Immortal

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Before they came, the Valley was a little town called Maisteek. For decades, the entire continent of Ackrland was overrun by dragons invading and imprisoning humankind. Clutches of the beasts would grow their hordes of prisoners and riches from the lands they ravaged. They had little opposition. Even the strongest of mortals could do almost nothing to stop an entire clutch of dragons from taking whatever they wished.

These invasions spawned orphans. Two such children, brothers, escaped the carnage during the siege of Maisteek and sought refuge in a city much larger and fortified against similar attacks. They found a new home within Willowbane.

Frederick and Cladwell relied on one another for support. Their brother was all they had left. Because of the carnage they witnessed and the experience of a loss unimaginable for many, the two developed an ever-burning ire against the monsters that sent them down their paths.

Dragons. Merciless beasts. They were driven by greed and obsession, tremendous and powerful and therefore unchecked in their hunger for more. Each brother desired retribution; They wanted the dragons to know fear for once.

"Cladwell!" Frederick shouted. "The sun is nearly at its highest, how are you not ready yet?!"

"Just a little longer, brother!" Cladwell replied. "I'm nearly finished with writing down this spell."

"I'm sure Elder Solon will forgive you for writing during the lecture, now let's go before we die of old age!"

Cladwell lifted his pack of spellbooks and scrolls and hurried to the front yard of their home. They could afford little by running errands and hunting for bounties, but the little mud hut and the straw roof were more than enough for the brothers. The hut was fit to sleep in, which was all it was used for.

"If you are so impatient brother, you could always go ahead of me," Cladwell jested.

"And leave you behind? Never. You would be lost without me," Frederick grinned.

Frederick wrapped his arm around Cladwell's neck and pantomimed a few punches to his brother's gut. Cladwell laughed and tried to get away. "You brute," Cladwell growled as he writhed in a futile escape. "Who really needs who? You can't spend more than an hour without me beside you. Aren't you supposed to be the independent one, older brother?"

Most of their time was spent learning from their Masters Solon and Marcel. Solon, an old and powerful wizard, and Marcel, the strongest warrior known in all of Ackrland, offered to teach the brothers different tools that they may master in order to become Dragon Hunters.

Each brother learned great things from both masters, but each had their favorites. Cladwell was quite skilled in magic and learned quickly. Frederick preferred learning how to harness the strength in his body. This suited the brothers fine, for they both understood their strengths and weaknesses and relied on their partnership to triumph against their shared foes.

Solon was the first master they would visit. He would wait for them in the garden surrounded by the Willowbane Academy. Although the walls of the academy towered like a fortress, within them nestled a sanctuary of calm, protected nature. This serene atmosphere was where the brothers would find Solon, sitting on a boulder under the shelter of a tree. Solon's hunched silhouette waited, his laughing blue eyes resting on the pages of a book. His long, white beard nearly grazed the ground while he read. The brothers slowed their approach, sat on the moss before the elder, and waited.

After seconds or moments, Solon placed the bookmark between the pages and closed the tome. His eyes remained on his lap as he pondered the first words of today's lesson. He licked his dry lips for a moment.

"Either of you, tell me," Solon began. "What is the definition of 'immortality?'"

The brothers, familiar with Solon's roundabout lessons, hesitated on the answer. Cladwell was the first to respond. "It means, 'to live forever.'"

"Correct," Solon confirmed. "There is no story older than the quest to live forever. There is no fear greater than the unknown, and the greatest unknown factor is, 'what is it like to die and what happens after?' Ever since humans have been able to perceive themselves, they have pondered and debated death, told stories of it, and explored how they may cheat it. As the two of you approach the ages of 15 and 17, it won't be long before you two reach half of a human's average lifespan. No human can escape death... But there are ways in which a human can achieve immortality. Can either of you tell me how?

"Is this question a trick, elder?" Frederick spoke. "No human can live forever."

Solon responded with a glint in his eye towards the young student. "You are correct. Death will come to every living thing with time. However, even as your body dies, you still have a chance to live on."

Cladwell straightened at the presence of this clue. "You mean memories?"

Frederick's eyes widened. "Or by blood."

"Ah," Solon grinned and a soft, airy laugh left his body. "You are both very clever. You have uncovered the scholar's debate on immortality. Of course, many still believe it only counts when one remains physically in the living realm. Those that don't, however, argue whether it is better to attempt immortality by passing down your blood or your memory. Like all timeless debates, there is no absolutely correct answer. Instead, I pose this dilemma to the two of you to ask for your answers."

"But it seems obvious," Frederick replied. "There is no choice needed when you have a family. You raise your children, teach them what you've learned, and as you grow old they will remember you and tell stories of you after you've passed on."

"Yes, but those memories will fade after a few generations," Cladwell argued. "And even your lessons that you taught in time will fade. To rely on the memory of family, you will live on for perhaps a couple of hundred years. To do something worth remembering, you may live on in memory for thousands."

Frederick turned incredulously to Cladwell. There were few things they disagreed on, and never anything so important as this. "Even legends fade from memory, brother. Even if they last longer, there is no love behind those memories."

"I disagree. Idols of our past inspire great people that remember them who become legends themselves."

"We cannot all become legends, Cladwell,” Frederick’s voice raised. “You will strive for greatness and abandon the love of a family for the chance that others might remember you?"

Cladwell’s eyes widened, but he kept his voice even despite his counterpart’s rising emotions. "What about you, Frederick? You will obsess over having a family even though there is no guarantee your children will value your knowledge, or have the passion to tell their children stories of you, assuming you are lucky enough to find love or raise children in the first place?"

"You have both made good points on your position on this topic," Solon interrupted. "Let us rest on this debate for now, however. We have some things to review from our previous lesson and we can return to this query tomorrow."

Frederick took a few calming breaths, his large stature shrinking slightly. He wasn't aware how riled up he’d gotten. Solon was wise to stop it where it had since Frederick felt as though he could have said things he would have regretted. He glanced at his brother who met his gaze with a furrowed brow shortly before a strained, reassuring smile.

After some time, Frederick and Cladwell settled comfortably in the garden as Solon reviewed some things to remember when facing a hostile dragon. Firstly, Never let a dragon know your true name. Much like fey, dragons have identity magic. Knowing one’s name is how they could enslave them by either an enchantment or altering their memories. Secondly, dragons could disguise themselves as humanoid, so be wary of strange hair and eye colors, or sharper than usual teeth or nails. Third, dragons by nature obsess over collecting and hoarding. The object of their desire varies from gold to knowledge, but if someone has what the beast obsesses over, they can at times be bargained with. Dragons are cautious and clever, so they should not be underestimated. Solon continued with a new subject; how to determine the different breeds and how they are different in culture and temperament. This topic interested Cladwell greatly, though Frederick cared to pay attention only to what weaknesses they had.

At the end of the lesson, each brother expressed their gratitude and began their journey toward the ocean. Master Marcel lived outside the safety of the city's walls overlooking the sea that rested North of the gate. Marcel himself was a man of legend. It was rumored that he approached the city from the ocean on a ship filled with panicked, sorrow-filled refugees. They spoke many languages and claimed to have lived on an island that sank after some unspoken tragedy.

There were many names for this mysterious land, perhaps because of the many languages. The people of the ship had different, and often conflicting memories of this place as though no one could really remember their own homeland, or, as some suggested, as though it were some strange hoax. The only fact that everyone remembered and agreed on was that Marcel was the one to save them. Marcel himself was a man of few words and never spoke a word about this mysterious, unknown, and reportedly perfect place that became lost in every way imaginable.

Even as this land faded into folklore, Marcel's miraculous strength was proven. He wore no armor, yet he had triumphed over soldiers, large beasts, and even a dragon using only a spiked buckler as his weapon. He was unbeatable, and no one idolized him more than young Frederick.

The boys approached a silhouette overlooking the crashing waves. Long black hair swayed with the salty air. Rays of sunlight warmed tan, scarred muscle. The battle-seasoned man turned to face the sound of the pupil's approach. Marcel wore a hide around his waist and on his pants, but he stood shirtless and barefoot as he often did. The feeling of sand and sea resonated within Marcel, as though it reminded him of home. That was the impression Frederick had of it, anyway. The master's intense green gaze showed only glimpses of the many secrets he kept.

"Master Marcel, we are ready for our lesson." Frederick bent at his waist to bow to his mentor, and Cladwell followed his brother's lead. Marcel bowed in return. Once he straightened, his gaze pierced Frederick.

"Begin."

Frederick blinked. He looked over to Cladwell who met his gaze with a shrug. The older brother looked back to ask Marcel what he meant when-

Frederick's back hit the sand beneath him. He felt the air in his lungs leave at once and it took a few seconds for his lungs to inhale again. "Master, why did you do that?!" Frederick heard his brother exclaim.

Marcel leaned into Frederick's line of sight. "I warned you. Next time, be ready." The warrior offered a hand to Frederick and helped the boy back to his feet. Marcel alternated gazes between his two pupils. "Until you strike me, you cannot go home."

Both brothers were speechless. In a usual lesson, Marcel would teach Frederick techniques and have him train on his power, reflexes, and quick wit. He would then have Cladwell practice the spells that he learned with Solon. He would spar with each brother individually for a time. This time, there was no technique, no practice, not even clear direction.

Frederick managed to catch his breath. His gaze was fixed on Master Marcel, stance low and legs tensed. After six years of training, was this the final test? Could it be possible that the reason this lesson was so different was that it was the final one? That had to be it. Flames flickered in his eyes as he swore to Marcel and himself that he would not fail.

Sand scattered into the wind as the older brother kicked off and raced towards Marcel. The Master lowered his stance and raised his arms to block in retaliation, but Frederick ducked quickly and pivoted his body to spin behind his opponent. He jumped to crack down a blow on Marcel's head, but he felt something grab his ankle.

"Oh no," He barely managed to cry as Marcel's huge strength pulled Frederick's legs from under him and slammed his back onto the beach. A long, squeaky cry escaped his lips as the air left his lungs once again.

Marcel offered his attention to Cladwell who was stunned speechless. "Take your time," Marcel offered before turning to head back into his little home.

Cladwell rushed to Frederick to try and help him up. "Brother, are you alright?"

Frederick wheezed. "Fine."

"I can heal you a little if you like," Cladwell offered.

"No, save your energy," Frederick declined. "I can do this."

Cladwell sighed. "Stubborn as usual, brother."

"Magic is your expertise. Fighting is mine. This is my battle to fight."

Cladwell sighed. "Isn't the point of all our learning and training in order to work together against the dragons?"

"This is my chance to prove to Master Marcel that I'm strong enough. Cladwell, please. This is important to me."

Frederick and Cladwell exchanged glances. The older brother's sky blue eyes pleaded to the younger. Cladwell conceded with a long, deep sigh. "Alright. I'll continue to do some research on my spells while you finish your trial with Master Marcel."

"Cladwell you are the greatest brother in Ackrland!" Frederick embraced his brother who helped him back to his feet afterward. "I will not quit. Once I succeed we can go home and celebrate!" With this proclamation, he hurried towards Marcel's hut while Cladwell stayed behind to practice the spell he wrote earlier that morning.

Marcel gathered some ingredients to prepare a meal. While he was busy, Frederick was working on some of his own preparation. One of Marcel's first lessons was the element of surprise and the importance of having the upper hand by planning when possible. As his Master placed his fish on the fire to cook, Frederick barricaded one of the two exits of the hut in an attempt to trap him. Once Marcel was in position, Frederick rushed at him with a full swing. He expected Marcel to counter or be caught off guard, instead, he dodged the young man's ambush which sent Frederick toppling over the barricade he created.

Several attempts were made over the next few hours. Cladwell could tell from the screaming and the thudding that things were not going well for his brother. Cladwell huffed at his counterparts' stubbornness and tried to focus on his spells. Thanks to Solon, he had such a vast resource for not only magic well established, but experimental spells as well. Cladwell's favorite pastime was exploring his own theories and experiments. He had a special interest in creating magical items.

Still, he had a few that he believed could help his brother. Some being the ability to conjure fire and ice, the ability to heal, one to blind or deafen foes, and then his eyes landed on the one he finished writing down that day. His eyes widened.

Frederick was tired, in pain, with both body and ego bruised as a fallen fig. He left Marcel's hut as a tactical retreat to calm down and rethink his plan. "I know you really want to do this on your own," Cladwell chimed up while walking to his brother. "But I thought up a plan. If you'll just let me help.-"

"I can't have you help me," Frederick cried. His shortened temper directed itself to Cladwell. "You are so powerful with your magic. You're smart and capable while I'm..."

Frederick took a few deep breaths. "This was my chance to prove that I can measure up to you, brother. This was the moment I could prove to everyone that I wouldn't let you down or hold you back."

Cladwell blinked. "Is that really what all this was about? Frederick."

The older brother didn't look Cladwell in the eye. Cladwell placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You have the tenacity and resolve that I could never match. You can stand to be beaten night and day and still refuse to give up. I would have done so surely after an hour of this trial. Brother, I've looked up to you my whole life. Your heart is outmatched. Your strength is admirable. You were the one that saved us when those monsters flattened our village."

Frederick sheepishly turned his gaze to his younger brother, whose honey eyes shone with sincerity. Cladwell smiled. "Please don't compare me to you. I wouldn't stand a chance."

Frederick chuckled lightly and set his hand on Cladwell's shoulder in return, leaning his head forward so that his forehead would rest on his brother's. "Forgive me. I was being foolish again." He straightened up. "So. You said you had a plan?"

Marcel found a moment of silence to clean up from Frederick's many failed attempts. The only thing the boy succeeded in doing was wrecking his Master’s home. He was about to sit down after clearing the barricade when the light sound of footsteps alerted Marcel that it was time for another round. He sighed, then turned around to stop Frederick's punch he aimed at the Master's head. He bent down to sweep at his pupil's legs, but the boy had learned this trick and reflexively leaped over his Master’s kick. Marcel took this opportunity to push Frederick back while he was in midair and he fell back onto the ground.

A sudden brightness and a whoosh of flame had Marcel jump and roll out of the way. From the other door, he saw Cladwell, muttering another incantation before punching the air towards Marcel, icicles emanating from his fists. Each spear of ice was shattered until the last one, which Marcel caught and launched back Cladwell's way. The younger brother yelped and ducked, but continued to chant. Marcel lowered slightly, about to advance on Cladwell when-

SLAP!

A stinging on Marcel's cheek. His head whipped to the left. And from thin air, Frederick materialized with his left hand twisted to his right. Time halted. For centuries, not a move was made. At least, that's what it felt like.

Cladwell was the first to break the tension. "It worked!" His mouth hung open. "Ha, the invisibility spell. It really worked!"

Frederick remained frozen as he watched Marcel turn his head to him. He rested his hand on his cheek, his stern gaze leaving the pupil petrified. Then Marcel laughed.

"One strike. Well done."

"Master," Frederick quickly gave Marcel a bow and Cladwell hurriedly followed suit, but Marcel only laughed harder. He hit Frederick's back and pulled him to his side.

"You learned at last. The stronger opponent is the one with allies."

The brothers exchanged glances.

As the interaction settled and the brothers prepared to go home and rest, Marcel exchanged purposeful looks with both of them. "Do not ever forget to rely on one another. Trust and love are the bonds you have. There is nothing stronger."

The three bowed to each other once more, and the brothers turned to head home.

After a bit of silence, Frederick spoke up. "Thank you, Cladwell. I couldn't have done it without you."

Cladwell met his brother's earnest gratitude with a grin. "Of course, you couldn't."

"Splendid," Frederick rolled his eyes. "Don't you have a hint of humility?"

Cladwell laughed. "But it's true. We are opposites, brother. We compliment each other. Truly, we need each other."

They both fell silent. There was a moment between the brothers that didn't need to be said. They both knew that Cladwell was right. If one were without the other, they both imagined that they would go mad. To lose each other meant to lose a part of themselves, and they silently agreed to never take their brotherhood for granted. Marcel was right; their bond was the strongest connection either of them had ever experienced. Frederick sighed. "I need to sleep."

"You did get quite a beating. I can barely recognize you with all those bruises."

"Alright, you made your point."

The brothers laughed together until Frederick halted mid-step, eyes trained forward.

"Wait, Cladwell. Did you see that?"

Cladwell paused with Frederick. "See what?"

"In the sky. I thought I saw something. Could I have imagined it?"

"Where was it, Frederick?"

The older brother pointed towards Willowbane, to the sky just above it.

They waited for a while, eyes toward home when there was a sudden alarm. Shouts and horns spread around the city signaling to the people. A dragon had been sighted.

The brothers looked at each other, instantly sharing the same message with their gaze, 'This is it.' Almost telepathically, they shared the same chill. They were determined for history to not repeat itself. History wouldn’t repeat itself. The city was more prepared for things like this. The brothers were now more prepared for things like this. Yes, this was truly it. This was their opportunity. The brothers sprinted towards the city, towards the danger, and towards their destiny.