Chapter 13- The Leviathan's Return
{Dartz -narrator}
As I fly backwards from the Seal shattering, I realize that Narssia was right. I was the reason that paradise sank and not the Great Leviathan, he was just a pawn for the Orichalcos until I came along. I land in the dirt of the valley and lay there for serval minutes. Finally, I get up and get on my feet. My whole body hurts, well I guess that's what I get for being thrown backwards forty feet.
I begin to search for Narssia although it goes quite slow on a count of my injuries. Despite the fact that she is evil now, I still care about her. The sun blazes above me as I work to find her. Finally, I spot a dark green scale laying in the dirt. I walk over to it and pick it up.
She should still be here, I think as I stare at the scale.
The one wound that troubles me the most would be the one on my right shoulder. When I landed in the dirt, that shoulder took most of the force. Perhaps a bone was broke?
Narssia! I cry.
I cry out to her using our mental bond. If she is still alive, I will be able to sense it. Finally, I sense what could be her. It's weak though, so I must hurry. I frantically begin to move rocks around.
If they are too big, I shove them out of the way by telekinesis. Finally, the glint of dark green begins to emerge from within the rock formation. I tear at the rocks, revealing more and more of the dark green color. How could she have been thrown this far? Finally, I toss the last rock off her body.
Narssia! I scream.
What happened to her? It looks it she was dragged into the rock formation. How could she? Unless the Great Leviathan did this! I kneel before her lifeless body and touch her brow.
Narssia, it's because of me that you didn't survive. There is life within me, take it! I say.
She moves ever so slightly. I raise my head and, to my surprise, one of her eyes is open.
I will not take it from you, Dartz. Even you don't have a heart big enough for the both of us, Narssia says.
Narssia, take it before. . . . I begin.
She sighs and closes her eyes.
Narssia, please! I cry.
I shake her, wanting her to awaken. Only when she does not, does what she did reach me.
Narssia must have known the price for what she was doing, I think. But it still isn't fair. Narssia! Mark my words, you will be brought back and what you started shall be finished!
I stand up and drag her now lifeless body over to the middle of the arena. Once there I begin to dig a tomb for my Guardian. Sure it would have been easier to use magic to move the dirt, but I enjoy a challenge. Finally, all the dirt was moved out of the way. I pull her body toward the grave, then shove her in.
I move the dirt back to where it was by telekinesis and as the last remaining little bit of dirt is pulled into her tomb, I fall to my knees as tears stream down my face.
This isn't fair! I should be the one locked away not you! I scream.
With that I collapse onto the dirt below . . .
As I lay before Narssia's tomb, I realize that I was the one that caused this to occur. She had put her faith in me and I failed her. The Orichalcos should have captured my spirit earlier for I do not deserve this.
I failed as a Rider and as a friend, Narssia. You may make your judgement about me now, if it suits you, I think.
Suddenly a violent gust of wind whips through my hair. I raise my head, expecting her presence to be near, but it is not her. All we went through, all the adventures we shared and, although quite brief, our time as one. Her being offered the power of the Orichalcos and her using the Seal to try and capture my soul. Her lifeless body and the tomb that now stands before me.
All these memories flash before my eyes. I pick myself off the ground and stare at her tomb.
Well, I guess I have no choice now. I must travel to the Dominion of the Beast. I must go there for protection and safety. This land is no longer safe, even for me, I think.
Summoning my strength, I begin to prepare a portal that will take me to the Dominion of the Beast. Suddenly a bright green light blasts Narssia's tomb in two and the Leviathan rises out of the dirt.
Nice try massster, but you aren't getting away from me that easssily, the Leviathan hisses.
The Leviathan hisses as he draws nearer to me, his yellow eyes shimmering with hatred and rage.
Please, don't do this Leviathan. I can help you, I cry.
And you think that I ssshall except help from you? Well, you had better think again! The Leviathan screams.
The Leviathan roars and I'm blown backwards by his force. I wince in pain as I strike my shoulder as I land in the dirt.
You pitiful human. You think that you can just waltz in here and take control of me, don't you? The Leviathan growls.
My shoulder begins to throb and pain shoots throughout my body. I gaze at the serpent. He must be responsible for this!
You are correct, massster. I am ssshowing off my new power to you. Do you like it? The Leviathan asks.
You are despicable, you little serpent! You call yourself a dragon of the Orichalcos, but does the power that the magic of the Orichalcos has control you or do you control the power? I ask.
The Leviathan hisses in anger and slithers up to me.
You ssshall regret sssaying that, human! The Leviathan snarls.
His eyes begin to shine brightly and pain erupts from my shoulder. I scream and my vision begins to become blurry. The Great Beast snickers and his eyes remain on me. Every minute the pain seems to increase. I can't take mush more of this before . . .
Where am I? I think.
I carefully open my eyes and look around. It appears to be some kind of dungeon. Could I be in paradise? A sudden rattling of keys catches my attention and I turn to see the Leviathan opening my cell. I try to jump to my feet, but as I try, I collapse.
I wasss hoping for more fighting me than thisss Dartz, the Leviathan hisses.
I pant as I find a comfortable place to sit and blink at the serpent.
How long have I been here? I ask.
About a month, the Leviathan replies.
A month! I think.
When you passssssed out, I grabbed you and took you here, the Leviathan says.
And where is here? I ask.
Don't you know Dartz? This isss home for both of usss, the Leviathan replies.
Paradise and the palace too! I think.Why are you keeping me?
Sssimple, I need you to help me lead an army to ssstorm the Dominion of the Beassstsss, the Leviathan replies.
And if I reuse? I ask.
Than I ssshall have no further ussse for you, the Leviathan snarls.
I think for a second. On one hand this is home and I know where I could run if I tried to escape, but on the other hand if I join his army than I could flee once we get there. Either way it is very risky and if the serpent knows of my plans. . . .
I shall join your army and lead you to the Dominion of the Beasts, I say.
Excellent. I ssshall sssend my best ssspellcasssters to you in the morning, until then get sssome ressst Dartz. The fate of our victory liesss with you, the Leviathan snarls.
The Leviathan leaves my cell and I huddle in a corner, thinking of a way to escape once we are at the Dominion of the Beasts. I finally fall asleep however, and soon I begin to dream. I am awakened by a sharp poking in my side. I growl and open one eye, to see a line of scared spellcasters lined up outside my cage. I shake my head and open both eyes.
"Come in! You need not fear me!" I cry.
The spellcasters enter and line up before me.
After they give me their names I ask them, "What is it that the Leviathan wants with the Dominion of the Beasts?"
A young spellcaster named Rica answers, "I think he wants the three dragons, or that's what he called them at least."
The three dragons? The three legendary dragons that battled against us in the Battle of Atlantis, of course! I think.
"And why does he need them?" I ask.
Another spellcaster named Mica answers, "I think that he believes them to be a nuisance, Lord Dartz and he wants to get rid of them."
Lord Dartz? Well, at least the serpent allowed them to give me the proper recognition for once! I think.
Suddenly pain shoots through my back and I fall to the floor. As pain erupts from my back, I curl myself into a ball. Memories, countless memories float before me eyes. Some I recognize from my own mind, others I don't, I figure that those would be from Narssia' mind. Why am I being showed these memories?
Most of them I already know about. Finally, I uncurl myself and look up at the spellcasters.
"Are you alright, Lord Dartz?" Rica asks.
"I'm fine," I growl.
"Should we begin?" Mica asks.
"Yes, you should. Let me know if you need me," I say.
The spellcasters leave and I stagger upright. My head hurts slightly from all those memories. Could Narssia still be alive somehow? The Great Leviathan said that he had grabbed me after I passed out. Could he have lied?
Could he have been draining my strength to restore Narssia's life?