by C D Muller
After he was finished with his meal, Thor followed her outside to the back of the house. They sat right on the edge of the village, bordering the Black Bog forest. It was a perfect place for her to take Thor out; no one ever wanted to go into the woods. A couple of rats ran in front of him. He reached out and grabbed one with his talons.
What is this?
He placed the rat inside his mouth and began to chew. Apparently Thor had never seen a rat before, since he was so used to the raw slabs of meat from their town butcher. Selena felt a little sick to her stomach whenever she saw her dragon eat.
It’s a little crunchy, but it will do well enough.
A circular patch of grass surrounded by dead trees was ahead. She brushed part of the ground away to make it more comfortable to sit down. When she was satisfied, she sat down beside one of the trees and drew her legs close, wrapping her arms around her knees. Her dragon looked at all the trees with keen interest.
Are we going to read again today?
Selena nodded and placed the book on her lap.
Perhaps later. I am very tired.
Thor sat down beside her, keeping his neck arched to look at the book. She took a deep breath and looked up at the bright, blue sky. Her dragon did the same. A few clouds drifted above them, occasionally moving in front of the sun.
I want to go up there, Thor said after a while. Selena glanced over at her dragon. He stood on his hind legs with his wings stretched out. When I learn how to fly, I want to go up there. I want to fly through those clouds one day. I would love to take you with me.
Selena blinked a couple of times. Her legs suddenly became like lead as she glanced back up at the sky.
She remained in her spot after what seemed hours before she realized that she had to leave. The sun was beginning to move to the middle of the sky. Thor was lying beside her, asleep. When she moved, he woke up.
I’m sorry, I must have dozed off.
Thor sniffed her hair.
It’s all right. We can read more tonight before you go to sleep.
Chapter 4:
It took her a while to drift off to slumber later that evening. Her mind clouded with dreams:
Selena found herself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar road. The streets were lit with lampposts. Different carriages rolled in one direction down the streets.
Selena walked towards a large theater with many people gathered around the entrance. She was surprised by the great blitz of music and social contact. A sign hung above the entrance in bold letters that said Fairmount House. People were standing outside the building, talking among themselves. A great number of carriages were parked outside the building.
Selena’s vision blackened and then she could see again. She was sitting in a seat in front of a large stage. Thousands of people were gathered inside and had their gazes fixed up towards the stage. Marble columns were built to sustain the high dome above their heads. Sitting beside her appeared to be a rugged looking man. His clothes reeked with the smell of alcohol. His face was pale and rough; his blue-gray eyes filled with emptiness and despair. In his lap, he had a piece of parchment with notes jotted all over it. Selena leaned forward a bit to get a better look at the piece of parchment, but when she tried to, the lights inside went off and she could not see anything.
After a few moments, a spotlight appeared in the middle of the stage, shining upon a piano. Selena listened as the sound of footsteps echoed throughout the room. Coming from behind the curtains on the left side of the stage was a young, beautiful woman who walked towards the piano. She wore a long, white dress that went down to her feet. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a bun and her face was pale, but soft. She appeared to be not much older than Selena herself; she assumed the young girl to be about thirteen or fourteen years old.
Everyone clapped as the woman sat down. The man beside her seemed to have clapped the loudest.
The young girl placed her hands upon the keys, playing a couple of beautiful notes that rang through Selena’s ears like the bells of a cathedral, and she began to sing.
Selena did not know how long she sat there. All she did know was that she could not stop listening to the woman play and sing. The music placed her under a spell. She held her head up with her arms, enjoying the music.
Selena closed her eyes and felt like she wanted to fall asleep, until she heard a terrible sound that echoed through the air. The man beside her was the first to stand up. Soon after a few moments, everyone stood up as well, gasping. Selena, too, stood up along with everyone else, trying to see what was happening.
The man rushed through the crowd and ran down the aisle up towards the stage. Selena followed him, but stopped in complete shock at the scene before her. The young woman fell to the floor with blood pouring from her mouth, forming a puddle around her head.
“Somebody help her!” the man shouted, holding her head upright so she could breathe. “Marceline…my daughter needs help! Somebody, please help!”
Selena forced herself to wake up from her terrible nightmare. Her heart was racing, not knowing what to think of what just happened.
She looked outside frantically. The lightning flashed across the sky and in a brief second, she saw a glimpse of shadows from four horsemen. Her ears were filled with the fast ticking, beating sound of her own heart. Selena opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.
The lightning flashed again and the shadows disappeared.
She immediately grabbed her blankets and dove underneath her bed out of complete fear. The sound of the thunder rumbling outside made her quiver even more. All the while, she still felt as though she were being watched. Her paranoia grew as she tightened her grip on her sheets to keep herself covered.
Instead, she held herself while staying covered by the blanket, hoping that the lightning and thunder would cease.
Are you afraid of the thunder and lightning?
Hearing his voice was unexpected.
How can I still hear you if you’re outside? I thought we were too far away?
No matter how far apart we are, we can always talk to each other. But why are you afraid? It can’t hurt you inside the house.
It’s hard to explain. I’ve always been afraid… Her thoughts drifted off.
I’m sorry if this is offensive but it seems like humans have irrational fears over weird things.
Are you afraid of anything?
Nope. Dragons have no fear.
Although she had her doubts, she still wished she wasn’t so much of a coward. As the night wore on, the two talked until she fell asleep, even as the storm raged.
The next morning, after she ate a few pieces of bread for breakfast, Selena wanted to tell Chaliss about the dream she had last night. However, she figured that it was not too important, so instead she took Thor to retrieve her research notes on Gundisalvus and Ragnarok that she kept stuffed in her wooden chest that sat in a lonely corner of her room.
In her bedroom, Selena kept certain articles she found from some of the books she bought from the local merchants that talked about Gundisalvus’ life. However, she was concerned because his death remained a mystery.
She opened the lid to the chest and began shifting through her papers. Thor sat on the edge and peered in, sniffing the wood.
Your months of research is scattered, he commented, how do you know what you will need?
She looked at him, but flinched when she heard Rahim scream about not wanting to go to Uncle Rowan’s. Thor reclined his head in irritation.
“Mum! I don’t want to go!” she heard him cry out.
“Rahim, I told you about a week ago that you were going to your Uncle’s.”
“If you send me there, I’ll die!”
Selena and Thor tried to control their laughter at his over-exaggeration.
“That’s enough. Start packing, now!”
“Okay, fine! If you send me there, I won’t bathe while I’m at my Uncle’s, nor when I get home! You know I smell like a dead fish when I
don’t bathe!”
Selena was still laughing, but she stopped when she heard Chaliss smack him.
“Ouch! Okay, okay I’ll go!” Rahim’s screams echoed throughout the house.
“Then get ready. I will not ask you again.”
Selena shook her head and went back to looking for her research notes.
Over on her bedside table was an older declaration that was included in one of the books she bought a while ago, proclaiming news about the dreaded writer. She learned that he was suffering from utter madness and depression and tried committing suicide by drinking himself to death. However, he disappeared after being released from prison and was never seen nor heard from again. The mystery intrigued her.
She looked out her window and at the house that was across the street; it was rumored that it was the home of Gundisalvus before he died.
Selena? Are you all right? You’re awfully quiet.
Thor poked in, rubbing his face against hers.
Selena shook her head and looked at her dragon, confessing her dreams and nightmares and all that was on her mind. However, she felt ashamed in knowing that she usually had them during a storm. The thought of the thunder and lightning was enough to make her quiver with fear, making her dwell on every horrible dream she had.
When she stopped, she looked through the pieces of parchment she held. Thor was unable to come up with a response.
Do you think this might be part of your past? he asked her, maybe your memories are coming back.
Selena looked to him with dismay.
If these are truly the memories of my past, then I don’t want to know, for they are filled with misery and woe. I would rather think of happy things, like my life here in Helshire Village, and with you.
Thor gave a huff to this answer and formed his scaly lips into a smile.
I am quite content here as well. I just worry about you. Please remember that no matter what happens, I’ll always be here for you.
Selena nodded and patted his nose.
Thank you, although from that nightmare, I thought I recognized the man as Varathka Gundisalvus. It’s just that I don’t recall him having a daughter.
Thor balanced himself on the edge of her chest and lowered his head to look through its contents.
If you have a book on it, I would love for you to read it to me.
I might.
Selena dug through again to find all the books she had in regards to Varathka Gundisalvus. She stopped when she found his autobiography and started flipping through the pages, figuring that it would have information about him having a family. Sure enough, on one of the pages was a family tree. Searching through it, Selena found the name ‘Marceline’ near his. After reading the paragraph underneath it, she saw that Marceline was only fifteen years old when she died.
“Cause of death was unknown,” Selena read out loud, “she was found with internal bleeding during her last performance.”
Selena looked at her dragon.
But I don’t understand why I had a dream about that when I never knew about this.
That has me worried. Last night I felt something unpleasant, as if there is a dark presence nearby, Thor said with a low grumble from the back of his throat. Is that why you’re afraid of thunder and lighting?
I don’t know. As I’ve said last night, it’s hard to explain why I am.
I want to keep you safe.
Chapter 5:
Thor had gotten big enough in the last month to hunt for himself. His height nearly matched hers. He had plenty of rats and rabbits to satisfy his hunger.
When she did visit him, she brought books with her to read to him. Like her, Thor wanted to learn about all that he could. She read him books on history and literature, as well as advanced mathematics and physics. He eagerly asked her questions, like a child would to a parent, about all that he saw.
The smell of the early morning dew was welcoming as Selena once again grabbed a few more books to read to Thor. When she walked into his hidden and self-made sanctuary, he was sitting in his usual spot, waiting for her to come.
What are we going to read today?
Selena sat down on the tree stump beside her dragon and pulled out a book.
I’m not sure yet. Perhaps this one? It’s about alchemy.
That sounds delightful. At least you’re taking a break from your research.
She opened the book and began reading the research notes that were put together as a textbook from scholars. Never before had she seen such complex formulas and concepts, but Thor seemed to understand what she read. After a while reading, Selena slowly began to understand them as well. Together, they learned that the basic principle behind alchemy and alteration was that it requires an equal exchange to make something. The idea was the same for making potions and other useful remedies as well.
I couldn’t imagine where to even begin to gather all the necessary ingredients.
I’m more than sure that there are alchemy shops that would sell what you need. Otherwise, it even says here that you can also find most of these ingredients out in the wild. There’s even a list of them and where they’re commonly found.
Thor arched his neck over her while sniffing in the air.
Selena looked up and noticed this; she marked the page she left off on and set the book down.
What is it?
Thor got up from his spot and went over towards the other side of the tree that Selena sat near and began digging in the ground with his talons. Eventually he dug up what appeared to be a clear crystallized rock.
He pushed it over to Selena’s feet with his snout.
I saw this shining in the ground beside you. What is this? It is beautiful and shiny.
Thor’s eyes flickered to a color of red as he said this. Selena went to pick up the rock that he dug up.
I believe that this is crystallized quartz. I’m amazed that you found this, she replied, examining it in the faded sunlight as it portrayed faint rainbows on the ground.
Are there more like this?
Thor sniffed the crystal. Selena looked from the rock to her dragon, realizing that Thor had a fascination with shiny objects.
There are more that are prettier and more valuable than this. I wish I had the money to get you all the gold in the world. I’m sorry to say that I am quite poor.
He recoiled.
Oh.
But we can keep this. Maybe I can make it into a necklace or something for you. It might be too big for that, but you can still keep it.
Selena placed the rock near his spot. She smiled a little, hoping that it made Thor feel better.
I would like that very much.
Selena was always amazed about the physiology of dragons. She learned in one of the books she and Thor had read before that they have two sacs with holes inside their mouths near the back of their throats. One produced a flammable gas while the other created sulfuric acid, which mix together before the dragon breathed fire. They are separate from the dragon’s throat.
Will you read some more to me? I particularly liked the fundamentals of alchemy.
Selena nodded and reached for the book. However, from the corner of her eye, she saw a dash of white through the trees. She quickly stopped and looked to where she saw it, as did Thor.
What was that?
She heard a low grumble coming from Thor’s neck.
Someone is spying on us.
Thor stood up on all fours and sniffed all around. Although he was still a small dragon, that did not stop him from wanting to fight.
Do you wish for me to find out what it was?
Selena closed the book after marking her page and shook her head.
No. It might be nothing, but I’ll check it out.
Thor gave out a huff but lowered his head and sat back down again.
As you wish, but please call to me if anything happens to you. If anyone or anything attacks you, I will rip them to shreds.
Selena walked towards where she had seen the dash
of white light and wandered through the trees, leaving Thor and their cozy home behind.
The sun was high in the sky, the heat seeping through the diminutive forest. Her shirt and skirt were torn from the sticks and twigs that jolted from the bushes. The dirt turned into mud, her boots slipping away into the earth.
She stopped walking when she heard the sound of crunching leaves behind her. Her heart skipped a beat as she heard an uplifting hum.
“Hello there.”
The voice sounded young and masculine.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Selena quickly turned around and was frightened to see someone standing in front of her wearing a white cloak. He stood a little taller than she was, with his hands clasped behind his back. His cloak was held together by a light blue rope that went across his chest, holding three long feathers at the end near the shoulder. Around his waist was a belt, keeping the jacket closed over his clothes. The sleeves were long and reached his fingertips. His hood concealed his face, but Selena could tell that he was smiling.
“Who are you?” she nervously asked.
“Me? No one in particular.”
The person chuckled and lifted his hood. He looked so young, she guessed he was about her age. His long, white hair that met the middle of his back reflected the shades of grey emitting from the clouds. His bangs covered his forehead, nestling at his silver eyebrows. A pair of reading spectacles was perched on the ridge of his nose over his ice blue eyes.
He bowed to her.
“Oh, where are my manners? My name is Silver, but you may call me whatever you wish. May I inquire as to what your name is?”
“Selena,” she replied.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Silver said as he regained his posture.
“Err… likewise,” Selena hesitated, “I do not mean to sound rude in this regard, but it is getting late. I should be getting back home.”
Selena quickly turned around to walk back to Thor, but Silver reached out and grabbed her hand. She gasped out of complete shock from his touch. His hands were cold and soft.