Chapter 7: Soft Hearts
I sit in stunned silence, still woozy from the copious amounts of alcohol I drank during the feast. Zerius stares at the three imperial guards, clenching his fists and looking tense. Turning to Zerius, they level their swords at him, the guard in the...
Intermission 2: Intersecting Paths
I see him as he walks. The shadows wrap around me, like a cloak. A cloak of darkness through which no eye can pierce. He does not see me. I step from shadow to shadow as easily as one would stroll along an open road. My brothers accompany me, fellow...
Acolyte
I ascend the decrepit staircase, softening my steps as much as I can manage. The old, unmaintained wood squeals in derision as my weight is shifted from foot to foot. Anxious that this place will fall apart from underneath me, I hasten my steps....
Chapter 6: Peace and Prejudice
I stare into a cloudy, featureless void, glimpses of memories and moments flashing through my vision. I relive strange, warped versions of my past, the dreamstate twisting my thoughts into a caricature of emotions. The moment is fleeting however, as I...
Chapter 5: The North
The wind howls around me, a chilling gale sweeping the fabric of my outfit about as I pull it tight around my shivering body. My breath comes in short gasps, a cloud of mist rising with every exhalation. The wind had kicked up a little while ago, with...
Chapter 4: Rivalries
The air slowly turns cold as we ascend the rolling slopes before us. The cliff face that served as our guide has long scattered into a rippling of rocks, echoing outwards into the plains as we make our way northeast. Zerius leads the way, for lack of...
Chapter 3: A Sliver of Divinity
A vibration courses through my body. Energy and vitality reverberates through every fiber of my being, flooding me with a thrumming sensation of power. In the midst of this, I feel a presence manifesting in my psyche. As best as I can muster, I focus...
Chapter 2: Reliquary of the Divine Dragon
I am floating alone in a murky, grey fog. An apparition appears before me, my mind struggling to recognize its form. It is similar to a dragonkin, with a streamlined head ending in a flat snout, but it's body is long and serpentine, twisting this way...
Intermission 1: Loyalty
"Come at me. Don't hold back now, Tor'ko." The large ruby dragonkin nods before rushing at me from his position a few feet away, his right arm pulled back, aiming a punch directly at me. I see through his obvious feint, noticing the way his footing...
Chapter 1: Tensions
The council sits gathered in the meeting room. All four of the prefects are present, their advisors standing proudly next to them. A pair of seats and a desk are placed in each of the four cardinal directions, all facing the golden seat of the emperor...
Prologue: Friendship and Love
I hold my sword in front of me with a single hand, point of the blade angled towards the ground. I shift my feet slightly, keeping my stance loose. My opponent, a rough-looking ruby dragon, holds his sword above his head, his free hand extending...
Chapter 11: What One Believes In
The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long, slender shadows across the quieting city. The hustle and bustle of the roads and market dwindles into a dull murmur, clawed footsteps and creaking wagons piercing the otherwise serene evening. A breeze rolls...