Lilastraza 1: The Fall

I died.

I felt it in my bones, in my heart. There was only darkness and coldness, and then, a figure appeared. It was a huge dragon, the size of a mountain. I couldn't see its color, as if they were on a spectrum my eyes couldn't sense. But I could see it opening its maw and breathing endless dark fire upon me. I burned, but it didn't hurt. It was as if it filled me with energy.

Then, among the darkness, stars appeared. They were traveling very fast around me, until I noticed they were not moving: I was.

I was falling through space and time, and a weird feeling surged through my body. Did I have a body? I felt it, but I couldn't see it. Was it the dragon's flames? I saw a sphere in the distance. It grew slowly, until I realized it was a planet. Enormous masses of land and water appeared in front of me, and the air of the atmosphere started burning me. But again, I felt no pain. I imagined I was a falling star. I imagined I was an ephemeral beauty in the sky, and I'll extinguish when I hit the ground.

But then I heard voices. Tens. No, hundreds. No, millions of voices. My fall lasted an eternity, and I felt I could hear every single voice at the same time without being overwhelmed. They... They were wishing.

"I beg thee. I wish for the salvation of the pilgrims' souls. I was not able to save them. I wish for them to be saved..." An ancient voice said.

"I wish for The Sundering to be undone, for its damage to be unmade." A raspy voice asked.

"I wish to find someone who can best me in combat." A deep voice sighed.

"I wish the new Tiger Emperor was more like his father." An aggressive voice yelled.

"I wish to grant you a wish." A seductive voice whispered.

I didn't know what they meant, but I instinctively said «Yes» to those five without thinking much.

And then I heard a thunderous crack, as if the world beneath me was shifting. A female figure materialized beside me, and she spoke with a louder, clearer but sweeter voice. It was like hearing holy water speak. She had long, beautiful flowing blond hair, and her body was covered by the most precious dress I had ever seen: it seemed to be made of ethereal butterflies and flower petals.

"There are no words in your tongue nor mine to express my gratitude."

"I don't know what I have done... Who are you?" My voice resonated weirdly. I barely recognized it as mine. "Where am I?"

"Every thousand tears in these lands, Elderia, there is an event of utmost importance and immeasurable consequences: The Dragonfall. You were a human in your past life, but now, you have been chosen to embody the next Greater Dragon in this era." As she fell with me and spoke, all the other voices went silent. She looked at me and had the most merciful eyes. "My name is Asihlliel. A Dragonfall, you see, carries so much power that is able to grant wishes. And you have chosen five wishes to fulfill."

The ground under us became clearer. There were four continents, each made of different amount of islands, but distinctive enough to each other to identify. I was heading to the west continent, made of two huge land masses. I was sure to make an impact on the southern island.

"And one of those wishes was to undo The Sundering." Asihlliel continued.

"What is that?"

"A wish from a previous Dragonfall severed the connection between the continent of Andor and my home, the home of the elves, my people, the Sacred Grove. And now that another wish has connected them again, I can walk among my children once more."

"I think I'm not fully understanding..."

"You will, with time. I will send the first of my children, my daughter Ashiielwyn to aid you, and I will bestow you with my blessings and my treasures should you agree to form a Pact with me."

We were approaching the ground so fast. My mind went blank, but I reached a hand towards Asihlliel. I did not know what was happening, nor what would happen, but the elf's voice was so soothing, it calmed me. It filled me with determination. Then I saw my hand: it was covered by scales and feathers, and I got scared.

"Do not fret, «Illithwey», for things will become clear soon."

Her body faded as if she had been just a projection, and I curled into a fetal position as I braced for impact.

Then I hit the ground.