Awakening an ancient warrior(Open)

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For 3500 years this small village in Shattered Vale had seen good times and bad, many hardships coming from the tension of the Dragon Realms. Much of these hardships came from the lands plagued by war and the residence each time were quick to recover and continue on their daily lives. Much of this was farming and market stores, some making a living just from these industries. And usually they had close ties to the mainlands or other villages within the realm of the land area.

Currently this small village was in one of it's decent times, not too wealthy but not too poor, they seemed to teeter in between. But one thing that did help from time to time was an influx of visitors, all eager to see the pride and joy of the village: the famed Crystal Dragon Statue. It was one thing that had remained unchanged within this village. It always seemed to have a shine to it at midday or when the sun hit just right and usually glittered brilliantly for all to see. There were times it even sent off different colored specks of color that many could admire, giving the village a little color to it as well from the every day activities.

Many tales came from this statue of a rearing dragon, it's wings spread out wide in an arch like way of it's body and the tips nearly meeting. All these tales had one thing in common, this dragon once being a true warrior of ancient times but the rest was exaggerated since the days of old. It was since the time of Malefor's armies once plaguing the land like a disease. Some thought it was a real dragon while others thought it was an unknown craftsman who was able to capture this suppose to be mighty warrior.

Though when one seemed to truly pay attention they might just find a faint heart beat or a faint energy radiating off this dragon. The crystal dragon and the crystals around it seemed to sometimes feel like they were alive if someone truly listened, but the villagers couldn't really see that. Unless they really tried.

["Cosmos"]

as the sun lit up the realm of the Shattered Vale, a large Wyvern dragoness walked through the calm plains and savanna-like landscape. having taken a trip to this place to stretch her body, her body still was slightly sluggish from the coma she was in several days ago. walking up to the top of a hill, she sat on her hind legs and closed her eyes. as the breeze blew across her body, she placed her wing-claw to her belly, which was slightly enlarged from the life that was growing within her. suddenly, she opened her eyes as she felt a miniscule strike against her claw. smiling sweetly, she rubbed her belly as she felt her long-lost motherly love return to her.

raising her head, she saw a village in the middle of a small valley. as she looked at the settlement, she saw the glint of something in the center, which caught her attention. standing up and beginning to walk, she patiently made her way to the village.

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It seemed like the perfect time of day for the sun to cast it's rays upon the village in which the dragoness was headed. And even among the hills and pathways the supposed statue was quite the sight to behold and was not hard to miss, the light blue crystal gleaming beautifully and causing many of the villagers to stop and admire it once again. Many almost didn't notice the wyvern-like dragoness coming into the village until they heard movement and quickly began going about their business, not wanting to look lazy in front of visitors.

But even they did not stop to think that this dragoness would feel something different about this crystal statue, one that had survived for so long. That's if she was able to tune into the energy from these crystals.

["Cosmos"]

as the Wyvern dragoness entered the village, she noticed the villagers had become slightly more active, to appear not lazy. smiling as she thought of how hard they were trying to impress visitors, she decided not to let them down. looking through several shops as she passed by them, she bought several items, even buying items she didn't even need to just help the residents of the village out. walking by a inn, she walked in and ordered a small drink and some food, feeling a little parched from her travel from the Crystal Desert. after an hour, she made her way back into the street and continued to walk.

after a bit, she finally made her way to the crystal statue in the center of the village. looking at the statue, she circled it several times as she examined it. being so close to the statue, she began to hear a faint pulsing, like the extremely slow beat of a heart. behind her, some elderly dragons walked up to her, noticing her interest in the statue.

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A few others also stopped, watching the dragoness with curiosity at why she seemed to suddenly become so interested in the statue. Sure a lot had but this was the first time anyone seemed to closely examine it like this so it made them wonder if she was sensing something or just had an eye for good art. Sadly for these villagers this was not the case. Within the crystal a heart still did beat slow and steady, faint but should one listen they could know this statue wasn't exactly that.

And even in an up close appearance the "statue" seemed to hold a fierce look upon it's face, it's jaws held in a mighty roar. One could think it truly was a talented attempt of a sculpture in using crystal to which it captured a warrior in the middle of a fierce battle or perhaps taking his final stand in an ancient battle.

["Cosmos"]

as she examined the statue even closer, she found that the feature of the crystal weren’t sculpted at all, but grew instead, as if they were encasing something. running her wing-claw across the surface of the crystal, she could hear the whisperings of the villagers that had stopped to watch her. coming around to the front of the statue, she noticed about the face, making her believe this wasn’t just a mere statue. placing her claw on the chest of the statue, she focused as she cleared her mind of anything obtrusive.

“(as the serpent coils around its prey, so much sleep consume all. uncoil the serpents tail, so sleep may drift from the slumbers mind. release the hand of time, and allow the sands to flow. awaken!)” she spoke the chant in the ancient tongue, getting confused looks from the villagers, even though they understood what she said thanks to the passive field that surrounded her, allowing all who hear her to understand what she speaks. digging a finger into the crystal of the statue’s chest, everyone that saw was shocked at what she was doing.

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As the chant took over and Zhatriana's claw dug into the crystal the point of where it was soon began to show signs of giving way. Soon the cracking grew loud enough to be heard by the villagers and the crystal began to follow along the cleavage planes to where the mineral would have easily cracked after a few good hard hits. Some villagers even stepped closer, wanting to see what exactly was going on as they didn't know what to expect from the chanting nor what this dragoness had just done.

But as piece by piece the encasing began to fall away silver fur could be seen in places and a little bit of the underbelly which gave off a dark navy blue color. Around the face one eye also showed, being of the same color but with a more crystalline like effect to the iris which finally blinked about three times as the sun hit it directly and within the crystal someone began to awaken. The form shook and shuddered, more pieces falling before finally it broke completely which caused the villagers to quickly back away with shocked cries as a roar that had seemed to be stuck in time finally escaped before the unusual looking male closed his powerful jaws.

Yet, he didn't stay like this for long as soon his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed on his side which shook the ground from the force of the landing. Indeed, the crystal had been no mere statue but the supposed ancient warrior of the village's myths as his body seemed to be half crystal itself.

["Cosmos"]

watching as the crystal gave way under her claw, she recalled her claw as the crystal fell from the statue. watching as the crystal fragments crashed to the ground, she was surprised to see a living dragon within. not backing away as the crystal pieces fell away, she didn't even flinch when the roar was released from the dragons maw. watching him closely, she tried to act fast to catch him, biting her lip when his form hit the ground with force. "(get a bed ready!)" she yelled out, as she picked up the male and placed him on her back.

taking him to a building that one of the villagers volunteered to help the crystal-like dragon, the Wyvern dragoness stayed by his side as she tended to him. for several days, she remained awake as she used her ancient magic to refresh his body, which was exhausting her greatly. with each day passed and more of her magic used, her body began to look frail and sickly as another morning came.

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As those days passed Argyros was caught in a series of flash backs of his life, remembering bits and pieces of it from his training days to the time of the war started by Malefor. But they were like a screen of a movie, his past flashing before his very eyes up until that day he was encasing himself in stone. He had found himself surrounded by Apes, struggling to keep them at bay and distracted from destroying the village even more than they already had. It seemed he only had one last chance and he began using his crystal manipulation ability to strike his opponents but having the unforeseen side affect of encasing himself in stone.

That was when Argyros bolted awake and suddenly pushed Zhatriana's paw away from him and stopping the flow of magic from her. His eyes were wide and his entire body tense, being highly alert for signs of enemy as he thought himself somehow being taken by the enemy that had been defeated five years ago, something he wasn't aware of. And as his crystalline navy blue eyes landed upon the unusually large wyvern-like dragoness he wasn't sure if she was friend or foe and had himself ready to spring into action, "Who are you?! Do you work for that bastard Malefor?"He demanded immediately, the first thoughts coming to mind.

["Cosmos"]

as her breathing began to become slightly labored from her use of magic, the male bolted up and pushed her wing-claws away. watching him as he became ready to strike, she raised a eyeridge when he asked if she worked for the late Malefor. shaking her head, she slowly laid her claws on his chest. "(i am not of the darkness, crystallisk. i am the one who released you from your crystal encasing. just lay back down so you can rest. being like that for thirty-five hundred years,)" she said, not afraid of being struck in his confusion.

having been using her arcane magic to learn about him, she found him quite a mystery as her magic was only able to find out his age and how long he had been encased. helping him to lay back down, she began to become unsteady as the full effects of her usage of her magic became clear.

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As he was preparing to push her wing-claws away once more he stopped suddenly as she shook her head, saying she was not of the darkness which made Argyros look towards her for a long moment. Seeing no signs of hostility he finally nodded before putting his paw back down when Zhatriana told him more surprising news to the point he nearly went upright once more but felt his body was still not quite use to sudden movement and lied back down once again as he took in her final words.

Though he also noticed her weakened appearance and waved a paw, "Don't expend more of your energy on me ma'am. You've done enough, I just need rest."He assured her as he rested his tail tip on the ground, "If you require quick energy restoration I can summon up the green life force crystals if you need them."He told her, as he looked back at her, "And it's really been that long, thirty-five hundred years?"He also asked.

["Cosmos"]

shaking her head when he offered to summon the green gems that rejuvenated the energy of a dragon, she sat on her hind legs and let out a sigh of relief. "(it is okay, i don't need help. and yes, give or take a century or two. my name is Zhatriana, its nice to meet you, Argyros,)" she said, lowering her head in a slight bow. looking behind her as the door opened, a young female came in carrying a bundle of blankets. "(thank you, dear,)" Zhatriana said, smiling sweetly at the female, who smiled back.

turning back to the crystalline dragon, she took a damp cloth from a bucket and placed it to his forehead. "(if you have any questions, then feel free to ask them. i freed you, and i will try to help you,)" she said, looking at him with a smile as the light from a window his her scarred face.

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"If your sure," Argyros said but let his tail just rest on the ground, the crystal tips glittering slightly from the sun and giving off specks of color around the room and upon the two dragons as he looked at Zhatriana. He noticed the scar she had, making him wonder what could have possibly happened but said nothing for now about it as he pondered his questions carefully, wanting to pick out the ones that were more of a priority to him than anything else. But his attention briefly went towards the female when she came in, watching her carrying in blankets and seeing the damp cloth before the much taller dragoness took over from there and set the cloth on his forehead.

Finally though he spoke, "Guess there are a few things I want to know. Most of all, was Malefor and his forces truly defeated in those many centuries? Did we win? And are the realms finally at peace" He asked, those three questions being the things he was most concerned of and that popped immediately into his mind right there and then.

["Cosmos"]

listening to his questions as he spoke, Zhatriana closed her eyes as she recalled the knowledge for the questions. "(from what i have heard, Malefor was defeated around five years ago. his forces have been almost wiped out, with the rest being watched, but returning to live normal live. they gave the life of fighting, and are living peaceful lives, when they aren't being mistreated for their serving the Dark Master)," she answered the first question, using another damp cloth to clean his body. "(for your second question, i am not sure how to answer that one, since it is vague. but it if refers to the war against Malefor, then yes. as for peace...)," she stopped looking out the window. "(i don't think true peace will happen for a while. at this time, the Realms face a strange force of creatures called Shadowseekers, and their motives are yet unclear)," she spoke, looking back down at him, cleaning the rest of his arm.

dipping the cloth in a bucket of water, she started to clean his chest, until she stopped and laid her claw on his chest. narrowing her eyes as if she was entering a trance, he used her Arcane magic to view his past, more about the last days of before he was encased in crystal. as she used her magic, her body visibly looked like it was weakening, being so close to the end of her magical energy.

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Listening intently to her answers Argyros was surprised it was only five years ago, having thought with Malefor locked away the Apes would have been easy to defeat. But it seemed at some point the Dark Master still had operated when locked away and possibly even was released but he didn't know for sure how though maybe one day he could find this out, maybe even from Zhatriana. Though he was satisfied up until that very last answer that made him frown slightly. It seemed where one evil was gone another took it's place like when one got rid of a cold something worse followed like the flu or greater disease. Would the realms ever find peace?

"I see..."He trailed off, trying to figure out what he should ask next but that last part was now making his mind race with what these new dangers were and what he should be expecting. The last thing Argyros wanted was to face yet another several centuries in crystal, something he didn't want it to come to. Though his mind cut off when he felt Zhatriana go motionless and noticed her gaze, at first wondering what she was up to but not realizing she could see some of the past week before his encasement that he had been to Shattered Vale to help protect it from the Apes and some of the other forces Malefor commanded. But when seeing her weakening he quickly pushed her claws away, "Zhatriana stop before you get yourself tired out."He told her firmly.