The sun started to spread its light over Tarvisium.
Braylon slightly patted the side of the horse, then jumped onto it.
He pulled his hood slightly over his head, clutched the reins, and kicked the horse lightly to make it run.
"Hyyaahh."
Braylon rode from forest to forest, border to border, day and night. He stopped only when the horse had no energy left to run at the end of the day.
He kept riding for a week until he reached the border that connected Tarvisium and Solana.
He jumped down from his horse and slowly approached the border knights.
One of the knights, with broad shoulders and a strong build, with a long beard matching his long honey-colored hair, recognized him and started approaching him. "Braylon," he said, his voice loud enough to be heard clearly from a distance.
Braylon's lips slightly curved, and he nodded once in greeting.
"What brings you here, son?" the knight asked, placing his hands around Braylon's arms.
"Just some errands," Braylon said with a half laugh. He took out a paper from his pouch and gave it to the knight. "Here, an order paper."
The knight looked confused and then laughed loudly. "Son, you are allowed to freely pass these gates whenever you wish." He slightly pushed the paper back with his hand. "You don't have to show it to us."
"Even if I am like a son to you, I can't break the rules," Braylon said with a small smile, pushing the paper back toward the knight.
"In that case..." the knight took the paper and cleared his throat while opening it. "You may pass the border of Tarvisium, Braylon Easton Dempsey." He folded the paper closed.
"Thank you." Braylon took the paper from him. "It'll be too late if I don't leave right now," he said.
"Have a good day, son." The knight stepped aside, letting Braylon pass.
Braylon took the horse's reins and passed through the gate. After walking for a while, he finally reached the border of Solana.
After crossing the border, he jumped onto the horse once again and rode for three days and two nights under the most ethereal sky, which never saw strong, cold winds or the sun's harsh light, but only a calm day and night with temperate warmth.
He passed through flourishing farmlands, orchards, and beautiful forests, and beyond them stood high hills that made everything look graceful.
He finally reached the high brown gates of the capital of Solana, Sorael. He rode through the bustling markets, making his way to Sorael Castle.
He stood before the castle gates and removed his hood, making his face visible to the guards standing there.
They opened the gates without any questions and let him enter.
The king of Solana, Elyndor Runa II, a man no more than fifty years old, had long white hair that touched his shoulders, with little to no signs of age on his face. He sat with his council when a knight entered the chamber and whispered something to him.
Elyndor slightly nodded and looked at his council. "You all may go."
The men started walking out. Braylon entered the chamber.
Elyndor stood from his chair and approached him. "Braylon," he exclaimed. "It's been a long time since you came back." He hugged Braylon and then gestured toward one of the chairs emptied by the men.
Braylon sat on the chair beside Elyndor. "How are you?" he asked.
"Living like an old man surrounded by fools," he laughed, then gestured with his fingers, and a servant boy came with a golden jug in his hands. He poured red wine into the goblets placed before them.
"You tell me," Elyndor asked. "...how are you and your father?"
"He is doing his best as the advisor of Valerian and Theron," Braylon said, gulping a large amount of wine.
Elyndor let out a laugh. "That is good news." He looked at Braylon in confusion. "But why do you look like a beggar?"
"I have been riding all day and night just to get here," he replied, raising one of his eyebrows in defense.
"And why would you do that?" Elyndor sipped from the wine.
Braylon didn't say anything.
He looked at the goblet before answering...tracing the details on it with his thumbs.
"It's time," he said, his tone now serious.
Elyndor placed his goblet on the table and looked at Braylon from the corner of his eyes.
He sighed.
"Seeing you all grown up like this makes me so... proud." He patted Braylon's back. "You are finally going to get everything you have been living for."
He stood from his chair and turned toward the window behind him, moving closer to it while looking outside at the city market."But there is something you should know about" he hesitated "A few weeks ago... a dragon was found in the southwestern land of Solana... near the Ajana Ocean." His voice carried tension and distress.
"I do not have the heart to laugh right now," Braylon said firmly, looking inside the goblet.
"I know what I am saying sounds unreal, but it really exists," Elyndor turned back. "People in Solana have seen the creature."
He slowly walked toward him. "But unfortunately... it was dead," he said, placing a hand on Braylon's shoulder.
Braylon looked at Elyndor, his eyebrows pinched together. "It can't be possible... where is it?" he asked, looking down at the table and placing a hand on his temple.
"The Alight Knights—" Elyndor was saying when a knock on the door interrupted him.
"It's Alden Rue, Commander of the Alight Knights," the voice came from the other side of the door.
Elyndor sat back on his chair. "You may enter."
Alden entered the chamber and stood at the end of the table. He took off his helm and clutched it underneath his arm.
"Your Grace," he bowed his head slightly and paid no attention to Braylon, who looked shocked at the revelation of something only imaginable.
"Commander Alden, what news have you brought to me... about the dragon?" Elyndor asked.
"Nothing major..." Alden responded. "But it seems that the creature was washed down to our shores after a brutal fight, which possibly occurred months ago."
Elyndor and Braylon's eyes widened, and they looked at each other. "So, you mean..." Braylon hesitated, "there are other dragons in the sky?"
"Possibly," Alden said.
The calmness in Alden's voice made Braylon think that even the existence of a mystical being could not shake this man's composure.
"The dragon must have come from either the south or the west..." Alden looked at Braylon. "It was found near the lands of Selmora Fort," he said, almost mockingly.
"Why didn't I get word that a dragon was found near my fort?" Braylon asked in confusion.
"Your brother is the lord now," Alden said firmly. "He decides what happens on his land."
"Hmm..." Elyndor clasped his hands and rested his chin on them. "It is nearly impossible to cross from the south or west, since Ajana is filled with dangerous storms and skies," he said, looking at Alden. "Even the strongest ships that went there never came back."
"It's a dragon, Your Grace. Something unseen for fifty centuries was lying dead on our land. If it can exist, then crossing that dangerous ocean can also be possible," Alden said firmly.
"I have never liked this man," Braylon looked at Alden ''but, he can be right sometimes." He said, agreeing.
"Then send some ships to the south and west of Ajana," Elyndor said. "And make sure this information is confined within the castle gates only."
Alden bowed and left the chamber, leaving the two men alone.
Elyndor tilted his neck in exhaustion and exhaled. "If word about the dragon leaves the borders of Solana, it will start a war."
Braylon pressed his fingers against his eyes. "I don't see my brother here," he said.
"He left with the council when you entered," Elyndor replied.
Braylon pushed back his chair and stood up. "Then I'll go to him now," he said, walking toward the door when Elyndor's voice stopped him.
"Don't die."
Braylon's lips shut tight before he responded.
"You know I can't,"his tone was grim. Then he walked out of the chamber without looking back.
With the sound of the door closing, Elyndor sat back down and looked into his goblet.
The red wine reflected his face—clear, yet burdened.
Yes, there were few lines of age on his face, and his skin still carried a bright glow, but in that moment, he looked... exhausted.
Perhaps because the reality of dragons and Braylon's arrival did not seem like a coincidence to him.