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Awesome thanks! Here we go so…

Mayra

I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how I had ended up here.

I walked through the cavern, an unknown light source from above illuminating the high ceiling. Stalactites and stalagmites were situated every where the eye could see.

How did I end up in a cavern in the outskirts of Media Nox? I frowned, trying not to panic. I would figure it out. The exit had to be farther on.

That was when I heard the frightening growl reverb through the cavern. I halted, my heart thudding. The growl, low and menacing, sounded again. Up ahead of me, a massive moving shape in the shadows slunk towards me.

I stifled a gasp when the the scaly creature came into view. It’s head about the size of an average hover car. It’s slitted eyes, both all-knowing and predatory, glowed coppery-gold. Reddish scales with hints of gold covering its powerful body. Its massive leathery wings tucked behind it.

And at its spine, a figure sat, observing me.

I stumbled back, falling over in an effort to get away from this thing who was coming closer.

The rider barked a command in an odd tongue and the dragon stopped. Steam curled from its nostrils and I saw the slightest hint of an orange glow at its throat.

This was a dream. It had to be. I trembled as the rider slid down.

”He won’t hurt you,” the rider said. A woman, perhaps middle-aged judging by her matured tone. “He knows who you are.”

The woman stepped into view. She was dressed in queenly furred robes, but beneath it was the practical leather attire of a warrior. She had white hair with reddish streaks pulled back and braided intricately, specifically to accommodate the delicate golden circlet on her brow. Blue woad streams were painted over both her eyes. And when I looked closer, I could see the faded scars covering one side of her face. And her eyes – one brown, the other green.

I stifled a gasp. Her face had aged. But I could recognise it anywhere.

”Always quick to figure things out, aren’t you,” the woman said. Her eyes haunted me – they were full of a strange wisdom that only belonged to someone who had been through hell and back.

”What – d-do – you – want?” My voice trembled as I struggles to get the words out, as usual. I was too shock to feel self-conscious about it.

”To prepare you for whats to come,” future me answered. “You have much to learn still. You still haven’t even grasped the full meaning of your powers yet.”

She turned and spoke in that strange haunting language, a rush of syllables, vowels and sounds that didn’t even sound human. Somehow I could tell that this wasn’t an earthly language. The dragon responded to her by sidling up to her, its gaze fixed on me in curiosity. A series of strange sounds came from his jaw.

”He says he is very glad to meet you,” the woman said. “And that he would not dream of eating you.”

I shook my head, my vision spinning slightly. “What – language?” I gestured between them.

The woman lowered her head solemnly as she spoke. “It is a language that was gifted to us. No mortal in this realm can speak it apart from us. You will come to know its real purpose.”

She smiled sadly. “Have you met that audacious boy yet?”

What boy? “Huh?” I questioned.

She sighed, looking amused. “Well be on the lookout for him. Lorcán is his name. And he is going to be the most frustrating person you will ever meet.”

I raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound promising. “A – friend?”

The woman threw back her head and let out a loud cackle. “Perhaps. We shall see.”