SYSTEM ASCENSION

After a child is born in black empire, the child is usually named on the third day. It was supposed to be a simple event, but due to the status of the child as a marked one, it was much bigger than the students had expected.

Kings and lords from other areas of the world came over, making it one of the biggest events held in the history of the black empire.

Drums beat.

Harps played.

Food was served.

Elias didn’t fancy all this. Instead, he slipped away from the venue, and wandered off into the mountains.

He wasn’t alone though. Mona, for unknown reason, had been clinging unto him since dawn. He didn’t really react to it. It was like he didn’t even notice. Afterall, clinging to yourself was pretty normal to him.

They continued together on the death trek, using the whole day to walk. No one said a word.

At last, deep inside the mountain, where light couldn’t touch, they stopped.

It was a cave, just like any other cave in black empire. Therefore, it was usual to wander all the way here. Elias in particular wouldn’t bother, if he didn’t see the traces of life inside the cave.

As they walked in, they passed through a barrier, and surprisingly, the cave was lit with blue candles at every interval. It was unusually long too. The interior and exterior didn’t fit each other.

”This is father’s world.” Mona said what both of them were thinking.

They continued in, until it began opening into a dim lit room. Mona immediately stopped and swivelled towards the direction they came from.

He began leaving.

”Where are you going?” Elias didn’t look at him.

”Hunting.” Mona scoffed. ”I’m starving.”

Elias continued forward alone, until he came out inside the room.

It was fairly large. About twenty feet, circular and closed in. At the very middle, sat an altar. It was covered in vines and dust, so thick no one could make out what was wrapped on the altar.

Elias stopped right before it. He conjured a dagger and began to cut the veins. One by one, each wrap came off, revealing what was beneath.

After unveiling what was inside, he took a single step back.

It was a boy. Asleep in such an absurd location.

Short dark hair, fine attire untouched by age. It was like the slumber had only started an hour ago. Elias touched the boy’s neck, checking for any signs of life.

He was very much alive. In fact, his heart started beating faster after Elias touched him. Almost like his body was aware of another presence.

Elias reached forward, scooping his hand beneath the boy’s leg and neck, lifting him without much effort. He turned around and walked out afterwards.

He exited the cave, and found Mona sitting before the cave in its dragon form, chewing on a bird it had snagged from the air.

”Mona can you—”

”Gggrrrrhhhhh!” Mona growled and turned around, clearly not planning on sharing the bird.

”Give us a ride.” Elias completed. He sighed and looked down at the boy.

He noticed the sealing stone around the boy’s wrist.

”Mona, let’s go.”

The dragon didn’t answer. He deliberately ignored Elias’s words.

Elias began to walk away. The sun had already set. Instead of heading back to the palace, he went to the inn closest to the cave.

The requirement was to show the tattoo on his body. He pulled up his sleeve and showed it. He was instantly recognised as a royal. When the boy was checked, Elias realised that he was also a royal.

He paid for a room with a single bed and laid the child on it. Then he sat down, folded his legs and shut his eyes.

Minutes turned into hours. He sat still.

Mona quietly landed on the window and stepped in, turning back into his human form. He went straight to the bed and slept beside the boy.

***

Elias sat till the next morning, and was only pulled out of mediation by a startled scream.

He squinted his eyes and opened them. Then, he turned his gaze to the source of the noise.

The boy had scrambled out of bed, backing against the door and staring at him with a wary expression.

Mona grunt. ”You didn’t have to scream like that, you damn brat.”

The boy looked between both of them, dark eyes narrowing. Mona still expressed displeasure with his scream and Elias who just gave him a death stare.

”Who...are you both?” His voice came out croaked. He coughed slightly. ”Where...am I?”

Elias unfold his legs and stood up. The boy flinched after seeing the height. He was at least half of Elias’s size.

”Where is this place?”

Elias ignored the questions and turned. ”Mona, let’s leave.”

The dragon released another grunt. He threw his legs on the ground and stood up, yawning loud.

Elias led the way, walking towards the door. The boy scurried out of the way and let him pass. Then he watched Mona follow behind.

”Wa...wait!” He ran after them.

They checked out of the inn, the workers wondering where Mona came from. And finally, out into the fresh morning.

While Elias and Mona walk casually, the boy was constantly glancing around, getting amazed over street snacks, gasping at a fountain of water. The aircraft terrified him so hard he dove under a woman’s skirt. The bridges frightened him that he couldn’t move.

At last, Mona had to transform and gave them a ride. He let Elias sit down on him, while he carried the boy by teeth, by his collar, leaving him to dangle and plead.

They finally arrived at the palace.

There was quite a crowd.

Sienna happened to be present, talking to the leading family. Then Jordan, the student council and some of the other students. A coincidence had brought them on the same path.

Mona’s wings flapped, blowing away half the people in the courtyard before landing.

He tossed the boy, then carefully cower to let Elias come down. Then he shifted back into his human form in their eyes.

A few of them were amazed at how he shifted. They soon realised that he wasn’t wearing clothes. He just modified his skin to create its own clothes.

”You’re amazing.” A random student commented.

Mona just walked away like they didn’t exist.

”You have been gone since yesterday, Elias.” Sienna moved closer and wiped dust from his brows. ”Are you trying to leave home again?”

”That darn beast!” The boy groaned, finally recovering from the shock of the fall.

He struggled to his feet and wiped his clothes. ”No manners! Urgh!”

They all stared at him.

He was looking oddly familiar to all of them present.

Jordan tilted his head.

”You.”

The boy glanced at him. ”Huh?”

”Who are you?”

The boy frowned. He straightened instinctively and his voice lowered. ”Muon. Muon Morail.”