Beneath the yawning black sky, deep within the untouched heart of an Elyrian oak forest, a strange red sphere spun silently. No larger than a man's fist, it hovered just above the moss-laden earth, rotating so fast it hummed with invisible soundwaves.
Crack.
From the dense foliage, a small doe stepped out, her hooves barely making a sound on the forest floor. Beside her, a timid fawn followed closely, its large eyes full of innocent curiosity. Why they had strayed from their herd remained unknown, but something about the glowing orb had beckoned them.
The doe paused, nose twitching as she gazed upon the pulsing sphere. Her ears flicked. The fawn mimicked her awe, and both remained entranced as the orb began to swell, expanding outward in eerie silence until it morphed into a towering ring of spinning red energy—a portal.
The air vibrated. Mana thickened. Still, the doe did not move. Her breathing quickened, her eyes locked on the mesmerizing glow.
A tiny cry came from her side.
But she did not turn.
The fawn crumpled to the ground, its small frame shriveling as if drained of life. The doe remained still, eyes vacant, unmoved by the death of her offspring. Her gaze, now rimmed in glowing crimson, was locked on the spiraling vortex.
Then it came.
A clawed, scaly hand reached through the portal, followed by the hulking frame of a creature far removed from the natural order of this world. Eight feet tall, covered in forest-green scales that shimmered like emerald armor, the beast took one long look at the sky and inhaled.
The air smelled of mana—ripe and rich.
"How long has it been since I last breathed such sweet air?" the beast muttered, baring a grin lined with serrated, shark-like teeth. He turned to the doe.
"A welcome gift?" he mused darkly. "The realms reward me already."
He raised a clawed hand.
"DO NOT EAT IT, FOOL!"
The command shattered the night like thunder. The creature jolted backward, eyes wide. The voice had come from the doe. Not her mouth, but something within her—ancient, commanding.
Komodo—a name cursed in forgotten languages—dropped to one knee. "Forgive me, Master," he hissed, his long tongue flicking nervously.
"This doe shall serve as my vessel in this realm," said the voice, echoing from the doe's unmoving lips, her eyes gleaming like molten rubies.
Komodo's head bowed. "May I inquire, Master?" he asked humbly.
The doe's glowing eyes narrowed. "Speak, but be swift."
Komodo licked his lips. "Why choose such a... fragile shell to carry your glory?"
A sigh escaped the doe's throat. "It was the only living thing to answer my call. The summoning must be answered willingly."
"Then grant me permission to search for another," Komodo offered. "A more suitable form, worthy of your majesty."
"No," came the sharp reply. "Stick to the orders. Failure is not an option."
"Never, my lord," Komodo swore. The doe remained silent for a time, red eyes scanning the forest, her nose twitching.
"Soon," she whispered, voice heavy with hunger. "Soon, all dragons shall roam these lands once more."
Komodo's breath caught. "Yes, my lord... soon."
"I will need more vessels," the doe continued. "This one will not last long. Until then, keep a low profile."
"And if I encounter resistance?" Komodo asked, voice low.
"Kill them," the doe commanded. "But only in your human form. The world is not yet ready for our return."
"As you wish." Komodo bowed low, one last time.
Then, without another word, the doe turned and vanished into the forest, sprinting at a speed unfitting for her kind—an unnatural blur of flesh and divine will.
Komodo sighed. "Always such a killjoy."
A grotesque sound filled the forest as his body cracked and shrank. The towering lizard collapsed in on itself until it reformed into a bronze-skinned human, lean but still menacing, with slitted eyes and clawed fingers.
"Let's get this over with," he grumbled, tugging at his new skin like it didn't quite fit.
He stalked forward through the trees, pausing occasionally to sniff the air. The forest, however, was eerily quiet. Not a whisper of intelligent life. Komodo growled in irritation.
"Why in the abyss did that portal open here?" he muttered, scratching his head. He tried to remember what his fellow knights had said—but the memory evaded him like mist.
His sulking ceased when a familiar scent wafted to his nose.
Elves.
Further ahead, five elves walked along a worn path, their voices echoing between the ancient trees.
"I'll bet a hundred gold coins God-Rank Hamilton gets knighted," boasted one with ash-blond hair.
"Two hundred he doesn't," replied the elf beside him.
"What's your problem, Lapis?" asked a third, a tall elf with a scar across his cheek.
"I just don't think he deserves it," Lapis shrugged. "Sure, he saved the princess, but..."
"But what?" asked the elf leading the group, glancing back.
"Well..." Lapis smirked. "There are whispers. Some say Vandrel's uncle was part of the Brotherhood that betrayed the queen."
All eyes turned to the fifth elf—Vandrel.
He exhaled deeply and sped up, leaving the group behind.
"You went too far," one of them scolded Lapis.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Please," Lapis scoffed. "People like him are why the Flower and Leaf clans are shamed."
Silence fell again.
Then—
"Did you see that?" Lapis asked, eyes squinting into the trees.
"See what?"
"That!" he pointed frantically. From the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, naked, unbothered.
The elves drew their blades at once.
"Who are you?" Lapis demanded.
The figure stepped into the moonlight. A man. Bronze-skinned. Smiling.
"What brings you here?" another elf asked.
The man raised his hand.
"You four, of course."
Screams tore through the night.
Far ahead, by a quiet lake, Vandrel splashed water onto his face, struggling to drown the rising fury in his chest.
Then the screams reached him.
Sharp, blood-curdling, final.
His heart seized. Fear rooted in old memories gripped him.
He turned—and ran.
Deep into the forest, away from the horrors he could not see but knew too well.
Away from the monster reborn.
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Confused about Vandrel (the raven-haired elf)? Check back on Chapter 5: Rogue Elves. Don't forget to vote, comment, and share your thoughts. I'm building toward something great.