“No, no, that will do. I have seen your proof.”
“Thank you,” Wataru said, standing up straight. He was so nervous he had almost lost his balance. Some of the younger dragons made a snuffling noise with their noses that sounded suspiciously like chuckling.
“Traveler and Highlanders.” The wyrmking’s voice rang solemnly in the cavern. Kutz jerked to attention. “We firewyrms have drawn breath since the time of creation. Now, we pass our days in this corner of the great sea, living in peace and tranquility,” he continued, addressing the other dragons as well as Wataru and his friends. Yet, our role as protectors of Vision has not ended. We remain and will ever be the Goddess’s sword and shield in Vision’s time of need.”
As one, the dragons in the room nodded. The seven pillars looked out on the room with sharp gazes.
“Traveler! You need not tell me your path, for I know. I know you go to the north, I know why you go there, and I know your purpose has its roots in the conflicts of men.”
While Wataru was wondering how the wyrmking knew what they were up to, Kutz’s clear voice rang out from beside him. “Your Highness! If I may, my reason for going to the north is to end this conflict.”
The wyrmking’s mouth twisted again in a smile. “Bold. Your will is good. But no land dweller can hope to end such a thing. It is impossible.”
“No, I…”
Speaking quietly, the wyrmking cut her off. “Hatred summons hatred, sadness echoes sadness, and death leads the way to more death. Hatred’s roots go deep into the soil, sadness is more vast than the sea, and death never wants for company. This is the hard truth.”
Next to Wataru, Kutz bit her lip and kept her silence.
“In normal times, we dragons are not permitted to intervene in the conflicts of the land-dwellers. Yet, Traveler, Highlanders, we knew you would visit our island. And we knew that when you did, we would aid you on your passage to the north.”
Wataru looked up. “Jozo told me that you had sensed a change in Vision from a while ago. He said a time might come when the dragons had to leave their island and lend aid to the people.”
The wyrmking nodded twice slowly.
“What is this change he was talking about? Is it something we can stop? Is that why you say you will help us?”
The ancient dragon nodded once more. “Traveler. In this Vision there exists a mirror, the Mirror of Eternal Shadow, opposite to the Mirror of Truth. This mirror is in the hands of the emperor of the north. I sense that the seal that lies upon that mirror will soon be broken. I know this because it is our sacred role to watch for signs of this and prevent it from happening.”
And so did Wataru finally learn of the Mirror of Eternal Shadow, the Dark, and the Crown of the Seal that held the terrible power of the mirror at bay—and about the final gemstone.
When the wyrmking had finished speaking, Wataru’s hands and feet, so recently warmed by the hot spring, were frozen cold with fear. He knew who was trying to break the seal.
Mitsuru. He wants that last gemstone. That’s all he’ll think about.
Kutz glanced at Wataru, who was clenching his fists. What she had said was right: Mitsuru didn’t care a whit about what happened to Vision or its people.
“The emperor of the north broke the seal once three hundred years ago—he sought to use the mirror against his enemies,” the wyrmking sighed. “We dragons flew to the north and fought alongside the land-dwellers against the demons that were released from the Dark. At the time, the Northern Empire sought to use the demons’ power, but it was ignorant of the danger. They thought they could simply break the seal, repairing it after the demons had laid waste their foes. Their foolishness was such that one could tilt the very sea on its side and still not wash it all away.”
If the dragons had not sensed the breaking of the seal early on, Vision would not exist today, the wyrmking told them. At his side the seven pillars nodded in agreement.
“Even so, when the Mirror of Eternal Shadow was unsealed three hundred years ago, it was for only the briefest of moments. This time, I fear this will not be the case. The seal will be broken wide open, sundered beyond all means of repair. Even should we gather forces from all over Vision, we would not be able to drive back the demons.”
“We have to stop them!” Meena cried shrilly.
Wataru stood. “I know who is trying to open the seal. He’s my friend, a Traveler like myself. I won’t let him do it. I’ll stop him!”
The wyrmking’s head slowly swung to the side, turning his gaze toward the seven pillars. They were all standing at full height.
“Traveler. Go with the seven pillars. They will aid you in this fight. Though there may be limits to the world of men, there are no such limits in Vision. It would be a shame for all Vision to be destroyed by those who are limited in sight and and strength.”
“I will!”
“What about me?” Jozo’s young voice rang out. “Wyrmking, may I go with him?”
Wataru hurriedly put his hand on Jozo’s neck. “No Jozo. You should stay.”
“Why? If you’re going, I want to go too.”
“Your parents will be worried.”
Indeed, Jozo’s parents were giving them a sorrowful look. Jozo looked back, and Wataru thought he saw the glimmer of tears forming in the young dragon’s eyes. Still, he gave his tail a firm shake. “But I’m going. I’m carrying you, Wataru. Please?” he said, turning to his parents.
Jozo’s mother lowered her head to the ground. It was his father who spoke. “If the wyrmking allows it, then yes.”
“What?” Wataru turned back to the wyrmking. The wyrmking’s eyelids lifted slightly, and he looked at Jozo. “Jozo. This will not be an easy battle.”
“I understand.”
“Even as we speak here, I feel the time of the seal’s breaking approaching. Danger is upon us. The demonkin are destructive and powerful. You would still go with the Traveler?”
Jozo shook once from head to tail, then said, “Wataru saved my life. I will go with him!”
“Then it is done,” the wyrmking said, lowering his eyelids once again.
“Once one is bound to a Traveler, one is bound to duty as the descendant of the great protector, the firewyrm himself.”
Those sleepy, half-lidded eyes turned back to Wataru. He could feel their gaze upon him, scalding his skin. “Traveler. Jozo will aid you. Be sure that he returns to the Isle of Dragon at your journey’s end.”
Wataru swore he would, his fists tightly clenched by his sides.
“Then I wish you luck in battle. May the Goddess of Destiny protect you.”
All the dragons gathered and repeated the wyrmking’s words in a great chorus, until the cavern was filled with the echoing words of their prayers.