Chrono Crusade- Flame of the West
Chapter 1- Outsider
There is a calmness in the sky, no past and no future. The world below changes as I do not. To your eyes, I seem like a normal looking young woman, but my kind have been living in hiding for thousands of years. Stories have been written by man over the many centuries of our deeds both brave and cruel. Who or what am I you may ask? My name is Noemi, and I am a dragon. Forget most of what you might have read about of my kind in old texts and folklore. It is best you all hear me out first hand.
For 577 years, I have watched the world turn and change with the passing of the sands of time. In all those years, I had yet to find a place I can live that was not a church until now. I was informed by a special informant from the Vatican that I have been transferred to the United Sates. For centuries, I have lived under the protection of the church, but the times are changing. Under the clear morning skies, I finally made my leave. As sad a moment as it was for me, I knew I was the last of my kind.
There are too few of my kind left, too few to make a very big impact on the mythic population. I have no disdain for humans. From what I have seen, we don't have to worry about them hurting us as much as they hurt themselves. I boarded a ship bound for New York since flying by my own power would cause too much of a scene for humans. The last thing I need is my face in the news. I was informed by the Church that because of my monster type, I would have specially designated flying hours.
I find the human world to be fascinating. In a city like New York with it's high-rise buildings and motor cars and motor buses going by, it would be difficult for one to think that a dragon would be commonplace here, walking among human kind. The people in this city look so happy, so diverse. People from all over the world made the journey here to start a new life, just like me. I was informed that there has been an influx of demons in the past few months. Apparently, this is the kind of work I am most suited for.
When I arrived, I looked up at the headquarters of the New York branch of the Order of Magdalene. I felt inside I had found a place to call home. I had shown up early and had yet to unpack my stuff. I was met by my first sister, Sister Kate Valentine, "Ah yes, you must be Noemi," She said in a not-so girly tone of voice. My English was very sufficient. It is amazing what can be learn in the time I have been living on this planet, "The Vatican has sent you directly to us, to be a member of the Order of Magdalene,"
I remained calm and collective, but I wanted to give her the notion that I was here to live and make friends with all the other sisters, "Is that so?" I replied scratching an itch on the back of my head. I have heard of the Order of Magdalene, a militaristic branch of the Catholic Church, but no dragons? I wonder why. Is this order afraid I might start eating people? What nonsense. When I was living in my home country, the villagers would leave one cow or a single sheep out of their herds for me to eat.
Though I lived under the protection of the Vatican, my homeland is in the forests near the Rhône River. I often ventured into Tarascon in human form whenever I had the chance. As I saw others coming in the room, Ms. Valentine smiled, "Now you wait right here," She said in a friendly tone, I found to be somewhat pleasant. I was overhearing her voice from the other side of the door, "Sister Rosette, today you have a new partner assigned to you from Germany, please welcome Noemi Rousseau,"
We dragons don't have last names. My last name was given to me when I was 500 years old by the Church so I could could be granted legal status. I have lived through human history and seen many worldly events leading up to this moment, "Greetings," I said calmly and collectively, but kept to my friendly French ways. Unlike some folk in my home country, I am kind. Out of everyone I was introduced to, one young man seemed to stand out from all the rest. I could sense he was not a mortal.
I just looked at him to study him and nodded a single nod. He is shorter than me, but height is not everything. He looks charming in his own way. He is like those children who come to play and laugh in the hills. Even as I looked at him, I felt this warming feeling inside me, like I had made my first friend here, "You're the first dragon I've ever met, that is so cool, my name is Chrono," he said introducing himself politely. As I talked with him during the day, I did not care for the fact he was not human.
It is sad though, in the time I have been living I have had plenty of human friends. Sadly, none of them are alive anymore. They may age and wither away and I won't. The only way I can die is if I am slain by a warrior. The time of warriors has long passed. There are no knights, no chivalry. My time has passed, but I still walk among humans in the modern world. This demon, this Chrono, reminds of the times long passed. Everyone I befriended in my life lasted from the prime of their lives to the end.
I hope to see to that with him. All I want is a friend out of him, nothing more nothing less. But as usual, not everyone stays on the same page. There was one I sat next to in chamber. She had long silver hair, and brown eyes like me. There was no doubt in my mind, she was a special, and an Apostle. She seems to be one of his friends, if not more. The same could be said about the other two, a nun that makes a Morteau sausage look like Socrates, and a jewel witch that seemed easy to get along with.
The little Apostle hid behind the safety of the Jewel Summoner. I wonder if she can sense my aura? As I approached the little girl, she went further behind her like a scared kitten. "Come out now, child, I will not hurt you," I said to her, staying true to my words as I ruffled her hair. What? Did some of you expect me to burst into flames? I maybe a dragon, but that does not mean I have no faith in our Lord. I received a little titter, and she even said I was pretty. Words like that warm my heart.
None the less, I wanted something different out of my friends. People to talk to, and have a laugh with once and a while. I am new to this country, and there are so many new things I want to learn. I felt this was the man. I am not in love with him, not in the slightest. The way she is glaring at me says other wise. This is getting ridiculous. I walked back to my dorm, I was confronted by Rosette, "Just what do you think you're doing? Being all friendly like that?" She asked, I have a feeling this won't end well.
I just looked at her, and turned away as I entered my quarters. The last thing I wanted was a fight. I maybe powerful, but I won't attack the people I am supposed to be working with. Not until they offend me. Most of the time, it is people with the intelligence of Rosette that often cross that very thin line, "What's the matter Madame Cow, don't you have a helpless village to burn down or another knight in shining armor to eat?" How is it that she can call herself a nun with a forked tongue like that?
"You know I bet you're not a real dragon, because a real dragon would've eaten me by now," Rosette boasted, only to be struck down by Satella's fist to her head, somehow I don't think that will be enough for a girl like her. I believe something else is in order. Either this nun testing me or just trying my patience. I am not the most womanly looking person in the world. My raven hair is not long, I keep it short and smooth, just down to the back of my upper neck and I do keep myself in good health.
"I will not fight you, Sister, but you lack discipline," I replied back to her offensive words, and headed outside to catch some fresh air, but as I expected I was followed outside by the blond nun and her companions. "I find your words to be most offensive, and for that I feel I must teach you a lesson," and with that I began to transform. This was a good chance to show my companions just how 'real' I am, "my armor is stronger than any metal on Earth, my teeth are like swords, my claws are spears,"
"My horns are my crown, the shock of my tail is an earthquake, my wings a hurricane, and my breath though you do not deserve it...is death," I blew a stream of fire into the air, and looked down at my friends as I towered over them. When transformed, I stand around 25 feet tall, and around 50 feet long from the tip of my long pointed snout to the tip of my tail. My wings are bigger than that of any aeroplane made by man. With my black scales and rows of spikes, I am a creature to be feared by all evil.
"We'll see about that!" Rosette cried and shot at me. I am armored above and below. To be honest, her Gospel Bullets tickled as they bounced off my chest. "what? that's impossible!" she shot at me until she unloaded a magazine from both her pistols. The only way I can die is if I am defeated by another dragon or I am stabbed through the heart by a warriors blade, and only a blade. Thus I would have to put my faith in Chrono, should I lose my sense of reason, to end my life when the time comes.
As I reverted back to my human form, I made sure to my friends that I had proven my point, "To think that a creature like you, an embodiment of strength and power, still exists though it is a pity you are the last of your kind," said Satellla in a thick German accent, "these are my friends, and I can be yours Noemi," Satella is one of the kindest people I have met in a while. It is tiring to change from a human to a dragon so many times. As I rested, I felt I could work with these people when the time comes.