Ryan Flame - The Library Window

Prolog

Shattering glass rang loud around Ryan's ears. His dark brown hair blew forward as the wind raced inside the shards of what was a window. Despite the sheer volume of the wind and glass, the noise was still. The air felt frozen in place. Ryan looked in through the Library Window. He saw the shocked face of his mother, a flash of sanity seemed to be held behind those eyes.

Then and there, now at the moment that he had carefully planned, Ryan realized something. He didn't want to look down. He knew the fall was going to be long, yet he felt no fear. He was unconcerned with his situation. Despite how ironic his situation was, things could only look up from here.

He caught a final glimpse of the library door starting to open before time caught up with him. The wind, once quiet before, roared in his ears like a symphony reaching its climax. His mind, before dazed with fear and shock, snapped into focus. He turned to face the large ravine his house would look over as he continued to fall towards the ground. It looked much deeper than it had behind the glass. That could be a problem.

Even though this may be Ryan's last day alive, he couldn't help smiling. He let out a chuckle as he hurled fast and faster towards the ground. He had waited his entire life to feel this feeling. To finally break free from the prison bars that held him down.

To taste freedom.

And so here he was. Ryan Demetrias Flame was falling towards what was not impending doom, but rather, an escape. A way out of the danger his life was in and now going to improve. He had left emotional rations for his brothers and made sure they were safe before this. He had taken note of the family situation before this. He had gotten his house in order before this.

He didn't need to go back now. He was finally free of all his worries and doubts. He could finally turn his back to the house he worked so hard to build. He could finally fly.

Ryan checked his watch again. He was right on time. Hopeful by the time he had reached the bottom of this steep trench he would be slowed and picked up by the wind. The very breeze he had studied every single day.

After three months Ryan finally smiled. He didn't realize what emotional state he had been in before. He was so broken and hopeless. Now was the start of a new beginning. Now he could finally breathe. As he had calculated with Luke the wind came right on time. It felt stronger than Ryan expected. The wind gushed past him, pinning his body against the air behind him before passing by. He landed with a thud as moondust floated around him.

The moments that followed were silent. Ryan let his eyes gaze up to where he had been moments before. His eyes caught on to the odd caves on the walls after that though and slowly they came back down. Tracing lines and patterns that, if he was not mistaken, signified different rooms. The swirls and squares were definitely draconian after all.

Ryan let out a sigh as he slowly stood up. This was the secret land that no one ever came out of. So this was the land that his father, mother, and brothers had warned him of. It was empty, and then it wasn't.

'You are new.' A windy voice rang in Ryan's mind, unlike anything he had ever heard.

"Who's there!" Ryan's feet moved back into a defensive stance. He didn't like this at all. Something was suddenly wrong. For days that Ryan had stared out that library window nothing had moved other than the wind. No signs of life were here. Nothing was here. Nothing could even live in a location so devoid of life. Nothing could, right?

Despite that fact a large black beast rose from the dusty ground. Its scales glittered in the light of the distant sun. Its antlers, once looking like rocks before, sat upon his head like a crown of jewels. Its eyes glowed gold against its sleek black scales. Sand slid smoothly from the now reflective surface. It spoke again as it looked down at Ryan's tiny form. 'I am here.'

Ryan blinked in awe. He had never seen a dragon before, let alone one of this size. This beast was truly a dragon of great beauty. It's black scales and white misty antlers. It looked like the kind of thing people would prize to own, yet here it was.

Though this dragon was also of massive size. Its thin neck and head rose far above Ryan, blocking out what little sun reached the bottom of this abyss. After his moment of awe, Ryan felt fear. Hot, pure fear.

"Wh-what are you!" He asked stumbling back more. He felt his feet get tangled before his form hit the dusty ground.

'I am nothing to concern yourself with. I am simply here to send a message to the new warrior.' The large beast moved closer, gently touching Ryan's head with his snout.

Ryan felt ice run through his veins as the dragon touched him. Was he going to die? This must be the end, the warning his father had. Then again, didn't the dragon say something about a message?

The dragon chuckled as he noticed Ryan's fear. Though the young warrior had nothing to be scared of. 'Do not be afraid, great one. If you fear now, you will have a lot more fear to come. For this, Master Demetrias, is only the beginning of your adventure.'