Chapter 10: The Dragon King

The yacht sailed away from the mainland from that point onward, turning east toward the Dark Continent beyond. Most royalty Sofia knew had never been to the continent on the other side of the world. It was very far. Far enough that no students from the far continent came to Royal prep. The only person Sofia knew that had actually travelled there was Princess Zoey, who had conveyed a general positive impression of the place. If one stayed toward the sea and avoided the center it was a fairly safe place to visit. The shortest, safest ocean crossing was a narrow strip of water between the swirling vortex in the middle of the ocean and the northern kingdom of Duvall. No one travelled to Duvall, the royalty never mingled with the rest of the kingdoms and there were rumors of dark mages running wild through the provinces. However there were several islands along the safe passage. Sofia worked on Desmond hard to convince him to stop and explore these little marvels. Each one had it's own ecosystem. One was tropical, the next reminded her of the icy tundra in Friezenburg. She was able to spend a couple hours on these marvelous little islands, dragging Desmond along. At first he went along with it, but as the days continued on he began to refuse venturing out of sight from the yacht. She had made no further romantic gestures toward him, realizing that he still harbored feeling for her and it was unkind to keep leading him on. When he refused she would simply tell him to keep it to himself and take off into the wilderness, assuring him that Minimus would keep her safe. It was a perfect opportunity to practice some of the fighting spells she was learning without fear of injury and explanation to the boat or it's occupants. He was nervous the first time she went off, but she came back fast and as the occurrences continued he gradually accepted it.

Her magical skills continued to improve, exponentially faster than while she was at home in the castle. Cedric had taught her one or two spells a week, most of their time together had been social. Now, she was in full magical training mode. Memorizing spells by night and practicing casting during the shore leave, she was learning about a dozen spells a day, thanks to Greylocks' spell books.

One day they came across an rather peculiar island. It was shrouded in mist, but above the fog rising cliffs were visible. Desmond's parents were discussing this island with worry on their faces. Sofia stood on the deck of the yacht, staring at this foggy mystery when her amulet began to radiate purple light. It was a sign of unknown significance, one she shouldn't ignore. Sofia walked up to Desmond, "Hey there, what is this interesting place?"

Desmond turned to her, "I don't know. It's not on any of the maps. The navigator thinks we may have drifted a bit off course."

"Whoa, and uncharted island, that is so AH-mazing, Desmond we HAVE to go there!"

"No we don't Sofia. Who knows what manner of horrible beast lurks on an uncharted island." Sofia knew Desmond really didn't have a taste for adventure, but still thought she should ask. Something was nagging at Sofia, it had been nagging at her ever since they were in Enchancia together at Amber's garden party.

"Desmond, can I ask you something?"

He looked down at her and then shrugged, "Sure."

"Desmond, why did you and your parent's decide to go on a world tour? You really hate to travel and explore, and have so many fears."

Desmond's face grew sad. He sunk his head low, "I wanted to impress you."

Sofia was a bit stunned. "What?"

"I knew you loved to travel and explore and I thought that if I did those things you would think I was interesting and… maybe you'd like me."

Sofia felt so bad for the poor guy. "Desmond you are who you are. Trying to change yourself to impress someone isn't the answer. You Desmond are kind, loyal, and smart. You don't like to travel and you are shy, but that's a part of what makes you unique."

He looked at her, but his expression was still sad. "I understand. We aren't really that compatible, are we."

She gave him a shrug, "I think you are a fantastic friend, but I didn't feel romantic things when I kissed your cheek in Friezenburg. It felt like kissing my sister."

She saw him pout, but he didn't break down crying. "I know you don't love me like that. I had a little hope there for a while, but it's not going happen is it."

"Sorry Desmond. I don't think so, but you are a dear friend to me and it would hurt me so much if we stopped being friends. I hope you are okay with us still being friends."

She could see that he was hurting, but she needed to distract him. "You know what, Desmond. I'm not really supposed to say this… but Princess Penelope has a big crush on you."

He looked up at her, stunned. "P-princess Penelope?"

It was true. After Desmond had told everyone at Royal Prep two years ago about his crush on Sofia, Penelope had become distraught. Amber had confirmed the rumors later.

"Yep, she's got it bad for you Desmond. You know, she really likes your studious nature. Her favorite activity is writing, and her entire family is into literature."

A half-smile streaked across Desmond's face. "Penelope…"

Sofia knew her job here was done. "When we get back you should go see her, friend."

Desmond nodded contentedly. Sofia shrugged her shoulders and walked off. Desmond called after her, "Where are you going Sofia."

"Oh, back to my room."

Sofia did indeed go back to her room, if only to change into something more appropriate for riding a flying horse out toward an uncharted island. She grabbed her wand and the current spell book and headed down to where Minimus was napping in the stables.

"Come on Minimus, let's go!"

"Reaally Sofia can't we just stay here on the nice safe boat? I don't like mist."

"Nope."

She flew away on Minimus, using the fog to shroud her in secrecy. They circled a bit trying to find a clear place to land, but the cloud cover was extremely thick. Sofia decided to just go for it.

"Here we go!"

They went crashing through some trees and landed in a pile of flowers. Sofia peered up to see what looked like an old forest, very damp and overgrown. There were hills surrounding them, even though they were probably a mile above the ocean. Sofia looked back to check on Minimus, who had a few twigs in his mane but was otherwise no worse for the wear. She explored a bit, then set about practicing some more spells. It was going well, but then Minimus shot his head up and looked around worried.

"What is it Minimus?"

"I heard something Sofia."

"What?"

"There's growling, I think, maybe a little like hissing, far off over there." He shook his hoof in the direction of a large stone wall covered in vegetation. The noises got louder and Sofia could hear them too, the strange hissing sound was now accompanied by a muffled whimper.

She turned to Minimus, "It almost sounds like something is… crying…" Sofia began to walk in the direction of the noises. Minimus walked straight into her path, "Uh we should probably go away from the horrible noises, not toward them okay?"

"Oh Minimus, someone may need my help. I'm going to go see what's going on. You stay here and I'll call for you if I need help okay." With that she took off running toward the noises. Minimus ran after her but she passed through some tangled brambles quickly. Her small frame made it through without effort, but the bulky horse was unable to pass through and whinnied wildly after her as the princess sped off into the wilderness.

She continued running toward the noises, which were growing louder with each footfall. Suddenly the grasses leapt up and wrapped themselves around her ankles. Without thinking she drew her wand and repelled the offending weeds. She continued onward around the side of the stone wall. She ran straight into a thick haze that grabbed at her throat trying to force her to the ground. Quickly she thought about a spell in Greylocks book. It would fill the caster with energy, enabling the completion of some rather energy-intense spells. She pointed her wand toward her body and chanted the incantation with the last air she processed, gathering enough energy to continue running through the fog. Once cleared, Sofia shook her head and continued onward toward the noises. They were much louder now, something was growling and the other creature was making the strange hissing noise. At least one of them was also whimpering as if injured. Sofia ran headlong into a wall made of solid obsidian that seemed to emerge out of nowhere. The noises were immediately on the other side of this barrier. She stopped for a moment to think, "I've got to break the barrier. I've got to break this barrier! Oh why can't I think of a spell!" She balled her fists and pounded the obsidian wall in frustration. An image began to appear in the polished black stone. It coalesced into Cedric, standing there outside his workshop door. Instantly Sofia was back in that moment, they were shouting at each other and she had just told him that she loved him. This time she noticed not only the anger on his face, but there was pain. So much pain in his eyes. He was sweating too. How could she not notice these things before. Sofia had spent the last month reliving this moment, over and over. It had tortured her very soul, stolen her sleep, it had consumed her entirely. She summoned a powerful counter spell to try and break it, with no effect.

"Why! Why are you here, why now!" Sofia pounded her fists on the barrier, to little effect.

"Why! Why on this strange island are you here, like this! Why can't you leave me alone! Why can't I just get past you!"

That was the answer. The barrier wasn't only in front of her, it was also in her heart and mind.

Sofia relaxed her hands and closed her eyes. She had to make peace with what had happened, and free the barriers inside herself. Here he was, at least a reflection of him, in the very moment she couldn't seem to work past. If she could do it all over again, what would she say? What would she tell him? She opened her eyes, the reflection of Cedric in the stone seemed as real to her as when she had originally stood upon his foyer.

"I really did love you Cedric. If that means I have to learn to live with the knowledge that you love someone else then I will try to learn. Someday I will be strong, someday I will be okay."

" I love you and I want to put your happiness first. Maybe then, someday, you can forgive me too and we can be the best of friends again, and maybe I can move on from you." If Desmond could do it, so could Sofia. Someday.

Shouting, Sofia pleaded with the barrier. "Please wall, I want to help whoever is in danger. I want to move past this and heal whoever is hurt, whoever it is over there that needs me! PLEASE!"

The image of Cedric faded away, and the obsidian wall began to disappear. Sofia ran past this hurdle and upward until reaching the top of the cliff a short distance away. There before her was a giant silver dragon. Each scale was easily the size of her head. It had gleaming blue eyes and long talons. It's powerful limbs were streaked in red blood, and there were numerous gashes alongside it's chest and neck. Strewn below it were the remains of several hinderbeasts and another type of horrid creature, one with red oozing flesh. The carcasses resembled a bear without fur whose head was flattened. Long fangs extended outward from their mouths and there were fins running alongside each of their limbs and down their backs. A hinderbeast and two of these red creatures were still alive and locked in a bitter struggle with the dragon. Sofia knew the hinderbeasts were evil. That was enough information for now. She took aim at the hinderbeast and chanted Greylock's spell, igniting the creature in the ball of fire. It turned into a white tree much as the one in Friezenburg did. This startled the two red demons and halted their attack briefly. The dragon exploited this distraction and swung its massive head around, grabbing the nearest one by the throat and ripping it's head from it's body. The second red creature swung around to attack but the dragon flung the head of the dead demon at it, turned and drove its spiked tail through the beasts' chest.

The battle was over, but the dragon was badly wounded. Sofia ran up to the dragon flopping and crying out in agony. 'Please hold still, I can help you!"

In its distress the dragon spun around and smacked Sofia with its tail. It sent her flying backward several feet, cutting open her arm. Sofia collected herself and rose up. She would just have to try the healing spells from here. She chanted the most powerful healing spell she could think of, it actually uses a piece of the caster's soul to heal the broken recipient. Powerful waves of pale yellow light began to swirl around her. The dragon turned to look at Sofia, and she directed the healing energy toward back toward it. The dragon was wrapped in the ephemeral glow, causing the life threatening gashes on its chest and neck to close. The spell also calmed the dragon, which stopped it's thrashing and stood staring at her with deep, penetrating eyes near the edge of the cliff.

Sofia lowered her wand and looked toward the dragon to see if it was safe to approach now. It appeared calm, and so Sofia cautiously approached the magnificent beast. "Hello Mr. Dragon. I'm Sofia. I'd like to finish healing you, if that's okay. You can tell me how you're feeling and I'll understand. I can talk to animals."

No sooner had she said that than the dragon reared up and began to shed waves of silver magical energy. They descended downward and swept along the ground past where Sofia stood. From the center of the energy emerged the figure of a man clothed in a tattered white tunic and long pants. He was perhaps 30, maybe a bit older, with silver hair and rugged features. Handsome to be sure, he was athletically built and much taller than Sofia. He still retained the deep penetrating blue eyes, which never wavered from Sofia.

Sofia couldn't hide her astonishment, "You're a man?"

He didn't respond, he simply kept staring at her. It was getting to be a bit unnerving. Sofia began to walk closer to the man and upon reaching him reached out and held up his arm, which still had minor cuts and abrasions. Sofia decided to start up a conversation, after all whenever a doctor was tending her they always talked about random nonsense to distract the patient.

"So like I said my name's Sofia. What your name?" and with that she put her wand to his arm and began healing the minor wounds.

He simply stared at her. She sighed and continued, "I'm from Enchancia. Have you ever been there?" Still no response. "I'm on a trip traveling the world with a friend and his family. Does your family live around here?" Sofia looked up at the man to see he had moved his face noticeable closer to hers. Mere inches separated his eyes from her forehead.

"No."

His voice was deep and commanding. Sofia let the arm drop and went to work on the cuts to his face. "Well then, why were you up here battling hinderbeasts and… whatever those red things are?"

He started to stare at her again, but she wasn't having it. "I know you can talk now, so you might as well respond."

The deep penetrating stare abated. "You're mind is confused."

Huh? of course Sofia was confused, so many questions and this guy refused to talk. "Of course I'm confused. Are you a dragon or a man and why were you up here all alone fighting a horde of hinderbeasts and red oozing monsters?"

She looked up at his face and noticed a smile had broken out across his lips.

"They are Schreackenwolves, and I am both man and dragon. I am whatever I choose to be." Finally. Maybe he was warming up to her after all. He continued, "I had a vision many weeks ago of this place, and so I came to wait for the prophecy to fulfill itself."

Wow, this guy was all kinds of interesting. He came here knowing that those things were going to try and kill him. Sofia moved on to some cuts on his legs. "DID your vision come true? Was fighting the hinderbeasts and red creatures part of it?"

"Yes. However there remains a missing piece."

That was a bit too cryptic for Sofia. Was she part of this 'vision' too? His gaze was still transfixed on her face. Sofia looked up and examined him. All but one cut was healed. She reached for his other arm, but he moved quick as lightning and grabbed her wrist. "Hey there, please let go. You've still got one cut on your arm."

He stared straight back at her, "As do you."

That's right, her arm was bleeding a bit still. It had seemed inconsequential to the life threatening injuries the dragon, well now this man, had endured. Sofia looked down at her arm, it would be fine with a bit of magical mending. The man was still holding her wrist, but brought his other hand to rest along her shoulder.

"You are a healer of men and a wielder of magic?"

Sofia didn't quite know how to respond gracefully to that statement. She wasn't technically a sorceress, but she knew a fair amount of healing spells. The desire to help mattered the most anyway, right?

"I guess so."

Sofia felt the man's grip tighten on her shoulder and her wrist. He pivoted his stance a bit toward the cliff, "You have ascended the mountain and conquered the challenges. You were chosen."

Sofia didn't like where this was going. The way he was staring at her, like he was looking straight into her soul, it was exhilarating and frightening all at once. He moved his body so the cut on her arm touched the abrasion to his.

That was too far outside Sofia's comfort zone. "Wait-!"

She couldn't finish her sentence, he had wrapped his arm around her, lifting her a few inches off the ground. He proceeded to launch both of them off the side of the cliff, shouting as they descended down the rock face.

"FINALLY!"