Blood Rust (Moon Sinner I)

Millions of years ago, planets were born after the Big Bang. Among them was the Earth that was to, in the long run, host life.

But before that could happen, the planet had to go through a process of being able to support life. And for this purpose four elements, of incredible strength and power united to create something magnificent.

Air, Water, Fire, and Earth.

In the beginning, the planet's surface was fluid due to the liquid fire that was constantly flowing from the ongoing eruptions of the volcanoes. The lack of land and the poisonous gases of volcanoes currently hindered the development of any life form. The process was long and time-consuming.

After several centuries, the Earth's surface cooled from the glaciers forming a solid crust. When the glaciers melted, the water flooded the planet.

Millions of years passed until life was finally created to produce oxygen, thus changing the atmosphere's composition and making it sustainable. The first creatures to appear were the animals and then the humans.

But the process does not stop here.

Earthquakes did not stop shaking the entire planet creating the terrain. Land emerged from the sea. Enormous mountain ranges and deep gorges were formed. Passages opened for the rivers and huge puddles for the lakes. Also, underground tunnels had huge caves to enter.

Through all these processes and rearrangements of the Earth, something unique and majestic was created sheltered and well hidden in a sea cave. A gem forged by the mighty forces of the four elements of the Earth. The earth gave to its matter, substance. The fire of the lava coming from the volcanoes granted to it strength and the red color. The air blew to its breath of life, and the water gave it the clarity and appearance of a diamond. The gem obtained the ability to transmit vast magical powers to whoever first discovers it. From the moment of its creation, a guardian was sent from the universe with the mission of staying awake by its side until someone terrestrial would finally discover it.

Its destiny was already predestined, and that was to be found.

Among the creatures that inhabited the Earth was the majestic, giant dragons. With the privilege provided by the wings, they conquered the ethers and, with their heavy steps and their vast mass, the earth. Armed with the hard scales that almost covered their bodies, it was not easy for someone to kill them. Their face was wild, and their mouth was full of sharp teeth. They had spiky nails on their feet capable of tearing their victims' flesh, and on their heads were pointed horns.

The wings' divine gift helped them explore the Earth end- to- end quickly and easily, seeking the supreme good they believed to be somewhere well hidden.

When humans appeared on Earth, dragons showed great interest in these creatures and began to observe their evolution.

Over the years, people have acquired the ability to speak. The dragons were terribly jealous of this human ability. They wanted to make it their own, believing that they had received it through magic. So they decided to enslave humans in order to discover their secret. What gives them this ability? Were they the first to find the supreme good?

But the people, having weapons they had invented, managed to resist the dragons' attack and eventually repel them strongly.

After this defeat, the dragons decided to watch the people from a distance. When they realized that they did not have any supreme goods in their possession, their hopes revived, and they decided to continue their seeking.

 Their faith and devotion to their purpose compensated them by finding the unique gem that for centuries awaited the one who would make it his acquisition.

Lucky was Ladon, who was also the leader of the dragons. He flew over a steep coastal area, bare of any vegetation. There was a small bay where a sea cave caught his attention. So he decided to visit it. Upon entering the cave, the sound of a heartbeat immediately caught his attention. Going a little deeper, he saw the crimson gem sitting at its base. When he got close enough, he noticed that the gem was inflating and deflating slightly, and to his surprise, he realized that the gem was breathing. And a question prevailed his mind.

Did he find the supreme good?

When the guardian of the gem appeared, Ladon was not frightened because he did not feel threatened. He remained in his place composed with his eyes glued to the guard and the dazzling white light that surrounded him.

The guardian stretched out his arms, bent his fingers, creating a ball. A white light came out of his fingers. Then he began to spread his arms, and at the same time, a canopy made of off-white light began to form and opened out until it covered Ladon and the guardian himself.

This dome's magical capability was to help the guard and Ladon speak the same language so that they could communicate.

  "Welcome, earth-creature," Ladon suddenly heard the guard tell him and was surprised to find that he could understand what the guard was saying to him.

He did not know what to say, so he chose to remain silent, waiting for the outcome.

"Today is the most important day of your existence but also your whole kind—the species of dragons.

"I do not understand," Ladon told the guardian, confused.

"I will explain everything to you, do not worry. You managed to find a unique gem. There is no one like it anywhere else on the Earth. From now on, it belongs to you and only to you— to the Dragons. And once you have found it, you have the right to fulfill four wishes. As many as the elements of nature. Water, Air, Fire, and Earth. Think carefully before you decide, because you will not have a second chance. Keep in mind that the wishes you have chosen will be fulfilled for you and all the dragons. The next generations of dragons will be born with that abilities too."

Ladon was silent for a moment. He was thinking about everything the guard had told him and what wishes he had to fulfill. He could understand that the opportunity given to him was unique. He had to think very carefully before making his final decision.

When he thought about it and measured everything, he decided the wishes that he would fulfill for himself and the dragons everywhere.

"I decided," he announced to the guard a bit later.

"Good. So, I hear you".

"For the element of water, I want the ability to be able to breathe under it for as long as we want. For the element of air, I desire the ability to speak as humans do. I crave the ability to take out of the mouth fire for the fire element without burning ourselves. Finally, for the element of earth, I wish to have the ability to take human form any time we want and for as long as we want before we return to our dragon form. "

"Are these your final wishes?"

"Yes."

"You need to know that there will be no return. Whatever you chose, that it will be."

"I exactly understand  what do you want to tell me, but I insist that this is my final decision."

"Very well, now all you have to do is touch the gem so that it will be a union between you and the gem. It will transfer its power to you to get what you wished for. It is a union that will last forever. Please, approach and touch it. Time has come".

Ladon, still stunned by his triumph and unable to believe his good fortune, approached and touched the gem. Like lightning, the power of the gem penetrated him as it was transported to the Dragons. For a few moments, a dazzling red color filled the cave and then went out. A necklace with a small piece similar to the gem appeared on Ladon's neck, emitting a red light.

"A necklace like this, all the other dragons have acquired. All you have to do is explain to them what exactly happened. "

"Okay then, I'm going to inform them. The sooner, the better," Ladon said and made a move to leave.

"Wait!" The guard told him, and Ladon turned and looked at him again.

"Before you leave and we do not meet again, it is essential to know that the gem must not be moved from its place. Its sitting base is connected to the core of the Earth that charges it to produce its power. As well, its position is momentous for specific constellations that are created to the universe. If it leaves its place, you have to know that the wishes you have just fulfilled will cease to exist at the same time, and the necklace light will go out. I fulfilled my purpose, and now I will leave. By this instant, I am not any longer the keeper of the gem. From now on, you will have to decide how to keep it safe here, in the place it belongs. It is your responsibility now. "

"I understand. I will arrange it".

"Very well then. Goodbye and good luck ".

"Goodbye, and thank you for everything."

Ladon returned triumphantly. He announced to Dragons that he had found the supreme good and that they now possessed its magic. He proclaimed himself as King of Dragons and no dragon objected to this. Ladon had found it, and for that reason, the Dragons considered it right. And so Ladon was now king. He also gave the gem the name 'Heart of Magic' because of the gems' shape that looked like a heart.

Now they had what they needed to enslave people. They were treated to them ruthlessly. Using the breathing fire they had now acquired, they were able to subdue them. In front of the fiery flames of dragons, the weapons of humans were useless. Nothing was able to defend Dragons. The dragons burned human's houses, often whole families, and finally their crops and harvest.

Humans began to starve and accepted to be enslaved to dragons and treated as slaves. Dragons forced them to serve them. Also, the humans were obliged to hand them the largest share of their crops and harvest.

Until one day, the light from the dragons' necklaces went out. The gem was no longer in place. Someone had stolen it.

The dragons, furious with rage, declared war on the people, asking them to return the gem because they were sure that human hands had taken it. And they were right.

Countless lives were lost in the war, on both sides, on the dragons' side and the humans' side. Blood watered the ground and painted it red.

Without their powers, the dragons lost the war, and now the humans were free again.

Half a century has passed since then, and the gem is still vanished.

Since the gem is no longer in its place, the dragons lost the powers they acquired, and those dragons that had the form of a human were trapped in it because they could not return to their form as dragons.

Ladon never stopped looking for the gem, the unique 'Heart of Magic.'

He is convinced that a human king of a nearby kingdom knows where the gem is. For years now, he has been trying to learn but to no avail. The human king insists he has no idea.

But Ladon does not lose hope, he insists.