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Precursor: Ruptcization
Chapter 3: Shattered Memories Part 1

Chapter 3: Shattered Memories Part 1

Unknown Voice: “Wake up Umbryx, we'll get some breakfast at the markets”.

Umbryx woke up in a cold sweat breathing heavily as he looked around his surroundings, seeing that he was in a stone chamber with a high vaulted ceiling and wooden flooring. The room itself seems to be dimly lit by a slow glow of bioluminescent moss that clings to the walls, giving off a faint green light over the room. Also among the walls were etched with intricate carvings of ancient dragons with their eyes seeming to follow every move. Umbryx, still confused with the current situation, couldn't get rid of the feeling that he had been here before.

This feeling was reinforced as he walked up to the large rough-hewn pillars supporting the structure, each one adorned with draconic runes that pulse faintly with a familiar magical energy.

Umbryx looked carefully at the marks trying to remember where he was and where he is right now. One marking among the others caught his eye, it seems like the markings are showing a battle from way before his time. This battle was fought by a man marked by unusual tattoos around his face, who was against a huge dragon that nearly took up the whole pillar. Things slowly started to flow back to Umbryx’s mind, the more he looked at the markings but before Umbryx realized what was happening someone opened the door.

Unknown Voice: Umbryx are you still sleeping”.

A familiar voice echoed across the room, everything clicked and Umbryx finally realized he was. Umbryx was his old home called The Vermillion Realm where all dragons call home. With that familiar voice being Umbryx’s younger brother Azrytho who he fought died long ago. Suddenly tears started to overflow Umbryx as old forgotten memories of a simpler time started flashing back endlessly.

Umbryx: “Is it actually you Azrytho, this ain’t just a illusion right”,

Umbryx then broke down as he went on his knee just by the sight of seeing his brother alive once again.

Azrytho: “Are you all right Umbryx?’

As Azrytho shows a lot of concern for his brother who out of nowhere is on his knees pouring his eyes out as if he's been dead for a long time. Before Azrytho could react, Umbryx picked himself back up as he wiped the tears off his face, reassuring Azrytho that he was okay.

Umbryx: I’m okay, just had something in my eye”.

Umbryx wasn’t crying out of sadness, he was crying of joy. The Joy that he can see his little brother once more. It was like he was given a second chance to see him alive again. Azrytho would walk up closely to Umbryx as he put his left arm on his left shoulder saying”.

Azrytho: “Good, for a second I couldn’t recognise you”.

Azrytho would flick Umbryx’s forehead with his finger,catching Umbryx off guard.

Umbryx: “Ouch”.

Azrytho: “Just don’t go soft on me”.

Azrytho would raise his right arm waiting for Umbryx to give him a handshake.

Umbryx: “Likewise little brother”.

As Umbryx's left hand touched Azrytho's right hand, another unknown voice could be heard saying.

Unknown Voice: “Beware the man with one eye, everything is not as it seems”.

Umbryx, now shaken up by this voice, was questioning the identity of this voice and why did this voice show itself just as he shook his brother’s hand. What also confused him was that the voice also sounded like his brother, while Umbryx was trying to figure out what was happening, Azrytho would snap Umbryx by saying.

Azrytho: “Hey Umbryx, can you let go of your arm, your grip starting to hurt me”.

Umbryx would quickly pull his left as he realized what he was doing, looking confused as a result. Still he couldn’t get that feeling away that things aren’t as they seem but before he could figure it out, Azrytho would walk off to the door to go outside as he says.

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Azrytho: “Come on brother, hurry up before I get your favorite Charcoal grapes at the markets”.

With not much time to think over it, Umbryx would leave his suspicions at the back of his head, as he followed his brother from the living room to the outside where Umbryx saw his old home being fine like it was always here. More bits of memories would start coming back to him, not before Azrytho would sneak up to Umbryx surprising him on the spot with Azrytho transforming into his dragon form”.

Azrytho: “Got you Umbryx”.

Umbryx would collapse off his feet to the ground.

Umbryx: “Okay…okay, you got me good”.

Azrytho: “Come on transform, before all the Charcoal grapes are sold out”.

As Arytho flew away from the floating island he was standing as he took a moment to look around The Vermillion Realm seeing all the other islands surrounding him, seeing that his people were still alive. Just seeing everything and everyone thriving, made Umbryx even more happy than ever before. So Umbryx quickly transforms to catch up with Arytho who was flying to the markets in the center of the realm. While catching up to Arytho, Umbryx slowly gazes around instantly remembering familiar faces from his friends and people he knew from his, all greeting him by nodding and returning their greetings, the words slipping from his lips almost instinctively.

With a few minutes, Umbryx closed the gap with Arytho, finally able to catch up to him. As Umbryx approached, he could see Arytho taking in everything as though he was enjoying the flight. They both exchanged a brief glance not before Arytho saying.

Arytho: “Took you long to catch up, what was taking you so long”.

Umbryx: “Give me a break, I just woke up……plus I was saying hello to everyone as I was making my way here”.

Arytho: “Okay I’ll let you off this time then…….only because I got the jump on you”.

Umbryx: “You got lucky little bro”.

Arytho: “Right……..now to change the subject why didn’t you wake up earlier?”.

Umbryx: “Now you think about, I don’t remember much of last night actually, only little bits of memories that seem like my own but not in the same time”,

Arytho raised his eyebrow as his curiosity was piqued by Umbryx comment.

Arytho: “That sounds really strange…….could it be a vision of some sort”.

Umbryx frowned, as he tried piecing all the multiple fragmented memories.

Umbryx: “How do I put it, It’s like I lived someone else’s life, but it felt so real to me. All these Familiar faces and places keep flooding my mind. The worst part is that these same memories always seem wrong in some way, even twisted. Once I think about those memories for too long, suddenly it’s all gone”.

Arytho’s worries increased with what Umbryx said, as his expression grew ever serious, concern etching lines into his features.

Arytho: “But you okay now right? You did start crying once I came in to wake you up”.

Umbryx for a moment, then quickly recovered by nodding to Arytho

Umbryx: “Yeah I think so, it seems like it started slowly down, it’s still strange that I can’t shake off the feeling that those memories meant something. Like they were trying to tell me something important. Sorry if I worried you when I broke down crying”.

Arytho studied him for a moment, then gave a reassuring nod towards Umbryx.

Arytho: “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together. Us brothers have each other's backs after all”.

Umbryx showed a small, grateful smile, trying to ease his brother's continuing worries.

He would put aside the strange memories as he wanted to ask Arytho a question.

Umbryx: "So, why are we heading to the markets today?"

Arytho: “Well today is Vermil’kathar Taliath where Grandfather Draco created are home and fought The True Writer long ago, I figured you wouldn't forget it was today”.

Umbryx’s eyes widened quickly with realization.

Umbryx: “Of course I remember, how could I forget something at this point, Must have been wrapped up with all of these weird memories I have been seeing lately”.

Arytho looked at Umbryx as it was obvious he forgot about it but didn’t want to say anything due to all the weird things Umbryx was doing and saying so he dropped it.

Arytho: “Arlight, cool anyways…..let’s go get us some breakfast and I’ll explain what we will be doing today”.

Umbryx raised an eyebrow,

Umbryx: “What do you mean by that”.

Arytho grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

Arytho: “You will see”.