7. Xeros

7

XEROS

S omething is wrong.

A dark, aching feeling settles itself across my body, clutching at my chest in particular. My clawed hands brush along my scaled skin, threatening to itch and rip out this strange sensation that plagues me deeply.

"This is what existing feels like," I say aloud, my voice echoing deeply across the jagged cavern that encapsulates me. "I'm alive again."

Blood pulses through my body, strong enough to pound in my ears. I growl briefly, the vibrations moving down my throat and across my chest.

Evangeline.

The name sticks with me for a good reason. Whatever she is, whoever she is, she is the reason why I am awake and breathing this air once more. I am indebted to her and the powers she possesses.

I must find her, but this odd sensation tells me that something is wrong. Is Evangeline in trouble? Is she facing the wrath of the dark elves for summoning me back to life?

"No, that can't be." I shake my head, feeling the rough skin that trails along my neck. "I can't let the dark elves take another one of my own."

There's a connection that bonds her and me, something much stronger than what I've ever known. Perhaps, it's something that can rival the dark elf magic that extinguished my kind from existence.

An infuriated snarl escapes me inadvertently. Shaking myself off, dust and grime fall from my body in droves. My wings spread out, the sore muscles finally getting some exercise again. My long, curled claws scratch at the stones beneath me.

My body is desperate to make an escape out of this cavern. This underground prison has protected me for eons, but it's time to unleash my power on this world again.

There's a small, hidden exit covered by a long green substance that extends down to the ground. I heave and throw the stones that are in my way, cracking them with the force of my hands.

As it turns out, there are many rocks and boulders that have deposited themselves here over the years. No matter. I destroy them all easily—crushing them, slashing them, returning them to dust.

It takes me a long time before the familiar cold breeze of the ground above starts to reach me. I pause, sucking in a deep breath. Somehow, the air nourishes me. It makes me feel whole again. For too long, I have dragged in the dust, the stones, the dirt of the underground.

This reminds me of how things used to be.

Rejuvenated, I push forward until the weak light of the incoming evening finally reaches my darkened eyes. I grimace, covering my face briefly while I get used to the light intensity again. All that time in the darkness has made me forget what light looks like.

"Is…" I whisper, reaching down and allowing the dirt to pass through my fingers. Unlike my dreams, I can finally interact with the world around me again. "Is this the Protheka I still remember?"

In a way, I am stepping into a world that is no longer my own. One that has grown and evolved while I remained stuck underground. The trees, tall and impressive, remain unchanged. My hands rest along the bark, dragging my rough palms along the uneven surfaces. Small creatures swarm up and down the bark, with one crawling along the side of my hand.

"Hm," I hum, tilting my head. "I don't remember such things from my youth."

Another sharp wind cuts along my skin. I move through the trees, allowing my feet to guide me while my head still tries to make sense of the world around me. Eventually, the trees fizzle away and I'm left staring at the wide expanse of the snowy mountain range far ahead.

Those mountains… I remember them. That's where some of the Astreldi used to hunt for wild heryins. My friends would soar through the skies, dragging along the limp bodies of their prey until they returned to our homes in the plains.

A long breath falls from my mouth. My head follows the mountain peaks towards the east as an indescribable rage fills my body.

"The dark elves still reign on this continent," I whisper. "Is there a chance that they aren't as strong as before?"

Despite my rage and violent desire to find the dark elf strongholds and destroy them completely, I can't stop gazing at the mountains. Something powerful calls me towards those jagged, desolate peaks, where the snow's chill can cut down to the very bone.

What if Evangeline is there? And if she is, why would she be in the middle of the mountains to begin with? Has someone or something harmed her?

These thoughts burn through my mind, enraging me the more I think about it. What kind of vile creature would hurt something as beautiful and strong as Evangeline?

I know nothing about her besides her name and our connection, but I yearn for more. I want to drink her in until there's nothing more to learn. I want to mumble her name endlessly until it's the only thing that permeates my thoughts.

Unfurling my wings, I flap them against the strength of the wind. It takes a few tries to get accustomed to the sensation again, but once I'm confident in my abilities, I launch myself up into the air and allow my wings to carry me up towards the treetops.

With the darkness of the night coming soon, I'll be able to soar across the skies undeterred, just like old times. I remember the Astreldi used to hunt in packs at night, lunging down for our prey and coming back up with squealing creatures that silenced easily with one swipe of our claws.

The desire to find Evangeline consumes me, compelling me to flap my wings furiously against the wind. The mountains are particularly unforgiving, especially during the winter months. There are some spots on this land where the snow doesn't touch, but the places where it does are deadly and desolate.

Only strong, furry creatures would survive there. Something tells me that Evangeline, while strong in spirit, may lack the physical power to make it through the night if she is alone.

What if she's being accompanied by others?

I ponder that thought while I fight through the wind. My jaw clenches, unable to shake the idea that something is putting her in danger. What else could explain this foreign emotion within my body?

"Evangeline," I say to the skies, willing my way forward as the mountain winds only pick up in strength. "If only you could tell me exactly where you are, I would arrive by your side in an instant. But where are you?"

The ringing of the wind deafens my ears the further I get. I descend slightly, unable to fight against the looming clouds above my head. Small specks of snow start to cloud my vision, making it difficult to see clearly through the storm.

Gritting my teeth, it dawns upon me that I do not have the strength I once had to fight through this snowstorm. I descend even farther until I linger above the treetops, their needle-like leaves occasionally brushing and cutting against my skin.

My eyes scan the horizon endlessly, searching for any signs of movement anywhere. Perhaps my eyesight is no longer what it used to be because I see nothing. Worse, I can hardly hear through the strength of the wind while I'm flying.

A pang of disappointment hits me, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up. Not at all. I plan to find Evangeline and keep her close. She's the reason why I've been given a second chance to live and I will protect her until the end of my days if need be.

I also need to learn more about this connection between her and me. How did she awaken me? How did she bypass a dark elf curse? Does she know the intricacies of ancient magic? Is she an Astreldi, like I am? Or something else entirely?

"What if she's a creature I have never seen before?" I wonder aloud. "Not a dark elf, not an Astreldi, but something else?"

As I'm too consumed by my thoughts, a hanging branch strikes me across the chest. In my anger, I reach out and snap the branch off from the bark before launching it towards the ground below. A few creatures on the ground scurry and squeal in surprise.

Their pathetic noises give me pause. My ears perk slightly, focusing on the way their bodies move through the foliage below, desperately searching for a hiding spot.

It would be so easy to take one as a meal. I could swoop down through these trees, drag my claws across one of their supple bodies, and sink my teeth into their warm flesh. Its blood would squirt out of the wounds and I would lap it up greedily. My last meal was eons ago, after all.

I'll have to stop for food soon. My stomach longs for the taste of blood again.

But I intend to put all of my needs aside for Evangeline. I must find her first. My mind will not allow me to think about anything else right now, even if my body begs for a bit of food and rest.

Everything will be worth it once my eyes land on Evangeline. I don't know what she looks like, but I'm sure everything will make sense once I have her nearby. If I can feel her connection, and her angst, from far away, I can only imagine what I'll feel when I have her close by.

I long for her. I crave her. I can't wait until she can be by my side.