A Dragon's Prophecy

By Travis Bughi

The drums of war echo loudly across the Khaz Mal Mountains, where Cyrus and Emy run for their lives from a group of mercenaries and towards an ancient dragon of immense power. Their situation is beyond tenuous, and things aren’t expected to get any better. The deep winter is settling in, after all.
Cyrus never asked for any of this. Of course, neither did Emy, and neither did the world ask to be invaded by the Dark Lord and his armies. Cyrus is no stranger to having unfortunate situations forced upon him, but being given the task of slaying a dragon would strain even the most stalwart of individuals. If this hadn’t been given to them by an angel, they wouldn’t even consider such an impossible task.
However, if taking on a dragon means they have a better chance of challenging the Dark Lord, then so be it. In fact, the dragon might be easier.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Travis Bughi
• Release date: Jan 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215465516

Travis Bughi

I started reading young and have never stopped. My mother was determined to make me literate quickly, and she would read to me often. My grandmother, though, takes credit for my addiction to reading. She was a librarian and introduced me to the joy that is reading. It is no coincidence my first World of Myth novel is dedicated to her.My journey from avid reader to hobby writer took its first turn in High School after I read Dune by Frank Herbert. It was a challenge for me at the age of 14, but I was so impressed with it that I began to imagine my own stories. What I wish to accomplish is to give my readers the experience that I want: to be transported to another world and become so absorbed that I lose track of everything around me.Thanks for stopping by.

Book preview

World of Myth XIV

A Dragon’s Prophecy

Travis Bughi

Copyright 2023 Travis Bughi

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 9798215465516

Smashwords License Notes

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Dedication

To Patricia,

Thank you for all your help and editing

WARNING: THIS BOOK IS UNEDITED

This book is unedited. I, the author, have read through and addressed as many spelling and grammar issues as I can, but I am no professional and surely missed some. I hope that you will understand and enjoy this book nonetheless. I apologize ahead of time for any inconvenience this may cause.

World of Myth Series

Emily’s Saga

Beyond the Plains

The Forest of Angor

The Fall of Lucifan

Journey to Savara

Juatwa

A Legend Ascends

Takeo’s Chronicles

Fated for War

An Enchanted Sword

Fortress of Ruin

A Dagger in the Light

Battle for Redemption

A Legend Falls

Cyrus’ Legend

Tranquility Lost

A Dragon’s Prophecy

Prologue

Takeo inhaled deeply, letting the icy air sting his lungs. He and his warband were so deep into the Khaz Mal Mountains that the air itself was a merciless weapon. Their swords froze in their sheathes, frost hung from their eyebrows, and a couple soldiers had lost extremities to frostbite.

However, it was all worth it. They’d finally narrowed in on the last angel, Ephron, and Takeo had him surrounded.

With wings, immortality, and an apparent immunity to cold, Ephron had taken Takeo on a long and peerless journey through the seemingly endless mountains of Khaz Mal. Dodging dragons, avoiding the rare cyclops and trolls, and fighting countless orcs had been a harrowing challenge enough, let alone surviving the brutal landscape. It would be a lie to say that Takeo had never considered giving up, but he was glad he stuck it out. Now he had tracked Ephron to this shallow valley, covered in deep snow and filled with a rocky outcropping in the center. In that center, two small beams of light flickered. Takeo touched his enchanted blade to let the fire burn through him.

It had to be done. He had to know. Would the stone protector of his lost love become his undoing? He could not let that happen.

Follow me down, Takeo commanded his guards. Surround the outcropping but do not enter. I will do so alone.

My lord, came the unanimous response.

Chosen by Kuniko, Takeo’s followers were nothing less than fanatics. They believed in him, his vision, and his power. Being this far out from civilization, soaked in his aura, he found their devotion had only increased as the going got harder. When they ran low on food and had to eat one of their fallen comrades, they did not balk. In Kuniko’s inner circle, cannibalism was considered a rite of passage. Takeo had never discouraged it.

They surrounded the rocky outcropping, and Takeo felt the angel’s presence. He could sense its effect on his underlings, too. Despite their religious fervor, they were only human, and Takeo knew they would be susceptible to Ephron’s aura. Hence why they would wait outside.

Takeo kept one exposed hand on his blade and entered the maze of boulders.

He remembered vividly his last encounter with Ephron. The angel’s presence had nearly torn Takeo apart. His heart had hammered against his chest in a blind rage, and only the angel’s touch had restored his sanity. He never did quite understand what Ephron had done to him, but he found himself rather worried at this point that Ephron could undo it with the simplest touch, turning him back into a blathering mess of tears and pain. He would keep his sword close.

Doing so was already working wonders. He could feel Ephron’s aura soaking the air around him like dense rain. His sword filled him with fire that burned the rain away. Sometimes, when Takeo held his enchanted sword for extended periods of time like this, he felt like the sword was actually fire, while he was the fuel. He swore he could feel it killing him slowly.

Good. Takeo planned to complete his conquest of the world long before old age came for him, and he hoped not to live long after that. While the world would have the peace of ultimate tyranny, Takeo knew he would only find peace in death.

Especially after he did what he needed to do right now.

Ephron, Takeo called out, slipping between the rocks. I know you’re in here.

No response. Takeo took his hand off his blade, just for a moment, and let Ephron’s presence seep into him. Once he knew where to go, he closed his hand back around his sword and shut the feeling out.

He went left, skirting the center, and found a small clearing in the rocking outcropping. It was in this space that the samurai met the angel.

Ephron sat on a rock. His white, feathered wings were pulled in, the bottom most feathers brushing against the rock. His arms were folded, and he gazed down in either deep thought, sorrow, or both. The sunlight from his eyes warmed the ground, melting the snow where the light touched little by little. He did not look up as Takeo came into view.

Not that there was much to see. So wrapped in heavy clothes, Takeo could have passed for just about any average height Juatwa native. He wasn’t particularly large or skinny either, especially under such dense layers, but Takeo did have a manner of standing that put him apart from others. However, what really would have given Takeo away were his eyes—blacker than any night and ablaze in energy. Takeo found relatively few these days who could hold his gaze, and he couldn’t blame them. He’d long ago stopped thinking of anyone, or anything, as his equal. Every object, sentient or otherwise, was a tool to be used or an obstacle to be destroyed.

Ephron could be no exception.

I must say, Ephron said, his voice echoing on its own. I expected you to give up before now. Your drive is proof of the human spirit I’ve always admired.

I almost did, Takeo replied. But I couldn’t help but think, if you were trying this hard to avoid me, what was the reason?

Ephron smirked.

I see, the angel said. So my attempts to dissuade you only gave you the proof you needed to continue. How ironic. It rather reminds me of Lucifan, to be honest. The harder I tried to save it, the further I damned it. I did not realize my folly until death came to my doorstep. And now, it seems, history repeats itself.

Ephron looked up until the light of his eyes fell on Takeo’s hand, which was still firmly wrapped about his sword. Although the magic in the blade kept Takeo’s blood warm, it wasn’t until Ephron’s gaze fell upon him that the cold was truly banished. Despite his best efforts, a long dead feeling slipped into Takeo’s skin through those eyes, something he hadn’t felt since he’d bashed someone’s head in with a rock.

Look away, Takeo snapped.

Ephron’s eyes held a moment, then fell with reluctance.

Do you know why I’m here? Takeo demanded.

The whole world knows why you’re here. You have turned all eyes on yourself, and on your intentions. You want to know that the colossus no longer defends Lucifan.

Takeo paused before answering.

Yes, he said. Can I trust you’ll tell the truth?

Would you believe me if I said yes?

Takeo swallowed.

Give me the answer, the samurai said. Your life depends on it.

Ephron sighed. He went to raise his eyes, but doing so would put his holy light upon Takeo’s dark figure again. He swiveled his head, sweeping the rays of sun about the snow-covered landscape. He closed his eyes and directed his face to where Takeo stood.

I’m afraid you’ve come all this way for nothing, he said. For I do not know.

Anger, white hot, burned through Takeo’s blood. He clenched his teeth so tightly that they threatened to break. He bore his gaze into the angel, knowing it could feel his hatred and disgust, and twisted his grip on his sword.

I suppose I don’t believe you, Takeo said. You’ve led me deep into Khaz Mal on an impossibly long journey, and I’m supposed to believe it was for no reason? You could have told me that from the start, rather than drag out my time—

Takeo paused. Realization struck him.

Was this your goal? he demanded. To delay me for as long as possible.

Ephron did not reply. Takeo snarled.

Do you think this is easy for me, huh? Takeo roared. I know my methods can never have your blessing, but must you stand in my way, too? Answer me!

Ephron remained stoic. Takeo swore.

And what difference does it make? Takeo continued. We tried your way, or your brother’s way, and Emily still died. You couldn’t save her either, or anyone you loved, so damn your pathetic attempt to delay me. Do you think my army’s success rests on my shoulders alone? No. Juatwa is a force to be reckoned with, and I have directed it to a purpose that will bring eventual salvation. Do you know how many wars are being fought in Juatwa right now? None. Families tend to their crops and raise their children without fear that their home will become a battlefield. People sleep well, because they know their darkest hour has passed. This is what I wrought—this is what I created. What it cost is irrelevant, for ends such as these always justify the means. And so this I will bring to the world. Do you not see that? Can you not, through your self-righteous, pious sack of ineptitude, see that everything I did was worth it?

Ephron folded his arms across his chest and glanced off into the distance.

I don’t feel inclined to answer, he said. By your tone, I don’t believe it’s me you’re trying to convince.

This won’t save Lucifan, Takeo spat back. Not from me. Whether you know about the colossus’ status or not is irrelevant. I will be prepared for the worst.

Takeo, whatever do you mean? Don’t you see? In your personal vendetta against the world, you have become the worst.

The Dark Lord paused. He did know that, in some sense. In a way, he had aimed for it. To do what no one else had done required doing what no one else could. The worst, the best, these terms were irrelevant. Yet somehow, through the fury that coursed through his veins, Ephron’s words stung. Try as Takeo might, despite all the rumors that swirled about him, he was still human.

And angels had a particular effect on humans.

It seems we’re done here, Takeo said.

He raised his sword. Ephron lowered his eyes. One of Takeo’s men came running into the clearing.

My lord! the man called out.

That was all he got out before Ephron’s aura struck him. The man went slack-jawed at the angels’ beauty and presence, and the strength in his legs gave out. He fell to his knees before he could bow to Takeo in submission. His eyes glistened until a single tear went running down his red cheeks.

Takeo snarled and turned on the man.

What are you doing here? he demanded. I told you that no one was to enter this place.

The man didn’t respond immediately. He stared unblinking at Ephron. Takeo struck the man hard enough to send him crashing to the ground.

I do not have time for this, Takeo said. Speak.

My lord, my greatest apologies, the man mumbled as he rose back up from the ground. I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I will kill myself if you command it.

As the man stood, he wisely kept his eyes lowered. A lack of eye contact diminished the strength of Ephron’s aura.

You fool, Takeo went on. If I desired that, I’d have killed you myself. Why did you disobey me? Quickly!

My lord, we walked into an ambush. We are surrounded by orcs.

Takeo froze. Orcs were a serious problem. Numerous, reckless, and powerful, he had made sure to trek carefully through Khaz Mal to avoid encounters with their kind. They hadn’t always been successful. Once upon a time, Takeo had been enslaved by orcs, and he knew more about them than he cared to admit. However, as this thought went through his mind, he heard a subtle ‘whoosh’ flutter across his ears.

He whirled around to see that Ephron had taken flight.

The angel was already a good distance into the air, his white feathered wings spread wide and flapping against the icy wind. Takeo swore, scanned the nearest rocks, and leapt into action. He jumped onto the nearest rock and burst off of it with the power infused into him by his enchanted sword. He paused no less than a heartbeat, jumped again onto a taller rock, then picked up speed as he leapt to another. Before Ephron could beat his wings one more time, Takeo went airborne, leaping with all his might into the air with his sword held two-handed over his head. A shrill scream of frustration escaped his lips as he swung for Ephron’s body, aiming to cut the angel apart from left shoulder to right hip.

The angel brought his arms up and crossed them, and Takeo’s sword sliced into meaty forearms instead of vital organs. Light, rather than blood, burst out and blinded Takeo as if he stared into the full power of the sun. He lost all sight as he tumbled through the air and crashed to the ground below. Takeo landed on his legs, but he hit hard and collapsed. His vision came back in spotting images, but he knew the outcome already.

He could still hear Ephron’s wings beating against the wind.

When Takeo could see again, he looked up to find Ephron holding his arms where Takeo had cut. Traces of sunlight bled through his clenched fingers. The angel flew further away, until he was most certainly out of reach. Takeo swore and spit on the ground.

You can’t run forever, Takeo cried out. These orcs won’t stop me.

Ephron did not answer. He held his cut arms and gazed upon Takeo with such a look of hurt and betrayal that it almost broke through the layer of hate and anger that soaked Takeo’s soul.

Ephron shook his head and flew off into the darkness of the blizzard. Takeo watched the direction he went, and then looked to the soldier.

Take me to these orcs, Takeo commanded. I need to kill something.

Chapter 1

In the month or so that followed Cyrus and Emy’s journey across Khaz Mal, the two had come to one solid conclusion: whatever Aiguo Mein was paying his tracker, it wasn’t enough.

Cyrus’ sprained ankle healed quickly, thanks in part to the cold weather keeping the swelling down and Emy’s willingness—insistence?—to carry him. Youth surely played a part, as well, and they had the ravine to thank that Aiguo didn’t catch up to them while Cyrus was not at his best. Once he was back up to full strength, they kept their travel times consistent and their travel paths varied. Emy became obsessed with selecting altered paths that she judged would both reduce their travel distance and provide the most difficult trail to follow. The steep mountains of Khaz Mal provided many opportunities to test that methodology, and Cyrus did his best not to slow her down. She had commented once that he did well, for a human, and Cyrus could only hope that was enough.

Yet a month later proved that wasn’t the case. After finding a way back across the ravine, Aiguo’s pack of mercenaries had slowly but surely gained on them. As large a group as the mercenaries were, Cyrus and Emy could see them on clear days skirting mountain peaks where the duo had been not so long ago. Sometimes a shift in high winds would even bring faint scents, and Emy swore upon everything she understood that it didn’t make any logical sense. Aiguo’s group was larger, heavily armed, and had started out trailing behind. With Emy carefully selecting paths, the two of them should have disappeared like the wind.

Yet even Emy had to admit that Aiguo’s tracker was something else. On more than one occasion, Emy and Cyrus had spied Aiguo’s group moving along an entirely different path than the one the pair had chosen, and Emy had cursed under her breath before saying something along the lines of, Why didn’t I think of that?

It was a tragic reality that dawned on Emy when she came to the conclusion that all her efforts to confuse Aiguo’s tracker had only provided weaknesses to be exploited. Where Emy had gone wide, hoping to drag Aiguo through treacherous spots, his tracker had seen right through the rouse and cut a swift path of interception. It was enough to keep Emy awake at night.

Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself, Cyrus offered. Intelligence is no substitute for experience.

Emy had glared at him

That will be of little comfort when they catch up to us.

"I’m just saying, getting angry changes nothing. We have to