Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty Two
We went down, down, down.
A luminous strip illuminates the road ahead all the way.Mosiah must have expended more life force to illuminate us, but it was unnecessary.
"You'll find a torch, a tinderbox, and flint in a little recess at the entrance of the tunnel," Saryon told us. "That's what I left behind. I thought maybe I'd come back someday."
"Tools of the Dark Craft." Mosiah smiled, as if recalling Simharon's time when tinderboxes and flints were banned.This "tool" brings life to dead things.
Sheila walked ahead of Saryon, holding a torch.I stayed with Alisa, and our hands were held together.From this point on, our lives may get better or worse.Maybe, we will die soon.But the identity of the queen or the saint of the family catalyst is no longer relevant to us.We love each other, a love that took root when we were children and has grown as strong as an oak tree.Maybe the tree will be felled, but its roots will never be uprooted.
Mosiah was last.The crow has left us, and it will not approach the night dragon again.
The road cuts through the rock and descends rapidly in a spiral.The ground is flat and easy to walk on, almost too easy.It seems to be urging us down, and we have already felt the menacing atmosphere here.
"It's definitely not natural," Mosiah said.
"Not natural," agreed Saryon, "I thought so when I first found it."
Mosiah stopped in his tracks. "You knew this, but you went on anyway, Father? Did you know that there might be griffins or dark wanderers at the bottom of this cave? Please forgive me, Father, but you should tell us how you found it in the first place." this cave, and then we can go on.”
"We shouldn't be doing this!" Alisa was very angry. "This is the last time you insult Father Saryon..."
"No, boy," said Saryon, looking around, finding a raised rock, and sitting on it. "Mosiah is right, daughter." He smiled and looked at Alisa, "don't tell me you're not curious about the dragon's lair below. I can take this opportunity to take a break too. But we can't stay too long , must arrive at the dragon's lair before dark. It will wake up at night."
"May we succeed," said Mosiah.
What I will record below is the story told by Father Saryon.
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Simkin hadn't tricked the magician Manju into letting him go to Earth.I think, that way, everything could be completely different.If Sim Jin was here, I'm sure he might be able to save Joram's life.Emperor Jarod disagrees with me, and I must admit, I can understand him.There was no doubt that Simkin had set Joram in an ambush.It was Simkin who suggested to Joram that he should go to the Necropolis and find a way to rescue your poor mother there.And the executioner was there waiting for him, and killed him. I will never forget that horrible day. At Joram's request, I went to the church with Gwen and Joram, although I was afraid of that horrible place.Joram was desperate to get there.It seems that Gwendelyn is getting more and more alienated from us every day. She only talks to those who have died, but she doesn't care about the living, not even her husband, who she once loved deeply.Her parents fell ill from mourning.That's when Simkin told us the silly story - he had a little brother who had been healed by death.Joram grasped at once for the story as a drowning man grasps for a splinter of wood. I tried my best to persuade him, but he would not listen to me.Simkin told us to reach that sanctuary at noon, when its power would be at its peak.The emperor believed that Sim Jin knew that the executioner would be there waiting for Joram.But I don't think so, I think Sim Jin just wants Joram to leave so he can go to Earth disguised as Joram.And he did. Now I don't think it matters.Anyway, your father and I went to church.But I stayed outside with Gwen.The sound of death made Ge Wen feel extremely painful.Joram stood by the altar.I heard four distinct, piercing pops, one right after the other. I was frozen with fear, not knowing what terrible fate those terrible sounds foretell. The crackling stopped.At first, I didn't see anything unusual.So I wanted to take Gwen into the sanctuary, where she would be safe.Then I saw Joram limp on the altar. He pressed his hands to his chest, and blood gushed from between his fingers. I ran over and picked him up and put him on the ground.I don't know what happened to him.Later, I heard that he was killed by a vicious dark craft implement, a weapon called a "gun". All I knew then was that he was dying and there was nothing I could do but hold him. "The Dark Sword..." he said to me, gasping in pain. "Take it, Father... hide it... don't let them find it. My child!" He took my hand with the last of his strength.I know he longs to live a little longer, so he can tell me the details, "If my child needs... you must give him the sword..." I didn't know that Ge Wen was pregnant at this time.Joram knew that this was one of the reasons why he couldn't wait to find a way to help her. "Yes, Joram!" I promised him with tears in my eyes. He looked past me and behind me.He was looking at Ge Wen who was walking in front of him. "Here I am," he said to her, and then he closed his eyes and joined the dead. Ge Wen stretched out her hand, not to Qiao Lang's body, but to his soul. "My love. I've been waiting for you for a long, long time." What happened after that, you already know.The armies of the sorcerer Manju attacked Simharon.Our army was defeated and completely destroyed.If Manju had his way, he would kill us all.But General Polis protected us. Manju did not insist on destroying us.He got what he wanted, and he sealed the Well of Life so that no magic could flow into Simharon.Stripped of their magic, the Simharun fell into deathly agony, and many committed suicide.It was a terrible time. Fortunately, Emperor Jarod had just succeeded to the throne of Saraken at that time due to his father's death.He quickly took control of the situation, and brought in the Witchcrafters - those who practiced the dark crafts, to teach us how to use tools to do things we used to do with magic.Gradually, over the years, we rebuilt the city.But those buildings are rough and simple compared with their predecessors. But these are not what I want to say.Joram is dead.And I shoulder two responsibilities, or three.Dark Sword, Gwen and her unborn child.Whoever killed Joram must still be in the sept.In fact, I could already see the executioner coming towards us. He's a mighty duke.I was already feeling hopeless, but suddenly, he backed away almost all the way to the edge of the cliff.I see him fighting, but I cannot see his enemy! That's when I knew—the dead had given us a chance to escape. I picked up the Dark Sword and grabbed Gwen's hand.She followed me obediently and escaped from that place of mourning.Later, when the Emperor sent to retrieve Joram's body, he was found lying in the Necropolis.The hands of the dead tended to him, to the man who had been dead in his lifetime. After that, as you can imagine, all of Simharem was in turmoil.Maybe some people will think that the situation is extremely bad, but this is in my favor.No one cares about a middle-aged catalyst saint and a young woman who is supposed to be my daughter.My first thought was to go to the Holy Mountain.I don't know why, maybe it's the hometown I've been away for a long time.Once there, I realized my mistake.That place was full of various riots, and many people knew me and my relationship with Joram.For the sake of safety, I had to take Ge Wen to find a place that was very strange to us. When I was still in the holy mountain, I met a little boy about five years old.People say he was an orphan, his parents were Catalyst Saints, and both died in Manju's first attack.The boy was mute and couldn't speak, but I don't know if it was because he was stimulated by seeing his parents killed, or if it was just in him. I looked at this quiet boy and saw the same emptiness, sadness and loss in his eyes that I had.I took him with me and named him Reuven. We started our journey.I chose to resettle in Jessair, and while I've heard the city has been badly damaged in the war, I'm sure no one there will know us. The enchanted walls guarding that city are gone.Almost all the animals in the big zoo escaped into the wild and regained their wildness.The inhabitants here are dazed and confused, full of doubts about everything.All the towering buildings were destroyed, but there were many deep and wide tunnels in Jessair, and those who survived migrated underground. We found shelter in a small cave in a tunnel.Gwen, Reuven, and I live here on the food our conquerors provide us. Ge Wen never returned to the world of the living.She was happy to be with the dead because Joram was finally back with her.She died with the birth of their child.That baby was left with Reuven and me.I named her Alisa. But I kept my promise. I always carry the Dark Sword with me.Every day from sunrise, I am afraid that someone will find me and find this sword.I heard that the magician Manju is searching for the Dark Sword.Fearing that he would get the sword, I decided to hide the Dark Sword somewhere where it would never be found. I begged Emin for guidance.That night, I dreamed that I was walking in a big zoo.The next morning, I wrapped the Dark Sword in a blanket and took it into the zoo.Maybe you will say that it is dangerous and reckless to do so.While many of the animals in the great zoo have escaped, some are sure to stay.I might meet a beast, or something worse. But I think it's Emin's guide.Though my faith in Him had been shaken in Joram's days before his death, I saw Joram find rest and peace in death--something he never had in life.So I can only believe that the result of everything is the best. I wandered aimlessly through the woods, looking, though I didn't know what to find.Finally, I came to this path and saw this cave. I saw something else - a black dragon. The dragon lay outside the hole.My first thought was that it was basking in the sun.It spread out its whole body, resting its head on a stone, completely bathed in sunlight. Like Mosiah said, I'm not much of an adventurer.When I saw the dragon, I immediately wanted to run away.But when I turned around, I accidentally fell to the ground and dropped the Dark Sword.It landed on the rocks on the river bank with a crash that even the dead in my little house could hear. I froze in place, waiting in horror for the dragon to raise its head and attack me. But the dragon didn't move at all. Of course, you're all laughing at me, because you know a black dragon, the Night Dragon, never sunbathes.They hate sunlight, which blinds their eyes and makes them lose their minds in excruciating pain. Finally, I remembered something I should have known too.The night dragon may be unconscious, or dead. I approached the dragon carefully, and then I saw its chest rise and fall with its breath.It's not dead. That's when I knew why Emin asked me to come here.The charm point on the forehead of a sleepy night dragon is easy to control, and it is the best guard of the Dark Sword, and the dragon's lair is an ideal place to hide the Dark Sword. I don't have much time.As I told you, I have always been afraid of being attacked by various forces.Worrying like this gave me courage, otherwise I wouldn't believe I was capable of doing something like this. I've never seen a dragon up close.The monster was huge, beautiful, and awesome.It's so dark, it's like a black space cut from the sunlight.I saw the charm point on its head, it was an oval diamond, smooth and round without any facets.It is the only thing on the dragon that reflects the sunlight, other than that, the sunlight cannot touch any part of the dragon's body, neither its scales nor its leather wings. I hold out my hand.But I trembled so much that my palm accidentally touched the dragon's skin.The dragon's skin was dry and rough, already scorched by the sun.I jumped up as if I touched flames.Finally, my hand touched the diamond. A sense of strength and power filled me, and I knew that I could defeat any enemy.You're going to laugh at me again, but let me tell you, I've never felt like this.I was so confident, so strong, it seemed like I could rebuild Jessair by myself, not one brick less. (Yes, we're using bricks, the products of those dark crafts.) Charming the dragon to bend it to my will seemed like a trivial matter.A child can do it too.Powerful magical words flashed in my mind, and I spoke them aloud. The dragon didn't move, nothing happened. My strength and confidence started to wane. I pulled my hand back, noticing that it was all liquid—blood. certainly!Because of this, this dragon fell in the sun!It was injured, and it crawled out of the hole at night, perhaps wanting to drink from the river, but the cave collapsed, leaving it in the sun. Did the charm work?Will it work on an unconscious dragon?I told myself that it must work, that even sleeping beasts can be charmed. But there's another damn thought in my mind - Charm can control a sleeping dragon, but it can't stop sunlight from killing it.Judging from the present situation, the dragon may be dying. A sane person, or someone with less urgency, would just walk away.But I couldn't find such a suitable guard and such an ideal hiding place again; and it was Emin who guided me here.I sat down and waited, at least until sunset.Even if the charm doesn't work, I have a chance to escape from the wounded dragon's claws.I sat on a rock not far from the dragon and waited for the night to fall. This waiting time gave me a golden opportunity to study dragons.I found myself filled with admiration for this beautiful and magnificent creature, and at the same time deeply saddened that it was born to be nothing more than a killing machine.Night dragons hate all creatures by nature, even their own kind.They were sterile, and when the last of these giants died, their race became extinct. Perhaps, you will say this is a good thing.After all, Emin will make arrangements for us. I watched its steady and powerful breathing, and believed that it would not die. The night fell early in the forest, and when the shadows covered the night dragon's sunlight, the giant beast began to move.The huge body of the night dragon was still lying on the rock, but one side of the wing reached into the river.I heard the sound of waves lapping, and saw Yelong's shoulders start to shake slightly.Yelong sniffled and let out a breath.Its chin grazed the rock, then its head lifted, as if trying to move into deeper shadows. My heart beats in my throat.I want to escape.But I also saw hope at this time-the diamond on the dragon's head began to flicker dimly, which meant that the charm had worked. I hope and pray. I have been impatiently waiting for the night to fall during the day, and now I feel that the night is coming too fast.Darkness fell suddenly, and the dragon became one with the darkness, and I could see it no more. Now the diamond was very bright, and shed clusters of dazzling light, but it did not illuminate anything around it, and even the dragon that was joined to it remained absolutely dark.I can only see the diamond itself.And the diamond suddenly rose into the air. I knew that Yelong had fully woken up and raised his head. I stood up hastily, the Dark Sword was still on the ground beside me.I could use it as a defensive weapon, but I'm afraid that the Darksword's ability to dispel magic will nullify the dragon's charm.I can always pick it up if needed. Dragon turned his head.I could see the diamond moving, and I could hear the dragonclaw lifting its body from the rock.Its wings lifted and slapped heavily on the water. Dragons are looking for me.The sun's pressure on it had completely gone, and it opened its eyes. Those eyes were as pale and cold as the moon. I look away.Even if the beast is charmed, if you look into the eyes of a night dragon, you'll end up with a snarling lunatic. The dragon stood up on two hind legs and spread its bat-like wings. I was completely overwhelmed by the scene.Had I died on the spot, I too would have been content to see such an astonishing and miraculous sight. Thousands of extremely tiny white lights flashed on the black dragon wings, like a night sky full of stars.On the battlefield, when the night dragon leaps at the enemy from the sky, the white light on these black wings can not only disguise the appearance of the starry sky, but also a deadly weapon.As long as the night dragon flaps its wings, they will fall down like meteors, easily burning through the flesh and bones. Those white lights were shining in front of my eyes, but they didn't fall on me.The charm worked.I began to praise Emin excitedly. Those moon-white eyes stared at me, covering my whole body in white light.I still dare not look into those eyes. "You are the master." The dragon spoke.Hate made its voice tremble constantly. "Yes," I said, trying my best to look imposing. "I am the master." "I was forced to obey your orders." There was cold anger in the dragon's voice. "What do you want me to do?" "I have something here," I picked up the dark sword very carefully.I must control the fear in my heart, or the sword must sense that I am threatened, and it will break the charm dragon's magic. "I command you to take it into your lair and guard it. Thou shalt not give it to any but me and the heir of Joram." I raise the Dark Sword, and now it's Night Dragon's turn to be afraid.Its eyelids drooped, and its white eyes were covered.The dragon's wings trembled, and the white starlight on them went out.I cannot see the sword in the dark, but its ability to dispel magic must have shuddered the magical creature as much as daylight. "Wrap it! Cover it!" Yelong roared angrily and in pain. I hastily wrapped the Dark Sword in a blanket. After the sword was wrapped tightly, Yelong opened his eyes again.Its hatred for me had apparently increased tenfold.It definitely doesn't make me feel comfortable. "I will guard the Dark Sword," said the night dragon, "I have no choice, because you are the master. But you must bring it into my lair yourself, bury it under the stone pile, and never let it come out." .I am hungry and I am going hunting. Have no fear. I will return and do as you bid. You are master." It spread its wings, jumped up from the rock, flew into the air, and immediately blended into the night, completely invisible. But now, my mood is lightened by hope.I walked into the cave with the Dark Sword, and went all the way to the bottom, where I saw scattered black scales and broken bones.This is the Dragon's Nest. I placed the Dark Sword on the floor of the lair, a place quite far from where the dragons rest.Then I buried the sword with stones, forming a large cairn. As soon as I finished this, Yelong came back.It entered the hole from behind and suddenly appeared in the nest.A male centaur hangs between its brutal teeth. Yelong looked at the stone mound, his eyes shot a pale and cold light. "Get out!" it ordered me.Then it reluctantly said: "Master." I happily obeyed its orders.The smell of blood gushing from its mouth made me sick.I yearn to return to a world with real starlight.When I reached the mouth of the cave, my strength was exhausted, and I couldn't take another step forward.So I just lay there until daybreak.Then I went back into the tunnel, left the flint, the tinderbox, and the torch, and went home. I've kept the Dark Sword as safe as possible, but I'm still constantly wondering if it's still there, if the dragon is still watching over it, and if the charm that binds the dragon is still in effect.Many times, I want to see it with my own eyes.But whenever this happens, I get a sense of peace in my heart - I don't have to look now. It was Emin who gave me confidence. So, since that day twenty years ago until now, I haven't been back.The Dark Sword has been left by me under the stone pile in the night dragon's lair. And now, I can no longer covet ease.That feeling of peace no longer exists in my heart, replaced by a kind of urgency, a kind of fear.I believe it was Emin's will that I retrieve the Dark Sword. The Dark Sword will be given to Joram's heir, Joram's daughter.
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Simkin hadn't tricked the magician Manju into letting him go to Earth.I think, that way, everything could be completely different.If Sim Jin was here, I'm sure he might be able to save Joram's life.Emperor Jarod disagrees with me, and I must admit, I can understand him.There was no doubt that Simkin had set Joram in an ambush.It was Simkin who suggested to Joram that he should go to the Necropolis and find a way to rescue your poor mother there.And the executioner was there waiting for him, and killed him. I will never forget that horrible day. At Joram's request, I went to the church with Gwen and Joram, although I was afraid of that horrible place.Joram was desperate to get there.It seems that Gwendelyn is getting more and more alienated from us every day. She only talks to those who have died, but she doesn't care about the living, not even her husband, who she once loved deeply.Her parents fell ill from mourning.That's when Simkin told us the silly story - he had a little brother who had been healed by death.Joram grasped at once for the story as a drowning man grasps for a splinter of wood. I tried my best to persuade him, but he would not listen to me.Simkin told us to reach that sanctuary at noon, when its power would be at its peak.The emperor believed that Sim Jin knew that the executioner would be there waiting for Joram.But I don't think so, I think Sim Jin just wants Joram to leave so he can go to Earth disguised as Joram.And he did. Now I don't think it matters.Anyway, your father and I went to church.But I stayed outside with Gwen.The sound of death made Ge Wen feel extremely painful.Joram stood by the altar.I heard four distinct, piercing pops, one right after the other. I was frozen with fear, not knowing what terrible fate those terrible sounds foretell. The crackling stopped.At first, I didn't see anything unusual.So I wanted to take Gwen into the sanctuary, where she would be safe.Then I saw Joram limp on the altar. He pressed his hands to his chest, and blood gushed from between his fingers. I ran over and picked him up and put him on the ground.I don't know what happened to him.Later, I heard that he was killed by a vicious dark craft implement, a weapon called a "gun". All I knew then was that he was dying and there was nothing I could do but hold him. "The Dark Sword..." he said to me, gasping in pain. "Take it, Father... hide it... don't let them find it. My child!" He took my hand with the last of his strength.I know he longs to live a little longer, so he can tell me the details, "If my child needs... you must give him the sword..." I didn't know that Ge Wen was pregnant at this time.Joram knew that this was one of the reasons why he couldn't wait to find a way to help her. "Yes, Joram!" I promised him with tears in my eyes. He looked past me and behind me.He was looking at Ge Wen who was walking in front of him. "Here I am," he said to her, and then he closed his eyes and joined the dead. Ge Wen stretched out her hand, not to Qiao Lang's body, but to his soul. "My love. I've been waiting for you for a long, long time." What happened after that, you already know.The armies of the sorcerer Manju attacked Simharon.Our army was defeated and completely destroyed.If Manju had his way, he would kill us all.But General Polis protected us. Manju did not insist on destroying us.He got what he wanted, and he sealed the Well of Life so that no magic could flow into Simharon.Stripped of their magic, the Simharun fell into deathly agony, and many committed suicide.It was a terrible time. Fortunately, Emperor Jarod had just succeeded to the throne of Saraken at that time due to his father's death.He quickly took control of the situation, and brought in the Witchcrafters - those who practiced the dark crafts, to teach us how to use tools to do things we used to do with magic.Gradually, over the years, we rebuilt the city.But those buildings are rough and simple compared with their predecessors. But these are not what I want to say.Joram is dead.And I shoulder two responsibilities, or three.Dark Sword, Gwen and her unborn child.Whoever killed Joram must still be in the sept.In fact, I could already see the executioner coming towards us. He's a mighty duke.I was already feeling hopeless, but suddenly, he backed away almost all the way to the edge of the cliff.I see him fighting, but I cannot see his enemy! That's when I knew—the dead had given us a chance to escape. I picked up the Dark Sword and grabbed Gwen's hand.She followed me obediently and escaped from that place of mourning.Later, when the Emperor sent to retrieve Joram's body, he was found lying in the Necropolis.The hands of the dead tended to him, to the man who had been dead in his lifetime. After that, as you can imagine, all of Simharem was in turmoil.Maybe some people will think that the situation is extremely bad, but this is in my favor.No one cares about a middle-aged catalyst saint and a young woman who is supposed to be my daughter.My first thought was to go to the Holy Mountain.I don't know why, maybe it's the hometown I've been away for a long time.Once there, I realized my mistake.That place was full of various riots, and many people knew me and my relationship with Joram.For the sake of safety, I had to take Ge Wen to find a place that was very strange to us. When I was still in the holy mountain, I met a little boy about five years old.People say he was an orphan, his parents were Catalyst Saints, and both died in Manju's first attack.The boy was mute and couldn't speak, but I don't know if it was because he was stimulated by seeing his parents killed, or if it was just in him. I looked at this quiet boy and saw the same emptiness, sadness and loss in his eyes that I had.I took him with me and named him Reuven. We started our journey.I chose to resettle in Jessair, and while I've heard the city has been badly damaged in the war, I'm sure no one there will know us. The enchanted walls guarding that city are gone.Almost all the animals in the big zoo escaped into the wild and regained their wildness.The inhabitants here are dazed and confused, full of doubts about everything.All the towering buildings were destroyed, but there were many deep and wide tunnels in Jessair, and those who survived migrated underground. We found shelter in a small cave in a tunnel.Gwen, Reuven, and I live here on the food our conquerors provide us. Ge Wen never returned to the world of the living.She was happy to be with the dead because Joram was finally back with her.She died with the birth of their child.That baby was left with Reuven and me.I named her Alisa. But I kept my promise. I always carry the Dark Sword with me.Every day from sunrise, I am afraid that someone will find me and find this sword.I heard that the magician Manju is searching for the Dark Sword.Fearing that he would get the sword, I decided to hide the Dark Sword somewhere where it would never be found. I begged Emin for guidance.That night, I dreamed that I was walking in a big zoo.The next morning, I wrapped the Dark Sword in a blanket and took it into the zoo.Maybe you will say that it is dangerous and reckless to do so.While many of the animals in the great zoo have escaped, some are sure to stay.I might meet a beast, or something worse. But I think it's Emin's guide.Though my faith in Him had been shaken in Joram's days before his death, I saw Joram find rest and peace in death--something he never had in life.So I can only believe that the result of everything is the best. I wandered aimlessly through the woods, looking, though I didn't know what to find.Finally, I came to this path and saw this cave. I saw something else - a black dragon. The dragon lay outside the hole.My first thought was that it was basking in the sun.It spread out its whole body, resting its head on a stone, completely bathed in sunlight. Like Mosiah said, I'm not much of an adventurer.When I saw the dragon, I immediately wanted to run away.But when I turned around, I accidentally fell to the ground and dropped the Dark Sword.It landed on the rocks on the river bank with a crash that even the dead in my little house could hear. I froze in place, waiting in horror for the dragon to raise its head and attack me. But the dragon didn't move at all. Of course, you're all laughing at me, because you know a black dragon, the Night Dragon, never sunbathes.They hate sunlight, which blinds their eyes and makes them lose their minds in excruciating pain. Finally, I remembered something I should have known too.The night dragon may be unconscious, or dead. I approached the dragon carefully, and then I saw its chest rise and fall with its breath.It's not dead. That's when I knew why Emin asked me to come here.The charm point on the forehead of a sleepy night dragon is easy to control, and it is the best guard of the Dark Sword, and the dragon's lair is an ideal place to hide the Dark Sword. I don't have much time.As I told you, I have always been afraid of being attacked by various forces.Worrying like this gave me courage, otherwise I wouldn't believe I was capable of doing something like this. I've never seen a dragon up close.The monster was huge, beautiful, and awesome.It's so dark, it's like a black space cut from the sunlight.I saw the charm point on its head, it was an oval diamond, smooth and round without any facets.It is the only thing on the dragon that reflects the sunlight, other than that, the sunlight cannot touch any part of the dragon's body, neither its scales nor its leather wings. I hold out my hand.But I trembled so much that my palm accidentally touched the dragon's skin.The dragon's skin was dry and rough, already scorched by the sun.I jumped up as if I touched flames.Finally, my hand touched the diamond. A sense of strength and power filled me, and I knew that I could defeat any enemy.You're going to laugh at me again, but let me tell you, I've never felt like this.I was so confident, so strong, it seemed like I could rebuild Jessair by myself, not one brick less. (Yes, we're using bricks, the products of those dark crafts.) Charming the dragon to bend it to my will seemed like a trivial matter.A child can do it too.Powerful magical words flashed in my mind, and I spoke them aloud. The dragon didn't move, nothing happened. My strength and confidence started to wane. I pulled my hand back, noticing that it was all liquid—blood. certainly!Because of this, this dragon fell in the sun!It was injured, and it crawled out of the hole at night, perhaps wanting to drink from the river, but the cave collapsed, leaving it in the sun. Did the charm work?Will it work on an unconscious dragon?I told myself that it must work, that even sleeping beasts can be charmed. But there's another damn thought in my mind - Charm can control a sleeping dragon, but it can't stop sunlight from killing it.Judging from the present situation, the dragon may be dying. A sane person, or someone with less urgency, would just walk away.But I couldn't find such a suitable guard and such an ideal hiding place again; and it was Emin who guided me here.I sat down and waited, at least until sunset.Even if the charm doesn't work, I have a chance to escape from the wounded dragon's claws.I sat on a rock not far from the dragon and waited for the night to fall. This waiting time gave me a golden opportunity to study dragons.I found myself filled with admiration for this beautiful and magnificent creature, and at the same time deeply saddened that it was born to be nothing more than a killing machine.Night dragons hate all creatures by nature, even their own kind.They were sterile, and when the last of these giants died, their race became extinct. Perhaps, you will say this is a good thing.After all, Emin will make arrangements for us. I watched its steady and powerful breathing, and believed that it would not die. The night fell early in the forest, and when the shadows covered the night dragon's sunlight, the giant beast began to move.The huge body of the night dragon was still lying on the rock, but one side of the wing reached into the river.I heard the sound of waves lapping, and saw Yelong's shoulders start to shake slightly.Yelong sniffled and let out a breath.Its chin grazed the rock, then its head lifted, as if trying to move into deeper shadows. My heart beats in my throat.I want to escape.But I also saw hope at this time-the diamond on the dragon's head began to flicker dimly, which meant that the charm had worked. I hope and pray. I have been impatiently waiting for the night to fall during the day, and now I feel that the night is coming too fast.Darkness fell suddenly, and the dragon became one with the darkness, and I could see it no more. Now the diamond was very bright, and shed clusters of dazzling light, but it did not illuminate anything around it, and even the dragon that was joined to it remained absolutely dark.I can only see the diamond itself.And the diamond suddenly rose into the air. I knew that Yelong had fully woken up and raised his head. I stood up hastily, the Dark Sword was still on the ground beside me.I could use it as a defensive weapon, but I'm afraid that the Darksword's ability to dispel magic will nullify the dragon's charm.I can always pick it up if needed. Dragon turned his head.I could see the diamond moving, and I could hear the dragonclaw lifting its body from the rock.Its wings lifted and slapped heavily on the water. Dragons are looking for me.The sun's pressure on it had completely gone, and it opened its eyes. Those eyes were as pale and cold as the moon. I look away.Even if the beast is charmed, if you look into the eyes of a night dragon, you'll end up with a snarling lunatic. The dragon stood up on two hind legs and spread its bat-like wings. I was completely overwhelmed by the scene.Had I died on the spot, I too would have been content to see such an astonishing and miraculous sight. Thousands of extremely tiny white lights flashed on the black dragon wings, like a night sky full of stars.On the battlefield, when the night dragon leaps at the enemy from the sky, the white light on these black wings can not only disguise the appearance of the starry sky, but also a deadly weapon.As long as the night dragon flaps its wings, they will fall down like meteors, easily burning through the flesh and bones. Those white lights were shining in front of my eyes, but they didn't fall on me.The charm worked.I began to praise Emin excitedly. Those moon-white eyes stared at me, covering my whole body in white light.I still dare not look into those eyes. "You are the master." The dragon spoke.Hate made its voice tremble constantly. "Yes," I said, trying my best to look imposing. "I am the master." "I was forced to obey your orders." There was cold anger in the dragon's voice. "What do you want me to do?" "I have something here," I picked up the dark sword very carefully.I must control the fear in my heart, or the sword must sense that I am threatened, and it will break the charm dragon's magic. "I command you to take it into your lair and guard it. Thou shalt not give it to any but me and the heir of Joram." I raise the Dark Sword, and now it's Night Dragon's turn to be afraid.Its eyelids drooped, and its white eyes were covered.The dragon's wings trembled, and the white starlight on them went out.I cannot see the sword in the dark, but its ability to dispel magic must have shuddered the magical creature as much as daylight. "Wrap it! Cover it!" Yelong roared angrily and in pain. I hastily wrapped the Dark Sword in a blanket. After the sword was wrapped tightly, Yelong opened his eyes again.Its hatred for me had apparently increased tenfold.It definitely doesn't make me feel comfortable. "I will guard the Dark Sword," said the night dragon, "I have no choice, because you are the master. But you must bring it into my lair yourself, bury it under the stone pile, and never let it come out." .I am hungry and I am going hunting. Have no fear. I will return and do as you bid. You are master." It spread its wings, jumped up from the rock, flew into the air, and immediately blended into the night, completely invisible. But now, my mood is lightened by hope.I walked into the cave with the Dark Sword, and went all the way to the bottom, where I saw scattered black scales and broken bones.This is the Dragon's Nest. I placed the Dark Sword on the floor of the lair, a place quite far from where the dragons rest.Then I buried the sword with stones, forming a large cairn. As soon as I finished this, Yelong came back.It entered the hole from behind and suddenly appeared in the nest.A male centaur hangs between its brutal teeth. Yelong looked at the stone mound, his eyes shot a pale and cold light. "Get out!" it ordered me.Then it reluctantly said: "Master." I happily obeyed its orders.The smell of blood gushing from its mouth made me sick.I yearn to return to a world with real starlight.When I reached the mouth of the cave, my strength was exhausted, and I couldn't take another step forward.So I just lay there until daybreak.Then I went back into the tunnel, left the flint, the tinderbox, and the torch, and went home. I've kept the Dark Sword as safe as possible, but I'm still constantly wondering if it's still there, if the dragon is still watching over it, and if the charm that binds the dragon is still in effect.Many times, I want to see it with my own eyes.But whenever this happens, I get a sense of peace in my heart - I don't have to look now. It was Emin who gave me confidence. So, since that day twenty years ago until now, I haven't been back.The Dark Sword has been left by me under the stone pile in the night dragon's lair. And now, I can no longer covet ease.That feeling of peace no longer exists in my heart, replaced by a kind of urgency, a kind of fear.I believe it was Emin's will that I retrieve the Dark Sword. The Dark Sword will be given to Joram's heir, Joram's daughter.