Prologue part 5: A first look at the ruins' heart

Three hours later…

The day approaches its end and now is the perfect time to start the small expedition to the temple's ruins.

Coldspine, Hiverna, Drystorm and seven others are prepared to go to Telunabris' ruins. With their large satchel containing what is necessary, the ten dragons walk out of the main building and unfold their wings.

Seeing the scene, Frostteeth says his last words before they leave, feeling a bit pleased.

"May the will of magic and the world guide you until the end." The icewing captain feels good about saying that, but his doubt restrains him. Not letting others see a flaw in him, he speaks again with words he is more at ease with in a serious tone like he always does.

"You can count on us to take care of the operation, and if something bad happen, we will manage it. We are prepared for the worst after all."

And with that, the exploration team (composed of three icewings, two sandwings, two skywings, two seawings and one hybrid) take flight toward the old cursed place. Frostteeth and others dragons watch the group beginning their travel for a moment before returning to where they were.

Having time for himself and looking for something interesting, the icewing with many scars walks towards the group of icewings training at the camp's border. All the soldiers are kind of patrolling the area in circle, alternating between marching and taking flight to have a better view, all of that under the harsh Sun.

Approaching Nordclaw, the icewing initiates a conversation with relative confidence, trying to be more casual again.

- "Captain Nordclaw, I see your dragons are training for just over an hour. I see they are still standing in good shape, but how much longer can they train without a break? Have you and your dragons been training in the desert in the past?"

- "I think they can hold still for half an hour more, but after that their health will really start to deteriorate. And no, my soldiers didn't train in the desert once before, I am the only one who have."

- "I had soldiers like these one and half a decade ago. But I was in charge of ones less experimented and prepared than yours. I still remember the failure that followed, the majority of them fell under the heat. I had to decide what to do next by completely altering the plan and having to report my performance at the end."

- "That's quite something to go trough, I hope you didn't get had too much that fell on you when you returned. I am quite lucky to have under my wings at least experienced soldiers or ones that I know enough about."

- "Quite lucky indeed. I am not, so I had to adapt. Since they made me in charge of a lacking kind of dragons, I learn to distance myself more than a bit from them."

- "You did right. Not letting yourself be hurt by dragons you know little about is necessary to keep focus on taking good decisions. But I think in more than a decade you've learn that life throws a lot at you."

- "I know, but I think fate is making a joke on me by handing over these kinds of dragons. During my time as a captain, the majority of it was dealing at least indirectly with the criminal domain, and not just the icewing one, but the sandwing one too."

- "It is strange they send you with lesser quality dragons in these sort of tasks, are your superiors making mistakes? Or maybe they lack the resources and soldiers."

Frostteeth hesitate for a moment, thinking of how to say what he is about to say. Decades of memories and feelings try to resurface but he keeps them down and answers calmly.

- "I will say it may be that it just wasn't worth it for the ones who gave me all these objectives, and I wasn't a dragon that was… had a good image nor traits that are commonly desired. That is why I am sent to do the dirty works."

Nordclaw think for a moment, taking time to really judge the captain and his situation.

- "It is not that uncommon, many dragons with a somewhat bad reputation or judged not noble enough for their position are assigned to… dirtier areas."

The icewing with scars slowly let his little good feeling inside his heart be free as he hears the words.

But spotting that, Nordclaw smacks him with his wing on head.

"You idiot! Would it be almost any other dragon, you would have paid by their staining words or manipulated and exploited."

The captain roars and makes sign for his soldiers to stop their patrolling task. Frostteeth reacts with uncontrolled rage for a second before regaining his stance with frustration.

"Let this teach you a lesson, one I must make sure me and everyone I care for never forget. A fight is often never fair."

The captain looks at his body and over his wounded front talons for a second before looking again at his adversary. Around them, the many soldiers have ceased their work and are now gathering in a circle, watching them as they take their breath and relax.

"You made the mistake to give an opportunity for your opponent, now pay the price and battle with all that you have!" Nordclaw goes off quickly and return with a big flag rod, the copper it is made of solid enough to always hurt when used to hit a dragon on any part of his body.

"The rules are simple. The first one to be knocked out or that surrenders loses."

The two captain take a battle stance, staring at each other, Nordclaw looking down at him like he is a pupil that made a big mistake, and Frostteeth expressing frustration at his opponent but also at himself.

"Ready? Fight!"

The frustrated one starts by doing a normal charge, having no tree blocking his path. Nordclaw simply dodges to the left and swings his rod. Frostteeth jumps in reaction and both now face each other, but closer this time.

Nordclaw now begins to extend his front talon as if he wanted to pierce his opponent's scale quickly with that strike. Frostteeth takes a huge step to his left but the rod suddenly goes into his direction as the attacker turns as well.

Then, Frostteeth decides to jump into the oasis, avoiding the blow and cooling his body as water washes over him. Seeing that, Nordclaw attacks immediately with frostbreath on him and the water, forming ice all over the impact zone.

But before anyone makes another move, a seawing arrives, roaring and screaming. The crowd of soldier even takes its attention off the battle to look at him.

"What's going on here?! You two, whatever fight you were doing, stop it!"

The two icewing take the moment to return to their senses and stare at the new dragon.

Frostteeth is the one who replies to her, trying to stay neutral.

- "Deepmarine, that fight was controlled. It was a duel between him and me, nothing would have gone too far."

The seawing looks at him with suspicion, watching the ice created by frostbreath beside him.

Seeing that, Nordclaw let his weapon fall on the sand and speaks to her with his stance of authority, showing no doubt nor worry.

- "He is right. I am the one who wanted that confrontation, I orchestrated it. But I guarantee you that I would have stopped it if it went too far. I am familiar with these, believe me, you have my words."

Deepmarine is still doubtful but decides not to persist yet, seeing how the two captains seemed to cease their hostility.

The ten dragons land, having done three quarters of the distance towards Telunabris by flying. On the ground, they take out their mask from their bag and now wear them.

"Everyone has his mask on him? Good, that should protect us from the curse and we can continue the plan. But before that, we shall all take a break and drink, we really need to have our body remaining as unstressed as possible." Says Drystorm focused, but not too invested nor stressed.

So each member of the team take their bottle and drink a bit, which relax clearly them, their body having been flying under the Sun for a while. After that little break, the team starts to walk towards the temple's ruins that is not so far anymore. They can see some details of it, like how the structure is somewhat still shaped like an octagonal pyramid, but has been cut in half since the ancients times.

Then, Abysswatcher speaks.

"Everyone remember the plan, we go directly to the central area of the ruins, write down everything of importance and leave before the night. If you see glowing metals and crystals, warn everyone and shove them to the side if it's possible. If not, we will have to take another path."

All the members nod in agreement and continue their march towards the ruins.

Once close enough, the group can see what time has done to the stones that make every part of the giant structure. The crater in the middle of it also doesn't help, having fractured so much and making the temple naked to face hundreds of years of violent natural forces.

While now, every corners and crude cuts have been polished, any dragon close enough to Telunabris can tell that a horrific explosion happened so long ago at the center of it. If everyone was inside the temple at that unfortunate time, they at least would have lost their hears.

The team now faces what is left of the entrance. Gone are its symbols and glorious shape, now to understand its meaning, one must stare at all the parts and solve the puzzle, as well as know the lost alphabet and legends, the way into their greater dream that has been erased, or…

Large stones lay just beside it. The entrance had collapsed long ago, but recently, the first visitors since a very long time pushed them aside.

Taking their breath and wearing their mesh now, the ten dragons enter Telunabris, walking in the heavily damaged corridor. Anyone can see that so many lines were written on these walls alone, yet there is almost nothing left. The paint has been the first to disappear, the complex and subtle drawings second, and finally the erosion of the fractured stone's surface destroyed any message that could be conveyed.

Still, the team continues in their direction, going straight to the center.

Seeing all of this for the first time and being the least prepared for it, Coldspine's feelings rise enough to make him mutter a sentence.

"Three moons, that place is empty like it lost its soul…"

"Indeed." Says Abysswatcher unsurprised like all the others, except Hiverna who is in light awe but also with hints of sorrow.

"Going into it confirmed our general idea of the place. It really was an important place for a lot of dragons, for some it was their home, and for many it was a dream becoming reality, a step towards the ultimate accomplishment that they mythologized about."

Coldspine doesn't found the words to reply yet, letting Hiverna the time to speak.

- "That much was clear, but seeing it is something else. For all those time I invested looking for them and understanding them, I think I am starting to feel, to desire like they did in the past."

- "But aren't we all like that? We could not have come that far without such passion." Replies Abysswatcher.

- "Of course, I've never doubted you nor any of the organizations. But I realize, they all have that passion, our ultimate aim and their, its a fragment of the past isn't it?" Says Hiverna, before looking down like she could cry, but also stressing her body like she never accepted something. She speaks again in a more hopeful tone, rising her head.

"One that fear and hate from all sides could not completely erase."

Watching her partner's feelings slightly bending her, the seawing leans her head closer and faces her, and then tells her words.

- "Fortunately they could not, fortunately the flame never died, and not just the one of greed and ignorance."

Watching all the scene between dragons and their feelings, Coldspine starts to really wonders about all of these members, what is their history? Do some really believe in their goal that much and pay so much attention to this long passed golden age of magic? No, they aren't just praying and hoping to bring light into their life, some really are tying their destiny to that lost age's remains.

"Are you reflecting on them, are feelings getting to you?"

The young icewing turns his head to face Drystorm, a bit surprised.

- "All of that is making me thoughtful…"

- "I see. Then I want you to know that… you can ask me and others if you have questions."

- "I will only ask if necessary."

- "A bit overwhelmed, aren't you? You know, you don't need to restrain yourself, we accept you despite your unfamiliarity and relative inexperience."

Coldspine frowns at the last sentence, after a moment of silent, the hybrid unfolds his wings over him and continues to speak, his expression one of sympathy.

"Don't see hostility in my words, I am just setting the common ground for you to express yourself. You don't need to put a facade, I know dragons who are uncertain before us, new to the organizations and not really knowledgeable about magic nor lore. I often deal with them."

Hearing the discussion between Drystorm and Coldspine, Hiverna comes close to them and tells her own part.

"He is right Coldspine. You're not put to the side, your are under our wings and we have no reason to give you up. If that were the case, we wouldn't have taken you with us at all."

Coldspine let a little smile appears on his face before replying.

"You really are trying to connect to my fate just like him wants me to be tied to all of that? A bit funny on your part, we will see how long that can last. Reflection won't cease to talk about you and your goal after all."

The two dragons smiles at the young adult's words.

- "Glad you consider following us when the opportunity present itself." Says Drystorm with a chuckle.

- "Do not worry about it, my friend is making sure I have the opportunity."

Continuing to walk, the team arrives at the center area, with a large door still standing despite the many cracks. It is too damaged to open normally, but a good kick will make it fall. However, because it is better to do the action of least intensity for the body, the ten dragons decide to inspect the door of dry and broken wood.

After a moment, all members position themselves to apply their forces efficiently on the surface. A few seconds later, the wooden part breaks from its joints and falls to the floor with a loud bang.

They can now see what is left of the center, and it is as expected. The explosion breached out any wall that faced the center, if not destroying them completely. The center of Telunabris is now nothing more than the backbone of its half annihilated rooms, and the team enters the area to watch it like no dragon could.

Crystal shards are present everywhere on the ground and the walls, glowing with unnatural energy, as for the temple's close center, a crater going even deeper exist where it should have been the most precious and glorious object. Well, it is still here, just as a giant pile of glowing crystal shards screaming danger to anyone who senses it.

Abysswatcher speaks first with authority.

"Remember, do not touch any of these shards without protection, they contain some of this volatile magic. Second, we keep our distance the temple's center point, so we only look and note anything of interest. Do not take any others action, we will take and do what seems important when we come back tomorrow."

Walking carefully and pushing away the cursed shards, the group stares at the ground, just around the crater, what the dragons see makes them stop immediately.

More than a hundred of dragon bodies litter the floor, some in better shape than others but all seem to defy their fate of decomposition. Focusing on them, one can see that slight glowing veins are present on the corpse, their flesh being exposed but miraculously saved from decay.

"Sandwings and skywings, but a lot more for the first one. Well now we know with certainty who walked inside it, at least the ones who were inside when it all finished in a flash." Says Abysswatcher not untouched by the scene, before telling her speech.

"Keep focus on the mission, write down everything you deem even a little bit important without thinking twice. We have an hour before it is night, and once it's night, we must give up and leave immediately."

And so the ten dragons start the morbid task of watching that graveyard and taking notes, working at that for almost an hours before returning to the exit, their satchels full of notes…