Chapter 5: Welcome to the spirit world…

Hunter was driving the carrier through the dense woods like it was the back of his hand. As the trees around him were damaged and burned, wreckage was strewn across the floor of the woods. Zach was in the back with Commander Nottestad talking tactics of the landscape and how they might be able to overcome a threat from an unknown possible Elder Force. Hunter came up to a massive amount of wreckage piled up, and skidded to a halt right in front of it, quickly killing the engine as he did. He jumped out as Commander Nottestad and Zach both hopped out with their hands on their blades ready to fight, but they halted when they reached Hunter. As they looked out in the wreckage they saw it…it was a Dragon, a Black Dragon about twelve yards long and about twelve feet in height. The Dragon smelled the air and turned towards the group. They all ducked behind some smoldering wreckage. "That was close." Zach said as he grasped his blade harder. Then they felt the coast was clear, they looked back out to see that the Black Dragon was face to face with an armored figure that was floating in midair, they were speaking in a language that the three could not understand. After what seemed like a long time Hunter stood up from behind cover and walked out as he sheathed his blade. The Black Dragon felt Hunter's presence and it stepped down into the crater among the wrecked Airship, a giant bloodthirsty Black Dragon, and a possibly hostile being with immense power. "Well time to see if my new "title" holds any merit" he said as he shrugged, standing at the bottom of the crater, facing the Black Dragon. The Dragon blew a great ring of smoke before turning to face Hunter. As it came face to face with him a strange sense of calm ran through Hunters body as the Dragon's head lowered to eye level. Hunter reached out and placed his hand on top of the Dragons head, and as soon as he had done it, a sharp burning sensation shot up Hunters arm and ended inside his skull as the sound of thunder cracked through the woods…Hunter fell over apparently dead…

Hunter awoke in the Barrier Woods, alone and confused. As he looked around he noticed that there was no damage, no wreckage…it was as if that Airship never crashed. He began to walk around inspecting the area, but he knew that something was wrong. He felt a gush of wind, yet as he looked around him, the trees and the leaves on the ground did not move, the earth felt as if it were in a quake…yet everything was still…and the sound of distant Thunder off in the distance signaled that a storm approached…yet the sky was clear. And as lightning streaked down and struck the earth in front of him Hunter did not move a muscle. A figure appeared before him, over seven feet tall, and dressed in the armor made of Ancient bones of a Dragon. "Boy…you have stepped into the realm…my realm…I have brought you here because I sense something inside your soul…something…ancient…" He stopped as he inspected Hunter. "You are an Elder…a young Elder, and I see that the Gods have spared you their horrible wrath by letting you forget…in time you will have to remember, but for now…I have a present…follow me…" the figure said as it turned and began to glide along the floor with ease. Hunter hesitated for a moment, but he could somehow tell that the figure meant him no harm, so he followed the figure in silence.

As the figure entered a clearing Hunter could see again, all around him the world came to life in its own way; The grass began to burn and die as if on fire, the trees shook as the ground quaked beneath Hunters feet, and the sky was blood red as the Sun turned as black as night. The figure was standing in the middle of the clearing and around him the air seemed calm, the grass was alive, and the sky was blue. "Wh…Who are you?" Hunter asked as he reached for his sword. The figure held outstretched his arm as a blade shot out from under his armor, it was a long sword with a guard made from what looked like bode, but as the figure twirled it around like a baton it's shape changed…it became a great broad sword made of diamonds, gold, and there was no guard, and with a simple twist…the blade transformed once again, only this time it was a badly scared and chipped wooden sword; the winds began to pick up as the sound of flapping wings filled the air. "I am the one they call Sagamorn "The Pristini teacher"…I am the one who brought you here from world of the living." It said as it stuck the changing sword into the ground. The scene began to change as did the sword, they were now in a great library as Sagamorn reached down and plucked the blade from the ground…it had changed into a walking cane, and Sagamorn himself changed, he now looked like the old man from the Village…"I can see from your memories that this form might be wise to consol you in…you look to this old human as a type of father do you not…hmmmm I see you that you have lost most of your memories…that is no matter, it is just like putting a puzzle back in order…only it is all in your head" Sagamorn said as he poked his temple. "I know you have many questions young one, but I am afraid it is not time to ask…you are here to learn…so let us begin…Today I am going to teach you how to harness the power inside you…the power…of the Dragon named Magnus the Potens…his soul is why your memories are scattered, and the only way to stop this futile war…are you ready young Hunter, the warrior from the Village of Sparrows…ARE YOU READY!?" Sagamorn said as the scene began to flicker and change as the outline of a great black dragon was projected behind Sagamorn.

Hunter looked to him and nodded "I am ready." With a sudden burst of wind that seemed to come from the cane Sagamorn looked to Hunter and smiled. The doors around the area creaked and then burst open as Sagamorn changed yet again. He was now seven feet tall, dressed in all black robes, and the cane was now a staff with a Dragon's skull at the top. Sagamorn began to speak in a tongue that was so ancient, that Hunter could not comprehend it. Hunter strained to listen though, and as he did the ground began to glow…the words began to sound familiar. "Dragons of the Ancient Land of Dragons Hollow hear my plea, the young Elder before me is the chosen one, from the seed of DragonBane." The ground began to glow brighter as the ground quaked. Sagamorn continued, "The Chosen One who is of sound mind…and of strong body…Grant him the language of our species…So that I can teach him the power to unite the peoples of this land." As Sagamorn finished the ground exploded and the scene around them fell leaving them in a void, Sagamorn walked the void and placed a hand on Hunters shoulder. "I will be borrowing your Soul so that I can train you for fifty years…this will all take the place of five days in your peoples land…During this time however, there will be great and powerful quakes upon the land…The time of the dragons re-awakening is at hand…your companions have already been informed of your training and are taking your body to a safe place to rest…now your lesson…" Sagamorn said as he held the staff in front of him almost as an offering. "Take this staff from me before the five days are up…" he said as the void popped to life, the Barrier Woods winked into existence at the break of dawn…Sagamorn was gone.