The Hundred Reigns 290: The Five Sovereigns (7) (Patreon)

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Scaland was a giant corpse. 

Flying over the island had only confirmed Simon’s suspicion once he took a good look at the topography. The gigantic fin serving as the main landmark—which locals apparently called Drakehold—was only the tallest of a large mountain chain stretching across the landscape. The way they were assembled reminded him of a coiling spine. Moreover, the abnormal number of canyons and ravines scarring the countryside formed a rather scale-like pattern. 

Vouivre and Casval had shared legends of their Tribe’s great progenitor, the Ur-Dragon, who had fought the Mana Goddess for cosmic supremacy in ancient times and whose blood had given birth to countless draconic creatures. The tales were now staring back at Simon from below.

A kingdom-sized monster had once roamed Brimir, only to be felled. 

This put into perspective the Mana Goddess’ might, if she could indeed defeat such a creature. Nothing short of Simon in his Wicked God form could have slain a beast of this size in the modern era. Even the Zodiac Fiends would have hardly phased it. 

How big would this thing’s dracolith be, if it still existed? And what kind of divine power would Simon acquire if he managed to feast on it? 

“Uh…”

Simon’s head perked up at Belzemine, who stared through the porthole with an entranced look. She had grown paler all of a sudden. 

“Dread leviathan, sharp claws and merciless fangs…” she muttered to herself, “Dragon blood, breath of ruin… cast down from the stars in fearsome quakes and fierce battle, dark dreams stirring death’s slumber…”

“Are you well?” Simon inquired. Were the first side effects of her Memory Snatcher treatment starting to show? “Is something the matter?”

“I… I’m sorry, the song came to me all of a sudden… from forgotten days.” Belzemine averted her gaze from Scaland. “This place… it feels dead and alive to me somehow.”

“It certainly does,” Simon agreed as the Legendary began to lower its altitude near Drakehold’s foot. Scaland was filled with reptilian creatures ranging from wyverns bulkier than their Uyoan cousins to hydras, basilisks, gorgons, and dragons who dared return to the island after Gargauth kicked the bucket, so they had to follow a strict itinerary to the scalefolks’ capital to avoid any issues. “How much life still stirs within those bones, I wonder…”

The Legendary soon began its descent towards the main scalefolk settlement on the island, Dinopolis. This ancient city was said to have existed since before the Doom, and it certainly looked the part; being almost entirely made of massive monolithic stone towers, dragon-shaped statues, and ancient walls covered in vegetation. The architecture was bulkier and simpler than Rhapta, with the gates and roads being large enough to accommodate dragons and other behemoths. Many structures had long since sunken into an encroaching marsh. 

And yet, the blend of nature and civilization felt more harmonious than ruinous for some reason; and the place was densely inhabited. The city’s scalefolk had raised many tents and bone huts over the ruins of bigger and more ancient buildings. Coral trees were plentiful, as were dragonbone statues; alongside the petrified remains of various beasts used as living decorations. Many sunbathing scalefolks ranging from small kobolds to humanoid lamias looked up as the Legendary’s shadow passed over them. 

All of Dinopolis’ population could fit within one of Marthrone’s districts, but it was still the biggest scalefolk gathering in the world.

One building stood in stark contrast with the rest for its decidedly Endymian architecture: a fortress built on the city’s outskirts and entirely manned by humans. Known as Fort Tyrano, this was one of the few military bases set up in the region. It was officially meant to serve as a liaison point between the empire and the local viceroy, and unofficially tasked with surveying the tributary’s population to ensure it didn’t rebel. Its destruction in some reigns always heralded Scaland proclaiming for Vouivre. 

The Legendary docked on a vast stone platform near the fortress, where they were greeted by Endymian soldiers, Viceroy Gavial, and a cadre of guards ranging from wyvern-riders to cavaliers atop tri-horned reptilian beasts. Gavial himself came with an enormous, leashed black behemoth that Simon recognized as a tyranno, one of Scaland’s biggest predators.

“This one greets you, Your Highness,” Gavial welcomed Norbelle curtly as the main delegation walked out of the Legendary. The crimson scalefolk offered a small nod to Simon, and a deeper one to Filip. “Welcome to you too, King Filip. It has been many moons since a Ranger visited this one’s land.”

“Perhaps too long, chieftain,” Filip replied with a strange hand sign Simon did not recognize, but the gesture seemed to please Gavial. “I have spotted a worrying amount of behemoth footsteps near Dinopolis during our approach. Such creatures shouldn’t come anywhere this close to a population center.”

“The Rider used to keep these predators in check, until Prince Dassein took the Crestone for his own,” Gavial admitted. While scalefolk were too unemotional to show bitterness, Simon had spent enough time with the likes of Casval and Vouivre to detect a slight hint of distaste in his voice. “No one has filled the void left since.”

“Which is exactly why we’re here,” Norbelle said, as she cunningly seized the opportunity to score some political points. “Father is a master hunter and tamer, so he’ll deal with your behemoth problem in a heartbeat. Even the cowardliest of rats is willing to die for him after a quick chat.”

Filip scowled at the not-so-subtle jab, but Gavial nodded in detached appreciation. “One of them had built a nest across the riverbank. This one will guide you there.”

This one is all business. Unlike Melusine, Gavial wasn’t the kind of scalefolk to go for small talk or even feign humanity. I kinda like it. I’ll take bluntness over insincere flattery any day. 

“Great, that way my brother and I can visit the Dragon Shrine in the meantime,” Norbelle said. “I haven’t met with its keeper in a long while, and I'm dying to meet them again.”

“If that is your wish, Summoner,” Gavial replied without emotion. “These guards will show you the way. Others will ensure that your crew stays in allocated areas for their own safety.”

Bulky scalefolk guards arrived to escort the various groups of visitors around Dinopolis, though they felt more like wardens than protectors. Gavial guided the Cocagne delegation away while another group of elite guards and Endymian soldiers led Norbelle, Simon, and the latter’s retainers towards Drakehold. They immediately caught wary glances everywhere they went. 

The locals clearly weren’t thrilled to welcome the Legendary’s crew. In a way, visiting Dinopolis’ streets was like walking along crocodile-infested riverbanks. Even if the beasts were too lazy or full to attack, one always had to remain on edge. 

They don’t like us warm-blooded folks. Simon already guessed as much from the way Scaland usually rose up in Vouivre’s name, but seeing the scalefolks’ behavior put it in perspective. Then again, they do seem to have justifiable grievances.

On the one hand, Scaland had been somewhat lucky in that their tributary status let them self-govern with minimal oversight from Endymion’s central government; on the other hand, they had lost their Noble Class without receiving the military protection to compensate for it. Vouivre likely negotiated their support by promising them to return their lost Crestone once she slew Dassein. 

“This Dragon Shrine… I recall that our treaty with Scaland prevents us from visiting it, since it’s a sacred site,” Simon noted. 

“That is true, but nothing stops us from visiting the gates,” Norbelle mused. “The eidolon protecting the doors is a sweetheart. You’ll love him, you’ll see.”

They soon reached the entrance of a massive temple built into the mountain itself. Great brick walls and stone columns taller than castle towers covered in vegetation stood on the sides of a staircase fit for giants. A massive pair of doors over sixty feet in height loomed at the top, with complex sets of draconic symbols carved on their surface. Mosaics of dragons, leviathans, and other legendary beasts were everywhere the eye could see.  

The gates oozed power the same way the Abyssal portal in Frightwall’s depths did, though both miasma and mana flowed in the form of multicolored mist from its cracks. 

A colossal creature materialized in front of the gates to greet the newcomers: a twenty-foot tall statue of weathered brown stone that moved on its own. The construct had a single cyclopean ruby eye in the middle of its helmet-like face. Vegetation appeared to cover a large chunk of its body, but a closer look showed the roots grew out of cracks in its rocky skin instead; and its two arms ended in two sharp curved swords made of pure adamantine. 

Valshaf, Eternal Vigil

Level 72 Eidolon of Guardians, Keepers, Wardens, and Seals

Elemental/Plant

What an impressive creature. Its strength ranked high among the eidolons Simon had encountered so far.

The giant stared at the approaching group with all the majesty of its long centuries of existence, the very earth creaking beneath it as its cyclopean eye assessed the group… until it spotted Norbelle. 

And then it audibly groaned.

“Valshy, how are you?” Norbelle smirked ear to ear. She teleported next to the guardian and studied his blade-arms. “How long has it been since you oiled your swords? They look so rusty!” The eidolon remained still and silent, which encouraged the Summoner to poke it. “Hey, hey, hey! Have you grown deaf? Are you listening to me?”

“Go away, Summoner,” the guardian complained, his voice so heavy with annoyance that Simon immediately felt a kinship with it. “I will not indulge in your nonsense.”

“So rude, and here I bring you another potential contractor.”

“I will pass,” the eidolon replied. “Signing a contract with you was a terrible mistake.” 

“Come on, I know you don’t mean it. Don’t tell me you don’t enjoy a change of scenery now and then? I’m the only source of levity in your boring existence.”

“I prefer peace to wasting time.” The cyclops paused when his eye settled on Belzemine, who instantly caught his full attention. “You, elven child… are you the Mana Goddess’ emissary?”

“Me?” Belzemine asked, frowning. “I… I do not understand.”

“I sense the Mana Goddess’ power within you.” This discovery seemed to mollify the eidolon a bit, and caught Norbelle’s attention. “You bear a light that no shadow may extinguish.”

“I… did we meet before?” Belzemine looked up at the gates, a frown forming on her face. “This place… it calls out to me.”

“Does it now?” Norbelle wondered, a finger touching her lower lip. 

One of the scalefolk guards growled at them. “No entry,” he warned in coarse Endymian. “This sacred place, forbidden to your Tribe. That is the deal.”

“You dare threaten a prince of Endymion, beast?!” one of the human guards snapped, a hand reaching for his sword. 

“We have no wish to violate your customs,” Simon reassured the scalefolks before the situation could escalate. For this reign, at least. “Lord Valshaf, I am Simon Magnos. I have come to form a contract with you.”

“You cannot,” the guardian replied dismissively. “You do not bear the third eye.”

“My Class allows me to form unique contracts called Pacts,” Simon insisted. “And I swear I’m nowhere near as annoying a Summoner as my sister.”

“Excuse you?” Norbelle scoffed. “I only call Valshaf for important tasks, like cutting my food at parties.”

“Hence why I am wary of forming yet another contract with your kind.” Valshaf grunted in annoyance. “I have met many Summoners, and none were as irresponsible as you.” 

“I swear I will not call on you outside of emergencies,” Simon promised. “I’m willing to sign any magical contract you want, if that’s what it takes to prove my faith.”

After all, one of his Titles would let him violate any of the terms Valshaf set without consequences, so he could always refuse should it prove inconvenient. 

Valshaf considered his plea for a moment, his cyclopean eye darting from Simon to Belzemine. The latter’s presence appeared to convince him to at least give it a try. 

“This Pact feature of yours… show it to me,” he asked. Simon sent him an invitation the same way he once did with Vayan, but this caused the guardian to tense up. “This cold… this power of yours comes from the Dark.”

“A Pact will empower you with the Abyss’ power, granting you greater strength than any normal eidolon can achieve,” Simon replied, trying to present it in a positive light. “I can give you a demonstration.” Valshaf pondered his words for a few seconds before nodding. “Dreadful fangs glisten in the dark, as the ruins of the past sink in poison eternal! Devour them all, Mother of Serpents Einganah!”

He called upon the dark eidolon in front of his astonished retainers and the scalefolk alike, the serpent manifesting in a sea of miasma. Valshaf immediately adopted a fighting position with both his arm-blades raised in the shape of a cross.

“Behold, my children! Witness the past reborn!” Einganah declared boldly to the amazed scalefolk guards, her reptilian majesty on full display. Her very presence entranced them almost as much as Culebre’s influence over avian creatures. “Your dreams and nightmares embodied! A goddess born of your wishes, who will answer your Prayers and drown your foes in a sea of poison! Prostrate yourself before me!”

A few of the scalefolk present exchanged words, and then cautiously bowed; though probably more out of fear than respect. 

“Einganah?” Valshaf apparently recognized her. “What has become of you?”

“I have been reborn, old friend!” Einganah boasted, dancing and coiling in her joy. “My worship faded from the world long ago and I wasted away in loneliness, until my master revitalized me! I have become stronger than ever, strong enough to rebuild my cult!”

Valshaf shook his head. “Have you fallen so low that you would embrace the Abyss rather than rely on your own strength?” 

“You are the one to talk,” Einganah hissed back at him. “Look at you. You used to shine with gold, yet your armor has dulled! My children fear and believe in you, but they do not worship you! How long until the elven and eidolon cults that honor your duty dwindle to nothing?” 

Her words gave Valshaf pause. Simon sensed a hint of the same fear that had compelled Einganah to sign her own Pact; the fear of irrelevance in a Brimir whose people turned more and more to the worship of the Light rather than ancient gods. “The Mana Goddess—”

“Is gone!” Einganah snapped. “This world is changing, Valshaf! Either we adapt, or we’ll die! This is the law of nature!”

“But if we change too much, we may forget who we are and betray ourselves,” Valshaf pointed out, his cyclopean eye settling on Belzemine. “Unless…”

Norbelle squinted. “Lady Firewand?” 

“Yes, Your Highness?” Belzemine asked with a growing frown. 

“Grab the big snake by the tail.” A short, awkward silence followed the declaration, with Norbelle putting her hands behind her back. “Or any part you’re comfortable with fondling. I want to check something.”

“Check what?” Simon asked warily. What was she scheming?

“I’ll let that be a surprise.” Norbelle put a finger on her lips. “I swear it’s nothing sinister.”

Simon knew better than to take her at her word, but he warily gave Belzemine a look of approval. His retainer gulped and approached Einganah, then slowly pressed her hand on the dark eidolon’s scales. 

And then there was light.

Belzemine had long appeared like a lighthouse to Simon’s senses since he unlocked his Dark Visionary powers. He had seen her inner radiance brighten on a handful of occasions, like when she touched the Mana Sword or the Light Megalith; and here it happened again. Her hands glowed, and miasma swirled out of Einganah’s body where they touched it.

“What is… ah…” The dark eidolon grunted before suddenly slouching as if drained of her vitality. “I feel… tired…”

Something’s wrong, Simon realized. He could sense an abnormality in the feedback he received from his channeled dark eidolon; a disturbance in the flow of Abyssal miasma traveling through their bond. It’s weakening.

Belzemine was somehow suppressing his miasma, and disrupting the transformation. 

“The power… wasting away…” Shadows erupted from Einganah’s body like a shroud, and the outline of her old self became visible among the darkness. “No… no… no!”

Einganah quickly pulled back away from Belzemine rather than allow the process to complete itself, the shadows immediately possessing her again. Her body stabilized into its dark eidolon form again, though she hissed threateningly at Belzemine rather than let her approach her again.

“Back off!” Einganah snarled angrily. “You will not take my new life away from me!”

“I knew it,” Norbelle said with a smug grin. “She’s special.”

“She is,” Simon admitted. He had no doubt Belzemine would have outright reverted Einganah back to her normal eidolon form given time, which meant she could outright disrupt his Dark Visionary powers. Her connection to the Light is unique.  

“I have seen enough,” Valshaf decided, his voice firmer than before. The spectacle had helped him reach a conclusion of some kind. “Summoner Simon.”

Simon perked up. “Yes?”

“My contract, if I sign it, must include three major provisions.”

“Which ones?”

“The temple behind me is called the Dragon Shrine, a grave for wyrms. The Mana Goddess tasked me with watching over it until she relieves me of this duty; a vigil I have held since ancient times. A contract with me works both ways: you may summon me to help you wage your battles for a limited time—” Valshaf glared at Norbelle. “And nothing else.” 

“You didn’t put that provision in our contract,” Norbelle mused. 

“I am now.” Valshaf turned back to Simon. “However, any Summoner or Visionary wishing to contract me must swear to help me defend the gates should I find myself overwhelmed. You may summon me in a pinch; but I may summon you in return.”

Simon frowned. “So you want me to help you defend this shrine from intruders in return for your strength?”

“You are under a misconception. I do not prevent intruders from getting into these tunnels, for those fools will find death on their own.” The eidolon sharpened his blade arms against each other, like a butcher preparing his knives. “I stop what lurks inside from getting out.”

“The dragons’ restless souls conjure dangerous monsters,” Norbelle explained. “You know, chaotic beasts and horrible phantasms, that kind of thing. It’s why we agreed not to disturb the site. This is the kind of Dungeon whose inhabitants are best left undisturbed.” 

“Under normal circumstances, I would not have formed any summoning contract that takes me away from my duties,” Valshaf admitted. “However, the Shrine’s spirits have grown restless since the Doom. The Dark grows stronger with each passing day, and I fear it is only a matter of time before something malicious crawls out of this tomb.”

“I understand,” Simon replied. He guessed the coming Doom would cause the monsters inside the shrine to spill out into the countryside, the same way the Zodiac Fiends would lay waste to the continent. “I see no issues coming to your defense, should you require it.”

“Then my second provision is that you may not summon me for more than ten minutes at any time,” Valshaf insisted. “I cannot leave my post for long.”

“Fair enough. And the final provision?”

Valshaf pointed a blade-hand at Belzemine. “That elven child must stay here with me.”

“What?!” Simon tensed up while Belzemine froze. “Why?!”

“The light within her is a sacred gift from the Mana Goddess. Her Prayers will help quell the Shrine’s inhabitants, and help clear my mind of the Dark.”

“No way,” Simon replied immediately. He was set on helping her this reign, so there was no way he would condemn her to a lifetime of doorkeeper duties. “She’s my retainer, her place is with me.”

“Then no deal,” Valshaf replied harshly. “I am not fool enough to accept the Dark within me without a way to purge myself of its influence.”

“Please, please, let’s think this through,” Norbelle said as she teleported next to Simon and whispered in his ear. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

Simon frowned, the two of them stepping away from the others. “I won’t give her away,” he warned his sister immediately. “You won’t talk me out of it.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll win Valshaf over. He doesn't want to admit it, but the snake is right, his legend is fading from the world. Trust your lovely little sister.” Norbelle patted him on the back. “We need to discuss the elf. You’ve seen it too, haven't you? The halo of light inside her?”

“I have.” Norbelle had an even better grasp on mana and miasma analysis than Simon himself, so it didn’t surprise him she would notice that too. “I don’t entirely understand why yet, but she’s connected to the Mana Goddess in some way.”

“Which is likely why Mardok and our Overdaddy went out of their way to keep her around. I can think of a way to get to the bottom of this mystery.” Norbelle leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Have you ever considered awakening her Remembrance?”

Next Chapter

A/N: will be in a plane back to Europe when you see this, so chapter will be auto-posted. I hope it'll work out well.