The Sky Beast

Chapter One

Chapter One

Ten years later...

East of the Emperor's palace, enlisted on the highest point in the entire Capital, the Sky Temple stood before a long winded path down the mountain, where a powerful man was pulled along in a chariot. Around them, servants bowed towards them and beside him, his eager son sat, excited.

"Father!" the boy spoke. "We're going to see them?"

His father nodded and he pulled his red robe more over his chest. "Yes my son. It is your day of birth. You are twelve years of age today and as my father and my father have done so before me, I will show you our rite of passage."

The prince sat excited, barely keeping still in the man-drawn chariot. An hour passed before they reached the sky palace. The rickshaw man helped both out of the vehicle, careful not to meet the eyes of the royalty, "Please watch your step, my Prince."

The boy waited until his father walked elegantly out of the rickshaw, before they were joined by a monk of the temple. "Welcome my Lords."

"So Monk," the Emperor greeted him as they walked, with a trail of servants behind them. "Is everything in order?"

"The Emperor's beasts are all relaxed and prepared for the arrival of the Lords," the monk reported. "Although, I do suggest my Lord, for your safety that you keep the visit short."

The Emperor bristled in rage. "Are you, a lowly monk, ordering your Lord?" he roared.

The monk bowed his head. "No my Lord, but I only ask for your safety. Many of the dragons are not pleased with the Lord for past... well, they are unhappy. They're fickle creatures, but I do wish that you hold a level of respect for them."

The Emperor snarled. "The creatures must respect me," he spat as he pushed past the monk. "They are my property and I do what I want with my property. Ungrateful creatures, these dragons."

As the prince hurried after his father, he found himself asking, "Why are they ungrateful, Father?"

The Emperor tutted as they headed towards the courtyard. "The dragons still believe in the age old concept that they hold the power. For centuries, we have kept them here, to harness their power for the benefit of the people. We saved their lives when the Great Mountains shifted and this is how they are repaying us. By spite and dishonour."

The boy nodded along, not completely understanding what his father talked of. Soon the monk announced they had reached the courtyard. His dark eyes widened in amazement as something flew over them and landed on the edge of the courtyard on a rock.

A beautiful jade of scales enveloped the creature as it narrowed its eyes at the Emperor. The Emperor held out a hand and beckoned the creature forward. "Come, Beast."

The dragon flew forward and landed a few steps from the Emperor's face. The dragon bared its teeth and the boy shrank back behind his father's robe.

The dragon eyed the young boy, its lips drew back slightly, recoiled at the sight of the Emperor.

The prince looked down and saw his father's hand tremble with anger, but kept a composed, and patient face. "My son has reached his coming of age," spoke the Emperor. "He's here for his dragon. Summon the others."

The dragon's eyes widened fractionally before they resumed to its natural width.

"Beast," the Emperor ordered. "Summon them!"

The green dragon exhaled and lifted its head to the skies. It screeched such a sound that the prince had to cover his ears. It shocked him; the sound was deep but managed to pierce an uncomfortable pitch of a cry.