Prologue: Raga's First Birthday
It had been a long time since a tall tanned warrior with bunny ears taught Raga how to sleep. For those who often sleep in the wilderness, far away from cities and the protection they provide, knowing how to sleep is a matter of life and death. Rule one, cover yourself completely. The carnivorous creatures of the wilderness are adept at finding the vital points of their prey. An exposed sleeper is one swift swipe away from the embrace of the gods. Rule two: keep your limbs close. The common horned mana beetle can grow up to two meters long. It prefers to latch onto its prey’s limbs and drag them away to feed on them safely. Many poor souls have awakened to find a carnivorous beetle dragging them away by the leg. Rule three: Always be ready for a fight. From bandits to beasts, a warrior must always be prepared to strike. Raga’s adherence to these rules had saved his life multiple times. So as the light of the late morning sun shines through the window of his room, he can be found completely covered and curled up into a ball.
Per the third rule, the sound of a small tap on the window jolted him away ready to fight. He flings his blanket at the window and crouches prepared to strike with a battle axe in one hand. Raga is eighteen years old. His black hair is separated into seven shoulder-length braids and every inch of him is covered in muscle. The room is now silent but his small black eyes dart back and forth in search of a threat. Then came the noise again. Tap, tap, tap. Raga glances over at the window where a large black crow waits patiently. With a beleaguered sigh, he shrugged off the tension and crossed the room to open the window.
“You scared me,” Raga scolded as the bird hopped inside.
“You say that every day,” the crow answered. Despite being a crow, Andre Valentino the Eighth carried himself as a nobleman should “What are you doing asleep at this time of day anyway? There’s so much to do.”
“There’s nothing to do,” Raga says while flopping back into bed.
“Nonsense,” the crow refuted. “I was just in the town square and the peasants were having a grand ole’ time. They’ve got exotic foods and leisure to suit any taste.” Raga covered himself and returned to his defensive sleeping position.
“If it was so great, why are you here messing with my sleep?” the teenager groaned.
“Because I’m a bird and I don’t have any money to enjoy all of the delectable treats” he shot back.
“Because I’m a bird and I don’t have any money,” Raga mimicked. “If you came here looking for money, remember that the only reason I’m escorting a crow and some brat is because I need money too.” Andre did not respond. Instead, he waited patiently for Raga’s groggy brain to catch up to the situation. “Where is Brat?”
The bird and the boy burst out of the inn and into the bustling streets of the castle town of Oker. Oker is situated at the base of the great mountain range. The city itself spreads out from the foothills to a large lake. Towering above the sprawl of quaint wood and stone buildings is the great castle Smarag. It is known among the locals that the castle was once a great fort carved directly into the face of the mountain by dwarves. But the dwarves were purged a millennia ago and now the humans claim dominion over the region. Andre had explained this history to Raga as they entered the city last night. But considering how exhausted they were, only the gods knew if he was paying any attention.
“Go right here!” Andre squawked. Raga banked right down a narrow alley, narrowly dodging a drunkard vomiting in the street.
“How much further?” Raga questioned between breaths.
“Not too far… for me. But you should just keep running straight until we reach the town square.” Andre replied. Raga had always been athletic. But he had been running through these side streets for quite some time and his patience and stamina were running out. “Make a left here, Andre commanded.
Up ahead the pair could see the town square but what Raga saw there was more than a few peasants having a grand old time. The square was packed with food stalls, street performers, musicians, and people from every strata. It was a festival, and everyone was smiling and enjoying themselves. Raga had spent most of his time in the world on the battlefield. While there were moments of joy for those who walked the path of a warrior, it could not compare to the scene unfolding before him. I remember when life used to look like this.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Andre interrupted.
“Nothing, What?” Raga barked back.
“I just said go right and you kept going straight.” Raga turned around. “There. See that fool standing on that ball?” Raga spotted a man in bright red clothes juggling for a crowd of small children while balancing on a ball.
“Yeah, I see him,” he grumbled.
“Good. Go back and make a right there.” Raga did and in no time, his target was in sight.
Aria Valentino sat perched on a barrel next to a food stall. Her bright blue dress is covered in lace ruffles, and big white bows, and is punctuated by her long silver ringlets tied back in a ponytail. At ten years old most would find her to be small for age. But no matter where she went she carried herself as though she were a giant.
“Aria!” Raga shouted while running up to the stall. The small girl took another bite of a meat skewer. She looked Raga over noticing that he was still wearing his sleepwear but did manage to come equipped with the two battle axes strapped to his back.
“Mr. Raga. It’s about time you showed up. Although, I told the nice man here that a true gentleman was coming to fetch me. But you look like a ruffian,” She huffed. Aria turned to the stall worker who was busy grilling skewers over an open fire. “My servant has come for me so I must be going. Thank you for the meal.” She hops off the barrel and strides over to where Raga is standing with Andre on his shoulder. “Go on. Pay the man.”
Raga didn’t think he could be more annoyed this morning than when Andre came to wake him up. But here he was, reaching new heights of discontent. How can a child this small be so haughty?
“That’ll be two large silver,” the Stall Worker chimed.
“Two large silver!? What kind of meat is that?, Raga complained.
“It’s Wyvern.” the worker blustered.
“What? Seriously?” he questioned. The worker nodded. “How much for two more?”
Andre, Aria, and Raga maneuvered through the crowds and away from the food stalls to find a shaded spot at the center of the square. Before them, a bard with light blue hair and ram horns walked along the edge of a fountain and sang songs in an unfamiliar language. The trio listened in as the bard’s melodic song seemed to set the world at ease. Raga took a bite out of one of his skewers. It was delicious. Each bite he took filled his mouth with tender meat so juicy that it barely needed to be chewed.
“This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” Raga announced before taking another large bite.
“Hearing such a thing truly saddens me, Andre confessed. “No good meal can be found on the street.”
“I agree, father.” When we get to the castle tomorrow, I will make sure that you have something better to eat than these wyvern scraps.” she promised.
“Both of you shut up and let me enjoy this,” Raga chided.
“Very well. We will let you enjoy your scraps.” Andre declared while hopping over to Aria’s shoulder.” Simple pleasures are a privilege granted to the ignorant.”
“Indeed,” Aria agreed. “Shall we continue to look around, father?”
“Absolutely. The day is young and there is much to see.” The noble duo leaves to venture away from the fountain towards a row of stalls featuring handmade jewelry and trinkets.
Wait a minute. Did they just call me stupid? I swear, the second I’m done with dumb mission I’m going to get as far away from these jerks as possible. Raga had had some interactions with nobility. None of which were positive. Just thinking about how a certain elven prince is hunting him for food was enough to ruin his appetite for the last morsel of meat on his skewer. But Raga also remembered the days when he could not afford food. He could not forget the stomach pain, the muscle weakness, and the persistent fatigue. Those memories alone were enough to make him cram the last chunk of wyvern into his mouth before leaving the shade to catch up with the Valentinos.
Aria and Andre knelt before an old woman with cat ears whose goods were spread out on the rug. She was selling earrings, amulets, and other oddities. Aria glanced at each piece and then selected a gold ring with an emerald stone in the center. “That is a good choice,” the old woman gushed. “Not only is it beautiful but it can also help you focus.” Aria placed the ring on her finger and closed her eyes tight.
“What are you doing?” Raga questioned. Aria’s eyes shot open.
“I’m trying to focus!” Raga looked confused. Before he could ask the question, Aria extended her hand and gave him the answer. This ring is supposed to help improve my focus. So, I am trying to focus on something to see if it works.”
“What’s thirty-five plus seventeen?” Raga asked.
“Fifty-two”, she replied, stunned. “I didn’t even have to use my fingers for that.” Aria spun around to face the old woman. “I’ll take it.”
“Wonderful. That’ll be one small gold,” the old woman responded.
“Go on. Pay the woman,” Aria demanded.
“No.” Raga disagreed while crossing his arms. “I already paid for your food. If you want this ring, then pay for it yourself.
“I am a noblewoman. I don’t carry any money. It is my duty to be dignified and graceful and it is your duty to help me remain so. Now, pay the woman.” Andre nodded in agreement.
“Can I pay you in dignity and grace?” quipped Raga. The old woman snatched the ring off of the child’s finger.
“No, only gold,” fumed the woman.
“You’re being very immature. I expected more of you,” Aria stated while marching away. Andre swoops over and lands on Raga’s head.
“Raga be reasonable,” the bird pleaded. “Aria is going through a difficult time and she needs our support.”
“A magic ring is not support. Support is like a hug or something,” countered Raga.
“I wish I could hug her. But if you haven’t noticed, I am a bird right now.” Andre lamented. “So, please get the ring for her. I can just pay you back.”
“Can you pay me back? I mean, you’re a bird,” Raga echoed back at Andre. “I’m starting to wonder if you’ll even be able to…” Raga stopped in his tracks as a familiar sensation washed over him.
“Be able to what? Become a man again?” the bird raged. “I will have you know that…”
“Shut up for a second,” Raga whispered. Andre and Raga faced many trials on their journey to Oker. He knew from experience that Raga only used this tone of voice when danger was around. Unfortunately, this was the case.
Strapped to Raga’s back are two axes. One is a plain iron axe given to him by a friend. The other axe is forged from orichalcum and has a large Ruby embedded into the pummel. This weapon was given to him by a god and among its many abilities it can detect when a strong enemy is around. Raga pulls the ornate axe off his back and points it forward towards Aria. A dull light appears in the ruby. He then begins to spin slowly back towards where the old woman is peddling her trinkets and around again towards Aria. The light in the ruby remains dull so he tilts it upwards and the light begins to intensify as he points towards the sky above.
“What is it, my boy?” worried Andre while stomping his little feet
“There’s something up there. But the sun… I can’t see,” replied Raga.
“If it’s that high in the sky that you can’t see it, then we have no need to fear,” he assured. “This is the capital of the Schwerin theocracy. I’m sure the city’s defenses are more than enough to handle it.” Raga nodded but started to walk faster towards Aria.
“Aria! We’re leaving!” boomed Raga. His raised voice startled some of the people around them but he continued to pick up speed. “Now!
“First you won’t buy me the ring and now you want to drag me off somewhere. I refuse to go anywhere with you until you apologize and get me that ring!” Arie whined. Raga didn’t stop. Instead, he firmly took the child by the wrist and began to pull her through the crowd. “Hey, stop that. You’re hurting me.”
“Raga, calm down. You’re making a scene.” Andre protested. Aria dug her heels into the ground but she was no match for his strength.
“Let go of me!” Aria cries. A pair of city guardsmen take notice. They begin to close in, but before they can reach her, a series of loud grunts ring out in the sky above. Some people notice, but most don’t. Raga looks up in time to see something green falling from the sky.
The first pool of fluid splashdown on an adjacent aisle of shops. The sound of the collision echoed through the Town square like an explosion and the force of it completely destroyed the shop. The townspeople fled as more pools of sticky green bile came crashing down upon them. Andre took to the skies while Raga tossed Aria over his shoulder and broke into a sprint. But his efforts were in vain as the final pool of fluid exploded behind him submerging him up to his waist.
At first, the liquid was slimy, but it was growing stickier like glue by the moment. The lucky ones were able to clear their airways. The unlucky ones twisted and clawed at their mouths in agony. Raga was luckier than most. He was at the edge of the impact site when it hit. Only his lower half was glued to the ground. As the townspeople scrambled and trampled over each other to get to safety, the culprit of this attack descended slowly from the sky.
It was a rock dragon. This wingless lizard had brown leathery skin covered in thick black scales. Typically, these creatures are the size of a standard midsize sedan. But this one was born with the rare ability to control gravity. Without the chains of the planet’s gravity to hold it down, any creature with this ability can grow to an enormous size given enough time and nutrition. This one head alone is the size of a city bus and the rest of its massive body landed gracefully in the town square.
Immediately the creature went to task eating the villagers frozen in its spit. It took them and a bit of the cobblestone road into every bit. Pausing only to chew. Aria was dazed from the impact but not fully unconscious. “Hey, Aria. Get up,” he commanded while lightly slapping her across the face. “I need you to run now. Andre!” The bird returned to land on his daughter’s face and peck at her nose.
“Aria! Wake up now. We need to be running,” the bird squawked. The child stirred awake, noticed the rock dragon, and let out a blood-curdling scream.
“Aria, run away. Andre take her somewhere safe!” They both nodded in agreement and started to run, but Aria stopped. She spun around to see that Raga was not following her and returned to his side. “No, keep running!”
“Mr. Raga. You’re stuck,” the girl whimpered. Aria took hold of one of Raga’s arms and tried to pull him out. He doesn’t budge. At this point, the liquid is like rubber. Anyone who fails to clear their airways is dead. Everyone else is squirming to get free while the dragon takes its time devouring them. “I can use my magic,” she remembered.
“No, just get out of here?” Raga commanded.
“Just let me try,” Aria begged. As a noble, Aria has access to at least three of the primal elements. However, she is a child and it takes time for her to mold her energy into something useful. In the meantime, Raga is using his ornate axe to try to scrape away some of the rubbery fluid. It’s slow work, but at the rate that dragon is moving, he may be able to free himself in time.
“Water spout!” Aria shouts. A turrent of wind and water shoots out from her hands and at Raga’s immobilized legs. It’s working. The fluid is reverting back into something more pliable. Unfortunately, the dragon has taken notice of this sudden burst of magical power and is plodding over. Raga can feel his legs coming loose. But the shadow of the dragon is upon him and there is only one right decision to make.
He grabs the small girl by her ruffles and bows and shoves her out of reach of the dragon’s bits. In one motion, Raga and a dozen other people disappear into the mouth of the beast.
The inside of the rock dragon’s mouth was pure chaos. People were screaming. Debris was flying everywhere. Other than the few flashes of light that shone through the creature’s Jaws, the entire area was dark. The Rock dragon angled its tongue to position the sticky slab of road between its teeth then bit down. Half a dozen screams went silent instantly. Fortunately, the bite fractured the remaining cobblestone pieces and Raga was able to finally break free. The dragon then angled his tongue the other way to push the remaining bits to the other side of its mouth and then bit down again. Another chorus of screams went quiet, but in the transition, raga sank beneath the creature’s tongue and into a pool of saliva.
The saliva rushed into his mouth and nose. It was disgusting. An acidic tangy flavor well seasoned with the blood of its victims. Above him, the dense flesh of the tongue left him little room to move. He could feel the creature chewing. But he can also feel something pulsing next to him. Just within arm’s reach light a massive vein pulsing with blood I doubt I’ll be able to kill this thing. But maybe I can get it to spit me out. Raga struggles to move his arm into position. The creature’s tongue is limiting his mobility. The creature takes another bite of Oker and a new batch of screams enter the mouth. Just as it did before, the dragon angles its tongue to bite down. But this time, Raga drives his axe into the vein and the creature cries out in pain. It doesn’t spit anything out. Instead, it tries to crush him with its tongue. However, Raga is able to scramble up the side of its jaws and onto its teeth in time. It bites down. But raga leaps onto its tongue just in time. It presses its tongue against the roof of its mouth. But raga slides back to the base of the tongue to avoid being crushed. Finally, it tilts its head back to forcefully swallow him. But he buries his axe into the flesh of its tongue and is able to hold on. All around him survivors are sliding past and disappearing into its throat. The creature cries out and opens its mouth as light floods inside.
Its sound is deafening. But now that there is light light raga can see his next Target. There at the base of the throat the uvula jiggles with each painful roar. Raga loses his other axe from his back and hurls it at the dangling flesh. The creature gags throws its head forward, and vomits.
Raga spilled out into the streets covered in stomach acid and dismembered villager parts. The acid burns everything it touches. So he dares not open his eyes lest he be forced to face this dragon while blinded. I need something to wipe my face. He gets to his feet and stumbles forward with his hands out stretched and swinging wildly for anything that could help.
Behind him, some of the acid-covered villagers try to escape. Some of them make it. Most of them don’t as the dragon is desperate to return the contents of its stomach back to where it belongs. Raga has still yet to find anything to help him wipe his face but he does stumble into a short Wall. It’s the fountain that Andre and Aria rested at earlier. Without hesitation, he dives into the cool water and wash away the acid from his body.
The Rock dragon completes its task of slurping up its meal from the streets. When Raga emerges from the fountain. It notices him and he sees it. It charges. This Rock dragon has been blessed with the ability to bend the rules of gravity. This ability has allowed it to grow strong, sore among the heavens, and rise to a position on the food chain that is occupied by few beings. Beings. However, raga also has an ability. While it may not be as grandiose as the Rock Dragons, it ensures that no matter what situation he is in, he will always have the tools he needs to face it. Raga holds out his hand and shouts “summon weapon.” The plain iron axe he left in the creature’s throat bursts out of its mouth and returns to his hand. Once again, the dragon empties the contents of its stomach into the streets and comes to a complete halt.
With his sight intact and his weapons in hand raga finally makes his escape. He tears down the main streets, ducks in the alleyways, and runs until every muscle in his leg burns with exhaustion. The sound of the dragon is now in the distance. It’s still there. The danger is still there. But for now, he is safe.
“I cannot believe what I have just witnessed!” Andre shouted from above. The noble crow descends and lands on the head of the weary warrior. “I have heard men tell tales of fighting dragons. But I have never heard of a man fighting his way out of a dragon. It was fantastic. Amazing. You are truly a warrior of note. I definitely am not paying you as much as you’re worth, thank goodness.”
“Where is Aria?” Raga asked.
“She’s safe.” the crow replied. “She begged me to go back for you. Honestly, I thought you were dead so I was just going to pretend that I did. But there you were! Coming out of its mouth. Axe in hand. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t believe it. If you tell me what you did here today a year from now. I would call you a liar. I have seen it myself and I would still call you a liar.”
I shouldn’t have to put up with this. I should be at home. Raga slumps against the side of the building to rest. Above him, Three moons are rising into the sky. The fourth moon will join them by sundown. It is a rare celestial event on this planet and most people will only see it two or three times. It is also the event for which his name is inspired from. Or rather, The rising of the four moons is what has inspired his second name. A long time ago before he was a warrior. Before he carried an axe. Raga was just a boy living in a peaceful country on a planet called Earth.
