Eric Vang's Quest of the heart

The Fate of Time

As Eric settled back into bed, his thoughts were still racing with excitement and anticipation. He closed his eyes, willing sleep to come, but it was elusive. His mind was too full of the day's events, the people they had met, and the journey ahead. Finally, as his thoughts calmed down he slept away into dreamland.

In his dreams, he found himself standing before an ancient dragon, its scales a mottled blue that shimmered in a soft, ethereal light. The creature's eyes were like deep light blue, pools of wisdom, filled with an age that was almost tangible. "Eric Vang," the dragon rumbled, its voice resonating through Eric's very soul. "I have been waiting for your arrival for a long time now."

Startled, Eric stumbled backward, his heart racing. "Who are you?" he managed to ask, his voice barely a whisper. "How are you able to talk?"

The ancient dragon's smile was filled with a knowing warmth. "I am the Keeper of time," it said, its voice a gentle rumble that seemed to echo through the cavernous space of Eric's mind. "And I can speak to you because you are of dragon blood."

Eric's eyes grew wide with wonder and fear. He had known of his heritage, but to be addressed by such a creature was more than he could have ever imagined. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

The dragon's gaze softened. "I need your help, young one. My son, a dragon much like myself, has fallen into a space-time warp and is lost in the days of old. Those humans, ever so greedy, have captured him, using his power for their own selfish ends. I am bound to this realm and cannot leave. Will you be the one to find him and bring him back to me?"

Eric's heart pounded in his chest. The thought of such an epic quest was both terrifying and exhilarating. He looked at the dragon, its ancient eyes filled with a sorrow that was almost tangible. He knew that he couldn't refuse. "I'll do it," he said firmly, pushing aside his fears. "But how do I find him, and can I bring my friends?"

The Keeper of Time shook his head solemnly. "You must go alone, for the warp is unstable and will only allow one person to go. But fear not, for I shall give you a talisman that will guide you to him. As for returning, I can only do so much. The fabric of time is delicate, and meddling with it is fraught with danger."

Eric nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I accept the risk," he said, his voice firm. "But I need to know how to get back."

The ancient dragon's eyes searched his, and after a moment, it spoke again. "There is a low chance of you being able to return to your time."

Eric's heart sank, but he didn't flinch. "Then what's the point of sending me if I can't return?"

The dragon's gaze grew intense, and it leaned closer. "You must understand, Eric. The fate of the very fabric of time rests upon this quest. If my son remains lost in that place, the balance of the world will be disrupted, and chaos will consume the world." Its voice was a low growl, filled with the gravity of its words. "The time dimension is a delicate web, and without a guardian to maintain it, the threads will unravel. The very essence of existence will be in peril."

Eric felt the weight of the dragon's words, his mind racing with the implications. "What happens to my body that is here at my house, still asleep?" he asked, the reality of his potential absence sinking in. "Will I just disappear when I go to the past?"

The Keeper of Time's eyes grew thoughtful. "Ah, a clever question," it said. "When you pass through the warp, your physical form will remain here, anchored to this moment. Your spirit will travel through time, but your body will not move. To the world, it will seem as though you are lost in a deep sleep, untouched by the sands of time."