"Most folk just know the tournament is a grand fight. A test of strength. But what lies behind that, few actually cares." Old Gerath took a sip of his drink.
"Well, we do care." Reina said in smooth tone. "We are travelers. We don't just enjoy sceneries. We also enjoy good stories."
Gerath looked at Reina and gave a shallow nod of appreciation. "Fair enough. You know the names of the two cities in the island, right? Grandmoon and Sweetmoon? Where do you think the names came form?"
"Up there, isn't it?" Jack said. Pointing upward. "They're the name of the two moons of this world."
"Correct." Gerath replied. "Do you know the original name of this island?"
"I know. I know. It's the Two Moon Island." Aella chimed in with bright eyes behind her glasses. "Big Sis Reina told me. People now call it Grandmoon Island because of the fame of the Grandmoon City as the trade hub. Isn't that so?"
Gerath chuckled. "Great answer, Girl. That's correct."
He sipped his drink again and continued. "There was an interesting legend believed by the people in this island, you know. The legend of the two moons. And it is actually related to the Battle Moon Tournament."
Jack, Reina, and Aella looked at each other. It was something they didn't know.
"Want to hear about that?" Gerath asked and the three immediately nodded.
The old man chuckled and continued his narration. "Well, this legend says that Mother Earth gave birth to a son. A great dragon with scales like the night and eyes like the bright sun. He was given the name Gedellan, which means 'greatness' in ancient tongue."
"At almost the same time..." He continued. "Mother Sea gave birth to a daughter, also a dragon. But this one had the scales of silver and eyes like the starry night sky. Her name was Legillan, meaning 'sweetness' in ancient tongue."
Ogordon arrived with their steaming bowl of mutton stew and plates of roasted venison. The aroma was rich and deeply satisfying.
He placed them down. Then gave Gerath a knowing look. "You're telling that legend again, Mister Gerath. Don't bore them too much now, eh?"
"Nonsense, Boy." Gerath waved a dismissive hand. "These young folk have inquiring minds. The world's full of wonders for those who care to look."
Ogordon just smiled and retreated.
Gerath continued his story. "These two dragons, Gedellan and Legillan, they were destined to be together. They mated, joining the primal forces of earth and sea. And from their union, they became the world's most fervent protectors. Under the vast expanse of Father Sky, they watched over all creation, ensuring balance, growth, and life."
Jack listened. Taking in the creation myth. It was a common trope across many cultures. But the specifics were new. He noted the elemental associations.
Rune's glow intensified slightly. A bright, curious orange. And Aella leaned forward, captivated by the old man's rhythmic storytelling.
"But peace, it never lasts, does it?" Gerath continued. His voice dropped slightly. "From beyond the reach of Father Sky, from realms unknown, another child of the celestial came. It was a being of pure negation, the mighty void angel, Yrenlobeng."
He tapped the table dramatically. "Yrenlobeng... the Darkest Hole. That's what the name meant. And true to its name, it tore a gaping wound through the mighty blue body of Father Sky. A rent in reality through which its innumerable, vile spawns poured forth, with the intent on consuming and twisting our world."
Reina and Aella seemed enthralled with the story. Jack remained impassive externally. But his mind processed the information. A void angel, evil spawns, and torn sky. That sounded like the invasion of otherworld creatures through a spatial crack.
"Gedellan and Legillan, the great dragon protectors, obviously didn't just stay silent and watch." Gerath's voice grew sterner. Somehow, it was imbued with ancient excitement. "They rose to the challenge. The two dragons fought with all their primal might."
Jack narrowed his eyes. The old man's voice seemed to be imbued with an unknown power. It somehow made him able to visualize the story in his mind very clearly. Was this the power of a Fable Keeper?
Gerath kept narrating. "Gedellan, roaring with the fury of mountains, tore through legions of void spawns. Legillan, with the relentless power of the tides, swept away countless more. They stood as the world's shield, destroying the vile invaders, pushing them back, saving creation from being swallowed whole."
He took another sip of water. His eyes was distant, as if reliving the epic battle. "But even the primal forces of the great dragons have their limits. The assault was relentless. Wave after wave of Yrenlobeng's foul spawns kept coming."
"Gedellan and Legillan..." He continued. "They fought until they were utterly exhausted. Their scales cracked, their fire dimmed, their strength waned..."
In a dramatic tone, he continued. "It was then that Yrenlobeng, the true terror, appeared. Not content to send its minions, it descended through the tear in the sky... a true harbinger of despair."
Gerath sighed. "The Void Angel, in its terrifying glory, confronted the weary dragons. And it defeated them. It was a dark day. The world trembled. It seemed all was lost."
Jack ate his roasted venison slowly. His mind was working rapidly. Guessing how the story ended. Very likely, it would end with a sacrifice. One that would turn both dragon into the moons. It was the legend about the moons after all.
"But the dragons were not common dragons. They had inherited power from the world that gave birth to them." Gerath pressed on. His voice was regaining its strength. "The deep, unyielding power of Mother Earth. The boundless, flowing power of Mother Sea."
The old man's voice get more excited. "And in their desperation, they looked to the Father Sky, crying out for aid. Father Sky, seeing his children imperiled, offered a means. He gave them his [Sun Ring], a sacred artifact, a symbol of life and dominion."
Gerath stopped for a few seconds and continued. "Harnessing the combined strength of their lineage and the incredible power of the Sun Ring, Gedellan and Legillan unleashed a final, cataclysmic burst of energy."
"They could not destroy Yrenlobeng." The old man said. "Even with their inherited powers and the [Sun Ring], such being was still stronger than them. But they managed to banish it. They cast the void angel back through the tear it had made. They closed the tear, sealing the void angel away, far from our world."
Aella clapped her small hands. And Rune pulsed in vibrant, excited colors.
"The victory came at a terrible cost." Gerath continued. His voice was softer now. "The dragons, Gedellan and Legillan, had expended their very essence. Their primal forms could no longer sustain themselves. They lost their power. But their sacrifice was not in vain."
"As they faded, their forms were given a reward from Father Sky." He said. "They ascended. They became the two moons that now watch over our world, eternal guardians, symbols of their sacrifice. The Grandmoon and the Sweetmoon."
Jack raised his eyebrows. Just like what he had thought. The myth was related to the existence of the celestial bodies. A pretty standard type of mythology. But the way the old man told the story was interesting. A Fable Keeper was truly a masterful story teller.
"And the connection with the tournament?" Reina prompted. Not seeing the logical progression for that yet.
"Well, it was the [Sun Ring]." Gerath explained. "The relic, mighty as it was, could not withstand such a confluence of power and primordial forces. It shattered into fragments of its former glory. One large sphere, and thirty-six smaller shards."
"A sphere and thirty six shards?" Reina echoed.
"Precisely. The sphere was the [Battle Moon Pearl]." Gerath's eyes gleamed as he said that. "Within that sphere, the remnants of Yrenlobeng's evil spawns, all those that were not immediately destroyed by Gedellan and Legillan, were sealed. Trapped. And that pearl... it was always guarded by the Moonlight Sovereign, in Sweetmoon City. It's a heavy burden, that pearl."
He leaned forward. Lowering his voice slightly. "Every five years, the void's corrupting influence deepens within the pearl. The evil spawns multiply, grow stronger, and attempt to break free... to once again tear at the fabric of our world."
"To prevent this..." He continued. "To reinforce the seal, the first Moonlight Sovereign initiated the Battle Moon Tournament every five years. Especially for the transcendent team battle. The gathered power of the champions will be connected to the rituals performed by the sovereign, to bind the spawns, to quiet the pearl for another five years."
"So the tournament isn't just a spectacle?" Reina mused. "It's actually a global defense mechanism."
"Indeed." Gerath confirmed. "It's a grand, necessary ritual to protect us all. The heroes of the realm, risking life and limbs to keep the darkness at bay. It's a noble tradition, even if many forget the true reason."
Jack found himself impressed by the depth of the local folklore. It was an interesting tale. Simple, yet it provided concrete explanations for the world's celestial bodies, and the grand tournament itself. It also highlighted a clear and present danger linked to the Battle Moon Pearl used in the tournament.
However, Jack wasn't entirely convinced that the only use of the Battle Moon Pearl was to hold evil spawns inside. And that the only purpose of the tournament was to slay those spawns.
The tournament was costly. The prizes themselves would severely harm the treasure vault of a nation. And it was done once every five years. No way any kingdom would do it for free.
"What about the thirty-six shards?" Aella asked. Her excited eyes seemed to gleam behind her non-corrective glasses.
Gerath stroked his beard. "Ah, the shards. They scattered. Across the islands. Mostly around the Myriad Island Archipelago. Each one was holding a fragment of power from the [Sun Ring]. They say each of them possesses a fragment of spatial world inside. They are sought by many, but found by few. Many have been lost to history, their locations forgotten."
He looked around the rustic tavern, then back at them. "Interesting thing, though..." He said. His voice dropped to a near whisper. "One of those shards, one of those pieces of the Sun Ring, it was once right here, in Marevale Town."
Jack's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. "Here?"
"Aye!" Gerath nodded. "About a hundred years ago, give or take a few decades. The mayor of Marevale at the time, a man named Master Grancho, possessed the object. It was well-documented in the town's local literature. He called it the [Crystal Grassland Shard]. He claimed it allowed Beast Tamers to fully utilize their power. That was what made many tamers came and settled here."
"What happened to it?" Reina asked. Leaning closer. Her interest was piqued.
"Well, it's said that one day, there was an accident. It was not clear what the accident was. But, Mayor Grancho and all of his family members were found dead."
Gerath took a long breath before continuing. "The town people buried their dead bodies, but the [Crystal Grassland Shard] was gone. It wasn't on him or his family members. And it wasn't in his ranch. Some say a thief stole it. Some others say the earth swallowed it up. There are even people who say his ghost still wanders the old Grancho Ranch, looking for his lost treasure."
"Where is this ranch now?" Jack asked.
"It's a ruin." Gerath said. Waving a hand toward the north. "In the edge of the town. The land went sour after Master Grancho died. Nothing grows there but weeds and thorns. No one goes there anymore. The ranchers say the air is too cold, even in the height of summer. And the animals get spooked if they wander too close."
Jack looked at Reina. Both saw the calculation in each other's eyes. To most, it was a ghost story to entertain travelers. To them, it was a lead. A treasure hunt.
"That sounds suspicious, and it might be connected to the shard. Haven't anyone tried to investigate the place?" Jack asked.
Gerath laughed. A dry, hacking sound. "Many have tried, Lad. Young men with more ambition than sense go to the Thorne Ruins every few years. Most come back with nothing but scratches. A few don't come back at all."
They kept chatting while enjoying their meal. And Gerath kept telling them many interesting tales.
Aella and Rune were full of enthusiasm. Clearly impressed by the stories.
Reina, however, caught Jack's gaze. She knew that look. It meant Jack had found a new objective. A new mystery to unravel. And in Marevale, it seemed, there was indeed much more than just animal ranches and green pastures.
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