Hello watchers, readers, and anticipators. After the release of my journal around two months ago, I have been working on making this story as best as I could make it. Although this instalment is short, I hope that future ones are not, and that all of you enjoy the read that comes with a story. Anyways, without further ado, I present to all of you... 

Dragonhearted Chapter One

"Lost, but marching on, like we've always known the trail, 

Searching, for our, ending to the fairytale."

The sky had obviously started to express its disdain with the people sheltering beneath it as it started to release rain in torrents, the deluge pouring down upon the hopeless people as they feebly attempted to ward off the rain with all sorts of techniques, like umbrellas, oiled leather coats lined with wool and as a final measure, staying in their homes, hovelling in their hovels as the rain trickled through holes in the roof and fell upon their heads, cooling them instantaneously as they had no warmth to fend off the chilling effect. Even though the deep deluge had only just begun, people were already praying for their God to cease the rain, bring them sunlight and bring them warmth. This chill didn't affect this person though, he swept through the streets with an ominous ambience, threatening violence as he walked from the edge of the village to the edge of the forest, a deep green blanket of trees completely encompassing the countryside that contained the tiny village. The man screamed drunkenly into the woods after he reached the border between the woods and the countryside, “I am not afraid of you! You mean nothing to me! I shall kill you like the 'slayers have killed most of your kin!"

There was a deep, threatening growl in response to what he said, a chill was sent down the man's spine as his blood turned to ice in his veins in fear, in terror. “You should be afraid… You little, drunken, man." The creature responded with a deep and growling voice, almost beast-like that definitely implied an unhappy end.

“You are…" He paused in his drunken rant as he stumbled across the grass, “Not of this world! You foul demon! I shall send you back to the land of fire and brimstone… Where you belong!" the drunken man screamed, the effects of the alcohol stirring the senses received in his mind disastrously as the creature became further enraged. 

“I have been in this land longer than any human like you! This is my home… And a village idiot like you is not going to take my home from me!" The creature growled out angrily, a snap audible as his jaws shut powerfully in hatred of the statement. 

“That is a lie! You foul creature! No beast like you has a home in a place like this! You are as much a liar as you are a demon!" The broken, and completely drunk, man said. 

“If I am a liar… Then the only honest thing that can come out of my mouth is this; Run, or die." The beast returned in his deep and growling voice, a maliciousness that was fueled by the anger caused by the man's slander. His threat worked though, and the man was sent packing back to the village, crying out for help that nobody listened to… Nobody challenges the beast and lives. 

A silhouette came and approached the beast, following the exact trail the drunken man had blazed not moments before. The silhouette could be determined as female from the shape of the body, but not much else could be determined, apart from the fact she was a human. Her voice escaped from her shadow-like form, a strength cutting through the silence like a hot knife through butter, “Bestill your anger, my friend, for I have something to say before the night ends. There is imminent death hanging over the valley, of whose, I do not know. There is also wisps of curse coming through. I believe it is tied to your own self, so you should be cautious. But soon… The fates of a legendary warrior and yourself collide, an innocent also being involved. Though for what reason, I cannot foretell. All I can say to you is, you need to be prepared." She then went silent before she said farewell in her usual manner, “The fates have spoken, my friend. I hope you use this information well. May the fates deem us worthy of another meeting." Upon saying that, she left with as much enigma as she did when she arrived. 

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Alara looked to the sky with a smile, the flooding rain was finally over for the first time that week, and the sun cast its pleasant rays upon the relieved citizens, and making the mud steam as the heat gathered inside it and evaporated the water inside, turning it back to dirt. The sunlight cheerfully caressed her figure and smiling face as she stood happily in the fields of the farm in which she lived, the wheat stalks lightly brushing against her as she stood and looked up at the sapphire blue sky. A sudden outcry from the village knocked her out of her silent optimism as the screams caused a curiosity led her towards them. Oh, it's just Bart. She thought as she recognized the voice of the town drunkard, but something about his tone struck her heart. Something is more wrong with him than usual... She thought as she drew close enough to make out the words Bart was shouting. 

“We cannot let the beast in the woods live! He attacked me two days ago and you haven't done a thing about it!" He shouted with obvious disdain and anger for all who were gathered there. Alara snorted. She half wanted the wooden platform he stood on to contain gallows, those gallows holding the ominous sight of those friendly ropes, and one of those necklaces of rope pulling taut around his thick neck. Man she could be dark sometimes. The beast never attacked him… If anything… Bart angered the beast… What a drunk fool. She thought in disdain as she turned on her heel to storm off in her anger and frustration, definitely having enough for one day, but what happened next froze her in her stride. 

“I agree with you, Bart." The mayor of the town said with his snake-like voice of extreme charisma and supposed wisdom, as he strode onto the wooden platform with a regality that only a high born could hold, the regality emanating courage, and confidence while the wooden soles of his expensive shoes clacked with exactly the same manner, his purple cloak also signified his status in society, while seeming to make his ambience reinforced, while drawing looks of envy and jealousy from those of a lower caste to him, “We need a way to placate… Or even kill the beast in the woods… And I believe I have an idea for that." He spoke with so much courage that it was hard to believe what he was saying was false, but Alara's will held her fast on her opinion… That the beast is innocent, and the town was wrong about him. As that train of thought ended, she turned heel, and left. Her mind so set on her hatred of the mayor's enigmatic views and the mayor's charismatic tongue. She stormed off to leave through the dirt pathways, leaving behind the mayor, leaving behind the problems of other people… Leaving behind the problems that will come back to haunt her in the future. 

As if in ignorance of her departure, although he definitely noticed her departure, the mayor continued to speak, his words flowing and sounding like honey to everyone in the vicinity, “I shall propose my new idea to the council, and if it is approved… Then we shall strike a deal with, if not then slay, the beast. I shall inform you of any change or update in my plans, and good morrow to you all, fine citizens." He then quickly turned tail and left the commons, striking up a frenzy in his wake as people started to whirl in confusion over what the mayor had said, A deal? With the beast? The collective minds of all the civilians seemed to think at once as they shouted and ran towards Bart, intent on killing him for their fate, imminent demise by a creature they couldn't even see, or at least, hasn't ever been seen. 

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“My sir, the plan you propose is absolutely preposterous! To make a deal with the beast will surely cause an outcry! It will cause war! I don't suppose that this is only just some elaborate joke? Have you truly lost your mind?"

“I assure you, this plan will not fail. If we could do this, then the people of the land shall be free from the oppression that the beast possesses. It will end the fear that the traders have when they look at our border. It will be the last we hear of the roars in the night... We shall be free." The snake-like tongue of the mayor spoke with ease, with fluency. At the one statement everyone seemed to visibly ease around the traditional round stone table, it seemed like the snake-like tongue of the mayor has yet again won over the ears and minds of everyone in the room, except for one. 

“That does not solve all our problems!" The one person on the council yelled, the only person that seemed to have a voice of reason on the circle of what seemed to be fan boys of the mayor himself, “What about this 'deal' you keep mentioning? What are the terms?"

“Fredrik… You are as much a fool as always…" The mayor sneered, raising a hand to quell the sudden nervous laughter that everyone in the room started, “The terms of the deal shall be negotiated by our most courageous warrior. A person who has proven time and time again that he is worthy of such a task… A person who has experience in the regards of slaying beasts… You should know who I am talking about now, Fredrik." The mayor continued, his tone ending with a sneer of disdain and disgust as if Fredrik was a lesser, when he was in fact an equal. 

“… Yrimeer…" Fredrik breathed, “How can you hope to get him on your side? He only acquiesces to those of pure heart, and soul! You have neither of those!" The words seemed to strike at the mayor like hammer blows, and claw gauges.

“You dare say I am not pure?! I know that Yrimeer only responds to those of pure hearts… You damn fool. That is why we shall use a maiden, for nothing is more pure of heart and soul than a maiden… That maiden being none other than Alara." It seemed like the mayor was having a great time, with the massive grin on his face and the glaze of revenge on his eyes. She is going to pay for what she did... He thought evilly, even though she didn't do anything to elicit such a reaction, She will learn to never ignore my words. Ever.

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A gilded, ivory ram horn resonated with a baritone staccato as the traditional hero caller started the call for Yrimeer, and his pure white steed of legend. The call shocked the people in the small village, since they  have heard this call only once before, and they were close to destruction on that occasion. It was the fear of a similar situation occurring that made them all run into their homes, all except one, that one being Alara, who stood there confused, since she did not know the true reason behind the horn, or the history behind it. In the moment of confusion that she had over the horn, a squadron of soldiers grabbed her arms and pulled her towards the clearing in the valley, where the light of purity shone down upon them. It seems Yrimeer has responded, and is coming on his steed that shone like pure light, having been enchanted with the blessings of faeries and fair folk. The paladin's armor seemed to be blessed in such a manner as well, the silvery plates of mail gleaming with a hint of gold as the light shimmered over the expanse of metal with a shimmering quality. Gems were inlaid into the plating to give his armor a more expensive, and higher class look that took anyone who gazed upon him's breath away, Alara was no exception. Throughout Alara's examination of the mounted paladin, he neared her, the soldiers holding her arms falling back and running off to leave Alara and Yrimeer alone, no one else to bother the two. Now it is time to make up for my mistake. She thought as he neared, I need to do exactly as the mayor asked. 

“Good morrow to you, fair lady. What seems to be the trouble in this region?" Yrimeer said with a startlingly rich voice, the deep, masculine voice barely muffled by the hallowed helmet on his head. 

“You need to help us, O fabled Yrimeer! A beast has appeared in our forests! And we need you to partake in a parley with it!" She cried, a marvelous act on her part, for she could not bring herself to think what would happen to the beast if he did not wish to reciprocate the wants for a parley. 

“Your situation seems quite dire indeed, Milady. I shall partake in the parley, if you follow me into the woods to make that parley. I know that may seem frightening… But I shall make sure no harm befalls you. I have my reasons for this, Milady, so please do not ask me why I wish for you to accompany me." He said gallantly, his tone a little… Off. The request he made caused her to gulp, her next reply coming out half as strong as she wished, even though she sympathized with the monster. It was one thing to show empathy for a beast, but it was another thing entirely to go face to face with one. 

“If it is that you wish, Yrimeer… Then that is how it shall be done." Her voice wavered at the end of her statement, showing the immediate nerves that were set on edge at the request, but not knowing fully why she both acquiesced to his request, and why her mind seemed to want to go, since she was truly fearful of her life at the thought of going close to the enigmatic beast, the beast that has scared so many. She was grateful the legendary warrior would be by her side, this fact filling her with resolve and banishing any trace of fear temporarily. 

“Do not have fear, milady, for you shall have this." Yrimeer said in a gallant tone, presenting a ruby encrusted wristband to her gaze upon saying thus. The wristband itself could be described over many centuries, every etch in the golden torus a story in itself, the coiling engraftments looking like vines coiling over the band itself, before wrapping around the outer edge of the perfectly cut hexagonal ruby that seemed to glow internally, as if it gave off its own light. It was vaguely entrancing, and Alara took it without hesitation. 

“Thank you, Yrimeer.  But could you tell me what it does?" Alara asked, truly intrigued over what a seemingly insignificant piece of jewelry, albeit a very intricate and beautiful piece of wrist ware, could ever do to help the current situation she was in, while she slid the band onto her left arm and immediately felt a rush of courage, and a nearby Skeeter, a creature that looked like a mixture between the pangolin and a raccoon, skittered away in fear of an unknown presence, or object. This caused a great deal of suspicion to arise in her upon seeing it, because it was not everyday a Skeeter ran from a human for no apparent reason, because they were normally attracted to humans, having no natural predators… So seeing one run from her was very strange indeed. 

Her suspicions that were aroused over the reason the Skeeter ran were confirmed when Yrimeer said, “That is one of the Bands of Fear. From the name alone you may be able to tell what it does. If you look at the bottom, you may see a scale, which means the band only affects those of the reptile family. I have a distinct feeling that the beast you are confronted with is a reptile, and I never disregard my gut feelings." He said, a slight tone of ominousness entering his voice upon saying those last few words, sending a chill down Alara's already chilled spine. 

“I understand. When shall we meet to negotiate with the beast?" Alara said with steel in her voice, a voice belying the fluctuating feelings of courage and pure fear. Yrimeer didn't seem to see nor hear the fear in her form and voice, but he did seem to notice the courage that contradicted that fear though, and his armor seemed to gleam more because of that. 

“We shall do the negotiation at the most appropriate time available… Three hours after dusk." He said, his steed of light starting to fuss as if desperate to move away. Alara noticed this, and was about to point it out before Yrimeer cut her off, “Fayrym is upset. He senses an impurity, something we both hate…" He said in a hasty, but explanatory tone. He did not mention that he knew where the impurity came from, for the source was incoming with a determined stride, a stride that demanded knowledge of the events going on. He finished the conversation by saying, “Nice meeting you, fair maiden. I shall meet with you at the said time by the northern edge of the woods, please do come with." He said, and half requested. His tone seeming desperate for her acquiescence, for her to arrive at the organized place at the organized time. She was going to give the affirmative when Yrimeer, and his legendary steed Fayrym, flashed away like an apparition, like a phantom that was never truly there at all, leaving her stunned and wondering whether she truly communed with the blessed, legendary warrior. 

“Alara! You better tell me what had been told to you, or you shall have it tortured out of you!" It seemed that only when Yrimeer was present, the mayor plays a charade of goodness. A goodness that was easily seen through, it seems. 

“It was promised that I would, mayor. Be patient and I shall tell you. We could have ears listening in, after all." Alara said with logic, her tone cold with seething anger and frustration. 

“Fine. We shall go to my manor posthaste then." The mayor returned, his face reflecting his mood at that time, one of frustration and impatience. He then immediately turned on his heels and started towards frustrationexpecting that Alara follow her, which she did with a hanging head, and a palpable reluctance. 

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And like that, my first instalment is finished. I hope that you have enjoyed it, and that my next chapter comes soon enough that you will get to see what happens to Alara, and the mysterious beast! See you all later!