Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 1
The petal flutters, drifting far on the wind. My dragon has returned to the clouds above. Лепесток дрожит, уносимый ветром. Мой дракон вернулся на облака в вышине.
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 2
Over 1,600 years ago, after centuries of war with humanity, the dragon, said in legend to bring about Philos's end, was finally sealed in the Abyss beneath the fiend-infested Tarus City by the Legion of Justitia. This decisive event, known as the "Battle of Tarus," led to widespread praise for the Legion. The leader who drove his sword into the dragon's heart was revered as the "Sacred Judicator." Monuments honoring his deeds stand tall across Philos, and his followers built a grand Sanctuary in his name after his death. Every year, the Sanctuary takes in some of the city's orphans in the name of the Sacred Judicator. It is a place held in even higher regard than the royal palace. When these orphans come of age, a Judicator's Oracle...
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 3
That night, the dragon places me with all the treasures he gathered. It's as if I'm one of them. It appears like everything is present, but all I can grasp is the moonlight descending into the lair from an opening. Whenever I close my eyes, the sound of howling wind inside the cave sends me back to that blood-red valley. All I can hear is a dragon's cries. The moment those blades pierce his chest, the same pain and fury also run through me. Perhaps... A fragment of the dragon's soul truly did enter my body the moment I pulled out the sword. At the time, I didn't understand the implications. Also I didn't know this would mark the start of a curse.
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 4
Tarus City sits near the foot of the dragon's lair. The origin of its name is lost to time, but it's said to be connected to the Abyss. And unlike other cities, Tarus City's market is—
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 5
During my days in the dragon's lair, Sylus and I achieve a delicate balance. I couldn't obtain his eye, and he never brought up the fiendish deal that would cost me my soul. We live like true companions, together in the dragon's lair above Tarus City. When dusk descends, we venture out for reckless raids and return with our spoils before dawn. My favorite sight was watching the Judicator's army, who had been ruthlessly extorting people with warnings of impending doom, fall to their knees at the sight of a real fiend and a resurrected sorceress. The thrill of revenge made my soul tremble. And each time, he would ask me, "Is there anything else you desire"? The dragon personally nurtures my ambition as he leads me from one raid...
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 6
What happened that night at the tavern, along with the words we exchanged, is never brought up by us ever again. By the light of day, it became a dark, absurd secret hanging between us. Tarus City revels every night, where shallow desires are easier to face than genuine feelings. With the return of the Fiend, Doomsday's ominous shadow once again haunts the war-torn lands of Philos. Under the guise of exterminating the Fiend, the Legion of Justitia sparks wars across the planet. Those who dare to oppose them are branded as "Sinners" and put on trial in the Court of Justitia. The Sacred Judicator's authority hangs by a fragile thread. The long-standing resentment among the people reaches its boiling point, and it's fueled by the Fiend's...
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 7
The sight of the dragon rampaging through the city and flying off toward Tarus City haunts every soul that day. When I finally break free from the chaos of the Legion and rush out of the Sanctuary, I only see his figure disappearing into the storm clouds. The trail of blood left along his flight path makes people realize— this Fiend is gravely injured. Soon, every faction of the Legion and every opportunistic seeking to profit from the death of a dragon heads for Tarus City. I steal the armor of a dead soldier and bleed into the ranks. I make my way over to the dragon as quickly as I can. I need to reach him before anyone else does, before they try to end him. Even if fate just showed me— I'm the only one who can truly kill him. When...
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 8
The night fog envelops me, and I feel like I'm trapped in a long, chaotic nightmare. When I wake up, I'm surrounded by a red valley filled with blooming datura. My arms feel heavy. I look down and see a huge horned creature. I hold it as it dies. I don't know why I'm here. I just vaguely remember having a dragon in a pitch-black chapel. I try desperately to recall, but the last clear memory I have of the dragon ends on that blood-soaked night under the moon. Everything afterward feels like shredded fragments, incomplete and scattered. It's like hearing half of a chord meant to be played with both hands. Like a dance that was supposed to be for two, with only one left to dance it alone. Maybe I'm imagining things. But after half of our...
Beyond Cloudfall. Pt. 9
On that dew-drenched midsummer night, time seemed to freeze in place. Every thought of the future remained sweet and light. After giving up half of my soul, the greatsword never appeared again. Perhaps I lost the power to wield it, no longer able to slay the dragon. Does this mean the dragon's curse has been broken? All I can do is look toward Tarus City. But as time goes on, the half of the dragon's soul within me burns more fiercely, a fervent desire like his searing my mind. With the ever-changing days and nights, I start to forget who I am. With the ever-changing days and nights, I start to forget who I am. Sometimes, I'm the dragon hiding alone in the black chapel. Other times, I'm a human awaiting judgment in the Sanctuary's...