The Dragon Realms Saga

The Gem of the Waves rocked like a cradle in the morning waves. The clipper ship had left Sparrowport almost a week ago and drifted among the winds closer and closer to the port city of the Southtail capital, Winveren. With each dip that the large boat took, huge waves crashed against the barnacle laden sides.

Koda rested on the bow of the ship watching his familiar juggle a wide array of spells as she tried to experiment with her new form. The elf’s curiosity grew with each sunrise, but concern still clouded his mind. What would this evolution mean for him? Would he gain in power or would the wolf eclipse him, so to speak? Koda turned to face the sun breaking through the red horizon.

Beautiful, he thought as the sun’s divine rays streak through the sky. How could there be so much suffering in this world when there is still beauty to find?

“Koda, are you watching?” Wildeye’s voice broke up his thoughts. The elf refocused on the wolf as she placed her fingertips in her other palm and with one fluid motion pulled them away. A sprouting vine followed her fingers into the air, arching over her head, and back to the ground. She snapped her fingers and it bloomed with wildflowers.

Koda smiled and applauded. “Very good,” he laughed. “You are becoming quite the accomplished green mage.”

Wildeye dispelled the plant life in a poof of pink smoke and sat cross-legged on the deck. “I don’t seem to have the ability to make fire or water, just things with vernal magic.”

Koda laid back on the bow, careful to balance himself. “I wonder if it has to do with myself being a vernal mage?”

“It is possible,” said Wildeye. “Anything is, honestly. Never have I heard of a Wolf of the Eclipse becoming… a… kanis?”

“Is this where the kanis come from? A Magi-induced transformation?” asked Koda, half to himself and half to her.

Wildeye rubbed her rough, blue footpads. “Little is known about how the kanis came to be. Although, perhaps a wayward Wolf of the Eclipse bred with a normal wolf and birthed a new, more intelligent wolf. I’d imagine that over time these hybrid wolves began to walk upright and evolve into the kanis we have today. It would be silly to quickly doubt such a story.”

Koda crawled to his feet and wobbled on the bow before hopping onto the deck. He offered Wildeye his hand. “How about some sparring? Who knows when you might need to use those fancy parlor tricks for combat someday?”

Wildeye gave her familiar a silly grin. “Parlor tricks!” she giggled. “Koda Dawnedge, I’ll show you what these tricks can really do!”

The two laughed as they slung magic and dodged spells. Leaves exploded against barrels and vines whipped across cargo boxes. Finally Wildeye collapsed in exhaustion.

“I… I don’t get it?” the wolf wheezed. “You should be just as tired as I am, but you are not.”

Koda looked at his hands in curiosity. It was true, he wasn’t tired. Perhaps just a tiny bit, but he could easily spar for another hour before taking a break. Was this another change from Wildeye’s evolution?

“Bite yourself,” Koda said to Wildeye.

“Excuse me?”

“Bite yourself, to see if I still feel your pain,” Koda explained.

Wildeye raised a brow, but sank her teeth into her hand all the same.

Koda’s hand burned, as if too close to a flame. It stung, but he did not flinch.

Wildeye bit down harder until she drew blood and to Koda’s surprise, he did not bleed from any magical puncture mark, but bruised instead.

“What does this mean, Wildeye?” asked Koda.

Wildeye wrapped her wound with the sash from the robes that Koda lent her. “I think our familiar bond has weakened,” she finally said. “How or why, I do not know.”

Koda bent down and caressed Wildeye’s injured claw. “I will make sure no harm comes to you, my friend. Nothing changes for us, I promise!”

***

Koda had visited only a few other cities in his lifetime. Besides Lost Dawns, he had also seen Sparrowport, Varis City, and Aric City, but nothing came close to the sheer size and population of Winveren. This shore side city dwarfed even Lost Dawns. Much like the Elder Tree, the buildings reached out to the skies with apartments and shops to stave off the needs for the massive amount of people that resided there. The streets were so crammed that Koda could barely move. The winding labyrinth of streets pooled into many different bazaars where shopkeepers and merchants could sell their wares without the droves of people crowding their shopfronts or blankets.

The obvious cause of Winveren’s population was the fact that it served as the capital of the harekin nation, and harekins were known for their unbelievably large families. A harekin may have anywhere between four to fourteen siblings, which for Koda, as an only child, was unfathomable to think of. Fighting brothers for toys or second helpings during meal times, maybe struggling to get the proper attention with seven sisters, or just trying to get the same affection with his father when he has to vie for it against fourteen other siblings, just the thought wowed him! How did Mave Silvertail do it?

Koda didn’t need to travel far before a row of harekin soldiers led Aemor Greyblade welcomed him with smart salutes and hand crimping shake. Koda’s own escort pushed away the gawking citizens, trying to get a peek of the elven king of Lost Dawns. Greyblade ushered Koda into his personal carriage while Elucard hung from a handlebar attached to the door.

“Welcome to my city, lad,” said Greyblade with a cheery smile. “Try to enjoy yourself while you are here.”

Koda cracked his stiff neck. “I would like to get some good rest before I explore the city. I may have had better sleeping conditions than the sailors, but I could never sleep properly on the sea.”

“Understandable,” Greyblade chuckled. “Perhaps tomorrow you may travel to our most prestigious wind magic school and earn yourself a white sash?”

“If you want my opinion, my king,” Elucard piped in. He waited for Koda to give him a gesture to continue before saying his piece. “I have dealt with Estinian mages firsthand, and I do not think they can be bested by any harekin mage. The pride of an Estinian is unmatched, as well as their fierceness. I have slain many men in my young life. None come as close with the toughness and sheer willpower to challenge death as an Estinain would.”

“While I agree that the Estinains were worthy opponents, I still say my wind mages will provide more than enough of a challenge for you, lad,” argued Aemor.

Koda stroked his chin. “I see both of your points, and I must go with Elucard. I feel I still need to prove to the Estinians that I am no one to be trifled with, that even though they imprisoned me, I am no child.”

“We defeated them, slew their leaders, and colonized their people. Isn’t that humiliation enough?” asked the harekin king.

Koda narrowed his eyes. “Not yet. Not for me.”

“Very well I will assist your escort by traveling to the Estinian colony with you tomorrow,” said Aemor. “You will need to prepare yourself mentally, Koda. These people will not be happy to see you.”

“I am counting on it,” sneered Koda.

***

Elucard leaned against the cool stone wall, hidden deep within the shadows of Koda’s guest chamber. The young king slept snuggly underneath his heavy wool blankets. Winerveran sat closer to the coast than Lost Dawns and although the breezy ocean climate was welcomed in the day, it proved to be quite chilly at night. Normally Koda slumbered with a large wolf to keep him warm, but Wildeye had the form of a person now, so she slept in her own room.

Elucard had selected himself to guard Koda early in his ARO career, however as he earned a higher rank and more responsibilities, Calsoon volunteered to take over bodyguard duties.

Calsoon. Even with his own hard exterior, Elucard admitted he missed the odd elf. Elucard could always count on Calsoon to lift his spirits.

Elucard inspected his new garb that Megan gave him. A traditional elemental shroud attire. A mixture of black assassin armor and mage robes, complete with a green hooded cloak and sash. He preferred to wear his assassin tabis instead of tall leather boots that Megan sported. However he accepted the armored, green legguards, as his red ones no longer matched his outfit. Matched his outfit. Since when did looking stylish become more important to him than practicality? Perhaps when he finally had the trit to buy fancy vests and cravats. As a Rabbit the only accepted colors to wear were black and purple. Other colors were strictly banned. When Elucard left the Black Rabbits, he filled the void with aesthetics. His tabis, however, were for comfort more than anything. The tabis’ breathable cloth and good grip made them a better choice for both comfort and practicality, however.

Perhaps he should have incorporated extreme weather climates into his Anti-Rogue Ops training. His Black Rabbit knowledge proved useful not only to ARO, but the Range Patrol units as well. All soldiers should be taught about HIROAD at the very least.

HIROAD:

Keep Hidden

Use your Intelligence

Return to your master

Accomplish your Objective

Stay Alive

Do not Dishonor the Clan

Elucard smirked. He enjoyed Wilderness Survival training. When he and Jetta were younger—before becoming Black Rabbits— they would pretend to be woodsmen in the bordering forest of Ravenshore. They ate berries they found from bushes and licked the sweet sap from birch trees. They would make shelters from sticks and branches and fail miserably at igniting a campfire by rubbing two sticks together.

Life was so much simpler back then. All I needed to worry about was getting back home on time, finishing my homework, and helping Pa with the daily catch. Now… Now I have a king to protect and a country not to fail. Dodge a blade, and kill a man or two. Yesm life was simpler back then… but I suppose it was duller too.

Elucard rolled up his left sleeve and peered into the glass flesh to watch the swirls of green magic illuminate his muscles. His new arm was yet another thing he would have a hard time getting used to. Gem-like flesh born from the purest of magic. It was alien to him. He was raised as a Black Rabbit. His ninjato and prowess was his magic. Never did he have the ability to move a tree with his mind or to manifest a leaf into existence. All this belonged in the hands of a mage, not an assassin!

The glint of steel reflecting off the moonlight caught Elucard’s eye. The elf pulled down his sleeve and crouched in the shadows. A grappling hook clung to the balcony and a black-and-gray-armored assassin climbed over the banister and moved into Koda’s room.

Elucard marked him likely a male human or elf from his athletic build. The assailant drew a sai in his left hand and a short, wavy sword in his other hand. Elucard eyed the strange blade. An assassin clan often trained with a favored weapon; in Elucard’s case it was the ninjato, with this clan it seemed to be the thylith. This particular blade’s origin came exclusively from southern Cypress, so he was either Estinian or Southtail trained.

The assassin slunk closer to the unsuspecting Koda and raised his sword, oblivious of the seething other assassin in the room. As the thylith drove towards Koda’s helpless body, Elucard leapt out of his hiding and deflected it with his blade in a clang of steel. Elucard spun forward and delivered a swift roundhouse kick into the assassin's chest, crashing him into a dress mirror. Koda stirred in his bed, but relaxed again with a sigh, deep asleep. Elucard rolled his eyes. The king could sleep through the end of days and not wake up.

Elucard stepped forward and sheathed his sword. He then drew his dagger in a reverse grip. Keeping his arms tucked, he shifted his stance sideways. The small room was far too cluttered with furniture to make the best use of his longer sword. Rabbit-Do style, perfect for close quarter combat, he thought with a fierce grin.

The would-be murderer brushed away glass shards as he stood. He growled and slid two stiletto daggers into his hands.

Together the fighters inched closer to each other. The assassin raised his forearm and motioned for Elucard to do the same. An old sparring custom. Elucard pressed his forearm against his opponent’s.

A silent breeze wisped through the room. The pause in time sent shivers down both combatants' spines. A moment between death.

Elucard studied his opponent's eyes for fear, courage, or any bloodthirst, but they were still as the shadows. Just like his own.

Sixty seconds passed. Silence wafted between the two.

Koda’s assassin pushed his arm forward and instinctively, Elucard feinted sideways as a hot pain sliced his cheek. Elucard sneered and slammed a heavy palm into the center of the assassin’s chest.

Elucard’s opponent nearly toppled backwards, but recovered quickly. He tightened his grip on his dagger and swung for Elucard’s neck. With his Rabbit-Do experience burned into his reflexes, Elucard stepped to the side and sunk his dagger into the assailant’s shoulder.

He followed through with a swift uppercut. The satisfying crunch of teeth snapping together, put a smile on Elucard’s face.

Elucard fired a straight kick that sent his enemy colliding with the banister outside. The enemy teetered on the edge but caught himself at the last second.

Elucard gave him no reprieve and used his Magi arm to sling several blade-like leaves. Each sunk deep into the assassin’s leather armor.

“What!? Leaves? How!?” hissed the assassin. He tried to dislodge one, but the vernal weapons did not budge. The assassin lurched over, panting. His mask soaked of sweat, but he slid another blade from a sheath on his leg, ready for another round.

Elucard drew a dagger and forged green magic to weave thorns around his blade. However a douse a familiar cold pulsed into his arm. The pain shot down his fingers, forcing his knife loose.

“Who is that?! What is going on?!” came a loud voice from behind Elucard. Koda had awoken and his eyes burned with Magi.

Elucard fell to his knees and gripped his wrist as it trembled, the pain flaring more intense than before. Elucard howled in agony. His fingers and hand warped and twitched, veins rippled and bulged. Elucard gnashed his teeth and struggled to stiffen his arm.

“I am no fool to take on the might of the Magi,” said the assassin. He bowed before the writhing Elucard. “Another time, friend.”

Elucard snatched a pair of shurikens from his pouch, but the assassin disappeared into the night.

“Elucard!” Koda slipped off his bed and ran to his guardian. His eyes flushed back to normal.

The throwing stars fell from Elucard’s hand as another wave of pain ran down his left arm. “My—ar—argh. I can’t control—” Elucard struggle just to breathe.

“Concentrate. You can. You can control it!”

Elucard sucked in his chest, taking a deep breath and mustered all his focus to hold back the energy coursing through his arm.

Pain Defiance training, Elucard, he told himself. Remember what Ridge and Baines taught you. Pain is a weakness leaving the body. It is only a distraction—ignore it. Concentrate on the task at hand. Take control of your flaws and strive forward!

“Good. Keep it up, Eluc…” Koda’s voice melted into the background as Elucard drowned out all sounds around him until he was once again surrounded by the silence of the night.

I feel nothing. I feel nothing. I feel…

Nothing.

Elucard opened his eyes; the pain was gone.

“Are you…?” a concerned Koda asked.

“I’m fine, Koda.” Elucard looked at the destroyed mirror and felt the mark on his cheek. “You were attacked tonight. An assassin—he was skilled.”

Koda’s eyes widened with fear.

“I chased him off but there may be others. I want you to spend the rest of the night with Wildeye.” Elucard assisted Koda to his feet. “No harm will come to you. I promise.”