Geraldia

Symphony of Sky and Earth

Overview

As the daughter of the Red Dragon Princess Alexia, she is a rare single-child dragon who inherited all her mother's might. As she grew, she became a symbol of mortal strength at its peak.

Chapter One

(18023–18072, Era of Frost Veil) Giratia's mother was Alexia the Red Dragon Prince, the Gift of Heaven, and her father was the famous Fiashel, the City Destroyer.
As a rare single child, Giratia was able to inherit all the Red Dragon Prince's might.
The Red Dragon Prince had a troubled history with the royal family. To secure her daughter's future after her death, she needed the queen's forgiveness.
She took little Giratia to the Flame Festival, hoping her daughter would win first place and become a Dragon Guard, which would establish a blood pact with the queen.
Alexia understood that only by making her daughter a Dragon Guard could she protect Giratia from royal retribution once she returned to the Dragon Mausoleum. The master-servant pact was sacred, even to the queen of dragons.
At the Flame Festival, five-year-old Giratia revealed power that matched any great nation. Her remarkable magic power astonished even the Azure Queen, surpassing all rumors.
Though not a threat now, what if she, like her mother, challenged the royal family during the Divine Dragon Festival as an adult? Could anyone control her then?
Thus, the Azure Queen acknowledged Giratia's loyalty and honored her with the ancient title "Symphony of Sky and Earth." At five, Giratia became the youngest Dragon Guard ever in the Dividraggon Kingdom.
During Ciaran's peaceful era under the Azure Queen, Giratia lacked war experience to aid her development. Yet, her magic power grew rapidly, leading to visible signs of albinism.
This indicated she had an excess of magic power. Her red scales started to crystallize, locking away some of her magic, similar to Wyverns before they evolved.
The Wyverns transformed into humans to enhance magic control, evade albinism, and greatly prolong their lives, resulting in the creation of Glorrians, Mirren's most powerful beings.
Since dragons gained shape-shifting abilities, albinism hasn't occurred. In human form, Glorrians' strength and magic skills were vastly improved, ensuring they wouldn't lose control over their magic.
Giratia's magical strength soared, but despite her magic affinity, she couldn't fully control her body.
Even with the continent's strongest body, she struggled under overwhelming energy. Her immense magical power heightened her strength but led to extreme instability.
Amid the Glorious Evolution, only one in ten Wyverns survived to become Glorrians. Giratia's plight was worse than her ancestors', yet she soon faced more urgent concerns.
In 18064, the Era of Frost Veil, the world's power balance shifted as Danni the Blessed One, child of the Azure Queen, was born as a human.
Giratia, the era's mightiest dragon, had the crucial role of mentoring Yagotta, the Divine Dragon destined to unite the Dividraggon Kingdom and the world.

Chapter Two

"Giratia! Giratia! Why are your eyebrows all white?"
"Giratia! Time to play! Mom says we have to listen to Danni, and I'll get makeup on you."
"Teacher! I'm sleepy and want a story about Modesty… (mumbles)… I don't want to fight…"
Giratia, a young Dragon Guard, had trouble with kids. She often met Danni's complaints with silence, which only increased the Storm Queen's reliance on her.
Danni was told that by seven, she'd carry her race's fate. As the Divine Dragon, she was meant to rule the mortal realm, leading to a difficult childhood.
As Danni's trusted confidant, Giratia allowed the young Dragon Queen to unwind. In private, Danni could tug at her mentor's braids like any other child.
Following the birth of her child, the Azure Queen's strength waned swiftly. After passing her power to Danni, her return to the Dragon Mausoleum will be certain.
By now, Giratia's albinism had progressed so much that she could barely control her body. While not eloquent, she understood she needed to eliminate threats to Danni's rule before the queen passed.
During power shifts, chaos erupted, leading to Mira's defeat by a human. Giratia aimed to show not all dragons supported the Azure Queen.
In 18069, the first Dragon Guard Giratia departed the city seeking vengeance.
The best human stealth was futile against the dragon's perception. Giratia saw them as mere insects and quickly zeroed in on her target, Lottusos.
The battle surprised Giratia; Lottusos's bravery reminded her of her mother. It was that fearless gaze at the Flame Festival that had convinced the Azure Queen to spare young Giratia.
The prolonged chase and battle took a toll on Giratia, urging her to finish the fight quickly. No human could withstand the full force of the strongest dragon, especially if already hurt.
As the dust settled, Giratia's questions lingered: What beliefs could empower a human so deeply?
Despite a century of peace, the benevolent dragon monarch, motivated by vanity and greed, assassinated Danni's father, Prince Stewart. Could a quest for fame inspire such courage?
As that question lingered, Giratia headed back to the Dragon Capital to meet Danni. But even the best can stray; she lost her way.
Deteriorating and drained of magic from the battle, she abandoned large tracking spells. The first Dragon Guard, who had never left Hiliyath, found herself confused.
Preferring not to ask for directions, she confidently went south, unwittingly approaching the human kingdom of Safaril. The once-great dragon became a source of endless humor.

Chapter Three

Even the strongest dragon wouldn't face all of humanity, much less Giratia. Her dragon traits made blending in difficult, so she often wore a hooded cloak, which made her look suspicious.
Fortunately, she encountered a clueless knight. When the knight questioned her, Giratia easily won the duel. From then on, the knight begged to be her student, using excuses like wanting to protect the weak.
Having a knight by her side made Giratia's journey easier. They traveled south for the next month.
"Huh? Dorsk is to the south, and Hiliyath is north. Why go to Hiliyath? That's dragon territory—Giratia's territory."
"I know you're strong, but shouldn't we avoid it?"
"Even Lottusos recently met her end there…"
"They say she's an imperial teacher, and the dragon princess is her student. At least she can't marry. Imagine the children she'd have!"
"If only she were human, I could be her student."
"Diana, student of Giratia, Symphony of Sky and Earth. Doesn't that sound epic? Hehe!"
"Master, your hand is cold. It looks like fighting me was tough. This feels like magical blockage. My sister might know a cure."
"Let's go to Dorsk. She's the best healer—you can trust her."
Could this foolish knight really cure her crystallization?
Giratia's mind kept drifting to Danni. The Queen had little time. If Giratia didn't return before Danni's coronation, the young girl would face far more than external threats.
Giratia's right hand was the only part not yet crystallized. Her condition had worsened, and she was losing control of the crystallized energy.
If her body turned completely white, all her magic would crystallize, turning her into a massive dragon core, forcing her soul out. Even if she reached Hiliyath, she'd only be a burden to Danni.
But staying away from the capital would spread fear, so she risked traveling to Dorsk, hoping to recover before the Queen reached the Dragon Mausoleum.
Giratia found some peace in Dorsk. As she healed, she learned more about humans and started questioning the Divine Dragon's purpose. She needed to tell Danni.
But fate was unkind. The storm came to Dorsk as expected. Humanity saw the Storm Queen's true power—a dark cloud covered the sky.
A young voice cried out, unfitting the somber scene.
"Traitor! Traitor! What do you have left to say?"
Giratia, mostly recovered, instinctively prepared to eliminate the threat. Even though Danni was Yagotta, she couldn't defeat Giratia, the strongest dragon alive.
Giratia held back. As the dragon's claw pierced her chest, she thought, "She's strong now. She no longer needs me."
In 18072, during the Era of Frost Veil, the Storm Queen killed Giratia in Dorsk, Safaril's capital. Though wounded, the Queen survived the siege and returned to Eon.
Later that August, she returned to Hiliyath and disbanded the Dragon Guards. This became known as the Radiant Summer.

Historical Notes

Alexia:
"Grace of Heaven" and "Blood Princess" Alexia (17864–18030, Era of Frost Veil) was the daughter of Prince Asathom the "Terminator." From birth, Alexia exhibited a fiercely bloodthirsty nature. She consumed her two still-developing blood kin immediately after hatching, gaining power far surpassing other dragons. Alexia was a devout believer, to the point of fanaticism. She believed that the weak royals could not spread the glory of the Divine Dragon across Mirren. Only a more powerful sovereign could lead the dragons to conquer Ciaran. In 17937, the Era of Frost Veil, Alexia received the Divine Dragon's blessing during the Divine Dragon Festival. Subsequently, the Red Dragon Prince announced a challenge against the reigning queen, "Ironblaze" Parrel, but was ultimately defeated.

Fiashel:
"Skywing" Fiashel (17830–18022, Era of Frost Veil), son of "Dancing Elf" Roxanne, was a rare male Glorrian. Although he lost the royal selection to his sister Parrel, Fiashel remained the most desirable mate among Glorrian nobility. Fiashel had two previous spouses but did not produce strong offspring until his last wife, "Blood Princess" Alexia. Together, they bore Giratia, a female who nearly ascended to the pinnacle of Glorrians. In 17862, Fiashel gained fame during the siege of Loisford. At that time, the young Green Dragon prince was unstoppable, and the ancient City of Order, Loisford, fell to his flames. Henceforth, Fiashel was known among the allies as the "City Destroyer," though he preferred the title "Skywing." The fall of Loisford marked the inclusion of the entire northern region as part of the dragons' territory, linking the northeast, northwest, and the Nibisi Plains into one vast expanse. The Dividraggon Kingdom became the largest nation since the Sanctgard Empire. This achievement granted Fiashel the right to challenge his sister Parrel, though he ultimately lost. Parrel remained the undisputed strongest sovereign of that era. She was a ruler with unparalleled military achievements in dragon history.

Dragon Guard:
The Dragon Guards trace their origins to the personal guards of "Imperial Star" Stephanie (17205–17311, Era of Frost Veil). The number of Dragon Guards is fixed at seven, and only the victor of the Flame Festival has the opportunity to join. They swear to protect the Dragon Empress for life, are forbidden to marry, and generally do not participate in political affairs. When a Dragon Guard dies, each family selects their bravest warrior to compete in the Flame Festival, and the champion may become the new Dragon Guard, inheriting the title of the previous guard. Throughout history, six Dragon Guards have borne the title "Symphony of Sky and Earth," with Giratia being the last.

Master-Servant Blood Pact:
A bond formed by Stephanie (17205–17311, Era of Frost Veil) with her subordinates, the Master-Servant Blood Pact involves the loyalist smearing their own blood on the master's forehead, hands, and feet. This signifies that the master's goals are to be fulfilled by the loyalist, the master's hands are to guide the loyalist's sword, and the land the master treads is to be conquered by the loyalist. Both parties must fulfill their duties, with betrayal and deceit strictly forbidden. The Divine Dragon blesses this bond, and breaking it results in a curse that persists until the betrayer's bloodline ends. In the 900-year history of the Dividraggon Kingdom, this pact has only been broken by "Blood Throne" Tryfenryr (17573–17694), who cruelly executed his Dragon Guard, Osemela, leading to the extinction of Stephanie's lineage. This act severely weakened the dragon race, causing them to temporarily lose control over the northwest. Eventually, Danni's great-grandmother, Modesty (17672–17837, Era of Frost Veil), quelled the internal strife, defended against the external threats, and became the new ruler of the Glorrians.

Glorrian:
In the dragon race, only a few adult individuals can harness their primal power to transform into a human form. This human form, linked to their bloodline, is unchangeable and helps them better control their energy. Upon transforming, a Glorrian's magical power spreads throughout their body, significantly slowing their blood flow and greatly extending their lifespan. Most Glorrians are female. This ability created an imbalanced social structure within the dragon race. High-ranking Glorrians naturally suppress wyverns, preventing them from reproducing with lower dragon species. To ensure the survival of the species, some female dragons evolved self-reproduction abilities. However, due to the absence of paternal lineage, the offspring are often unhealthy. They may never evolve into Glorrians upon reaching adulthood.

Glorious Evolution:
In 17205, the Era of Frost Veil, adult wyverns deep in the Mountains of Madness began to exhibit widespread albinism, causing their energy to spiral out of control and leading to mass deaths. Dwarves sent to observe were torn apart by the rampant energy. However, their anatomy provided dragons the blueprint for constructing new bodies. In 17212, the first Glorrian was born. The transformation magic greatly enhanced the dragons' control over their internal energy. Maintaining a human form requires substantial magical power. The resulting extended lifespan allowed dragons to venture beyond the Mountains of Madness. This event was marked as the Glorious Evolution.

Modest:
Modesty, the "Patricia King" (17672–17837, Era of Frost Veil), became the ruler after Stephanie's lineage was extinguished in the Era of Frost Veil 17694, which had left the royal family without a successor. The Continental Alliance seized this opportunity to invade the Mountains of Madness. At that time, dragons were few in number and could barely manage each city. The Mountains of Madness, serving as the dragons' stronghold, were weakly defended. It was Modesty's steadfast defense of Patricia Peak that preserved the dragon lineage. Her actions earned her the recognition of the Divine Dragon and the princes, marking the beginning of her rule over the Dividraggon Kingdom. Modesty is the only ruler who ascended to power without a royal selection process. Even Imperial Star Stephanie had to defeat her rival Parautia to claim the throne.

The Alliance of the Impure:
The Alliance of the Impure (17265–18187, Era of Frost Veil) was formed after the Era of Frost Veil 17250 when dragons emerged from the depths of the Mountains of Madness, wreaking havoc on the Eude Kingdom and the Duchy of Altia. The continent's races initially failed to organize an effective resistance. However, due to the dragons' limited numbers, they couldn't maintain control over the conquered territories. Eventually, they were halted outside Eon City. Taking advantage of this, Camilla, the Valley King, formed an alliance with Orccodros, Elves, the Safaril Kingdom, and the Dimar Republic to resist the dragons. Over time, as more forces joined together, the alliance even had a chance to reclaim lost lands. However, the appearance of the Wind Whisperer changed the situation drastically. In 18091, the Parthen Legion broke through Cariblue, leading to the alliance's disintegration.

Hiliyath:
Hiliyath, the "Fog City," is located north of the Mina Forest and is backed by the inland sea. It was once the capital of Lister and was occupied by "King of Truth" Hilariel in the Era of Frost Veil 17412. Afterward, the Dividraggon Kingdom established its capital there.

Safaril:
Safaril (15893–18187, Era of Frost Veil), a powerful southern kingdom of the late Golden Age, was formed by the Duchy of Safaril annexing its suzerain, the Andreia Kingdom. In 16073, it also annexed the Nyara Kingdom, effectively unifying the southern region. During that time, the Valley was weak, the north was in chaos, and the Dwarves were isolated, giving Safaril the potential to become a new unified regime. However, subsequent rulers became complacent, enjoying their comfort until the end of the Golden Age. During the Sacred Dragon War, Safaril's forces played a key role as the main southern army. After the Wildfire Battle (18082–18091), the Orccodros abandoned the Cariblue Fortress, allowing the Parthen Legion to advance south. Safaril bore the brunt, with its capital, Dorsk, falling in September of the same year. Most of the royal family perished, and the Divine Dragon Incident further eroded the church's credibility. Concurrently, the Orccodros' betrayal led most citizens to refuse to head to the nearer Lionheart City, opting instead for the Valley of Apatite. However, the Ansebog lay before them, and countless lives were lost to the swamp.

Dragon Mausoleum:
This sacred burial ground of the dragons is located at the main peak of Patricia. It was built in 17311 by "King of Truth" Hilariel. She personally buried Stephanie's remains at the summit and flew there in dragon form upon her death. This tradition led dragons to return to their ancestral land after death. Some scholars believe this to be essential for receiving the Divine Dragon's blessing. Over the years, a rigorous set of rules evolved. For example, only dragon rulers can be buried at the summit, with a few Dragon Guards honored with this privilege. Most Glorrians are buried on the mountainside, while wyverns and earth dragons are buried at the base and are clearly demarcated by rank.

Diana:
Diana, the "Silver Edge" (18055–18097, Era of Frost Veil), was the crown princess and first in line to inherit the Safaril Kingdom.