The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

Seya got up and he did a deep bow. Arys took the chance and hit his head from the other side of the table, using one of her Dark Tentacles.

- Stupid cousin! Do you want to make me cry again? Stop that, when you get all emotional like that, I just want to break your neck!

Seya rubbed his head and he looked at Arys and he saw her quickly wiping her eyes. While they were thanking him and talking about themselves about those Communicator Crystals, Seya took three strings from his Compressed Dimension and one small Crystal, that he infused with a Magical Program while collecting some Magic from Xenya. When he finished, he delivered the strings to Baron Frank and to Rose, and the Crystal to Xenya.

- Baron, these strings have some very powerful Magic. One for you, one for Milady Margaret and another for Rose. With these strings around your neck, nothing can harm you. Not even the most powerful Magic or the strongest sword. Xenya, this is your Communicator Crystal. With it, you can call me anytime. Or Null! By the way, since the Baron doesn't have Magic, I need that you pinch one of your fingers and put a drop of your blood on your Communicator Crystal. Like that, it will only work for you.

Hearing that Hina was puzzled.

- Seya, how did you do that? And how do you know it will work? Because all blood is equal, there are no differences!

- Actually, that's wrong. Our school books have that, but it's wrong. I think it's just a lack of knowledge. If you use that special binocular that I made and use it to watch very closely a drop of blood of each of us, you will find some differences, either in some components of the blood or in the quantities of those components.

- I see… but how did you figured that out? And I suppose you made a very special Magical Program for the Baron's Crystal, right?

- Yes, a Magical Program to look for the composition of the blood and every time that Crystal is used, it will look for that same composition. In the Baron's case, it just needs to feel his skin on his next use and the Magical Program will start to recognize him. If another person tries to use it, it will pinch his finger to analyze the blood. If it doesn't match, it doesn't work. For this, I used my special binocular, to search for some differences in the blood.

Rose shouted.

- Oh, I learned some things about blood from Master Anna! In cases where a person lost a lot of blood, we can use some portion of another person's blood, as long as it has the same number of components! She said it was Milord that taught her!

- Seems that my mother is teaching you a lot of things. That's good.

- Yes, she also told me that she will make sure that one day, you will be acknowledged as a Great Healer because you are more knowledgeable than her!

Seya made a small smile, he even blushed a little. Aria clapped her hands.

- Yes, we were all lucky when the Goddess choose your parents! Knnya… knnya… knnya…

While Seya was smiling and everyone else was laughing, the food arrived. They ate while talking and joking among them. Ryn told some of her adventures while being trained by Xenya, and the others remembered when they were training Arys. Hina was so proud when she started to talk about the way Zak fought every Demonoid that approached them, like if he was her personal bodyguard! Duncan talked about his training with Titania while shacking. He seemed to still have nightmares! Aria started to give some advice about the three-sword-style of the LizardKind, that they all heard very attentively. Even Seya was so interested that when Aria noticed him, she even smiled. After dinner, the Baron dared them to have some tea in the new Tea House and after everyone agreed, he used his Gateway Crystal and his brand new Communicator Crystal to call Mary, at the Tea House. It was Milady Margaret that answered and she was on the other side of the Gateway that Baron Frank opened, smiling at them. When they crossed it, they saw the Tea House completely full! There was even a line starting at the counter and going out the door, to the street! Milady Margaret guided them to the Tea Shop, to the corner separate by screens that had already some Nobles seated. When a couple of Nobles and her young daughter recognized Seya, they got up and they introduced their daughter to him. A girl with light brown hair, in her 15 or 16 years old. According to her parents, still single but with a lot of pretenders for her hand. Seya smiled and wished her wisdom on choosing one of them as her husband. He then turned to get near Ryn and he held her hand, bowed to the Nobles couple and went to some empty tables with his friends. Ryn held her laughter when she saw the dumbfounded look on that girl and on her parents. A very happy LionKind maid arrived, to show them the list of teas available. She even held Seya's hands and thank him for that opportunity, for setting her free and for even finding a way for her baby daughter to be near her. Seya went to see the baby LionKind and he took little Aria with him. When they reached the playground, the baby was there, playing with two dolls and she smiled at Seya. When she saw Aria, she frowned.

- Seems that she wasn't expecting to see you in here. Either that, or she doesn't like you!

- Yeah… I wasn't expecting to see my next reincarnation also…

- Your what? You really need to explain to me that!

- Yes, later we'll meet in your room and I'll explain, as my grown-up form told you.

Aria pulled Seya's hand to meet their friends again and when Seya waved at the baby, she waved him back, with her tiny little hand. When they seated again, the tea was already there and they spent a while in the Tea Shop, drinking tea, talking and eating biscuits. When more Nobles arrived, Seya got up to make room for them and his friends accompanied him to the street outside. They walked for a while, in the direction of the Coliseum. When they reached it, Seya was silent, looking at the top of his construction. The others were happily talking and Seya was immersed in his thoughts. Ryn noticed his smile.

- I'll give you one copper coin for your thoughts!

- Sorry. I was just remembering my life until now. I made a lot of great things, but I think this one is my Masterpiece, so far. But as soon as I have enough Earth Magic and with the help of all our friends, I'll make an even greater one than this. It will be another touristic spot, but it will also be our new home.

- Really? I would like that…

After some talking with people that approached Seya to greet him, the Baron called the CatKind servants at his house. He then opened a Gateway and he was the first to cross it. He waited for everyone to join him, before ordering the Gateway to close. Little Aria stayed in the Capital, waving at them.

- If anyone told me last year that I would be able to use such advanced Magic's like I'm doing lately, I would never believe them! I see now why Milord likes so much to use this Magic! It's not only convenient, but I also feel proud of having the chance to do it!

While everyone was laughing from the Baron remark, they bid their farewells to each other and they went to their rooms, making plans to wake up really early in the morning so that they could get ready to go to the Rohan Castle. Seya kissed Ryn and he went to his room. On top of his bed, a very familiar little girl was seated.

- Hello, my cute little Goddess. Did you wait too much for me?

- I waited 1.000 years for you, my dear Seya. Well, this world was managing things quite well before you, but since you were born, things are getting very interesting. Now, take a seat and block this room to any visits and block all sounds. I don't want anyone to hear us.

Seya did as he was told and he seated after placing some very powerful shields on the windows and on the door.

- Now, my dear Seya, let me explain some things to you. The barriers that are around the Demonoid Island, use a lot of Magic to create and less to maintain. Every 1.000 years, I must use all the Magic that I have, to make new ones, before the barriers collapse. When I use all my Magic, this body will cease to exist. That will happen in three years from now. By then, my next reincarnation, that LionKind baby girl, will be 3 years old, and she will be able to maintain the barriers with her Magic for the next 1.000 years. And the cycle will repeat, with this sacrifice and reincarnation. Don't feel pity for me, I've been doing this for the last 10.000 years and I consider it a small burden so that my world can be safe. You see, as a Goddess, I'm really powerful and if I don't take some countermeasures, I may destroy this world or create some bad beings if I ever get distracted or lost control of my emotions. For that, I made 5 different bodies that share the same consciousness, have more or less free will and I use depending on the circumstances. This little girl's body, to mess with you and interact with my people. My grown-up body, to act on some situations as an adult and is more powerful. The teenager one, to fulfill my desires and do some things that may not be considered as Deity behavior. She's a free spirit that does as she pleases, most of the times. I like to be like that, sometimes, to not have any kind of worries and just let things take their course. And my complete form, Aria, the Goddess of Creation. You saw that one on your endorsement. The baby reincarnation, I only let it be born 3 years before I need another little girl form.

Hearing all that, Seya cried. He knew that Aria was a powerful and kind Deity, but having to die and reincarnate for the last 10.000 years for her world to be safe, was too much for him. Aria made a gentle smile and she hugged him.

- Don't be sad, my dear Seya. I still have three years with you, and after that, you have a little LionKind girl to mess with you and for you to tickle her ears.

While his tears were still running down his face, Seya looked at Aria.

- What would happen if you didn't use all your Magic in three years? Can you live while the LionKind baby is growing?

Seya wiped his tears and he smiled.

- Yes, it seems so. I love Ryn very deeply and you too, but I always considered Lionelia to be my soul mate. And for the Demonoids, I told you that I have a plan to deal with them, once and for all. I just need to make some arrangements and to gather enough Light and Earth Magic. By the way, Titania gave me a bunch of Dark Magic, can I trade it with you by the same amount of Earth Magic?

- No! I don't want it! I don't want anything that remembers me of those disgusting things! But I can give you this, a globe similar to the one that I gave you some time ago, but this one, has Earth Magic, one day worth of the entire World! Will it be enough for what you want to do?

While Seya grabbed the globe filled with Earth Magic and placed it inside his Compressed Dimension, he smiled.

- Not exactly, but it will be good for the first step of my plan. Rest assured, I will deal with those nasty things. If my plan fails, I'll completely obliterate that dreadful Island. I'll make sure that not even one small Demonoid stays alive.

- I don't know if the Council of the Gods will allow that!

- What, that same useless Council that turned the Old God Araban into an Examiner instead of erasing him from existence and correcting his mistake on the creation of the Demonoids? That Council?

- Yeah, that wasn't one of their best decisions…

- By the way, since you are so willing to talk, I have one small question. What's the meaning of what's written in the Goddess Teachings, that a couple needs to pray to the Goddess for the woman to get pregnant? That sounds weird! It's a perfect birth control, too perfect, actually.

- It's self-explanatory, actually. Like that, I can check if both parents really want a baby and if they are worthy. I try very hard on not letting bad people to breed. And like that, I can also make sure that this world doesn't get excessively crowded, like on Earth. Sometimes I make one or two mistakes, but normally, this system works. Why? You are wondering why pretty Ryn isn't pregnant already, right?

- Well, I've been careful, but I could get distracted one day. I think we are too young to have a baby at our care. But with your birth control system, I can rest assured.

- Yes, unless both of you pray to me, asking for a baby. Before I forget, I have a proposal for you. You know that Millennia ago, I chose four Dragonoids to protect the four major races, right?

- Yes, the Elders.

- I never chose one Protector for the LizardKind for all these years, because since the LizardKind were more or less isolated, I didn't need to. But with your Translator Crystal and you giving them the Gateway Crystals and the Communicator Devices, that will change. That means I need a Protector for them. Care to fill the spot? I know you like them a lot and you are more powerful than all the Elder Dragonoids combined. I also think that if you become a Protector, it will force you to think more before acting, because your decisions will affect an entire race of beings.

Hearing that, Seya froze for a while. It was a major responsibility, accepting something like that!

- I… it's an honor, but I'll pass. I don't deserve that honor. I'm sure you can find a better Protector than me. What about Titania? Or a Dragonoid?

- No, I choose you. And because you think you are not worthy, makes me certain that you are a good choice. If you were too eager to accept, I could think that you had a hidden agenda. No, I want you.

Seya started to mumble in a loud voice, before addressing Aria again.

- I… Well… I'm already acting as a Protector, guiding and helping them evolving… I think by now, they will not get any problems when dealing with other races, because they are on the same evolutionary stage… With the speed that they learn, improve and adapt, they will quickly surpass the other races, making them evolving faster, using the LizardKind as an example… Ok, I accept, but on one condition.

- Ahahah! This guy! Do you really want to bargain with a Goddess? Ok, let me hear it, I'm sure is something crazy!

- Not crazy, but it's just to correct one of your flaws. I want you to address every human living in the fallen Empire, maybe using something like my Announcement Magic, saying that the Old Book of the Goddess was not written by you, but it was a bad interpretation made by the previous Emperors and the Knight Sage, that distorted what you wrote in the Goddess Teachings. You could also say that you didn't correct that for all these centuries because you wanted them to choose for themselves. But since you want that humans live in peace with the other races, you had to warn them now. Or something like that…

- I don't think that's a good idea. I don't mind meddling with my people from time to time to guide them, but doing something like that, it's going too far.

Seya made a very serious face. His Dark Magic gathered around him and the room trembled a little.

- Well, then I refuse your offer. And in the future when someone of the fallen Empire makes some kind of problem or kills a member of another race because of their racism, narrow-mind or xenophobia caused by their misguided religion, I will kill him and every member of his family, friends, and every person near them that share their point of view.

Aria jumped to the floor and she faced Seya, increasing her Light Magic to a point that Seya's Dark Magic started to disperse by the strong pressure.

- I won't allow that!

- Ok, then I'll transport by Gateway some Demonoids to their village or city and let them run loose.

Aria's Light Magic trembled and started to fade a little.

- You wouldn't dare!

- My sweet and kind Goddess, you know me for quite some time. Do you still have doubts that I would do that?

Aria turned pale and she dispersed her Light Magic and seated again in the bed.

- No… I still remember what you did to the Fallen God Araban… but why going to such extremes?

- When you visited Earth, did you hear something about the death of Martin Luther King, the Ku Klux Klan, the Inquisition or the Holocaust? Those are good examples of racism and xenophobia caused by narrow-mind or misguided religion. I'm sure that because of the way the people in the fallen Empire thinks and their misconceptions caused by the Old Book, they will never be peaceful towards other races. Many may pretend to be, but sooner or later, problems will arise.

- That can also happen because the other races don't like humans from the Empire.

- Because the humans of the fallen Empire were misguided since the time of the Knight Sage. You really should have corrected that, Millennia ago.

Aria frowned for a while, thinking. She then jumped to the floor and did a little bow while holding the tip of her dress, with a mocking smile on her face.

- I see… You have some good points. Ok, I'll think about it. Can I do that, Great Sage Seya 'Tally' Denar'an Hinamoto?

Seya returned the bow, completely serious.

- Yes, my Goddess. But I prefer being called Half-Breed Great Sage. And I'll give my answer to your offer, depending on your decision.

Aria pounded a few times her small right foot on the ground.

- Argh! You're so annoying! Well, it's better if I leave you before I punch you! Pretty Ryn is trying to call you for a while. I think she wants your company. See you tomorrow, you annoying brat! I'll have my revenge sooner or later, for you annoying me so much with this request!

Aria slowly faded away while frowning.