Among Dragons (Editing)

Chapter 17

My surroundings had changed significantly. It wasn’t like the other dragons, who had specific landscapes relating to their power. This time, I was standing in an empty space, the sky and the floor around me glittering with streaks of golden light like a galaxy. It was hard for me not to just lay back on the ground to look at the sky that domed above me. It was so pretty, a kaleidoscope of light.

“Seer,” A voice called from behind me.

I whipped around in surprise, my eyes taking in the figure that now stood before me. Kiran looked only about two to three years older than myself, but I could tell by just the power and authority he threw off that he was much older. Unlike Raiden, he was not naive.

“I’m guessing that the prophecy brings you here?” His warm fair face was brightened with amusement.

“It does,” I responded. “You seem well informed.”

He shrugged nonchalantly but was unable to keep the smug look of pride from glittering in his yellow eyes. “I have more eyes and ears than an entire village. You think I haven’t been tracking the movements of someone like you? Seers are not very common anymore, you know.”

My jaw tightened slightly at his mocking tone. Even though he didn’t look like he possessed much power, with his victorian style white and gold suit, I could feel it radiating off of him in waves. Each one was more powerful and awakening than the last.

“Though I have to admit that it disappoints me that you came to me last, I do admire the clever deception of going to the oldest ones first. They’re quite bitter about the threat Rhaegos and I both put forth.”

I tried not to narrow my gaze at his arrogance. As much as I despised it, I couldn’t exactly blame him for having such a pretentious demeanor. It was something that just came with power.

“Do you agree with what we’re trying to do, then?” I asked. “I’ve heard that Rhaegos and you equal each other out in terms of power. If you help us, we can easily overtake him without the cost of so many lives.”

Kiran just smirked at me. “War is a sticky business Miss Eris.” His eyes studied my face. “Have you read the prophecy?”

I shook my head no, instantly regretting it from the criticism that overtook his face.

“You go to such great lengths to gather strength against a danger you have only heard allusions to?”

“Well-”

“You’re lucky I managed to get a full copy of it,” He said, cutting off my protest. “I knew that there was something unusual about the King not giving us the prophecy to read for ourselves, only hinting at certain pieces that were convenient for his story.”

Kiran handed me a piece of parchment paper that contained a looping black script. I gave him a wary glance before dropping my eyes down to begin reading.

In a world denying of existence, he who has been so long dead in the night will finally be revived to breathe the light of day.

The discovery of the eighth will spark the sun to breach the horizon and uncover the truths that the mind has left to lay.

A dragon of uncontested power and whose beauty is its greatest at night will have its spine played by a King in need of possessions.

He will strike down on all of those who oppose him to fall to his oppression.

Let him get comfortable in his reign and forget those who have by blood submitted,

And he will find his head taken for crimes unable to be acquitted.

“I’m not sure what it’s supposed to mean,” I said with confusion. “I get that the first part relates to me coming into my power as a Seer once Raiden’s egg was found, but that’s only because I knew it before hand.”

Kiran’s gaze was bright with discovery. “That part doesn’t matter. what matters, is that a dragon of uncontested power can’t possibly be Rhaegos, even with the whole beauty being accented by night or darkness. The dragon has to have uncontested power. No other can equal him in that.”

The look in his eyes was sharp, and probing for me to catch on.

It took only a second of returning his gaze for the realization to crash into me with the full force of a freight train. “Rhaegos’s power is balanced out by yours. It’s equal to another. Every other dragon has power weaker than both of yours, but...”

“But?” Kiran’s expression was filled with anticipation.

“But Raiden’s power hasn’t been measured yet, since he was just born,” My mind was in shock. “And lightning, lightning shines the brightest at night, meaning it’s at its most beautiful.” I pressed a hand to my forehead, the blood completely drained from my face. “Raiden is the dragon, isn’t he?”

The solemn silence in return confirmed my worst fears. Kiran then responded in a softer voice than his pretentious tone earlier. “He’s young, naive. Fletcher plans to manipulate him into attacking the other dragons once Rhaegos is taken down, so that they’re all weakened and one of the most powerful opponents is gone. I suppose he wanted me to join in as well, to dull my power in the effort to take down Rhaegos.”

“How do I know that you’re not just lying to me?” I still wanted to hold onto the belief I held earlier. The sudden realization made me feel weak and exposed. There was no hiding the shaking of my hands, now. I was thoughtless, speechless, motionless.

“You of all people should know, Eris. I can’t lie to you inside my mind. It’s all the truth, plain and simple.”

“I need to get back and warn Niram.” 

Kiran ran a hand through his chestnut colored hair in frustration. “Listen, Eris, you have to think about this practically. King Fletcher is his father. Do you think that he would so readily distrust him? We need to find another way to stop this”

“No,” My voice grew in anger. “You don’t know anything about him, or me for that matter.  So you have no right to be doubting my method in solving this. I’m going to fix this, with or without you trying to help.”

My mind was racing. I needed to find that letter that the Queen of Nereus's kingdom had given me days ago. I had made sure to tuck it safely in the band of my skirt, always checking every so often to make sure it was still there while we continued on with the journey, but I had no control over it now without my physical body.

I didn't know what kind of message it contained, but if it was about a rising suspicion of the King being a traitor, I had to get it to Niram and his mother so they could see I was not alone in my claim. 

Kiran just shook his head in exasperation, the light around us already dimming in my vision to a black. “I hope luck is on your side, Seer. You’re going to need it.”

The anger and urgency in my veins made my heart beat so fast and so loudly that it was the only thing I heard. My vision blurred more and more as each second passed, the light headed feel of unconsciousness soon creeping around to sweep me up off my feet. I never welcomed the mounting darkness as much as I did then.