About a few hours before, Dagon had been preparing to leave for his newfound quest to meet the Dragon Goddess, of whom he never truly expected to meet so soon in his journey. While he was preparing, Bella had come to him and warned him how dangerous the place he was going to was. It was called the Serrated shore, and the Dragon Goddess was supposedly sleeping within a cave. But this cave was in the middle of the ocean a ways off from the shore, and massive spikes of stone were jutting up from the water.
The area was infamous for its horrendous wind storms and brutal waves, and the shore was often beat by huge tidal waves and the water was ripped to and fro by tornadoes. It was extraordinarily dangerous, and few have ever dared to venture there. None managed to return, not even upon the back of a dragon.
And now, Dagon clung to Sephtis's back as the frigid wind tore at him, threatening to wrench him off of his dragon's back. His coat flicked in the wind and his hair flew around wildly.
'We will be arriving soon.' Sephtis growled.
Dagon looked forward, seeing an immense, dark storm of clouds up ahead. They shifted and churned wildly, the tornadoes inside of its depths chaotically shifting about.
'I see that. Do you think you'll be alright going through such a storm..?" Dagon asked.
Sephtis was quiet for a moment, then answered, 'I should be okay. I've flown through tough storms before, though, not quite this wild.'
'I hope you are right… otherwise we will fall to a horrendous death and the war will be over just like that..' Dagon said. He thought of the consequences if the war came to continue, the enemy coming upon Leina's borders before he returned. Would they be able to fight without him? Or would he return to smoke and scarlet flames painted agains the blaring white of the tundra..?
'Calm your mind. You must stay vigilant and strong, or else we will not make it through this. Keep your wits about yourself.'
'I know, things are just… stressful.' Dagon said.
'I understand. But nothing will come of worrying.'
For the rest of that flight, Dagon and Sephtis were silent. Dagon observed the world below, taking not of how much seemed to grow even more desolate, the snow becoming less as layers of ice could be seen, water lapping up over it before retreating back to the sea.
Dagon peered forward into the storm. He could feel it's strength, and he couldn't help but wonder, his mind traveling, what could lie beyond these seas? Obviously the other continents, but what other worlds could be explored beyond? Were there lands they had never been to? What were the other continents like? What kinds of creatures were out there? Were there lands filled with more dragons..? Or…was it all ruled by corrupted humans?
'Prepare yourself. We are about to enter the storm.'
— — —
Elderren lay motionless within his cavern, breathing in and out with rasped breaths. He was thin and in a poor condition, he would not have much more time in his world. Beside the dragon sat a man, his features hidden behind a black cloak.
"It would seem the boy is soon to meet Liorria." Elderren growled.
"You think he will be able to make it through the Serrated Shore?"
"I have no doubt. Soon, he must make his way here… I wish to meet him and to see his strength. I have hope that he will be the one to raise the Egg of Chaos and the dragon within it properly, to bring about a new world."
"Ha. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he did more than just that."
"What do you mean?"
"I think he will be the one who unites the two worlds of man and Kin that are so thinly separated now. The only thing I'm worried about is his ability to be a proper king."
"He shall do well, Gänhir is tutoring him. All shall go as it was meant to be." Elderren spoke.
"And what if it is destined to end in scarlet and smoke as it did before?" The man asked.
"Then so it shall. Even through that, we shall prevail. Have more faith in your own kind."
The man sighed. "Faith is not the issue here. The issue is that I know one way this story could end. And I do not wish that to be."
Elderren shifted, his scales cracking and clicking as he moved. Most of his scales had turned to stone due to his loss of power over the years, so his body was decrepit and practically falling apart.
"Hey, lay back down. You can't be moving." The man said.
"It is alright." Elderren spoke, raising his snout into the air. He drew in a deep breath, held it in for a moment, then breathed out, a cloud of bluish-white flames puffing from his open jaws.
"I can smell blood. The war has begun.