Legends of Kepler: The Dragon & The Woman

CHAPTER VI: BITTERSWEET FRIENDSHIP (1)

CHAPTER VI: BITTERSWEET FRIENDSHIP (1)

They were meant to meet each other. Her eyes hallucinated in a sea of illusions when she saw the divine creature directly. Their eyes bounced in an infinite space; two mirrors reflecting each other, who generated an instant connection. What the Dragon had, led the woman to float in the currents of fullness. What the sorceress had, the Dragon needed in his heart, but what they had was nothing more than an illusion, for this encounter was merely fortuitous in the reign of destiny. Two souls meeting arbitrarily in this physical realm, or at least Elgoneth, architect of all creatures, had proclaimed it this way.

They always met each other in the same hidden springs. The Hills of Rihëren, the first region of the Anaís Forest. A forgotten place, never reached by human hands. The place extended through various extensions of green. And on the night, the beautiful wildlife portrayed the magnificence of creations that existed in the mystical place. It was one of the most unexplored zones of the nation.

The purpose of the meetings was simple; the dragon helped the sorceress train and improve her new abilities. The Lexicon of Leyra possessed misunderstood content that needed to be explored, for it needed to be gradually revealed.

It wasn´t ideal for Amalia to practice these spells in a hostile environment, so the place fit perfectly. The dragon's divinity lent excellently too, for his presence served as a guide to the unknown exposition of the magic, coming from the texts of the book. This figure was somewhat necessary, until the sorceress learned to master them. It was the perfect monitoring, for the development of the fireflies’ daughter.

The woman of now seventeen rimmers, had developed a true routine with the dragon. Every three days, they both went at the top of the hill where they first met, and began the training throughout the mysterious area.

The rimmers passed, and the sessions were paying off. They kept their word, for from the first day the Book was delivered, they established a true commitment.

On day six of the Nema Cycle, Argôn descended from the Hanging Gardens to meet the sorceress. It was training day. They were in times full of fallen roses, and orange flowers. Cold windstorms, announcing the approach of the winter.

He was waiting on the floral fields, for the sorceress to appear. But suddenly, a strong voice called for his attention.

“Where are you going?” asked the Supreme Dragon.

“Father! What are you doing here?” asked Argôn.

“I could ask you the same thing” Bongo exclaimed. “These days, you give these areas more priority than you give to your own kingdom. I assumed that in these hills I will find yourself.”

“It's training day with the sorceress. The human must arrive soon” he said.

"You're getting very friendly with Elgoneth's daughter” responded Bongo. “Remember that she is here because she has other purposes. I hope you are only guiding this, and nothing more.”

“Of course, father. What are you implying?”

“I´m not implying anything” he said. “I just hope you are clear about your roles in your own life.”

A brief silence aired the conversation of the Dragons, and before Argôn responded to his father's statement, he continued.

"I'm here to announce you a battle," Bongo continued. “I was looking for you in the kingdom, for all the Splendor is aware of it, except for you. The Nénufar Region is rising. The swamp monsters are about to emanate.”

"In fifteen days, the moons of Ïnmâeh will reach their waning state completely," he continued. “It will undoubtedly be a moment which the river monstrosities will take advantage of, we must be prepared.”

“I need you to be focused, it's my message” he concluded. “You are a great warrior, the best I have. I need you to help me lead the example, but how are you going to do so if your own priorities aren’t clear yet? It is a good time to succeed bluntly.”

“Don't worry, father, you know you can count on me. This an additional responsibility, I have everything under control.”

“I hope so” exclaimed Bongo.

The Supreme Fire Dragon made his withdrawal aggressively. He left his son thoughtful, but he turned his gaze back to the horizon where the small hill was portrayed. However, the sun was already declining over the west, and Elgoneth's daughter did not appear. The night was falling, and the Raēn began to worry.

He decided to go to the meeting point. When he reached the top of the hill, he realized that there was no one. He looked at the corners of it, where large stones were prostrated. Under one of them, he found a scroll. A small writing.

“Dear Argôn,

I had to go with my father to an expedition near the southeast of the forest. We are going to wade some rivers that are in the rocky areas, for he wants to teach me how to fish the big golden fish that I have always asked for! I'm so excited! I will try to get one for you, too. We will last between twenty and twenty-one days in the exploration, so I will be back between day one or day two of the Gont Cycle. I will miss you so much!

See you soon, dear friend,

Amalia, from the South”

The young dragon did not know how to react. It was the first time after two Rimerians that he was going to spent some days apart of the sorceress. The idea of not seeing her, was strange to his mind. He was almost certain that this was a clear message from Elgoneth, as well, so he could concentrate on what was really important: the upcoming battle. His father was right, and the facts were confirming it.

Argôn then, spent the days training in the Hanging Gardens, but he was restless, distraught. He didn't really understand what was happening, but the name of the sorceress constantly appeared in his mind. In his consciousness, the image of the woman weighed.

He was resigned, for he did not like the position he was in. He considered a weakness the fact that he could not spend his days calmly, without the woman crossing in his mind.

Very confident in himself, he promised not to go to see her, because in his mind, he was already there. The time rounded the temptation to go only for a moment, above the skies of the southern rivers; where the woman was. He really wanted to see her, so this promise only made things worse. It was negligence disguised as security.

The woman did not leave the Raēn’s thoughts, and her absence caused him to be even more distracted. The Raēn forced himself not to think about her, but this only made him think of her twice the amount. He didn´t understand how to manage what he felt. It was too much, in a very short time. He was losing control, and this made him even more angry. It was unusual. How was it possible for such a divine and powerful being to lose his mind over a terrestrial being?

The dragon tried to train, but he was decentralized. And without anyone noticing, Wiz was watching everything. He knew something was happening. He had the question in his head.

Bongo likewise, realized this, and was annoyed by his son´s half attention. He did things reluctantly.

After an argument with his son, Bongo decided to go to the Golden King. He didn´t kow what else to do.

“How are the sessions going, Bongo?” Wiz asked.

“Well, sir, to be honest, I have no idea what is happening with Argôn” exclaimed the dragon. “You have already seen it. He is constantly distracted, restless. Something is hanging around his head, and does not allow him to concentrate. I hope it has nothing to do with the sorceress, now that he can´t see her. His mind cannot depend on this unnecessary thing sir! I have mentioned this to him several times. I don´t understand what happens.”

After a brief silence, Wiz decided to answer him.

"Well, I'm going to be out a couple of days" exclaimed the Golden King. "I have to clarify some issues."

“Okay sir, don't worry. Where will you be located?”

“I will head north” said Wiz. “I´ll l be a few days in Tlaun, but I will be back before the waning departures of the moons show off. Keep conducting the training.”

“As you wish, your majesty!” said Bongo.

Wezhreem flew quickly from the place, heading to the north of the region. He was really intrigued by Argôn. He had the desire to clarify these concerns, and wanted to do so in a subtle and stealthy way. He flew over the skies until he reached, the Hidden Frondosity of Tlaun, one of the most mysterious areas of the Region. Where the unfeasible and the fictitious were manifested in reality, and the impossible, becomes the visible; but place where doubts multiplied, instead of being clarified, and river waters were contaminated with uncertainty, instead of shining with hope. However, The Golden King was putting together a puzzle; and in the boundless Talun’s Forest, there was an important piece of it.

Inside Tlaun was found the fascinating Kingdom of Solari; a hidden nation where the most gifted magicians and sorcerers exited in communion. The high level of magic. The high anarchy of wizardry. It became the central nucleus of the new and most skilled magicians, and quickly transformed in the most powerful civilization of the land race.

It took Wiz half a day to reach the forest. He entered the kingdom through the air without announcements, for he wanted to speak with the Commander of the Inmireh Nest-Xerov Council, better known as the INX Army. These were the rulers of the nation, and the thirty-two most powerful magicians on the entire planet.

“King Wėzhreem! What a pleasure to have you here! Welcome, your majesty” indicated one of the members of the council.

“Cadil, I need to talk to you! Where is Commander Obaz?” said Wiz.

Cadil took Wiz to a golden temple with purple stripes. This one had giant pilasters and the ceiling was engraved with the best of the local´s designs. In the corners, were dozens of torches. These emanated a fire that interspersed their colors in exuberant ranges of violet and gold.

Inside the temple, there was a giant circular structure. Made out of steel and silver. The structure was divided into three levels. The third level, the highest one, contained seven seats. All gold plated. The second level, the middle level, contained four seats. The chairs were made out of glass, and inside the glass there was a magenta energy that flowed throughout the inside of the chair. And on the primary level, there was an empty throne of bronze.

“Welcome to the Royal Temple, Golden King!” exclaimed one of the members sitting on the second level. “It has been a long time since I last saw your face, Wėzhreem. What brings your majesty here?”

“Greetings, Obaz. The Gardens have received before the rumors of new arrangements on the kingdom, under your guardianship” said the Golden Raēn, looking from side to side.

“It seems that the rumors are obvious, then!” Wiz continued.

“That's how it is my friend!” says Commander Obaz smiling. “Welcome to the Great Royal Temple. Here are the royal lineage members of the Great Council. Heirs of the twelve founding ancestors of the kingdom.”

"Well, I already knew the nature of the royal heirs of the council" Wiz exclaims. “I didn't know there was a need to build a temple for them.”

“C´mon friend! It's necessary and fair!” exclaimed Obaz. “We deserved it! We have built this with our own hands; with the sweat of the eleven members of this assembly, for the arrival of the Prodigal Son is coming soon. We´ve been receiving calls from Elgoneth! You know how much we´ve waited for this. After centuries, the creation of our first and only King will be shown really soon to us!”

“We have prepared the throne with the best plants of Tlaun” he continued. “And we have fragmented it to form them in a perfect unbreakable bronze chair. But enough about this, allow yourself to take a deeper look on what we´ve done recently. And grant me the privilege of showing you my kingdom, your majesty, you will be impressed!”

“Your kingdom?” Wiz asked.

"Excuse me, our kingdom!" replied Obaz. “Let me show you, the renewed Great Nation of Solari!”