Leveling up the World

Chapter 946: Green Moon's Farewell

The silence in the aether sphere was so intense that Dallion could hear every breath and heartbeat. So far, he had done a good job pretending to believe what the other had told him. Hopefully, that was going to be enough to fool the archbishop.

“We don’t,” Simon said.

In his mind Dallion said a lot of things, most of them curses. What he voiced was completely different.

“I don’t follow.” He floated closer to the center of the sphere. “I thought you said that if someone wins, it’s all over.”

“There’s another way to achieve what you want. A direct boon, if you will.”

That’s what you told Tiallia, didn’t you? Dallion frowned. Considering what had happened to her entire race, Dallion wasn’t terribly enthusiastic about that option.

“The Moon emblem,” the archbishop continued. “All hopefuls are given one. I’m no exception and neither are all previous conquerors. Those with enough drive have even completed theirs. I heard that you’re doing pretty well with yours.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear. I’m still missing a few,” Dallion lied.

“Everyone is missing a few, but I’ve foreseen that together there are enough to make a set.”

That filled Dallion with even less enthusiasm. A voice in the back of his mind had already started urging him to reject the offer and continue with more important things. Then again, there was the matter of the archbishop’s assistance.

“You’re suggesting we team up with them?” Even his level of the music skill proved unable to hide the skepticism.

“There can be only one winner in the conventional way, but unlike what they say through their echoes and domains, no one is certain they’ll be the one to make it. Right now, Jeremy and Tiallia are engaged in a series of battles all along the western shore of the continent. Tia decided to take advantage of the minor clash between you and the emperor, so she went all out in the battle for first place. Jeremy considers you weak, and me done with, so he responded.”

“So, whoever wins there wins the world.”

“Not quite. They must win fast. If the battle grinds on, the winner might reach a point at which they’ll be weaker than you. That’s why they are putting everything on the first clash. There’s a good chance that by tomorrow, things will be clear, yet they aren’t right now.”

There was an obvious danger of allying with someone dedicated to an insane belief. The archbishop’s mania that the world—or the “game” as he believed—would end had made him a master of knowing the right time and the right actions to force a desired outcome. Compared to him, the emperor was like an apprentice, though, as the current state of the world showed, sometimes the apprentice could outwit the master.

“We form an alliance and use my Moon emblem to challenge the Moons together,” Dallion mused.

“That’s the simple version, yes. They’ll have their doubts, of course, but if we ask them right now, they’ll have no choice but to accept.”

“That’s why you surrendered to me, didn’t you?”

“The third and fourth combined might prove stronger than the second.” Simon nodded. “Or maybe the first.”

“And because they’re currently fighting between themselves, they can’t easily unite against us.”

“Oh, they could, but would they trust each other? What if this all is an elaborate plot to eliminate them before fighting continues between the remaining three?”

Only because you’re the one who made the alliance, Dallion said to himself. He was putting a lot of faith in a person who was scheming, addicted to Moonstones, and with questionable beliefs. And still, he had a lot of knowledge that Dallion could use. In the end, this is what it came to: everyone was using everyone; the question was who would gain the bigger advantage.

“Working with Tiallia and Jeremy,” Dallion said.

“Trust me, it beats the alternative.”

“And what do I have to do in exchange?”

Anger emanated from the archbishop. Clearly, he was a lot worse at controlling his emotions in his current state.

“I must be able to see some of the details,” he replied without directly answering the question. “Also, I’ll need one to heal you. You could use it in theory as well, but you won’t be as efficient.”

“Alright,” Dallion agreed. In his mind, he had gone over his options dozens of times. “One more thing, though. You’ll tell me everything before we go.”

“I can talk while I heal.”

“And if there’s a face to face, I’m not going alone.”

“Tiallia has already accepted. I suppose having her sister helped.”

“Wait! Tell me—” Dallion tried to voice the question, but his stamina had reached its limits. Once his body realized it wasn’t fighting for its survival, his consciousness shut down. After what seemed like a second, Dallion woke up.

Looking up he saw a star-filled night sky. Panic set in, along with the fear that Simon had gone to the meeting without him.

“Eury!” Dallion jumped to his feet. “Pan! Who left...” his words trailed off.

There was a person in the room. Funny that it was only now that Dallion noticed. The person was a dryad, standing at the window, looking outside.

“Vihrogon?” Dallion asked.

“Close.” The dryad turned around. It didn’t take Dallion more than a second to figure out who it was.

“Felygn,” he whispered. “I thought it was strange that the room was removed again. How long was I out?”

“Eleven seconds, give or take. Simon did a number on you. After your latest bout of recklessness, you deserved it, though.”

“Everyone’s a critic.” Dallion shifted the weight on his legs. His feet felt normal and completely pain-free. Given that it was a dream, there was no other way for it to be. “Was he right?”

“Is that what you want to ask me?”

“Will you answer if I do?”

The Green Moon laughed.

“You’re leaning.”

The room suddenly shifted. Dallion didn’t notice it happening, yet he knew the difference between where he had been a moment ago and where he was now. The present room was identical to his university dorm, at least as far as he could remember. The only thing that remained the same was Felygn, who stood at the window in his dryad form.

“This brings back memories, doesn’t it?” the Moon asked.

“I’ve never known you to be sentimental.”

“Who said I can’t be? Don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble as far as we are concerned. I just thought I’d take this chance to have a few words with you. There’s no telling whether I might have another.”

“So, things are that bad?”

“Only one can own the world. There’s no telling if that someone would be you.”

A farewell from a Moon. It was the last thing Dallion expected, but he appreciated the gestures. His opinion and relationship with the Moons had gone through many stages. Initially there was awe, then fear, then annoyance that they let mass-scale pain and suffering happen before their eyes. Now, he felt them distantly close in a way that words could barely describe.

“Thanks for bringing my race back,” Felygn said. “I appreciate it.”

“You know I didn’t do it for you.”

“I know. But you also did it for them. Many were given an opportunity, but you’re the only one who not only tried, but did it. For that, I’ll give you a final boon.”

“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”

“Maybe. But no matter what, I’ll always be with you as long as you call.”

“What does—” The scene disappeared. Instantly, Dallion opened his eyes, lurching his upper body upwards.

He was back in his bedroom with Euryale sitting on the bed next to him.

“Don’t rush,” she said, gently caressing his cheek. “You can rest a bit longer.”

Dallion smiled, relaxing back down. Yes, he had a bit longer. Yet deep inside, he feared that he’d never see Felygn again, not as a friend in any event.