Light for the Future
#3 of Draconic Rebellion
Author's note: Surgery is fun and prevents me from writing. Heck it even screws with my sleeping schedule, which means...when the best inspiration strikes, I am less able to write it down. Sorry 'bout that :/
Anyways, a break from the last story, this contains plot development and serves as nothing more to expand the story. While I might not have a ton of writing to read at one sitting, I can guarantee this story will be MANY parts and hopefully resolves to a decent ending :)
One thing...I'm terrible at coming up with names...and I need to introduce a whole slew of new characters in the next part of the story...anyone think they can help come up with unique, fitting names for dragon-based characters? xD Anyways, hope you enjoy this...plot development :)
The shock and terror that I experienced moments ago seemed fleeting as I saw the world below me seamlessly drifting by. My energy was draining fast, however, as I had mot eaten anything at all this day. I closed my eyes to rest, hoping that wherever I wound up would provide me answers to the many questions flying through my mind.
My eyes opened to the warming glow of a fire. The crackling warmth of it seemed to be alive, so much so that I reflexively stretched out a white clawed hand and placed it directly in the burning embers. I gasped at the sensation - a warming glow permeated my hand and spread through my entire body, but it did not burn. I could not take my hand away from the center of the fire despite my human mind warning me that this was completely unnatural. I stared into the center of the fire, my eyes adjusting to a piercing level of light, and saw multicolored flames dancing around the center. Hues of blue, yellow, and even white danced about where my hand was, constantly building within me a sense of warmth.
As soon as my eyes had adjusted to that level of light, I slowly removed my hand from the fire, but it remained glowing. Not only was it glowing, but the glow was becoming brighter and brighter! The light grew more blinding until I felt that I could no longer watch it, at which point I quickly jerked my head to the side. At the same moment, all of the heat that built up inside of me was torn right out of my arm. I fell down on the ground. When I opened my eyes, I saw the glowing of a figure beside me. Slowly looking up in fear and awe, I peered into the bright, glowing face of the figure. After a moment of silence, I croaked "Who are you?"
"I am Lumina, goddess of light and peace in the world." The figure said. "I am here now because of the sacrifice you made last night. My very essence was sealed away in twelve objects, the very twelve you reunited together, but now I am free to venture around the world.
"And me...these changes?" I gasped, holding up my arms and hands. "As generations come and pass," she sang in a melodic tone, "so too do the generations of gods and mortals. This is preparation for tonight. Your spirit is that of a warrior who wants peace more than war. I am an aged goddess who has no place in this world anymore after being locked up for centuries by war and strife. You know what plagues the world and have lived through it. You can stop the destruction of the world, and we're all counting on you!"
I blankly stared at the goddess before me, unsure if this was some test or dream. "Alex," her voice chimed in my head, "the choice is before you! Accept your role and take my spot, or for the next thousand years peace will be hard-pressed to see the light of day!" I extended my arm to the glowing goddess. "For the future." I muttered, the words escaping my lips and lingering in the air. I felt my arm surge with heat as she grabbed my arm and held me close. Light was streaming all around me, and a warming echo reverberated through me ears. "Welcome back, Lumina," the glowing figure bowed towards me. "I always will be beside you should you need me." With that, the light faded to black and my mind, buzzing with questions, slowly could not grasp the world anymore.
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Once again, my eyes opened to the crackling of a fire, with me sitting near the entrance to a cave. This time, however, it was accompanied by the sound of chatter and laughter. Three figures were sitting next to the fire, engrossed in a conversation about something called "Deltanium" and sports. I slowly sat up, amazed at, despite how hungry and weak I was, how powerful my muscles had become.
"Look who's up," a voice behind me startled me. The red dragon, head of the brigade, was sitting behind me, watching over me. "You really were in quite some pickle there earlier, miss. Humans can be detestable - I'm glad we found you before he...eh.."
"Yeah, I appreciate it." I smiled, my voice still dry and raspy. Shivers ran through my spine recalling the day's earlier events. "I'd prefer not to relive that moment again."
"Well, I think we'd all wish to forget the walls humanity is building up and pitting us against now. But that's a story for later, war does not fare well for dinnertime conversation. You must be awfully hungry...I've yet to see one of the human ships stock food for any but the commanders."
"Indeed sir, I am quite hungry."
The red-scaled dragon chuckled as he made his way over to the rest of the party. He took a skewer with a large slab of meat on it and headed back. He tossed it at me, which I caught and started wolfing down. Whatever it was, it tasted good...and warm, a meal of which I had not eaten in months back at the army station due to rationing. "What's so funny?" I said between a mouthful of food, alluding to his chuckling.
"Ah, nothing. Not used to seeing a white dragon call me 'sir' before. Normally I'm the one who is saying 'yessir, no sir...' which is uncommon. Despite being in human captivity, I'm sure you're aware that white dragons such as yourself are incredibly blessed with magical stature and status."
"I don't have a name to call you," I winked, "so sir's the best I could do."
"Call me Varon, miss." was his immediate response. I continued on as if he hadn't interrupted me. "Human captivity has been the entirety of my life so far." I took a short breath and continued eating. "If you're interested in hearing my story, I'd be glad to tell you after I finish eating." The rest of the night was quiet and calm. The other three dragons were fast asleep as I related my tale to Varon. I told him about hunting the artifacts, the transformation, and even the dream that I had. I skipped over the rescue, as he already knew about that part, but made it clear that the tables had turned and I no longer was human.
"So you're saying YOU are the goddess Lumina?" he asked, entirely skeptical of the story. "I guess I am," I replied. "Watch," I said, guided by a force beyond my control. I took my hand and held it out so he could see it. The palm of my hand started glowing, and the glow continued, illuminating all of the scales down my arm. I took my hand and placed it on his left arm, where a giant scar winded down from his shoulder to his elbow. "Oooh," he sighed as the went from his wing and around his arm. I put my hand down and sighed. "Does that work as proof?" Varon gripped his arm, widened his eyes, and took a step backwards. "Rest up," I spoke, "tomorrow will be a big day."
"Indeed it will be," he replied.