As Rutger and Catty delved deeper into the repository, the light from the entrance dwindled until it was swallowed by an oppressive darkness. The air grew thick and cold as if they were moving through a dense, unseen fog. Shadows stretched and twisted around them, forming sinuous shapes that seemed to flicker at the edges of Catty's vision.
"Rutger, it's getting hard to see anything," Catty whispered, her words a small thread in the enveloping gloom.
"This is the path we must take," Rutger replied, steady but low, as if reluctant to disturb the heavy stillness that clung to the air.
Catty squinted, trying to make sense of the surroundings that her eyes could no longer trust. The space seemed to pulse gently, rhythmically, as though breathing. Every so often, a shadow darted just beyond her line of sight, too quick to see, yet unmistakably there. She rubbed her eyes, wondering if her mind was playing tricks or the darkness toyed with them.
"Rutger, did you see that?" Her hand instinctively reached for his arm.
"Keep moving, Catty."
But the shadows weren't an absence of light; they had a presence, thickening into forms that almost seemed tangible. Whispers drifted through the air, words indistinguishable but tone unmistakable— threatening and warning. The temperature dropped with each step, and Catty could feel her breath now, a ghostly vapor in the dark.
"I feel... watched," she admitted, barely a breath as coldness seeped into her bones.
"We are not alone here," Rutger said. His hand swept through the air in an arc, and for a fleeting moment, the air flashed with light. It was not enough to illuminate their path but enough to make the darkness retreat momentarily.
In that burst of light, the shadows coalesced into a terrifying picture—a flock of harpies circling around Rutger and Catty. Their eyes were hollow yet viciously aimed at them. The harpies' bodies were arched menacingly, and their mouths gaped in silent screeches. They were going to swoop down upon them. But just as quickly as the light had flared, Rutger extinguished it, and the thick darkness enveloped them once more, now even more oppressive with the palpable presence of these predators.
"Run! These are harpies!" The old man grabbed Catty's hand and pulled her into the gloom.
"Harpies? Are they dangerous?"
"Very," Rutger confirmed without turning around. "They guard the main artifact and react to humans."
Catty ran following Rutger's lead, and the eerie rustling of wings from the darkness around urged them on.
They sprinted blindly. Catty ducked instinctively as a rush of air brushed her hair, and a harpy's talons narrowly missed her head.
Rutger managed a few quick words between breaths as they dashed through the oppressive darkness.
"These harpies," he gasped, "are guardians bound by an ancient curse."
"Cursed? How?"
"Long ago, they were sorcerers, servants of a forgotten deity, sworn to protect sacred artifacts."
The old man and girl ran hand in hand and dodged the harpies.
"They sought to steal the secrets they were sworn to guard," Rutger continued, his voice hoarse. "As punishment, their deity transformed them into these creatures of shadow and feather—forever to dwell in darkness and guarding what they once coveted."
"Their eyes," Catty breathed, recalling their gaze, "they looked... almost human."
"Yes," Rutger confirmed, ducking as a shadow swooped overhead. "A trace of their humanity lingers still. This remnant of their past selves makes them such effective protectors. They remember the value of what they protect and the cost of greed."
"So, the light..." Catty began, but a sudden rush of wings cut her off.
"It awakens their memory of betrayal, stirs the curse laid upon them," Rutger finished for her. "Light reminds them of what they lost, igniting their fury to defend, to attack anything that dares approach the treasures they now serve."
"We run in darkness because light brings back their pain," the girl guessed.
"Exactly," Rutger said, checking the path was clear before urging her forward again.
With harpies closing in, Rutger and Catty slammed into an invisible barrier. They felt its energy pulsing silently. The old man steadied the girl, his breath ragged.
"This barrier," he said quickly, "it's linked to the dragon whose scale lies inside. Only someone bound by spirit to that dragon can open it."
Catty, her chest heaving from the run, faced the barrier. Its surface barely shimmered under her gaze, and runes flowed across it like water.
"What do I do?" she asked, uncertainty blinking.
"Place your hand on it," Rutger instructed urgency threading through his tone. "Focus on your connection to the dragon, the bond that ties your spirit to him."
Catty reached out, her hand trembling slightly as it neared the barrier's surface. The moment her palm touched the glowing runes, the barrier rippled like disturbed water. Catty closed her eyes, her mind reaching out for the dragon she felt linked to yet had never met.
The air around them grew still, the sounds of furious harpies momentarily fading into insignificance. As Catty focused, images flashed behind her closed eyelids: high mountains, vast skies, a dragon's fiery breath...
The barrier responded to her touch, the runes glowing brighter. A warmth spread from her hand into her heart, a confirmation of her lineage and her right to pass.
"Feel the dragon's essence," Rutger whispered, watching the barrier's reaction. "Let it recognize you."
Catty closed her eyes, and her heart almost jumped out of her chest. From fear and from the eerie beauty that opened before the girl.
She was riding a dragon. She was flying alone—high in the sky—an alien sky with two moons. Like dead jellyfish, their silvery disks sadly illuminated the world around them.
The ruins of an ancient city flew below Catty, its ruined towers rising from the haze spreading along the ground. As far as the eye could see, rugged mountains rose on all sides. Their sharp peaks glimmered dimly in the moon's light.
Catty was naked, her long hair blowing in the wind. She sat with her legs wrapped around the dragon's body—the heat was pulsating inside it, and the girl felt the steel muscles rolling under the scales. The dragon steadily flapped his huge wings, his muzzle with sharp fangs directed towards a bright star shining far ahead.
Catty turned back. There, black as death, a vast cloud was descending from the mountains, clouding the horizon. It was like a wall, growing to the sky. Everything disappeared in the cloud, and only two wild eyes and a toothy mouth turned purple in the darkness. The demon was hiding in the darkness, surrounded by a host of evil spirits, and now, awakened by the smell of life, rushed after the victim. And Catty was the victim.
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The demon roared triumphantly, and the echo rumbled among the mountains. The clouds turned into clawed paws and rushed towards the girl and dragon, trying to grab them. With a wave of his paw, the mountain's top fell with a roar.
The dragon managed to dodge, and fragments of rock whistled past them.
"We must rise above the mountains," Catty thought, and the dragon sharply rushed upward. The girl grabbed him by the neck so as not to fall and felt how they became one—heartbeats, breathing, energy, and thoughts merged together.
For some reason, it became easy; the fear quickly disappeared somewhere, carried away by the clouds floating below in a lilac haze. Such courage overwhelmed Catty, such a thirst for flight that if she had let go of the dragon's neck, she would have flown away. But the dragon shook his head.
"First learn to fly," Catty heard his silent voice, "and then decide what to do from now on—fly or fall..."
The demon was nearby; the girl heard his hoarse breathing behind her. He was overtaking them and surrounding with clouds on all sides. A wall of darkness had already grown ahead, reaching into the sky above the mountains. The moons disappeared, and now only the light of a lonely star illuminated the flight.
The demon opened his mouth, and the stench enveloped Catty and the dragon. His jaws were closing inexorably. Turning around, the girl saw giant teeth flashing nearby, but at the last moment, the dragon folded his wings and rushed down, going into a steep dive.
This saved both from death.
The demon howled in rage.
Suddenly, a bright light spilled over the gloomy world. Catty looked at the sky—the star began falling, becoming a comet. It rapidly increased in size, and its long tail sparkled behind it. There was something familiar about the comet, and when it flew into the wall of darkness like a rocket, Catty realized—this was her heart!
The fabric of darkness was torn. Rays of blinding light burst out from the hole. They flew into them and glided away from the demon as if on a wave.
When the fabric of darkness in her vision tore away, Catty felt a shift in the real world. The rays of blinding light that burst from the hole in her dream seemed to pierce through the very essence of the barrier before her. With a deep, resonant tremor, the barrier vibrated under her touch, the runes glowing increasingly brighter as if recognizing her rightful claim.
The light from the barrier intensified, enveloping Catty in a warm, radiant embrace. It felt as if the dragon from her vision was still with her, its presence woven into the pulsating energy of the light. The oppressive darkness of the repository receded, pushed back by the burgeoning brilliance that now filled the air.
Then, with a sound like the gentle sigh of a relieved breath, the barrier dissolved completely. The light softly transitioned into a gentle glow that lit up the path ahead.
Rutger nodded with relief and pride in his eyes.
"You've done it, Catty. The dragon recognizes you and accepts you."
Catty's heart was still racing from the vision. She felt an inner strength bubbling within her, a fusion of her spirit with the dragon.
As the barrier vanished, the space around them shifted, the chill of fear replaced by a warm sense of unity. The path was clear, and they stepped forward, leaving the darkness behind, heading towards the sacred place where the dragon scale awaited.
Suddenly, they found themselves standing on the shore of an endless sea. The sky above was an expanse of azure, dotted with fluffy, white clouds that drifted lazily. The sea barely rolled onto the shore, reflecting the vibrant blue sky and the golden rays of the sun. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of salt.
They sat down on the soft, warm sand. It was pink and shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Only the sound of small waves broke the silence.
In the distance, faint silhouettes of towering structures rose from the sea, their forms barely discernible against the horizon. The world felt ancient and otherworldly, a place where time flowed differently, where reality and illusion intertwined.
"This place... it's like a dream. Are we still in the repository?" Catty asked.
"In a way, yes," Rutger replied. "This is a hidden realm, a place beyond the ordinary world. A sanctuary for the artifact we're seeking."
"It feels... alive. Like it's watching us."
"The world itself is a guardian, protecting its secrets and treasures. It recognizes those who enter, weighs their hearts and intentions."
"So, this artifact... it's here, somewhere?"
"Yes, it will reveal itself when the time is right. We must be patient."
"Patient?" Catty smiled. "Yeah, not really my thing."
"I know," Rutger chuckled, "but some things cannot be rushed. This place responds to the soul's call, not to impatience."
The sun was shining brightly, but it was not hot. A light breeze moved the girl's hair.
Rutger stretched, "If life were a simple route, you'd never get to the interesting parts, would you?"
"Interesting is one way to put it," the girl objected, "chaotic, dangerous, and life-threatening are other words that come to mind."
"Adventure is the spice of life, Catty. Without it, we'd just be... well, bored. Imagine coming to the same mundane destinations every day."
"A little boredom doesn't sound too bad right now. So, what's so special about this artifact anyway?"
"Oh, this is a complicated thing! Imagine a bridge, not between places, but between times and realities," Rutger explained. "It's said that those who can harness its power can change the past and future."
"Changing the future sounds like a total headache. I can barely handle the present," Catty grimaced.
"True," the old man agreed, "but think of the possibilities. The ability to foresee dangers, to avoid pitfalls, to act with unparalleled precision."
"Or to become a target for everyone who wants that power. Seems like a double-edged sword to me."
"That's the nature of all great power, isn't it? It's never without its risks. But those who can master it... they can change the world."
"I'm not here to change the world!" the girl exclaimed. "I just want to survive it."
"Survival is the first step. But once you master survival, you start looking beyond it. You start thinking about what you can achieve and become."
"And what if I don't want to be more than who I am?"
Rutger rubbed his chin. "Then you'd be the first person in history to be truly content. But I doubt it, Catty. There's a fire in you that won't be satisfied with mere survival."
They fell silent, each thinking about his own. The girl passed pink sand through her fingers and watched the grains of sand flow like water. The old man sat, eyes scanning the horizon. The clouds were floating across the sky slowly but very quickly.
"Catty, do you believe in destiny?"
"Destiny? Like everything's already written for us, somewhere in the stars?"
"Yes, exactly that. Think of it not as a script to follow blindly but as a river. It flows towards its destination, but the water can swirl and surge in countless ways within its banks."
"So, you're saying we're like leaves on that river? Pushed along by destiny, but still spinning and flipping on our own?"
Rutger smiled slightly. "Precisely. We have paths laid out, the currents of fate, but within those currents, we have choices. We can fight against the flow, ride it out, or even find a quiet pool and linger for a while."
The girl looked up. "But what if I want to climb out of the river? What if I want to carve out a completely new path?"
"It's possible, of course. But every step off the beaten path is fraught with obstacles and uncertainties. The river knows its way because it has flowed this path countless times. When you forge a new one, you face the unknown with no promise of where it will lead."
"There's freedom in that, right? The freedom to make your way, to discover lands that the river could never reach!"
The old man laughed and slapped his knee.
"Catty, ever wonder if some artifacts choose their guardians rather than the other way around?"
"Choose us? Like... they have a will of their own?"
"Perhaps. Imagine if the artifact we seek isn't just an object. What if it possesses a desire to find the right person to wield its power?"
"Do you believe that's possible?" the girl asked. "Just promise me we're not walking into a trap."
"I've seen enough in my years to keep an open mind. And remember, every adventurer needs a compass, be it a set of stars or the voice of reason. What will be yours, Catty?"
All at once, tears flowed down the girl's cheeks.
"And what if my soul is just... confused?"
"Confusion is a part of the journey. It means you're searching, seeking answers."
"But what if I'm not ready for what waits for me?" the girl said confusedly.
"Fear is natural, Catty. True courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to face it. Trust in yourself and in the bond you share with dragons."
Catty sighed. "I wish I had your confidence. Everything feels so... overwhelming."
"Confidence comes with time and experience. You've already shown great strength and resilience. Believe in that. And know that you're not alone. I'm here, and so is your dragon, even if you can't feel him right now."
"I hope you're right. I just... I don't want to let anyone down."
"You won't," the old man shook his head. "Your life ahead is challenging, but it's also filled with wonder and discovery. Embrace it, and let it shape you into who you're meant to be."
"Thanks, Rutger. I guess... I guess I just need to trust the process."
"Exactly. Trust the process, and trust yourself. Now, let's wait and see what this world has in store for you."
As they sat on the shore, watching the sun move above and its reflection ripple in the sea below, a sense of calm washed over Catty. The vastness of the world around them made her feel small, yet strangely significant. She was a part of something greater, a journey that had just begun.