Book of Ellagar

Chapter 25 : Brambles

Ellagar's heart pounded in terror at the black dragon's imminent attack. Its malevolent eyes bore into her. She could barely catch her breath, her mind racing with fear as Thelara's voice reached her.

Thelara's voice broke through the haze of panic, speaking in her mind. "Ellagar, it is okay. The dragon is just a vision. This trial appears to be about facing our fears."

Ellagar's eyes darted around, her body tense and ready to flee. She saw they had entered an area with pools of water and large polished stones that revealed different visions. The black dragon on the stone ahead of her turned away. Her heart still raced, and she struggled to calm her breathing. As they walked, the reflections started to change and shift, showing images of a world in ruins due to conflict and dragon carnage.

Ellagar saw herself standing among the ruins of a once-impressive city, with smoke and ash darkening the sky. Dragons clashed in the air above, their roars echoing like thunder. The ground was littered with the bodies of the fallen, both human and dragon alike. The stench of death and destruction filled the air, making it difficult to breathe.

Her pulse quickened as the vision changed to show her beloved swamp in flames. Her heart pounded even harder. The trees were charred and blackened, the water boiling and hissing. She saw herself, alone and broken, standing amid the devastation. The black dragon's mocking laughter filled her mind. "The younglings are mine!"

"Ellagar, look!" Ardvek's voice broke through the nightmare, pulling her back to the present. She turned to see him staring into a pool of water, his face pale with fear.

In the reflection, Ardvek was on fire, his body writhing in agony as the flames engulfed him. Ellagar's heart clenched with terror, the vision too real, too vivid.

"No!" she cried, reaching out to him. "It's not real, Ardvek. Focus on me. Focus on what's real."

Ardvek's eyes were wide with fear, but he nodded, his gaze locking onto hers. "You... you saw it too," he whispered, his voice trembling. "But you're right. It's not real. But is it our future?"

"Ignore the reflections," she whispered, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "Those are simply our fears staring back at us. Focus on me. On your path forward."

"Are you certain?" said the voice in her mind. Ellagar was uncertain if that was her own fear speaking, or was Grandmother back?

They moved forward, their bond guiding them through the nightmarish visions. Ellagar's mind raced with the memories of her earlier visions, the weight of the prophecy pressing down on her. She knew they had to stay focused.

Ardvek nodded, his eyes determined. They navigated the reflections and entered a new area.

As they passed through an archway, the brambles whispered secrets and half-truths. The path narrowed, and the thorns caught at their clothing, scratching their arms and legs. The toxic sap blistered and burned, making it difficult to focus. Ellagar realized the toxin was causing auditory hallucinations. Voices seemed to call them down twisting paths. Was that what she was hearing?

"Pathetic half-thing. Pawn." The cold voice nagged and wore at her. Ellagar couldn't tell if it was her own doubts or something more sinister. Then Thelara's warm presence was there, inside her mind, pushing away the dark thoughts. Ellagar slumped to her knees, uncertain what they should do next.

Ellagar felt Ardvek tug at her hand. "Wait," he said. He closed his eyes and tilted his head as if he were listening intently. She saw he gripped a bracelet made of Mother Tree bark. "This way," he said, pulling Ellagar through the maze of whispers. "I can feel the roots guiding the way. The leaves tell lies. Do not look. Do not listen. Feel the pull."