It came from the heavens.

Much like the black blade to the south, it crashed one hundred kilometres south of Middlen, the royal capital.

A dark rectangular monolith that sat in the centre of a wide but shallow crater.

It was lined with engravings that depicted dragons standing alongside humans and many other beings in what could only be described as a unified choir.

At its centre was a gigantic set of doors that were made from metal that was just as dark as the surrounding rock.

“Captain, what should we do?” One of the six silver knights asked as heavy rain pelted his worn armour.

Neela's eyes quivered but she squeezed her golden lance and bit her teeth in preparation for whatever came.

“We-“

She stopped as the black doors of the monolith slowly began opening.

“Stand ready men!” Neela barked. Her glowing white eyes shining brightly behind her silver helmet.

Her knights all raised their swords but before her priest could raise his hands, she raised her left hand.

“No, run! Go get backup!”

“But ma’am-“

“Just go!” She snapped as the door opened further revealing two small lights that were made of every colour imaginable.

The priest let out a pained groan before dashing out of the crater.

A single bolt of lightning lit up the dark scene and that’s when the two lights began moving.

[Hoho! Are you here to greet lil’ ol’ me?]

A voice said from within Neela's mind.

The ground then shook a little as the two lights moved out into the light revealing the head of a dragon with pale, near white scales. Some of which looked scarred or burnt.

Neela winced as more of the dragon revealed itself.

It was… different.

From all she had read and heard, dragons were gigantic, mighty beings that had dark, stone like scales.

However, the being that walked out from the monolith was long and skinny.

Its skin was more akin in appearance to the texture of pearls and apart from its head, the only thing that was dragon like were its eight glorious horns which pointed forward as though to meet at a point.

They were all covered in strange white markings, although one was half broken.

Neela took several deep breaths before taking a single step towards the dragon.

“Who are you and what brings you here, dragon?” She hissed with a racing heart as the Dragon came to a stop.

A bolt of lightning in the dark night sky revealed that the dragon was holding a large open book.

[Who am I? I am Sagathon, the Temporal Scribe. What am I doing here?] The Dragon asked while looking up into the storm.

[I am here to save all of creation.] Sagathon said but Neela couldn’t believe it.

The Dragon’s and knights were mortal enemies.

What if he was lying?

“If your intentions are truly pure then lower your head and allow us to bind you!” Neela yelled but Sagathon let out a low drone in response.

[Huh? I’m pretty sure the war ended centuries ago. Yet you still harbour such strong feelings… mmm… anyway, enough tomfoolery. I need to speak with your king so… go get him.] He said with eyes that entranced all who looked too deeply.

Neela bit her teeth even harder.

No one in her legion had ever fought a dragon and even though Sagathon looked like a sickly, malformed twig of a dragon, she didn’t want to take any chances.

She opened her mouth to instruct her men but before she could, a figure emerged from the monolith behind Sagathon.

[You know, they would be a lot more receptive if you weren’t so… dramatic.] The woman said with a voice that came from within Neela’s mind.

Several bolts of lightning revealed that the woman was rather tall compared to Neela and her men.

She also had no hair and apart from her eyes, nothing on her face moved ad she spoke. It looked as though he skin was made of an opaque crystal.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The feminine humanoid wore a dark robe that didn’t get wet even as the rain heavily fell.

[Hehe, trust me. I know exactly what I’m doing. Also, get back inside. It could get dangerous our here soon.] Sagathon said but the woman waved her right hand at him dismissively all while walking towards Neela.

[Ahem! Hello, oh knights, my name is Na-Ahn and the large lizard speaks the truth. We have come to help.]

Neela glanced at her men who were all ready for battle.

She then took several deep breaths before lowering her lance.

“Stand back!” She barked and like that, her men all backed away to the edge of the crater.

“The Dragon spoke of saving all of creation. What did he mean?” Neela asked while Sagathon teasingly tapped the top of Na’an's head, making a clinking noise.

[First off, stop it! And secondly, it is all very simple. The next collision, one that will happen very soon, will be the last one for the earth, Edenton and possibly the whole universe.]

No one spoke as Na-Ahn's words echoed in Neela’s mind.

“How do you plan on stopping such an apocalyptic event?” Neela asked with a heavy frown.

[We plan on using the Ritual of Eight-]

Na-Ahn stopped as a golden sword suddenly and loudly crashed into the air a few inches above from Sagathon’s head.

[Told ya.] Sagathon said as the golden sword fell to the ground next to him.

[Yeah, yeah.] Na-Ahn said as three golden knights landed next to Neela and her men.

One of them walked forward all while emitting small, bright flares of light.

“Who-“

[I am Sagathon, this is Na-Ahn and we’ve come to help save the world. Now, could you take us to the king of this land?] Sagathon asked prompting the foremost golden knight to glance at Neela.

“He said the same thing before. They both said something about the next collision being the one that might end the world.”

The golden knight nodded before turning to face Sagathon and Na-Ahn.

“You say you want to meet the king… then lower-“

[Ugh, that’s it. Let’s go get him ourselves.] Sagathon said before raising his free left hand.

[Here we go.] Na-Ahn chuckled before quickly jumping onto Sagathon’s back.

Neela and every other knight flinched as a large, ethereal circle appeared in front of Sagathon. It was made of countless white glyphs that resembled those on Sagathon’s horns.

“Everyone, get back-“

The golden knight tried saying but just as he did, Neela’s vision suddenly darkened.

[Turn Null.] Sagathon said and everyone, apart from Neela fell flat on their faces.

Neela only managed to remain upright by using her lance to keep herself from falling.

[Hoh? You’re still up?]

[Impressive.]

Sagathon and Na’an said as they approached Neela who’s muscles rapidly weakened.

It felt as though all of the energy in her body had been drained.

Sagathon lowered his head and looked her over.

Neela bit her teeth as her body grew heavier and weaker.

She glanced at her fallen men and her face twisted as dread and rage filled her eyes.

“Ah…” She wheezed.

[Wow… she’s quite something, huh? Wait- let me try something.] Sagathon said before taking a few steps backward.

He then took a deep breath before loudly roaring.

Another large circle appeared in front of him only it was made of pink glyphs and at the centre of the circle was a floating incomprehensible shape.

[Caelastial Manifestation.]

Neela’s aching eyes trembled as the air seemingly grew several times heavier.

She tried looking up at Sagathon but her head reflexively lowered as her face twisted in pain as it did, she once again glanced at her men who she thought were dead.

“Ah…” She whimpered while forcing arms and legs into action.

She then hoisted herself onto her feet before looking up and glaring at Sagathon who was standing beneath what appeared to be a large, brighter and ethereal version of himself.

[AAAARRRRRRGGGGG!] She yelled with both her voice and a voice from somewhere deep within.

A handful of pink glyphs appeared in front of her but at this point, her body had grown far too weak and she fell over.

[Wow!] Sagathon said as a small form appeared in front of Neela.

It was the form of a little girl.

One who wept ceaselessly.

[It would be best if we moved. Lest you want more misunderstandings.] Na-Ahn suggested.

Sagathon nodded before walking past the terrified little girl.

He then began his journey north as the sun slowly rose.

.

..

Astír was tired.

She sat on her bed in the quarters of the Helma in complete silence.

She looked at the wound which marked where her right arm once was and gently covered it with her left hand.

She then sighed before soaking in the generous light brought by the morning sun.

It fell onto her scarred body and brightly lit her white gown.

A rushed knocked came from the door and after taking a moment to breathe, she stood up and opened the door to find a frowning Solas.

“A dragon and Haneem have appeared in Middlen. They are demanding to speak with the Moon King.” He reported.

“And where is the prince?” Astír asked while slipping out of her robe.

“In his chambers.”

Astír nodded as she wore her armour.

“How are Gregar and his men responding?”

“They are accompanying the Moon King to the Dragon.” Solas said as Astír grabbed her lance.

“Alright. Stay here. I will stand with the Yilon just in case something happens.”

Solas nodded before accompanying Astír out of the quarters of the Helma which was actually above the prince’s quarters but could only be accessed via teleportation.

Solas followed Astír to the prince’s chambers wherein Caligo could be seen doing some work.

The prince noticed Astír and so, after deeply sighing, he dropped his pen.

“Come in.” He said.

Astír entered the room and stood by Caligo’s side as he looked out of the window into the bright blue sky.

Astír noticed that sleeping soundly on the bed was Adia, although his face was covered in dried tears.

“How… how art thou?” Caligo asked while looking at Astír with dim eyes.

“I should be asking you that, your highness-“

“Caligo.”

“Pardon?” Astír asked with a faint frown.

“I sit before thee as a… vulnerable, frightened man. Not a prince. So, I would prefer if thou spoke to me accordingly.”

Astír nodded.

“I am… tired, Caligo. For how long have we fought? My soul, I feel, rests within me as a husk, burnt by the many flames across which we walked. I… I do not know if she can withstand being burnt again.” Astír said prompting Caligo to nod.

“I see. Then it would be best if we stopped our habit of walking into fires.” Caligo said with a weak smile.

“It would be even better if we stopped started them.” Astír said while smiling back and this made Caligo chuckle.

“Indeed. Anyway, I believe thou were headed to assist my father with a certain matter. I wish thee luck on that front.”

Astír nodded before leaving the room and making her way to Middlen where she was led by a silver knight to the city’s southern gate where countless knights surrounded a dragon only it was long, pale and skinny.

Also, sitting on top of it was a Haneem and standing in front of them was Luno and his knights.

Astír walked up to the group all while every knight stood with their weapons raised.

[So, yeah. Tell your men to lower their weapons already.] The Dragon said from within Astír’s mind.

“Lower thine arms!” Luno said and all of his knights complied but just as they did, a cold wind blew by from the east.

[Ah… it seems as though everyone is here. It also seems as though our time is short.] The Dragon said.

“What dost thou mean?” Luno asked.

[Like I’ve been saying, the end is near.]