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The Chronicles of Imogen and the Dragons

In this era, Dragons that live in the ends of the earth, invade the cities and towns of human dwellings, consuming every shred of life form, exhaling fire, pouring dark fumes from their body and hauling humans up in their talons till blood was the sole remains. But unbeknownst to man, there are far greater secrets buried deep beneath the carnivorous and menacing exterior of these Bestial Forages. Imogen, a young damsel from the Kingdom of Tristendyre, had always lived a blyth and peaceful life as the sole apprentice of the Royal Physician at the Imperial Castle, destined to inherit the mantle. However, the Destinies have other courses decided for her life to take: in a story of discovering her true Past and the calling predestined for her Future: a Warrior chosen by an ancient Prophecy to fight the Dragons. Not only is her present life stolen from her, but in this journey, Imogen brushes shoulders with the treachery of Governments, Fugitivity, love and Death. There are also other warriors born in her time, elected by divine Fate to war against the Dragons that breathe threats to the survival of mankind. ~ It was a fair evening in the Kingdom of Tristendyre and the people were about their lives. Just as one would admire the skies of eventide, there was a sudden shot of torrid fire that pierced its way across the heavens. Clouds scampered to make way. The whole scene was rending to favour the advent of large, menacing Rengaulian Dragons. The flames they had breathed began feverishly consuming the contents of the cities, while people fled for their lives. The chaos was unbearable, screams and fright making a mastery of the airs. One of the large beasts rested his perch on the Crown of St. Erdengaur that was the heart of the Kingdom. He roared till even the stars and planets abroad could have heard his battle cry. Tristendyre was in great disarray whilst the savages did slither around the cities and draw out various humans in their talons, consuming them. Various people wilted in the fires while others were intoxicated by the fumes that were expelled from beneath the scales of some dragons. But the Chief Dragon that led the brutal massacre was oddly most fervent in hauling the peak, as though it was unearthing the land thereof for mining treasures. Whilst terror and Death did spread their mantles over the Kingdom, a single throbbing eye could look up into the heavens, through the fire and debris, and see the moon veil her face in blue. Every soul was torn between saving their loved ones or their own breath; status, hatred, love, none of them bore the worth of even a wasted candle at the face of such dire situation of looming Death. Many voices were bloodcurdling screams of pain and fear. Just then, there was a mighty and blaring sound of a Dragon’s bellow erupting and the grounds of St. Erdengaur was spilt, making way for the rise of the most frightful and treacherous looking Beast one had seen in all their lives. The Dragon that had been tilling the Summit of St. Erdengaur had descended to the bowels of the earth and had transformed into a more hellish version of its erstwhile figure. The very omen of Death being its face, talons and wings and lava and scales; if the darkest and most murderous night of the Earth’s centuries could bear the shape of a body, it would be that very Creature that spread his roguish self across a large part of the humbled Kingdom. And at that sight, there was absolute hopelessness for man-kind’s survival ~ Will the warriors of men survive the claws of their governments that they are victims to and finally break free to face the Dragons in mutiny? Will they find the various dark secrets of the Dragons’ legacy and Origin and win against the beasts to save their kind? Join Imogen and her friends as they journey through the wild story to unravel the mystery of the Dragons ~

Niki_Christianne_7108 · Fantasy
Not enough ratings
257 Chs

Chapter 25

"Life; She is such a terrifying mix of Beauty and Pain."

~

The Secret Cell, the Under-Ground Dungeons,

Kingdom of Tristendyre,

The first Phrinight of the Second month,

XXI Year of Regency

Jaycob Israel Oreius, the Perceptive Rook

"And how are you feeling?" asked the olive haired young Archer, stepping into the cell of the elderly and skeletal man upon the cold floor.

"Like it is a wonderful day to see my wife, at long last", replied the long-abiding tenant of the confidential shell, his voice faded and frail. Jaycob appeared worried.

The robust companion squatted down beside the man and took his cold hand to hold. He kneaded the senile one's palm gently and noticed that it remained pale, with no blood rushing to the surface.

"That is an audacious statement to make, sir", said the masked man. "And, you have had meagre appetite. I find that grandly concerning." His gaze moved to eye the platter of bread and drink he had brought earlier that day, which remained untouched, leave alone unconsumed.

The elderly man's chuckle escaped his throat in ragged heaves. "This world has little to offer me at this age and fragility of mine, as opposed to what I may bestow upon it."

The man's mind was inhabited by thoughts of his single ordinance that remained unfulfilled.

"And what may that be?" asked the young man, leaning close.

The question he had posed seemed to have invoked much reflection, for the man's drooped eyes appeared pondering for depth and cause, before he spoke:

"Every life is born into this world with a purpose to fulfil in its course and run.

Some may be born to rule, some to save, some to defend; there may be a life born merely to compose a song, but that song would speak volumes to other vagabonds' souls in their nights, would show them the embrace of heaven and those feelings write meaning to the life that composed the song; there may be lives born as forerunners or as a vessel exposed to the rain of Fate where it would garner the waters into its being and when the time has come, pour forth the rains into the possession of another life and watch them bring change into the world.

If I have been a vessel worthy of endowing my esteemed successor with the wisdom they would need to take the torch up and run their course, I would be rapt in knowing my purpose has seen due completion and I may rest in sleep with my beloved that have crossed the seas and are yonder."

"And whom do you consider as capable as to take your light and run the course before you?", asked the Chief Archer.

"Capable would be a term too general, my boy. But neither auspiciousness nor talent can bring a competent successor", answered the elder. "They must be vested; foreordained."

"And what requisites are demanded? How is one so foredestined?", asked the dark-eyed man.

There was an especial and sure aspect that bound the fragile man's spirit and interest to this peculiar conversation. "They will have been endowed with divine powers from their very birth. They are Warriors."

At this phase, Jaycob's appeal was also inevitably acquired by the subject discussed. "The Class-Warriors referred in the Prophecies of Judah's Ascendency, the rise against the Dragons?" asked he.

The man's eyes turned to lock gazes with the lad in exchange. "That is precisely the matter at hand, my son. And if it intrigues your passion, I am a descendant of the Zephaniah clan mentioned in such foretelling", said the elder.

As his breath was spent in words, an element of his fleeting strength was exhausted.

"I am aware", said Jaycob, with a mild chuckle. "You make an enthralling subject in my researches."

The aged Zephanian offspring smiled. "We were foreigners, children of Jael Zephaniah, the Warrior of Judah's army from generations ago. She was outlawed from her home country, battled the Dragon Knight Sisera and prevailed for she was of those that possessed Auspices."

"But are you aware of what her auspices were?", asked the robust man, curious.

"I am afraid, I do not know of the details thereof", said he, mesmerised in his pensive ponderings. "But I am aware she was a Rook, the one overseeing the East. The Prophecy decreed that the two Rooks of the army would be of like blood and kin, and she had grandly persuaded her brother, for she had interpreted he was the chosen rook of the west. However, that had not been the case, for he lacked powers."

"I assume she settled in Tristendyre subsequent to her triumph over Dragon Knight Sisera?", asked Jaycob, content that the old man's moods were fair this eve.

In all their years where he had arrived here to feed or assist the man, they had never shared such a deep conversation, none regarding his blood, but constantly of his sights in this world.

Jaycob did not know wherefrom such inspiration had been welcomed, but it was a lovely sight to see the man speak of his history.

"In that feudal Era, Tristendyre was familiarly known as the Kingdom of 'Fraizendale'. She brought a souvenir from the war field: a Fang of Dragon Jezebel", said the elder. "Sustaining vital injuries and poison, she did not survive long after her victory and thus did not compose a will for her children, but the fang is in her heirs' possession."

"Are you not of them as well? Why do you not hold it in rightful custody?", asked Jaycob, although he was well-aware.

"Ah, with the branches in family, the sibling of my ascendants claimed it for their branch and lineage. They are rogues, my boy. They lust for unquenchable power. I would not pollute my hands with such blood. In honesty, I was innocent of all the folly these descendants wrought with the power it brought", said the elder.

Jaycob was curious. He was far more informed than an average man, yet held his possession of significant history in mystery.

The elder proceeded to end what was upon the emergent face of his mind: "When I had realised that they were using the power of this souvenir as an instrument to beguile the people, I voiced my contention. That is what has brought me to this sorry state you see this day."

"Ah, you claim so of the Arch-Eccleissor, then?" asked the Chief of Artillery.

"That is the name he has bestowed upon his profession of deceit", said the man, quietly.

Jaycob nodded. He had overheard a conversation earlier that very day, where the man and the Regent had inadvertently spoken of Devland's lack of innateness in vatic power, despite listening ears of the darkness.

But presently, he required source to such summoning methods that they seemed to bear.

"Is there any more that your awareness compasses?" asked he, but then he realised that the man was ailing for breath. His sensing sight of divine arts was distorting, as it did during fraught times.

"I must leave this world peacefully, dear boy", said the old man, a pleasant yet laboured and toothless smile on his face.

"When I had arrived earlier this day, you were peacefully asleep. Are you not feeling healthier?" asked Jaycob, creases dancing about his brows from the pangs of fret.

"My darling young girl was led away to execution and I could not prevent, but solely worry on her behalf", said the elder. "I truly believe she will survive."

The young man bowing over him smiled, "She has, indeed. And she will present herself in a few moments. The frost of this monsoon is chilly and she cannot afford to be inflicted by illness."

"She is something of a powerful one, my son", said the man, a certain glow in his deep set eyes. Jaycob nodded as his gaze swept over the man's wrinkled face that bore the folds one would see in dried raisins.

"I do believe she is peculiar; it gladdens me to know that you have found a friend, as it is rare", said he, softly stroking the man's scarce hair.

"Ah, this man is old and poor, bereft of a family; but I truly have found a friend in you as well", said he, with a tender laugh.

"I am more than simply your friend", said he, removing the mask that concealed his secretive countenance, "...grandpa. And I am the prefigured inheritor of Jael's auspice, wielding powers, as the second Rook that stands upon the west end in Judah's army against the Dragons."

~

Welp. That's Jaycob Israel. He's the Rook haha.

I guess we've met most of the warriors so far, although there's still one more that's pending introduction >.<

I hope you guys are having fun. There's more that's coming; like the reasons wherefore she is spared, some back-story, and really just so much more >.<

Thank you guys for the support, I really appreciate it ^^ Please leave some votes and inspire your girl!

( *^-^)ρ(*╯^╰)

Stay safe and stay blessed you guys!

Love,

Niki

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