Seeking Redemption

❁ Prologue ❁

A cold breeze blew through the long grass, making it ripple and wave like the sea on the horizon. It was a strange place, vibrant colored mushrooms spewed neon yellow spores from the earth, and a shape strolled along a faded path. It's glowing eyes scanned the area, coming to a stop by a pool of clear water. It reflected the night sky perfectly, like a mirror.

"Yes," it seemed to rumble in a content tone of voice. "This is the place."

Another figure, seemingly a male, leapt from the shadows of a tree. He let out a contemptuous snort. "Are you sure?" He muttered to his companion, sweeping his gaze across the land. "What makes this place so damn special?"

The first shape did not answer immediately. Instead, it skipped by the pool's edge, a long tongue from its mouth slipping into it. The water felt cold as ice on its taste buds, tasting like melted polar ice caps. It grinned, facing the other. "Don't you get it? This is a moment we've been waiting for!" Finally, the shape stepped into the light. It was a young dragon with eyes as gold as heather grass. His dull colored green scales shone silver in the moon's light as he stepped out of the gloom.

The other male shook his head. "Vasileios... what are you going on about?"

"Do you know why we're here?" Vasileios pressed, turning his now-serious gaze to the other.

"No and I don't care," the other muttered, waving one hand dismissively.

Vasileios's gaze darkened. "You'd better. For this marks the beginning of a new guardspirit generation!" He whisked past the other, jumping onto an outcropping log, long ago partly buried in mud and sand from past storms. It had once been a great tree, and to the dragon, it was a reminder that even the mightiest always have the potential to fall. Just like a sturdy tree. He ignored the other guardspirit's sigh, and stared deeply into the water. Several small minnow fry flitted by, only visible by the bio-illuminated bacteria that clung to their developing bodies. Vasileios chuckled, silently wishing them good luck in their hostile environment. However, it wasn't mere fish young that the dragon longed to see; it was the reflection of a shadowed figure. It was hard to make out what it was exactly, but he knew it had long ears and tail, along with glowing markings and fierce cat-like eyes that glowed a bright shade of aqua.

"Perfect," the dragon purred, raising his massive head. "I've got it now."

His onyx companion gazed at him with an unamused expression mixed with doubt and confusion. "So... I assume we can return to our temple now?"

Vasileios swayed his tail to gesture to his unidentified ally. "Come and get a look. Please."

It felt as if months had passed before the shrouded figure gave a raspy and hoarse sigh. "Very well. Only because you're so persistent and I have much respect for you." The ghastly unknown creature hopped onto the perch, glowing white claws sinking into the rotting bark before stationing himself right where the dragon was motioning. In fact, the winged beast had to move aside to make room as the much smaller male pressed himself close to the water's edge.

Now faced with the light of the full moon above reflecting against the pool's surface, Vasileios finally was able to get a good view on his unknown ally. It was a cloaked figure, hiding most of his features aside from bony limbs with glowing nails and a pair of bright sanguine eyes just under the hood. It would seem as if a mask covered the bottom half of his face, which was roughly shaped like a bird's beak and Vasileios forced himself not to flinch at this. Then again, the dragon shouldn't be too surprised. This fellow was more a spiritual type guardspirit rather than an astral type like himself. To a normal mortal's eye, he would only be a shimmering outline, but to the eye of any other ethereal entity the hunched over creature could be seen on any occasion. His luminous eyes glared into the water where Vasileios stared only minutes ago and his strange companion scoffed, causing the water to ripple roughly.