The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

The Dragonoid lowered his head, ashamed. When he was sitting, a familiar sound resonated in that cave, followed by a flash. After the bright light diminished, Aria, the Goddess of Creation, in her complete form was next to Seya, hovering at one meter above ground.

She punched Seya's head, she looked annoyed.

- You! Argh, I don't know what I should do with you! I told you before, let me do what I have been doing for all these Millennia, this is my problem and responsibility, no one else!

Seya covered his head from the next punch.

- Sorry, not allowed! Little Aria and that cute baby will not sacrifice her selves because of me or anyone else! I will not allow it! They deserve to grow old, get married and be happy!

Aria approached him and poked his nose.

- You know that they are me, what are you saying, you stupid brat?

- I also know that if they have the opportunity, they can become more than a mere extension of you! What did you think, that after I knew that little Aria was going to sacrifice herself in three years' time, I wouldn't do something to prevent that?

Aria bit her lower lip and asked.

- You really like my little girl form, don't you?

- Of course, I do! I love every form that you have, even that crazy teenager! But why are you here interrupting me? Do you want to say something important instead of annoying me like always?

Aria grabbed Seya's right ear and she pulled him up. He stayed there, at one meter high, hovering like her, trying to get free.

- I came here to offer my help, you stupid! But now I don't know if I should help you or slap your butt, for you to learn some manners! This is no way to talk to your Goddess!

- Hey, let me go! How are they supposed to take me seriously, if you do something like this?

- Yeah, right! Like if there was anyone in here that doesn't know how crazy you are! And why are you so heavy? Are you still using that weird 'increase weight Magic' of yours?

She let him go and he landed on his feet, with a loud bang. He touched his ear, to see if it was still there.

- I'm always training, you know that! Since you want to help, I have a job for you. You will be in charge of stopping any Demonoid that escapes the fighters and go after the group that is going to do the Crystallization of that Island.

- The nerve of this guy… Are you really going to use me as a mere pawn in your plan?

- Not a pawn, a Queen. You can move freely and stop those ugly things. You don't need to kill any of them. I know that if you kill one, you will not stop until you kill every single one of those nasty things. And you will be in a lot of trouble afterwards.

Aria stopped for a while, thinking. She looked around, and she saw a lot of smiles and many expecting eyes, looking at her. She smiled and looked at Seya.

- Is that all?

- No, I will also need that you move your barriers when the Island starts to float.

- I can do that… Anything else?

- After everything is done and if I survive, I want a kiss.

A lot of surprised shouts were heard. They all went silent when they noticed that Aria was increasing her Magic, a little annoyed by that request. All, except Princess Heiji, she burst in laughter.

- Ahahahah! Go Seya! She will fall for you, for sure!

Aria hid her face with her hands while slowly shaking her head, feeling exhausted.

- When I think that you cannot surprise me even more, you say something like that…

She turned around to face everyone inside that cave.

- My beloved people, I'm honoured for having you so willing to risk your lives to save your future and to help me. I can't do much, because I can't fall to the temptation of killing a species, even if it's the Demonoid. However, I will protect you all, as much as I can.

Seya frowned and mumbled in a low voice

- Always changing the subject… While I wait for her answer…

Aria went to him and she poked his nose and spoke in a low voice.

- Shut up already! I have fallen for you ages ago! If you don't die on me, I will want you as my partner!

She kissed his forehead, messed his hair and vanished. Seya just stood there, completely frozen for a moment, thinking in all the implications of what Aria said. He blinked a few times and he addressed the crowd again.

- So, gather your soldier and Mages as fast as you can, we will start our attack when everyone is ready! Fill your ships and use a big Gateway to sail the ships to the Demonoid Island. However, don't take long because I don't know why, but over these last few days, I am having a feeling that time is of utmost importance. And now we even have the Goddess' protection. I wonder how she will accompany us, but I'm sure it will be amazing, fighting alongside her!

Everyone started to shout the Goddess' name and clapping. Seya was still rubbing his hear when little Aria hugged him from the side.

- You really are something, you even conquered my complete form! I knew you were a good one when I found you!

Seya kneeled to be at her size.

- She said a very surprising thing…

- Yeah… What do you expect? Being like you are and doing everything that you did so far, of course, something like that could happen! She's not only a Goddess, she's also a woman! But, do you think you deserve her?

- No, that's for sure!

Little Aria smiled while caressing his right cheek.

- That's a good answer, my dear Seya, a very good answer.

When everyone went silent again, Seya asked for Elder Inia to dissipate the Light protection that isolated them, for everyone to go away, since the meeting was over. As soon as she did it, Seya began to feel again a slight tingling in his head, like if a butterfly was walking on top of his head. When he was inside Gaya, the tingling was even lighter, but it was still there. Now, it was stronger. He became alarmed.

- Elder Inia, make your Light protection again and cut the Flow from the world!

Hearing the tone in his voice, Inia understood that there was a problem.

- Done! What's the matter?

Seya concentrated, he couldn't feel anything.

- This is weird… Lately, I'm feeling a slight tingling inside my head, like if a bug is walking on top of my hair. Inside Gaya, it's almost imperceptible, but in here, it's stronger. Now, with the barrier, I don't feel anything. In fact, I feel calmer. Maybe it's because this meeting went rather well or it's because I don't feel that annoying tingling. Master Aku Kiro, do you sense something?

- …||… Now, nothing. Before, me felt Mind touch. Like probe of LizardKind, but different, strange. …||…

Seya stopped to think for a while. It was not only him that felt it.

- Master Aku Kiro, when you were teaching Gaya, did you felt something like this?

- …||… No. Connected to Gaya. Me and Gaya isolated from world. …||…

Seya nodded. Something wasn't right.

- Queen Athena, did you felt something when the Barrier of Elder Inia dissipated?

- Yes, it was like the Mind probe of the LizardKind, but weaker. Like if it was done from far away or by someone too weak with that type of Magic. Or someone that doesn't want to be discovered, maybe. I could easily block it, but I felt it. It was like you said, like the small feet of a bug walking on top of my hair!

Seya looked around. Everyone was waiting and looking at him. Something was definitely wrong. His danger alarm was skyrocketing. He made a quick decision.

- Master Aku Kiro, call one LizardKind for each King! Queen Athena, call immediately a Mermaid for each Queen! See if there are some LizardKind and Mermaids that can protect the students! Elder Eridan, I need some Dragonoids to help with the protection! Elder Inia, go to my school and make a Light Protection all over it, one able to block Mind Magic!

Inia quickly opened a Gateway to Seya's school and crossed it. Elder Eridan opened one for Queen Athena and Elder Narn opened a Gateway for Master Aku Kiro. Seya waited while everyone inside the Meeting Cave was puzzled by his orders. Seya looked serious, something was worrying him. After a few moments, Athena and Aku Kiro returned with a bunch of Mermaids and LizardKind. Seya took a deep breath and he answered the worrying looks that were facing him.

- I don't know what's happening, but I don't like it. Maybe it's just me being too careful, maybe it's a God making a test or something more dangerous. Either way, the timing is too suspicious. Elders, from now on, don't you ever leave your protected Race without a close look. Mermaids and LizardKind, you are now the shadows of the King and Queen of every Kingdom in this world. Where they go, you go. If they want some space, be at a distance from where you can make sure that they are protected from any kind of Mind Magic. For everyone else, if you are able to use Mind Magic, use it and protect yourselves and anyone near you. Students, from now on and until we start our attack, you are confined to the school. If for any reason you need to leave school, ask for a Mermaid, a LizardKind or a Dragonoid, to accompany you. Kings and Queens, I'm sorry for being like this, but something is wrong. For your protection and our own, the plans that we discussed here, cannot leak. Either by speaking with someone that isn't here or by someone Mind probing you.

Some scattered voices were heard because Seya's words and unexpected reaction, had quite an impact. While everyone was distracted, he went to talk with little Aria.

- Aria, do you have any idea what is this feeling?

- It can be a God… But a God messing in another God's world doesn't happen very often… It could be Gabryel, the Investigator. I do not know if it's him.

- Can he use Mind Magic?

- Maybe, I'm not sure what are the powers that the Gods granted him, to come to this world and do his job.

Seya nodded. Maybe it was the Investigator. Or a God. Or something worse. He had a thought, but he was afraid of voicing it so he just bites his lip, the consequences for the morale of everyone, could be catastrophic. Seya went to his place at the front again and sent a Mind question.

- …||… Master Aku Kiro, can Gaya use Mind Magic to protect herself from a Mind Probe? …||…

- …||… Me taught Gaya. Easier to make a connection to read. Gaya learn fast. …||…

Seya grabbed his Communicator Crystal and called Gaya.

- Gaya, can you use Mind Magic like Master Aku Kiro taught you and block your Mind?

- …||… Yes, father, I can do that. …||…

- Good. Can you make a barrier that can protect everyone living with you, from any kind of Mind Magic?

- …||… I… never tried… but I think I can do it. Why? Is something wrong? …||…

- Maybe, I do not know. It's just a bad feeling that I have. Do it then, protect everyone! I'm counting on you!

- …||… Yes, Father! Leave it to me!…||…

Seya turned to face the crowd in the Meeting Cave and he raised his arm, asking for silence. When everyone was silent and waiting for him, he spoke.

- I know that all this extra security can be a nuisance, but I beg for your understanding. What we planned in here, can never leave these walls. When gathering the soldiers and the Mages, if some questions arise, just say it is a joint training with every Magical Race in this world, as a preventing measure. Maybe my suspicions are nothing, but it can also be everything. You know me, I never do anything without a well-thought plan and a backup. Consider these security measures as part of my attack plan. If we attack by surprise, the outcome will be safer for everyone. Now, anyone able to use Mind Magic, make a barrier to block your Mind and the others near you. In a few moments, Elder Inia will dissipate her barrier. Let us see if that weird sensation does not appear again.

Seya waited for a few moments, and after the last Dragonoid announce that he was ready, Elder Inia lifted the barrier. Seya tried to feel the same weird sensation, but since he made a barrier of his own, he didn't felt anything.

- So far, so good. Does anyone feel something strange? No? Well, I think it went away or we are blocking it. Let me lift my barrier… there it is! The same feeling! Very weird… let me do this… Ok, Mind Barrier activated, the feeling stopped. Whoever is doing it, it's still there, trying to spy on us. Very weird! Well, since now we know what's happening, it's just a matter of always having a Mind Barrier near us. So, my students, homework for you! Ask the Mermaids, the LizardKind and the Dragonoids for help, on understanding the Mind Probe. Then, make a Magical Program on a Crystal, to create a Mind Barrier to protect you. When any of you do it, make a lot of Crystals to be delivered to the other students. It's never a bad idea to be careful, right? One last thing, anyone willing to join me on the Crystallisation of that Island, make as much Earth Crystals as you can, we are going to need a lot of Earth Magic, that Island is huge. And with this, meeting over. Let's prepare everything the fastest we can and with the utmost secrecy!

The crowd started to disperse, with some Dragonoids helping on the exit, by opening some dark Gateways. While everyone was leaving, Seya grabbed a bunch of Magic Crystals from his Compressed Dimension. He made a slow and difficult program, to create a Mind Barrier. When his family was approaching him, he had already a Crystal for them. Before Anna Hinamoto could say anything, Seya placed two Crystals on her hand and another one on his father's hands.

- Mother, this is one for you and one for Rose. Father, here is yours. Master Sully, Master Cemil, Null, and Xenya, for you. I know that Null will start to blabber about what we discussed here, as soon as he leaves. So, please, have this Crystal always with you.

Null frowned.

- Hey, I'm not a blabber!

Xenya messed his hair.

- Of course, you are, my dear! But don't worry, I still love you!

Null was still frowning while looking at the Crystal.

- How do we use this? I don't feel anything different!

Seya sent a mental 'hello' to Null, to test the Crystal.

- Well, can you hear my thoughts?

Null concentrated and he shook his head after a while.

- No, not a thing.

- Then, it's working. But if you didn't felt until now the strange tingling that I was feeling lately, you are lucky. Sometimes, I even thought there was something wrong with me, that I was losing my mind or the control of my Magic. I think it was because I was feeling that weird tingling that I didn't have any patience for the most trivial things. Most of the days I didn't felt anything but when I did, the feeling lasted for an entire day, sometimes even two.

Rolland was looking at the inside of his Crystal.

- What do you think was the reason for that feeling? I didn't feel anything during this meeting, but the Dragonoid that was near me started to complain when Inia's barrier dissipated. Like if something was scratching his head.

Seya looked around, trying to see if there was anyone around or someone that could listen to him.

- I asked little Aria about that, she said there's an Investigator that was sent by the Council of the Gods, to evaluate my actions and repercussions in this world and on the people's lives. I hope it was him but if it's not, I can only think about some kind of different or intelligent Demonoid.

Xenya looked surprised.

- It can't be one of those things! Ok, they are dangerous and violent, but they only care about eating! They have no intelligence what so ever and no conscience! They are like wild animals.

Xenya pondered for a while. She shook her head slowly.

- I don't want to think about that possibility… Why you didn't tell everyone about your suspicions?

- I'm afraid to be right. And I don't want to scare everyone unnecessarily if I'm not. Better to make some security measures, as prevention. It may only be that Investigator or a curious God.

They stood there, in silence. At least, until Ryn called Seya, his friends were waiting for him, to return to Gaya.