Vel’s Parents

Vel opened her eyes as Aiden was still healing her.

“I know you know, Orren.” Aiden said. He was just about finished healing Vel.

“Well,” Orren sighed, “I was there. I was to protect them, my team, and I.”

“What happened? They made me stay in that cave. I was so scared.” Vel started to tear up as she remembered.

“Lucky for you that only your parents knew about that hidden cave. That forest was supposed to have a magic barrier surrounding it, making it invisible. That hidden cave was a backup plan. I didn’t even know it was there until now.” Orren said.

“So, how did they get past the barrier?” Aiden asked.

“This is where I will begin the story. We had just shown up to check on them…”

— Flashback Starts —

“Keep up, you guys, we need to get these supplies to them,” Orren ordered the other three people in his team.

“Why is there so much this time, Boss? These containers are heavy.” One of them complained.

“Quit complaining. We’re almost there.” Orren said.

A huge gust of wind came through, nearly knocking them over.

“What the hell was that?” Orren looked around.

*CRACKLE CRACKLE*

Orren looked up, the magic barrier was cracking.

“Everyone! Drop your stuff and get moving!”

The four of them dropped all the containers and ran fast. The barrier kept cracking. They ran until they came to a clearing where one big dragon was standing, looking up. It was Veltheryn‘s father.

“Arkaelion!” Orren yelled and they stopped running.

“Do you know what’s happening?” Arkaelion asked.

“No, we dropped the supplies and came running as soon as it started.” Orren took a breath. “Where is Veltheryn?”

“She is safe.” Said Veltheryn’s mother, who silently came into the clearing.

“Silent as ever, Vaelithra,” Orren said.

“What do we do?” Vaelithra asked, looking up.

“…” Arkaelion shook his head.

“No one should know about this place, though. Are we certain that this is someone’s doing?” Orren asked.

“This barrier can’t break on its own,” Arkaelion said.

“Who do you think it is?” Orren asked.

“It really can only be—“ Arkaelion stopped mid-sentence.

*SHATTER*

Everyone looked up at the magical barrier shattering. Magical shards were floating down until they were no more.

“Everyone, get ready!” Orren warned.

*clang… clang… clang*

In the distance, they heard the metal of armor banging against itself.

*WHOOSH*

Dragons above, showing them the way.

*clang, clang, CLANG, CLANG*

They were getting closer, and not just in front of them, but behind them too. Figures could now be seen as they step into the clearing.

“You’re the current Prince, I take it?” Arkaelion asked but already knew the answer.

“That I am.” He said as he came to a stop. Five guards were behind him while three knights came up behind Orren and the others. “I am Prince Rael.”

“And what do you want?” Arkaelion Asked, but again he already knew the answer.

“Well, I am about to be twenty-five. Which means I’ll be king in a few days, and I wanted to celebrate by capturing dragons that have eluded us for hundreds of years.” The ring on his right hand started to glow red. “You can’t win while I have this ring.”

“Arkaelion… what do you want to do?” Orren asked.

Arkaelion knew they couldn’t win, not with their strength being sapped, but he also wouldn’t go without a fight. Looking over at Vaelithra, he knew she had the same idea. She nodded and vanished from sight like dust in the wind. Orren noticed and decided to act.

“You three help them, I’ll deal with the Prince and the guards,” Orren ordered before running towards Prince Rael.

“Go.” Prince Rael ordered his men. They took off running towards Orren.

Orren unsheathed his two swords and started slashing the guards with ease. He kept glancing behind him to check on the others. Vaelithra had incapacitated one of the knights by tearing one of his arms off while Arkaelion was fighting the other two with Orren’s men as backup.

“Looks like we will win—“ Orren didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence as Prince Rael sliced him across his chest with such speed he didn’t even process it till he hit the ground.

“GHHAAAAAA!!!” Came from his men, but… only two of them fell. He couldn’t focus easily, but he noticed that the third one was standing over them with blood on his spear.

“How do you think we found out about this place?” Prince Rael declared.

Orren looked again, and he saw both dragons suspended in the air by a purple sphere, unable to move.

“Elric… Why?” Orren’s vision started to blur.

“Why you ask?” Elric laughed, “They promised I would become a knight if I helped them capture these two.”

“You… Bastard…” Orren passes out.

— Flashback Ends —

“I have a few questions,” Aiden spoke as he finished up eating the food Sandra brought for him and Vel as Orren was telling the story.

“I am sure they are what I want to ask as well,” Vel stated.

“I already know what the first one will be.” Orren sighed, “We always had a backup team. Once they saw Prince Rael leave, they came and found me.” He lifted his shirt, showing the scar across his chest. “That’s how I survived, but barely. I was unconscious for three weeks.”

“That’s crazy, Orren. Is that team still here?” Aiden asked.

“Sadly, no. They died trying to save some dragons after I woke up… By Elric.” Orren sighed.

“He was the first person I ever… killed.” Aiden took a breath, “But after hearing that story, I’m glad I did.”

“Yeah… About that.” Orren said hesitantly. “He… Isn’t dead.”

“WHAT?!” Aiden stood up, shocked. “There is no way he survived that! I mean, I stabbed him through his heart!”

“The ones who are granted to be Knights get special gifts. Longer life, increased abilities, and being very hard to kill.”

“Well that’s just great!” Aiden sat back down and looked over at Vel with a worried look on her face. “So, is there a way to kill them?”

“According to records, once, a few hundred years ago. Apparently, cutting off their head and burning it prevents them from healing.”

“Wish I had known…” Aiden sighed… he looked over at Vel, and he knew what she wanted to ask. “So, why were Vel’s parents even there and not hiding here?” Aiden asked.

“Well, they were and for a long time, but they wanted to have a child, and newborn dragons need sunlight.” 

“Then they should not have had me.” Vel said, “It put them in too much danger.” Aiden put his hand on her arm to comfort her. “They are probably long gone by now.” She looked sad.

“They wouldn’t kill them,” Orren said with a sigh.

“What makes you so sure?” Aiden asked.

“Well…” Orren leaned back in his chair, “Veltheryn’s parents are the King and Queen of dragons.”