Chapter 1 The Encounter

The splendor before my eyes left me breathless, a vaulted ceiling painted with scenes from an ancient tale; tapestries that stretched across three walls depicting tales of heroes long dead.

However, as fate would have it, I was thoroughly distracted by the flurry of magic explosions obliterating my vision every time a magic spell hit its target: the dragon. After all, I was a mere human in the company of two magical beings, my companion Galena, a witch, and a fearsome crystal dragon. My presence here was not only an honor but also a grave danger.

"You know what to do, right?!" Galena shouted at me as she threw another fireball at the dragon's head.

I had been tasked with assisting Galena on this quest to save the world from the evil of a dragon. But how could I possibly help?

I'm nothing compared to these two powerful beings!

"Do it now, Zane! We need you!" Galena said.

A dragon's roar shook the walls and nearly caused my knees to buckle, but I managed to keep myself upright. I looked up to see the dragon's massive form moving closer.

The witch's fireballs were doing little damage against its thick hide, but I could see they were starting to make an impact. The dragon's scales were cracked and broken, revealing raw flesh underneath.

I glanced at the witch. She stood several yards away from me, her hands raised and crackling with energy. Her green dress rippled around her ankles, and her hair whipped wildly around her head.

"Hurry!" Galena said. "I don't know how long I can keep this up!"

I looked up at the dragon again. It was getting closer and closer, and I realized that I had no idea what to do next.

I had never faced a dragon before, let alone a crystal dragon, and I had no idea where to start. The thought of it terrified me.

I turned to look at Galena once more, and I saw the witch was struggling. She was starting to slow down, and her spells were no longer causing any real damage.

"Zane!" Galena cried. "Hurry!"

"I...I..." I stammered.

"Do something!" Galena screamed.

Her words were lost on me as the dragon's massive body came crashing down toward me.

A giant claw struck the floor where I had just stood, sending chips of stone flying. The dragon's roar echoed through the cavern.

It was so close now that I could smell its fetid breath.

I had to act quickly.

The dragon lunged forward, and I ducked underneath its massive body. As its jaws snapped shut behind me, I scrambled between its legs.

I rolled onto my stomach, trying to get out from underneath the beast, but it was too late.

The dragon reared back and brought its claw down upon my spine. I screamed in agony as the claws dug into my flesh.

The dragon lifted me high above its head. I struggled to free myself from its grasp, but it was useless.

The dragon roared loudly, then tossed me into the air. I sailed high above the cavern floor before slamming back down.

I lay motionless, unable to move.

"Zane!"

Galena called to me from somewhere nearby.

"I can't hold him off any longer!"

The dragon's roar reverberated through the cavern, shaking the ground beneath my feet.

"Zane!"

A sharp pain shot through my side, and I looked down to see a gash in my ribs. Blood was flowing freely from the wound.

I tried to stand, but I fell to my knees instead.

I looked up at the dragon looming over us.

The crystal dragon. A beast of immense power, capable of destroying entire cities with its breath.

Galena's spells had no effect on it.

Her fireballs had been bouncing harmlessly off the dragon's hide, and her lightning bolts had only singed the scales on its tail.

"Zane! Hurry!" Galena yelled.

She was using all of her magic to keep the dragon occupied, and it was taking a toll on her.

Galena's magic is not working against the crystal dragon.

She is throwing everything she can think of at it, but the dragon's hide is too tough for her spells to penetrate.

Galena has been fighting the crystal dragon for what seems like forever, and I'm not sure how much longer she can last.

She's starting to tire, and if I don't do something soon, she'll be killed.

The dragon swiped its massive claw at Galena, narrowly missing her.

"Zane! I'm not strong enough!" Galena shouted.

I need to find a way to help her.

I'm not a witch, and I don't have any magical abilities, but maybe I can distract the dragon.

If I can get close enough, maybe I can hurt it somehow.

It's worth a try.

Galena has been fighting the dragon for what seems like hours, and I'm worried about her.

I have to help her.

The dragon rears up, ready to strike.

I take a deep breath and prepare myself.

I have no idea if this will work, but I have to try.

I run towards the dragon, screaming at the top of my lungs.

As I approach, I can feel the heat radiating off of the creature.

I jump up, grabbing onto one of the crystal shards protruding from its leg.

The dragon roars in anger and tries to shake me loose, but I hold tight.

I reach out with my free hand and grab onto another shard.

I pull myself up onto the dragon's back.

I stand up and walk towards the dragon's head.

"Galena! I'm coming!" I shout.

The dragon flails its tail, nearly knocking me off its back.

I stumble but manage to stay on my feet.

Galena glances over at me, her face covered in sweat.

"What are you doing?! Get out of here!" she shouts.

The dragon rears its head back and roars.

It's going to kill Galena!

I run towards the dragon, shouting, "Leave her alone!"

"Zane, no! Get back!"

The dragon looks down at me and opens its mouth wide.

It breathes a stream of fire, and I feel the heat singe my skin.

The dragon's breath is so hot that it burns my lungs, and I can't breathe.

Galena is still on the ground, and she looks like she's about to pass out.

"Galena, please. Get up," I plead.

The dragon swipes its tail at her, and she goes flying.

She hits the wall hard and crumples to the floor.

"Galena, get up! You can't die! Not now!"

"Zane...please...run..."

"No! I'm not leaving you!"

The dragon roars and stomps towards us.

I look around for something, anything, that I can use to fight it.

I spot a large rock nearby.

It's not much, but it's better than nothing.

I run towards the rock and pick it up.

I throw the rock at the dragon, but it bounces harmlessly off its hide.

The dragon rears its head back and roars, sending a blast of fire my way.

I barely manage to dodge the flames.

Galena is on the ground, and she's not moving.

The dragon steps closer to her, its jaws open wide.

"Galena, wake up!"

I have to do something!

I'm not strong enough to fight the dragon, and Galena's spells aren't working.

If only there was some way I could distract the dragon.

Then maybe Galena could get away.

I run towards the dragon.

I have to save her!

I jump on the dragon's back and climb up its neck.

"Leave her alone!" I shout.

The dragon roars and throws me off.

Galena is lying on the ground, and she's not moving.

I run towards her, but the dragon breathes fire, blocking my path.

I have to save her!

I grab a rock and throw it at the dragon, but it's useless.

Galena is on the ground, and the dragon is approaching her.

"Leave her alone!"

I'm not strong enough to stop the dragon.

The witch is losing, and there's nothing I can do to help her.

The witch, my companion Galena, is using all of her magic to keep the dragon busy, and it's taking a toll on her.

Galena is on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, and the dragon is still unharmed.

"Zane, I can't hold him off any longer," she screams, barely able to stand.

Galena has been fighting the crystal dragon for what feels like an eternity, and I'm not sure how much longer she can last.

If the dragon manages to get past her, the whole city will be destroyed.

"You have to do something," she says, her voice pleading.

I look around frantically, searching for something, anything, that could help.

But there's nothing.

"Zane! I can't hold him off any longer," Galena cries, and as the witch's voice fades away, I hear a scream.

I turn and see Galena lying on the ground, blood pouring from a gaping wound in her chest.

I run towards her, but it's too late.

She's gone.

And I'm all alone.

The dragon is still alive, and I'm not strong enough to defeat it.

But I have to try.

The dragon's massive body is blocking the way out of the cavern, and the only way to get past it is to fight.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

I'm a farmer, not a fighter.

I'm not strong enough to defeat a dragon.

I can't let Galena die.

I have to try.

Galena has been fighting the crystal dragon for an unknown amount of time, and I'm not sure how much longer she can last.

She is growing weak, and her spells are not having any effect on the dragon.

"Zane, we need you! You must do something!"

Galena's voice rings in my head, and I snap out of my trance.

The dragon is almost upon her, and she can't hold it off any longer.

I have to help her!

But what can I do?

I'm not a witch, and I don't have any magical powers.

I'm just a simple farmer.

Galena is a witch, a powerful one.

She has been tasked by King Rameses XII to destroy the crystal dragon.

Her husband.