The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

Seya removed the Soundproof Magic Shields in his room and he heard Ryn's voice over his Communicator Crystal.

- 'Seya! Hello! Answer me! Hello!'

- Hello, my dear Ryn, Sorry, I was talking with little Aria.

- ' Really? Open Gateway! What did she want?'

- Just telling me some information's that I'm sure, I wasn't supposed to know! And I think she more or less warned me that she's going to make me pay for annoying her! 'Gateway Authorized!'

When the Gateway opened, Seya could see Ryn with her hair tied in a sideways braid and with a short and revealing white nightgown. He almost started to drool. Ryn smiled and she crossed the Gateway.

- 'Gateway Close!' Judging from your reaction, you seem to like my new nightgown.

- Yeah…

- I bet you will even like it more when you take it off from me, right? Heheheh!

Seya smiled and he seated on the edge of the bed, taping with his hand, a place next to him.

- Ryn, please seat here, I want to talk with you for a while.

- Ok… For you to not grab me right now, it seems important and serious.

- Yes... Ryn, what I'm going to tell you, I never told anyone. Not even my parents know this. Try not to faint, ok?

- Ok…

Ryn became completely serious and she took a deep breath, preparing herself for something strange. Seya nodded and he started to talk.

- Remember what it's written in the Goddess Teachings, that in the beginning, the Goddess went to different worlds and from there, she found some settlers to populate this world? What it's not written in there, is that every 1.000 years, the Goddess chooses a soul to help this world evolving. That soul, upon reaching adulthood and after his achievements, it's later known as the 1.000 Years Great Sage. Sixteen years ago, I was chosen. The Goddess asked me if I wanted to help her and I promised that I was going to do everything that I could. I've been living and training every day, to fulfill that task. Little Aria told me that in three years from now, she will use all her Magic to create some new barriers in the Demonoid Island. When she does that, that body will cease to exist and she will reincarnate in another body and do the same thing again, 1.000 years from now. She's been dying and reincarnating again for the last 10.000 years, to protect this world. I have a plan to deal with the Demonoids once and for all, but I need some time and preparation. If my plan fails, I'll go to the Demonoid Island and I'll make sure to kill them all and completely obliterate that island, even if I die in the process. I wanted to grow old with you, but with this, I'm not sure if I can do that. I can't live in peace, knowing that my sweet Goddess is going to die again, to save this world. I'm really sorry, my dear Ryn.

Ryn heard everything till the end, bitting her lips from time to time. When Seya finished, she nodded. She stayed silent for a while, thinking. After some time, she smiled, like if she had reached a decision.

- My dear, I'm not letting you die on me. I'll help you in your plan and if it fails, I'll go with you to kill those ugly things. I also love the Goddess and knowing that she's been killing herself to protect me, makes me want to help her. I think that if you tell what you told me to our friends, they will want to help too. In fact, I guess they have the right to know and I bet they will think the same as me, "with great power, comes great responsibilities', that's what you said, right? Now that we are so powerful with our Magic, it's our responsibility to protect others that can't.

Seya smiled and he caressed Ryn's face.

-My sweet and gentle Ryn, I'm so lucky for having you in my life. Some years ago, I used to think that I would die without falling in love again. And then, I met you.

- Did you say again? Do you mean that you have an ex-girlfriend?

Seya made a sad face and he told Ryn about Lionelia, the beautiful LionKind maid with yellow eyes that he loved and after all, was the Crown Prince of the BeastKind. He even told her that after being sad for three days, he tried to kill himself, by going to the Demonoid Island to fight. If it wasn't the Goddess saving him, he would have achieved that. Ryn smiled at him, she realized better than him why Seya was still sad, talking about that.

- You still love her, don't you?

- I... don't know… I… think so... I love you and the Goddess, but I used to think that Lionelia was my soul mate. I didn't know at that time why I always trembled when I was near her. My trembling only stopped when she said she loved me too.

- So, she even 'imprinted' you... I understand why you became so sad after knowing that Lionelia was the Prince of the BeastKind. I could mock you for falling in love for a guy disguised as a girl, but I can see that you still like that LionKind maid.

- Yes... I taught her how to improve her Magic and in return, she taught me a lot of things about my BeastKind heritage. Because of her, I've become very proud of being a Half-Breed BeastKind.

- Yeah, I totally understand that. Do you think the Crown Prince of the BeastKind will come tomorrow to the party? Considering that it's Princess Heiji's official engagement party?

- I know King Leonhard is coming, so, I bet Prince Lionel will come too. I don't know what I'll do when I see him.

Ryn smiled and she caressed Seya's face.

- Considering that you are very kind and you are also very polite when needed, I'm sure that you will bow to the King and the Prince, greeting them and thanking for their presence. You don't need to say anything more to him unless you want to. I'm more worried about those Nobles daughters, Mermaids, and Fairies that will appear and try to get near you! I'm the one that doesn't know what I'll do, but I'm sure it won't be pretty!

- That's why I've been so mean and demanding towards you, I wanted you to be prepared for anything that can happen tomorrow. I did many mean things to Princess Heiji over these past years, for preparing her. Now, she can defend herself against anyone or anything that goes after her.

- Yes, you were very mean to everyone these past days! Sending Duncan to be trained by Titania in the Demonoid Island, putting a target on Arys and telling the others to kill her… Yeah, you were horrible, these last days! Heheheh!

- Well, it worked, right? The skills of everyone skyrocket, you made an amazing new Magic, and we discovered that Arys is a prodigy… That one, I wasn't expecting. I always thought that she was kind of lazy and she didn't take anything seriously, when she's in fact, a hard worker!

- Yeah, and she even gave me the idea to create my Bubble Armor that I turned later into an attack Magic. I really made the right choice, when I run after you in the Examination day at school! I really turned into a better Mage! And I'm still young!

- Yeah, and the fact that you conquered me was just a side-effect, right?

- Yes... I mean, no! Hey, you tricked me! I was just talking about Magic and you twisted what I said!

- Well, I have some things that I want to twist on you, but words aren't one of them!

- Oh, that sounds fun! Care to give me an example?

- Well, I'll see what I can do...

…

 Special Note - Stopping the report for this evening!

…

Early in the morning, Milady Margaret, Baron Frank, and Rose were already in the meeting room, waiting for the others. They started to arrive, one at a time. Seya and Ryn were the last ones, with Seya in his nice formal suit and Ryn was wearing the light blue dress that she used when she went to introduce Seya to her parent's. Seya looked around and he noticed that Princess Heiji and John weren't there.

- So, who forgot to wake up John and Princess Heiji?

The Baron smiled and he answered.

- Milord, those two woke up really early! I was still sleeping when I heard Princess Heiji running down the stairs, dragging young John and yelling at him that she needed to get ready at the Castle and he was going too because she had a suit ready for him to wear.

- Poor John. They are still dating and she's already telling him what to wear. Well, since everyone is here, before we go, I want to talk about a very important matter. It's better if we sit for a while.

Seya went to the meeting table with Ryn and he waited for everyone to sit. He then told them what he told last night to Ryn, about the Goddess burden and his decision to help her.

- When I told this to Ryn, she pointed out the fact that you have the right to know. She thinks the same as me, "with great power, comes great responsibilities' because since we are so powerful with our Magic, it's our responsibility to protect others that can't. I'm not telling you this to force you to do anything. I have no right what so ever to do that. My plan has many things that can go wrong and could end with my death, but I'm sure that the Dragonoids, the Fairies, the Mermaids and the LizardKind, will answer to my calling when I decide to act. They all know that when the matter is a fight with a Demonoid, they can die. So, this also means that I need someone to hold of Heiji. I can't allow her to go with me til the end because she's the Heir to the Kingdom of Rohan. I can't risk leaving the Kingdom without a ruler. Which means that Arys, you are the right choice. When I put my plan into motion, if it fails and I use my last resort to kill every Demonoid on that Island and completely obliterate it, I need you to put Heiji inside your Compressed Dimension to restrain her.

- But cousin, that means I can't go with you?

- I see… which means that I must stay behind unless I find a way to restrain her… unless… I can knock her out and put her inside a one-shoulder bag and deliver that bag to Baron Frank! She will not be able to escape from the Compressed Dimension inside that thing and I can go with you!

Seya stopped for a moment, thinking. After a while, he smiled.

- You are completely right! It will definitely work! I can even put inside of it a lot of Magic Crystals prepared to absorb her Magic if needed. I never thought of using the bag as a prison, but it can be done. One more use for the bag, the guards around the Kingdom will just love to know that!

- Cousin, it's better if we don't tell this plan to that brat, or she will try to avoid it!

- Yes, you are right. I hope everyone can keep this a secret from her.

They all agreed on not letting Heiji know of Arys' plan to restrain her when the time comes. And they also yelled that they would join him and help on anything they could, to prevent Aria's faith. Seya objected, saying that they all could die, but they didn't change their opinion. Even Rose, Milady Margaret, and the Baron wanted to join him. Those ones, Seya refused strongly.

- No, you three are definitely, not allowed. Baron and Milady, these lands need you in here. If I die, you two will be responsible for the people living here. My sweet Rose, I need you to keep my mother company. Losing me and you would be too much for her.

Then, from the entrance of the meeting room, a young girl's voice was heard.

- Big brother is talking and talking as if I would allow him to die for me! Are you nuts? If your crazy plan fails and you decide to fight those disgusting things, I will protect you. I can't kill those things, because if I kill one, I will take the chance to kill all of them and the Council of the Gods will be mad at me, but I will be your bodyguard. I'll make sure that you don't die! And you guys… I can only thank you, for your kindness.

Aria made a gracious bow, with tears running down her face. Rose and her parent's, looked at little Aria, puzzled by that sudden outburst of the little girl that they only knew as Seya's friends and Milady Margaret's student. Seya got up and he went near Aria. He kneeled to be at her height and he wiped her tears. He hugged her and kissed her right cheek. He then turned to face the Macleod family.

- I'm sorry for not introducing her before, but she likes to keep her identity a secret. But since she just blew her cover, I think I can do it now, right, little Aria?

- Oops! Yeah… but let me do it.

Aria looked at the Macleod family with a gentle smile and a faint glow around her.

- Frank Macleod, Margaret Macleod, Rose Macleod, and Duncan Macleod, members of the amazing Clan Macleod. You are the direct descendants of the first human settlers that I met in the Highlands of Scotland, back on planet Earth, Millennia ago, and agreed to come with me to this world. I'm Aria, the Goddess of Creation.

Milady Margaret looked at Aria, and she started to smile.

- I knew there was something special about you. The way you talked during class, your kindness towards everyone at school… I should have guessed.

She got up and she kneeled in front of Aria. Rose and her father followed her. Duncan was looking at them and he looked at Arys, just to see her getting up and joining his parent's. Arys even joked with Aria.

- I don't kneel often, but I guess it would be weird if I didn't right? Heheheh!

That joke granted her a punch in the head by Aria.

- Shut up, rude girl! You are getting the bad manners of this brat, aren't you?

Duncan was still dumbfounded and he watched his friends getting up one at a time and kneeling in front of Aria. He slowly got up and he also kneeled, in complete silence and looking dazzled. That tardiness on getting near Aria granted him a punch in the head.

- You took too long to get here! Are you losing your manners because of this rude RabbitKind girl? I hope you teach this girl how to behave better because she's getting way too crazy for my taste! Now, let's sit, having you all kneeled in front of a little girl like me is funny, but if anyone entered this room right now, we would have a lot to explain! Knnya… knnya… knnya…

Seya held Aria's hand and they went to the table with the others following them. Aria looked at everyone with a smile and she then addressed Milady Margaret.

- Teacher, I'm sorry if I fooled you until now. I use this body to mix among my people, without being recognized. And Seya making that school was such a good chance for me, that I couldn't resist appearing as a new student. But I would prefer if you could treat me as you have been doing so far, for other people not finding out who I am.

The Baron was puzzled by one small detail.

- If I may be so bold, my Goddess… I saw you at the church, a grown-up woman. Which of you is the Goddess?

- We are both, and we aren't. It's complicated for me to explain properly. And I also don't want to. It's easier if you think of us, like Aria, the child, and that other one, like Aria, the woman. Both of us are the Goddess. One or the other appears, depending on the situation. And there's also my complete form, Aria, the Goddess of Creation. Some of you already saw her on the day of Seya's endorsement. That one has all my powers, which is dangerous. I'm too powerful! That's one of the reasons why I use different bodies because, like that, I can more or less lower the amount of power that I have. So, I just have one question to my dear Seya over here… Where's my present? Did you forgot me?

- No, I didn't. I have two presents for you, but since one of them I still need to make some arrangements, I have this for you.

Seya opened his Compressed Dimension, and from there, he took a beautiful and small light blue Princess' dress. Aria looked at it, puzzled.

- I saw you buying this some time ago. I was wondering why you didn't give it to little Heiji, until now.

- No, I bought it for you, so that you could use it today, at my party. Unless you don't want to.

Aria was smiling and her eyes were shining. She held the dress against her chest and squeezed it tightly.

- Of course, I want it! It passed ages, since last time that someone gave me a new dress! Every time that I want to dress something, I have to create it. Let me try it…

Aria got up, a bright light enveloped her and when it faded, Aria had her hair tied on top of her head, with some loose ends falling over her nude shoulders and with her new dress. Seya nodded in approval.

- Perfect, you even look more grown up!

Aria smiled and she made a small twirl while grabbing the frails of her new dress.

- Thanks, big brother, it's really beautiful. I can't wait to see my other present!

- That one, you need to wait a little longer. But I think you will like it. Now, what about if we go to the Castle? I want to arrive there first than my guests, to greet them.

Aria smiled and she remembered one thing.

- It's better if you call King Rohan by the Communicator Device because he prepared a room for receiving the guests that wanted to arrive by Gateway.

Seya smiled and nodded.

- Of course. It's good to have information's directly from a Goddess! Heheheh!

…

While Seya and his friends were getting ready to the party, in the Human Conclave, the Ministers of the deceased Emperor were seated at a table in the meeting room. The Minister of Agriculture was looking at some papers.

- Well, according to my records, the food and basic necessities that we received are being distributed to every village and city, at a very good rate. And that equipment that Marquess Seya lent us are working non-stop, preparing one entire field in the morning and another at the afternoon. If this rate continues, soon, our cropped fields will increase five times more. The food that we'll be able to produce will be more than enough for our people. I think we'll be able to sell the surplus to other countries, by going through that Checkpoint at the Magical Border. I know that Marquess Seya always allowed for our merchants to go to his villages to sell their products, I see no reason why he won't allow our merchants to go to other countries too. In due time, we'll also be able to buy products from his lands.

The Minister of the Internal Affairs nodded.

- Yes, seems that everything is going well, for now. I was contacted by Baron Arthur Macleod, seems that he was asked by Marquess Seya to look for Nobles for the first Nobles Conclave. He wants a meeting the day after tomorrow, apparently, he already found the first members. I think there's no problem if we assist them during the first months, to make the things go smoother. He also told me that he's going to ask Marquess Seya to come, to meet the members of the first Nobles Conclave.

The Minister of the Military crossed his fingers over the table while looking around the table to his fellow Ministers.

- Well, the soldiers, especially the Emperor's Personal Guard and the Commanders, are not opposing our administration or the new Nobles Conclave. The ones that were still making a fuss, I personally introduced them to the Emperor's headless statue and warned them that the Great Sage that made it won't have any problems on making some new statues. It was enough.

The High Priest, the most influent Priest and leader of the church of the Human Conclave, frowned.

- The only thing that I don't like on all of this is that we are following the advice of a heretic, a mere boy that told to the Minister that the Old Book misleads our country and it wasn't written by the Goddess herself.

The Minister of Agriculture nodded.

- Yes, I was also upset by that, but as I already told the High Priest, he had some good arguments and he seemed really certain of what he was saying. I didn't understand at that time, but I got the feeling that he had some proofs behind what he said.

The High Priest remained in silence for a while, immersed in deep thoughts. Then, he punched the table.

- Well, I want to talk to him about that and if he has some proofs, I want to see it! If he's nothing than a heretic, I'll dedicate the rest of my life, praying to the Goddess so that he dies quickly, for his twisted ideas don't spread!

The Minister of Agriculture became angry. If it weren't for Seya helping them, the Human Conclave would be in real peril.

- High Priest, please don't say something like that, not even as a joke. If it weren't for him, we would face a dangerous future. His ideas may be different from ours but his intentions aren't. I saw with my own eyes and I even talked with the people living on his lands. Everyone has him in high regards not only because of all the wonders that he created in there, but also because he truly worries about his people. The list that he gave me with the schedule for the seeds to plant and his equipment could only be thought by a genius.

The High Priest bitted his lips. He wasn't convinced, but he didn't want to argue anymore, there were more urgent matters on the table, to attend.

…