Lyra's Songs

Lyra was a young red-haired elf and she lived in an era where dragons were a rare sight but still her blood line was entrusted with two dragon eggs that would hatch when they chose their partner for life. She was the young princess which would someday rule her people, so she needed to be prepared for everything she was going to face. The celebration of her 10th anniversary was something to remember of, the elves of the golden woods all gathered, she was at the center of the celebration, on a table with her parents beside her. She took after her father which had the same red hair as hers, he was tall and a talented warrior. Her mother was of a blond hair so light that it was almost white, she was tall and thin and a great healer.  Some female elves started the celebration with a beautiful dance honoring the woods, the life and their next ruler. Right after the dance, the elite team prepared a mock battle and Lyra watched with eyes beaming with joy and admiration, she couldn’t wait until she was old enough to join the elite fighters. Usually, the elite team was composed of five or six of the highest level warriors ang mages from the golden woods. And before the banquet started, the most awaited event occurred. Lyra stood up, as the elders approached her with the two dragon eggs that were already presented to her predecessors, but still none were chosen. One of the eggs were of a pure white and they believed that only the purest of heart would make it hatch, and even without telling the young elf, many of the elderly thought that the purest of heart would be her. The other egg was of a brindle red, he had some variations of red but still was as beautiful as the white one. The legend said that the red one would wait until the white one hatched so it could live and protect the one believed to be the purest one. The elves of the golden woods didn’t have anything fancy like big houses or palaces, they used the nature and their surroundings with utmost respect. So, to celebrate they went into a glade which had least trees among the space so they could enjoy and celebrate together. They chose the nighttime to celebrate so the sun wouldn’t get too harsh to stand the whole thing. As the elders approached her, thousands of fireflies lit their way and it was the most beautiful scene that Lyra had ever seen. They reached the girl at the center of the glade, her parents were just behind her smiling proudly. One of the elders took a step closes to the girl and held her hands. -Princess Lyra, you already know what is the meaning of this whole thing, we are here more than celebrating your birthday, we gathered in hope that you would be chosen to guide and protect our people along with one of these dragons. You already know that you have affinity with magic and you have been training since you were younger and yet a power such as yours is a rare sight. Not so long ago the dragons left to a distant land where no one would find them, just because elves, the night people and the morning sons only thought of using such power to their benefit. So remember that with power comes responsibility, we were honored to have these egg left behind even though all the dragons went away of their own volition. So, remember to never stray from your path, with or without a dragon you already are a magnificent mage and your people will always count on you. Now an elderly woman came closer to the young princess, she smiled gently before taking one of the girl’s hand and putting her other hand on the princess head. -Accept our blessing my princess, with this we hope that fortune and happiness can always find you. – As she said a light enveloped Lyra for a few seconds – And now please touch first the white egg. Lyra counted until ten to calm down and then approached the white egg, she stopped very close to it and glanced at her parents and they both nodded to her smiling. As soon as she touched the white egg a tremendous explosion came down, at first Lyra thought it could be the egg reacting but she was wrong. The elders reacted fast enough to create a barrier to protect the eggs and the royal family but at their age that barrier wouldn’t last long. -Hurry Lyra, touch the other one! We don’t have much time! – The woman who blessed her said in despair and without second thoughts she touched the red egg with her heart screaming for help. In this very moment the egg emitted a strong red light, Lyra protected her eyes with her hands and soon she was transported somewhere else. She wasn’t at the barrier anymore there wasn’t a floor beneath her nor walls, everything was shining with a golden light and she finally saw what was in front of her. A small red dragon stood before her, he was the smallest yet most cute thing she had ever seen, his scales shone a beautiful red, his small wings probably weren’t strong enough to even carry him. Suddenly Lyra felt her chest burn, but it wasn’t a bad feeling, something warm was being born within her and then the young princess was once more surprised as his voice echoed in her mind. Lyra, partner life… Will protect you… Sorry Apparently, he was still struggling with words, Lyra was confused if he was learning from her and if so he went so fast! They got out of the shiny place and back to the woods, the barrier was long gone and every single elf of the golden woods were fighting. She held the red dragon and looked for a familiar face, someone that could actually help her, help them. Lyra started to panic as she saw the pale enemy with small and pointy ears, they were old enemies, the Night folk, known to be great hunters and even stronger by the night. She couldn’t fight alone and still protect her new companion, which was struggling to leave her arms and walk beside her. Lyra, let go. -No! I have to protect you, so stay still. Sorry -Why do you keep saying you’re sorry? You haven’t done anything wrong. Lyra, sorry The small red dragon said again and immediately Lyra felt her strength being stolen from her body. Was she being attacked by some kind of magic? Her powers were fading and she couldn’t think of anything to protect both of them. Suddenly the Queen Lizeth saw her daughter and the small dragon defenseless at the center of the glade and hurried to their side. -Lyra! – Her mother shouted, but she was already unconscious. She held the girl as an enemy rushed to them. – Oh no! – Lizeth looked everywhere for her husband, she knew she couldn’t protect them, but it was too late the night folk was already too close and his eyes were shining with bloodlust. As the enemy raised his blade to attack them the red dragon, now not so small anymore jumped in action. He roared at the night folk and with a swing of his claws the enemy was killed. Lizeth couldn’t believe her eyes, she knew dragons were amazing creatures, but to speed growing? That was totally new to her. The dragon nodded to Lizeth and she understood that he was going to protect her daughter at all costs, he was bigger than a horse but still wasn’t strong enough to breathe fire. -Dragon, we need to find and protect the other egg. – Lizeth staring directly into his eyes and as he understood her words the not-so-small dragon remembered the white egg from Lyra’s memories. He raised his head looking for the egg, but there were too many people fighting in that place, so the dragon stormed against the enemies surprising everyone on the battlefield. Soon the elite team and the King noticed the big red dragon fighting and near it the queen holding the princess in her arms. They rushed to their side through the battle, the four warriors fought and killed any enemy that crossed their path and the king on the center of them just worried about getting back with his family. -What happened? – King Hamza asked as he embraced his queen and his daughter. -I don’t know, I saw Lyra losing her consciousness beside a baby red dragon and next thing I knew he was bigger and protecting us. -Is she okay? – Hamza passed his fingers on her fringe gently. -It seems like she just lost her strength, maybe the bonding used too much of her magic. -Maybe the dragon is using too much of her magic… - King Hamza said suspecting about his fast growth. -Yes, maybe. But he did it to protect her so I’ll be forever grateful. -And the other egg? Did the elders managed to protect it? -All I know is that they were going to send it somewhere safe. -Ok, stay close I’ll protect you. – The king said as he drew his sword. Swords and spells clashed everywhere, the night people were stronger in the night as their powers were derived from the moon. They were fast and their magic usually consisted on weakening the enemy, some of most talented were said to have the power to control blood, but still was a very rare feature even among their people. King Hamza had lost count of how many pale enemies he had slayed that night, Lizbeth focused on healing the ones nearest her, especially her husband. The red dragon stood fiercely alongside the elite team and the royal family, he sliced many with his claws and injured many more with his fangs, the tip of its tail was rounded covered with spikes, so you could see the dragon using it to hit masses of enemies. Surely the night people weren’t expecting such a creature to fight in that battle. Soon the attackers realized that they didn’t stand a chance and decided to retreat, the elves didn’t follow them as they’d rather help their wounded. King Hamza ordered some of the elite warriors to go find the elders and see what happened to the white egg. Lyra was taken to a new accommodation, one that would fit a dragon even though he was still way smaller than an adult dragon. Ayla was one of the best trackers of the golden woods and surely, she assured her place as an Elite Warrior as soon as she could, she had long yellow hair in a ponytail and was one of the warriors assigned to go find the elders. By her side, Braern was the best swordsman, he had brown short hair and was a bit shorter than the average. Still, no one compared to him when crossing swords. The third and last one going with them to find the elders was Nuala, she was an amazing mage, with silver hair and blue eyes. Ayla didn’t take long to find what she was looking for, unfortunately she found the group of the elders killed and the egg most certainly was with the night folk. The tacker analyzed the scene trying to find something useful. Then Nuala stood right in the middle of the corpses and started to chant some ancient words, and for a few seconds some wisps recreated the scene where the elders were killed and the egg taken from them with ease. That magic wouldn’t last very long nor show where those people are now, but just knowing what happened was a great help. The party rushed back to tell their king the bad news, the situation was dire, a lot of elves were badly injured, many were killed and their precious egg stolen. King Hamza decided that first they should honor their dead and tend to the injured, after that they would deal with the missing egg. An entire day passed before Lyra woke up, but the red dragon didn’t leave her side. She opened her eyes to see a much larger and bigger room and an even bigger dragon that she remembered. Lyra! Finally you woke up! -What? – She was still feeling dizzy and confused, the voice of the dragon on her head wasn’t a baby like voice anymore, now he sounded a bit more mature, maybe like a teenager, she thought. I’m sorry, I absorbed some of your magical capacity so I could get bigger and stronger to help you and your family… I knew it was risky, but I was sure you could handle it, you’re so strong, I could feel it. -I’m really confused… Where are we? And what should I call you? I still don’t have a name so, I think you should name me… -Lyra! You woke up! – Queen Lizeth shouted and hurried to her daughter’s side. -Mom! – Lyra hugged her back – I’m fine, but I’m still weak and hungry… -I figured so! – The queen laughed – We already prepared a meal for you… So, have you named him? -No… You too think I should name him? -Well, that’s what he’s been asking for since yesterday, so I figured you would do his bidding. I think you should give him a name with impact, after all he stormed through battle right after hatching from his egg. -Ok, a strong name… Zephyr? What do you think? You’re warm and gentle, yet strong like a storm. I loved it! Lyra and Zephyr replenished their energies with a great meal prepared specially for each one of them. For the dragon, one big boar was hunted so he could stay by his partner’s side until she woke up. And now the real challenge was only beginning, the special training they were going to receive and all the studying they would have to do.