The cute little puppy stared at me with those doe eyes as I tried to make sense of what was happening right now. As I had guessed, a few servants hustled in, wondering what had happened for me to be so startled.
"Is everything alright, Miss?" I quickly pulled the covers over the puppy beside me as the lady came in to check up on me.
"Yes, everything is going just fine," I forced a chuckle in my voice and watched the lady exit my bedroom before pulling the sheets back again.
The puppy was still staring back at, but this time with precaution and looked around the room for any threats. I huffed and gave it small pat on the head as I turned the question around in my head. Who had brought me this puppy? I knew for a fact the servants didn't know, so who was it?
I lay back down with my hand still rubbing the small animal's forehead. If this was a present to me, but with no collar or tag, I needed to give it a name. I studied the petite animal and its attributes, possibly some characteristics that were visible on him.
A long tail and ears, probably has very keen hearing. He seemed to really like to wonder off in various place, very adventurous. His fur was of a golden brown hue and it sure resembled the first rays of sunshine at dawn.
"Dawn," I looked at him as I called his new name and he looked back at me with those wondrous eyes.
I gave it a smile and gave him one last pat on the head before jumping out of bed. Preparing some questions and getting ready for the second day of being here. And I couldn't help but wonder what indigenous tasks the twins were going to assign me today.
…
"You need to train." I gaped at Kain, not believing what my first task was. He was definitely serious about this, but was he insane? I couldn't train even if my life depended on it.
"What? Are you stupid or oblivious? I can't do anything with this foot of mine and before you suggest anything. No, you are definitely not healing it with your absurd, Immortal powers," I growled and stuffed another piece of fruit in my mouth.
Arcon growled and piped in for his brother, "but in order for you to train, you need our 'absurd, Immortal powers' to heal it. You don't even know the dangers that exist here!" I fell silent. He was right and I couldn't help but burn up in shame.
"Fine, do what you need to do, but first give me a history lesson on whatever you guys are," I responded instead, thinking back to last night and the events that had taken place.
Kain instantly lit up and took it upon himself to describe what they were. "Fair enough and our race is Shilvarian." I rolled my eyes and gestured for him to continue.
"As a Shilvare Dragon, we are able to shape shift into a dragon, but we can only do so every once in a while because it drains our energy a lot. All Immortals have a power, whether it be shape shifting or some natural element. As a tradition, our race always has disagreements with the Veria race, whether it be over territory or people. Who knows? Verians are basically dragon riders and most of them have the gifts of the four natural elements, you follow?" I looked at him and nodded reluctantly, narrowly understanding.
"And then, you have the wild dragons, the dragons that need to be tamed, but only exist in our lands, understand?" I nodded, "now, there is a difference between wild dragons and us. The wild dragons have a well adapted tail that has venom constantly coating its tail, we need to modify our tails artificially, so we don't get poisoned in battle. Naturally, that makes us slower but stronger." He looked at me expectantly, possibly waiting for a form of life from me. I took a bite of the bread and waited for him to continue.
Arcon went on, "but we haven't had a war for decades, so they're not much of a threat for now. Although, you need to prepare yourself for the dangers in the Verian forest, which isn't that far from here. In the family house, it's reasonably well guarded, so you'll think it's safe out there, too, but that's not the case. Out there is a completely different story. Especially, with your ankle, you can't even outrun a olime." I finished the piece of bread and looked at Kain, looking for some kind of explanation.
Like he could read my mind, he cleared up my question, "an olime is the slowest creature here. It's probably the speed of your slowest vehicle, what was it, a car?" I nodded, slowly comprehending their history and what they were.
"Where did you two go, after Kain showed me my bedroom?" I asked reluctantly, slowly becoming more wary of the incident last night.
Kain looked at me like I was crazy, "dinner, of course, although you didn't make it, but I understand that you most likely didn't come because of the pressure put on you in one day. I'm apologizing right now for yesterday." So he didn't know what happened last night.
Arcon suddenly stood up and ignored my question, "I'll go on patrol today, to make sure Verian's know where not to step." He turned his back to us and started making his way to the door. Before I knew what I was doing, I stood up, too.
"Wait!" Arcon stopped in his tracks and his broad back seemed to stiffen. I became confused as to why he always seemed so tense around me.
I struggled to find a reason why I had called out for him. His dragon form. The voice in my head reminded me and I regained my posture.
"Can you show me your dragon form?" I asked, with hope laced in my tone.
"No." And he turned around to leave. I took a deep breath, that one word had a bigger impact on me than I had expected.
Kain looked at me and gave me an apologetic smile, "he doesn't have anything against you he's just like this, but I'll try to talk to him."
I appreciated Kain's attempt to lift the mood and smiled, "I know, it's okay. Now, about my ankle..."
...
I took a deep breath, watching Kami in front me examine my foot. She called herself a Remedian witch and her explanation of her species were witches who are specifically taught and trained in treating wounds and injuries of every kind. When she meant every, she meant every kind.
There were jars of medicine and solutions placed everywhere in the large room. And it was no surprise there was a cauldron near the corner of her room with more spices and medicine placed on the shelves behind her cauldron. I was sitting a few feet away from it and staring right at the boiling mixture over the fire.
When we say witches, the first image in our head is an old woman and warts. But Kami was the exact opposite of the stereotypical witch. She had beautiful gold locks tied up behind her and the ever so perfect skin. At first glance, it was no doubt more smooth than any surface in Mortal and Immortal lands. I held some jealousy deep down in my stomach.
"When did your father do this to you?" she shuffled around the room and gathered a few of her medicines.
I realized that even I forgot how long ago it was when he broke it. "I can't remember, when I was in year one or two?"
She nodded in understanding, "that looks about right, it looks a little old to heal properly and even if I could, the pain would be unbearable."
I sucked in a breath, I've been through more pain before, but her expression had looked so painful and unsure. Kain really did want my ankle to heal so I could train and prepare for the dangers of their world.
"I'll think about it," I replied softly and she just nodded.
...
"You don't look any better," Arcon scoffed as he caught me walking back to my room. I growled and turned around to face him.
"Kami said it might too much for me to endure considering how old the wound is," I replied with a bite in my voice I didn't know I had.
He seemed taken back by my sudden change of attitude, but he regained his posture quickly enough to make me stagger. He walked over to me in three powerful strides and ended up in front of me seconds later. I gulped as I kept my ground, locking eyes with him.
His eyes softened, "interesting." I stared at his leaving figure. What was that about? He shows up and criticizes me, then leaves without another word.
Interesting. The word echoed in my head but I shook it out, not wanting to hear his voice again. Momentarily, I forgot why I had come here in the first place.
Your bedroom, the instructing voice answered and I nodded in confirmation, that's right.
Moments later, I found myself staring at an old lady waiting in my room patiently. She had the wise and calming smile and I couldn't help but smile back. She was holding a tray in her hands, full of nourishments and sweets. I stepped in and looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.
"I'm Merai and I'm here as your servant," she smiled and set the tray on the table by the window.
I glanced at the sweets then back at her, "what is all this for?"
She chuckled and shook her head, "Young Master must find you very interesting."
Interesting.
"Was it Kain or Arcon?" I said with such ease that I hadn't realized until Merai widened her eyes with fear.
"You mustn't say their names so easily! Young Master is more kind and caring and he is the heir to the Shilvare Kingdom. His brother is older, yet he lacks kindness and affection," Merai stated and I nodded in understanding.
"So what are the treats for?" She gave a kind smile.
"Why, they're for you to enjoy at your leisure, of course," she chuckled and made her way towards the door. "I shall be off now, please enjoy his present to you." And Merai closed the door behind her.
I was left alone with the little puppy that I had forgotten about and I softened at the sound of his little feet padding on the floor. I limped my way to my bed and sat down, looking at the tray of sweets she had placed earlier on the coffee table.
Dawn looked at me with those doe eyes as he as well leaped onto the giant bed and rested in my lap.
"What do you think, Dawn? Is Kain a reliable person?" As if he could understand, Dawn puffed his chest up and made himself a comfortable spot on my lap and closed his eyes.
I chuckled and allowed myself to relax on the silk sheets. The windows were open, allowing some fresh air into the room, but it wasn't cold at all. There must've been a spell that was heating this manor from the freezing cold temperatures outside. I hadn't had the chance to appreciate the mountains and nature yesterday, but as I was glancing outside, the scenery was truly breathtaking.
Everything was either a shade of grey or white, just like the bed sheets in my room. I placed my hand on Dawn's small head and played with his ears when I felt a shiver go down my spine. As if Dawn felt it as well, he got up and looked outside the window with caution. I didn't have his extraordinary hearing nor did I have his eyesight, but I did have my instincts. And they're telling me something is wrong.
He got up and walked towards the open window, I followed suit, curious of what it w exactly that had sent a shiver down my spine.
"What is it, Dawn?" I glanced outside the window carefully, unsure of why he walking towards the windows.
But then he jumped out. My heart leaped as I realized what he was doing and for the second time I had come here, I jumped out without a second thought as well.
I had been having time of my day, enjoying the cool and fresh mountain breeze when Dawn just randomly jumps out of the window. I don't remember when I had caught Dawn, but I had him in my arms. I mindlessly screamed as the adrenaline rushed through me. I had my eyes wide open, looking downwards and keep a suffocating grip on Dawn in my arms.
The huge trees of all breeds came closer and bigger by the passing moment. Tears started welling up in my eyes, not because I was scared, but because of the wind rushing past me and how fast we were plummeting. I closed my eyes to prevent the tears from welling up more and it wasn't a millisecond later when I heard the rustling of the leaves and branches swaying due to the velocity we were falling out. It felt my throat was on fire and my organs were floating inside my body.
Please let me live, please let me live. I prayed repeatedly in my head as I opened my eyes slowly.
You really like jumping out the window, don't you.
It was a taunting voice that I had heard in my head, but I brushed it off. Paying no attention to it and focusing on my surroundings. I was still shaking due to the fall. But as I came to be, the scenery around me had changed tremendously. I was now at the roots of the ancient trees forming the tree canopy I had seen as it approached moment earlier.
The hammering of my heart had seized as I leaned back and caught my breath. I stared at the tree canopy for what seemed like ages before the rustling of leaves woke me up from my trance.
It took me many moments to realize I was not on forest ground. However, Dawn seemed perfectly fine during and after the whole free-fall. He wasn't disorientated in any way or form and was even sticking out his tongue whilst looking at me. I looked at him with a disapproving gaze and growled under my breath. Only to jump in surprise as the something shifted under me. I let out yelp and looked at the cause. Dawn looked at me with concern and then at whatever was behind me. I gulped in fear and slowly turned around.
My eyes swept the area cautiously, but the same torn and scarred wing caught my eyes. My heart stopped and I looked around the membrane. Was this the same dragon from yesterday? Was it a wild one or a Shilvarian? I looked at its tail and scowled. his tailed showed no indication of whether it was wild or Shilvarian. I'm going to need more history lessons with Kain when I got back to the house. But how? I was at the base of the mountains and his was my first time here. I sighed to myself.
I started studying it the creature again and concluded it might have been caught in some kind of trap trained hunters most likely had set up. His wings were tied and propped up in a very uncomfortable angle and I softened in empathy. That was until I looked around his wing and saw a pair of slitted eyes, much like the Larti snakes in Mortal Lands.
I jumped back in surprise and instinctively held Dawn close to my chest. A deep growl reverberated from deep within its belly and I yelped a little, imagining what that signified. But Dawn didn't seem scared. I gulped and paced around its wing, coming to his snout. He huffed and tried to move away from me.
I growled, "I won't cook you and eat you, you can trust me." But even with my attempt at comforting him, he seemed to be more cautious and became even more afraid.
I rolled my eyes and set Dawn down, Dawn immediately padded over to his big head and gave it a few reassuring licks. It calmed him down immediately, probably more than my attempts at communicating with him using words.
I gently placed my hand on his nose and rubbed it. He let out a big breath and leaned in towards my touch. I smiled as he closed his eyes, but that didn't last long.
"I see him! He's over there!"
...
Hey guys! I haven't wrote in a long time, but yes. This is probably one of the most cliché stories you have ever come across. I want it to get better, buuuuuut seems almost impossible now ;-; I'll proof read it soon, so they'll be less mistakes. (Obviously.) Feel free to comment on any parts you do not understand, I will try my best to clear it up!
~xncs