Chapter 1: Monika von Bock- The Servant of Germ Divena

"... And that is how it ended, my dear," Spoken the old master, to a short haired boy. Er, a girl actually. The girl was writing it down in her small notebook as she listens to her teacher. She dressed in what men would wear, a brown pair of pants and boots, a lighter brown color tunic under a white shirt, and a pair of fingerless gloves. The girl finished writing her last sentence as the master started to put away some of the books that were lying around the library. She followed after him as she started to question him.

"But, master Eduard," The girl asked in a thick German accent, "how did the dragon, whom given his powers to someone, even started to have those?" The master, Eduard, place the book on its shelf as he turns over to her, "Sorry if it didn't make any sense, sir,"

"My dear, Monika," Eduard said in a sweet tone of his, "you are still learning and every day you are learning new things. As for your question, some would believe that the dragon was the Lord of the Dragons, as they say. But to us masters, we believed the dragon was one of the gods,"

Monika, the girl, though for a moment as she thinks about it. The dragon could've been the Lord of the Dragons or one of the gods?! That would explain somewhat she remembers about the last time she'd heard about it. The dragon could've been the leader of dragons and gave it's life to save it's kind. She frowns as she thought about it a little more.

"Why do we hunt the dragons then?" She asked. Eduard laughed as he looks at the poor girl. He adjusted his glasses and pet her hair a little.

"As I told you once more, we believed that they killed one of our own kind out of madness. No one knows the full truth, but we masters would believe that it could've been us who started. Must've killed it's friend or friends over for a foolish idea."

"So they do contain powers in their body, blood, and minds?"

"Now, now, dragons would have the powers to create storms or poison, but sometimes they would have what others claim. Again, but not many have powers,"

"Why not?" Monika asked as she leans her arms over the table as Eduard picked up more books to place back on the shelves.

"Because some are gifted and due to this hunting game that people are doing and plan to do when they are older, not many can have those. It's best to leave them alone if they want to be alone." Eduard explains as he places the last book on the shelf. Monika sigh as she looks down at the table. More thoughts came to her mind as she looks back up to Eduard.

"So you think dragons shouldn't be hunted then?" She asked once more. Eduard stopped as he looked over at the German girl and smiled warmly.

"No, I don't believe hunting them is the best, but we can't make the vote. The people would need to learn, see, and listen to what they would do." Eduard pulled something out of his pockets and gave them over to Monika. He told her to go out to the market and buy something to eat and be back before seven. Monika nod and left with her fur cloak on her back.

It was another cold-sunny day at the market, as always. Children running around while throwing snowballs at each other, the people talking to one and another, and people who are either selling, trading, or buying things. Monika walked as she had a smile on her face. She loves seeing the place so happy and brightly. Though she would go out to the market to clear her mind most of the time or take a break with things in her "home".

You see, Monika is a servant to the king of Germ Divena when she was just a child around six. Eduard was the one whom took her under his wing and taught her not only the history of the kingdom and nature. But she always fascinated dragons, even though people would be either afraid or have more hated over the dragons. The more she learned about them, the more she wants to go and see them. Monika was living in the streets and both of her parents had died in sickness and been murder. Eduard is like a father to her for some reason and she also lived with some others in there as well who treat her like family. She likes to think of them as her family, and she loves them. Monika would trade anything for the world to be with her family forever.

She saw someone thrown a snowball over her head. Monika turns her head and saw the usual kids who like to play with her. They giggled as Monika smirked at them. Slowly pretending she dropped something, Monika started to hear the footsteps of the children making more snowballs as she started to rapid fire snowballs at them. They all laughed and played together until Monika had to get going.

She waves goodbye and they wave back their farewells. How she wish their days never ended sometimes. Monika started to get some food and some restocking of supplies for her small family. As she went about to the market, she saw someone who seems new to the kingdom. He had dirty blond hair that some parts are braided as she could tell. He wore a leather vest that she doesn't seem to recognize most times, leather brown boots, black pants, a white shirt under the vest, and a bright red hoodie that he wore. Monika walks over as she could tell this Outsider is new to this place.

"...Now I did say that I would trade this for that, my dear good sir," the man told the trader market. The man huffed as Monika smiled at him.

"New to this place I take?" She asked him. The man looked down at her, which she could tell that he has soft brown eyes looking down at her.

"As a matter of fact, Ja I am," he replied back to her.

"Should've known," The trader market mumbles to himself. Monika smiled as she wonders what is he trading for. She sees something in the small leather bag was probably gold or gems, and he wanted to trade it for some meat she sees.

"The meat is going to be a little more expensive since your this far up north as you can tell. Gems won't be enough because anyone can grow gems,"

"Ja, anyone can, but not the right way," the stranger told her. Monika laughed as the trader market looked at him.

"If you knew how to grow gems properly, then how?" The man smirked at the trade market as he pulled out a ruby gem that is the size of an adult palm.

"Grow it near where lava can be found, not too close or you would end up with diamonds instead." The trade market rolled his eyes at him as he asked for coins. The Outsider pulled out another small leather bag and shown them the bright silver coins that look like they were freshly made today. The made the trade and the man started to walk off. Monika followed after him as she stopped him a bit.

"Excuse me!" She ran after him. The man stopped as he looks down at her. Monika walked up to him as she took a small breath, "Where did you get those coins? Most of our coins are rust and a little old looking, but they look like they came from West Euro," The man smiled as he bows down to her and backs up.

"I'm Bjorn Maka, at your service. I'm only a traveler to certain places and this would be my first time coming here." Bjorn introduces himself. Monika smiled a little as she looked at the traveler. In her mind, she has more question to this strange man.

"You avoid my question, sir," Monika told him.

"Oh right! I forgot about that," Bjorn laughed as he rubs the back of his head, "I got them from a bet that I've won in West Euro, Aushung, and Monsoon. I'll you what, Monsoon is very hard if you bet with someone. They are really good at challenging to a stranger like me."

Monika smiled as she walked into her home and she told the man it was nice to meet him a learn a little from his places. Bjorn shakes hands with her and said that he hopes to meet her again. Bjorn went back to the crowd as for Monika was just feeling her heart skip a beat. She rolled her mind off as she thinks it's because that she might be in… love? No, how can she be in love with someone who she hardly knows of? That's like hearing a Romeo and Juliet story. The only difference is that he travels and she stays in a castle. It could be if the next time they meet, he might ask her a proposal.

The guards at the front gate let her pass, knowing that she works and live there. Monika walks through the cold stone walls as she started to hear some voices somewhere. Following the said voice, she could hear two people talking. One was the king voice as the other was Eduard. What could they be talking about?

"...I don't understand, sire," Eduard spoke out, "If the village is dying, we can only hope-"

"The hunters haven't come back in three months. What do we know that they could be alive but injured, or they could be dead? I'm not going to have my people starve because the hunters are extremely late!" The king spoke as calmly as he can. Monika slowly lean to the door as she listens closely.

"Alright then, I'll make sure that one of my family will give it one last care before you kill the creature. But I'm just warning you, as the porosity has been written, "Once the beast is slain to the king's floor, anew era is to rise with an army of wings. Who ruled the skies long before the gods."," Monika didn't understand what he could be talking about. It could mean anything.

Monika went to the servant quarters as she was greeted by a white flash of hair jumped to her. Trying to figure out what- or who was that, she sees her cousin, Anneliese, walking over to pull off the girl on her. Scolding the white-haired girl, Monika rolled her orbs at them as her sister, Julchen, walk over to her. Want to see how her day was and what's new. Julchen is her blood sister, as the white-haired female claims a lot to everyone. They were just living on the streets until Eduard came by to see them together. Just in his luck, he took them in as if they were his own children. Anneliese is their cousin, which she is the king's handmaid for some reason. She mostly teaches the king to play piano as the king return the favor by buying new clothes for her and her family.

There are others but they left somewhere during their thoughts of getting married or leave the forever cold kingdom to somewhere else that isn't cold and damp.

"So did you meet anyone at the market today?" Julchen asked in her thick German accent as she sat on the table.

"I did meet someone who is new to this place," Anneliese scoff at the last part.

"Why did that person bother coming here, even though this is not the only kingdom that is in freezing to death?" Anneliese asked in her gentle German accent, which has somewhat a sass to it.

"You would have to ask Bjorn if you see him," Monika smirk.

"Oh~ my baby sister is growing up, like the awesome me!" Julchen shrieked.

"Nien, we only meet at the trades. He was going trade the largest ruby for a meat. It was the size of my palm when he showed it!" Monika explained to them.

"That's what you said the last time when you saw someone who was tall as the house," Anneliese said as Monika rolled her icy blue eyes at her.

"That was when I was a child. I'm all grown up now," Monika said. Julchen yawned as she lay flat on the table as Anneliese started to cut up something to make a stew of. Monika started to wash some as the door opened. Julchen got up and helped Eduard from the trouble he's having withholding the books and scrolls in his hands. He would carry the scrolls just for Monika to read and learn more about dragons and powers in the old scrolls. Anneliese set out the bowls and poured the stew in. They all ate quietly, which was strange. Julchen would tell stories about the other servants would gossip about, Anneliese would tell a little what the king would plan to do, and Eduard would explain some parts in the scrolls that Monika is reading. Monika looked over at Eduard with a curious look in those icy blue eyes.

"What did you mean about the prophecy, Eduard?" She asked. Eduard stops eating as both Julchen and Anneliese looked over at Monika.

"What are you talking about?" Julchen asked.

"The prophecy that Eduard told the king. Something about a creature will be slain," Monika explain. Eduard folded his hands under the table as he looks over at the girl. Knowing that he would tell her about this when she does ask.

"When I took the both of you in, Monika and Julchen, that same day was when hunters came back with…" It was quiet as Eduard sigh in disappointment. Monika waited as she sees Eduard looking up with an upsetting look, "They came back with two dragons. One Shadow and one Ice…" Monika had a horrified look as she listens to this. All of her life- that she should've known that a dragon lived inside the castle! And she could've seen it if she'd knew about it!?

"You know I'm learning and I fansites these creatures! Why didn't you showed me back when I started to learn about them!?" She raises her voice at Eduard.

"Because the dragons were to appear to be dangerous when I saw it. And I was waiting for the right time when the Falls ended and spring and summer came, I would show you to them. But now that the hunters are missing for three months, the people- the three of you and myself- are growing hungry. The dragons are the only thing that is big enough to eat and divided the people." Eduard explain. Monika looked down at her lap and sigh. She never thought that she would raise her voice like that. But he's right, the hunters haven't returned since then. And the people are getting hungry when the prices have to raise up. Not to forget, the trade market hasn't returned since then as well. Monika sigh again as she thinks more about this. But her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Eduard speaking.

"I was planning to bring you down where the dragon is kept… before one of them killed." Monika nod as she looks over at Eduard.

"Alright then…"

They both walk down to where the dragons are kept. Monika is a little nervous as she follows Eduard down there. Their boots were scraping agents the stone floor as they say nothing to each other. They both arrive where two guards are kept at. Eduard explains that he's only here to show Monika the dragons before she takes care of them. They both let them pass as Eduard place a hand on the door.

"Be careful," One of the guards told them, "The blue one is dangerous than the last time you came here, master Eduard,"

Eduard nod as he opens the door. Monika followed as she sees only walls that circled the arena and heard chains moving. The moonlight shines down at the large figure as Eduard place up the torches. One by one as the torches are being lit, there lay two dragons together.

One was the blue with golden wings and its belly was black. Its horns were strengthened back and it's sea green eyes gave a steely glare at the two. Monika looked at him as it gave off a slow warning. Monika sat down on the floor as she sees another dragon laying on the floor as it sleeps. Its scales were white as snow with a faded red on it's back and a redder underbelly. Its horns curved back and it had fur on its shoulder and neck. Monika awe in her mind as she sees this. The blue one must be a Shadow dragons, they would show their protection to their mate, offspring, family, and friend to tell the other dragons or others to stay away. As the other must be the Ice dragon and could be a female, despite their looks that may look more female and rounder hips. Monika saw the Ice dragon move it's neck as she looks over at Monika with gentle ease. Until it's sniffed her and pulled back. Monika wonders why she pulled back? It could be she's shy meeting others.

Eduard slowly places the torch in the holder and walk over to Monika. He pulled her up from the ground as they both walk over to them. The Shadow dragon growls again as Monika stopped. She looked into its eye and remember what she remembers in her lessons. Shadow dragons would need to learn that they are no threat and would need to learn that they are loyal to them. Monika notices that Eduard let go of her hand and smiled at her.

"Show me what you remember in your lesson, Monika," Eduard told her. Monika nod as she looks up to the dragon and slowly moves one of her legs back as the other bends. She slowly moved her head down and slowly breath in and out, being nervous that she knows what she's doing before anything happens badly. The Storm dragon looks over as Monika waits for the single. If the dragon huffs over her hair, it's gain respect and trust. But if growls very low, it would mean she would need to leave and stay off. It was a while as Monika held the position, knowing that the dragon would have to trust her in this position. Eduard chewed his nails as he watches this. He hopes that the dragon won't hurt her or worse.

Finally… a huff over her hair blow by as Monika slowly brings her head up. She sees the dragon giving her a softer glare than before. Monika slowly pulls her leg back up as Eduard sigh in relief. The Ice dragon looked over at Monika as she slowly gets up. Monika steps back to give it some room as it got on all fours. By the size of the Ice Dragon and the Shadow Dragon, the Ice looks to be about 5"7 tall as the Shadow one is about 7"5 taller. Must be a normal height for the dragon. The Ice dragon learns it's long neck down to Monika and lean its head over her. Ice dragons gain trust by leaning their heads to the person's chest to see and hear their hearts are pure and strong. The dragon was like this for a moment until it looked up at her. It nods as it slowly lay down. Monika notices that its wing must be broken, despite the cuts and miss looking of it. Monika slowly walks over to her as she looks at the wing closely.

"What happens to her wing?" She asked.

"The hunter had shot a chain ball at her wing to bring her down. The Shadow followed after her as more groups had followed after her. The poor girl was in pain and told the group to leave somehow," Eduard explain as he moves his hand over to the Shadow dragon neck, "This one didn't leave and they took him with. I think he's her mate or a family member. You should know that not all dragons family can be different types," Monika grunt as she looked down at the white dragon. She smiled warmly and closed it's soft brown eyes. Knowing it's tired and best to leave an Ice dragon alone. The Shadow lean it's neck down to the girl and gave off a glare to the two that they can leave now. Monika gave one last pet to the dragons as the two went back.

Eduard explains that the Ice dragon would need to die tomorrow because its wing hadn't healed fully and it's in bad health. Monika felt bad for her, she was starting to grow fond of her. The next morning has come, people in the village came over to see the Ice dragon to be killed. Monika woke up to the sound of loud roaring and screeches from where she's hearing. It must be the Shadow dragon as she thinks about its relationship with the Ice. Finally… the roaring stopped and screeches were silent. The Ice Dragon was killed as Monika could hear the people cheering for greatness. Her heart felt heavy right after that. It made her feel dizzy and sick for a moment until she closed her eyes and fainted.

From the past few days, she has been taking care of the Shadow Dragon and talk to him. The dragon listens to her and never replied once. One night, Monika was walking down to see how the Shadow Dragon is doing until she saw the guards were knocked out and the door was open. Monika ran inside as she hears… both dragon and the same man from the market. Bjorn Maka.