(Umar's POV)
Drakarion's acknowledgement of Elarian – a name that felt like a lifeline in this bewildering situation – brought a momentary wave of relief. His familiarity with my homeland, the Republic of Kairos, was a small comfort in the sea of unknowns I found myself drowning in.
"Elarian? In the Republic of Kairos?" Drakarion inquired, his deep voice echoing slightly in the dimly lit room.
"Yes!" I replied, a hint of enthusiasm breaking through my confusion. The fact that he knew of Elarian made this strange place seem slightly less alien.
"Young Umar, you are quite far away from Kairos, I'm afraid," Drakarion continued, his tone matter-of-fact yet not unkind. "This is the Mayar continent, more precisely, you're in Araborn. As for how you ended up here, it seems a starstride lantern brought you here."
His words hit me like a sudden gust of wind, taking me aback. Araborn? A starstride lantern? These terms whirled in my mind, creating more questions than answers. I had heard tales of starstride lanterns, mystical artifacts capable of traversing great distances in an instant and also used as energy source to power most nations able to afford them and that's the thing, they are supposed to be rare and expensive beyond comprehension, and yet, I had used one?
Araborn, on the other hand, was a name I was only vaguely familiar with, a distant land mentioned in passing in some of the books I had read at the academy's library, they are known to be secular. To think that I was now in a place that I had only known as a footnote in a dusty tome was almost too much to process.
Drakarion's explanation, while revealing, only deepened the mystery surrounding my sudden appearance in this strange land. The idea that I had unknowingly activated an ancient artifact – a starstride lantern – was both fascinating and unsettling.
"A Starstride lantern, sir?" I echoed, my voice tinged with disbelief. "I-I didn't know it was that, and I didn't think of this place at all. I'm not sure why it brought me here. I was just in a cave a few minutes ago. There was this glowing object that I took, and it... it did something. It had voices and bright, blinding lights, then I heard more voices, and a kind of mist came out of it and lifted me up. After that, everything seems so fuzzy... I don't understand."
Drakarion listened patiently, his expression contemplative. After a moment, he asked, "Hmm, I see. Was it this object?" He then produced the artifact I had found in the cave. My heart leaped into my throat at the sight of it, and a wave of panic washed over me.
"Don't worry, little Umar," Drakarion said gently, noting my reaction. "I examined the object. Whatever was in it is no more. You're safe. Though, it does have the appearance of an authentic starstride lantern. The light may have ignited it and taken you to a predetermined location. Although it's a feature found in the newer replicas they now make, there are some lanterns like that, although even rarer..."
His words were a small comfort as I tried to process everything. The lantern had taken me here, to a place I had never even thought of. And now, I was far from home, in a land I knew nothing about.
"So it still works? Do-does that mean I can go back to Elarian right now?" I asked, a flicker of hope igniting within me.
Drakarion's response, however, tempered my optimism. "I am not quite sure, to be honest. As the lantern seems to be set up to take you to a precise location, I don't know if lighting it will take you home or somewhere else entirely, even if you think about home."
The uncertainty in his voice was evident, and it mirrored my own feelings. The prospect of being stuck here, in Araborn, away from everything and everyone I knew, was daunting. Yet, the possibility that the lantern could transport me to yet another unknown location was equally concerning.
The artifact, now inert in Drakarion's hands, seemed both a beacon of hope and a symbol of my predicament. Its mysteries, like those of the wider world, were vast and unfathomable. For now, I was at the mercy of circumstances far beyond my control or understanding.
"Listen, you should stay here a little longer, take time to eat food and drink some medicine," Drakarion advised with a calmness that was both soothing and authoritative. "I will try to look into it and see the best way to proceed. You are still very weak. Aelarion will bring you a meal. Fill your stomach first, and we'll discuss this later. Do you understand, little one?"
Drakarion's reassuring tone provided a semblance of comfort in the whirlwind of panic and perplexity that engulfed me. His suggestion to rest and eat was practical, grounding me back to the reality of my physical needs amidst the chaos of the situation.
I was about to protest, to insist on finding a way back immediately, but then a sharp pang of hunger struck me, reminding me of my body's needs. It was a strange sensation – feeling so ravenous as if I hadn't eaten in days, despite having had breakfast just hours ago in Elarian. This realization made me pause, and I acknowledged that Drakarion was right. I needed to take care of my immediate physical needs before anything else.
"Yes, sir, I understand," I responded, my voice a mix of resignation and newfound resolve. The thought of food was suddenly very appealing, and I realized how drained I felt. Whatever had happened with the starstride lantern and the journey it had triggered, it had taken a toll on me physically and emotionally.
As Drakarion left the room, presumably to investigate the lantern and my situation further, I found myself alone once more, save for the presence of Aelarion, who seemed to be waiting for instructions.
Aelarion, catching the cue from his mentor, perked up. "I'll get you something tasty! You'll feel better after eating, I promise!" he said with an enthusiasm that was both endearing and a little overwhelming.
I managed a small smile, grateful for his eagerness to help, even if his energy was a bit much to handle in my current state. The idea of a meal, simple and mundane as it was, felt like a small anchor in the storm, a reminder of normalcy in an otherwise surreal situation.
As Aelarion scampered off to fetch food, I lay back, trying to relax and gather my thoughts. The room, with its strange symbols and dim lighting, felt both alien and oddly comforting. I was far from home, in a land I knew nothing about, surrounded by people – and beings – I had just met. Yet, in this moment, their kindness and the promise of a meal felt like a small beacon of hope in the overwhelming darkness of the unknown.
The feast that Aelarion brought into the room was nothing short of a culinary extravaganza, an array of dishes that seemed to celebrate the art of cooking itself. The centerpiece was a magnificent platter of roasted meat, its savory aroma wafting through the air, accompanied by a mound of steaming, golden rice adorned with a rich, amber-hued sauce. The meat, glistening with juices, was cooked to perfection, tender and flavorful with each bite.
Beside this main dish lay an assortment of cheeses, ranging from creamy and soft to sharp and aged. Their textures and flavors provided a delightful contrast, each cheese a unique experience. A medley of fruits – some familiar, others exotic – added a burst of color and freshness to the spread. The vegetables, a vibrant tapestry of greens, reds, and yellows, were prepared in various ways – some grilled to a smoky tenderness, others crisp and raw, dressed with light, aromatic herbs.
The desserts were a spectacle in themselves. There were pastries filled with sweet, spiced fillings, their flaky crusts golden and inviting. Small, delicate tarts topped with glistening berries sat alongside fluffy, cloud-like cakes drizzled with a sweet, syrupy glaze.
To wash it all down, there was cocoria milk, a creamy, slightly sweet beverage that was both refreshing and comforting. Its smooth texture and subtle sweetness were the perfect accompaniment to the rich flavors of the meal.
As Drakarion excused himself, leaving us to our meal, I began to eat with an intensity driven by my overwhelming hunger. Aelarion watched me for a moment before his curiosity got the better of him.
"You eat fast! Master Drakarion always says," he attempted to mimic Drakarion's voice, "'if you rush into eating, you will fail to appreciate the flavor.' I eat fast too sometimes, but then I get a stomachache. So you really are human, huh? It's my first time seeing a human so little! Are there more like you? The way you came was so cool! It was like pshiiiiuuu then booom! I thought you were a falling star! You said your name is Umar, right? You may already know, but mine's Aelarion. I'm a dragon! Nice to meet you!"
His enthusiasm was infectious, and despite my initial focus on the food, I found myself drawn into conversation with him. Aelarion eagerly pointed out various dishes, insisting I try them. "You have to taste the Sylphian Spice Crusted Meat – it's a specialty here. And combine it with a bit of Zephyr Rice and Sunfire Sauce. The flavors just dance together!"
He was right. The combination was heavenly, a symphony of flavors that perfectly complemented each other. The rice, infused with exotic spices, and the Sunfire Sauce, with its subtle heat and rich depth, enhanced the succulent meat in a way that made my taste buds sing.
"Oh, and you must try the Cloudberries Cream Tart," Aelarion continued, his eyes sparkling. "It's made by Maria, our sylph cook. She's a culinary genius!"
The tart was a delicate balance of sweet and tart, the cloudberries' unique flavor perfectly encased in the flaky, buttery pastry. Every bite was a delight, a perfect end to an extraordinary meal.
As I ate, I listened to Aelarion's excited chatter, his words a pleasant backdrop to the incredible feast. The revelation that he was a dragon – something that should have been astonishing – seemed almost normal in the context of this strange and wonderful place. My journey had brought me to a land of wonde- wait, what am I saying-!
Aelarion's words finally registered in my mind, cutting through the fog of my focus on the food. "Wait, what? A dragon?! You're a dragon?!" I exclaimed, nearly dropping my fork in shock.
Aelarion, seemingly oblivious to the magnitude of his revelation, nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Why? You've never seen one of us before? Well, Master Drakarion says that we should stay away from others until I am big enough to go out. I guess this means you guys don't get to see us a lot either, huh?"
His casual demeanor only added to my astonishment. "We"? You mean there are more dragons here?" I asked, my voice a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
"Well, only Master and me, duh. Have you not seen him already? Maybe you're still stunned, hahaha!" Aelarion chuckled, seemingly amused by my confusion.
I was flabbergasted. Drakarion, the wise and imposing figure who had been so reassuring, was a dragon too? "You're kidding, right?" I asked, half-expecting Aelarion to burst out laughing and reveal it was all a joke.
"No, why would I?" Aelarion replied, his curious amber eyes studying me with interest.
Dragons were the stuff of myths and legends, beings of immense power and wisdom that had disappeared from the world over eight million years ago. Every child in Elarian, including myself, grew up with tales of their grandeur and magic, dreaming of what it would be like to meet one. And now, here I was, sitting across from a dragon – and not just any dragon, but one who claimed there was another, his master, no less, in the same place.
As I processed this information, the enormity of what it meant began to dawn on me. I was in the presence of creatures that were considered the pinnacle of magic and power, beings that had shaped countless legends and stories. The very idea that dragons still existed, let alone that I was conversing with one, was beyond anything I could have imagined.
I took another bite of the food, my mind racing with thoughts and questions. The flavors, which had been so captivating moments ago, now seemed distant as I grappled with the reality of my situation.