Age of Dragons Online

Chapter 15: Lunalia

             Chapter 15

                Lunalia

           She jumped to the side, barely escaping from the collapsing building.  Breathing heavily, she scanned the area, searching for one face in particular.  She paused a moment in indecision, remembering her mother's instructions to never give away her personal information in any way.  She took a deep breath, then shouted "Reniar!  Reniar!  Where are you?"  Her words were instantly swept away by the cacophony of sounds created by a town being destroyed.

           As she continued to search, she noticed a goblin raider lunging toward her. She quickly raised her right hand to shoulder level, palm upward, and a crystal orb materialized, hovering just above her outstretched palm.  She then crossed her arms in front of her chest and thrust them out toward the goblin, shouting "Reirrab!"

           The goblin leaped straight at her, then collided with what appeared to be an invisible wall between the two of them.  She then outstretched her hand toward it, saying "tsalb ria!"

           The goblin was thrown back by an invisible force, colliding with a burning house and shattering.  Why is this happening?  she wondered as she once again began searching for Reniar.  Why are we being attacked?  Goblins, ogres, and many other creatures she didn't even know the name for were attacking the small town, mercilessly slaughtering everyone they set their eyes upon.  Many fought back, but they were hopelessly outnumbered, and each eventually fell before the furious onslaught.  The girl kept searching desperately, refusing to accept the possibility that Reniar might be impossible to ever see again.

           "Lunalia!" A voice sounded in the distance, and the girl's head snapped around to face the source of the sound.  Upon seeing the one she was searching for, Lunalia ran at full sprint toward him.  When a lesser troll charged in her direction, she didn't even break stride, instead crossing her arms and casting a quick "Reirrab," halting its advance abruptly.  Lunalia ran forward, embracing Reniar in a huge hug.

           "You're alright!" Lunalia cried.

           "Of course," Reniar replied.  "I can't leave my little sister all by herself, now can I?"

           "Aww, how touching," a voice spoke up behind them, causing them to whirl around and gasp.  Standing before them was none other than the inventor of ADO, Volzan Crolik.

           Reniar moved protectively in front of his sister, glaring at Volzan, and growled "What do you want?"

           Volzan picked up an unharmed flower from someone's mostly destroyed garden, smelling it and saying "Just watching the destruction."  He looked off into space for a second in silent contemplation, then dropped the flower on the ground, crushing it underfoot and saying "Actually, on second thought, I think I'll join in the fun.  I am rather bored."  He drew a shortsword and advanced toward them.  Reniar grabbed a spear he had strung over his back, preparing for a battle with the creator of the game.  Wanting to help her older brother in any way possible, Lunalia reached her hands out, palms facing toward Reniar, and chanted "gnisselb esnefed ronim."  A transparent film appeared and covered the boy's body.  Volzan smiled as he advanced toward them, then said "Now, let's begin."

           Volzan suddenly lunged forward, and Reniar quickly repositioned himself to intercept the sword thrust.  He managed to parry the blow, quickly counterattacking in order to push back Volzan and give himself some breathing room.  Volzan easily avoided the attack, smiling as the fight began in earnest.