She used the strength in her arms and tried to pull herself up, working her muscles all she could to win just a few inches up. The tower was leaning so badly, it was even impressive it was still standing. The top of the building could just collapse at any moment, and Cessilia could hear the stones slowly creaking and about to crumble underneath. She could only use the strength of her arms to hold on, painfully. Steps away and somehow above her, Jisel was holding on to her dragon, ready to jump on and fly off the second the tower finally collapsed. Cessilia glared at her. She refused to not finish this fight.
“A fitting end for a coward princess,” scoffed Jisel, getting more brazen from her position. “You’ll die alone, a defeat fitting for the pathetic excuse of a War God’s daughter!”
Cessilia’s green eyes glared even more furiously. Almost all of her skin was covered in blood and silver scales by now, and only the two green gems could be seen in the midst of her wet hair stuck to her face. Despite her position, her body almost completely hanging above the ground, there wasn’t an ounce of fear in them.
Far, far below, she could hear the clamor of the men fighting, the terrible sounds of a war that was spreading throughout the island. The thunder was beating like drums above them as if to give rhythm to the ongoing battles. But even louder were the waves crashing against the rocks below. Cessilia frowned and glanced down. The sea sounded almost as furious as the roaring sky. Ignoring Jisel, she listened some more, something suddenly pulling her attention. A sound, something familiar yet foreign, coming like a muted echo. Her heartbeat accelerated again. Her blood rushed through her veins, and an excited chill went down her spine. She could hear it. Below the furious roars of the raging sea, far past the edges of the island. Lightning struck the sky again and when Jisel looked down at Cessilia, prepared to see her give up or beg for help, she was shocked to find the Princess smiling.
“I’m no coward, Jisel. You are.”
Then, she suddenly let go. Silence dropped on the area, and Jisel watched the Princess’ body fall off of the tower, almost in slow motion. Cessilia fell backwards, facing the sky and her eyes locked on Jisel with a scary satisfied expression. Snapped up by the void underneath, her body floated in the air, in a cross, and she slowly closed her eyes, disappearing in the shadows of the building, toward the seething sea.
That’s the precise moment the building chose to collapse. In a crescendo of rock breaking sounds, it slowly fell apart, collapsing in parts and taking the floors below down with it. Jisel only had time to hop on to her dragon as Jinn flapped its small wings to get above the wreckage. She watched an entire portion of the castle fall below them into large clouds of dust. Some parts violently hit and damaged other parts of the castle, but most fell into the surrounding sea, disappearing into the waves. Jisel didn’t care at all for the tower. Her eyes were relentlessly looking for one woman’s silhouette. It made no sense that she would have survived this. Not only because a fall from such a height should have killed her, but even if she somehow survived, the collapsing bricks and stones should have buried her in the waves. No one could survive that. ...So why did she have the feeling the Princess had survived anyway? She had clearly chosen to let go. What kind of madness had prompted that jump? Jisel kept looking through the waves, as the tower had finished collapsing, reduced to a shapeless mountain on one side of the castle. The sea was unusually restless too, as if it was preparing to grow and eat up the nearby islands. That Princess had to have drowned by now! Still, Jisel couldn’t breathe properly, her anxiety soaring.
Her eye caught something. Under the water. It was just a glimpse, out of the corner of her eye, but she was almost sure she had seen something shining... a shimmer of silver. A cold chill went down her spine, and she jumped in fright as the thunder suddenly boomed above.
Then, she heard it very clearly. The high-pitched, almost metallic scream of a water dragon. Jisel opened her eyes wide, fear filling her expression. It couldn’t be. She heard it again, even louder. It was as if it was coming from the entire sea below, the water acting like a fearsome echo chamber for a very large creature. She grabbed her dragon and prompted it to get away, quickly. Jinn was getting nervous too.
Suddenly, a gigantic wave burst out of the sea, climbing high toward the sky. In the midst of it, a large creature suddenly soared, letting out that furious scream from before, even clearer and more piercing. A gigantic water dragon, with silver scales shimmering like diamonds, and furious, dark pink ruby eyes. The mythical creature extended its wings, flapping them like an icy cold mist whipping the air, and screamed again in fury, showing its snow white but sharp fangs. On the top of its head, Cessilia was standing, the blood washed off her body, her scales the same color and her eyes cold as ice.
“...We’re not done, Jisel.”
She saw the other woman’s expression fall, very quickly, from shock to absolute terror. Jisel grabbed her dragon’s head, and pulled it to fly away as fast as it could and away from her. Cessilia glared at the fleeing figure of the Red Dragon, but first, she got down on her knees, putting her hands on the Silver Dragon’s head.
“...I missed you so much, Cece,” she muttered in a cry. “Thank you for coming back...”
Her dragon answered with that unique, metallic scream unlike any other dragon. Cece wasn’t like any other dragon anymore, and the Silver Dragon was absolutely magnificent. Its scales were like thousands of perfectly shaped jewels on its body, shimmering everytime the light hit them. They were incredibly cold too, perhaps because Cece had emerged from the sea, and they looked almost like ice gems under her fingers. Her dragon was three times bigger than Cessilia remembered, and its wings too, were effortlessly flapping in the sky, grand and capable of keeping the large body flying without a problem. Cece was effortlessly hanging in the sky like a silver cross visible from all sides of the Capital. To Cessilia, though, nothing mattered more than those gorgeous ruby eyes, staring right back at her. It was as if they had parted just yesterday. Despite the new, grand appearance, it was still her Cece underneath, her dragon which she felt more connected to than ever.
From where she stood, it was difficult to spot, but Cessilia did notice the large, burgundy mark on her dragon’s throat. It was one perfect line, almost like a collar, but to her, it had a terrible significance. As if, even if she had retrieved her dragon, this scar was to stay as a reminder never to make the same mistake again. Cessilia sighed. She had no idea why Cece had come back so different, but she could feel their bond stronger than before. Her dragon was stronger than before. Like the Sea Dragon God of the legend, the Silver Dragon was flying above the sea with shining scales and an imposing presence. Cessilia could almost feel the power in each movement, and she could feel, deep inside, Cece’s strength adding to hers. They were one, once again. Her dragon flapped its gorgeous wings, taking a more horizontal position, and she sat on its nape.
It didn’t take long to find Jinn; the Red Dragon’s figure was standing out against the dark gray and blue background of the raging sea and thundering storm above them. Cece let out another unique high-pitched growl, and jumped down in that direction. Either Jinn felt the other dragon coming or was trying to flee anyway, but both dragons accelerated, and the hunt quickly began in the sky.
It was a furious race against one another. Cessilia had to hang on to her dragon or, at the speed Cece was going, she’d be violently thrown off. Still, she kept both eyes open and fixed right ahead at Jisel and her Red Dragon. Unlike them, the connection between those two was obviously off. In fact, whenever Cece got close enough, Cessilia could hear Jisel’s furious screams, and see the fear in Jinn’s eyes. The Red Dragon was just terrified. Cece was much, much bigger and in a predatory position too. Claws out, if the Silver Dragon got close enough, no doubt blood would soon flow. As young of a dragon as Jinn was, its goal was most likely to survive and protect Jisel too. Sadly, that woman looked beyond mad now. Something seemed to have snapped in her, enough for her to curse at her dragon that was fleeing this fight. Either she truly believed they had a chance, or she just refused to back down, she was just vociferating at Cessilia and Cece, shouting for Jinn to turn around and fight. That wouldn’t happen as long as the Red Dragon was in its right mind.
“Get them, Cece.”
Her dragon let out another long scream in the sky and accelerated again.
The two water dragons’ bodies seemed to be dancing in the sky now, their wings flapping at a quick speed to try and hunt or flee the other. They didn’t hesitate to dash through the thick, humid clouds, or fly low to the Capital’s rocks. It was a terrifying game of hunt, or even hide-and-seek. Every time Jinn tried to find a place to hide, to cover itself, Cece would inevitably appear, with those ruby eyes glowing in anger. The Silver Dragon was now mimicking its mistress’ wrath, and just wouldn’t stop until it got its prey. The two of them flew in between the bridges, and even dived into the sea. Perhaps Jinn had hoped to swim faster than Cece, but it turned out to be another mistake. In fact, with its wings closed and its body slithering quickly, Cessilia’s dragon was even faster as a swimmer. The raging waves were no problem, and the dragons brutally clashed for the first time underwater.
The impact was violent. Cessilia had just enough time to take a deep breath in, and when her dragon suddenly attacked Jinn, she almost breathed it out from the sudden impact. A thick trail of blood appeared in the water. Cece was like a snake, trying to use that long silver body to corner Jinn and find the first opportunity to violently bite. The Red Dragon growled furiously and fought back, unwilling to admit defeat. The violent exchange ensued for several seconds but soon, Jinn somehow managed to get away, and Cece swam back to the surface so Cessilia could breathe.
When they breached the surface, the Princess took a deep breath in, grateful. Holding her breath so long underwater sure was different when she had to hold on to a rowdy dragon at the same time... She pushed her hair back, suddenly remembering it was half-cut.
“Let’s go up,” she said.
Cece immediately obeyed and flew up again, away from the waves. Jinn wasn’t in sight anymore, but the duo couldn’t have gone far. All their surroundings were in view, and Cessilia suspected they had found a temporary hideout. Pulling on her dragon to direct its movements, she got Cece to fly above the rest of the Capital. She looked for her allies at the same time as they searched for Jinn. She spotted the two distinct battlefields and, a bit more worrying, the numerous fires that were spreading across the Capital. Ashen’s home was bleeding out... Luckily, it looked like the situation was tilting to their side. Downtown, a large but ravaged battlefield was clearly more dominated by the locals than the Yekara colors. Cessilia even recognized her brothers, and Tessandra, all three of them absorbed in their fighting, but still raising their heads when they saw her or heard Cece. She was too high to see their expressions, but she was glad they all seemed fine... Moreover, her dragon was still focused on its prey, and barely glanced down toward the humans fighting below. With another impatient and irritated growl, Cece did a new loop around the Capital. Feeling her dragon’s impatience, Cessilia was looking all around too. It was quite nerve-wracking. The difference in size between the two dragons was huge, but if Jinn found a way to hide, this hunt could potentially last a while, and that was the opposite of what Cessilia wanted. She wanted to end this fight soon and return to Ashen’s side to check on him. That whole battle against Jisel had lasted too long already.
Suddenly, a furious growl came from behind and above them. Cessilia felt the sudden wind blowing from behind, and turned around just in time to see Jinn jumping on them, all claws out.
Cece didn’t have time to turn around, but Cessilia did. Without hesitation, she grabbed her smaller blade and plunged it into the Red Dragon’s incoming paw, impaling it to the hilt. Jinn let out a furious growl of pain, but not without managing to scratch Cece with its other paw. However, the Silver Dragon wouldn’t have it. Furious, Cece turned around and violently bit back, its fangs crushing Jinn’s front paw in one bite.
“My dragon!” shouted Jisel, furious.
“If you’re sorry for him, come and fight yourself!” retorted Cessilia.
She pulled back the blade, the only weapon she had left, and violently kicked the Red Dragon’s snout before it could even think of trying to bite her. Jinn growled and tried to retreat, but Cece wouldn’t let go of its limb. Dragon blood suddenly rained down as the two intertwined dragons battled one another furiously, one trying to get away, the other refusing to let go. It had become a chaotic mess of scales and blood flying, ferocious growls and dragon screams. Cessilia tried to run down the dragon’s back to get to Jisel, but everytime she moved, the two dragons changed positions again, making her lose her balance. She could only hold on to Cece every time, or risk being thrown off. Jisel, on the other hand, had barely moved, if not to retreat away from Cece’s fangs now digging into her poor dragon’s shoulder. By now, it had bitten down on more than enough of the Red Dragon’s flesh, and they could hear the sounds of bones being crushed under the pressure. Cessilia couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Jinn’s suffering.
“Cece!” she shouted.
Her dragon grunted, and brutally ripped off that foreleg. Cece spat it out while the injured Jinn was retreating, completely terrified, its limbless shoulder pouring thick dragon blood into the river. Cece let out another long scream, and flew back to face Jinn, showing off its still blood-stained fangs.
“Get the hell down from that dragon, Jisel,” Cessilia said, “or I’ll have to kill him too.”
Jisel’s horrified eyes were on the dragon’s injury. If she felt sorry for Jinn, she also looked more worried for herself, and how her dragon looked like it wouldn’t be able to defend her for much longer.
“You wish!” she screamed. “This dragon is mine! He’s mine and he will defend me even if he has to die doing it! That’s the only thing he’s worthy of! That’s the only reason I kept him!”
Cessilia glared at her. She could see Jisel’s survival instincts building up in a horrible manner. That was the look of a woman absolutely terrified by the mere idea of her death. She wouldn’t give up, ever. The only way of life she knew was to survive, at absolutely any cost. She would lie, run, hide, cheat all she could rather than give up or die. Even if she had to sacrifice a loyal dragon in the process. Cessilia took a deep breath, and slowly, put her open palm against Cece’s cold body. She could feel all of her dragon’s emotions like her own... Impatience, frustration, stubbornness, resolve. The rage built up from the adrenaline of the fight. Anger, and that strong desire to protect Cessilia too. The disgust of the taste of dragon blood... Cece was sick of this fight too.
“...We need to separate those two,” muttered Cessilia.
Her dragon growled in agreement. Cece was mad at that brat that refused to submit and kept running away. Dragons weren’t meant to run away or avoid fights. If it knew it were the weaker one, it should have simply conceded defeat, and this would have all been over. This whole chasing and hunting of a peer was annoying, frustrating. Moreover, the dragon and its mistress’ anger were directed at the same person: that mad woman on the Red Dragon’s back. Cece was mirroring Cessilia’s anger toward her, and her conflicted feelings toward the unfortunate Red Dragon. The pair understood each other perfectly with just a few words and a touch.
Jisel then proceeded to have Jinn turn around and fly away again. Of course, the Red Dragon was trying to get as far away from Cece as possible and delay its inevitable demise. Cece didn’t start the chase right away, but instead let out another long scream, and took some height above the fleeing Red Dragon. Jinn was considerably slowed down by the terrible injury. Its flying didn’t look as precise as before, almost as if it was on the verge of collapse. It was flying lower and lower and, at the right moment, Cece dove. The Silver Dragon came down from the sky like another lightning bolt, and the hit was just as brutal. Cessilia had to stick to her dragon’s back for the impact, and even like this, she was brutally ejected. Luckily, her body landed on the sand, right below them. Irony had it that they were back on the beach where she and her brothers had let Jisel live once before. The tide had already washed away all traces of the previous fight, and the sand was wet under their feet. Cessilia felt the waves caress her ankles as she quickly jumped back on her feet.
She heard the screams of two dragons fighting, and the waves of sand violently thrown in all directions. The fight was incredibly brutal, with their bodies rolling in the sand, silver and red scales mixed at such a speed, she could barely see who was on top. From her dragon’s angry growls, Cessilia could tell hers was mad and frustrated, but not in pain. Jinn was desperately trying to survive the attacks, and Cece was trying not to kill. It was absolute chaos, but in the midst of this, there was no way Jisel was still on her dragon’s back. Cessilia looked around and spotted her on all fours in the sand, yards away from her, almost on the other end of the beach. She must have been hurt from the fall, seeing how that woman struggled to get back up. As soon as her eyes met Cessilia’s, though, she found the strength to stand up again and run. This time, she couldn’t fly away, and she was cornered on the beach. Only the distance and the two dragons fighting between them kept Cessilia away from her.
“...Ah,” Cessilia heard her laugh. “You’re too weak, Princess! Too weak to kill another dragon, aren’t you?! Look! Jinn will fight for me to the end, and you’ll let him kill your dragon because you’re so weak!”
