Hero's Quest

There weren't always dragons in the Valley.

But everything changed ever since the world started to end. I always thought I wanted to just escape this reality… but I would have never thought that I would be teleported to another world by an angel!

My name is Justin Lanel. I was a regular high school student, well… I was more of the student that keeps his head down, and counts down the hours until I can play my new favorite game.

I have brown long shaggy hair and green eyes. I have a fair build, but I think I look ok for a fifteen-year-old boy. I am more of a loner, but I can get along with anybody at my school. I just choose to be alone. When I start reading a good book, I just get so wrapped into it. Stories are so important and life-changing to me. I read and find myself acting like one of the characters I just read or watched about. My second obsession is playing video games. I am good at it, and it takes me away from my thoughts.

But one day after school, I saw someone who looked familiar to me, walking into the woods. I was compelled to follow this girl deep into the woods, big mistake. I got lost and found a clearing with a tree with no leaves but with an apple.

The lush green grass, sometimes they bend but don’t break from the breeze of the wind. The warm gentle wind blew past me, through my long hair. I was captivated by this apple. It wasn’t your usual red or green apple but a twinkling gold.

My body was on autopilot walking closer and closer to this tree. The shade of the tree slowly devoured me. I was too late to notice but there was no sound in the woods, a horror movie red flag. But I only had tunnel vision for this apple. I picked it, the weight of the apple was light but no different form a regular apple. I can still remember the sensation of the apple resting on my palm.

My eyes got dried and I blinked. Just like that, I was in another world. This was the start of my journey and many hardships.

In this world, there are monsters; like goblins, ogres, vampires, and even dragons. I stared up at the sky, all I could see were dragons circling around the Valley. As if they are watching their prey, like crows. A group of crows are called a murder. But did you know a group of dragons are called Armageddon.

I am confronting this special jet black dragon. This is the Dragon of the Apocalypse. Would you believe this dragon was so different and beautiful… then The Fallen Light changed everything.

The Fallen Light is a group of people who were dubbed The Four Horsemen, The Holy Spirit, and the Chosen One. Each one of them strives to end this world and restart everything because we are living in a world of false light.

I remember the ancient story that I uncovered with my friend and an obnoxious fairy that grew on me. Right now she is flying behind my shoulder. This fairy’s red shiny hair and soft red eyes. Sometimes it reminds me of an orange-red sunset and her beautiful face and pointy elf-like ears that are poking through her hair.

The story goes: “Long ago, the world was born in darkness until a divine light appeared. The light split itself into seven angels. Each angel was a piece of this brilliant light. The unique angels created a race in their image. The six races: Humans, Monsters, Demons, Spirits, Weapers, and Beastmen. The leader of the angels shined Heaven’s light upon the world and life was bathed in its radiance. The world was flourishing, until they lost sight of their goals. The people became greedy and wanted the light for themselves. This caused chaos and disorder among the angels, ultimately resulting in a Holy War. A war where there was no winner and everyone’s selfish desires cause Heaven to close its gates. The light was gone, and so were the angels.”

The world was divided, humans couldn’t get along with monsters. Beastmen and demons clashed. Spirits try to preserve the planet and nature, while weapers will carry you onto the afterlife. Weeping and mourning your death, hence their name.

To think that an angel brought me into this world. Is it a blessing or a curse? Devil’s Advocate is when a devil is over your shoulder telling you to do bad things. Angel’s Advocate is an angel over your shoulder telling you to do good but here is the twist… What if this angel is responsible for ending the world?

My hands weren’t steady. In fact, they were shaking wildly until I took a deep breath. The black dragon also took a deep breath as we were in sync. I pointed my sword towards this monster. “I won’t let you end this world!” I shouted.

I actually have some confidence to back up those words. “Justin, you can do it!” the fairy cheered. Her right eyebrow was twitching and she was forcing a really bad smile. Are you saying that to reassure me or yourself? What kind of friend is she?

“You got my back, right?” I teased and smirked. “Ye-yeah, I am holding on to your back!” she remarked. I sighed, that’s not what I said. She is kind of killing the moment here.

“Human, who is in black like me, you have piqued my interest.” The black dragon spoke in a heavy deep voice. It was as if its words were power, weighing us down to the ground. I wish I could look around me and see if it was talking to someone else.

But my eyes can’t leave this dragon. Dragons are the apex of monsters, defeating one will earn you the title “Dragon Slayer” and there are a few that have achieved such a feat.

I like wearing all black, my black pants and shirt look great on me. Not to mention, I am wearing a white jacket. But I don’t have the nerve to deny that I am the one it's talking to. “I can say the same, Dragon of the Apocalypse.” I grinned.

“Huh, you can understand what it's saying?” The fairy asked, confused. “Wait, you can’t?” I answered her question with a question.

Is it because this dragon is special or am I?

“I have awakened from my somber, like the prophecy. Why get in my way?” The black dragon asked me. “Because, I am a hero” I shouted proudly, and continued, “and where I am from, heroes defeat dragons and save the world!”

The Dragon of The Apocalypse roared. The sound was so loud, I had to cover my ears before they burst. The roar sounded like a lion then ended with the sound of an elephant. I can tell the atmosphere changed and this situation got serious.

“Phantom Phase!” I shouted back at the black dragon. This is my power, the ability to turn into a spirit. A flash of light enveloped me, but quickly faded. My long brown hair turned white. I can see some strands of hair falling between my eyes. My left eye turns gray as if magic covers it. I heard that it's gray like a cloud.

Speaking of clouds, I looked up and saw the dragons just flying in circles. Carefully watching us. My white jacket grew longer like a cardigan. Two spirits gently float around me, one is black and the other is white. I named them Salt and Pepper because they remind me of the white and black specks.

I pointed my sword towards the dragon but this time, I am confident and ready.

The black dragon and the white hero. Like yin and yang. I ran towards the dragon, as it flew towards me…

End of prologue.