The Shadow of the Accursed Executioner

Chapter 3: The Gift of Light

Hey there, thanks for making it this far. You've stumbled upon the point of choppy rough drafts, and all the endless hell that paves the way if you do continue to read furthermore. Such as plot points that are not final and inconsistencies within the world building and plot. When the novel is complete, I'll be back to make these look pretty and shine and connect all the dots, so at the meantime if you're really interested in the rest of the story, read ahead. As ironically, I feel words can't explain how glad I am that you've made it this far, regardless. Thank you :)

18,000 Years ago

Water droplets dripped and echoed through the dark den of the Prey's Nest. The world stretching redly and purple as the sun, burrowing its way into the horizon from the view. Alkadez, my elder brother, glared from the other end with his black claws and orange eyes, with wings twice the size and scales as strong as onyx. He had seemingly an endless appetite, who grew up to be many times the size of me. For he was a fierce elder brother who was respected by our kin and brethren. And he ignited flames so everlasting and blazing-hot, that they smoked red across the seas for many nights. He widened his jaws and licked his teeth like blades, and sat up on his hind legs. He explained to me about my gift. The Gift of Light.
"Panamex. You were birthed by the sun." He said, his voice as deep as rumbles as he speaks. A voice of might and strength, like the fire itself. "For you flow the white eyes. Salvation, freedom, and vengeance has come."
"Yes." I acknowledged Alkadez, my voice deeply hum, echoing like a distant spirit, as I gaze into the red sun. "After all, I am a white dragon, who cannot breath fire. And without the fire, I, cannot survive. Instead you, tend to I, with your very own flame. For I am only destined to enlighten the bountiful rays of the sun into the shadows..."
"The Shadowmen are our sworn enemy, Panamex. Do you not remember what happened to mother and father?"
"I remember. But the world, elder brother. It is endless. It is a world of many fascinating and wondrous places." I said, as I turn my attention toward Alkadez's hidden face, my eyes glowing like souls. "For departure is our only safeguard."
For Alkadez's eyes then flourished through the dark.
"We, will not leave our home, again!" He asserted, exhaling flames from his snout. "Mother and father were crushed by the Shadowmen. You were only a hatchling when we fled from our first home! Mother and father upheld me to keep you safe. To strengthen the light. And finally, after all these years, a kin, our kin spawned white eyes! The Gift of Light...had finally come. You saw mother and father perish before your ver-!"
"I understand your temptations and frustrations!" I interrupted Alkadez. "But truly, were it no endeavour? To find another home for us, within this vast world, were it not?"
"Another home...collected by shadows once again, Panamex." He said. "If we continue to flee our homes the Shadowmen will shroud the seas and end our age!"
"An age..." I wondered. "Now I wonder, elder brother. For how many of our kind truly remain... We spend our days venturing the skies, we strike fear below, blazing the rain of fire into the seas, unaware of the lives we consume. Such, as the creatures of blue, the Great Sea Ones, below. Perhaps, the Shadowmen are no different. Perhaps, they consume the realms of the seas into chaos, raining down their mysterious power... For how can we fight the Shadowmen, the very beings that, we, cannot even begin to understand?"
Alkadez stomped across the grounds of the den to confront me, to finally reveal himself from the darkest point. For above had loomed of a stone reside, a small hole with light shining through from the moon of the night, which revealed his deep scars, along with the marks of hands, the hands of the Shadowmen, across his wings, his snout, and his body.

Alkadez, Dragon of Flame: A battle-hardened kin, who harbours an everlasting hatred toward the Shadowmen...