Atheal's Morning before Battle

Atheal gazed east, towards the dragon lands. She hadn’t forgotten the thirst-ridden villagers they left behind. She extended a hand to welcome the morning mist that cooled her skin and watched it trickle beneath the orange-purple dawn. The sun’s head had just begun to emerge from the world, decorating the mist with multicolored rays from its decadent crown. Such a gift would never reach those dune filled lands and the poor dragon folk that wandered them. I hope they survived summer.

She peered down at the shifting colors dancing on her azure-blue skin. The newborn rays speckled her forearms with fiery sparks of amber and then kissed her sharp fingernails with purple dashes of hope. If the gods who created this world would gift such a dawn each day, surely there would be a chance to win today’s battle. Or at the very least, survive to fight another day.

She couldn’t help but think of her parents, likely watching the same sunrise. Yet, it wasn’t the same for them, was it? Where she saw hope for humanity, they probably saw salvation and domination intertwined in the everlasting clutches of evil and its snake-tongued promises. How could my own flesh and blood think so differently? Is it because I am heaven-touched? Will they be present to witness the battle? If they are…will they cheer for my death when the throes sway toward their side, or will they finally let their hearts touch the light and understand what their wrath has wrought?

Atheal turned herself away from those dark thoughts and raised her amulet to bask in the heavenly light pouring down on her. The rusted copper in her hands transformed into a rainbow mirror, reflecting the hues of a thousand sunrises. There it is. An angle of beauty that I have never seen. That is the direction in which my mind must wander.

She imagined the spells that must pour out of her once the fighting started–healing, blinding, and burning. Those were the strengths her companions relied on her for. The battles she had fought along the journey thus far had given her no shortage of practice, and nothing sharpened her wits like the midst of a fight. A rush of temptation swam over her to test her mettle against a dead branch at her feet, but she hesitated. I must save every ounce for that devil. That liar. That thing we once called a friend.

The sun was now fully in view, too bright for Atheal to keep her eyes open. She shut her eyes and let the blinding darkness take her mind to a new fold where no thought could penetrate. An eternity passed by in silent meditation. A breeze shook the grass near her feet and warned her of the coming storm. She drew her focus to the drumming of her heart and let it slow to the pace of the wind. Serenity will be my shield. Not a foe walks this earth that can wrench that away from me. Then again, our foe can fly. No, I must not let fear in.

A dark voice erupted from the crevices of her mind. There will be no peace for you or your companions. There will be no love at the end of your path. There will be no world or ground for your feet to rest. Only ashes and ruin await those who fight their destiny. No fate is more powerful than mine. So come to our side, Atheal. You have already witnessed the power of the Dawn Mother through your own spells. You have witnessed my own power when you helped resurrect me. Let your friends go. All you need to do is walk. Walk with me. Take but one step and I will guide thee to the ends of your world.

Atheal trembled, struggling to keep her eyes shut. She wanted nothing more than to break free from her thoughts, to open her eyes and return to the sights of nature around her. But she would count such an escape as defeat. She must stay and confront her fear, whether real or imagined. The voice grew louder in her mind and next came the image of the devil-god, starting with his eyes–two voids of black emptiness filled with blood moons, growing with malice and hunger. Next came the surrounding skin, grey and smooth, like a perfect serpent in a garden of deceit. His raven black hair fell for miles from a sky unseen all the way to a ground of red dust. Jutting out of the hair, protruded those shiny black horns, a reminder of everything Atheal had been through to escape the lower plane. Worst of all were the fangled sharp teeth escaping his two blood-red lips. Those aren’t the teeth of Beliath. I am mixing him with another devil. He is not controlling my mind. This is simply my own fear. I am manifesting this.

Atheal squinted, searching for strength. She delved deep to pull from her most prized source–her self-love. It was the only source she could rely on since she was a child, and it gave her the will to put her attention back on her heartbeat. He cannot take this from me. No one can. Serenity is my shield.

The voice was gone and she praised it as a victory. She opened her eyes to find the sun now resting high above her. She squinted as she lifted her head to meet it, pulling her amulet close to her lips. “Dawn Mother, lend me your strength. Lend me the sun. Lend me the radiance that you once offered to humanity so freely.” The amulet began to glow in her grasp. Her fingers gripped the copper tight, but the light from within burned so strongly that it burst with gleaming yellow light from between her fingers.

There you are. My radiance. I will channel everything you offer to extinguish our foes...but most importantly, to protect my friends. The faces of her companions shuffled through her mind, along with their laughs and cries from all along the journey thus far–Lemmy’s songs, Glimmer’s optimism, Ze’ela’s strength, Clegor’s fumbles, but most of all Danir’s warmth.

If it came to it, she would sacrifice herself for Danir. She knew it all along, but she had never admitted it to herself until now. After everything he has done to protect me…to love me.

If there was ever a time to cherish every touch, every kiss, and every smile that he gave all of these years, it was now. She closed her eyes once more. The callouses on his hands…his emerald eyes…and his fiery embrace. I must be ready to savor our last chance to embrace before this battle. I must savor every drop that time allows.

Atheal looked to the sky once more. She unleashed her divine sword and allowed her wings to unfold, bathing in the heat of the sun. I’m coming for you…Danir. She flew back to her companions, satisfied that her heart was completely in tune with her soul, and ready for the battle to come.