There was a brief, muffled knock at Julie's bedroom door, barely audible over the soft crackle of the fire in the fireplace. Julie despised the thought of leaving her cozy bed. She tossed aside the plush, warm blankets and felt the cool wooden floor beneath her bare feet. As she shuffled towards the door, the soft sound of her footsteps on the creaky floorboards echoed in the morning's silence.
When Julie reached the door, she grasped the golden handle, its smooth surface cool to the touch, and gave it a slight twist downward. The door groaned in protest, emitting a low, drawn-out creak reverberating through the room. Her curiosity piqued, she swung the door open, and what she saw inside was a scene she never could have expected. Standing before her was Sly's brother, King Rolen, and his wife, along with the rest of their family. They had been hidden by the heavy, billowing robes they were wearing. As she stepped further into the room, a rich, musky scent of incense filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of lavender coming from Julie's bedroom.
Intrigued by this unexpected sight, Julie hastily closed the door, the soft click of the latch resounding in the room. Without hesitation, she reopened it, and Sly and Lorna entered the room, their footsteps creating a gentle, rhythmic padding sound on the floor. Hasan, Julie's soon-to-be husband, followed closely behind them. His presence added an electric buzz of anticipation to the atmosphere. Observing Sly carefully placing a ward of magic against listeners around the room, Julie realized the seriousness of the situation. Lorna delicately etched a complex, glowing rune onto the heavy oak door. Lorna claimed this rune, etched with sharp, precise lines, would keep anyone from entering the room. Once again, the question—a persistent, nagging "why?"–echoed in Julie's mind. And why now? Are they afraid of spies within their own castle?
Julie didn't have to wait long as they settled into the plush chairs surrounding the cozy sitting area in front of her crackling fireplace in her room. The soft, warm glow of the flames danced across the room, casting a comforting ambiance. The crackling fire and the occasional pop of burning wood provided a soothing soundtrack as she delved into the world of dragon lore. With every turn of the page, she could almost feel the ancient magic coursing through her veins, a tantalizing sensation that heightened her senses. The faint scent of smoke, reminiscent of far-off campfires, mingled with the earthy aroma of aged books, creating a unique olfactory experience. A mischievous smile played on her lips as she reminisced about the times when others had dismissed her pursuit of mythical dragons and magical realms as mere fairy tales.
Now, she reveled in the irony, feeling a surge of excitement as she realized that the fantastical stories she had chased were, in fact, true. The sight of her planet, Earth, bustling with blind idiots unaware of the hidden possibilities surrounding them, filled her with a mix of amusement and frustration. The air was heavy with the scent of missed opportunities, as if the very essence of untapped potential lingered in every breath. If only they could see the truth - the creatures lurking in the shadows, their existence known only to those gifted with the "gift of sight."
The sound of their whispers, like faint echoes carried by the wind, would send shivers down their spines. And if, by some stroke of fate, they were to stumble upon a real life-sized dragon like herself, the sight of its majestic wings and the thunderous beat of its heart would leave them trembling in awe. It would be a revelation, an unveiling of the world of magic - not just the dark magic that thrived in the shadows, but also the magic of Light and Truth, known as nature's magic. The sweet fragrance of blossoming flowers and the gentle touch of a breeze carrying whispers of ancient incantations would surround them, inviting them to explore the good that magic could bring to humankind. But alas, the fear of the unknown would most likely consume them, and they would flee in terror, leaving the secrets of this enchanting realm to be discovered by only a select few.
Yet that was life, and her life now is that she faces those impossibilities. All she really needs to do is look at her friends here in the room and think of her family. No, those back on earth did not know what the truth was and how truly they were in the dark.