Master of Dragons

Another strange dream?”

“This is one you might actually care about.”

“Have I ever given you any indication that I do not care?”

“No.”

“Then what are you up to, Lokan?”

“Nothing, I just want to tell you, my dream.”

“I will listen, as I always do.”

“Aren’t you tired of my weird dreams? I know I have such a vivid imagination at night, but this one has been haunting me for days.”

“Thirteen years of your dreams could never be boring to me. I could tell this one bothered you because you haven’t spoken about a dream for days.”

“Thank you, Pyra. Well, in the dream, I was a toddler again! I have no idea why, but I was in the Fuchsite Forest. I had just woken from a nap and realized I was alone. I walked for maybe five minutes and entered a clearing. I was a groggy little toddler, and I think because I was tired, I heard the voice of a girl whisper to me, but the words swirled through the trees and away on the wind. Then the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs caught my attention. My body froze in shock. I seriously couldn’t move! There were six enormous dire wolves circling me. I bet you can’t guess where this dream is going, can you?”

“Continue, Lokan.”

“You sure you don’t want to take a guess? I bet you’ll never get it.”

“Lokan…”

“Alright. I will continue. I could feel the hairs on my neck rise and I was trembling, uncontrollably. I wanted to call out for Nyara, but I was unable to—oh really, what now? Why did your face get like that again? Oh yeah, Nyara; I don’t know who that is either but, in the dream, I knew. She had auburn hair and green eyes and was with me in the forest before I fell asleep. That is not important though. I couldn’t speak, in the dream, let alone move. I felt so helpless. I clutched Rattler, tighter to me and he let out a high-pitched squeak. The wolves smelled of blood and carrion. One was so close I could make out the discoloration of his gnarled fangs. Oh, and Rattler? He was still a kitten in the dream!

It was weird, you know? Usually when I dream, I feel in control. Like, my fifteen-year-old mind knows I am dreaming and even though I don’t know where the dream is going, I know my brain is the one making it up. I guess, what I’m saying is, I generally will myself into the situations in my dreams, but this was not like that. It truly felt like I was a three-year old about to be eaten by those wolves. I didn’t feel that subconscious safety of knowing I could still wake up.

Anyways, I thought to cover my face. You know how Rattler will sneak off to hunt fairy swallows in Celestine Meadow? We will call him home, but he hides behind a tree, because he wants to stay out longer, but he only hides his face. He doesn’t understand that we can still see his body. Well, it was like that. I thought if I couldn’t see them, then they couldn’t see me. I would’ve died that way too, but instead of those awful, yellow teeth tearing into my tiny body, sorry too graphic? I just want to give you the whole picture. Plus, you said you’d listen to me. Well, something smooth and sharp wrapped around my body and hoisted me into the air. The wolves scattered like marsh roaches, and they became specks on the forest floor. Even the giant ferngy trees of the Fuchsite grew smaller, and some of them on the edge of the clearing were crushed like twigs.

I noticed that the things wrapped around my waist were gigantic claws. The claws were attached to the front legs of a very large dragon. Do you still want to listen to my story?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t want to guess where it’s going? I’m almost done.”

“No.”

“You seem annoyed.”

“I am.”

“Where was I? Oh, yeah. From my point of view, I could only see the dragon’s underside. I knew, in my three-year-old mind, that dragons were real. I’d seen them before. Not too sure where, but I knew enough to know they existed. Like I was saying, the dragon picked me up. I can’t tell you what I felt at that point in the dream, but I looked up at its underbelly and neck and it looked down at me. The dragon had golden eyes and burgundy scales that shimmered in the sun. She looked me over to ensure I wasn’t hurt. Her face was extremely kind, and she spoke to me to let me know that I was safe. And that is when... Pyra, please guess the ending to the story?”

“Finish it, Lokan.”

“Well, that’s when I realized, the dragon I was staring at, is you! You’ve known where this story was going all along! You found me in the Fuchsite Forest, didn’t you, Pyra? … I think it’s time for you to tell me where I am really from.”

…

“Lokan, this day is thirteen years and also lifetimes in the making.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sit down, it is my turn to talk to you.”

“Pyra you’re being so cryptic. Just tell me—oh you are serious.”

“Thirteen years ago, I found you in the Fuchsite Forest. I was flying west, on my way to Helia’s cave, when an adolescent human caught my attention below. Her auburn hair and light skin was unlike the pigmented skin tones of the Embral tribes. And, as you know, no human from Brilla’s northern territory had come this far south for thousands of years. The eastern tribes in the Carnel mountains keep to themselves, as well. Nevertheless, a human was in the deepest south of Baisydia. And I had never spotted one below the Citrin River before.

I decided to follow the girl, she was maybe your age now, but I never got the chance to see where she went. Something let out a shrill mew, somewhere to the left of the girl. There was clearing, and standing in the middle, there you were, clutching Rattler, being circled by those wolves. You know that part. By the time I had rescued you, the auburn-haired girl was gone.

You had been altered in some way. You slept for two whole days of travel, but after that you were as chatty as you are now. You did not remember from where you came and you barely spoke any words of your native language. I figured that was normal for your age. Still, I remembered every word you spoke so you could ask me of your home one day. You weren’t afraid of me, and once you were awake you knew my language so well.”

“I knew how to speak dragon when you found me?”

“Yes, now hush. I’ve been waiting a decade of your dreams for today. I flew with you, west, to Helia and Rosc’s cave. You know they have experience with humans due to their cave’s proximity to the Embral Sea. I left you there to be cared for by them. When I left you, I had three choices of where to go. I flew North first.”

“Did you see Brilla and Singe?”

“Yes, I asked them about the two human children. They too have relationships with the humans in the north. Together, we flew to each settlement, but no human tribe had lost anyone.

A few weeks into my northern expedition, Helia had sent word that the Embral tribes had not misplaced any human either. It would’ve been rare for one of them to leave their island anyways. They only trade with the northern populations in the summer months.”

“What time of year did you find me?”

“It was early winter. Here in the south, it isn’t so cold, and you were dressed appropriately. In fact, you had the nap sack that you still have today, strapped to your midsection. It was packed full of food and supplies to sustain you.”

“I think I had it in my dream.”

“Next, I flew to Effulgia and Singe’s in the far east. I met Skear, a dragon you do not know, along the way and he told me of a new settlement of humans in the southeast. I flew with Skear to these people, but it was clear that they had nothing to do with you. None of them spoke the language that you had spoken to me. And none of them looked like you or the girl.

By the time I reached the east, Effulgia and Scorce had been informed of you, by dragons, from the north. I was so hopeful that they might know if you had come from the Carnel tribes or somewhere across the sea.

I have hardly mentioned them before, but there are lands across the Sea of Carnel that have other dragons and human populations. They are different from us, as there is no kingdoms and no dragon hoards. Every dragon there is a rogue and humans are more loaners as well. Effulgia and Scorce, as you know, are protectors of the eastern border, as the rest of us rulers, protect our respective borders. They were sure that no one in their hoard had allowed a child, let alone two, into Baisydia, alone. I asked them to send word across the sea and waited.

Three more months went by where you remained with Helia and Rosc. They periodically sent messages of how you were. You had full fluency our language and had captured their souls with your childish charm. As you know, they still love you to this day. In these three months, various messages were sent back from across the eastern sea. All confirmed my greatest fear; nowhere was missing a human.”

“So, all three options showed nothing?”

“Not exactly. Option three was my greatest fear.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I considered Effulgia and Scorce’s searches across the sea and the eastern tribes as one potential source, so besides the north, I still had one more place to go.”

“Then there was another one?”

“Yes.”

“Where else could you have gone?”

“It wasn’t could have gone, Lokan. It was had to, and I did.”

“Where did you go?”

“When I couldn’t find out where you were from, I went to Nilrem.”

“Where is Nilrem?”

“That’s just it. Nilrem isn’t a where. She is a who. Nilrem is the wizardess with connections to all: above and below, good and bad, past and future, and everything in between. Nilrem is a neutral soul and fights to keep herself that way. But her powers are great, and if there is an imbalance, her powers lean to the other side to make it right. It is the price she pays to be so powerful. Her powers can respond to those she meets as well.”

“I don’t understand.”

“See, dragons are inherently good, and we gain our blessings from the stars, and tend to know through intuition so meeting with Nilrem, can prompt a response that is very different from that.”

“So, would the nymphs get to see this Nilrem when she is nice, because they are mean?”

“That is funny. But yes and no. It is more complicated than that. Not to mention, nymphs, while fiendish, are soft-hearted and their souls land very close to neutral. So, visiting Nilrem, for them, is a lot less dangerous. A dragon’s soul is more loyal and good than any other creature on the scale, so an interaction with Nilrem can be risky for many reasons. It can tip her powers to the opposite side, for example. I went to visit Nilrem, four months after finding you in the Fuchsite Forest. Her keep is here, in Phosphosiden, but you—”

“It can’t be! We have flown the entire south. I know every inch of land and every dragon in our hoard.”

“Lokan, Nilrem is a very powerful wizardess, one that came from Aventuria six hundred years ago. Her dwelling is in disguise, as is the land of all magical beings across the Baisydian Kingdom. Think of the nymphs and how they use their magic to disguise things. It is the same.

When I arrived, Nilrem did not appear to be a six-hundred-year-old wizardess. I learned that her powers keep her young and untouched by time for hundreds of years. She is not immortal, though. Her golden hair flows to the ground, filled with the feathers of her many birds. Each wizard has an animal life source through which their power flows, and Nilrem uses birds. I know you have seen some of her fowl before.”

“The fairy swallows?”

“Them, and many more of the birds around here do work for Nilrem. Finally, like you, and the girl from your dream, Nilrem’s eyes are green, the color of eyes belonging to the wizards of Aventuria.”

“My eyes mean what exactly?”

“I’ll tell you soon. Nilrem knew why I was there. Like I said, she is connected to all. And her eyes peered into my deepest soul. When you visit a wizard, you cannot hide any part of yourself. You must be open to receive and give magic, or you must not visit at all. That day, I was not with my soul as I usually am. I am as good as any dragon, Lokan, but I was full of true fear that day. I was tired, scared, and had experienced an event that hadn’t happened within my 2000 years of existence. I was out of balance and my emotions saved me that day. They brought me towards neutral, and Nilrem’s communication was gracious.

Nilrem knew you would be found by the dragons. You were brought here on the back of one from your world. You are from a different land that is not here, nor over the Sea of Carnel. It is a different dimension altogether, and only someone with wizard blood can transport to Baisydia. Your ability to pass the barrier, is enough to show you are more than just human. You also have green eyes.”

“So, I’m an Aventurian?”

“Yes. Furthermore, Nilrem knew of the girl, Nyara. Nyara did leave you in the forest. Though, it was not the girl’s intention for you to die.”

“She had a funny way of showing it, leaving me for a pack of dire wolves.”

“Well, there is more. Nyara brought you here to save your life. You has obviously been neglected, but still, your soul was bright. That is how you won over Helia and Rosc and they wanted to keep you in the Embral cave until you turned sixteen, but you won me over too, so I brought you to Phosphosiden and you’ve been here ever since.”

“Why sixteen?”

“When you reach the age of sixteen, I am to take you to Nilrem, because Aventurian wizards unlock their powers at this age. Nilrem is supposed to help you so you can undo the damage in your homeland.”

“I’ll be sixteen next week.”

“I know.”

“So, I’m an Aventurian wizard?”

“Yes.”

“What damage do I have to undo in Aventuria?”

“Thirteen years ago, the ruling wizardess of Aventuria grew hungry for power. She pushed her powers so far that her soul could no longer return to neutral. She got rid of her heirs and abused the same power that keeps Nilrem from ageing. With the balance of magic under attack, the land of Aventuria began to malfunction. All the good flows directly to the ruling wizardess. She has cast away the bad to the rest of the land, causing horrors to strike others more often. In addition, she aims never to die, so time moves differently. She has warped it, and this has robbed other wizards and wizardess’ of days from their lives. Thirteen hundred years have passed in Aventuria but only thirteen years have passed in worlds like Baisydia.”

“How do you expect me to help?”

“Lokan, the ruling wizardess, Petaline, is your mother. You’re the rightful heir to the Aventurian throne of wizards. Without you, the balance of Aventuria will, in a few years, become unrestorable. Only your bloodline has a strong enough life force animal, to stand up to your mother. If Petaline isn’t stopped her powers will being to pull needs from other worlds until her power has consumed everything.”

“So, I’m an Aventurian wizard prince?”

“Yes.”

“One more question.”

“What?”

“It is actually two questions. What part do the dragons play in this and what dragon brought me into this world?”

“You come from a specific line of wizards.”

“Yeah, you mentioned royalty, right?”

“Yes. More specifically, the life source through which your powers flow are dragons. So you were brought here to harness that power.”

“I can control dragons?”

“Yes, and no. No life source can be fully controlled by another. Nilrem calls on her birds, but they are free to refuse at any time. It is the soul of a wizard that draws in its life source. The animal willingly serves for the balance of each soul. Lokan, your soul is stronger than even the greatest of dragons. So, we fight for you and offer ourselves of our own free will. The dragon that brought you to Baisydia serves as part Nyara’s life source. We fight for both of you.”

“Nyara is part of my bloodline?”

“Yes.”

“And my mother’s life force is…?”

“Dragons, as well. Specifically, some of the rogues from across the Sea of Carnel. They are not like dragons here. They are rogues and loners. They can be bought and have loyalty to none.”

“Right. I liked my life better when I thought I was a rejected child of the northern tribes, instead.”

…

It has been a week since I learned of my destiny. I am now sixteen and today I was supposed to meet Nilrem. That will not happen though, not today at least. Pyra told me Nilrem went missing three years ago. Apparently, the foxler dog that would visit me each birthday, was Nilrem, in disguise. Neither Pyra, nor I have seen the foxler in the last three years. So, we must travel through Baisydia to look for her. Pyra says she is most likely in hiding far from the barrier of Aventuria. There has been word of a settlement in the north where Aventurian wizards have set up a base camp. This is all news to me.

“Lokan, are you ready to go?”

“You mean, am I ready to find some wizards, travel to other worlds, meet the girl that drugged and abandoned me to dire wolves, and fight my evil mother? Yeah, I’m ready. Make sure Rattler has a safe space on your back, he won’t want to miss this!”