The streaks of sunlight stirred Xenon awake. The intensity of the rays stung, even with his eyes closed and his brows scrunched up slightly in discomfort. A shadow blocked the rays of the sun, Xenon’s eyes ca open and he found himself staring up at Jian who stared down at him with a questioning look.
"Now, now... why is it you?" Jian asked, though a ghost of a smile lingered on his lips, betraying his surprise. Xenon got to his feet with a start, and Jian quickly stepped away before Xenon could bump into him in his rush.
"What in..." Xenon began to say but he trailed off, glancing around, he realized he was out on a balcony. It was nothing like the small inn he had been in just a mont ago. The balcony overlooked the familiar city of Blazed, and Xenon realized in astonishnt that he was in Fort Blazed.
Xenon had heard a lot about dream walking, mostly from Neveah. She had described it to be not much different from reality, save for the fact that you couldn’t pick or choose exactly where you would both end up.
There were tis she said Jian would be pulled to Dragon Keep or wherever she was at the mont and there were other tis when they both found themselves in a scene from either one of their mories. This ti, Xenon guessed he had been pulled to Fort Blazed.
"Why am I here? Where’s Veah?" Xenon asked.
"I should be asking you." Jian replied with a roll of his eyes. "And I appreciate the enthusiasm."
"Oh, co off it. I was fine knowing you were alive and breathing." Xenon replied with a roll of his eyes. His gaze settled on Jian again, scanning him from head to toe, and then he extended a hand and pulled him into a hug. "You are alive and breathing. Good work there."
Jian scoffed beneath his breath but patted Xenon’s back fondly before stepping back. "How is it that you ca in Veah’s stead? The pendant..." Jian trailed off, "You both must be in physical contact then, the pendant’s effect has a very limited range."
"She fell asleep, she was going to co see you..." Xenon nodded slowly, "If I am here instead, where could she be?"
"I’ve heard physical exhaustion ensures we will not be able to dream walk. She must be truly asleep on the other side." Jian guessed. "You will not stay long, I do not feel at ease without you watching over her."
"Agreed." Xenon murmured,
"Tell , what did Neveah need to say to ?" Jian asked. Xenon did not respond imdiately, it took him a few monts before he turned to Jian.
"Why don’t you take a look for yourself?" Xenon said finally.
Jian frowned slightly at that but he nodded once and his eyes went closed. Xenon also let his eyes flutter closed and he felt Jian’s presence in his mind, skimming over the surface through their bond. Xenon did not resist the tug and as he relieved the events that had happened since he returned to Dragon Keep, he knew Jian could see it all for himself.
It took a short ti but at the end of it, Jian’s eyes ca open and Xenon’s as well. Jian’s expression was difficult to read, he just stared ahead as if absorbing all the information he had just been exposed to.
"Dragon law has no tolerance for traitors." Jian finally said. "I have run out of patience... with the Fae."
"I understand. We will handle it accordingly." Xenon said, his tone grim. "And Lodenworth?"
Jian frowned slightly at that, crossing his arms over his chest. Before he could respond, a tremor shook the earth. Dark clouds rapidly gathered overhead, and the first bolt of lightning that tore through the skies marked the beginning of a lightning storm.
"Another challenge." Jian muttered, he turned and strode back into the castle and Xenon followed. They soon arrived at Jian’s study where Cassian already addressed the gathered dragon lords.
"They can’t see us." Jian explained to Xenon as they approached the gathering. "For us, this is still the dream plane."
"My Liege is currently... inaccessible." Cassian began. "This challenge is coming much earlier than usual, too soon after the last victory. It seems the rules of the ga may be changing...or sothing else is wrong."
"Lord Kaideon took on the last challenge, so I will handle this. While I am gone, Lord Kaideon will oversee all affairs...My Liege is not to be disturbed till he cos to you himself." Cassian made clear.
"But this is actually happening? Right now?" Xenon asked to be sure.
"We are the only ones dream walking. This is as real as any day in the realm of forlorn beasts." Jian replied. "Co, I want your opinion on the challenge."
Not long after, they both stood on the city wall, staring down at the troubled waters of the black sea below. The city wall trembled ever so slightly from the force of the waves as a whirlpool ford right in the midst of the black sea, from where the beast challenger would arise.
Soon, a great orc erged from the Black Sea into the battle circle, it was greater in size than the last one. "What do you think?" Jian asked Xenon.
"It may be a great orc, but Cassian has the upper hand. He may sustain light injuries, but he will win." Xenon replied, studying the beast as it roared ferociously.
Up ahead, Cassian’s dragon form circled the Black Sea and just as the battle circle opened up, he flew in and the circle closed up on his end.
"What is that?" Xenon asked in concern as a scaly claw erged from the whirlpool just before it closed up. The city wall shook violently as another beast erged into the battle circle on the other end, tearing through the great orc like it was nothing, to take its place, just before the battle circle closed up.
"That is...a hydra! Three headed hydra!" Xenon hissed.
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The striking color of red blood was a stark contrast against Cassian’s sapphire scales as the Hydra’s poison tipped tail caught his side, leaving a deep gash that bled profusely. Cassian had been careful to avoid a hit, it was the best manner of approach when facing a beast he had never battled or seen before, only heard about in tales.
The only thing that was known to penetrate dragon scales was adamantium, and now the poison tipped tail of the Hydra had been added to the list.
Cassian’s massive dragon form was battered and bloodied, careful as he was, the Hydra was faster. His sapphire scales were marred by two deep gashes, and one of his wings had been injured too, hindering his flight.
Another fact just as apparent to Jian as his heavy bleeding was the fact that Cassian was exhausted, a three headed Hydra was one beast, but it could easily attack from three fronts, four if its poisonous tail was included, leaving it almost impossible to effectively defend against it. Yet Cassian attacked relentlessly, his tail lashing out at the monstrosity.
The three headed beast was a towering nightmare of writhing scales, each of its serpentine necks undulated in an eerie synchronization. Its eyes burned with unnatural malice and its triple maws dripped acidic venom that sizzled in the air.
"Hydra...they were said to have gone extinct long before the uprising." Jian hissed, his hands clenched at his sides, a telltale sign of his unease. "So why am I staring at one right now?"
Xenon did not have an answer, there was not much known about the origin and existence of forlorn beasts, only that the dark empire rose to power by eliminating the savage species, the Hydra being one amongst the many recorded to have been wiped out in the battle.
Yet here was a fully grown, three headed Hydra. Just how many secrets were hidden beneath the Black Sea? And would they be able to handle the consequences if they all ca crawling out?
The battle circle had sealed up at the entrance of the Hydra, there was no aiding Cassian. Other than Xenon and Jian who went unnoticed in this reality by the dream binding spell, Lords Starron and Kaideon had also arrived at the city wall. A few dragons circled the sky, seeking a weak point in the battle circle to break in, it was evident that Cassian was losing ground.
Cassian lunged, jaws snapping for the Hydra’s throat. One head twisted away while another lashed out, fangs glinting. Cassian narrowly escaped the Hydra’s fangs, but not before the acidic venom dripped onto his shoulder. A roar of agony tore out of his throat, flas bursting from his maws and bouncing off the barrier of the battle circle.
"I have to go in." Jian said, his form was rigid with fury. But he knew as well as Xenon did that the battle circle was an impenetrable barrier of dark magic.
But before their very eyes, Cassian was losing.
And losing ant one thing...
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