Shard Bound

The last embers of a lonely fire flickered in the morning breeze. Sol was still low in the sky, just barely peeking above the horizon. Even so the solar sphere illuminated the grasslands. In the morning light the owner of the campfire saw his destination far in the distance; Lucent Caverns. Legends stemming from the local villages told of a dragon and its foul minions who lived deep within the cave structure. There may have been some truth to those rumors, but Orion was headed there for a more urgent affair. Even at this range he felt the malevolence emanating from that direction; the slow pulse of something aberrant seeping its way into the world, and perverting the natural state. It was his duty as Magi to correct this imbalance.

Seek out the shards of the Mahatma Jewel, purify them, and return them to Sanctuary. Instructions given to him and his peers, by their preceptor. This was now their task, and they were bound by oath, and honor to fulfill it. The thought lingered as he began his day.

“Good morning, Raúl.” Orion chirped to his companion who was already lively grazing in the grass. The creature’s brown fur and rotund body stuck out among the low green foliage.

The fire was now gone. The heel of his boot was quick in smothering any remnants of the flame with the surrounding dirt. Next he attended to his bedroll. It was compactly rolled, and affixed to Raúl’s saddle. The large swine creature paid his rider no mind, his snout far too focused on locating a morning meal. The Genova Boar were lauded for their great size and mild temperament. It is why they were excellent traveling companions, even more so than horses. Raúl was not particularly sizable among his kind, and was still large enough to support the full weight of an adult male without hassle. The dependable beast’s speed could compete with the most well-bred steeds, and his endurance greatly outmatched them. Orion looked down at Raúl’s dulled tusks — it would be some time before he needed another trimming.

The remainder of the morning was spent as always; practicing the movements and combat techniques of his flow staff. The long metallic weapon was nearly his height, but felt weightless in his hands. It was perfectly cylindrical and thin, with a rounded tip meant for bludgeoning. For the Magi honing one's physical ability was in equal parts important as mastering the flow of magic. It was for this reason they typically wore clothing more akin to warriors.

Training ceased and Orion donned a metallic headpiece that shielded both his forehead, and the sides of his face. Messy black hair fell in short curly strands over the headpiece. Beneath his cloak was a tunic and beneath that was light chainmail. Fingerless leather gloves kept his palms from wear while wielding the flow staff. The Magi were known for their traditionally white clothing, though Orion found it difficult for his attire to remain unsullied while traveling. He’d been on this venture for weeks now, and keeping his clothing pristine was among the least of his worries.

Sol was now high in the sky as the duo crossed the grasslands and reached an earthen mound that served as the entrance to the cave system. The mouth of it was roughly circular, and wide. Certainly not large enough for a dragon however, as the locals had claimed. Orion dismounted and his hand lightly smacked the animal’s rear to send him off. Raúl was loyal and sensible enough not to travel far, and to return when summoned. Orion ventured forth into the dark cavern alone.

“Lumen.” He whispered with flow staff stretched before him.

A wisp of light sprung from the rounded head of the staff to illuminate a section of the path ahead of him. Lumen was a simple oral spell that even the weakest of magic users could cast. The words gave the magic direction, allowing it to flow easily for any with potential and will. The range of illumination varied depending on the intent of the user. This little wisp would serve his needs well enough.

His left hand fingers kept to the rocky wall beside him as he ventured further down the tunnel. Right hand held his weapon, and the wisp floated just a few feet ahead of him. Lucent Caverns was an ill fitting name for a location that seemed to be nothing but a series of twisting lightless tunnels, or so he thought. One could have easily gotten lost venturing through — a fate Orion only avoided by trailing the corrupted presence of the shard.

Now that he was in the cavern he could feel it stronger than ever before. It was almost suffocating how ill intent poured from the fractured relic. Magic was not meant to be this, nor feel this way. This truth he knew in his very being. The one who shattered the jewel, and brought this upon the world would be made to pay.

Fear and surprise disrupted these thoughts. The wisp faded from existence, and not of his command. Something had approached while he was lost in thought, and swiftly done away with his only source of light. He saw its reptilian eyes glowing in the dark just a few steps ahead of him. They were small enough that he could gauge its size to be roughly human.

If it did away with my wisp that means it can directly interact with the flow. This is dangerous.

Calloused fingers gripped his staff. Instinctively he held the weapon between him and the creature. It was a good tool for measuring the distance, and maintaining it. A quick thrust forward connected with soft flesh. The creature was pushed back, if only a little. It attempted to circle him, but he kept the rod between them, moving in a circular motion along with it. The eyes lowered and shot forward, moving beneath the length of his weapon. He felt the fabric of his tunic shred easily, and the attack snag on the chainmail beneath it. The staff rose high in the air, and came down on what felt like armor. While not the debilitating blow he was seeking it was enough for him to step away from his attacker.

Fighting this thing in the dark is too dangerous.

“Lume…”

The eyes came at him again, before he could utter the words of origin that would lend guidance to his spell. This time he was well prepared for its speed, and swung his staff in a swift horizontal motion to keep it back.

It must not want to lose its advantage. Any eyes this well adjusted to the dark would most likely be sensitive to light, or at least need a moment to adjust to a brighter setting. The creature showed some level of intelligence in destroying his light source earlier.

There was no time to ponder this; it was coming again. Warrior's intuition allowed him to back step the attack, and in the same breath raise his weapon towards its face. “Egnes Lumen!” He shouted, and with it came a flash of light that erupted near the creature’s face. It was then he saw his opponent clearly for the first time.

To his surprise it was mostly human, and a human woman at that. She was quite unlike anything he’d ever seen, and the sight of her caught his heart. If his skin was shaded the brown of fresh soil, then she was tinted the rich oak color of a well aged tree. Streaks of auburn hair fell across her face and down her backside — wild and unkept. She was no larger in stature than an average woman, though her physique was that of a warrior. Only her torso and waist were dressed in thin fabric. Her muscular arms, and legs were bare, revealing what he found most unusual about the feral woman; her right arm. Where there should have been soft human flesh there were scales that ran up to her forearm. Talons replaced each of her fingers. He knew now what had torn his clothing, and what solid force his weapon had clashed against earlier. There was beauty in the creature, even though she was not quite human. Something about her fierce inhuman eyes unnerved him far more than the reptilian claw.

What little advantage he held in the surprise flash was lost in his admiration of her. She came at him again, the red scaled claw seeking to end him. In the light his eyes caught her movements easily. He evaded, as did the wisp of light that now hung overhead. She attempted several more strikes, but he repelled each with a swat of his weapon and a quick back step. She was undoubtedly his enemy, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to strike her down. Seeing her transfigured arm gave him the impression that she had been cursed by the very thing he was sent to retrieve. She was a victim, though nothing he could do for her now.

Orion stayed on the defensive with each attack pushing him further down the tunnel. He needed time to think, while his heart wavered. He’d moved back several paces in his defense, before he steeled his will. He was a Magi, and his duty came before all else. The woman lashed out again with the same ferocity and beauty that had come to define their brief interactions. The metal rod in his palms met her halfway. Pure magical energy flowed from him, into the weapon, and then into the woman’s gut. Parum Rupturam; It was a common technique the Magi employed to incapacitate those not accustomed to the flow of magic. The sudden influx of magical energy would flow through the victim’s body unguided and render them unconscious without physical harm.

To his surprise the woman hadn’t collapsed as expected. She instead held a tight grip onto his staff with a clawed hand, even as it jutted out from her stomach. The technique failed? Orion found that hard to believe. He’d done in men twice her size by utilizing it. Yet the fact of it was, there she stood, one end of his weapon tightly grasped between her talons. He tugged on it with full force, and a desperate back step. His boot found no land beneath it in the retreat. He knew in that instant he’d been mistaken to maneuver so freely in an unfamiliar environment.

Gravity compelled him backwards and downward all at once. The force of nature was no friend to the woman either, as she had taken the plunge as well — her iron tight grasp on his weapon the cause of it. For a split second, there in the wisplight, he saw humanity return to her face, and then consciousness left her.

Mid-fall he released his hold over the weapon, and instead flung open his arms to catch the now unconscious woman. She fell into his arms listlessly, and he felt the hard impact of stone and dirt beneath him. More than once his protective arms took the brunt of a blow meant for her head as they tumbled down the rocky surface. Gradually they came to a stop at the bottom.

Is she? Ignoring the pain in his own body he shot up, hugging her frame close to his own. Her breaths were soft against him, but she was breathing. Relief came to him hurriedly as he further examined her. A few unavoidable scratches littered her body, but she was mostly unharmed. He suffered far less of those scratches thanks to his layered and armored clothing, but still felt the aches and pains from the troublesome descent. As for why she suddenly fell unconscious he assumed the Parum Rupturam had worked, though delayed due to the girl having some magical fortitude. What was important was that she was safe. He next focused his examination on her arm. The fact that it hadn’t returned to normal while she was no longer conscious meant his suspicion was likely correct. A spell such as transfiguration would need the caster conscious to maintain the flow. It was more likely an affliction that spawned from the shard. He laid her body softly among the stones so that he could rise to his feet.

Should I leave her here? No, that wouldn’t be wise. Though I can’t exactly guarantee her safety, or mine own for that matter. He thought over the decision while searching for his staff. Despite the fall the wisplight still hung high overhead, illuminating a great deal of the area around them. He saw the loose pile of stones and dirt they'd fallen down — much too steep to attempt carrying the girl back up. He did find his instrument in the pile of stones however. It had fared far better than either he or the girl in the fall. In addition to locating his staff he spotted another passageway. It was larger in size, and more rounded than the initial tunnel he’d traveled down. Even before he noticed it visually he felt the sinister pulses coming from its direction. It would be better to leave the girl among the rocks, and yet the image of her sorrowful human eyes wouldn’t allow him to simply abandon her.

Reluctantly he saddled the girl onto his back. The staff was placed beneath her rear and her arms slung over his shoulders. If she was awake she could have easily gouged out his throat from this position. He pressed on with her regardless. Carrying her would be no great challenge, but he couldn’t defend himself, or properly flee in this position; another risk he was taking in transporting her.

As he continued down the corridor it became apparent there was a light source at the end of it. The intensity of it was less than his wisplight, which was now widespread to prevent additional ambushes. The further he went into the tunnel the greater the repulsion he felt at the perversion of magic ahead. There was a shard, and possibly a shard bearer ahead. He carried the woman until the feeling became unbearable. He detested the idea of leaving her, but it would be dangerous to carry her any further. He sat the woman gently against the cave wall, using his cloak as a makeshift pillow. There was wishful thinking in believing when she awoke he would have solved her affliction.

He now ventured down the path alone. The staff was no longer supporting the woman, but the weight of his mission. He held it tightly in both hands. Wisplight dimmed on his approach, his steps quieted, and his breaths became shallow: all in an attempt to hide his presence. Though underground, the chamber ahead was illuminated enough for him to peer inside. He aligned himself with the cave wall, attempting to peek inside unnoticed. The space was aglow. Light streaked through crystalline stalactites at the top of the cave cascading color throughout the chamber. The ground too had colorful stalagmites. From his vantage point the space seemed to be filled with the crystal structures. He knew now why the locale had been named Lucent Cavern.

“Come little Magi.” A booming voice beckoned. The volume of it echoed out far beyond him. It was deep, and yet feminine. “You can not hide. I can hear your heartbeat, I can smell the meal that last touched your tongue, I can see you even in the shadows which you think offer you shelter.” Something called upon him, and he had no choice but to answer.

He entered the chamber, and was immediately met with the sight of the creature that summoned. The rumors were true, there was a dragon in these caverns. It was the first time he had seen one this closely. The mountainous beast laid coiled among the stalagmites near the center of the room. Its hind legs were hidden behind its massive body, while its tail wrapped around the room almost nearing him. Though they were tucked, Orion could see the creature’s grand wings lining its backside. Even sitting the beast towered well above him, its head just barely below the crystalline roof of the cave. Its scales were translucent, so much so that she seemed to be all the colors of the cavern at once. He saw now that Sol light peaked through cracks atop the cave which led to the dancing patterns of the environment and the dragon. Terror and awe rose in him as he came to a realization.

“You are the shard bearer?” The words came out as a question, though he knew the answer. “Why use its power to corrupt the girl? What do you hope to gain?” He questioned further despite his fear.

The creature’s lilac colored eyes glared down at him. They were the same as the girl’s before she had returned to herself. It opened its to maw to speak and he flinched at the motion. It did not move other than this, and yet he was on guard. He knew dragons to be old and powerful beings. A proper Magi could compete, but with the shard in its possession the odds were not in his favor.

“You are a presumptuous little thing aren’t you? What do you care for the girl? You are here for this, correct?” The beast lifted one of its massive claws, pointing it at its own loosely scaled underbelly. The shard, once a pure white, now blackened, stood out amongst the dragon’s color. It was only a small fraction of the formerly great Mahatma Jewel, and yet it still held great power. It was embedded in the dragon's flesh in what seemed to be a wound. The creature grimaced while gesturing to it. “It was one of your kind who gave it to me.”

“He is not one of us!” The words were reflexively defensive. “Someone truly loyal to the preservation of the natural state would never disrupt the flow like this. He has betrayed us and corrupted the Mahatma Jewel, as you have corrupted the girl.” He nearly screamed these words, and stepped further into the chamber. His anger emboldened him.

“It seems your contempt for that man rivals my own. To think even the great Almyra would be consumed by greedy human ambition. What would you do with the shard, little Magi? It holds great power, and great darkness.”

Almyra the Aurora, he knew the name. There were tales dating back generations of the great dragon’s travels across the terra sphere. From what he knew she was one of the more sensible of the dragons. Her known dealings with humans were recorded to be mostly neutral. In the last twenty or so years she had been sighted less and less. Though it was not uncommon for creatures like dragons, with their immeasurable lifespans, to vanish and reappear decades later.

“I can purify it. My quest is to assemble the shards and return them to Sanctuary where they belong.”

“That may be your quest, but what is it you truly desire? Do not lie, little Magi. I will know. That other man was a deceiver. Prove that you are different.”

Silence lingered for a moment as he thought on the answer to her question. He knew it deep in his heart, but did not want to speak it aloud. It was not the way of the Magi.

“I want revenge.” The words erupted from within. “I want him to pay for betraying our teacher, our rules, our way of life. Our duty was to protect the jewel.”

It was only when the dragon exhaled did he realize how tightly he was gripping his weapon. He’d allowed anger to control his heart, but he had spoken his truth. The dragon’s gaze sharpened on him. She seemed to be looking more through him, than at him.

“And what of the girl? If you have slain me and taken the shard, what would you do with her?” Almyra probed.

“I would see her returned to her people. Surely she has a family that worries for her.”

For a moment her expression softened. There seemed to be discomfort when discussing the girl. Guilt he assumed, knowing Almyra’s generally good relations with humans.

“She has no one. No one, but a foolish mother who thought she could prolong her own life with this contemptuous human magic. She will be lost when I am gone.” Grief filled the spaces between the dragon’s words. The shock of the revelation must have shown on his face. The dragon paused in her statement. Her eyes moved from him to the passageway from which he came. “Yes, the child is mine. Not by birth, but I am her mother all the same. You humans did not want her. I have raised her, and taught her my ways. Though I see now that may have been a mistake. She now suffers from the shard as I do. Foolish child thought to rip the shard from my chest in hopes of saving me. You have seen her arm, yes?”

He nodded.

“A circumstance of her inherent magic, and the shard’s meddling. Would you slay her mother to undo her binding? Trade one tragedy for another?” She questioned.

It was his duty to retrieve the shard, but surely there was another way. Magic, might, and diplomacy each had its own time. This was a tenet of the Magi order. He would not kill the beast if he did not need to.

“Must it be so?” He asked.

“The shard is the only thing sustaining my life. That false Magi approached me when I was in dire need, mortally wounded by one of my own kind. He claimed the shard would heal me. I knew him for a liar then, but in my hubris thought I could tame its power. It draws from me as much as I draw from it.”

Orion knew it to be so. The jewel was created to draw in and amplify magic. Shattered and corrupted, it would do just that unchecked. Dragons were beings whose magic was more potent than any other creature. They did not need instruments, nor words of origin to guide their magic. He wondered what the goal in giving such a creature a corrupted shard of the jewel was.

“Then yes I will do so.” He answered.

Almyra beckoned him forward. Her claw gestured for him to venture through the stalagmites to stand beside her. It was then he truly noticed their size difference. He was but a speck compared to the colossal beast.

“What is your name, little Magi?”

“Orion Crest.”

“Her name is Misa. Will you see that she is looked after?”

“I will.”

Almyra then struck a grievous blow to herself. The Magi flinched watching the savage act. Each of her five talons ripped into her flesh where the shard laid. She laid herself low to the ground so that he could retrieve it.

“Hurry Orion Crest!” There was pain inlaid throughout her regal voice.

As she commanded the Magi plunged his hand into the creature, seizing the jewel. If it was so easy, then Misa would have been successful in her attempt to save her mother. He felt the pulse of Almyra’s life through the shard. Every negative emotion she ever harbored, and every regret sifted through his being. It was easy to lose oneself in the overwhelming flow of negativity, to allow it to take yourself from you, but he was Magi. All things come, and all things go. This he knew, and allowed the tainted energy to flow freely through him.

“Mother!” A cry rang from the mouth of the chamber.

The scream broke his focus, he turned, and there was the woman. She maneuvered through the crowded space with the mobility of one who knew the placement of the crystalline structures well. There was a fierce sadness in her eyes, as she darted towards the pair — Orion specifically. The dragon shifted, almost shaking his grasp on the shard. Her form moved to stop the girl. A lengthy tail caught the girl and pinned her against a stalagmite.

“Continue Orion. We will see this business finished.” The dragon commanded while restraining her child.

He said nothing and resumed his work amidst the cries and threats of Misa. His heart ached for both of these beautiful creatures and yet he did what he must. The flow continued, and he accepted it readily. Darkness bled from the shard, spilling into him and then into nothingness.

“Misa, my child, do not hate this Magi. This is all for your sake.”

Life fled the great beast, and the shard loosed itself from her flesh. He turned to see her tail fall limp to the ground. Misa had already moved beyond it, and was now face to face with her deceased mother. Their foreheads touched tenderly. He looked away from the intimate sight, and instead at the shard in hand. The small thing was clear now, much like the dragon.

A moment later the shard was on the ground, slapped from his hand by the woman. She’d left her mother’s side, and was now standing before him. The scales and talons that she fought him with were now gone, and tears streamed ceaselessly from her now human eyes. They were somehow still the color of her mother’s. He thought they were beautiful even while carrying her grief.

“My mother’s life for this stupid little thing?” She asked in a softer tone than he knew he deserved.

Almyra’s body had already begun to return to the flow of all things. Dragons were special in that regard. As beings of mostly magic their bodies did not linger once their life was extinguished. They both watched it fade in silence. The last specks of her body floated away in the rainbow light.

“Her life to maintain the natural state. I’m sorry it had to be this way.” He remained calm despite the sorrow in his heart. He knelt to retrieve the shard from the ground, and stored it away within a pocket.

“A natural state that your people profess to protect while one of you runs amok distorting it! Was my mother’s life not part of the natural state?” The pain and anger was now more evident in her voice. This was not the quiet whisper of understanding, but a scream of vexation.

“The one who did this will pay for his actions. I promise you that.” Anger shook his voice. He’d already told his truth to her mother.

The two locked eyes, neither daring to look away. It pained him to know her mother was gone, that she was slain by his hand, and someone who’d once been a brother to him was the cause. He knew that she was hurting, and that there was nothing he could do to remedy the situation. Still he dared not yield in the fierce optical battle. Misa turned away first, but clearly not in defeat. Resolution sparked in her lilac orbs.

“We will ensure it. You are hunting him, yes?” Her statement was more matter of fact, than a question or assumption.

“I am hunting the shards.” He corrected.

“Which he spreads? So you pursue him?” Again, matter of fact, not a query.

“I…” He looked away from her finally. His eyes focused on the area where the mighty Almyra once sat. “I promised your mother I would see you to safety. I will take you along with the shard to Sanctuary.”

“You will do no such thing. We will pursue him together. Come sorcerer.” This was undoubtedly a command. The woman had already begun walking towards the entranceway. She did not look back to see if he followed.

“I am Magi, no simple sorcerer.” He attempted to clarify while chasing behind her.

“I see no difference between you humans and your magical vocations. You are all little selfish creatures who abuse the flow as you please.”

“We bring balance to the flow, and maintain the natural state.” He protested.

She did not respond to this, and instead continued forward into the pitch black tunnel. He trailed behind, casting a Lumen to light her way. Almost instantly she glared back at him, her eyes again draconic. Her arm again transfigured — red scales, and black talons where they should not have been. It snuffed out the wisplight and only her eyes remained glowing in the darkness.

“The daughter of Almyra the Aurora Dragon does not need silly Magi magic to light her way.”

He was certain she could see the astonishment in his raised brow despite the darkness. His lips moved to form a question, and the woman was gone. She had already taken off towards the cavern exit, her eyes vanishing as she dashed forward without him.

A woman raised by a dragon. She’ll be troublesome.

For better or worse her fate was now bound by these shards as was his own. She had made herself his companion, something which he could not yet contest. He hoped that Raúl would like her at least.