Regalis Legacy: The Sanguine King

Prologue

Into the Sun

I was every bit as intimidating as a Regalis should be. My large black claws and bright red scales served as visual reminders that the title of War King had been earned.

This title of power is what attracted so many to gather in the field where I stood. The War King was going to choose a new member to join the Regalis Domain. Even with the clan in its decaying state, my name was still well-known.

I lifted my broad, dark wings, casting a shadow over the pensive creatures below. The black portions of my wings absorbed energy from the sunlight well, topping off my power until it made my skin glow and little flares began surfacing along my spine.

It was difficult to set fire to anything on Mithris. What protected us from the heat of the two suns was a layer starchitin skin and scales. The starchitin in our kind served a dual purpose though, allowing us safety when flying along the surfaces of stars, but also protecting planetary creatures from the heat constantly burning just under our skin. Heat that could be released at any time.

I waited until the moss under my talons began to singe before releasing a sudden, blinding flare.

Although the energy wasn't harmful to us, some of the crowd still flinched in surprise or skittered away. Their cowardance was not going to impress me. By the time anyone recovered I was already putting distance between us, rising into the air faster than they could keep up.

I knew there wouldn't be anyone who could out-fly me, but I still watched, checking for signs of talent, of skill, of anything remotely impressive.

Expelled energy could be used for flying as well as a blinding flash, giving a boost in speed similar to a jet engine. This meant many of the competitors chasing me were leaving thin strands of light in their wake. These markers told me which ones were putting far to much effort into trying to catch up to me. They would exhaust their reserves soon and be unable to continue the chase.

Changing direction mid flight, I dove up towards the two suns overhead. I curled my wings, filled the spaces with heat, then jetted away, leaving my own trail of light for them to follow. Rising above the clouds, the dull green midday sky turned darker.

Soon the air died away completely and the pull of the ground lessened. I paused to gaze at the stars, allowing the darkness and the quiet to take hold for a moment... before falling back towards the planet.

It was not a frantic fall; unfocused, flailing. It was a fall with force behind it. It was the fall of a sharpened stone. The fall of fangs poised for attack. A fall that sang.

The sound alerted my followers, giving them barely enough time to react by jetting out of the way. Leaving the pack behind again, I sped up. Driving towards the ground, forgetting about the challenge; simply enjoying the pressing grasp of the wind.

I gathered up my energy again as the objects on the ground became larger and the firm hold of the rushing air became tighter. Streaking across the grass, the shockwave blowing it flat, I left a fiery curve hanging in the air that angled away from the ground and dissipated moments later. 

No one had the power needed to pull off the maneuver at my speed and a few tumbled to the ground in their attempts. Others scattered. The result was the same either way.

There would be no new members of Regalis this year.