Page 3888

Perhaps she was not the most useful source of inspiration, at the moment, even though Zeff did indeed sympathize with the incredibly difficult circumstances that she found herself in.

When Cassius Merlo came along, however, that tradition of leadership was nearly revived, as the man achieved a level of admiration from his kin and fame from abroad that even began to approach that of the Twins. Moreover, he was quite even-tempered and humble. Even though he was the chief architect of Sair’s push for recognition as a formalized nation, he did not openly take credit for it.

Which was perhaps the main reason why the tradition remained a thing of the past. Cassius refused the power being offered to him, believing that a council of elders would indeed be the superior structure of governance.

Zeff wondered how different history might have been, if that one man’s ego had been larger.

Axiolis’ memories of Cassius were really something. The reaper had known him well, had seen the man’s noble heart firsthand many times. To Zeff’s mind, that was a man who embodied the spirit of the Water Dragon as it should be--as everyone hoped for it to be, perhaps.

A ferocious warrior on the battlefield, able to carry himself well against the most powerful fighters of his day, yet still tempered by humility, compassion, and reason.

Compared to that, Zeff knew he was falling well short. Even without the near-absolute authority over his kin that most of the previous Water Dragons enjoyed, Cassius Merlo had led the Rainlords, nonetheless.

With spirit and strength of character, not the binding power of law.

Or at least, that was how it had been during the pinnacle of Cassius’ career. The outward projection that most others saw.

They didn’t get to see him struggling with his demons.

Even Axiolis rarely witnessed it, though it did become more apparent toward the end of his life.

The life which he himself took.

Apparently, he had secretly been begging his reaper, Jostomere, to release his soul for decades. Jostomere kept refusing and trying to help him, but to no avail. In the end, he only managed to strike a bargain with Cassius to continue living at least until another divine inheritor was found.

Which was Rafael Delaguna, Zeff’s immediate predecessor.

Unfortunately for everyone, Rafael did not live very long after Cassius’ death, and there ended up being an empty window of over a hundred years before Zeff stepped into the role.