Eternity
The path to the Eternal Glacier proved far more brutal than I had imagined. The biting wind lashed mercilessly even at my immortal flesh, while swirling snow blanketed the landscape in white. Drawing on years of experience, the Guildmaster forged our way forward with precise judgment. Without his guidance, we would surely have been lost in this land.
Several days later, we finally discovered a massive ice cavern. An eerie aura lingered at the entrance, as if warning us something lurked within. The Guildmaster cautiously began investigating the cavern's interior. I followed behind him, carefully observing our surroundings.
As we ventured deeper into the cavern, the cold intensified and the air grew thicker. Occasionally, eerie sounds echoed from the ice walls, heightening our tension. Eventually, we emerged into a vast chamber filled with towering ice pillars. At its center, a massive ice orb shone brightly. And near that orb, we would come face to face with the “Dragon that Manipulates Time.”
The dragon was of a size far exceeding imagination, its scales as beautiful and coldly luminous as ice itself. Its eyes possessed a depth that suggested intelligence and ancient wisdom. The dragon neither glared at us nor lunged to attack; it simply stared intently.
Silence filled this icy space. The Guildmaster slowly approached the dragon. “...We need your ‘Fragment of Time’... Our purpose is to complete the Time-Space Transfer Device... To unravel the mysteries of the Atlantis civilization... We have no intention of harming you...”
The dragon seemed to understand the Guildmaster's words. Slowly, it closed its eyes and let out a small moan. The sound was filled with sorrow. I imagined the cause of the dragon's grief. Had it been imprisoned in this icy dungeon for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years?
The dragon's sorrow resonated deeply within my heart. I spoke to the dragon. “...You have suffered for so long... We cannot end your suffering... But at least, let us assist you...”
The dragon reacted to my words. Slowly, it bowed its head, and a single tear fell from its neck. It was a “Piece of Time.” The Guildmaster carefully collected it. In that instant, a faint light emanated from the dragon's body, and it vanished.
I mourned the dragon's death and bowed my head in silence. Here, we learned many things. And we bore new sorrow. But our journey is not yet over. The quest to unravel the mysteries of the Atlantis civilization continues.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
