Chapter 5

The Gullington, Scotland, United Kingdom

Emerging from the swirling portal, Gen found herself enveloped by the rugged embrace of the Scottish Highlands. The rolling green hills were a stark contrast to the metallic sheen and incessant drone of Los Angeles. The air was crisp and invigorating, filling her lungs with a freshness reminiscent of an England she once knew, yet untouched by the soot and clamor of 1426 London.

Before her stretched vast expanses of undulating hills like waves spreading towards distant mountains which pierced the sky with their stoic presence. Rock formations stood majestically like guards across the landscape. They cast long, dark shadows against the heather. Hidden amongst these natural fortresses were caves, their mouths agape promising shelter or perhaps the entrance to worlds unseen. A loch lay nestled in the valley below, its surface a mirror to the changing moods of the sky.

It wasn't just the sights that captivated Gen, it was the scent of wet earth mingled with the hint of wild thyme and the peaty perfume of distant fires. The mix of smells painted a picture more vivid than any she had ever known. The sounds, too, were a solace to her soul after the loud and incessant mechanical noises of Los Angeles. The melodic call of a distant bird, the rustle of grass underfoot and the soft murmur of the loch lapping at its banks were all welcoming sounds from a world Gen thought she'd lost forever.

Yet, amidst this familiarity, a sense of strangeness tugged at her mind. Something unseen pulsed in the distance, its rhythm steady and compelling, like the heartbeat of the land itself. Gen wasn't afraid of this unknown entity that she felt before her, but rather extremely curious.

There, in the wilds of Scotland, Gen found not the disorienting sense of her arrival in Los Angeles, but a connection to the earth that felt as ancient as her soul. The contrast was profound. Moments prior, Gen had been in a world where nature was mastered and muted. Now to step back in time to where wildlife was revered made her feel a sense of home that she'd thought she'd lost forever.

Sophia, the picture of elegance and poise, stood patiently beside Gen, allowing her a peaceful moment to get to know the land. Gen knew that this was her relative, but she thought that in any life and with any arrangement she would like the dragonrider beside her. She was pure goodness, not too overwhelming in personality and not too bland.

Liv and Clark, who had stayed in Los Angeles, were the extremes to this, leaving the younger sister, Sophia, to have found her place in the middle. Gen also quite adored Liv and Clark because their personalities uniquely matched them to their roles as warrior and councilor, respectively.

"This is known as the Expanse," Sophia began, finally breaking the silence, waving at the hills, mountains and loch in the distance. "The dragons live in the Caves there." She pointed to the opening in the rock formations.

Suddenly, Gen couldn't look away as she held her dragon's egg close to her chest. She longed to see a dragon in the flesh since she'd only ever heard of these majestic creatures and later saw artistic renditions of them. The first dragonrider was announced in 1420, the same year that she found her egg. However, the dragon in the egg she held now insisted that he was the first egg spawned and since then, Mother Nature had confirmed this for Gen.

She still couldn't believe she lived in a world where Mother Nature, who went by Mama Jamba, and Father Time, who went by Papa Creola, were close family friends to the Beaufonts. As Gen regarded the magnificent land before her, she had a feeling things were about to get a lot stranger.

Sophia pointed to the untouched hills where Gen sensed something pulsing like a person. "And over there in the distance?—"

"Is a castle," Gen interrupted Sophia.

The other woman grinned at her in surprise. "How did you know? Did your dragon tell you?" She indicated to the large purple egg in Gen's arms.

She shook her head. "No, I just sensed it. But why can't we see this castle?"

"It's protected by the Barrier, which keeps the Dragon Elite hidden from enemies or fans." Sophia laughed, encouraging Gen to follow her forward. "We only need to cross the Barrier and then you can see the Expanse for what it really is."

True to her word, after a few steps, a huge and majestic castle appeared. It nearly made Gen halt in her tracks, feeling so struck by an image she associated with her old life, which was only a few weeks ago. But still, the rustic look of the castle reminded Gen of her time traveling the hillsides of England and even a few trips through Scotland.

"It's…not…right." Gen finally got out the words, not sure exactly what she was trying to say or why they came out that way.

Sophia actually nodded to this. "You're very intuitive and see that which most don't. The Castle, like the Gullington, is not a place as much as it is a person. It's created and run by a man, who is hardly that—more a demi-god. The Castle is his heart." She nodded at the loch in the distance. "The Pond is his blood. The Expanse is his mind. And every fleeting part of him affects the way the Gullington behaves. The winds change by this man's breath."

"That's magical," Gen said in awe.

Sophia winked at her. "It was a gift from Mama Jamba. She wanted the Dragon Elite to have a home that took care of us the same way that the noblest and most loyal soldier would. Quiet is that man. His intentions mind the flock." She motioned to the sheep in the distance. "And his moods, well, they make things ever changing. The Gullington is now your home, since you're a dragonrider, so get ready for some crazy antics. If Quiet likes you, then your room in the Castle will be exactly to your liking. If he doesn't, which I couldn't see being the case, then you'll probably get tossed out of bed by an invisible force regularly."

Gen chuckled, again astounded by this world. "I can't wait to meet this god-like man named Quiet."

"You won't have to wait long," Sophia said, pointing her head to the front of the Castle. "He and our dragon expert are already waiting to greet us." She glanced up to the rock formation and grinned as the head of the first dragon Gen had ever set eyes upon peeked out of the cave opening. "Oh, and Lunis, my dragon, is here and excited to meet you."

Gen held up the egg. "And my dragon too."

Sophia shook her head, continuing forward. "The dragons all know each other, having been connected through the chi of the dragon from the very beginning. They've never met since they've always been one."