“Finally. Can’t believe those things fail when we need it the most,” said Ritik after examining a half-buried, lamp post-like, object in the sands. It looked like a decorative lamp from the gardens. Its size suggested its role as a pathway lamp.

A moment later, everyone heard a dragon’s roar, with Azureath roaring back.

“A dragon is calling us,” said Azureath.

Keeshar’s keen eyes could see a big figure from afar, beneath the sand dune they were standing on. It was a dragon and its rider slowly walking towards them. However, the Raptor also noticed something peculiar from the dragon’s features.

“He has no wings?” said Keeshar. “Doesn’t look like he’s a dinosaur, either.”

“He’s a sand dragon,” explained Ritik. “They are flightless and stockier in build. Their light cream scales blend in well with the desert.”

“I see.”

As they waited for the sand dragon to come to them, Ritik continued examining the lamp post-like object while letting out frustrated sighs. Richie caught on his sighs and approached the kobold.

“Can’t fix the lamp?” asked Richie.

“It’s not a lamp,” said Ritik. “It’s a sand duster to clear the pathway to Dracokin. The magicite’s clumped by anti-magic, but the design and the material used to keep it doesn’t permit easy cleaning. We need artificers with proper tools to open it up and recharge it.”

“Isn’t that what insulators are for? The magicite crystals is a battery, right? If you don’t put insulating material around it, it will not be efficient and will self-discharge in a higher rate. Sure, the situation doesn’t help, but in normal situations, that’s how it works, right?”

“That is a good way to explain it.”

“But isn’t having a duster in the middle of the desert sound like a moot point? I mean, there are sands all around us. Why can’t you just use something simple like a beacon?”

“There is a road this duster is supposed to clean. The fact that the road’s all buried up means that the duster hasn’t been working for a while.”

“You…don’t know the road’s been buried for a while?”

“I…don’t really go out to the desert that often. Why would I? It’s just sand everywhere.”

“There might be a treasure buried under the sand. Who knows? If your world works like an RPG, maybe digging around might give you something useful.”

“Or end up angering a sleeping sand dragon.”

“Well…that, too. Hope it’s sand dragon and not man-eating duneworms.”

“Those things never exist, Richie. I’m subterranean. I know what I’m talking about. Sure, there are stories to scare children from getting into dangerous mines, but as a kobold, we’d know dangerous creatures living in the mine. There’s this one story about a whole mining colony wiped out by insectoid infestations somewhere in the Central region. It’s already been dealt with, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.”

“I’m sure you people know what you’re doing.” Richie then looked at the distance. “And here comes the sand dragon.”

The sand dragon, just as Ritik said, was stockier than both Avila and Azureath. He was flightless and his head looked closer to that of a turtle or a tortoise than a dragon. Even so, he had no shell, only a body covered with hard, rock-like scales colored like sand, which aided with his camouflage.

The rider on top of the dragon was a dark-skinned human wearing a long, loose-sleeved, ankle-length garment covering most of his body. He was wearing a shawl covering his face, with his head covered by a patterned keffiyeh.

“Haven’t seen anyone travelling this far by land,” said the human. “But am I glad to see someone other than Athor. We’ve been stationed out here and there isn’t many villages this way, not to mention no one’s riding a car through the desert other than enthusiasts.”

“Haven’t seen or haven’t met?” asked Ritik.

“Seen, dear kobold. I do hope they didn’t teleport to Dracokin. Heard someone tried that. Scared the hell out of people when he came out the gateway all mangled up. He’s lucky the healers stood by. Haven’t seen injury that bad since…well, since the war.”

“Wait,” said Hans. He turned to Ritik. “Didn’t you teleport to Pol Hain?”

“And I got injured because of it. I knew the risks of teleporting to Pol Hain, so I focused on the Pillar’s signature and used the letter as a test. When you opened it, it signaled me that the attempt was a success.”

“And you teleported to our embassy, not knowing that maybe a letter and a kobold is different in so many ways? The letter is not alive, Ritik, and smaller than you are. Did you really consider the risk carefully?”

“I did. I am a mage instructor. I told my students and myself of the risks of teleportation and the importance of a ‘beacon’. But…I guess you’re right. I didn’t account for the anti-magic interference.”

“Maybe you did,” said the black dragon, before she turned to Zenithia. The small white dragon glared at her. The black dragon simply smiled.

“Anyway,” said the human rider. “You are always welcome in Dracokin. Just…try not to make a judgement based on what the Marked dragons are doing.”

“What happened to them?” asked Ritik.

“It’s better if you see them for yourself.”

***

Guided by the human and his dragon partner, they finally reached Dracokin after driving for five more hours. With the air still not polluted by anti-magic, Azureath and Hans flew in the sky, with the black dragon flying close by. They both watched the carriage full of their allies and travelling companions, wary of any pillars that might appear out of nowhere.

Yet Azureath was more fixated with the black dragon. She felt like she was everywhere, yet at the same time, she wasn’t. Athor, the sand dragon, did not even greet her like he did Azureath. Sometimes, the black dragon could be there, but other times she wasn’t. Just like when they first met, Azureath only found out that she was not just a disembodied voice when she appeared in her vision, which she knew was a deliberate attempt to announce herself.

She knew it was a form of presence concealment magic, but it did not feel strange. A dragon like her could easily sense something was wrong, but not with the black dragon. She was secretly surprised by her presence, too.

Curious, she asked the black dragon. To her disappointment, the dragon was as cryptic as always.

You will learn of the answer soon, azure one,” she said. “Patience is a virtue we dragon are blessed for.”

“Not every time. Not when I regard you as a stranger with a name I do not know.”

“It is a name you knew, yet cannot associate with the peculiar-looking dragon such as I. My name is Avila, bestowed upon me by my parents.”

Avila?” Hans quickly remembered the name on the placard under the statue. “You’re…Avila? One of the young black dragons of the Pol Hain statue, Avila?”

“That is correct, Hans Rezmirn.”

“But I thought it said you died. With Seraphor. You mean, you two survived the battle of Pol Hain, contrary to the history?”

“In a way. Then again, I only have an idea where Seraphor is. Even I don’t know where he ends up.”

“Does it have something to do with Qeveriyt, then?” asked Azureath.

“Perhaps. It is what comes into my mind in regards of your current predicament. I will tell you more about it, after we have finished our business in the city of dragons.”

“Why can’t you just explain about it now?”

“Would you afford to listen when you will be preoccupied?”

Avila’s statement became clear once Hans and Azureath looked forwards and almost hit a dragon flying in an opposite direction. The dragon managed to swoop away before Azureath reached him.

“Hey!” he shouted. “Look where you’re flying, azure one!”

Azureath’s reaction was that of a shock. She never thought a dragon could be that confrontative, let alone scolding her for not flying properly. Hans was as shocked, but he did accept that it was their fault.

Again, it showed that the dragon did not see Avila flying beside Azureath. They chose to accept that she did not want to be seen, owing to her identity being that of a dragon long deceased. So, keeping it in mind, they landed near the city’s wall where the car and the rest of their allies shortly arrived.

Dracokin as a city was already much bigger than Pol Hain, and certainly was well-populated by dragons and people of all races, both the humans and the beast people. From what Hans observed from the sky, the city was built from the center outwards, with the center building being the tallest compared to the rest of the city. The central building looked like a castle of sorts, with fortifications and its own wall surrounding it. Clearly, it was intended for the central government, or maybe the court of a king presiding in a heavily fortified castle.

The city wall around the city was made out of brown-colored sandstone. It was circular when seen from the sky, but years of development clearly bypassed the wall, with smaller houses and farms surrounding the outside of the wall. From the land, Hans saw a cast-iron portcullis held in place by chains, ready to be lowered in case of enemy attack. Considering the use of magic barrier, the werewolf wondered the purpose of such medieval fortification. He knew of castles and city walls, but he also knew it was something from the past, somewhere in the 12th Ternorian century. The wall was also made redundant by the dragons flying out from the city center via landing pads that looked like a big empty space from the sky, though not every dragon used them, preferring to land on the flat area around the city itself. They were only used for urgency and, presently, to stop the Marked dragons from hurting the citizens.

As soon as they arrived, Ritik hastily walked to a guard and said, “What’s the status of the dragons? Did anything change?”

“Uhm…why does it matter to you?”

“Because I happen to be the lead researcher on the Mark’s influence and I need you to tell me anything that changed since I left Dracokin.”

“Look, kob, don’t get me wrong, but you aren’t exactly the—”

“He tells the truth, human,” said Avila, though apparently the human guard did not hear her.

“What’s your name again?” said the guard after a moment of confusion.

“Ritik. From the Mages’ College.”

“Ritik? Sorry about that. I didn’t expect you to be a kobold, let alone a—”

Ritik dashed towards Dracokin without even looking back. Richie, who heard all that, approached the human and said, “Have you ever met a human with that name? I don’t think so.”

The others walked past the confused guard towards the city of dragons. Everyone, even the people from Main, were amazed by the well-populated city that did not just look magnificent, but also modern, at least in terms of arcane technology instead of conventional ones. Magic seemed to be used liberally, with many appliances, including the cars, were powered by magicite. The city was also greener and cleaner than what everyone thought, with green walls full of plants and a clean, illuminated waterway running along the city. The green contrasted with the arid landscape surrounding the city.

Adeline had been to a city before, but it was not the best kind of place to be. In fact, she never enjoyed a travel to cities due to the smog from the coal causing the air to be hazy and unhealthy. Pollution was a big issue in industrialized cities, and the use of cars and steam locomotives made it even worse. She was appalled by how the city people did not mind and just went along with their lives.

All those pollution and grime weren't there in the city of dragons. The place was clean and the air was fresh, helped by the wide streets to accommodate dragons around Azureath’s size. The cars, like the one that brought the group there, had no pollution at all. The dragons, all intelligent creatures, also contributed to the city’s cleanliness.

Adeline could stay and admire everything she had seen before writing a letter back to Ulster, but Zenithia said, “It might be best if we get to where Ritik is, Adeline. Something tells me this whole situation won’t last.”

“How can you be so sure, Zen?” asked Adeline.

“I just…know.”

Adeline, being a good reader, knew that Zenithia kept something from her. Even if she was a dragon, her tone and her mannerisms were so obvious the red-furred werewolf couldn’t help but notice. She did not get this impression when they first met, but it became even more apparent, even if it was subtle at first.

“Zenithia,” said Adeline with a serious tone. “What are you not telling me?”

“I’m not a child dragon,” she said. “I…just doesn’t grow bigger than this.”

“Not good enough, Zenithia,” said Adeline. She saw through Zenithia attempt to lie. “And dragons don’t call their young ‘child dragon’. They call them hatchlings.”

“I can call them whatever I want, Adeline,” she said. The tone of her voice changed from an innocent-sounding child to a more or less mature voice with hints of aggression. “And I suggest you don’t pry further, if you value your life.”

“I see,” said Adeline with a sigh. “And here I thought you are the innocent young dragon I assumed you are. What are you, really?”

“Like I said. Do not pry further.”

“If you don’t want me to pry further, then why are you still here? Or, why didn’t you just dispose of me when you have a chance.”

“Adeline, please.” Zenithia slowly became worried. Her aggressive tone changed to one that sounded like begging. “You can’t start doubting who I am. This city is going to be attacked by them.”

“Them? Who’s them?”

“The source of your misery. The light.”

“What?! You mean, you know the lights are coming?! Why didn’t you tell us sooner! We could’ve just avoided every single pillar…wait a minute. How do you even know where the light will come? Are you happen to be—”

There was a flash of light in the sky. Adeline did not saw this before, but she had a bad feeling about this. Zenithia quickly jumped off her shoulder and said, “Stay out of this, Adeline! The barrier of the city will hold, but don’t engage them!”

“Will you please tell me what is going on?” Zenithia ran away from Adeline, prompting her to follow the white dragon. “Hey, Zenithia! Wait!”

As this was happening, the others caught up with Ritik. Azureath was intimidated by the dragons bearing the Mark of the Fallen and their catatonic state. They mumbled incoherently as Azureath looked away, unable to bear the thoughts of having to share the same fate with them. To be reduced into a barely functioning dragon speaking incoherently scared her, despite of her being a dragon.

But then as she looked at them and tried to walk away from it all, one of the dragons, a yellow-scaled female, perked up her head and looked at Azureath. The blank stare from her yellow reptilian eyes made Azureath even more uncomfortable. This reaction, however, was something the mages attending the dragons found intriguing. They turned to Azureath and saw how her body was also covered with the Mark, only that she was still herself.

“Dragon, wait,” said one of them, a human. “You are the one Ritik has been talking about, right? You’re the dragon that came with the people on a steel ship.”

“What if I am?” said Azureath with a growl. “I do not want to be told of their predicament. I know how it ruined my life.”

Then the yellow dragon roared, then pounced at Azureath. The azure blue dragon did not expect this to happen. The dragon turned rabid all of the sudden.

“Kalija, stop!” exclaimed the mage. “Get off her!”

“She needs a little persuasion! Savor on this, yellow one!”

Ice started to form around Kalija’s body, spread out from Azureath’s claws. The yellow dragon sensed the danger and got off Azureath, growling to try and intimidate her. Azureath growled back but did not intend to fight Kalija. She knew the dragon wasn’t herself.

“She never did this before,” said the mage. “I don’t even know what’s wrong with her or with the other…huh?”

The Marked dragons, after Kalija stepped away from Azureath, walked and flanked her, staring at Azureath as if she was an enemy. Azureath herself started to become unnerved. She couldn’t possibly be able to fight against all the dragons assembled there.

Then, they all, in unison, said a phrase. One that was as mysterious as their sudden infliction.

“Na’egh Tagh Sin hagh! Thag Karrash nagh! Hathor Na’ga fithh!”

And they said it over and over again, with their unity causing others to become unnerved, even the dragons. It was creepy and unusual, and it was even worse when dragons said it, especially with their eyes out of focus and they looked as if they had a seizure.

Hans, who was standing beside Azureath after her being pounced, was the most unnerved. However, it was soon replaced by a feeling of dread, then him hearing the voice of Adeline calling for Zenithia to stop. Then, like many others, he saw the flash of light in the sky. Like others, he never saw that before, not even when he witnessed the first pillar that struck Pol Hain. But that feeling of dread told Hans that the flash was not just any flash.

It was an invasion signal.

Adeline followed Zenithia out of the gates. The dragon realized that she followed her and said, “You fool! I am telling you to stay for your safety!”

“I am not going anywhere until you give me an honest answer, Zenithia!” said Adeline. “What are you, really? Tell me, now!”

Then it happened. The flash of light became the same pillar of light that devastated Pol Hain. As Zenithia had hoped, the barrier held, but she did not account on Adeline’s stubbornness to become her downfall. Despite of living a lie, the white-scaled dragon genuinely cared for Adeline. She was the first kind person she met and cared for.

And she would die without even knowing the truth. In a snap judgement, Zenithia ran back to Adeline and stood in front of her. The expanding pillar of light bent around the two, then split when Zenithia let out a roar that couldn’t be possible from a hatchling’s, or a dragonet’s, body. Adeline saw the vibrant color that came with the light and was mesmerized by it. For a devastating pillar, it brought out a beauty beyond Adeline’s imagination.

However, Zenithia said, “Close your eyes, Adeline! That light is a trap!”

Adeline snapped back to reality and instinctively closed her eyes, somehow wanting to trust Zenithia’s words. The colors lingered in her eyes, but she did not feel mesmerized by them.

Hans and the others saw the pillar from the safety of the city just as it dissipated. The pillar was much bigger and much more intense than the one that hit Pol Hain. So intense, in fact, that the barrier protecting the inner and outer city did not hold, though the runed city wall held on and the inner city was spared. The outer city did not fare as well, and after the light was gone, the damage became apparent.

The outskirts of the city, once full of people, were gone. Buildings were leveled, the sand was charred, and the people hurt and dying. Many that were too close to the light source were instantly obliterated, with only parts of their skeletons remained. Humans, dragons, and beast races were no exceptions. Everyone caught in the blast, even behind the magical barrier, were injured. Hans felt his fur was singed by the heat that came out of the pillar, and Keeshar felt his feathers got burned, though he also felt his scales were melting even though they did not.

But the true danger came right after, just as they saw a figure that stood in the middle of the destruction. Hans knew that the light-covered figure was not there as a savior.

It was there to finish the job.