Island of Aeaea

Brina smiled gracefully, pleased that Liam had shown interest in the quest. Her eyes brightened up with its glow, and she took two steps closer to Liam who stood still with his eyes staring at her.

“The Island of Aeaea is located at the end of the ancient forest, far beyond the cursed mountains where the trolls lived. Circe chooses to live alone with her maidens where no mortal dares to trespass on.”

“Oh. That sounds far. How do I get there? Do you have a car or maybe a horse?” Liam inquired anxiously, causing Brina to chuckle instantly.

“There are no cars here, Emrys. And the horses you speak of have all gone into hiding after the darkness that came upon the forest.”

“Oh,” Liam mumbled in a little disappointment, and then he sighed heavily.

“Worry not, Warlord. I know just the perfect means to get you there in no time.” Brina said, igniting the sparkle of hope that was almost lost.

“You might want to step back a bit.” She warned, but Liam stood still, his mind harboring thoughts of curiosity.

Brina lifted both hands with her smile intact, and with white sparks that appeared around her hands, she spoke inaudible words as though she was attempting a summon.

Instantly, the sound of heavy flapping wings was heard from a distance above, and a huge shadow covered the surface of the green land.

Liam looked up at once, and he could see a red dragon descending from the sky, making screeching sounds that roared throughout the forest.

Terrified by its magnitude and growl, some of the birds nestled in the oak trees fled for safety at once, abandoning their young ones and nests.

Liam was terrified as well, and he was forced to take several steps backward, landing on the green land with a heavy thud that sounded like an earthquake, rumbling the earth.

“Fear not, Emrys. Tiamat is not harmful, unless he needs to be.” Brina assured, but Liam seemed very much terrified.

“How can you say that? Can't you see those sharp claws?” Liam voiced out amidst the terror that he felt.

Brina ignored him and walked closer to the dragon which bowed as soon as it saw her, and she touched its head with a smile.

“Tiamat was the dragon of the Warlord, and now that he is no more, the bond has been severed,” Brina said calmly, turning to look at Liam who stood a distance away from them, unable to comprehend the sight before him.

The dragon took its eyes away from Brina and turned to look at Liam. A sudden flicker of familiarity flashed through its eyes as soon as it saw Liam, and it growled at once, causing Liam to take further steps backward.

“Why does it seem angry?”

“Tiamat recognizes its former Master, but it is still aware that he is no more since their bond has been broken. It feels upset that another has taken its Master’s place.” Brina explained and then she moved closer to the dragon and pacified it.

She rubbed its head for a while until it eventually remained calm and peaceful, looking at Liam with a smile on its face.

“It’s okay, Emrys. You can come over now.”

“Are you sure? That beast looks very scary.” Liam said, and the dragon growled at him.

“Can it hear me?”

“Tiamat understands all the languages of both spirits and mortals,” Brina confirmed, and Liam gasped.

“I am sorry, dragon. I didn’t mean to call you a beast.” Liam apologized at once, and the dragon remained calm after huffing at him with its fiery red eyes glowing fiercely.

“Is it safe to come now?” Liam asked, and Brina nodded in response with her hands on one of the enormous feet of the dragon.

Slowly, Liam walked toward the dragon, still uncertain of the entire situation.

“Go on, you can touch it,” Brina assured with a smile, and Liam slowly moved his hand toward the dragon which bowed its head toward him, and covered its eyes at once.

Liam gasped as his right hand felt the rocky body of the creature, with spikes all over it to its tail that had a sharp end.

“Tiamat will take you to the Island of Aeaea and bring you back. You must not forget everything I have told you. Circe can never be trusted, and you cannot eat whatever she offers you. Once you swallow it, you shall be entrapped with her till the end of time. You remain mortal until you fully have control of the Amulet, and her charms will be effective on you.”

Liam looked at Brina at once, expressing the jitters that lingered inside him.

“Do not worry, Emrys. You will be fine. Now, you must hurry so that you will be back before nightfall when the dark creatures will be lurking in the darkness. News about your rebirth has reached Darius, and he must be on the lookout for you.”

Brina turned to the dragon, and it bent down gradually until its belly touched the ground completely.

“You must go now, Emrys. I will be waiting for you here until you return.” Brina gestured to Liam who slowly climbed to the back of the dragon, and held onto its huge spikes firmly.

“You are more courageous than you think you are, Emrys, and I have no doubt that you will return safely with the pearl,” Brina said in confidence, and then she turned to look at Tiamat who stood up gradually.

“One last ride, Tiamat. Take care of him, and make sure you bring him back in one piece.” She concluded, and the dragon blinked before flapping its wings and ascending toward the sky.

The grasses beneath the dragon succumbed to the pressure from the wind from its wings, and even the leaves on some of the oak trees rustled instantly.

Brina stared at them for a few seconds before she nodded in satisfaction and vanished with the bright light that appeared afterward.

Liam watched as everything became smaller until some of them vanished as they ascended into the sky. He held onto the dragon firmly, as it fluttered through the forest, and over the mountains.

Mixed with the sensations of excitement and nervousness, Liam could only think about everything that had happened within a short while.

The dragon continued to fly until it eventually arrived at the Island, and landed a little distance away from the cave.

It bent its body gradually, until its belly touched the ground just like the previous time, and Liam climbed down, landing on the ground with his leather boots.

“Thank you, Tiamat,” Liam said with a smile, but the dragon gave him no response and flew away instantly.

“How am I supposed to go back?” Liam asked, looking at the creature until it was engulfed by the cloud.

Slowly, he turned around to face the cave, and he was amazed by how magnificent and huge it was. Some of the beautiful houses he had seen could not be compared to it.

Liam took in a deep breath which he let out slowly before sauntering his way through the clear path ahead of him.

With every step he took, he drew closer to the cave and could see the bronze statues of beautiful women lined up in front of it.

There was a bright green light coming from its huge entrance, and two maidens dressed in bright yellow apparel walked out of the cave with baskets in their hands.

They sighted Liam from afar, and they gasped in shock.

“Lord Phaunos?”