This time, a bunch of fragmented memories flooded Alister’s mind, different incomplete instances, but the few more important ones seemed to replay themselves at the front of his mind.
Fizzle
The memory suddenly flickered out with another appearing to take its place.
The sound of the sparking energy field surrounded the training grounds as the Overlord and black-and-white-haired Abyss-Void, Mar’Garet, stood facing each other. In his hand, the Overlord held a long, gleaming spear, its blade catching the light with each movement.
Mar’Garet, holding a similar spear, eyed the weapon with a touch of curiosity and confusion. “My lord… why are we training with these? You should know my clan has always only focused on combat with shorter weapons.”
The Overlord stood a distance away, looking relaxed yet with no openings. He met her gaze with a stern look on his face.
“It’s all for a purpose. You shouldn’t ask too many questions. Just focus on your training.”
Mar’Garet hesitated, her fingers tightening around the pole of the spear. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“Yes, my lord,” she said, suppressing her doubts. She shifted into a ready stance, mirroring the Overlord’s posture.
He observed her for a moment before giving a slight nod. “Good. Now, let’s begin.”
In that instant, they both charged at each other, their spears clashing in blinding lights. Fizzle
The Overlord stood in a massive treasury, the room filled with gleaming treasures and artifacts from countless conquests. Behind him, a golden sword shone with an almost ethereal light, embedded in the earth.
It was fRestriat.
He turned to Mar’ Garet, his expression serious. “Your next training will be to shatter the space around your spear. By memorizing the location of this sword, you will make it momentarily appear as if the edge of your spear is the edge of this sword.”
Mar’Garet’s eyes widened in shock. “M-my lord… I-I don’t think I can do that. The aura around that weapon is…”
“Hahahaha!”
The Overlord chuckled, a sound both warm and intimidating.
“I know you can,” he said confidently. “In fact, I will be leaving you here, and won’t be returning until you do.” He tapped her shoulder then began to leave.
She opened her mouth to say something, but he simply turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the vast treasury as he waved.
“Don’t disappoint me now.”
Fizzle
The next instance, a few decades later, the Overlord stood before her in the training grounds, his silver hair flowing in the wind, his yellow eyes fixed on her with an intense gaze. Behind
him, his generals watched from a distance.
“You said you have succeeded…”
“…so show me the fruit of your training.”
Mar’Garet nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “Understood,” she replied. She raised her spear, focusing her energy. “Shattering Space Law.” The red crest above her chest flared up.
The air around the edge of her spear began to warp and shimmer, and for a moment, a gleaming edge of tRestriat appeared.
The space around the spear seemed to distort, making it appear as though the sword’s edge was now part of her weapon.
The Overlord’s eyes widened with shock. He chuckled slightly then said, “Wielding a sword the overlords couldn’t, and without having to touch the blade. Fascinating…”
The Overlord’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He motioned for her to come closer, a satisfied smile on his face. “Well done, Mar’Garet!” he said, his voice filled with pride, a big smile on his face.
“I have to say, it seems you’ve surpassed my expectations.”
He smiled warmly, closing his eyes. “And so I’ve decided, you’ll become one of my generals. I need your talent by my side!”
For some reason, Mar’Garet’s heart was overcome with an emotion she was not used to, a sting of pride and something else. She bowed her head. “I’m glad to serve you, my lord. I’ll make sure I continue to surpass your expectations.” She smiled slightly.
“Oh? It seems you are honest for once. And that look on your face is good. You should smile more.”
“M-my lord, surely you jest, how could-”
Fizzle
The memory suddenly flickered again, another appearing to take its place.
Evening had settled in, casting a dim light over the realm the dragons called their home. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, seeming to approach slowly.
The Overlord stood in his draconic combat form, his white, black and golden scales glinting softly in the fading light.
His massive golden wings were spread behind him, creating a massive shadow. Beside him stood his remaining generals, all clad in the gleaming scales of their combat forms.
Mar’Garet stood before them, her heart racing with a touch of fear and anxiety.
The Overlord’s gaze fell upon her, his eyes filled with a touch of seriousness and concern.
“My lord… will you be returning?” Mar’Garet asked, her tone sounding edged.
“We have to go and push back the darkness.” the Overlord replied.
Mar’Garet tensed up, her hands clenching at her sides. “Why aren’t you allowing me to follow you?” she asked, sounding frustrated.
“I thought you said this is what you trained me for. This is the best chance I have to prove
myself, I—”
“You aren’t ready. I need you to keep getting stronger,” he said sharply, his tone left no room for argument.
“Following us into battle as you are now would simply be throwing your life away. All your
hard work would have been for nothing.”
“Do you want that?”
“Yes, it’s a general’s pride to die for their lord.” she said, but he remained silent.
Finally he spoke, “I stick to my decision, you will remain here, Mar’Garet.”
Mar’Garet’s face tightened, and she felt a surge of anger.
“My lord, you are breaking your promise,” her voice trembled slightly, sounding hurt.
“You said you wanted me by your side. You said you needed my talents-” “And I still do.” He cut her off, “I need you to protect our guard our home while I’m gone.” “The duty of protecting dragon kind is one of the greatest honors a general could even ask
for.”
Mar’Garet eased up slightly, though she still looked uncertain. “My lord… you didn’t answer my earlier question, will you be coming back?”
The Overlord let out a massive, hearty laugh that seemed to shake the very ground beneath
them.
“Where’s that smile I told you to always have on your face? Don’t tell me you’re disobeying
orders?”
“What a rebellious disciple you turned out to be. Are you forgetting who your lord is?” Mar’Garet felt a bit exasperated by his words. “My lord, please you should-”
“I am the strongest, I am the Overlord! I’ll definitely return victorious,” he said with a confident smile spreading across his draconic features.
His laughter and confidence seemed to dissolve some of the fear within her. She nodded, a
small smile on her lips.
“I will guard our people and your throne, my lord.”
“And be sure to smile while you do.”
“… Yes, I’ll make sure I do, my lord,” she reluctantly said, managing a small smile. “And I’ll
be waiting for your return.”
The Overlord gave her one last look. Then, with a powerful beat of his golden wings, he took
to the sky, his remaining generals following closely behind.
Fizzle
Another memory was about to reassimilate but then…
[Error! Notice to the player, the current memory is being suppressed by the ring of focus!]
[Memory reassimilation paused!]
And then, Alister fluttered his eyes open.