***
‘Ruobeideura?’
Roberta repeated it to herself.
It was a name she had heard for the first time in her life. Because she was a priest, she was a person who had received more education than most nobles, yet most of what the Lord before her eyes said was unfamiliar.
A lizard with four legs and two wings was born before dwarves and elves? Also, the first life to be gifted with intelligence was a dragon, and it had the name Ruobeideura?
It was a story that was not included in any literature, let alone the scriptures she had seen and memorized countless times.
‘It isn't a joke, right.’
She looked at him with narrowed eyes.
As always, his expression was peaceful and calm; he was also too young to discuss the passing of years. Yet every time his mouth opened, an undeniable story poured out.
Looking back, he had said similar things on the day she first met him. While explaining the origin of the protocol she did not know, he had said that the protocol taught by the Church was wrong.
Even so, the protocol had results. Because he had succeeded in the Sacrament of Infancy even without following the protocol. Could she say it was wrong even after seeing the result with her own eyes?
On the other hand, the story about Ruobeideura and his race went beyond what she didn't know; it was an old story that perhaps even the Pantheon and the Pope did not know. It was a claim that was impossible to prove whether it was true or not.
“Since you asked me about dragons, I have no choice but to mention their progenitor. He is the best example to explain what kind of race dragons are.”
Whether he knew her worries or not, Ulrih, the Lord of Dithmarschen, sat leaning against the backrest of the bed prepared on one side of the ger and continued speaking.
“As you know, in the distant past when the world was covered in fire, the gods drew water from another world to extinguish the fire and made the land fertile. However, when life did not rise on its own, they decided to intervene in creation.”
He quoted a verse from the scriptures.
‘He conceived life upon the earth.’
It was Genesis, the first book of the scriptures established by the Pantheon. It was content Roberta had heard and memorized to the point of boredom.
The gods, who had decorated the world as an environment good for life to live in, made all sorts of animals and plants, and it was said that dwarves and elves were also born then. Dragons were the same.
“Ruobeideura was a dragon conceived then. In Genesis, it is written as if dragons were made incidentally along with dwarves and elves, but the reality is different. Just as humans were not yet conceived when the two races were born, the two races were not yet conceived when dragons were born.”
Ulrih added that, therefore, Ruobeideura was an existence that was born before dwarves and elves and possessed intelligence.
“Roberta, you are serving Lord Ganimea.”
She answered that she was.
“You know the fact that Lord Ganimea had an adopted son, and you also know the fact that he was human and received the name Hestio.”
“It is common sense that anyone knows, even if they aren't a priest.”
Ulrih gave a light laugh, saying, “I see.”
“Today, he is considered like a god of humans. Why do you think that is? As I said before, Hestio was not a god but a human, and merely a human who was taken in as Ganimea’s adopted son and lived in the heavens, so why?”
“You aren't asking because you really don't know, are you?”
Roberta spoke while narrowing her eyes.
“Think about his achievements.”
Ganimea’s adopted son, Hestio, passed on heavenly knowledge to humans when they were living primitive lives, and remained by the side of humans on earth when the gods of the heavens left.
He was the only person who could have followed the gods to the world the Pantheon called heaven, yet refused for the sake of his kin and came down to earth.
And until the era of dwarves and elves ended and the era of humans arrived, he led the humans and then suddenly disappeared.
“There were countless lives created by the heavens. It is said that immediately after the gods left, there were civilizations as powerful as those of dwarves and elves. However, today, even their names are not passed down. Because the species themselves went extinct. It is only passed down that once a powerful race built up their influence.”
The scriptures pass down that in that era, humans were treated as no different from monkeys. Roberta mentioned that and asked: How are humans today?
“Humans, who were despised as monkeys, humans who built civilization last, became the race that leads an era longer than any previous era. Because we had a shepherd who led us correctly through the turbulent waves.”
“……”
“That person is Lord Hestio, and although he also eventually left our side... our existence itself is his achievement. That is why we praise his work and long for his return.”
According to the scriptures, the records concerning Hestio are cut off at the end of the elven era. The Pantheon explains the reason as being that he followed the gods of the heavens because he had achieved all his tasks.
However, some priests and theologians, including Roberta, read it differently. Since he was a human even if he was the adopted son of a god, perhaps he could not reach eternal life?
Of course, it is an interpretation that they do not dare to utter aloud. Since the Pantheon chooses the belief that Hestio’s departure is temporary and that he will return someday to lead humans again. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Longing, I see...”
Ulrih muttered as if chewing on the word.
“Why did you ask about him?”
“Because Ruobeideura was like him. Although you wouldn't know.”
Like him?
Roberta tilted her head, not grasping the meaning.
“He was also taken into the heavens and then came down for his kin on earth. And on that day when the gods left, he was offered to leave with them but refused. Just as Hestio decided to leave Ganimea’s embrace and remain by his kin’s side, so did he.”
“Pardon?”
Her eyes went wide.
“It is content missing from the scriptures compiled by the Church. It was not omitted intentionally, but it seems it was omitted while being passed down through oral tradition. And reasonably so—who would have interest in someone else’s history?”
She moved her lips, at a loss for words. It was inevitable. Is not the most frequently used phrase when referring to Hestio ‘The only one who remained’? Yet, to say that he did not actually remain alone.
Should she shout that it is blasphemous?
Hesitation was entangled in her pupils, which shook severely.
Seeing that, Ulrih let out a short sigh.
“Is it important how many people remained?”
“Naturally—”
“Do you think the work he did changes in value because of such a thing?”
Roberta shut her mouth.
“Rather, think about it. Roberta, if my words are true, why was it not known? Why was he forgotten even though he lived a life like Hestio?”
She hesitated for a bit and then asked the reason.
“Because he failed.”
Ulrih asserted.
“He knew that a period of chaos would arrive once the gods left, and he also knew that his race would not survive. Thus, the two harbored the same intent and tried to save their kin, but the result was different.”
“……”
“That is the only reason they could not even leave a name. Even if records were lost through several dark ages, humans prospered and thus remembered Hestio, but they did not.”
He emptied his teacup and put it down.
“Why did he fail?”
“I also do not know all the inner details.”
However, he added and continued speaking.
“What is clear is that dragons do not form groups. To put it nicely, they are a race with strong pride; to put it badly, they are arrogant. They do not tolerate someone standing above them. Even if that opponent is the progenitor of the species.”
Is that the reason the era of dragons did not come?
“If there is a reason for the failure, that would be it.”
Roberta thought about Ruobeideura.
He lived a life like Hestio, but unlike him, he failed. Because humans were willing to follow the one Hestio tried to lead, but Ruobeideura’s kin were not.
As a result, the race of dragons became something mysterious, like beings in a fairy tale. The progenitor who should have been their shepherd was also forgotten by history and is passed down only through the words of this one man.
“How do you know about him, Lord?”
“Would you believe me if I said I met him personally?”
“Well... honestly, it’s hard to believe.”
Roberta smiled brightly, thinking he was joking.
“For a dragon born at the beginning of time to be alive until now, they would have to have a truly long lifespan. A length of time where even several generations of elves would not be enough. It would be better to say they are ageless and immortal... or an eternal being. Is that not so?”
He did not answer. Instead, he smiled brightly along with her.
At that, she felt a prick in one side of her chest. Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
“...Are you trying to say he is still alive?”
“No. He died. Around the time the empires changed.”
He added that his lifespan had run out.
“As you said, he possessed a very, very long lifespan. He said he himself didn't know he would live that long. Since he did not possess eternal life, he eventually had to stand before death, but he is the only dragon who enjoyed his full natural lifespan.”
The time the empires changed refers to the period when a new dynasty was established.
For example, the Second Empire was the empire of the Isturia dynasty, and when it collapsed due to misgovernment, it underwent division and was re-established by the Yokuster dynasty.
The divided empire could not be completely integrated, but the Yokuster dynasty—that is, the start of the Third Empire—received recognition of the imperial throne with the consent of the feudal lords. That was about 1,400 years ago.
“……”
Roberta’s pupils trembled.
He had mentioned his age before. While talking about the Little Ice Age, he had subtly revealed himself as a person from before the establishment of the Third Empire, and while calling himself a pure human, as someone born at the beginning of time.
At that time, she had treated it as a bluff. How could it make sense to have a lifespan of over a thousand years without being a dwarf or an elf? Furthermore, while maintaining youth.
However, as time passed and her meetings with the Lord continued, the conclusion of that time was shaken.
‘To what extent is it true?’
In the first place, was there any truth at all?
She could not know. Because there was no evidence.
Ruobeideura was an existence that did not remain in literature. Ulrih had no records before coming to Dithmarschen. Even if someone Roberta believed in appeared and said, “It is true,” it was not a claim she could easily believe.
Nevertheless, the claim shook her head.
‘If it is true...’
What if everything he said was the truth?
The result that single assumption brought was too great.
She tried to shake her head and forget it quickly. Because it was a suspicion that went beyond being absurd and was blasphemous and dangerous. Her common sense shouted that it could not be.
“Now you see.”
Ulrih spoke.
Roberta looked up with a start. While she was lost in thought, he had stood up from his seat and was standing in front of the entrance. Morning sunlight shone through the open door of the round ger tent, and a warm wind blew.
“Dragons are a fallen race. They haven't gone extinct, but they are scheduled to be so soon. From the moment Ruobeideura failed, their fate became destiny.”
“……”
“How many people would have interest in such a race, a race whose progenitor is even forgotten? And who would believe they are still alive today?”
She froze her expression and touched her lips.
Even though she had seen all sorts of races while living in the Nuua High Temple, she had never heard or seen anything concerning dragons. She merely believed in their existence because they remained in old literature.
If asked if dragons were still alive now, she would have been vague, saying, “Perhaps they are somewhere?” Since even she, a priest, was like this, it would be even harder for others to believe in their existence.
“But our guest has come looking for a dragon.”
Roberta recalled the day she met the guests.
They arrived around sunset. While the residents of the territory settled below the hills were lighting fires to prepare dinner, six outsiders arrived in the city of Freize.
It was a rare thing for outsiders to visit Freize, or rather, Dithmarschen. Would there be a common reason to visit a harsh polar region? At most, it was a place where a sinner with nowhere to go would reach after struggling until the end.
Since the Lord, Ulrih, was in a deep sleep in the Bard tribe, the butler Bernhard met them as the Lord’s deputy. He asked their business. To which they answered:
“We have come looking for a dragon. We need a guide.”
Bernhard pondered for a moment and then asked Roberta to wake the Lord and convey the situation. Saying that whether he came or not, he would provide an answer in some way.
“What shall we do? Shall I convey the words separately?”
“No.”
Ulrih shook his head.
“Didn't they say they need a guide?”
As they left the ger, the tribal chief Kureut brought the horses.