Chapter 4
The Dragon of the Imperial Palace (1)
“If you are satisfied, please finish up your business.”
“Of course. Before that, I’d like to talk for a moment.”
“I’m busy.”
“It’s important.”
The Emperor’s voice dropped sharply. Realizing he wasn’t joking, Ethan handed Bel over to Aspe.
“Wait outside.”
He then heartlessly pushed them out the door.
“Good grief. Guess we have no choice.”
Suddenly ousted from the reception room, Aspe adjusted his hold on Bel.
“Let’s go take a look around for a bit, little princess.”
Bel glanced up at Aspe’s face as he spoke to her. The mist covering his face had grown even thicker than before.
[Something is continuously polluting the Imperial Palace’s ether.]
“Oung.”
Quickly shoving the last piece of bread into her mouth, Bel lightly tugged on Aspe’s collar.
“Nom, nom.”
“Huh? Bread? There’s no more left.”
“Eeing.”
Disappointed by Aspe’s reply, Bel’s shoulders slumped.
After thinking for a moment, he started walking toward the end of the hallway.
“Shall we go to the kitchen and get something to eat?”
“Oung.”
Nodding right away, Bel kicked her feet in excitement.
“Shall I put you down?”
“Oung.”
“Then let’s just hold hands.”
Aspe set Bel down on the floor, and the moment the soles of her shoes touched the hallway ground—
Grrrr-guk.
Along with a distinct growling sound, the ground beneath her feet vibrated faintly. At the overly strange sound, Bel’s shoulders flinched.
However, Aspe seemed accustomed to such situations.
“Oh my, did that surprise you?”
“Eureung!”
Bel pointed her finger down toward her feet. The sound definitely came from below. Furthermore, from the moment the sound was heard, a powerful energy was prickling at Bel’s senses.
[Yes, Baby Star.]
As the sharply edged energy grew stronger, the surrounding darkness deepened as well.
[Something is emitting intense ether.]
It was clearly the source of this black pollution. This wasn’t good.
Bel repeatedly tugged on Aspe’s hand.
“Eureung!”
‘Someone growled from underneath!’
Failing to understand Bel’s words, Aspe tried to soothe the child.
“It’s alright. The building won’t collapse.”
Grrrrr-guk.
Mocking his reassuring words, another cry rang out. It was louder and clearer than before…
“…Ayah.”
It was a cry of anguish. The owner of the polluted ether was crying out for help.
It was in pain. It was suffering so acutely that even Bel’s heart grew anxious.
“Berdi!”
“Berdi? What’s that?”
[Do you want to check what’s emitting the ether?]
“Oung!”
[Alright, let’s go.]
Nodding courageously, Bel let go of Aspe’s hand.
“Huh? Where are you going by yourself?”
Aspe tried to chase after Bel, who let go of his hand and sprinted off on her own.
[Don’t follow, human.]
The spirit’s finger gently waved in the air. As it did, the soles of Aspe’s feet stuck firmly to the hallway floor.
“What’s going on? Argh!”
Utterly bewildered, he flailed his arms, lost his balance, and fell flat on his bottom. Yet the soles of his feet remained glued to the ground.
“Damn it! Is anyone there?”
Just in time, patrolling guards witnessed the situation and came running. The spirit waved its hand at the guards trying to grab Bel as well.
“Argh!”
“What are you doing, you idiot… Argh!”
This time, their shoulders stuck together, and they tumbled to the floor in a tangled heap.
[I didn’t mean to knock you over. My apologies, humans.]
Frowning at the sight of them rolling noisily on the floor, the spirit gave a formal, perfunctory apology. Meanwhile, Bel calmly passed right by them.
[It seems other humans will bother you again, so I shall assist you, Baby Star.]
A pink mist gathered beneath Bel’s feet as she ran hard. The mist soon formed a thin, bubble-like barrier, enclosing the child’s body.
“Kyaaa!”
Bel’s body floated up smoothly. Thrilled by the unfamiliar sensation of floating, Bel let out a small squeal.
“Jjeo!”
Bel pointed in the direction where she felt the sharp, stinging energy most strongly. As the spirit moved the child in that direction, a staircase leading underground appeared.
The polluted ether was leaking from behind a door situated beneath those stairs.
Grrrk.
[…It’s in pain.]
The crying sound came from inside there as well. Bel urged the spirit.
“Ayah! Ppanni!” (Ouch! Quickly!)
[Baby Star, will you really be alright? The pollution is quite strong.]
“Oung!”
Bel’s solemn determination did not fade in the slightest. On the contrary, her mind was filled with the sole thought that she had to help quickly.
[I’d rather…]
“Eureung!”
Gliding smoothly down the stairs, Bel reached out and grabbed the doorknob.
Click.
The moment Bel’s hand touched it, the tightly locked bolt slid open smoothly, and nothing could stop the child.
Landing on the ground, Bel stepped into the dark room without hesitation.
The door closed behind Bel with a heavy thud, and a quiet stillness settled over the room.
“Ayah?”
Grrrr-guk.
At that moment, two blue dots flashed in the dark room, and in an instant, flames burst forth.
“Euk!”
Surprised by the sudden gust of wind, Bel squeezed her eyes shut. Blotchy blue flames filled the room like a turbulent wave, then gathered into a giant vortex surrounding Bel.
Right before the polluted ether could swallow the child—
[Baby Star!]
The spirit rushed to Bel’s side and stood in front of her.
[Owner of this wicked ether, reveal yourself!]
The spirit’s enraged voice echoed with majesty. Its wavy, pale-pink hair rose upward, and its iris-less, stark white eyes emitted a strange light. Its long, slender fingers were hard at work trying to alter the flow of the raging ether.
[I am Verdia of the Zodiac. A spirit who guards the silver star and abundance!]
Behind it, Bel’s introduction followed.
“Ai Byeo! Dou!”
‘I’m Baby Star! I came to help you!’
Within the fierce whirlpool’s current, Bel took another step forward. As she did, the raging flow of ether scattered away like mist.
Bel’s purple eyes were glowing stark white.
The ether, which had been surging unstable with wicked energy, slowly calmed down. Soon, a tranquil peace like that of a calm lake descended.
[…You were alive.]
A low, subdued voice like that of a wounded beast could be heard.
Bel approached the direction of the voice. Slowly blinking blue eyes quietly stared at the child walking toward it.
[Finally, I feel a bit comfortable.]
The owner of the voice let out a sigh.
[My head has cleared.]
It lit the lamp hanging on the wall for Bel. A blue flame lit up on the candle wick, and under the flickering light, its form was finally revealed.
Scales that had lost their original silver sheen and turned blotchy, a massive body curled up tightly, sharp claws, and protruding fangs.
[There was a surviving dragon.]
[I am surprised as well, friend. I thought the Star Clan had been completely wiped out.]
Glancing at the spirit, the dragon lay flat on the floor.
Bel quietly looked at the dragon resting its chin weakly on its arm, then slowly walked up to it. She placed her hand on a claw larger than her entire body.
“Ayah, ani.” (Don’t be hurt.)
Hooo-oo.
When Bel blew her warm breath onto the massive claw, the dragon let out a faint smile.
[This child is hardly more than a newborn.]
[This child is Berta. The last bloodline of the great Astega.]
[What a relief.]
Looking at Bel with warm eyes, the dragon slowly blinked.
[And what a misfortune.]
[What is your name?]
When asked, the dragon closed its eyes and turned its head away instead of answering.
[Star. You had better take your guardian and leave this place. I do not know when I might go wild again.]
Though it gently issued a dismissal, Bel did not back down.
“Ayah.” (It hurts. I’ll help you.)
Resonating with Bel’s will, the spirit asked on the child’s behalf.
[Why are you trapped here?]
[It is my own choice. I was polluted by ‘them.’ My life is only sustained because I cannot die, so please leave now.]
[Baby Star wants to help you. You must know well, don’t you? That this child possesses the power to help you.]
Bel nodded her head and proudly puffed out her chubby belly.
“Oum!”
It was an expression of confidence meaning, ‘Yeah! Just trust me!’
However, the dragon stubbornly refused their help all the same.
[I have lived too long. I merely wish for rest.]
Its downcast eyes were dark and sunken. It looked terribly exhausted.
[If it is this child, she could purify the polluted ether. But what comes after that?]
The dragon recognized it instantly: the fact that Bel had never properly used her power until now.
