Elsie sat on the shore, her chin resting in her hands, gazing out at the calm water. A roar shattered the tranquility, followed by the powerful flapping of wings overhead. Her older brother, Magnus, was soaring through the sky on his brown dragon, Princess Eloise riding beside him on her magnificent golden beast. They looked utterly dashing as they pierced the clouds and skimmed across the water's surface.
A pang of envy pierced Elsie's heart. She imagined herself soaring alongside them, her dragon carrying her through the skies. What color would it be? What incredible powers would it possess?
She quickly averted her gaze, shaking her head to dispel the envious thoughts. "I'll have my dragon soon," she muttered, "one I can ride and share adventures with."
"Bring some fish from north of Vertex if you want to see the sea serpents appear!" Magnus roared, his voice cutting through the thunderous roar of the clouds as his dragon executed a sharp turn, vanishing behind the storm clouds in pursuit of Princess Elois' golden dragon.
Princess Elois shook her head, her voice laced with anxiety amidst the cacophony of the wind. "Don't even think about it, Magnus!"
Elsie frowned, bewildered by the exchange above. Yet her feet seemed to have their mind, carrying her towards the north of Vertex. There, she grabbed her battered bucket and began collecting small fish. The sun beat mercilessly, and sweat stinging her eyes; she lugged the half-filled bucket back west.
Carefully, Elsie held two jet-black fish, each the size of her palm, and stood at the water's edge. She gazed intently at the water's calm surface, yearning for a miracle. Days had passed, each one filled with the patient anticipation of witnessing the majesty of the sea lords of Vertex.
Dark clouds piled up over Vertex, mirroring the storm brewing within Elsie. She stood on the shore, the cracked bucket clutched tightly in her hands. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm echoing the dragon's roar and the crashing waves. Something momentous was about to erupt from the depths. But the riders' panicked shouts shattered her focus.
"Larousse! Danger!" they screamed.
"Get back from the shore!" the others echoed.
The salty sea breeze whipped through Elsie's hair, a refreshing sting on her skin. Ignoring the shouts of the startled riders, she swiftly hurled the caught fish into the churning depths. A triumphant grin spread across her face as three colossal shadows erupted from the abyss. A thunderous roar, shaking the sea's foundations, heralded the sea lords' arrival. Without a moment's hesitation, Elsie cast the remaining fish upon the waves, an invitation to the majestic creatures.
The water erupted in a swirling vortex, a monstrous ice-blue serpent rising from the depths. Before Elsie could even blink, a colossal wave crashed, tossing her like a ragdoll. Yet, Elsie refused to yield. With a surge of adrenaline, she fought through the maelstrom, swimming with desperate urgency towards the sea serpents now cavorting on the surface.
She swam with all her might, closing in on the gathering of sea serpents. Those colossal bodies loomed like mountains in the vast ocean, making her feel utterly insignificant, a speck in the immensity. Fear gnawed at her, but it didn't deter her. She yearned to touch them, to feel the raw power that pulsed within their scales.
As she reached out, a sea serpent turned its head towards her. Its fiery red eyes, ancient and knowing, bore into her. Its tail whipped across the water, plunging her into the suffocating darkness.
Saltwater choked her lungs, forcing coughs from her throat. Panic seized her as she thrashed about, desperate for something to cling to. Huge shadows loomed around her, slick scales brushing against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. Sharp claws raked at her flesh, tearing at her. Elsie squeezed her eyes shut, accepting the inevitable.
"Help…" she gasped, the word barely audible above the roar of the waves. No one answered. Only the suffocating darkness and the menacing presence of the creatures surrounded her. Her chest burned, and her head swam. Was this indeed the end?
Darkness and cold gripped Elsie. She squeezed her chest, gasping for air, each breath a searing dagger through her lungs. The sea current tossed her like a rag doll, her body limp and unresponsive. Her eyelids grew heavy, slowly drifting shut. In the abyss, she heard the terrifying roars of the sea serpents, the crashing waves, and the distant, ominous hiss of the dragon's fiery breath. Despair washed over her as consciousness began to slip away.
A sliver of light pierced the gloom. Elsie strained to reach for it, but her strength had abandoned her. She felt like she was drowning in a suffocating nightmare. Then, a warm hand grasped her arm, pulling her upwards towards the surface. Sunlight blinded her as she broke the surface, gasping for the life-giving air, a surge of gratitude flooding her.
Salty water dripped from her hair as she stumbled onto the shore. The tall, influential figure who had saved her had vanished into the churning sea, merging with the waves. Before she could even utter a word of thanks, she was surrounded by a throng of riders.
"Larousse!" a honey-blonde rider cried, engulfing Elsie in a hug. Tears streamed down Elsie's face. "Thank God you're back," said a red-haired rider, rubbing comforting circles on Elsie's back. "Didn't you listen to our warnings, Larousse?" an orange-haired male rider asked, his grip on her hand firm and warm. Elsie just shook her head, unable to speak.
Magnus arrived after, Princess Eloise trailing behind him. He gently pushed the others aside and scooped Elsie into his arms. "Let's get you home," he said softly.
Elsie's reaction was unexpected. She recoiled, her eyes hardening with a hateful glare. "Don't pretend to care about me!" she spat, her voice trembling with anger. She pointed a trembling finger at his face. "I can take care of myself!"
Without waiting for his response, Elsie turned and stumbled towards the riders' barracks, her shoulders shaking with sobs. She staggered out of Vertex and headed south towards the riders' quarters. "I can take care of myself!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the distance.
Elsie was lost in thought, gazing into the crackling fire. She'd just changed, wearing a bone-white tunic over earthy pants and sturdy knee-high boots. A girl with elf ears, hair as black as midnight, and eyes the color of a deep ocean approached, carrying a steaming mug.
"I'm Holly Waldorf," she introduced herself with a warm smile, like summer sunshine.
Elsie returned the smile, a bit startled. "Thank you very much, Miss Waldorf."
"I shouldn't have just barged in like this," Holly confessed, hushed. "No one knows that Princess Eloise and Princess Katya's bodyguard is an elf, like me. Can you keep this a secret?"
Elsie nodded eagerly. Though confused, she vowed to keep Holly's visit confidential. "Of course, I'll keep your secret," she promised, her awkward smile.
"Thank you," Holly replied.
Elsie nodded again. "Thank you for the tea."
Holly nodded in return. She cleared her throat, then glanced around nervously. "You still haven't gotten a dragon, have you?" she asked, her voice as soft as the rustling of leaves.
"I always lose the egg," Elsie said with a shrug. "Every time I win the Harvesting Competition."
Holly's face lit up. "You don't need the egg to get a dragon."
Elsie nearly choked on Holly's revelation. "How?" she demanded.