Chapter 4 : The Descent

Elara's Pov

The dragon shrieked in my ears as it fell. I could barely hold on because the scales of its tail slithered like slimy snakes, and with each jerk or turn, I was almost pitched into the darkness as if it had never been replaced

So the ice of my chest burnt fiercer, with a rapid fire spreading down every vain. My hand pulsed, beating at my palm like an angry and violent heart as it held the scale before me. The soft buzzing was nothing but a deafening screeching in my head now.

Come on,” I spat out, my grip on the scales straining. “You’ve got to fight this!”

The dragon screamed from deep within its chest while its wings flinched in opposition of some invisible force. Beneath us, the dark shapes remained still as stone with their shining eyes directed upwards at our slow spiral downwards.

One raised a tall, cloaked figure colored crimson. An unnatural wind surged up from the forest below, creating ice shards that flew in our direction.

I shouted, "No!" while holding the scale up high. The shards broke apart in the air, and an invisible shield appeared around me and the dragon. The scale shone brighter, and for a brief moment, the freezing pain in my chest eased.

The dragon let out a loud roar and spread its wings wide. With a sudden force, it steadied itself, stopping our fall just before we hit the trees. The crash sent a wave through the forest, breaking branches and scattering leaves everywhere. We came to a stop in a clearing, with the dragon breathing heavily underneath me. I slid off its back, my legs trembling to the point I could hardly stand.

"You did it," I whispered, touching its side while I was painted.The dragon’s bright eyes looked into mine, but they seemed dimmer now, as if its remaining strength was quickly fading. Before I could say anything more, I noticed movement in the shadows. Figures in cloaks stepped out from the trees, their footsteps quiet despite the broken branches and leaves. The one in a red cloak stood at the front, their glowing eyes fixed on me.

"Elara," they said, their voice echoing oddly. "You can’t escape this." I took a step back, gripping the scale tightly.

"Who are you? What do you want?" The figure didn’t respond. Instead, they lifted a hand, and the cold wind began to swirl around them like a tornado.

“Leave us alone!” I yelled, holding the scale in front of me like a shield. The wind paused, and for a moment, the figure seemed unsure.

“You don’t even know what you have,” they said, their voice full of scorn.

“The power you hold is not yours to keep.”

“It’s mine if I fight for it,” I replied, surprising myself with how strong I sounded.

The figure laughed; it was an empty, chilling sound.

“Fight, then. But remember light cannot exist without dark, and dark will always find a way.”

Before I could say anything, they charged at me. The dragon roared, stepping between me and the attackers. It unleashed a wave of icy fire, a strange mix of frost and flame that hit the crimson figure’s magic. The area exploded into chaos as the other cloaked figures joined in, their powers dark and frightening.

I took a step back, my mind racing. The scale in my hand vibrated, almost telling me to do something. But what could I do? I was just a maid, thrown into a world of dragons and magic that I didn’t really understand.

“Elara!” This voice wasn’t from the dragon, it was the deep, strong voice I had heard in the cave. It belonged to a figure made of ice and fire.

I turned to find where the voice was coming from, but all I saw was the chaos of the battle.

“Elara, focus,” the voice said again, this time from inside me. “The scale is important. Use it.”

“How do you use it?” I shouted, feeling desperate.

“Feel it. Let it show you the way.”

I closed my eyes, holding the scale tightly. The humming grew louder, vibrating through my whole body. Heat and cold were fighting inside me, but at the center was a steady flame, a quiet strength I hadn’t realized was there.

When I opened my eyes, everything looked different. The air sparkled with energy, lines of light connecting everything the dragon, the attackers, even the trees around us. And in the center was the scale, its light moving through the chaos like a heartbeat.

I didn’t have time to think. I lifted the scale, its light shining brighter than ever.

The nearest cloaked figure paused, their glowing eyes narrowing. “What is she doing?”

The light burst from the scale, creating a shield that pushed the attackers back. The dragon roared in approval, seeming stronger from the energy burst.

But the red figure wasn’t discouraged. They raised both hands, the icy wind forming a huge spear of frost.

“This ends now,” they said, throwing the spear right at me.

Time seemed to slow down. I saw the spear flying toward me, and felt the cold coming from it. The scale’s light glowed again, but instead of making a shield, it pulled me forward toward the dragon.

When the light faded, I was kneeling, protected by the dragon's huge body. Its scales were dark and burned, with smoke coming from where it was hit.

"No," I said quietly, rushing to its side.

"No, no, no." The dragon made a deep growl, and its bright eyes were dim. It was alive, but just barely.

"You can’t leave me," I said, tears falling down my face.

"Not now." The dragon looked at me, and for a moment, we shared a connection that was stronger than words. The scale in my hand glowed softly, and I realized. It wasn’t just a bond. It was a choice. The dragon took a last, shaky breath before its body turned to a cloud of ash and light.

The ash surrounded me, sinking into my skin, while the light moved into the scale. I felt a sharp pain, but it quickly went away. When it did, I felt… different. Stronger. The cold feeling in my chest was gone, replaced by a steady warmth. I stood alone, the scale still glowing softly in my hand.