Looking at the face of childish disgust strung across Indrani, Zahhak asks, "But it's so interesting."
"If you want something interesting, I can tell you a sto-."
"No, your stories are boring, I have heard them all."
In an instant, a sword of words slices the shah's heart into pieces, causing her to fall to her side, as she says, "Zaza thinks humans are more interesting than me? Those monkeys!!!! I WILL KILL THEM ALL!"
Garəbra slams her tail into her mother's forehead and says, "Stop being so overdramatic. You've yet to taste the despair I experience every day of my life."
Putting her face against Garəbra's cheek, Indrani says, "You understand the depths of my hatred better than anyone else, and yet you still say such nonsense, as if you know true suffering!"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME!"
The two start bashing their forehead against one another, causing Paouruazi to say, "It's tough being the only adult in this household, at least you're here to make things better, Zaza."
"SHUT UP!" They both yell at her.
Raising his tail in curiosity, Zahhak asks, "Why do you not like humans aunty?"
Sitting back down in her chair, she says, "Because they are liars and traitors who see themselves as far grander than they are. Those monkeys have not only betrayed lifetime covenants with us Dragons, but the hatred they wield against one another has even taken the lives of those of us on Aveasta. They're all scum, and I won't ever forget what has been lost due to them."
Zahhak's eyes scan the faces of the three woman around him, which depress as sad memories emerge from the crevices of their minds. Holding his head up high, Zahhak says, "Then why do you still let them live. You're a rather viole-, Strong person aunty, I am sure if you hated them that much you'd have killed them."
A bregruding smile awakens on her face, as she says, "Because my husband, the King of Enlightenment, loved them as much as he loved all of us."
All three of them, with happiness creeping up their faces, say in unison, "We are different and must all find our ways forward through the different lenses we view the world. It might seem scary and foolish through your lens, but the intelligence blessed onto us all was for this very reason."
"Are those Bhagavan's teachings?"
Paouruazi says, "My father did have a way with words. On some level, we are all sustained by the same world despite our differences, so we must all have a reason to be here. The idea that one day we might see eye to eye with our battles and come together as one is worth it, and as the head of Paramaism, it's my job to enlighten as many Dragons as possible, following in my father's footsteps to accomplish this."
"I am sure my husband would be happy with all you're doing, even though I disagree. Still, it's a pointless task."
"Don't be so depressing, mother. I am sure we will accomplish it one day, that's why I keep track of the other races' movements in the world and their religions, especially that of the humans and their Messiah."
Full of excitement, Zahhak says, "And what have you learned?"
"Well first, most of the other races have breeded with humans in one way or another, there are almost no pure members of the others races outside of Seraphs at this rate, this has lead to many funny things like the humans mixing the religion of the Messiah, with that of the god's of the other races, making it so that many of their holy texts are highly inaccurate.
I should also clarify population numbers and location. The lowest among the races at the Yugaku, who, to my knowledge, are extinct, but after connecting to the earth itself, I think I felt something similar to them at an island between Terrafide and Enotita. Next would be the Seers, who are scattered all around, only forming very small and temporary communities. This got worse in the last few centuries after there was a cleansing for them, but they mostly gather in Victoria and are still safe. After them, it would be the Nephilim, who are mostly stranded on some islands across Molstoria, separated from the rest of the world. Natural disasters have rapidly reduced their population, but they have recently made a bounce back. I swear I also felt some in another location down south of Terrafide, but I am not sure. Next would be Beastkin, who have made a rapid surge in their numbers in the last century. They live in their ancestral homeland in Victoria and have been spreading into the other continents, though due to their empire's destruction, I don't know what shall happen to them.
Next would be the Seraphs, who still live in their ancestral homeland, the Den of the Sky, and have kept their population rising steadily, just like us, since the destruction of the 6th continent. To my knowledge, they were heavily involved in training the one who struck down the Beastkin, so their status now might rapidly increase, and they might start integrating with humanity. And the most populous race, humanity. They have formed two kingdoms, one in Enotita that is at the brink of collapse after their emperor died and his son took over, and another which took down the Beastkin and has started to spread their influence over all of its past colonies."
Zahhak jumps up with joy, says, "It sounds like things are heating up over there. I want to go stay and investigate it all!"
Indrani, using her tail, grabs Zahhak and brings him over to her as she says, "She made it sound nice, but she left out how annoying some of those races are. Humans suck! Beastkin are just humans, but they have fluffy tails, so they sometimes get a pass. Seers don't understand the concepts of privacy and consent like the little worms they are. Yugaku and Nephelim are pretty fun and strong; you can have a good time if you hang out with them. Seraphs are the only race that can truly match us, but their stupid king is a sanctimonious pacifist who can't help but talk down to everyone. Whenever I see that bastard again, I am going to rip his wing off."
Paouruazi says, "Please don't start a fight with him; we don't need another continent getting destroyed by the results of your battle."
Zahhak, placing his hands on his cheek, says, "Are Seraphs really that strong?"
Garəbra says, "Yes, but in a different way than us Dragons. Though in terms of elite warriors, they lag behind us, the only advantage they have is their King, who was the same ruler they had during the Great Race War."
Indrani, with a proud smirk, says, "But I am sure he has slipped in strength in these last few millennia. If we were to fight, I would come out on top. Hahahahahahaha!"
As her laughter echoes through the area, Zahhak says, "Of course, because you're the strongest Aunty!"
"You're right about that, and all those humans better beware, because if any human ever sets foot on my continent, I will eradicate them before they even know left from right."
Garəbra, stuffing her face full of food, says, "Then you failed, a group human came through here over a decade ago."
Confused, Indrani says, "What?"
Paouruazi adds, "Yes, they caused a bunch of trouble in the Dragon King of War's territory. Starting fights against multiple Dragon's and winning quite a bit."
Garəbra says, "They even challenged Gaasyendietha to a battle and managed to inflict a permanent scar on his brother."
"MY ELDER BROTHER!"
Paouruazi says, "Yeah, it was quite a stir, and it happened to coincide with your birth, which made it so very few actually heard about it."
Indrani, full of rage, slams her fist against the table and says, "Why didn't you tell me!"
"Because you'd leave a hole in the continent."
Garəbra says, "And Gaasyendietha acknowledged the warrior's strength, even training him for a bit before sending him on his way."
Zahhak's face fills with shock as he says, "Who is this human?"
Paouruazi says, "That's the fun part. It's the same human who defeated the Beastkin, the one named Charles Animus."
Zahhak's eyes start to gleam with light as Indrani says, "Are you sure that's a human?"
"He might have the blood of another race in him, but from what I could tell, he is primarily a human, who doesn't even have a legacy. Just a prodigy of pure skill and power. In 31 years, he lived, I would say he had gained power that has eclipsed most of the Deva. Though he'd still lose to you mother."
"Of course he would," She says, full of pride.
"Lived?" Zahhak asks.
"Ahh, yes, because he is dead."
"What? What kind of monster could kill him?"
"I have no idea. I have been reading his life signature since he left, and abruptly last year, after the war ended, I could no longer feel it. So, unless he has been flying in the sky, I can only conclude he died."
Zahhak lower his head and says, "I would have liked to meet a human like that."
Garəbra, with a snide tone, says, "Maybe you just lost focus on his body due to other activities taking up your mental faculties."
"If only you could find someone to do such activities with your sister."
The two jump onto the table and try to strike each other, and Zahhak steps in between them as Indrani starts to laugh and say, "Don't hurt yourselves too much."
"AUNTY NOT HELPFUL!"
ΦDespite his frustration and irritation, it was a happy night for Zahhak, filled with love and wonder. In that moment, his mind was excited for the future as his body was happy to be surrounded by those who loved him deeply. So with all the strength he had, he birthed a newfound power within him that poured out.
ΦFrom Zahhak's body, darkness surges out, grabbing Indrani, Paouruazi, and Garəbra before pulling them all in close to Zahhak, who says, "WHAT IS HAPPENING!"
In a moment, a smile roars across the three woman's faces and with the force of their tails, they disperse the darkness. Indrani, lifting Zahhak up, says, "You manifested a Regalia! Darkness? A strong power."
Paouruazi says, "It usually happens automatically around age 20 for Dragon King children, but you did it a decade earlier. How wonderful."
Garəbra says, "I guess that means when you become a Deva, your epitite will be something like the Darkness Dragon, but since that sounds kind of evil, what about the Dark Night Dragon instead?"
"Dark Night Dragon?" Zahhak says with a curious tone. He thrusts his fist into the sky and says, "THE DARK NIGHT DRAGON ZAHHAK HAS BEEN BORN!!!!!"
They all throw him into the sky and catch him, before throwing him up again as his smile shines through it all.
Φ His smile is so bright, so wonderful, yet I know where this ends, I know that this day is the last it shall be seen like this here. So all I can do is watch with sorrow.
-Break-
Φ In the dead of night, Zahhak stretches out his arms, reaching onto whatever he can grab in his sleep. He wraps his right hand around Garəbra, and his left around Paouruazi. He feels the softness of Jamshid against his chest and extends out his tail looking for Indrani, yet as he doesn't feel her, his eyes jolt open as he sits up.
Looking at the Dragon King's giant bed, he sees her nowhere around and says, "Where did she go? Wait, maybe she snuck out to go steal some more ingredients. If she overeats, who knows what will happen to the baby? I need to go stop her!"
Grabbing Jamshid, Zahhak moves to wake him, but as the cute sleeping face gently moves from side to side, Zahhak places him back down on the bed and says, "Rest well," before getting up and rushing off.