CHAPTER I: INTRO - LIGHT REFLECTIONS (2)

(2)

The Queen of these lands abandoned her shelter. After all the noise of the imminent destruction, she was petrified at the presence of the sudden silence in which she found herself. She felt that the moment to leave, had arrived.

When she left the shelter, she instantly looked at her surroundings, only to find her kingdom completely on fire. The bodies of the men of the great army were cast about in the corners. Most of the town was dead or exiled. And some still murmured, among the rubble of the fallen pilasters, for loyalty to the Queen.

The woman was pale, motionless; not a single word was spoken by her voice. She looked around, and chaos was immortalized. She turned her gaze to the heavens and got lost among the stars. She longed to rekindle the flame of hope that was hidden within their effulgent existence. They were the same stars that gave her security, strength, and optimism. It represented the presence of the gods that blessed them, although the smoke had made it impossible to clearly see the beautiful stars above.

She felt defeated. She felt alone. She felt empty. The great wall had fallen. The King was supposedly dead. It seemed, she was the only one who managed to survive the catastrophe.

Petrified, she fell on her knees when she saw the oak sword destroyed. She knew her King was dead. With a teary look, and the disaster in front of her eyes, she felt the presence of a huge creature behind her. One of the beasts was approaching, but the Queen had no strength left to fight. No strength to battle. It was the true end, and she had already accepted it. Her vision started to lose color. Her mind went blank, and her senses only managed to process the shuddering sound of the creature's ever-nearing steps; she was about to be devoured. And the Queen of the South, had no choice but to confront her death.

She ducked her head, turned her body to the final surrender; for she believed her soul must vanish among her people’s ashes. Still overwhelmed, the woman turned, and remained in front of the giant creature's mouth. Her face was diaphoretic. With the sound of a dark roar, the monstrosity slowly opened its gigantic mouth, which was already positioned near the woman's head; the sharp teeth were placidly showing. With a tilted head, the woman wanted to open her eyes, but she couldn’t, for the horror of knowing she wouldn’t vanquish death consumed her heart. And, when this thought left her mind, the beast violently closed its mouth, thus devouring the Queen of the humble homeland.

“Mother, Mother!” says a girl. “Mother wake up!”

“Erin?” asks the confused woman.

“How can you sleep here?” asks the girl.

The woman got up, confused and perplexed. She had a strong nightmare, and it wasn't the first time she was having one. In fact, it had been recurring in recent days. But, as real as she felt the dark dream, she was grateful that it was only that. Another dream.

“Kids, I’ve told you to rest. We really need it.” says the woman.

“Mother, we can't sleep!” says the girl. “We are bored. I don't like this place.”

“Well, me neither darling. I can't sleep either” says the mother.

“Why don't you tell us your story?” asks the girl.

“My story?”

“Yes, mother!” exclaimed Erin. “The red notebook that you carry with you at nights. You always write in there, and we know it's a story. And we also know that you have it hidden in that drawer!”

“We all saw you, mother!” says a boy. “I want to hear it, too. We have asked you so many times. Why don't you want to tell us?”

“Don't say that, Theo” responds the woman, “Of course I want to tell you! I have been creating this story for the three of you. But it is incomplete, and I don't think you’ll understand it. I was thinking of telling it to you when you were older. Besides, I don't know if it has a happy ending.”

“It doesn’t matter mother! Tell us!” exclaims Erin.

“Yes, mother, tell us!” says the other boy. “I am very scared here. You had never brought us to this place before. We don’t know what to do.”

The mother got up from the bed, opened the drawer, and took out her book. She headed for her wooden chair, and behind a dusty split bookcase, opened her red notebook.

“It's okay kids,” says the convinced woman. “Maybe the time has arrived. Sit down and listen to the story of The Kingdom of the Dragons.