The Child and the Dragon

The fyros people have always been fascinated by the Great Dragon, a legendary creature of pure destruction. Those who know how to perceive its manifestations and fight them are exceptional beings. The story of one of them was told to me on my first journey to the Burning Desert. I had been kindly welcomed by a small tribe, and in the evening, around a fire, an old toothless Fyros began to tell a tale. We were brought small bits of meat that had most likely spent too much time under the desert sun; I did not dare touch them and to put a brave face on it, and I listened with all my attention while taking notes.

Lekos Daraan was only a child when he saw the Incendiary for the first time. A wave of drought had fallen on the Burning Desert. One day when his games had lured him out of his parents' surveillance, Lekos sensed the emanation of powerful energy around him. He was at that point east of the Flaming Forest, in a perimeter secured by his tribe. As he sought out what could provoke this sensation, the surrounding bothayas began to glow in a strange way, progressively releasing the Incendiary from its hindrance of bark.

Before the child had had time to understand the threat and take shelter, the first sparks emerged from a bothaya to pursue him. A threatening voracity seemed to animate the nascent brazier which soon grew in intensity while the acrid scent exuding from a fumarole elicited a coughing fit from the young fyros in full rout. In a breath, the Dragon exhaled a dark smoke that obscured the child's vision and finally disoriented him. Around him, the swift burning of the plants seemed to be driven by the will of the Dragon whose footsteps began to boom on the Bark in terrifying crunches. Lekos felt his heart sink when a zerx covered with burn marks knocked him down in its frantic flight. Failing to get up, the child took up a small branch he waved vainly towards the ground, bravely defying the Great Incendiary. The sweat and smoke that stung his eyes blinded him and he thought for a moment that the monster of the myth was there, facing him, preparing to devour him.

Shouts suddenly sounded around him. His tribe was fighting valiantly against the flames. A chain of homins had formed coming from a nearby tank. Buckets of water fell in rhythm all around the fire start, confining the threat in a circle of wet sawdust. Powerful hands seized Lekos and, with a sigh of relief, his father raised him to press him against him. Bringing his son back to their encampment, he then revealed to him: “What you have seen, you must never forget! Remember that your vigilance will always be your best weapon because never will its fire weaken. One day, in your turn, you will be in charge of watching over the sleep of the Dragon but today you have just learned what it is like to be a Watcher.”

Raising my eyes from my parchment, I crossed the mischievous glance of the old Fyros. I was going to question him when we were interrupted by two children who had been sitting ahead of me to enjoy the tale. The first shouted emphatically: “Rooaar! I am the Incendiary! I'll devour you!” provoking the hilarity of his young comrade who replied in the same tone: “Don't scare me! First, I have Watcher's powers!” The two children then simulated an epic combat, mimicking a joust with much detail, while chasing each other around the campfire. As you can imagine, one of them was soon burnt by a small branch that unfortunately jutted out of the hearth. I immediately took out of my bag a first aid kit in order to help him with a bandage. The boy offered me a sly smile while telling me in fyrk: “akep, atalmalos”*. Losing not his mocking air, my friend storyteller stood up taking care to stretch his joints before dispersing his young audience by shouting: "Go, out! Get back to your games now, but don't forget: one does not play with fire!"

Thanks, nunky

Portal of the Atys Chronicles • After 2525

The Chronicles of Atys
History • Chronicles Overview

Before the Great Swarming
Fire of Coriolis The Fever of Discovery • The Siege of Karavia • The Company of Loria • The Youth of Loria • The Assassination of Loria • The Liberation of the Trykers