The Beginning of an End

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. That was before the Collision. Before the Ancient Societies of Old were knocked back to a meek existence, having to scrape by until relearning how to stand again. The Collision had brought magic to this world, and with it, the dragons. The dragons that roamed Teardrop Valley nowadays, were not like the Greats. They were descendants of those colossal dragons that emerged after The Collision. Almost all of the Greats had been hunted down; to be captured or killed for trophy. It was said that only two remained free in existence, but they were rumors. Now, the biggest of the dragons that were a part of common life here in the Valley were no bigger than a small hill and carried very little innate magic.

They made perfect companions to individuals they deemed worthy of their time and attention. Intelligent and eager to help, these modern dragons were not wholly unlike their ancestors.

“It could have been so much better. Our society could’ve been so much better with a Great Dragon at its helm.” A woman no older than seven and thirty thought to herself. Her long dark blonde hair left loose to hang about her shoulders. She stood at the edge of a small cliffside on the edge of the Valley and just watched the world go by as she thought about the history of this place. All parts of the Valley could be seen from this spot. The capital city, Raisharn, of the Kingdom of Taldoven resided here. Dragons and their riders could be seen flying to and fro. The two enormous towers of the Grand Castle and its battlements below that were tucked against the very back of the Valley. Then the sprawling city proper spreading out from the castle in three directions; North, West, and South.

The woman smiled, not at anyone in particular, just thinking of all she could turn this Kingdom into. Except, this Kingdom was not hers to shape or mold. This Kingdom was in the hands of her brother-in-law and sister; her little sister no less. Her smile turned into a look of contempt.

She was broken from her vicious train of thought as her dragon shot up from below the side of the cliff. Her hair and cloak forced back by the gust. She waited to face him as he landed behind her. As the dust and wind settled, she spun on her heel and strode toward him with purpose. He clutched something between his toothy jaws. “You found it?” Her dragon lowered his head and placed a chuck of purple, pearlescent element in her outstretched hands; Arcanium. “Excellent work, Nyriss. Is there enough of a deposit for future collections to be conducted?” Nyriss, her dragon of black scale and golden eye, gave a silent nod. The woman examined the large chunk in her hands. “And, it’s of high quality?”

Nyriss rolled his reptilian-like eyes, he knew his rider would not be satisfied unless she saw it with her own eyes. He laid down and allowed her to mount in her saddle. Firmly strapping herself and her prized possession in place, she gave her mount the go-ahead. Nyriss took to the sky and brought his rider to the spot he had collected from, latching onto the cliffside with his talons. The woman was now close enough to see the vein of this precious element for herself. It was indeed high quality and there were ample amounts for her project. She flashed a broad smile and patted Nypriss’ neck satisfactorily. “Take me home Nyriss, there’s work to be done.”

With that command, Nyriss released his talons. Falling backward and then into a dive. Reaching his top speed within moments, he flared out his wings and pulled upward, allowing the wind to carry him.

The ride to the Grand Castle was short. Landing on the darker of the two towers, the woman dismounted, clutching the leather pouch tightly as she unbuckled the saddle and put it away. “You’ve earned yourself a break I think. Come inside, cool off.” Nyriss' eyes widened. It was not often the woman allowed him indoors. He normally was sent out to collect things for her experiments or kept outside on the launching pad of her tower. He must have done very well indeed.

“I’ll be in my laboratory should my sister request my presence.” Nyriss nodded and laid down in the woman’s grand residential chambers. The woman, leather pouch in hand, descended the stone steps that led to the grand corridor of her tower. She came to the standing timepiece against the wall and shoved it over to reveal a small case opening. She entered, and slid the timepiece back into place. With a snap of her fingers the sconces on the walls lit up the secret passageway.

She strode with intense purpose now. She had everything she needed to make contact. The apparatus was built and in place, the energy conductor had been assembled, and now she had the precious element that contained raw magic. The woman reached her laboratory. Her lab had been set up in the ancient caverns she’d discovered upon her tower being built into the back mountainside of the Valley. Multiple tables covered in all manner of glass tubes, metal coils, failed experiments, and open grimoires for research. The woman approached the table that had been set apart from the rest.

This table had only the energy conductor on it, along with a tome that held the legends of the dimension the Great Dragons had come from. The space in front of the table was a natural stone dias, it held the apparatus; the instrument that would open a small portal to the other dimension.

The woman removed the thick glass dome from the energy conductor and gently readjusted the metal clasps to conform around the Arcanium. Securing the glass dome back into place, the woman then hurriedly moved towards the apparatus to make the final adjustments. Lastly, she grabbed two heavy metal chains. “Please, Goddess Arcaniese, allow this to work.” and connected the two chains to the energy conductor and the apparatus. Immediately, the piece of Arcanium hummed to life as the energy conductor began to siphon off the raw magic from the element. From there, it was conducted down the chains to the apparatus. Raw magical energy looked differently to that of magic that had been transformed by the individual performing it. It crackled, sparked, and yet appeared and behaved like a liquid would. Its vibrant fuchsia color lighting up the woman’s face and the cavern around her.

When the raw magic reached the apparatus, it flowed into and through every crevice of the metal. A gentle fuchsia mist began to cascade down from the top of the apparatus, forming a perfect circle. A communication portal. The woman’s eyes lit up with excitement, now was her chance. She scrambled to grab the tome and to find the ancient greeting listed within its pages.

With an authoritative tone, she announced herself, “Korthovas, ne shvas! I, Tyvani Kythron, Second Arch Mage of the Kingdom of Taldoven, request an audience with His Eminence, Great Dragon Vorxtus. May he grace me with his presence.” There was silence, the mist continued to fall to the floor of the cavern with zero disturbance. Then, a deep, guttural rumble, the glass tubes and bobbles vibrated. The sound of massive wing beats and the landing of something gargantuan. The gust of wind that smelled of sulfur and ash came barreling through the communication portal. Tyvani covered her face to buffet the force and hoped that the beast that was on the other side of the portal was Vorxtus. He was supposed to be one of the greatest of the Great Dragons. Able to battle the Great Dragon of Darkness and Despair; Vorxtus was more commonly referred to as the Great Golden Light.

The voice that entered the room was not what she expected. It was so low and seismic, she felt it in her chest and through the floor more than she heard it with her ears. “Sssspppeeaaakk.” Tyvani calmed herself, she had never been able to speak with the Greats, she would need to remain focused. Looking back at the piece of Arcanium, she had used a little more than half of the raw magic for the portal. She’d have to be both gracious and precise in her communication.

“Your Eminence, I am honored you would grant me an audience.” A short pause. “Whhhaaatt is it thhatt yoouuu reecqquiiire, chhilddddd?” Tyvani took a deep breath. “It is my greatest wish that you come to join us here, and rule with my aid. The current rulers have not done our Kingdom justice. With a Great Dragon at its helm, this Kingdom, no, the world, could be transformed to function at its greatest potential.” A long pause followed, Tyvani became nervous. Had she offended the Great Golden Light? The raw magic in the Arcanium was getting lower, she guessed she only had a few minutes left.

“I cccaaaannnnn assssissttttt yyyoooouuuu wiittthhhhh tthhhiissssss.” Instant giddiness. Tyvani smoothed her trousers and her collar, and cleared her throat nervously, “I- I shall construct a portal large enough and then you shall come through?” A black smoke came through the purple mist, engulfing Tyvani completely, she coughed relentlessly. Her vision blurred. She had been touched by something powerful; corrosive. “Yeesssss, chhiillllddddd. Lllleeettt meeee knnoooowww wwhhheeeennn ittt'sss reeaddyyyy.” Tyvani swayed on her feet, grabbing the edge of the table. “Y-yes. I-I shall keep y-you, i-informed.”

The Arcanium turned to dust and the portal closed. Tyvani stood dazed. Her need for the table she was gripping becoming less and less. She’d done it; she had made contact, and Vorxtus had agreed to assist her. She would remove her sister and her brother-in-law from power and replace them with the best ruler there could possibly be, on the throne. Tyvani wiped the mistiness from her eyes, cleaned out the energy conductor and disconnected the chains. She exited her laboratory and moved back toward her residential chambers.

She was met by a robed figure at the bottom of the stairs to her chamber. “Talindra, what a surprise.” Tyvani smiled a sickeningly sweet smile at her sister, knowing now that she had the power of the beast beyond the purple veil. Talindra, the Queen consort, spun on her heel. Her dark purple robes spun with her. Her neat braids tucked into a bun and held by two golden hair sticks.

“Tyvani, I saw you land and there was something I wished to discuss with you.” Tyvani’s smile fell flat; darkness wrapped itself around her heart, “You could have sent a message.” Talindra gave a sad smile, “You never respond to my messages, sister.” Tyvani’s hands balled at her sides, the darkness sinking in, “What is it you wish to discuss?” Her voice, short and snipped.

Talindra rung her hands out in front of her, uneasy. She knew very well how disapproving her sister was of her rule. It had always been the Kythron Family’s belief that one of the sisters would marry into royalty. They were both well educated, poised, and from an upper echelon family. Everyone had always expected it to be Tyvani. She was intelligent, authoritative, and decisive. Traits one would expect from a traditional ruler. Talindra had been known for her benevolence, her inner strength, and her patience. Tyvani was six years her sister’s senior and had always believed herself more capable for the job that Talindra had found herself in one day when she was told the man she’d fallen in love with and agreed to marry, was a prince. Tyvani had never been subtle about her feelings towards her sister’s unexpected happy news.

“I have some students that wish to take courses in Alchemy. That has alway been your specialty and your schedule is far more open than mine. I was hoping you would be willing to teach them.” Tyvani’s jaw clenched tightly, nostrils flaring. She stepped closer towards her sister to whisper in her ear, mockingly, “Is that a command, your Majesty?” Talindra’s eyes closed in disappointment; she hated when her sister pushed her like this, “No, it is a simple request to my sister. However, I can see you do not seem to respond well to kindness, oddly enough.” Tyvani scoffed, “Do not waste my time Talindra. I’ve work to do.” She moved around Talindra and began to ascend the stairs to her chambers.

“I, Queen Talindra Muethler, the First of my name and First Arch Mage of the Kingdom of Taldoven, command thee, Tyvani Kythron, Second Arch Mage of the Kingdom of Taldoven, to instruct the lessons of selected students in the practice of Alchemy. Will you obey your Queen?” Tyvani had stopped her ascent the moment Talindra began speaking, her widened eyes now narrowing. The darkness took a firm, unmovable grip. She hadn’t expected her sister to command her, and it solidified her undoing.

“Yes.” Tyvani growled. “Excellent. The Dean of Sciences will send you your schedule promptly. Should you have any issues, do not hesitate to inquire.” And with that, Talindra teleported back to her tower. The shaking in Tyvani’s balled fists peaked as she screamed in frustration and anger. A blast of darkness emanated from her and when she opened her eyes, instead of their normal jade green color, they were a darker forest green.

She would have to move her timeline up, she could bear this existence under her sister no longer. Tyvani strode into her chambers, “NYRISS!” He was in front of her in an instant. Her voice was hoarse, he could hear her anger, and it made him sad even if it wasn’t directed towards him. “When night falls, go back to the Arcanium vein and bring it back to me.-" Tyvani ground her teeth together. "-All. Of. It.” Nyriss gave nod and followed Tyvani out to the launch pad.

She fitted Nyriss with a pouch bag. “Go feed. Then take as many trips as you need to the site. When you have retrieved it all, call to me. I will be making a far larger apparatus.” Nyriss brought his head down to inspect his rider. Yes, she was different now. She had always been intense; but never dark. Something had touched Tyvani; something that did not feel right. Nonetheless, Nyriss did as he was bid and took off in search of food.

Tyvani watched him fade into the horizon and spun to return to her laboratory. She had enough metal to assemble the Master Apparatus, yes, that’s what she’d call it. Upon returning there, she began her preparation immediately. It took a good two hours for her to clear enough of a space for an apparatus large enough to fit a Great Dragon through. She would also need to adjust the size of the energy conductor. It would need to be big enough to hold all of the Arcanium Nyriss was bringing back. Tyvani scoured over the cavern bringing every scrap piece of metal she could find. The darkness in Tyvani’s heart fueled her work. She would do this. She had to.

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Xynash, the Great Dragon of Darkness and Despair remained standing over the decaying carcass of Vorxtus as the communication portal dissolved. An evil grin spread across his jagged, toothy maw. A way to a new world had been presented to him. He would take it and devour its hope and anyone that stood in his way.