Red ether left behind a powerful visage around Glacia. The hazy presence made it burdensome to see over ten feet when staring into a dense area. However, there were select spots that were unique. Points where the ether wasn’t as strong. Making it accessible to walk through. Glacia was now walking that path and while its weakened state hardly disturbed her sight, she took greater breaths than usual. A stink lingered in the air as if everything were burning, nearby trees shooting the smell of burning wood up her nose.

She pressed her thumb brushed across her nose before pinching it to rid the smell. She exhaled through her mouth, then inhaled, holding it for several seconds. “This is annoying.” Releasing her nose, she huffed. “It’s like everything is burning. Even my skin.” Glacia said as she patted her face. “And you say it’s too dangerous to just fly through? Why?” Her companion didn’t respond, so she spoke through her thoughts. Seriara?

“Yes? My apologies, I was focusing.”

You mentioned it was unsafe to fly, but walking seems just as bad, if not worse, because of the effects of the ether. How is it you know how to protect us from it? Were you around when Infernus was alive?

Seriara remained quiet for a moment. “Closer to the end of his life is when I was born. Though his ether didn’t feel like this. It was soothing, a pleasant blanket around your entire body that practically made it seem like he was constantly there watching you. Informing you ‘You are safe’.” She fell mute again. It was as if she were choosing her words carefully. “I learned how to deal with some time afterward when I wished to feel what man felt and encounter the world as they did. I found leisure in the cold, more so than in his embrace. Timing couldn’t have been more on my side as it was then he was killed by the First Tarragon and his embrace turned into resentment that tainted everything it had a hold of.”

What did he resent? Think if we solved the root, it could get rid the ether? Well… if he died before his ether turned into whatever this is, that wouldn’t be it. Is it possible that he wasn’t the cause?

“I have no answer that you’ll be satisfied with. So I suggest you let me focus and ensure we make it to our destination with no side effects.”

The response was dismissive. Glacia could clearly tell that. Heeding her suggestion, she tapped her face again. It burned as if a flame was being held next to her cheek. She opened up the canister on her hip and took a swig of water. “Bleh!” The waters hot!

“We’ve not much further until we’ve passed this dense part of ether. We’ll resupply and progress from there. I assure you; the aura will hold the whole way. The faster we travel to Accolade, the better. Then I will have to rest for some time.”

“It’s not like I have an option. I can’t turn around now.” Glacia couldn’t help but wonder about Seriara’s past. To the times when she was her mother’s guardian and a stranger to herself. “When my mother was Gardenia, did she rely on you? Or did she have the power to do things herself?”

“That’s enough, Glacia. No more talking unless it’s important.”

“Hmph.” Glacia turned her attention in front of her, a caravan coming in sight with several carts. “People on the road?” Though she couldn’t question their reason for being there as she walked the ether as well, they seemed to deal with it as if it didn’t exist at all. One thing she knew from her training as a Tarragon. Where there’s a pack of moving humans near the mountains, there were dragons watching. From either high or low. “We’re still miles off from Accolade and the trail is this jammed with people. Did something happen?” Wasting no time, Glacia approached one cart from behind and caught the attention of a man who looked like a farmer. “Excuse me, how are you dealing with this heat?”

He tilted his head, instantly side eying his horse, then glanced back at Glacia. “It’s pretty fair out. I guess it was hot earlier in the day, seeing as any water we have has gotten all warm, but since the sun started setting, it’s been quite nice.”

Glacia paused, as if she’d make a fool of herself. What? Am I the only one who sees this? No, it can’t be. He said their water has gotten warmer, so it is affecting things. Just not them?

“They must be headed to the same place we are. Accolade must have become a sort of sanctuary. This is only more reason we should hurry. If we’re too late, their gates may close on us, but I think your leverage as Gardenia may be useful there.”

“Are you also heading to Accolade?” He asked, looking at her outfit. “You seem like you would need the extra hands. But perhaps, since you’re alone, you don’t need us.”

“Eh… No, I’m fine.” Glacia’s response was quick and hesitant. “I’m in a hurry.”

“Well stay safe out here, little lady. These parts aren’t the safest for anyone to travel alone.”

They aren’t acknowledging the ether at all. So, if I had to guess, they can’t control ether.

“The people are nothing we should be concerned about... but you are correct. His malice affects humans of null ether type very little. Compared to what it could do to us.”

Glacia unbuckled a bag on her hip and revealed a notebook and a pen she jotted on. So there’s a difference!? In what way would it do more harm to us than to them? The ether is like a toxic either way to both living and nonliving, right?

“It’s identical to why some can perceive my existence, and some cannot. Take the Minhki from earlier. A keen ether can identify an off-putting in the surrounding ether. I may appear to her in a moment, but when I shift my ether in a way that hers could not distinguish, I become invisible again.” She flew from Glacia’s head over a curly haired bison with a girl sleeping on its back. “Now take this bison and its passenger. Throw them in as deep of the… Let’s call it Red. Throw them in as deep as you want and the worst they would feel is a slight discomfort in their breathing. Maybe sweat more than usual. Versus, what would happen to us if we strayed a couple of meters off of this road? We’d be feeling that, but maybe tenfold. Those who control ether live in a different world than those who can’t. Understand?”

The notebook and pen slid back into Glacia’s bag before she nodded. “I understand. So this is something I should remember during my hunt. This ether effects differently if you can’t control an element.” Seeing Seriara nod, Glacia’s attention turned ahead. “There goes any idea of hitching a ride. We’ll just have to go around them.” Glacia stepped off the road and ran beside the caravan. As she passed, she noticed clear signs of burns along their carts and a few of the men and women bandaged up. “I don’t like the look of this. It looks like they had a scrape with dragons before.” A woman’s voice sounded out from ahead. Calling out to all behind her.

“Now, now! Don’t lose faith, folks! Once we cross this bridge, we’ll be under the safety of Accolade’s Dawn Watchers! We’ll honor the lost once we make it to safety and continue on from there! The city needs more farmers and we can provide them with the service they’re looking for! Our lives are secure once we make it there! Just don’t lose faith!”

“Just how much further do we have, Caroline? We’ve been on the road for nearly three days and had one too many close encounters!” Another woman asked her.

“The bridge is right up ahead. From there on, we’ll all be safe to let down our guard. No worries from there on.”

The woman's voice was rousing. To Glacia, if she were a member of the Tarragon, many would follow her command. That is, until dread covered her face when she heard despairing news. A man hollered, waving his hands toward the rest of the caravan.

“The bridge is gone!”

Huh? Glacia grit her teeth at the thought of going around. She approached the front of the line, promptly noticing rocky debris scattered around. In the water, the pillars used to hold the bridge above had appeared to be blown to bits. The rest of the bridge she assumed to be drifting in the rushing waves below. “This can’t be a coincidence. This is the work of dragons.” She reached for her bracelet, peering across the river. That looks about sixty feet. I’ll create a bridge.

“Strong enough to hold this many people? We’ll burn out before we make it to Accolade.”

Glacia looked each of the people who stared at her in the eye. I didn’t say it’d be big enough for them. Another voice suspended her next move, a shriek that sent anxiety into her chest.

“Dragons!”

Over the distance, fields of drakes raced in their direction, closing the distance quicker than any of them could react. Glacia froze up, her hand still on her wristband while she observed the overwhelming number of drakes galloping their way and towards the people. She panted, tightening her fists as her posture gradually turned in their direction. “A second ago it was different, but now…”

“Glacia, wait!” Seriara yelled. “There’s too many of them! Even if we made it out, our ether will be close to gone!”

“I know that but…!” Glacia slung the wristband into a rapier and tapped it on the ground. “Leaving them alone is one thing but leaving them to die is another! I’ll use my anima! Lend me your power, Seriara!” Seriara’s snout fired sparks as the dragon dove inside of her. A circle of snow assembled at her feet and pillars made of ice in different shapes and sizes raised from the ground. “Neverland!” Ice, in the shape of scales, raised from the snow and crashed on her face, spreading down to her shoulders and stretching to her biceps. In a burst of speed, she took off, thrusting her arm into a piece of ice. The ice coiled into a spear as fast as she intercepted the first drake and thrust it through its skull. “Run! I’ll hold them!”

The horses went into a panic, some losing control and breaking free, leaving the travelers to fend for themselves. Abandoning their carts, they fled on foot. Another group of drakes ambushed them, snapping some in two with one bite.

Glacia dove toward the Drake, digging her rapier in its eye, then slicing across its neck. I have to hold this spot! A stroke of a drake’s claw shattered her coiled arm, bursting into pieces. She waved her rapier, delivering the shards into the beast’s eyes before she lunged the rapier into its soft jaw. Withdrawing, a visage of blue wings sprouted from her back, and she flew back towards the field of snow to grab another pillar. As she prepared to attack the enemies again, a drake towered over her. It leaped, chomping into her frozen shoulder, producing cracks through the ice. Glacia let out a scream, shaping the pillar into a blade and slashing at its neck. Her attacks seldom affected the beast’s scales as it only bit harder. It lifted her up, then slammed her into the ground, before tossing her into the Red. Oh, no. Upon realization, Glacia tried to hurry back into the safe zone, but the weight of the Red had already taken hold. She could no longer move as several drakes closed in on her. As she choked, she heard heavy steps running her way, fearing it was her end. She tried to slash but was abruptly kicked back out of the Red.

“Chaaaa!”

Glacia’s breath returned to her upon hearing a girl’s voice cry out. She jumped back to her feet, seeing the curly-haired bison and a similarly curly-haired girl standing in the center of the assault. The large beads around the girl’s neck rattled, as did the smaller ones on her wrist, and the bison let out a cry. The girl removed a hollow horn from her belt and stuck it on the side of her curly hair, then roared.

“Let’s go, Trillon!” The horn on her head turned blue, as did the bisons. Swiftly a flood of water circled them in the bison's shape. The girl forced her way through the tide, the beads on her body lighting up to reflect the horn. A punch in a drake’s direction sent two of the herd charging into the drake. While they trampled over the beast, their water flowed into her hands as she slashed through the scales covering its neck. “Cha!” Another swing and two more bison charged out, each striking a drake with terrifying force.

Trillon remained calm, keeping its eye on the other drakes and spotting one going for the girl. It cried into the air, summon the herd to its side as blades of water gathering on their horns and ran the beast down. Their horns pierced its scales, lifting the creature into the air and sending it flying as they drifted around for another attack. The girl jumped toward the bison, landing on its back while creating a second herd of bison behind the first, causing the drakes the scatter.

They're fighting in the Red? But she can control ether. Glacia looked back at the road, seeing that the men and women had scattered. At least some escaped. Now to make sure none of them follow. Glacia’s wings returned, flying her back to the snow and grabbing another pillar of ice. I think that girl and her pet will take care of the rest, but just in case. Another shriek echoed through the sky, turning their attention to the destroyed bridge.

Across the bridge, a giant beast trampled over the trees. It crawled on all fours, though its back hunched over. The glistening black scales across its body traveled in a wave towards its tail as it breathed. First appearing wingless, the flowing scales lifted from its back and stretched forward, revealing red embers trailing beneath as it reached across the river.

“That has to be it. I can feel it!” Glacia said. “That’s the Ash of Ebon!”

The beast cried, ember trails covering where the eyes would be. Its head turned towards Glacia and jerked back as she shifted her pillar into a shield.

“Get down!” The girl shouted.

She heard the voice call but focused her attention on what was in front of her. Freedom, a chance to make things right. Revenge for all that he put her through. The head dove forward, but still too far for it to be an attack. It was at the last moment of its movement is when she realized its tail was coming right at her. She swung her arm in a gambit to reduce any damage she would take, but the shield shattered, and the attack sent her flying. “Not yet!” Glacia recovered from the blow, landing on her feet while creating another field of ice. “Neverland!” Ice rushed across her body, protecting her like armor. A shield grew on her left arm, a long blade on her right, and she charged again. A tail swing came again, this time sliding under the attack and preparing to block the falling claws. The Ash’s claws struck her shield, pressing her backward and shattering her defense. “Damn!” Glacia dashed around, flying in the air toward its head and lunged an attack at its neck. Before the attack, the Ash’s neck bent, grabbing ahold of her bladed arm and swinging her into the air. It lunged at her while she was spinning uncontrollably. “I’ll fucking kill you!” Glacia’s wings spread, all the ice on her body surging into her bladed arm to forge a lance. A flap of her wings sent her downward, flying with the lance pointed as the Ash opened its maw. A light ignited within its neck, flames building in the reflection of her eyes. There was no turning. She was moving too fast to avoid what was coming. This was the end.

“Get outta here!” A man’s voice yelled.

A force pressed into Glacia’s back. “Oof!” She flew. Her ears rang, and the world spun as her body went numb. The girl and her bison swung by, grabbing her as she fell.

“Cha! You’re still alive!” The girl exclaimed. The bison let out a cry, recapturing her attention. “I know! But I don’t think we’re running away from this one!” The creature’s flames lit up the sky, blasting something caught in its dead center. More drakes eased closer to them. The girl gripped onto the hairs on its head and secured Glacia on its back. “Nothing too fancy, Tri. We’re riding with a passenger.” A bright red light lit up the girl’s eyes from within the Ash’s flame. The light swallowing the monster in its radiance as its fire ceased.

An explosion filled the area with soot, the creature stumbling out and turning toward the river. As the smoke cleared, the girl saw the drakes scatter and someone falling from the air. A man with something flowing on his back. He was dark-skinned, had long black and white hair, ripped pants, a black and purple jacket with its tattered edges lit aflame. He taunted it with a wave of his finger. “Whatcha runnin’ for? Your fights with me!”

He charged at the Ash of Ebon, but the dragon wouldn’t simply let him close in. It swept its sharp wing like a blade over where he’d run, but missed when the man charged a burst of fire from his fist that propelled him higher in the air. He pulled back a fist, punching the dragon with a fierce explosion. His attack only hindered the beast as it swung its tail overhead, pressing the man into the ground. The man crashed to his feet with the tail held in his arms. Blazes erupted from beneath him, holding back against the dragon’s force. He threw its tail aside, leaping for its head. It opened its maw as he neared and snapped shut, trapping him in its mouth. A vicious roar sounded from within, with a rush of flame following soon after. The beast’s mouth opened, smoke billowing from inside. The man appeared and seized it by its giant fangs, dragging it toward the ground. “Won’t get rid of me that easy!” He released its teeth and started punching at it. His powerful blows, knocking the Ash’s head aside, ending with a powerful uppercut. A swirling flame gathered in his palm, floating in the air as he released a flurry of spinning kicks against its neck. “This is your death warrant!” He stopped spinning, pulling his leg back and lined it up with the swirling flame. It was then the beast’s face burst open, revealing burning eye slits that locked onto to him. A red essence blasted from its wings, driving it forward and taking off into the air before flying away. It left the man lying on his back with his eyes closed. “I didn’t mean literally!” He exhaled. “Damn it… I’ll never catch it at this rate. Pretty sure it has a good sense of my ether, too.” Hearing the bison step closer, he opened one eye. “Hey there! I made it just in time! Is she awake?”

He flashed a giant smile, revealing his razor-sharp teeth. “Never would I have thought to see a man fight a dragon with his bare hands.” She said in awe. After a moment, her eyes shot wide, as she clutched onto the bisons hair. With a gleeful bounce, she said. “Wait! You must be…!” The man held his palm up.

“No time for excitement. How is she?” His face turned serious before she could go on. He rushed over to Glacia, examining her like he’d seen her before. “I tried to save her from that suicidal attack, but I might’ve made things worse. Her ether is on a decline.”

“What should we do? Can you heal her?”

“Yeah, just not here. There’s a farm not too far. I’ve been safely hiding there with no trouble, so that’d be our best bet.”

“Then let’s go! Tri can take her anywhere! Even in this toxic ether!”

“Good. Didn’t think you’d be reliable so soon.” The man gave the girl a confident nod. “Stay close to me and we’ll save her!”