Chapter 345: The Pull of Destiny
"There is a secret place in our Forest, far away from where any dragon or dragonborn is allowed to go. It is a sacred land that is known to hold something so precious that no one race was allowed to have full control over it. The key leading to this land was split in two and handed to both the dragon and the dragonborn races. But the Sovereign of your world, the man known as Fulma Rodge, has gone against the laws of our people, and he is currently seeking to take this Key from us in order to steal the precious item in our Forest."
Riyala’s brow was furrowed in shock as she listened to the dragon’s words! What Riyala was hearing now was so shocking because she couldn’t believe that the Sovereign had done all this for some precious item! What could have been so important that the Sovereign was even willing to take over the entire world for it!?
"This item... what is it?"
The dragon went silent for a few seconds after it heard this question, but it eventually hummed and asked.
"What do you know of the Dragon King?"
Riyala’s brow furrowed in shock.
"The Dragon King? You mean, Rumunaga? The first dragon?"
The dragon didn’t need to answer for Riyala to know that she was right, and Riyala’s eyes widened as she asked.
"Is Rumunaga actually real? That means the sacred land is his temple?"
The dragon nodded while huffing slightly.
"Yes, child, you are correct. The resting place of the Dragon King, Rumunaga, is within this forest of ours, and he lay there as vibrant and strong as the day he was put ot sleep by the dragon gods as a punishment for the destruction he caused in his anger. The Sovereign did not take over your world because he wanted to be King. He took control of your people because he did not want there to be anyone who would oppose him when he came here to find the temple of the Dragon King."
"But... why? Why did he want to find the Dragon King’s temple?"
The dragon sighed.
"It is a foolish reason, something that even I couldn’t bring myself to fully understand. Tell me, how long has your Sovereign been at his current level of power?"
Riyala frowned at that question, and she said:
"You mean his current Rank? I think he has been in his rank for more than twenty years. The last time we held a celebration for him increasing ranks was when I was still a child."
"And there you have it. The Dragon King’s temple is rumored to be capable of many things, and one of the more common rumors is its ability to allow a dragonborn to surpass their innate potential. Your Soverign has reached a plateau in his growth, and we are certain he is seeking the Dragon King’s corpse in order to obtain more power."
Riyala’s eyes were wide in absolute disbelief when she heard this! There were many emotions swirling inside her at the same time at that moment, but the only one that she could feel at the front of her mind was anger! That was it!? That was the reason why the Sovereign had taken everything from her! He killed hundreds of her people! He killed her family and her friends! He even killed her wyvern! And for what!? Just because he wanted to find the temple of the Dragon King!? Just for more power!? Riyala’s teeth clenched tightly, and she looked down and closed her eyes as she felt tears threatening to fall! Her hands were holding her coat tightly, and her entire body was shaking from the intense emotions swirling inside her!
"It’s not fair! Why would he do this? He has all that power, and yet he wasn’t satisfied!? He took everything from me because of this nonsense!? He killed my parents!"
The aged dragon didn’t bother to interfere as Riyala shouted in rage. Tears fell from Riyala’s eyes, and the dragon simply watched with a calm expression as Riyala cried for what she had lost. This was simply the truth of the world—those with power are capable of going to any lengths in order to obtain more power, and those without power have no choice but to be trampled on by the powerful! It was a fact that had been in existence since the dawn of time, and it will continue to be that way long after they were gone.
Riyala cried for a few long moments before the aged dragon brought her tail towards Riyala and gently used it to raise her head, and spoke kindly.
"Raise your head, child. I understand your despair, and I sympathize with your grief, but tears will not solve your problem. Only your action will help your people. Sigh~ you see, I do not have anything against your people, and in a different time, then maybe I would’ve agreed to your request and sent my dragons to aid you. But I am old and weary now, these bones have lived for far too long, and I do not have the strength to move around as much as I used to. The only thing I can do to protect my people is to confine them to this forest and make sure no one can come here to harm them."
Riyala’s hands tightened against her coat. She could understand the aged dragon’s words since she knew that it was very old, but this wasn’t what she wanted to hear!
"Is there really no other way? Please, I’m begging you. I just... I just want to protect my people."
The aged dragon hummed as it went silent for a few seconds, but then it finally spoke.
"There is one other way, child. But I do not know if it is a road you will be willing to walk."
"What road? What do I have to do?"
The aged dragon brought its head down so it was staring Riyala right in the eyes, and it asked.
"Do you know what I am, child?"
Riyala shook her head, and the dragon smiled sadly at her.
"Of course you wouldn’t. It has been a long time since I mingled with the dragonborn, but I am a very important figure in the world of both the dragons and the dragonborn. My word is law in this world, and I can command the dragonkin to come and go as I see fit. But I am also their protector and their caretaker. It is my job to ensure that the dragons do not stray from their true path and lose themselves. I am known as Leona, the Priestess of Fire and the mouthpiece of Rumunaga."
Riyala’s eyes were wide in surprise as she listened to all this! Riyala didn’t think that this dragon was someone with that much power! If the Priestess was that powerful, then wouldn’t it be easy for her to send the dragons to help? But Riyala looked at the Priestess’s greying scales and tired eyes once again, and she understood why the Priestess said she couldn’t leave the forest! It was obvious that she could no longer move at all! She was so old!
The Priestess smiled at Riyala before she said:
"My time as the Priestess has come to its end. I have lived a long, fulfilling life, and I have carried out my duties with diligence for millennia. So it is time for me to move on to join the Dragongods. But before I move on, I must choose a successor. Someone who will take my place and serve as the new Priestess of Fire. And from what I have seen in you, I believe that fate has ordained you to be that successor."
"B-But I’m not a dragon. I don’t even have my partner anymore. How will I take the title?"
Doon!
Riyala suddenly felt an intense pressure fill the cave! Riyala squinted as a bright light shone out from the aged dragon’s body, and she put her hand up to her face to shield herself from the light! The dragon’s body seemed to be growing smaller as time passed, and by the time the light dimmed, Riyala was shocked to see that the dragon had transformed into an old woman! The old woman was sitting on her knees in front of Riyala with a long black gown that covered her thin body. The woman had a wrinkled face and greying black hair that was tied back into a bun, and she gave Riyala a kind look as she spoke.
"You and I are not so different, my child. I also wandered into this forest a long time ago, following the pull of destiny, and I once sat in your place and was offered this responsibility by a Priestess from long ago. This is your destiny."