Chapter Five

At last, we have arrived, Gorgan remarked as I turned to face him. Before us stood a grand purple door, flanked by an ornate silver archway and resting upon a golden base. Between the door and us were a pair of fire stands.

So, this is our exit, I thought. Gorgan turned to me and inquired, “Yurana, are you prepared to depart?”

I nodded slightly in response. “Yes, I am.” I then directed my attention to the door. “Let us proceed.”

“Very well,” Gorgan replied, turning towards the door to open it.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the door lacked a lock. Curiously, I raised an eyebrow and asked Gorgan, “How can you open a door that has no doorknob?”

“Patience, my dear,” Gorgan assured me, averting his gaze momentarily. He then faced the door again, extending his hands. “Observe and learn.”

I regarded him with a hint of skepticism. He better know what he is doing; after all, the prospect of failing to open a door was concerning.

As I listened to Gorgan recite a magical incantation, blue lights emanated from his hands and danced upon the door. Symbols that had adorned the door vanished into thin air, revealing a dragon poised near a pool of lava, gazing skyward.

Gorgan turned to me, gesturing towards the dragon with a smile. “Here we are. That is our means of escape.”

My skepticism deepened. “So, our means of escape involves… riding a dragon?”

“Indeed, my young friend,” Gorgan affirmed with a nod as he approached the dragon.

I hesitated, voicing my concerns. “I’m not so sure about this. What if the dragon is hostile? What if it doesn’t trust us immediately?”

With a spell on his lips, Gorgan moved his fingers, a glowing green sphere illuminating his palm. “Calm yourself, child. I have everything under control. Trust me.”

I exhaled softly through closed lips once more. “Very well…” Upon witnessing Gorgan perform a spell on the dragon, I noticed not only did a green sphere envelop its head, but it also turned to face him. After letting out a fierce roar, Gorgan responded, “Yes, that’s correct, my dear. I am here, and I have brought a companion with me…” Yeah…a friend… “All you need to do is assist us in our escape,” Gorgan continued, “Yes, indeed, escape from this castle. You will do that for us, won’t you?” The dragon roared in response. “Excellent, excellent. That is precisely what I wish to hear.”

As Gorgan approached the dragon, it lowered its head to meet his gaze, permitting him to stroke its neck. Offering reassurance, I paused beside it, turned to its back, and sighed once more with my mouth closed, crossing my arms. Alright, Yurana. It is time to proceed. I then mounted the dragon’s back, and it emitted a cry, releasing a small burst of fire in my direction.

“Whoa!” I instinctively jumped back, my eyes widening in fear that the dragon might incinerate me. Fortunately, Gorgan intervened, preventing any harm. Otherwise, I would have met a grim fate, becoming its meal.

“Now, now. Steady, girl. Steady. She merely wishes to ride you, just as I do,” Gorgan assured the creature, coaxing it to lower its head for him to pet. Once he had calmed it again, he turned to me, advising that I be gentle while mounting.

VAfter a slight nod, I gazed up at the dragon’s back once more, swallowing nervously. Alright, Yurana. Do not falter this time. Please don’t… I needed to escape this place without delay.

Thus, I carefully climbed onto the dragon’s back, hoping to avoid provoking it again. Reminding myself to proceed with caution, I ascended slowly, bit by bit. I was already making commendable progress in climbing the dragon for the very first time.

Upon finally arriving at my destination, I attempted to sit down, but found the experience quite uncomfortable. The spine of the saddle was slightly too sharp for my liking, prompting me to adjust my position while gripping the dragon's reins. This was the best solution I could devise at that moment. I pondered how I would manage to fly this creature under such circumstances.

Observing my discomfort, Gorgan clicked his tongue and remarked, “Not comfortable, I see?” He at that point started to chant a spell, casting a delicate, purple light underneath me. “This should enhance your dragon riding experience significantly.”

When the saddle materialized, I felt a wave of relief and settled into it. Grasping the reins, I was filled with excitement and newfound comfort.

“Is it better now?” Gorgan inquired from below.

I glanced down at him and nodded affirmatively. “Yes, much better.”

“Excellent, presently I'm coming up.” Gorgan started to rise onto the mythical beast, inevitably climbing upon its back. After instructing me to shift back so he could sit directly in front of me, I complied to prevent any accidental kicks to my face. This time, I secured my grip around him. Gorgan turned to me while holding the reins. “Make sure to hold on tightly, so you don’t fall from this height.”

“Oh, I won’t,” I assured him, avoiding direct eye contact.

“Good.” Gorgan then faced forward and flicked the reins. “Here we go.”

As the dragon took flight, the rush of speed filled me with anxiety. It was not merely the velocity that unsettled me, but also the considerable altitude. In an effort to maintain my composure during the journey, I closed my eyes. Riding a dragon was indeed a serious endeavor. I hoped to emerge from this experience unscathed and without the urge to vomit, recalling a time in my childhood when I had been ill during a flight.

After some time in the air, I began to feel a strong urge to vomit. However, I resisted the impulse and held it in until we reached the ground. I was uncertain about Gorgan's destination, but the need to inquire arose as soon as I managed to suppress my nausea.

I called out to him, asking, “Where are you taking me?”

“What? I can't listen to you,” Gorgan answered, looking back. I repeated my question. “Oh, that? I’m taking you to Ragonia, my hometown.”

Ragonia, I thought. That sounds intriguing. I hoped to find assistance there regarding the bracelet. I desperately needed to return home after this ordeal.

Reflecting on this, I reminded myself to remain vigilant around Gorgan. He claimed he would lead me to his hometown, so it was prudent to follow him and discern his true intentions.

Meanwhile, as Gorgan and I fled the castle, the ominous roars of dragons echoed behind us. When I looked back, I saw several dragons pursuing us, poised to attack.