Dragon Legends: The Tale of Orphius Chapter 6
#6 of Dragon Legends: The Tale of Orphius
Hey guys and gals, its been a while hasn't it I have had the worst case of writers block for the past 3 years and am only now getting back to writing. As always comments and advice are welcome. I hope you enjoy.
It took Sephros 17 hours to reach his cave and upon entering he head straight to the back of the cave and into an almost invisible alcove on the right side of the cave. As he turned the corner he looked around his room. Light entered the room through a hole in the ceiling amplified by a small quartz crystal and the walls of the alcove had small veins of crystal quartz running along it. There were books staked on a set of shelves carved out of the stone wall and a low sitting table just right for him to easily read a book while relaxing.
As he looked around the room to make sure nothing was missing his eyes fell upon a book with a golden spine resting upon his book shelf. Sephros grabbed the book in one of his fore paws and slowly walked to his desk reading the cover of the book, which read 'Creatures around us, an Encyclopaedia of Known Species by Orion Kadoron of the Dragons', before placing it on his table as he lay on his belly to relax.
'I wonder why Orphius's injuries didn't heal as fast as Alartra's... from what I could tell Alartra's wounds were worse so it doesn't add up... Orion what were you hiding from me all those years ago...' thought Sephros as he flipped through the pages of the book until he reached the desired section of the book, it read_'Myths and Legends Creatures of Old', when he turned the page he saw the image of a feral Wolf with three Dragon tails that stood at roughly 4" tall on the prowl through a forest as trees fell at the touch of its tails, the creature was an _'Okkaryu'.
He turned the page as he saw another image this time of a three headed, two tailed Hydra jumping out of a storm swept sea, the name of this creature was 'Bassidoru' in a small diagram of to the side it showed the size of the average Hydra compared to the Bassidoru and showed that these creatures were almost twice the size of a Hydra.
On the next page he saw another image this time of a large five headed, seven tailed Hydra however what made it stand out from the average Hydra was the six dragon wings spread wide open, as the five heads roar towards the stars, while standing amidst the burning ruins of a once prominent town, while its tails curled around a monastery protecting it from the destruction, it was called 'Kalsiodoru', a creature whose nickname had become the 'The Purifier of the World'.
He turned the page again, unlike the pictures before which depicted creatures of great size, speed and power, the picture that lay on this page interested him the most. It was almost as if the picture was not a painting done by an artist of immeasurable skill, but rather a life like image caught in the moment, frozen in time.
The image had a large group of creatures all smiling for the artist, it had a human with a green dragon pattern around her right eye, she looked to be eight months pregnant, standing behind her was a white furred wolven with a crimson dragon pattern around his left eye holding her in a lovers embrace. Next to the white furred male was a gold scaled dragoness who had a silver wolf pattern on her forehead, next to her stood a large black and red scaled wyvern with a wolf pattern around his left eye and a human pattern around his right, both of which were a light brown in colour. On the left side of the picture stood a tan skinned human male who had a white liger pattern around his left eye. On the right side of the picture stood a large three headed dark blue scaled Hydra, who had a red and white fox pattern in the shape of a yin yang symbol around her right eye on her middle head, her three heads couldn't seem to decide on what face was the right one which added some humour to the painting.
The name of the group of people, if that's what you could call them, was 'Kyuseloran' which in the tongue of the wolven meant 'Those who protect all from within the shadows of the night', while the humans had proceeded to call them 'Shadow Knights'.
In the language of the wyvern the name of the group meant 'Those cursed by fate to become a sacrificial lamb, who in death bring peace to this world', in the language of the dragons the name meant 'Those chosen by fate, born of chaos, they create a shining path towards a bright new future, never to be acknowledged for their part in shaping history'.
'I have to admit, for all your quirks, all your secrets, you always were observant of your surroundings, this book is a testament to your observant nature, but what of this picture it makes no sense other than the name and translations you added no true way to identify these 'Kyuseloran' you must know the truth of these creatures how they all fall into the same category, but why hide it what could you possible gain from hiding it' thought Sephros as he slowly closed the book, by now the sun had already begun to disappear over the horizon.
Sephros left the alcove carrying the book in one fore paw before stashing it in a saddle bag that he kept for long trips, alongside it he placed his herb pouch. With nothing else of real value in his cave he lay down to sleep for the night before he would once more set out for the island.