A World Above (To Be Rewritten)

Chapter 2: The Music Rises

It has been three years since Aya left for the Academy. I'd become almost an expert in foraging, toolmaking, and trap making. The people of the slums no longer chastised me for merely being a demon and I'd even made a few friends among them. Eregon was my best friend. Unlike me, he was a Dragonewt with dark blue scales covering most of his body. We would often forage or check my traps together, though, I'd always need to be saved by him when a creature bigger than a rabbit appeared. I still had no idea what my magic was and I had very limited combat ability.

The day had grown dark as a storm rolled in. We headed into the forest to check the traps one more time when we got separated. I know I shouldn't have moved but there was a trap I set nearby. I had decided to wait there. . . Well, I did. A boar was caught in it and broke out almost as soon as it had spotted me so now, I find myself hiding in a hole in a tree high up. My wings had started to come in only a year ago and I remember that day like it was yesterday.

"Mooooomaaaa!! My back hurts!!!" I yelled from my room, crying into my pillow.

Mother had called for a doctor and said that he would arrive soon.

Mother took me into her arms and began to rock me softly as she sang my lullaby.

Hush now, dear Myribel
May you dream of Winter Nights and Silverbells.
Peaceful and cool as night,
Your shine brighter than the morning light
And should a day come when you whine
Mother will make it right

Hush now, dear Myribel
For it is your time to rest
Underneath the Silverbell
Here in our nest

"Goodnight, my dearest Myribel"

Mother had put me to sleep so that I would not be in pain, even if only for a little while.

The Doctor came while I slept and had said that my wings were finally starting to grow. Mother had said that the Doctor told her I would be able to fly, though not very well, in just two short weeks. Twenty days and I would be able to fly like Eregon!

I opened my eyes and saw Eregon staring back at me.

"Finally!" He shouted, "Come on, Bel, that mean ol' boar won't bother you any longer!" He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the hole.

The storm had already arrived so, we had to move fast. We took flight and headed back to the slums as the storm intensified. Lightning cracked just above the trees as thunder bellowed. Scared, I prayed to Thundra, Dragon God of Storms. We had big storms like this previously but, their sheer ferocity still made me quiver.

We landed just outside my home and ran inside, soaked.

"Thank you, Eregon, for finding my daughter and bringing her back home safely." Father said as we took off our cloaks.

"Not a problem, Sir. I would hate for anything bad to happen to her." He replied.

I smacked the back of his head and crossed my arms angrily at him.

"What? It's true!"

"That doesn't make it any less embarrassing, Eregon!"

"Myribel. Go take your bath. I don't need you catching a cold."

"Yes, Father. . . Uhm, where has Mother gone?"

"Your Mother should be back any minute, now. She went to the market to buy bread."

I sighed and went to take a bath, slipping out of my soaked socks and boots.

We were able to buy a little more thanks to my connections with a local merchant family. They had said the tools I made from wood and bone were on par with tools made by novice toolsmiths and, thanks to that, we had a proper bath, heated by a Pyra stone underneath it's porcelain frame.