George Atmell

I wanted to say that I went to sleep after listening to the pathfinder's story, but I found it impossible. The story made me interested to start exploring. So, I returned to the underground camp to meet with Zardes and Malkar. They were also resting from their own work and had also talked among themselves when I came with some tea leaves, Malkar and Zardes's favorite beverage.

While we were brewing the tea over the portable heater, I talked about the story the pathfinder told me. Zardes did not seem interested, but Malkar was. I mean, I remembered what he told me a while ago. "All stories have a sense of truth in it," he said. "Even if said story happens to contain fantastical, almost nonsensical, feats."

He seemed to ask questions regarding the story, about the creature, the people who found it, and how the hero managed to defeat it. I tried to be as elaborate as possible, but in the end, it was not satisfactory, either. Still, Zardes unexpectedly said something that made this mystery worth looking for.

"That hero...let's assume the maws of the evil was this place. Did he happen to deactivate something?"

"Deactivate?" I asked.

"I mean, this place looks far too advanced to be built thousands of years ago. What if the hero of the story found something, like a lever or a button, by coincidence?"

There was truth in that logic. The hero of the story could have found a deactivation mechanism by accident, and thus he somehow deactivated this place. Given how he could get out, survive, and become a king, he would be on the other side of the bridge, so he should stay on their side of the bridge. Unless, of course, he did know an airwalk magic. The reason no one bothered to use that was because of its complexity. An Eastern dragon might be able to traverse the chasm, but then, let's assume the hero was a human, alright? A human who could walk on air had a great control and concentration over their magic, enough for them to create a temporary platform solid enough to let them walk. You need to train for that kind of magic, but unlike most magic, to master air walk mean you need to focus all your time trying to climb to the second floor without using a stair or an elevator, and that's hard work and rather redundant.

So, we stayed on our side of the broken bridge, trying to find anything that looked vaguely like a lever, a button, or anything like that. But then, we did not know that this place was supposed to be a vessel from beyond the stars, and we were still stuck with our Earthly perception of an activation mechanism.

Only then did I become fixated with a pillar with a form of depression on the top. The depression was pretty much clean and well-sculptured, in addition to not being worn off by the age of the whole place. I also happened to find a sphere nearby, camouflaged perfectly with the round base of the broken bridge. I tried lifting it, but man, was it heavy! I called Zardes to me and I told him about the sphere. He questioned its significance, still thinking that it was a decoration, only for Malkar to point out that the fact that it was only on one side of the bridge's base meant that it was not a decoration.

"Unless someone had a weird fascination with asymmetry," he said.

Even Zardes, who was a hellhound, strained himself when he lifted the sphere. Maybe that's the reason why the hero was never said to be carrying something out of the 'creature'. I somehow also noticed that the pillar's depression had the same size with the sphere, so I directed him to put it on the depression.

Something curious then happened. The heavy sphere floated. I knew this had something to do with magnets, where opposites repelled each other. However, that was not the primary concern. As soon as the sphere was put in place, the pillar glowed. It had a light blue hue that was so eerie looking. The big area was also lit by this blue glow, albeit dimmer. However, that helped us know the scope of the room, along with a humming sound that could be misinterpreted as a beast's growl.

Only then did we saw something very peculiar: a bright light that formed a bridge to the other side of the room, which also led to the abyss, which was now lit, albeit faintly. Zardes then carefully tried the peculiar light, and found that it was solid, to his fascination. He still needed precaution, however, and told me to tie a rope around his waist and tie the other end to a solid structure. I found a foundation pillar near the bridge and tied the other end while Zardes slowly and carefully traversed the light bridge.

I looked towards the levitating sphere and wondered. Did the hero managed to knock the heavy thing out? Even a hellhound had a hard time lifting it. Was it a coincidence? Either way, I was so fixated with the levitating and slowly turning sphere (I must admit, it looked so mesmerizing) that I did not even know what Zardes was doing until he reached the other side and had determined that it was safe. He walked back and told me to follow him, slowly as Malkar kept guard of the rope.

After a couple of walks, we were convinced that the bridge was as solid as it was, and Malkar had also traversed the light bridge without any safety rope. It was the first time I could admit that I walked on the air, only that I wasn't sure whether it was a very advanced technology, or a complex arcane magic lost in time. Of course, if it was technology-based, it was not of this world.

Even so, we were not that primitive, as when we reached the room through a door that opened as we stepped towards it, we were greeted by a room full of intricate mechanisms and machineries that looked almost like magic. Well, I thought it was magic, but the hellhounds had a different idea of what they were.

"Computers?" said Zardes. He quickly knew what the sharp-angled things on the wall looked to him. However, while he knew it was a computer, it still surprised him, given the age.

"It's far more advanced than the one the demons of the First Circle used," said Malkar. "And I bet even demons back then will not have something like this."

"An arcane technology, then?" I surmised.

"Too advanced. I guess we can only assume that this thing really did come from beyond this Earth," said Malkar. "What I'm curious about is why the words were written in Common."

Malkar's comment made me realize that I could read the words on the giant screen in front of me. I do not remember what was exactly on the screen, but I remembered that it was about systems failing and 'input required' written on the blank screen. Malkar and Zardes were still walking around the console when I noticed a big red button saying 'release'. I directed them towards that button, to which Zardes advised me against pressing it, even if it looked very inviting. Of course, that decision did not matter in the end, anyway.

The room had another stair for us to walk down to the next floor, which we did. Before we continued, Zardes told me that we were travelling in an 'uncharted territory' and we must be vigilant all the time. I knew this dungeon was dangerous the moment we saw the gap. Yet, it also held a mystery that directly connected with my adventure.

We walked the stairs and ended in yet another room. This time, however, the room was dimly lit, with lights coming out from the devices lining the wall, though the greatest source of light in that room was the clear tube that held a creature within it, apparently sleeping.

The creature, however, looked a lot like a dragon, though it was clearly smaller than most. It was only then did I notice that its front limbs were in fact wings. I quickly realized that it was in fact a wyvern. It was trapped in ice and looked like it was sleeping.

Zardes looked at the screen in front of the wyvern and said, "He's a prisoner. A deserter, in fact. Named Trivos Sireon. Huh. Weird name."

"And this prisoner has been put in this tube for thousands of years?" said Malkar. "Guys...I feel like we're walking into something big."

For some reason, I did not buy that description, especially since we were looking at what supposed to be a wyvern with a name in a mysterious room inside a mysterious building. I also noticed that the wyvern sustained wounds that looked pretty severe and the fact that the tube was the only one in that room that had content in it. The rest were empty.

That's when I felt that this whole setup was wrong, and the wyvern within that tube looked more like it was calling for help, not some criminal. I then said, "Let's free it."

"Free it?" said Malkar. "Why are you suggesting that?"

"It does not look like a criminal."

"Either way, we can't risk freeing something that can be dangerous. Better leave it that way."

"Or maybe it isn't. We can ask it directly."

"I know being a deserter is not as bad as being a potential destroyer, but again, we don't know if this wyvern is even going to understand us. Even worse, if this place turns out to be a weapon of destruction, we are going to regret that decision."

Malkar had a point there, but again, I was quite stubborn. Even then, regardless whether we did something or not, there was a development we did not expect.

Maybe Zardes, Malkar, or me accidentally touched something we were not supposed to, but then there was a disembodied voice along with a loud, ear-piercing noise. The voice, a female, said, "Warning! Life support system disengaged. Organic intervention detected. Run program 'Awakening'."

"Organic intervention?" I asked.

"That means us," said Zardes while readying his combat knife.

We were expecting security measures, but instead of security measures, it was in fact connected to the wyvern put in ice, with the ice thawing and bubbles started coming out of its snouts, indicating breathing. Then, the water drained somewhere below the wyvern, and then the tube was raised to the ceiling. The wyvern fell to the hard-metallic floor, appearing unresponsive. I got a good look at it, thinking it was dead. I mean, even if you were frozen, you could not stay frozen for thousands of years. It was just impossible. Well, unless time magic was involved, which in this case was not.

Then, to our surprise, it opened its reptilian eyes, showing what was a perfect and unnatural blend of blue and yellow eyes that looked very mesmerizing and beautiful as its brightness complemented its black scales. It also showed that he was not a regular wyvern, especially when he looked around with a confused expression before he noticed us.

"Hey, you!" said the wyvern with a masculine voice. "Where am I? Answer me!"

We did not know what to say. We did not even know where we were.

The wyvern shook his head in frustration before a female voice said, "A terrestrial planet. Error. Unknown coordinates. Within *Error* star system."

"What?" he said. He tried to stand up, but he just woke up and shaking, struggling to even stand. He quickly fell once more. I instinctively ran towards him and tried to help him. The wyvern looked at me as if he was trying to read me.

"What...do you call yourselves?" he asked.

"I am a human," I replied. "Those two are hellhounds."

"Humans...and hellhounds. I don't know your kind. This planet. What is it called? What do you call your home?"

"Uh...we call it Earth," I said.

The wyvern winced, apparently hurt. I quickly said, "You're hurt. You need medical treatment."

"I'm fine," he said. "But I think I've slept too long. Computer, how long am I in suspended animation."

"You are put in suspended animation for 3564 years, 5 months, 12 days, 4 hours, 1 minute, and 7 seconds."

"What in the...computer, self-diagnostics."

"Diagnostics complete," said the voice. "Error. Onboard computer cannot compute navigational controls. Life support system deactivated as per programmed input of organic intervention."

The wyvern looked at us and said, "How did you find this ship? Tell me everything. I need to know what is going on."

"Before that, wyvern, you need to rest and recover," said Zardes. "In fact, I think it's better if you tell us what you are and why you're in that tube, put in ice, branded as a criminal..."

"Criminal?"

The wyvern tried to look over the tube and the small screen, which still said the name Trivos Sireon. He was as confused as we were.

"N-no, you get it all wrong," he said. "My name is Domel Arcturus. I was part of my planet's police force when...oh, I remember now. Hellhound, human, I need to set a beacon. I need to warn the others of...of the revolt."

"Calm down," I said, trying to take control of the situation. "You are in no situation to fight."

"I can't let it happen! You have a leader and a nation, so you must understand. I swore my allegiance with the president of Vyrn! It's my duty to protect him."

"Just give it up. It's thousands of years in the past," said Zardes. "What we need to do now is to help you recover. That sleep is not natural."

"Computer, deploy emergency beacon," said the wyvern.

"Error. Beacon is not installed."

"Shit!"

"I said, calm down, Domel!" I said, now realizing that this wyvern was delirious. "You're hurt, and you need help! Whatever it is, your ship is already on our planet for thousands of years! It's buried under the desert and we happen to find you here! That revolt was already in the long past, and I doubt the instigators are still alive!"

The wyvern stopped and looked at me. "But..."

"Just give it up. I know it's hard to accept the fact that you're a wyvern out of place and out of time. I don't know how it feels, but if I were you...I'd accept it. Unless your kind is long-lived, I'd say leave it be. There is a reason someone out there put you in that tube and get you away, and..."

"And they saved me," said Arcturus. He looked down towards his hands, and his body. "By disguising me as a criminal. I...but why?"

"We might not know," I said. "Do you...know why?"

Arcturus pondered hard, before he realized something and said, "Computer, do you have a message for Domel Arcturus, second Tilecon Beta?"

"Voice message for Domel Arcturus. Begin playback."

The whole scene happened before us, and I must admit, back when I did not know anything about automated voice commands and even persistent onboard ship computer, everything felt like it came out of a dream. We were once again surprised that the technology that this wyvern possess was far more advanced than anything we could imagined. It almost like magic.

A figure, constructed entirely of light, appeared in front of Arcturus. From the look of it, the appearance of the wyvern stirred some emotions within him.

I did not remember what it said, but fortunately for you, Arcturus kept the recording with him before we left, so here it is.

"Hello, Arcturus. I know you'll find this message someday. When you do, then I and your friends are already dead or on the run. Before I continue, I'm sorry for doing this to you and some of the others who I know will escape the tyranny of the new empire. Let me be frank. The revolt was successful. By the recording of this message, our leader has been executed, and a new empire was formed from it.

"It all comes to the gateway. I know that gateway spells trouble, especially if it is revered as a symbol by fanatics. It became worse each day, as I am sure you've noticed. They are planning to change the empire into something wrong. I don't want that. Nobody wants that. But they are adamant about it and are willing to kill if necessary. By Amarta's grace, they seem possessed.

"When the revolt happened, you were dying and unconscious. I immediately put first aid gel on you. I was discouraged to take you with us, given that you were unconscious and in no condition to run. I did not want you to become one of them, but I still needed a way to get you out. So, with a heavy heart, I followed the idea I had. I put you in this decommissioned prison craft, gave you a false identity, stripped you of any ranks, and sent you somewhere far away from Vyrn. Somewhere out of this nonsense. Somewhere...peaceful.

"I know you're angry. I know this is against the teachings of the Academy. But, the Academy, and those you served, are no longer who you know. I also know that you can be stubborn almost to the point of being reckless. I cannot bear to lose another son, not after Atropos.

So, please, Arcturus. Let the new empire run its course. Live the rest of your life in peace. I've deliberately set the ship into a random planet somewhere in the backwater sector, hopefully one with sufficiently advanced society. It may be hard, and the people might even regard you as a danger. Or maybe a god. Just promise me one thing, Arcturus. Live in peace and be kind. I know you'll manage. I know you'll survive. Let this ship rot as you go. I love you, son. And thank you...for giving me hope. I hope one day we'll meet again."

That recording was from Arcturus's father, Andrates. I was told of the situation before he left, but that's a story for another time. For now, I remembered Arcturus crying, knowing that whatever happened back then was already a thing far in the past, and he could no longer avenge those he had befriended, or even his comrades. Everyone he knew...had died.

So, after that recording, he decided to honor his father's wishes and lived his life on the planet he was stranded in. In my opinion, he was lucky. If he ended up on a different planet where dragons or wyverns did not exist, he might get himself in trouble.

Of course, I, a human, was always an opportunist. Arcturus looked like a wyvern and could pass as one, so I simply took this chance to ask him to be my partner if he decided to live among us. Zardes, of course, objected.

"Really? That's your choice?" I remembered he said. "You do realize he's not from Earth, right? He doesn't know how this works. He might mistake this for slavery!"

"I will explain everything to him clearly, so there will be no misunderstanding," I said.

Then Zardes reminded me that I did not have any experience with wyverns. As far as theories went, wyverns flew differently than a dragon, and given their smaller size, they tend to be less balanced. I had been training to ride a dragon with Itresil, a dragon three times Arcturus's size. Clearly, riding on Arcturus would be a different experience altogether.

Good thing Arcturus knew that his kind was regarded as a mount (though I had a feeling that he felt a little offended by that fact). He even challenged me to try and hold on while he flew, a challenge I accepted. In the end, Arcturus told Zardes and Malkar that he would need pointers, and a period of recovery before he could help them with anything they needed. He also declared the ship as his home and gave permission to Malkar to study it.

To me, this was the start of my pursuit of my dream to fly over the clouds. I did not mind that I became a wyvern rider in the end. All I wanted was to fly, and for Arcturus to live in peace.

And that's what we were supposed to be.