Nazayun: The Dragon King’s Tyranny and Deception in A Forgery of Fate

Overview

Nazayun, the Dragon King of Ai’long, is the primary antagonist in Elizabeth Lim’s A Forgery of Fate. He is a tyrannical ruler who holds the dragon pearl of his grandson Elang and has imprisoned Truyan’s father, Arban Saigas, inside a toy boat for five years. Nazayun is a godlike figure who rules the Four Supreme Seas with absolute power, using storms, spies, and demon servants to maintain control. His character embodies the theme of forgery and deception, as he manipulates appearances and oaths to trap his enemies. The outline and evidence depict him as cold, cunning, and deeply fearful of a prophecy that Elang—the half-immortal—will depose him.

Plot Role

Nazayun functions as the central obstacle that drives the entire plot. He is introduced indirectly in Chapter One when Truyan’s father disappears on a secret voyage—later revealed to be a transport of Elang’s dragon scale, which Nazayun intercepts. In Chapter Twelve, Elang reveals that Nazayun holds his pearl and may have imprisoned Truyan’s father, transforming Truyan’s mercenary mission into a personal quest. Nazayun appears in person during Chapter Sixteen as a projection in Ai’long, petrifying a patrol of sharks and jellyfish to demonstrate his power. In Chapter Twenty-Two, Truyan confronts him in the Western Fold, where he tempts her with her father’s freedom in exchange for betraying Elang. His climactic scene occurs in Chapters Thirty-Five and Thirty-Six, where he reveals Shani’s betrayal, confiscates the Scroll of Oblivion, and offers Truyan a devil’s bargain: paint Elang into Oblivion to free her father. Nazayun’s defeat comes in Chapter Forty-Four, when Truyan uses the Scroll of Oblivion and the Touch of Entrapment to send him into Oblivion. His removal allows the new Dragon King Seryu’ginan to take the throne.

Motivations and Traits

Nazayun’s primary motivation is the preservation of his absolute rule. The outline notes that he fears the prophecy of the “half-immortal” who will depose him—a prophecy centered on Elang. He hoards Elang’s dragon pearl to prevent him from becoming a full dragon and breaking his curse, which would make Elang a threat. Nazayun is also sadistic: he traps Arban Saigas in a toy boat not out of necessity but for amusement, as he states in Chapter Thirty-Five: “Your father’s Oblivion of his own, I like to think.” He delights in psychological torture, such as offering Truyan a reunion only to demand betrayal. His godlike arrogance is evident when he boasts, “I have ruled since before the sun and moon were born” (Chapter Twenty-Two). However, he is bound by divine oaths—he cannot kill Truyan because she is Elang’s Heavenly Match, a loophole Truyan exploits in the climax. Nazayun is also paranoid: he deploys spies like Shani and General Caisan, and he petrifies anyone who sympathizes with Elang, such as the former high lady Nahma. His character reveals a deep contradiction: he calls Elang a monster, yet his own actions are monstrous. This irony is a key thematic connection to identity and disguise.

Chronological Arc

Nazayun’s arc spans from his off-page capture of Arban (five years before the main story) to his defeat in Oblivion. The timeline below summarizes key events.

Relationships

Nazayun and Elang: The Dragon King is Elang’s grandfather, but their relationship is one of hatred and fear. Nazayun stole Elang’s pearl—a dragon’s source of power—and has attempted to assassinate Elang multiple times. Elang’s mother, Lanwah, was killed by Nazayun’s assassins while protecting him. Nazayun calls Elang a “monster” and treats him as a threat rather than family. The outline shows that Elang’s entire plan to overthrow Nazayun is driven by revenge and the need to free his people.

Nazayun and Shani: Shani initially serves Nazayun as a spy, betraying Elang and Truyan in Chapter Thirty-Five. She reveals that she once did Nazayun’s bidding, including stealing sangi from Elang’s mother, which led to her death. However, Shani later helps Truyan defeat Nazayun and returns Elang’s memories. Their relationship is built on coercion and obligation.

Nazayun and Truyan: Nazayun sees Truyan as a tool—first as Elang’s bride to exploit, then as a painter to wield the Scroll of Oblivion. He attempts to corrupt her through temptation (offering her father) and intimidation. Truyan ultimately outsmarts him by exploiting his divine oath. Their conflict is the central power struggle of the story.

Nazayun and Queen Haidi: Nazayun publicly accuses Haidi of conspiring with Elang and transforms her into a monster (Chapter Thirty-Four). This action drives Haidi to become an ally of Truyan after Nazayun’s defeat.

Key Decisions and Consequences

1. Stealing Elang’s pearl: Nazayun’s decision to take the pearl gives him control over Elang but also creates the conditions for the prophecy to be fulfilled. As the out-line notes, Elang’s curse can only be broken when the pearl returns to his heart—which it eventually does through Truyan’s love.

2. Imprisoning Arban Saigas: By trapping Truyan’s father, Nazayun thinks he secures leverage over the Painter. Instead, he motivates Truyan to oppose him with greater determination. She vows to “make the Dragon King pay” (Chapter Twenty-Four).

3. Making a divine oath not to kill Truyan: This oath (revealed in Chapter Forty-Four) is Nazayun’s fatal mistake. Truyan deliberately provokes him into trying to break it, allowing her to use the Touch of Entrapment. The consequence is his banishment into Oblivion.

4. Using Shani as a double agent: Nazayun trusts Shani to betray Elang, but Shani’s honor (and her debt to Elang) ultimately leads her to side with Truyan. She helps Truyan learn to paint dragons and eventually returns the stolen memories that help Truyan grieve and grow.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Nazayun is deeply tied to the theme of fate vs. free will. He believes he can control fate by hoarding power, but the prophecy eludes him. Truyan, by contrast, exercises free will by forging a false painting and breaking his oath. His defeat shows that fate cannot be bound by tyranny.

He also embodies sacrificial love indirectly: his fear of love (the pearl that grants Elang a heart) leads him to suppress it, whereas Elang’s willingness to die for Truyan defeats him. The pearl itself symbolizes family loyalty broken—Nazayun betrays his own grandson, while Truyan’s family loyalty drives her to save her father.

Nazayun’s use of deception—appearing as a projection, hiding his true form, making false promises—connects to the theme of forgery and deception. He is a forger of reality, using magic to create illusions of power. Truyan’s counter-forgery (the hidden reflection in Elang’s painting) mirrors and defeats his deception.

Finally, Nazayun’s obsession with the Scroll of Oblivion—a divine artifact that erases anything painted on it—connects to the theme of identity and disguise. He seeks to erase Elang, but Truyan’s forgery saves him, preserving identity over obliteration.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Nazayun call Elang a monster?
   Nazayun believes Elang is a monster because he is a halfling dragon (half-human, half-dragon) and fears the prophecy that Elang will depose him. He says in Chapter Twenty-Two that Elang is “no different from the Thadu you just gored and killed.” This is an explicit fact from the text. Interpretation: Nazayun projects his own monstrous nature onto Elang to justify his cruelty.

2. What is the deal Nazayun offers Truyan in Chapter Thirty-Five?
   Nazayun offers to free Truyan’s father, Arban Saigas, from the toy boat if she paints Elang into Oblivion using the Scroll of Oblivion. This is directly stated in the retrieved evidence. Truyan agrees but secretly plans to deceive the Scroll.

3. How does Nazayun’s divine oath affect the climax?
   Nazayun swore an oath not to harm Truyan because she is Elang’s Heavenly Match. Truyan exploits this by provoking him to attack her, breaking the oath and allowing her to use the Touch of Entrapment via the Scroll. This is shown in Chapter Forty-Four.

4. What does Nazayun do to Queen Haidi at the Luminous Hour festival?
   At Jinsang during the Luminous Hour (Chapter Thirty-Four), Nazayun publicly accuses Queen Haidi of treason and transforms her into a monster. This causes Haidi to attack Truyan, but later Haidi becomes an ally after Nazayun’s defeat.

5. Why does Nazayun keep Elang’s pearl?
   Nazayun keeps Elang’s pearl to prevent Elang from becoming a full dragon and regaining his heart (which would break the curse). This controls Elang and prevents him from fulfilling the half-immortal prophecy. The outline confirms Nazayun holds the pearl, and Chapter Thirty-Six states it was taken long ago.

For more insights, see the ending explained or themes.