY OWN SIRE THAT HELPED THE FIRST CALAMITY LIBERATE THE REALMS FROM THE GODS’ DOMINION, AND IT WAS HE THAT FORGED OUR LASTING ALLIANCE WITH THE CHILDREN OF ELYSEA.”

Aurelian listened with rapt attention while the massive dragon spoke, his eyes locked on Bael’tharax’s single one, and hands resting on his knees where he sat in quiet attentiveness.

“THE ELYSEANS SPEAK OF THE MANTLE, BUT IN TRUTH IT IS NOT A THING OF THEM. EVEN TARIXI DOES NOT KNOW THIS. IT WAS A SECRET GIVEN ONLY TO THE IMPERATORS, AND ONLY ONCE APPROVED BY MY SIRE AND, LATER, BY MYSELF.”

“I knew it.” Aurelian breathed out with a grin.

It wasn’t strictly that he knew it was a thing of dragons, of course, but he had suspected the Mantle to be far more than just an oath or act of fealty, as it was portrayed. An ideological and societal guidestone, certainly, but only that? No. Something else, something greater had to have been at the core of its existence.

Bael’tharax only confirmed what he already suspected.

“AS THE RECLAIMER, AURELIAN, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. SIMILARLY, BAHAMUT, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THIS WEIGHT IN ORDER TO PASS FUTURE JUDGEMENT AS THE NEW DRAGON KING.”

Aurelian looked at Bahamut, and saw his bond sitting on his haunches, while his tail idly moved through the air as he listened to Bael’tharax speak. Bahamut held as much of a look of focused attention as a dragon could have, and both of his golden eyes, which were mirrors of his father’s, shone with intelligence and determination while he listened. When the dragon did notice Aurelian’s attention, his stare never deviated from the elder leviathan—but a surge of love and excitement did traverse the bond.

It was returned in full while both waited for Bael’tharax to continue.

“THE MANTLE IS A BINDING OATH, ONE THAT WRAPS ACROSS THE SOULFORCE OF THE BEARER. IT IS NOT SIMPLY A VOW, BUT A POWER ALL ITS OWN.” Bael’tharax proclaimed in as grave a tone as Aurelian had ever heard from the leviathan. “AS DRAGON KING, IT FALLS TO ME TO ENTRUST ITS POWER TO A WORTHY INHERITOR. IT IS, IN MANY WAYS, THE OPPOSITE POWER TO CALAMITY’S BLADE.”

Aurelian felt his own shock and surprise mirrored in Bahamut at the ancient’s statement, and his heart rate doubled in his chest while he listened. “WHERE THE POWER OF ELYSEA SEVERS ALL BONDS, THE MANTLE’S TRUE PURPOSE IS TO FORGE NEW ONES. IT IS THE CLOSEST THING TO A DIVINE TETHER YOU WILL ENCOUNTER, OUTSIDE THE GODS THEMSELVES.”

It must be different to their own, though. Bahamut sent to both Bael’tharax and Aurelian equally. We repudiate and reject the gods for their enslavement of the Realms’ denizens, my Sire. How could we grant a similar means of indenturement to those we see as worthy?

Aurelian nodded at Bahamut’s words, but didn’t speak, and instead waited attentively.

“YOU ARE CORRECT, LITTLE PRINCE.” Bael’tharax rumbled approvingly. “THE MANTLE IS BOTH SIMILAR AND DIFFERENT. IT IS NOT AN ENSLAVEMENT, BUT INSTEAD A CONDITIONAL EMBOLDENMENT. IT IS THE VERY POWER OF UNIFICATION THROUGH COMMON CAUSE. THE BEARER OF THE MANTLE BRINGS THOSE THAT WISH TO UPHOLD ITS WORTH UNDER THEIR PROTECTION, AND IN RETURN THOSE CHOSEN ARE GRANTED THE POWER OF THE COLLECTIVE MANY.”

Aurelian’s eyes widened. “Wait, so the power of the binding grows with every person that is part of it, just like Faith to a god, but instead of going solely to an individual, it’s evenly disseminated among the populace? In what manner?”

“HARMONY.”

I do not understand. Bahamut said with a hint of frustration. Is Harmony not a state of being?

Aurelian nodded.

“IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND. IN SIMPLE TERMS, THE MANTLE INCREASES THE BONDS BETWEEN ALL THOSE THAT ARE UNDER ITS AUSPICES. IT IS A COLLECTIVE ELEVATION OF UNITED PURPOSE. ITS INTENT IS TO UNITE, AND SO IT DOES. THOSE EMBOLDENED BY THE MANTLE WILL BE BROUGHT INTO GREATER HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM.”

At Aurelian’s puzzled look and Bahamut’s growl of frustration, Bael’tharax let loose a low, rumbling laugh.

“I REACTED MUCH THE SAME. PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND: YOUR SOUL BOND. IT ALLOWS YOU BOTH OF YOU TO FIGHT WITH GREATER CLARITY OF ACTION AND PURPOSE, DOES IT NOT? YOU ARE ABLE TO ACT IN CONCERT, UNCONSCIOUSLY FIGHTING TOGETHER IN A MANNER THAT NO MERE COMPATRIOTS COULD EVER MANAGE.”

“Yeah,” Aurelian confirmed with a nod of agreement. “I can feel Bahamut’s intentions and desires before he acts on them, and I guess vice versa. It’s like being keyed into the subconscious instincts and processes of—holy shit!” he abruptly cut off when he fully realised what Bael’tharax was saying, and from the surge of alarm and excitement across the bond, he knew that Bahamut had realised it as well. What the elder dragon was saying, in full, was staggering when thought of on a larger scale.

“HARMONY,” Bael’tharax reiterated before continuing. “YOU NOW BEGIN TO SEE ITS POWER. ITS TRUE POWER. WHERE THE GODS BENEFIT FROM SINGULAR STRENGTH, THE MANTLE IS DERIVED FROM COOPERATIVE STRENGTH. THE MORE WHO STAND UNDER ITS BANNER, THE STRONGER IT GROWS. THE STRONGER IT GROWS, THE GREATER ITS UNITY. THE GREATER ITS UNITY, THE STRONGER THOSE BENEATH IT BECOME. COHESION. SYNERGY. UNCONSCIOUS COOPERATION AND COORDINATION.”

“It would make a regular army into a force of power far beyond its individual parts.” Aurelian said with a feeling of stunned wonder. “The gods might grant gifts to singular champions or faithful, but this supersedes all of that. It takes even the most inadequate soldier, and makes them part of something greater than themselves.” Aurelian rocked backward and stared up at Bael’tharax with a low whistle, and rested his hands behind him on the rocky earth.

It was a massive concept to consider.

“I get how Elysea was able to defeat the gods, now,” Aurelian continued after a few moments in an awed voice. “This sort of power… it must have been immensely decisive. A full means by which to not only answer the individual power of the gods’ champions and Avatars, but to enable even the meekest of her followers to fight with the strength and capability of some of her most fierce. It’s a system of collective uplifting. Every part of the whole is inherently made greater by participation in the larger harmony.”

A system of collective empowerment and uplifting, instead of singular enslavement and enforced sycophantic worship. Bahamut said with an approving mental voice. Yes. This is a thing of dragons. This is what we are meant to be.

“THE OATH OF THE MANTLE ITSELF IS WHOLLY IRRELEVANT.” Bael’tharax proclaimed dismissively. “IT WAS, AND STILL IS, MORE OF A FORMALITY OR FUNCTION OF THE POWER ITSELF. IT WAS A TOOL THROUGH WHICH NON-DRACONIC SPECIES COULD COMPREHEND THE POWER. ALL THAT MATTERED WAS A GENUINE INTENT TO STAND FOR WHAT THE MANTLE HOLDER BELIEVED WAS RIGHT. THAT IS THE RUB, OF COURSE. THAT IS WHY THE CHARACTER OF THE HOLDER IS SUCH A DETERMINING FACTOR.”

“Because a corrupt holder would pervert or twist the intent behind the Mantle, and make it about serving them instead of standing together for the betterment of the Realms,” Aurelian said with an understanding nod. He felt himself growing thoughtful even while he did, though his eyes remained focused on Bael’tharax. “It’s interesting that it’s a unifying concept held by an individual, though.”

“THAT IS THE NATURE OF POWER IN THE SYSTEM. IT IS ABOUT CHOICE, AFTER ALL. THE CHOICE OF THE HOLDER TO REMAIN TRUE TO THE SPIRIT OF THE MANTLE, THE CHOICE OF THE DRAGON KING TO GRANT ITS POWER, AND THE CHOICE OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW TO UPHOLD AND LIVE BY THE MANTLE’S CODE.”

“Wait,” Aurelian said abruptly. “Shouldn’t Tarixi be back by n—?”

“SHE WAITS WITHIN HER GEM TO BE TOLD IT IS CLEAR TO RETURN, BY MY REQUEST. THIS IS NOT FOR HER EARS, ECHO OR NOT.”

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Aurelian opened his mouth with a quiet ‘aha’ and nodded, albeit a little guiltily.

It felt wrong to keep what he’d been told a secret from the Goblin who’d been his mentor for his brief time in the palace, but he also understood that for Bael’tharax it was a matter of utmost sacred secrecy. He could feel the intensity of the elder dragon’s attention, and could tell from Bahamut’s own more transparent feelings via the bond that what was being shared was sacred beyond his own proper understanding.

“I’m guessing you’re telling me this because you’ve decided I’m worthy of holding the Mantle?” Aurelian asked wryly. He’d have been lying if he’d said there wasn’t a part of him that feared Bael’tharax would deny his worthiness, however.

“YES. YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE BURDEN OF THE MANTLE, AURELIAN, AS THE CHOSEN SUCCESSOR OF ITS LAST HOLDER; LUCIUS VALORIS TOLLARIUS.”

“What do I have to—?”

“HOLD STILL,” Bael’tharax commanded regally.

While Aurelian complied to the old dragon’s wishes, he watched one of Bael’tharax’s massive claws lift from the earth—leaving metres-deep gouges in the hard granite—and drift ever-so-carefully over. With a precision and gentleness belied by their monstrous size, two of Bael’tharax’s razor claws pressed against him; one to the top of his head, and the other to his chest.

“AURELIAN LUCIS IMPERIUS, DO YOU ACCEPT THE BURDEN OF THE MANTLE OF UNIFICATION? DO YOU ACCEPT YOUR PLACE AS THE SHIELD OF ALL FREE PEOPLES UPON THE REALMS? DO YOU ACCEPT YOUR ROLE AS THEIR LEADER UNTO ABDICATION OR DEATH? DO YOU ACCEPT THE WEIGHT AND SEVERITY OF THIS BURDEN, IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR INEVITABLE FATE AS AN ENEMY OF THE GODS AND ALL WHO WOULD SEE THE PEOPLES OF THE REALMS ENSLAVED?”

Aurelian looked up at Bael’tharax in silence for a few moments while processing exactly what the dragon was asking. It wasn’t a mere promise to be well-behaved, or an ask of simple chivalry or valour. The dragon king was offering him the means by which he could truly and properly unify all of those that stood in opposition to the gods, just as the First Calamity—Elysea, he reminded himself—had done before.

It was downright Arthurian.

His mouth opened, he hesitated, and then he closed it.

It seemed like such a simple decision, and yet his mind raced. Not simply because of the implications of taking on the Mantle, but the cost of failing. Not just of failing to uphold the promise he made to Bael’tharax, but the implied promise to every single denizen of the Realms. Every man, woman, and child seeking no less than deliverance from a tyrannical oppression they didn’t even fully realise was upon them.

What if in his quest to grant them that freedom, like the heroes he so worshipped and revered, he became just as bad as the gods? What if he succumbed to greed? Who would deliver them from Aurelian, when only he could wield Calamity’s Blade?

It was a heavy and grim decision, one that he found himself suddenly unsure of. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to accept the Mantle. He wanted to be the champion of a people that had languished under the tyranny of divine tyrants for thousands of years.

And yet…

You need not doubt. Bahamut said to him through their link, and drew Aurelian’s gaze. I did not choose you in error, Aurelian. You are able to bear this burden. I will bear it with you, and ensure you do not succumb to mortal failings.

You seem pretty confident about that, Aurelian responded wryly.

I am. I am a dragon. We are much wiser than your kind.

Aurelian felt a smile blossom on his face at Bahamut’s words, and he turned back to Bael’tharax. “I want to say yes, Bael’tharax, but I’m… hesitant. What you’re proposing is no simple offer of power and authority, it’s the responsibility of lives—thousands of them. Millions, probably. That surprisingly is actually okay in a way, but what worries me is… corruption.”

Aurelian frowned while he spoke, and the colossal dragon seemed content to let him say his piece. He even removed his claws from him, for the moment, to let him think. “In my original world—”

“DIRT?”

“—Earth,” he said while pretending to ignore the old reptile’s faux innocent humour, “there were more tales than I can count of rulers that were corrupted, or led astray by their power. I have faith in Bahamut to keep a careful eye on me for signs of that, but realistically that is an impossible situation to put him in. This bond we have is… transcendent. It defies all rhyme, reason, or comprehension I have of anything even remotely similar.”

We are one soul in two bodies. Bahamut agreed, though he seemed curious to hear more.

“How can I expect him to stop me, to truly stop me, when I know in my heart that if he went mad, I could never bring myself to actually harm him? It would be like… Well, actually, I can’t even think of an analogy. Nothing seems severe enough for the extent of agony harming Bahamut would cause me. Of course the natural assumption is that I simply watch my own self for corruption, and that’s fine, but I—”

“AURELIAN.”

Aurelian cut off at Bael’tharax’s interruption and frowned while watching the dragon.

“YOU ARE NO MORE IMMUNE TO CORRUPTION THAN ANY OTHER. IN SOME WAYS, THE FEAR OF THAT CORRUPTION MAKES YOU MORE PRONE TO IT, INASMUCH AS IT CREATES A BUFFER BETWEEN YOU AND SUCH A TWISTED TURN. YET WORRY FOR BAHAMUT IS NOT WHAT WEIGHS UPON YOU, RECLAIMER. SPEAK YOUR TRUE FEAR.”

Aurelian stared up at the old dragon and wanted to disagree, wanted to say he was wrong… except he wasn’t. Not technically. Aurelian was afraid of the idea of hurting Bahamut, but that wasn’t what truly worried him. It was an excuse he’d reached for in the moment, out of a mix of panic and indecision spurred by the surreality and pressure of the situation.

No, it wasn’t what he truly feared.

What he truly feared was himself.

“I don’t want to fail,” he said after a few moments of quiet and intent self-reflection. “I don’t want to wrong these people. They deserve better. I may not be well-versed in things like this. Hell, I was a glorified money counter where I come from… but I understand the stakes that exist for these people, the responsibility leading them would entail, and I’m scared. I’m scared I won’t be good enough. I’m scared I won’t be strong enough,” he took a shuddering breath. “I’m scared I won’t be enough.”

“AS WAS I WHEN I BECAME DRAGON KING. AS WAS LUCIUS TOLLARIUS WHEN HE INHERITED THE MANTLE, AND EVERY IMPERATOR BEFORE HIM, AND ELYSEA BEFORE ALL OF THEM,” Bael’tharax said in a voice that was equal parts empathetic and paternally stern and stoic.

“FEAR OF INADEQUACY IS NOT LIMITED TO THE SIMPLE. WE ALL FEEL IT, AURELIAN. EVERY HOLDER BEFORE YOU HAS FELT THE SAME WORRIES, THE SAME CONCERNS, AND HAD THE SAME CRISIS OF FAITH. I WILL ASK YOU WHAT I ASKED THEM. WHAT WAS ASKED OF ME.”

Aurelian watched while Bael’tharax tilted his head to focus on him intently. “WOULD YOU PREFER TO GIVE THE BURDEN TO ANOTHER?”

“Is that a real option?” Aurelian asked hesitantly.

“DOES IT MATTER?” Bael’tharax challenged.

That was when Aurelian realised: it didn’t.

The moment Bael’tharax had asked the question, the answer that had crystallised in his mind had been a resounding ‘no’. Not because he was selfish or wanted glory, or at least he didn’t think so. It wasn’t because he had any particular desire for the Mantle either, other than his normal rampant curiosity about the System and the various idiosyncrasies involved in it and something like the Mantle.

No, what decided his answer in that instant was the fact that he could not stomach, and could not accept the idea of forcing the onus of responsibility onto the shoulders of another. He had chosen his name, Aurelian Lucis Imperius, to mean something. More than that, he had come into the training and preparation with Bael’tharax and Tarixi of his own accord. He could have chosen to walk away, or sit in inaction, or run after killing Marius.

He could have refused bonding a dragon, and denied any sort of obligation to both the Echo and the Dragon King.

He could have walked out of the Palace instead of confronting Marius, and never looked back. He could have done any number of things, including suicide, before accepting what had come before. He could have chosen to surrender at any time during the torrential floods of pain and agony he had suffered throughout the course of his time in the Prime Material.

Ever since the first time he’d fought those damned Skeletons.

Aurelian faced Bael’tharax, and shook his head.

“No,” he said simply. “It does not.”

The massive dragon inclined his head a fraction, and Aurelian felt pride radiating from Bahamut, as well as empathy and understanding. He had partially feared the younger dragon’s judgement, but Bahamut had merely listened and considered. It made their bond all the more special to Aurelian, with how well Bahamut could simply read his thoughts and intent and understand him in a way nobody ever had or likely ever would.

Bael’tharax lifted his claws once more and pressed them forward, one to Aurelian’s chest and the other against the crown of his skull.

“THEN I ASK AGAIN, AURELIAN LUCIS IMPERIUS. RECLAIMER. DO YOU ACCEPT THE BURDEN OF THE MANTLE OF UNIFICATION? DO YOU ACCEPT YOUR PLACE AS THE SHIELD OF ALL FREE PEOPLES UPON THE REALMS? DO YOU ACCEPT YOUR ROLE AS THEIR LEADER UNTO ABDICATION OR DEATH? DO YOU ACCEPT THE WEIGHT AND SEVERITY OF THIS BURDEN, IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR INEVITABLE FATE AS AN ENEMY OF THE GODS AND ALL WHO WOULD SEE THE PEOPLES OF THE REALMS ENSLAVED?”

Aurelian drew strength from his bond with Bahamut and his use of Breath Control while he answered. “I do. I accept the Mantle.”

“AND SO IT IS BEQUEATHED, MANTLEBEARER. LONG MAY YOU REIGN.”

The moment Bael’tharax said the words, Aurelian felt something immense crash into him. It was a weight, an anchor, a fullness that spread throughout his body with the force of an oncoming tide. He felt as if he were about to slam into the ground, and yet couldn’t move. He felt something fusing with him, blending into him, becoming part of him. His eyes widened and his lips parted, but no sound came out.

Instead he felt as if all breath had been knocked out of his lungs while alerts populated his vision.

Congratulations, Aurelian Lucis Imperius!

Hidden Conditions Met!

You have managed to Reclaim the Mantle of Elysea!

Achievement: In The Footsteps of Legends

For successfully achieving a massive part of your Reclamation, you have received the following:

Title: Mantle Bearer

Trait: Uniter

Skill: Oathforger

Congratulations, Aurelian Lucis Imperius!

You have met the requirements to unlock the skill Oathforger (L)!

You are the creator of ties that bind, the maker of oaths that seal, and the architect of tethers that constrain. To you all living beings are potential subjects, and you their inevitable Monarch. Yours is the burden of the protector, the guide, the shepherd, and perhaps even the tyrant. Unlike simple words, your oaths wrap around the very core Core and Soulforce of those that willingly swear to your authority.

Let the Mantle of Elysea once again ignite the fires of liberation, Reclaimer!