Dragon Tide Chronicles: Dawn Rising

Chapter 2: Mystery Afternoon *

Chapter 2: Mystery Afternoon

            I eventually find my friend Jessica at the city’s dock district, located in the central east part of the city. Here many of the city’s high rising buildings fall away into small decent housing, mixed in with eccentric businesses and shops. An occasional pub lurks here and there, some more obvious than others. There’s not an exceptional business for alcohol in our country, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get visitors. There are humans who have left the far north human country, ruled by the conqueror Yashin Greyborne. They often seek a more successful and fulfilling life here, though we also see an occasional dwarf visit to have a sample of fairy and elven brews. They all represent an extreme low demographic in our country, a distinct but welcome minority.

            I wave to Jessica, whose beautiful gold blond hair gleams in the afternoon sun. She smiles at me, giving me an excited look with her sapphire blue eyes. For a girl of fourteen, like me, she is well built and also tanned. I notice that she already has the latest fashion on, her being a fashionista and all. She owns a rather successful fashion store, and we often go shopping for new clothes rather often.

            “Well well, Dani, come to the seashore have you? Back from your mission so soon? Were the Valgarin even putting up a solid fight?” She says gleefully, plans to no doubt start shopping bubbling in her eyes.

            “Ha ha, not much of one, but it was a bit of a hassle. However, something weird happened.”

            She gives me a keen look of interest. “Like what, Dani? Did one have two heads instead of just one or something like that? Or something even weirder?”

            I frown a little. “Much weirder. This strange sort of shadow figure popped up and killed the pack leader of the Valagrin with no effort at all. It killed it in one stroke. Afterwards, it asked if I knew its name.”

            “Well, did you know his name? And how would he think you knew him in the first place? Is he a friend of yours you haven’t told me about?”

            “No, I didn’t. I have no idea who he is. He just showed up one minute and was gone the next. Uggh, do you want to look for the others? I’m bored and Mom and Dad pretty much forced me to take the day off.”

            Jessica smiles. “Well then, what are we waiting for, let’s go!” She grabs me by the arm, and half drags me towards the store. I can’t help but get a weird feeling as though I’m being watched.

            I shudder, as the mysterious feeling I had suddenly vanishes.

            What was that just now? It felt like a vast presence was staring me down, daring me to look for its source… how creepy…. And that shadow… why do I feel such unease about it?

            “DANICA! Will you please focus? I’m trying to show you this dress I think would look great on you!”

            I blink, and then smile weakly. “Ok, sure, Jess. …Do you feel anything odd right now? Because I can’t help but think that something odd is going on…”

            Jessica frowns. “Now that you mention it… something does feel off, there feels like there is a vast wave of magical energy rolling over us… doesn’t it? It sorta feels like…”

            I suddenly realize why I feel such unease about the situation: it’s that same spiritual aura from before, the one that the shadow was giving off… it couldn’t be that it was here again…?

            A loud rumbling fills the air, and I realize that something is about to happen, and happen fast. I shove Jessica down, landing on top of her as a huge fireball blasts through the front of the store.

            Once the flames die down, I look up to see him standing right over me. He gives me a wicked grin.

            “So, have you learned my name, or have you been doing as I suspected you would, trying to forget about what happened and ignoring me? I don’t like people ignoring me.”

            I snarl in irritation. “Not like I care anyway! Why don’t you just leave me alone?!”

He smirks at me, clearly delighted with my frustration with him.

            “Hmm. I guess that trying to let you do this on your own is too hard. I’ll give you a hint then… would you be any more interested in finding out my name if I told you I was the one who tried to kill Quin, your grandfather?”

            As I swing my sword at him, he laughs with delight and jumps back.

            “How is the fool anyway? Did my poison kill him off yet or has he survived all these long painful years?”

            I snarl with rage. “You sick bastard! You are the one who tried to kill my grandfather?!”

            He grins wickedly. “Why yes,” He seems pleased to have provoked me. “Glad you figured that out that soon, pixie.”

            A moment of silence goes by before I start to tremble with rage. “What… did you just call me?”

            He smiles. “You didn’t hear me? I called you a pixie.”

            My teeth clench together in rage, and I fling myself at him, attempting to lay at least a decent hit on him. I watch in surprise as he casually tilts his body slightly to the right, causing me to completely miss him and slam into the wall like an idiot. I cough up a small amount of blood, and he casually starts walking over to me, a proud smirk on his face.

            “I’m not sure what you were expecting to accomplish there, Danica. But clearly it must’ve had to do with flying. Although, you probably just could’ve used your wings and you’d fly a lot better.”

            “Don’t screw with me!! How do you have such strength? I flew across the whole building and into this wall!” I snarl.

            He can’t be human, no human has this strength! Could he be an elf? No… I’m not sure they have this kind of power. An elf can certainly throw a person, but I don’t think they can throw with that much force… I’m stuck in the wall for crying out loud! So… what is he?!

            I glare at him, even as he mocks me with that ridiculous grin.

            “To be honest, I thought being a descendant of Quin Crown; you’d at least have some strength behind your words. It’s true that I beat him, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t strong, he was. I probably would’ve killed him if it weren’t for your dear mother.” He lets out a small huff. “Hmmph. I guess I was wrong. I’ll tell you what… I’ll give you three days to figure out my name… and when I come back, the real battle starts. Got it?”

            He begins to melt away into shadow; the last thing I see is his glowing eyes, before he fades completely. I wait until the pressure of his aura fades away as well, before I relax and check on Jessica, who received only minor bruises. Her eyes look panicked as she looks at me.

            “Who was that jerk?” She says trembling from anger. My friends act differently than you might expect, they are loyal even in the face of danger.

            “Don’t know. He says he is the one who tried to kill grandpa ten years ago or something like that. Let’s get out of here; I don’t want to waste time. I probably should tell mom and dad about this, maybe they could help.”

            Jessica nods. We walk out of the fiery store and towards my parent’s palace, grim expressions on our faces.

            Just what in the hells is going on?!