13 Chapter 13 - The Barren Wasteland (1/2)

When I awoke, I found myself staring up at my ceiling which meant I was laying on my back and, therefore, my wings had retracted. The sound of a page turn alerted me to the fact someone was nearby and I found Alice reading a book while sitting on the bed, next to me. She gently smiled down at me when she noticed I was awake and shut her book.

”How are you feeling?” she asked.

”Hungover from the tranquilizer, but that's about it,” I said as I pushed myself up.

I saw that my body was still covered in black scales, but what was surprising was that my talons were crimson even though they were in a neutral state. As I inspected my talons, I also noticed a set of runes across my forearms made up by red scales. I ran my fingers across the fine scales as the innate knowledge of their meaning rose to my mind. They would allow me to easily channel Chaos Lightning, both inside and outside of my body. I could summon spears of Chaos Lightning and throw them with the same effect as filling my metal spears with my mana or I could channel the energy back into myself, enhancing my speed and reflexes.

”There have been a few changes,” Alice said as she watched me.

”I see my arms and talons, what else is there?” I asked.

”Your shins have a similar set as your forearms and your horns are also now crimson. My guess is that Katye saturated you with enough Chaos Energy to advance your bloodline.”

”It seems so... I've also 'gained' Chaos Lightning which is fitting since that's what Katye seemed to be casting,” I said then started scooting off my bed.

”Hey, where do you think you are going?” Alice asked, grabbing my arm.

I shifted uncomfortably since I didn't like people touching me in this form, but I knew she was just worried about me. ”I'm fine, Alice. I just want to shower and try to return to my 'human' form,” I assured her. ”What time is it anyways?”

”Nearly eleven in the morning. You've been sleeping for eighteen hours,” she informed.

”Thanks,” I said as I stood up and walked for the bathroom.

It might have been a little rude, but I knew Alice would understand. I couldn't suppress my bloodline at the moment and it always made me uncomfortable being around others when I was stuck in this form.

”If you don't make it to lunch, I'll drop something off for you,” Alice said before I disappeared behind the door.

”Thank you, Alice... really,” I replied.

She gave me a gentle smile and nodded to me before I shut the door. I turned on my music and the shower as I undressed. Before the mirror could fog up, I checked over my body and saw yet another change, this one on my back. A crimson outline of wings now covered my back and I could feel them 'call' to me, wanting to be unleashed. I sighed as I ducked into the shower and stood under the stream of water set at its hottest temperature. I ended up sitting down and trying to meditate. Although Alice constantly teased me about my poor ability, I wasn't truly hopeless.

Everyone described their mental plane differently, but each would always tie back into the person's abilities and affinities. Gustavo's was a long hall filled with countless swords and shields hanging on the wall. By touching one of the sets, it would allow him to practice a technique or skill. Terri always talked about an endless forest where she would 'hunt' different creatures. Her unique traps were all creations made to 'hunt' special creatures within her woods and, when she succeed, she would receive a new archery technique. These places were important to anyone who could reach this plane and were the key to building their inner power.

My mental plane, however, was a barren wasteland with a sunbaked, red clay ground that cracked and curled for as far as the eye could see. The emptiness always unnerved me the few times I had entered before. Once, I had tried running in a direction and didn't stop for what felt like hours, but all I ever saw was the same red earth. When I entered this time, I was greeted with a crack of thunder and a bolt of lightning a few meters in front of me.

When the lightning disappeared, a tall, muscular man was standing where it had hit. He was wearing a tattered loincloth and covered in black scales with a set of crimson horns over thirty centimeters in length growing out of his forehead. Long, wildly-flowing crimson hair accent his strong jawline and his golden eyes could pierce into my soul as he stared at me. He also had the same crimson-scaled runes on his arms and legs, so I could guess his back would be the same as well.

”At last, you have finally awoken me, young one. I am One, the first of our clan to mutate into a Chaos Dragon,” the man said.

”Well, this is new,” I thought then said aloud, ”I am Rebecca and it pleases me to meet you.”

”No doubt, I can smell your weakness, but alas I am reduced to a similar level while you are,” he said with a sigh as he looked over his body.

I felt my eyebrow twitch in annoyance, but I refused to show any in my voice as I replied, ”Forgive me, the world is much different from when you walked it. I do not know the way of our kind.”

He chuckled and waved his hand dismissively as he said, ”I know, I know. My true body was part of the 'Great War' which ended with the creation of the 'Great Ward'. I understand the kind of world you are living in, so awakening me before the collapse of the ward is impressive. Does that mean you are one of the 'Chosen' and were sent to purify the Chaos Lands?”

”I guess I'm a 'Chosen' or whatever since I'm working with a group to lessen the effects when the ward fails, but I don't know about the Chaos Lands,” I answered.

”The Chaos Lands are where some of the worst battles were fought in the 'Great War'. If you are trying help the world before the ward collapses, you need to go to these places and absorb as much of the energy as you can. When that energy returns to the world, disasters, plagues, and corruption of the mind will spread out and wipe out major populations before any beast could and in far more horrific ways. In return for my training, you must vow to go to these places. Not only will you purify these regions, but you will also strengthen your bloodline,” One said in a solemn tone.

”Even without the benefits, I would still do what I can to save people's lives.”