CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Thirty-Nine

[KINDLE's PoV]

It had been well over ten years since I last took my full form. Even during the war, as useful as it would have been, I didn't. Partially because it was too dangerous. Lumina was constantly on the hunt of dragons that escaped the fall of Ignus. But the most pressing reason was because, to put it mildly, it hurt.

It was hard enough some days to summon a simple flame, as much as I liked to pretend otherwise. It was an entirely new realm of struggle to summon enough fire to melt away my mortal form and release the dragon incarnation that slept in my bones.

And then to fly in that form all the way to the capital of Nox? I'd be lucky if I was still conscious by the time I got there— Forget carrying someone on my back the entire way.

Inari wasn't hearing it though.

"I'm going with you and there's not a damn thing you can say to convince me otherwise," she shouted, chasing me down the halls of the manor. Serpina and Emrys trailed somewhere behind us. "You think you can take on the entire army of Nox on your own?"

"I'm not going to take on an army." I didn't slow my pace, nor did I attempt to keep quiet. There was no point anymore, the Order was broken. "Just Lydia."

I also wasn't expecting much of a fight. Lydia was no doubt waiting for me. Her guards and attendants wouldn't bar me from entering the palace. She would have Seraphim and Faye close by. Ready to gloat, ready to order my unconditional obedience, but I was done obeying. I would give her the fiery death she deserved.

Inari caught my arm, no doubt feeling the tension coiled there. "Talk to me."

I sighed and met her eyes. "I need to do this alone, Nar. Please. I'm the one who let it get this far."

Emrys and Serpina caught up. The latter of the pair wrapped her arms around herself, trembling. "What are we supposed to do?"

"Gather the loyal Order members. Take all the unicorns, the ones in Loftwood too—steal more from Eirwen if you need to. Get to the border mountains of Lumina and Ignus as fast as you can. I've already written to Blood and Steel, they'll be waiting for you there. Once Seraphim and Faye are safe, we'll meet you."

Inari's hand tightened. "You can't seriously mean you're going to fly all the way from Nox to Ignus."

"After a stop in Lumina." I couldn't forget Blondie. Her mess was my fault as well.

"Kindle that's insane. That's suicide."

It would be a fitting punishment. The last of the dragons, and this is all I've done with it. My kingdom, dusty ruins. The people I love, suffering. My body and mind, property of a fairy's venom. Death was the least of what I deserved.

I pulled my arm free. "Gather the loyal members. Get to Ignus."

Mercifully, they didn't follow me up to the roof. I didn't need to see the looks in their eyes. The worry, the pity, the judgement, the fear. I needed to focus on summoning my fire— Hotter, brighter.

I danced. Poured every ounce of my soul— the little I still owned of it— into a prayer to Naresharakh. This was no dance I'd been taught, it came wholly from within. Chaotic and angry, humble and pleading.

I gave my pain to Nivekhi, begged for Faye and Seraphim's life. I offered my energy to Skhorekhi, prayed for Blondie's safety. The air in my lungs to Imaporekhi, that their winds may carry me to Nox without fail. My fire to Thragnekhi, my rage to Dorulekhi, that vengeance may be swift and sure and burning.

And then I released.

Sun bright fire and night dark smoke pooled and spiraled around me, twisting up into the sky. The smoke hardened into glistening, armor-strong scales. My bones expanded as my fingers lengthened and sharpened into talons. My full form was much larger than I remembered, but then again, I was a mere twelve years old the last I took it.