379 A Memory Of Pain And Regret
FIZZLE~
The golden throne room gleamed like the heart of a star, sunlight streamed through tall arched windows, scattering across polished floors of white marble veined with gold.
Along the walls, dragon guards stood, their obsidian-scaled armor glinting faintly.
Each held a long, curved spear tipped with a jewel that seemed to vibrate as if even their weapons had a life of their own.
Seated on a massive, gilded seat, a dragon overlord… No it was a prince, seeing as the heirloom was not embedded on his chest.
Watched with a calm yet imposing gaze. He was cloaked in elegant robes of black and silver, embroidered with swirling patterns of ancient sigils.
He had black and silver hair and piercing yellow eyes, burning like twin suns, he looked around.
He was the focus of this gathering… Other races had come to pay him a visit, a living god among mortals, and they came not just to honor him—but to kneel.
The first to approach were the elves. Their leader, a woman in robes of deep green with golden leaves, stepped forward and presented an offering: a shimmering purple crystal, encased in beautiful carved wood.
“A gift for your protection, young lord.”
The elf said.
“May your reign remain eternal, and may your shadow shield our lands from ruin.”
Next came the lizardfolk, their scaled hides glinting in hues of bronze and emerald under the light.
Their leader, a male lizardman, broad-shouldered and bedecked in bone ornaments, carried a chest filled with gold and rubies.
“Great dragon prince,” he rasped, his voice like gravel, “we owe our survival to your might. Accept this tribute, for your strength shields us from the jaws of chaos.”
The dragonkin were next, they carried a massive sword of pure mithril, etched with runes that seemed to shimmer.
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They knelt low, their leader bowing his head as he said, “To our young lord, our sovereign, we offer this blade, forged in the fires of our ancestors. May it ever be a symbol of your dominion.”
The harpies followed, their wings folded respectfully as they approached, and their leader—a woman with talons of pure gold—placed a crown of woven skysteel and sapphires at the dragon’s feet.
“Mighty one,” she said, “we soar because of you. May the skies forever sing your name.”
Even the orcs came, their hulking bodies draped in ceremonial furs.
Their leader, a towering figure with tusks tipped in gold, carried a colossal horn carved from the bone of some long-dead beast.
“Lord of scales,” he boomed, “our tribes prosper under your banner. May this horn, crafted from the spine of a leviathan, honor your unyielding might.”
One by one, they offered their treasures. Gold, jewels, artifacts—each a show of gratitude and fealty.
When the offerings had all been placed, the crowd fell silent, their gazes fixed on the prince, he seemed lost in thought, never the less they all bowed: “Hail to the sovereign of the skies, the protector of all! May your wisdom and strength endure for eternity. Happy birthday, mighty one!”
The overlord sales back to reality as he rose from his throne. A faint smile graced his lips as he gazed at his subjects.
“You honor me,” he said, “Your gifts and loyalty bring pride to my heart. Let this day be a celebration not just of my life, but of the unity we share.”
The hall erupted into cheers, but his mind was already drifting elsewhere.
In a field vast and unbroken, where the horizon kissed the heavens, the young dragon lord stood in his human form.
His black and silver hair fluttered in the wind, and his yellow eyes—so fierce in the throne room—now looked soft, a vulnerability rarely seen.
Before him stood a woman whose presence seemed to make the world pause to him.
Her silver hair like a river of light, framing a face of delicate beauty. Her crimson eyes, both fierce and sorrowful, like the turmoil within the dragon prince’s soul.
“Why must it end like this?” he asked, his voice trembling with sadness.
“We have already created life together. Will your father really kill you if he finds out?”
The woman placed a hand on her slightly rounded belly, her touch gentle yet bittersweet.
“He will.”
“That is why I must leave,” she said. “So as long as I run away tonight… He won’t find me… I’ll run far, far away.”
“Come to me,” the dragon prince said, stepping closer. “I can protect you. My authority—”
She cut him off with a sad laugh.
“Your authority? Have you forgotten? Dragons do not welcome the Asura race. I would be met with hatred, mistrust. I cannot subject our child to that.”
His fists clenched, his jaw tightening as he fought the urge to roar in frustration. “Let them try. I would like to see who dares harm you under my watch.”
Her gaze softened, but there was a shadow of sorrow in her eyes. “Please, stop this. This is for the best. I never meant to complicate your life. This child… this was a selfish desire of mine.”
She hesitated, her voice faltering. “And your father—he forbade you from having children outside your race. If he discovers me, he will kill us both.”
The dragon lowered his head, his shoulders heavy with the weight of her words.
“I do not like this,” he said quietly, his voice filled with anguish, tears streaming down his face.
She stepped closer, placing a hand on his cheek. “I know… I don’t either, but this is the only way,” she whispered. “But before I go… would you like to give our little one a name?”
For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the wind rustling through the grass. At last, he spoke. “Hel’Eloreth,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled, tears brimming in her crimson eyes. “One who reaches for the stars,” she said, her voice trembling. “It’s beautiful.”
“It is fitting,” he said, his gaze locking with hers. “I will hope to see you again soon.”
She nodded, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. “I promise.”
And then, as the sun dipped below the horizon, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone beneath the vast, uncaring sky.
FIZZLE~
In his trembling arms lay the woman he had once vowed to protect, the silver-haired beauty who had stolen his heart and left him yearning for centuries.
Her body was limp, her skin pale, and where her heart should have been, there was only a gaping void… A hole where she bled out… a cruel emblem of her inevitable demise.
Her blood stained his hands, seeping into his robes, but he paid no mind.
His knees buckled beneath the weight of his anguish as he cried, his voice breaking.
“No… no, please! Wake up! Don’t leave me like this!” His words were desperate, a plea to the heavens and whatever cruel gods watched this scene unfold.
Her red eyes fluttered open, weakly, as though it took all the strength she had left. Her lips parted, a faint voice escaping.
“It’s no use… I’ve already lost too much blood…”
He shook his head violently, unwilling to accept her words. “No! I can fix this. I’ll take you to Lady Gal’Uwa! She’s the greatest healer in the realm. She’ll—she’ll save you. Just hold on!”
His voice cracked, thick with desperation, as his hands moved to cradle her face, as if sheer willpower could keep her tethered to life.
Her trembling hand rose, weakly brushing against his cheek.
“Stop… It’s too late. You know it.”
Her voice was a whisper, soft as a dying breeze. Her gaze, though dim, held a bittersweet warmth.
Tears streamed down his face, unbidden. “Why? Why did you only ever reach out to me when you were in trouble? Why didn’t you come back like you promised?” His voice broke, the weight of years of longing and unanswered questions crashing down on him.
“I waited for you… For years, I waited. I never heard from you.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice filled with regret. “I didn’t want to complicate your life… didn’t want to bring you more trouble. You deserved better.”
As she spoke, her body began to dissolve, particles of golden light rising like embers into the darkened sky. Her body was slipping away, and he clung to her all the tighter, as if his grip could defy the inevitable.
Her gaze softened, and she managed a faint smile despite the pain. “Don’t worry about our son. I made sure to send him away… somewhere safe.”
His heart shattered at her words, the thought of losing not just her but the child they had created together.
“No, no, don’t go. Don’t leave me!” he begged, his voice breaking under the weight of despair.
Her trembling hand reached for his face one last time. He clasped it tightly, pressing it to his cheek. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she whispered, “I’m sorry… but this will have to be goodbye.”
The light in her eyes dimmed, and as her body dissolved further, she saw the tears streaking his face.
She chuckled faintly, the sound fragile but familiar. “This doesn’t suit you my love,” she murmured.
“You should smile… just once… for me.”
His lips trembled, and he forced himself to smile through the tears. It was a broken, hollow smile, but it was enough for her. Her own lips curved into a faint, wistful smile. “There you are… The man I fell in love with,” she whispered.
And then she was gone, the last of her form fading into the air, leaving him kneeling in the ashes with nothing but the memory of her touch and the sound of her voice.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Zurbluris