Wyrmling

By Ariel Ceylan

Dragons aren't real, or at least that's what Yukio thought until she met one who placed an enchanted bracelet on her that could only be removed in another world, Kineta. The dragon dropped Yukio off outside the gates of Lumene, a city of smiles and lies. She is forced to lie about her identity since no one believes her when she says she's never heard of Kineta. During her stay in the city, she finds herself learning secrets about the Prince of Lumene who is trying to reclaim his throne from the usurper, the Leader of the Lumenian Faction. The usurper so happens to be the only person in the city Yukio feels comfortable with to tell the truth and maybe even love. She is told that her arrival marks the return of the Esau, the great beasts of Lumene that were banished in the empire. Everyone expects her to do something great. How does skin turning into scales sound? Yukio is changing into something she's not sure of what she will become. She needs to take the bracelet off, but if she slips into the middle of the night, will she start a war within the city walls?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ariel Ceylan
• Release date: Jul 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301105465

Ariel Ceylan

Ariel Ceylan is an artist of many skills. She started dancing when she was three and grew into competitive dancing at age nine. She is well-versed in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, pointe, and tap. She has acted in a few stage-plays and often is the one who calls the audience to fix their attentions to the stage. She even has acted for a few independent short films. Ceylan has been writing for some time too. She first started writing lyrics at eight and shifted into poetry. She later wrote her first novelette at twelve-years-old. She has written ten books since then and self-published two.Ceylan decided she does not want to publish again until she is confident in her writing abilities. Ceylan is about to publish a six book series, The Whispers of Lumene, which will be released the first of every month starting on 1 August 2013 and ending on 1 January 2014.

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Wyrmling

The Whispers of Lumene

Book One

Ariel Ceylan

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictiously.

Books written by ArielCeylan can be obtained through select online book retailers.

WYRMLING

Chapter One

Yukio stood as close as she could to the students smoking blunts by the student center. She said nothing to them and they ignored her. Everyone knew Yukio never bought her own smokes on campus with her. Yukio brushed her tan-colored hair back, but her locks fell over her eyes once more. She could see her jet black roots growing in from the hair that fell over her face. Thank god the ombre look is in right now...

One of the smoking teens stared at Yukio. His eyebrows jumped up into his hairline. Yo, dude, my bad. I just realized that you're Asian.

Yukio's lips spread into a line. I'm Japanese.

The male's baggy jeans swished as he faced Yukio, My bad, you don't look like you're Japanese.

Yukio's lips barely parted. She knew what was coming next. Oh, and what did you think?

I thought you were a white girl but now I see your eyes that you're always hiding behind shades. They're not even really slanty.

Nope. That's 'cause I'm not just Japanese. Yukio inhaled as much of the smoke as she could.

Apologies, what's your ethnicity?

Japanese. Yukio turned and walked into the student center. I hate questions like that. They make everything awkward.

Inside the student center, everyone was off doing their own thing. To Yukio's left, some students were waiting for an elevator. Some girls were wearing six inch heels and some girls were carrying huge sports bags. To Yukio's right were tables. The commuter students would buy food at the fast food chains in the hall and would eat there. Before Yukio were two sets of stairs. One had three steps and the other reached all the way down to the next floor. Yukio walked down the short flight of steps and glided to the left. Along the left of the stairs were bulletin boards of things to do on campus. Few clubs had anything up because it was nearing the end of the semester. One of the Greeks decided they would host a massage day for mothers. At that moment, Yukio felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She dug into the back pocket of her black skinny jeans and pulled out her android. Yukio's lips curled up, it was her mother.

Hi, greeted Yukio after she flipped the phone open.

Hi, baby girl, what'cha up to?

Yukio sighed, I'm at school mom, remember?

There was silence on the other end for just a moment, Oh yes, I forgot about that. You go to school.

Yup, I'm in college. I go to Woodland U.

Sorry, sweetie, I forget things sometimes.

Yukio paused, It’s okay. What's on your mind?

I saw him again! Each time I see him, he's telling me to join him that I need to get closer to him. The woman almost tripped over her words.

The dragon?

Yes, the dragon.

So are you going to go because there's an event here that's all about giving mothers massages?

Massages? The woman's voice jumped. I've never had a massage before! Is it nice?

Yukio smirked, I don't know. Why don't you go and tell me?

Wait, how much is the massage?

Oh, it's free. It's an event on campus run by those Greeks.

Greeks do stuff like that?

Yukio shrugged, Sometimes.

You should join one, baby girl!

Yukio shook her head, They're not really my thing, mom.

But it would be good for you. You'd finally have friends you can call your friends and they won't leave you.

But you have to pay for their friendship.

Baby girl, there's a price to everything.

Yukio sighed. If you love them so much, why don't you join one? So are you going to go?

Sure. When is it?

Yukio glanced at the bulletin board once more. It looks like it's going to be this Saturday from ten to four.

Alright, baby girl. I'll be there.

Yukio almost smiled, Great. But mom, I gotta go. I have class soon and I didn't study for the quiz so I have to run and do that.

Okay, good luck on the quiz!

Bye, mom.

Bye.

Yukio hung up the call. Her eyes trailed back up to the flyer. Pamper your mother...what about your father...Where is he? Why did he go? Yukio looked around the student center. Many of her peers grew up in one-parent households too. It doesn't bother them, they grew up where that's normal...What can I do? Yukio's other voice answered. Well, you are in college. You do have access to all kinds of papers and documents. Why not use your access to find him? And if you can't find him, then he can't be found.

Yukio pressed her lips together. Yes, that sounds like a good idea...Except it’s not like you have access to governmental censes…But you do know how to look… Yukio marched around the stairs and ran down the steps. She exited the student center and took the path on the far left; she passed the first few dorms and finally came upon her dorm. Her dorm sandwiched one of the on campus gyms. She entered the building, flashed the student guard her ID card and made her way to the end of the hall. At the end of the hall was a door that led to one of the building's stairwells. She pulled open the gray door and climbed one flight of stairs.

On the second floor, Yukio made her way down the hall to her dorm room. Her dorm room was messy. Her clothes piled up on her desk, her armoire's doors were open and clothing was hanging out of it. The roommate's side was just as bad. The girl had books strewn about her side of the floor. Her coats and sweatshirts hung on every piece of furniture on her side.

Yukio glanced at her desk. She moved the pile of clothes from the top of the writing furniture to her bed. She sat down at the desk and pulled out her tiny notebook from her oversize purse. The college student logged into the network and pulled up research tools. Let me just find him. I just want to find him and know why he left. Even if he doesn't like me, which he probably won't, I just need to know why. The girl spent hours researching; she almost did not notice her roommate enter.

Hey, Yukio, smiled Cara as she entered the space.

The abandoned looked up, Oh, hey Cara. I didn't notice you come in.

Cara smiled, That's because I just came in.

Yukio nodded, How was class?

Oh, it was fine. Don't you have class now?

Yukio glanced at the time at the bottom of her computer screen. Shit, I completely forgot! Ah, nope, my professor cancelled. There was something about a surgery.

Cara's green eyes jumped, Oh, I hope everyone's okay. Who has to get surgery?

It's my professor's son. He tore something in his knee and needs to get it fixed.

Cara unbraided her waist-length crayon red hair. Yikes. That does not sound good. I hope his son makes a fast recovery.

Yukio nodded, Me too.

So what's going on, Yukio? You're not usually this quiet.

The abandoned shrugged, I'm trying to do research for a paper. The library is too noisy.

Cara laughed lightly, It's not too noisy, but you have to find a secret spot. Somewhere no one can see you so you can get your stuff done.

Yeah, well, I don't feel like looking.

Okay. Whatever makes you happy. Cara started to gather her books. Yukio watched the slender woman move around the room. Her green dress looked like it was from the 1950's. The bodice was tight, but not tight like tee shirts these days. Cara looked like she could breathe. The skirt came out past her knees into a bell shape. Yukio's roommate wore little black heels with the whole outfit. If it wasn't for Cara's long, dyed hair, she would look like she was lost in time.

Yukio glanced at her own form. She was just as slender as her roommate, but did not have the same style. Yukio wore black skinny jeans, red flats, a tight tee shirt and a purple cardigan. Yukio tapped the top of her head, her glasses were sitting there. She forgot they were there.

I need to get back to trying to solve this. If I can't find him, then I'll never be able to find him and I should just give up with it. But if I can find him, I'll talk to him. Yukio returned to her search. She paid no mind to her roommate leaving the dorm and to her return four hours later. Yukio still searched for any trace of her father. Yukio glanced at the time at the bottom of her computer screen; it was one in the morning. She sighed to herself. I should just give up. He obviously does not want to be found. She grabbed the pile of clothes that were on her bed and placed them on her desk. Yukio changed her clothes and slipped under the covers.

Yukio found herself in a black hallway. A purple mist floated around her. She squinted. Where am I? What is this? Yukio felt something emerge from her throat. Hello! There was no answer. Hello! She called again and still there was no answer. Well, if I want to know what's going on, I should go and find out. Yukio started walking forward. The mist was getting thicker with each step she took until all she could see was purple. The mist was starting to hurt Yukio's eyes. Her forehead started throbbing. It was too much. She closed her eyes and held her hands out in front of her and stepped forward. She led with her toes. They barely extended a whole foot length before she took a step. What is this place? Why am I here?

There was a soft sound. What's that? She stepped a little closer. The sound grew just a little louder. It was breathing. There's someone out there! Hello! She called. He's gotta hear me if I can hear him breathe. There was no answer, but Yukio could hear the breathing get louder. Maybe he's coming to see who I am. Hello, she called again. Yukio cracked open an eye. Most of the mist dissipated. There was only a thin purple haze around everything.

Hello, I'm over here. Yukio opened her eyes and walked forward. She heard heavy footfalls. Whoever was coming was huge. She looked forward still and then she saw bright yellow eyes in the mist. Woah! That's creepy. Then there came a snout, thin lips, and a serpentine face. What is this? This can't be what I think it is. The whole form slipped out from the mist. It was a long dragon. It had navy blue scales at the top and towards it middle, the scales turned aquamarine. The underbelly of the beast was bright white. The dragon had a thin white moustache that almost reached the ground. The dragon had a mane made from white feathers that puffed out from the back of its cheeks and jawline. It had white feathers by its clawed, four-fingered hands.

Yukio felt her mouth go dry. Her lips turned up slightly and her eyes opened wide. Uh, hi. Yukio's voice cracked.

The dragon's lips parted, revealing dark yellow teeth. Hello. His voice was smooth and friendly as if he had visitors like Yukio all the time. How are you?

Uh, I'm fine. Yukio's lips met and parted and met and parted.

The dragon lowered its head to look at Yukio at eye level. What is your name?

Uh, it's Yukio. The college student lowered her eyes. She looked out at the ground.

Yukio? Why does that seem familiar?

Familiar? What does he mean by familiar?

Yukio's eyes snapped up. Uh, what?

The yellow eyes stared at Yukio with less intensity. The dragon's lips parted. He smiled. The name sounds familiar to me.

The dragon closed its eyes and it started shaking. It vibrated into a mass of blue. The mass shrunk until it reached the size of a person. Yukio blinked a few times. A man stood before her. He was covered in blue scales. He still had a thin white moustache and he had wild wavy white hair and sideburns. Is this better?

Yukio swallowed and her voice cleared. What did you just do?

The man smiled, I turned myself into a form that you're more comfortable with. It's like a human. Their bodies are fun to change into.

Yukio's eyes widened. Their bodies are fun to change into? Okay, this has got to be a crazy dream. There's no way this is real. Okay...

The man chuckled, This must be strange for you. My name is Kurayamiryu.

Kurayamiryu? Okay, I'm definitely dreaming. Hi. Yukio's teeth did not part.

As you can see, I'm a dragon.

Yukio's lips pressed together. Yeah.

You're not impressed? The man tipped his head to the side.

Impressed? More like freaked out! This is nuts. Leave it to me to dream about dragons. It's a dream. It's just memories trying to move themselves into my long term memory system. They get messed up in my mind and dreams like this happen.

The man fought a laugh. So what kind of memories would make something like this?

Well, for one thing, I spent hours looking for someone and his name is burned into my mind.

And what was his name?

Kurayamiryu.

The man's lips pressed together. His eyes glazed over. And what else would make you dream about something like this?

Yukio shrugged, My mom is obsessed with dragons. She thinks she can talk to them.

The scaled man responded slowly, And you think that because of this place and the way I look that this is just memories getting misplaced in your mind?

Well, it doesn't feel like it's a dream, but then again, dreams never feel anything other than real when you're in them. Once I wake up, you'll be gone and I'll be in my dorm. Everything will be back to normal.

"What if