Chapter 4.9 Necessary Backstories P3

Still Vienna’s POV

The third trial took place in the colosseum . This was where all of the competitions and duels run by the citizens were held. Every dragon in the Thunder was here to see who would be pronounced the next Queen, and I was one of the candidates. There were so many emotions running through me as I walked through the colosseum. Joy, fear, euphoria, sadness. All I knew was that this was my chance to make my mother proud, I could do this.

Once everyone got into their corners, the queen began to speak.

“Congratulations contestants on making it this far. As you all know, this is the portion of the trials where you will show the entire Thunder, just how strong you are as a Drakaina. Coming forth are mages that will unleash your true forms. I must warn you, your first transformation will be quite agonizing, but I have faith that you all can push through it. Now I shall not waste anymore time. Let's commence the final trial of Highpoint.”

As soon as the queen finished speaking, the mages began their chanting and almost immediately I started feeling as though my body was getting increasingly heavy and I fell to my knees. A burning sensation struck me in my heart causing me and the others to unleash toe curling screams. Tears started streaming from my eyes, but I still managed to notice the deep red aura emanating from my person. It was that aura that reminded me what I was doing all this for. The fire in me forcing itself out. I was only able to appreciate it for a few seconds before sharp pains in my shoulder blades unleashed another scream. Large black wings shot out from my back jerking me to my feet as they stretched themselves, like they had a mind of their own. Everyone else was having their own transformations but I couldn’t pay much attention from the sheer pain I could feel through my entire body. Somewhere along the lines I lost consciousness, but when I awoke nothing was the same. I could see high above the ground and I was surrounded by scorching red fire. In the place of the other contestants there were unconscious dragons. I wasn’t paying much attention to their appearance as I was captivated with my own. The red aura was still quite prevalent but now it surrounds a large pitch black body. My claws were blood red and my wings were sharp like blades. I could feel the fire in my heart flowing through my veins. It felt almost suffocating like it needed to be released. Before it exploded, the queen approached me in her dragon form. It was absolutely majestic. She was a black and blue dragon with the aura of the night sky. No one could contest that she was utterly beautiful. While I was still mesmerized, she spoke directly into my mind.

“I am sorry child, for from this day on you will have a great burden to bear,”

Huh, what do you mean, why a burden-

“CITIZENS OF THE THUNDER, YOU HAVE ALL BORE WITNESS TO THE AWAKENING OF THE CRIMSON DRAGON. Only a few of you may understand the implications of the rising of the crimson dragon. Therefore, before all of you I shall foretell the prophecy that has been passed down between generations of queens for this very moment.”

She said something else under her breath that I couldn’t really hear, and began to tell us all what my fate would entail.

"The original Crimson dragon was a heavenly warrior created by the morality goddess to help maintain peace and prosperity between the 5 realms. Our thunder came about after many centuries of the Crimson dragon protecting the realms. There was finally a time of complete peace so the morality goddess allowed the dragon a much needed period of rest and she was sent here in the ethereal realm to do so. The goddess gave her beloved dragon only one rule to follow, Do not become enthralled in the whims of humans for you will be required to return eventually. Accepting the goddesses kindness the dragon went on to the ethereal realm for her rest. When she arrived at this realm she changed her form into something that would be much more appealing to the humans living here. She was beautiful with long auburn hair and cinnamon kissed skin. She quickly grew accustomed to human living and was coveted by men across the villages. However she knew well to remember the goddesses rule. Years went by, then generations. She grew tired of watching the cycle of life continue for the humans she so loved but could not grow with them. She yearned for a family, an offspring for herself. One day as she was traveling between the human villages she met a man different from any human she had ever seen. He had long white hair, pinned to the back with braids and tribal beads scattered throughout. He had eyes that she felt favored hazelnuts and ivory colored skin. She was intrigued and decided to observe his life. She learned he was a healer with great affinity to water magic. The man eventually took notice of the dragon's watchful eye and decided to lure her out. It is said that he succeeded in luring her out and began to court her. The dragon forgot about the goddesses rule and eventually married and consummated with the mortal. One day during the dragon’s pregnancy the goddess finally called for her creation to return to her.

However the dragon did not wish to return to her previous life, she was happy and loved the new life that she had made for herself. The goddess was angered by the dragon's protest and decided to punish her for breaking the rule. Henceforth the goddess allowed the dragon to continue her life in this realm but she would lose her immortality, which would be the end of her kindness. Every generation of dragons that are born will be seen as abominations by the other races and will be forced to live in exile with the rest of their kind. One day in the future you and your love will reincarnate when the realms are at their most chaotic, these incarnations will live for an eternity until they find each other again and their love is revived. That is when you will be called back to bring back peace to the realms forever then separated from your fated one.”

I fell to my knees as tears fell from my eyes. My mother always told me I was meant to do something big but this never crossed either ⁸of our minds. The queen looked at me sympathetically and continued on with her speech.

“From this story, it is apparent that this child, young Vienna, is the incarnation of the mother of our Thunder, the crimson dragon. Hence following the prophecy she will be sent out on a journey across this realm to seek and learn about life outside of the thunder. Eventually uniting with her fated one and returning to the Morality Goddess in order to complete the job she was created for. She will leave a week from now, everyone be sure to say your goodbyes and offer your blessings before then.”

Still on my knees I watch as the queen walks away concluding the trials. Thoughts flow through my mind as the fact that I have to leave my home in a week sets in. I see my parents and brothers run over to me. Mother tries talking to me but I can’t hear what she is saying, the ringing in my ears is far too loud. The stress of the situation makes it too hard for me to handle and I lose consciousness.

When I awoke I was back at home, it all felt like a dream but I knew it wasn't as the days passed and my belongings were packed up. I gave my goodbyes and on the last day before I had to leave, I was summoned to the castle. My mother was summoned as well, so we both entered the castle and bowed before the queen, after which she spoke.

"Welcome Vienna, daughter of Rella, and Rella, daughter of Sorin. I regret that this will be our last meeting and a melancholic one at that. However, this meeting is much necessary as the council and I have decided that Vienna is still a very young dragon. Much too young to journey the realms alone, therefore she will need a guardian, that is why you, Rella, have been summoned as well."

My mother responds in kind, "Thank you my queen for allowing me to watch over my daughter on her journey. It is an honor."

I felt relieved to know that my mother would be coming with me. I won't have to be completely alone.

The queen continued speaking, "This arrangement will come at a price, you will not be able to go physically Rella, however your soul will be bound to your daughter so you will only be able to advise her and act as a source of calm during hard times. When the Morality Goddess comes for her dragon your soul will be released into her realm. So you won't be able to return to your family."

After hearing this I was a lot less relieved, so now my mother will have to leave forever as well, my father will lose not only his daughter but his wife as well. My brothers will lose their sister and mother. All in one go, this is all too cruel. I looked at my mother and she stood firm, I could tell that she grieved for her husband and sons but she was a warrior for the queen. We always knew there would be a time where she would have to give her life for the Thunder. I just never thought that it would be now. The queen started walking towards a room and beckoned us to follow.

When we entered the room, there were multiple dragons wearing cloaks all standing in a circle. They surrounded two stone tables, I assume this is where the ritual will take place.

Someone walked up to us and led us to lay on the tables, me on the left and my mother on the right. Everyone stayed silent until we laid on the tables and then a gas surrounded us both. I could feel my head getting light and the room became blurry, before I knew it I was unconscious.

When I awoke, I was in a carriage heading to the outskirts of the Thunder’s forest. My mother was nowhere to be seen however I could feel her presence. I could tell the ritual had worked and she was here with me as I left my home, my family, my thunder, to fulfill a prophecy from the morality goddess.

As soon as we had left the borders, I was on my own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The flashback ends and I remember the task at hand. Clear out the sky. My large red wings push me up into the air and I dig deep to release the inferno inside me, preparing to burn down anything flying high in the sky.

To be continued in “Unlikely lessons” (Retsku’s POV)