by LJ Davies
"We can't sneak around, there's not enough cover, and I doubt they'll just let us walk out.”
“So, we're going to have to fight our way out," I interrupted.
Suggesting violence so readily felt like a betrayal of my old self, and the thought didn’t sit comfortably.
I'll do what I have to.
"They have blizarium spears, that stuff will cut through dragon scale like cloth," Risha warned, her brother nodding reluctantly.
There's got to be an easier way. We don't have to kill them, and we don't have to give them the chance to kill us.
Despite my proposal to fight, I was desperately thinking of ways to spare their lives.
Is that what the Ethereal meant? I'm supposed to save all lives, even those of these beasts and monsters who've so mercilessly sought my destruction?
Distracted by the thoughts I redirected my attention, and for a moment my mind went blank.
'Use what you know' were the words I recalled from the ghost-dragon.
What I knew was that my friends were certainly not mindless monsters or selfish tyrants and neither was I. Glancing around the chamber I absorbed every dimly lit detail while the others persisted in their bickering.
"Roblins are renowned for being stupid and clumsy – they may have the weapons, but I bet they don't have the skill to use them," Boltock proposed.
"All they need is one hit, a spear to the chest and you're done for," Risha countered.
Retracting from my observations, I cut their argument short as I spoke up.
"I've got a plan, but it's going to take all of us."
Shifting closer to hear my improvised strategy, they exchanged puzzled glances.
"Ember, can you use your fire to melt some of the roof?" I began.
The dragoness peered up for a moment, allowing me to show her the area she'd need to melt.
"Yeah, should be easy enough," she replied with a confidant smirk.
"Risha, can you use the melted water to sweep them into a corner?" I asked, gesturing to the roblins.
"That shouldn't be too hard," she answered, rubbing her chest with a forepaw.
"Just be careful not to drown them," I added, assuming the beasts could drown.
Finally, I turned to Boltock, pointing to the other side of the whale with my wing.
"The exit must be over there. We'll move around, force any stragglers into the water and then hold off any who come after us when Risha releases them."
Although he nodded his approval, his enthusiasm was cut short.
"No," Risha interrupted, trying not to shout. "I nearly lost you once and I'm not going to risk it again."
The revelation was like a boulder to the face, and my muzzle slammed shut. How can I argue with her?
"There's a big difference between a wyvern and some roblins," Boltock countered.
"They have blizarium weapons. Remember how strong it is?" she reminded him.
"They're roblins, they’re completely stupid," he persisted, waving a dismissive forepaw.
This time his sister stuck firmly to her words.
"No," she repeated.
"Then why am I here?" he urged, seemingly battling not to shout.
She grew silent and lowered her head, whilst he remained dismissive of her protection. I moved over to kneel beside her.
"I can fight them on my own, no one else has to risk anything," I offered.
Her eyes slowly met with mine, the concern she had for Boltock’s safety understandable.
"No, you can't," she whispered reluctantly, looking over to her brother. "Just go, and by the creators be careful."
Instead of bouncing off to fight like I expected, Boltock slowly moved over to her.
"I'll be fine," he replied, reassuringly placing a paw on her back.
I gave a subtle nod, as did Ember as Boltock moved over to my side and declared.
"Let's get out of here."
I crept out from the barrier’s protection, with him close behind, while Ember and Risha hung back. My mind switched into hunting mode, stalking silently as my eyes locked on the preoccupied creatures swarming over the carcass.
Confident everyone was in place I glanced at Boltock laying to my left; he signalled his readiness with a nod.
Okay, everything's set, now...
My plan was unceremoniously interrupted when one of the roblin’s was shoved out of the swarming mass, bouncing clumsily before landing only a few steps from me. Slowly raising itself, it muttered what I assumed were sly insults while waving its arms in frustration.
I froze as it looked in my direction, hoping my colour would camouflage me against the ice. Unfortunately, Boltock didn’t share the same advantage. Its beady eyes opened wide and as it reached for a spear, I launched forward, sending shards of frost flying. My target's weak body collapsed instantly under the power of my attack. The foul taste of its blood filled my mouth as my jaws clamped around its exposed neck, its foaming mouth releasing some gargled words before it stopped thrashing.
Blue blood stained the ice and the scales surrounding my jaw. Yet the foul taste was the least of my concerns as several more roblins began to wave frantically in my direction, and one at a time they turned to face me.
So much for going unnoticed. I thought, covered in the blood of their dead companion.
Their crinkled faces widened with shock, which quickly turned to anger. Boltock jumped up to stand by my side as they scrambled for their weapons and clumsily formed a less than orderly attack group.
Clumsy or not, I really did have to consider how dangerous they were with their weapons. One of the larger roblins held up its arms, bringing the squabbling rabble to a halt. After shouting what sounded like a random combination of orders, it jabbed a spear at us. There was a momentary pause, before they let out a jittering battle cry and charged as quickly as their stubby legs would allow, stumbling and falling over one another.
"Now!" I shouted.
A torrent of fire exploded from behind us, hitting the ceiling with a hiss, instantly melting the ice. A flood of water cascaded onto the charging creatures, and once the torrent had swept the rabble into disarray Risha launched the next phase of our plan, leaping out and gaining eye contact with her target. The mark on her forehead lit up as she focused, immediately wrapping the freshly melted water into a glistening vortex, the noise of the swirling torrent broken by panicked chatter as the writhing column swept the roblins into a corner.
"That was easy – roblins, ha! What whelps!" Boltock remarked, pointing joyfully at the spinning mass.
Ember made her way out from the cover, while Boltock beamed at her and she snorted a small puff of flame. Risha was next to emerge, her attention firmly focused on sustaining the whirlpool. Confident our foes were contained, I peered around the whale carcass to see a crevice bathed in radiant sunlight, where they'd been entering from.
At last, a way out of this frozen maze!
"We need to go, move out that way," I instructed, pointing over to the exit with my wing.
Ember nodded while Boltock turned and looked at his sister approaching slowly.
"I'll get her out," he replied.
"No, you're in no state to fight if it goes wrong, I'll get her," I insisted.
He paused for a moment, fidgeting anxiously, before reluctantly nodding. With the others moving to the exit I watched Risha’s approach, her attention focused on the vortex. The blue lustre in her eyes looked magnificent in the glow of her markings.
She's like starlight, mesmerizing and tranquil, yet so powerful.
Suddenly and without warning, the blissful image shattered before me as Risha tripped on a loose spear. Reality became a blur as I rushed over to help, and a thunderous splash filled the cave. The vortex collapsed, leaving the liquid and those contained within to spill out over the floor. I slammed to a halt, my claws skidding on the slippery surface. It didn't take long for the roblins to recover, showing little sign of dizziness or physical injury as they fumbled for their
primitive weapons. I was stuck between two choices: help Risha or stop and fight. A spear flew past my head, skimming the edge of my snout, making the decision for me.
I turned to face the direction from which it came, teeth and claws ready. Within the midst of the approaching rabble, I could see the roblin who had thrown it, jumping up and down in frustration. The thought of mindlessly killing them surged painfully through my mind, and even though they were clearly going to attack I held back.
Not like the ghaul, not again. I don't want to lose myself like that.
The sound of a struggle behind me caught my attention, and I turned, ducking under another spear to see Risha wrestling with three roblins, one of them tottering on top of her, clumsily fumbling with its spear. Without thinking I launched myself at them, knocking two down before colliding with her spear-wielding attacker.
My claws instantly sliced through its primitive armour, teeth sinking into its unprotected neck as I ripped it off her. I released the motionless body, having no time to consider what I'd done, before several more rushed towards me with raised spears.
Standing upright, I swept two into the air with one swipe of my tail, their return to the floor met with a tremendous thud. Another approached from my front. I dropped down low, preparing to lunge...
The burning pain ripped across the right side of my face and my vision faded to blackness. Reflexes forced my eye shut but it was too late, it felt like the icy blade had sheared the sight from my skull.
My knees quivered before falling out from under me, the full extent of the injury overwhelming my body, it was like time itself had slowed to emphasise the pain. Blood ran down my burning cheek, seeping slowly into my open mouth, filling it with a warm, metallic taste. I finally felt the cold touch of ice when my head hit the floor, the instant chill combining with Risha’s desperate cries of my name.
All normality dispersed, darkness closed in and the light faded in my uninjured eye. There was no way out now, no way to avoid the inevitable – just as before, the world would soon explode into a whirling storm of blinding light. I waited helplessly for the inevitable, but this time it was different. From behind my closed eyes the world burned like the sun, as did the image of the beings surrounding me, each one stepping back, shaking with fear as I stood and spread out my wings, bathing them in a blinding glow.
I could feel everything, every minute piece of their existence, every element of their lives. I had control of my power, more power than these now meaningless opponents could imagine. My fiery eyes passed over the cowering wretches, struck down by utter fear and unable to react, they stepped back. Their weak, primitive minds were now open to me, their thoughts like physical things to be manipulated at my will.
I turned to see Risha in the corner of my eye laying on the ice, to my relief unharmed by the surrendering roblins. She was just as amazed by the transcendent glow of my burning wings as they were. I could see clearly into her mind, I wondered if I could delve deeper. Such a thought was dismissed as an ounce of reason surfaced amidst my blazing consciousness. To think of doing such a thing to someone I'd become so close to was preposterous. I knew her without this ridiculous power, I didn't need it to know she was my friend.
Moments later, a new stream of thoughts entered my godly senses, not of my own creation nor of Risha’s. They weren’t thoughts of amazement or terror; they were those of desperation. I turned my ethereal eyes to see two larger roblins charging towards me, their spears held high. Unfazed, I used what I instinctively knew, just as the Ethereal had told me.
Upon my command ice particles rose into a fine glowing dust, an action performed symmetrically beneath my outstretched wings. The molten swarms rose to my head height, and speck by speck, rapidly assembled into two spears, spitting and hissing in the freezing air. The projectiles hit their intended targets in the centre of the chest, catapulting their weak bodies to the floor. Any thoughts of heroism from the rabble turned to complete terror. They had seen enough, and I watched over their frantic escape as they scurried off into whatever hiding places they could find.
So, this is what I truly am? The Ethereal's amulet gives me control, let's me see through the eyes of a god?
From what they'd told me, it was the only way to stop Acrodan from spreading the sphere’s darkness. The thought of home, of my friends and my family burst into my transcendent mind.
Can I save them as the Ethereal asked? And, if I can, at what cost? Nothing would be the same after this.
I was torn between saving the world or saving what little remained of myself.
Among the detectable thoughts of the cowering creatures, I felt Risha's calming mind re-emerge. The glow of the amulet had intensified to match the burning white radiance of my scales, and as I cooled, its golden frame returned to normal. I saw her gaze at me in awe as the light receded into the gem. The power released me from its grip, leaving me drained and weak until I finally fell to the floor.
All this power, at what cost?
Chapter 13
Ilivar
Only my head could escape the ice as I lay in a smouldering heap of steam and meltwater. I opened my eyes to look over myself. My scales had lost their glow, occasionally flickering in a few patches before returning to their natural colour. I eventually managed to raise a forepaw to the side of my face where only minutes ago the icy weapon had sliced through my eye, to find there was nothing: no lack of vision, no pain nor scar, only a slight burning sensation.
My eyes finally came to rest on the amulet, the intense light it emitted having receded into the gem’s hypnotising aura. Despite its beauty, I felt empty.
It's like a shackle. I can't do that again without it. I thought, unable to forgo seeing it as an affront to the dragon I was weeks ago.
There was no going back, no way I could save who I thought I was. I'd stolen lives without even lifting a paw – how many more would fall before the world was saved? I felt like I was no better than those I was destined to fight.
Is that what it means to be a god? Or am I as much a slave as Acrodan?
I recalled the words of the Elders and their descriptions of the horrifying war. Is that what I'm destined to bring?
I shuddered at the thought of the world on fire because of me. I could have been anything – fire, water, earth, or wind – but I transcended them all to become something terrifying. Heavy with tears, my eyes fell to the floor, catching my featureless reflection in the ice.
I look so unassuming, but a blank slate has so much potential, so much to aspire to; what are my limits? A soft touch on my shoulder snapped me from my turmoil.
"Blaze?" a shaken, warming voice whispered softly. "Are you okay?"
I looked up, thankful to see Risha unharmed. Though she looked like she'd seen a ghost. Maybe that's all I am now? A ghost of my former self.
I coughed, clearing my throat.
"Yes, yes I'm fine," I answered, trying desperately to hide my turbulent emotions with a downward glance.
She knelt beside me, making no attempt to peek at my hidden expression.
"Thanks," she added softly.
"Thanks for what?" I replied.
Her wings ruffled as she took a breath and added.
"Thank you for coming to help me." She ran a foreclaw over the back of her neck, shuddering. "I never was good at grappling lessons; I didn't really get the hang of shaking off enemies."
Despite everything, a small chuckle escaped me. "I can’t say I'd be any better, I spent an entire year terrified of racoons because one jumped me once."
The two of us shared a laugh and I finally managed to look at her, truly appreciating that she hadn't immediately judged me as some celestial monster.
"You know, that... What you did was pretty amazing."
I felt like lightning had sparked to the tips of every nerve. But Risha's calming eyes demanded no explanation.
I really should tell her. I couldn’t ask for anyone better than Risha to reveal the truth to.
I
knew she wouldn’t forget who I was, and yet in the deepest refuges of my conscience, I knew that no one, not even myself, could truly see me in the same light again. I steadied myself and took a deep breath before speaking.
"Do you know what I am?" My voice was little more than a whimper.
"What do you mean?" she replied, a curious cheer in her voice as she reached down to peer into my eyes.
"I'm not one of you," I replied, frustration breaking through my frail voice. "I'm something else, something..."
My words trailed off as I imagined the countless, horrifying possibilities. It's an element as vast and terrifying as the cosmos itself.
"You’re something different, for sure, but…" She pointed to my faded amulet with a forepaw. "That doesn't mean you're not one of us."
She placed her outstretched forepaw over the star around my neck, levelling her eyes with mine. In that moment, it seemed she was fighting to save me as much as I was fighting to save myself.
"This is greater than you think," I admitted.
The mere thought of the devastating destruction I was destined to wreak filled me with disgust. Yet Risha stood firm as she assured me.
"What you are or where you come from doesn't matter. What matters is who you are and the things you choose to do. And if you have this gift, then it is your power to use."
She spoke just like the Ethereal, albeit with one crucial difference: she offered me some hope, rather than dismiss my dreams of a once peaceful life.
She sees who I am, not what I'm prophesised to be.
I stared into her beautiful eyes, the warmth of her words and the sight of her smile more encouraging than even the Ethereal's starry illusion.
"That's just it, isn't it? I don't know who or what I really am."
Unfazed by my self-pity she continued.
"I've seen you do a lot of good, and I'm sure that you were just as honourable before I met you."
I considered that, realising that even though gods, kings and elders all said otherwise, she was the only one who was right. It was my choice to believe what this all meant, no one else's, and I trusted her.
