Time frame: war time
Cescils had never dreamed in their life that they would see a dragon with their own eyes. Dragons were mythical creatures, akin to elves.
They had lived for hundreds of years, and old tales spoke of them hiding and slumbering in the depths of the earth.
The dragon was a sight to behold, its size and beauty almost overwhelming. Its scales were a deep emerald green that shimmered like precious gemstones in the sunlight, and its eyes gleamed with an inner fire that exuded ancient wisdom. Its wings beat slowly and forcefully, as if it effortlessly soared upon the wind.
The people watched in awe as the dragon turned its gaze towards them, and in that moment, they knew they were in the presence of a creature that was both magnificent and mythical.
For a few brief moments, they forgot everything else and were lost in the wonder of it all.
The Metaena mountains were said to be home to the most fearsome and powerful creatures in all the world.
Standing over 20 feet tall and boasting razor-sharp talons, a dragon was a creature that struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest warriors.
Yet the Gamaaloths, a secretive and powerful nation, had somehow managed to do the impossible - breed these beasts and control them.
It was said that they had kept their dragons alive for hundreds of years, using a combination of ancient magic, alchemy, and sheer force of will to command them.
But how could mere humans control such massive and powerful creatures? Except, maybe, the Gamaaloth Nation, which was rumored to be a half-beast.
They were genetically modified mutants—similar to the healer clan—originally created as weapons of war but later chose to exile themselves to the isolated north, surrounded by thick and dangerous snow mountains.
In the distant past, as the war broke out, many kingdoms had realized that they needed more than just magic to protect their people.
So they had delved into the realm of genetic engineering and had created the half-beasts, a genetically modified mutant race.
The half-beasts Gamaaloth, with their enhanced capabilities, had originally been created as war weapons to fight alongside humans.
However, as the war had come to an end, the half-beasts had realized that they no longer wanted to serve as mere pawns in someone else's game.
They had chosen to break away from their creator and had exiled themselves to the isolated north, surrounded by thick and dangerous snow mountains.
Rumored to have possessed incredible strength and healing abilities, Gamaaloths had formed a society of their own and had developed their own unique culture and way of life.
They had been fiercely independent and resentful of any outsiders who had come to their lands.
But despite their isolation, they had managed to thrive in the harsh, frozen wilderness, creating an intricate system of tunnels and caves that had stretched deep into the mountains.
The half-beast society had been shrouded in mystery, and few outsiders had ever been able to penetrate its borders.
Those who had attempted to do so had never returned, leading many to wonder what kind of secrets and dangers had awaited in the frozen, secluded land of the Gamaaloths' exiled creations.
After the arrival of the dragon-riding army of the Kingdom of Gamaaloth on the battlefield, the warlord of Ostrill's army had declared a retreat as he had lost many of his troops.
The remaining troops had fled back to Clearport's outer border, Newside, where they had camped and gathered strength.
The two large dragons from the Kingdom of Gamaaloth had circled in the air, their wings creating a deafening roar that had echoed across the battlefield.
As the Ostrill army had retreated, the dragons had closed in, their riders surveying the abandoned camp with keen eyes.
Soon, four more smaller dragons came and joined them. Now the six dragons from Gamaaloth soared high above the battlefield, their riders surveying the terrain below with sharp eyes.
One of the riders, who seemed to be in the lead, signaled the smallest reconnaissance dragon to fly scouting towards the Ostril army's encampment while they were off guard and had no time to prepare their crossbows to shoot the dragons down.
The scout dragon flew cautiously around the enemy camp, its sharp eyes scanning for any movement below.
The dragon rider held tightly onto the reins, ready to dart away at the slightest sign of trouble. Below, the Ostril army's camp was busy with activity, as soldiers bustled around preparing for battle.
The scout dragon noted the position of the enemy's food stores and armaments, taking note of the fortifications and traps that had been set up.
As the scout dragon returned to its companions, the other two riders nodded in approval at the information it had gathered.
The first rider led the way, directing his dragon towards the enemy's food storage area. With a fierce roar, the dragon breathed a torrent of flames down onto the food supplies, incinerating everything in its path.
Meanwhile, the second rider flew to the armory, where he used his dragon's talons to rip apart the weapons and munitions stored there.
The remaining two dragon riders decided to land in Clearport where the Cescil Nation was waiting.
As the two dragons landed in Clearport, the ground beneath them shook and a gust of powerful wind blasted through the area, stirring up dust and debris.
The people of Clearport watched in awe as the massive beasts made landfall, their claws sinking into the ground and leaving deep marks behind.
The Cescil Nation, who had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the dragon riders, quickly gathered around the beasts.
The dragons snorted and growled, their massive reptilian heads turning to take in the sights and smells of the bustling town.
Warlord Gamaaloth dismounted from his dragon that was a dark jet black with grayish claws. Not far behind, a slightly younger dragon with reddish scales on its tip also jumped down.
The two of them walked up to meet General Pindale and Lady Sophia. Their bodies were large, tall and towering.
Four times the size of a young man's body. Warlord Gamaaloth had a fierce look in his eyes, his dragon's massive wings still beating in the air behind him.
The dragon's jet black scales seemed to absorb the sunlight, giving it an almost supernatural aura. As for the younger dragon, its reddish scales shimmered in the sun light, creating an almost fiery effect.
Each step the warlord and his dragons took seemed to make the ground tremble beneath their feet, adding to their imposing presence.
As Warlord Gamaaloth and his dragons approached, the Cescils weren't sure what to make of them.
Were they allies, or enemies?
The dragons' massive wings beat the air with a deafening roar that made it hard for the Cescils to even stand straight.
What was clear was that right then, if he wanted to, Gamaaloth could take control of Cescil and overthrow the throne.
A sense of unease settled over them as they considered the possibility that Gamaaloth might be a threat to their kingdom.
The Cescils stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do as Lady Sophia grasped Adeline's hand tightly.
Lady Sophia's expression was tight with fear and she was clearly agitated. Adeline could feel Lady Sophia's hand shaking as she clenched her jaw.
A sudden dread washed over Adeline as she saw the fear in her sister's eyes.
Adeline knew Lady Sophia was scared too but her protective spirit as a big sister overcame it all. She dragged Adeline slightly backwards.
It was funny, because Lady Sophia's body was much smaller and shorter than Adeline. But she had Adeline stand behind her making her small body Adeline's shield.
Behind them, the healer girls and the rest of the remaining troops gathered. "What is this? Cescil is letting women take to the battlefield?"
.