Aurelian stood in silence with Bahamut while Tarixi looked out at the lifeless majesty of Bael’tharax’s body. Already parts of it had disintegrated, and started breaking down into particulate chunks of unaspected mana that diffused into the air like glittering shards of sparkling diamond. Tears still slid now-and-then from the corners of his eyes, but the steadying presence of the newly enlarged Bahamut allowed him to weather much of the grief in stoic silence.

The now-larger dragon was laying upon the floor with his head lifted, watching the disintegration of Bael’tharax’s body in something approaching acceptance and curiosity both. The lingering presence of the old leviathan had long-since faded, but some echo of his warmth and power resided within Bahamut in a way that Aurelian couldn’t quite quantify. It gave him comfort, though, to feel it humming quietly within their shared link.

I did not expect an Echo to be so emotional. Bahamut admitted to Aurelian.

You didn’t know what an Echo was until you hatched a few days ago.

We dragons process and understand such concepts far more swiftly, you see. Bahamut responded with a hint of ruffled pride. My point stands however. Her grief is surprising.

I don’t think it should be. Echo or not, she knew Bael’tharax better than either of us. Aurelian pointed out. She went dormant with him alive, if wounded, and emerged to find him lifeless. I assume they already said their goodbyes, but it still must have shocked her. I cannot blame her for her reaction.

I suppose not. Bahamut conceded. Though it is still a little odd to see a spectre weep.

No argument here. Aurelian sent back with a patting of the dragon’s obsidian scales.

Tarixi’s hovering form turned to them at last when they concluded their conversation, and she drifted toward them while wiping her large eyes with spectral fingers, and drawing in a simulated shuddering breath. “The old lizard warned me he’d go before I did. I didn’t think he meant this quickly,” she said with a sad smile. “He was never one to waste time, though.”

“I enjoyed telling him about my former life,” Aurelian said with a returned smile. “It was gratifying to see his excitement at all the things I took for granted.”

“I believe he especially enjoyed your tale of gigantic flying boxes.” Tarixi agreed.

“Aeroplanes? Yeah. I think he did, too.”

Bewildering use of technology, when you could simply grow wings. Bahamut snorted.

Tarixi glanced at the dragon in question at his snort, and then back to Aurelian.

Aurelian just shook his head. “Bahamut is just being a dragon,” he said by way of explanation. “We can ignore that for now. I’m actually curious about something else: the Animus Engine.”

“I am glad you activated it without argument,” Tarixi said with a nod. “It will serve your purposes well.”

“You didn’t explain your plan in full, though. I understand I can probably farm experience killing the mobs it pulls, but—”

“Farm exp—?”

“Use them as leverage for faster levelling,” he said instead.

“Ah,” she said with a look of realisation. “I see. Yes. You were not speaking literally of creating a system of husbandry through which to gain experience.”

“No I wasn’t, although…” Aurelian trailed off while thoughts of Skarnid farms entered his mind.

“Absolutely not,” Tarixi said flatly. “And before you even begin another mad argument in favour, you told me you received a title, trait, and skill? Show them to me.”

Aurelian smiled wryly at her pre-emptive interjection of his argument and acquiesced to her demand with a flex of will.

Name: Mantle Bearer

Type: Title

Rarity: Unique

Description: You are the bearer of the Mantle, as chosen by the Dragon King and last Mantle Bearer. Yours is the task of unity and the burden of the Uniter. You are the leader of all those that seek collective safety, and the right to self-determination through their own combined will. Yours is the duty of the shepherd, the guide, the monarch, or the tyrant. Only you may decide your path.

Effects: +2 to all Attributes per level, +35% Charisma.

Special Effects: As the Mantle Bearer, you gain access to the Skill Oathforger and are granted the trait of Uniter.

Name: Oathforger

Type: Spirit Skill

Rarity: Legendary

Level: 1

Tier: Beginner

Description: This skill allows you to forge Oaths of binding fealty between yourself and those who willingly offer you their service, those that recite any oaths set as an automatic trigger, and even between two people outside of yourself. These oaths are bound to the Soulforce of the Oathsworn, and are terminable by you, or them, within the framework of allowable termination as defined by the forged Oath.

Name: Uniter

Type: Trait

Rarity: Unique

Description: You are the Uniter. You are the gatherer of the disparate. In you lies the potential for a truly unified and defended Prime Material, safe from the predations of any higher creatures that would see the mortal races subjugated or enslaved. You are the beacon of regal valour, the incarnation of intimidation, and benevolent tyrant of all the mortal Realms… should you so choose.

Effects: You gain +35% Charisma, +20% Mind Skill XP, +50% Charisma Skill Effectiveness.

Special Effects: You are a natural-born leader. You are the chosen leader under the auspices of the Dragon King. You may never kneel to another, give fealty to another, or surrender your autonomy to another. Dragons bow to none but their King, and you are marked as his contemporary.

Aurelian watched Tarixi scan over his new title, skill, and trait in silence. The more she read, the more her brow furrowed until the goblin finally slashed a hand through the air and threw up her small arms.

“Insanity! It has all the hallmarks of a Dragon’s skill. The sheer arrogance and pride woven into the description…” She turned to shoot a glare at Bael’tharax’s corpse. “I would wager the old lizard thought it hilarious when he first granted it out. Damn dragons.” There was no true heat to her voice when she said it, and for all that she was technically ranting, Aurelian sensed only amusement and agreement from Bahamut.

His bond had taken it as a compliment.

“So are you going to tell me why I activated the Animus Engine, Tarixi?” Aurelian asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’d prefer not to be left in needless suspense.”

“Very well.” the goblin agreed while turning to face him. “The purpose of the engine was to woo̴͉͆o̸͓̤̍͠r̶̠͛r̶̩͜͝r̸̲̄́ṙ̷̻͋\̷̟̥̀\̶͉̀\̶̦̩̐+̶̝̼̉+̸̳̐+̴͙͈̓̊#̵͓͌́ͅ$̴͎͎͊̏$̵͖̲͊͛&̷̹͝?̸̠̐?̶̳̹͋͝?̵̬̍̽”

Aurelian winced and staggered back at the sudden dissonant screech of horrible sound from Tarixi, and Bahamut snarled at his side while fixing his golden eyes on the Echo.

After a moment the goblin flickered out, and then reappeared with a look of focus, and the oddest sense of fraying. She seemed… less whole, somehow. Ever-so-slightly diminished. Had Aurelian not increased his perception so prodigiously he may never have caught it.

“Tarixi? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing I was not expecting.” the goblin said with a shake of her head. “I fear it may mean we are running out of time, however, so please listen well.”

Aurelian opened his mouth to object and Tarixi immediately fixed him with a hard glare while planting her tiny fists on her hips, and hovering forward to loom over him.

Despite the urge to laugh at the mirth he felt seeing her in such a position, Aurelian nonetheless took the hint and closed his mouth to let her speak.

Bahamut made his amusement at the exchange known with a grunt from Aurelian’s right.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“As I was saying,” Tarixi said with another stern look for both of them, “the purpose of the engine is to work the unaspected ambient mana within the air into Nature and Life mana, which is then used to saturate and embolden the growth of all land, flora, fauna, and peoples within its scope. Given the size of the Animus Engine in the palace, this includes all of Albion and several hundred leagues outside of it as well.”

“That’s a large chunk of the Desolation, I’m guessing.”

“It covered about a third of Elysea, so I’d assume so.” Tarixi agreed. “However, that is not why I told you to activate it. The moment you did, not only did you begin the process of helping repair the damage done by Absolum and Eidania did to Elysea itself; but you also drew all manner of creatures, of every conceivable level of power, toward the palace.”

“And you don’t want me to kill them for experience…?”

“I never said that,” Tarixi said with a sigh. “I simply objected to any ideas of monster rearing as a pastime. What you need to do, Aurelian, is leverage your new Anima abilities through those creatures. Kill them, drain them, and then raise them.”

Now that is interesting. Bahamut said from beside him approvingly.

“I never considered that…” Aurelian admitted. “I still haven’t really got a handle on this Anima stuff.”

“Because you have not had the chance to practise,” Tarixi said agreeably. “Which is what you shall have plenty of once you depart this complex. The moment Karsys and Zylara return, you must use Oathforger to bind them to your new mantle, and then depart for the world outside.”

“Bahamut won’t fit through the—”

“He will fit. Do not fret. He has been holding out on you, after all,” she turned her gaze to the dragon. “Dragons, you see, are natural shapeshifters.”

Aurelian blinked at her words, and then turned a questioning eye on Bahamut.

The dragon growled and turned his head away in what Aurelian could only call a pout. It is demeaning to think about.

“Bahamut,” Aurelian said sternly.

Do you have any idea how embarrassing it would be if anyone discovered that I, the great Dragon King, were to transform into a lesser creature?

“Bahamut.”

The dragon growled again and flared his wings in the equivalent gesture of throwing his arms up in surrender. Very well! Fine! I shall lock my mass within a dimensional pocket and construct a mana simulacrum to control with my Soulforce.

“Oh,” Aurelian said flatly. “Is that all?”

Yes. The dragon said sourly.

“And controlling this simulacrum, does that put you at any kind of risk?”

“It removes the defences of his draconic body.” Tarixi supplied before Bahamut could answer, her large eyes peering with an echo of fondness at the now-large—compared to her and Aurelian at least—dragon. “They place their Soulforce into an animus container, like a simulacrum of sorts indeed, and control it much like a puppet master. The mass of their body remains locked within a pocket dimension tied to their will, and accessible only by them. When they choose to return to their normal selves, their mass is returned and their draconic body is reacquired in moments.”

“But the risk?” Aurelian pressed.

“His Soulforce will be at far greater risk than if he were still within his draconic body, yes,” she admitted. “And he would not benefit from the various powers and protections his specific Dragon King form grants him. It would be a terrible idea outside of these particular circumstances. Certainly, he cannot sustain any such form in a place of such corruptive malignance as the Desolation. It would stain his Soulforce.”

As if I would even consider such a thing! Bahamut sent with a growl.

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem. He seems to hate the whole idea of this,” Aurelian said with a look of exasperated amusement for his bond.

“Dragons do not like the idea of hiding their nature,” Tarixi said with equal amusement, “and especially not their Kings.”

The majesty of my form is perfection! It should be celebrated in all things!

“You have an ego bigger than your father was,” Aurelian said with a shake of his head, and a sad glance at Bael’tharax’s still-diffusing corpse. He had contemplated, for but a moment, the idea of absorbing the fleeing mana… but as Tarixi had rightly pointed out, the risk of tainting himself with Justinian’s counterstroke was too prominent. He couldn’t afford to be rendered insensate, nor dramatically weakened, with his plan for farming monsters.

“Aurelian, you shoo̸͖̥̳͋́͗ȍ̶̬̂̆ṳ̵̠̔ŭ̵͈͈͇̐̊ủ̶̖̤̝u̴͙̤̐́\̸̹͔͑̓̄\̴͔͈͈̍̆̀\̴̮͕̓͜\̵̛͎̈́̐$̷̽͝ͅ&̷̬͆^̵͉͂͐͝%̵͈̿̏͝ͅ)̴̢̟̜͂̿(̷͋̚͝ͅ+̸͕̠̿͑̈́+̴̍ͅ+̵̭̈́͋”

Aurelian snapped his eyes to Tarixi when her projection garbled and twisted again, and for a moment she once more winked out of existence. “What the hell?” he muttered.

I believe that is a sign that something is very wrong. Bahamut suggested.

“Yeah, but what? Unless she—...” Aurelian trailed off and forced himself to take a breath.

Dragon’s Resolve roared to life within his mind, and he swallowed against a sudden lump in his throat.

A surge of sympathy came from Bahamut, but Aurelian knew intrinsically that the dragon would not share his grief this time. There was a detachment from the goblin for Bahamut that Aurelian could have never emulated. His bond saw her more as a curiosity than a person, and while the reality of that didn’t fully seem right to him, he understood that it was a fundamental difference of who they were.

Bahamut saw her as amalgamated magic. Aurelian saw her as a person.

Tarixi reappeared a moment later, and Aurelian could immediately tell something was very wrong.

The usually transparent spectral Goblin had failed to properly solidify several parts of herself with the ‘hardlight’ appearance she normally held, and some edges of her projection were outright blurry or missing.

“How long do you have?” he asked quietly.

“Not long.” Tarixi admitted with a small smile. “I had wanted to tell you, but…”

“I get it,” Aurelian said thickly, and while swallowing back a shuddering breath. “It isn’t fair though, you know. First the old man and now you. Can’t—” he took a moment to breathe before continuing “—can’t keep hitting a guy like this where he doesn’t expect it. It’s just rude.”

“You have my apologies, Aurelian,” Tarixi said in her usual tone of wry amusement, though it was faintly discordant at the edges. “I didn’t intend to cause you undue distress.”

“Ah, come on,” he said with a watery smile, “you know me. I’m a trooper.”

“You should not be so distressed,” Tarixi said gently. “I was never really alive, Aurelian.”

Aurelian peered at her for a long moment, and then shrugged helplessly. “You were to me. You were the first person I met in this world. The first person to help me feel a little less lost, and a little more… worthy of my new life. You showed me kindness, compassion…” He reached up to wipe the tears from his eyes. “God, Tarixi, you were like a cool Aunt the entire time we spent together. It meant a lot. Means a lot. You mean a lot. To me.”

He hated the stop-and-start nature of his speech, but it was difficult to parse his thoughts. Grief was clouding his judgement slightly, even with Dragon’s Resolve burning in the background. He wanted to feel what he did. It seemed right. A way to honour the Goblin’s spirit.

“I knew this was going to happen sooner or later,” Tarixi said with a smile. “I am simply glad it happened after I had the chance to find your mettle, and guide you along the right path,” she hesitated and glanced behind her at Bael’tharax’s still-disintegrating body. “With help, I suppose.”

“With help.” Aurelian agreed with a shaky smile. “I’m… I’m gonna miss you. Both of you. Like, a lot. I’d resurrect you if I could but—”

“I would not ask you to, regardless,” Tarixi said with a shake of her head. “I made my peace with all this, Aurelian. You let me do that. I’m ready to let go,” she smiled a little wistfully. “I’m ready to move on and see my friends again.”

“I… I won’t let you down, y’know?” he said while surrendering to the tears fighting at his eyes, and letting them roll free. “I won’t. I’ll make you proud, Tarixi. I’ll honour your memory. I won’t let those wankers at Sanctuary treat your people like shit because of some stupid and idiotic misconception.”

“I appreciate your vigour, Aurelian,” Tarixi said with a smile that flickered like a failing hologram. “I did no̵̜̙̓̆o̸͖̫͌o̷̹͔̅̄o̷̼̭͒ť̵͉͘ ̸̯̮͗3̸̹̽́x̸̟̅\̷̰̉̄\̴͉͊͘3̶͙̋c̷͚̚t̴͖͑͠!̵͖̈̿!̴̤̉?̵͍͂ the integrity of my Gem to fail so rapidly. I suppose it has been running non-stop, however.”

Aurelian winced at the discordant interruption of her speech, and the fraying of her projection. “Is there anything else I can—?”

“You did enough, Aurelian,” Tarixi said gently. “You gave me hope. You validated my sacrifice. You showed me that my faith was not misplaced, and that Elysea will rise again. Whether it takes a decade or a century, I have faith you will see it done… and even if you do not, then we had a chance. A good chance. Tha̷̲͛͛a̵̼͕̚a̶̡̋a̴̛̜@̴̖̎͒7̴̻̓̐!̷̱͗̋!̷̦́̂5̶̙̹̏͑ ̴͇̉\̵̜̀͆\̵̘͋+̸̖̑͒+̴̻̑̂&̶̺̭̄̎*̵̫̺͝͝(̴̥͙̉͌=̵͍̟̃͘=̵̿ͅ ̴̛ͅm̶̱͋o̷̺̒st can say.”

Aurelian reached up and wiped his eyes at her words, and nodded his head. “I understand. Ugh. I have got to stop crying over things,” he said with an embarrassed laugh.

Bahamut lifted his head and nudged him, but said nothing. The hum of support through the bond delivered his sentiment perfectly.

Tarixi, for her part, actually shook her head.

“No, Aurelian. Not all tears are evil. Grief is n̷o̷t̴̮̽ ̴̤̀a̷͙͠ ̷̗̄ẃ̵͕e̸a̸k̷ness. Pray tha̶̩̾ť̴̹ ̷̡̉y̴̬͘\̸̗̫̓͋\̵͖̿͠0̴̣̀́+̶̰̋̌+̵̨̳͐̚%̶̧̎&̷̯̅̏ͅ ̷̝͙́͆9̵̭̦͒/̸̟̋/̴͉̀̕≠͖͕̒̇%̸̨̺̽͂$̶͎͎͂͌#̸̞́ ̶̢̆ò̷͇n̴͈̆to that, that you can cry when you must. A hard heart is one unaccustomed to empathy, and for a being of your eventual power, that wo̵u̷l̶̹̈́͜ḑ̵͙͠ ̸̮̦̊b̶̭͍͋e ̶a̶ ̷m̵ost terrible development.”

Aurelian nodded again and took a deep, calming breath while attempting to compose himself. “You should rest, Tarixi. I don’t want you to go in pain, and I can see you grimacing.”

“I… thank you, Aurelian,” she said with a quiet smile. “I do have one last piece of advice, though.”

“Please. I’m listening.”

“Trus̵t̴ ̸y̵o̴u̵r̵ ̸i̴n̸stincts. Trust yo̵u̴r̸ ̷g̷ut. Mos̵t̴ ̵i̴m̵p̸o̷rtantly, do not̴ ̷t̷r̷y̴ ̷t̴o̸ ̸d̶o things as̴ ̷t̶h̵e̷y̶ ̵w̶e̶r̸e̷ ̸d̶o̶ne before. Remem̵b̶e̷r̶,̶ ̶w̸e̷ ̵f̷a̴i̴led. We lost. T̶a̷k̵e̸ ̸a̵d̷v̸i̴c̴e̸,̵ ̸t̶a̶ke inspiratio̵n̶,̴ ̵b̸u̷t̶ ̴d̶o not forget that you̶ ̷a̸r̶e̶ ̴t̴h̷e Reċ̴̹l̴̗͆à̸̼i̷͇͑mer. You b̶e̵a̴r̶ ̴t̶h̵e̶ ̶Mantle,” she smiled at him. “You a̴r̷e̵ ̷t̵h̶e̸ ̷S̸e̸c̴ond Ca̵̦͙̽̔l̷̢̜̎ă̷͇ṁ̷̟̫͘ị̵̱͒t̵͕͌ͅy.”

“I will, Tarixi. I promise.”

“Go̵od̷,” she said quietly. “Go̵o̵d̵.̵ I—I ̴t̸h̴i̷i̷͔̎ń̷͔k̷̝̈ ̶̢̆Ȋ̵͓’̷̯̍m̵̫͠…̴͊ͅ ̷̰̑g̴̪̈o̷̗͠inġ̸͙ ̶̼͠t̶̬̾o̴͍͝…̷̮͝ ̵̼̐r̵̈́ͅes̵͕̐t…̴͚̑n̷ow̸.̵.̴.̴”

Aurelian watched her projection flicker, and felt the lump in his throat double in size.

“I will never forget you, Tarixi Firesoul,” he said while her image blurred. “Not for all the days that I remain. The world will know what you did, and of the pride and honour of the entire Goblin race. I’ll make sure nobody ever mistakes your people for anything less than the heroes they are, ever again. I swear it to you, on my honour as the Reclaimer.”

“Ṫ̵̞h̵̦͑.̷̘̚.̸̩͑.̶̤̚ ̷̖̍ḁ̷͋n̸̤͌k̶̪̄.̸̢̅.̵͍̅.̴͇̊ ̵͍̉y̸͎̓ő̵̲u̸̥͐.̴̻͝.̸̭͌.̷͖̌ ̸͙̿A̵̢͒u̸͖̇r̵̫͗.̴͉̚.̶̞̌.̸̺͆ ̵̜̓e̴̢̛ľ̵͉ḭ̵̉.̴̜̒.̴̥̀.̷͔̉ ̵̗̕a̵͔̚n̴̼̈́.̴͍͛.̷̲̇.̸̼̾” Tarixi replied discordantly, before finally fading from sight.

His eyes turned toward the Simulacrum pillar, and he watched in silence with Bahamut at his side while Tarixi’s gem flickered, blinked, and finally faded once more to a dull ruby.

Then, at last, they were alone.

A man and his dragon witnessing the silent end of an ancient era.