Deep within the cliffs of Linuxinia, a silver-haired girl with magenta eyes appeared from thin air.
Her bare feet gripped the ground.
The dark dress she wore fluttered in the wind, whispering secrets into the world.
Her eyes were masked with despair and anguish; each glance was laden with a story untold, a battle within her heart.
Doubt and hope wrestled in her soul as she pondered her next move.
The mysterious girl tried to speak, hesitating as she waved her hand upward, her fingers trembling in the wind.
"Shall the prophecies of Alaunus come into fruition? Or is it a hoax to all dwellers of the soil below?"
She raised her corrupted arm and pointed directly at the dragon.
Tears of remorse welled on her flawed face as she glimpsed, far off, the wanderers locked in battle with the beast.
A magenta stream of light spiraled around the ascending humanoid creatures, aiding their mountain climb. Voices echoed. The group's shouts rang across the expanse.
"We shall serve The Ending with grateful smiles." One said,
"Let them not get away." Said another, with visors pointing upwards.
"Yes, your majesty," They all said in unison as the silver-haired girl departed.
Suddenly, grass tore as a green and cyan explosion uprooted a giant castle hidden below.
Trees rocked.
Mountains and cliffs collapsed into debris before her.
Yet, the castle floated in the air and defied gravity.
Amidst the chaos, the girl attached a magenta stream to spider-like creatures. Pink light twisted through flashing clouds, spiraling into chaos.
She vanished, uttering painfully with fading strength.
"Soon, once the dust of this mighty battle settles, you two shall witness the truth they ALL have been trying to cover up."
. . .
(Back at the floating citadel.)
The vortex of storms slowly dissipated as the swirling clouds overhead gradually faded.
Ahead, battlements levitated. Below, a city lay embedded in ancient ground. Towering stone structures rose on rolling hills. Floating trees, rocks, and logs hung suspended in a state of chaos.
"Sergil."
At that moment, Asahi and Aletha resolved the battle by sheathing their swords.
Their fearful eyes watched as the dragon stopped circling, then soared through the debris.
Her wings cast a shadow over the peaks as she neared Asahi and Aletha. Hovering, they looked down at the crumbling rock, exposing flowing roots.
Emerald light surged and vanished, crackling with energy.
Dark clouds broke the tempest, flashing to the blue sky, revealing Linuxinia shimmering on the horizon.
The sun hung high, its light glimmering on the water below.
As rogue waves crashed and slammed into the walls of water made from Kendra and Toivo, Asahi and Aletha looked heavenward.
They saw the dragon, Aedline, soar across the citadel.
The beautiful dragon had blue scales and black skin. She latched onto a podium and started a discussion with the wanderers.
"Tell me, why are you here? And how did you know that name?"
Aletha clutched the ground, white-knuckled, as debris soared in a vortex. She flattened herself, shoulders shaking, shielding her face from the flying grit. Her gaze darted.
Questions swirled in her mind—a whirlwind of confusion about Sergil's past and the dragon's transformation.
She pressed her palm to her temple; memories flashed, unbidden, interwoven with snippets from the Prophecy Book
. Each recollection felt disjointed, yet somehow connected, as if the prophecies themselves painted a picture she couldn't grasp.
She looked up at the peak, wondering how these memories drew her here. How were they linked to Sergil?
Why was the Prophecy Book pivotal in the dragon's awakening?
These unanswered questions haunted her—each memory, a puzzle piece, begging to fit in its rightful place.
"I've seen him," Aletha said as she dug into the very depths of her fragmented memory. "I've seen him and you."
The dragon fell silent, folding her wings tightly to her sides. First, she tried to flap them at Asahi in warning, but Aletha quickly stepped forward, placing herself between Asahi and the dragon, and declared,
"The Prophecies. The prophecies from Alaunus. I have seen them." She took a moment to recollect in her mind. "There were many instances. But only Alai and I understood them. Asahi has barely any clue about these writings."
"No." Asahi intervened. "It's not just you. Far underground. I can't recall it fully, but I DID see prophecies."
Just before Asahi and Aletha could settle a debate, the dragon, Aedline, chuckled at their interaction and said.
"Ah, so it appears two have made it to the peak… as the prophecy suggests. Hmm, I see now. You two have scaled the mountain graciously.. And I have watched every movement. For see, I have great visions." As the dragon moved side to side humbly, she continued.
"Now, about the book." She said, "I have seen this book appear in my abode. Although I can grasp a familiarity with it, I don't have a full understanding of these supposed Prophecies."
"What book?" Asahi mumbled, clueless about what was happening in Alai's house.
"It's Alai's book."
Suddenly, memories of the antagonistic figure bubbled in Aletha. She remembered Alai showing her the book and writing down the prophecies. She recalled his climb and the attempt to prevent a prophecy—how impossible it felt to evade. The book's journey to the peak stood out in her mind. In her memory.
All the prophecies, including her visions, floated in her mind starting from…
(The Owners shall make their endeavored return to this world and… shall wipe the tears of this world dry.)
And,
(A magical tornado shall raze the land of Happiness.)
Finally,
(At the peak of the deceased king of Linuxinia, the two original owners shall return and wage war against ---- only then shall this world…)
The prophecies in the book urged Aletha and Asahi to learn more about the inscriptions. Quickly, they asked.
"What are the last five prophecies?" Aletha asked, knowing the important ones bolded in ink.
"The final prophecies recorded in this book hint at an apocalyptic scenario."
Aedline said as she itched her wings, her cyan eyes glittering beneath the sickly hue of black.
"An arrival so daunting, so fearful, that it shall shake the very foundation of the world. And it's approaching quickly."
Stuck in the situation of meeting a dragon that was once human, Aletha and Asahi decide to exchange questions for an answer.
"Is it true?" Aletha asked as the winds brewed viciously. "...that we are the original owners of this world?"
"Indeed," Aedline answered casually. "Shall you question your ability? For you two have scaled the peak in full force, and have yet to conquer the dragon."
As silence continued, they both noticed an error. They had conquered a dragon through friendship.
Yet, the dragon dared to say they had yet to destroy her. Noticing this, Asahi asked a question.
"Isn't the dragon referring to you?" He said as he grabbed the book from the floating podium.
Aedline shook her head in disapproval at the suddenness of her abrupt, scared answer.
"No,"
Afterward, a loud, reverberating roar sounded across the entire expanse of the world. Its scream had grazed every crevice, geyser, peak, and town in Linuxinia.
A gargantuan roar rattled the earth below.
Asahi and Aletha's eyes widened at that howl, feeling a sense of dread course through their veins.
"What… is that?"
Just before they could grasp the situation, robotic spiders emerged from the roots of the mountain. Humanoids climbed up the peak.
Phthonus was seen exiting the frame of what appeared to be a portal, accompanied by Kali, Alai, Ubel, and a few others who supported them.
Asahi, confused, asked Phthonus as the dragon reeled back.
"How did you get up here?" Asahi mumbled as the whole group approached the stone hallway leading to the floating citadel.
"Thanks to Cosima,"
Phthonus added as she and he stepped forward.
"Known for her mastery in portal creation, betrayed The Promise and decided to work with us, foreseeing the situation that would unfold. She used her abilities to create portals, enabling us to reach you two."
He turned to the crimson-haired girl being healed.
"Alai is down, getting healed by a maid. Meanwhile, Kendra and Toivo are defending the city with their water magic, creating barriers and waves to protect against the enemy's assault."
"I wouldn't call it betrayal. Rather, assistance," Cosima said as she brushed her silk purple hair.
"Really?" Aletha questioned as yet another roar resounded on the ground.
"And what about the dragon?" Kali said as she encircled one of the roots unearthed from the land below.
"She is on our side," Asahi replied, wiping sweat from his brow as his grip tightened on his blade. "And her name is Aedline."
"AEDLINE?!" All yelled in unison.
"The Protector? The legendary warrior who saved hundreds of lives from the angels?" Ubel said. "That warrior is the dragon from history books?"
"Yes, indeed," she said as she closed her jaw. "I transformed into a dragon because of the Angels that invaded this world back in the War of the Wish." As she saw more people emerging from the portal's frame, Aedline continued.
"It seems the threat is more severe than I ever thought it was."
With fear hammering in their hearts, the Queen of Linuxinia greatly asked.
"Will you two be alright?" She said as she and another conjured up a green luminance.
Asahi and Aletha, struck with insecurity and palpable dread, clutch their blades tightly. Eyes dart from dragon to looming threat. The dragon lowers herself to her belly, wings tucked close.
"Yes."
Suddenly, another cry howled out from the glittering horizon.
The air hung thick and still.
Asahi, Aletha, and the others slowly turned their heads to the glittering ocean.
A collapsing vignette unveiled beneath the clouds; a silhouette of epic proportions. The palpable chill in the air was a breath of oblivion; destruction in its wake.
In an instant, a purple laser shot forth, targeting Asahi and Aletha. Aedline shook her head then waved her tails, saying,
"Aboard me, wanderers," She invited as the clouds thunder, "An even greater threat is awakening from the horizon."
Aletha, having second thoughts, grabbed her blade and asked Aedline.
"Is this safe?"
Feeling the weight of the world upon them, Phthonus and the others, including Aedline, gave a thumbs up to them as the distant roaring from the titanic beast sounded in the ocean.
"No time for caution. Its roar is making rogue waves." Ubel said as he retrieved his claws. "If Kendra and Toivo weren't there, the city would have been flooded. We must take caution. If you can't fight the monsters, I will surrender my life to The Prism."
"Surrender your life?" Aletha asked. "What do you mean?"
"As I said, NO time for caution," Phthonus warned. "We must find a way to eliminate the beast fast. Intruders are bound to sabotage your attack."
"Aboard me swiftly, wanderers," Aedline said as she extended her wings. "This world is losing its patience with you."
Struck by the spectacle of the situation, to be surrounded by all these caring people and creatures, it would seem to them that they were a gift; a bright treasure to this world.
Now with the weight of the world fallen into their grasp, Asahi and Aletha chose to climb up Aedline, suppressing their every thought of slipping and falling off.
Every breath felt heavy, laden with the unspoken dread of what was to come.
Whoever this beast was, it was a greater threat than Aedline ever was.
Waves started to ripple in their slow movements.
Phthonus, Ubel, Kali, Pridia, Rinnea, Joshilyn, and even Emine watched as the dragon that carried Asahi and Aletha soared vividly across the villages bound to the earth.
It flew rapidly and efficiently, gliding smoothly across the lily-pad water.
However, their descent wasn't to be taken lightly.
Kendra, who felt like the whole city was on her back, started to falter. Her hands and luminance flickered in struggle, feeling everything push down on her. But Toivo, however, stepped forth and formed another wall of water, winking…
"I'm glad that you joined me, Kendra." He said as they pushed the tsunamis back. "You are an efficient young woman. I'm glad Acheros has raised you well."
As Kendra nodded and smiled, remembering the white-haired man and Asahi, just as they almost missed it, Aedline soared toward the ocean with Asahi and Aletha, with light glimmering like a floating star.
Although the sun hung high, its luminance felt overshadowed by a blanket of clouds.
At first, they thought the tendrils were the dragon itself. But suddenly,
A giant purple luminance shattered their perspective.