Chapter 8

Today was the day off the raid. Amy rubbed at her sleep laden eyes, for she had not slept all night after hearing the voice and still worrying about Ian and Liam. She wished not to bother Glyn more. Her grandmother had taught her to not be indebted to someone and not allow favors to accumulate. ‘It’s a magic wand, I’m in a magic world. I shouldn’t bother people just because of a few spells’, Amy thought to herself. She shared Jeremy’s dislike towards the main characters that could or would not accept fantasy circumstances. It was a plot device she disliked having seen it so many times. Now being in such a world she could understand the mindset, but she vowed to herself she would not be the same way.

“Umm”, Amy muttered to herself as determination filled her eyes. She wouldn’t be the helpless heroine that could not adapt.

“Welcome back to the land of the living”, Sean said as he shoved Amy’s shoulder playfully.

That’s right, instead of the classroom today they met in the square in front of the magic tower. A gentle warm wind blew from the east, at least what Amy was told was east, seeming to lift off the stone pavement discarding the leaves it was playing with on the ground to caress Amy’s face as it carried on its merry way.

So far, she had seen mostly from above, she really didn’t leave the tower because all the comforts of a modern culture were in the monolithic structures. Shops, restaurants, entertainment, cafes, library. Sometimes she would wander out onto the terraced gardens, but it was too far to feel the atmosphere.

Now the enormity really hit her as the white stone square gave way to large streets full of many different species lined with gigantic trees. The two suns shone on the stone; their sleepy, morning beams inciting the rock to shine. Despite the grand scale of the square, it was full as thousands of guild recruits, and residents had emptied out of the tower. Disallowing Amy from fully appreciating the square, only seeing glimpses through the openings of the crowd.

“Hmmm, Hmmmm”, Radim hummed, then a loud voice that pierced the boisterous bustle, “Right, Right everyone gather round. Today we are going to the opening of Fahirfleanyn, or spring cleaning. The opening raid is in Dduradum, more precisely in the foot hills. Don’t move too much the guild masters will begin the mass teleport spell in five minutes.

“Liam and Ian will win of course this year, in the two-person raid event they are the sky and all are equally underneath them”, Glyn said, surety in her eyes.

“That is for granted, but William will beat them in the solo raid this spring”, Sean said revealing to Amy the admiration he had for his older brother despite the strict discipline he received.

“I want to finish this year and pass the exams so we can finally participate in the wing raids”, Glyn said with disappointment.

Amy was looking at the sky watching all the dragons landing on the perches of the tower and departing as well. She looked around observing her classmates. Shatira was boasting about her superiority and hard work to her fellow earther friends. Osgur and Lorenn and their respective fellow fan club members were offering unto Veve and Satriana to buy drinks and food at the concessions, in hopes that they may gain the slightest favor of the two beauties. The entire class was aware that the wild attractive beauty of Glyn was saved for one man. The young males knew they could not compare to the guild master, so they all worshipped her beauty from afar, and instead chose to favor the lower hanging flowers.

Radim in the center of all his students swept his arm to the side as his tablet floated to his left, holding his hands up he began chanting words with a confident clear voice. Several golden lights shot up throughout the square, as the various masters began to perform their spells. The lights began to spread out at fifty or so feet above everyone. Soon a golden dome was shone down upon them. The only words Amy could describe the appearance was like a wall of a rippling substance in between a liquid and a gas. Then she felt no longer stone underneath her feet but grass had grown to itch at her ankles; she no longer saw stone structures further than her eye could see. Like she was viewing a slideshow the scenery changed to rolling grassy hills, with dark craggily black stones rising out of the ground like gigantic thorns.

“I love magic”, Amy thought to herself, her eagerness to learn magic increased turning into a smoldering desire.

“C’mon”, Glyn said as she grabbed Amy’s hand leading her across the perfectly level field towards a circular black stone structure in the middle.

Amy was as excited as she was nervous. It was an opportunity to experience the culture of Draegun. The class moved, merging with the throngs of people. When they drew nigh, Amy realized that this was an admission booth, and people were entering. Glancing back through the crowd, she saw they were on a crafted mesa, and ascertained this was not a natural landmark.

“Look it’s the alchemist guild”, Lorenn pointed and returned his finger doing the pointing to push up his glasses, which Amy now knew elves did not need.

A figure strode in the forefront with long graceful lumbering steps: an old man two hundred centimeters tall with a white beard that spread across his chest. His tall frame covered with a grey robe and light blue cloak, both with golden designs on the collars of the robe and borders of the cloak.

Minerva nudged Amy as they were soon to become next in line, “Dweddymyn, or olden folk, they are. They live in enclaves in the hills of Durahim. Although complain about each other always they do, as the longest living Draegun, the old couples are inseperable having spent several human life times together”.

“How come you know so much about them?”, Amy asked with curiosity

Minerva waved her wide but feminine hands, “Pshh! Of course, a dwarf would know of the pioneers in alchemy. They are the only people better than dwarves. Although, I’m the odd dwarf being in the magic guild”.

Land mine! The atmosphere suddenly degraded a shade the usual flow of conversation interrupted by awkward silence.

Sensing the situation Amy turned around and grabbed Minerva’s hands. At five feet the dwarven girl was only a few inches shorter than Amy.

“Well, as someone else who feels out of place too, let’s be friends”, Amy said with a smile looking into Minerva’s eyes.

Minerva’s clouded eyes turned clear, as she tightened her grip on Amy’s hands “Thank you! Yes let’s be friends!”

“We are about to go inside”, Glyn turned around and spoke.

Amy saw today Glyn was wearing light blue denim shorts, and a purple spaghetti strap top, enjoying a constant stream of tobacco smoke like any dragon present. It was a fine day. Amy was a bit surprised after seeing her covered in scales, wings, and claws, at how pale and delicate her skin looked. The gentle warmth from the sun, the soft spring breeze carrying tidings of the blooming buds. The smell of flower and green grass filled Amy’s nostrils.

Glyn began to twirl being the second to next in line to enter, “Ahhhh, it is so nice today I wish I could stay outside and watch. Minerva don’t dare steal my new adorable little sister”, Glyn said in a mock pout as she stepped forward to enter.

Minerva grabbed Amy’s hand as she they became next. Amy had realized that the short, domed structure atop the flat plain was a ticketing booth, no it was too grand to be called a booth.

Upon entering Amy knew the entire mesa was something close to a stadium. She stood next to Minerva on one side, and Glyn leaning and shouting encouragement for Liam. The edges of her top lifting up above her shorts revealing her slender waist. Amy doubted herself immensely in most areas; however, knew she at least wasn’t ugly. But Glyn, Glyn was beautiful, no wonder she had many silent unrequited fans in the guild. Amy felt her low levels of self-esteem rise from just being with her. Then she turned to look at Minerva who smiled back and continued looking forward rising herself above the wall to get a better vantage point.

Amy could not deny she was a rescuer; her mother often scolded her in Vietnam when she would bring sick stray cats home. Her younger sister while the most intelligent, the most talented of her and her sisters, she was also rebellious and fell short of her mother’s expectations. Amy always looked after her younger sister, Amy was of the type to help even when it was to her own detriment, even when her actions went beyond wisdom, becoming more of a compulsion. Yet still she could not overlook those who were troubled. As such she was soon attached to Minerva as well.

“All according to plan”, Glyn said thoughtfully as if floating in the stream of her own consciousness gazing at Minerva and Amy linking arms.

“Hmm”, Amy had a puzzled expression after hearing Glyn’s words then a mighty roar sounded.

The crowd cheered, Amy, Minerva, Glyn, and her fellow guild initiates were all standing on the edges of the stadium, looking over the wall at the boundary thereof. The view of the sparse terrain before her, the black stone stadium towered over the withered barren stretches, and a lifeless forest after that. There was a rumble in the distance, a disturbance in the flow of magic and air that Amy could sense. And the five blue and three purple spots above the horizon grew into dragons, soon their mass became larger ever larger. The littered sparse group of trees on the bare field were like refugees huddled together to escape the cold, and began to sway under the mighty wings of the Ddyllewech dragons. The dragons roared in unison and flew over the stadium flying close to the ground. The guild’s seats were in the middle, Amy looked down the east wing of the stadium and turned to the west wing of the stadium looking at the faces of the crowd as they let out a cheer that shook the very rock on which she stood. Soon a blue Dragon was rushing towards the stadium, his size was far larger than all the rest of the dragons she had encountered so far. As he drew nearer Amy could see white scales under his jaws as he pitched up. Everyone one near Amy was knocked back by the wind as she could see scales and claws moving in front of the stands. Amy like countless others approached the vantage point again and looked up at the great dragon perched atop the mesa and spread his wings. He assumed a watchful perch.

“Welcome fellow Draegun and Ddyllewech brethren. Today we begin Fahirfleanyn,”, the dragon uttered, the reverberation of his voice seemed to crawl up Amy’s legs, “Today we fight once again for the peace we have maintained for thousands of years. Please join me as we cheer for our noble brothers and sisters as they strive to protect and quell the corruption that seeks to devour our lands”.

So great was the dragon’s charisma that even Amy felt a spark in her soul, as she joined the thousands cheering. From unoccupied sections of the stadium like cliff sparks began and fireworks flew into the sky exploding into balls of magnificent color and scale with resounding booms.

The warm air, suddenly began to turn cold. The energy and cheer of the crowd diminished. It was as if all the happiness had gone from the world. Amy’s heart began to beat anxiously and she heard shrieks off in the distance beyond the barren lands to a withered leafless forest. Black dots emerged from the boundary of the forest, the feeling in the air grew heavier and more oppressive. Amy grabbed both Minerva’s and Glyn’s hands reflexively, as Glyn and Sean both dropped the cigarettes from their lips.

“Ogres”, Glyn muttered with a stony expression.

Amy looked up at the sky. It was gentle peaceful before, blue filled with a warm gentle light, with sparse fluffy clouds roaming floating above the ground leisurely following the course of the wind. Now the sky darkened, the air stood still and stagnant, yet ominous clouds rolled in under their own propulsion. A notification appeared in her vision as if it was real:

[Caution danger is approaching. You have been subjected to an evil aura all abilities are reduced by 10%, anxiety and fear are slowly overwhelming you]

[You have resisted]

An anxious weakened cheer erupted as two figures marched out from the gates in the center of the curved mesa. Amy immediately recognized Liam, then recognized Ian. They were each clad in magnificent blue and beige armor, produced from their own scales, which Amy would later figure out. Liam lifted off the ground floating along with his tablet rotating around him, he raised his arms up.

“Mo re ra”, Liam chanted; before the sounds of the language she heard when magic was made manifest, seemed merged together, but now Amy could hear each individual syllable clearly.

Then, the clouds that had proliferated, propagated, now cleared, and the shadows that had strengthened, vanished as if they were a lie.

“Amazing”, Minerva said as Amy could feel the tension in Minerva’s muscles disappearing.

The scores of Ogres that were approaching suddenly started charging across the open field towards Liam and Ian’s location as if they were of one mind.