章 224: Sleeping Dragon.

1 year later.

It's been a couple months since Reima had finally stopped his aura destroying everything around him, it was a difficult journey that required almost constant meditation and control. He had found the solution going through many thousands of attempts via trial and error, he'd actually gotten the initial idea from a Korean novel that detailed internal energies... After many attempts to suppress it he'd ended up instead trying to direct it, through many experiments he had found that rotating the magic throughout his body in an infinity symbol pattern made it much easier to handle. After which he'd push the magic that hadn't acquired an attribute yet out through his breath. Of course this doesn't completely solve the problem as if anyone was able to detect magic he'd come up like a spotlight but It'll have to do for now.

After fixing his problem he was still incredibly wary of actually visiting his friends again, while he'd remained in contact with Solaire and surprisingly Quelaag he still doubted that he'd be able to keep control of his aura. He'd been using the breath method for a couple months now which made it second nature but high emotions still cause him to slip occasionally... What made it more bearable was the fact that Quelaag actually risked coming to visit him, with her extremely fire resistant body that was basically always on fire anyway she'd come to see him in Izalith. While it was apparent she despised the city itself it only made it all the more heart warming when she came.

Reima however wasn't idle during these couple months, he'd been preparing to leave this world relatively soon, were it not for his troubles with his aura he would have left by now. He'd slowly been gaining control over fire and his overwhelming amount of magic during the mean time, he'd finally been able to learn the rest of Seath's spells now that the books didn't burn away in his hands. Reima had also been experimenting with the Staff of Manus that is apparently soul bound to him, he had made the observation that it didn't increase his Mana costs due to his connection with it, after all he is basically the new own of the Dark Soul. He wasn't just experimenting with fire though, he'd tried to draw out the other energies that'd taken residence inside his soul, he'd been unable to even make them move, the black humanity denied every attempt and the death energy destroyed any prodding tendrils of his Mana. He didn't dare fiddle around with the Turquoise energy separating them from his main soul as that'd likely result in an apocalyptic explosion.

Anyway, that brings us to now. Solaire had invited Reima to visit an old friend that he'd not met in centuries. Confused and intrigued Reima agreed and they ended up passing by the entrance to the Chaos covenant and going through the illusionary walls inside of the Great Hollow. The giant tree stays true to it's name as it seems that the entire thing is completely and utterly hollow, is it a metaphor for the state of the world? Maybe? But such theological talk doesn't suit Reima at all. He doesn't forget to take the Chloranthy Ring and everything else hidden on the wayward platforms as they descend.

Eventually the duo reach Ash Lake, from afar it looks like a white sand breach with a thin path trailing through the middle of the like, once reached however they would find that the beach is made from ash instead. Reima suspects that the ash isn't from the First Flames Kiln, instead due to the connection the the Kiln in Izalith it's likely that the ash they now stand on is the incinerated remains of some of the residence of Izalith. They start walking forwards but are suddenly shot at with highly pressurised streams of water by a massive Hydra that leaps out of the water, over the beach and into the other side... The Reima stretches his hand out and the area in front of him glows, the water reaches it and immediately evaporates in a thick mist, covering the duo.

The Hydra looks at the area where it's foes had disappeared and approaches, this proved to be a mistake as a massive torrent of many lightning bolts shoot out of the mist, destroying four of it's nine heads.

Reima uses Aard to clear the mist as black tendrils escape from his shadow and form into a Gnarled staff topped with a vicious looking axe head. He raises it up and conjures a few large Crystal Soul Spears which launch at the remaining heads, they explode in a gloriously violent fashion and the Hydra subsequently fades away.

Solaire "I'm sure I'd killed the last one residing here..." he says scratches his stubble.

Reima shrugs, "You haven't been here for who knows how long, it's not impossible for there to be another one."

They keep moving and eventually walk into a large clearing, at the end of it rests a huge dragon with dark grey scales that seem reminiscent to stone.

Everlasting Dragon "Returned?" a low rumble echoes out.

Solaire bows down in respect, "Apologies for being so late... I didn't return as I had thought my niece had been executed" he almost shouts at the huge distant figure.

Everlasting Dragon "Lands spiralling, end draws near... Must sleep." it says as it slowly raises it's hand, Solaire feels something tug his neck, looking down he sees the shard of it's horn that he'd recieved so long ago is being drawn towards it... He unclips the chain and allows it to fly towards the dragon who looks at it briefly before handing it back. The stone seems unchanged except for the now glowing dragon visage imprinted in it.

...

Reima just looks at the dragon, "So, err... Can I chop your tail off?" he recieves a heavy slap from Solaire at his disrespect but is surprised when the dragon nods and slowly moves it's almost completely petrified tail over. It lays it on the ground before him and he doesn't miss the oppertunity, he slams the bladed head of his staff onto the tail, it gives out a sound akin to smashing stone and he immediately sees a handle... He picks it up and shakes the rubble off of it, revealing the Dragon Great Sword.

Reima "Thank you, Great One!" he says as he stores away the large sword, the dragon throat rumbles in acknowledgement.

Everlasting Dragon "Death draws near, fear, wish to sleep in peace..." it says as it lays down, seemingly to await for the apocalypse. An idea flashes in Reima's eyes before he discards it, like that'd ever happen!