Reborn Evolution
Page 48
'How?'-a
His-aEmpyrean-aRain-aNet-ahad-anever-afailed-ahim.-aIt-awas-aan-aincredibly-acomplex-aspell,-abut-aone-athat-aperfectly-amatched-athe-aLaw-aof-aRain-athat-ahe-astudied,-aa-aLaw-athat-abranched-aoff-afrom-athe-aLaw-aof-aWater.-aIt-awas-aextremely-apowerful,-aand-aits-astrongest-aability-alied-ain-aSealing-athings.-a
His-asenses-awere-aincredibly-aintuned-awith-ahis-anet-awhen-ahe-acast-ait,-athe-aspell-aunder-ahis-acomplete-acontrol.-a
He-ahad-acommanded-athe-afully-acharged-anet-ato-adescend,-aintending-aon-aSealing-athe-aFire-aEnergy-ain-athe-aAnomaly's-aattack-aand-ausing-ait-ato-ahelp-apower-ahis-anet-ato-atrap-athe-agreat-adragon.-aThis-awould-aleave-ait-avulnerable,-afor-aa-abrief-aperiod-aof-atime,-ato-aProbus'-aBlank-aSlash-aSword-aStyle.-a
The-aplan-ashould-ahave-abeen-afoolproof.-a
Yet,-aat-athe-aexact-amoment-athat-ahis-anet-ahad-amade-acontact-awith-athe-agaping-aball-aof-afire,-asomething-aodd-ahad-ahappened.-a
The-arampant-aenergy-ain-athe-ahuge-ablaze-ahad-aseemed-ato-ashift,-aslightly.-a
A-agood-adeal-aof-athat-aenergy-acollided-awith-athe-anet-aand-awas-asubsequently-aSealed.-a
But-aat-aleast-aa-athird-aof-ait-asomehow-amanaged-ato-aslip-athrough,-aand-acontinue-aunabated.-a
It-awas-asomething-athat-ashould-ahave-abeen-aimpossible.-a
His-anet-awas-aby-ano-ameans-aperfect.-aHe-aconsidered-ahimself-aa-amaster-ain-ausing-athe-aspell,-aand-awas-aable-ato,-aon-aaverage,-aseal-a98%-aof-athe-aenergy-aof-aany-abeing-aor-aobject.-aIf-ahe-awas-aextremely-aunlucky,-ait-awas-apossible-ahe'd-aonly-aseal-a95%-aor-a94%.-a
But,-asomehow,-ahis-anet-ahad-aseemed-ato-aalmost-awillingly-amiss-aa-amassive-apart-aof-athe-aenergy,-aSealing-aonly-aaround-a67%-aor-a68%-aof-ait.
Somehow,-athrough-asheer-aluck-aor-afate,-aroughly-a32%-ato-a33%-aof-athe-aenergy-ain-athe-aattack-ahad-amanaged-ato-aslip-athrough,-acompletely-aundeterred.-a
As-ahe-alooked-aat-athe-afireball-ablaze-aby,-ahis-ahands-afell-ato-athe-aside,-alistless.-a
He-ahad-afailed,-afor-athe-afirst-atime-ain-ahis-alife.-a
The-aever-present-agleam-aof-amirth-ahe-aalways-ashared-awith-aProbus-aseemed-ato-afade-afrom-ahis-aeyes-aas-ahe-awatched-athe-aattack-afly-atowards-athe-acity,-atowards-athe-aunwitting-acivilians,-aunable-ato-acome-aup-awith-aa-aresponse.-a
..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..
Three-aseconds-ahad-apassed.-a
In-athat-atime,-aDrago-ahad-aactivated-ahis-aCondense-aAbility-aand-adashed-aforward,-acharging-atowards-athe-afireball.-aIt-ahad-abeen-alaunched-adown-aat-aan-aangle,-aand-awas-anow-ablazing-aalong-anext-ato-athe-aground-atowards-athe-acity.-a
His-aIfrit-aform-awas-apowerful,-aand-ahad-aa-amix-aof-aFire-aEnergy-aand-aLife-aEnergy-arunning-athrough-aits-aveins.-aUsing-athe-aCondense-aAbility-ahad-aa-asimilar-afunction-afor-aif-ahe-aused-ait-ain-ahis-aLesser-aThrone-aDemon-aform.-a
The-araw-aElemental-aEnergy-arunning-ain-ahis-aveins-aCondensed,-avastly-aincreasing-ahis-apower.-a
-
Increased-aEnergy-aLevel:-a54,027
-
A-asmall-anotification-aappeared-ain-ahis-amind,-ainforming-ahim-aof-ahow-astrong-ahe-aroughly-awas-ain-athis-aCondensed-aform.-a
Far-astronger-athan-ahe-ahad-apreviously-abeen,-ahis-abody-acontaining-aa-ahuge-alevel-aof-astrength.-a
The-aEnergy-aLevel-aof-aa-acreature-awas-aa-agood-aestimate-afor-athe-araw-apower-ait-aheld.-aFor-avirtually-aall-abeings,-athis-aincluded-athe-apower-aof-aLaw-athat-athey-ainfused-ainto-atheir-aattacks-aand-asoul.-a
The-aphysique-aof-aa-abeing-acould-aonly-abecome-aso-apowerful,-aafter-aall.-aThis-awas-athe-acommonly-aaccepted-abelief-ain-athe-a30,000-aWorlds.-a
Only-aby-ausing-athe-apower-aof-aLaw-acould-aone-avastly-aincrease-athe-apower-aof-atheir-asoul,-atheir-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix,-aand-atheir-astrength,-ausually-athrough-amagic-aor-amystic-amartial-aarts.-a
Drago's-aEnergy-aLevel-arepresented-athe-amaximum-aamount-aof-araw,-aphysical-astrength-ahe-acould-aoutput,-awithout-aborrowing-aenergy-afrom-athe-alaws-aof-athe-auniverse.-aHe-acurrently-awas-aunable-ato-ause-athe-apower-aof-aLaw,-ahaving-anever-agotten-athe-achance-ato-aactually-atake-athe-atime-aneeded-ato-astudy-ait.-a
As-ahe-aanalyzed-athe-anotification,-ahis-aface-aremained-aneutral.-aHis-aCondensed-aform-awas-astrong,-abut-abarely-ahalf-aas-astrong-aas-athe-afemale-awarrior-athat-ahad-agotten-anearly-adestroyed-aby-athe-adragon-awith-aease.-a
Two-aseconds-aremained-atill-athe-amassive-afireball-areached-ahim,-athe-atime-aslightly-alessened-adue-ato-ahim-arushing-atowards-ait.-a
He-acurrently-astood-aroughly-a800-ameters-aaway-afrom-athe-acity-awall,-ahis-afeet-afirmly-aplanting-ainto-athe-aground.-a
He-atook-aa-adeep-abreath-aas-ahe-alooked-aup-aat-athe-agiant-ablaze,-ahis-aheart-asteady.-a
When-ahe-ahad-agained-athis-aform,-athe-abody-aof-aan-aIfrit,-aand-athe-ainstinctive-aknowledge-athat-acame-awith-ait,-aDrago-ahad-ainstantly-aadapted-ahis-aplans,-aknowing-awhat-ahe-aneeded-ato-ado.-a
Ifrits,-ain-aterms-aof-aphysical-aprowess,-awere-anot-aparticularly-amighty-aDemons-aamong-athe-amostly-aextinct-aDemon-aRace.-a
Their-anatural-aphysical-agrowth-aput-atheir-astrength,-aat-amaximum,-ato-aaround-athe-aEarly-aLord-aClass.-aCompared-ato-aother-aLord-aClass-aor-aeven-aKing-aClass-aDemons,-athey-awere-aquite-aweak.-a
That-asaid,-athey-adid-ahave-aa-aspecialty,-aan-aaspect-athat-aset-athem-aapart.
Their-amastery-aof-aLife-aEnergy-agave-athem-aincredibly-apowerful-aregenerative-acapabilities,-aas-awell-aas-ainnate-aability-ato-alearn-aLife-aMagic-aand-aits-arelated-afields.-a
But,-amore-aspecifically,-atheir-aincredible-amastery-aof-aFire-aEnergy-agave-athem-avirtual-aimmunity-ato-afire-abased-aattacks.-a
And,-aeven-amore-athen-athat,-ait-agave-athem-aincredible-acontrol-aover-athe-aelement-aof-aFire.-a
In-athe-apast,-ahundreds-aof-ayears-aago-awhen-aDemons-astill-awalked-athe-a30,000-aworlds,-athe-amighty-aIfrits-aof-aold-awere-aknown-aby-aa-adifferent-aname-ato-asome.-a
The-aRulers-aof-aFlame.-a
A-asecond-apassed.-a
Drago-araised-ahis-aarmored-ahands-aupward,-afiercely-afeeling-athe-adevastating-aheat-ain-athe-aflames-athat-awere-acrashing-atowards-ahim.-a
His-aconcentration-adidn't-awaver-aas-ahe-abent-ahis-aknees-aslightly,-aand-atook-aone-afinal-abreath.-a
The-alast-asecond-afaded.-a
The-aworld-aseemed-ato-astand-astill-aas-athe-agargantuan-ameteor-aof-afire-aslammed-ainto-athe-aproud-afigure-aof-aa-asingle-aIfrit,-astanding-aalone-ain-athe-aface-aof-adeath.
.
###-aChapter-a56-a--aSuccess
The-amoment-aDrago's-ahands-atouched-athe-afireball,-aa-anear-ainvisible-alayer-aof-aenergy-aseemed-ato-acoat-athe-afront-aof-athe-amassive-ameteor.-a
The-aintangible-aAbility-aIfrits-aheld.-aFire-aSense,-athe-aAbility-ato-amanipulate-aand-asense-afire.-aIt-awas-aa-astronger-aversion-aof-athe-apower-aFire-aImps-aand-athe-aFire-aAspected-acreatures-aheld.-a
It-aallowed-aDrago-ato-alatch-aonto-athe-ameteor-aof-aflame-aas-aif-ait-awere-aa-asolid-aobject.-aThe-aenergy-awasn't-asomething-aDrago-acould-aabsorb,-ait-awas-adirected-aand-apowerful,-aunlike-athe-aremnant-aenergy-aon-athe-afemale-avampire's-abody.-a
Drago's-aarms-atrembled-aas-ahe-aleaned-aforward,-amuscles-abulging.-aHis-alegs-adug-ainto-athe-aground,-asinking-aan-aentire-afoot-ainto-athe-arocky-aearth.-aThe-astone-abeneath-ahim-acracked-aand-ashattered,-astone-aand-adebris-aflying-ainto-athe-aair.-a
WHOOOSH
In-aa-asingle-asecond,-aDrago's-abody-asmashed-abackwards-a50-ameters.-aHis-alegs-awere-afirmly-adug-ainto-athe-aearth,-aand-aas-aa-aresult,-ahe-aleft-atwo-a50-ameter-along-agouges-ain-athe-aground.-aHe-apulled-aup-aevery-aiota-aof-astrength-ahe-ahad-aas-ahe-apushed-aback-aagainst-athe-ameteor,-athe-aunforgiving-aheat-asearing-aforth.-a
'It's-aheavy.'-aDrago's-amind-awas-ahazy-aas-ahe-awas-apushed-aback-aanother-a50-ameters.-aIn-ahis-aCondensed-aform,-ahis-abody-awas-afar-astronger-aand-afar-amore-aresilient,-aallowing-ahim-ato-asurvive-athe-aburden-ahe-awas-aholding,-aat-aleast-afo
r-anow.-a
This-agiant-ameteor-ahad-aan-aincredible-aamount-aof-aforce-abehind-ait,-aas-awell-aas-athe-asearing-aheat-ainfused-awith-athe-aPower-aof-aLaw.-aA-aregular-acreature-awould-abe-aincinerated-amerely-aby-atouching-ait.-aEven-ain-ahis-aCondensed-aform,-athe-aonly-areason-aDrago-awas-aable-ato-ahandle-ait-awas-abecause-aof-ahis-aunique-arace,-aas-aan-aIfrit.-a
"ARRRGH!"
Drago-ayelled-aout-aloud-aas-ahe-awas-athrown-aback-aanother-ahundred-ameters,-athe-agouges-ain-athe-aearth-aexpanding.-aHis-aarms-ahad-agrown-anumb,-aas-ahad-ahis-alegs.-aHis-abones-awere-astarting-ato-acreak,-adangerously-aclose-ato-abreaking.-aBlood-abegan-ato-aseep-aout-aof-aa-afew-asmall-acracks-aon-ahis-askin,-avaporizing-ainstantly-ain-athe-aheat.-a
'It's-atoo-amuch.'-aHe-athought,-apanting.-aHis-aeyes-awere-abeginning-ato-acloud-aover,-ahis-amind-aclose-ato-acollapsing.-aThe-aawe-inspiring-aheat-aand-apressure-awas-afar-atoo-amuch-afor-ahim-ato-abear.-a
'I-acan't-astop-athis.'-aThe-arealization-adawned-aon-ahim.-a
The-aattack-awas-asimply-atoo-astrong.
'Everyone-ain-athe-acity-ais-agoing-ato-adie-abecause-aof-ame.'-a
His-abody-awas-apushed-aback-aanother-ahundred-ameters.-a
And-athen-aanother-ahundred-ameters.-a
Halfway-ato-athe-acity-awall.-a
Fire-ablazed-aout-aof-ahis-aarms-aand-alegs,-aa-aphysical-asign-aof-aexertion-aas-ahe-astruggled-aand-astrained,-ato-ano-aavail.-a
'No…'-aHe-arefused-ato-agive-aup.-a
His-amind-araced-aahead-aof-ahim,-aanalyzing-aeverything.-aHis-ahazy-amental-astate-amade-athinking-adifficult,-afogging-aup-ahis-ahead.-aAs-ahe-astruggled-ato-astop-athe-ameteor,-aa-astray-athought-apopped-aup.-a
A-avision-aof-aone-aof-ahis-afirst-aPhysics-alessons.-a
The-amemory-awas-ablurry,-abut-aone-apoint-astood-aout-ain-aparticular-ato-aDrago.-a
'An-aobject-ain-amotion-awill-aremain-ain-amotion,-aunless-aacted-aupon-aby-aan-aexternal-aforce.'-a
Newton's-aFirst-aLaw-aof-aMotion.-a
This-amassive-ameteor-awas-aheading-astraight-afor-athe-acity.
If-aDrago-awanted-ato-astop-ait,-ahe-awould-ahave-ato-acreate-aan-aequal-aamount-aof-aforce.-aA-asheer-aimpossibility-afor-ahim.
But-awhat-aif-ahe-adidn't-atry-ato-astop-ait-aat-aall?
Stopping-ait-amay-abe-aimpossible-afor-ahim…
But-awhat-aabout-asimply-achanging-athe-adirection-ait-awas-amoving-ain,-ajust-aslightly?-aThe-amotion-aof-athe-afireball-awas-apurely-aforward,-awith-ano-adownward-aimpetus.-aAny-adownward-aforce-ait-ahad-ahad-abeen-aneutralized-awhen-ait-acollided-awith-athe-aground-aand-abegan-ablazing-aforward.-a
His-aconsciousness-alatched-aonto-athe-aidea-alike-aa-alost-aman-aat-asea-agrasped-aonto-aa-alifeboat,-arefusing-ato-alet-ago.-a
His-alegs-astill-adug-ainto-athe-aground,-asteam-aescaping-aout-aof-athem-adue-ato-aexertion.-a
However,-ainstead-aof-atrying-ato-aforcibly-astop-athe-afireball,-ahe-abegan-ato-afocus-ahis-aentire-astrength-aon-ablasting-ait-aupwards.-a
The-amomentum-aof-athe-ameteor-awas-afocused-astraight-atowards-athe-acity.-a
Drago's-asank-adeeper-ainto-athe-aground-aas-ahe-alifted-awith-aall-ahis-amight,-awilling-ahis-abody-ato-apull-aout-ahis-aevery-alast-areserve.-aHis-alungs-aheaved-aand-ahis-avision-awent-acompletely-ablack,-ablinded-afrom-athe-aeffort-aas-ahe-araised-athe-aenormous,-agaping-afireball-aabove-ahim,-aand-aphysically-athrew-ait-aupward.-a
The-aearth-abelow-ahim-ahad-atransformed-ainto-aa-amassive,-atwenty-ameter-awide-acrater,-athe-aentire-aweight-aof-athe-ameteor-aresting-aon-aDrago's-ashoulders-afor-athe-abriefest-amoment.-a
WHOOSH
He-acollapsed,-afalling-ato-athe-aground.-aHis-avision-aremained-ablack,-ahis-abody-atrembling-afrom-aexertion.-a
A-aringing-anoise-aechoed-ain-ahis-ahears-aas-ahis-avision-agradually-areturned.-aHe-acoughed-aup-ablood-aas-ahe-aforced-ahimself-ato-astand,-amaintaining-ahis-aCondensed-astate.-a
As-ahis-asight-arestored-aitself,-ahe-aturned-ahimself-aaround,-ahis-aheart-ain-ahis-athroat-aas-ahe-alooked-aat-athe-acity-abehind-ahim.-a
The-acolossal-ameteor-aof-aflame-athat-ahad-athreatened-ato-aannihilate-athe-acity,-aand-aeveryone-ain-ait,-awas-ablazing-athrough-ajust-abarely-aa-ahundred-ameters-aabove-athe-acity.-aThe-adistance-awas-aexpanding-aas-ait-amoved-ahigher-aand-ahigher,-aredirected-abecause-aof-aDrago's-aefforts.-a
The-apowerful-aheat-ait-asent-aoff-ainjured-asome,-abut-adue-ato-athe-adistance,-aand-abecause-athe-aattack-awas-aweakened,-athe-anumber-aof-acasualties-awas-adrastically-alow.-a
A-afew-apalace-atowers-aexploded,-adestroyed-ain-athe-ablaze,-abut-athe-amajority-aof-athe-acity-awas-aleft-aunscathed.-a
'Hah!'-aDrago-amentally-acheered,-aa-arush-aof-ahappiness-abuzzing-ainto-ahis-amind.-a
He-aput-aa-aserious-aface-aon,-ahowever,-aas-ahe-aturned-aaround,-alooking-atowards-athe-adirection-awhere-athe-afireball-ahad-acome-afrom.-a
At-aa-alarge-adragon-acovered-ain-abrilliant-aorange-aflames.-a
"Brother,-awhat-ais-athis?-aYou-astopped-amy-aattack?"-a
"My-aperfection-afor-athem,-ayou-ahave-ataken-ait-aback?"-a
The-aEleventhborn's-avoice-awas-astrangely-acalm-aas-ait-aflew-adown-aand-alanded,-aignoring-athe-avampires.-aIt-astill-agave-aoff-aa-amighty,-aarrogant-aAura,-aone-athat-awas-acompletely-aunperturbed.-aThe-ainjuries-ait-ahad-ataken-ahad-aalready-afully-ahealed,-anot-aa-atrace-aof-ablood-aon-ait.-a
Drago-astepped-aforward-atowards-athe-agreat,-ablazing-adrake,-ahis-avoice-acalm-aand-acollected.-aHis-abody's-acondition-awas-aanything-abut-agood,-asuffering-aseveral-acracked-abones-aand-atorn-amuscles.-aHe-aignored-aall-aof-athat,-ahowever,-aputting-aon-aa-afacade-aof-aconfidence.-a
Words-aseemed-ato-aflow-afrom-ahis-atongue-aas-ahe-aresponded-ato-athe-adragon,-areplying-ain-akind,-ausing-athe-asame-aharsh-aDraconic-alanguage-athe-aEleventhborn-aused-awhen-ait-aaddressed-ahim.-a
"My-abrother,-awe-ajourney-afor-aperfection,-ayes,-ait-ais-atrue.
But-awhat-ais-aperfection-aif-ait's-ashared-awith-ajust-aa-afew?
Spreading-apain-aand-adeath,-athe-asins-awe-aaccrue.
It-acheapens-aperfection,-afor-ame-aand-afor-ayou.
You-acould-aburn-ayour-aflames,-aand-aspread-athem-aanew.
Or-astop,-aand-aconsider,-athe-athings-awe-amight-ado.
Perhaps-aperfection-acan-abe-afound-ain-afire,-aa-ablaze-aaskew.
But-awhat-aof-aIce?-aEarth?-aLight?-aOther-aelements-ain-alieu.
Consider-athis,-athen,-abefore-ayou-ablaze-ayour-adebut.
Seek-aperfection-awithout-akilling,-aa-asimple-abreakthrough."-a
As-athe-alast-awords-aleft-ahis-amouth,-aDrago-afelt-aa-atwisting-asensation-aspread-aover-ahim.-a
Reality-abegan-ato-adistort,-afor-ajust-athe-abriefest-amoment-abefore-ahis-aeyes.-aDrago-afelt-ahis-asoul-aseem-ato-ashake,-aa-afeeling-ahe-ahad-afelt-aonce-abefore.-a
The-afeeling-avanished-aas-aquickly-aas-ait-acame,-aalmost-acompletely-aundetectable.-a
The-agiant-adragon-astood-afacing-aDrago.-aIt-awas-asilent-afor-aa-afew-amoments,-aits-agaze-aboring-ainto-aDrago-aas-aif-ait-acould-asee-ahis-avery-asoul.-a
The-acrackles-aof-athe-avarious-afires-aspread-aout,-aechoing-ain-athe-astill-aair.-aIn-athe-abackground,-aDrago-acould-amake-aout-ascreams-aand-ayells-ainside-athe-acity-aas-apeople-acowered-ain-aterror,-athe-amassive-afireball-athat-ahad-ajust-apassed-ashocking-amany.-a
The-amighty-aAura-athat-asurrounded-athe-aEleventhborn-aabruptly-abegan-ato-afade.-a
"Your-awords…-aI-amust-aconsider.-aYou-ahave-agiven-ame-athought."
"A-abattle-awas-ahad,-aone-athat-awas-ahard-afought."-a
"A-ajourney,-aI-ashall-atake,-ato-aseek-afor-aperfection."-a
"Other-aelements-aI-ashall-aseek,-athe-apeak-aI-ashall-athreaten."
The-aenormous-adragon-aflushed-aits-awings-aout-aas-aits-avoice-athundered,-ashaking-athe-aair-aitself.-aStreams-aof-aorange-afire-ablasted-aoff-aits-awings-abehind-ait-ain-aa-ahundred-ameter-awide-apillar.-a
"Younger-abrother,-astay-astrong,-aand-amay-ayour-ajou
rney-ahold-atrue."
"To-aa-aworld-aof-aice-aI-ashall-atravel,-aI-abid-ayou-aadieu."-a
The-aEleventhborn-aleapt-aup-ainto-athe-aair,-aits-awings-ablazing-abehind-ait.-aA-asmall-atornado-aof-afire-ascattered-aaround-athe-aair-abelow-ait,-abuffeting-aDrago-aslightly.-a
WHOOSH
He-aforced-ahimself-ato-ahold-ahis-afooting-aas-ahe-awatched-athe-agreat-adragon-atake-aoff,-ahis-aconfident-avisage-anever-acracking.
Internally,-ahe-awasn't-apanicking-aeither.-aHe-awas-asimply-atoo-atired-ato-acare-aanymore.-a
The-amassive-adrake-aflew-ahigh-ainto-athe-asky-aand-abegan-ato-aturn,-aits-abody-ashimmering-aas-ait-aleft-athe-aarea,-aheading-aoff-atowards-aanother-aCity-aState,-atowards-aa-adistant-aWorld-aBridge.-a
Drago-awatched-athe-adrake-afly-aoff,-aslowly-aturning-ainto-aa-adot-ain-athe-adistance.-a
He-asmiled,-alooking-adown-aat-ahis-afists.-a
He'd-awon.-a
Fatigue-aand-aexhaustion-abegan-ato-acrash-adown-aupon-ahim.-aA-afew-amental-aalerts-awent-aoff-ain-ahis-ahead-aas-aAusra-ainformed-ahim-ahe-awas-aabout-ato-afall-aunconscious,-apartly-adue-ato-aa-abacklash-afrom-ahis-aforced-aEvolution-agrowth.-aThere-awas-ano-arisk-aof-adeath-afrom-athis,-abut-afalling-aunconscious-ain-athis-aform-aoutside-athe-acity-awasn't-aexactly-aan-aideal-asituation.-a
His-abody-atwisted-aback-atoward-athe-acity-aas-ahe-abegan-ato-acollapse,-aunconsciousness-asweeping-aover-ahim.-a
The-alast-athing-ahe-asaw-abefore-adarkness-atook-aover-awas-aan-aimage-aof-athat-afemale-avampire-ahe-ahad-asaved-arushing-atowards-ahim,-ablood-aspurting-aout-aof-aher-amouth-aas-ashe-aignored-aher-ainjuries-ato-acatch-ahim-abefore-ahe-ahit-athe-aground.-a
..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..
On-aa-aworld-afar-afrom-aTaprisha…
Tens-aof-athousands-aof-astone-atowers-arose-ainto-athe-asky,-aseveral-adozen-ameters-athick,-aand-ahundreds-aof-ameters-ahigh.-aEach-atower-awas-abuilt-aout-aof-aa-apure,-ablack-arock,-aworn-adown-aby-athe-apassage-aof-atime-aand-athe-aever-present-awind-athat-ablew-aon-athis-aworld.-a