Evolution.

A state that all creatures desire. The ascendance into a higher lifeform. The weak desire it. The strong devours the weak who go after it. Some races have achieved the prime state of their species. Starting from the weaker speck of dust blob of the cell. To evolve into creatures that traverse the vast oceans, or rule the endless skies of the earth.

One such race is the Dragons. A species that has existed since time immemorial. Their wings were said to have spanned longer than a kingdom itself, an intellect so superior that the High Elves were a step below them. Their strength is unmatched. Alongside them ruled the High Elves of Evermoor.

Their magic was once said to be equaling that of dragon magic. A hyper-intelligent race that was invincible in battle tactics and magic. Their counterpart, the dwarves. Skilled in metalwork and fire. They handle flames so intense and hot that even the Draegons applaud their thick skins. Though it was a question of whether they were meaning their actual skins, or something else entirely.

Then there was the Titans. The Grand Architects of the Western Continent. Their height is said to be reaching the skies themselves. The once proud race created structures of impeccable beauty, architectures that were said to be engraved in dragon tongue, strengthened with High Elvish magic, and its parts made by the articulate hands of the Dwarves themselves. None could match the majesty of their creations, except for the dwarves themselves.

And yet even the brightest of stars will burn out.

The High elves' numbers dwindled into near extinction, experiencing a de-evolution of their species as a whole. As a consequence, they hid themselves deep within the forests of [Evermoor]. The masters of the forge experience an unknown disaster, thus forcing themselves even deeper within the crust of the earth to live. Then there were the mighty Titans and the Invincible Dragons.

They vanished.

Any historical records of their disappearance, clues, or traces of where they might have gone, well there was none. They just vanished. Like a puff of smoke. The relentless historians of old ones once tried asking the now Elves and Dwarves for further details, yet it was said that even they do not know what happened to them. It was like they never existed.

One day they were there, the next they weren't.

The boy questioned, floating within the deep confines of his cocoon. He believed that his Evolution was coming to a close, and he reasoned it was so because he had regained consciousness. And with the regaining of his consciousness, he was bombarded with a floor of information he knew not where it came from. In his previous cycles of evolution, he was indeed given information yet it was only to the point of being given his [Class] and [Lexicon], but also basic survival skills and instincts. Everything else he had to learn from scratch, like putting on some clothes and making them.

This time around was peculiar. He gained information not relating to skills or survival, but a history lesson. Sure the information was interesting, but he was skeptical that any of it was going to help. The teen then thought of another thing, if he already evolved the necessary parts of his body, and also gained the information necessary for his evolution, then why was he still trapped in what seemed to be endless darkness?

The teen questioned it, and the moment he did his surroundings seemed to have changed. He slowly opened his eyes and realized that he was now standing, he felt around his body and also realized that his height increased, his muscle mass had increased, but also his hair had lengthened up to the point of his shoulders.

But all of it was nothing compared to what was in front of him. He looked forward and saw someone else, his reflection to be precise. In front of him seemed to be a body of water, or a wall of water that showed his reflections. He looked closer and indeed, he had grown. No longer were his limbs short and height astute, he could even see that he was maybe a little taller than his little brother Cosmo. He smiled, thinking that Cosmo would be in for a big surprise next time they met.

He wanted to rush out of there and go meet Cosmo himself, finally knowing how to get out of there. But he still couldn't, as he felt that this situation was the key out of there. Thus, he looked back at himself and questioned, ‘How do I get out of here?’. One question then raised another, ‘Where am I?’ and then another, and another, and another.

Until he asked a question that seemed to be scratching the back of his brain for the longest time, yet he also ignored it for the longest time.

‘Who am I.’ His thoughts seemingly sent shockwaves across the water wall as his reflection rippled as a storm arrived. He ignored his rippling reflections and kept questioning himself of the same question. ‘Who am I?’

The walls that were simply reflecting at him now surrounded him and threatened to close him in. The teen still didn't mind them, as his mind was now in a torrent with one question, but seemingly no answers. He tried extricating himself from the question yet it stuck to him, it kept badgering him until he answered it himself. He wanted to answer, yet there was none in his head.

The walls that surrounded him then stopped and showed a reflection of himself, covering him from every conceivable angle. He was forced to watch as he was shown his life before him. It showed the beginnings of his life, running away from monsters, and learning to create weapons for himself as well as shelter and clothes. He learned how to survive, enabling him to fight the monsters that he once had to run away from.

The image showed the rainy nights and his days hiding out inside a tree, as he shivered from the cold. He felt an inexplicable emotion that day like he was missing something as a gaping hole was dug inside the center of his being. A hole that he felt he hadn't filled.

It showed the memory of him receiving his [Lexicon] after encountering a near-death experience. It showed him the process of learning about his [Lexicon], the mistakes he made as he hopped from shadow to shadow, and also the moments of victory as he used the skills he gained to kill the monster that once tried devouring him.

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He clutched the katana to his side, as he remembered where the materials came from and also its creation. Memories like those continued to pass by his eyes, and yet it did not help him solve his question. It was then that he was shown another memory. It was a memory of him meeting the battle-wounded Cosmo, nursing him back to health in a once dark and cold cave, that seemed to have warmed the moment someone else arrived. It also showed the cold woman who he did not like and still did not like even when she left.

Yet he felt that he could tolerate her a bit more. The once deep pit, which he felt could never be filled, was now becoming less empty. The teen smiled, still not knowing the answer to his question, yet also knowing that he didn't necessarily have to answer it now. With his realization, the endless darkness cracked, as sunlight slipped passed it. The rays of sunshine hit the teen's face, yet he didn't mind it as he enjoyed the warmth.

The dark space shattered, scattering in the wind as if it didn't exist. He could now see the vast cloudless skies and the light of day. Yet his smile didn't last, as the moment he looked towards the forest, the places he once called home, as in ruin. His smile became crooked, as he realized that the lush trees were either charred or crushed, the expansive landscapes burned to their roots, and its once peaceful inhabitants were nowhere to be seen and were replaced by gigantic monsters.

His smile was wiped, replaced with simmering rage as he looked in another direction. He gazed and saw two approaching monsters, eyeing something else in their path. He glanced at where they were closing in and saw another monster, bigger and seemingly stronger than both of them. His rage which was about to blast off to the skies turned into utter puzzlement. He saw that that monster was lying on the ground unconscious.

And when the teen looked closer, he saw that there was someone else behind it. The person had long dark hair that was scattered across the ground, and white clothes that were now covered in dirt. And when the teen saw the person's soft, and unblemished face that was like a woman, his eyes widened.

The two approaching monsters were foaming at their monsters as they approached the unconscious beings. His rage, which was gone, returned faster than it came as dark power oozed from his being. His aura heightened into unfathomable levels as if it threatened to cover the skies itself. The two monsters didn't seem to have noticed the sudden arrival of an ominous surge of energy and kept running toward Cosmo.

The teen wasn't happy. Not one bit. He slowly drew his Katana, its blade coated in pure darkness. The teen coldly looked at the two monsters, and swung his blade. A wave of dark energy made its way to the two monsters, and just when they snapped out of their fervor, it was too late. Their head was lopped off, falling to the ground.

Their bodies soon followed as it swayed for a few seconds before it also felt like a cloud of dust. The teen's anger slowly simmered down and was again replaced with another emotion. He withdrew his sword and anxiously made his way to Cosmo.

It took him only a few seconds to cover the distance, as he was then right next to Cosmo, checking his wellbeing. He sent a pule of his mana inside Cosmo, yet the teen felt nothing. He tried again and still, nothing. The teen felt like he was shoveling dirt into a bottomless pit, as he realized what a strange being Cosmo was. The teen instead checked his breathing and pulse and realized that it was normal.

He sighed with relief, as he plopped down next to Cosmo and stared at the skies. A smile crept into his face, realizing that Cosmo kept his promise. He came back for him. However, it was now pointless as he knew that he could go out whenever he wanted. But he still didn't mind the gesture. He then felt a sense of deja vu.

He was again caring for an injured Cosmo and this time he was injured because of him. The teen didn't know what to feel. He wanted to feel guilty because Cosmo protected him at the most sensitive of times, knowing that if they managed to break through the walls protecting him, he would be a goner. The teen smiled, feeling grateful and happy. He then decided. He was going to repay him. Now he wasn't just protecting his little brother, but also wanting to follow wherever he goes. Through heaven or hell, he will go where he goes.

As he will kill every enemy his little brother might have.

…

“What the hell did you do!?”

A favor.. What can't even say thank you to your savior?

“You call that saving? You wrecked the kid's home. Now where is he going to live?!”

With you…? I'm confused, Isn't he living with you now? What happened to the whole subordinate thing?

I wanted to reply, but no words were coming out of my mouth. I covered my face with my hands, thinking of a way to apologize to the kid later. And also what to say to convince him to become my subordinate. But I can't deny white, he did save me. Removing my hands from my face, I said,

“Thank you…”

What was that? Speak up, I can't hear you.

“Thank you! There happy?”

Oh yeah.

White then cackled, his laughter echoing within the confines of our space. I was watching it. The whole fight. And no matter how much I wanted to argue with him some more, the feats he displayed were way out of my imagination. I didn't even think I could do that.

Sighing, I summoned a chair in my mind and sat on it. I pondered on how he was able to do all of that, with my body. Why can't I do that? And since when was my weapon able to turn into a Warhammer and a Staff?

I told you, kid. You don't even know half of it.

White smiled, his face now clearer to me than before. His figure was no longer blurry, letting see his unblemished white clothes, his long white hair that extended towards the ground, but unfortunately, his mocking smile as he grinned from ear to ear

“How? Just tell me, how?”

Oops, can tell ya that. Or I'm in big trouble if I do.

“How? You in my head, the only way you can get in trouble is if- Oh.”

Just realized it huh

I nodded, remembering that a certain someone was also able to reside there. And that someone appeared opposite of me with a table in tow. There was a full tea set in front of me, a cloth below it, and some snacks. I know it was just in my head that it existed but I still grabbed a cookie and took a bite. The crunchiness. The flavor. It tasted so real.

“What have you learned child.”

Mr Lucius said as he poured me a cup of tea, and filled up his own. Without me realizing, the other two, black and white were also sitting with us, Mr. Lucius eyeing them for a few seconds before filling her cup also. When he finished filling up his own, I answered.

“I'm weak.”

“And?”

“And that I still need more training.”

“Continue.”

“I need to learn about my [Lexicon] more. Without realizing it, I slacked off on it and focused my efforts on other things. Things that could indeed help me, but not as much as my [Lexicon].”

“Good.” Mr. Lucius succinctly said, as he quietly sipped his tea.

Indeed. See? There is a lot more you can do Cosmo. Just please learn more about the damned book. That way, I could have more fun. With your body as it is, it won't even be able to contain your full might.

I looked at Black and White, noticing that they had differing expressions. Black was calm, and indifferent as he silently sipped his tea along with Mr Lucius. White was busy scarfing as much food as possible while using tea to water it down.

I had doubts about whether I should trust a person that drank tea like water.