Throughout history, cultures around the world have told and created stories of powerful inhuman creatures. Who were able to assume human form. They were used in the past to explain natural disasters disrupting civilization. Some explained as the ‘wrath’ of the gods or similar entities, showcasing mankind’s complicated relationship with nature. One such story is the manga one-shot GALAXIAS by Ao Hatesaka. The story draws on the shared mythology of dragons—a stand in for natural disasters—that mirrors the broader human challenge of facing nature’s destructive forces. The protagonist struggles to find a reason to keep living after his family were killed by dragons. Through his encounter with a dragon who transforms into a girl, the protagonist begins to rediscover his will to live. Finding healing through his connection to this force of nature. Reflecting the beauty of life that nature reminds us to properly heal.
The story of Galaxias takes place on a fictional island nation, plagued by reoccurring dragon attacks. Following teenager Nereid living on his own collecting scrap on the beaches to sell and tending to a lighthouse to make ends meet. However, he is bitter about his current lot in life. Having what he cared for (both his normal life and family) taken away from him. He even says he’s ‘enduring’ life rather than living it.
These panels below panels showcases in a similar fashion to natural disasters how part of life dragon attacks are. That its something the nations of the world have to prepare and act against when possible. Both its setting and the frequent attacks are most likely inspired by creator’s Ao Hatesaka own personal experiences. As in Japan, tsunamis and earthquakes are fairly common.
Nereid after a day’s work encounters a dragon’s corpse, that soon after transforms into a young girl. Named Jio. Put in charge of caring for Jio, Nereid finds Jio is passive and child-like. Not the aggressive monsters he’s known dragons for. Forced to live with Jio and care for her over a long period of time, she frustrates him beyond belief, BUT its more than he’s felt in a long time. During a one on one conversation with Jio, he finally admits to her that he despises dragons. However, by this point he begins to question himself.
Dragons shown in the manga while being described as aggressive, aren’t shown on ‘screen’ as being so. The first dragon introduced, Jio, brings life back to Nereid. This is most likely again due to creator Ao Hatesaka’s culture, as dragons in East Asia aren’t seen as symbols of destruction. But as a symbol of good fortune and as spiritual guardians. The only instance of a dragon being shown on ‘screen’ in the manga attacking humans, its in response to humans attacking first. Dragons here are very much like natural disasters in that they aren’t inherently malicious. Its in a similar vein to how some wild animals attack humans but don’t do it because they’re evil or cruel.
Nereid learning of this sees past his hate and begins the road to recover, like how many modern humans who undergo natural disasters learn to do. Jio, who in the story is presented as nature being sent to Nereid, reminds him he still has a home on this wonderful earth to go back to.
