1 Reckoning of Fate
Fireworks. Shattered, glimmering pieces of light sparkling across the entire blue sky as the magical fire exploded high in the air, gloriously burning bright. Even in the middle of the afternoon, they bravely glittered in the vast blue expanse, brighter than the stars...for just one fleeting moment, before the spell finally withered and the wonder faded away into nothingness. For just one moment, they were the most dazzling splendor of the entire world.
The Capital City was alive with unrestrained festivity today. The citizens were brimming with cheer and goodwill for each other as they danced and sang their hearts out, alcohol already splashing around like cheeky wave.
Elvin Fairlight quietly sipped his cup of coffee and watched the loud, cheerful merrymaking from across the street of the cafe. Everyone was ecstatic today; everyone was simply HAPPY today. Even the sun's bright afternoon rays had mellowed, and showered down on the country of Sentiver with the same holiday cheer as the people it fell on. Not a single cloud hung above in the infinite ocean of blue above them, it was as if the Gods themselves wanted a clear look down this afternoon.
And after all, why not? Why shouldn't everyone be happy and cheerful? It was the 'Festival of Reckoning' today of all things. The day to spread joy and cheer, rejoice with your family and friends as you celebrated the gift of life and the precious time you have on this world. It only came once every quarter of a century; all this extravaganza was warranted and, arguably, deserved for such a rare and important festival of Sentiver.
Yet Elvin didn't seem affected at all by the unrestrained merrymaking. In dull silence, he continued to sip his coffee under the awning of the quaint corner cafe, unbothered and alone in the world. But his violet eyes were sharp; they furtively looked around from the cover of his clandestine spot. It was like he was waiting for something...or someone.
In front of him, perpendicular to the street the corner cafe was on, was the huge main avenue of the Capital City, the King's Road. Spreading over 4 lanes, it easily accommodated the hundreds of travelers that used it to go in and out of the Capital of Sentiver. Today, however, there were no expensive horses or carriages trundling over the stone pavement of King's Road. In fact, the entire avenue had been closed completely to any sort of equestrian traffic today. Instead, it had been covered in an endless ocean of stalls and tents that stretched from the start of the avenue all the way down to the very far end, forming a humongous bazaar. THIS was the heart of the 'Festival of Reckoning'; a gigantic marketplace where once every 25 years, ALL the shopkeepers in the Capital got together and sold their wares from on just one road in a massive impromptu town of wonder. A beating heart that was alive with the sounds of songs and instruments, the shouts of children as they ran around, the bargainings of shopkeepers, the merrymaking of alcohol as men sat around a table drinking, and the puffs and snarls of magical toys. For just today, all the life of the Capital had been squeezed into this one song of life and fire in the bazaar.
Only one narrow pathway cut through the entire marketplace and it was bustling with animated crowds, vibrant with the shouts of people and the lively shopkeepers as they sold their wares to the happy crowd, all the while as upbeat music pulsated throughout.
Elvin's violet eyes scrolled over the entire fair, almost a twinkle of envy in them. For a second, he showed his age of seventeen years. Everyone here was normal...they had simple lives, simple pleasures. All the peasants and commoners were having the time of their lives as the children ran around, the adults shopped for gifts and laughed with each other...their everlasting smiles speaking the untold happiness they felt.
However, for Elvin...this day wasn't one of careless joy or of celebration...not one of forgiveness...but one of brutal reckoning. Today was the day he'd know his fate...know his path. And the reason for that, was what sat at the other end of the King's Road, looming high, high above the cheerful bazaar.
An absolutely GIGANTIC, towering stone archway stretching taller and taller in the sky till it almost brushed heaven itself. Dwarfing even some small mountains, it reached so high in the air, the top of it would often vanish into low-flying clouds. Equally colossal stone doors covered the entire titanic length of it, closing the archway off and blocking entry to all. In the company of the Archway, humans were just ants gazing at a deity. 'The Archway to Heaven'.
Today, the Archway stood impassively still as always, not affected by the festival that was being held in its honor far below it. Children pointed it out in wonder, a few old men craned their necks at it and grinned as if meeting an old friend, but most people remained unbothered and continued to celebrate with the ones they loved, unaffected by its significance to a select few.
Elvin sat alone in the café and stared at it with a little trepidation so far away in the distance. After all, today the doors would open once more after a quarter of a century of closure. And today, he would be judged by the Gods themselves.
Every 25 years, on day of the Reckoning Ceremony, the immovable MASSIVE doors of the Archway slide open and the light of Heaven graces the lands of Sentiver once more. As all the commoners bow in silence, only the heirs to the Ten Noble Families of Sentiver are allowed to approach. In turns, they ascend the stage at the foot of the Arch, and there on that stone disc with the entire country as witness, the Pantheon of Sentiver Gods gaze down upon the heir for judgement.
It is said that the Gods judge his magical power, his will...his heart as they peer straight into his very soul and see him for what he truly is. Then, there, in that moment, they grant the heir a mythical beast fitting his spirit to aid him in keeping the peace of Sentiver and protecting it against all those who seek to harm it. The creature is bound to the heir with an eternal ribbon of fate and destiny. From this day forth, the heir and the creature's spirits are intertwined and they are bonded for the rest of their lives. Together, they are to reach further heights of power and magic with their combined spirits as one so that one day they may take the Throne of Sentiver in the King's Tournament.
Elvin put down his coffee cup. Finally...finally, this day was here. His heart may be nervous, but his mind was sharp, savagely cutting away all the weeds of nausea. He couldn't afford to be weak...not today...not again. The Fairlights may be the weakest of the Ten Families now, but they were still one of the Ten...and he was the only heir. This was his chance...no this was his PLAN...for revenge. Finally set in motion today. No matter what happened today, what creature he was awarded, he'd finally have that sliver of power that he'd always lacked. Finally, he'd have the means for revenge.
Elvin put down two Silvers for the coffee and was about to get up from the table when he heard it. Loudly piercing the festivity, they proudly blared through the air. Elvin sank back into his chair and leaned into the shadow of the awning. Those obnoxious trumpets could only be announcing the arrival of one man in all of Sentiver....King Brightbrook; his father.
Elvin's violet eyes turned cold as he spotted the Royal Entourage. The king in front, sitting atop a magnificent snow white horse as it grandly strutted on the road. Behind him followed a small army of councilors, ministers, select noble lords, his many servants, and his King's Guard; knights in golden armors, stoically marching at his side, their immaculate weapons held high, proud yet ready.
It was sight straight out of an exquisite fairytale. King Brightbrook approached like he was strength given flesh; his wide shoulders rippled under his sky blue robes, his long, golden cape sparkling in the sunlight, gently swaying in an endless dance of glory as even the wind bowed her head to him. His bright blue eyes regarded every citizen with benevolence as they quickly scurried out of the way and hurriedly bowed to their king as he passed. He had a gallant stubble beard of blond hair accentuating his wide cheekbones; his wisdom through the ages apparent on his face. On his head, rested the Crown of Sentiver, exquisitely glittering with polished gold as his smooth blond hair spilled to the side from under it, their flair just adding to his vast charisma. His sheer confidence as he rode his white stallion with that unrivaled grace proudly dazzled the crowd at the effortless might the King emanated just through his presence.
Right behind him, riding a black mare as dark as the starless night itself, rode Michael. Elvin's fingers twitched on the table as he watched his older brother almost listlessly following behind the king. Long, long blond hair falling over his shoulders and almost to his waist and the same blue eyes as his father, he regarded the citizens with grateful, if almost toneless eyes. He was wearing his battle mage armor, clad in a fine black leather overcoat with thin, ornate gold pauldrons over his shoulders, two gold gauntlets on his hands, and two similarly gold greaves on his legs. There was a polite smile on his handsome face as he nodded to the citizens who beamed at him proudly, his long blond hair a graceful wave in the air as he passed. Unlike the mighty aura of his father's, Michael's air was one of serenity and calmness...yet somehow it seemed to perfectly blend in with the immense power around him.
High in the sky, soaring through the blue air far above the Royal Entourage, flew Leo, King Brightbrook's spirit beast: a manticore. Almost as big as a horse, the gold lion suddenly dived and glided over his partner, his leathery wings cutting the air with ease. People stared on in wonder and gratitude, savoring the moment they witnessed such magnificence and majesty so effortlessly flying across the sky.
Elvin stayed seated and invisibly watched his father's escort turn left down the marketplace pathway and head straight for the Archway to Heaven as shopkeepers scrambled to get out of their way. The manticore followed and Elvin heard the shouts of wonder of children as it flew above them. He looked down and noticed his fists were clenched, his violet eyes bordering on livid. It had been years since he'd seen his father and brother so close...he hadn't realized how much hatred he still held for them. It was a good thing the Queen was not with them, Elvin thought, or he would've seriously doubted his ability to hold himself back.
"Heh." he sighed bitterly getting up. "It doesn't matter now. Today is the day, finally. I won't be so helpless after today. After today, you better start counting the end of your days, FATHER, for I am coming after you." Flawlessly masking his emotions so that no one may be able to see what he was feeling, he walked over to his small black horse-carriage that was parked by the side of the cafe.
Only one servant waited on him there; Fairlights' most loyal valet, Charles Barlow. An old man with graying hair on the sides and small, kind eyes. He wore an immaculate black tailcoat and bowed to Elvin as he held the door of the carriage open for him in invitation. "Let's go set fate in motion, eh, Charles?" muttered Elvin as he hopped inside the shabby carriage. "Let's get to that Archway to Heaven..."
* * *
The Archway loomed dizzyingly tall over the entire world as Elvin arrived at its base. Taking aa split split-second to turn his emotions down, calm his breath, Elvin stepped out of his carriage with the grace of a king. His guard was up here; this was the lion's den where he could not afford to show a single weakness.
There was huge stone stage at the very foot of the Archway that acted as its base. A large stone disc, its borders covered in archaic runes that had long since been lost, yet still immortally undamaged even after a thousand years. Today, for the Reckoning Ceremony, stadium stands had been erected along the east, west and south sides of the stage. To the north was the gigantic Archway, still stolidly closed shut. The East and West stands, draped in silver cloth on the side, were for commoners of Sentiver. The southern wing, however, the stands that looked directly at the Archway, were for the nobles, draped in royal blue. His violet eyes cold, Elvin mutely sighed and started to climb the stairs of the nobles' stand, his face almost expressionless.
The bottom seats in the stand were for the Ten Families and their extended relatives. Plush chairs to mark the difference between the nobles and commoners. At the top, however, there was a row of ten, larger chairs lined with blue velvet; the chairs marked for the Ten Heirs of the families. And above even the row of the Ten, there was the King's chair, lined with red leather and accented in Gold. He sat above all the other families and the Ten, and from atop of the nobles' stand, he surveyed all his citizens and the Archway before him. Two of his golden knights from the King's Guard stood at either side of the chair. Leo, the manticore, sat regally behind the throne, looking over the King's head at the archway as well, his golden mane glittering ominously in the sun.
Whispers rushed through the seats as soon as Elvin stepped in sight. "Lord Fairlight's here?" "I didn't think he'd show up." "Hehehe, how could he not? He is the 'heir' after all...the first and last of his name." "He's alone?" "Is his mother not with him?" "Like she could show her face with the His Majesty so close." A few people sniggered. "This is the end of Fairlights. Whatever beast he's granted this Reckoning, there would be no other place left for them." "They've already been dishonored, now this will be the final coffin." A few smirks and smiles were thrown his way, as every single family gathered there silently mocked the young, 17 year old lord.
Elvin ignored them all. In the seven years he had been Lord Fairlight, he had seen his family fall from grace massively. Whispers had mocked them, ridiculed them, insulted them, some even openly tried to bully them...but Elvin had survived. Those seven years of constant powerlessness had made him cold...indifferent to the jeers of these so-called nobles. His flashing violet eyes, detached from all the quiet mockery that was being whispered, burning with such limitless hatred and determination that it even silenced a few families. 'It doesn't matter. None of them matter today.'
As he climbed further up the stairs, he spotted the familiar long red hair of a girl...he ignored it. He spotted the hateful green eyes of the Queen that he DETESTED so much, her dark hair done in an elegant bun, her fair skin glowing in the afternoon sun as she smugly challenged him, but Elvin forced his fist to relax and ignore their victorious stare.
He finally reached the top row of the Ten Heirs; only one chair remained for him. All the other nine heirs occupying the the row didn't even turn to acknowledge his presence. He was a nobody. No emotion spared for them for even a second, Elvin swept his black robes around and majestically sat down on the right most chair of the Ten Row, his face unbothered by the lack of cordiality.
An anticipative silence hung in the air. Everyone was still waiting; the stone sconce so far up on top of the Archway had not been lit by the Gods yet. The sign to send the Heirs had not be signaled yet. A few straggler commoners were rushing in to the East and West stands, eagerly carrying their shopping around with them, their hearts rushing to see what would happen after the Arch opened.
Elvin allowed his eyes to wonder. He silently regarded the King from the edge of his vision. King Brightbrook was genially laughing with another Heir seated just below, in front of him, whether intentionally or unintentionally unaware of Elvin's appearance. For some reason, that lack of acknowledgement angered Elvin more than he thought. His fists closed as his heart boiled, but his mind was calm. He allowed his thoughts to run just for some catharsis and to regain control of his emotions. ' If I wanted to kill the King right now, how would I do it? There's no way I can win a straight fight against those two bodyguards on his side. They'd overpower me in a second...six at best.' A sly smile spread on his lips. 'But maybe I don't have to...I can just outsmart them.' Elvin's violet eyes quickly scanned the two golden knights. 'Heh, they can nullify my spells with their armor...but not the wooden stand. All I have to do is cast an explosion spell and instead of hitting the guards or the king, I aim it at the platform underneath them. I can literally break off the ground beneath him....but there's still the issue of the manticore.' His fingers stroked the bejeweled ring on his finger. 'A small dash of paralyzing dust for the beast...an explosion to blow away the wood...and I'll have the King falling to his death.' He sadistically smiled at the thought. 'Of course, I'll be killed too...will probably be Michael's spear that stabs my chest before anybody else's' His thoughts focused again at his projected death if he followed this path. 'This route of revenge won't be as sweet as making the King suffer though...won't be nearly as satisfying as what I have planned for so many years...'
His emotions controlled, Elvin turned his eyes to the row of ten chairs to his left. His older brother, Michael, with his long blond hair floating in the wind sat at the very left chair, mutely staring in the distance, his blue eyes almost bored. Beside Michael, Elvin noticed, sat the two other heirs of the Big Three Families; the three most powerful families of Sentiver right now: Brightbrooks, Dawnrivers, and the Irontails. In fact, now that Elvin looked more closely, he noticed the entire row of the Ten Heirs was in a hierarchy of the families' power with the strongest being on the left and gradually descending in power...with the Fairlights on the lowest rung of the chain.
Elvin's fists slightly clenched in anger, but he silenced the wave of bitterness that rose in his heart. He was angry at himself. There was a time when the Fairlights were the strongest of the Big Three, back when his grandfather was the Lord and ex-King of Sentiver. But when 10 year old Elvin had inherited the family, his severe lack of power due to the lack of a spirit-beast proved fatal for the family and they fell from the top right down to the very bottom almost overnight...
He forced himself to take a breath. 'Today was the day though.' Today, he'd finally have power. Whatever it maybe be, he'd have SOMETHING. All he'd ever needed was just that additional magical push. In a world where all the Lords were enhanced by their spirit-beast, Elvin's magical spells borne his own mana were irrelevant...but now he'd have a spirit. He'd have that enhanced power; whatever beast it would be, he'd at least have enough power to OUTSMART them even if he couldn't beat them. And then... then, he'd take back what was stolen from him one by one...and pay back EVERY insult and suffering his father had thrown the Fairlights into tenfold...
Suddenly, the fire atop the Archway caught ablaze out of nowhere. A wave of gasping went around the stands as people shouted in excitement as they eagerly pointed it out to others. The three Archbishops of the Temple who had been standing in prayer on the stone stage immediately prostrated themselves on the spot as soon as they saw the fire. 'The Gods were coming!'
The King smiled as if greeting an old friend and bowed his head from atop the throne. It was time. The Archbishops hastily stood up, correcting their long mitres as a young priest ran up to the stone stage, bowed to the Archway, then handed a small bag to the archbishop closest to him before running off and disappearing from sight again. It was simple selection process. The names of all the Ten Heirs were in that bag. The Archbishops were to draw one name at a time, letting the Gods decide which Heir they wanted to judge first.
Archbishop Remiel solemnly reached into the blue velvet bag and closed his eyes. 'Let the God's rule my fingers.' And he pulled out the first name. Almost a triumphant smile spread on his lips. 'Thank God!' "Michael Brightbrook!" he announced loudly, his voice magnified by a spell.
The crowd exploded in cheers. 'Of course, the God's chose him first!' 'Was there ever a doubt? He's the best choice for the next King!'
Without a word, Michael got up, his golden hair gracefully catching the air as he spun around, and walked right down to the stage. People cheered even more as they saw him. His battle mage armor of black leather and gold metal was glinting in the sun. He spared the crowd a small smile, yet his steps remained continuous, unafraid, completely sure of themselves as he walked boldly right into the middle of the stone stage and stopped on the marked rune, staring right at the humongous doors of the Archway. The Archbishops respectfully bowed and took a few steps back, leaving Michael alone in the center.
And suddenly, as if responding directly to his unbending determination, the colossal doors slowly started swinging open. It was as if a mountain was rumbling, the titanic doors grinding over stone, as spread further and further apart, as bright rays of golden light started piercing the gap of the doors and showered down onto the stage. People gasped and some bowed their heads. Heaven was open.
Wider and wider the doors swung, an endless throbbing of a volcano, the divine light pouring out like a river, yet Michael stood unfazed. Elvin curiously stared inside the Archway, his violet eyes scanning the absolutely massive opening to Heaven itself. But, just as he had read through the years, he couldn't see anything inside except a smokescreen of clouds. All that was visible was a swarm of soft clouds, drifting inside like weightless snow, blocking all view. The few cracks they left were pouring with divine gold light, which made it impossible to look through. 'Heh, keep your secrets then.'
Finally, the doors stopped moving. All the light that had been refracted over the stands, joyously brushing the citizens of Sentiver with its gentle kindness, stopped. There was a split second where the divine light just froze, and then IMMEDIATELY rushed to Michael. It was as if the light had come alive and finally saw Michael...rushing towards him, circling only him, as it cheerfully laughed, dancing around him.
Nobody dared to move or even breath. They knew...Michael was being judged...his capabilities being assessed...his mana being measured...the entire Pantheon of Gods was looking only at him right now. 'What would the Gods decide? How powerful was our favored prince?' Even Elvin straightened his arrogant pose a little as everyone waited with bated breaths.
Suddenly, a deep grumble rang from inside the Archway, almost like a sonorous purr of some huge lion. Everyone froze. From inside the veil of clouds, first the red snout emerged...then the blazing orange eyes....and finally, the rest of the body. A huge Salamander, almost as big as a house emerged from the Archway, staring right at Michael.
Its skin was dark red, almost rubbery, but thick. There were spots on its back like scales, glowing bright orange with the fire inside it. And the tip of the Salamander's broad tail was already engulfed in fire. It locked Michael with its eyes and purred again, its mouths spreading in some sort of sadistic grin revealing hundreds of small, ravenously razor sharp teeth.
And the crowd erupted. The cheers rang through the air louder than any beast could've done. 'A Salamander! A literal fire breathing Salamander!?' 'There's no way!' 'Our prince was worthy enough for a SALAMANDER!'
Salamanders were very powerful and very revered mythical creatures of Sentiver; even a manticore didn't come close. They hadn't had such a powerful creature in a hundred years....yet Michael had done it. He was powerful enough to be granted one.
"Heh, guess we should prepare ourselves for another generation of rule under the Brightbrooks" muttered a noble quietly to his companion admist the cheering. "What can beat a Salamander?"
The huge creature walked over to Michael and the young man reached it and touched its leathery skin. It scoffed genially, and a little smoke emerged from its mouth. The two were bonded...their journey began today.
The Archbishops quickly ushered Michael and his huge creature to the side of the stage as Remiel once again reached into the bag. "Oscar Dawnriver!" He proclaimed loudly. The Dawnriver Heir somberly stood up. He was a very tall man, not over 25. His muscles were chiseled, his brown hair cut short, and his eyes sharp as he scanned Michael's Salamander. With heavy steps, he crossed the row and descend down to the stage.
Michael stood on the southwest edge of the stage, and gave him a friendly, almost encouraging smile as he walked to the middle of the stone disc. He acknowledged it with his eyes, and finally came to a stop on the spot marked with the rune on the stage. The distracted light that had started dancing around the stands once more, immediately focused again. Like a shark, it converged on him in an instant.
Again the hushed silence of the crowd as Oscar stood in a constant beam of the golden light, the God's gazing only at him. And again the nervous anticipation as everyone waited for the mystery of which mythical creature that had been granted to Oscar.
Suddenly, the light dissipated off Oscar and he straightened up, staring right in the massive stone doors. Horrifyingly fast and heavy footsteps echoed inside the Archway. As everyone craned their necks, the running got faster, the thuds getting terrifyingly hungry. A huge beast was dashing straight out in full sprint. Elvin tensed up. 'There's no way...' A huge ball of fur jumped out of the gate roaring like a lion, flying through the air as everyone gasped. With a herculean thud, it landed right in front of Oscar. A Girallon.
A huge, hulking Girallon of white fur. It easily reached over 10 feet and towered above Oscar almost challengingly. It cracked the knuckles of all its four arms as it stepped up closer to the Dawnriver heir. Blue magical runes glowed on its shoulder and chest, his hairy body extraordinarily powerful, curling with muscles.
Yet Oscar stood his ground. He stared the Girallon straight into his blue glowing eyes, piercing all that intimidation with sheer courage. He wasn't scared. He was one of the Ten...he wasn't ever gonna back down. The Girallon saw that, and Elvin could've sworn he saw it smile. He grunted like a gorilla and a smile spread over Oscar's lips. The two of them had accepted each other.
The crowd erupted once again. This was unheard of. Two legendary beasts back to back? "It's a Girallon!" "Sentiver hasn't seen one of those for 3 centuries." "The last Heir to get one went on to become King." "A real Girallon?"
The nobles smiled as well. Suddenly, Michael's victory didn't seem so assured. A Girallon could be terrifyingly fast...and very, very strong. And besides the hulking strength, it was the only spirit beast known which could summon weapons for its own use. Magical swords in all four hands, a talented and powerful master like Oscar as its partner...even a Salamander could not hope to be unchallenged in a fight.
As Oscar and his Girallon walked to join Michael along the edge of the stage, the Archbishops assembled once more to draw the next name.
"Elvin Fairlight!" proclaimed Remiel, his magically loud voice ringing throughout the stands, the confusion and shock apparent even in the archbishop's tone.
Elvin's eyes widened and his fists closed around the chair's handles. 'It was already time?' In an instant, he noticed that all the nobles were turning to look at him, confused and shocked as well. His eyes flashed and cooled. He didn't allow his nervousness to show on his face; he stood up slowly and gracefully. There was no rush. Steadily, he walked down each step, his heart feeling like it would explode, but he kept his head. 'This was it. There was no going back...I am gonna face my destiny head on. But what if I get a Giant Wolf or something....how will I ever compete with these legendary creatures...?' He shook himself internally as he stepped onto the stone stage. 'Just like I've been doing these past 7 years...using my head. '
As he walked past Michael and Oscar, his heart jumped. Up close, the two spirit-beasts staring him down looked so much more intimidating. Michael's Salamander on the far end was humongous...the Girallon, a hulk...they were both legends who could tear him apart in a flash. He calmed his mind as he felt both the Heirs giving him a sharp look; 'using my head...always.'
Before he knew it however, he had crossed the stage and was already standing in the marked spot on the stone disc. For a split second, he saw the Archbishops backing away and the nervous faces of the spectators looking down at him...as he saw the divine light perk up once again, he almost thought he saw a head rear, and in a flash, all of it immediately descend on him.
Elvin hadn't realized the sheer force the light had. It was like a God had landed down right on him, his presence just crushing Elvin. He felt his knees buckling, his eyes closed in the brightness, all sound, all senses wiped of him...leaving him alone in the entire world. Bathed in divinity, but alone. There was no one to help him, no one to catch his falling body and fading mind.
'But wasn't this how it has always been...? Haven't I always been alone?'
Elvin shot open his eyes as his senses returned in a whiz of rebooting clarity. The force was still trying to crush him, his knees bent, but now he was back. "I will NOT bow down AGAIN!" he screamed. No sound came out of his lungs. "NO ONE is gonna push me around...I will not be too weak again!" He straightened his legs with willpower alone, the joints locking in place. "I will protect my family this time! I WILL NOT BE WEAK AGAIN!" He shouted, rebelling against all the force of Divinity, screaming at the Gods who had abandoned him.
Suddenly, everything stopped. Just as instantaneously as the divine light had descended on him, it vanished. An eerie calmness came over the entire atmosphere as quiet as a midnight's moon. Elvin straightened up, almost fearfully, his heart beating fast. 'What happened? Was that it?' There was a haunting silence hanging in the crowd. Nobody was moving, nobody was cheering....there was nothing.
And then it happened. A roar. A bellow so loud, it thundered across the entire sky of Sentiver, shaking the air itself. It was terrifyingly loud, resonating with the very bones of everyone gathered; rattling them down to their very soul. Dust fell from the very top of the Archway, children began to scream, and mothers dived for cover as they held their babes. With a leviathan power, it echoed through the archway, tearing the haunting silence to pieces as even adults felt an instinctive panic.
Michael's eyes widened...he saw it.He saw the impossible creature. Huge wings spread out from the Archway, blocking the rain of divine light showering out of Heaven. Spreading scarily wide in diameter, their shadow covered Elvin, hiding him from the brutal Gods' light. And with heavy, titanic footsteps that shook the ancient stage, it emerged: A DRAGON.
