The Awakening

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Desperation, however, can lead to dark paths and dangerous pacts...

THUMP. One single, resounding, fateful knock on the door.

Charles, goggles-deep into a new alchemical breakthrough for the village, froze for a moment, trying to discern if he did in fact hear a knock at his door or if another one of his elixirs managed to "escape" its container.

THUMP - THUMP.

"Yes, yes... COMING! My, it's so late. I should be asleep by now, let alone the rest of the town..." Charles mumbled as he gently lifted the candle he was using to light his workstation, shuffling toward the door to his house. Glancing cautiously through the peephole, Charles saw nothing except a vague, humanoid silhouette. He gently placed the candle on a table beside him and grabbed a walking stick that was leaning against the wall by the door, ready to defend himself with it if needed, and then slowly reached out to the handle. With a swift twist of the wrist, Charles pulled the door back and readied his stick, only to be greeted by a woman with something cradled in her arms.

"Charles, I'm sorry to disturb you so late. I mean you no harm - no need for the... weapon?" She said, amused at Charles' choice of defense. "I... just need a favor from you, old friend."

--

"Remember Sion, I need Fluorine, not Chlorine! And this time, try not to spill any dodging another wagon - just stick to the side of the road!"

"Yes, I've got it father... Honestly, you don't have to worry so much," Sion said through a grin while lacing up his boots. "...And hey, last time it definitely wasn't my fault! I'm pretty sure the driver of that wagon hit their 'happy hour' a little early..."

Walking back into the room where Sion was getting ready to leave, Charles tilted his head slightly to the side, giving a stern but loving look.

"And make sure to get yourself something nice for dinner while you're out. I've already eaten, but I know you haven't - you've been too busy assisting your old man." Charles smiled and lifted Sion's hand, palm-up, placing a few extra coins with him.

"Thanks, father," Sion smiled back warmly, "and I'll make sure to get you something as well, because I know you haven't eaten anything either. Don't worry, I think I can haggle enough to make sure both of us won't go to sleep hungry again tonight." Sion turned and tried to walk out the door before Charles could respond, but he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"And, Sion... Please, be careful," Charles added with a reassuring tone, but solemn expression. "I know you can't always control it, but try to avoid anything out there that could get you worked up. We still don't know the extent of what could happen if you do."

Sion, still facing away from Charles, slowly let that thought settle in his mind, exhaling deeply, before responding. "...I can't promise anything, except that I'll try," he softly admitted while stepping out. As the door closed behind him, Charles stood there for a moment, reflecting on what happened last week. Sion was on one of his many weekly trips to the market when he saw his friend Roland (who, incidentally, finds himself in sticky situations quite often) getting pushed around in an alley, likely by some people who noticed that a few possessions of theirs went missing, and something just... happened. A flash of fire, and all three of the people who were harassing Roland were flat on their bottoms, eyes wide in equal parts terror and amazement, clothes mostly singed off, before running off. Immediately afterwards, Charles recounts hearing a deep voice emanating from the alley, in a language that... well, wasn't common, that's for certain.

Since that incident, guards have been patrolling the streets asking everyone if they had any information on what transpired in the middle of their village - witness reports covered a wide range of possibilities that ranged from some of them thinking that they heard a firework popping off to others telling these investigators that they saw dragon fire shooting out of the alley. For some of the older folk in the village, who have witnessed dragon fire first hand many years ago, this was a terrifying possibility. And it was along that very chance, however small, that had the city watch investigating... You see, there exists in the Kingdom an elusive cult dedicated to bringing destruction to the current monarchy. It's hard to say how long they've been in operation, but somehow their magic and rituals are linked to appearances of Dragons. They occasionally leave their calling card behind - a depiction of the Crown, burning in Dragonfire - drawn in ash for the agents of the queen to find in their investigations. It certainly seems like whoever is responsible wants the queen to know. This cult has a history of terrorizing the kingdom, using their deadly agents and the raw destructive power of Dragons to wage war on the crown. One by one, though, the Kingdom managed to vanquish the beasts and seemingly eradicate the cult. Not without sacrifice... Many of the Kingdom's brave knights have given their lives in the defense of the crown. But just when King Marik thought the Kingdom had managed to root out and destroy the cult, they brought forth their greatest weapon yet.

The last Dragon in this land hasn't been sighted for about two decades, not since the King led a military force to its lair in the mountain. It was a massive, vicious beast, scales the color of dark steel, wings wreathed in intense flame. After a vicious attack on the Kingdom following an attempted coup by the cult, something needed to be done... The Dragon left villages razed, grand structures shattered and crumbled, reduced entire groups of people into piles of ash on the ground. Seemingly, in a fit of destructive wrath. Only a handful of soldiers survived the assault - the King reportedly died in battle, sacrificing himself to deliver the final blow. The soldiers returned with a single Dragon scale, declaring the beast dead. So, rumors surrounding what happened in the alley when Sion lost control have Queen Nalia, who has been ruling the land on her own ever since, on edge.

She has been cold and unforgiving during her rule, particularly toward anything supernatural, magical or abnormal. The shadow of the cult's return has been a Dagger in her mind ever since they took Marik from her. Rumors of magic inevitably lead to harsh investigation - "Witches" are hunted... "Warlocks" put to the blade... All it takes is for one of the Queen's investigators to find an unlabeled potion, spellbook (real or otherwise) tucked away, or accusations of the practice of magic to risk being put to death. Charles himself, despite being valued by the queen, was all too familiar with navigating these accusations and prohibitions, since being an Alchemist meant frequently skirting the line between science and magic - which also made him particularly suited for looking after and protecting Sion.

From infancy, strange things seemed to happen around Sion. "Wild Magic," Charles labeled it. The kind of supernatural power you would find from one of the mages of the academy who were trained for decades to be able to manipulate magic, not from a baby. Once, during a tantrum, all of the torches and candles in the area were suddenly snuffed out all at once. There have been chairs and bookshelves found levitating across the room when Sion dreams. Ball lightning was once found floating around the room, Sion giggling at it with his outstretched hand guiding it in a dance around his crib... In another instance, when Sion was only a few months old, rain spontaneously formed and fell in a large radius around Sion after he decided that he disliked how warm his milk had become - the very air around him wept along with him! It was becoming harder and harder for Charles to hide Sion's gifts. Luckily, his position as Alchemist meant that he could afford a certain.. "creative freedom" in explaining these things to the village and anyone who came there asking about the events, but even a fool could suspect more if exposed to these things enough, and the investigators sent by the King were no fools. Charles was worried for Sion, with good reason to be.

--

"Everything ok, Sion?" Roland questioned as he caught up to him on the street. "You're looking a little distracted," he said as he twirled Sion's coin pouch around his finger. After getting no reaction, Roland caught the pouch in his palm and just continued walking with him in silence toward the market, occasionally looking his way, wondering what had his attention. "...It's about last week, isn't it?"

"Roland," started Sion, managing to pull his eyes off the pavement and glancing at his friend, "how are YOU so relaxed about it? You've barely mentioned it since it happened, and I saw the look on your face. You were just as terrified as the others when that flame burst from my hands. I could've accidentally hurt you, and you haven't said anything about it since." Sion's eyes drifted downward, a sense of guilt keeping him from meeting Roland's insightful gaze.

"...But you didn't hurt me, did you? And I know that it was just you being protective of me. I mean, let's be honest, I was totally about to talk my way out of it," he said with a sly wink, "but that doesn't mean I'm not thankful. Granted, you aren't usually that flashy!" Roland laughed, patting Sion on the back. "Let's just try to be careful out here, because I've overheard some of the villagers talking about it. Their rumors are getting straight-up ridiculous - I even heard ol' Ivan at the tavern swear to the whole place that the Dragon itself swooped over the village and blasted that fire."

"Good thing everyone already thinks he's insane! Remember his theory that the royal family are all actually a race of lizard people that are plotting global control?" Sion said through laughter, managing to crack a smile.

"Yep! Gods, that man is entertaining. But, Sion... It looks to me like your powers are becoming harder and harder to control. When we were kids, and you were angry or upset, what happened seemed more... minor? Like tying Jonathan's shoelaces together when he was bullying you at school, or accidentally turning your milk into mead. And like I said, I know you weren't trying to hurt anyone last week, but... what if it happens accidentally? I can't have my best friend on the chopping block for something he can't help. Have you considered the academy?"

"Well, I brought that up with Charles," Sion solemnly noted, "but he just told me that he thinks that's a bad idea. He said that 'I'm an anomaly, being able to do this without any training, and I'd draw the wrong kind of attention.' And that those in the academy are, since the King's passing and the Queen new laws against magic, treated more like weapons than people. That I wouldn't want that life."

Roland took a few moments to let that sink in. "Then I guess we just need to be more careful. Simple as that." Roland then tossed Sion's coin pouch back to him, and they continued on to the market. The poorly maintained roads in the village were in high demand today as merchants came from miles around to try their luck and offer their goods at the market. Dust filled the streets as feet and hooves kicked up the dirt of the roads, and the sounds of the raucous animals, wagons, and bartering buzzed through the air. The sky was mostly clear, with just a few clouds rolling in from the north, painting the occasional shadow across the land, and a light, warm breeze was winding through the streets and alleys. The scent of pies, fresh baked bread, seared meat and different perfumes and sprays even managed to lure some of the city folk to this humble part of the kingdom.

As Sion and Roland neared the market, they spotted a couple of guards harassing an older woman on the side of the road. "Unusual looking elixir you have there, mam. Looks suspicious - what does it do, turn you invisible? Help you charm market vendors into giving you better prices? Is it poison?!?"

"It's... this is just my medicine! It helps me get around after all those years working to support this village... to support you brutish lot, and your merciless queen!" the woman responded, a deep anger betraying her desperation. "Charles makes it for me!"

"What did you just say!? Look, I don't care WHO makes it for you. You're coming with me!" the guard commanded while grabbing the woman by her forearm, starting to pull her along toward the city gates. It was at this point that Sion recognized her - Alma, a woman who visits Charles every few weeks to pick up medicine that helps the inflammation in her joints. Sion's heart skipped a beat - he knows how quickly accusations turn into executions lately.

"It's true," Sion shouted out towards the guards, chasing after them. "I see her every few weeks! You see, I work for Charles. He's the village's sole alchemist - one of the best in the whole Kingdom, and a close acquaintance of the Queen. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend harassing one of his long-time friends and customers. The Queen wouldn't like the idea of two of her guards causing her trouble with the man who has single-handedly been advancing the science of her Kingdom," Sion said, smirking, eyebrows cocked.

"Well, uh... maybe... maybe, we'll let you go this once. But from now on make sure Charles puts labels on your medicine, so we know what it's supposed to be for and who it's from." And with that, the guards stomped back off toward their post.

"Thank you, Sion. It's good seeing you out here. I wouldn't say anything about this to Charles, though... you know how he worries when you make a scene around the guards. Have a lovely day at the market, you two!" Alma slowly continued her own journey to the market, clutching the elixir close.

"Bravo, Sion! Honestly? Pretty smooth! Got a bit of hero in you lately, huh?" Roland said as he patted him on the back.

"I usually can't afford to... you know why. But it's hard to just stand by when people are harassed over this ridiculous bias against magic. I mean, even if it were something less... domestic than medicine, what business is it of theirs as long as it doesn't hurt anyone?" Sion asked through tense jaws and clenched teeth. "Though something definitely seemed off with Alma. I've never heard her so much as raise her voice before." Roland, reflecting on that in silence, just kept walking forward. He didn't fully agree with Sion on that - he, too, has seen what unregulated spellcraft was capable of - but he wasn't about to stir Sion up shortly before reaching crowded public space, that's for certain.

--

A short walk later, the two managed to reach the market at the center of the village. Sion had a list of different foods and materials Charles needed to keep their work demands and their appetites satisfied. Sion decided to grab the materials first since they would be browsing for a fair amount of time. While navigating the labyrinth of stalls and vendors, he collected a host of chemicals - fluorine, sulfur and potassium nitrate in large quantities, along with some medicinal components such as salicylic acid and phenacetin. These were all found in different places, specialty items that vendors brought specifically to trade with Charles. By now, Sion knew them all by name and was friendly with them, though their location often changed. Afterward, Sion and Roland decided to start the food shopping, starting with a visit to the butcher's stall. They quickly noticed a different face running the stall.

"What's it gonna be?" asked the woman at the stall, with a sharp, dry tone.

"Um.. Hello, I'm Sion and this is Roland. Who are you?"

"..Name's Raina. What's it matter? You want some venison? Maybe rabbit, or squirrel? If not, make room for someone who does." Raina's eyes were hard. Sion was certain that she wouldn't be here at all if she didn't have to be.

"Oh, I'm interested. I just didn't expect someone new to be running this stall - was Brian unable to make it?" At the mention of Brian's name, Raina's face grew soft for a moment.

"My father is..." She stopped, cleared her throat, and continued: "I mean, Brian is unavailable."

"I see... Well in that case, I'll take one of each. Two, actually, if you can spare them," Sion had only planned to buy venison, but his gut was telling him that it would do some good for Raina if he spent a little extra coin at this stall today. Raina smiled back at him, and started getting some slices prepared. "What does Squirrel taste like?"

"Well, it's honestly like rabbit but less sweet and more nutty," she responded while slamming the cleaver onto the cutting board, "and these are particularly plump. I hunted these all myself - I know which parts of the forest are the best spots for each. That said, I'll take the coin first," she demanded, holding the packaged meat below the table in one hand while holding out an open palm with the other, waiting for the weight of coin to satisfy it.

Roland stepped in front of Sion, paying for all the meat and then tossing a generous tip onto her cutting board. "Thanks, Raina. Tell Brian that Roland and Sion said hello!" Roland noticed Raina wince at that and saw her features harden a little, but didn't press her about it. "...Sure. Thank you both." She immediately turned to start helping the next customer, but watched Sion and Roland for a while as they walked away.

"Well, that was strange," Roland commented aloud, with Sion nodding. "I wonder if something's happened to the big guy."

"Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing. Didn't know he even had a daughter, but she looks just as fierce as he does," Sion noted. "Honestly, maybe even more so!"

Just then, there was a loud scream at the edge of the market, followed by a haunting laugh that sounded like a few different voices in one. Suddenly, a wave of villagers began to flee from that side of the market, scrambling over each other to get away, toppling and tumbling over stalls - even the horses were sprinting away. Sion and Roland shared a look of panic with each other and a moment of silence before Sion dashed toward the noise. Roland, sighing and dropping his shoulders, forced himself after him, shaking his head. "Of course he runs THIS direction!"

There, at the edge of the market, they saw the cause of the commotion - there stood a tall, crooked hag holding her arms palms-out toward two guards, the same two that Sion had dealt with on the side of the road earlier. Her sickly-grey flesh, long, knotted fingers and bulging eyes gave her a terrifying visage, but something about her looked familiar to Sion. She had the two guards suspended in the air, limbs outstretched, with even more of the Queen's knights pouring into the market area to surround her. "NOT ANOTHER STEP, YOU GODLESS PUPPETS," the hag shouted, baring her twisted teeth at the crowd. "YOUR QUEEN IS THE REAL MONSTER! SHE PUNISHES THE INNOCENT BECAUSE OF HER OWN FEAR AND GRIEF!" The two guards suspended in the air began to yell out in pain as she spoke. One of the surrounding knights, unsure of what to do, fired his crossbow at the hag, but it never found its mark - instead the hag redirected it straight back at him with an unseen force, landing it straight into his arm, causing him to drop the crossbow altogether. "NOW, AFTER I DEAL WITH THESE TWO, I'M COMING FOR HER!"

Sion, seeing all of this happen, felt something powerful surging through him, something begging to be released. He knew he had the power to help... but in his mind, he debated for a moment on whether or not he should, hearing Charles' advice about staying hidden. But why should he? If he does nothing, innocent people could die. But if he uses his natural gifts, it could mean the end for him...

"Help...!" The guards called out for help, their voices straining against the crushing pressure that the hag was using to imprison them.

"...I've had enough." Finally, Sion reached his limit, and his mind dropped the inner debate and focused on only one thing: Ending the threat. Roland, noticing Sion's intentions and fearing that his friend would do something to expose himself, started sprinting toward him in an attempt to tackle him to the ground... but it was too late. An explosive force erupted from Sion, knocking away Roland, the other guards, everyone else except the Hag, who was now holding the guards with one hand and using the other to shield herself from Sion's presence. The loose dirt around Sion began to lift into the air, orbiting him. His eyes became bright gold flames, blue essence forming in his palms, starting to take shape. Dark scales started to form in patches along his face. Upon seeing him, the hag's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped a little. "IT'S... YOU... THEN, THE DRAGON...?"

The hum of a bowstring and whistle of an arrow filled the air.

In that brief moment of distraction, one arrow was loosed from a bowstring behind Sion and Roland. It passed over them, gliding right by Sion's ear.

After a moment of intense silence, the hag dropped the guards, lowered her head, and collapsed backwards onto the ground, a blood-slicked arrow sticking out of the wall behind her. Sion then snapped back to himself, calling back whatever was about to be released and helping Roland to his feet. The debris around him dropped, his eyes returned to normal, teh scales vanishing from his skin. Turning around to see where the arrow came from, they noticed Raina standing behind them, bow drawn, breathing rapid and shallow, eyes glued to Sion. Roland, knowing that the guards saw what happened, grabbed Sion's hand and started sprinting toward the alley with him. "We have to get out of here, get out of sight. We need to go back and tell Charles! He'll know what to do! He has to!" Sion looked back at the hag one last time, and noticed something that fell out of her clothing... The medicine bottle. The elixir that Charles had made for Alma. Suddenly, it hit him - that hag... Could it have been...?

They burst through the doors to Charles' workshop, surprised to find him waiting for them, face twisted into an expression of sadness and regret. Sion, still shocked from what happened at the market, had trouble finding the proper words. "At the market... Something happened, there was a Hag, it mentioned the Dragon... and Alma? Her Medicine.. And I didn't mean to, but I..."

Charles, who had been staring at the floor until now, looked up at Sion with regret. "Oh, Sion... What have I done?"