Chapter 293 - Liravalennan, the Shining Star of Val I (1/2)

A new scene materialized out of the dark as Lira's memories filled in the void.

A cavern. Hard to tell whether it was manmade or not. The layout of the space was circular and the rock that comprised the floor, walls, and ceiling were spotlessly smooth. Twelve concentric rings were carved in this space, and at the very centermost ring, there floated an orb, twin strands of iridescent energy flowing from either end of it and latching onto the floor and cavern roof.

The orb must have been around the size of a small house – a testament to how vast the cavern was considering the orb inhabited the smallest ring within it. Brilliant rainbow light shone from the orb in countless scintillating rays, providing a bright enough light source to completely light up the cavern.

In front of the orb sat a young girl, her legs crossed as she twirled her volcanic red hair in her fingers. She had on a plain black gown, and for a second, Li was reminded strongly of Tia. But he knew it was not her. No, this was Lira, and as that realization set in, the soul gaze became stronger, the dive deeper, and the memories began to flow entirely from Lira's eyes.

”I'm bored,” said Liravalennan. She always was nowadays.

Every single day, it was the same thing. Eat and train and eat and train and eat and train. She liked the eating part more than the training part, especially because her bigger sisters and brothers always made sure to bring her the best food they could find, but by now, she found that boring too.

And she had a suspicion that her big sisters and brothers did not like her. Father always made them bring her the best food they found, and they always seemed to give it out begrudgingly. Especially big sister Valerykynthimos.

Well, atleast they got to explore the world. Meanwhile, she was just stuck here. Training with father to get stronger and stronger until she could control the gifts he said made her special.

Training was fun, too, at first. She liked to fight the monsters and creatures that father conjured up, and in the past year, she even started to spar with her bigger sisters and brothers. But now, after ten years of eating and training, she was bored.

Bored out of her mind. She never left this place, and big brother Thesselaval often told her stories about the world. He told her how big the oceans and seas were and how they connected everything together. That there were countless different people and creatures and beings all wonderful and interesting in their own right.

Well, he told her until father found out and he got punished. Now she did not see him anymore.

”I'm bored,” repeated Liravalennan, louder.

Father spoke to her, his voice projecting from the orb. ”Dear shining star of mine, what do you wish for?”

”I want to leave,” said Liravalennan flatly. ”I want to get out of here and explore. I know there is a lot more to see than what is in here. I know you may believe me too weak, but I am strong. I can spar with big sister Valerykynthimos now, and she is the strongest out of them all.”

”You cannot leave. Not until you are capable of controlling the Omniscale,” said father. ”You know this already. Speak no more of this topic.”

Liravalennan crossed her arms and stared down at the ground, pouting.

”Here, you d.e.s.i.r.e exploration? Then tell me what you wish to see,” said father. His magical energy crackled, and the cavern changed its environment instantly.

First, there grew a miniature forest. Then, when it did not grab Liravalennan's interest, a sandy desert. Then rolling seas.

Liravalennan shook her head, her two black horns flickering with fiery red light. ”I do not want this. I have seen all of this a thousand times before. I want the real thing. The real world.”

”Believe me, my shining star, you will see the world when you are ready. When it is time, you will be the greatest dragon that has and will draw breath. You will be my champion. Defender against the darkness to come. And naturally, ruler of all that is upon this world.”

”Okay, but why can I not do that now?” Liravalennan said, her fangs baring as she grew agitated. ”I am ready, I know it.”

”Not until the Omniscale is fully within your control,” said father. ”And until then, it is far too great a risk for you to leave my protection, for the Omniscale is treasure beyond any in this world. It is the greatest hope of our kind, the reason why I call you my shining star. Within it lies the strengths that every single dragon before you have evolved.”

Lira looked down at her sternum where a single large rainbow-colored scale lay embedded. Even now, it was hard to control, it was true. The amount of power in it was staggering, and she could not draw on it long until she lost consciousness.

But she did not need it to be strong. She was already strong with her natural fire and strength and speed. Strong enough for the world, she was sure.