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The wind bit into Arc as he continued to hike up Mount Jenora. The mountain, nestled right outside of the Parmani Mountains was one that few dared to climb. It was nicknamed the “Dragon’s Peak” due to the constant sightings of such beasts in the skies around the mountains. In the past, Arc would have stayed as far away from anywhere involving dragons as possible. As curious as he was to their existence, he had no desire to risk his life to learn more. All the stories that he had read depicted dragons as fearsome creatures, capable burning any poor soul to stumble upon them to ashes. But that was before he and his allies underwent their quest to save the world and before he encountered the Dragon King.
Arc arrived at the end of the path. The cold was definitely apparent now and the world below him stretched intimidatingly far. In the past, he would have been terrified of standing here. Now, it felt comforting more than anything.
“I’m here.” Arc said, seemingly to himself.
There was silence on the mountain. Arc waited. Soon, the telltale sound of flaps were heard. These were different from the sounds of the common Rust Bird or Rukh, sounding grander. Arc spread out his arms. Soon, he was picked up and spirited away.
Bahamut’s nest was more spacious now compared to before. The baby dragons that were there before were now gone. Arc idly wondered about the time it took for a dragon to grow.
Bahamut remained on the other side, staring at him. It was hard to tell what exactly the dragon was thinking as he watched the young mage, but he appeared to be watching intently. Arc tried to formulate his question in his mind before deciding to try the blunt approach.
“Why?”
Arc could hear Bahamut chuckle in his mind, even if the Dragon King did not react outwardly.
Is that why you choose to summon me? To ask me a mere question?
“It’s not that mere.” Arc attempted to justify his wording. “But I just can’t imagine. Why did you choose to speak to me? Maybe being a Warrior of the Light is part of it, but still; You could’ve picked Luneth or Refia or Ingus. So, why me?” Bahamut’s eyes bore into Arc’s very being. Yet, Arc knew there was no malice. “Please. I just want to know.”
…Warrior of the Light. Are you familiar with the history of the world?
Arc rolled the question around in his mind as he tried to think of what Bahamut wanted him to say.
It was a far gone age. It was a simple time. Man had not developed the tools that he uses today. In those days, Man and Dragons lived in harmony and both ruled their domains; Man ruling the Earth and Dragons ruling the Sky.
Arc digested that information with great thought. To think there was a time when humans and dragons shared a co-existence. Alus had mentioned that Saronia dragoons used dragons in times of yore, but Bahamut’s words suggested that the relationship was more equal than what was suggested.
“But something happened didn’t it?”
Time went on. Man invented more and more tools that allowed him to accomplish more and more. In time, Man began to concern himself less and less with the Dragons. Man created machines which allowed him to impose upon the Dragons’ domain.
“You mean the Ancients, right?” Arc asked in realization. “The ancients seemed to have mastered creating airships. And Desch’s father made the Tower of Owen. Maybe they had some interest in living in the skies.” Arc thought about it a bit more. “...Wait… if the sky was your domain, then did the Wrath of Light seriously affect you? The Warriors of Darkness said that Xande caused the Flood of Darkness by severing the link between the Earth and the Sun. But wouldn’t that mean that the Flood of Light forced that link wide open?”
…Dragons held a low view of Man in those days. Man was growing arrogant, too absorbed to care for anyone but himself.
Arc digested Bahamut’s words.
“I’m sorry.” Arc said quietly.
Do not be. Man has paid the price for his arrogance, even if some are still foolish enough to repeat those mistakes.
“I guess that’s true.” Arc scratched the back of his head. “But that still doesn’t answer my question. Why did you choose to talk to me?”
In his mind, Arc heard another chuckle.
Why indeed. I felt something when saw your group approach the summit. Perhaps that was the nostalgia of that era when Dragons and Man could live in peace, or perhaps it was the light within you. Perhaps we met in a previous life. What exactly it was, I could not say. But I was drawn to you nevertheless.
“A previous life?” Arc thought to himself. Was it possible? Arc had thought that all souls joined with the Great Spirit, based on what the Ancients, Doga and Unei said. Unless there were exceptions.
A nd he and his friends were the Warriors of Light...
Arc chose to disregard all of that for now. He nodded to Bahamut and the dragon spirited him away once more.
Arc dropped lightly onto the cliffside of Dragon’s Peak. He looked back at the retreating dragon king. As he watched Bahamut fly off, the voice spoke in his mind one last time.
You have a kind heart, Warrior of Light. Never lose sight of it.
Arc smiled. He may not know exactly why Bahamut decided to chose him but, for now, he didn’t really need to.
“Hey! Arc!”
Arc looked in the direction of the shouts. Luneth was running towards him.
“You went up to Dragon’s Peak by yourself?” Luneth asked once he reached Arc.
Arc shrugged.
“Yeah. I wanted to see Bahamut.” Arc replied casually. Luneth looked at Arc before breaking out into a fit of laughter. “W-what?”
“The old you would’ve never set foot outside of the village without somebody with you. Now, you’re going up Dragon’s Peak by youself to chat it up with Bahamut!”
Luneth continued to laugh. Arc initially did not know how to feel about his brother’s words. As he thought about it, however, he realized that Luneth had a point, even if he could have made it tactfully. Arc had been told numerous times that he grew throughout their adventures, but this may be the first time he well and truly believed it.
“Well, that was the old me. That was before I grew.” Arc said simply.
“Yeah. Shame you’re still short though.”
Arc pouted and gave Luneth a half-joking punch.