1. Chapter 1

A soft bluish moonlight glitters off the surface of Lake Auera. A faint yet deep hum reverberating from the distant magicofactories of City Reganara complements the melodious chirping of the blue-winged teryas, similar to that of a violin-cello duet. As usual, everything aside is dark and tranquil.

Atop a ledging cliff deriving from the highland completely surrounding the lake sits a teenage boy, wearing a torn and ragged yema, commoner clothes weaved from rough plant fibres. The boy’s eyes shoot straight ahead, his knees pointing upwards as he envelopes both of them in his arms. Through the dense canopy in front of him, the boy gazes at the gray-blotted moon, half-hidden by the blotchy leaves.

I wonder if she’ll come again today…

Suddenly, the leaves behind him susurrate, emanating within them is a figure adorned in arema,a silken attire accessible only to those of nobility.

“I’m surprised you came back,”a familiar voice of a girl sounds from his back.

Hearing this, a hint of disappointment draws on the boys face as he turns around, causing his hazel eyes to lock with a pair of brown belonging to the girl, who is about the same age as him. The girl’s smooth moonlit face curves a wide grin.

“Oh, you came back,”the boy replies in a frigid tone.

“Well…”, the girl murmurs, rubbing the back of her head. “I thought I might sneak out again today so that we can talk more about ryakons.”

The boy smirks. “Funny how I don’t even know your name. I’m Yahenga Ityaren, call me Yahenga.”

“Seiro Fehinza, Seiro’s fine too.”

“Se-iro,”Yahenga repeats,”Means ‘Lightbringer’, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, how did you know that?”,the girl questions with utter amazement.

“My dad used to teach me some Wakomizan he’s picked up while he’s on cleaning duty in Reganara Palace.”

Seiro nods heartily and sits on the shriveled foliage beside Yahenga, who has returned his eyes to the moon.

“You’ll get your clothes dirty.”

Startled by the sudden response, Seiro stares at the boy and asked, “Th…then where do …”

“You can stand,”Yahenga answers coldly.

“...”

Startled again and her lips pouted, Seiro complies and stands upright. After a brief moment of silence, she initiates her questions.

“Ah hum… Anyways, so these ryakons, how did they attain dragon blood in the first place? ”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Well, that, that is innate by nature,” Yahenga replies, “ryakons are people essentially born with dragon blood in their veins. Nothing really determines whether they attain it or not. It’s completely random.”

“Oh, is that so? Femeka…(Amazing...)”

“There’s really nothing amazing about it. In Reganara, magic’s the norm.”

“You weren’t actually bluffing when you said you know Wakomizan,”the girl praises as she brushes a terya which happens to perch on her right shoulder.

“I never lie, I deceive.”

“I think lying is part of deception… In any case, aren’t ryakons a rare breed?”, Seiro inquires once again.

“Yes, but also aggressive ones. Almost anyone who experiences the wrath of a ryakon never has the chance to talk again.”

“They become mute? That’s weird…”

“Talk or breathe,”Yahenga clarifies in an almost lifeless tone.

An immediate “Oh.” follows and so does another lengthier silence.

….…..

“Why did you come here in the first place, when I first called you…” Yahenga mutters, breaking the awkward stop.

 In response, one corner of Seiro’s lips hints upwards.

“Well…I really shouldn’t, should I? Out in the wilderness with a stranger I only know the name of…”Seiro answers with apparent confliction in her words. The terya on her shoulder starts to flutter its wings, readying for take off after the satisfactory petting it has received.

“But some things just lure me to do the unreasonable. Me knowing that…”

Seiro stops. Yahenga looks up. The terya takes off.

“Never mind.”

“Looks like magic really interests you,” Yahenga infers, “Considering how astonished you were to see the figurines I made move. Senagara outlaws magic, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, but that didn’t hinder my pursuit for magical knowledge. Ryakons, unmas, kyirahons…This world revolves around magic but some people just don’t understand the beauty that lies within it…”,Seiro complains. “To me, it seems like you’re the only one who could understand me!”

Yahenga gives off a slight chuckle, which then swifts into a frown. Hearing familiar yells behind her, Seiro also begins to share a similar expression.

“Lady Fehinza!” a deep voice bellows.

“Seiro! Seiro!” another deep but sharper voice trails after.

“That’s Brother and Nuga,”Seiro whispers, her forehead starting to glisten with sweat. Seiro spins to her left, sighing in relief after she notices Yahenga’s absence.

“Seiro! Are you there?”

“Lady Fehinza!”

The voices crescendo as their sources near the cliff.

Seiro faces the moon again, acting as if she snuck out for the beautiful full moon day. Paying attention to the prominent voices of her brother and her servant, she struggled through the vegetation towards the further edge of the cliff, presenting her eyes with the full view of the moon and taken aback by the sight in front of her. The entirety of Lake Auera shimmering from the radiance shone upon it by the moon along with the dimly lit backdrop of City Reganara is something she could not keep her eyes off of. As night deepens, the intensity of the shimmers becomes more blinding and pronounced , similar to how the voices behind, she notices, has peaked their loudest.

Then, there is subsequent silence.

A whisk of soft breeze flows through Seiro's long,black ponytail causing it to glide in the wind. A gravelly voice utters in discernible surprise.

“Lady Fehinza, what are you doing here?”

“Just thought the moon was beautiful Nuga,” Seiro replies with superiority.

“It’s late at night Seiro, we should head back,”Ruhan suggests.

“No Brother, I want to stay here. The breeze’s refreshing.”

Ruhan scratches his head. Then, an idea popped in his mind.

“How about this… You come back now and I’ll treat you to soup dumplings tomorrow? ”

“Let me see… How many?”

“Two servings, Seiro. The usual.”

“Make it three,”Seiro bargains, holding up three fingers.

“Ok, fine. Just come back with us now,”Ruhan grumbled.

Happy with how her brother resolved the situation, Seiro hops towards Ruhan, almost tripping over one of the vines below.

“Careful. Seiro!”

“Sorry…”

 Seiro smiles. Ruhan faces Nuga ignoring it.

“Okay, Nuga, let’s head back.”