Queen of The Dragons

There weren't always dragons in the Valley, but in five years, the first dragon will appear: leaving nothing but ash behind.

How would I know?

Well, I'm not a physic, if that's what your thinking, but I have contemplated the thought of psychosis, along with every other explanation for why I'm sitting in my childhood bedroom from 15 years ago after I just died. Yes, DIED.

My name is Kera Nole and in the past.. future.. whatever -- I was known as the Captain of the Seventh Brigade of The King's Swordsman: The Sapphire Blade. My brigade specialized in destruction and as the captain, my sapphire flamed sword devoured anything in sight and my life mission was to cut the heads off of any dragon. I was one of twelve captains of The King's Swordsman, and none of us had the strength to save the people we cared about.

They appeared first in Nonam: my hometown. It was the first day that other worldly creatures broke into our atmosphere, creating ripples in the sky, allowing creatures from other worlds to enter and reek havoc amongst humans: dragons being the most deadly.

In my past life, when this happened, I was taking the Swordsman's Classifier in the Kingdom of Anabula: a test held every 5 years for all of the swordsman, or swordswoman in my case, to determine who would protect our continent. Every swordsman, not only in the kingdom, but the land, was in the Kingdom of Anabula and by the time the news hit us, there was nothing left of Nonam: no buildings, no people, no sign of life. Even if we were to get there on time, it wouldn't have been much we could have done anyway with the lack of power at the time. My village, my home, my father, and twin brother were turned into nothing more than a dream I had at once upon of time. I lived my life trying to save humanity from the fate that eventually became my own.

After my consciousness disconnected from the physical world, it felt like I was plunged in this pool where all of my senses became muted. I was covered by a deep darkness, where light seemed imaginary, but was so warm, that it filled your entirety like you were drinking hot chocolate after coming in from the cold.

I allowed my body to float in the depths waiting for whatever was next for me, hoping that my father and brother, would be waiting to grab my hand and take me to my new life with them. I was contempt, at peace with death, as long as they were there. I swear, their faces just became visible in my mind, when an unknown voice filled the abyss.

"I'll send you back to when it started"

"When what started? Wha.. Who?"

"Dragons.."

"Dragons? Who are you? No.. I gave my entire lif.. just take me to my family.."

"Save the dragons.. you save the world"

"I couldn't save anyone.. I'm done now.. I couldn't beat them and the Dragon's destroy..."

"In this life, save the Dragon... you can... train hard Queen of The Dragons... save the dragons and you'll save your family. You are chosen... now go."

I didn't get a chance to refuse before the blinding darkness turned instantly into a blinding light and was thrust into a new consciousness. I woke up in Nonam as a 13-year old Kera. I sat in a room I couldn't even remember in my memories anymore, but as soon as I got here, I knew every detail of every corner. I was home. The smell of mint and wood invaded my nostrils and my fingers traced through every bit of furniture that was there. The sun hasn't come up yet, but I knew from the chirping of the bird that we were in the early morning. I yelled out to see if anyone was there, but the home was empty. I pressed from room to room and once I realized that this whole ordeal wasn't just some near death hallucination or my version of heaven, I became overwhelmed with emotions. I cried for so long that it felt like my eyes and my nose became one from all the swelling.

Now, I sit arms folded in a wooden rocking chair by my bedroom window admiring this land filled with greenery and farm life; the land I've never gotten to see, just one last time. I open the window and the smell of fresh flowers and grass hits me. I try and take in every piece of the deep green grass that always stays short through the abundance of life and the surrounding mountains that are so tall and strong it seemed as if it could have protected us from anything. The sounds of farm animals, distant laughter, and chatter make my ears perk. I close my eyes, as my mind processes the familiarity that I longed for for so long and they fill with salt water.

I'm really back during a time where dragons were nothing more than myths and campfire stories that meant nothing more than to entertain and scare us. The conversation I had, after I met my demise, begin to fill my mind again. Why, at the age of 13? And, why would I save the dragons?

I dedicated my entire life in annihilating dragons. They took everything that was dear to me. I become one of the greatest swordsman of this generation and wasn't able to save anyone. By the end of my life, there was only one person who was special to me... and he died along with me. I dedicated my entire life in annihilating dragons. So, why send me back to save them? And, Queen of Dragons? They could have at least given me an explanation or maybe a clue on what I'm suppose to do.

I grip the fabric on my nightgown and stop rocking in the rocking chair. The memories of everything lost in my previous life start pouring through. What am I to do? I look out the window and continue to ponder my thoughts. Everyone died: my entire village, my father and bro--

Two moving figures suddenly come into view from behind a house in the corner. My eyes pinpoint them within a second and I stare at a distance. My eyes widen as the 2 figures move closer to my home. I see, a strong handsome middle-aged man with a scruffy beard middle and a young boy with jet black hair walking towards this house. I see their familiar silhouettes and my heart drops so fast that I almost gag. I shoot up out of my chair and strain my eyes to see their faces. I can hear light laughter between the two.

My heart feels as if it wants to rip out of my chest, my eyes water, as I grip the windowpane, staring at the two figures moving closer to the house. I scream out to them and their heads shoot up.

I turn from the window, run to my bedroom door, and shoot down the staircase of this home, like I was just here yesterday, when in reality I haven't been here for 15 years. My body knows this place but my mind knows how long since it has done nothing but yearn to come back for just a moment like this. My feet almost fly off the ground as I tackle the steps and I just get to the door, when the door swings open. I freeze.

"Kera? What's wrong?" says the middle-aged man, out of breath. He drops his bags to the ground with a questioning look.

"Dad.. I told you she'd be pissed... if we left before she woke up?" - says the 13-year old boy.

"Kane, watch your tongue!"

"Dad... Kane" I'm trying to keep it composed but my voice is so broken and weak. I know I can't hide anything. They both look at me with a very worried expression.

"Kera..." - Dad

I rush towards them, jumping, holding both of them in my arms. They both let out a groin.

My Family! My twin brother, Kane, who was always my best friend, who shared everything with me including my small almond shaped eyes, heart face, black hair, and gray eyes that we got from our father. A gentle man with a strong, tall, and athletic build from always working with his hands and a beard that always tickled me with every hug: like it is now. I catch a glimpse of my father and realize how handsome he was and realize how much we look like him, how much I looked like him when I died. It makes me wonder what they would have looked like if it weren't for the incident and the thought makes me hold onto them so hard that both of them instinctively drop the rest of their gear and hold me as we all fall to the ground.

"Kera, what happened? What's wrong little sister?" Kane answers with a more gentle tone as he brushes the top of my hair.

"I.. I've jjj..ust missed yo..uu..."

"Okay okay... next time we will take you with us." - Dad says while he chuckles while rubbing my back

"See... told you dad.. Kera I told him" Kane also chuckles while giving our dad the 'I told you so' face.

My body goes completely limp and my brother and father allow me to cling onto them with my head buried between the two. The sounds of their voices and the feelings of the warmth has turned me instantly into the 13 year old girl I appear to be. As everything becomes more real around me, I still myself and my mind becomes clear.

If I am really back here, five years before the first dragon. If I really do have a chance to save everyone this time.. Then, I will do everything in my power to make it happen. I was the Captain of the Seventh Brigade in my last life with a vendetta to destroy every dragon that appeared in our Kingdom. This time, I'll save the Valley, the Kingdom, and I'll save the dragons, if it means I can keep my family. If it means, I'll never have to let them go again.