The following is a short story in my high fantasy book Nightwalkers.
In a time before man and shivurna, an ancient time in which the land was free to sculpt and form to the liking of its inhabitants, creatures of a greater calling watched over the continent. ‘Twas the Age of Dragons, and many alike flourished since dawn’s first day.
Civilized in their simplicity, these bountiful creatures roamed Friedünn and lived in harmony with one another under the guidance of the original dragon, the first guardian of the heavens, Primus Caelum Custos. This behemoth, whose size eclipsed all but the highest and widest of peaks, was thought by many to have created all that lies before us. Others say he was but the first to reside here. Nonetheless, Primus ruled the skies for centuries as his abundant, yet smaller, brethren lived freely alongside him. This was how things were meant to be. ‘Twas a peace unlike any other, until Primus was challenged by a dragon sulking in the magmic depths below.
It was the second dragon, Avideus, waiting for the most opportune moment to reveal himself after years of self-exile. Knowing full well that he would not have been able to challenge Primus for supreme rule originally, Avideus had waited for Primus to grow complacent. Thousands of years had gone by, and many other creatures had begun to claim their spots amongst those already inhabiting the continent. This included small pockets of man and shivurna, among others, and they treated Primus as a god. It was soon after that Avideus rose from the desolate, fiery pit he called home, and changed the course of history.
One morning, as the sun rose over what are now the Eastern Mountains, so too did a torrent of fire from the large valley in the northernmost section of the range; the point at which the range’s peaks divert to the east and west. The violent eruption collapsed the surrounding land into a maze of canyons that now contains the infamous Lamia’s Gorge.
Emerging from the ensuing landslide was Avideus, black as ash, with an underbelly the color of magma. His size rivaled that of the mountains beside him, and the powerful flaps of his wings sent tornadoes ripping across the land. As he took to the sky, he called for his match with a primordial roar.
In the distance, near the middle of the range, a lone peak began to rumble. It was the arched back of the typically dormant Primus, now awakened. The white dragon bellowed deeply to shake the continent and warn all others of the battle that would soon ensue. He then slowly picked up his tremendous wings and split the earth as he flapped them down. He found his opponent coming in fast from high above, and dashed upward to meet him.
The speeds at which Primus and Avideus closed in on one another were astounding, as a day’s worth of travel for a man was covered in mere seconds. It was not long before the two collided in full force. The resulting shockwave was so immense that a small pass between the mountains was formed below, and the skies were cleared of any clouds for as far as the eye could see. The two untangled themselves, unfazed, and battled for many days and nights across all of Friedünn. A majority of the creatures populating the land were wiped clean from it due to the remarkable damage done by the original dragons on their minuscule battleground.
The details of the battle are a tale for the heavens, but, in the end, Primus reigned supreme. He banished Avideus back to the depths from whence he came. Primus’ fate remains unclear, however. Nearing what may have been his final hours, Primus lay motionless for what he likely presumed to be his dying moments. He burrowed his massive body into the ground so that the top of his back was level with the surrounding landscape, and his head could rest. Blood pooled around him, and his white scales stained red. It almost certainly would have been the end if not for a shivurna who appeared from the pass created by Primus’ and Avideus’ initial collision.
The shivurna confidently approached the beast’s massive head and asked whether there was anything he could do to help. He expressed how grateful he and his people, the surviving shivurna, were for Primus’ valiant victory. Primus moaned in pain, and a tremble could be felt throughout the land. He told the shivurna that his time was coming, as rivers of blood poured from the maroon lake around him and into the southern sea. He was conflicted, though, for he could not leave the continent to remain unguarded.
The shivurna reiterated that he would take any course he could to help. ‘Twas then that Primus opened his mouth wide, and a bright white light projected outward. It engulfed the shivurna and everything around him. The shivurna asked what was going on, but the light continued to grow brighter. It shined with more intensity than the sun above, and finally came to an end as Primus closed his colossal jaws.
Primus simply told the shivurna that he had given him the power to carry on his work. With that, the shivurna could only look on as Primus rose to his feet, flapped his powerful wings, and took off. Drowning the land in his blood from above, and leaving a lake of the same, Primus has never been seen since.
Primus may be guarding the continent to this day, but no one is sure. Some believe he died of battle wounds, while others believe of sorrow for the virtual extinction of his dragon brethren. I personally believe that so long as dragons inhabit this land, he remains, and not only in spirit.
The shivurna became the first sorcerer of Friedünn. His powers were great, and his mind sound. He was given the responsibility to bring Friedünn back from the brink of extinction, and protect all of her wonderful creatures, as it was once Primus’ duty. He lived for many years, and was pivotal to the cultural and economic advancements of his fellow shivurna. Upon his death, the chain of sorcerers began, and, with it, the passing on of Primus’ obligations to Friedünn.
As for Avideus, he would return to wreak havoc yet again. Revived by Caelus in the underworld, Avideus returned as an extension of his new master in the form of a phoenix raised from the ashes. Many assert Primus’ death due to his absence during Caelus’ rule, but I argue he knew Enghor was to rise and become Friedünn’s savior, for those so close to fate know of her twists. Only time will tell, and I feel that time is soon upon us.