The Book of Zaldar

Chapter 1: Zaldar: The Alarm and the Dragon

The night air was filled with the cries of battle. The smell of blood drenched the cool atmosphere, burning my throat with a metallic taste. With the fog rising just above the ground it was a beautiful sight, excluding the death. I could feel my heart bursting through my chest, I am going to die. The thought repeated in my mind as if it had its own pulse. I ran to someone in desperation. Before I knew what had happened my sword was coated in a new layer of crimson. The body of a person was laying at my feet. I didn't even know why I killed him. My fingers twisted the blade as I inspected it. What am I doing? I thought to myself trying hard to wrap my head around the situation. Then, the sky turned dark as a stream of jet black fire coursed across the sky. A rumble boomed across the entire battlefield. The mighty roar of a dragon. It shook me off my feet. The silhouette of the dragon rose into the ashen sky. It was enormous, its muscles bulging with each flex. Massive talons tore through scores of what I could only assume were defenses. Then, with one last mighty howl, he engulfed the entire field in his flames.

My name is Zaldar and I was jolted awake. My bed covers were drenched with sweat. The last few moments of the dream ringing in my ears. I stroked my hand through my greasy hair. Through the window, the sky was blanketed by a grim sheet of dark clouds. It's about to rain. I thought to myself. The room smelled nice and homey, like the times when you come home from a long road trip. The air flowed gently into my lungs. I got up to see if my family was awake. I checked the mirror to see how the dream had effected me. My features were racked with fear from the fading nightmare. My messy blond hair strewn everywhere on my head like the unkempt foliage of the African Savanna. My eyes were still purple, but they were changing back to brown. They had the tendency to change color according to my stress.

"What... was... that?" I spoke in the mirror softly to myself.

My baby brother, Zeref, was still soundly asleep. There were times when mom had to put her palm on his chest just to make sure he was alive. Zeref had pitch black hair that streamed down his face ending in bangs just above his eyes. Even though he was still a baby, he was hairy on the head.

"Son? What are you doing awake?" The sound of my father's voice came quietly into the room yet was enough to startle me.

"I'm sorry, I had the dream again." I replied. My Dad was a very kind and strong man. He had the type of build that would make anyone scared. His muscles weren't too large but they did swell when he used them. If not for his kind face,and pink hair, I'm sure he'd of been the problem child in school.

"Shh, You don't want to wake up you mother or Zeref." Dad whispered under his breath.

"I know, I just can't go back to sleep." I mumbled. Then, the city alarm went off. In the still early morning, in the town of Magnolia, the alarm went off and my life was never the same.

This alarm was different. It was loud and constant. A blare in the early sky. "What does that mean?" My heart began to race again. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

"I haven't heard this in a long time." My father mumbled to himself. "Look after the family. I'll go outside and see what's going on." At this point, Zeref was crying and Mom was up trying to comfort him. Mom was beautiful. Even with her hair in a messy friz from just waking up. She had deep brown eyes that scanned everything. She would bite her lip in nervousness at times. She had black hair, like Zeref's that ran down the back of her head. It was usually pulled back so her bangs weren't showing.

"What's happening Zaldar?" Mom looked at me with a worried face.

"It'll be okay, Dad has gone to check out the situation." I said trying, in vain, to reassure myself and my family. The alarm suddenly came to a halt. It had gone as quickly as it had come. My Dad rushed into the room.

"We need to move. Now." He was more stressed than usual, his dark eyes scanning the room looking for any trace of important items to take with us.

"Where are we going?" I asked in earnest.

"Away from here." Dad calmly stated. "The Fioran Military is looking for past veterans and they are looking for me." Dad was surprisingly calm when he said this. "Come on, help me pack, please." He handed me a pile of clothes.

"What war were you in?" I asked folding through the old laundry.

"One that was lost in time and history. There isn't enough time to explain, hurry, I have food stored in the freezer. Take it." He was getting more rushed now. I could tell something was really bothering him. "This place, this city isn't safe. I need you to go to Uncle Cypher. You have to go and protect your family now. You're the adult now. Keep your mother and Zeref safe, for me please. If you have a need to fight, remember the training that I gave you." Dad went to kiss Mom. "I must go now, I love you. Stay safe for me. Bye Zeref. I wish I could've seen you're first steps." I saw a tear go down my parent's faces. Our sweet moment was abruptly interrupted by a bang on the front door and Dad went to go meet them.

There were a group of soldiers in similar uniforms. The leader of this squad was the only one to talk. His tone was heavy and his voice was deep. "You are hereby ordered by the king of Fiore to come in servitude of his majesty's army." Stated the guard at our front door. He had the king's fine silver crest which brandished a large "K" in respect to the King Kristopher. His sword at his side glinted with a new shine and the atmosphere grew even more tense, if that was even possible.

"Alright. Are you here to escort me? When will I be briefed?" Dad questioned. The way he was taking it, seemed as though he had gone through this before.

"You will be briefed by his majesty when you arrive. For now, be sure to get your family to safety. They have a right to know just like you, a dragon was sighted approaching." The soldier's tone grew grim. We fear it is Acnologia.".

"What? No, that can't be. Acnologia is dead." Dad was trying hard to convince himself that this mysterious dragon was dead. His efforts bore no fruit. "The king is going to address this matter directly, huh?" I've never seen my dad go this pale. By the looks of things, he was going to faint. It was obvious he was thinking hard about what action to take. "I'll come." My dad's eyes shone with a resolve that proclaimed defiance.

"Excellent." The Soldier looked to me, "Boy, We could use all the help we could get. With your father's permission, we would like to recruit you."

"No, that will not happen." My father cut in. "My boy needs to stay to protect the family."

"That is up to you." The soldier nodded in respect. He checked several things before calmly stating, "Alright, come with me." Dad left with the soldier. I gathered up the food that Dad talked about and left the house with Mom and Zeref.