Chapter 1: The Next Step
A/N: So this is actually a reposting of this story, because I wasn't as fond of it. But this time I'm actually going to write and (shocker) update it rather more frequently than never. And now... the story!
Dawn strolled through the woods, humming a tune to a song she had heard earlier that day. The cold flushed in her cheeks and leaves of all colors swirled around her in the strong wind. The dirt path was soft underneath her bare feet, the soil soothing and cooling her soles. Sun splashed through the breaks in the canopy of trees, warming her slightly as she walked. This was heaven. She was sure of it. There could not be any place on Gaea more beautiful than this, than the forest of Fanelia.
Dawn closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh air. She coughed and sputtered as smoke filled her nose and her lungs. What was wrong here? Her eyes snapped open to a world of crimson flame. The forest was engulfed in fire, smoke rising from the wood. The sun was now completely gone and it felt like night. The darkness and flames were closing in around her as she stood, too terrified to move. It felt like an age had passed when her senses returned and she tried to get out, striving desperately to make her way through the flames.
There was so much noise. Tree trunks splintering and falling over the ground, flames crackling and roaring their victory in the crisp air. It ran through her head, back and forth and back and forth, like a twisted nursery rhyme, until she thought she would go mad.
But there was another sound that could be heard above all the others. Over the chaos there could be heard cackling, a cold, bloodthirsty laugh echoing from all directions.
Why wouldn't it stop? Why wouldn't it leave her alone? She had done nothing to deserve this fiery end. She looked behind her as an even louder sound split the air, and screamed as the flaming remains of the tree came crashing toward her.
Dawn bolted up from the cot, taking deep gulps of fresh air. She was shaking frantically under her thin blanket, clutching the covers in an attempt to rid herself of the dream. This was the three hundred and sixty-ninth night that she had dreamt this dream. And it had been much like the reality.
Shaking her head, she threw off the covers and leapt out of bed; it was time for her to do her personal training anyway. She had been in the army barracks for nine months now, working harder than she ever had in her entire life. But it was to a purpose. A purpose that she more than believed in. She would not leave her family's death unavenged. The day that had changed her life forever had been one year ago, and the details of it were still a vivid nightmare in her mind's eye.
She sat down and stretched thoroughly after dressing herself, and picked up her sword. She smiled with grim satisfaction as the steel blade sliced through the air, glinting in the rays of sun that slipped through the cracks in the wall. She danced with an invisible foe, clashing with the absent sword of her enemy. All the while in her imagination she searched for an opening, until it came.
Dawn thrust her sword into the open air, wishing it to be armor and flesh. Until she had killed him, she would never be free of that mocking laugh.
The breakfast bell rang soon after all the other soldiers were awake, and masses of men spilled into the mess hall. She sat in her usual spot by herself, aware of the whispers that always surrounded her. She was Dominic here to all who knew her, but she was also the boy that did not speak. She had not spoken to anyone since the night she had first arrived, half-starved in the garb of a beggar, asking for a place in the Asturian army.
Dawn had never asked for anything, had never complained, and had never backed down from a fight. But even in those few fights that she had fought she was silent. There was no point in words when there was no reason to speak. But today was different. Today she would end that long silence by asking permission to train as a Dragonslayer. She was certain she could do it. She was the best out of all of them at everything. Her archery skills were more than passable, her sword fighting surpassed even her masters' skills, and her battles in a guymelef were legendary. This would be the next step.
She leaned over to the person who had just sat next to her, and, pitching her voice low like the man she was supposed to be, spoke to him.
"Excuse me? Could you please pass the bread?" The man stared at her for a minute, as if she were some alien creature. Then he stood up and yelled to all that would listen.
"Hey boys, Dom here's decided to talk!" All faces turned to him, and then to "Dom." "Come on, Dom, say somethin' else!"
"Um, hello." Dawn spoke loud and clear, making sure every ear in the room caught what she said. Her voice had always had an odd effect on people; once people heard her speak, they held on to her every word as if it were the last thing substantial in their lives. "Gentlemen, what would you say if one of us were to try for the position of a Dragonslayer?"
What silence there was disappeared in a second. Whispers flew around the room in confusion, but Dawn held up her hand and once again there was silence. She was enjoying this, the confusion that she could cause by the mere working of her vocal cords.
"I intend to train as a Dragonslayer, if permission is granted me by my superiors." She had thrown it out into the open, knowing well that it would get back to the General through one of his servants. "Now if you will excuse me, I believe that our breakfast time is over and it is time for our training to begin."
Just as Dawn had predicted, word had been passed to the General of her intentions by nightfall. And also as she had known, she was summoned to his quarters to speak of it.
Dawn walked into the General's quarters with her head held high. There was no reason not to. It wasn't as if she had any reason to fear his orders. Indeed she was quite confident that she knew what his orders would be. He would not let her immense talent go to waste with ordinary training. If he had any sense about him, he would comply with her request without hesitation.
The room that she entered now was sparsely furnished, with enormous windows stretching nearly to the ceiling. Through them the last remnants of the setting sun were visible, and Dawn could not look at them for long they were so bright. A desk sat near one wall facing the door, with piles of papers adorning its
surface. Behind these papers sat the General Filaes of Austuria, and he was surveying her with curiosity with a slight underlying of suspicion.
"I have received word that you intend to ask my permission to train as a Dragonslayer, Dominic of Fanelia. Is this so?" His voice was pitched low and should have been inaudible, but Dawn had no trouble hearing him or his words.
"Yes, Sir. Would you grant me that permission?" Dawn swallowed, trying to moisten her suddenly dry throat.
"Are you sure that you wish to do this? The road of a Dragonslayer is hard and long. Very long. The training is at least ten times more advanced than that of ours, and their leader is... very hard on newcomers. If it gives you an idea of how many make it into the Dragonslayers, there are only fifteen." Filaes looked at her sharply as if silently asking her to stay, but he remained quiet.
"I do want to do this. That is why I joined the army. I know I am good enough to get in and train. If you will grant me that permission, I am sure that I will make you proud."
Dawn prayed silently as Filaes sat and pondered. He could let this young boy go and become one of them and give Dom his dream, or he could save him but take the dream away. He knew that one did not simply give up one's life for the infamous General Albotou, but one's self as well.
"You have my permission to train as a Dragonslayer. But if you ever feel that at one point you cannot make it in their world, then come back to ours. We could use you soon, for—" he hesitated— " I fear a storm is coming. You are dismissed, young Dominic of Fanelia."
Dawn could barely contain her excitement as she bowed and swiftly exited the room. She was on her way. She would have to train twice as hard though if the training program was as hard as Filaes said it was. But she had proved to herself and others that she could work hard many times before, and she was willing to do it again. For her own sake. For her family's sake.
A/N: So, you like so far? Because it's going to keep going and I would be very disappointed if you didn't. Review for me, if you please. That would be lovely and I will update soon!