A normal life

The power of magic

“Why, we could save lives with the magic. Feed more creatures. So, I can communicate with a dragon, so what. Why risk everyone because of that?”

Dad: “I thought you knew? You can control dragons now. All of them except for the one you share a soul with as you are equal to one another. It is a skill that needs to be developed. A lot of time, patience, and dedication need to go into mastering it completely.”

“I have only just started discussing it with Leonard. He stated that I could talk to them as I do other elves as well as control their will, not the elves, the dragons. The only way to control elves is with my natural charm. The dragons, however, will follow me because of obligation. I must admit that feels wrong on so many levels. I do not want them to follow me because of obligation but because they do have a choice and choose to.”

“Perhaps if I could spend some time with them, get to know them better. In so doing they might like me for me, not just due to the curse. What I would like to know is in which way our enemies possibly benefit from this curse?”

Dad: “Just as anything else that is precious, this ability can be stolen from you. Torn from your being and once the control of the dragons is with an unworthy source it can be used as a weapon, manipulated for evil. They would be able to start and finish a war without even lifting a finger. Dragons might not be in abundance, but they are almost indestructible. The legend states that he who controls the dragons controls the planet and possibly even planets.”

“But, how could they?”

Dad: “By stealing your soul. Sending reapers to pull it from your body, leaving you empty and lifeless. They will not only be stealing your's but also the part that belongs to, I guess your dragon.”

“Mine? Are you serious? Is, Leonard mine now?”

Dad: “I do not think I ever had a choice regarding that, but that is not what you should be focused on now! It is your souls you should be concerned about. You are both in extreme danger should anyone find out about this.”

I have only seen a reaper once before in my life and it is a memory I really do not want to re-live. I will skip the sad parts for another day, but one thing I can tell you is, I do not scare easily but that day. I feared death herself.

“Dad, I just have one more question if I may? How do they summon a reaper to do their bidding? To extract my soul? From what legend states they are superior beings that do not bend to the will of any creature other than their creator.”

Dad: “By using a magically manufactured weapon called a Coptic Cross, Made from non-other than the scales of the first dragon to come down to our land. Bound together with the cloth of a fallen reaper’s cloak. It is hard to come by and I honestly do not believe that there have ever been more than three of these in existence. Yet no one knows for sure. I certainly have never laid eyes on one myself, but I can only imagine how magnificent it must be.

Whoever wields this weapon can summon a reaper at their will. It had never before been possible to my knowledge up until the first dragon fell. Their powers on their planet must have been something extraordinary for a simple scale to have such power on ours. To control those who control our departure.

There is a catch to it though. Every time it is used, it drains the life force of the one wielding it. Not a lot, but it can significantly decrease one’s life expectancy. Summoning them one too many times could be the end of you. None of us knows how many grains of sand our hourglass holds, other than the beforementioned reapers obviously, them and the timekeepers, thus draining your sand if you already have a short life unknowingly to oneself just once could be your end.”

“Is it a risk worth taking?”

Dad:” For some. Not everyone values life the way we do. Some creatures only live for the now, not thinking about the bigger picture. Not realizing that every piece of puzzle removed from our word at the incorrect time can have serious consequences to the larger picture.”

“I guess. I feel sorry for the reapers. Not having a say in any of this. It is their job to maintain the balance between life and death to only come to collect us at a specific pre-determined time. I wonder if they two get sad when they have to collect the young soles that did not have a chance to become who they were intended to be. I would. And then knowing what the plan is for another life and being forced to end it beforehand. It must kill them.”

Dad: “You must be the only elf I know that can sympathize with something as dark as a reaper. Then again you have always had a way with the other. The ones no one can stand with or see a light in. You have opened the eyes of our people to creatures they would before destroy, purely out of fear. Made them see the beauty in the beast.”

(Reapers are tall, skinny, black-cloaked, see-through spirits that appear when the Owlenial crows three times.

The reaper's skull resembles a crystal skull shining underneath the hood as if carved from ice. They exhibit sharp fang-like teeth. The two top canine teeth are slightly longer than the rest. I only witnessed her for a brief moment once before in my life, but it is an image that has haunted me ever since.

(Owlenial: Snow white, owl-like creature with pitch-black eyes and a crow-like beak. Three dark circles on its chest in the shape of an upside-down triangle)

Remember when mom mentioned that I have not had any nightmares that bad for some time now. Well, now you know what those were about.

“So your fear you had, the thing you have been protecting me from all this time was from the reapers?”

Dad: “Exactly! The guards I appointed know what they are protecting you from but not for what reason. It would be best to avoid the topic of magic all together when with them.

I have noticed both of you girls spending a significant amount of time with these guards.”

Nessy: “So you did not just hire them to distract Cassy from Pieterre?”

Dad: “Do not be absurd, Pieterre knew the truth and ensured me that I need not worry about a childlike crush on him. That he would dismiss it and treat you both like the sisters you are. You may ask him yourself if you prefer.”

“I prefer avoiding him for the time being, to be honest.”

Dad: “You will have to confront him eventually.”

Nessy: “Eventually, but not any time soon. I would also like some time to process everything a bit more before walking up to him and acknowledging him as my brother.”

Dad: “As long as you do it in private as to not alarm anyone of your relation.”

Nessy: “Obviously!”

Dad: “I think that is enough for today. I have work to attend to and you need rest.

Wait, there is just one more thing, on the last moon crossing after the festival of lights it is said that once your soul is extracted from your body it can be inserted into that of another. I will be keeping a close watch on you for obvious reasons. I might need to station guards at your door. You best behave.

Nasteljè, while you are here, I will acquire you help with keeping an eye on your sister?”

Nessy:” She has always protected me. It is about time I return the favor, consider it an honor. Good night father.”

We close the doors and stretch our backs out. Those chairs are killers. We see dad through the window pushing in our chairs.

He has a worried grin on his face and I now understand why. The timing could not have been worse.