Dragon Bound

Chapter 39

Ryoka’s eyes were red and puffy, she didn’t get much sleep, mother was there in her dreams again, not her own biological mother Laura, but the dragon queen mother, previously known as Elouise the mother, just the night before, some Eldrians were discussing -a discussion that turned into a hot argument- about her and her decision to accept humans into the continent, some sided with her that it was out of her benevolence and there was no way she could have known it would turn out this way, while others opposed that she was naïve and too soft and could have totally prevented the situation.

The conversation shifted to Ryoka’s mother Laura, there were also two sides to this, some feel she shouldn’t have given up so easily when the first revolution failed, they felt it wasn’t a queenly thing to do, others felt she had no other option as she was trying to preserve the lot that was left to avoid complete perishing of the race, then the conversation shifted to Ryoka, of course she wasn’t amongst those talking and discussing this, she was only in the mess hall to mingle as the majority spent more time here with each other, she wanted to show that she was of the same mind as well, this was how her name being said brought her attention to the group discussing, she had to listen hard and filter all the noise around and about though.

Thankfully they had good things to say about her though, confirming she handled the liberation operations well enough and their only fear was uf she really knew what she was into and what she was doing seeing as she was young and all, it was upon hearing this that Ryoka made a few notes to herself, first; they thought the operations was all her idea, well it was but then it wasn’t all her planning and doing, she would have to make that clear to everyone eventually, they shouldn’t look to her as a leader of anything yet.

The second thing was that she realized she was indeed going to need this spark that her mother had told her of, draugh fuh in elder tongue, because she was sure that eventually, there would be those that would oppose them enough to even fight against them, besides, it was going to make for good argument and reassurance should they know she was a bearer, but she would need to showcase it’s usage in a high level in fact, not just ordering people around, somehow she started to miss Damien, he would have a way for her to train the ability, but then, he wasn’t here any longer, so she has to figure it out by herself.

The dream she had of the great dragon queen Elouise was erratic, really confusing and it came in a torrent of not so comprehensible visions, but one thing was clear, she didn’t have much time anymore and there were things she needed to relay to her, but due to her deterioration, she couldn’t hold a strong link between them both anymore, not strong enough to give any information anymore, hence why she kept using images and visions to try to communicate with Ryoka.

This gave Ryoka their next plan of action though, and she was utterly convinced it was their best next move, first it would be so random that the WIC would never expect it, especially seeing how daring, dangerous and, well, foolhardy it was, she wasn’t even sure how she was going to convince those that were here for the fight, but she knew those she would look to first, thanks to that conversation she eavesdropped on the previous evening.

There were already murmurs going about too, it had been four days since the liberation, yet nothing else was being said or done, everyone was just there, living in and drifting about the great mansion estate that no one knew how the first revolution had been able to acquire it.

Those who were indifferent about the fight and only wanted to go live their lives somewhere far from the WIC (very few people amongst them), were uneasy and questioning on the plans on ground for them, apparently being in the safe house wasn’t safe enough for them seeing as it was targetable by the WIC, it is part of the revolution after all.

Those who wanted to join the struggle and fight against the WIC (the majority), were uneasy about the next step and plan of action, that is if there was any and they were questioning about the hierarchical structure of the revolution, the battles to come and the future they were fighting for. Of course there were those who were just lazy and indecisive as well, they were waiting to see which course of action would suit them best, they wouldn’t need much convincing to join the fighting side though.

Ryoka would answer their questions in due time, first she needed to gather herself, collect her thoughts and plans together, and as well summon the courage to face the gathering hoard, it was one thing to face Adrian and his siblings, but it was something entirely different to face this hoard.

Adrian and his siblings have all had their turns trying to convince her to just man up and go for it and address everyone as the leader amongst them, she didn’t know when and how she got elected leader, but then, she found out that even those that were rescued by the other teams automatically thought her to be the leader upon seeing her, maybe it was one of the effects of the draugh fuh, but then the few humans amongst them also had this conviction and she was sure the draugh fuh doesn’t work on them.

After breakfast she summoned the needed courage after swallowing her fear and doubts with the waffles she had, and whilst the majority was still gathered, some still eating others just lounging and a few outside, she climbed up the table she ate at after clearing the top.

Immediately she did this, a hush descended in a revolving manner starting from those around her and extending outwards, within seconds, everywhere was quite and somehow the info had been passed to those that were not inside at the time and she could see them rushing in and falling in place with the silence, Ryoka took a deep breath and steeled herself and her resolve, especially because of the burden she was about to put on her head.

“Hello everyone” she started “I’m sure everyone knows who I am by now, but I’ll still introduce myself for clarity, I am Ryoka, daughter of Dante, a powerful former commander under the WIC before turning against them, but more importantly a friend to most of you that knows him, I’m also the daughter of Laura, the intended next dragon queen for the Eldrians, most of you that aren’t close to her know gr for one thing, that she is probably the most formidable Rouran dragon breed ever, those are my parents” she announced and she could see satisfied looks all about.

“All my life, I’ve never had the chance to live a normal life, I was always on the move, never settling in one place for more than a few months, I later got to know that this was because the WIC were always searching for me like I’m one treasure of theirs or something, all the while I grew up with my father, I was trained in survival means and methods, up till the day we got separated when the WIC finally caught up to us” Ryoka said, engaging them in a briefing of her background.

“I was fortunate to escape the WIC thanks to my father who wasn’t so lucky, he fought for me, holding the foe back so I could escape, after this I was picked up by someone who claimed to be my ally but was indeed a foe and he was even family at that, but whilst with him and moving about as well, I got to train and pish myself as hard as possible within few weeks of learning about my heritage and race and as well knowing all there is to know so far on the surface about Eldrians, the generations of dragons and the history between the humans, the WIC, and the Eldrians” she said to them who all listened with rapt attention.

“All these while as well, ever so often, I got to communicate with the current dragon queen, Elouise the mother, and as well as my mother the intended next dragon queen, Laura, they filled me up in the blanks and some other crucial details that I will still shed more light on as time goes on” she said and a this, there were murmurs but then it quickly died down as they continued to listen to her.

“I decided to stop running, to stop hiding, I want to live, I’m tired of always having to look over my shoulders, never free to do what I wish for the fear of being discovered by them, I’m making a stand now and saying no to them with every ounce of strength, energy, power, and will, and I will fight them with all I’ve got as well, to achieve that freedom, and even if not for me, but for the next generation after me, for the children I’ll give birth to and for their own children” she said and the in ones and twos and threes they started standing up.

“I have joined forces with Adrian and his elder siblings, children of Dai, sister to my father Dante, also a great former commander that is well known in the WIC, she and my father both started the rebellion and we as their children are turning it into a full blown revolution, I’ll only plead this once for your aid, join us, in securing a better future for ourselves and our race, freedom from the tyranny of the WIC” she said on a final note, Adrian came to join her on too of the table she stood on, his siblings as well all stood on the tables where they are and soon after everyone joined and started standing on the tables after which a cheer and different battle cries.

“What’s next commander!?” someone shouted from the crowd.

Ryoka smirked she had been praying someone would ask that question so she can drop the bomb of the plan she had on them.

“Next!” She said, her voice ringing loud and clear “We are going to liberate the dragon queen, Elouise the mother, from the clutches of the WIC”