Everlasting

by ThisOne16050

This tale is about a girl named Cassandra Hathaway. She's a young dragon rider in an era where dragon riders are spurred and executed on sight. She meets with a mysterious man who leads her on an epic journey that both opens her eyes and destroys her view of the world... Please review & enjoy :3

2. The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

The darkness that they had been perpetuated through eventually gave way to the light of the sun. They were quite a ways away from the plantation. All around the group were damaged ruins of what must have been a glorious city. It was long forgotten and left to the mercy of time. Vegetation asserted its dominance over buildings made of brick and stone lay demolished in piles here and there, rubble scattered about haphazardly. Some in the group was distracted from their own feelings by the strange beauty presented by the ruined city while others were unloading the contents of their stomach. About thirty feet from their location was the looming figure of a seemingly maintained stone man wearing armor, dragon emblem on his shoulder. In his left hand was his helmet in the shape of a beast and in the other he held a downward pointing sword, dragons etched into both sides of the blade. Those not hurling gazed towards the statue with a sort of wide-eyed adoration. That eventually faded and they kind of spread out through the ruins, investigating this portion of the outside world. To them, everything outside of the plantation was some sort of adventure.

Joseph rather than staring would have preferred to be exploring. For him, however, Cassandra was his top priority besides his little sister who he wasn't even sure was alive anymore. He was checking her over when Lee decided to speak up.

"They'll come in a moment. Do not fear them", he said rather vaguely. A moment later, Lee's knees had given out, legs swept from under him. With a dull thud, the man landed on the ground unconscious.

Within the coming seconds and without warning, about fifteen violet robed figures walk out of a set of demolished establishments. Their hoods bore golden reptiles, the creature's body snaking down and skillfully shrouded their faces. They all separated from their group, gesturing for the newcomers to follow. they find to follow them. Two broke off to see the trio, investigating both Lee and Cassandra's conditions. Identifying the girl was mostly taken care of, both protectors worked on carrying Lee. One grabbed the brunette by the legs while the other did by the shoulders. They carried him off, from which they came, though the one holding Lee's legs gestured for them to follow.

Joseph gently grabbed his friend's arm and draped it over his shoulder before assisting her into the hole in the ground the protectors were currently walking into. They walked down several flight of stairs to what seemed to be an underground temple like structure. The walls were decorated with strange runes only seen by the light of the torches lighting their way. When they reached level ground, they were a great open space was there welcome them as well as a blonde.

This man had stunning eyes the color of the setting sun and chiseled features that even made Joseph give a catcall. He spoke with a sultry voice and a near devilish grin uncharacteristic for a sixteen year old, "I'm Malachi. If you have any questions, I'm the guy that you want to ask".

"Who are you people and what are you going to do to us?" Joseph, despite having some sort of attraction, didn't exactly have much trust for boy.

Malachi looked neither offended or worried. He simply chuckled and motioned for them to follow him for a stroll. "Above us is the ruins of Roan and where we currently reside is the temple of Roan, a small refugee city beneath the city lost in time. This is where we hide those that need safety. I am the temple hand". He gestured to himself and gave a bow towards them. "My duty is to see to the temple and its upkeep. They", he says and motions to the robed beings that were carrying Lee off in a different direction. "are the protectors. They keep the unwelcome out. Right now, I'm taking you to a place where you can get settled in and make yourselves at home. Remember that here you are not a prisoner. You may leave at any moment in time".

"If you look over people, can you help my friend? She's hurt". He gently hits his head against Cassandra's.

She was about to say that she was fine when Malachi spoke up. "When you get to your room, you'll have to ask the protectors. They'll know exactly how to help her. I'm not much of a healer", he told the two as they turned the corner and stopped at a wooden door. "Here we are. Call if you need anything the protectors should be over in just a moment to tend to the girl. There are two beds. I guessed that maybe both of you would like to stick together. There's a cupboard with some food supplies, but full meals are served in the courtyard at set times. A protector should knock on your door when it's being served. Please just make yourself as comfortable as possible."

In this moment, Cassandra decided to sit down and pipe up. "Where did those… protectors take Lee? Is he going to be alright? He just suddenly collapsed. He talked about taking that many people could have strain on his body."

"Don't you worry about him. I assure you that he's fine. I'll send someone for you when we are ready."

"Thank you. That's perfect". She gave a slight bow in thanks before Malachi exited and left the two alone.

The duo had a moment to catch up, speaking of everything that had happened from both perspectives. Cassandra explained what had happened with Motsune and how her plans for the mountains had been completely foiled. From him, she managed to grab details about what was going on with Joseph's sister, Krista. She wanted to be hopeful, but with their former master, she knew that finding the little girl would be a lost cause. It wasn't something she was willing to admit. What could she really say about it though?

Thankfully before she could stutter something in apology, one of those in purple robes gave a knock. "I'm here to receive Cassandra. She requested to see sir Mononoke".

The girl was the one to spring right off the bed and throw the door open. She needed a bit of an escape before she said some words and seeing Lee okay would lift her spirits at least a little bit. "I'll see you in a bit," she said as she hurried into the hall.

With the assistance of the protector, she made her way through the twists and turns of the corridors until they stopped in front of a large set of runed decorated doors. It opens the door for her, allowing her to enter before following in suit. Upon entering, she found Lee laying on his stomach on a plush looking bed with two other protectors looking over him. His shirt and bandages weren't present at the moment, but she choked it up to the fact it could have been constricting his already ragged and shallow breathing.

"Is he okay," she asked with a frown. For someone so strong, he seemed so fragile at the moment.

"He's just resting. He used an expanded shadow step and that drained him. He used more energy than he had, but we would never allow for an essential member of the master's family to pass so easily. He will live."

"Which family?" To her, he didn't sound like he belonged with some big fancy family with his behavior and what not.

"Let me explain. He's a member of the mononoke family., the very family that founded and built this temple and the refugee." He motioned around as if to gesture at the entirety of the temple He led her out of the room and into the courtyard of the establishment. At the center was a statue, a name on the pedestal reading ROAN. "We built this statue many years ago when the founder freed us all. He is a significant member considering he is one of the last few in the Roanoke mononoke blood line. Hence his grudged relationship with his ancestor's dragon, Sundesce. Has he told u of the great dragons and their original rider, correct?"

"Ya, he told me about that bit." This talk of dragons reminded her that she did have one of her own to worry about. "Say, um… if there any way that we could maybe find my dragon".

"I'm not aware of any way, but Lee is one that may be able to assist you when he wakes Until then, I'm sure would would like to know more. I assume one Lee hasn't told you is that he once held a bond with the great dragon of the light and sun. Through his lineage to the great dragon rider he inherited his bond, but no longer has it. Sundesce disapproved of his chosen rider and rebelled against Roan's decision. Since then, Lee and the great dragon have been on troubled terms with one another".

"I didn't know that a bond could be broken… well, I know that it could be broken, but I've never heard of one being broken and I sure don't know how it's done".

"Only if the dragon and the rider make the same choice to do so. Even then, tis not a pleasant feeling to lose the bond in such a way. Tis sad really. Lee may be the last hope for the mononoke family line." They continued on their tour of the facility.

"What do you mean that he's the last hope?"

"Lee is one of the only two remaining heirs to the Mononoke lineage as I mentioned. Being as such, he and the other are the only two that can form a bond with the great dragons, Sundesce and Lunara, but Lee is special. He's also the only one since Roan that could have the bond with both great dragons at once. If he dies, then, there is no one for him to pass the lineage onto, for not many possess the power to contain the bond with such a powerful beast. The other within the line simple isn't powerful".

"Then maybe he should stay somewhere safe and find someone to you know…" She faltered at the thought. Heck, she didn't even want to consider it since she thought of Lee as bordering somewhere between father and friend.

"That is true, but that's the reason he's been venturing out. He's been searching out someone powerful enough to take the bond of one of the great dragons. It's complicated, but you see, he doesn't know he can have a bond with both like his ancestors before him. Then there are the other great dragon's still in existence who haven't found the right rider".

"Why hasn't anyone actually told him? Wouldn't it make more sense so that he doesn't go out wandering out as much?"

"It's not our place to tell him. We were instructed to specifically keep silent about his lineage and privileged power. He remembers his bond to Sundesce, but doesn't know that he has the power to bond Lunara. He must find that for himself, but he does know that he must find someone to eventually take the bond of Sundesce, even if it's much further within the future"

"I feel like you guys are making this much more complicated than it probably has to be".

The protector gave a shrug. "Lee does as he wishes. OUr duty is to obey and make sure that he lives."

"Well, considering that he could have died when dealing with what we encountered, you guys really aren't doing a good job. Motsune could have killed us".

"His life is rarely in danger. We would know if he was moments from death. He gets close, but never close enough to raise our concern." With that, they had managed to take the long way back to to her room. He was leaving her to her own.

The girl had the choice on whether she wanted to return to her room or not, but she decided it would be good to get a better look of the place. Plus, she wasn't ready to continue her conversation with Joseph just yet. As she moved about, she could see the bustling of the underground city. It looked like she was given a room away from the crowd, but there were people milling about that she had never seen before. Well, that was before a siren sounded from nowhere. People were quick to clear the streets although that left Cassandra all alone. Shops that were set up immediately closed down. Most protectors fell to the ground like shadows, but one was courteous enough to help the confused girl.

"We must hurry", the protector informed.

Panic stricken, she spoke with more of a shrill voice. It only became worse as the ceiling shook and dust came raining down on them.. "What the heck is going on?"

"We are being attacked. Someone that wants to find Lee has laid siege. For everyone's safety, I suggest that you follow me". It dragged her to the first room that it could find, which so happened to be Lee's. He ushered her in before fading almost like a mirage.

Within the room, standing next to Lee's bed, were three robed men all with different colored dragon emblems: gold, green, and red. The one with the golden emblem was the one that was standing the closest to her, securing the door she had entered from. The room gave another shake as they were showered once more. The structure didn't show any sign of collapse although the constant quake could very well change that.

"Someone tell me who the heck is doing this?!"

At the thought of responding, the protectors within the room shuffled nervously amongst themselves. "His name is Motsune", one eventually informed.

She might as well have been quaking in her shoes. "Not him…", she said with a groan.

"By your reaction, I imagine that you have met him before".

She could only nod before a flash erupted directly behind her. A robed male with a viridescent emblem appeared and without any indication of warning, formed a jade green orb around her. A dark beam passed through the room. After it was gone, so was the orb and the explosions ceased. Nothing happened.

"He's an evil, but a necessary one", said the one with the golden emblem.

She was a bit offended. It was what she had heard for the justification of slavery, one that had been beaten into her father. "Necessary? What do you mean by that? How?"

"Such is the birth of an unholy one. HIs shadow shall walk the earth", they all said at once.

"You aren't making the slightest bit of sense. Just tell me or am I going to have to burn you all to get the information that I actually want". By the shake in her voice, it wasn't that hard to tell it was all an empty threat.

The four protectors looked at one another before allowing the golden one to speak. "Motsune is his shadow. Lee is one of a kind, but he wasn't born that way; He was made that way and when it happened Motsune was created. It is balance. He could explain it better than any of us, but as you know… " He looked over at Lee and Cassandra followed his gaze.

"Is there some way that I can stop Motsune? Would I have any chance in that?"

"He was defeated once in battle, but it almost cost Lee his life and even cost the life of both his children. Motsune's… He's different now. He… is stronger. We would not ask you to stand in a fight against him. It would be unwise. Motsune would show you no mercy just the same as he won't show mercy to anyone else. We fear that you won't be strong enough to combat him or his ungodly abilities. He is dangerous, Cassandra. If you feel that you can fight him we can not stop you, but we won't be allowed to assist."

There was nothing more that needed to be said. Before she scurried out of the room, she removed her necklace and set it by Lee's bedside. Running through the twisting corridors of the temple she barely knew, she somehow managed to make it to the stairs where they had entered.

Above ground, Motsune was standing in the courtyard with a sickly black blade in hand, several robed bodies lying around him. Five protectors were still standing, steadfast with their positions. Half began some sort of attack. Two sent a volley of fireballs at their opponent whilst the third created a pair of swords made of wavering red and orange. Motsune had no problem dealing with the multiple attacks. He dodged the flaming orbs, going to one of the throwers. He put his free hand against the protector's stomach, sending a blast straight through the being. Then, he went to the second, snapping the male's neck with a sickly crack. He stepped away and closed the distance between him and his last attacker with such speed that only a black blur could be seen. The third found a sword lodged right within his chest. Three more bodies had just been added to the carnage and Motsune was just continuing.

Cassandra saw the littered bodies around her, She gave a stab at attacking, throwing a fireball roughly the size of a globe at Motsune. It was deflected, but the attack was only a distraction in hopes of giving the protectors some more time to handle the intruder. Ir didn't work. Motsune was still on the offensive against them. One of the protectors targeted threw up a shield while the other fell back into the shadows and disappeared. Motsune could have cared less, appearing behind the shield and ripping the throat of the one out. Then, he thrusted his hand downward into the shadow, yanking the other out of the ground. He tosses the protector high into the air before sending a dark beam through his chest. The robed being was allowed to fall to the earth within a lifeless heap.

At that time, reinforcements arrived, four protectors closing around him. Cassandra held up another fireball, this one white hot. It scorched her own hand, but she bit back any blistering pain. When she managed to throw it, Motsune sidestepped it and used the same momentum to spike the protector through the chest. The other three converge on his all at once, different weapons in their hands. As they striked, but they hit nothing but air. Motsune had teleported himself above them and then slammed down with black lightning with such a force that it set a shock wave out and fried the them until they were smoking.

A building sized blue ball hurled its way past Cassandra. Motsune held his hand out to it, maybe in an attempt to stop it. It explodes upon impact, sending the man back and rolling. The girl looked behind her. This protector was obviously different than the rest, his robes golden with a dragon the color of tar. He summoned another blue orb with one hand and as he raises the other, humanoid demons claw themselves out of the ground. They attacked Motsune as he was regaining his feet.

Motsune was busy with the onslaught of deems clawing at him, but that was before they turned into a blanket of sapphire flames. When the fire was out, Motsune, almosty unscathered, launched himself at the mysterious protector. The orb was thrown and like before, it sent Motsune sprawling. This time, after he got back to his feet and dusted the dirt off of himself, he had the one in the golden robe by the neck within seconds. The hood had fallen to reveal cobalt colored hair and azure eyes that the tanned skin and sculpted face of a man that had Cassandra's jaw dropping. He seemed familiar in facial structure and it took her a moment to process that resemblance as Lee although obviously younger.

Motsune's arm pulsated and that was the moment that the girl snapped out of her thoughts. She knew what that meant. She did something within a split second and that involved tackling Motsune to the ground. All he had to do was let go and her body was moving before she even knew it. Their bodies collided with enough force. Motsune let out a grunt and released the man's throat. In response, Motsune twisted and slammed his hand into the girl's chest, sending her flying backwards. He appeared behind her and kind of does a sort of flip in midair, kicked her right back to the ground. She landed with what sounded like a painful thud, a trail of blood dripping down the corner of her mouth.

Before any more could be done to her, a blue ribbon snaked around Motsune and slammed the male to the ground, materializing into a cat sized, lapis blue dragon as it skittered back to the man in the golden robe. Motsune staggered to his feet, but was met by a sword piercing his stomach. A protector had managed to seemingly wound him. He coughed and elbowed the protector, disconnecting him from his sword. He rips the blade out, the wound healing almost as quickly as it was made. The male in the golden robes sends a concentrated blue ball at Motsune. As it makes impact, it explodes and covers him in yet another burning blanket.

Motsune shrugs off the flames nonchalantly with ease and sends a large black blast at Cassandra. She was the weakest link and he could tell the protector in the golden robe was working to protect her. As it was about to make contact, a different protector rose from a shadow right in front of her however. He took the blast full on although the shockwave sent her back a ways. The golden robed man took this as an opportunity, waving his hand. A solid blue spear appears beside Motsune, the weapon ripping through him and causing him to drop to his knees. Another spear, this one flaming, aims itself right at Motsune's next, but the man was done before it connected.

This fight was over. The one in the golden robe, made his way to Cassandra who laid in a dazed heap on the ground. With a snap as he crouched, a spiral of iridescent flame lept up from her feet and snaked upwards. Despite her injuries, the ticklish sensation caused a giggle to erupt through her and then a sigh as it cooled. When it subsided, she felt fine as if her injuries had never been there in the first place.

"I've done the healing I can, but you'll still need rest to restore your strength," the man said with a voice that Cassandra couldn't help but describe as the precipice for trouble. "My name is Zack. Zackery Foulen Mononoke and who might you be brave but highly stupid warrior?"

"I'm Cassandra Hathaway", she has a small, shy grin on her face. She might have been keeping her gaze a little low to the ground in knowledge that what she had done was actually quite foolish.

He held his arms out to her, pulling her up when he got a good grip. "Well, Cassandra, might I say that was a commendable and rather courageous effort that you put there".

She refused to look at him directly. "Not that it really mattered too much… It was mostly just dumb," she muttered as she got to her feet.

"At least you had the spunk to attempt to battle him, albeit you needed more strength first", he said as they made their way back into the underground portion of the temple.

Once they got deep enough, the duo was approached by two protectors in purple robes, one with a jade emblem and the other with one the color of Zackery's hair.

"Do you need something," she asked them although she was promptly disregarded.

"What are here... You shouldn't be", started the one with a green emblem.

With a growl of annoyance, he retorted, "This is my home. I don't need any justification to actually be here."

"Lee won't like this and you know it Zack. He's going to want some sort of explanation for this".

Zackery would have responded if it hadn't been for the fact that he noticed gawking glances at golden robes. The city was coming right back to life as people came out of hiding. The people were starting to take note of the seemingly holy being within their presence. Many of the refugees could not help but wander their way over to Zackery, muttering prayers and praise in their native tongues.

There wasn't much to be said on the matter. In such a crowded area, there was no need to continue their verbal quarrel, especially with the way the people were reacting. They disappeared while Zackery was dealing with the people. Seemingly forgotten, Cassandra decided to take some advice into account, heading to where her room supposedly was. After getting lost, she somehow managed to regroup herself, finding Joseph already asleep. She flopped onto the bed and quickly follow in suit.

The following morning, the city was a bustling once more as if nothing had happened. The defenses had held and no one but the protectors seemed to have gotten hurt. As their name, the protectors were there to preserve the safety of the refugees and permanent inhabitants. Plus, they were already fortifying the defenses around the temple, increasing the warding.

Unlike the mostly lively people wandering around through the hallways, Cassandra was asleep within her room. She laid on her stomach, left arm falling off the bed, cheek pressed into the sheets. She twitched on occasion, but otherwise was motionless until the moment her eyes fluttered open. Using her arms, she pushed herself into a sitting position. Her hair stuck up in of places, drool lines falling from the corner of her mouth. She managed to get to her feet, rubbing away at her face as she made her way to the unlocked door and soon out of it.

The first person that she encountered when entering the outside world was Malachi. "Hello there Cassandra. I hope you slept well after yesterday's battle".

She barely acknowledged his existence and waved him off in her half asleep daze. He walked down the hall after a quirked eyebrow with a assumption that she simply didn't want to speak. Her mental capacity at the moment was at a minimum, barely giving the scrambling protectors much notice.

After a few minutes to gain conscious thought, she eventually stopped one of those running and asked, "What the heck is going on?"

"Lee has seemed to have disappeared and there is no sign of him. He did not given any mention of his destination either."

That gave her a little kick start. "I can help", she told the protector before assisting in the search. She was starting with a simple wander around the place, not entirely sure where Lee could have been hiding. Heck, she had yet to figure out just how far the underground temple went… although she managed to end up above ground in front of the statue rather than delving deeper. The only thing to really stop her from searching now was the rumbling of her stomach, one that she promptly scolded.

"Now's not the time," she said as she looked down towards her stomach. A piece of bread suddenly rained down on her however to which she jumped about three feet into the air. She looked up after picking it up to see what could have possibly made this happen. She didn't get very far before Zackery landed in front of her.

"My father wasn't that thrilled to see me this morning. I'm not really sure if it was fear or a misunderstanding. Rather than talking to me, he said something about finding a dragon named… what was it? Varshon? Something like that. He was vague like he needed some excuse just to get away from me".

"Your father… I guess that makes sense." She paused for a moment and did something of a double take. "Wait, Varicion? He went to go find my dragon?... Why?"

"He said something about owing it to the dragon, but I don't really understand what the heck he was talking about".

"That might have actually been my fault… I might have upset my dragon. It's the sense that I'm getting anyway. Varicion kind of wandered off." She frowned and turned her gaze downwards. It felt like she was doing that quite often around Zackery. "Well, I think that I might go to my room now to sulk and maybe try to get some communication to him".

He grabbed onto her shoulder before she even had a chance to move. "Wait. There are something things that I do need to ask. What are you to my father? What happened while I was away?"

"What do you mean by what I am to him? I would think that I'm a friend.. Also, some questions about what happened are better left unanswered". She didn't want to talk about what happened at the plantation.

"He seemed different… he seems much more sad. Do you have any idea what became of my sister?"

"You have a sister? I mean, I just learned that your Lee's son. I don't have much of any idea about your family tree. I didn't think that asking him would be polite while we traveled, so I didn't. I only know what the protectors told me."

He nodded. "Kida. Her name is Kida. I guess that he wouldn't have mentioned us even if you two had been traveling though it's a bit odd that he wouldn't have told you anything."

"It's not like I know everyth-," Cassandra paused, pressing a hand to her head. A sharp pain hit her in the head, a vision flashing before her. She saw the world through her dragon's eyes, the reptile listening to Lee speak.

"It's not a safe place and I would fear for your safety it you were to come along. I hope that you know it's several hundred miles out and a perilous journey passed the point until we return. Three hundred and forty-six miles southeast to be exact".

There was a tilt of vision as Varicion tilted his head to the side to gesture to his back. Lee flew out of vision presumably onto the dragon and then they were suddenly in the air. The scenery around them changed as they made progress across the land. The scene suddenly shifted and the layout of the land changed, steep rows of mountains in the distance. At the top, the terrain went from the sloped hill covered in vegetation to a completely horizontal surface as if someone cut it with a knife. The surface was a solid onyx color devoid of plants like a blank slate. Varicion touched the ground and Lee was suddenly in front of him.

"Now is the point of no return. It's your last chance friend. I don't blame you if it is Cassandra that you want to return to now".

A snort said everything it needed to. Varicion was staying. Through the dragon's vision, she watched as Lee knelt, pressing his hand against the ground. With a sharp exhale, white lines formed and webbed outwards along the platform like spidery veins to form a sort of transmutation circle. As the lines reached the edge of the surface, grey smoke began to billow upwards and rain ash on the duo as a dome formed around them. Only a few moments later did a hazy figure appear, contained by the dome.

Lee rose to his feet, shaky. Varicion looked at the materializing creature. It had a giant disfigured skull with glowing red orbs for eyes. On top of it sat a tattered hood of a cloak, it's long bony arms and hands protruding from it. Within its right hand was an enormous scythe, dragon skulls perched above the onyx blade and skeletal remains dangling from the bottom. It raised it weapon as if to attack, but stopped. Instead, it spoke with a booming disembodied voice that came from all directions. "Why have you summoned and captured me? What it the purpose of restraining my power?"

Lee's voice carried through the air and was loud enough for the reaper to hear. "I've come to ask you a question, reaper, and I expect an answer".

"Why should I answer to a petty lump of flesh like yourself? Do you realize what I am?!"

"I know exactly what you are and I've killed plenty of you reaper class great demons before. You are no different." He raises his hand to it, a dark aura spanning around him. "Answer me now or die like the rest of them!"

The battle was on the second that the giant scythe swung down with astonishing speed towards Lee. Varicion growled and made an attempt to move. With his size, he was an easy target although a likely bigger threat. Cassandra couldn't see the injury her dragon had managed to sustain, but her hand immediately went to her side, pain suddenly radiating from a nonexistent injury.

The whites of Lee's eyes disappeared and he sprung into action. Dodging the reaper's next attempts at killing him, he aimed his left hand at it. As that happens, his shadow dispatched and wrapped itself around the blade of the scythe, forces downward into the ground. He leapt onto the blade and ran up to the reaper's hand. He then slammed his left hand down onto it, shooting a blast right through the bone. The reaper screamed in pain, a sound that could have shattered eardrums. It released the scythe in an attempt to fling Lee off, but he was quick to get a grip. When it was stable once more, he sprinted upwards. His right hand sparked with lightning and he slammed his palm into the reaper's face, fracturing its brittle skull. It fell backward with Lee balancing perfectly on its forehead. He walked to its eye socket and glared down at its red dot as it focuses.

"Where is my daughter? Where is Kida Mononoke?"

The reaper had the audacity to laugh. "Your daughter is among those who have been taken, She's beyond even your reach now."

Lee placed his black hand against its head. His arm pulsated similarly to Motsune's as the eyes of the reaper began to fade. It was disintegrating from the feet upwards, its laughter echoing into the distance. After the reaper was gone, Lee rushed over to the bleeding dragon. His wounds were etched with grey that snaked outwards. Lee put his hand on the reptile's snout and whispered, "Rest now. Just know that I will keep her safe".

That was when the vision cut out and Cassandra fell to the ground, tears in her eyes. She could feel a part of her own soul stripped away with the death of her dragon. Zackery, with only a vague knowledge of what was happening, assisted her back to her feet. With a comforting arm around her, he spoke, "Maybe you should get some sleep. I'll go with you to your room."

She could only nod as she held herself. They made their way downwards once more, but the sight that welcomed her was something she never wanted to witness. Red splattered rubble was visible through the open door. A protector came out, carrying Joseph's body. The boy's limps were twisted in ways that weren't healthy in some places, the bones stuck out like pale spears. His eyes were glazed and unseeing. Nausea rose through Cassandra at the sight and she swallowed the bile attempting to escape her body. Zackery was quick to turn her away, but it was much too late as sobs wracked their way through her.

"You promised," she managed to mutter. "You promised that we would stay together." She shoved Zackery away from her despite her comfort and ran off to be alone with her thoughts. What she found herself in was a quiet corner. Her back hit the wall and she covered her face with her hands. She slid downwards until she was sitting. She cried and cried. Tears poured from her eyes like a torrent up until the moment there was nothing left.

The passage of time was hard to say, but there was a thud overhead by the time she managed to wear herself out. It roused her out of the trance that she had fallen into. She had a feeling that it wasn't a sort of attack, a sort of pull from her heart dragging her to her feet. She followed it until it led her above ground once more.

The first thing she say was Lunara taking off into the sky. The second was Lee and Zackery sharing an embrace and sharing a short conversation with Zackery before he saw her. Her cheeks were stained with tears, around her eyes red and puffy. In comfort, he put a hand on her shoulder, using his free one to pull out her necklace, a new addition to it: a dragon's tooth.

"I already know", she said before he could even manage a word. Tentatively and some more tears falling down her face, she took the necklace. She hung it around her neck once more, holding to the ring and the tooth.

"I know that it's pretty soon, but I'm thinking that another bond would help. No dragon will ever be able to replace Varicion, but it could lift some of the weight that it's putting on your chest. This could be what you need" He gave a slight squeeze to her shoulder. "He's hot headed, but give him a shot. I'll call him right now. Don't throw away the idea before you really meet him. I'm sure the two of you will get along. He'll be here in a bit."

A few minutes passed before a roar shattered the silence between them, the sound shrill and almost evil in nature. The great dragon was closing in, the sound of his wing beats drifting into their ears. Even Cassandra could tell it was neither of the great dragons she had met previously. "Who is it," she asked and decided to use Lee as some sort of human shield.

Lee. stricken with fear himself, shook his head. "I don't know. I called Sundesce, not this".

This reptile hovered hundreds of yards above the surface of the courtyard. Even from this distance, it's appearance is strikingly horrid. It was as if the flesh and skin had been stripped from a dragon, it's greyed bones remaining. It's wings held tattered remains, bringing question to how the beast could fly in the first place. It's eyes glowed a dark silver, rivers of poison dripping off of its razor sharp fangs and forked tongue. The dragon dropped lower until it hover about the trio. It shifted off to the side, landing mere feet away from them. Surprisingly for its size, it landed on the ground without a sound or a thud. It tucked its wings close to its body, beady eyes glaring towards Lee, but making no move to attack.

"I don't think that he wants to fight. I think he's here for something else", Lee eventually drew as a conclusion after a few moments of apprehensive silence.

"Why? What?" Cassandra poked her head out from behind the male only to have the dragon train its eyes directly onto her. She felt Lee move away and looked over to see that he had been knocked off balance. The dragon had nudged him aside with its snout. The dragon then proceeded to gently set its body against the ground and bring its head closer to her.

"Uh… Cassandra…" Lee said in some sort of calming tone. The expression on her face told him enough that she was two seconds from running off. "I don't think he wants to harm you. Maybe he's taken a liking to you".

She managed to stutter out of a few words. "Are… Are you sure?" Her entire body shook and she reeked of fear.

"Yea… I think so. It would have probably eaten you by now if it even had that intention".

As if in reassurance, the dragon nudged her with its head almost like a dog. She was knocked over although she couldn't help but grin. "He acts like Var…" Being knocked over by a dragon was just another norm for her. It felt ridiculous to keep crying on the matter, but tears were welling in her eyes at the rememberance.

Her sudden change of emotion caused the reptile to growl menacingly towards Lee as if the brunette was the cause of it. Afterwards, almost affectionately it, started to nudge her only to turn to a whimper when she refused to cease. It attempted to provide comfort up until the moment her eyes eventually drooped closed. It seemed she had managed to cry herself to sleep like a child.

Lee kind of had one of those what-do-I-do faces before he walked off and back into the temple. If the dragon harmed her in any way, he would deal with things, but that didn't seem to be the case. He would, of course, keep his senses active on her just as a sort of precaution. Zackery on the other hand stood as a sort of sentry. The sun was setting.

When the sun rose, Cassandra woke in some sort of stupor. She sat herself up and rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. When her vision cleared, she found a pile of spread out coal-color armor laying only a few feet away from where the dragon had been. It was a full set with a horned helmet and a cloak beneath it, a giant spiked mace within arms reach. It didn't seem like anyone was within it, but it began to move. It abruptly sat up, causing the girl to spring to her feet. She began to make a quick getaway, glancing backwards to see if the armor was following. Sadly, this meant that she wasn't vigilant enough to not slam into a wall. She fell backwards after the initial impact, holding the side of her face and stunned.

The armor grabbed its mace and stood, walking over to the fallen girl. She shook her head and continued her run, practically trampling over Lee who was walking out of the temple. She slinked behind him once she was stable, using him as some sort of shield.

"Do something. The armor is chasing me," she vaguely explained.

Lee turned his head to look behind him with a quirked eyebrow. "I didn't see anything that was chasing you. Are you sure?" When he looked forward again, the armor was standing right in front of him.

It kneeled and bowed its head before attempting to get its sights on the girl. "I'm sorry if I frightened you," it apologized in a deep, gravelly sort of voice.

The brunette looked over the armor, asking Cassandra, "Uh… any idea who this is? I can't tell his body signature… it's weird." He then proceeded to turn to the mysterious armor. It was best to ask direct questions. "Who are you?"

"My name is Martalian. I am the great dragon of the grave."

"So, you're the dragon from last night?"

"Yes, I am. Common knowledge dictates that all the great dragons went into hiding after the Black War, which started the fear of us in the first place. Many of us chose the simple hiding places while others resorted to riskier methods such as the use of magic forgotten by the world. I chose metamorphic magic. I'm capable of adopting this form and my other".

"How? Why hasn't anyone noticed?" Cassandra poked her head out from behind the brunete.

Lee answered. "Tombs of the great dragons are just being found. They have magic that the world had long since pushed out of their minds. This one just knows how to change his appearance. It's kind of like the way you shrunk Varicion to keep him from sight. This is a way of hiding".

Cassandra frowned at the mention of Varicion. The dragon was the one to step in, standing and giving Lee a good smack on the head for starting them. He loomed over her. "Cry no more, child. I know just the thing that will help you". With that, Martalian started off and left the humans.

The dragon was back after five minutes with an entire sheep minus the fluff, innards, and cooked. "I brought you some food to keep your strength up. You should eat as well, hybrid."

"Hybrid? What does he mean?" Cassandra was more interested in the term than the food, although she sat and pecked at the top of the lamb. She could practically feel the tension between them.

Lee looked Martalian dead in the eyes with a frown. "You shouldn't mention me by that title, dragon".

"The girl deserves to know who her traveling companion. Don't you think so, hybrid?"

The brunette, by this point, was narrowing his eyes in a glare. He clenched his hands into firsts, getting ready to throw the first punch. The dragon on the other hand was reaching for the mace hanging from his belt.

Martalian growled. "I don't like those who hide their identity celestial outcast. Does she know about your children or have you kept that from her as well?"

"Who do you think you're talking to," Lee asks within his own snarl.

"A celestial hybrid whose own creator wanted nothing to do with. I know exactly who I'm talking to," the dragon retorts.

Cassandra watched the both of them settle this issue with something more of a staring contest. "Death by glare," she commented in a questioning manner.

Lee was the one to eventually speak up. "How much do you know of my life?"

"Far too much, hybrid, far too much. We great dragons know much about Roan and his lineage. After all, no one else can take a bond with the two greatest of all dragons".

"I can't bond with both of them…" Lee was rather confused by Martalian's words. "I don't have the power of that". He began to pace back and forth, his hand on his chin in thought. It wasn't long before he fell into his shadow.

"Where is he going", Cassandra asked as Martalian sat down next to her. "Your argument ended pretty suddenly."

Scoffing, the great dragon responded. "The hybrid is annoyed by what I told him".

"Hybrid of what?"

"He's what's known as a celestial hybrid; He's something of an angel and a demon combined".

"I don't really see how that's possible. Aren't they polar opposites?"

"Technically, it shouldn't even be a possibility. With the existence of Lee, however, someone apparently found a way to bypass the problems. I don't know how it's done exactly, but there is only two of his kind as far as I know and the other does have some more mixed. His name is Zackery. He had a sibling, but she is no longer a member of the living. You'd definitely notice him if you saw him. His has blue hair and eyes that stick out. He's rather powerful and his sister was on par."

"Ya, I met him. He was cute". Her lips glued themselves together before she continued the sentence. Red flushed into her cheeks and she took a deep breath. "Ignore that I said that…. Anyways, I would have liked to meet his sister".

Martalian chuckled at her statement. "He does have a rather charming appearance," he admitted. "His sister was stunning as well. Unfortunately, she met her end at the hands of Motsune. The damned shadow spirit is a curse on this planet."

"Then why don't you go and stop him or something like that?"

"It's much more complicated than that. He's a being composed of shadow and darkness. There is no killing him by conventional means."

"If it makes you feel any better, I tackled him before".

"Now, that's some bravery," the dragon committed before going into a fit of laughter. "I knew that I chose correctly".

"You chose what? AIt was actually pretty dumb since I really could have died there. I don't know why I did it. Zackery was about to get his powers taken or whatever and I reacted."

"You were being brave. Dumb or not, you stood up to Motsune which is more than most people. I chose the one that I want to bond with correctly. I want to create a bond with you. You have spirit and then could use some power, especially if you want to dream of killing Motsune one day."

Cassandra was speechless, mouth gaping, but only for a moment. "I'm just saying that I'll probably get killed myself much before I even get to land a blow on him. I'm not strong and neither is my magic".

"I may be able to actually help with that. True, you may not have the strength, but your magic very well could. You may never deliver the finishing blow, but the hybrid is likely to need you very soon. We will all need his help and as much as we can get. What you know will be valuable as well. Understand, child, there are many beings on this planet, but only two types remain the same as always: those that fight against evil and those who assist its persistence. There's that wish to destroy the world's evil embedded in your spirit and that is why I wish to bond with you. You do know that both parties are required to agree."

"I don't really remember the bonding process to be honest and anyways, I'm not sure if I'm ready for that soon after…"

"We will establish that when the time is right. For now, I suggest that we enjoy some lamb".

"I think that I am good on the sheep card". She had stopped with it a while ago, not feeling with the possibly impending doom.

"If that is what you say. Hybrid, we also must speak of the upcoming events to pass." Martalian stood and gestured for Lee to follow. He spoke to Cassandra. "There are some things that the two of us must discuss. We will be back at some point".

As the two walked away, Zack had come into her view. She found the corners of her lips upturned into a smile which only grew the moment that he sat crosslegged next to her, their knees touching. His striking blue eyes rested on her and with a voice as smooth as ever, he spoke, "Hello there Cassandra".

She felt as though she might as well have been shot in the heart with the way it skipped a beat. "Um… hey Zack". The slight confession she had given Martalian came running back into her mind and she could feel her cheeks begin to heat.

"I trust that you're making yourself rather comfortable here. No one seems to be bothering you at the moment… well, other than my father".

"I guess that I'm comfortable. Sad at points and there are weird things here and there". The scarlet plaguing her cheeks was batted down as they continued to speak. "I kind of just feel numb sometimes. It happened right after my dragon died and... "

Zack found a frown creeping onto his face. "Yeah… I've heard that the breaking of a bond can be rather painful. Perhaps you could ask me father what to do, but go on though".

"I don't know. Joseph died too and he was the only friend I had for the longest time after my parents died and before Varicion showed up. All of them are gone and I just feel lost". Her eyes began to water and she attempted to rub away the moisture. She didn't need to shed any more tears.

"Would you like a hug? You seem like a hug would do you some good." He held his arms open to her. "C'mon it'll help".

The girl was hesitant about the contact for several reason. She twiddled her thumbs and turned her gaze downwards towards them. With a deep, shaky breath she leaned towards him. She felt his arms grip her into a tight embrace, a warmth filling into her chest. He shifted, splaying his legs out to the side to pull her in closer.

"That better," he inquired.

Her voice came out as more of a squeak. The blush was back. "I guess so".

An awkward silence was quick to fill the space in between them as he let go. It prompted the male to start picking at the sheep that had barely been touched. Upon consumption of the first piece, he scoffed and conjured a blue flame to heat it. Seeing the flames, Cassandra conjured up her own as comparison. A small, flickering red and yellow ball sparked to life within her hand, only a slight heat radiating from it.

He allowed his of flame to die before catching a glimpse of hers in the corner of his eye. "That's pretty impressive. How much fire magic do you know?"

"Barely any," she told him. The flame sputtered out. "I'm pretty useless as a witch. My magic sucks".

"Sounds like you need some practice," he commented after some thought. "If you want to learn anything new, I'd gladly teach you what I could. Fire magic is hard to master and does come with its fair share of dangers, but it isn't impossible".

"The last person that taught me said that I was just a lost cause. She told me that the only stuff that I knew is as far as I would ever excel".

"My father said that I would never do magic again and look at how I'm doing it now".

"Well, I'm not exactly you, am I?"

"Don't look so distraught." He nudged her shoulder. "It took me a long time to get this far, but once I got the hang of it, it was actually pretty easy. You'll probably be the same way".

"The only magic that I can really do would be the magic that I used against Motsune along with changing the size of some things".

"All you can do or all that you know? Both are two different things. In time, you'll learn more. You just need someone that's willing to teach you more. Have you ever thought of learning some different form of magic? Maybe it's just fire that you're not destined to practice."

"The witch that taught me didn't know much, but she at least had some powerful spells. I could never actually do them. I would always burn myself." She gestured to the discoloration of her arms.

"Burn yourself? Hm… You don't seem to have any natural resistance. Fire has a life of its own. It's not something that's easily tamed. We could give you some sort of resistance to that".

"How do you expect to do that?"

"Enchanting of course," he said as if it were the most common knowledge. "It's the most common way to build an immunity to such magic. I'll take care of it. Don't worry your little head about it. C'mon". He stood and pat down his golden robes. Then, he held out a hand to her.

Hesitantly, Cassandra placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her up. He made sure that she was balanced before starting off through the courtyard. Not far were the proud statues of the dragons of the sun and moon. The flew in a circle like the cycle of the planetary elements they represented. Zackery knelt before them and gestured for her to do the same before pulling trinkets and objects along with chalk and two small, black clothes from unseen pockets.

"Hand me something that you want enchanted. It can be anything, but you have to have it with you at all times. Then again, I can enchant your entire body, but it's a painful process".

"You could make me fireproof. It would probably be better."

Zackery frowned with worry, but accepted her choice. "If that's your final decision, lay down flat on the ground." He started to drawn around her with the chalk once she complied, creating different runes and symbols that would be needed. Upon finishing, he leaned back on his heels and gave a stretch. He turned his gaze downwards to her. "I finished the binding circle. I'm going to start. This is likely to hurt".

With the warning, he closed his eyes and raised head and his right hand towards the sky. Blue flames danced along his fingertips, flickering and breaking off. Rather than fizzling out, they hit the circle and sparked, the fire engulfing the chalk. He inhaled sharply and murmurd through the slow exhale, the static began to crackle and form a dome around them. The wind picked up around the half sphere, rustling their clothing. Energy passed through the circle, a golden light replacing the fire. It was all brilliant, but a pain began to creep through the girl. It started out like a thousand small pinches across her body, but quickly built to the point where it felt like lava was running through her veins.

Martalian and Lee appeared through the brush. The great dragon was about to approach when Lee held an arm out. An inaudible scream passed through her as a small flame erupted over her heart and spread outwards like a blanket. The heat was intense like she was being melted from the inside out. Golden energy crackled in the air, showering them in what looked to be miniature stars. Her eyes were beginning to roll to the back of her head when the flames suddenly died, a pass of magic soothing every inch of her body. The only sign of the ceremony left was the appearance of an unseen rune where that flame had once been.

The brunette dropped his arm and the dragon was quick to go to the girl. He scooped her into his arms gingerly while lee went to check on his son. Martalian inquired in a soft voice, "Cassandra, are you alright?" to which she feebly nodded.

Martalian gave a sigh of relief when she responded. She was just glad the pain hadn't killed her, but he knew that she needed rest. He began to carry her into the temple, taking her to the first vacant room that he could find. She was gently slipped onto the best where she could sleep and recover.

"How ya doing kid," he asked her with concern lacing his gruff voice.

"I feel like I was burned alive…"

"That's kind of what happens when you offer your body as an enchantment icon. You shall be fine within a few days of you rest. Just lay there. Your body has gone through some substantial stress." The dragon didn't have to tell her twice either.

Everything was dark and the feeling of loneliness was prominent. Cassandra couldn't see a single thing up until the moment the clouds moved to allow the light of the moon. Zackery and his dragon. Lee and the two great dragons. Varicion and Martalian. Joseph. There were others like a girl and another dragon that she had never seen mangled and bloody remains laid in the tall grass, onyx tendrils lazily swaying around them. She covered her mouth in horror, at their twisted limbs. She wasn't paying attention to the things creeping up behind her. The pain went through her in an instant. She looked down to see one of the tendrils had snacked around her leg as was slowly making its way up her leg. She fell to the ground and worked on attempting to pry it off only to have her hands back singed and smoking. The pain grew every moment, but before her heart could give out, everything faded away.

Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself staring up at the ceiling, the cold unforgiving ground under her. Groaning, she put her hands behind her and pushed herself into a sitting position. She then proceeded to rub her back, attempting to get the knots out of it.

Martalian sat at the foot of the bed, turning to look at her. "Are you okay? You seem stiff. Perhaps you should rest some more until a later time, unless you were prefer to do a bit of stretching".

"I think the idea of stretching is better."

Martalian stood and offered a hand towards her, the steel of his armor glinting even with such a low light. She took it and used his assistance to stand.

"You should be proud about what you've done. You've done something that most people could never do. Many prefer to enchant items rather than themselves because they could never dream of being able to withstand the pain". The dragon sounded proud which was likely only strengthening his reason for wanting to bond with her. "They die. Sometimes people just can't handle that much stress".

That was the last thing they spoke about before leaving the room and moving into the hallway. The temple was dead silent. Maybe they were just up rather early or late. Either way, they made their way through the corridors. As they continued to wander, a growl drifted into their ears. Cassandra stopped dead in her tracks to see a small dragon blocking their bath. Not long after, a rather familiar individual rounded the corner.

"Hey," she said with a grin and a wave.

"Hey to you too. You're up awfully early. How are you feeling?"

"Like I was burned alive. It kind of shook things up a bit".

"I warned you that it was going to be painful, but you at least lived through it. Next step is kind of practice with new techniques and try to perfect them".

Cassandra knew that she was in no real condition, but she suggested, "We can try and train somewhat right now".

Zackery wasunsure about the thought, but nodded and started to lead them through the passageway. The entire path seemed to be transitioning as they went. The walls became more cracked and the runes decorating them were lost to time. The ground became more uneven, leaving something more of a trip hazard every few feet.

"No one really goes down this way anymore", Zackery explained. "There are just some things that no one wants to remember," he says and looks over his shoulder.

They made it to a three way intersection. Down the left hallway, there were faint runes covering the wall and the other looked as if it would cave in within only a few seconds. Naturally, Zackery walked down the side that was slowly crumbling. The great dragon trailed behind like a soldier while Cassandra shrugged her head into her shoulders, glancing around for anything that could possibly fall onto her head. The one serving as leader stopped at the rotting surface of a door that was nearly rusted off its hinges. It squealed in protest as it was opened to reveal a beautifully cavernous area.

The space was enough to fit both Lunara and Sundesce. Stalagmites and stalactites, dangling from the ceiling and protruding from the ground. Everything was covered in iridescent moss that should have been able to distract anyone from the dried blood which stained the walls and the ragged patterns against the concrete ground.

"This used to be the turning point of the Roan temple… back before it changed. Don't think about that though. Now, it's a place where you can train without worrying about harming others or destroying property. The crystals around the edge help with keeping magical energies in and contained. Well, shall we start? Show me what you can do." He took a few steps back and gets into a ready stance."I'll give you a reason to attack if you don't. You won't hurt me, so don't worry about it". He summoned a blue fireball in his hand and waited for her move. Just give it your all. I need to know what you need to improve and what you can improve on."

"I'm telling you that I don't know much of anything. The most I can do other than minor healing spells and fireballs is this". She closed her eyes and called her hands into firsts. With a sputter, Zackery was suddenly engulfed in flames. The second that she opened her eyes, they disappeared the same way they had came.

"That narrows it down, I suppose. I have a feeling for how I should teach you. Ok, so try doing as I do. Focus your energy through your hand like a stream before throwing it out". Zackery held out his hand and ignited a flame about the size of his fist. He quickly flipped his hand with his palm parallel to the ground. The flame hit the ground and when he swept his hand, th fire expanded into a blanket. . Then, he sweeps it out from left to right, creating a sort of blanket of flames.

When Cassandra tried it, although with less successful results. She got the flame to drop, but it sputtered out much before she could even spread it. Before she could get too discourages, Zackery spoke. "You'll get it eventually. This is a rather complicated technique," he tells her. "You'll get it eventually".

"Or I just won't I'm actually a really bad witch magic has just never been my forte. This is probably hopeless."

Lee came through the doorway. "Zackery, there's trouble and Cassandra I need you to go back to your room".

Zackery was quick to follow his father, leaving the girl to find her way back herself. "Rude," she muttered to herself before she trailed behind them. What she found upon entering the corridor was the runes on the walls pulsed with a strange white and red energy almost like a heartbeat. As she reaches the fork in the road, rather than taking the way back to the main parts of the temple, she takes the other way. At the end of the hallway, she found the two standing in front of a large, sturdy, handleless metal door with a markings drawn on with blood. A growl erupted from some form of creature, the sound rattling through their bones.

The brunette turned to see the girl. "You shouldn't be in here Cassandra", Lee warned. He placed a hand on her back and briskly lead her away from the door. When they reached the forked hall, he points towards the path she needed to take. "Go to your room. You need to before you get hurt".

Complying, she began to take the path. On occasion, she looked back to see if Lee was still watching her. Even when she could no longer see him, she had the sense that the man was still watching. She had no choice but to listen. Inside of the room, Martalian was taking a nap or doing what seemed to be the case. It sounded like a decent idea to sleep and thus she climbed into bed, pulling the covers over herself. Almost the instant she closed her eyes, she was fast asleep.

There were grey flames and the sounds of battle all around her, echoing through her mind repetitively. Swords clanked with enough force to cause sparks and screams came in all fashions. The grotesque figures of demons were fighting with various others from werewolves to fairies. Fire blanketed the ashen skies as dragons fought and spewed flames.

One of the foul demons came up behind her, sword heald over its head to slash at her. She turned right in the nick of time, raising her hands in defense. What she found was not the pain of being cut into but instead a gleaming silver sword in her hand. Runes etched the thin blade and her hand was covered by an intricate web of metal. The the hilt was a gleaming white gem. The entire radiated a sort of holy energy.

With her gawking, she didn't notice the demon had change tactics. It dove its own sword straight through her heart. There was no pain, no coughing of blood, but a sort of numbness. She fell to the ground. She could hear her name being called, but everything was foggy.

Before she hit the ground, she found that there was none. She was just drifting. It was like calmly falling through water, submerging herself in an eternal, chilling darkness that didn't concern her. Something snaked around her limbs, pain erupting wherever it touched. There was a light that broke through, washing away the pain and bringing a warmth into the area. It gave a flash and blinded her.

When she could see again, she found herself in a field lined with wonderfully colorful flowers.

All the people she'd seen since Lee were there, smiling at her as if the war she had seen never happened. "This is a dream," she whispered to herself". Still, she went along with it, laughing along with them until the dream faded away for good.

"Cassandra, wake up", Martalian said as he shook her. Food was waiting for her on the nightstand.

The girl came to with a series of grumbles and random noises that could have been muttered, but it wasn't for long. She went right back to sleep again. Upon the second time waking from a dreamless sleep, she found Martalian wasn't in the room. She noticed the food beside her by the smell. Picking at it, she thought and came to a rather interesting conclusion. It was the only reason she really got out of bed. She opened the door and gestured to the first protector that she had found and the hooded being was swift to draw near.

"I was told that you could get me anything that I need? That's the truth right?" When the protector responded with a bod, she gave a grin. "Well this is just about to get really interesting then. Do you think that you could grab a few bottles of liquor? I promise that I won't get too out of hand".

When the protector came back, she thanked him the bottles before closing herself off. The next person to see her after that happened to be Zackery. He knocked on the door expecting for someone to answer it. What he got was a thud against the doorframe and another as a body hit the ground.

He took it upon himself to open the door to find Cassandra on the floor and rubbing her forehead with her and. Her cheeks were flushed with color from the alcohol and even in pain, she might as well have been giggling like a madwoman. He gave a small frown, but asked in a caring voice, "Um… Cassandra, are you ok? You're drunk, aren't you?"

"Course. 'm fine and I swear to drunks I'm not gods," she muttered through the giggles. "I wanna nother one".

"I hope you know that I'm tempted to believe otherwise and I think that you've had enough to drink". He assisted her up and to the bed.

She puffed her cheeks out and pressed her hands together like a pleading child. "Pwease".

"Nope. You need to sober up".

"I get m'self than".

"Good luck finding some. There's not really any liquor inside of the temple. There's not much use for it".

"Heeeeyyyy", she yelled instead. She was looking over towards Martalian and Lee who had just walked in through the door.

Zackery had to explain before the dragon lost his top. "She's drunk. Apparently, she's very drunk".

It was actually Lee that found this to be troublesome, especially as the girl hung herself from the edge of the bed and procured another bottle. "Zack, why would you give her alcohol," he asked his son. "She was actually supposed to perform the entire bonding ritual with Martalian today, but I see that she isn't in the right state."

"Puple guy gots tham".

Lee snagged the bottle away before the girl could get a drink. "I think that is enough loopy juice for you".

"Bu I wan it". She made the mistake of jumping for it. Lee dodged. Her feet hit the ground, but only for a second; she slipped afterwards. She laid sprawling.

"No more for you," Lee said and looked down at her.

Zackery at least attempted to get her to her feet, only to be pulled down when she slipped for a second time. He landed awkwardly on top of her, his arms and legs practically trapping her body.

That earned the two of them an eye roll from Lee. "Watch after her Zack. Martalian, care to accompany me?"

"I has more…" She spoke in a whisper when Martalian and Lee left the room.

After being lectured for a problem that he hadn't started, he gave a sigh of defeat and then a grin. "Sure. Why not?"

Lee returned hours later only to find a sight that left his jaw dropping. His son was upside down and half off the bed with an empty bottle in his mouth. His tunic was half open and his cloak was on the other side of the room. The girl was on the bed as well although with her back against the wall, the bottle in her hand half full.

As Zackery moved to greet his father, he fell against the ground although showed no signs of pain. The girl got crawled over to check on him only for her free hand to slip. Miraculously, little of the liquor spilled as she landed right on top of Zackery.

"Leeeeeee," Cassandra said. "Does ya wan… was it call?

"Is whizkey," Zackery commented. "Wans zome?"

"Wat if I kizz thone?" She paused for a moment after seeing both their expressions. "Jus kiddin'". She rolled off of Zackery to allow them both to sit up.

"Wow… You both are drunk". As the only sober person in the room, he believed he had a bit of a right to judge the two of them.

"Drunk enou to do this". The girl grabbed Zackery by the cheeks and brought their faces closer. Their lips met and she was met with a rather responsive response from the man. Seconds ticked away like this and Lee gave an awkward cough to get their attention. What he got from her was a shooing gesture.

The two were practically connected at the lips for what felt like an eternity. When Cassandra finally pulled away for air, she rested her arms on his shoulders as well as her head. The last thing she expected was to fall asleep.

When she woke up, she found herself using Zackery as a pillow and with a headache as well as nausea. She sat up and through a hand over her mouth, feeling the beginnings of spasms that would rock her form. She quickly made her way to the bathroom and the makeshift toilet where she unloaded the contents of her stomach. Her throat burned and the stench of bile mixed with old liquor. She was left dry heaving, Zackery coming to join her in her experience. Afterwards, spent, they both got to bed.

Lee got to witness the spectacle when he wandered into the room to check on the two. It didn't exactly take a genius to figure out both of them were fast asleep by the way they were cuddling. He raked a hand through his hair and kicked the edge of the bed, causing sound and vibration to reverberate through the room. It worked in startling them up. The witch was the first to open her eyes. Lee's cough was what caused her to realize the situation. She could feel something around her and glanced to find that Zackery's arms were around her. She shoved Zackery away only to push herself off the bed and scrambled to her feet. She ran out of the room in embarrassment.

Zackery's face was tomato red as he sat up and it only made his blue eyes stand out just that much more. Lee bursted out laughing, only to earn a confused glance from the embarrassed boy. The brunette asked, "Do I really want to ask what happened? Did something… entertaining... happen?"

It earned him a really good eye roll and he returned it with his own. Lee started to walk out of the room, hollering over his shoulder in a teasing manner. "Go find your girlfriend. She's bonding with Martalian today". When he looked back, he noticed how Zackery was sticking his tongue out at him. He used his shadow to tug on the boy's ankle. His son went down with a yelp.

Zackery got himself looking decent before he left the room, his head still pounding. He had to find Cassandra though because of what was to happen. He enlisted a few protectors to help him in the search and when they found her, she was in an isolated portion of the temple heaving once more. "Well… um… my father said he wishes to see you", he spoke up.

She straightened herself and held her stomach, using her other arm to wipe away what was left on her face."Where is he?"

"I'm not really sure. He told me to find um... you though."He was recounting Lee's words, one ringing rather particularly somewhere within his mind. "He said something about bonding with Martalian today. I would think that he's somewhere above ground… Martalian likes open air from what he tells me".

There was tension in the air and she didn't want to really address it. Instead she gave a nod and used her ivory hair as a shield. She made her way upwards and to the surface where she found Martalian and Lee waiting for them. Before anything could be said by the guys around her, Cassandra spoke. "Can we just finish this so that I can take a nap?" Lee gave a smirk, one of which she ignored.

The great dragon then dropped his mace, letting it rest beside him. The armor he wore shimmered as if it were a mirage, his form shifting and growing. The plates of metal expanded outwardly and morphed into his ribcage as he fell on all fours. He was right back to a dragon skeleton.

"Ok, so this is how it's going to work. Come here," Lee instructed. "Bonding with a great dragon from scratch is a long and taxing process. This isn't really going to be easy. Are you ready?"

Cassandra moved over so that she was standing directly in front of the massive beast. She felt like a mere ant just standing there by him. It wasn't like being by Lunara though, who did have just a bit more size. She sassed without thinking really. "Yes, make the hungover girl do this now".

"It's your fault really. We were going to do this yesterday, but you decided to having a drinking party with my son over there and canoodle afterwards. The bonding process for a great dragon is unique in that you both share more than just common emotions and a unique communication method. You share powers as well as your strengths, This process takes all of your mental ability all at once. Sit right there. Just look into his eye when you're ready."

Martalian himself lays down in the dirt, putting his face in between his claws. He started to focus entirely on Cassandra as she does. The moment she looked into the dragon's eyes, it was almost like the word darkened and was spinning out of control. When everything refocuses, the world had turned into a solid black void. She was left in what felt like isolation.

"Guys", she called out in hopes of some sort of response.

Then, there was a deep, gravelly voice that echoed through the nothingness. "This won't take very long young one".

The words just came from everywhere. It made her jump and right when she was about to speak, a bulky male appeared out of nowhere. His short hair was solid black and eyes a piercing storm grey, pale skin contrasting against the darkness. He wore no clothes, though there was nothing determining him as male genitalia wise. "You must focus your thoughts or you will kill us both," he told her. " What you are about to experience will be unlike anything that you ever have before".

"What exactly am I focusing on? Anyways, focusing with a headache isn't exactly easy".

The being only laughed, the sound resonating throughout. He gestures to the area around. "Here, any physical ailments won't affect you. Notice your vision isn't faded and you can think much more clearly. You are sober. Focus now, young one for what you see may look real, but will not," he explained. "To share our powers, we must first see the world without them. To fully share our bond, we must first see the world through each other's eyes. Just focus and ground yourself."

Some sort of force closed her eyes when he touched her forehead with his index finger. As she opened her eyes again, she found herself in the place she dreaded the most: the plantation. At the simple sight, her heart rate increased and felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. Her memories started to play out as if it only happened the day before. It wasn't where her life started, but before then it was all poverty and rags. Still, it was happy. It wasn't what truly defined her.

She began to relive every punishment that she was dealt by her horrid blood-sucking master, feeling pain from her scars as if they were all brand new. Much of the smells of that time had been that of her own blood and the constant taste of metal. Infections seemed to be her life. Meeting Varicion seemed to blink by and her parents were killed for a second time before her eyes, their corpses hung up as an examples. Their bodies were later taken away to be thrown in a pile without a proper burial. It made her sick and she wanted to turn away, but something was telling her to keep going and to keep fighting.

Her memories, to her relief, changed. Her escape and her first bond whisked by. Her liferan through until she saw the burning city where she met Lee. It blinked by as if it didn't matter. The memories of the amnesia spell came to light and she was able to see how she was so willing to return to the plantation. Anything after was a repeated stab to the heart and shocks of electricity until the point of numbness.

The only thing that she couldn't even really put any thought on was the time of complete drunken bliss. There were a lot of warm fuzzy feelings and then those burry moments cuddling Zackery. That kiss happened. The warmth she felt then was something that she envied and she really doubted that it would ever happen again. Zackery would never feel the same especially after she ran away so quickly. The only reason he went to find her was because of his father's request. Afterwards, she went straight to the black of the void and also Martalian's vision self.

"When you are ready, I shall share my life with you," that voice echoed.

She nodded and there she was in the middle of a dense jungle. It was lush and full of life, the sounds of rustling leaves filling the air. There were feelings of peace and solitude running through her mind. She knew that this wasn't her own body and yet she was moving with it here and there.

Her sight shifted to that of a time much later. A human stood in front of her, much more miniscule in size. Nevertheless, fear passed through her and then sudden pain as the human attacks. The next thing she saw was that human standing next to her, a sense of belonging with him. The human smiled and a pang of sadness wracks the air around, emanating from within.

A city turned battle ground was next. Red stained the earth and broken weapons lay abandoned, nearby buildings broken and in the process of complete destruction. The sky was gray with soot from the flames that consumed all. The sounds of grunts and clashing swords came to her ears under the screams of the dying thousands. The smell of metal and burning wafted into her nose. In the distance was a much younger version of Lunara with a dark being commanding hordes of demons. She felt her body attacking those around her and when she looked below, there as a human beside her effortlessly following. Someone was attacking the person on Lunara, dealing blows here and there. Sundesce make an appearance as well, launching volleys of fireballs everywhere. A huge scream ripped through the air and the view changed to a black tentacled humanoid ripping Motsune from Lee's body. A searing pain went through her and she finds herself by a swirling vortex.

A figure falls its way out of the tornado of the dead. At first it has no shape, but when it reforms, it became that of a girl in ruined armor. Her hair was bright pink and her eyes were nearing the same shade. She was beautiful, but her gaze was poisonous. The girl had pulled a sword from the sheath at her hip. Reapers cloaked in ragged black robes came to intervene only to be cut down.

There was a completely onyx figure destroying a city that was very familiar to her. A girl with white hair and then also a crimson dragon had just landed which she quickly recognized to be herself and Varicion. The next few memories to come to pass were bordering on creepy. Martalian had been following her. They had come up to speed it seemed and like before, she was returned to the void.

Martalian explained to her, "Those were my turning points. We have seen the world through another's eyes. We know each other's hardships and moments of horror. We've seen moments of weakness and strength. This is your final chance to turn away if you wish. If you do wish to continue, place your hands on mine. This is all your choice for I have already made mine". He held out his hands towards her, both palms facing up.

With a deep breath, she gently placed her hands on top of his. As their hands make contact, a strange current passes through her. It focused on her mind, heart, and what she thought might have been her soul. It felt like a string had been tied to both of them.

The only actual thing to break the moment was Martalian's voice. "The bond is complete. When you wake, you shall be endowed with my powers and I with yours". He took a step back and bowed. "Thank you… partner".

This world faded.

A thump was what brought her back to reality. She gazed straight forward seeing the brightly shining stars in an expanse of dark blue. That view was interrupted by the sight of Zackery's smiling face. She wanted to say something, but her throat felt like the desert and her body felt like stone. She say Lee out of the corner of her eye. Zackery, noticing the fact that she had yet to get up, assisted her with that. He hooked an arm under hers and pulled her up like she was nothing.

The brunette spoke. "Don't move. It probably won't feel all that great. You've been motionless for three and a half days. It took much longer than we thought. We had to use some spells to keep you from simply falling over".

A small voice rings in her head. You'll be okay.

"What you must have seen must've been amazing. The world through a dragon's eyes is always a wonder".

In Cassandra's eyes, she supposed things looked different in general. Behind the mask of Martalian's helmet, as if it were transparent, the face she had seen in the dreamscape was present. The bond allows you to see me as something you can understand. A human seems to be how you view me, so you'll see that in me as well as the armor around me that serves as my body. What you're seeing as well as hearing in your mind is the connection.

She smiled weakly at him. "You, my friend, confuse me".

That will happen a lot.

"Then it looks like my life is going to be one big puzzle."

"So what's happening now?" Zackery, like Lee, was quite confused.

The girl shook her head with a grin. Despite her physical condition, she felt a lot better than before. Zackery let go with a red face as Martalian scooped her up into her arms. "We should get you to sleep. You'll need rest after the strain you've felt".

"I'm kind of really hungry though", she said with a yawn. "I've apparently been sitting there for days".

The dragon gave a nod and carried her downwards into the temple. Father and son followed behind, although Zackery was much more reluctant with helping after the creation of the bond. It didn't stop him from questioning however. "What was it like?"

"It was nothing like I've ever been through before. There was something about it. I saw the past, the present… the truth, I guess is a way you could see it".

Lee chuckled just then. "I told you so".

"We'll, I'm just stating a fact".

There was much more laughter and it could only bring Cassandra's spirits up a bit more. "What's with all your laughing, weirdo", she commented with a brighter, albeit tired grin.

"Because I'm in a good mood and it looks like you are in one too".

Cassandra turned to tell Zackery something about his father only to find him gone. He seemed to have veered off down another hallway. It wasn't long before Lee walked off too, though he spoke to Martalian quickly in dragon's tongue before leaving. The dragon leads her to a table in bustling marketplace of the city. He assists her with sitting down before disappearing into the crowds. It gives her time to look at the various people present from various species as well as the various stalls selling their goods which varied from weapons and armor to food from all over. The smell of cooked beef and vegetables gently floated to her nose and went straight to her stomach.

The sight of food Martalian brought a little later only caused her gut to cry out. He brought an entire rack of ribs, well cooked steak, and an assortment of steamed vegetables. When he set it down, it was almost comical. She started to devour everything as fast as she could almost like her mouth could unhinge like a snake's. She hadn't even realized that she was this starving. Martalian didn't exactly touch the food, watching with amusement and a bit of fear like she would bite his hand off if he tried. He sat down. That was it.

When she was done, she leaned back in her chair and placed a hand on her distended abdomen. Martalian, seeing as she finished a good majority, returned the plates to the merchant he had managed to procure them from. He then instructed her to go to the room so that she could get some rest. A protector had already been sent to clean up the mess. Cassandra didn't need to be told twice. It took her time to find the room, but when she did, she passed out face first on the bed.

A sudden shake of the temple walls brought Cassandra out of her slumber this time around. Well, that and the clanking of Martalian's armor as he stood. Shakily getting to her feet, she stumbled out of the room to find the protectors running around. She looked back into the room. "Martalian, what's happening?"

"I do not know. This is unusual. In times of distress, protectors stand ready rather than acting in this manner. I would have to assume outside since that's where the others are going. I wonder where Lee is".

"Well, we aren't doing anything else until we find Zack and Lee".

Martalian nearly clotheslined a being when grabbing him by the collar. This one wore purple robes with a green emblem. "Where is Zack and Lee?" The dragon growled.

"Near the arena," the being responded with fright.

The dragon release him with a nod as Cassandra was already running through the halls. She was, making her way to the sealed door from earlier. All the runes against the walls suddenly light up, emanating a dark red glow throughout. As she rounded the corner, a loud explosion rocked the temple; this time however, both father and son flew out with smoke billowing behind. The girl had the displeasure of slowing down Zackery, slamming into the wall behind

Everyone except the girl was quick to get up again. She was left on the ground in a crumpled heap. Lee had his dark aura surrounded him, his black arm exposed. He ran down the hall again. Zackery summoned his royal blue aura and sent it outwards as a barrier just in time for a red beam to blast right into it. It reflected in a shower effect, bombarding the walls and weakening the already fading runes.

The dragon growled. "He's free. It… It can't be".

Cassandra took this time to get to her feet. "Who's free?"

Before anyone could respond, a secondary blasts rips through. This time around, Lee went flying back roughly thirty feet behind them. A sickly smell rushes by just as a giant, twelve foot long crimson creature comes into view. It looked like a giant caterpillar covered in a heavily burned carpet. Its head was nothing more than a snarling animalistic skull dripping blood. It's countless long, attenuated bug like appendages were all bend at awkward angles as it moved along with alarming speeds, it's claws allowing it to walk vertically against the wall.

It opens its mouth, a red glow coming from within. With this third shot, the barrier exploded in a shower of blue and it advanced, causing Zackery to jump backwards. Martalian lunged forward at the beast with his mace while Zackery provided a cover fire of blue fireballs. As the smoke cleared and the dragon returned to the others, the creatures hissed at them. For a second time it opened its mouth, but rather than that beam, it expelled gusts of winds that were strong enough to send them all through the broken door of the arena.

Lee was the first to recover from the attack and surprisingly enough, Cassandra had landed in a crouched position. As the brunette attacked, the girl summoned an orb of fire into her hand. She hesitated when doing anything with it however, her icy blue eyes reflecting the flickering bits of grey. The creatures roar as the brunette attack brought her attention back to the matter at home. She threw it. When it made contact with one of its legs, it turned to dust. The creature hissed and glared towards her with its beady black eyes, climbing vertically up the walls of the cavern as it regenerated its leg.

Zackery, like Cassandra, launches a few more fireballs before throwing down a blanket of flames that traversed the wall in the creatures direction. Martalian on the other hand drops his mace and claps his hands, creating an orb between them similar to Cassandra's before sending it. The creature serpentines through the volley, untouched before it returns its own fire. The group was forced to scramble as another beam sails towards them, upturning the ground upon impact.

As Cassandra scrambled to her feet, she summoned three orbs in front of her. With a quick gesture, she send them towards the creature. As if they had some sort of targeting system, they followed the creature with its attempts to evade. They touch down, disintegrating two of its legs as well as a portion of its head. It shrieked an ear splitting cry as it attempted to crawl away.

As it healed, its mouth opened to release a more purposeful screech. The beam which was fired at them had a greater intensity than before. Martalian reached for his rider who stood in the center of it, wrapping his body around her as Zackery threw up a barrier. Lee intercepted, his left hand out to stop it. It connects, wrapping around him as it was absorbed. When it was gone, the discharge threw all of them back. The resulting dust plumes put visibility at a zero and caused all of them to come down in a fit of coughs.

The girl, the more protected of the group, stood in the aftermath. Martalian took a knee not far away while Zackery lay attempting to catch his breath. Lee, on the other hand, laid unmoving and charred. Before Cassandra could managed to stumble over to the brunette, a black cloud forms over Lee. It took the shape of a skeleton wrapped in tattered robes, its eyes sitting in the empty sockets of a human skull and glowering at them. Boney hands sprout, a scythe appearing. "He belongs to the Void now and I am sure you will be joining him soon enough".

That was the last thing that Cassandra saw. She was fighting the sense of fleeting warmth as well as consciousness. She looked down towards her side to see red staining her clothes. As her legs buckle from under her, Martalian rushed forward. He caught her before she hit the ground, snagging her away from the reaper. He escaped through the halls as quickly as his form could take her. He brought her to a random room and allowed the protectors flooding through to take care of her.