Chap. 7
Jason, Serenity, and Isabella walked through the intertwining halls. Isabella said that they had to walk for some time, as it was on the other side of the castle; and the castle was huge. Serenity let Isabella and Jason talk in front of her while she hung in the back.
Suddenly, a thought popped into Serenity’s head. “If I really am Ilea, then why don’t I remember any of this?”
Jason turned around to look at her, and then answered. “You see, in order for you to have the second life, there were two conditions. One, you forgot everything you did in Alercaria. Second, you could only come here if someone from Alercaria came and brought you here when you were needed.”
“And why am I needed now?”
“You see, the hundred thousand time period is coming up soon and we really need you to help us either help find the Icestar, or defeat Rellark.”
“Oh…and how soon until Rellark could use the Firestar?”
“Two years.”
The news shocked Serenity. Two years! What would she do when the time came? She slowly pondered this as she asked her next question. “Does Esmera remember any of this?”
Jason shook his head as he spoke. “Nada, she doesn’t remember. She knows your name and what we told you about the past, but other then that, she doesn’t remember anything.”
“Okay, this is my last question. What has Rellark been doing up until I arrived here?”
Jason sighed, ran his fingers through his long brown hair, and replied. “When Rellark killed the dragon and the three ‘protectors’, he wanted to find the others. He searched for five years without any luck, and that was good news for us. Soon, he gave up and hid away with his armies. He did a few minor things now and then, but never anything major.
“Before I was sent to get you, a spy that was keeping an eye out for Rellark found out that he was building up his army to attack and seize the elf city and enslaves or kills all the elves. However, he hasn’t come within a two-hundred mile radius. Nevertheless, our warriors are always on guard.”
They walked for a few more moments while Serenity went over her head of what just happened. Then, a giant, metal door loomed over them. “Both the doors and walls are solid metal and steel, and the door has a case-sensitive password. Isabella really is being paranoid about this whole protection thing.” Serenity heard Jason mutter in front of her.
Isabella muttered something under her breath and the metal-steel doors opened with a creak. Isabella ushered them in and then the doors closed again with a bang. Serenity felt as if she had just walked into a rainforest. There were trees everywhere; some with leaves, thorns, flowers, spikes, and berries. There were also rocks and a waterfall that was making a crashing sound. Not too far from the waterfall was a cave made of gray stone with a pile of meat near the entrance and a big pile of straw inside.
“This is where Esmera lives; this place is heaven for any dragon,” explained Isabella. “All of this you see in front of you is real: the trees, bushes, rocks, waterfall, and even the dirt. Esmera would have grown extremely large in the hundred year period since you weren’t with her, but now that you are here, she will start growing again.
“If you want to see her now, call her.”
Serenity cleared her throat, and then called out to the very boundaries of the “rainforest”, calling Esmera closer to her. “Esmera. Esmera!”
“With your voice and mind,” Jason corrected. “This place is huge, so Esmera may not hear you. The voice you call within your mind can reach places your voice alone cannot. Plus, you and Esmera are mentally connected, as she is your bonded partner. She is in your mind, so that means you two will be able to hear each other in your guys’ minds.”
Serenity once again cleared her throat and spoke out, trembling a little. “E-Esmera! Esmera!”
At once, there came a reply and Serenity knew Esmera had heard her. Yes? Isabella had done a good job describing Esmera’s voice; it was a clear and vibrating sound. Serenity marveled at it.
Um... Serenity thought, debating what to say to her bonded partner. It’s me, Ilea, but I go by Serenity now. I was calling you.
Serenity! Esmera squealed with glee. Where are you? I haven’t seen you in so long. I missed you.
Serenity looked around, searching for a landmark near her. I am by the rock that looks like a bird.
I’m on my way.
At once, Serenity heard the familiar sound of rhythmic beating just like when she had first met Shinku. She looked up and Esmera landed in front of her. This time, Serenity did not scream or faint; she just stared and stared. For a moment, time seemed to stop. The two friends gazed at each other. Esmera studied Serenity’s brown hair, and Serenity stared at Esmera’s emerald scales.
Then, Jason cleared his throat. “Esmera, this is Serenity, and Serenity, this is Esmera. You see, you guys don’t remember each other because you two have been separated for a hundre—”
Ha-ha, very funny. You are just as funny as you have been fifty years ago, which means, not that much. Oh, by the way, how is Shinku these days? I haven’t been out much, being confined in my ‘rainforest’.” Esmera spoke to Jason with a friendly tone in her voice.
Jason smiled back. “Nice to know someone here appreciates my jokes. To answer your question, when I was gone, YoKo cared for him.”
You shouldn’t have! Esmera scolded him. Caring for Shinku might remind her of Ivo—
Just then, Jason threw Esmera a sharp glance and it silenced her. Serenity, on the other hand, was too busy staring at Esmera to notice.
“Serenity, you can sleep here if you want. I’ll have a bed put down here for you.” Isabella offered.
“Yes, I think I will. Thank you, Isabella, for all the hospitality you’ve shown me.
“Well,” Isabella clapped her hands, “I will go to bed and will see you guys tomorrow. Rivon, come with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t stay up too late talking,” added Isabella.
Isabella turned around and walked out the door with Jason close behind. When they left, Esmera grabbed Serenity’s shirt with her mouth and flung her into the waterfall. Serenity surfaced and laughed, not minding that Esmera had just thrown her into water. Esmera then jumped in herself, causing a huge wave to drench the nearby bushes.
A few moments later, a servant came in and put down a bed made with blankets in the cave. He also put down a tray of food. When he left, Esmera dragged Serenity out of the water and into the cave.
Serenity wasn’t hungry, so she just curled up next to Esmera, the fire in her belly keeping both of them warm. They talked about what happened before they met and about Albyra. They soon fell asleep, curled up next to each other; dragon and human.
The last thought Serenity had before drifting off to sleep was, A dragon, a dragon of my very own.
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