Solus Stayanoga

As the buzzing of enchantment fills the room I am aware of the gears of time spinning to a stop. What would we look like to someone outside of time, observing us like figures on a postcard?

click

I am half crouched, rising to my feet with my gaze fixed on the scene in front of me. I can feel the weight of my beaded robes around me - I can remember every pattern. My garb is the last thing connecting me to where I grew up, aside from my golden, dragon-like eyes and dark skin. In my hand I am gripping my knife, also etched with strange designs and runes. These are less friendly than the ones on my robe. To my right Ash is leaping forwards, spear in hand. As a dragonborn, he is stupidly noticeable and his red scales are shimmering in the sunlight. He is leaping at by far the most noticeable thing in the room. The dragon. Ashardalon the red dragon, hundreds of years old, having fought his way back from death itself. Currently with wings outstretched, about to disappear. Which he can’t do - not after everything we sacrificed to find him.

Sixteen-year-old Rasa is staring at this scene with wide eyes, and I don’t know if she’s about to stab someone or stab herself. Farther back is Anastri, her hands raised and blue ice already forming in the air in front of her. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a braid and her pointy ears are visible. Warren, his obsidian skin making his red eye stand out, is staring in shock at the scene playing out before us. Mio is... slow on the uptake, as usual. He’s in the entrance of the room, staring with shock and - rage? - at the dragon. Now that’s strange. Mio is as familiar to rage as a bird is to tunnels. It doesn’t sit right with him, which is probably a good thing since his shining greatsword and armor barely give him pause.

At the point where the enchantment is occurring, two other people stand. Lycinth, a thin blond-haired man who I know all too well, is struggling to rise after his fight with the demon. I neutralized it, but we’ll see how long that lasts. Standing in front of him is von Course, holding his plain-looking ring. The ring is what is doing the enchantment, stopping time, and there is nothing I can do to prevent it. As the spell reaches a crescendo of white noise, I know there will be nothing more to think unti-

Time pops back in, with a few important changes. Lycinth is dead, holding the hilt of a sword buried deep in the dragon’s thigh. The dragon is dead too, in the process of crashing to the ground. Everyone is looking around with absolute horror - Except for Rasa, who is staring at me with a burning hatred. I smile. My job is done, and my mission complete. I don’t need these people anymore, and Rasa will be the first to die.

Some strange sensation makes me reach my hand up to my neck, and it comes back red with blood. My head is spinning and my vision is tunneling - but I see Rasa’s smirk as I collapse to the ground with blood pumping out of my throat.

*this is a repost of one section of a story already posted and since deleted titled Snapshot. I decided to repost it so that I could organize it more effectively into a book format. If you're interested in the story like it or comment and I'll tag you on future installments!