The Mirage

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. In fact, in these days dragons rarely wandered close to mankind at all. Mankind being a fearful and ignorant race had nearly destroyed the entire species from the known world. Dragons were mostly for tall tales to scare the naive peasants into servitude or were used as excuses for when plans fell through, or crops failed, or invincible armies were defeated. No one took them seriously, even though the reality was that dragons were in fact real. Their role now was borderline religious in nature, shrouded in superstition and misunderstanding. Much of what dragons were capable of was labeled with the broad term 'magic' and left at that. Few tried to understand their ways, even fewer had ever endeavored to seek dragons out or document their behaviors. Only one man in the Westlands was known to study them, and he too tried not to stray too close to the dealings of mankind.

He was known to many simply as Savant, he lived a few days east of the ocean, and an equal number of days from the highlands that grew all of the crops for the people of Westland. Many said that if you traveled to the very center of the Westland, where the desert changed into pine trees, that is where Savant could be found. But on this particular day Savant was not in the center of Westland, for he had been called away to investigate a dragon in the lower valley.

Savant crested an arid hill overlooking the river valley before him, pulling a long drink from his leather flask, before putting back on his saddle. He leaned forward and patted his horse, in admiration and thanks for hauling him this far. Away in the distance there should have been a town nestled at the base of a hill that was cut in two by a small river. But today Savant could only see a smoke trail trailing upwards against the sky as the sun set behind him. The black plume scarred the warm evening sky, that was painted with the finest colors a setting sun could muster. The smoke was new, he had not seen it in his travel's days prior, which made him push on down to into the valley until it was nearly night fall. He made camp near the river, beside some apple trees that looked as though they were an orchard long ago, now heavy laden with their fruit and unkept.

Savant pulled from his bag flint and steel and struck himself a small dry fire, hoping to not draw attention to himself, but still be able to warm himself through the brisk spring night. Savant then took moments in the dim light to quickly craft and place a snare on a game trail he discovered, hoping he might have some breakfast other than apples in the morning. Finally, he settled into his camp and rolling out his simple bedding next to his small fire and looked up at the stars. The night wasn't quite pitch dark, but rather clinging onto the day for a few minutes more, revealing only the brightest stars and the moon. Savant stared upwards with his hand supporting the back of his head, noting the light blue in the west, and the darkest blue in the east. He allowed all of his senses to take over as his body began to relax from the long days travel. A deep breath through his nose let him smell the grass and fruit trees nearby. Beyond the strongest smells he could smell the river, and the river moss. He listened to the water roll over the rocks and wash against the banks, which made his mind think of the steady erosion that was occurring, slowly eating away at the soil and rocks, carving a new path in the valley. The cold was seeping into his feet and hands now, making him hide deeper under his blankets. He rolled over and looked at his infantile fire slowly fade out to embers. Savant closed his eyes and heard his horse fidget in the dark not far from him.

Slowly his world slid into a dream reality. A dream that made him feel like he was slowly being pulled deeper and deeper into a dark world before him. As he looked down, he could see a gaping maw of infinite void. A silent devourer of all dragging him downward that often plagued his dreams, he felt the normal dread creep up into his chest, but also recognized this was yet another dream. Attempting to control the outcome he peered around in his dream hoping to glean new information, but as he looked around, he heard a drum pound. It was quiet at first but growing in intensity from below him. A deep base filled boom, that made him freeze in fear, even though he knew he was dreaming. This boom sounded again, cutting the time in its repetition in half, only to follow up with an ever-increasing intense roar, the boom turned to pounding, to a raging cacophony of crashing tympanic drums. Looking at the void in the peripheral he saw movement in the dark and suddenly he was awake.

In the valley the sky was light blue, and the ground was cold. The sun was hidden behind the hills still, meaning it was early in the morning. Savant looked and saw his horse eating some grass in the field next to his campsite. Sitting up and stretching the cold from his body, Savant steadily began to awaken. In the corner of his eye, he saw he was being watched. Savant played ignorant for he did not want to scare off this particular visitor. Slowly standing up he moved to check his snare that he had set, keeping the guest just within his sight. The night had brought him some luck, and he knelt down to free his breakfast, losing sight of his visitor for a few minutes. As he returned to his camp, he sat with his back toward the eyes that were watching him from near the river. Starting a fire, and cleaning his kill, all the while attempting to pay attention to the extrasensory intuition he had, feeling out the movements and sounds of the hidden observer behind him. Grass was being crushed under foot, a small branch rustled and moved from his right side. Savant skewered the hare he was preparing and put it as a spit over his fire. That's when the little being decided to appear on his left.

Savant turned his head only halfway, enough to observe but not enough to frighten one who might be too skittish for a full acknowledgment. This was a skill he had acquired through years of observing animals in the wild. There on the log sat a small girl, who could not yet be four years old. Her knees together, at a ninety-degree angle, beneath a single thin blue night gown. It appeared to be a silk fabric as it had a shine to it in the morning light. Her arms had a few scrapes, and so did her face, but most of her injuries were on her feet, caked in mud and grime up to her knees. Her thin frame shivered very lightly, as her hands came together in her lap. Her hair was wild, curling at the ends behind her ears, while the rest was messy and straight. Her cheeks, nose and ears, were all rosy and raw. She wasn't scared, Savant realized, just shy.

"Hello there little one, are you cold?" Savant gestured to his fire. The girl just nodded her little head forward twice. Savant pulled his blanket and put it on the log he was sitting near the fire.

"You can sit here if you want. The rabbit will be done soon if you're hungry." He pulled a knife from a sheath on his ankle, and cut a small piece off the cooking animal, and noted that it was indeed already done. When he looked to his left, the girl was no longer where she had been. Instead, he felt a shift on the log right beside him and looked to see the girl wrapped in his blanket already, with a little dirty hand with fragile fingers gently begging for a piece of meat. Savant cooled the meat and then offered it to her. She leaned forward to grab, and opened her mouth simultaneously, gingerly putting the morsel into her mouth.

"How long have you been alone little one?" Savant smirked as she worked on the piece of hare. He removed the rest of the meal from the flame, carefully carving a portion off for himself and a second portion for the toddler beside him. The girl swallowed her food and made direct eye contact with the man beside her, raising her eye brows and widening her gaze. Then a small squeak came from the bundle of blankets, that was barely audible.

"What was that?" Savant leaned his ear a little closer to the girl, and turned his head away hoping to entice another response.

"...Last night." Came another squeak, her little hand made a cup shape and moved toward the second piece that was clearly hers. Savant looked at her hand and raised his eyebrows.

"You can have as much this if you answer my next two questions." Savant slowly moved the slice away, the girl sat up straighter and put her hands on her lap, giving him her undivided attention.

"What's your name?" The girl lowered her chin slightly and looked upwards at him. She remained silent for a minute then decided to give him an answer after he wasn't budging on giving her more food.

"Elizabeth." She smiled and pulled the blanket up closer to her face in a shy retreat from being so social.

"Pleasure to meet you Elizabeth. What happened to that village over there?" Savant pointed towards the smoke that was still rising in the air, though diminished since the night before. Elizabeth looked at the smoke, and Savant glanced in the direction of the smoke and then returned his gaze to the girl beside him. She had stolen the next bite and was consuming it with a prideful smile. When she finished, Savant was shaking his head, he really couldn't be mad at her. Her smile faded and a distant look came over her face.

"Mama said run." Small tears began to grow in her eyes, her body shook, and she cried almost silently, with only one small whimper breaking that silence. Savant leaned his head and offered her a third piece of meat. Her cries slowed, then stopped, but she shook her head and pushed the meat back toward him. Savant didn't press her for more information but instead bowed his head and took the bite that she refused. Savant got up and whistled for his horse. The animal lumbered over towards the campfire before stopping in front of them.

"Do you mind watching my dog for me?" Savant was watching for Elizabeth's reaction. She looked up confused and she then smiled, "That isn't a doggy! That's a horse!" The sadness had about faded from her, all that remained was the tears clinging to her eyelashes. Savant smiled and then put his hand on the horse.

"This is Lance my horse. Can you watch him for just a minute?"

Elizabeth nodded and stood up still wrapped in her blanket. The little girl wrapped one arm around Lance's leg, and kept her gaze on Savant, the other little hand slowly stroked the slender portion of the horse's leg that she could reach. Savant noted that she was comfortable with horses and noticed that Lance was put at ease immediately. Savant walked towards the apple trees and surveyed them, circling around until he found the prize he sought. With a slight jump he reached one apple that was ripe and large, the rest of the tree was full of small apples that were much too green to be picked. This apple must have been a fluke early pollination, for it wasn't quite the season for harvest.

Walking back with his treat, he pulled out a second knife from his belt, making sure to not use the knife he had pulled for the rabbit. He sat down on the log again, and patted the seat next to him, gesturing to Elizabeth to join him. Elizabeth patted the horse lightly,

"It's ok Lance, good horsey, stay." She walked back and sat on the log, then scooted closer toward the man with the apple. Savant quickly sliced the fruit into wedges, then offered three of them to the expecting little girl. Elizabeth made quick work of the apple slices and then sat there satisfied in front of the fire.

"Elizabeth, I am going toward the smoke soon, do you want to come with me?" Her little body became rigid. She slowly looked at Savant and whispered,

"Please don't leave." The sight of this small girl and her pleading almost moved Savant to tears.

"I won't leave you, but I got this message to come help a dragon. Did a dragon come?" Savant was gentle in his questioning. Elizabeth shook her head but then said, "I didn't see. Too dark."

"I can keep you safe Elizabeth, but you have to come with, okay?" He raised his eyebrows and nodded to coax her into agreement. She stared at him, weighing her options.

"Can Lance come too?" She pointed her nose towards the horse that had wandered to eat some unripe apples from the trees.

Savant chuckled and nodded at her,

"He goes where we go." Elizabeth gave a half smile and nodded. Savant started gathering his things up and put some water to boil. He then put his saddle back on Lance, removed his water flask and ate more apple and rabbit. The boiled water cooled and he loaded into his flask for the trip. Savant then pulled out a length of cloth and cut a piece of it. Dipping it in the bottom of his water boiling pot, he made it wet and then walked towards Elizabeth. Knowing what was coming, Elizabeth put out her hands and straightened her feet. After a few minutes of carefully washing her, the damage wasn't so bad, none of her cuts were deep enough to be worrisome. But the bottoms of her feet were covered in scrapes. He then pulled from his bag a satchel that had bandages and a few ointments, wrapping up her feet carefully and tying the cloth at her ankles.

Shaking out the blanket she had been using to remove excess dirt and twigs, he bundled her up again and set her on the horse. Savant finished packing his things then climbed on behind Elizabeth.

"Ready?" Savant looked for a response, all that came back was a silent nod. Making there way towards the hills, following the bend in the river, the silent trio made good time. The ground smooth out to an old road making the trip even easier. Within a few hours of following the hills edge the river reunited with them, and the came to a bridge, on the other side laid the burning village.

Upon crossing the bridge Savant climbed down and moved Elizabeth back in the saddle. He took a short length of leather and secured her waist to the horn on his saddle.

"Stay here and look after Lance. I will only be gone a minute."

Savant walked down the road to scout out the town, he pulled out his knife from his belt, keeping it concealed against his forearm. The front gate was open, with no one in the watch towers. The wooden wall and gate were charred but almost fully intact. Beyond the gate the town square was in plain view, the buildings around the town were in various stages of being burnt down. But one main thing stood out to Savant: lots of foot prints but not one body. Savant did his due diligence and scouted around each of the buildings, belongings were left in the houses. This wasn't a dragon's doing, and if it was people it seems they weren't raiders. Deep in his gut Savant could feel something sinister was going on, but he just didn't know what it was. After doing a loop he returned back to the bridge, and his two companions. Elizabeth perked up when she caught sight of Savant walking back.

"No one is here." Savant still had his brow furrowed trying to decipher what could have happened. Grabbing the reigns, he walked his two companions into the town center and then drew up some water from the well for his horse. Elizabeth climbed off the horse, showing she had experience even at a very young age. She wandered towards the burning church and pushed passed the rubble in her way. Savant followed after her without saying a word, hoping she would reveal something more. As they walked into the church brilliant colors from the remaining stain glass windows lit up the room. The largest of the windows depicted a large red dragon shrouded in brilliant yellow. Savant got lost in its beauty for a moment and turned just in time to see Elizabeth slipping behind a tapestry that remained hanging on the back wall. Savant expected her to come out the other side but then realized that the tapestry wasn't moving anymore. Savant rushed to the other side of the church and moved the tapestry. There was a narrow spiral staircase behind the tapestry.

Savant crouched and turned his body, with barely enough room he made his way down the stairs, his shoulder and head slid on the wall as he descended. The stairs went deep, soon he was in complete darkness, and he paused to listen for the pitter patter of little feet ahead of him but heard nothing. Pushing on he fought the urge to call out for his small companion. Eventually the stairs emptied into a dimly lit room with a large metal door with symbols engraved on it. Elizabeth was standing close to the door looking up and pointing at each carving whispering to herself. Savant waited at the base of the stairs, knowing full well he hadn't been stealthy in his descent, and that she knew he was watching.

Elizabeth then suddenly sat on the floor and pulled a bloodied bandage from her foot. She stood again and walked to the door, then stopped and looked back at the man watching her. She put both of her hands up in the universal language of children. Savant moved forward and lifted her up so she could reach the symbols. The girl leaned forward and marked with her blood on a symbol that Savant recognized meant 'female'. The next symbol was a roman numeral III, and the final was a symbol of a tiara. Elizabeth then touched the circle at the center with her hand and pushed, and the symbols on the door lit up red. Clicks and mechanical noises whispered from behind the door.

The door had Savant's undivided attention for minutes, until the weight of Elizabeth shifted in his arms and a small foot suddenly appeared in front of his face. She had the bandage in her free hand and looked at him expectedly with eyebrows raised. Savant sat her down, and with her leg still raised he rebandaged her foot. The door stopped making noises at that time and opened with a pop and a rush of air. Elizabeth got up and squeezed into the chamber before Savant could move, so naturally he followed. The door was heavy and swung slowly out even as he applied all of his strength to move it. Inside the chamber there were scrolls, tapestries, gold bars, coins, and jewels. At the far end of the vault, there sat a treasure chest, it looked old and out of place compared to everything else in the room, and as Savant cocked his head peering at the chest the hairs on his neck stood up.

"Eliz-!" He hissed but stopped when Elizabeth had put her finger over her mouth as she looked back at him. The little girl turned slowly back and then slowly stepped toward the chest. Savant watched the chest and after a few moments of his eyes adjusting to the low light, he saw the unmistakable indication that the treasure chest appeared to be breathing. Savant shifted he gaze back and forth between the girl and the monster disguised as a treasure chest. She was stepping in time with each subtle exhale from the box. After what seemed to be an eternity, she reached the box and put her finger over the keyhole on the lid. Savant held his breath waiting for the creature to attack but it didn't, instead the box appeared to struggle to breath. It then slowly opened itself up revealing a maw riddled with teeth, breathing deep, letting a concealed tongue move from the right side to the left. Just as the tongue settled on the left side, Elizabeth quickly grabbed something and stood there perfectly still. The lid of the treasure trove slowly closed down, and as it did its teeth retracted back. Elizabeth waited for the breathing to resume and made her way back to the doorway. Once they both had retreated from the vault, both put their backs to the door, and it slowly slid shut with another dull click.

A loud sigh of relief escaped both of their mouths as they sat with their back on the door of the vault. After a minute Savant looked down and saw Elizabeth staring at what looked to be a pearl the size of a chicken's egg. He decided to break the silence.

"So, Elizabeth, it appears that you haven't been entirely honest with me." He turned his gaze towards the stairs.

"What is your name, who are your parents, and how old are you really? Also... was that a Mimick?!" He gestured with his thumb behind him and glanced down to see the little girl smirking up at him.

"I don't blame you for concealing any of this from me, after all you had just met me, and I could have been after that sacred treasure in your hand. Not every day that one sees or holds a dragon egg."

Elizabeth cupped the egg close to her chest. Let out another sigh and decided to respond.

"'A mimicks mouth is dangerous for the thief, but the perfect place for treasure,'... especially one that should stay warm." She quoted this with her eyes closed and then continued. "Before I answer your questions, I need to be sure you are indeed Savant. In your pocket you have a letter that summoned you to my town. What kind bird brought it to you?"

Savant looked at her quizzically. "A large black raven." Elizabeth relaxed.

" That settles it. I am Elizabeth Mirage the third, daughter of Elizabeth Mirage the second and my father Alexander Huntyr. The Matriarch and Chieftan of our town. I am twenty years old as of yesterday and I wrote you that letter."

"What if I killed Savant and took the letter?" He said this trying to sound menacing, but his heart was still racing from the run in with the Mimick.

"The raven would've told us. She followed you all the way out here and even described what you looked like and the path you were traveling."

Savant chuckled to himself; it was hard to hear the wisdom and lengthy responses of the small person beside him and not laugh, she was only seven years younger than him despite her appearance. The girl continued to explain.

"My family bloodline Ouroboric." Savant nodded slowly and responded to that point.

"I have read about this fabled blood line. The daughters carry a bond with a dragon protector with whom they grow. The miracle of long life is given to the mortal and the angelic protector is their constant companion. I thought it was a myth because it conflicts with other dragon behaviors I've observed. But wait, you said you turned twenty yesterday? We don't have much time then."

Elizabeth sat up straight and looked at the egg in her hands. It began to move and shake. Savant picked her up and rushed her up the stairs and into the town square. Putting the girl on the steps of the church, he quickly grabbed three metal dishes from his saddle bag and a small pouch. Placing the three dishes in front of the girl about two feet apart, he quickly grabbed the contents from the pouch and put them into the dishes. In one a lodestone and diamond, in the second he filled it with water and retrieved a burning stick which rested above the water, and the third tray that was copper he left empty. The egg began to rattle which made Elizabeth set it down on the ground in fear that it would fall and break.

"You should have told me more in your letter, I was expecting to investigate a hurt or wandering dragon. Not be part of birth of a Dragon or an Initiation ceremony. I would've brought the ceremonial dishes instead of these humble items." Savant sounded tired and annoyed but let out a sigh and returned his gaze on the egg.

Savant sat with his legs crossed, facing the dishes and the dragon egg waiting. Elizabeth came around with him never breaking eye contact with the egg. She sat on his ankles, staring at the egg as it began to crack. Slowly a baby dragon emerged and rolled onto the ground. Its eyes still closed, the slimy lizard began to sniff the air and crawl towards the dishes. Upon arriving at the dishes, the dragon smelled each of the contents. It grabbed and swallowed the lodestone and diamond, then crawled away and curled up in the copper dish. Savant lifted Elizabeth and put her on her feet, pushing her to the now slumbering dragon. She slowly walked to the dish and lifted it up and whispered a phrase.

"I am the Mirage that you seek, your bonded companion and servant."

The dragon lifted its head, squeaked, then climbed up her arm. As the dragon climbed it grew, the colorless scales now filling in with the black of the lodestone and tipped with the clear shine of a diamond. The length of the dragon grew as well, and by the time it had reached her neck it now was long enough to be a necklace, which it became as it bit its own tail and dangled itself to rest.

Savant watched observing all the subtle changes in the dragon, trying to commit these events to memory. He noted that as the dragon grew on its path to Elizabeths neck, that HER hair had grown, and as she stood there, he noticed she appeared several inches taller.

"I have only read about the Initiation of a dragon. This is something happens once every few generations, but this Initiation was even more unique than I have ever read about." Savant had his arms folded and his eyes were lost in deep thought as he spoke.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth stopped lightly patting the dragon around her neck and turned to face the man sitting behind her.

"Lodestone, diamond, fire, water, air, and something that can carry an electrical charge. At certain stages of a dragon's life, it will consume elemental objects which dictate its magical abilities. Every Initiation I have read about a dragon will consume one of the objects in the dishes. Swallowing a lodestone or diamond. Drinking the water or inhaling the flame. Spinning in the copper or gold dish to make an electrical spark or sitting tall and breathing deep. But your dragon, ate both stones and then curled up in the copper dish. Your dragon instead of having one magical element appears to have four!" Savant shook his head in disbelief looking at the slumbering pet around the small girl's neck.

Elizabeth sat down and started crying and hyperventilating. The dragon woke up and climbed from her neck down in front of her, staring intently with wide eyes that were now open.

"Where is my mom? Where is my dad? Where is everyone?" She gasped out each one of these between sobs. The dragon tilted its head not understanding what was being said.

Savant approached slowly; the dragon turned in a defensive position in front of Elizabeth. A low growl came from deep inside the small protector, nothing that seemed threatening given its small size, but a clear signal to come no further. The scales on the dragon bristled, and a spark appeared along its spine and Savant saw one of the dishes made of iron slide forward toward the dragon.

"I will help you get answers Elizabeth, I promise to not leave your side until you ask me to leave or until you are safely returned to your family." Savant stood his ground, with a hand offered to help her up. Elizabeth stopped crying, wiped her tears, and looked up. She reached a hand towards her protector, and the dragon reacted before she touched him. The scales smoothed and calmed, and he climbed back up onto her shoulder, still in a defensive stance staring at the man before them.

"Can Lance come to?" She had a half smile and reached out to grab Savant's hand.

Savant smiled, "He goes where we go."