Page 112 of Within the Veil

In that lies the danger of the Shadow Realm. So I have to wonder, just as I have for several weeks, what sort of being would be granted such power? Who or what would be entrusted to guard a plane, a realm, that not only has to ability to master the shadows, but to use weapons that could take the very soul from your body? I reflect on the many nights I have asked him, only to receive the same answer: "Where does anyone come from, Oberon? One day, you are not, and one day, you are. One day, I was, and here I am."

It's a confusing response. But no more confusing than I would expect from any Fae--an answer within an answer within a non-answer. So, naturally, when I could, I threw myself into research, pouring over the various books at my disposal. Even so, there were not even vague references to an entity that guards the Shadow Realm, such as Ruadhan. Because the only being other than a god, or even a demigod, that would be capable of protecting, guiding, and manipulating the energies within this realm would have to be pure indeed.

I divert my attention from the shadows within my palm and once again, as if a key opens a door within my mind, I realize his skin isn't shimmering as I once thought, no, it isreflectingthe light. The iridescent glow that shifts with the slightest movement emanating from Ruadhan's skin is reminiscent of the finest moonstone as if a thousand tiny diamonds have been embedded beneath his skin. Not skin, I correct myself, hisscales. Dragon.

My eyebrows shoot up of their own accord as I meet his gaze, a knowing smile, one that speaks of how much more he knows, one I've come to loathe since it is an expression I often have on my own face and I hate not having knowledge at my disposal. His smug expression indicates that he knows that, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Still, I understand why it is not knowledge that he would share easily.

Dragons were Gaia's first creation, and if the Fae were pure magic, then dragons were something beyond. Despite their power, at their creation, to maintain the balance that governs us all, they had no wings, no scales, and while they couldn't die, they could bleed. One drop of their blood would give one a power boost beyond their wildest imaginations. The Unseelie, who craved and coveted the true power that lies within the blood of a dragon, took advantage of their weakness. Once, they were cursed to live without wings.

That was one of Gaia's first mistakes, though it's rarely spoken of. She created a being that was as close to any God's, in terms of powers and abilities--one of the most potent of species--one that could foresee the future and control magic. Yet, in her attempt to create balance, they were physically weak. When she realized the severity of her error, she moved swiftly to rectify it. And by swiftly, I mean in the terms understood by gods, which means not swiftly at all.

Over the course of several centuries, she gave rise to one of the most powerful beings of all time; giving them impenetrable skin that destroyed all weapons, the power of flight, elongated claws, and teeth that were as formidable as the sharpest of blades and weaponized magical instruments. It is said that the length of time for their evolution, for lack of a better word, was to ensure a balance, to prove to the universe that their shift was necessary. In truth, it was because while the Unseelie were not inherently evil, the temptation of such power was, and still is, too much for a weak-minded individual to bear, Unseelie or not. Once fully changed, the dragons destroyed all the Unseelie, and the entirety of their bloodline, who had causedanydragon harm. Those Fae, soon discovered that they were unable to hide or plead ignorance because of another unique power that the dragons possess that the Fae do not;Drakkanima. It is a shared essence, power, and wisdom passed through all generations. In short, the soul of every dragon, along with those of departed spirits, retains the collective wisdom and might of all dragonkind throughout the ages.

That shared essence translated into shared power. As you can imagine, over time, this power has grown exponentially. Combine that with the purity of their spirit and Gaia's blessing--not only in their creation but also in rectifying their balance--and they are formidable. Often revered and worshipped within the various cultures of mortals, dragons were hailed as a source of true power and intelligence. How they came to be aware of their existence is the same way they mortals are aware of the Fae, chance and curiosity. Still, their worship is well-placed. Dragons not only embody the powerful energy that pulsates within the earth, since all dragon clans dwell directly upon the strongest of ley lines, they absorbed power like a freshly planted seed drinks water.

Despite their history, or rather, because of their history, the Seelie do not seek dragons, for their bitter history with the Unseelie has understandably tainted their perception of us as a people. They also do not dwell within the veil, instead, with Gaia's blessing, they are the force that lies just beyond the veil; ferociously guarding the ley lines between the mortal and Fae realms. In fact, their existence is often used, in hushed tones, of course, to keep the young fae from wandering too close to the veil and encountering mortals, but in truth, it is to make sure they weren't killed for crossing over an invisible treaty line.

Despite the Shadow Realm being in another plane of existence, it is technically stillwithin the veil.I felt the power of our veil as one would feel their own heartbeat. So, I have to question how and why any dragon would choose to live not only on the outskirts of his clan but also, uncharacteristically, within the veil they have long since rejected. I cannot begin to piece that together, considering that when it comes to both their laws and their hierarchies, to know was to either be a dragon or to lie within their realm...as a corpse. Even my whisperers, as highly trained in the art of espionage as they are, can gather only so much when I send them on their missions.

"Are you finished contemplatingmyown existence? I often find myself wondering if your mind is a realm onto its' own. Have you ever considered that perhaps you are actually a labyrinth in corporeal form?" His pensive tone is belied by the wide that splits his face, his sharp, gleaming teeth on full display as he shakes his head in amusement.

"I am no more a labyrinth than you are a fish with large wings and sharp teeth," I reply in a bored tone.

He pauses briefly before he throws his head back with a great roar of laughter, the leaves on the nearby tree falling to the ground as if startled by the sound.

With a shake of his head, he stretches, reaching up into the air, making himself appear even larger. "To answer your question--" he begins.

But I stop him, already knowing what's coming. "I just have to wonder. While I understand why you didn't tell me you're a dragon, it's curious that you spend so much time outside of your clan," I say pensively, watching his face for any sort of reaction. But, like me, he rarely shows any. He looks at me, his eyes gone dark. There's a slight vibration of anger in his voice. "I don't wish to live my life under the rules, laws, and obligations of others."

I don't bother asking him what he means. His tone makes his meaning clear, as does the power radiating from him. While I've never met a dragon in person, I can only imagine that the power they emit is nowhere near as potent as what Luduan gives off--especially now that his true form, his shifted form, is revealed. This brings me to another question, but first, I sit down on the floor and ground myself. I breathe, attempting to channel as much positive energy as I possibly can--especially in a realm so rife with darkness.

We practice this grounding not only to train within this realm but also to ensure our spirits remain as clear as possible, aware that we're surrounded by the unique power born of pure evil. Make no mistake--that's what the Shadow Realm truly is. That's what Luduan protects, what he wields as a weapon when necessary. The shadows that emanate from here are the shadows that lurk within one's spirit.

So before we train, we center ourselves. We ground ourselves to the earth, pulling on the natural power that all Fae can tap into--that of Gaia herself. We draw from the ley lines, from the earth beneath us, filling our bodies with power.

Pure power. Grounding is something you learn as a young child, but it's typically used to connect yourself to the land around you--to become familiar with the animals, the trees, the spirits of the leaves. For us Fae, we thrive on this connection, for it is a direct link to Gaia herself. But being so close to a ley line, or rather, being within a ley line--experiencing unadulterated power--the unfiltered power that comes from channeling and grounding yourself here is incredible.

We do this because, while we train, we must purify ourselves before wielding the shadows. One cannot command the shadows with a pure soul. We use that grounding technique to cleanse ourselves and fill us with power before we absorb all of the evil before we can brandish the shadows as a weapon.

So, I sit. I pull energy in. I cleanse my soul, my body, my spirit, and I let the pure power of the ley lines fill me. With my eyes closed, I can feel his eyes on me, observing me keenly. He chuckles--the sound is one that I've grown familiar with. As powerful as he is, as much as he dwells within this realm, as lethal as Luduan is, he's quite lighthearted. It's impressive to dwell so long within the deepest, darkest evil and still retain any sense of happiness.

Now, I wonder if it's attributed to the fact that he's a dragon versus who he truly is, or if it's a forced kind of joy--one that, if he exudes enough, he would be able to be truly happy. It's hard to say.

"You are a curious one, Oberon," he says.

I ignore him, focusing on channeling my energy. I know that eventually, the talks will stop, and he will push me to the point of exhaustion, testing me over and over again until he feels I've done enough for the day. But I never feel as if I've done enough for the day.

So, I keep going. "If you can't fight through your weariness, then you can't fight at all," I say to myself. Regardless, I sit. I focus. I listen.

With a weary sigh, he sits next to me and leans back on his elbows, staring at the crystal lake before us. His voice is soft, steady, and focused, devoid of distractions or wavering. An intense concentration is laced with sadness. I open one eye to look at him, and I see his face etched with deep lines, his lips downturned into a frown. Even his skin, which reflected light just moments ago, seems muted somehow--as if his emotions are somehow linked to just how much light he can absorb.

"I come from an old family," he begins. "And with an old family comes grand responsibilities. I know you may not know much about dragons--we are secretive. However, there is one thing that transcends all species, and that is, with great power comes a fuck-ton of responsibilities. Responsibilities that, while I understood them, I didn't want. There are some things in life that should be left up to choice--love is one of those things."

"My clan is one of the royal clans," he says, confirming my suspicions that the power coming from him is not typical at all. He is royalty.

"We have a duty within our clans," he continues. "One that I accepted for a long time. I was to be married to a princess of another clan. And while she was pleasant enough, and we got on well, it was simply not something I wanted. However, fortunately enough for me, she actually ended up being the fated mate of my younger brother--'younger' only by ten seconds." He gives a mirthless chuckle. "Crazy what ten seconds can do to a life full of responsibilities," he says plainly.

"Still, we train the same," he continues. "We learn the same because, as dragons, we knew we had a responsibility greater than ourselves. Maybe it was Gaia hearing my tears as a young boy wanting to forge his own path, or maybe she felt sorry for me. But the fates granted my brother the power that he needed--and that I sorely needed not to have. Regardless, at that point, I stepped aside. My parents saw the merit in my choice. He was just as able as I was, just as strong--ten seconds was the only difference between us."

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