On Dragon Wings
Prologue: Whisked Away
With harsh sobs choking her, a teenaged girl ran for her life. Behind her, a man's furious bellows echoed, spurring her onward. Terror reigned supreme in her mind, as she raced down the street; not caring that she was soaked to the skin by the pouring rain.
"Gotta get away….gotta get away…gotta get away…." The girl's mind repeated the same phrase like a sutra to ward off the evil behind her. She had just witnessed a horrifying act that had been committed by someone she'd thought she could trust, and her mind was having a difficult time grasping what had just occurred. She'd returned home a little early from school, only to find her mother lying bludgeoned to death on the floor, and her own father standing over the body with the murder weapon in hand. And a few seconds later, her father was on top of her, attempting to rape, and then murder, her as well. Somehow or another, she'd escaped, and now ran for her very life. Finally, she reached what she thought to be a safe haven; the public library!
"Too many security cameras….He won't try anything here." The girl thought, then silently added, "I hope." As she entered the building, she realized that it was close to closing time, and that soon she would be turned out onto the streets again…..and into the waiting arms of her sick-minded father.
"Can't let that happen. I've gotta see if I can usea phone to call the police." The girl mused, as she started looking for a pay phone that was inside of the building. After a few moments of searching, she finally gave up. There were no phones inside, and she did not want to risk getting caught by her father outside. With a sigh, she started to sit down and try to think of something else; perking up when she felt something beckon her.
"Come." A soft male voice said, in her mind.
"Huh? Who is that?" the girl replied, confusedly.
"Come. I have been waiting for you, Seiryu no Miko. Come." The voice said, yet again.
"Seiryu no Miko? What do you mean by that? Who are you?" the girl asked, curiously, as she started walking towards one of the rooms in the back of the library.
"All will be explained. For now, you must come." The voice stated, urgently.
"Okay….I'm coming." The girl said, as she allowed her feet to carry her into the storage room the farthest away from the main room in the library. Once there, she was a little bewildered by what she saw. There, lying open on the floor, was an old, leather-bound book. With curiosity overwhelming her, she bent down and picked up the old volume, gingerly handling the red leather cover and taking a good look at the title.
"Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho? What is this? Some sort of fantasy book?" the girl asked, aloud. Of course, there was no answer. With a shrug, the girl sat down on the floor, propped the book on her knees, and began to read.
"Herein lies the tale of a young lady and her quest to gather the seven constellations of Seiryu together." The girl read, to herself, unaware that something odd was beginning to happen around her. Her body was starting to glow blue, faintly at first; but, as she read on, it got brighter.
"For indeed the moment the page is turned, the story will become reality…." The girl murmured, as she did just that. Seconds later, three things happened; a brilliant blue light erupted from the book, the girl was sucked inside, and a fierce wind shut the book behind her (and closed the storeroom door as well). The story had begun.