Aethieria

A shiny, white crystal fell from the sky. Then another and another. One after the other fell until each crystal danced and swayed in the wind. The light shimmered across each flake of snow which emitted a gorgeous blue glow.

With each snowflake Aethieria's brown trim transformed into a gown of white. Such sweet purity was interrupted only by the tall, brown figures that stood erect. Some laced with green.

The soft, rumbling echoes of the life that once bursted with proud beauty, reminded one of the life that was given in Spring.

Now all life lay in quiet, slumber awaiting the coming of the next rebirth. Once the storm silenced it's booming roar the sun beamed over the white blanket that was woven by the dancing ballerinas of ice.

Suddenly, a sound is heard. All echoes of life stop in anticipation for the unknown. A black figure emerges from the great light above. It cautiously draws near disturbing the new white quilt that was woven with care. The closer one is the more one sees.

As the black ghost moves across this new creation, life gradually bursts back in recognition of this frightening fiend that roams about. A cry is heard! Nay! It is a shout of battle that looms above.

The exotic black dragon flies in a sea of clouds ready to snatch it's prey. The black phantom below cringes with fear as Kieron the Demon circles above with one object in mind.

Kieron was the most feared dragon of his age larger than all others of his kind. Claws that could tear at even the strongest of trees.

Blue eyes that could horrify the spirits of this mystical realm. Black scales that warned all others of his bleak soul. Teeth sharp enough to devour a Fortress. Should one hear his devilish cry all hope is lost.

No sound, other than the fear of his prey, is made as this ghost below begins to run in terror. Alas! There is no escape, all is over. This being, upon the land, must surrender to the might of Kieron. It kneels in submission upon the cold mountain to await the sharp claws that determine it's fate.

Seeing his opportunity Kieron dives straight to this unknown being upon this troubled domain. Thus the nightmare begins.

Pain strikes her as she slowly awakens still entangled in Kieron's grasp. Although this was her intended fate she could not help crying of the great pain she had not expected. She was covered with blood from the dragon's claws piercing her rough skin.

She knew why he came. She knew what she did. This was a fact hard to remember as she lapsed in and out of consciousness. Her legs were flailing through the mist, in the sea of clouds, which caused her to shake at the great distance below. A fateful fall could be her untimely end.

However, fate would not be so kind. As easy as it would be to fall she could not let that happen. From birth her mission was clear. From birth her fate was decided. From birth she was trained to be exactly here in Kieron's grasp.

All within the Esetophmian wood knew her quest. She could not help wondering did Kieron know it too. If he did not, it would guarantee her success. All her life she had been told where she would be and when she would be where.

Did Kieron know his fate too? She had always pondered. Did he know that he would retrieve her this day? This she speculated whilst she was alone to her thoughts.

After her body was numbed to the point of no feeling within her external torture, she was left to deal with the internal torture she had to bare throughout her childhood.

She should be proud, her elders said to have a place already determined in this world. By now she could undergo all sorts of pain, in her mind and in her body, with the hazy expression of death. No glimmer of joy or happiness could ever be witnessed within; such was a disgrace.

Her place within the Esetophmian order was known or guessed throughout all mystical beings of Aethieria. Fore Aethieria was so distraught with fear and anger it was near destruction. Vachan's were rare, so destinies were no longer determined for every child.

Only those children destined to bring about the destruction of the Bhadar's and return the land to its ancient state of glory. How had such a land known throughout the universe as a peaceful spot; that had once welcomed all mystical beings with a proud, compassionate heart become the terror it is now?

This was one of many mysteries that was on every Aethierian's mind. Aethieria was once a land ruled by peace and governed with love, but no more was this child's dream alive. Many years ago, a darkness fell upon the realm as the mighty Uroknamé became consumed by power and greed.

Uroknamé was a mighty Bhadar warrior that lead the land, Aethieria, into the great shame it is now. With the Bhadars in power it grew to infect the wholesome land with a great sickness. The name of Bhadar was once revered among all Aethierians. Such a name was respected honored throughout the land.

Koruemane Bhadar was the first official leader of this noble realm. He was known to have guided all beings into the light of love. Koru the Noble, called by Aethierians, was strong and brave. He was kind and caring to all.

When he left his children, to join the light of his ancestors, he could not know they would poison this magical territory with generation after generation. Aethieria is now plagued with despair. The name of Bhadar is now considered as the calamity that hath broken all creatures. It was Bhadars that forged this nightmare from a loving province. And, it is Bhadars that must perish into the darkest abyss of the unknown world.

Although hatred lie in the hearts of all mystical creatures that found refuge in the Esetophmian wood for these "deceitful rats", she could not find it in her heart to hate a people she had only heard of. Unlike those before and those among her she would not speak of people she knew of only through the stories of the elders.

Several of the chosen ones that had been given a destiny by the Vachandra had taken part in several of the games, storytelling, and festivals mocking these "cretins". With her opinion having already been formed before birth of what she must think of these people, she of course had nothing good to say of them. Recent events must be taken into account of these ominous Bhadars; the beating, the hunt, and finally this dragon.

Suddenly, a high pitch screech pulls her back to consciousness. Until, now she had forgotten the dragon's reach was so near. The deadening cry of this monstrosity had awakened her ears from their hard slumber. Her eyes lifted open to confront the horror that lay before her.

A large burst of flame rose above her eyes to make way for the darkest piece of Aethieria she had ever witnessed. The only part of Aethieria she had known of, months ago, were the fresh beginnings of snow, the frozen streams, and the quiet trees of the Esetophmian wood.

Now before her was the vilest, most desecrated land she had ever known. Dark mist loomed over black valleys filled with nothing but shadow. Eerie trees that she could swear whispered omens of death. The only sight other than darkness was the bright red flame of the murkiest abyss that emanated below.

Out of the obscure sky loomed a faint glimmer of a grey fortress. There was a filthy, algae colored liquid seeping from beneath this monument of wickedness. Her eyes lingered long enough to realize the liquid was boiling.

This was the ground they called Dhekierien. The location of the Bhadar palace. This was the site she had been told about. Wicked stories spread about this evil lair all across the Korukon or country.

Now she would finally bear witness to the extent of Dhekierien's terror. As Kieron flew closer and closer to the fortress that was once an esteemed palace, she could discern that this fortress was made of white marble that had aged to appear as grey stone.

Although she had remained in considerable pain she was trained to notice all details no matter how small. Just as Kieron her senses were impeccable. As they passed over the building and passed by many towers, she began to prepare herself for the worst.

By reminiscing of the many different tortures, she had already had to suffer through. She had not noticed the speed of the dragon picking up, until the building was simply a flash and she had been pressed to the ground by this mountainous creature. She felt as if all the world was standing on top of her. Which caused a snapping sound that led her sight to fade into nothingness. The great instantaneous pain swallowed her entire being.

Something hard and rough could be felt by her. A sudden coolness washed over her body. What had happened, all the sudden things had disappeared. She wondered. She could feel her hands moving to push back from this rough exterior she was being forced against.

As she raised herself away from the thing she was being pushed against by the strength of her arms, her eyes began to come back into focus. Sudden pain emanating from her chest watered her eyes. So much pain, so little time. This had become her mantra from youth.

Ironically it had carried more wisdom for her with its ring than one elder ever had. When the shock of pain had worn a little and her eyes dried, she recognized that she had been laying on stone. She worked her arms to turn her body upwards in a sitting position. A cackle was sounded with the swift movement of her ankles.

She knew that sound all too well. Her eyes did not have to tell her that her ankles were bound with shackles. Rusty ones too. She had expected this to be her welcome, but one thing was missing a wicked Bhadar to torment her into compliance.

It did not take her long to determine that the only reason she had not awakened to lashes of a whip was because they must be unaware of her present consciousness. This precious time, she knew, was to her advantage.

This was the time to refocus her mind to straighten her priorities. Mission first, self later. The room was rather small and old. She didn't expect a palace guestroom, but at least something a tad put together. The cells and torture chambers she had been in all looked the same. Full of dirt and blood.

This particular chamber was at least made of stone. Not like the marble exterior, but rough and crumbly. She sat on the hard rock floor curious at the amount of force the meager wall could withstand. Could she punch through this wall and escape?

What a funny idea she marveled. If the elders could hear such thoughts as these they would exclaim with great embarrassment that she was already planning her escape. She knew that she would die right here instead of escaping with this task incomplete.

This was what she had been brought to believe. Honor was given only to those obedient to the "distinguished" elders. Honor could only be bestowed by the elders. Honor was the reason for living according to the elders. Without honor a creature could disappear and no one would be the wiser.

Silence. Although it would cause most to be uneasy she could manage to go years with simply silence. Many declared it was dangerous to leave someone alone with their thoughts for too long. Creatures with such misconceptions would be driven mad if they had to live in a cell.

These creatures could never complete half the tasks that she must complete. Having to sit for many years inside a cell with only the comfort of one's thoughts. Having to sit across from one person and sit without revealing any information with a large amount of truth concoction running through your system.

Silence, to her, was a gift. A gift not to be taken for granted. So this remaining silence she now had, after first analyzing her surroundings, she used for contemplating the nature of the creature they would send to interrogate her first.

In her mind she always found it fun to imagine several warriors fighting over who would have to accomplish the task of getting her to talk. Surely they knew by then her reputation and if not then the Kieron would surely enlighten them of her nature.

Kieron was known to be all-seeing and wise beyond the years of his body. Surely Kieron would alert the Bhadar leaders of her might and grace. If that didn't inform them that she was a great threat than it would only take one small introduction. Just as with every other creature.

On a first introduction, it was rare for her to speak. She mostly observed your behavior to determine the best approach to take with every creature she met. Most creatures found her extremely unsettling at first meeting.

In fact, her presence was quite unnerving no one it seemed was actually able to communicate deeply with her. She was always on her guard, but that was taught to her by the elders. The elders taught her to never actually reveal anything about herself or others could use that information to their advantage.

All her thoughts suddenly became muddled together as she began to feel for the first time in a long time sheer exhaustion fill her. As her head began to fall, a great boom snapped her wide awake. Someone was in the cell she could feel it.

The silence was over and was replaced by the raspy breathing of another creature. She could not turn herself to face this beast and had to wait for it to approach her. Thus the moment had finally come. The silence was gone now only one thing mattered. Keeping silent.