Gentle autumn rain knocked soothingly on our tent. Shira, my older sister, lay by my side, sleeping peacefully. I could hear her breath, her chest rising. And falling. She was pale, especially now, in the moonlight. That was the only time Shira wasn’t yelling at me. She has a toxic personality, always on edge, hot-headed. I was a classic image of a blondie. Kind, naive and a bit dumb. Everything about me irritated my sister: my posture, my tanned skin, my heterochromia (one eye amber, one green), my positive attitude about everything. I never cried. I never put up a fight, felt sorry for every single thing, from a distant relative who passed away, to a bug who was accidentally squashed by the wheels of a bicycle. I chuckled...
In an hour, Turab led Nume to the Barbarian village. As they walked, Nume's nose was bombarded with vomit-inducing smells such as rotten cabbage, manure and dirt. The barbarians weren't known for their tidiness. It's more the opposite. They are a dirty, cockroach-infested nation. Turab smiled. "You must not know why I know this place so well. I am part barbarian. I was born here, but because of my natural, ash-black hair I was abandoned. I was also weak, scared and a wimp. Everyone who saw me whimpering in the corner, said "Aw, he's no good." And left. And I was all alone until I decided to train myself. Because of that I am here with you." Turab ruffled Nume's hair. Andrew added. "Turab is very strong! Not like me…" "Andrew! Don't call...
Giant trees rocked from side to side in the damp, swampy wind. Turab shivered. He was scared. There was only one thought in his aching mind "How strong is Nume?" She then sheathed her sword and slowly but steadily went in the other direction. Tears flowed from her amber eyes. "I need to find my sister!" She said to herself. Nume clenched her fist. "Wait!" Shouted Turab. He grabbed Nume's hand. "Are you fine?" Nume cried out. "No, I'm not! Ok?" Her horns pierced her thick blonde hair. She gasped. The thing she least wanted to happen was there. Andrew's jaw dropped. "I didn't even imagine that Kiodera weren't extinct, let alone slay dragons. You do know that you are related to them?" Andrew pulled out a piece of worn and shabby parchment...
“Turab, we can’t fight off this wind dragon anymore!” Yelled Andrew. He was a red haired skinny youth, about 16 years old, dressed in clothes that were far too big for him. Turab, on the other hand, was bulky and broad. Bright blue eyes shone from under his messy, grayish-black hair. “Hold on, Anderw! We almost got it cornered, but you panicked!” He yelled.”Get yourself together!” “I’m trying!” Cried Andrew. He never considered himself particularly strong or capable of doing so much as pinning down a young wind dragon, whose only powers were to breathe out obscuring clouds of steam and to send rain, hail and snow. Turab and Andrew were like Yin and Yang, different, but good friends. Nume watched the fight closely. Something unseen kept...
The Devil's larva stood as still as a rock. Nume nodded to her sister and let go of the arrow. By Shira's control, she aimed for the creature’s giant ears. It shrieked in pain and tumbled on the ground. The larva was disoriented for a few minutes, just enough for the sisters to sink their blades into it. But then, something unexpected happened. The Devil’s larva stood up and threw Nume and Shira aside. It let out a yellowish cloud of gas. It looked the same as the cloud of gas that Nume saw at the Dragon selection. Her first thought was to run away as far as possible before the toxic gas spread. Shira did the same. They sat in the leaves of a pine tree. While safely hidden, the girls shot arrows at the confused larva. It didn’t die...
Shira fell on her knees. They defeated the harpy. Nume was completely exhausted. She let go of her sword and fell. Shira dragged herself to her sister. "Nume, please. Don't die. I am sure you won't. You have lived through many bad times and battles. You will make it." Shira sobbed. "Why is it you who always gets the worst?! It was always me who won every time, it was me who always had luck. Why is it you who is lying there? You almost gave your life for me." Shira grabbed Nume's vest. " If only I could give all my talent, strength, happiness and luck to you. Then maybe you would still live." Shira wailed. Large tears rolled down her cheeks." We shouldn't have gone on this journey" She thought. Nume was still cold and unresponsive. Until...
Shira fell on her knees. They defeated the harpy. Nume was completely exhausted. She let go of her sword and fell. Shira dragged herself to her sister. "Nume, please. Don't die. I am sure you won't. You have lived through many bad times and battles. You will make it." Shira sobbed. "Why is it you who always gets the worst?! It was always me who won every time, it was me who always had luck. Why is it you who is lying there? You almost gave your life for me." Shira grabbed Nume's vest. " If only I could give all my talent, strength, happiness and luck to you. Then maybe you would still live." Shira wailed. Large tears rolled down her cheeks." We shouldn't have gone on this journey" She thought. Nume was still cold and unresponsive. Until...
Nume's body stiffened. Somehow, the gnarled creature seemed oddly familiar. "You seem startled. Is a low form of life like you jealous of my godlike form?" It spread its wings. "I give you my permission to admire me." "Admire?... The only thing that I want to do when I see something like you is retch." Nume tightened her hands. "In that case, die!" The creature bolted toward Nume, slashing her hip with its gigantic claws. Blood spurted on the withered grass. Nume thought about Shira, sleeping there, in their tent. Shira was one year older than Nume, better than her in almost everything. Luck was always on her side, she never lost. Nume, on the other side, was weak, timid and kind. Some people said she would never amount to anything, but...
Shira and Nume took their belongings and set foot outside their cozy and warm home. Their understanding of the danger of this journey was clear as glass. They had to travel for an excruciatingly long week through the vast forests, high hills and deep rivers. Shira, as always, looked on the bright side. “ At least we’re together." She grinned at Nume.
"Nume? Nume!" Shira tightened her hand around her sister's. "Did, I... Protect you?.." Nume said quietly. "Yes, you did." A new wave of tears flushed down Shira's ebony eyes. Her sister survived from an attack of an elder dragon. The girls seemed to forget about the marvelous transfiguration.