"You come into my home and make a mess of things? Have you no manners? Is the primal nature of man so evident that even when he walks in grace, it is clearly present? How pitiful it must be existing as such a flawed creature in a nearly flawless world. As an act of providence, I will enlighten you by giving you the knowledge of breaking the bonds that restrain you. Your first duty is to travel to my city and instruct those who are unwilling to learn. Your are empowered by my will. I will protect you on your pilgrimage. Go now, Kir." -Xerxes

Nelcrean might as well had been in a different country. Though both Kir'adaar and Nelcrean were in the same province, they were a considerable distance away from each other. Albeit the ship was not moving at mach speeds, it was still going faster than most terrain transportation. We had been sailing for at least four hours. The sun had completely set and the massive moon gleamed over the clouds. It was an awe inspiring spectacle to see such a heavenly body. Almost all of the visible horizon was consumed by the monumental satellite. It watched over the cloud sea, illuminating even the darkest shadows.

"You're still awake," asked Ineli who appeared rather groggy herself.

"Yeah," I began. "I don't feel tired, just anxious." I looked over to Anaash who had been knocked for awhile now. He seemed so childlike. He was curled up in his jacket while still sitting upright. It brought a warm smile to my face.

Ineli spoke as she was too looking at the moon. "Boys tend to look so adorable when they're asleep, don't they?"

"They do. They sleep without a care in the world," I responded. "Your father and brother also look like they don't have care in the world either."

Ineli's brother was sleeping in his father's lap with his body resting against the chest of the elder Northener. Ineli looked over and caressed her brother's hair. He had the same hair that all Jalundereans posses. The same pure, white hair. Ineli's father had long, white hair and facial hair that circled around his mouth. His beard extended slightly downward to his chest. Despite his snow white hair, he maintained a rather youthful appearance. He could be no older than forty-five years of age.

"I feel the encroaching footsteps of slumber now," I chuckled. Perhaps we should get some rest."

Ineli smiled. "Yes, I do believe we need to get some re-"

The ship suddenly made a loud, booming sound. It sounded as if metal were being pried open and grinding against the earth. The booming noised caused emergency lights to come on. Soon the entire ship was alive with the clamor of disturbed passengers. Anaash and Ineli's family had awoken from the initial sound.

"What in the world was that?" I asked frantically.

"I have no idea," responded Ineli. "It sounded as though we collided with something."

Suddenly the captain's voice aired about the ship. "We ask that everyone stay calm and do not leave their seats, we will qui-"

An explosion was heard at the base of the the ship. A violent sound bellowed throughout the ship and the sound of metal ripping apart echoed profusely. The lights suddenly cut back off, leaving us to be preyed upon by the dark. The entire ship was filled with screams of panicked passengers. I was no exception.

"Stay here, Isera." Anaash ordered.

"Anaash, where are you going?!" I asked in a frightened manner. "We were told to stay in our seats."

"I'm going to find a peacekeeper. He announced. "Maybe they can explain the entire situation."

"I will go with you," said Ineli's father. "Ineli look after Eremes. I will be back."

"Anaash," I yelled. "Anaash, please don't go!"

Ineli put her hand on my shoulder and tried to calm me down. "They know what they are doing. It is best to let them handle this."

Fear and worry were all the occupied my mind at the moment. What in the world was happening? The ship still teamed with the unified screaming of children and adults.

Outside the window, a huge shadow loomed over the clouds. The light of the moon reflected off the mysterious object. I glimpsed in the direction of the neighboring ship. They were unscathed. In a moment that had all changed. An enormous ball of fire was shot at the nearby Sky Titan. The fireball lit up the upper floor of the entire vessel. The Titan then exploded in a dazzling ball of flames. The shock wave clashed with our vessel as it rumbled the whole of the ship. The explosion was massive enough that it cracked the windows near us. Ineli and I were in a complete state of horror. Over a thousand people were suddenly killed right in front of our eyes. What happened next only added to the nightmare. An immense roar silenced the passengers in the the dying ship. It felt as if the silence had lasted for an eternity. From the view of my fractured window appeared a colossal beast. Winged, horned, and menacing golden eyes all pertained to this creature. A dragon. It was a living, breathing dragon. It roared once again with an intense fury. The monster then faced our ship, it's gaping maw stretched wide open as it began inhaling. I believed that this would be the end for me. I was going to die here. Other passengers began to wail in fear as they had also possibly seen their end. Just before the dragon had launched another blazing attack, it was shot out of the sky by bolt of emerald lightning rising from the cloud sea below. The dragon roared in agony. As it plummeted back down to earth, its cries of suffering could be heard from our vessel. Suddenly the captain's voice was again heard throughout the ship.

"It appears that we have to make an emergency landing. Everyone please return to your seat and prepare for touchdown."

Anaash and Ineli's father returned. I rushed into Anaash's arms, crying out of disbelief, fear, and joy.

"Anaash!" I exclaimed weeping. I couldn't speak as all that would come out of mouth were the sounds of grief.

"There, Isera," Anaash said with calm. "Everything is fine. You are safe."

The hum of the engine became louder as we descended. I had regained my composure after a bit and sat looking at the adulterated window. Ineli grabbed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile. It was impossible, utterly and wholly, to not smile when she did. I returned the same tenderness. Within minutes we had touched down on the ground. The captain's voice came back on the intercom system.

"We have made an approximate landing thity-miles from the Gates of Nelcrean. We ask that passengers please stay seated until further directions are given."

I had nothing to say and it appeared nobody else did neither. I lied against Anaash just looking out side the window. Ineli held her brother as her father rested his head in his palms while his elbows supported his arms. We all stayed quiet for a good ten minutes. I had begun to doze off, but was awakened by Ineli.

"Now you go to sleep?" She snickered.

I smiled with one eye closed and one barely open looking at her. "I'm strange, aren't I?"

She laughed. "Very. I'm guessing we need near death experiences to put you to sleep from now on." Even Anaash laughed at her comment.

I chortled at her remark. "Only when flying."

A peacekeeper then approached our subsection. He spoke in a hurried voice. "Please gather all your possessions and follow the lines exiting the vessel."

We offered no argument and quickly joined the line nearest us. I could feel the knife Hasanu had given me right next to my leg. I fear that here I will need it direly. As we headed downstairs, we could begin to see the damage of the dragon's attack. The walls had been badly torched and some had even caved inward. As we reach down stairs, the entirety of the bottom-left portion of the first floor was missing. People had died even on our ship. It was difficult to fathom how close we were to death's grasp. I swallowed and stayed close to Anaash. We were now in dangerous territory. Having exited the ship, we were outside in a barren, rocky outpost. The scenery was littered with jagged peaks and plateaus. The enormous moon stretched over the background of the obscured sky. It was a testament to everything that had happened this night. A peacekeeper signaled the crowds to head to the tents and camps set up adjacent to the ship. Medics attended those who had been injured by the explosion. Anaash, Ineli, her family, and I sat down at an empty table. All of us were most likely thinking the same thing.

"I wonder where we are," asked Anaash.

"The Dragonlands," responded Ineli's father. "Between Kir'adaar and the other northern cities lies this rocky badland. Nothing weak can survive out here for long. It's this terrain that the dragons call home."

"Im guessing you've been here before, Mister...uh.." Asked Anaash with his question trailing off.

"You may call me Aidan," he answered. "Yes, I have been here before. Before Ineli was born, I came here with other Jalundereans traveling westward from Leng Sihamaht to Kir'adaar. We traveled with a caravan, which was a grave mistake. A juvenile attacked and destroyed our belongings. Several members, including my brother, were killed trying to fend off the monster. At some point it evenutally tired and flew off. As injured as I was, I made it to a small village close to Kir'adaar where I was healed and eventually taken there."

His tale was harsh and I offered my condolences. "I am sorry for your loss. Being here can only be a painful reminder of what occurred here."

"Don't trouble yourself, child." He returned. "This is twice I have been within death's reach. Everything that has happened to me has been my choice. I regret that my decisions have now put my daughter and son's lives in jeopardy."

He placed his hands on Ineli's shoulder and rubbed the head of his young son. Seeing him reminded me of Master Koya. He was another loving and kind man.

A peacekeeper's announcement penetrated our conversation. "Nelcrean refugee land transportation units will be here first thing in the morning. We ask that everyone please grab a mat and blanket provided by the provision dispatchers and attempt to rest blissfully. Thank you and may you never stray from the majesty of Kir."

"I'll go and get everyone their supplies," said Anaash.

The peacekeeper said to never stray from the majesty of Kir. Are dragons permitted in his kingdom? Perhaps the dragon's attack was Kir's wrath for us straying from his majesty. My concern gradually faded as Anaash returned with our sleeping components. We all found an open space and set our mats down. I lied near Anaash and Ineli.

I turned to face Ineli. "It's a pretty calm night if you ask me."

"I agree." She began "It's more than it was a while ago. She and I both laughed looked up at the stars.

"They say all the stars are the eyes of Xerxes watching over the world, making sure nothing goes array." I said softly. As I looked back, Anaash, Aidan and Eremes had fallen asleep. "You know Ineli I think that we wer-"

She too had drifted off into slumber. I smiled and figured that I'd join her. I lied my head down looking out into the barren wasteland. They haven't killed me yet. As Aidan said, this was not a land for the weak. I had no intention of being weak, and I was not going to be apart of the cycle of death that enveloped this land. I untied the knife from my leg and rested it next to me underneath my blanket. Even in slumber, I have my fangs bared.