The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

A new Gateway to Gaya's Meeting Room took them to the centre of it. As soon as the crowd saw him, they started to clap and shout. Seya dispersed the Gateway after his friends crossed it and they went to a seat, leaving him with Titania.

After the noise diminished, Seya took a deep breath and he looked around in silence. His family, students, his Teachers, the Principal, the school's janitor and his Phoenix, every King and Queen of the world, many Dragonoids and Mermaids, were smiling at him, looking tired but happy. Seya tried to smile but he stopped, it wasn't a moment to be glad for anything.

- Thank you for all your help. From this moment on, the World and every being living on it, is no longer under the threat of a Demonoid invasion, like the one that happened 1.000 years ago, that almost eradicated our ancestors. We lost many people, and to them and to their families, I must truly apologize. They trusted in me and on my plan and like that, they lost their lives. The Goddess did as she said on our last meeting in here, she was going to help on anything that she could. Her three forms fought alongside us, and the Goddess returned to us many that died. I am grateful and happy because by doing that, my plan didn't fail as much as it could, because of her kindness and love. I managed to fulfil my life's dream of getting rid of the Demonoids, but many people had a hideous death, they were absorbed by the Demonoids and the Goddess couldn't do anything to bring them back.

The silence in that room was impressive. Everyone was thinking about the ones that died on the battlefield for them to be free of the Demonoids. Seya looked down for a moment, he remembered the scream that Talya made, when she saved him. He looked around again and continued.

- I underestimated those things. I never expected that some Demonoids could evolve and make plans of their own. The grey Demonoids that we faced, were capable of some surprising things. I think the ones that could control other beings, were the ones that were using Mind Magic and were responsible for that weird feeling on our meeting. And those that could control our Dark Magic, were the ones that used us to kill our friends and allies. I had a lot of trouble to prevent my Dark Magic from killing the soldiers and Mages that were protecting me and I almost died in there, because I was trying to save them from my Magic. Queen's Titania daughter, Talya, daughter of my ancestor, Taly Denar'an, died, by putting herself in the way of the tentacles of a grey Demonoid that used that moment to attack me. Seeing her dying in front of me, made me lost my mind and I wanted every Demonoid dead. Maybe it was better if the grey Demonoids could be restrained in the Compressed Dimension of the Island and released in the future to join us, but I couldn't forgive them for all the killing that they caused today. I made sure that they all died. Now, there are only the dark Demonoids, and the Island is hovering out there, above a new and small Island with ten Obelisks. Those Obelisks have a very special Magic that retrieves a small amount of Dark Magic from the floating Island and delivers it to the world.

Master Eridan got up and he coughed, calling for attention.

- Hum… Is that wise? All that Magic will not poison the world like the Demonoids were doing?

Seya shook his head slowly.

- I don't think so. In fact, I believe that not having Dark Magic going to the World, would be worse, because that Attribute is now part of everything. The amount of Dark Magic that comes from that Island is low, considering the amount that the Demonoids were producing. They also need it to eat, so, I can't take all their Magic. But we can watch over it during the next days, to see how the Flow of the World reacts to that. Maybe the World wants more, and in that case, we need to increase the number of times that the Obelisks absorbs the Dark Magic of the floating Island.

Eridan nodded.

- I see… But now that we don't have the Demonoids to worry about, another problem arises, what will be the duty of the Dragonoids, the Fairies, the Mermaids and the LizardKind?

Seya smiled, his first true smile since he woke up that day.

- That's obvious, you can do whatever you want, but I am hoping that you continue to live in peace with every Race, while thinking and creating new things, to improve your life and the life of everyone being in this World. Or you can be more curious about the World, about how the World creates Magic, curious about what are the lights in the sky at night, and if there are more planets out there. Things like that. Or you can continue on living as you did so far, it's all up to you.

Master Eridan nodded while looking around.

- We Dragonoids are mostly thinkers and sculptors and we dedicate most of our lives to previsions, ideas, and sculptures. Up until now, we were living without too much interaction with the other Races. We need to change that. Mermaids, Fairies and LizardKind suffered from that same choice, that was forced upon them because of the Demonoids. That is no longer a problem. I predict a great future, for all of us.

A lot of clapping supported that idea. The future looked bright, without the Demonoid threat. Seya waited a while and he continued.

- One last thing, before we leave to mourn the deaths and give the sad news to their families. On the ten Obelisks, the Goddess is going to write the names of everyone that she couldn't save. It will serve not only to honour their sacrifice but also to show the future generations that everyone in this World were united today, against a common and terrible enemy, to guarantee their happiness. 'May the Goddess help those souls on the passage to their new home!'

A choir of voices joined Seya, on the ancient saying. After that, they started to leave, going to greet him as a final goodbye, either with a hug or with a kiss. In the end, Seya seated on a bench, looking at the floor. His friends came to him, but they didn't know what to say, so, they stood near him, waiting and thinking. Little Aria slowly appeared near them, and she hugged him.

- You did well, dear Seya. No one blames you for what happened. I should be the one to blame. If I wasn't so disgusted by the Demonoids, I could have found out earlier that there were some evolved Demonoids, waiting for us.

- I can't blame you, my cute Goddess, you asked me a lot of times to let you continue on doing what you did for all these Millennia. I was stubborn and stupid. But I also think that with the sudden evolution of the Demonoids, things would become terrible one day, if we didn't attack today as we did.

Then, from behind Aria, Gabryel spoke and they all jumped, by the sudden voice. No one noticed that he appeared.

- I think the same, too. Those grey Demonoids had some plans for the future, and if they achieved that, even the Council of the Gods would have a lot of trouble to deal with them. Because of that, I have here the Report that I sent them, for you to see. I am sorry for saying this, but after reading it, you will realize that they evolved because of you. Maybe even without your intervention, they would evolve one day, but because you accelerated their evolution, you also prevented a great evil from appearing by surprise.

Seya grabbed the paper inside a leather book cover.

- Thanks, I guess. I am too depressed now, but it's better if I read this as soon as I can so that I can learn something from all this.

Gabryel vanished and he seemed really worried with Seya. It was only then that Arys sobbed and Duncan hugged her. Ryn wondered why only at that moment, Arys started to cry.

- I know, Princess Arys, everyone is sad because of so many deaths. You need to be strong and…

Duncan vigorously shook his head.

- That's not the reason. Her mother, Bicary Denar'an, died to save me…

Seya became alarmed.

- Bycary? But… the Goddess saved everyone that died, except the ones…

Duncan finished his sentence.

- Except for the ones that were eaten and absorbed by the Demonoids. A huge horde attacked us from behind, while we were surprised by the appearance of a grey Demonoid that threw a Dark Spear that killed a lot of our soldiers. Queen Bycary made a wall of rock, to stop his next attack and that gave time for Arys to gather her Magic and make her Dark Cloud. When I and the group of Mages that were with us went to fight the ones at our back, we fell into a hole. We were surrounded by Demonoids. We could only see dozens of red eyes, looking at us, and the clacking sound of their mouths. Queen Bicary didn't hesitate, she jumped to the hole, made a wall of rock to prevent them from attacking and a ramp for us so that we could get out. She screamed for me to go help Arys, that she needed just a second to kill those things but when she was running out the hole, the ramp was destroyed by a huge Demonoid that suddenly appeared and ate her upper body. I could only kill it with a Fire Slash straight to the head, but Bycary was completely eaten by the other Demonoids. I killed every single one of them and went to help Arys against the grey one.

Seya was completely pale while hearing him. He approached Arys and grabbed her hand.

- I didn't know. Why you didn't say anything? You kept on helping me while you were suffering… Why?

Arys wiped her tears and looked at him seriously.

- My mother Bicary taught me to never let my emotions rule me when I had a job to do. Talya died to protect you and my mother died to save Duncan, but at least you are alive and so does he. Promise me that you won't waste their sacrifice, on another attempt to get yourself killed because I don't know if I could stand another death among my family.

Seya slowly nodded.

- I will try… but you know me…

Arys smiled and caressed his right cheek.

- Yeah, that's why everyone follows you, you never quit or change your ways… Now, if you can excuse me, you have something important to read and I need to retire to my room, to cry for my mother.

Arys made a small smile at Duncan and waited for him.

- If I could also be excused, I think it's better if I keep Arys company.

Arys and Duncan left, holding each other hands. Seya remained in silence, thinking. Tears were falling from his face, and he didn't even try to disguise it. Bycary helped him when he had his heartbroken, because of Lionel. If it wasn't for her, he would be dead by now, because even when he was trying to kill himself in the LizardKind prairies, Bycary always saved him. And punished him afterwards, for another of his foolish attempts. By the third time, she almost killed him herself from a beating. But she was there, at his side in the LizardKind prairies, for all those years that he fought in there.

His friends didn't know what to do or say. Aria approached him and placed one hand over his right shoulder.

- Come with me, dear Seya. You can't be alone for the time being, so I am going to make sure that you don't have any foolish idea. I know that look that you have right now. As for you guys, maybe it would be better if you stayed here and talked about everything that happened to you on that Island. Try to help each other in dealing with everything that you saw and faced.

Little Aria disappeared together with Seya. In their place, a bright light appeared. When the light diminished, the Goddess Aria in her complete form was seated on Seya's place. She made a gentle smile towards them.

- I am here, young ones, to help on dealing with the pain. And to thank you for what you all did.

While his friends where being comforted by the Goddess, Seya was inside Aria's room, seated at a table, crying non-stop with little Aria hugging him. She remained in silence until he stopped. He was still wiping his tears when he looked at his hand that was holding Gabryel's Report. Aria noticed and warned him.

- It's better if you don't read that now. You may feel worse than you already are.

- Yeah… but if what Gabryel said is true, I must. And now is a good moment like any other. I won't feel better any time soon and I need to understand what happened in that Island. Too many people died and I don't understand how that was even possible. I was prepared for a few deaths, but not for hundreds! And grey Demonoids with such powers? In the Island, they acted and worked like a hive, an intelligent one! Gabryel said that I was the one to blame, so, I need to find out how.

Aria bitted her lip.

- Ok, as long as you let me read it too, I am also curious. I told you before, it wasn't your fault, I should have kept a close watch over those things instead of just imprisoning them on that Island. I have here a box with Mary's biscuits, from her Tea House. I think you may be hungry by now. Eat some while we read, ok?

They both read the Report, talking about some parts that explained past events that happened in Seya's life. In the end, he remained silent for a while. After some minutes, he took a deep breath and spoke.

- Yes, this was totally my fault. If it wasn't for me, those things wouldn't evolve any time soon and today, we only had to fight a few hundreds of wild beasts that just wanted to eat.

Aria slowly nodded.

- Yeah… but this also means that if I ever went to that Island all alone, I could be attacked by surprise, eaten and they would still evolve. Either way, those grey things would appear and they could be even more powerful than they were. And the World wouldn't have a chance against them… Which means that despite your intervention, it was better and safer that they evolved as they did. This Report is also proof that I was the one at fault, I should have been more careful about those things. Stupid me…

I slowly appeared at their front, with a small smile on her face.

- Yes, Goddess Aria, things could be more dangerous if it wasn't because of him. And that is the reason why I came here today. I am sorry for intruding in your room like this, but I came to deliver a message from the Council of the Gods to the young Seya.

Aria was alarmed because of that. What could be the meaning of that message? Never once, the Council sent a message to a normal being.

- But… Examiner Tilia, that never happened until now… Why the Council…

I raised my left hand, to stop Aria.

- This is something that I asked myself when I was called by the Council after they read Gabryel's Report. If Seya survived this battle, he should be granted a request or a hearing with the Council. I thought that Seya could have a strange idea for the future of this World, or he wanted to see the Council, to beat them up. I came here to see what he chooses. I annoyed those old Gods a lot, I am still angry because they didn't warn me about what was happening in my world and because they didn't act in this World too, even after receiving Gabryel's Report or knowing about the Goddess Aria's sacrifices, for all these Millennia. Those rules that they have of never intervene in a World of another God and always forgiving everything could have made things become very dangerous if the Demonoids managed to control this World and turn their attentions to other Worlds. So, young Seya, what do you want to do?

Seya answered immediately, without spending a second to think.

- I want to meet them. I want to start the second part of my plan and for that, I need their help.

Aria looked at him with her eyes wide open.

- What second part? What are you scheming now?

- Nothing much, just trying to fulfil the plan that I thought years ago. When can we go? It's better if I get this done as soon as possible, I need to keep myself occupied or I will fall into depression. It will also serve as a means to honour the ones that died, for the future of this World.

I smiled, he never ceases to surprise me.

- I was betting that you wanted to beat them up, but instead, you want their help for another of your crazy plans. We can go now, if you wish. Maybe it's better if the Goddess tags along, for your protection. You may become angry and try to attack them. Or you can annoy them so much that they erase you from existence. Either way, she can help you. She may be a young Goddess, but her powers on creating life from scratch and her way of thinking are respected and envied, even amongst the older Gods.

Seya looked at little Aria with admiration on his eyes.

- So cool… even the older Gods respect you…

Aria made an awkward smile.

- Yeah… that always puzzled me…

I approached them and offered my hands for them to hold.

- Shall we go?

Seya held one hand and little Aria the other. They were wrapped in my light and we disappeared.

The light diminished and Seya blinked a few times. He saw me and Aria smiling at him but when he looked around, he had to blink a few times, thinking that he wasn't seeing straight. All around, there was only white. Nothing more than white. Seya frowned and looked at me.

- Are we inside a Compressed Dimension made of Light? Mine is made with Dark Magic, but this one is different.

I shrugged my shoulders.

- I honestly don't know. I always thought that this is not even a place, because nothing exists in here, not even time.

- Time doesn't exist? What do you mean by that?

- It's like I said, time doesn't exist. Even if you stayed in here for centuries, you would never feel time going by. And when you leave, no time as passed where you came from.