Chereads / HEROES JOURNEY JOURNEY to the seven worlds / Chapter 3 - chapter 2: The princess Elena and Ragnarok

Chapter 3 - chapter 2: The princess Elena and Ragnarok

A beautiful lady in a red decorative flower gown standing on the palace balcony. A sad expression occupied her smile. She turned her face and stared through the window to the hallway where a lovely party went. Sons and daughters, nobles on their best Sundays, were dancing to soft music. They dined and drank, celebrating the party. However, the one she was searching for was not at the party, and this made Princess Elena feel lonely and worried at the same time. Her eyes darted every look and cranny of the party for a glimpse of him, Hero Reynolds however, was nowhere to be found.

"I hope he is alright! I wish to see him before she comes," she remembered when she saw Hero dragged away on a wagon by Jefferson's men. She tried to chase after him, but the guards stopped her. For some reason, the guards were on full alert at the highest level of security. It was as if they had anticipated an attack from an enemy. The only way to help Hero was to send her bonded animal, Wise the tortoise, to track Hero to know his whereabouts and the tortoise has yet to return. Through her magic circle shining in her hand bonded with the tortoise, she could tell the situation of things. Elena turned opened the glassy door and walked into the hall where the party was at its climax. Suddenly, a scream was heard at the far end of the palace door.

The sons and daughters of nobles made way for someone dressed in a dark hooded cloak to walk towards the princess.

"And so you have come," Elena said, frowns narrowing her eyes.

"Guaaards," the voice of the king seated majestically among dukes on his throne roared. King Edmond the Unready dressed in lavish red and gold royal attire, walked out along with guards behind him.

The giant palace's red doors from all corners of the room swung open and royal guards and knights armored to the teeth in silver blue armor stomped into the palace. The palace galleria parades with an array of archers knocking arrows on their bows aimed at the hooded individual in the middle of the hall. Immediately, the student mages of the mage academy draw swords and magic staffs aimed at this individual.

"Princess Elena, we need to escort you." Guards and student mages pose for the attack in front of the princess.

"No! I am going to fight by myself." Elena grabbed a sword, fused her mana engulfed it in flames, and aimed the sword at the assailant.

" Hahahaha! Wow, I am honored by this much attention you have given me, Your Majesty King Edmond the Unready." the tall lanky humanoid shrouded in a cloudy, hooded cloak of darkness lifted her skeletal bony fingers hand hidden inside the cloak of darkness, and she continued.

"so this is how you repay my kindness when the previous prince named the Hero of the Peasant was chosen as successor to the throne? You cried and begged me to help you claim the throne. I am the Lady of the Lost. I give you something and get something in return. Now I have come." She pointed her bony finger at Elena. The lady of the lost narrowed her eyes, and a pair of green flaming eyes hidden inside the hooded cloak of darkness glowed back at them.

"I have come for her, Princess Elena. The price of the throne is Princess Elena's life. You won't be able to give birth, nor would you have any descendants to claim the throne from you, King Edmond."

"Does that make sense, I am King Edmond, and I need an heir to the throne. You are trying to destroy everything, but I have summoned the best guards and mages to stop you. Give up and go back to the Dark Continent from where you came from demon," he commanded

"Hahahaha hahahaha!" Her laughter echoes like a thousand witches across the hall.

"You think these weaklings can stop me, reeaaaally? You have defiled our agreement. For this, the price will be heavy. I will make everyone hunt and hate the princess for what you have done to bring the kingdom of Lukedonia to dust."

"What are you doing? Kill her," King Edmond commanded. The archers aimed their arrows pulling the strings

Thwang!

The guards let loose the arrows into the air, aimed at the hooded lady in the middle of the hall. The mages and the knight stretch their hands, and mana begins to swirl like wind from different classes of magic. Fire, winds, ice, and different types of elements blast from their hands at the same time into the air.

The lady of the lost slams her skeletal palm on the ground, and suddenly a cloud of darkness and smoke evaporates into the air, creating a magic barrier that prevents the mage's magic from piercing through. The arrows that flew towards her suddenly paused midair. It turns three sixty and straight, it shoots into the air at the guards who shot the arrows. King Edmond watches the archers fall from the hall galleries to their deaths.

"Guards cut that monster down." The king's guard enveloped their swords in magic, and they rushed forward and leaped into the air.

Swords are above their heads, and they bring them down vertically at the lady of the lost; however, she takes off ascending several meters floating into the air. She stretched her two skeletal hands, and heavy gravity pressure slammed their bodies to the marble floor forcefully. The pressure was so great that their skulls and bodies began to crack against the ground.

Mages and guests found them falling and lying on the Mable floor from the intense gravity pressure. The palace marble floor revealed heavy, distant cracks and tears as it crumbled and broke.

Princess Elena pushes herself to stand against the magic gravity pressure and she fully stands to her feet. She enveloped her sword in bright volcanic flames and dashed at ultra-sonic speed, swinging her sword horizontally into the air at the lady of the lost floating in the air However, she stretched her hand, and Elena discovered her body stomping by the same amount of powerful pressure and forced to kiss the marble floor.

She spat out pounds of blood into the air. The lady of the lost descended on the princess and said,

"You think you could defeat me? Let me prove to you how powerless you are before me." The Lady of the Lost slammed her hand on Elena's back, and a rounded purple Magic circle appeared and expanded. The princess narrowed her eyes looking up at the enemy and said.

"Even if I couldn't defeat you, the one who will defeat you is on his way, and his name is Hero Reynolds the blood mage," Elena said her last words before she fainted.

"Please don't hurt my daughter." King Edmond fell on his knees and begged.

"hahahaha, How the mighty have fallen. How arrogant of you to think you could defeat me! Now watch how your daughter destroys your kingdom. When I came to your daughter as a baby, I hid in her the orb of the last dragon, Ragnarok, just in case you would behave this way. I told you if you disobey me. I will destroy you. Now face the repercussions of your sins." Suddenly, the purple magic circle on Elena's back expanded across the hall, slipping through the palace walls outside the castle. People from afar could see the entire palace castle walls surrounded by giant magic purple circles with mana encircling the entire castle.

Elena's body began to transform; her hand was manufactured into claws, and regal scales appeared across her back rapidly. A leg transforms into a monstrous creature, and it develops into a colossal regal red dragon with its body expanding continually.

The medieval citizens were watching the castle, questioning what was going on, when suddenly, the palace walls began to shake and crumble. Distant tears and heavy cracks divided its walls.

Kaboom

Rooooooaaaaar!

A colossal red flaming dragon, in the light of its fire, roared from the crumbling castle palace, vibrating screams across the air. It stood several meters higher than the tall buildings, and its body was massive, making the houses and buildings like small boxes before its massive height.

ROOOOAAAR

Its throat gathered flames, and from the lava pot of its mouth, a volcanically heated ray blasted out burning across the City center Capital of Lukedonia.

The dragon's body was around three hundred meters long and like a huge fighter jet. It was red, with a pair of sharp red eyes looking upon the human cities, hiding a silver of killing intent. It stretches its bat-like wings to the south and west. The Dragon lifts its body into the air, ascending to the cold, thunderous sky accompanied by rapid flashes of lightning. It aimed its head and began to descend. As it flew from the dark, thunderous clouds, the bustling nightlife of Lukedonia was in its view.

"BOOM"

The black dragon which was already super-fast suddenly increased its speed exponentially, reaching an appealing speed. At the same time, an extremely high-pitched sound with red flame erupted from its mouth.

The terrifying shockwave, visible to the unaided eye, began to rapidly descend as an ear-piercing howl erupted. Its thunderous sound was great and deafening, as many people covered their ears. Huge pieces of glass from high-rise towers and buildings on the neighboring street let out a sound; lots of glass cracks open, and lots of glass falls from the high-sky buildings. Some smashed against pedestrians or hit people smashing against street lights as the dragon flames descended on the people.

In the heart of Lukedonia was the tallest beautiful medieval colossal orphanage building with a towering twin tower in a building complex owned by a church. Its white walls were adorned with intricate stained glass windows, depicting scenes from the Bible. Inside, the building was filled with the soft glow of candles, and the air was permeated with the sweet scent of incense. The little and teenage children at an orphanage gathered around a beautiful young lady with orange eyes and orange crown hair telling them a story from an adventure book.

"Dragons"

"Those enormous, terrifying-appearing regal birds with enormous wings that resemble bars and a head that resembles a large lizard with horns and impenetrable scales.

They have strong clawed fangs that can rip one apart and consume bones, along with long barred tails that resemble armored horses. In the cold darkness, they spit out a strip of volcanic fire that has the power to destroy an entire city."

As Historia relates, a magic book opens up and from its pages, a huge, burning image of a flaming dragon with a horrifying appearance emerges before the children stretch to the roof as she flips the mystical page. It makes a deafening roar, startling the children to fall from the bed.

"Dragons appear in myths and legends from all over the world's diverse cultures. From the ancient enormous snake jormug to the malevolent Fafner killed in the Icelandic tale or the good-bringing Loong of China that it is said to bring good or bad fortune. History is filled with kingdom conflicts, wars of knights, and rides on dragons. Although say they are gone, for now, extinct from minds and times, legend has it that they will be back extending their wings across the clouds and eclipsing the sun with their scales".

"Auntie Historia, are there dragons?"

" Hahaha! Am not sure, but the majority of people think they're just made up. Dragons are real but they are only found in fantasy literature However, there are rumors that the powerful dragons are still around today. Some people think that these beings are waiting in the shadows for an opportunity to enter our world from the realm they call the other side of the globe.

"Aunty Historia! Why was the world named OREGON WORLD and why are there no dragons in this world except in fictional books? Did the dragons die or they never existed or did the vampires and Dracula kill the entire monsters." A young Blondie boy with blue eyes on white cloth named Kelvin questioned

"Uhhmmm,' well some say dragons are a myth, why some say they are real but let me tell you what I think. Dragons were real but were killed during King Oregon's era by outstanding heroes and knights but I believe dragons, witches, monsters, and dragons did exist in time. Historia slams her book closed.

"It's time for prayers and food" a little child with a missing tooth cuts in happily

"That's correct Edison. You are only interested in the food and stories, so how about going for prayers with the priest and eating and we all come back for an evening story? Let's go before the nun walks in on us"

"Knock knock!" the door swings open and a nun opens the door to a large rectangular room.

"Speak of the devil. Always right on time nun Sandra" Historia frowned

"Don't speak of such foul words to these children. You better anoint those lips with the holy water of Christ" replied the nun.

"It's just a figure of speech nun, You don't have to chew me up"

"You have been warned Historia! Now chap chap everyone, to the prayer room. The adults are waiting" The nun guided the children as they retrace their footsteps back to the prayer room except one. The Blondie boy Kelvin who was sick lay on top of the bed. Historia grabs a thick blanket and covers him up to his neck.

"Hey, big guy! Get well soon ok. We are all waiting for you to recover" Historia said to him.

"Aunty Historia! You said dragons and monsters are figments of imaginations. But how come you see them in your visions when they are not real" the boy asked.

"Kelvin they are not real. I have not seen or heard in this life except for books and for my visions. I don't know. Maybe they are all part of spiritual training and stuff. Now sleep. I will come back for you soon with the others'' said Historia as she lays him to sleep.

The little and teenage children were gathered close to an altar. They lit candles for their evening prayers before an evening meal, their hands close together for a clap, and with passion from their hearts, their voices raised in song as they worshipped together. The reverend sisters and a few priests knelt before an altar in the orphanage as well as the children as they copied the priest's manners of worship, their heads bowed in reverence, lost in their private moments of prayer.

But suddenly, the sound of several shattering glasses around the orphanage windows broke the peaceful serenity. A loud monstrous roar echoed through the building, causing the windows to rattle in their frames. The adults in the orphanage as well as the children looked up, their faces filled with fear and confusion to the haunting sounds above the orphanage roof. Historia assisting a revered and the worshippers on her knees in front of Jesus statue on the altar were alarmed as they turned their faces towards the windows.

Their eyes widened in fear and despair as they saw a pair of enormous, fiery yellow vertical eyes staring back at them through a glassy window. The eyes belonged to a massive dragon, perched on the roof window of the orphanage staring back at them. Its reptilian eyes covered the massive window blocking the ray of the moonlight. Its scales gleamed in the moonlight, and its breath was like a furnace, heating the air around it.

The dragon's eyes burned with a fierce intensity as it stared down at the adults. Its gaze fixed on the Historia in the front row. Historia panicked however, remained calm, and closed her eyes in prayer.

"No, not again! I didn't draw the monsters. It's not real! It's not real! My mind is playing tricks on me! Historia calms down. It's only a figment of my imagination. My eyes and mind are only playing tricks on me like always" she said trying to console herself unaware of the danger that lurked outside. Suddenly, the dragon let out a deafening roar, and flames shot out of its mouth, engulfing the orphanage on fire. The priest and the sisters in fear ran urging the children to rush towards the exit door. They screamed in terror as they heard the dragon's foot storm the roof of the building and its claws thrust out of the roof. They ran towards the doors, desperate to escape the inferno.

Like a volcanic bomb blasting into the wind, the children, the priest, the nun, and the adults experienced their bodies consumed by volcanic flames that were too fierce, and the heat too intense. Within minutes, the church was reduced to a smoldering pile of ashes. Historia was left alone still praying thinking it was her imagination, however, the flames and heat in the church shook her to reality. She opened her eyes and she saw her family, her friends, and everyone consumed by intense flames leaving her miraculously unharmed, standing amidst the ashes of the church. She had survived, protected by a power greater than any dragon or flame.

Her eyes filled in shock and despair as she stood in shock. She falls on her knees and tears flow a delicate part of her cheek.

"I thought it was just another one of my gifted visions. What just happened?

She questions trying to disagree with reality but the piles of burnt bodies she knew were no joke. Historia screamed on top of her voice. Her scream was so loud that it drew the attention of the flying black dragon. The dragon flew from the night sky and descended crashing into the orphanage. Historia from her position could see the cold night covered in flames as the kingdom of Lukedonia burned and then the dragon covered her view. A scaly, reptilian creature with wings spread out over a cloud of yellow-red fire and its wings were coated in a membrane that spread between its bony spines and pointed claws.

Its body was muscular and robust and was covered in thick, tough scales like armored horses that protect weapons and other forms of attack. It had four giant horns on the sides of its head two large, pointed ears, and a pair of nostrils that breathe thick smoke. From its head were spiky spines along its backs down to its long, powerful scaly tail. Historia in front of the dragon frightened as the dragon stared at her with piercing, terrifying vertical yellow eyes ready to launch her as dinner. The dragon swings his claw hand in other to grab her however her body moves narrowly rolled away dodging the attack. As Historia lifts her head to look in front of her. The dragon lumps its sharp teeth very close to her. Historia was insignificantly small before his incoming gazed teeth. Shocked and won't be able to dodge its jaws a short distance away from her. Historia felt her body pushed away from the dragon's trajectory by a hand.

Historia suddenly remembers that her screams a while back did not only attract the dragon towards her but also Kelvin sleeping in the room. Historia staggered rolling on the ground and swiftly gets up to look. Her eyes widen. She watched as Kelvin's body occupied the mouth of the dragon and the dragon devoured him by shutting his jagged teeth close accompanied by splashes of blood that flew through the air. Kelvin's hand spins in the air and crashes to the floor before Historia's eyes.

"Kkkkkkkkkyyyyyyyyaaaah''

"keeeeelviiin!!!!"

Her voice breaks a sound barrier accompanied by a gust of wind and light.

I am going to make you pay. You are going to pay for this" She rose to her feet with determination and anger with her hand plummeted into a fist.

Suddenly a gust of wind exploded across the orphanage as her ability suddenly awakened. The dragon elevated from her and took to the sky with Kelvin being chewed up and swallowed into his throat.

Historia angry decided to chase after the dragon.

....

The dragon flew from the orphanage and unleashed its flaming fiery breath upon the kingdom turning a fading night to day while igniting everything on its path. Lukedonia people stared in horror. The once beautiful landscape was now a smoldering wasteland, with flames and smoke billowing up from the ruins of once-great buildings. The dragon continued to shower destruction onto the helpless humans below as it swooped overhead, its enormous wings throwing a black shadow over the landscape. The stench of smoke and burning filled the air, and the cries of the injured and dying reverberated through the deserted streets.

The knights and troops of Lukedonia fought bravely, but they were no match for the dragon's instant regenerative power. The defenders' gun bows stationed on the kingdom walls launched massive arrow attacks into the air however arrows and swords couldn't penetrate the dragon's impenetrable scales or withstand its flaming breath.

The dragon resumed its onslaught as almost half the kingdom burnt, leaving only charred wreckage and ash in its wake. The inhabitants of the kingdom were powerless to stop the flying roaring beast from destroying their houses and taking their lives, so they could only watch in terror. As the dragon flew, he watched the city streets.

In the blazing terrible disarray, a young lad with blonde hair neatly shaven on its side with ocean blue eyes hurried toward a main road from a side street alley with a group of others. They were shocked to see a street burning with flames, and there was a large red dragon that flew past them and appeared to descend on the cobblestones in front of them. The scaly, reptilian creature with wings spread out over a cloud of yellow fire and its wings were coated in a membrane that spread between its bony spines and pointed claws—covered in thick, tough scales like armored horses that protect weapons and other forms of attack.

The folks in front of the dragon were frightened as the dragon stared at the group with piercing, terrifying vertical blue eyes. The dragon spoke as it opened its mouth to reveal deadly sharp teeth with giant fangs.

"I never imagined that humans would have the guts to do it. I, the dragon king's lone Great child. I recall that people were continually trying to harm me. Every time I managed to locate a place to call home. Without warning, they would come and attack me. They sought out my kind. Killed everyone I loved, including my family, until I was the last member of my own family left.

Knighted mage sir Galahad, a human hero who challenged me, was what I had heard him say. He misjudged me and was acting cocky. As he was hitting me, he yelled something. As your people say, it's an eye for an eye. I thank whoever has broken the Ragnarok seal placed by your grandfather and freed me. I can smell the stench of his bloodlines from you. All I could do is repay the favor to his lineage descendants." When his grandfather he loved so much, Sir Galahad who died years ago, was mentioned, the frightened lad covered his mouth and tears rolled down his cheek. As he watched the dragon open his mouth and out of the lava pot from his throat. It erupts yellow-red volcanic flame towards the gathering, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"George run...!!!!'' George's mother, a tall slim beautiful Blondie woman shouted to George who was standing beside her.

"Geeeeorge!!!!!!.." she screamed as the fire came ever closer to them.

George's mother yelled at him from the group and swiftly pushed him away from her.

"Mooother!!!!!!" George yelled stretching his hand as he found his body lifted from the ground into the air away from them. George could only watch as his mother and the others were consumed by the volcanic flames of charred ash.

The young lad George then lifted his watery eyes and looked at the dragon in shock and he shouted with all his might.

"I will destroy you…. You killed my mother and my grandfather. My sister, my family, everyone. I will kill you dragon".

He points his finger in anger at him however the dragon laughs and said

"hahahaha! The feeling is mutual. I understand your pain. I felt that same pain when your people called adventurers stole my egg and killed my husband. I see that man I ate sir Galahad was your grandfather. The resemblance is quite cunning. Like he said an eye for an eye, I will repay the favor to you humans. What can a weak lad like you do? My dragon flames are mercy to you."

The dragon stared down at him and it opened its mouth gathering flames aimed at George.

"That's if you survive. Now begun lad…. To the world of the dead"

And the Dragons breathe down at George.

"Your majesty, your majesty" surviving guards help the king to his feet as he watches from the crumbled castle the dragon erupts his breath at the street of Lukedonia. The king looked at the palace and half his kingdom in total ruin as the stars in the sky were made visible before his eyes. He walked to the edge of the destroyed palace. He fell to his knees as his eyes watched the capital of Lukedonia Center City burn in flames by a flying red dragon.

'I can't let my child die. My child has been turned into a dragon, If this is the price to keep you alive, then so be it' the king narrowed his eyes and rose to his feet. He stretched forth his right hand and commanded.

"Hear my royal command citizens of Lukedonia. All Adventurers of all guilds across Lukedonia and five kingdoms—mages, warriors and warlords, priests, and Saint Knights—answer to the king's beacon call. Whoever defeats the lady of the lost and brings Princess Elena flame mana core shall marry her as his wife and become crown prince to the throne. When I die, he will rule with Elena. Now sound the War alarm, a beacon call to all Adventurers to assemble before noon in preparation for the adventurous journey to the dark continent.".

"Clank!

Clank!

Clank!

The war bell rang across the Lukedonia capital, and instantly everyone in Lukedonia knew what it was. The dragon had won the battle that day however the war was far from over. From the wreckage and agony of the kingdom would rise six great heroes to hunt down a cold-blooded dragon that led them to the world of countless dragons.

Through the eye of a storming night, rises the climax of evil's heights, and at the darkest hour of evil might's, comes the rising of the adventurous heroes and knights to vanquish the villains of the darkest night. With his holy sword of light in his hand, the hero's adventurous journey has just begun.