Galen - The Untold Tales of Frelanna Forest

Chap 2: A dragon

“The prince is coming!”

The heavy doors of the throne hall opened, showed Galen the luxury place being covered by the light of countless sparkly chandeliers floating on the hall’s ceiling. He followed the red carpet, which was directed to the unique throne of his father at the highest stage of the stair-step – King Anderton.

With each of the footsteps, Galen could feel his heart beat faster and faster. He had no idea what to say to his father since he had already ashamed the family’s image in front of public at the royal arena.

He still remembered in the past, if he did any mistake, his father would kindheartedly forgive him. But in the recent year, his mentality had become worse and worse and he became extremely strict toward Galen. Galen still couldn’t forget this very first hellish moment ever. When he was 13 years old, King Anderton mercilessly threw his own unique son into the basement prison and urge him to live along with the criminals, just because he skipped a class.

Despite the punishment lasted only one night, but It was too long for him. He was unable to sleep in order to prevent other bully him because of his girly look.

Just thinking about it, Galen got goosebump. That moment obsessed him even until now so he would never like this idea to be prisoned there ever again. While walking, Galen thought of any way to say to ease his father’s anger.

Frank followed Galen and hide hid under his royal cape. Frank couldn’t do anything other than praying for Galen not to be thrown into the basement again but... this time is going to be hard to happen since Galen just made a really big crime…

Galen kneeled in front of his father, calmly spoke first.

“Father, for which business have you gathered me?”

“I think you have known why I called you here? This useless child…” King Anderton sighed “You are the prince of Tredia – The strongest kingdom of Tenica Continent, but even lost against a fighter in the contest. Now how can I show myself in front of public anymore?!”

Galen couldn’t say anything back and just stayed silent. This time he had been done for… He would greet again to the hellish moment and the cold feeling at the basement. Another night staying overslept would be awaited for him tonight from now on.

Galen had been scolded by the king. Suddenly, a woman came to the throne and intervened in the conversation. Among the royal members, she stood highlighted in the middle of them thanks to her weird fashion style: A royal costume being attached by the giant feathers and dragon scales, that were heard she bought from the professional hunters with the price of five families's income combined together. She had black long hair, covered her revealed shoulder skin and her ears. What Galen noticed the most from her was her mindless amethyst-colored eyes. They were beautiful indeed, but brought Galen an ominous feeling that urged him to be distant from that woman.

She was Eino – King Anderton’s consultant. Galen recalled that Eino just entered Tredia Palace a few years ago. She was not even from Tredia Kingdom, but just a noble coming from an unknown far country. However, her intelligence and wisdom had helped Tredia Kingdom growing up into one of the richest and strongest kingdoms in Tenica Continent. Thanks to her impressive contribution in recent years, that was how she was promoted to the king’s head consultant after one year of coming to Tredia. Although Galen admired her, he had never talked with her before, since she spent almost her time beside his father.

“Your Majesty, my deep apology for interrupting your family’s time. But I would like to report you a piece of good news, that may comfort you and reduce this tense atmosphere.”

“Stand up, Eino. If it wasn’t you, I would behead that person from the start for daring to interrupt my business.” King Anderton rose his hand, gave the sign for Eino to stand up “You have one minute to tell me your good news.”

“Long story short, my investigation troop had found the best strategy for our upcoming conquest. Everything has been well prepared perfectly, we can begin attacking Balony Kingdom at the Southern border of Tredian territory. All of my strategic details will be reported when you come back to the office room.”

Hearing that, King Anderton completely forgot his business with Galen and replied.

“Nice! Good job, Eino!! As expected from the head consultant of Tredia!!”

He then headed to Galen.

“Galen, I’ll give you this one last chance to fix your mistake. If you fail again, I won’t secure your head still on your neck.”

“I understand, father.”

This time, Galen was given one of the most important tasks for the kingdom: With the guidance of Eino, Galen would be the General to command Tredian army, conquer Balony Kingdom, which is weaker and smaller kingdom than Tredia.

***

In this timeline of darkness, the dragons had been chasing humans and destroyed the nature surrounding them. Without agriculture, the food supply had become rarer and rarer until most humans had to die under the hunt of dragons and starvation. In order to keep a kingdom or an empire to survive, they had to open the war to steal the living resource from each other. This position had been held since the latest twenty years and what decided a nation to keep standing steadily between the storms of this bloodshed era… was their power and conquering potential.

Through twenty years of wars, more than ten smaller kingdoms and civilizations had been wiped out. Their territory had been invaded and taken by the bigger kingdoms. They exploited all living resources of the lost side to feed their own civilians by the rise of the tax and unreasonable robbing. The farmer’s life was becoming worse and worse and they eventually died from hunger. Some people were ready to move on, changed to another place, and abandon their homeland. However, there was no place that would welcome them. Without the protection of the society, mostly they would be killed by dragons when living in nature.

The war and the hunt of dragons were already the combinations of the worst things to happen. Besides Tredia Kingdom, there was a rumor that some of the other kingdoms standing by their own feet by capturing Dark Faerin – the spirit of Frelanna Forest succumb into the darkness since their father Cirion went missing, and turn them into their army. Comparing with the army of humans, Dark Faerins were even scarier since they were heard to be able to absorb life force of every living being on their way…

In Tredia’s royal library building area, located at the top north-eastern of Tredia Palace…

“Galen, it’s already late. Are you still staying here to read book?”

“Yeah Frank. You can go to sleep first. I want to study more about the art of war. Lucky, Eino saved my life so I will never miss this such rare chance to impress my father again!”

No one in the library, the only light resource in this area came from the candle beside the passionate boy. Galen was taking many books about leading the army and tried to study how to command the war to victory. It would be his very first time to join the war in his life. Despite feeling nervous, but Galen was still very excited.

While studying, noting and memorizing, Galen could imagine how cool and honorable he would be when he came back to the capital with the victory flag. Everyone would applaud him, look at him with admiration and consider him to be their worthful king of Tredia Kingdom!

Thinking about it, Galen was more motivated to push himself to learn more and more! He may not good at combating and a weak warrior, but it hadn’t been over yet. Maybe he could show his father that he is a talented Commander as well!

“Alright alright haha. I’m glad you can get your mood again. I wish you to be successful in the upcoming war too.” Frank rolled himself like a sleeping kitten on Galen’s desk and yawned “Galen, I’ll sleep first, tell me when you are done.”

“Okay, Frank. Thank you for standing by me.”

The silence covered the library until…

Whoosh!!

Galen was startled by the sudden noise that just passed by in a split second. According to the sound, something very just fell from the sky and passed through the window?!

“Frank.. Frank!!” Galen patted to wake Frank up “Did you hear something??”

“Huh? What? What is happening?”

Frank rubbed his eyes by his adorable tiny front leg. He did not have the time to realize anything, Galen already grabbed him by his hand and rushed outside the library building…

***

Galen pushed the building door with all his force, he found out something was burning in the forest area at the north. Despite it was already nighttime, but Galen could recognize the burning smell from deep inside the forest.

“Galen, I’ll give you an advice.” Frank said “I think you should report to your father about this such urgent situation. Maybe it was the air attack from the enemy… Ahh!!”

Ignoring what Frank said, Galen dragged him and approached the forest already. For a reason, Galen didn’t understand why he could hear the voice of a girl echoing inside his head: “Help me!”. And it came from the origin of that air crash.

Galen kept going deeper into the forest area with the lamp in his hand. The more he climbed down from the hill to the darkness, the more nervous Frank was while holding Galen’s cape.

“Galen, I don’t think this is a good idea, walking in the forest at midnight is dangerous…”

“Shh! Frank.” Galen gave a sign to shut Frank up “I heard someone asking help from over there…”

“What do you mean? I didn’t hear anything… Wait, you are right!” Frank focused on his cat ears more attentively too. As Galen said, he could hear someone echoing in his head too “Someone is using aura to call us here. This voice… is a girl.”

“Exactly!” Galen said “So shut up and let me check out.”

Galen and Frank walked into the forest. The trees there were so thick that they completely covered the moonlight, so they just could see the things within two meters of diameter. Walking in this such infinity darkness, Galen was scared too, since he heard that wolves were also living here. But he could not leave that person alone and be eaten by them.

The smell of the smoke was heavier than before, Galen guessed he had been walking to the correct path. He eventually arrived to an empty place in the middle of the forest. At there, a giant creature looking like a lizard with beautiful scales as red as the everlasting flame.

It was lying in the middle of the burnt trees. Galen could notice its consistent and strong breaking pull as if it was suffering from something hurting it. There was it! That lizard creature was being injured at its side rib. Blood was leaking from there, formed a puddle on the ground.

“Ah…” Frank opened his eyes widely “It can’t be…”

“…a dragon? Is she calling us here?”