Sad Moon

Prologue - 4

He descended from the mountains into a valley that stretched out like a vast canvas of vibrant colors. The air was gentle and warm, a delicate breeze caressing his scaly skin. Wildflowers swayed in the wind's rhythm, their petals unfurling in a symphony of reds, yellows, and blues. The ground beneath his feet was soft and fertile, a pleasant contrast to the treacherous ice of the mountains.

As he walked, he listened to the birds singing and the buzzing of insects busy with their daily tasks. The sweet scent of flowers and the freshness of the grass enveloped him, transporting him to memories of simpler and happier times. With each step, his thoughts turned to the dual nature of good and evil, concepts that had profoundly influenced his life.

—Good and evil— he thought —are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other, as good is defined by the absence of evil, and evil is defined by the absence of good. However, who can truly say what is good or evil?—

He stopped for a moment by a small stream winding through the valley. The crystal-clear water mirrored the blue sky, and tiny aquatic creatures swam happily in its depths. He leaned down and dipped his hand into the cold water, enjoying the refreshing sensation.

—Throughout my life, I have committed acts that many would consider evil. I have destroyed, caused pain. But I have also sought justice, protected the helpless. Can a good action redeem a bad one? Or is evil a burden one must always carry?— he reflected.

He stood up and continued walking, his thoughts flowing like the stream. He remembered the teachings of his youth, the lessons about morality that seemed so clear then but had become complicated with experience and acquired wisdom.

—Perhaps good and evil are not absolutes but relative. What to some is an act of kindness, to others might be an act of wickedness. It all depends on the perspective from which it is viewed. Maybe what is most important is not the nature of the act itself, but the intention behind it and the consequences it produces— he thought.

Soon, he reached a cliff and peered over the edge. He noticed something at the bottom. Without hesitation, he stepped into the void. As he gently fell into the abyss, a gust of wind caused his black cloak to flutter away, revealing armor made of leather adorned with Wyrm skin and bones, indicating his origin. The wind raised the few golden hairs on his smooth blue skin, and the fine features of his face showed a growing interest in discovering what lay at the bottom of the cliff.

Finally, he saw the massive body of a wyvern. Upon landing barefoot, he noticed that the wyvern had been devoured by another creature. The upper part of its skeleton was exposed, and the few lower parts with flesh showed deep claw wounds. The carcass still emitted a slight warmth, indicating it had been recently killed.

Curiosity led him closer. He placed his claw, contrasting with the rest of his body, on the creature's flesh and closed his eyes. A vision appeared in his mind, leaving him stunned.

The wyvern flew rapidly, moving its head in all directions as if searching for something, clearly terrified. —How curious— he thought, —only one being is capable of instilling such fear in these creatures—. His suspicions were confirmed when a colossal creature descended from above. —A dragon!— he exclaimed. The monstrous white dragon positioned itself over the wyvern, flying at an impressive speed. With a swipe of its claw, it pierced the wyvern's tough scales, slicing through its flesh to the bones. The dragon grabbed the lower half of the wounded wyvern with its claw and placed the upper half in its jaws, sliding it out of its mouth like a chicken leg, leaving its skeleton exposed. Finally, it released the wyvern's carcass, its white scales stained with blood and its jaws still dripping. As the body fell into the abyss, the dragon let out a bone-chilling roar.

The vision ended, leaving him standing, speechless. A question crossed his mind: —Why didn't it use magic?— The dragon's behavior was entirely different from that of others of its kind. He looked again at the lifeless body of the wyvern. —It seems as if it had been devoured by a beast— he thought in astonishment.

He crouched and, with a leap, climbed back up the cliff. He closed his eyes and recited in his mind: —I know you are still here—. After a few seconds, an alien thought appeared: —What are you seeking so far from home, Drow?— A grin, almost like a smile, formed on his face; the pilgrim had reached his destination.