Melody

  ***

  Flying over the ocean, I followed Gokarul’s magical signal. Oddly enough I was getting fairly close to it, yet I was over the open ocean? Did he build something out here? Looking carefully, I searched for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. Soon enough I was able to spot a tiny flicker of light. Wait, it’s getting brighter?

  !?

  Quickly dodging out of the way, a beam of fire shot out from the ocean high into the sky above, causing an eruption of steam that clouded the area. Another beam shot out and once more, I dodged out of the way. Rising above the steam I kept my eyes peeled for any more attacks. The steam trembled and a deep roar was heard. This isn’t looking good.

  After a moment of silence, I heard tremendous spshing and a long shadow appeared. With a two toned body of gray and white, a serpent-like body emerged from the steam. On it’s back, chained to a saddle was Gokarul.

  “MAGICAL GIRL!” Gokarl shouted. “I HAVE COME WITH A BEING FROM BEYOND THE STARS! AND I SEEK BATTLE!”

  “Okay…” I muttered.

  This actually isn’t good. It isn’t terrible, but it certainly isn’t good. Riding on the back of a dragon, Gokarul wielded a sword made from a dark metal. The good thing is that this isn’t a void wyrm or anything even close to it. The bad news was that this still is a dragon, albeit a young one, barely past being a hatchling. And where there's one hatchling, there's more. Firstly, let’s see if this is the only one the demons have access to.

  “Cool snake thing!” I shouted. “What’s his name?”

  “HE IS CALLED WARBEAST!” He said.

  “Warbeast?” I asked. “Just Warbeast?”

  “WELL, WARBEAST 2.” He admitted. “DIFFERENT FROM WARBEAST ONE.”

  “It must take a lot to feed these guys.” I said.

  “TRY THREE OF THEM.” He sighed. “ENOUGH OF THAT THOUGH! LET’S BATTLE!”

  Alright, they have at least three dragons. This is definitely an issue. With a roar, Warbeast flew towards me with killing intent. Dodging, I readied my magic. Not just for an offensive spell, but also for a long distance communication spell.

  “Raven, they have dragons!” I shouted out in my mind. “Get to the bunker and ready Project Amber!”

  “THEY WHAT!?” Raven’s concerned voice shouted out. “I’m on my way!”

  Luckily with the various teleporters I have hidden around, it should be easy for her to escap- get to the base.

  “Moon Light Saber Storm!” I shouted.

  The tip of my staff started to glow and from it shot out swords of pale light. Circling around from it’s first charge, Warbeast was unable to dodge the torrent of translucent swords into it’s side. With a roar of pain, Warbeast shook, violently throwing Gokarul out of his saddle. Luckily for him, the chains kept him from falling into the ocean below.

  “THANK YOU CHAINS!” Gokarul said, climbing back to his seat.

  With my swords still flying out, I decided that Gokarul didn’t need to be here to make things more difficult. Raising my aim just a bit, Gokarul was violently torn apart. His blood mixed with Warbeast, scattering into the ocean below. As the spell ran out, all that remained was bloodied chains and a single hand gripping them. Well, he’ll be back, so I don’t need to worry about him.

  With another roar, a beam of fire lit up the sky. Just barely dodging out of the way, the clouds behind me were vaporized. Flying beside the beam of fire, I reached its face. As its eye turned to me, gring in hatred, I held my staff tightly. At my command, the moon on top began glowing a dreadful greenish blue light.

  “Moon Pulse!” I shouted.

  There was a fsh of blue light along with a wave of heat, and the sickening sound of Warbeasts head popping. The beam of fire from its mouth died and its lifeless body fell into the ocean below. Even as it fell however, my staff followed it. Another fsh of light and another chunk of it was gone. I repeated this process until only blood remained, and that was blown away in the wind.

  “Okay…” I slowly nodded. “I think I got it.”

  Thinking that, I still kept my staff at the ready. My focus, however, was broken. Hearing a familiar ringing, I looked at my phone. Uh-oh. It was Levi’s parents. Having a bad feeling, I answered it.

  “This is Melody, what’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Melody!” Levi’s dad shouted.

  Okay, this sounds bad. Before he could even continue I started heading towards the Alterrai Kingdom.

  “There’s a giant flying snake!” He said.

  “Yeah, that’s a dragon.” I said. “I’m on my way. Don’t provoke it. I’ll be there soon.”

  “Please hurry, it is very scary!” He said.

  Yeah, dragons are like that. Flying towards the Alterrai Kingdom’s capital, I received another call.

  “Melody there is a giant snake in the sky!” Orson said.

  “That’s a dragon. Don’t-” I started.

  “The headmaster at the academy is attacking it.” He said.

  “Get to the safe room now!” I shouted.

  “…” There was no reply.

  Okay, that’s not good!

  “Project Amber is ready!” Raven’s voice sounded out.

  “Activate it now!” I said.

  A moment ter I felt a surge of magic coming from the Empire. Alright, that should buy them some time. Let’s deal with the dragon in the Alterrai Kingdom first!

  Robbie

  ***

  Oh god, everything is on fire! Feeling nothing but fear, I ran from the Academy. High in the sky, the serpent roared, and a torrential rain of fire rained down on the Academy. Aside from myself, students, staff, and average citizens ran for their lives. Fire rained down on the city and buildings fell into newly created ravines. I saw people under rubble- No it was just limbs.

  Before I could even process what was going on, the street below me erupted. Many of the screams behind me were suddenly silenced. Looking behind me, all I saw was parts of bodies, and a familiar looking shoe. In horror I looked down at my own legs. Though covered in cuts and burns and already blistering and bruising, I was happy to see that they were both there. My shoes however were another question. What was left of them was bckened and I felt the buckle burning into my foot, but I had no time to do anything about it.

  Hearing that roar, dread filled my body and I stumbled to my feet. Where is Melody!? Why isn’t she here, why isn’t she saving us!? At my desperate thoughts, a soothing warm wave engulfed me. My body was covered in a gentle pale light and it felt as if breathing had gotten easier. I felt a dull pain in my legs and looking, I saw the cuts and bruises fade away. Melody! It must be her! She must be here!

  Looking in the sky I searched for her, but all I could see was that dreadful serpent. Ah, no. That wasn’t all. Someone in the Imperial pace was shooting off spells at it. Just like with the headmaster’s attempts, the spells did nothing. I don’t think that even a single scale of the beast was scratched. Turning it’s head ever so slightly, it roared again. Aimed at one of the tall towers, a beam of fire destroyed it's foundation, sending it into the ground below. The serpent didn’t stop there however.

  That deadly beam of fire was raked across the city. From wall to wall, and the fields and forests beyond, that fire shook the ground. Buildings colpsed and debris was sent flying. Rubble flew towards me but I didn’t feel scared. I didn’t feel anything, just a deep despair. Can nothing save us? A rge rock struck my head, but I didn’t feel anything? The rock simply bounced off? More rubble flew at me and every time I was struck, there was a fsh of pale light. It was protecting me? What was going on?

  A greenish blue light fshed in the sky and there was a roar. A different one from it's anger. One of pain and anguish. Looking in the sky cloaked in darkness by the city’s smoke I saw a pale green star flying over the horizon towards the serpent.

  “It’s Melody!” I heard a distant shout.

  “Melody…?” I absentmindedly asked myself.

  From that green star there was a pulse of light, and the serpent once more cried out in pain as it attempted to flee. That overwhelming power! It is her!

  “Melody!” I cheered.

  “Melody!” Another cried out in joy.

  “Melody!” Sounded off another.

  “““““Melody!””””” We cheered.

  It was her! She is here to save us! Everything is going to be fine! We’ll be safe! Hearing the cheers of others, I stood to join them, that pale light protecting me and everyone else grew stronger. A warm embrace and protective hug from Melody! Another pulse of light and the serpent cried out again. The smoke and buildings were getting in the way. Ignoring my burnt feet, I ran to get a better view. Or at least that was the pn. Making it only a single step, my foot slipped on some loose rubble, and I fell face first onto the floor. Thankfully unharmed.

  “Hey, watch it dude!” A voice sounded out.

  “Huh?” I couldn’t help but be confused.

  Dude? Turning my head, I saw a white orb. Even with the destruction and dust around me, it was spotless and shining like an oversized pearl. I couldn’t help but be drawn to it…

  Melody

  ***

  Firing another pulse, another chunk of the dragon was destroyed. Before it could make another move, I aimed once more at it’s head. It was able to dodge the first couple of times but this time was different. Weakened from having much of it’s body destroyed, it was unable to avoid my attack. With it’s head gone, I continued firing. Although some blood was spared, every st scale, bone, and piece of flesh was destroyed. With these types of dragons, you could never be too careful. The st thing anyone would want is a zombified dragon wreaking havoc.

  Having destroyed the dragon completely, I couldn’t help but despair. The city was in fmes and with my enhanced eyesight and hearing, I could tell that for many, I was too te. Luckily it looks like Project Amber was successfully activated. That alone should have saved many lives. For a time at least. With all of the colpsed buildings and more still falling, I wonder how many I could save before time ran out. First, let’s take care of the fires.

  Raising my staff I- ? The fires are out? Across the city, I saw the fires suddenly become snuffed out. Not only that but the scattered debris began moving, changing shapes and returning back to their original pces. Some type of rge scale magic was just activated, but not by me. It’s source was somewhere near the ruins of the academy. Looking over I saw Robbie holding a familiar white orb. Ah! He must have used the st wish! Good job Robbie! What happened to your shoes? Never mind, I’m gd you’re safe. Okay, let’s clear out the smoke.

  “Tranquil breeze!” I shouted.

  My staff started glowing and a breeze that was both gentle and powerful surrounded me. The smoke, along with a few clouds were blown away from the city, bathing it once more in the golden morning sunlight.

  “Ah…” I hesitated.

  With the smoke gone and rubble returning back into their original structures, I could see various bodies and body parts. Among them I could see some of my schoolmates… No one was looking at them, no one but me. Their eyes were all gathered on me. Come on Melody! Don’t look like that, you’ll scare everyone!

  “Healing light!” I shouted.

  The bodies of those who were injured started to glow, along with the body parts. With such an intense light, none of them should be able to see the torn bodies putting themselves back together. Those that had bodies to put back together at least. They won’t come back, but at least some of them can have proper burials. As I did this, I noticed something odd. That orb, the one containing Styx became clouded and dull. His spirit appeared to glow and he floated away from it. Robbie didn’t seem to notice as he was focused on me, but that very orb crumbled, and colpsed into sand.

  “Thanks for freeing me my dude…!” A cheerful, yet calm whisper reached my ears.

  I’m not sure what just happened, but I think it’s good? Ah? I heard some cries. Looking I saw someone crawl out of a building with a missing leg. Looks like my magic didn’t reach everyone. Clearing my thoughts, I flew down to help those in need.

  Grayburne