Aranaya, The Seeker (Canon Lore)
by null.[]
In the war-torn world of Druk Yul, where the Dragonborn and an enigmatic enemy fiercely clashed in a relentless battle for supremacy, a tale of courage, loss, and the insatiable pursuit of power unfolds. Amidst the chaos and the unyielding struggle, a young dragoness named Aranaya Xaphina finds herself unexpectedly thrust into a destiny she never anticipated. Born into royalty as the heiress of the revered Xaphina clan, Aranaya had always known that her life would be marked by duty, sacrifice, and profound responsibility.
When the tumultuous vicissitudes of the savage conflict came to pass, however, no amount of mental preparation beforehand could have steeled her for the grievous ordeals through which she would ultimately find herself traversing. As the conflict raged on, tragically claiming the lives of countless dragons, even the revered King and Queen, Aranaya's parents, could not escape their fate. The weight of the crown fell upon the Heiress' shoulders, abruptly thrusting her into the unexpected role of the new Queen of the Dragonborn.
Amidst the ruins of her homeland and the remnants of her shattered dreams, Aranaya's eyes fell upon a peculiar object lying amidst the blood-stained battleground. In the midst of the pandemonium lay a strange tome whose curious binding and arcane symbols seemed incongruous with the surrounding ruin. Its weathered pages beckoned her, hinting at secrets and mysteries yet to be unveiled. Driven by curiosity and a deep yearning for answers, Aranaya reached out to claim the grimoire. When her fingers inadvertently grazed the faded binding, she felt an ancient power suddenly flare to life within her bloodstream. But as she attempted to open its pages, the ancient tome resisted, keeping its enigmatic secrets hidden. Undeterred, Aranaya carried the grimoire with her, feeling a strange connection to the relic despite its mystery. Though ignorant of how fortuitous her happenstance discovery of the arcane tome would prove to be, its cryptic contents would set her on a perilous path that would try her mettle and transport her to a realm beyond the horizons of her fancy.
In a pivotal moment of desperation, as Aranaya found herself overwhelmed by the enemy's forces, she took flight, seeking an escape from the relentless onslaught. Witnessing Aranaya's desperate situation, the Dragon Knight Commander swiftly came to her aid, deflecting the enemy's assault and buying her precious moments to flee. While gliding aloft, her mind was obscured by uncertain thoughts as she drifted deeper into the forest unconsciously. Only when she reached the limits of her endurance did she transform into her humanoid form, seeking refuge amidst the towering trees. Dazed and bewildered, Aranaya sprinted through the unfamiliar forest, her breath ragged and her senses on high alert. As she raced frantically, the ancient spellbook plummeted away, crashing loudly against the hard ground with its escape velocity. To her astonishment, the impact unleashed a powerful surge of ancient magic. This surge caused the grimoire's weathered pages to unfurl, revealing a radiant and shimmering portal that materialized right before her eyes.
Driven by loyalty and a deep sense of responsibility, the Dragon Knight Commander tirelessly searched for Aranaya amidst the remnants of the treacherous battlefield. His unyielding determination led him to a mysterious portal in the surrounding forest, shimmering with otherworldly energy, as he fervently realized that Aranaya might have entered it. Filled with trepidation, yet resolute in his purpose, he bravely ventured into the foreign realm, driven by the unwavering desire to find Aranaya and guide her safely back home.
Unbeknownst to them, the grimoire Aranaya had discovered belonged to the entity responsible for the war ravaging their land. Each page of the ancient book held the power to open portals to different worlds, a potent instrument wielded by their adversary to wreak havoc and conquer new realms. Sensing the loss of the grimoire and fearing its potential in Aranaya's hands, the adversary invoked dark magic, opening a portal to an unknown world in pursuit of the dragoness and the coveted tome.
As Aranaya found herself in the unknown world, she wandered through its unfamiliar landscapes, her eyes filled with wonder and trepidation. Not long into her exploration did she ascertain that this was indeed Earth, a vast realm that bore little resemblance to the world she had known before. As Aranaya delved further into the unknown, striving to understand its intricacies, fate reunited her with her Knight. Bound by their mutual drive and indissoluble connections forged through shared strife, their aspiration centered on rediscovering the vanished codex and unlocking the power imprisoned within. Within those ancient pages lay the potential to restore order to their war-torn homeland by reopening the portal to Druk Yul. Intrigued by the vibrant world of anime, Aranaya found solace in Vtubing. Introduced by her Knight, she immersed herself in this digital realm, becoming a Vtuber herself. She uses this newfound platform to share her journey, entertain, and search for clues about the grimoire's whereabouts.
In the shadows, still wielding formidable power, the relentless adversary traversed countless worlds, tirelessly hunting Aranaya. But with an abundance of boundless worlds to search, time became Aranaya's ally, empowering her to persistently pursue the elusive grimoire, inching ever closer with unwavering determination. As the adversary tirelessly hunts, Aranaya fervently embraced the precious gift of time, utilizing every fleeting moment to continue her unwavering and relentless quest for the coveted artifact.
As Aranaya embraced her Vtubing endeavors, captivating audiences and forging connections, her unwavering focus remained fixed on her ultimate goal. With the unexpected world of Vtubing as their ally, Aranaya and her Knight embarked on an epic quest, venturing through the realm in search of the key to their return. With unwavering determination and indomitable courage, they boldly pressed forward, their profound connection forged through shared belief, poised to confront whatever challenges may lie in their path.
Aranaya, The Reclaimer (Old Canon Lore)
by null.[]
In the world of Druk Yul, veiled in enigmatic allure, the echoes of past and present intertwine, forging a tapestry spun with tales of tragedy and vengeance.
Long time ago, a valiant female knight embarked on a treacherous expedition, driven by an unwavering purpose to vanquish a formidable four-winged dragon, oblivious to the profound implications that awaited her fateful encounter. However, the hand of destiny unfolded in a twist of fate, as the dragon's fiery breath spared the knight's life, leaving her with an unforeseen legacy—a child, conceived in a moment of unlikely connection. The knight, burdened with the weight of her newfound motherhood, named the child Anaya.
Anaya's early life transpired in the clutches of hardship, a stark departure from the serene realms of a blissful childhood. Being a Dragonborn, she carried the burden of discrimination, cast aside to the margins of society, her mere existence perceived as a curse by those who surrounded her. Nurtured solely by her devoted mother, their lives became a perpetual dance of hardship and concealment, compelled to exist in the shadows as the kingdom and its inhabitants recoiled from the untapped power and perceived peril of the Dragonborn.
As scouts alerted the king to their presence, their small village, situated near the kingdom's borders, transformed into a place of perpetual vigilance. Within the community, treachery and fear became rampant when the king announced a lucrative reward for any information regarding the Dragonborn's whereabouts. Driven by avarice and the allure of wealth, people turned against them, casting them aside and succumbing to betrayal. In the face of imminent peril, Anaya's mother made the ultimate sacrifice, orchestrating her daughter's desperate flight for survival. It was during this harrowing escape that Anaya first unleashed her dormant powers, harnessing them to secure her freedom. At dawn, she returned to their desolate home, heartrending pain gripping her as she discovered her mother's lifeless form. In a solemn act of farewell, Anaya laid her mother to rest, her grief fueling her resolute determination. From that moment, her resolve solidified—to avenge her mother's merciless murder and exact justice upon the kingdom that had torn their lives asunder.
Years passed, and Anaya flourished as a formidable leader, amassing a powerful empire of Dragonborn. In continuing her lineage, the next generation embraced their powerful heritage as their reputation resounds through the realm. Their vengeance knew no bounds, as they initiated their campaign of retribution, swiftly overpowering the kingdom and leaving a trail of fallen enemies in their wake. With ruthless precision did they rend asunder the ranks of their foes and strike fear into the hearts of those arrayed against them. However, as the kingdom's alliances witnessed the situation, they rushed to their aid, desperate to prevent their own demise. The scales of the war tipped, as the now outnumbered Dragonborn found themselves facing overwhelming odds. The conflict that followed claimed a staggering number of lives, and amidst the chaos, it was Anaya, the valiant leader of the Dragonborn, who ultimately met her demise. While the kingdom exulted in their triumph over the conquered scion, the toll exacted by such a bitter conquest was beyond reckoning.
In the present era, a family of Dragonborn resides in seclusion, their lineage on the brink of extinction within the realm of Druk Yul. Bound by the echoes of a past war, they dwell hidden from a world that holds them as targets. Their tranquil seclusion is shattered by an unforeseen encounter, unveiling their existence to an outsider and setting in motion a chain of events that imperils their sanctuary. As word spreads like wildfire, the imminent threat of pursuit looms closer, forcing Aranaya and her parents to prepare for the trials that await.
As the veil of night fell, a resolute assemblage converged upon their shelter, fueled by a vengeful resolve to eradicate every vestige of the Dragonborn. Aware of their bleak predicament, Aranaya's parents knew that their survival was a remote possibility, and with heavy hearts they invoked an ancient grimoire, opening a portal to secure Aranaya's safety from imminent peril. In a poignant moment, Aranaya bore witness to her parents' valiant stand, their unwavering love guiding her through the portal as they face their inevitable fate.
Upon entering the portal, Aranaya's surroundings shifted as she found herself transported to a realm known as Earth. The stark disparity between this unfamiliar world and her own struck her with awe and trepidation. It is there that she met two exceptional individuals, Khyrsanth and Araneechan, who shattered her perception of mankind as sole enemies. Their kindness and compassion ignited a hope for potential coexistence within Aranaya, who, amidst her burning desire for vengeance, also yearned for a sense of belonging in her true home, Druk Yul. Immersed in her new environment, Aranaya found invaluable companionship from the two who became her trusted friends. Together, they engaged in rigorous training, honing Aranaya's dragon powers and their skills, sharing moments of joy and laughter. Little did they know that their peace would soon be shattered by an event that would propel Aranaya on a journey filled with unforeseen challenges. This journey would test their resilience, forge unbreakable bonds, and unveil the true extent of their abilities.
Unbeknownst to them, rumors of Aranaya's existence had already spread, catching the attention of nefarious individuals intent on hunting her down. Ambushed by these assailants, Araneechan valiantly shielded Aranaya, sustaining grave injuries in the process. Awakening her dormant dragon power, Aranaya unleashed her fury, defeating their assailants and escaping with her companions. Tragically, the wounds sustained by Araneechan proved insurmountable, ultimately leading to her untimely demise. As she lay on the precipice of death, she expressed a heartfelt wish—to serve as a guiding presence for Aranaya and illuminate the intricacies of humanity. Mysteriously, an ethereal radiance emerged, intertwining the essence of Araneechan with Aranaya's own, fulfilling her final desire and merging their souls into one. With Araneechan's spirit lingering in her heart, Aranaya found a renewed sense of purpose, propelling her forward on the path that lay ahead. With newfound strength and resolve, Aranaya embarked on a journey to find the answer to bringing Araneechan back to life.
With the aid of Khyrsanth's extensive research and modern technology, they later succeeded in creating a portal that would enable Aranaya's return to Druk Yul. Bidding tearful farewells, Aranaya set forth on her odyssey, driven by the unwavering determination to bring Araneechan back to life, while Khyrsanth pledged to safeguard her body until that time. United by their thirst to defy death's grasp, they embarked on separate paths, yet journeyed as one, bound by the unyielding desire to reunite and restore the life of their fallen friend.
Aranaya, The Forsaken
by null.[]
Once upon a time, in the mystical realm of Druk Yul, a land steeped in ancient magic and wonder, there lived a young and adventurous princess named Aranaya. Her spirit soared like a dragon's flight, and she was known throughout the kingdom for her fearlessness and determination.
One fateful day, as the sun cast its golden glow upon the realm, Aranaya's journey took an unexpected turn. Amidst the whispering breeze, she stumbled upon a mysterious boy, disoriented and seemingly lost. His eyes held a haunting emptiness, a void where memories should have been. Filled with compassion and an unshakable desire to help, Aranaya's heart led her to take the boy under her care.
As the days passed, Aranaya and the boy formed a deep and unbreakable bond. The boy, grateful for her kindness, promised his undying loyalty to the princess. Their days were filled with laughter, exploration, and the joy of newfound companionship. Yet, as the days turned into weeks, something seemed amiss. The boy's memories began to resurface in fragments, like scattered stardust trying to find its place in the night sky.
As Aranaya accompanied him through the realm, she noticed subtle changes in his demeanor, but she couldn't fathom the true depths of his inner struggle. The boy grappled with the resurgence of memories that he couldn't comprehend or explain. It was as if the tides of destiny had washed him ashore in Druk Yul, far away from his home in another world.
In a twist of fate that sent shivers down Aranaya's spine, the boy began to remember fragments of his past life. The recollections of being a vessel for a malevolent deity known as the World Ender clawed at the edges of his mind. An overwhelming dread overpowered him, though he sensed the growing turmoil within, the boy chose to keep his plight hidden from Aranaya, fearing that the revelation of his past might endanger the newfound friendship they shared.
As the dormant power of the World Ender stirred within the boy, a struggle for control commenced, threatening to shatter the fragile harmony they had nurtured. The boy's heart ached as he grappled with the malevolence that now sought to consume him. Yet, he held on, desperately trying to preserve the bonds he had formed with Aranaya and the life he had come to cherish.
But destiny has a way of unfurling its path with relentless ferocity. As the memories surged back, the World Ender's power swelled, his malevolence encroaching upon the boy's essence. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the boy she held so dear became a mere vessel, a pawn in the hands of an ancient malevolence.
One night, as the veil of darkness enshrouded Druk Yul, the essenceweaver's malevolence reached its crescendo. The boy lost all control, and the world around him quivered in its malevolent grasp. Aranaya awoke to chaos, her once-beautiful kingdom now crumbling under the weight of destruction. The essenceweaver, now fully in control, unleashed its power upon the realm, obliterating everything in its path.
A desperate battle ensued, Aranaya fighting valiantly to save her beloved kingdom, unaware of the true darkness that had befallen her friend. But the essenceweaver's power was immense, and no matter how fiercely Aranaya fought, she could not thwart its malevolence. As she looked into the eyes of her friend, she saw the boy she had once known, now nothing more than a vessel for the essenceweaver's desires. His soul was trapped, imprisoned by the malevolent deity that now held sway over him. With every ounce of her strength, Aranaya tried to save him, to break the essenceweaver's hold, but it was futile. In the end, she could only watch as the world she loved was devoured by darkness.
In a final act of defiance, Aranaya confronted the essenceweaver with all her might. But the malevolent deity was too powerful, and Aranaya's valiant efforts were in vain. The essenceweaver, now fully unleashed, reveled in its conquest. Druk Yul, once a realm of beauty and wonder, now lay in ruins. Its history, its people, its very existence erased in a matter of moments. As the darkness enveloped everything, Aranaya could feel the essenceweaver's power tearing through the fabric of reality. The world of Druk Yul was no more, its memory etched only in the hearts of those who had once called it home.
And so, the tale of Druk Yul ended in sorrow and despair. The essenceweaver's malevolence knew no bounds, and its relentless quest for annihilation continued, unyielding and merciless, leaving in its wake a void where once there had been a realm of beauty and wonder. As it continued its journey through the cosmos, other worlds trembled in fear, for the world ender's hunger for destruction was insatiable, and no world was safe from its grasp.
Hotdog Dragon
by IntrovertedWanderer23[]
Once upon a time,
There was a dragon-girl with blond hair, sharp horns with rubies, red scales and electric powers named Aranaya Xaphina. She was a Queen with beauty and power in her name, she lived in a stone castle in the plains of a tropical country with her three high knights and her army of Dragon Knights of all shapes, sizes, race and being at her beck and call.
She had many, many interests and certains likes, guns, dragons, pets, arts, streaming but most of all, she had a fixation on hotdogs. She was enamored by this specific meat and she loved all kinds of it, frankfurters, weiners, sausages and most of all the Kielbasa, the thickest and longest of them all. But this fixation had come to a point of obsession, the queen's mind could not go a day without the thought of hotdogs and it always made her stomach rumble, for a week she had only eaten the meat product and she made a smoothie of all the hotdogs and sausages she could find and almost drank it had it not been for her Dragon Knights to stop her.
Her Knights were worried sick for their queen and they needed to find a way to handle this fixation until one of them suggested looking within the sacred texts of the castle's library. Together they searched and scourged every scroll, every book and every page within the shelves, not letting any stone unturned, until one of them by the name of Tomokiii, a master of the magic arts, found a book of spells hidden in a dark corner.
He opened it and recognized the contents and drawings inside, he knew these texts and he flipped and flipped the old, brown pages until he found what he was looking for. He brought it to the knights and shared what he found, they all discussed their next course of action and put their new plan into action.
One day when Aranaya awoken, she was called by one of her knights to the roundtable chamber for an important meeting, she followed him to the chamber and saw her knights in a circle, wearing hotdog costumes of all kinds, her three high knights wearing the containers of mayonnaise, ketchup and cheese and Tomokiii wearing a chefs clothes and hat.
She was confused and demanded an explanation and the magic artist answered that this ritual can help give her the best hotdog in the world to satisfy her hunger. She contemplated this, for most people this would cause some hesitation but she wasn't most people and neither were her dragon knights, she trusts and cares for them just as they do to her so she accepted it.
She stood in the middle of the Hotdog Knight Circle, the three Condiment Knights stood near and surrounded her in a triangle formation while Tomokiii stood in the space between the two formations facing her. He began chanting in an ancient tongue and the circle started swaying left and right, soon Ara felt something inside her and she knew that this was magic that was coming closer to her, the chanting grew louder and soon her eyes felt heavy before she lost consciousness.
But her body did not fall but rather it rose to the air slowly, Tomokiii chanted louder and soon the costumes of the Knight Circle and the High Knights started to break apart in small pieces and they floated to the suspended dragon queen, covering her in a ball of hotdogs, bread, mayonnaise, ketchup and cheese. Soon the ball began the glow brighter and brighter until it shined like a sun, blinding the occupants.
Soon the light dimmed to a normal light bulb and floated down into the ground, the light dimmed until it was gone and revealed Aranaya, but as she opened her eyes she felt different, her body was bigger, her arms and legs felt crunchy and her wings felt fluid. She asked what happened and one of the knights brought a mirror for her to see and she was astonished at what she saw.
Standing in the mirror was her as a living, walking and breathing hotdog, her body was a red, thick hotdog that white round eyes and a thin line of her mouth on her "head" and wiggly line of cheese running down the middle, covering her sides and back was the bread that connected her arms and legs to her body and behind her were red feathered wings made of ketchup.
She had never felt so much joy and she thanked her knights, claiming that she was blessed to have them by her side and they were thankful for her in their lives. Her obsession had now been satisfied and they went on with their days happily and filled with more shenanigans in the story.
The End.
Aranaya Xaphina
by Ayasaki Kurisu[]
Synopsis[]
In the continent of Druk Yul, a war raged between humanity and mythical beasts—dragons. Amidst the catastrophic war, a mighty Hero rose and finally put an end to the war. Peace was established between the two sides and their coexistence was the proof that war is not the answer. Three generations had passed and a new king took the throne. However, having a deep hatred towards the mythical beasts, he declared another war against them. Little did the dragons know that humanity has somehow gained powerful magic and technology prowess that surpassed the mythical beasts and the war became a one-sided battle.
Amongst the dragons, Aranaya of the Xaphina Clan, was consumed by vengeance after her entire clan was completely slaughtered by humans. Being the sole survivor of the strongest dragon clan, she joined the ranks and swore to slay the humans who killed her kin and destroyed their home.
Prologue[]
It was an encounter that can never ever happen in human life. A beast like that only exist in myths and legends but it appears that it is indeed real.
I really wish that I’m drunk or daydreaming—or going insane at best.
“You can’t hide from me, human. I can smell your fear…”
I must stay calm.
I gently peeked to the monstrosity that I’m hiding from. With the help of the moonlight, it illuminated its whole appearance… Therefore, I confirmed it’s a dragon.
“Show yourself, or I’ll burn—!”
The dragon suddenly fell to the ground and followed up by a deep, anguish grunt. It tried to stand up by using its brawny arms as support but it didn’t work and the mythical beast kissed the ground once again. Its majestic wings covered its body, using it like a warm blanket.
Not a moment had passed, a bright, yellowish light, emitted from the beast. The light began to swirl around enveloping the dragon’s body, as its massive size decreased little by little. I found myself outside from the shadows, approaching the orb that is about my height.
Just then, the light vanished and there, sitting gracefully on the ground, was a stunning, unclothed woman, with two horns on her head, wings on her shoulder blades, and a tail on the bottom of her spine.
End of the Beginning[]
I[]
Inside an erected tower, an old man, in thick, brown cloak with ashen fur on its edges, barged in and rapidly ran towards the wooden staircase. At some point, he almost fell when he stepped on a deteriorating step of the stairs but he didn’t stop as if no one can stop him from getting to the top of the tower. He’s almost at the top and when he climbed up a steel ladder, another man with similar clothes is asleep on a small bed. He woke up the man with his might, not wasting every moment.
“Dragons!!!”
Hearing his exclamation, the man who was once asleep in now following the old man holding a thick rope. The two gripped the rope tightly and jumped at the same time, pulling it down. Above their heads, a massive bell tolled, signifying that a grave threat is incoming.
Not far from the tower stood the kingdom’s central guild. Everyone inside the building were alerted when they heard the bell’s resounding toll. Most of them began preparing themselves for an upcoming battle and others have set out in horsebacks to pass the news to the rest of the guilds. One of the lords inside the guild was deployed in a convoy with a destination to the palace, also to inform the king about the situation.
In the guild master’s quarters, there sat a few men and a lady on couches around a small, long glass table. Besides them, one man, who wore a formal attire, is standing in front of a tall, window glass panel…
“Those flying worms,” sitting in cross legs with her thighs exposed, the only lady in the room spoke.
She wore flame-colored, slitted dress with long arm sleeves that almost covered her hands. On her shoulders, hangs a thick, red fur coat that hides her slender posterior.
She continued, “They should’ve just surrender when we eradicated their strongest clan.”
On the opposite side of the table, a tanned-skinned man, grunted in response. His body is fully enclosed with his long, hooded cloak and he has a patch on his left eye.
“Ha! They’re not humans! Like any other beasts they’ll continue to keep on coming.” retorted an old man gritting his tobacco. This one’s clad in heavy armor that is made from pure silver in complex design with his two-handed sword rested on the table.
On the other hand, the youngest in the group noticed that the one who’s standing in front of a window panel is in deep thoughts. Unlike the rest, he’s not armored up nor in fantasy clothing but wearing military uniform…
“You seem bothered, Mister Riss. What’s on your mind?”
Riss frowned, “Have you not thought about it, Kel? Why do they keep on coming even though, as Mandy said, we’ve eradicated the Xaphina Clan?”
“What are you saying, Riss?” Mandy raised an eyebrow.
“Think about it,” Riss spoke. “First, they’re destroying our crops. Second, the ecosystem. Third, our houses—structures or buildings. It’s as if they’re being tactical.”
“If that’s the case, then Mister Riss is saying that this war isn’t really one-sided, but they’re simply taking us down little by little.” Kel concluded.
The room fell silent for a moment…
“This isn’t the time to think about it,” Mandy stood and reached out her hand. From her palm, a glowing horizontal line manifested and in a heartbeat, a wooden staff was materialized. “let’s discuss this again after the battle.”
“You’re right,” Kel also stood up. “As usual, summon all of our forces! This time, the Five Columns will join the fight!”
Outside the guild, the streets are crowded with citizens, making their way deeper into the kingdom. With numerous foot soldiers on the side of the streets, leading and helping the people, the evacuation is going well and panic wasn’t even an issue. They know the Guild will win against the mythical beasts anyway, as that’s how it always has been.
But little did they know, things are about to take a drastic turn…
Soldiers that numbered up to more than a hundred thousand has been deployed and half of them are outside the kingdom, ready for battle. Apart from the knights, the army also have magicians for support and multiple battle zeppelins, soaring to the sky.
II[]
In the distance, above the clouds, are flying beings in vast numbers are making their way towards the kingdom. The silhouettes grew larger as they drew closer…
The dragons are inbound.
“My queen, it would appear that they finally found a way to confront us in the skies.”
Without opening its mouth, one of the dragons conveyed to their queen via telepathic communication. Behind him is none other than the last of the Xaphina Clan, Aranaya.
She was once a princess, but after her clan’s tragedy, the elder dragons in High Place acknowledged her as the new queen of her empty clan.
“Those humans just keep advancing in technology.” Responded Aranaya. “Nevertheless, follow what we have planned, Yulag.”
“As you wish, my queen.”
Aranaya emitted a bright, yellowish light. In an instant, she took a different form that is identical to a human, and she quickly decreased her altitude, flying away from her brethren.
In one of the zeppelins, Kel is onboard. He communicates with the other captains, and his allies below the earth, through the earring on his left ear.
“Alright!” Kel extended his right arm. “Enhance the zeppelins’ durability! Make sure that not even their claws can penetrate through!”
With Kel’s orders, all zeppelins glowed for a moment; In every airship, five magicians worked together on making the zeppelins sturdier, ten times than normal. Even a high class, rapier-wielding swordsman will not be able to pierce its thin exteriors.
“We are ready and in position, Mister Riss.” Kel reported.
“Understood.” A response from Riss. “Let’s put an end into this war.”
Kel extended his arm…
“Blast them!”
And with his commanding shout, multiple, intricate magic circles appeared around the battle zeppelins’ anterior, and it shoot out beams. The mythical beasts immediately descended to avoid the airships’ attacks and managed to evade all of it by that much.
“Rex, you’re up!” Riss yelled.
“Aye!” Standing alone in the frontline, just outside the kingdom’s walls, Rex stood menacingly. He threw away his tobacco and took a stance, preparing himself.
“Now!”
As the dragons closes their distance, after Rex’s shout, the cannons, that was loaded with explosive shots, blasted from the top of the walls. Not just that, it was followed up by fiery projectiles in vast numbers that came from within the walls.
One of the dragons in the front roared and they emitted light all at the same time. The projectiles hit the targets and the area was filled with black, thick smoke that is produced by several explosions from the human’s attack.
“Prepare the second wave!” Ordered Rex.
It went silent for a moment, and suddenly, something numerous spurts out from the smoke in high speed.
The dragons took human forms, and they dashed through the walls.
“Riss! They’re inside!”
Rex exclaimed and rushed inside the walls. The dragonmen scattered around the kingdom and started battling against humans that waited for them. Some of them turned back into dragon form.
There were sharp swords clashing against claws. Magic against tough scales. There are already casualties on both sides, but dragons have lesser death counts. Meanwhile in the skies, the dragonmen somehow managed to get inside the zeppelins, also engaging with the humans and one airship has already fallen.
Mandy cursed when her advance-magic attacks are not doing much damage on a dragon she’s currently against.
“These monsters! How can they keep up with us in just 8 months? We should’ve already won!”
“I guess, Mister Riss’ hunch was right.” Kel spoke. “We’re having difficulties here also.”
“Aye! I can agree with that—!”
Rex retorted as he parried a dragonman’s attack and leapt away. But the moment he landed, the dragonman instantly followed up and Rex nearly caught up by its lethal attack.
With his might, he gripped the hilt of his sword and swung it in a circle. Gushes of wind were released from his move, and it made the dragonman took a few steps back.
“I’m starting to get a little pissed off…”
III[]
A single man’s footsteps echoed loudly through the palace’s corridor. All eyes that he passed by turned to him as he makes his way, hastily towards the great hall.
He rapidly waved his left hand twice, beckoning the knights, standing beside the large entrance of the great hall, to open the grand double doors.
“Your Majesty!”
He yelled in panic and immediately knelt in the middle of the hall.
“Alsburgh! I’m assuming they have returned. However, it is highly unusual for you to be this frightened.”
At the end of the hall, in the middle, there sat the king on his throne. At his right side stood a hooded figure that not even the light in the hall can perceive his dark face; It’s the king’s personal wizard.
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s as you said, the dragons have returned and fighting against our forces as we speak. However, I came here with a message from the guild master, Riss.”
“Go on…”
“The beasts have gained the upper hand in battle and our forces are having difficulties, even the kingdom’s Five Columns. Your Majesty, I suggest for you to—!”
“Cease.”
With one word from His Majesty, Alsburgh swallowed the rest of his words. The king glanced to his wizard and nodded. The hooded man slightly lowered his head for a moment and left the hall.
“It would seem that the time to use that is nigh.”
Upon hearing the king, Alsburgh knew exactly what His Majesty was talking about as he was informed about it a few weeks before…
It was about a portal that can lead from one place to another.
According to the guild, their adventurers found a sanctuary and discovered that it has a labyrinth underneath. After weeks of nonstop exploration, they have found a ruined gateway in its deepest floors. With the help of one of the Five Columns, they managed to bring it back to the kingdom and it has been secretly studied by the king’s wizard.
After months of continuous study, they rebuilt the gateway and successfully opened a portal. The wizard needed living tests subjects so the king used convicts with death sentence for his wizard’s research.
Many have perished during the experiment as they were mainly used for supplying the portal with mana. Some were made to jump through the portal and ended up not coming back, leaving the wizard confused. Others fortunately did but they were still used to supply the portal anyway. One thing that he also noticed is that whenever someone jump through the portal, the color changes.
Another month had passed and the wizard learned that the portal can lead to random places in the world and with enough mana supply, he can manipulate the portal, making its destination to somewhere specific. As for the colors, whenever a color has black mix in it, that means the destination can possibly lead to death—or worse.
When the worst-case scenario happens, the king, with his chosen subordinates, will use the portal for an easy escape. Alsburgh is also one of the chosen.
“Alsburgh,” The king spoke with his arm outstretched. “Inform the rest of the ones I’ve chosen and meet me in the dungeon.”
“As your command, Your Majesty.”
Alsburgh stood then turned to leave.
Meanwhile, the king walked towards the doors on the right side of the hall. He snapped his fingers and two heavily armored knights opened the doors and trailed behind him.
IV[]
“Yulag, I made it inside the castle’s dungeon.”
Via telepathic ability, Aranaya informed Yulag about her current situation.
She is now walking along the castle’s sewerage that is not that deep in the dungeon. She sensed something’s odd but heed it no mind as she thought that it’s not a major problem.
Apart from the foul smell of the environment, there are prison cells and chambers that a normal human shouldn’t enter. Needless to say, there are such things as rats in there. There are also parts of the dungeon where most of the cells were corroded, walls covered with molds, and vines overhanging from the ceilings. The pathways are guided by lanterns that has some sort of gemstones inside, illuminating the creepy corridors.
She peeked in one of the cells and found a dead body of a man inside. Most of the flesh are still intact from the body but it’s gradually rotting. As if someone tortured this poor man to death and just left him here to rot. Besides the rotting body, there are a few skeletons lying beside it that seemed to have suffered the same fate.
Her expression turned grim.
“How gruesome.”
Aranaya thought that these people did something malevolent and deserved to die. But this is too much. They could’ve just killed them right away rather than making them suffer until they die.
Just then, it reminded her the scenes back when her clan was being attacked by humans. She grounded her teeth and clenched her fists.
She calmed herself for a moment and carry on…
Ever since her clan got annihilated by the humans, she developed deep hatred and swore vengeance. Obviously, not on all humans, but only to the king and those who are loyal to him. Namely, she plans to expose the corrupt king to his citizens and executing him publicly. After that, she will govern the human kingdom until they find a suitable and worthy human ruler to take the throne.
However, that plan of hers will only happen if she succeeds on her today’s mission, which is capturing the king and killing those who stands on her way…
After walking around for a while, Aranaya found a curved staircase that leads upstairs. She followed it and was stopped by a steel gate. She tried to push and pull it, but it won’t budge. Just then, she heard people from the other side of the gate. She prepared herself and thought she’ll be found but they were just passing by. Based on their footsteps, it looks like they went from left to right and were in a hurry.
After confirming that there’s no presence nearby, Aranaya whispered arcane words. Her hands emitted mists and touched the gate’s handle. She moved her hands along the threshold and in seconds, the edges of the gate became solid frozen.
She placed her hands in the middle of the gate and with her dragon strength, she gave it a quick push. It released a loud clang and the steel gate fell to the floor with a loud thud.
Aranaya examined her surroundings with her sharp senses. It appears no one was around to be alarmed. Not even the people who passed by earlier. Curious, instead of going up, she went downstairs. She’s hearing voices from deep within the corridor and it’s getting audible with every step she makes.
“Is this everyone, Alsburgh?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Aranaya peeked from a distance and saw seven men idling around. What took her attention is a massive structure behind them. It would appear that it’s a gateway of some sort—it’s a portal.
The king turned to his wizard and beckoned to activate the portal. His wizard snapped its fingers and there was a spark. Prisoners, three women and two men, came out from a nearby cell and they were all wore ragged clothes.
Their expressions are docile, as if they were turned into lifeless dolls. The wizard gestured to them and without hesitation, the prisoners walked near the portal and knelt. The king gestured his hand to his retainers and five of them, including Alsburgh, approached the prisoners from behind. They all took out their daggers and stabbed the prisoners right into their hearts at the same time.
Aranaya curled her lips in disgust. But at the very least, it’s a quick death.
As the pool of blood, from the fallen prisoners, slowly spreading across the floor, Aranaya noticed something. On the floor, beneath the fresh corpses, magic circles were carved and connected to the portal. As soon as their blood covered said circles, they glowed and the portal activated.
Just then, the king’s wizard turned to where Aranaya was.
V[]
“My queen! Please respond—!” Yulag tried to contact Aranaya but for some reason, she’s not responding.
His sharp senses told him to lean back and evaded an attack from a human, barely missing his neck. Said attack was so fast it almost looked like a blur.
“You dare look away!”
The human Yulag’s fighting the whole time was none other than Rex of the Five Columns.
Yulag clicked his tongue. He leapt back in the air and stretched out his arms. Sparks filled his hands and from those sparks, he unleashed a bombardment of bright red lines, it’s as though they were lasers. Rex evaded the first few lasers and it exploded the moment it hits the ground. Although the area of effect is not that wide, it still lethal when hits directly. However, there were a dozen of those lasers, so he did not just evade but parried Yulag’s attack back to him.
Noticing this, Yulag, with his speed, dodged his own attacks in mid�air. As he did, he’s closing the distance between him and Rex. With Rex’s final parry, his eyes sparked and struck his sword, deep into the ground.
The earth beneath Rex shook and created massive cracks that surrounded him. Yulag saw it clearly as he’s the one in bird’s eye view that the cracks on the ground appears to be a magic circle.
Yulag halted in the air and Rex smiled menacingly. However, Yulag had a change of plans…
Rex narrowed his eyes and Yulag suddenly flew away. His direction is where Aranaya went to earlier. Seeing this, Rex immediately reported to the others.
“Be aware! A dragonman I was fighting fled towards east!”
“My hands are full at the moment!” Kel responded. Two zeppelins had already fallen from the sky.
“I’m not done yet with these lizards! I haven’t heard something from Riss and Vanal yet. Where the hell are those two?”
Mandy, on the other hand, is still fighting the same dragon. However, it appears that it called for backup as the beast is also having difficulties on battling against Mandy. Hence, Mandy’s fighting three dragons now.
Meanwhile, Yulag’s nearing on his destination.
Apparently, Aranaya found a passageway in the kingdom’s eastern moat which led her to the dungeon. She informed Yulag about said passageway before the battle even started.
“I’m coming, my queen—!”
He increased his flying speed and took a sharp turn but was suddenly pulled down to the surface by an unknown force. Yulag tried to pick himself up but his efforts were useless. The more he struggles, the heavier the force will pull him down. It’s as though he’s being sucked in a quicksand.
Realizing this logic, he quickly composed himself. But then he sensed two individuals approaching him and his senses alerted him that they’re dangerous.
“Your plan was a success.” Riss spoke.
His companion only nodded in response. It was Vanal, the tanned�skinned man among the Five Columns and was also his gravity magic that forcefully made Yulag prostrated to the ground.
“W-what did you do t-to our queen?”
VI[]
After getting exposed by the king’s wizard, Aranaya stepped out form where she’s hiding. She frowned as all attention turned to her. Few of the king’s retainers doesn’t know Aranaya hence they were seduced by her charms.
“So you’ve come—!?”
The king’s sentence was cut off when Aranaya quickly pointed her two fingers at the portal and shoots out a lightning spell. However, her attack was deflected by the wizard with a wave of his hand and it hit the wall on the far right, leaving a destructive result.
Aranaya clicked her tongue, “So you’re the last boss, huh.”
The wizard signaled that the king and his retainers should enter the portal. The king took noticed of it and rushed towards the portal without saying anything.
“Hold it right there!” Aranaya slammed her fist to the ground to make them lose their balance. However, the wizard did a similar move but to cancel out the tremor. When he looked ahead, Aranaya’s already in mid-air and about to land a blow. He quickly defended himself by putting his forearms close together, and in an instant, a magic circle was materialized as a shield, blocking Aranaya’s deadly punch. After he blocked, he twisted his body, and with a wave of his arm, a strong gust of wind sent the king’s retainers flying into the portal.
“You bastard!”
Aranaya clenched her fists, and in seconds, her forearms were coated by lightning. She pounded the wizard’s shield with her right and she broke through it, smashing his head to the ground. A shockwave followed up but she noticed something. When Aranaya examined her right fist, it was covered with black mold.
It turns out, she was not fighting the king’s wizard this whole time but a homunculus, an artificial human being. The rest of the homunculus’ flesh were gradually evaporated and left only it’s clothes.
Another thing that Aranaya noticed is that from the portal’s tint, a color of black was mixed. However, she doesn’t want to waste every moment. This is her last chance to kill the kingdom’s monarch and to finally get her revenge.
She hurriedly stood and dashed towards the ominous gateway. The moment she’s close enough to it, she jumped…
It was dark.
Rather, it was darker than black. Aranaya couldn’t even tell if her eyes are closed or not. She doesn’t feel her own flesh yet she feels cold. It was then, in the distance, a spark of light made its appearance. Suddenly, that small light blasted and a cannonade of lines of light passed by her. No, it was not lines of light but stars. Aranaya’s going very fast that the stars around her looks as if though they’re infinite. What got her confused is that she doesn’t feel like falling or being sucked in. But she can tell that she’s moving based from the environment around her.
It was not long until she began feeling pain. Pain that she hasn’t felt ever since her existence. Pain that can affect not just her body, but also her mind. She feels as if she’s at the bottom of the sea, getting crushed by an immense force of pressure—it was actually more painful than that. It was unimaginable pain. She felt like vomiting but nothing comes out from her mouth, not even her own saliva. She squeals to the top of her lungs but her voice wasn’t coming out. However, she grounded her teeth and steeled her resolve. Looking ahead, the spot where the spark of light came from, another spark occurred. This time, it’s becoming a blinding light that even a man will lose his sight if he glances to it. In Aranaya’s case, she couldn’t care less and tried to reach out to the light eyes wide.
And then everything ceased from existing—
…
… …
… … …
“Bwah—!” With a gasp, Aranaya opened her eyes and quickly observed her surroundings. Everything around her was nothing but thick clouds. She can finally feel herself again and noticed that she was falling from the sky. However, her body was battered, it’s as though a soldier crossed No Man’s Land and luckily survived. After passing through the clouds, she saw a forest down below and quickly returned to her dragon form. She was in no condition of flying normally, hence the least she could do is to slow her descent by using her enormous wings.
She tried her best to maintain her flight with her weak body and successfully landed safely on the surface. But then she was greeted by a human presence nearby. As she’s currently frail, Aranaya couldn’t pinpoint where this human’s position is.
So it was a trap! That infidel knew I’d follow him! Or so Aranaya thought but her wariness soon turned into confusion since this human hasn’t made any moves yet. Hence, she plans to make the human show itself.
"You can’t hide from me, human. I can smell your fear…”
After Aranaya’s warning, she felt that the human is finally making his move towards her. She thought that he was about to take advantage of the situation and kill her. Aranaya tried to raise her body but it would seem her body doesn’t want to.
“Show yourself or I’ll burn—!”
Her arms that she used to stand gave up completely. She decided to use her last ounce of strength to run away so she turned into human form since it would be easy to hide with a small body. However, she didn’t expect what she saw…
The human is now approaching her from behind and when Aranaya turned her head to look, she didn’t saw a knight or one of the king’s retainers—it wasn’t even a man, but a normal human girl wearing casual clothes with a worried expression. Just then, Aranaya’s vision started to blur and grew dim as the last moment she saw was a girl rushing towards her…
Worlds Alike Yet Different[]
I[]
“What happened? Did something come up?” Said the voice from the other side of the line.
“Y-yeah, kind of. I’m truly sorry I can’t go tonight, Captain. Maybe some other time?” Responded the girl, ruefully.
“You got it, Aranee. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need help, okay.”
“Thanks, I will.”
She hangs up the phone and took a deep breath.
It was just your typical morning with fresh, gentle breeze coming through the window, dusts sparkling by the multiple rays of the sun, and you can even hear birds chirping from nearby trees.
However, for the first time in her life, this wasn’t just a normal day…
What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?
Aranee’s starting to panic as she keeps on glancing to her bed. She tried to peek under the blanket by slowly lifting it but when she did so, something long fell to the floor.
Half of it was full of dark brown scales and there was a single line of multiple yellow spikes. But those spikes aren’t that sharp. On the other half, it was similar to an under belly of a snake.
She gulped.
Aranee poked the scale and it throb. For a scale, it wasn’t that solid, rather it was close to leather. She began interacting with it and realized it was a tail. It was also kind of heavy. She assumed it weighs around six to seven kilograms. But albeit its weight, it was plump, like it is someone’s pristine thighs.
She was fascinated and keeps on caressing it.
It came to a point where she’s close to its base, and when she reached the base, she heard a soft moan from somewhere.
“Y-you’re very thorough at examining my tail. At least b-be gentle…”
“Wha—?!”
Aranee quickly backed away in surprise after hearing another woman’s sudden remark. But her surprise immediately faded away when said woman revealed herself from under the blanket—it was Aranaya.
“G-good morning…” Greeted Aranee awkwardly as Aranaya took a deep breath and followed up by composure.
“Good morning and my deepest gratitude for taking care of me, human.”
“You’re welcome. Also, my name is Aranee. I prefer you’d call me that…”
“Very well, Aranee.” Aranaya nodded, “I am Aranaya Zaneri Xaphina and I give you permission to call me by my name as well.”
Silence occurs between the two beauties…
“Err… we should head downstairs for breakfast.”
Aranee couldn’t contain the awkwardness. She could ask Aranaya for some questions but that can wait.
Aranee turned to leave and Aranaya followed behind.
…
“Hmn… thish ish… a wery… nish food…”
“T-thank you…”
Aranee replied wryly while watching Aranaya wolfing down their breakfast.
It’s been only a few minutes since they started eating breakfast and Aranee’s concern that her stock of food resources will dwindle in no time if she lets Aranaya stay in her home.
“So, you’re some kind of a half human, half monster?”
Asked Aranee as she keeps on glancing Aranaya’s waggling tail and wings flapping gently, indicating that she really does love the food.
“So, Aranaya,” Aranaya slowed her eating pace after Aranee called out her name. “From what I’ve seen last night, you’re a dragon, right?”
Aranaya didn’t say anything but responded with a single nod.
“Um… where exactly did you came from?”
Aranaya stopped eating and took a gentle sigh. She originally planned not to expose who she is let alone where she came from. But at this point, she’s okay with telling one or two humans.
Not to mention that Aranee took her in and let Aranaya rest on her bed.
“Very well, but only if you promise me not to tell anyone.”
Aranaya gave Aranee a chilling stare to add more pressure, but it seems Aranee’s unaffected by it. It made Aranaya impressed.
“Worry not as I shan’t! I promise!”
Aranee confidently claimed with a bright smile.
“Well, I am indeed a dragon. I came from Druk Yul, a place that is not in this world. As you can clearly see, I can change into human form.”
Aranee raises her left eyebrow, “I see. You’re from another world…”
“You don’t seem so surprised.”
“That’s because Earth has its dragons too—well, according to fictions, myths, and legends, that is. I genuinely thought you came from another country in this world.”
“I see…”
“But since you’re real and you’re here in this world, perhaps those myths and legends aren’t exactly false after all.”
Aranaya went into deep thinking for a moment…
“Say Aranee, this world has also its different varieties of gods and such, correct?”
“Y-yes. What’s on your mind?”
Aranaya smirks, “There might be a way for me to get back home."
The story has been left unfinished to this point.