Days of Dawn

Chapter 5: Destiny

Lord Etherian Genis tossed and turned in his bed. The visions that plagued his mind were no less fervent, but were more crisp. As with all visions, clarity increased the nearer the events drew. It wouldn't be long now.

Still, the chaos was too hectic for his worn mind to sort through. Fire erupted here and screams echoed from there. All the while, a lone figure stood in the center of the turmoil. A slender silhouette with golden eyes and a serpentine smile pierced the flame with his gaze.

Amidst the slaughter and battle, Lord Genis saw Ezra clutching the handle of a blade in her chest - one that no unicorn would remedy. He saw the blank face of his son against the dirt, his once violet eyes wholly white. It was nothing the lord hadn't seen before. But something new caught his attention.

Within a splash of fire, he saw the wings of the blue dragon Deluge flying toward the Temple of Arcana. There, somewhere deep underground, a metal shard slid into place within a dark obelisk.

He opened his waking eyes, the future still playing through his head.

...............

"Deluge knows its location," explained Lord Genis over a quick breakfast. "She knows the Monolith is hidden beneath the Temple of Arcana."

Across from him listened Salus, Skrou, Valien, and his children with singular attention.

"Do you know when she'll go for it?" asked Orion.

Lord Genis shook his head, "No, but it'll be soon. Within a few days."

Salus turned to Skrou and directed, "Send word to the nearest Brotherhood outpost. We require a force of Knights and their troops dispatched to their Temple of Arcana at once." He then turned to the nobleman and assured, "Our closest riders can be at the temple in two days. That wretch won't get anywhere near the Monolith."

Valien turned to Orion with a serious face, "Do you think we should send our guard there too? Even in a large group, my men can be there by evening if we rush."

Orion looked up, remembering he was officially given the right to make such calls. "Oh. Yeah, see how many you can round up today. Salus and I can go ahead to the temple and warn those priests."

Valien returned a slight bow and rushed out of the mansion. Although Salus wasn't accustomed to being delegated to, that was going to be his next suggestion anyway, so he nodded with an equine grunt.

Lord Genis took a slow breath to steady his shaken nerve.

Ezra put her hand on his arm with a warm simper, "The future isn't set in stone, father. Now that we know what to expect, we can prepare for it."

...............

The city was abuzz with talk of battle. Those enraged by the sacking of Thornvale eagerly filled Helvara's barracks to enlist, grabbing sword and shield as they took their place in the militia. Captain Valien walked through the streets near Helvara's barracks with a mellow tone amidst the chaos. It was a somber sight to him, watching the merchants trade their ledgers for combat oaths.

Behind Valien approached Ezra in her pink dress and sandals with hands innocently behind her back. He glanced a sad smile her way. "I never thought I'd see the day when Helvara went to battle."

Ezra simpered back with a soft glimmer, "The nice thing about battles is they don't last forever. Soon enough things will be back to normal. You'll see."