Returning to the ruined town, Belle felt the residual power still surging through his veins. Yet aside from this lingering energy, he seemed remarkably unchanged. As he surveyed the desolation around him, a faint whisper caught his attention—a soft voice carried by the wind, gently beckoning him to follow. Stumbling over rubble, he obeyed the growing, urgent whisper, which guided him through the remnants of the town toward the edge of the forest.
Despite the apparent lack of direction, an unspoken intuition drew Belle deeper into the dense, ominous woods. Towering trees cast eerie shadows across the snowy forest floor as he pressed farther into the undergrowth. Eventually, he emerged into a clearing, and the whisper abruptly ceased.
At the heart of the clearing stood a figure cloaked in shadows. “So there were survivors after all. I’m glad,” the cloaked woman exclaimed. Wary, Belle asked, “Who are you?” while preparing for a potential threat. Stepping forward, her piercing eyes locked onto his, and with a voice that echoed through the forest, she revealed, “My name is Sequoia. I am the guardian of these woods. I happened to be nearby when the dragon ravaged your town.”
She gestured toward the wreckage behind him, her eyes reflecting deep sorrow. “I’m sorry,” she said sincerely. “Many have suffered because of the dragon’s rage.” Her voice was heavy with emotion. “I’ve watched over this land for centuries and will do everything in my power to help rebuild and protect it from future harm.” Trust began to well within Belle as her kind demeanor became apparent.
As she spoke, a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it a sense of peace and hope. Emotions surged within Belle, and he couldn’t suppress his desire for revenge. His voice broke as tears welled up. “I want to take down that beast that took everything from me!” he shouted, his pain laid bare.
Sequoia remained calm and understanding. “You encountered one of the five Great Dragons—Boreas. Your town was named after it, recognizing the great power it represents.” Sympathetically, she discouraged his pursuit of vengeance. “The Great Dragons are ancient and formidable. They are not foes that humans can easily vanquish.”
Suddenly, a disturbance in the forest alerted them to danger. A low growl echoed, prompting nearby bushes to rustle as small animals scurried away. Sequoia sensed the imminent threat, motioning for silence. Another dragon emerged from the shadows—not a Great Dragon like Boreas, but still a formidable adversary.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
She gripped her staff tightly, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes as the menacing creature approached. With a fierce roar, the dragon—a harbinger of destruction—advanced toward them. Trembling, Belle was struck by Sequoia’s vulnerability, realizing that even guardians could feel fear.
Determined, Sequoia began chanting in an unfamiliar tongue. The wind picked up around her, swirling leaves and snow. Her eyes glowed, and her hair billowed in the growing gale. As she called upon the spirits and uttered the words “Eternal Evergreen,” vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the dragon’s limbs. Despite its roars and violent thrashing, Sequoia’s magical hold persisted. A sense of awe washed over Belle.
“I’ve read stories of ancient guardians harnessing the forces of nature,” he thought, his heart pounding as he witnessed the unfolding battle. The whirlwind around Sequoia intensified; her chanting reached a fevered pitch. The dragon struggled against the ethereal bonds. “We’ll make it through this,” she whispered, determination etched on her face. The clash between guardian and dragon unfolded, and Belle stood transfixed by the extraordinary power wielded by Sequoia.
The struggle persisted, the vines multiplying and tightening their grip, ensnaring the dragon in an unyielding embrace. Recognizing the urgency, Sequoia shouted, “We need to get out of here!” Anxiety surged through Belle, and he responded, “Let’s go!” She released her magical hold, and they both sprinted away from the restrained dragon, the snow crunching beneath their feet.
Breathing heavily, Belle managed to ask, “Your powers work in the winter?” Sequoia, maintaining her pace, replied, “Nature is everywhere. As long as there is life, the spirits can manipulate it.” As they reached the forest’s edge leading back to the devastated town, Belle marveled at the profound connection between Sequoia and the natural world.
With the dragon momentarily contained, Sequoia shared more about the escalating attacks. “The dragons have been on a rampage since the first ring was stolen,” she revealed. “They appear more frequently now that the rings are no longer in their rightful places. These rings were arranged in the shape of an octagon, communicating with each other to create a protective barrier that kept the dragons away from our civilizations.”
She continued as they caught their breaths. “The rings were crafted by a prodigious line of ring-smiths. Using power harnessed from deceased dragons, they forged souls and energy into rings.” Sequoia elaborated, “These are potent magical artifacts, granting the wearer immense mana and abilities. But not just anyone can wield them; those unchosen who attempt to wear the rings would be severely injured. The smiths, having lost their own town to a dragon attack, sought a way to protect others. They conceived the idea of a protective barrier, reaching out to civilizations, and we’ve been shielded ever since—until a ring was stolen, shattering the barrier.”
As the weight of the ring’s discovery and the recent dragon encounter pressed upon him, Belle grappled with whether to reveal his own findings. “Should I mention it?” he wondered. Seeking clarity, he decided to confide in Sequoia. “Sequoia, could my town have been one of the ring sites for the barrier?” he asked.
She reached into a satchel at her side, pulling out an ancient parchment. Her eyes scanned the page carefully. “No,” she said, her tone a mix of reassurance and curiosity. “It appears that the protective ring in this region is a little farther south.” The revelation brought a strange sense of relief, and Belle chose to keep his discovery to himself, deeming it less pressing after facing the dragon.
Finally, they stopped amid the ruins of his town, right where his home and the market once stood. The cold air brushed against his face, and the enormity of what had happened weighed heavily upon him.