Airelina Frembell
"Love, a force that transcends the boundaries of good and evil, resonated in Zac's words as we stood amidst the remnants of a dilapidated church in the heart of Goldcliffe City Slums. His voice carried the weight of his conviction, breaking through any barriers that might divide us. 'Even if your hands are stained with the blood of countless humans, Aleria Turner,' he proclaimed, 'my love for you remains steadfast.'"
Uncertainty gripped me, causing hesitation to flicker in my eyes as I contemplated reaching out to grasp Zac's outstretched hand. In that moment, I yearned for a future where I could unite my life with my first love, my very own hero. However, as the hands of time continued their relentless march forward, a bitter realization settled within me—the reunion of our intertwined destinies was a dream that would forever elude us.
With an air of determination, Zac offered me an unexpected path forward. "If your heart seeks justice for the loss of your parents," he declared, his voice tinged with unwavering resolve, "I will stand by your side. Together, we shall dismantle the oppressive human empire, and if you so desire, I shall place the crown upon your head."
Guided by his words, Zac introduced me to Estoff Wraith, a man burdened by a tragic history that mirrored my own. It became evident that the three of us shared a singular purpose—a shared cause that ignited the fire within our souls. To champion the rights of the oppressed, to liberate the dragonoids from the clutches of harm, and to obliterate the human empire that wielded its power with abusive intent.
Amidst the daunting challenge of gathering support and assistance from fellow dragonoids, fear had woven its tendrils deep within their hearts, rendering them reluctant to join our cause. The realization weighed heavily upon us; without their participation, the winds of change would remain stagnant. It was clear that action was imperative. The three of us forged a plan, one that aimed to ignite the dragonoids' fury towards the human oppressors. As Estoff had once asserted, "Revolution cannot take root without the shedding of blood."
Our plan revolved around a drastic measure—a merciless onslaught that would target both humans and dragonoids alike, unleashing a storm of chaos upon Vanilla City. Every piece fell seamlessly into place. Zac and I had already unlocked the dormant power within us, known as Dracaryx, during our initial encounter, though the method behind this revelation eluded my understanding. However, such details became inconsequential in the face of my transformation into the Crimson Dragonfly.
With a sudden surge of intensity, Zac seized hold of a friend and coworker, whose name had faded into the recesses of time. She was a Titanus Dragon, a majestic species of scaleless lizard that could reach towering heights of forty meters. As the power of Dracaryx surged through our beings, my body underwent a stunning metamorphosis. Four fiery wings erupted from my back, assimilating the essence of the Titanus Dragonoid into my being. I stood before them, a monstrous abomination standing tall at fifty meters, adorned with advanced steel armor that epitomized the cutting-edge technologies of the future.
In that moment, I transcended my former self, becoming the Monolith Dragon, a force to be reckoned with—a symbol of relentless strength and unwavering determination. I took flight as the embodiment of the Crimson Dragonfly, a beacon of hope in the face of impending upheaval.
A surge of power coursed through my being as I unleashed a concentrated particle beam from my jaws, directing its destructive force upon the heart of the city. The main square, bustling malls, and the once peaceful homes of the innocent became targets of my wrath. Each touch of the particle beam disintegrated matter with meticulous precision, atom by atom, reducing everything in its path to mere whispers in the wind. In a matter of minutes, the thriving metropolis of Vanilla City was erased from the very fabric of maps and memories.
Tragically, the toll of this cataclysmic event amounted to a staggering one thousand and two hundred lives, leaving only a mere fifty individuals fortunate enough to survive the devastation. The city that once thrived with vitality was now nothing more than a haunting testament to my destructive power.
However, Zac Schneider, lacking the necessary training to harness the power of a dragon knight, fell victim to the adverse effects of the Vesryn Pulse and my unleashed Dracaryx. Waves of excruciating pain seized every fiber of his being, resulting in a severe heart attack. Despite our desperate attempts to flee, Zac's deteriorating condition prevented our escape, and he was apprehended by the authorities, led primarily by Kyle Leviticus. In a stroke of fortune, Estoff and I managed to evade capture and slipped through their grasp.
Zac found himself confined within the walls of a detention center, enduring weeks of captivity before facing an unjust trial. As an Imperial knight at the time, Estoff faithfully visited him daily, ensuring his well-being while we clandestinely devised a plan to secure his escape. Yet, amidst our scheming, Zac revealed an unexpected twist:
"I desire to shoulder the entirety of the blame," he uttered with a solemn conviction. "Allow them to prove my guilt, for in doing so, they shall never cast doubt upon you or Aleria again."
Estoff's objection lingered on his lips, poised to challenge Zac's self-sacrificial plan. However, Zac's unwavering determination overshadowed any protests. "To fulfill my promise of a liberated world for Aleria," he asserted, "this is the path I must tread. I am neither a knight nor a politician, but as the decoy, I can play a vital role within our group." His hand pressed firmly against the mirror's surface as he continued, "Let my name be forever associated with the destruction of Vanilla City. Let every dragonoid lay blame upon me. Let them believe that all humans are the enemy of our kind. Let them...become the Arcadia!"
When the long-awaited trial arrived, Zac Schneider's name had become permanently stained by the sins I had committed. No lawyer dared to accept his case, and in a matter of seconds, he was declared guilty. His punishment: public execution.
A chilling silence settled upon the plaza slums as I stood witness to Zac's beheading—the very same fate that had befallen my parents. His final words echoed hauntingly within my mind, "Be free... Airelina Frembell." Then, with a sickening thud, his severed head met the unforgiving floor, splattering the surroundings with a macabre display of crimson.
I stood there, stunned, grappling with the revelation that Zac had known my true name all along, playing the fool with me until the end. He had willingly sacrificed everything he possessed, solely for my sake. And now, we found ourselves in this precarious position, weaving a web of deceit, propagating the fabricated news that Zac had been ordered by the empire to orchestrate the massacre of thousands of dragonoids within Vanilla City.
Zac's name became forever tarnished in the annals of both human and dragonoid history, a permanent mark of disgrace. The Crimson Dragonfly Incident loomed over us as the darkest chapter in recorded memory, a haunting event that both races yearned to expunge from their collective consciousness.
And I bore the weight of responsibility for this tragedy—a burden that etched guilt deep into the recesses of our hearts and minds, both mine and Estoff's. We were the true culprits behind this cataclysmic chaos, willingly sacrificing a dear friend and loved one in a reckless attempt to manipulate the minds of countless dragonoids, all in the pursuit of overthrowing the human empire.
That moment marked the final instance in which we would take another life. Estoff and I vowed to never again involve innocent civilians in our operations, knowing the devastating consequences that would follow.
In the aftermath, I found myself thrust into the role of Arcadia's leader, not because of inherent qualifications, but due to the lack of trust many dragonoids initially harbored towards Estoff. Reluctant to assume leadership, Estoff demonstrated his unwavering dedication to the cause, offering invaluable resources such as information, weaponry, and financial support to our group. He spearheaded critical missions, orchestrating daring operations to liberate dragonoids from the clutches of power plants and slaughterhouses. His unwavering commitment garnered the trust and respect of our fellow dragonoids, and eventually, the mantle of leadership was entrusted to him, passing the baton from my hands to his.
In the depths of secrecy, our miniaturized hidden bases spanned three cities, discreetly blending into the urban fabric, with the inn nestled within the Goldcliffe City Slums serving as one of our covert headquarters. Through these clandestine havens, we disseminated our propaganda, weaving a vast network of intelligence that reached far and wide. Notable figures, including Duchess Carousel and Duke Dragunov, threw their support behind our cause, lending their influence to our growing movement. What began as a mere trio swiftly multiplied into an army of a thousand, and then, astonishingly, swelled to encompass two hundred thousand dedicated members. Our presence infiltrated every corner of the empire, with loyal agents stationed in each city.
Arcadia stood as the most formidable threat to the imposing Empire of Alterra. Though individually we may have been as feeble as livestock, we possessed the collective strength to leave a lasting scar on the ironclad façade of the government. Yet, the empire's dragon knights remained a formidable obstacle. Utilizing our own kind as pawns, they wielded their unparalleled power to exterminate those dragonoids who dared to resist the allure of freedom, preferring instead to languish under the yoke of oppression.
To the ordinary Arcadian soldier, the dragon knights seemed invincible, an insurmountable force against which we had no viable means of defense. Until, against all odds, a miracle unfolded before our eyes.
A young man, forever etched in the depths of my gaze, emerged onto the scene.
Amphere Harrison.