About a certain return

Part 9

– Are you dead?

– I am immortal. The trouble is that I'm no longer strong enough to catch the tools and reshape the rock, my strengths are the power of the thought and of the imagination...

– I understand. You must be one of the magi... Please, tell me who am I.

– Yes, approved the magi. I will help you to know yourself.

And he was struck dumb.

– Hoy!

– Yes.

– Tell me.

– Why?

– My memories start from the moment I met Master Dirac. How did I get here?

– You have been sold.

– By whom?

– By your own kind. You had a previous existence that you cannot remember because they have cleared all the memories from your mind. Now you are under the influence of some hallucinating drinks. They give you the power to feel the geniuses' world.

– How is the world I came from?

– It's different...

"Thank you." The old men told me about the civilization of another world, a parallel world that could be better that it was for the time being, even it was never wonderful. He narrated the legend of the unhappy love between Deea and Dan... Their rendezvous was a disaster. As a result, the people from upstairs moved underground... Just like that! What a fantasy! He spoke about the Immortal Spirit, about Shape and Matter, about the mutants, and about their destiny... "You are a Dart. Your Forefather is Azaiel and the horse with long hair..."

– Oh, please spare me! You confused me so...!

– You are not ready yet, you are unprepared...

"Prepared for what?" "For the great test." I totally forgot. I had to get to Defina, the witch. I promised it to Diana and had to keep my word. I got out of the shelter and went to a cross roads. From there three footpaths started, apart from the one I followed to get there. "Where are you, great witch?", I conjured. But the beauty didn't want to hear me, so I took the road onto the right. Soon I got in front of a wall and turned back but couldn't find an exit as another impenetrable wall was formed there. Was I on the wrong way? I went back, turned around, looked for a way out but got lost inside unknown corridors, I walked uphill, then downhill and I finally understood I was inside a... maze, a Labyrinth, as it is called the building that makes feel tired and lose all hope the victims. It was the ideal place for the Beast to harass its prey. And sometimes I can really do it, I can really foresee, but only my troubles! I heard the terrible roar of the creature. It was a cluttered sound so frightening that I was frozen with horror. Thankfully, the beast was nowhere near and I had time to come to my senses. To keep on walking or to wait made no difference at all so I went forward when... I fell into a deep hole. My fall lasted so long that I had time to think about Diana, Defina, the rugged rocks I was just about to fall on, about the god Dan... And it seemed that Dan, in his well-wishing spirit, placed his hand under me and slowed down my fall... and therefore I almost broke my bones falling down on the cave's floor. Oh! Before me stood, leaning on its tail, the Dragon himself: what are you mortal doing on my lands?

– I'm... looking for Defina the witch... I got lost. I had no intention to cause you any inconvenience, Great Dragon.

– But you've really disturbed me! You've really upset me! You've crumbled my wonderful gallery, that I struggled to make it perfect. I must punish you. How do you want to be punished? You chose it!

– Wouldn't it be better to leave me unpunished? I mumbled.

– I'll ask you a question... I always ask my prey before gobbling it up: Why do you, my tasty lunch, believe I dig these galleries, as long as they are already in great number and I can easily find something to eat inside them?

– And if I give you the right answer, could you direct me to the witch's place?

– Of course. You have my word.

Though there was no light inside the gallery, I could see as I was glowing myself, but not as much as the luciels, with much less brightness. I could see the animal in front of me with its red and horn-like crest. Now and then, smoke was billowing from its nostrils and its sly smile was really terrifying.

– I believe you're looking for your match, Great Dragon...

– What match, you dunderhead?!

Then I saw its eyes protruding and a small fire jet coming out of his nostrils.

– Your female...

– I am a female...

– Oh, forgive me, but you have a deep voice, unlike the females of my species.

– Ah! Of course... You are not at all visionary, dummy. The Dragons are like hermaphrodites. They live in solitude and cannot easily stand one another. However, they don't decline a pleasant company. Though stupid, you are different from the disgusting dwarfs. Something tells me you are harmless and sensitive. Stay with me, you have no place to go anyway. I will spare you if you'll not disappoint me. What's your name?

– I have no name. The dwarfs call me: Dart.

– Hah! Darth or an arrow? An arrow? Oh! Dart it's the generic name given to prisoners. Have you been captured in battle?

– I cannot remember. I know nothing about my past. I do not know my identity. Great Dragon, this is what I wanted to find out from the witch...

– If she is a nice witch. But if she is evil?

– I have no idea! I have nothing to lose anyway.

– Hah! This life maybe... Why do you want to know your past life if you no longer belong to that existence?

– You mean that it's not the existence that belongs to me, but I belong to the existence?

This is what I said? Hah! What did I say? I'm very superficial... andabsent-minded. Go, therefore, and find out you roots!