A Sudden Goodbye

At just 14 years old, Aris Langrod was about to be all alone, an only child, losing his parents to a car crash when he was younger, and now watching the life fade from his grandfather. He sat by the bedside, listening to his grandfather's breathing getting weaker by the hour.

"Aris, come close," his grandfather said softly, "there is much you must know of, and not much time." He took his hand in his own, feeling the calluses from a lifetime of hard work, of constant struggles. "This world, is not as simple as you may think. There are many others, worlds much like ours, but different in vastly different ways." Aris' grandfather began coughing, startling Aris as he rushed to grab the jug of water at the bedside table. "THERE'S NO TIME," his grandfather roared, forcing Aris' attention back to the man, bringing his eyes to his, noticing a faint light deep in his grandfather's eyes.

"Grandfather, you must rest, you can't have these ou-" Aris was cutoff as his grandfather slammed his hand down, cracking through the plastic siding of the bed causing Aris to jump. 'Where did that strength come from he wondered?' Unnoticed by Aris, was the feint black mist dissipating from his grandfather's palm.

"Child, my illness wasn't one of natural causes. I've been being hunted for a great many decades, more than you can possibly realize now, all the while trying to keep you hidden, keep you protected. Alas, I have failed my child. They know of you now, they will be here soon, and I cannot protect you now. I fear I must send you off, I wish there was more time."

Outside a commotion was stirring, with people screaming. Aris went to look, his grandfather shouting to stay away from the windows, but Aris didn't listen. Outside was what seemed like an army, filling the street, all eyes searching the windows, until every pair simultaneously found his. Jumping back Aris, stumbled, all the blood having rushed out of his face, leaving him pale as a ghost. "Grandfather who are they, the way their eyes all found mine..." he trailed off as he looked over to his grandfather, visibly shaking, whether with anger or fear Aris could not tell.

"Boy come here, you must take this, now." His grandfather shoved a dragon shaped medallion into his palm, closing the boy's fingers around it, as soon as his fingers closed around it the medallion gave off a soft glow unnoticed by Aris who was focused on his grandfather. "You must never lose this, should it fall into their hands everything would be lost, not just you, or I, but everything. All worlds would fall into darkness." On floors below the two could hear the workers and other patients screaming. "I'm afraid we're out of time child, I truly do wish I could explain more, I can only hope the best for you."

"Grandfather I don't understand, what's happening? Who are they? Why would they be hunting you, hunting us?" Aris pleaded with the old man, begging for some answers.

"THERE'S NO TIME ARIS," the old man suddenly roared. "You are not Aris Langrod. Our true family name is Dragonlord. We did not come from here, we've been running, for centuries our family has been hunted. You my dear child, are the last of the Dragonlord clan. You must return, you must grow, and someday, you must reclaim what is ours. NOW GO!" With that the old man gestured with his hand, suddenly a feint warm sensation surrounded Aris, he looked around confusedly, before turning around.

Behind Aris was a swirling blue vortex, humming to him, he could feel the power radiating off of it. "Grandfa-" he began, but the old man had stood up, shoving him into the vortex, with Aris reaching out.

As he watched his grandson disappear, and the vortex close, the door was blown apart, instantly disintegrated as one of the men from outside walked through. "Where's the child?"

Aris' grandfather could only laugh, 'Stay safe my child he thought'. "Ah, Tulongzhe, it seems you've finally caught up with me. Alas, my only child perished many years ago, in what many on this world consider to be an accident. But you and I both know, it was no accident was it? No, it was the power of that sword I can sense you have hidden away on you, Hypolye's blade wasn't it?"

At the mention of his sword, Tulongzhe put a hand over a ring he had on his right hand, slowly sliding his left outward, the sword materializing as he went. "You were smart to run old man, but we know your son had a child of his own before then. I'll only ask this once more, where's the child?"

The grandfather closed his eyes, being enveloped in a black smoke. When the smoke dissipated, his arms were covered in black scales, with gray claws where his fingers had previously been. "You will never be able to stop him, you've already tried and failed," he laughed, knowing this was his end.

"This could've been different, old friend," Tulongzhe said, suddenly appearing behind the old man. "Unfortunately, now it can never be." With that he thrust his sword through the back of the old man, smoke emanating from the wound, the sword growing larger, changing color, becoming a deep crimson. He withdrew his sword from his old friend, who fell over at his feet, dead. "Farewell, old friend. I truly wish things could've been different."

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'The last thing I saw was my grandfather with a sad smile, why? Why did he force me into this vortex? What is this? Where am I?' Those were the last thoughts Aris had before everything faded as he fell into the black void of unconsciousness.