Chapter One – The Earth Dragon Slayer


The pursuer came out of nowhere. The dragon slayer was walking through an unmarked, luscious green forest for a few hours before he was struck on his right side; like jolt of electricity he fell from the blow, his arm fractured and was now broken and his leg caught on a jagged edge as he made his way towards the ground. With adrenaline flowing through his body he took a glance behind; a looming figure seemingly floated on the ground behind him; a lion chasing a mouse.

Blood stained the green forest floor as the young dragon slayer ran for his life. He had bright green hair, dark skin, a slender build and deep, brown eyes. He tried to be quick on his feet, dodging tree branch after tree branch, but all felt impossible with an impaired leg and broken arm.

Like all dragon slayers he was on a quest to understand the disappearance of dragons and to find his foster father; an Earth dragon that vanished on July 7, X777. If he wasn't fast enough however, his journey would be cut short. The dark figure was getting closer.

"Leave me alone!" the young man cried. He struggled to a stop and turned around to meet his predator. He would not make it to any civilisation like this, he was losing energy and the man behind him would not let up. He pounded his feet to the ground and cast a spell, "Dragon Tree Manipulation!" With his magic he plunged his good arm into the soil of the forest floor; he called upon the trees around him to uproot and fall in-between him and his pursuer. He turned again and ran, that might give him time to hide.

"Get back here boy!" the pursuer yelled. With a wave of his hand the trees exploded every-which direction and the path was again clear. The dark figure could see his target ahead, limping desperately, foolishly; he would not get away.

The dragon slayer's vision started to blur. He fought for speed, praying his body would come through for him past the excruciating pain and loss of blood. He could hear the man behind him, the twigs on the ground snapping under the weight. He tripped, and with a crack the bone from his broken arm jutted out of his skin; white bone stained with red blood. Pain shot through him like lightning and he called upon every fiber in his being to not cry out in pain.

I'm going to die. Ivar, myfather, I'm sorry I failed you…please forgive me for not finding you.

The green haired dragon slayer had no more energy to run as the dark man slowly walked towards him; under the shadow of the attacker's hood he could see white teeth glisten from the darkness. The man loomed over the boy; lowering his body he crouched in front of him and smiled as he placed his hands to the boy's temples. "Are you strong enough boy?"

The dragon slayer, with might, pride and determination still shinning in his eyes despite the pain in his body whispered, "My name is Edward Faun."

The man laughed, "Your name is of no importance." With the slightest pressure, he squeezed his hands into his temple. With a gargling sound as if being crushed, Edward's world turned black. "Hmpf," the man grunted and so he stood and disappeared into the shadows.

Edward's body lay broken on the forest floor, a cold, dead look to his dark eyes. The sun fought its way through the thicket of trees to illuminate the ground below, a small ray of sunshine lit up his body and if you listened closely you'd hear the forest cry for the Earth dragon slayer.