Vanya and the Dragon King

Chapter One: The Woman

“There weren’t always dragons in the valley…” the familiar voice trails off into the distance as I soar through the sky. I feel weightless looking down upon the valley below. Vast green hills covered in yellow and purple wildflowers, wild horses galloping beside the river and a brilliant forest surrounding the valley. Why do I feel as though I have been here before?

“There weren’t always dragons in the valley,” the voice says again, snapping me out of my mind.

“Who are you?” I wonder aloud.

Her face appears before me but my gaze is focused on the elegant, white beaded gown flowing down to the floor. A crown of clear quartz crystals wraps around her forehead, with a small amethyst stone in the center. She flashes a warm smile and takes my hand, guiding me through the valley.

“This is what my home looked like when I was your age,” she says as she points to the village below. The crisp wind hits my face, making me catch my breath. I could smell the fire before I saw the smoke. The peace I felt quickly faded as a shadow loomed over us. Are those… wings? The pit of my stomach began to turn when the full view of a red and black dragon flew overhead, heading back to the village it came from.

“We have to help them!” I yell.

“There is no one left to save, my dear.” She said with a smile, “but there is something you can do for them.” Before I could question her, I saw them. Their bodies of light wandering the town, stuck in the realm they once called home. My body begins to shake as I begin to feel their souls’ agony in my bones. All I can do is watch as the village is destroyed.

“You need to guide them to the other side. Come home to guide them and reclaim your ancestral land.” She said.

“I can’t it is forbidden!” I cry out, the warm tears streaming down my face. “Maerut, the Dragon King will destroy my home if I cross the boundary, just as he did yours.” I added softly, “He will kill me.”

“Dear child you do not understand, you have already won.” The woman picks up a handful of charred earth, letting it fall between her fingers as she stares off into the distance. “Vanya, you are the granddaughter of Rennyn and Ausa Lianthorne; King and Queen of Lianastorr. You are the only one who can take back our homeland. Go home, it’s time.”

Her words began to play over and over in my mind. What is she talking about? I turn around to tell her she has me confused with someone else, just in time to see her begin to fade away.

“It’s time.” She says. At that moment I begin soaring through the sky. I see my hands and legs outstretched in front of me, my hair flying around my face. The cries of the countless lost souls still echoing inside my mind as I am thrown back into my body.

I jolt up, heaving and ready to vomit.

“Thank god. It was just a dream,” I think as I remove sweaty hair from my face. I look to my left to find my notebook, “I need to journal this one.” I mutter to myself.

It was different than the others. This time I could see the woman speaking to me. She seems so familiar. Why does she keep calling me Vanya? Who is this king and queen she’s talking about?

As I reach for the journal, I notice a small pile of charred earth on top of it, with one yellow and one purple wildflower sitting neatly on top.