Draxson and I stepped out into the forest, leaving our home behind, to explore the world and find excitement. We walked through the forest for a few hours before anything of note happened. We suddenly stopped when Draxson pointed out a carved stone with engraved markings. There was a bed of ice-blue flowers around its base. When I looked at it, I remembered Draxson, and I had wandered from the village to explore the forest a few years ago. While walking around the forest, we encountered a lost woman in dented armor, bloodied and limping in our direction. We approached to see what happened to her.

  I shuddered, remembering the grave words she spoke. "Run! They are upon us; the Necron is coming this way. Leave me, protect yourself, get as far away as possible." Those were the wounded soldier's words before a cloaked figure manifested from a cloud of green energy 3 meters behind the soldier. The figure radiated swirling black magic and glowed a dark green around his jet-black apparel. His dark green cloak flowed freely in the wind while the Necron stepped forward with green majic flowing from his right hand. The wounded soldier's face dropped, and a look of dread spread all across her face as she said, "It's too late. They are upon us."

  "Did you think you could escape the fate your compatriots suffered?" asked the hooded magic user as he cackled. "You're a fool for thinking you could get away. You are going to become my servant for life," stated the Necron as Draxson and I prepared some spells and stepped in between him and the wounded soldier. "You're not going to inflict any more harm on her or anyone else," I said. I remembered the scene in painful detail, shuddering. My attention was brought back to the present with a shout from Draxson, notifying me of a creature up ahead. "Hey, Sopheia, we got a hostile 20 meters ahead. "Skeleton." Let's take it down." “Yeah, I'm on it," I replied while preparing an ice shard.

  I launched the shard at the middle of the skeleton's spine as Draxson charged and slashed at one of its arms. The Skeleton Blocked Draxson's strike with its sword. Draxson jumped back as the skeleton slashed at him with its blade, then stepped forward and punched Draxson in the jaw with its free hand, sending Draxson a couple of feet back. I flung another ice shard at the skeleton's sword hand and caused it to drop its sword as its hand froze. Draxson swiftly recovered from the skeleton's blow a few seconds later, then formed a fiery fist and punched a hole through its skull, burning it. Draxson pulled his fist back and said, "This must be one of the old soldiers' comrades they said got possessed.”

  “I guess after the last two years under that Necron's spell, the body deteriorated faster than usual,” added Draxson as he inspected the corpse’s corpse. “They got some pretty good stuff here,” said Draxson as he pulled out two small objects. “Here’s the Majic crystal I made with what I could extract. They also dropped a small nugget of frost iron. Oh look, there’s something else,” said Draxson, reaching his hand into the skeleton's cloak and pulling out a small book the size of his palm. “What is it?” I asked Draxson as I stepped towards him. “From what I’m reading, it seems to be a small majic book,” replied Draxson as he rifled through the pages.

  “I can understand about two spells so far, but the rest is in a language I don't fully understand,” said Draxson as I looked over his shoulder and recognized the writing.

  “I don't understand all of it, but I can make out 5 of those spells. I bet if we sent this to my friend back in the village, she could translate this, and we’d know what this says,” I said as I took the book from Draxson and flipped through the pages. “Your scribe friend?” how will we send it to her without heading back?” “Well, Draxson, I would be thinking the same thing if I hadn't been given something to call a messenger bird.” “Where did you get that from?” asked Draxson as I pulled out a Majic stone, activated the spell, and wrote a letter while I waited. “I got it from my father after I was inducted as an honorary soldier. He gave it so I could update him on what happens here and anything we find.” I replied as a sizeable blue crow came from above the trees and landed elegantly on my right arm. “ Hello, Mister Comet. How are you doing, buddy?” I asked as I lightly stroked my crow’s head while it cooed in contentment. “I have a delivery for you to take to De’lah in the scribes' quarters.” “Caw,” responded Comet. I handed him the book I wrapped in a small paper package while I waited for him. “Here you go. Take this to her, please.” I said as I attached a small letter to the package Comet carried with his talons. Comet replied with a resounding yes with his caws.

  “Oh, and here's this buddy. Thank you for the hard work,” I said as I tossed Comet a Majic worm as he was about to fly off. “Bye bye comet. Fly safe,” said I as I waved goodbye when he flew away. “That was pretty cool. It understands what you're saying?” asked Draxson. “Kinda, it can only read my intent and tone for now. As my bond with it deepens, I can speak in its language, and he can speak mine. Eventually, the bond is strong enough to sense whether or not each other is in danger.” “I will also need to get him a cage soon so he can travel with me. Dad says it’s tradition to hand-make the cage for your companion.” “So, Let's get going, Draxson. We should try to get some more miles in before we break for lunch.” I say as I approach the corpse and bury it in the snow, and then I stick its discarded sword at its head for a grave marker. “OKOK,” replied Draxson as we continued deeper into the forest for another two hours and stumbled upon three skeletons hobbling around a wagon with its contents strewn about. “Get ready, Draxson,” I say as I unsheath my sword. “Don't need to tell me twice,” replied Draxson as he notched back an arrow. “I’ll take the one on the far left; you take the one on the right.” I tell Draxson, “Yes, ma’am.” replies Draxson.

  I dashed at the skeleton on my left and swiftly sliced its spine, causing it to shriek in pain and fall into two halves. The leg portion kicked at me, and I chopped its foot off, grabbed the remaining legs, and used them to crush the top half of the skeleton before I crushed it with my frost-shrouded boot. While I rushed at the other skeleton, Draxson had already shot the main parts of the skeleton on my right. I punched the skeleton near me in the chest with my ice fist, and Draxson assisted by shooting the skull off. Then, from my left, a skeleton climbed through the frost-covered dirt, grabbed my leg, and retained a firm grip, crushing my lower thigh. I grabbed a dagger from my belt, stabbed the skeleton in the head, and forced it into the ground. Another skeleton appeared on my right, and as it grabbed my arm, I struggled to free my other dagger from the other side of my belt. Draxson shot the skeleton through the arm, and I finished it off with a kick to the chest and broke through its spine. “Thanks, nice save, Draxson.” “No probl....” Suddenly, I spotted movement behind Draxson. “Draxson, watch out behind you!” I shouted at Draxson as a skeleton stabbed him in his right thigh. "Gah!!!" cried Draxson

  Draxsons cry of pain rang through my ears, reminding me of the same ear-piercing scream that the soldier gave a long time ago as that Villain took control of the wounded soldier. Once they were taken control of, she screamed momentarily and pleaded for our departure. “Please leave now. I don't have much control left, and it’s agonizing; save yourself, please, and get help.” “No way we’re not leaving you behind," I replied as Draxson. I rushed the Necron and bombarded them with frost and fire, avoiding their puppet's attacks for over 20 minutes. *swoosh* sounded as the Necron shifted away, leaving the still-under-control soldier behind. “Y-you did it, You stubborn kids. Thank y– said the soldier as she began to writhe in pain and let out another scream. I stood there stuck like a log, unable to move my limbs. I watched her scream in pain as she scratched her skin off. I watched Draxson charge into action. He knocked the sword out of her hand and pinned her to the ground while I stood frozen as I did right now as Draxson was stabbed through his leg.

  “SOPHEIA HELP” cried Draxson as he struggled against the skeleton. I awoke from my trance and snapped as rage welled up inside me upon seeing Draxson wounded. “DRAXSON” I screamed as I ran to reach him; I pounced upon his attacker and viciously cut the skeleton to pieces.

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  I First stabbed the skeleton in the chest with my sword, then I brought out my twin daggers and tore at its ribs. Stab after stab, the bones under my blades surrendered under my attacks and shattered them. Way out from the left side of my vision, a robed skeleton charged a spell about 10 meters away.

  I flew with a leap to close the gap and take down the wizard before it could cast the spell. A light green orb spun as it formed in the skeleton's hands while the wind visibly swirled around the majic orb. I was 3 feet from my target when the spell unleashed a green breeze that covered me. As the wind passed over me, I felt a chill all across the bones of my body. I went for a slash across the wizard's pelvis with my sword as a gust of wind forced my blade back after I barely cut.

  From my left side, an armored skeleton pierced my side with a powerful majic. The magic pierced through my armor and clothes and left a hole the size of my fist, pouring out blood. As I reached to cover the wound, I fell over sideways on top of a sharp rock under me, and I felt a crunch as I broke a rib with my fall. I lay there with my hand being insufficient to stop my bleeding as my cat's blood spilled through my fingers. In my pain, I cried as I yelled for help. The cry “Draxsonnn” roared from my lungs as I stifled my sniffling. “help” exited my mouth, barely a whisper. I faded out of consciousness momentarily as Draxson rose from his spot with bright and shining flames pouring from him.

  (Cinematic view shift) As Draxson rose from the ground, his elvish appearance disappeared, and he transformed his face into his red dragon form. His sleeves ripped from his shirt as his scaly arms bulged and dragon claws formed at the end of his draconic hands. Draxson’s eyelids snapped open, revealing his golden flaming eyes. Fire rose from his scaly skin, and a thick cloud of smoke formed behind him. A brief flicker of purple and green flashed over his eyes as he unleashed a throaty “ROARAGH” when flames shrouded his claws and face as he charged the one who took Sopheia down.

  Sopheia was in a memory as she lay unconscious and bleeding out.

  “Sopheia. Stop standing there and get over here and help me,” shouted Draxson while he struggled to keep the possessed soldier down and from clawing herself. “End the pain. It’s killing me. I’m doing everything I can to keep from Fighting you two. Kill me, please, I beg of you.” shouted the soldier as tears gushed from her eyes as she was stifling a sob. “I-I can't do that, ma’am,” replied Draxson. “Stop being such a selfish brat. You can't save me unless you kill that Necron, but they escaped. The only way you can save me now is to end my pain. Please.” “What’s your name, ma’am?” asked Draxson. “Sharchie Shine. Take the badge from my right pocket, the scroll, and the letters and give them to Sham Shine or my captain SOl Fire in the Sun Shine kingdom.”

  “Forces of life, please forgive me,” whispered Draxson as I watched him raise the sword he knocked from the soldier's hand and pierced her in the heart. Sharchie flashed a smile and gave thanks. “Thank you…. ‘Draxson and Sopheia are our names,’” inserted Draxson. “Thank you, Sopheia and Draxson, may the light shine upon you….” replied Sharcie as she cast a light that covered us. She let out her final breath And gave a bright smile as a tear ran across her face. My Memory ended with tears flowing from Draxson’s eyes. The next thing I remember was Waking up to see Draxson shred through my attacker, pull from the fire on his face, and unleash a breath of fire upon the wizard. Then, I witnessed Draxson bring down his flaming claws in an arc through the wizard from top to bottom, leaving a shredded cloak upon a pile of bones. Draxson let out a loud cry with his face to the sky before he slumped down and panted before awakening from his rage and desperately went to his knees and came to my aid. “Sopheia, stay with me!” cried Draxson in desperation. He looked down at my bleeding wound and began muffled words as unconsciousness threatened to take me.

  “NO, no, no. I’ll take care of this, don't you worry,” said Draxson, looking down upon me with a worried look before he went to his supply pack, pulled out a light blue paw print-covered scarf, and then picked me up slightly as he began wrapping the scarf around my waist. I winced as he wrapped it tightly around me and let out a small, pained cry as he started tightening the scarf with a sheathed dagger in a knot. “I got you, I got you, it's going to be OK. Stay with me, Sopheia.” cried Draxson, dripping tears on my face. As I fell asleep, I heard Draxson screaming while he shouted my name. The last thing I saw was Draxson crying a river of tears, and this image burned into my Memory as I closed my eyes.

  Meanwhile, Draxson held Sopheia to his chest as he momentarily cried for his friend. Without wasting a moment more, he fetched a blanket from his supply pack, covered Sopheia with it, and began a fire to keep Sophiea warm while he cooked something. Draxson poured some ingredients for a broth into one of his pots and started chopping meat to go with it. Draxson attempted to make something to heal Sopheia and sustain her while she recovered.

  Draxson pov

  An hour and a half later, I heard the familiar cry of Sopheia’s companion, “Caw, Caw, caw.” The bird continued to cry as it swooped down and hovered before me. It had a small bag in its beak, and I dropped it into my outstretched hand. “Thank you, comet buddy,” I said as I placed the bag beside the cooking supplies. I reached for a bag to get a worm from the bag Sopheia fed him the last time. I found the bag, which I placed with the rest of the gear I took off Sopheia when I checked for other wounds.

  I only found a few bruises and minor scratches along her arms where the sleeves were torn. I left her in her long-sleeved shirt, lifted only high enough for the bandage to cover and wrap around her waist. I had covered her legs with my cloak to keep her warm. I extracted a worm from Sopheia’s bag and gave it to Comet as I gave his feathery head a gentle pet. “Thank you so much, Comet.” I waved goodbye to the bird as he flew away. I picked up the bag and grabbed the herbs from inside. Then, I prepared them for the food and a paste to fill Sopheia’s wound. I mixed in the prepared herbs and the other ingredients for the curry.

  I had made a spicy duck curry with onions, carrots, pepper, medical herbs, rice, soft noodles, honey, and a touch of parsley. I let the curry cook for another 20 minutes before it was ready, and I pulled out a small loaf of bread. I uncovered the lid on the curry and prepared plates and utensils. I persuaded the aroma to surround the area and focus on Sopheia. I tasted the curry with a modest spoonful, brought it to my mouth, and delighted in the lovely spicy and creamy curry. “MMM, that is tasty.”

  Sopheia’s dream: I awoke not to the sight of the frozen forest as I had hoped. Instead, I found myself in a pitch-black space with only a tiny blue light illuminating a small area a moderate distance away. I stood up from my sitting position, and as I began to walk, I felt pain all over, from my toes to my ears. I rubbed my eyes to fully awaken myself. I stumbled and limped to the faint light. It became brighter as I approached, and after a few minutes, I was Within my reach. I reached out to grab the light, but my hand passed through the orb of light; when I pulled back, a tall and broad figure formed from the light. When the form was finalized, it depicted a larger-than-normal and furry female cat-nye. I stepped back in fear and asked, “What are you?” “I am the beast that you are supposed to become; I am the transformation your body needs. This is the power of the cat-nye clan. To survive, you must transform and make this power your own. Sopheia, he needs you, so be strong for me, my little girl.” “Mom. is that you?” I asked in surprise at this revelation of the beast knowing my name. “No. I am not your mother; I am your great-grandmother. My power resides in you because you are my youngest kin.”

  “Where did you go, great grandma? You went missing, and they couldn't find you.” I replied. “ I AM in the frost realm. I am with the ancestors and the first Frost majic users. I reside partially within your Frost core due to my relation to you.” I had so many questions, but as I began to ask a question, Great Grandma said, “ I don't have time, as inconvenient as that is. I can only help you with one thing, but I also need you to do something for me.” “OK,” I said. “ I will use some of my power to speed the transformation, but I need you to find my daughter to help you cultivate this power.” “This is going to hurt a little and take some time to get comfortable with, but this is only one of the many transformations waiting for you.” I watched my great-grandmother (Silvale) empower me with the earlier blue light and purple majic. I began to feel my body expand as I grew slightly taller and barely wider, and fur grew, covering the spots that the hair under my upper shirt and shoulders did not.

  I was left with fur everywhere except my hands, which had slightly more hair than before. As my muscles expanded, that wasn't all I could feel, and the pain I felt before slowly ebbed. “ There, you are so gorgeous, my baby. Goodbye, my darling; see you soon,” stated Silvale as she dissipated into the dark space, leaving me alone again. Moments later, I was starting to feel better as sleep let go of its hold on me. And I regained consciousness.