Azian Prince of Dragons

It was the unholy hour.

The darkest and the quietest of the twenty-two hours of a day. Only the wind was heard howling its way around the city, towns, and villages near Paria ( which means mother) the first city ever built in the supernatural world.

The ancient city. 

It was a city surrounded by the western village to the west, and the sea to the south, and the east and the north were covered in a vast thick forest, one none ever dared venture, especially during the last hour.

The name of the forest was Ignere, derived from the Latin words “Ignis” meaning fire and “Cinere” meaning ashes.

Legend had it that the forest was once much larger than it was now, though only a fool could deny how vast it still was. However, a large part of it got burnt down during the Megalos Machi (great battle) between the Dragons and the remaining species of the supernatural realm long before anyone alive could actually remember. 

Almost half of it had been completely burned away, leaving the other half which stood proud and tall like a survivor. 

It grew denser trees and longer shadowy branches as if to warn anyone that might want to hurt it again. 

Those brave enough to venture into the forest made sure they only ever did when the sun was still guarding the skies, for those who went when the sun retired were never ever seen again. 

There was something in those trees, something that even the greatest of men dared not to discover, one would rather mourn their loss and move on.

Everybody knew that the forest was off limits as soon as the sun came down. 

Yet deep in the forest, right at the heart of it, during the darkest hour, a woman's cry could be heard.

A minute past the fated hour, another cry was heard; this one, however, was that of a youngling, a child.

The Vampire King, King Alec Diarnov looked up as he sat on his throne, his dark eyes glowing like two lit candles in the dark. 

His palace stood just at the outskirts of Paria before the sea. He felt a chilling shiver creep over his shoulder, his eyes turned dark, his face falling as he studied the space before his throne.

A woman entered his chambers, wearing a plain black dress that covered her body till it dragged to the floor. Her fingernails were painted black and looked as if she had not cut them in years, yet her fading beauty was undeniable, her grey hair flowing to her shoulders.

She stood at a perfect height and lifted her head, and their eyes met. "He is here." 

Alec paused in the trance he was in as he studied her, though his eyes failed to cover the hint of fear that struck him.

A sudden deathly strong wind swept through the palace, blowing all the doors and windows wide open, dropping the portraits that hung from the castle walls, and breaking vases, frames, and mirrors. 

The strong wind passed through all the land, leaving a trail of destruction and a long silence that not even the sound of crickets was heard for the whole hour. 

The people peeped out of the windows to see what it was, or who it was.

A sense of fear gripped them all even though all they saw was wind. It was where it was headed that dreaded them.

Ignere.

Alec stood up as the wind passed through his palace. The woman before him gasped, touching her heart. 

He looked at her intently. "Emma, great witch of the north," he began, carefully choosing his words.

Her eyes flickered back to him, her face still filled with horror and raised a hand as if to tell him to stop talking.

"He is stronger than I perceived" she replied, as one of her hands dropped to her side, the other still holding the locket that hung from her neck.

Alec could see her hand shiver, doubting if she even noticed it. He walked toward her, stopping a few feet away from her.

"Are you sure he is here?" he asked.

She looked at him in disbelief. "King Alec Diarnov, did you not sense the power?" She spat, giving him a vicious look. 

He growled at her.

"Even if he has finally come, he is but a child, an infant. If you give us his location, we can put an end to his miserable life."

She remained quiet for a while, then suddenly shook her head, her hands still shaking.

"No, I do not want to be a part of this." 

He moved to her in a supernatural speed with anger in his eyes till he was face to face with her.

"Do you think you will not be involved? The vision came to you. The prophecy was revealed on your lips!” he boomed.

She stood her ground.

"The vision came to many. Those before me spoke of it, and those lesser than me have seen it, but no witch was able to stand before you. They fear you. You didn't believe my vision until the first sign. The prophecy had long been written through time, passed on from generation to generation. You just heard and saw it first from me."

He growled in her face.

"Do you think that when he is fully grown, he will not kill your people as well? You know the prophecy."

“I know," she spat, her head held high in pride, not willing to cower before him, "that is why I came to you." 

He held her gaze for a moment before looking away.

"Then tell me his location, so we can end this." 

“I will not obey you; you have no authority over me. You are not our king," she spat.

He sped towards her, but in a second, she had vanished into thin air. 

He growled angrily, breaking a statue nearby. His fists clenched tightly, and his jaws were ridged. Though he was as angry as the burning flames of Set, he couldn't help the fear ripping through his heart. 

"Luke! Get your ass in here!" he yelled. 

A tall muscular man walked in looking around. He didn't seem intimidated by the King’s ruthless face, but he did look as if he too was terrified of something.

He looked around the room as if he was looking for something. 

"She's gone,” Alec growled.

Luke looked back at the king, raising an eyebrow.

"How?" he asked, amazed.

"I should be asking you that! Didn't you give her the potion before she entered?"

Luke nodded.

"Of course, My King. I did as you instructed. I can't understand how she teleported with the spell in her system." 

"She probably double crossed it. Emma is not stupid; she isn't called the Mother Witch for nothing,” Alec muttered. 

He turned around facing Luke, breathing out harshly.

“He has arrived,” he announced breathlessly. Luke looked up at him in disbelief.

“A-are you sure?” 

King Alec nodded, walking back to his throne.

"The wind that—"

"That was him" he replied, standing before his throne.

Luke paused as if he was trying to gain balance. He regained his sanity and stood up at attention.

"What do you propose to do My Lord?” he asked respectfully.

Alec breathed out.

"We need to reunite the five kingdoms, find this threat,” he trailed off, staring at Luke as he sat down on his throne, "and eliminate it."

Although Ignere was the largest forest in the Sup realm, half of it had been eaten away by the dragon fire from the great battle. The remaining half stood dark and tall, and twice as thick and scary than it had been ten thousand years ago.

Entering the forest in the middle of day was a beautiful sight for many, but even so, after walking in the forest for an hour or two, one could see the dark part. A mysterious fog hung in the shadowy trees as far as the eye could see, a barrier of some sort, one that hadn't died out in millennia. The thick mist around it spoke of a rage, one the forest itself had created once its other half was murdered mercilessly, its beautiful green blades sprinkled with the blood of all those who fell that day. 

It didn't matter if the sun was as hot as the fires of Set. It always had a dark shield around it, and the mist never ceased.

As soon as the sun went down, the mysterious mist would suddenly fill the whole forest, claiming it for itself, a token, a trophy, daring any incompetent soul.

Thus, as the wind raged through the remainder of the city, galloping through the towns and directly into the forest, people could not help but wonder... why?

Why Ignere? 

Those with courage peeked through their windows and doors, watching as the wind seemed to be devoured by the forest, disappearing deep inside it and out of eyesight.

The wind floated right into the heart of the forest, past the mist of the dark side to the center, disappearing into a clearing by which lay the ruins of an eons old castle.

If one were to guess by the way it stood up, one could easily say that it had once been a wonder.

Once part of a glorious empire, now the walls had been ripped apart, and only one part of this glorious piece of enchantment was intact.

It looked abandoned and neglected at first glance and at second glance. 

But if one used their eyes to the best of their ability, squinting just enough the third time, at the top of the left tower, covered thickly in mist, was a small light barely able to shine through. 

Here paced a King, one not known by any other except from his own, walking back and forth in the cracked hallway, fists clenched, sweat pouring down in waves.

What was taking so long? He had heard the cries and the power, but why was everything so deathly still? 

He contemplated busting the door down. He was counting on this; his people were counting on him. His future and that of his people depended on—

Suddenly, the large wooden doors of the castle room he had been pacing in front of opened, pulling him out of his thoughts. 

Sucking in a sharp breath, he watched as an auburn-haired woman walked toward him, cradling an infant in her arms.

His gaze softened as he watched the baby sleeping comfortably, wrapped in a white cloth stained in crimson.

He looked down at his child, hands shaking, "H-he’s here" he stuttered, not quite able to believe it.

Repeating the words again, he convinced himself this was real. A large smile lit up his eyes in a way they had not done for centuries as he reached out in eagerness to hold his son, but the woman held the baby tighter, pulling away from him, her eyes glistening in unshed tears.

King Saga's burning gaze landed on the woman, a hard scowl forming across his features.

"Rebecca, let go of my son,” he said through gritted teeth, his eyes threatening.

Rebecca shook her head slowly, a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Queen Adrianna didn't make it," she replied, a soft sob escaping her trembling lips, a quiver in each word.

Cradling the baby in her arms, she lifted her crowned head to the King.

Saga could see how tightly she was holding the baby, her fingernails digging into the cloth. He shut his eyes, trying to stop his rage, breathing out as he dismissed himself from her presence and walked to the room. Staring at the floor for a couple seconds, he pushed the door open, a whispered gasp escaping his lips at the sight of his Queen lying dead in her bed.

He closed it shut immediately, jaw clenched, turning round to face Rebecca.

"She was fine,” the girl stuttered out. "She was healthy even after the birth, but as soon as she touched her son...” She paused, a whimper escaping her lips. "He killed her. He sucked the life force from her,” she said, her hands shivering. 

Before she could say anything else, Saga slammed her against the wooden door, his eyes flickered with the flame of his beast.

 "You don't tell anyone what happened. You understand me?" he growled out.

She shivered in alarm, her eyes wide, and in her moment of alarm, he grabbed the child from her hands protectively.

"He is our future," he said, his hands passing over his son’s rosy cheeks. 

She looked at him horrified, slowly backing up, hatred flickering in her eyes.

"He killed her! He killed his own mother. My sister!” she cried out, raising an accusing finger at the babe. 

Saga looked up at her, "Sacrifices must be made,” he said calmly.

"The child that was supposed to save us is a murderer," she screeched, tears rushing down her face. Without further warning, she lunged toward Saga who moved away swiftly, his senses put into action, but she managed to swipe the small blade Saga always kept beside him. 

He looked at her as she stood there holding the weapon, a glare in her gaze.

"H-he has to die," she said slowly. "We can't raise a monster."

Saga's eyes flamed with fury. Erania knows if it had been anybody else, he would have burned them alive, but this was Rebecca, the love of his life. 

He looked down at the baby still asleep before his eyes settled back on her, "Okay," he finally agreed, a strange calmness around him.

He lifted his arms out, and Rebecca looked at the baby. 

"Do it. Kill him. End it all: our hope, our future. You know we won't be able to create any more Goldens for gods are not born on accident. He is the only one that has survived, and now that Adrianna's gone…" He trailed off, his thick eyebrows hunching as he spotted the wooden doors. “Do it."

She looked at him, hesitating for a moment, her eyes flashing back to the child. 

However, rage was enough to make her lift up the blade, but just as she did, the baby opened its eyes a little as if sensing danger, coughing once. It blinked, trying to open its eyes wider.

For the first time, Rebecca noticed its eyes. They weren’t brown like his father's or grey like his mother, but a deep blue like hers. 

She held her breath for a second as a sudden wave of emotion rocked her like a storm, and she suddenly felt like crying.

Saga kept up his encouragement.

"Do it! Thrust that blade into him, Rebecca! He killed his mother! Do it!” he yelled, raising his voice in utter frustration. 

Her hands were shaking, chest heaving up and down as she watched the baby stare back at her. Emotions ravaged through her mind and body, causing her to suddenly take a step back and drop the knife to the floor. She knelt down on the stone-cold ground.

She noticed that the young prince was looking at her in awe, a look far from anger but in mere forgiveness with a kind of excitement and unconditional love. She took this all in in shock. Saga cradled the babe closer to his chest protectively.

"I don't know what happened back there,” the Kings voice rumbled, his eyes moving from the young prince to hers. "But I know that he is your blood. He’s also my blood and the heir to the dragon kingdom of which a whole realm is his birthright. I can feel his power.” He paused, staring back at the babe with a gentle smile. "It's unbelievable," he whispered.

He looked at Rebecca who was on her knees. “His mother is dead, my love. Now, I am the last Halfling, but together, we created a whole. A savior. Yes, she has lived her purpose. Now, it's time you lived yours," he said, placing the baby in her hands. She took him in, her tears melting away.

She reached her hand out to touch him, to which he responded by grabbing her thumb with his chubby little fingers. A slight chuckle escaped her shaken lips through her tears as she saw this, looking down at him in surprise as did Saga, equally mesmerized. 

He held her thumb for a moment, his wide eyes staring at her before he yawned, burying his little face in her arms as if knowing he was completely safe, and there was nothing that could get to him in that moment.

Tears filled her eyes, both afraid and terrified she had almost killed this little angel. 

Saga knelt down beside her. "He is beautiful, and it seems to me like…” He paused, pulling her to lean on him.

"Oh Rebecca," he said softly, “like you were his mother." 

A tear fell silently, but she was smiling as she watched him sleep. 

There was no evil within him.