Dragon Children Chapter 4: Damien

"Why did you bring us to this forest?" Karin asked.

"I brought you here so you could pay your respects." Sophia answered.

She led them to a clearing there were thatched houses arranged in a circle. She led them to a cluster of gravestones.

"Do you remember this village, Karin and Joanne?" she asked.

Joanne said, "Yes, this is where we were born and grew up. And this is where our parents were buried."

"That is correct." said Sophia. "Even though I took you in ten years ago, I never want you to forget your parents."

Karin placed her hands in the soil and concentrated on the life force of the plants. Two chrysanthemums came out of the ground. She pulled them and gave one to Joanne. They quietly walked up to their parents' graves.

A boy with curly brown hair and hazel green eyes was nearby. His green dragon walked behind him. Neither of them paid any attention to the resistance. The boy's name was Damien, and his dragon was named Cypress. Damien placed his hands on the ground.
"Cypress, the trees have suddenly become more full of life." he said.
"Yes." Cypress agreed.

Sophia saw the pair and walked up to them. "Hello, little one." she said to Damien. "I have not seen you here before. Where are your parents?"
"My mother died not long ago." Damien answered. "My father and I live in that house." he pointed to a red brick house with a thatched roof.
"Can I see him?" Sophia asked.
"I suppose."

Sophia followed Damien into his house. Damien's father had the same kind of hair and eyes as his son. He recognized Sophia as a priestess of Iawia, the goddess who created Krangor.

"Welcome, priestess. What bring you to my home?" he asked.
"Is your son responsible for all the plants growing here?" Sophia asked.
"Yes. I felt this would be a great way to help him with his abilities."
"He has great potential. I can help him become better."
"How?"
"I am gathering people to help me fight Stefan. Your child seems like he would make a great addition."
"Well, it wouldn't be up to me." he shrugged. "Why don't you ask Damien?"

Sophia bent down to Damien's eye level. "Would you like to serve Iawia, the Great Shepherdess and your creator?"
"My creator?" Damien asked.
"I think you should agree to what this woman is proposing." said Cypress. All the plants here became more vibrant than I have ever felt the moment she arrived."
"If Cypress thinks that way, I guess I should."
"I have to warn you." said his father. "My son is not talkative."
"That is fine by me." said Sophia. "Then come along, Damien. From now on, you shall see your true potential."

The Dragon Children: Chapter 4: Malika

Deep in the Rathlian Lands, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed teenaged girl was playing with her Blue Dragon. She seemed out of place in the Rathlian Lands, for she and her dragon were happy.

A gargoyle approached the girl. "Malika, you and your dragon, Zaki, have been summoned by Stefan." Malika nodded and followed the gargoyle with Zaki close behind.

Unlike the rest of the Black Dragon Clan, Malika served Stefan willingly. The rest were corrupted by their dragons.

Malika and Zaki bowed before Stefan. "You summoned us, my lord?" Malika asked.

"Yes. Come and look in the scrying pool." Stefan said.

Malika looked into the murky water which Stefan used to spy on his enemies. "Who are these people?" she asked.

"They are a resistance movement that dares to challenge me." Stefan answered.

Malika saw a boy with dirty-brown hair. She recognized him instantly. "Lord Stefan, Set is with them." she said.

"Yes, my child. I want you to retrieve him for me." Stefan said.

"It shall be done. He shall pay for his defiance. Come, Zaki."
Zaki nodded and they flew off.

***

When they arrived, Malika saw that Set and Ba-Pef were not alone. She saw a pond nearby.

"Water of the pond, obey us. Arise." Zaki called. The water rose out of the pond.

Malika completed the spell. "Water, become ice."

Saiyune immediately saw what was happenning. She chanted a wind spell and dispersed the water.

Malika and Zaki descended.

"I would assume you are here for Set." Saiyune said.

"Stefan is not happy with your defiance. IF you come with us, I am certain he will be merciful." Malika said to Set.

"I am through with Stefan. He forced me to serve him. He won't let you serve him willingly for long, Malika." Set said.

At that moment, Sophia approached them. "Do you really think Stefan is benevolent?" she asked Malika. "Perhaps I should show you how misguided you are."

"What are you implying? My village banished me when Zaki came to it and chose me. My village had forbidden bonding with dragons ever since it was attacked by the Black Dragon Clan. Haven't you all been banished?" Malika asked.

"No." said Set. "I was kidnapped by Stefan and forced to serve him." The others also shook their heads.

"Stefan is evil. And if you serve him, you are evil." Minerva said.

"But he has been nothing but kind to me." Malika objected.

"Perhaps I should show you why Stefan is my enemy." Sophia said. She gently placed a hand on Malika's temple.

Malika found herself in a room with staircases going several directions. Sophia was walking upside down on a staircase above Malika.

"Each of these stairs leads to a memory." Sophia explained. "Let's take that one." She pointed to a staircase that spiraled right.

Malika followed her. When they arrived at the door, it was locked.

Sophia said "Now why is this one locked?" She placed a hand on the lock.

Malika was astonished. She was now standing in her village. People were walking and talking with their dragons. Then she saw herself as a child. She was walking with her parents arm in arm, her mouth in a perpetual giggle.

Then a swarm of Black Dragons descended. A man who was their leader leapt off his Black Dragon and killed her parents. The man was Stefan.

"No! This is a lie!" Malika wept.

"It is not. I am incapable of lying." Sophia said. "These memories were hidden from you. Look in that door."

Another door opened. She saw herself banished because of her bond with Zaki. She saw Stefan take her in. She saw herself drink an elixir.

"When you drank that elixir, it locked the door to your childhood. I have broken its spell. You now know the truth once more."

The room disappeared. Malika was now returned to the forest.

"You have a decision." said Minerva. "Will you continue to serve your parents' murderer? Or will you serve righteousness?"

Malika realized she could no longer serve Stefan. She said to Sophia, "No more. I shall serve you. What is your name?"

"I am Lady Sophia, and this is my dragon, Minerva. Welcome. And what are your names?" Sophia asked.

"I am Malika. And this is Zaki." Malika introduced herself.

As the other children introduced themselves to Malika, a dark-skinned woman with white hair and aquamarine eyes approached Sophia. This was Elena, the Rain Sage. She was a lifelong ally of Sophia.

"You have allowed two servants of Stefan into your resistance." she said and pointed at Saiyune. "That one has a darkness inside her. Do you not remember the words of your mother? That one would betray you?"

"It is a risk I must take." Sophia said.

"Then you are a fool." Elena shook her head.

"Who is more foolish, Elena? The fool, or the one who follows the fool?" Sophia challenged.