Chronicles of Light

There hadn't always been dragons in the valley. They had come out of the deep ravine like earthworms, burrowing straight out of the darkness. Their obsidian black scales blended in with the night as they spread out like shadows, leaking their malice wherever they went like some sickly disease.

Oriana could almost remember a time where the darkness had been less oppressive, when the sun could shine bright and give her people strength and power. But now the skies were clouded over, holding the sun hostage, preventing its rays from breaking through.

These dragons didn’t seem to act like normal beasts. They acted like physical manifestations of the shadows themselves; like forces of nature rather than free-willed creatures.

Oriana had heard stories from the others in her tribe of how the dragons had come to their homes all across the world and stolen them away in the night, bringing them back to their home island. No one had much of an idea as to why the scaly beasts had done this, but they hadn’t been harmed. The dragons couldn’t hurt them physically because the Lumen, Oriana’s people, were pretty much made of light and so untouchable by beings of shadow. That didn't mean they were unaffected by their shadowed suggestions, leaving them open to manipulation.

This manipulation is what led some of the tribe to cry out for help. Their calls had been heard by the Father of Light, who sent a guardian phoenix to help protect them. The phoenix had used its powerful healing flames to drive the shadow beasts off the island, creating a barrier of light around it. This prevented the dragons from directly influencing the Lumen, and effectively keeping them in, though they could walk right out if they chose.

The Lumen were half cat, half human but mostly human except for their ears and tail. They had the ability to weave light around objects, and meld it into tools. They once had prosperous trade with the other races with this skill until the dragons came, shutting off all forms of communication to the outside world.

Even though the dragons were sealed off the island, they never truly left, returning to the chaos of the ocean they had inhabited at the dawn of creation. The storms they generated covered the sun most days and prevented sea-faring travelers from venturing close to the Lumen's island. That is what really isolated the tribe from the rest of the world. No one had been sure as to the exact location of the Lumen's island before the dragon's attack, and now it was like they had vanished entirely. Only the relics of their skills and craftsmanship spoke of their existence, which was otherwise masterfully hidden.

Oriana had once wondered if there was ever any hope of them being freed from their island prison, where life seemed dismal with no hope for the future except the continuation of darkness spreading. Most Lumen chose to live as though nothing was wrong; living peaceful, mundane lives despite the suffocating darkness. She had asked her father one day if there was any chance of being free from this oppression. He had asked a seemingly random question in return.

“When you find yourself alone and the sun is shining bright, do you ever feel another presence inside? Like you’re not really alone? More than just that of our great Father, who is always with us.” Gentle curiosity was the only thing in his voice.

Oriana had thought for a moment before responding that, yes, she did feel another presence. Her father had then gone on to explain to her about her birth. How she had been planned but her parents had been blessed with two baby girls; twins. How they had been warned about the coming darkness and isolation, and had hidden their second daughter away; safe, far from the island. The dragons wouldn't be able to sense Oriana’s sister because of a charm her mother had placed on the child before her death, preventing the girl's detection both through her gift with light and her physical differences. To others she would appear human.

Her father had gone on to say that he suspected the reason the dragons had been so intent on gathering the Lumen to one place and detaining them was to prevent the light users from opposing the spreading darkness. A Lumen would be less susceptible to the dark promptings, though not immune, and so would be able to fight back. With this containment and disconnection from the world, the Lumen had fallen to despair, which was exactly what the darkness wanted. If they had no hope, and yet no extreme discomfort, they would have no reason to fight, making them compliant, and thus a neutralized threat.

They were in a period of peace. A time they could use to gather resources and prepare for the battle that would be coming. The phoenix had urged them to not grow complacent. To be ready for their day of liberation, to trust in its master and that all would be made right again some day.

Oriana's father continued to remind the people of this message, attempting to spur them into action and out of the 'normal' lives they had crafted. If they didn't prepare, when the fight for the freedom of the world finally dawned on the horizon, they would be squashed by their enemy. Oriana had faith that her sister would be among those who heralded the light’s return to the darkening world.

On the rare sunny days the Lumen had, Oriana found herself resting on her favorite hill beneath the bows of a large oak, soaking in the life-giving rays. She would often seek out her sister's presence, sending and receiving comfort through a bond forged of light. Oriana could sense something was about to happen that would change everything.