《The White Dragon》 Chapter: 1 Avion Every now and then he glanced at the lowering sun just to ensure he was going north, though most of the time he would discover that he was not. He wondered aimlessly, not sure of where he was or who he was or, worst of all why he was. Avion still wore his dyer wolf winter cloak and his black wool pants, but he had taken off the distinctive Vartanian silk shirt, replacing it with a simple shirt he found in an abandoned house. Gone, too, was his mask, the signature of who he was before. The Hideous Prince he was called and now he was done with that persona forever. Avion immediately after leaving that place he pulled the mask from his face and thrown it onto the ground, he was done with it. Commonly he was now dressed no longer was he dressed as person of the higher class of a prince of a warring Empire. He abandoned everything, his wealth, his status, and his prestige. He wanted nothing more to do with a empire that murdered indiscriminately, such as his empire had done He hated his families¡¯ Empire, and he even hated himself for being too weak to make a difference, Strength ruled on the Chronos Continent and if you didn¡¯t have strength you were no better than a dead dog. Though Avion wasn¡¯t exactly certain of what to do, he wanted to feel the people¡¯s pain, experience their sufferings, and their weariness, No matter how naive it may have seemed, he believed¡­ he believed that he made the right choice. But no matter how deep Avion despaired, how lost he might be, he would never go back on his actions, for that is not who is he. He wandered that first week after leaving, occasionally finding water at a small stream. By late afternoon his stomach began to growl. He¡¯d need a way to hunt; savaging berries wasn¡¯t going to cut it, and so he started out, halfheartedly, to find implements for a spear, perhaps. He got distracted rather quickly, though, as the smell of stew cooking settled into his nose. Avion had no interest in meeting anyone, but his stomach wouldn¡¯t just let him ignore that nicely smelling aroma that led him to lie on a ground outside a small cluster of houses. In the center of the village burned a roaring cook fire with a large cauldron set atop it tended by a pair of old women. Avion noted well that the many habitants of the village were mostly very old or very young; the only people near his age were women, many pregnant, probably from when the bandit-gangs came hunting. Like so many other villages of the empire, this one radiated the unbearable pain of the protracted war. The ridiculous, horrid reality of a world gone insane strung the young man anew, but it was, after all just another in a long string of profound disappointments. He surveyed the area, looking for a way to sneak in, preferring to remain unseen and unnoticed. He glanced to the western sky, estimating another hour till noon. The villagers were gathering to enjoy their meals. ¡°More and more would likely come out of their small cabins,¡± Avion thought, wondering how much of the meal would be left for him to steal. ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± He sighed mocking his foolishness with a decisive snort, standing up, brushing himself off, and then proceeding to walk down into the village. Avion having been spotted was then met by many curious stares. More than one person yelped in surprise more than one mother pulled her children to the side. Avion understood their fear; on his week long journey he had come across many villages burnt to the ground to where nothing was left but black smoke and ash. ¡°I come in peace.¡± He said holding out his hands before him in an unthreateningly manner. ¡°Far enough!¡± one old man said to him, brandishing a pitchfork Avions way. ¡°Ye got no business here, so turn yourself about and be gone!¡± ¡°I am hungry and tired,¡± Avion replied. ¡°I hoped that I might share some of your food.¡± ¡°So ye think we¡¯ve enough to be handing out?¡± The old man asked. ¡°I will work for it,¡± Avion promised. ¡°Repair a roof; repair a wall, or gathering wood. Whatever you need, I could surely use a meal, friend.¡± ¡°Which army are you running from?¡± asked an old woman seeing how young Avion was. ¡°16 to 17 years of age yer are, have you deserted¡± she said looking over at him. ¡°Yer voice sounds like Vartanian, but yer clothes¡¯er more akin to Turban. So which?¡± ¡°I found these cloths as my own were to worn.¡± Avion explained, not wanting his distinctive clothing to link him to neither Turban nor Vartania. The thought of anyone confusing him as a member of either Empire disgusted him. ¡°Turian then,¡± pronounced the old man. His snarl and the way he then gripped the pitchfork made Avion know that it wasn¡¯t a good thing. ¡°I serve in neither Empire¡¯s army.¡± ¡°But ye did.¡± said the woman. Avion shook his head. ¡°No, Not Turban or Vartania. I am but a traveler from a distant land.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± said the old man. ¡°Far to the north across the Gulf of Vartania where the Elf King rules with great compassion in love.¡± ¡°Never heard of it,¡± the old man said again. Those around him nodded in agreement. It then occurred to Avion just how paranoid these villagers were. And how worldly he had become in such a short time. He thought back to his privileged beginnings in the Vartanian Crown city, in the days when he could barely stumble across a pond of water without the attendants panicking. Never could he have imagined the road he had journeyed! The enormity of his travels. Only now did it occur to him how little he actually knew about the Chronos Continent. ¡°I am not a part of this awful war.¡± He said. The old woman¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I am not for believing yer.¡± ¡°Then how did ye get that scar across yer eye, then?¡±Asked the old man. Avion lifted his hand to touch the wound on his face, Where his eldest brother in his fury slashed him across the eye with a iron sword, luckily Avion kept his sight. ¡°My older brother in his anger scarred me.¡± He said ¡°I¡¯m still not for believing ye!¡± the old woman said with a hiss. ¡°Now, ye turn about and be-gone from here, or me and old fellow will stick you with the pitchfork. Four points o¡¯ pain young in¡¯. ¡°Aye,¡± the old man said, prodding the pitchfork towards Avion. But Avion didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Go on!¡± the old man insisted, thrusting the fork closer. Unconsciously Avion reacted. As the pitchfork stabbed at him, Avion went forward and only slightly to the side, just enough so that the old man couldn¡¯t shift the weapons angle to catch up to him. Once past the dangerous end of the pitchfork Avion moved with brutal efficiently, grabbing the shaft just below its head with his right hand, then shattered beneath the head the weapon, leaving the old man with a short staff. Avion then stepped back out of reach before those around him had even registered his moves. With a yelp of surprise, the old man took the stump of the staff and lifted it above his head like a club, stumble rushing at Avion with something between terror and outrage. Avion dropped the broken pitchfork and brought his arms up above his head in a diagonal cross just as the old man chopped down at his head. Avion easily caught the club in the crook of his blacking arms and, with a sudden uncrossing, tugged the piece of wood from the old man¡¯s grasp. Avion caught it immediately and sent it into a furious spin, twirling it in one hand, working it expertly behind his back and out the other side as he handed it off to his other hand. The old man fell back, throwing his arms up before his face and whining pitifully. No one else made a sound, transfixed by the dazzling maneuvers of this stranger.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Avion¡¯s display went on for many heartbeats, spinning the staff, leaping and twisting, swift shifts and breaks in the momentum where Avion transferred all of his energy into a sudden and brutal stab into the ground. ¡°By the gods,¡± one woman mouthed. ¡°Wow,¡± a young boy whispered, only because he could find no louder voice then his.¡± ¡°Who are ye?¡± the old woman said taking a step back, catching her breath. ¡°No one who matters, no one who cares,¡± Avion answered, moving away from the planted pitchfork. ¡°Just a hungry 17 year old youth begging for food and willing to work for it. Nothing more.¡± ¡°Begging?¡± a younger woman asked skeptically. She clutched a toddler tight in her arms. ¡°Or threatening to take it if not given?¡± Avion looked at her closely, reading the anger on her dirty face. She might have been a pretty girl once, an attractive young woman with blue eyes and wheat-colored hair. Perhaps once soft and inviting like a place to hide from the world, her hair now lay matted and scrappily, unkept and uncut. The war had played hard on her; the only sparkle in her eyes was one of hatred, reflected in bloodshot lines and weary bags. There remained no soft lines there, just a sharp and hardened person who had seen and borne too much and eaten too little. Avion had no answers for her. He gave a helpless little shrug, and then with a slight bow he turned and started to walk away. ¡°Now where are ye going?¡± the old man asked behind him. ¡°As far as I need to pass beyond this war.¡± ¡°But ye isn¡¯t going away hungry!¡± the old woman declared. Avion then stopped and turned looking to her face. ¡°No ones to say that we folk o¡¯ Fraloon village let¡¯s a tired youngster walk away hungry! Get back here and eat yer stew, and we¡¯ll find some work for ye to pay for it.¡± ¡°Might start by cutting me a new handle for me fork,¡± the old man said, and several others laughed. But not the young woman with the toddler, though. Obliviously displeased by the turn of events, she held her young child close and glared at Avion. He looked back at her curiously, trying to convey a sense of calm, but the glower did not relent. ¡­¡­. Time passed, repairing the pitchfork proved no difficult task; for there were other implements about whose handles had long outlived their specialized heads. With that chore completed quickly, Avion moved to help where he could, determine to pay back the village folk equitably and more for their generosity in these dire times. In truth there wasn¡¯t much stew they shared that night, just a few rotten fish in a cauldron of water with a paltry mix of root vegetables. But to Avion it tasted like hope itself, a quiet little reminder that many people- perhaps most-were possessed of a kind and generous nature, the one flickering candle in the dark, dark world. Reflecting on that forgotten point of light, Avion silently chastised himself for his gloom and despair. For a moment, just a brief moment, he thought of returning home, to plead with his Emperor father to end this war make peace with the Turian Emperor, But he knew better, his father wanted to rule the Continent, so even if he somehow stopped the war with Turban there were still nine other empires on the continent, so no matter how much he wished it war on Chronos was unstoppable. More time passed, Darkness fell and supper ended. The villagers worked together to clean up the common area about the large cook fire. As the meager and downtrodden folk of Fraloon moved about the flickering flames, Avion felt he was witnessing the walk of the dead, shambling out of the graveyards and battlefields toward an uncertain eternity. His heart ached as he considered the condition of the land and the folk, of the misery that two selfish Kings willingly inflicted upon so many undeserving victims. ¡°If only I had more power.¡± He mumbled, to himself clenching his fist. Two men in their attempt for becoming the sole emperor of the continent destroyed these peoples world. It seemed, much more easily than army of well-meaning folk could save or repair it. But truthfully there weren¡¯t many of those and if there were they were hidden away somewhere watching as the people suffer in sorrow. Avion sat before the fire for a long while lost in thought, long past the others who had wandered back to their cabins. Staring into the flames as they continue to twig the logs, Avion envisioned the smoke screaming from the log as the escape of life itself. The inexorable journey towards the realm of death. He took the dark image one step further, seeing the flame as his own hopes and dreams, diminishing to glowing embers and fading fast into the dark reality of a smoky-black night. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have ever seen a man sit so still and quiet for so long,¡± said a woman, interrupting his communication with the dancing flickers. The edge in that voice, not complimentary, drew him out of his introspection even more then the words themselves. He looked up to see the young mother who had questioned him sharply when he had first entered the village. The toddler stood now in the shadows behind her, which seemed to relieve some of her vulnerability, as was evident of her aggressive stance. ¡°All the work is done.¡± he answered. ¡°And so is the meal you begged, uh, worked for,¡± She added, her words dripping of sarcasm. Avion eyes narrowed. ¡°I did what I could.¡± The woman snorted. ¡°A young man, very strong and quick, who can fight well¡­and here you sit, staring into the fire.¡± That description of his fighting ability tipped her hand. ¡°Your husband is off fighting in the war,¡± Avion said softly. She snorted again, helplessly, angrily, pitifully and looked to the side, ¡°My husband got struck to the ground by a Turban soldiers spear,¡± she said, chewing every word out with outrage. ¡°He¡¯d likely be there still if the animals hadn¡¯t dragged him away to fill their bellies. To many to bury, you know.¡± ¡°I know.¡± He said lowering his head. ¡°And here you sit, because your work is done,¡± she retorted. ¡°Here you sit all whole and breathing and eating the food of the folk, who don¡¯t have enough to give, while men and women fall to the spear and the sword and the magic.¡± Avion stared at her hard. She shifted to put her hands on her hips, returning his look without blinking. He wanted to tell her about who he was and why he was there, but he couldn¡¯t. He wanted to blurt it all out, to stand and stomp his feet, to scream about the futility of it all. But he couldn¡¯t. Her posture her expression, the power forged by pain in her voice, denied him his indignation, even mocked his self-pity. He had his life. But her husband and many other husband and sons had not theirs. ¡°What side are you on, stranger?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Avion dared to stand up straight before her. ¡°Both sides are wrong.¡± SMACK¡­ He saw it coming but didn¡¯t try to stop it. She slapped him across the face. ¡°My husband¡¯s dead,¡± she said. ¡°Dead! The man I love is gone.¡± Avion didn¡¯t say that he was sorry, but his expression surly admitted as much. Not that it mattered. ¡°They are both gone?¡± the woman gave a helpless laugh. ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s no reason we eat mud and go to cold beds? That¡¯s your answer? That¡¯s the answer of the brave warrior who can dodge a pitchfork and snap its iron head from its iron handle with ease?¡± Avion soften. ¡°Do you wish that I had fought and saved your husband?¡± He said trying to send a knot of appeasement and understanding, but the question sounded ridiculous even to his own ears. His face stung where she slapped him again. ¡°I wish you had got stuck to ground and not him!¡± She spun away from him and only then did Avion realize all the village folk had gathered again to hear their exchange. They looked on with horror; a few were embarrassed, perhaps, but Avion saw that many heads were nodding in agreement with the woman. ¡°It¡¯s all a matter of chance!¡± the woman said walking back and forth before the onlookers. ¡°That¡¯s why, it is, yes? A hundred men go out, and twenty die! A thousand men go out, and more die.¡± She turned to him sharply. ¡°But the more that go, the more come home, don¡¯t they? A thousand targets to spread the bite of the Turban spear means that each has more of a chance to miss that bite. So why weren¡¯t you there?¡± She launched herself at him. ¡°Why are you here instead of showing yourself as a target to the archers and the spearmen?¡± This time Avion didn¡¯t let her strike him because he knew the situation could escalate quickly and dangerously for everyone. He caught her wrists, left and right as she punched, pinning them back to her sides. She began to wail openly, keening against the injustice of it all, he instinctly tried to pull her closer to comfort her, but she tore away from him, spinning about forcefully and quickly that she lost her balance and tumbled to the dirt, where she half sat, half lay on one elbow, her other forearm slapped across her eyes. Avion¡¯s instincts again told him to go to her, but he didn¡¯t dare. He looked up at the many faces staring at him, judging him. He held his hands out questionably, starting to back away. A trio of women went to their fallen friend, one pausing just long enough to look up at Avion and mutter, ¡°Get ye gone from here.¡± Her words sparking more calls the woman¡¯s rant had touched a deep nerve here. They weren¡¯t interested in his truth. All that mattered to them was the injustice that a young, obviously a capable man was sitting here, seemly untouched by the devastating reality that had visited upon all of their homes. Avion took another step back from the outraged woman and held his hands up again, a helpless and ultimately sad look appeared upon his face as he walked away. When he went back into the empty forest, wandering the dark trails to where after a seemly an unknown amount of time passed he was standing before a lake. At this lake he saw beautiful woman with blond hair standing at the epicenter. This woman her beauty to heavenly to put into words. ¡°What is she?¡± he thought. He was starting feel all to dirty to even gaze up at her. Avion felt that he was to dirty, to mortal, to damn insignificant to stand in her presence, It was only when she started to dance that Avion fell to his knees. This woman before him was pure and shined brighter then the brightest star. ¡°A goddess he mumbled.¡± As he watched her dance. Her movements were faintly discernible, as if a thin cloud was shielding the moon; her figure was fluttering in the wind, like a revolving snowflake that blew by the stream of wind. She was truly beautiful. As he was watches her dance Avion didn¡¯t notice until the very last second that a Majestic White Dragon had closed its claws upon him. Encasing him in the brightest of lights. ¡°Is this what you wish?¡± the Dragon asked signing as it gazed at the woman standing on top of the lake. ¡°It is.¡± She said. Smiling, as her body began breaking apart into pixels of light. The White Dragon, upon hearing her say as such, slightly bows as it and watches the woman vanish from that place. Those pixels of lights becoming stars, as they fly upwards into the heavens. ¡°Your will be done.¡± The dragon thought, as it slowly raised its head, and so, since it was her will, The White Dragon releases its Dragon¡¯s soul, to where, all that the Dragon was, what it is, flowed into Avions body. ¡­¡­ Strength Ruled on the Chronos continent. And what other was stronger than the strength of the Dragon. Chapter: 2 Avion Vi Vartania ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Avion sat up his left hand touching his head, ¡°ah man my head,¡± he said in pain, Avion was experiencing a skull splitting migraine. ¡°How long have I been sleeping here? Wait!¡± he said, suddenly remembering the woman dancing on top of the lake. Quickly turning to look, what he sees causes his heart to skip a beat. That lake, which once shined under the moonlight, had all but dried up. ¡°Impossible!¡± he thought. ¡°Just how long have I been asleep?¡± ¡°Master your awake! Finally.¡± A young girl¡¯s voice said, coming from on the inside of Avion¡¯s head. ¡°WHAT! Who?¡± The girl¡¯s voice startled Avion, to where he even jumped backward in fright. ¡°Show yourself!¡± He shouted, his head moving from left to right in search of where the voice originated from. ¡°That one cannot not do that, this one is without form.¡± ¡°Without form?¡± he wondered, all the while at the same time he had since picked up a nearby tree limb from the ground. ¡°Yes, this one is a soul, I am formless, shapeless, I just am what I am.¡± Avion paused; he needed a couple seconds to gather himself, was he to believe the girl, that she was a soul, formless and such. ¡®Bullshit¡¯ was the very first word to come to his mind. How could he believe such fairytale bullshit, growing up in the Vartanian Palace he had read a many of books, and the ones that spoke of souls. But they were all kid books. Never after reading hundreds of books from the Royal library did it say anywhere that a soul could speak, let alone that souls were even real. ¡°Child, how about this,¡± Avion said to the voice. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come out so that we can meet face to face?¡± He asks. Dismissing the girl¡¯s previous words. ¡°This one is not a child¡± She said rebuking him, a small hint of displeasure was hinted by a sudden pitch in her voice. ¡°This one is Forty thousand years old.¡± ¡°Forty-thousand years old? Impossible!¡± Avion couldn¡¯t believe it. The more this girl spoke the more unbelievable her words were. If she was going to lie, then surely she could have come up with better lies. Being a soul and being 40,000 years old who was going to believe that, surely no sane person would. But somewhere far at the back of his mind, if only for a couple of seconds. It occurred to him that maybe just maybe she was telling the truth. But soon that fleeting thought was met with a quick shrug of Avion¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Girl what is your name?¡± he suddenly asks. For some reason he was now suddenly focused and a little less disorientated. This sudden switch of self surprised the girl; his switch was just too fast, almost unreasonable ¡°I am Ruby.¡± ¡°Okay Ruby, I am Avion, but people that know me just call me Avi. So Ruby why don¡¯t you come out, I want to see your face.¡± There was a brief silence, and then Suddenly Avions body goes limp; to where he then collapses onto the ground. ¡°What is this? Why can¡¯t I move?¡± Avion thought, he had no answer for this. Why did his body go limp? Why couldn¡¯t he move? Why was his heart slowing? Why did he feel like he was dying? Many questions but no answers. It was only when Avion lowered his eyes down towards his chest where he then sees a base ball sized white orb half way out of where his hearts suppose to be. ¡°It can¡¯t be. Ruby is that you?¡± A startled Avion asks. ¡°Yes it is I Master Avion. I am Dragon¡¯s¡­¡± As soon as Ruby had begun to speak, Avion loses consciousness. No. Truthfully, he died. But it wasn¡¯t long before he regained consciousness, just like the lighting of a match the flame in his Soul Palace came to be. Wheeze¡­ Avion suddenly wakes up gasping for air, his entire body drenched in cold sweat. It was there that he suddenly sat up, his eyes wide as they roamed wildly over his surroundings. His face scrunched in pain as a he suddenly remembers the white orb. ¡°Master! You¡¯re awake.¡± A voice inside him calls out cheerfully. ¡°Ruby, so what you said before was all true.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± She simply says. ¡°I am Ruby, The Dragon Soul of the White Dragon Bahamut, All that he was, all that he had, has now been given to you. And so have I. In these 30 years since master has been sleeping I have been. Avion¡¯s soul shook; Suddenly he turns his head towards the lake. ¡°Something doesn¡¯t add up,¡± he thought. The lake was massive at least twice the size of lake Mecklenburg in Germany. (Reference) So how could a lake as massive as that dry up in just thirty years. It was impossible. ¡°Ha,¡± Avion laughs. ¡°Impossible, I have said impossible at least six times now, it seems that I am going to need a new word.¡± ¡­.. After a couple minutes of silence Avion rose to his feet, his heart was calm, his will solid. Once more he stilled himself, his change in self once more baffled Ruby, just one minute ago his heart and mind were in disarray then a minute later after he takes a deep breath his heart is no longer stalled. Instead there is absolute resoluteness. He seems to be able to control his emotions at will. He has control of his Hearts Mind. ¡°Let us go Ruby. I want to see how the world has changed,¡± he said walking deeper into the forest. His figure fading into the thick forest. ¡­¡­ He let the wind be his guide as he walked across the lands devastated by the war, for miles there was no life to be seen. Only that, that once was an open expanse of green. That was now replaced by the smell of Death. ¡°Master in the thirty years since you have been asleep the war has only intensified the other Seven Great Empire¡¯s have also join in. The regular people of all empires are now displaced. With no place to call home.¡± Avion was silent he ignored her and kept on. What could he do he was born without a Mana Pool. In the eyes of the world he was just a regular person. Those people that fight in those armies were all mana users; hence even the weakest amongst them could easily kill him with just a slap. Avion avoided one battered village after another, having little desired to repeat the dialogue he had suffered with the widow from Fraloon village all those years ago. Truly, after his encounter with the folk there, he didn¡¯t wish to speak with anyone that he couldn¡¯t help. But he did sneak into the clusters of farmhouses whenever he found them, though in the dark of night Avion made his way about the communities, pilfering food and drink where he could, With his great evasive skills the villagers of those communities never seen are heard him once he passed through their villages. He was well on his way even before the sun lightened the eastern sky. He tried to leave behind fire wood or anything he could find to repay his unwitting hosts. Time passed and each morning seemed to dawn a bit warmer as summer came in full to this southernmost region of the Vartanian Empire. Still moving further south, Avion made his way past the towering Snow Top Mountains of Mozura, their beauty, since he was a child always left him in awe.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. He was now in a land all too familiar to him, he was approaching a city that was once known as the jewel city of Vartania, ¡®Melos¡¯ the city that sits on the water. This Venice like city, rested some fifty miles from the Turban border protected by the Mozura Mountains and the open sea. The only way to get into Melos was from its suspension bridge, otherwise it would be impossible to enter. The landscape surrounding Melos made the City a fortress. Making it impossible to penetrate. Any army, whether it is approaching from the North, South, East or West, would be spotted miles away before they could even reach the cities walls. ¡°This is it Ruby over that mountain is Melos City.¡± Avion said with a smile on his face as he made his way pass the mountain passage. And what his eyes fell upon was a city in ruins. ¡°This¡­ What am I seeing right now?¡± ¡°Master, must have forgotten, remember that this one said that thirty years have passed. And holding off a siege for thirty years is inconceivable.¡± Ruby said not mincing her words. Avion took a deep breath where with one step at a time he walked towards the suspension bridge. Withholding in his grief. Though the suspension bridge was heavily damaged and hadn¡¯t been tended to for some thirty years Avion without any hesitation stepped onto the mangled bridge and made his way towards the heavily damaged city gate. The closer he got to the city the stronger the stench of death had become. It was a pungent reminder of the awfulness of war, instinctively he looked to the west were the sun was low in the sky. ¡°The sun is setting he reminded himself,¡± as he was almost upon the city gate. Exhausted and hungry, hoping to find some leftover food, at this point in time anything world do to ease his empty stomach. ¡°Please stop!¡± It was at that moment where just as Avion pushed open the city gate he heard the cries of a woman screaming at someone to stop. ¡°Ye belong to me now, wench!¡± a man yelled back. I¡¯ll take ye as I want!¡± he continued. ¡°My husband,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Dead!¡± The man shouted. ¡°And soon to be pecked by crows.¡± As soon as she head that the woman began to cry out in agony. Avion crept up on the place where the voices were coming from as fast as he dared, trying to remain silent and unnoticed. For there were others up there, he realized. Flat on his belly he crawled along ground into a nearby damaged home where he watched from the corner. Where he spotted two campfires, where his eyes then fall upon a man atop a woman, having finished his deed. Avion frowned, he could hardly look that way, more surprising he saw other women and children all gathered around in a circle. There were thirty of them at least, their eyes vacant of his light, their faces and hair filthy with soot and mud, they looked as those they¡¯ve been through hell. Avion then as he grinded his teeth, looked elsewhere, a place where he heard groans and moans, it was there that he spotted fifty men all tied up, the men were scrawny seemly they lacked malnutrition. ¡°Bastard! You are fucking Scumbags!¡± Avion suddenly heard a young man cry out sprinting towards the rapist. This young man had seemly escaped from his binds and Instead of fleeing to save himself he charged towards the rapist. When suddenly out of nowhere another young man tackles him, only then did the young men start to fight. The tackling young man after a series of punches quickly gained the upper hand. He knocked the boy down and dropped on top of him, straddling him and pummeling him mercilessly. Those nearest bandits laughed, while many others seemed to giggle, Avion counted ten of them in total. ¡°Don¡¯t ye kill him,¡± a man instructed, coming out of nowhere he was the biggest of the ten many bandits who when they saw him they all quieted down. So Avion figured that he must be the leader. Looking at that man Avion found it hard to breathe, he felt this kind of pressure before, this man was a Mana User. Across the way the Rapist stood and brushed himself clean, then kicked the prone woman and spat upon her. ¡°Here now, don¡¯t ye do that,¡± the man who had just spoken said with folded arms, ¡°My turn with her.¡± He headed over towards the woman opening his belt as he went, and no one seemed to pay him any heed at all. ¡°And if ye try to run again we¡¯ll do worse, don¡¯t ye doubt,¡± said the rapist who had already had his way with the woman. He kicked her again for good measure and then moved away back to his bandit buddies. One young girl watched him with wide eyes, and he shouted at her, ¡°Get me some food!¡± Quickly she scrambled away in fetch of some food. Not wanting to be next. Avion couldn¡¯t comprehend the scene before him. He tried to keep his wits about him, to take measure of the opposing force. But that mana user, yes Avion was good with a spear, he even believed himself to be unbeatable. But that was only against regular humans, mana users were an entirely different matter with just the wave of their hand even the weakest mana user could easily kill him. ¡°This is not your fight,¡± Avion stubbornly reminded himself. ¡°You can¡¯t save the world, fool. It¡¯s all beyond you. There is no point!¡± He almost convinced himself to walk away, so despondent was Avion that he nearly surrendered, there and then to the darkness. But before he had even finished his internal battle, fate mercifully intervened, for a girl spotted him and let out a shriek, pointing and hopping. Avion probably could have made it out of the city before any of them got a read on him, but this suddenness shattered Avion¡¯s pathetic justification for leaving, So upon taking a deep breath he stood up and took a few steps towards the encampment, in full view of more than eighty eyes. He noted the boss man behind the log scrambling up from the beaten woman, hiking his pants as he went. He also noted the previous attacker down to grab a short bronze sword as the rest of the bandits grabbed their short clubs. All of them looking at Avion with murderous eyes. ¡°Leave her alone,¡± he said looking at the man still standing over the immobilized woman. The bandit boss upon seeing that Avion was directing those words to him goes over Avion where he then notices no mana coming from the others body. ¡°Hahaha!¡± He laughed. He couldn¡¯t contain himself, how dare a regular human say those words to him. ¡°And what do ye think ye can do insect, get ye out of here before ye get yer ¡®self killed.¡± ¡°Those words scum, I throw back at you!¡± Avion said his blood starting to boil; his body was becoming insanely hot. It was at that moment when Avion takes a deep breath and exhales where from his mouth emit¡¯s a blue flame. The seventy captives as well as the ten bandits were all frightened, because what was happening before them was something that they couldn¡¯t put into words; this seemly ordinary looking young man¡¯s body was steaming. It was actually releasing steam. <<>> Ruby says sounding excited. No. Jubilant. Her master will now and forever cease being human, and become something, much, much, more. ¡°My body is hot.¡± Avion mumbled, raising his right hand up to his face, where he then clenching it into a fist. He couldn¡¯t understand what was going on. As this was going on, the young girl who had spotted Avion quickly turned and ran to her sister, running right past the Bandit Boss. ¡°Sister,¡± she called out to her tears welling up in her eyes. Seeing the young girl¡¯s sudden change, the bandit boss frowns, ¡°You little bitch! Who told you to help her?¡± He yells reaching for her hair. Bang¡­ Suddenly, the bandit boss was sent flying, crashing through as series of buildings. This sudden action left everyone present shocked and at a loss for words. Even the remaining nine bandits didn¡¯t know what had just transpired; all that they knew was that their boss was sent flying. ¡°Ah,¡± the young girl shrieked, her sudden action quickly caught everyone¡¯s attention. Turning their gazes to the girls location what they all saw was a young man whose body was covered in blue flames, with snake like purples, and what he had in his hand was the still beating heart of the bandit boss. With their anger clouding their judgment bandits raise their swords and clubs and slowly inched their way towards Avion who was now standing before the young girl and her sister. The little girl who was tending to her sister with tears in her eyes suddenly cries out, all of her pain, her sorrow, her hatred, and her resentment. All that was built up was finally released. Like a dam that had finally given way, her words sounded out like a raging river. ¡°Mister! she shouted. ¡°Please, help us! Kill them! They murdered my Papa and Mama! They took everything from us!¡± The girl said. Her tears, falling like heavy rain. All that was pent up finally released. Upon witnessing the courageous display by a young child the other seventy prisoners soon join in, all of them pleading to Avion for revenge. But Avion couldn¡¯t hear them; in his mind, he back at that lake witnessing the scene after he lost consciousness, hearing the woman¡¯s otherworldly voice as she only spoke a few words. And the Dragon, such a Divine creature, not even did it hesitate in giving its all to Avion, it wholeheartedly followed her will. Giving all that it was to Avion, a mere mortal. A mystery presented itself, a mystery that Avion was sure to look into and learn why that mysterious woman did that for him. ¡­¡­ ¡°That bastard he¡¯s not moving,¡± one of the bandits said to another, where he then nodded to the other bandit who retrieved a bow and arrow from his back, firing it at Avion. Swish¡­ The Arrow shot by the bandit upon making contact with the flame surrounding Avion¡¯s body turned into ash. It was then, that, as a reaction Avion¡¯s eye shifted onto the two bandits that attacked him, and as soon as his eyes fell upon them the Bandits bodies caught aflame. Their agony-ious cries left many with a shiver running down their spines. Was this young man before them even human? A many of them thought. But who were they to complain this young man was saving them. Soon after, Avion¡¯s gaze shifted back from into its previous location. The remaining bandits and the rapist upon seeing this looked over at one another and dropped their swords and fled. They wanted no part in dealing with that monster in human skin. Sometime after the bandits departed, Avion, after a couple or more minutes snapped to, only to find that the little girl had released the other prisoners. And they were all staring at him with weary eyes. ¡°Mister, are you okay?¡± the girl asks, approaching him hesitatingly, for too long have they been prisoners to others. Cautiousness seemed to be their first trait. Avion upon seeing how hesitant she was smiles, ¡°No need to fear me child, I will not harm my own people.¡± ¡°Mister who are you?¡± She asks looking him directly in the eye. Reaching out his hand Avion pats the girls head, ¡°I am Avion VI Vartania Second Prince of the Vartanian Empire, and I will rebuild this city.¡± Chapter - 3 ¡°No please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Screamed a bandit; It has been a week since Avion had settled into the city and began working on fixing the Suspension bridge. But annoyingly, throughout the week there were constant bandit attacks hindering him in his attempt of fixing the bridge. ¡°God damn it!¡± Avion cursed. Becoming increasingly annoyed by the bandit attacks, ¡°These idiots just don¡¯t know when to quit.¡± On the first day there were ten bandit attacks, on the second day there were fifteen, on the third day there were forty five. And so on. And now on this day on the Seventh day there had been one hundred twenty seven. One hundred twenty-seven bandits had come, and one hundred twenty seven bandits had died. Such was their fate. Avion figured that since there were so many of them then surely their camp should be nearby, if only he could step away for a moment and find their camp he could put an end to the bandit raids. But he couldn¡¯t, he didn¡¯t have that luxury, he was worried. Worried that, if he steps away and leave these people alone that they would surely get themselves killed. ¡°If only there were some among them that were healthy.¡± He thought. constantly, Feeling as though his hands were tied. On this hot evening day he sat on a crate just outside Melos¡¯s suspension bridge with a broad sword in hand. Waiting patiently for another bandit attack. ¡°Big boss,¡± a voice says coming from behind him, it was the young man that instead of escaping he rushed to the young woman¡¯s aid. Even though he was beaten he still showed much courage. This had made Avion deeply respect him. ¡°Kuni, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me big boss. Just Avion will do.¡± ¡°He he, no way your big boss¡­Huh!¡± he suddenly pauses looking over at the hundreds of corpses; there was almost two hundred and fifty of them. ¡°Big boss aren¡¯t you tired?¡± he asks looking Avions way. ¡°I am not tired,¡± he lied. For some unknown reason Avion¡¯s mind set had shifted, to-where weakness or any sort of mortality he looked down upon. Why he thought that way he did not know maybe it had something to do with the dragon¡¯s soul. Whatever it was his train of thought had entirely shifted. Weakness. I can¡¯t. It¡¯s hard. I¡¯m tired. Words and meanings of that sort he would never utter them again. As such he would lock away what was left of his previous self. ¡°I am just in need of a helping hand,¡± he said. ¡°While I see to the bandits that attack the city, I need someone or ones to fix the suspension bridge.¡± ¡°Kuni,¡± he said turning his head to the side. ¡°Can I leave this task to you?¡± ¡°Yes Boss!¡± The young man Kuni quickly nods, there was no hesitation in his movements nor his words, he really wanted to prove himself to Avion, whom he admired. ¡°I¡¯m off then boss!¡± As quickly as he came he was gone, the young man ran back into the city with a smile on his face. Turning to face forward Avion gazes out into the horizon, his eyes looking out at what was supposed to be an endless expanse of green, but instead of it being a relaxed setting. It was more of a corpse ground. A place of swords, spears, arrows, and corpses. Not liking what he was seeing Avion shuts his eyes, ¡®hypocrite.¡¯ Is what he thought of himself? He spilt so much blood and yet, he couldn¡¯t stomach to see what he had done. Avion smiles, ¡°how childish.¡± Flop¡­ It was then that with a smile on his face Avion flops backwards onto the grassy ground staring up into the blue sky. ¡°Ha,¡± he chuckles, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± He says looking up at clouds shaped like that of Mountains. ¡°Truly beautiful.¡± ¡°Master, do you wish to cultivate Mana.¡± Hearing Ruby¡¯s sudden voice, Avion suddenly sits up, never had he would have ever dreamed that he would be able to use mana much less cultivate it. ¡°Okay Ruby, how do I do this?¡± he asks sitting his with his legs crossed. His patience was wearing thin. ¡°First master close your eyes and calm your mind. Think about nothing but your element, since you have lord Bahamut¡¯s heart then you should have the elements of Fire and lightning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Avion said nodding his head, his eyes already closed. Thereafter some ten minutes he was finally one with body and soul. Heaven and Earth.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°I must hurry.¡± He mumbled. Not having the time prior to this Avion was in somewhat of a hurry, the bandits had an uncanny habit of interrupting him whenever he started to cultivate his Mana. As such he was always in a hurry when cultivating. ¡°Master what you are in now is the ¡®Trinity.¡¯ Maintain that feeling and begin gathering the mana into your Dragon¡¯s Soul.¡± Smiling, Avion had almost lost his tranquil state of mind so quickly he pushed down his feeling of excitement, and regained focus. Avion settled his heart and continued to circulate the mana into his dragon soul. Forcefully guiding the mana through his veins, transforming his body¡¯s physique, refining his body into that of not a regular body but that of a perfect body. But unknown to Avion who was locked in the trinity, his skin was burning away and being replaced by even tougher skin. Seeing this Ruby knew what this body refining technique was in-fact having been with Bahamut for thousands of years she knew what most of his techniques were. ¡°This is the Dragonic realm. I was planning on taking it slowly but master has already jumped into it. If lord Bahamut was here to see this, he would surely be surprised.¡± Suddenly ruby goes silent; she didn¡¯t want to miss a thing. Her master had surprised her. To be learning dragon bone armor right off the bat was something she did not expect. Ruby, she wanted to first strengthen Avion¡¯s muscles before introducing him to the Bone Armor Refining technique. But who would have thought. Not in her wildest dreams did she expect this. This was truly a sign of talent. Time passed and after a while the circulatory cycle was completed, Avion¡¯s entire fleshly body had been completely remade. ¡°Master congrats you have completed the foundation building.¡± Even as she cheerfully spoke Avion couldn¡¯t hear her he was now focused on the two elements hovering around his spirit body. Boom¡­ Suddenly both the elements within Avion exploded spreading all throughout his fleshy body entering all thirty 36 of his circulatory vessels. It was only then that Avion smiles. Suddenly the cultivating of the surrounding mana had become a smooth process making Avion feel great about himself. He would have never expected cultivating to be so exciting. Crack¡­. Suddenly as if opening of a dam Dragonic knowledge flowed into Avion¡¯s brain. He had now officially become a Dragon scion. ¡°Do not rush yourself master take your time you are doing great.¡± She said comforting him. Unceasingly breathing in and out, completing one great circulatory cycle after another, Avion had already completely immersed himself in cultivation and entered into a rare blank state! The blank state, also known as no paths no thoughts, was a kind of blank state that one could come across by luck by not searching for it. Under the blank state, the entire person¡¯s body and mind had become focused in the midst of cultivation, entirely entering a state of having forgotten oneself. The cultivation skill¡¯s circulation completely depended on a body¡¯s method of circulation, and under this kind of State of mind, ones cultivation speed would be raise more than several times compared to normal. More importantly, the blank state was a major help in breaking through into new realms. If one entered into the blank state while breaking through to a new realm, then it would be like a channel forming when water flowed. Naturally it would flow. However, this kind of state was incredibly dangerous because ones perception of the surroundings would disappear. If there was any danger, then one¡¯s life would be truly hanging by a thread. But luckily for Avion he had ruby to shock him out of that state if any danger was approaching, or near. ¡­¡­ Time passed and now on the outside while Avion was still in his blank state Kuni had gathered ten of the healthiest men he could find. Even though most of them were in-fact still tired and starving they knew what they had to do. The bridge had to be fixed. In thus a couple hours in a loud explosion sounds. Bang¡­ Suddenly upon hearing a loud bang, just as they were turning to look at where the explosion originated from they were all thrown back by a violet gust of wind. Only after a couple minutes did Kuni¡¯s voice sound calling out to his comrades. ¡°Is everyone okay!?¡± Kuni shouts rising to his feet all the while not being able to see because of a misty fog. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± he thought, until finally after ten seconds or so one of his friends respond. ¡°I¡¯m okay!¡± ¡°Me to,¡± another responded, followed up by the other men, all saying that they were okay, none of them were severely injured. That¡¯s good.¡± Kuni had said. Only then did his nerves begin to calm. Boom! Out of nowhere suddenly the ground beneath their feet quake. The atmosphere surrounding them distorts. The fog flickers between gold and Sapphire. Something was happening, something profound. And they had front row seats. ¡°This is it master, you¡¯re about to enter the Dragonic Bone Realm! All you have to do is absorb the surrounding mana.¡± Avion heard her so quickly, he began absorbing the fog. With every bit of the fog/mana he absorbs he breaks through one of the nine layers. As time goes by after some two hours he had finally finished absorbing the last bit of the mana. His Dragonic Realm now realm now rested at the peak of Dragonic bone Realm. ¡°Congratulations master you are at the peak of the Dragonic bone Realm, just a little more and you¡¯ll be able to breakthrough into the Dragonic foundation Realm.¡± Listening to ruby speak Avion smiles. He was tired. Exhausted. So before pushing onwards he needed some rest, after all, this was his very first time cultivating mana. ¡°Ruby,¡± he calls out to her his voice sounding hoarse. ¡°I¡¯m getting some shut eye we¡¯ll push through in the morning.¡± He didn¡¯t voice to her that he was tired. Spent. But she knew after all she was now his heart. ¡°Rest Master, You¡¯ve earned it.¡± As Avion drifted off into the world dreams Kuni, and the ten other men look confusingly at his back. They saw it, they saw everything. The fog stabilized; Turing gold it remained as such. And then in then like the reversal of time it reseeded from surrounding them entering his Avion¡¯s body. Most importantly the upper left side of his chest. They looked at one another with nothing to say. Their gazes were to only make sure that they all saw the same thing. Now back it this moment in time, Kuni sighs. Turning around he gets back to work. ¡°We have a job to do,¡± he said. ¡°Big bro is amazing I know. But after all; to not disappoint him we should hurry up and fix the bridge. We can¡¯t become a hindrance. Agreeing with Kuni the men nod. Without saying a single word they all follow behind Kuni, every single one of them getting back to work. ¡­¡­. Let a sleeping dragon sleep. Why seek death by disturbing its slumber. Chapter - 4 ¡°This is it! Were raising the bridge!¡± Kuni shouted . Standing all around him were the other survivors, there was even the young girl Rem and her sister. Everyone had come to see the rising of the bridge. ¡°Raise the bridge!¡± he yelled. As soon as the words left his mouth two men on both sides, pulled their levers, and so slowly the bridge began to rise. ¡°They did it!¡± some of the people shouted. There were loud cheers, some people were even crying, they at the least believed that in this dark and depressing world. Finally something good was happening. It was at that moment that the people began celebrating. While most of the people were up in arms celebrating the young girl Rem was staring at Avion¡¯s back, He was looking out towards the damaged Melos palace in the far off view. ¡­¡­. A week had passed since he had awoken, seeing that there were no longer any bandit attacks Avion saw to the many corpses, gathering them all into one pile and burning them into ash. Leaving nothing behind. ¡°Mister,¡± the young girl Rem calls out to him getting his attention. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°I was thinking about the how I am going to repair the buildings.¡± He said looking back at her. ¡°After all, when this city was being built it was the Dwarves who built it.¡± ¡°So what mister is saying is that only the dwarves can repair the broken buildings.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Avion sighs, ¡°but even still it will take more than that to rebuild this city it took two thousand dwarves and four thousand human helpers to build this city, the problem with that is that as of now this city isn¡¯t equipped with enough resources for such a surge in population, For six thousand, were going to need a substantial amount of food and other resources.¡± ¡°Wow mister you have it tough.¡± The young girl replies looking at him with wide eyes. Hearing what she had said Avion chuckles, he didn¡¯t understand why he was telling that little girl this. Hell it didn¡¯t make any sense as to why he was telling her this. He guessed maybe he just needed someone to tell it to. ¡°Go on back your sisters waiting on you.¡± Avion says patting Rem on the head. After watching little Rem run back to her sister, Avion began walking towards the Melos palace. It was a place he hadn¡¯t visited since he was a child. This palace was majestic; truly it was one constructed by Dwarven hands. ¡°Master let us go inside I am sensing something coming from within the palace.¡± Ruby said in his ear. ¡°Sensing something? What is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know but it¡¯s coming from within the palace. Master lets go check it out.¡± Quickly nodding Avion then proceeds up the palace steps to where finally he standing where once the golden doors of the Melos palace once stood. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°¡­I know.¡± Taking a step into the palace all around him was destruction, several of the once towering pillars that held up the ceiling were now scattered across the marbled palace floor. Holes, craters, swords, spears and skeletons were also scattered about. ¡°They put up a fight!¡± he said looking down at the lion crest mark on the armor of some of the skeletons. ¡°Those were Vartanian soldiers?¡± ruby asks.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Yeah they were.¡± He said paying his respecting to the lion armor wearing corpses. ¡°They fought to the bitter end. I¡¯ll give them the burial they deserve afterwards. Let go ruby there¡¯s nothing left to see here.¡± ¡°Right.¡± She replies, focusing once more on the strange feeling that she was getting. Continuing his stroll through the palace Avion was remembering his time as a child when his mother would come to Melos for some R&R and bring him along. As if projecting a mini size of himself, the small him was running through the halls of the palace being chased by maids and butlers. While his mother watches with a smile on her face. It was truly an innocent time in his life. ¡°Master its down there!¡± Ruby said interrupting Avion¡¯s flashback. Walking to where ruby told him to. Avion pauses. ¡°That¡¯s where the vault is?¡± he said remember what his that place from his childhood. Looking down the steps at the white and gold door Avion narrows his eyes. ¡°Something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± He said, An air of uncertainty surrounded him. ¡°I know, just what is behind this door my senses are going haywire. Master, what are you going to do? are you going to check it out master?¡± Releasing a drawn-out sigh Avion takes a step, stepping onto the first set of stairs. With every step uneasiness creeps into his heart. ¡°Caution master, the mana is thickening, whatever is behind that door is extremely powerful.¡± ¡°I undetstand.¡± ¡­¡­. Time passed after fifteen minutes of going down the flight of stairs, finally Avion arrived at the bottom. The oppressiveness of the Mana leaking from behind the door was stifling. ¡°Careful master!¡± ruby reminded Avion as he goes to open the door. Opening the door what he saw he couldn¡¯t put it into words, there was a young girl with horns sticking out of her head sleeping soundly on millions of pieces of gold. ¡°Who?¡± Boom! Before Avion could get any other words out he found himself hurdling through the air, some two thousand feet up. Looking down what he saw was an entire section of the palace in rubble. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± he wondered. Swish¡­ Suddenly appearing up besides Avion was the little horned demon girl. Her beautiful black hair reaching all the way down her to her ankles. Her darker then night demon eyes open wide by what she sees before her. ¡°Amazing, you¡¯re actually still alive!¡± She shouts. Very much surprised to see Avion alive after being hit by her. ¡°Huh¡­¡± she pauses and then begins to smell Avion. ¡°What is up with this girl?¡± He thought watching her as she continued to smell him. ¡°Wow a Dragon!¡± she shouts out excitedly. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen any of your kind in a millennium! What you doing out here in a human city?¡± ¡°Master carful, don¡¯t let her small frame fool you this Demon is strong.¡± Ruby said her voice echoing in his ear. Upon hearing what Ruby had said Avion silently goes over the small demon girls frame. ¡°Such a small body, and yet the energy that¡¯s emitting from her is terrifying.¡± ¡°Hey dragon guy do you hear me?¡± She said after seeing that he hadn¡¯t responded to her question. ¡°Oi, I could ask you the same?¡± he replied with folded arms annoyed by her bossy nature. ¡°Well,¡± she replied ignoring his snappy response. ¡°I was napping, been doing so for thirty-one years now. Well that was until you came along.¡± ¡°Sleeping for thirty years, no wonder that gold was still there, no one would dare approach after feeling the Mana emitting from that room. Master this is good thanks to that little demon we don¡¯t have to worry about money.¡± ¡°Oh hey!¡± She shouts, suddenly interrupting Ruby remembering something. ¡°Are the humans still at war with one another?¡± ¡°Yeah you can say as much.¡± Avion responded with a nod. Seeing his response the demon girl sighs. ¡°I wonder if Lana¡¯s alright.¡± Boom! Suddenly the sky rumbles. ¡°Master! To your left someone¡¯s approaching!¡± Quickly turning to look to his left Avion sports a man flying towards them. ¡°PRINCESS!¡± He shouts. ¡°Crap they found me already!¡± The little demon girl said suddenly jumping backwards. ¡°Princess please returns to the Demon continent, Lord Demon Emperor is worried.¡± The voice of the man echoes through out sky. ¡°NO!¡± she refuted, ¡°Tell father until he cancels the engagement I won¡¯t return!¡± ¡°Princess please,¡± The man begged ¡°Shut up, don¡¯t follow me!¡± she sneered at him then suddenly shot off into the horizon. Seeing as his princess suddenly ran away the demon man quickly followed in suit. ¡°Master that was.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ruby.¡± He cut her off. ¡°Let¡¯s just go back down. I wonder what else we can find.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just going to ignore the fact that you met a demon princess, is that it?¡± ¡°Yep, we have to focus on our own problems. Can¡¯t be caught up in anyone else¡¯s.¡± he said descending. Into the gold filled room. Landing Avion looks around the room, more thoroughly and what he finds buried beneath the gold was hundreds of bags of white rice. ¡°Ruby how can this be possible, it¡¯s still fresh.¡± Master, this isn¡¯t surprising, look around, this room was vacuum sealed.¡± ¡°Vacuum sealed?¡± ¡°Yes, it was oxygen free; when there¡¯s no oxygen white rice can last up to a period of thirty years. This is great master; we don¡¯t have to worry about food for a while.¡± She said happily. ¡°What do you mean; you want to live off only rice?¡± ¡°No, look around master, Melos was built on the sea right, so then the ocean is also a rich food source, fishing shouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± ¡°Your right we can make due? Avion said looking out from the destroyed section of the room out into sea. And so it was just like that that two of his main issues had been solved. ¡­¡­ UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER - ¡°IT IS THE LIVES WE ENCOUNTER THAT MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING¡±