《The Troubles of Oscardia》


 Chapter 1

    It was a cold, clear day in the Oscardian Isles on the 18th of November, exactly two minutes from disaster. Henry White stood by the stone fountain in the town center, thinking about his next request for planks. He was a well accomplished carpenter, yet all he was ever asked to do was cut his supply of logs into identical, oak planks. He divided the task into the week his client would wait for it, and discovered it completely unnecessary to work the first few days, so he had a few days to spare. He walked around the town, buying things he knew he was not going to need, or particularly want, but this was his day off, the first in a long time.


    ''An entire pound of clay,'' asked Valerie, the expert in ceramics.


    ''I''ve gotten a sudden interest in ceramics,'' Henry replied, ''and I thought I''d have a go myself.'' It was very lucky he was in that small, cramped room that was stiflingly hot from the furnaces, because that well insulated house was both his poison and his saviour as a long roar enveloped the town. Peeking his head through the heavy door, Henry saw what could only be described as an insect scaled up to be a thousand times its original size. Its razor sharp legs pierced through the surface of the rough ground as if it was made of the feathers in a pillow.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    All the people of the village screamed and ran as fast as their weak legs could take them. Parents hoisted young children onto their necks as some of the crowd ran back to help them. Some of the kingdom''s soldiers stationed in the town drew their swords, only to be pushed back by the plumes of flames escaping from the beast''s open mouth. The paint of the emblems on the shields of those who chose to remain had smeared in the heat and was bubbling. The kingdom¡¯s griffin now looked like a baby in an artist¡¯s house. It was obvious that no one and no thing left in this village will not be dust by morning, yet it was only occurring to some of the crowd now the danger of this situation.


    Henry peeked his head out some more. He stepped on a branch blown outside the house accidentally. The beast¡¯s neck began to slowly swivel around to him, its fiery eyes staring right into his soul. Henry ran back inside, and the dragon slashed at the house. Its roof tore off like a leaf on a windy day.

 Chapter 2

    ¡®Oh crud!¡¯ Henry whispered to himself. The beast began to close in on them with its large head and its terrifying eyes. Smoke rose from the house, though the fireplace was not lit. Henry swore he could hear a murmuring, and began to make it out.


    ¡®How pathetic,¡¯ the monstrosity seemed to say, ¡®all the village sat here, shook and terrified. I will end their misery.¡¯ Henry reached for his scabbard, he knew there was always a small knife in there. It saw him. From its jaw bore long, sharp teeth, which it bared at Henry. Henry drew the knife anyway, but before he could try to attack the beast it vanished in a wisp of smoke. Where the beast had been there was a tall, skinny man wearing azure robes. White hair was draped over his weak yellow head.


    ¡®All is okay, the trouble is dealt with,¡¯ he announced. ¡®Let me introduce myself. I am James of the HESPH, High Elf Society for the Protection of Humans¡¯ - some of the knights tightened the grip on their swords - ¡®What you saw there was a dragon.¡¯A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡®Enough of the stories, old man,¡¯ one of the soldiers finally found the courage to say.


    ¡®Typical of humans,¡¯ Henry heard James mutter. James moved his hands in a flash, and streaks of lightning curled up together like pieces of twine floated around the hands. ¡®Now do you believe me.¡¯ The knight¡¯s sword fell out of his hands onto the ground.


    ¡®Why are you here?¡¯ Henry asked. It was only now James noticed the people behind him.


    ¡®Simple, you humans were in danger, and I saved you. Though, I do need one of you to come back with me to Jalkadh, dragons have not been seen for hundreds of years.¡¯ Many people stepped back upon hearing that, but Henry stepped forward.


    ¡®I will do it,¡¯ he said. ¡®I will go with you.¡¯