Prologue
The sun was covered by a barricade of dark gray clouds, blocking out the warmth of the day. The bird’s song ended, and the wind stopped blowing. The sky held in slow motion, elongating the blackness still.
At the periphery of the large city, a dark figure silently edged closer to the egress. Where a massive steel door lay open, outside to the open road, covered with wildlife and lush vegetation, the sight was never ending. However, the figure did not look up to greet the wilderness, looking down at the ground, his face filled with endless pain and sorrow. On his shoulder lay another shadow, a dragon, who looked as if it strove through a hurricane of blades. Its feathery wings covering the body were tattered, its body bearing the worst scars imaginable.
The figure moved on, without delay, without stopping. The force of the wind blew against him, telling him to go back and fight, but he ignored it.
A trail of blood marked his footsteps on his way, dripping down from his left arm to the ground, the crimson liquid quickly dissolved into the ground.
He moved with haste now, desperate to save the creature, he ran to the exit and disappeared, leaving only his shadow dancing behind him. The clouds moved out of the light’s way, and the birds sang once more, the heartbeat of tiny rodents filled the incoherent world, continuing the rhythm of life.
Chapter One
The moon rose over the mountains across the mirror lake, bouncing off the light of the round sphere to the open forest. In the moonlit sky, stars shone brighter than the flames of torches, parading through the midnight, the countless dots in the blanket of vast darkness still strove forward to shine for the lost souls.
Crixalon sat in the middle of a grassy field near the body of shining water, vigilantly staring into the world unseen. His dark brown hair brushed against his neck as the wind soared through him, with endless tranquility and peace; he studied the view cast in front of him.
Behind him Lyefe, a darkness dragon, her eyes blue as sapphire, and body dark as the night, limped closer to the thinking boy, and sat down beside him. Her tail swished from side to side, which were lined with short navy blue spikes up to the top of her spine.
“Evening Lyefe,” Crixalon greeted, “thought you’d be resting.”
“I’m not tired.” She replied, resting her head on her arms.
“I’ll have to buy some new bandages, I’m running out… oh and by the way, how’s your wing doing? Any better?” He asked.
“I can’t move it yet, but I think its getting better.” She answered.
Trees surrounded the small grass field, swinging gently with the wind, a sound of waves rustled through the area, followed by a chirping of distant crickets, and a group of dancing fireflies.
“Look at the sky Lyefe, tonight is the night of the draconic constellation.” Crixalon pointed to the sky where a set of shining stars outlined a figure. Lyefe lifted hear confused gaze to the stars, studying the tiny dots which drew a dragon.
“We used to celebrate this day…” He trailed off.
Her eyes grew sad with sorrow, and looked down again to the ground. Crixalon sensed her disturbance, and gave a questioning glance, but she didn’t reply. She turned her mournful eyes to his own dark brown eyes, and a rush of Lyefe’s memories filled into Crixalon’s mind.
She was perched on top of a mountain, just a day like this, with another dragon sitting beside her, with orange-red scales, with the same spikes like hers. The same draconic constellation was shining brightly above, with a similar atmosphere. Lyefe was smiling at a joke her friend made, and the other dragon grinned at her. He knew that the dragon must have been a very dear friend to her, and somehow, their friendship ended abruptly. Blackness covered the rest of her memory.
“What happened to him…?” Crixalon asked curiously.
She didn’t answer for some time and sighed, “We were playing along side the mountain when a group of hunters came, there were explosions and Ecklypse… I don’t know what happened to him… but… he took a bullet for me… I… I don’t…” she couldn’t talk anymore, and she burst into tears. Her tears ran down her cheeks and dripped onto the ground where she stared.
“I’m sorry…” She sobbed.
“It’s all right,” He leaned towards the tearful body, and embraced her head, “I’m sure he’ll be okay…”
After Crixalon finished, Lyefe began to cry more, her body rising and falling after each choking breath.
“Your friend might be gone for now, but I’ll be here, and I will always be. I promise”
Lyefe slept soundlessly beside Crixalon, finally with peace after crying out all her memories. Crixalon silently got up and without sound, walked towards the woods. There was someone watching them.
He chanted a few words, and a sheathed sword came into his grasp, with its icy tilt, and blue cover. He pulled out the sword, revealing and an azure blade. The air around the sword froze, and a teal glow bounced off the polished blade.
“What do you want,” Crixalon shouted out, but there was no answer.
He walked closer to the aura, but stopped as he heard a sound of bows stretching. He instantly knew that he would be shot if he entered the woods, he stood his ground in front of the tree covered trap.
A whisper echoed through his ears, it seemed to be telling him to run, but stay at the same time. He grew anxious to figure out who the attackers were. He dropped the sheath of the sword, and gripped the handles with two hands. He took one step closer to the trees when an arrow came whizzing past his head. Another came, and another, Crixalon spun his sword in a circular motion, blocking four of them, and freezing the rest.
A shield of ice blocked his whole body from the arrows, making him invulnerable to any ranged attacks. Shadows moved across him, and cold blades raced towards him.
Crixalon pivoted sideways and blocked a blow, and swung his blade around his back to catch cloth. He kicked his enemy in front of him and ran towards the sleeping dragon. He did not want to wake her up, for she desperately needed to rest. He stomped his two feet on the ground and turned around.
He faced four enemies, their faces were all hooded, and each carried a long dagger-like blade.
“Who are you people, and what rights do you have to attack me?!” Crixalon demanded.
“You help the hunted. Therefore you must be eliminated.”
The hunted, Lyefe?
Crixalon now remembered why the draconic species were hunted.
It all began with a simple story, and more tales came following. However, the stories turned into beliefs, the townspeople began thinking they were prophecies. The dragon was always the fire breathing beast, the demon that came to torment a town, to burn its crop and livestock. Furthermore, to make matters worse, a berserk dragon ran out of control and killed three of the king’s men. The dragon was put down, but that wasn’t enough.
The king finally snapped, and called the genocide of the draconic species. Countless dragons died that day, and the warriors who protected them, The Draconic Order. Crixalon was one of them, and fought for his life and the dragon’s in battles that broke out all around. Of course the order was out numbered and was finally decimated. Only a few survived, and they lived secretly, but still keeping the proud symbol of the dragon.
Anger filled Crixalon, and he gripped his sword tighter, but he knew that fighting in rage would eventually kill him. He lowered his sword and went back to the dragon. His enemies stood ground, and stayed.
“I’ll give you, another reason to hunt me.” Crixalon spread his arms out, and chanted a few words. His body began to become enveloped in flames. Moments later, his back was covered in a cape, showing the sign of a dragon. However, there was a mark which crossed the cape that cut it in half.
He spun around to meet his attackers; he was in an azure suit of armor, which covered his whole body. Spikes half the size of his arms stuck out on both of his shoulder plates like a horns.
“The Draconic Order, kill him!”
All four of them charged at him at once, swinging their daggers like a mad-man, which gave Crixalon the advantage. He swung his freezing sword upwards with such force, that it knocked out two of the hooded assassins. Another one came at him, raising its razor daggers above its head, but Crixalon quickly stabbed his stomach trough the gut, and the foe died without taking another breath.
He came face to face with the last of the predators; the figure took off its hood, revealing a masculine face. He took off his cloak, lightly armored with hard leather.
“Names Jeveth, Jeveth V’goth, you look like quite a fight,” He spoke.
“Mine would be Crixalon Phoenixguard,” Crixlaon said without hesitating, “Why do you hunt this poor creature, she’s been through enough pain, let her rest.”
“Sorry, if I don’t come back with your head or hers, I would have mine removed, I wouldn’t want that.” Jeveth spoke.
Without letting Crixalon speak, he charged at him, his silver blade striking at his flank. Without any thinking, his hands automatically moved his sword to block the blow. However, Jeveth’s foot came up from the ground to kick Crixalon’s side.
It was a very foolish move. Seconds later he was grabbing his foot, crying out in pain of meeting the steel hard armor.
“Are you that stupid? Your ways of fighting are useless against a fully armored knight…” Crixalon laughed.
“Don’t… Laugh…at me,” He roared, and sliced his sword at Crixalon, again, he blocked the blow. It seemed like a fair fight, trading blows, sparks flying off in every direction. Nevertheless, it ended with Crixalon’s sword in front of Jeveth’s throat.
He dropped his weapon, and said, “You win.”
He carelessly raised his hands, sighed, “That’s a goner for me.”
Crixalon lowered his weapon, and sheathed it. He turned around, noticing a difference in the atmosphere.
“You can come out of hiding now,” Crixalon shouted out, and shapes began form in a perimeter. Outlining many soldiers armed with bows and spears.
“So… Crixalon Pheonixguard…” A voice spoke out throughout the crowd. Crixalon turned to see who the speaker was, revealing a full grown woman covered in Moonstone armor which was shining brightly under the light of the moon.
A white feline animal stood beside him, five times bigger than Lyefe, and its fang’s deadly white, glared at Crixalon. Crixalon was outnumbered one to twelve, with white tigers and Snvuro’xs, which were panther like creatures with snow white fur, two horns growing out of their heads, and a keen vision like an eagle’s.
“The Moonlight Order, I’ve should have known.” Crixalon spat, looking at the leader defensively.
Lyefe began to emerge from her resting place, wondering what the commotion was about. She opened her eyes to see what was going on, and immediately limped back to where Crixalon was standing.
“What’s going on?” She demanded, looking around and studying the scene.
The archers drew their arrows and knocked in it their bows, pulled back aiming at both of them. They were waiting for an order to fire, than they would both be dead in less than a second.
“Captain Iliven, give us the order.” One of the archers growled, flexing his arms, and pulled back on his bow.
“Such pity,” Captain Ilivin started, “a boy of mere maturity is hunted by the king and bounty hunters.
“So what, what if I protect the innocent? Is there any wrong of doing that?” Crixalon protested.
“The innocent… Your little pet will grow one day, and seek vengeance, is that innocence to you?” The Captain shot back, “I can kill you on the spot with a flick of my wrists, and you still speak of this… nonsense?”
“She is not my pet, but a friend,” Crixalon said, “And how do you know, she would be bloodthirsty when she grows up?”
Without waiting for a reply, Crixalon beckoned Lyefe forward and walked towards the Captain.
“Stop if you value your life!” She hesitated before speaking, “one more step, and your dead.”
He stopped in front of her, and whispered, “Move.”
With his unsuspected reply, the Captain’s hands flinched.
The archers loosened their arrows, but failed to penetrate Crixalon’s azure armor, snapping in half, and most reflecting back. The arrows were poorly crafted, and uncared for. Most of them were dull and unsharpened for months. Many of the archers were hesitant to fire for they did not have the permission of the captain.
He walked pasted the appalled soldiers, through the bristling Captain, and past the grassy field, leaving them behind. He dismissed his suit of armor, which disappeared into the air, his weapon was sheathed by his side, and all else turned back to normal.
“We’ll stop somewhere soon; you’re too tired for a journey through the night.”
Lyefe yawned in reply, her eyes were heavy, and she stopped.
“You go on than… Ill find my way…” she sighed, and dropped to the ground.
Crixalon turned around, looking at the dragon. He remembered that Lyefe hasn’t slept for five days; her physical and mental self had kept her awake, and all the days sleep had came to her now. Crixalon sighed, and walked backed towards Lyefe.
“You want me to carry you than?” He asked.
“That… would be most unnecessary…” She opened one eye, and continued, “But it would be nice…” She closed her eye, and laughed silently…
Crixalon bent low towards the small body, and lifted the creature up, “You can’t sleep here,” He said, holding her to his body as if he was carrying a human baby.
“H-hey! It was just a joke…” Lyefe tried to push herself away, but her strength failed her.
“Don’t worry, just sleep.” He chuckled softly, he knew that she didn’t like this, humiliating for a dragon, but it was to make progress.
She dug her head into his chest, and finally relaxed. Her breathing became steadier as Crixalon started towards an unknown valley.
After all… she is still just a hatchling…
Lyefe slept soundlessly beside Crixalon, finally with peace after crying out all her memories. Crixalon silently got up and without sound, walked towards the woods. There was someone watching them.
He chanted a few words, and a sheathed sword came into his grasp, with its icy tilt, and blue cover. He pulled out the sword, revealing and an azure blade. The air around the sword froze, and a teal glow bounced off the polished blade.
“What do you want,” Crixalon shouted out, but there was no answer.
He walked closer to the aura, but stopped as he heard a sound of bows stretching. He instantly knew that he would be shot if he entered the woods, he stood his ground in front of the tree covered trap.
A whisper echoed through his ears, it seemed to be telling him to run, but stay at the same time. He grew anxious to figure out who the attackers were. He dropped the sheath of the sword, and gripped the handles with two hands. He took one step closer to the trees when an arrow came whizzing past his head. Another came, and another, Crixalon spun his sword in a circular motion, blocking four of them, and freezing the rest.
A shield of ice blocked his whole body from the arrows, making him invulnerable to any ranged attacks. Shadows moved across him, and cold blades raced towards him.
Crixalon pivoted sideways and blocked a blow, and swung his blade around his back to catch cloth. He kicked his enemy in front of him and ran towards the sleeping dragon. He did not want to wake her up, for she desperately needed to rest. He stomped his two feet on the ground and turned around.
He faced four enemies, their faces were all hooded, and each carried a long dagger-like blade.
“Who are you people, and what rights do you have to attack me?!” Crixalon demanded.
“You help the hunted. Therefore you must be eliminated.”
The hunted, Lyefe?
Crixalon now remembered why the draconic species were hunted.
It all began with a simple story, and more tales came following. However, the stories turned into beliefs, the townspeople began thinking they were prophecies. The dragon was always the fire breathing beast, the demon that came to torment a town, to burn its crop and livestock. Furthermore, to make matters worse, a berserk dragon ran out of control and killed three of the king’s men. The dragon was put down, but that wasn’t enough.
The king finally snapped, and called the genocide of the draconic species. Countless dragons died that day, and the warriors who protected them, The Draconic Order. Crixalon was one of them, and fought for his life and the dragon’s in battles that broke out all around. Of course the order was out numbered and was finally decimated. Only a few survived, and they lived secretly, but still keeping the proud symbol of the dragon.
Anger filled Crixalon, and he gripped his sword tighter, but he knew that fighting in rage would eventually kill him. He lowered his sword and went back to the dragon. His enemies stood ground, and stayed.
“I’ll give you, another reason to hunt me.” Crixalon spread his arms out, and chanted a few words. His body began to become enveloped in flames. Moments later, his back was covered in a cape, showing the sign of a dragon. However, there was a mark which crossed the cape that cut it in half.
He spun around to meet his attackers; he was in an azure suit of armor, which covered his whole body. Spikes half the size of his arms stuck out on both of his shoulder plates like a horns.
“The Draconic Order, kill him!”
All four of them charged at him at once, swinging their daggers like a mad-man, which gave Crixalon the advantage. He swung his freezing sword upwards with such force, that it knocked out two of the hooded assassins. Another one came at him, raising its razor daggers above its head, but Crixalon quickly stabbed his stomach trough the gut, and the foe died without taking another breath.
He came face to face with the last of the predators; the figure took off its hood, revealing a masculine face. He took off his cloak, lightly armored with hard leather.
“Names Jeveth, Jeveth V’goth, you look like quite a fight,” He spoke.
“Mine would be Crixalon Phoenixguard,” Crixlaon said without hesitating, “Why do you hunt this poor creature, she’s been through enough pain, let her rest.”
“Sorry, if I don’t come back with your head or hers, I would have mine removed, I wouldn’t want that.” Jeveth spoke.
Without letting Crixalon speak, he charged at him, his silver blade striking at his flank. Without any thinking, his hands automatically moved his sword to block the blow. However, Jeveth’s foot came up from the ground to kick Crixalon’s side.
It was a very foolish move. Seconds later he was grabbing his foot, crying out in pain of meeting the steel hard armor.
“Are you that stupid? Your ways of fighting are useless against a fully armored knight…” Crixalon laughed.
“Don’t… Laugh…at me,” He roared, and sliced his sword at Crixalon, again, he blocked the blow. It seemed like a fair fight, trading blows, sparks flying off in every direction. Nevertheless, it ended with Crixalon’s sword in front of Jeveth’s throat.
He dropped his weapon, and said, “You win.”
He carelessly raised his hands, sighed, “That’s a goner for me.”
Crixalon lowered his weapon, and sheathed it. He turned around, noticing a difference in the atmosphere.
“You can come out of hiding now,” Crixalon shouted out, and shapes began form in a perimeter. Outlining many soldiers armed with bows and spears.
“So… Crixalon Pheonixguard…” A voice spoke out throughout the crowd. Crixalon turned to see who the speaker was, revealing a full grown woman covered in Moonstone armor which was shining brightly under the light of the moon.
A white feline animal stood beside him, five times bigger than Lyefe, and its fang’s deadly white, glared at Crixalon. Crixalon was outnumbered one to twelve, with white tigers and Snvuro’xs, which were panther like creatures with snow white fur, two horns growing out of their heads, and a keen vision like an eagle’s.
“The Moonlight Order, I’ve should have known.” Crixalon spat, looking at the leader defensively.
Lyefe began to emerge from her resting place, wondering what the commotion was about. She opened her eyes to see what was going on, and immediately limped back to where Crixalon was standing.
“What’s going on?” She demanded, looking around and studying the scene.
The archers drew their arrows and knocked in it their bows, pulled back aiming at both of them. They were waiting for an order to fire, than they would both be dead in less than a second.
“Captain Iliven, give us the order.” One of the archers growled, flexing his arms, and pulled back on his bow.
“Such pity,” Captain Ilivin started, “a boy of mere maturity is hunted by the king and bounty hunters.
“So what, what if I protect the innocent? Is there any wrong of doing that?” Crixalon protested.
“The innocent… Your little pet will grow one day, and seek vengeance, is that innocence to you?” The Captain shot back, “I can kill you on the spot with a flick of my wrists, and you still speak of this… nonsense?”
“She is not my pet, but a friend,” Crixalon said, “And how do you know, she would be bloodthirsty when she grows up?”
Without waiting for a reply, Crixalon beckoned Lyefe forward and walked towards the Captain.
“Stop if you value your life!” She hesitated before speaking, “one more step, and your dead.”
He stopped in front of her, and whispered, “Move.”
With his unsuspected reply, the Captain’s hands flinched.
The archers loosened their arrows, but failed to penetrate Crixalon’s azure armor, snapping in half, and most reflecting back. The arrows were poorly crafted, and uncared for. Most of them were dull and unsharpened for months. Many of the archers were hesitant to fire for they did not have the permission of the captain.
He walked pasted the appalled soldiers, through the bristling Captain, and past the grassy field, leaving them behind. He dismissed his suit of armor, which disappeared into the air, his weapon was sheathed by his side, and all else turned back to normal.
“We’ll stop somewhere soon; you’re too tired for a journey through the night.”
Lyefe yawned in reply, her eyes were heavy, and she stopped.
“You go on than… Ill find my way…” she sighed, and dropped to the ground.
Crixalon turned around, looking at the dragon. He remembered that Lyefe hasn’t slept for five days; her physical and mental self had kept her awake, and all the days sleep had came to her now. Crixalon sighed, and walked backed towards Lyefe.
“You want me to carry you than?” He asked.
“That… would be most unnecessary…” She opened one eye, and continued, “But it would be nice…” She closed her eye, and laughed silently…
Crixalon bent low towards the small body, and lifted the creature up, “You can’t sleep here,” He said, holding her to his body as if he was carrying a human baby.
“H-hey! It was just a joke…” Lyefe tried to push herself away, but her strength failed her.
“Don’t worry, just sleep.” He chuckled softly, he knew that she didn’t like this, humiliating for a dragon, but it was to make progress.
She dug her head into his chest, and finally relaxed. Her breathing became steadier as Crixalon started towards an unknown valley.
After all… she is still just a hatchling…
Chapter Two
“Gunvinur’uk Hills, we’re getting close.” Crixalon’s hands pointed towards a row of hills ahead of them. No trees were there for cover or any bushes big enough for hiding, so they had to rely on their luck.
“Where are we going anyways?” Lyefe asked.
“Hmm… across these plains there should be another lake, there are plenty of game, and no one goes there anymore.” Crixalon said, “Also, a hideout of one of the Draconic Order’s Commanders.”
“The Draconic Order… the people a few days ago talked about it… they said you were one of them too. What is the Order?” Lyefe asked again.
“In this kingdom, there are many Orders, for example, the Moonlight Order. Each Order is designated to a certain territory, to protect their land against each other. Furthermore, each Order has a symbol. An animal or animals represent them, the Moonlight Order’s is those panther like creatures and a white tiger, the Draconic Order’s is a Dragon. There are countless more, I can name, but we’ll save that for later” Crixalon explained as they hiked up and down the hills.
Crixalon began to sweat under the scorching sun, and Lyefe’s constant questions made it worse.
“It seems like we were hiking forever… my claws ache…” Lyefe sighed.
“Ha! Says you! I’ve been carrying you for the past four days! My arms should drop off where they are right now!” Crixalon joked enthusiastically, “Carrying a seven year old hatchling isn’t what anybody would do through a valley.”
“I asked you not to, it was your choice!” Lyefe protested.
“Oh? But we needed to get to safety. Besides… you slept like a baby!” Crixalon laughed loudly.
At that moment, Lyefe sprang at him, her claws hit his chest, and her hind legs kicked his stomach, knocking him down. She perched on top of him looking at him playfully.
“Or getting attacked by one,” He laughed aloud, lying down facing the cloudless sky. Two eagles circles above, joyfully celebrating the beautiful day.
“I wish I could be up there… through the winds, carefree…” Lyefe lied down on top of Crixalon, with her belly facing upwards.
“Carefree… but just for the moment…” Crixalon dozed, “a mask for the problems.”
Crixalon and Lyefe lay there for a moment, daydreaming of their adventure. They stood thinking until the sun finally past its zenith, and started sinking towards the horizon.
“Enough loitering, we’ve still got a long way ahead of us.” Crixalon announced, brushing the black dragon off. Lyefe scurried to her feet, and stretched. Her jaws opened wide, revealing sharp, white fangs.
Together, the two friends sluggishly trod towards the setting sun, their shadows stretching like wings behind them. Growing darker by the second, colder by the minute.
The sky was painted in shades of orange, bathing the whole sky in flames. Darkness grew from behind, as the light slowly faded away, and the first of stars began to reveal itself.
l * *
Leaves rustles above the two companions, as they crept through the soundless forest. A silent trickle of a stream could be heard in the distance, slowly making its way down the mountains side.
Crixalon stopped, and looked towards a large tree which stood out of the rest. He took a few paces towards it and stared upwards. He used a hand to cover the sunlight which sipped through the blanket of leaves.
“That’s strange…” Crixalon wandered around the tree, trying to find a trace of something that was suppose to be there.
“What is?” Lyefe asked following him.
“There’s supposed to be a full-day guard here.”
“A full-day guard of what?” Lyefe said, looking up.
“For the encampment, which is about half an hour walk from here,” Crixalon grabbed hold of a firm branch, and started climbing. He continued climbing until Lyefe asked him, “Where are you going?”
Crixalon reached out for another branch, pulling himself up on top of it.
“Checking the whereabouts of the camp, it should be ar-“He peered into the distance, to catch smoke rising from where the camp should have been.
He jumped down from the post, and started running towards the smoke.
“Quickly Lyefe, the camp is in danger.” He said, running furiously.
Lyefe immediately scrambled towards him, but failed to keep up with his speed, for her injuries were not yet fully healed.
“Follow my scent, if any danger comes to you, I will know.” He yelled back.
Although he did not want to leave Lyefe, he knew that his comrades needed assistance, and fast. Jumping across fallen trees, and dodging swiping branches.
He jumped through a crowd barricading bushes, trying to remember which path to take. The scent of the acrid smoke was enough to track the battle, and it grew bitterer by each step he took.
He called upon his armor once again, forming around his body, it’s azure plates glistening through the dots of light. He gripped the handle of his sword, as he finally reached the entrance to the battlefield.
He caught sight of a fallen green drake, as a soldier raised his axe to end its life. Crixalon ran at him, reaching just in time to catch the blow with his sword, and slicing the enemy’s stomach open. The green drake rose, standing up to fight again. Its legs were trembling as many arrows were implanted in him.
“Stay down.” Crixalon ordered.
He rushed to the crowd of men, metal clashing metal, axes cutting through flesh, and arrows flying from every direction.
A knight looked towards him, a fierce battle-cry escaping his mouth, as he charged towards Crixalon. Crixalon ran towards him, raising his freezing sword. The two swords clashed together, the knight scrambling back from the recoil, and charged once more. The knight swung his sword once more, missing Crixalon’s armor by an inch. Crixalon stroke down with both of his hands, but was caught by the knight’s sword. However, the foe’s weapon froze, as the steel began to crack, Crixalon’s sword sliced his face, driving it down to his chest.
Crixalon spun around, slashing another enemy.
“Die!” A soldier with Draconic Order armor swung a flail at him.
Crixalon bent his neck back to dodge the swing, and kicked his foot, knocking him down.
Battle after battle, slice after slash, and the fight still raged on.
Crixalon noticed some of the enemy soldiers fleeing, their faces dreaded as they ran from some mysterious shadow in the sky.
“The dragons are back!” One shouted from an unknown area.
Fire and ice enveloped the area, and the enemy burned and froze to death immediately after the dragons breathed their elements on the blood field.
“The enemy is retreating! Victory!” A Draconic Order soldier yelled.
Studying the situation, he now looked for injured soldiers, noticing medics rushing towards a lot of them.
He looked back to the green drake, and ran towards him.
The drake growled as Crixalon pulled out the arrows. Blood started pouring from the wound, making its way down the drake’s shoulders.
Crixalon looked around for some bandages. Luckily a soldier not far from him was a cleric. He checked to see if he was completely dead, and took a satchel from the corpse’s side.
Crixalon opened the bag to find clean white bandages, as he rushed towards the drake again. He wrapped the cloth around most of his injuries. As he was about to bandage his last wound, an authoritative voice commanded Crixalon away from the drake.
“Step away traitor,” A man, tall as Crixalon, wearing full armor approached with his hands behind his back. Two buff soldiers were beside him, both holding a giant, two hand weapon.
Crixalon stood up, staring at the man.
“Crixalon, what a pleasant surprise,” he jeered, “leading these worthless royals to us.”
“What makes you think I lead them, maybe you didn’t notice, Bavu, I was fighting for the Order.” Crixalon shot back.
“Boy, I know all of your tricks, don’t lie.” He sneered.
“Too bad I never lied in my whole entire life; in this case, you’re the liar.”
Bavu drew his sword and walked towards Crixalon, anger in his eyes.
“Enough Bavu, stand down.” Another voice echoed from a distance.
Both Crixalon and Bavu crouched down, and dug their swords into the ground, saluting the figure which now approached them.
“Commander,” They both said at once.
“Rise,” He ordered.
The commander stared at Crixalon for a long time, and continued, “What brings you back here Captain.”
“To spy for the king more like,” Bavu attacked.
“Silence Captain Bavu, do not speak any word of threat to him.” The commander said.
Bavu bowed and walked away.
“My apologies for this unexpected intrusion, I will leave at once if you wish.” Crixalon offered.
“Unnecessary. However, the captains shall gather in the Hall by sunset, it is mandatory that you should come.” The commander ordered.
Crixalon bowed, and the commander turned around and walked towards the wounded soldiers.
The dragons in the sky made their way toward the ground where they landed with a great force. Their scales glistening in the sunlight which seeped through the cover of leaves, claws scraping the ground in restlessness and battle hunger.
Many of their riders jumped off their back, some carrying enormous lances which hung by a strap by a dragon’s shoulders. The weapons were melee, and deadly in an air battles, able to penetrate a fully armored dragon and go through the body. Others threw down crossbows, which could fire twelve bolts in a semi automatic fashion.
Many of the people who landed in the clearing stared at Crixalon, questioning each other if it was really him. A lot of them ignored the standing figure and walked past him looking for things to do.
“Captain,” A man in a plated cuirass came towards him and saluted, powerfully raising his arm and putting it on his left shoulder.
Crixalon nodded, and saluted him back.
Crixalon lowered his arm, dropping the edge of his sword on the ground, freezing it in a small radius.
I should have never come back here…
