It was Laugar the 6th Zamanis 472 AOM. I was recently appointed Lord of the Order. However, that did not stop me from going on missions with my old unit. We were tracking a dragon for over two weeks now and we believed we had finally gotten close. So close in fact that I believed I could smell its scent against the wind. That morning, I woke up feeling something in the air. And I knew. Today was the day.

I stepped out of my tent into the warm golden morning light of Aditya accompanied by the somewhat dimmer red glow of Chaya. The clearing was already busy. Tran O Mar had already been hunting and the scent of roasted rabbit filled my lungs. Rani and Caleiden were already packing up tents and saddling the horses. I heard branches crack and a familiar voice sounded.

» Arahu, … Your Honor. I have found the dragon. It is in a town nearby. The villagers are fleeing in a panic. « Limara stood at the entrance of the Clearing. Panting. I jumped to my feet.

» What are you still sitting around? Let’s finish what we came here to do! «

I rushed to my tent and hastily put on my set of armor. When I finally closed the chest-piece of the Caeruleum, I looked at my fully clad self in the small portable mirror I always carry with me. As a formal representative of the Order, I have to be presentable, even in Armor. And as I looked at myself, I felt whole. As if I was fulfilling my destiny.

Stepping towards the small lead box, used to store the blue crystals, I imagined how it would feel to kill the dragon, to rid the world of its evil presence. I grabbed one of the blue glowing crystals. My hands tingling as the energy found its way through the tight mesh of my gloves. I picked up my longsword. Unsheathed it. And then carefully embedded the crystal inside the handle of the sword. As soon as the crystal touched the sword, the runes inscribed all over it lit up. I could feel the sword coming alive, feeling its thirst for blood. Its power at my disposal. Just waiting to be unleashed. It was like a storm. I just had to think, and the sword would go up in flames. I had to restrain myself from doing just that. But I knew that soon enough I could, and something would feel Storms wrath.

On my way out the tent, I sheathed Storm once more. The rest of the group already saddled and ready to go. I quickly vaulted into the saddle of my dear friend Shadow. A black mare who treated me very well. And she was one of the fastest, calmest horses I knew. The five of us made our way towards the town where Limara had spotted the dragon. The grass beneath us flying by. The fresh morning breeze grazing our noses. Stray branches annoyingly brushing our faces, as we made our way through the forest. We pushed the horses to their limits, knowing that every moment we waste could mean a citizen of Tarros lost. Soon enough we saw a column of smoke emanating from a town nearby.

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»This is it! Your Honor! The Town of Hilland. «, Limara exclaimed. From afar, villagers were visible running away from the town. Or hiding in the fields. The closer we got to the town, the more confused, yet hopeful looks we received from the villagers.

One of the villagers knelt and called out upon seeing the emblem of Zaman on our armor » O Infinite Father, we thank you! We are not worthy to be saved. And yet you still send your Avatars to protect us. « Without paying attention to the villager, we pressed onward. As the group reached the outskirts of the town, we all leapt out of our saddles. The horses, well trained as they were, seemed to freeze in place awaiting our return.

A swift motion of mine ordered Limara and Tran to cover the right flank, while Rani and Caleiden covered the left. I myself decided to tackle the problem head on. As I made myself down the barren streets of Hilland, a feeling of excitement built inside of me. The closer the center of the town got, the more damaged the buildings grew. Roofs were torn off. Doors unhinged. Windows burst. Even whole houses razed to the ground.

The town square approached, covered in a dust cloud. I almost tripped, as my foot got caught in a huge gash in the stone pavement. And there, in the gash, was something unmistakable. A dragon’s claw. Kneeling, I pried the claw loose and stored it in a satchel around my waist. Then a loud flap swept through the street. The dust whirled around, revealing the town square. I saw it. In the very center of the town square, it waited.

An adult green Dragon perched on its hind legs. But something was off… Somebody was cowering in front of the dragon. A humanoid figure. The figure slowly turned around. As our eyes locked, the figure placed its hand protectively on the dragon’s snout. A gust of wind swept through the square. The figure’s cloak flapped, and the hood slipped of its head. It took me a moment. Then the anger started seeping in, accompanying the realization of what my eyes showed me.

I started walking. I drew Storm. I only had one goal. The Dragon and Akai had to go. Be purged before their festering bond could spread any further and the legacy of elven heritage be forever tainted by orcish blood.