The Swamp Dragon

Chapter 7: Origin

*After eating the breakfast Drinia prepared for him. Aren went outside of the castle. He saw his father, Trofinn and Tino waiting for him*

Father: “You’re finally here. Everything is prepared now you’re the only one left”

Aren still had a slight doubt about them going to Vari Kingdom. It’s about an old enemy and a friend so he speaks out his mind, “Is there another route we can take beside this one?”

Father: “What are you talking about? This is the fastest way we can take and we don’t have enough resources to do what you want”

Aren: “It’s not just about me. It’s for all of us”

Trofinn: “Tell us, what is that thing bothering you?”

Aren: “My dad knows about this. The main reason why left our own home is because of a crazy person whose out there casting a catastrophic spell that causes hundreds no, thousands of sudden death”

Father: “We’ll just have to deal with it later and I’m pretty sure by this time the kingdom had already eliminated that threat”

Aren: “But we still can’t be so sure”

Tino: “No matter how strong that was as long as we keep moving we can avoid it”

Drinia: “Hmmm… Who is this crazy person? Aren”

Aren: “His name is Narsin. One of my fellow trainee back into the day where I was still at the isolated castle. On that day, when he was asked to show his magical ability he slaughtered some of my classmates. That made a terrifying trauma for me. I kept having nightmares about it”

Tino: “Then what he exactly looks like?’

Aren: “He had a pure black hair, red eyes and wears a common clothes in Vari Kingdom. A blue green one”

Drinia recalls something last night. That description resembles the man who talked to his brother, “Wait, I think I already saw him”

Tino: “Now that you mention is was that guy!!”

Aren: “Huh? What guy? Where did you meet him?”

Trofinn: “If were right that guys was one of the two person whose lurking around the castle last night”

Aren: “What did you just say? suddenly puts up his guard. “They might be still here prepare yourselves”

Drinia: “No their not. That “Narsin” guys plans to meet up with the Hygon guy or something along with my brother”

Aren: “Then that means he’s going to another kingdom. Now’s the right chance to travel!!”

Father: “Ehem! We have to go now”

Aren: “Got it, dad!”

Trofinn: “Get in. I’m going to drive”

*Everyone starts to get inside the carriage*

Tino: “We can discuss important matters along the way”

Drinia: “Sounds like a good deal to me”

Aren: “Yeah, I have tons of questions about what happened while I’m far away from here”

*Their started their journey to the center of the continent. Kingdom of Variation in short “Vari Kingdom” the home of magic. Along their path the group discusses some events occurs after Aren was captured*

Aren: “So anyway, what on earth happened while I’m gone?”

Drinia: “First thing we done is to take a bit of rest and waited for the headhunters to come. Before they arrives, Juroo and the others is already planning how to counter them, they need to hide me away ordering Tino to come with me”

Tino: “That’s right. However, Things didn’t go smoothly as a horrifying creature appears in front of us.”

Drinia: “And it happens to be my brother who transformed as a wood spirit years ago”

Aren: “Well, That’s a weird reunion”

Drinia: “After that we ran back to the castle and was cornered. Trofinn shows up to help us”

Tino: “Actually if not for that Narsin person we would’ve been dead by now”

Father: “Granted by the Magic of Catastrophe is like an eternal curse bound in your soul. I can see why you’re so afraid to him, Aren”

Aren: “I’m not afraid… I’m just being cautious here”

Father: “You’re lying again”

Drinia: “Again? Why did you lie about?”

Aren: “Oh! don’t think about that it just an unnecessary question”

*Aren’s father chuckles*

Aren spoke in a whispering voice “Just shut up dad…”

“Anyway, that explains everything! Now there’s no one can stop us from moving to Spirit Kingdom after this one”

Drinia: “I’m not sure about that, Aren”

Tino: “Yeah, what if the remaining headhunters come at us again”

Aren: “They will surely come. Their job is not over yet”

Father: “I guess we’ll have to play hide and seek in this kingdom”

Aren: “You don’t have to say it like that dad”

Tino: “Hey I just realized we doesn’t have that much resources here”

Drinia: “That’s all the thing we can brought last night. We were suddenly attacked by the headhunters”

Tino: “It’s insane to think that you’re all doing this just to get you home”

Aren: “If you don’t want to come with us then you’re free to go”

Tino: “No, I’ll stick with you guys. At some point I also desires to go there to study lots of different and amazing dragons but what intrigues me the most is Drinia who’s a swamp dragon”

Drinia: “What is the main reason you’re doing this?”

Tino: “A dragon once save my life so I dedicated myself learning every traces I found wishing-“

Aren: “Let me guess you want to meet him again?”

Tino: “Uhh... No? Wishing to… become a dragon myself!! That’s right!! I want to be dragon!!”

Aren: “That’s even crazier than what we’re doing right now!”

Tino: “It’s not bad to dream about absurd things it makes thrive higher”

*Meanwhile as they enjoy their conversations the headhunters are also planning their next move. The last one who enters the room of Furoo was Mr. Tilou they all gathered there”

Mr. Tilou: “Is everyone here now? Where’s Helone?”

Rula: “uhh, he’s gone?”

Mr. Tilou: “Oh yeah.. That’s right. Sorry”

Furoo: “Don’t worry. Now that were all here and in full condition it’s time to start the official meeting”

Herald: “Yes, chief!”

Furoo: “First, what is your insight and opinions about the current situation?”

Mr. Tilou: “All I can say is that we should be more careful on this job. I don’t want to lose another comrade”

Furoo: “Likewise, how about you Rula”

Rula: “I swear that I will finish this job with perfection. It’s time to take this seriously”

Furoo: “That’s good, Herald?”

Herald: “I won’t be a useless man anymore so I will do this job properly. I realized that I’m too arrogant that’s why I let my guard down”

Furoo: “It’s good that you know your own mistakes. It’s one of the first step to improvement but even I have some mistakes too. I thought this is just one of our easy jobs that we won’t have to break a sweat in order to accomplish it but I was completely wrong and in return I lost my vision”

Rula: “About your eyes chief. Is there a solution to it? Can you still fight properly?”

Furoo: “Calm down with the questions, Rula”

Rula: “…sorry”

Furoo: “I don’t know the answers either but it will more likely that you’ll have to continue without me”

Herald: “No, it can’t be… there must be a way! Right, Mr. Tilou?”

Mr. Tilou: “I’m afraid that I cannot do something about it even Doctor Nio said that it’s impossible to bring back”

Herald: “What are you talking about? You had the Magic of Vision right?”

Mr. Tilou: “It will work if I’m the blind person! Since, I also rely to the vision of the other person too”

Furoo: “I don’t have the ability to produce mana we should give for now”

Rula: “The truth is before I went here. I was in the library looking for a way to recover damaged eyes”

Herald: “So did you find anything?”

Rula: “I did but I think it’s very difficult to do…?”

Furoo: “What is it? Speak it out”

Rula: “Well, basically we just have to find a person who wields the Magic of Restoration ask him to restore your eyes”

Mr. Tilou: “That is not difficult at all”

Rula: “But that person is missing for almost a decade now. No one haven’t seen him yet”

Herald: “Yeah, There’s no point wasting our time looking for a missing person”

Mr. Tilou: “The restoration might not be available but variation does exist right now”

Furoo: “Magic of Variation? The most powerful magical ability of all which can recreate any kind of spell”

Mr. Tilou: “Yes, chief. That is the original spell of Vari Kingdom and just like restoration only one out of a million varinian can have this ability”

Furoo: “So do you know where to find him?”

Mr. Tilou: “Yeah, he's the current king Vari Kingdom as we were told. Only a handful of Varinians knows his real ability and I’m one of them”

: “Well that’s all the more reason why we have to go there”

Rula: “Then it’s decided! Let’s do this together!”

Herald: “Wait, did you just say king Vari Kingdom?”

Mr. Tilou: “Yes Herald, is there something wrong?”

Herald: “How on earth are we going to convince him to heal chief? We may not even get close to him!”

Furoo: “Who told you that we were going to convince him? That is not a way of a headhunter! Were going to sneak in at night and once we saw our prey it’s time to bite!”

Rula: “In other words, we just have to force him use the spell even if we had to threaten his valuable family”

Herald: “That’s more like it!”

Mr.Tilou: *chuckles* Every thing will be interesting from now on. I better don’t close my eyes”

*Back to the journey of Aren and the others. Drinia is starting to get bored*

Drinia: “Uhh… Just how long do wee have to travel again?”

Aren: “Approximately five hours and since it has been 2 hours since we left we still got 3 hours to rest”

Drinia: “I already forgot how to count from 1 to… I don’t know”

Aren: “Well, you’ve been there for so long. No wonder you forgot how to count”

Tino: “Beside counting what else you can’t remember?”

Drinia: “I don’t why there are drops of water falling from the sky… I don’t know why it gets dark after is brights for too long but I do know when will I wake up to start the day”

Father: “Unbelievable, you must be very young when you get lost far away from your home”

Aren: “Come to think of it you haven’t told us yet on why did you end up there.”

Drinia: “All alone in a swamp forest? Well, It all started the day my brother left our kingdom”

“Everything seems to be fine after he left. My parents doesn’t show any regret nor anxiety but every night I hear them quietly whining. Deep inside I know that their worried for him”

*The story travels back to 10 years ago*

[Spirit Kingdom} -{Naria Division: Resion Street”

*A six year old Drinia is having a dinner with her family. However, none of them enjoys the meal with a delighted face. The whole house is dead silent. Only the little bit of sound made by the impact of the spoon and plate makes you feel that someone is living there. Until Drinia’s mother named Derine speaks out her mind*

Derine: “I never felt this much emptiness ever since our little boy left this morning”

*Her father Gania replies*

Gania: “You’re right hon, every person on this neighborhood- no everyone on this whole kingdom despite us now”

*Drinia drops her spoon and fork as she speak*

Drinia: “It’s… all my fault… mom, dad. I let him taste that strange mushroom… If only I know this would happen I should’ve stop him with all my might. I’m a bad sister” *sob* *sob*

*Her mom rushes to comfort her by hugging Drinia tightly as she can

Derine: “No, don’t speak like that sweetie. He’s just a little boy it’s our mistake for entrusting him to you”

Gania: “Promised to us that you will never leave too”

Drinia: “But our expedition will continue tomorrow. I will be gone here for a month… right?”

Derine: “Of course we know that but we need you to promise that you will return no matter what. We will be waiting for you every day.”

Gania: “You will be the most beautiful dragon anyone will see. In that way the people around us will trust us again”

Drinia: “I promise!! I will be a Lava Dragon like I always wanted to be!! No one will stop me!!”

Derine: “That’s the spirit of our little girl! Take it slow and you will surpass everyone”

Gania: “Now let’s finish this dinner shall we?”

Drinia; “Yes, mom and dad!”

[Lava dragon that’s what I want to be ever since I know that I’m have a Dragon Spirit inside me]

*Tomorrow comes and a new day is about to start for the little dragon spirit. This the moment for them venture the outside world and transform into a complete majestic dragon. Every child with a dragon spirit inside them will have to attend the “Annual Dragon Expedition”. Drinia and his parents arrived at the scene*

Derine: “Were here!”

Gania: “Look all these kids!”

Drinia: “There’s so many of us! I got to travel with them!!”

Derine: “Make sure to make a lot of friends!”

Drinia: “Yes! Mom!!”

Gania: “That’ our good girl!”

*Even though they were part of the event the people ignores and avoid their family. Treating them like a breeze of wind, their just merely nothing. A few minutes before the vent to start Drinia saw her best friend Hena*

Drinia: “Hena! It’s me Drinia!”

*Hena looks at her with a dead face and said, “Get awasy from my sight. Don’t talk to me. “Don’t approach me and never ever look at me.”

Drinia: “What…. But…. We’ve been always together”

*The crowd forms a circle just to avoid Drinia and her family*

Derine: “It’s okay Drinia... you will gain her trust again someday”

Gania: “They didn’t even tried to look at us”

Drinia: “Why… why does everyone hate us.… It was just an accident… my brother doesn’t know what will happen if he eat that mushroom”

Derine: “It’s okay, It’s all right. You need to focus on regaining what we have lost. You’re the only one we can trust right now. It must be a lot for you to take in but I know you can do this. Bring your friend back”

Drinia: “Okay! I will be a lava dragon no matter what!!!”

*Ms. Flaire, the teacher of all dragon spirit. Welcomes everyone that will be participating the event*

Ms. Flaire: “Good morning!! Everyone!! Our little buds is about to take a very long journey away from home. In order to improve themselves, in order to be complete. I want all the parents to step aside and let them begin”

*They prepared themselves to fly, opening up their wings*

Ms. Flaire: “Looks like your all ready now”

Derine: “Good luck, Drinia!”

*All their parents cheers for their little kids except for Hena whose having a bitter face because the only one her side is her father. The fact that she can’t see her mother when she returns just crumbles her heart.”

Ms. Flaire: “Let the Annual Dragon Expedition… BEGIN!!”

*Every dragon spirit flies through the sky towards any direction they want some are left out because they still having doubt about this journey. They descend to the blue sky like a flock of birds*

*Drinia looks back and wave at them*

Drinia: “Bye! Bye!! Mom and dad!!”

*Her parents also wave back at her*

Gania: “You can do this! And remember our promise that you will return!!”

Derine: “We will wait for you!!”

Drinia: “Yeah!”

Derine: “I will miss her…”

Gania: “Me too”

*As Drinia flies she looks for Hena and hoping to travel with her*

Drinia: “Hena… Where are you…?”

*She saw her moving into the west direction so she rushes to chase her*

Drinia: “Hena!! I’m coming with you”

*Hena ignores her and and moves faster then before*

Drinia: (I won’t give up on you!! We will be friends again, Hena)

Hena: (Tsk!! She’s persistent)

*Five little dragons went to the west direction including Hena and Drinia. They past the Vari Kingdom in just 3 minutes*

Drinia: (We reached another kingdom… awesome… so this is what they look like. I need to focus on this one. First, I will persuade Hena to be friends with me again then I will find a volcano to live)

*Hena slowly widens her distance to Drinia*

Drinia: “Hena!! Talk to me!! You’re my best friend right?”

Hena: “If you won’t stop following me I’m going to hurt you!”

Drinia: “You know it wasn’t my fault. You’re with us too we tried to stop him but he didn’t listen”

Hena: “You don’t how it hurts to see your mother being devoured by the borther of my bestfriend!! I lost her!! Because of that monster!!”

Drinia: “But he’s different from me!’

Hena; “If he’s a monster the you’re a monster too!”

Drinia: “No... I’m not”

*Drinia keeps talking to her but after a while they reached another kingdom*

Hena: “Can you please stop!! Stop!! Stop!!”

Drinia: “…..”

*Drinia remains quiet for a while until they reaches the edge of the continent were various forest and landscapes awaits them. As they flew above the trees Hena thought of something*

Hena: (Sorry, Drinia.. but I hate you now)

*Hena slows down a bit and flies beside Drinia*

Drinia: “Hena! Do you forgive me now? Are we friends again?”

*Hena smiles at her but not in a way Drinia think it was. Hena suddenly strikes Drinia’s neck that made her lose consciousness she falls straight down to the trees. One of the branches pierce one of Drinia’s wing but with her weight she falls down directly to a swamp. She’s drowning and she can’t do anything but once a dragon spirit made a contact with an element for too long their spirit will adapt into it. Thus making Drinia a Swamp Dragon”