"Isaac."
He answered at last, slitted eyes rising to meet the dull maroon orbs of the armored paladin.
"...What?" Ilvir responded, his brow furrowed in confusion. "'Isaac?' Pardon my intrusion, but why would a dragon such as yourself have such a… Human name?"
"Your curiosity seems to be endless. Perhaps I'll elaborate once you've proven your worth." The dragon muttered, massaging his neck with a claw. His golden eyes remained on Ilvir all the while, the human unsure of how to reply.
"O-Oh…" Ilvir stuttered, although he quickly regained his composure. "Very well then... 'Isaac,' you may call me Ilvir."
He extended a hand, black claws and red skin glistening as the light graced them.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Ilvir." The reptilian titan replied with a deadpan tone, draconic gaze shifting from the paladin to examine the ethereal library once more.
Ilvir withdrew his hand.
"S-Say, Isaac…" Ilvir began once more, the silver-scaled dragon turning to face him in mild annoyance.
"Since you saved me, I've been curious to know about how life has changed… You know, concerning the Order of Paladins and our Kingdom… Iazaroa."
The dragon's head tilted, eyes closing in thought. "King Astrite... You said you were a Paladin under him, did you not?"
"Y-Yes. I enlisted under his service during the Summer of his Third Year. Not long after, I and a group of High Paladins were sent to this blasted crypt to investigate reports of odd beasts."
"...O-Or at least, that's what I remember."
Isaac's gaze grew solemn, slitted eyes drifting upwards to the stained glass windows of the library. "...Do you really wish to know how much has changed? I can't guarantee the knowledge I'm about to impart would do well for one such as you."
"I... I have to know." Ilvir whispered with pursed lips, eyes darting down for a short moment before seeing eye to eye with the dragon in earnest plead.
"I beg of you... please."
The dragon's eyes closed, head turning away from the paladin.
"Very well."
"Astrite ruled Iazaroa for eleven years; he died fourteen years ago after drinking poison. His son, Vernus, ascended the throne soon after and was crowned king. It is currently Spring the Fourteenth Year under Vernus' reign.
Ilvir's face grew pale, beads of sweat forming across his face.
"W-What...? Fourteen years?"
The dragon nodded, tone soft yet stern.
"To this day, none are sure if Astrite's death was the result of assassination, or by his will, however…"
"Some scholars theorize that Astrite felt a pang of unending guilt towards a disaster that occurred at this very crypt in his third year of rule, a guilt that he carried to the grave."
"Y-You can't mean…"
The dragon's gaze bore into him, cold as stone.
"The Corruption was a mere seedling back then, or so it has been told in Iazaroa and throughout the continent of Teilune." The dragon recited, claws clicking against the floorboards as he paced in thought. "The founders of The Order of Paladins were said to have driven the Corruption far beneath the earth, into the depths of this very crypt a millennia ago with the aid of the Goddess of Purity."
Isaac ceased his movement, refocusing his gaze on Ilvir.
"As you might know, however, Corrupted were not uncommon to witness throughout Teilune. The ones that were spotted were quickly hunted and killed by The Order before they could become a threat to civilians and cause mass hysteria."
"Twenty-three years ago, a group of High Paladins were dispatched to this crypt to seal off the flow of Corruption. The original seal that had been placed had steadily waned over the past hundred or so years."
"...Tell me, do you have any recollection of what happened here after you'd been sent alongside your fellow High Paladins?" Isaac questioned, settling his narrowed eyes on the armored human.
Ilvir remained silent, his maroon eyes glazed over.
"As reports note, a single beast emerged from the depths of the crypt as the Paladins drew close; torn scraps of armor and clothing adorning its monstrous body. The distinct garb of a High Paladin."
"The unsuspecting squadron of warriors were quickly overwhelmed, the beast's abilities far surpassing that of their own. The minority that weren't killed were transformed, and thus was a pack of the newly birthed beastmen formed."
"With the sealing ritual botched, the Corruption had been fully awakened. With a majority of the High Paladins wiped out, it spread akin to a wildfire; for once the process began, Corruption was irreversible. Rare sightings became common, and mass panic spread throughout the continent of Teilune."
"While the onslaught of Corruption has slowed in the two decades since the disaster, the effects are felt to this very day. Towns are guarded day and night, and while they've recovered from the incident, The Order of Paladins has been stretched thin due to increased sightings and cases of transformation."
Isaac's stoic gaze returned to Ilvir, the man's clawed hands tearing at his hair. His eyes were
dull, the gaze of a broken man.
Isaac sighed, snapping Ilvir out of his guilt with a growl. "There's nothing more to discuss on this topic, Ilvir. Time heals all wounds, and that is why I am here."
"Do you understand?"
Ilvir remained silent, his breaths shaky. His head rose, hesitant gaze meeting the golden eyes of the silver dragon.
"Tell me, Isaac… Why did you come here? Was it by orders of King Vernus?"
For a moment Isaac hesitated, breath caught in his throat.
"...The Corruption offers only pestilence to this world. I resolved long ago that I would find the source and purge its foul existence from our world, no matter what."
"I-I see." Ilvir stuttered, a hint of hesitation present in his voice. "As I pledged, I will aid you on your journey. It's the only way I can..."
Trailing off, he allowed his maroon eyes to close.
The dragon turned to face the assortment of monochrome bookcases once more, not before craning his neck to glance at the human once more.
"Ilvir, when we return to the surface and Iazaroa I cannot guarantee what will happen to you. But know, that by helping me destroy the Corruption, you've already proven you're more than you seem. Do not let yourself be plagued by guilt for what you may have done as a Corrupted beast or over Astrite's death."
"I… Thank you, Isaac."