The Last Dragon’s Baby

Prologue - Within the Flames

Alma 

I could feel my body getting warm, hot in such a way that it was hard to breathe properly. Beads of sweat formed on my neck and face. I opened my eyes slowly, almost hesitantly. 

Has my stamina potion gone wrong once again? My professor will be so mad! I braced myself, getting ready for another explosion, but when my barely open eyes adjusted to the light. I could only see fire. 

Flames danced around me without reaching my body. I didn’t burn, only melted a little in my own sweat. 

Where was I? 

It was odd, too bright for my eyes, and hotter than anything else, yet it felt almost comfortable. 

I heard a howl and looked up to the sky. Even the sky had a shade of red as if it was just kissed by a springing flame. 

Something was flying over my head. 

It was large and gracious, like a blanket of fire but it went away as fast as it came and I was left alone within the glowing bodies of fire. 

I clenched my eyes shut once again, and opened them slowly trying to see beyond the flames that surrounded me. 

I was in an unfamiliar desert, far from home and even my school. 

The flying blanket of fire came back, much smaller this time, and swirled around me in spirals. A smile curled up on my lips. 

The entire world was now reduced to the cozy feeling of fire in movement.

The flare was moving gently, as if it was only a caress of the spring breeze. 

I felt embraced by it, and released a shallow sigh almost inadvertently. 

“Alma?” I heard a guttural voice calling my name. Startled, I looked around, trying to find the source of the call. 

Was I under a spell?

Was it just a dream? I pinched myself, trying to wake up.

“Alma, wake up!” I muttered to myself, brushing a humid strand of my long auburn hair to the back of my ear. 

I didn’t wake up, but as soon as the spark of fire approached me again and resumed its delicate movements, I was washed over with this feeling of recognition. I felt as if I could once again recognise a long-lost pleasure, a long-forgotten love. I  felt as if I belonged.

~ * ~

Unknown Point of View 

I woke up with a start and sat up immediately, reaching for the glass of water on my bedside table. 

It was the same dream again, the same woman veiled by a curtain of fire. I couldn’t see her face, only felt the strange familiarity of her presence. 

I knew well that these kinds of dreams always meant something, but this time I couldn’t grasp any meaning, only the tingle of a long-lost hope.

 ***

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