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They didn’t know that it would take a lot more than a few arrows to bring me down.
I should be relieved that I’d been able to control my curse long enough to bring her here, to warn the people of Eldoria about Helheim, yet I found myself missing her, like I wanted to find her once more and hold her in my arms just one last time before we said our final goodbyes.
The thought of saying such things hurt my heart. I wanted to press my hand to my chest to relieve the ache I felt, but I kept my fists at my sides instead.
I would remain strong forher.
I turned my head, trying to steel myself against the thought of her, yet the more I tried, the more keenly I felt her absence. The chains of my curse clutched tighter, and I lifted my chin, trying to draw in a calm, steady breath so that I could keep the monster inside at bay. Lord Valdar was watching me closely, assessing me for any sign of distress, and I did my best to keep a level head. There was nothing I wanted less than to hurt the people I was counting on to keep Sophia safe from the incoming threat.
As the seconds ticked by though, I could feel my instincts starting to emerge no matter how hard I tried to keep them at bay. My hearing became more sensitive to my surroundings, picking up the almost silent step of an elf, the chirping of a songbird above me in the trees, and the scampering of a mouse along the forest floor. I could pick up no sign of her, only the very slim traces of her scent.
My mind started to fray at the seams as I began to lose control bit by bit. My magic boiled within my belly. I fisted my hands by my side, trying to get ahold of myself, but it was like trying to stop a stone giant in its tracks.
“Where did you take Sophia?” I growled. My voice hinted that I was approaching the limits of my sanity, that the curse was beginning to spiral out of control. The elves all around me tensed, likely picking up on my struggle to maintain stability.
“She is with Queen Isolde,” Lord Valdar answered simply.
I gritted my teeth, gripping my magic and throwing it outward in a sudden burst. Mystical energy tore through the forest, searching for her and finding nothing. There wasn’t even a trace of her, not a footprint or her scent or the brush of her fingertips against the wall.
It was as if she had disappearedcompletely.
“Where is she?” I growled.
“I think it’s time for you to leave,” he answered. His body tensed, and every elf surrounding me pulled back their notched arrows just a hair, forever at the ready. Their bows creaked as they held their positions, waiting for the order to strike.
I was just about to open my mouth to say something in return when a horn blared deafeningly loudly. All of a sudden, I heard the heavy crash of footfalls in the forest, and I knew in an instant that the forces of Helheim had arrived.
They’d moved far faster than I’d anticipated. I thought I’d given the city a day or two of warning so that they could ready their men with weapons, food, and supplies, but Helheim was already here.
It was time to act.
I felt the surge of my ancient power coursing through my veins, a heated sensation that intensified with every beat of my heart. My transformation started with a deep ache, like a relentless pressure building from within, ready to be set free at any moment. I braced myself for the inevitable change. My muscles tensed, and my bones shifted beneath my skin. My limbs elongated, stretching and contorting as my body rearranged itself into my dragon form.
My hands and feet elongated into talons, their strength and sharpness emerging with each passing moment as I lunged forward onto all fours. Digging my claws into the dirt, I roared as scales sprouted from my skin, glistening with a dark green metallic sheen. Wings unfurled from my back, their span impressive and commanding, ready to carry me through the skies with grace and power as I fought off the invading army of the Dark King.
As the final vestiges of my human form slipped away, my senses sharpened, taking on a new, primal acuity. The world transformed around me; every detail intensified as if I was seeing it through a heightened lens. I rubbed my tongue on the roof of my mouth, feeling flames flicker in the depths of my throat, crackling with a powerful heat that begged for release.
With my wings spread wide, I launched into the air, feeling the wind beneath my scales as I embraced the exhilarating freedom that came with flight. A growl rumbled deep in my throat as I shot up above the trees to see a scene far more shocking than I was prepared for.
The army was even bigger than I remembered. The very ground trembled beneath their relentless march, a sea of armored soldiers stretching nearly as far as the eye could see. They advanced with chilling determination, their blackened banners billowing ominously in the wind. Their steps tore roots from the ground, ruined colorful flowers and lively brush, and crushed foliage beneath their feet. As they pressed forward, the forest groaned beneath their heavy boots, and they left devastation in their wake.
The soldiers were many, clad in obsidian armor while they wielded weapons forged in the deepest fires of Helheim. All manner of terrible creatures marched towards Eldoria.
Beneath me, Lord Valdar gave a shout and rushed back towards the city. There wasn’t enough time. I had to do something.
I flew towards the castle, built into the ancient trunk of the tallest tree in the forest, and shifted back to my human form in midair to land on the queen’s balcony. My feet crashed into the wooden planks, and I shot up, immediately rushing inside her chambers. She was standing beside a table laden with a map of the entire realm, including the mountains to the north, the rift to the far west, and Eldoria in the east. Her head shot up and her eyes met mine.
She stepped back, her expression instantly wary.
“Make ready. Helheim is already here,” I exclaimed. My voice showed signs that I was losing control, my curse fraying at the edges of my sanity. I did my best to keep it at bay.
“Will you fight for us?” she asked, her uneasiness quickly morphing into fear.
“I will do the best that I can,” I promised.
Without another word, I turned around and leapt off the balcony, leaning into my ancient power once more and shifting into a dragon midair. My wings burst free of my back just as the ground was approaching, and I flapped them hard, lifting myself up into the air and shooting above the trees once more.
The army was moving more quickly now. Their continued march felled one tree after another, the heavy crash of each trunk slamming into the ground echoing far and wide.
