1 CHAPTER 1: The Pursuit

'You are the only one that can save our family, Aella'

'H-Help us' 

A sharp gasp shot up in the air as her sapphire orbs popped open to stare widely at the bleak sky above her.

Her chest rose in a misporportioned rhythm, desperately trying to catch some air into her lungs to be able to breathe with ease.

Realizing it was only one of her dreams or nightmares, whichever synonym fitted it best, she picked her body up from the sandy ground.

She ran her fingers through her golden locks which was splayed all over her shoulders to rid them of the beige grains that found their way in her skull from her short nap.

A deep sigh escaped her thin, parched up lips when she noticed she had fallen asleep in the middle of nowhere for the fifth time today, but then again, when last had she slept like a normal person?

She dragged her weary eyes over the vast land of toom which stretched about a dozen miles away from as far as her eyes could see.

It was a domain covered in nothing but delicate hills of fine gravel which were higher than one another.A complete desert with not a single living thing within hundreds of radius.

On a norms, she would marvel at the beauty of the region in which she was the only moving object in sight, feeling as though she was the queen of this abstract base, but she had lost all life in her to sink into such groundless thoughts.

She had no idea what time it was but judging from the cold air blowing against her face and the dark sky blocking her view to see clearly, it was just past sunset.

28 sunsets.

She had been counting ever since she left the comfort of her home and town. It might not be accurate due to the drowsiness taking over her body many atimes but she had counted 28 sunsets ever since she embarked on the meaningless journey which had shown her nothing but abyss.

A dark, hollow and terror-filled abyss.

She would often wonder how they were faring at home since her absence, her thoughts would take her so far that she hardly remembered where she was but as always, she would stop herself from going too far as it would only cause her more misery and agony.

Stretching her hand across the soft caress of the sand, she searched for her backpack which its contents seemed to lessen with each passing day.

She took out the golden round locket and flicked the cover open to see the red line in the compass shooting towards her right, nudging  her to the direction she needed to take.

"Bootless object!" she hissed under the calm of the breeze before she picked her bag and stood up, trying to stabilize her weight amidst her tottering limbs.

Just as she swung the hands of her backpack over her shoulder, she felt a strong gush of wind coming from behind her in a raggedy rhyme that made the hairs on her neck erect with alarm.

Her blue eyes enlarged as her entire form proved to be a sturdy edifice while her ears picked up the continious breaths coming from behind her.

She began to sweat even when standing with the harsh breeze blowing over her face.

No, this can't be. She was supposed to be the only living thing here. Why can't she just get a day off? Just one day, was it too much to ask?

Reeling herself from the tears about to spurt out of her eyes, she took gentle steps as she twisted her body just enough to take a slight peek into what she had coming for her.

That little glance made her stomach churn untill she felt like spewing out bile.

The creature standing right behind her was so big that she wondered how it was able to sneak up without her realizing or hearing a single footstep.

It was far more gigantic than any other monster she had slain in the miserable ride for 28 sunsets now.

Its thick black fur was coated over the rippled enormous limbs as it stood on its four paws.

The enormous head staring her down had two large horns at either side which stretched to the derriere where a long tail lashed out across the sand, sending storms of dust in the air. 

Compelled by the gravity of what awaited her, she craned her neck up to meet the monster's red-rimmed bulging eyeballs staring down at her with the hunger it desired displaying out.

Then as though struck by a hot cane, the monster opened its mouth wide enough to let out a horrifying sound similar to the cry of a dragon.

The wings which had remained hidden sprung out to its full capacity blowing everything within proximity.

She had no idea how she was able to still stand on her feet after that loud outcry which blew her hair to shape into a bird's nest but when she blinked back into reality, her mind could only register one thing.

Run!

Her limbs followed instructions as she whipped as fast as her tiny body when compared to the monster's could take her, storming down the millenial of sand which dragged her boots to slow her down than her usual pace.

The sword which was hanging on her waistbelt flew in the air, waddling to and fro but she knew taking it out to fight the beast on her tail would only end up in its demise and hers.

She could only run and hope to find somewhere to hide from the monster's sight.

The heavy thuds coming from behind her were enough motivation to push her further and warn her to not turn back even for a second because one look at her death wouldn't sit well with  her at all.

"Ahhh!!" she let out a sharp wince as her body came rolling down a hill while she tumbled like ball on the field.

She dropped to the end of the hill with the pain screaming all over her body as though she had been beaten up by five giants ruthlessly.

Coughing out the sand which slipped into her mouth, she laid on her back just in time to see the monster flying in the air, with its large wings, heading right-

With no time to defend herself, she brought her arms over her face in a futile effort to protect herself just as her eardrums nearly burst from the loud noise of the monster's landing which blew dust over her face.

She took her arms down gradually as the tears in her eyes clouded her vision to see the monster's countenance hanging dangerously close to her face which made her entire veins go dry from lack of blood flow.

Struck by the intensity of the moment, she did the only thing her body could do at this point.

She zapped into a dark slumber.