A Half-Century of Secrets
I wasn't ordinary either, huh?
I wasn't ordinary either, huh?
It's been a full...
Five hundred years since I arrived at Dragon Canyon.
...Five hundred years, yeah.
After so many decades, you'd expect wrinkles if you lived that long, but...
I didn't know I'd live this long.
My ears... aren't long either.
I poked the tips of my ears with my fingers while staring at my reflection in the water bowl.
They're round.
Not as long as elves, and not old like humans.
My silver hair, red eyes, and skin—all the same as the day I first stepped into the canyon.
What kind of race am I?
What am I?
My mutter echoed softly inside the water bowl.
The me in the reflection still looked young.
It felt a bit embarrassing to call myself young, but after five hundred years without a single wrinkle, finding any other word was tough.
At first I didn't notice because I was too busy.
After ten years it just seemed like time had passed a little less.
After fifty years I started to think I was weird.
After a hundred years I admitted it.
I'm not an ordinary human.
But even after five hundred years, I still didn't know exactly what kind of being I was.
Anyway, five hundred years hadn't changed much for me...
Krroorr...
Kiaaak!
Hey! You two! What did Mom say? If you keep this up the forest is gonna fly away again!
Kiying...
Krroorr...
Those many dragons had plenty of time to grow into adults.
I stood at the edge of the central cliff in Dragon Canyon with both hands on my hips, looking down at two adult dragons glaring at each other in front of me.
One was a volcanic dragon with rugged red scales like volcanic rock, the other a storm dragon with blue lightning crackling between its scales.
When I first met them they were smaller than my forearm.
Now their heads were bigger than the mouth of a cave, and a single tail swipe could knock three nests off the cliff.
I was impressed.
The problem was that these two were right on the verge of tearing each other apart.
Kiaaaak!
A lava-like glow rose from the inside of the red dragon's throat.
I raised a finger immediately.
No fire.
The glow inside the red dragon's throat trembled and went out.
Kiiik!
Lightning gathered between the horns of the blue dragon.
I just turned my head.
No lightning either.
They both curled up their massive bodies and stared at each other.
The reason for the fight was obvious.
Sunny rocks. Prey back legs. Or who got up first for a nap.
Even after five hundred years they were still just kids.
Except that they were now adult dragons.
Both of you.
I said it quietly.
Front paws.
The entire canyon fell silent.
The red dragon extended its huge front paw first.
Boom.
The ground rumbled.
The blue dragon did the same.
Boom.
Small stones piled up on the cliff rolled down.
I walked through them and tapped the red dragon's claws.
You.
Kiying...
You built fire in your throat.
The red dragon's pupils shifted sideways for a moment.
Don't look elsewhere.
Kii...
Mom saw it.
I tapped the blue dragon's claws next.
You too.
Krroorr...
You built lightning between your horns.
The blue dragon flicked its tail slightly.
Tail.
The tail stopped right away.
I looked back and forth between them and sighed.
When you were little you just fought, a few nests flew away, my water bowl rolled off, and a few eggshells cracked—nothing serious.
I pointed toward the forest outside the canyon.
If you two fight now, that forest disappears.
Both of their gazes turned to the forest.
That forest had actually grown back several times.
At first Alduin vaporized it, then the hatchlings practicing their wings lost half of it...
One day an ice-breath kid got excited and froze the whole thing, and another time a acid-breath kid sneezed and it almost vanished from the map.
Every time I stood in front of the forest and said the same thing.
No breath. Gentle wings. Be careful with the tail. Listen to Mom.
And after five hundred years I was still saying the exact same words.
I wonder if they're developing or not.
If you're going to fight, go fight at the training ground over there.
The eyes of the red dragon and blue dragon both sparkled at the same time.
I added right away.
I didn't mean fight until one of you dies.
Their eyes dulled a little.
Breaths only three times.
Their eyes lit up again.
Instead, if you shoot toward the canyon, no snacks for a month.
Both adult dragons stiffened at the same time.
Even adult dragons feared no-snack time.
Actually those snacks weren't human snacks either.
Giant horned beasts from beyond the mountains or Alduin's lightly roasted rock lizards.
But the kids still called them snacks.
They expressed it in cries, but to my ears it was definitely snacks.
Understood?
Kiying...
Krroorr...
Answer properly.
Karrroorr...
Krroorrroorr...
I nodded satisfied.
Good.
Only then did the two carefully back away.
The huge bodies moved and the canyon floor rumbled low, while young dragons peeked out from nests on the cliffs above in wonder.
There were still young dragons.
Of course, since the hatchlings had grown into adults and reproduced.
Most of the eggs I first saw five hundred years ago had become adults, the adults laid more eggs, the canyon grew wider, nests multiplied, and my job had only increased.
Kuaaaraaah!
A cry came from below the cliff.
It wasn't human speech.
But after five hundred years even dragon cries were mostly understandable.
How scary.
At first I only understood crr, kiying, and pii. Now I could tell what they wanted just by the length of the cry, the vibration inside the throat, the tail angle, and the scale clacking.
Dragon Language I still couldn't understand.
It just slid off my ears every time Gargantua mixed in a few words.
But I could read their tone.
Life was strange.
A small white dragon was flapping its wings in one nest below the cliff.
It was still a young dragon with soft, unhardened scales.
A cracked eggshell piece clung to its back.
I looked at it and pressed a hand to my forehead.
You still didn't take off the shell, huh.
Piiiik!
That's not cool.
Pii...
If you wear it on your head it's cute, but if you keep it on your back mold will grow.
The white dragon's face went pale in shock.
It had heard cute, but mold was no good.
I started down the cliff when I felt a huge shadow fall beside me.
Krr.
It was Alduin.
Even after five hundred years Alduin was still Alduin.
Much bigger, much stronger, the king of dragons no one could roar at carelessly. But when approaching me he still walked carefully.
His black scales were deeper than before, his gold eyes carried the full majesty of an adult dragon. Yet that gaze softened only for me.
Krr?
Alduin lowered his head.
I tapped his snout with my palm.
What.
Lrr.
You want me to take you?
Lrrr.
Yeah. Please.
Alduin carefully lowered his head.
I climbed onto his neck, grabbing the scales familiarly.
Even after five hundred years this spot was the most familiar.
When I first moved from the Cradle of the World I thought I'd break my waist hanging onto those scales.
Now I could get on with my eyes closed.
Whether it was good development or a bad one from how used to a dragon's back a human had become, I couldn't tell.
Alduin didn't spread his wings but slowly walked toward the nests below the cliff.
Each step was careful.
One careless step and several young nests would be smashed.
You grew up a lot too.
I muttered, and a low rumble rose from inside Alduin's throat.
Lrrr.
That's praise.
Lrr.
But your tail.
The tip stopped near the nest at the edge of the cliff.
Yeah.
I laughed like a sigh.
You still have to be careful with your tail.
Alduin avoided my gaze without a word.
The sight of the king of dragons avoiding eye contact would probably never be seen outside the canyon.
Inside the canyon everyone saw it.
Often.
Very often.
I got down from Alduin's neck and walked to the white hatchling.
The white hatchling pressed its belly to the ground the moment my shadow touched it.
Piii...
I'm not scolding you.
I reached out and peeled off the eggshell stuck to its back.
The shell was slightly dry.
The hatchling twisted as if ticklish.
Stay still.
Piiik.
Just a little.
When I removed the shell its white scales were revealed.
Still soft and weak.
I brushed them lightly with my fingers.
Good. Now it's done.
Piii!
The white hatchling happily spread its wings.
I shouted right away.
No wing practice inside the nest.
The hatchling froze.
The other hatchlings in the neighboring nest giggled pii pii.
I looked that way.
Don't laugh either.
The laughter stopped.
Five hundred years. Really a lot of time had passed.
At first I didn't know what to call him so for a while I just called him big kid.
Of course every time I did the surrounding dragons gave me strange looks.
He too looked down at me very slowly with his six eyes.
That gaze didn't seem angry, but calling a mountain-sized dragon with half-hearted respect still poked at my conscience.
That day was the same.
The stone gate at the entrance of the canyon was half open, and he was sitting on the cliff with all six wings folded.
I held three hatchlings with my arms and back, told Alduin to guard the stone pot, stepped on the rock piece Masor had cut, and stood in front of him.
Grr. There.
His six eyes looked at me.
I cleared my throat.
He was silent for a long time.
Then in a low voice he said.
Mother, my name Yusho. Do you need it?
Some dragon language in the middle I didn't understand, but the necessary part came through.
I nodded.
No need. Easier for me to scold you if it's easy to call you.
Alduin let out a crr from behind.
I turned my head.
Why are you reacting?
Alduin avoided my gaze.
Masor's scales clacked saraq.
I looked up at the huge dragon again.
And I thought for a long time.
Storm. Mountain. Canyon. Mountain. Six pairs of wings. Three pairs of eyes.
Names too big, too old, too heavy swirled in my head but none fit perfectly.
Then suddenly, suddenly, an odd name popped into my mind.
Gargantua.
The three pairs of eyes blinked slowly.
I scratched my head awkwardly.
If you don't like it, the king's name of the giant is...
The huge dragon stayed silent for a long time.
Even the wind of the canyon seemed to pause.
I thought I had messed up and opened my mouth.
At that moment his voice rolled down to the base of the cliff.
Gargantua, Blakehun, it is good.
I blinked.
Do you like it?
Mother, it is good.
Thus he became Gargantua.
Just like from the beginning, the whole canyon accepted the name in just a few days.
Of course the dragons couldn't pronounce it perfectly.
The young ones called him Ga-a or Gu-u, Alduin didn't call him at all, and Masor just clacked saraq.
But Gargantua liked the name.
Even now when I look at him on the highest point of the cliff with three pairs of eyes overlooking the canyon, only that name comes to mind.
Five hundred years later Gargantua was still at the highest point of the canyon.
If Alduin was the king, Gargantua was more like the lord.
He crouched with his mountain-sized body and controlled the wind, rain, and fog of the canyon with six pairs of wings.
Without him the many eggs and hatchlings would have vanished long ago from cold, monsters, and accidents among themselves.
I gathered the eggshell of the white hatchling and looked up at the cliff.
Gargantua.
The three pairs of eyes slowly turned to me.
Today make the wind a little weaker.
The huge voice rolled slowly.
Mother, Vaelun horath, I understand.
The dragon language in the middle I still couldn't understand.
After five hundred years hearing it I looked like I had no talent for it.
But I only needed to understand the front and back.
And treating me respectfully is still a burden.
Gargantua blinked very slowly.
Mother, Wertho. It is high.
Enough.
I raised a hand.
I have heard that line five hundred years.
Gargantua quietly lowered his head.
That was an answer.
I looked down at the base of the cliff.
The canyon had grown much wider than when I first saw it.
Actually it was expanded.
Because there were more adult dragons, nests, training grounds, nap spots, fight grounds, and punishment places were all needed.
At first I thought just a few nests to clean up would do.
How naive that thought was, I learned slowly over five hundred years.
Dragons are big.
They eat a lot.
They sleep a lot.
They fight a lot.
And they cause a lot of accidents.
I knew that fact better than anyone.
Maaaraaah!
This time another cry came from the other side.
I closed my eyes then opened them.
What now?
From the lower valley two young dragons rolled out.
One was green like moss all over, the other white like snow.
Both of you stop.
The two hatchlings didn't stop.
I looked at Alduin.
Alduin let out a low rumble.
Lrrr.
That sound reached the base of the canyon and the two hatchlings froze at the same time.
I nodded.
Thanks.
Lrr.
Being the king is easy.
Alduin's face looked a little proud.
I added right away.
But no extra dinner meat.
The golden eyes shook.
What? You were expecting it?
Krr...
If you eat it all there will be nothing left for the kids.
Alduin quietly shut his mouth.
Even the king of dragons was still a child in front of food.
I started down the cliff then stopped suddenly.
And I looked at my hand.
Five hundred years had passed.
Yet the hand was the same.
Almost unchanged from when I first came to the canyon.
No wrinkles on the back of the hand, no thickening knuckles, skin not aging.
What am I...
I muttered quietly, and Masor had already come beside me.
Sarak?
No, just...
I shook my head.
After five hundred years I'm still the same.
Masor looked at me for a moment.
And stepped once with a front paw.
Thud.
Positive.
I narrowed my eyes.
You know something.
Sarak.
No?
Sarak.
You guys always say no.
Masor quietly avoided my gaze.
I looked at Alduin.
Alduin avoided his gaze too.
I looked at Gargantua.
The three pairs of eyes slowly looked somewhere else.
...
I crossed my arms.
You know something.
The entire canyon fell strangely quiet.
The hatchlings that had been pii pii just moments ago closed their mouths.
Even the fighting adult dragons looked at distant mountains.
No, they were pretending to look at distant mountains while calling themselves mountains.
I looked at that scene and let out a hollow laugh.
Wow, they hide together.
Alduin let out a low rumble.
Krr.
Mom thought you wouldn't know.
Masor let out saraq, very quietly.
Gargantua's voice rolled low from the top of the cliff.
Not yet.
I looked up.
Again that sound?
Gargantua closed his eyes then opened them.
Mother, please wait.
I sighed.
Since I came to this canyon I have heard the word wait many times.
Wait until the egg hatches.
Wait until the hatchling hardens its scales.
Wait until the wings open.
Wait until the breath stabilizes.
Wait until they become adults.
And wait until I know my true self.
I wonder if I'll wait for dragons my whole life.
Of course I don't know when forever will end either.
Good.
I lowered my hand.
Now move on.
A faint sense of relief spread across the entire canyon.
I raised a finger right away.
Instead, finish all nest maintenance before evening today.
The dragons froze.
Adult dragons help young ones with nest repairs, young ones gather and throw away their own eggshells, and breath practice only at the training ground.
Low rumbles flowed from every corner of the canyon.
I said louder.
Any dragon with a complaint?
No one answered.
Good. After five hundred years this much authority is born.
I nodded satisfied and walked toward the two young dragons still fighting with their tails on the lower side.
And you two.
The two hatchlings flinched at the same time.
Mom is coming.
At that the two released their tails and made the most aggrieved faces in the world.
I saw that face and smirked.
I was still saying the same words.
No breath. Gentle wings. Careful with the tail. If you're going to fight, training ground!
Krroorr...
And before eating, wash your hands, or rather front paws.
Many dragons rumbled at the same time from every corner of the canyon.
Krroorr.
Kiii.
Sarak.
Krroorr.
Piiiik.
I heard that noisy, huge answer and placed both hands on my hips.
Yeah. My kids...
I don't have much energy.
If I had a few more even without the first three siblings I could crush a whole country easily?
...Useless thoughts.
I thought I should just live here raising these cute nuclear bombs for the rest of my life.
I had no intention of doing anything excessive.
Like that, I had thought.