((Just saying, I think it would be really rad if Dracora was carved out of hoodoo-like formations, like Bryce Canyon in Utah, but darker rock))


Valryssa Scarlet, Dragon
Fire Guild
Fire Guild Headquarters, Dracora, Raya
[Destination: Tyanis, Dyrin]


The waning light of the afternoon sun, descending behind the peaks of the Dragonrise Mountains, swept across Valryssa’s desk, warming her hands as she read the letter. A scowl formed itself deep in her porcelain-white face—not an uncommon sight, of course, but even those familiar with her attitude would’ve felt uncomfortable if they happened across her now. Fortunately, Valryssa’s housing was fairly secluded from the rest of the Guild. Carved into the side of a small peak (hoodoo, if you want to be specific), it gave her privacy and a view of her ancient homeland. And, for the rest of the Guild, some sanity.

Finishing the letter, Valryssa held it aloft and muttered a word. The parchment burst into flames, transforming it completely to ash within seconds. Valryssa swept the remains off her desk before throwing her glasses across the room. They probably broke, again, but the dragon-turned-human couldn’t bring herself to care much. She hated them anyway. Along with everything else she couldn’t perfect in her transformation, she apparently could not form her human eyes correctly, leaving her farsighted. Ridiculous—just like the letter she just read.

A knock came from the door. Valryssa’s eyes flashed up at the intrusion, and she snarled viciously, “Who dares disturb me during my study hours?”

If it was one of her apprentices, bothering her at this time of day, she swore she’d give them a lesson in hellfire.

Hardly dissuaded by her harsh challenge, the door creaked open and a familiar feathered face waltzed in. Ynaz, one of the Guild’s other instructors and technically Valryssa’s overseer. Valryssa was only slightly pacified.

Crossing her arms, she said, “What do you want, bird?”

The colorful Phenixu, used to the derogative (and Valryssa’s attitude in general), said, “I take it you’ve read the letter.”

Valryssa scowled, flicking a piece of ash she missed. “You knew of this?”

Ynaz made her way casually to an open stool, her long tail-feathers and robes dragging across the floor. As she settled down and brushed the ruffles out of her ornamental dress, she answered, “I was notified ahead of time, yes.”

The dragon huffed crossed her arms, a habit she had learned from the humans. “Of course you did. Why am I not surprised? What else are they keeping from me? And why didn’t they bother asking me in person?”

“They figured this way would be less… messy,” the Phenixu’s eyes glinted with amusement. She did not fear the dragon’s wrath in anyway; her race, being relatives of the phoenix, were naturally immune to fire. At worst, the most Valryssa could do was reach out and strangle her long skinny neck—which she felt tempted to do. Her rank and renown in the Guild prevented her from doing so. And, as much as she hated to admit it, she did have some respect for the bird.

“Also,” Ynaz lifted her beak, “this is not a request. It is an assignment.”

“A stupid one,” Valryssa countered back. “Why should the Fire Guild be concerned with Icehorn, of all places? Wouldn’t the ice mages in the Water Guild be better suited?”

Ynaz sobered. “Perhaps you are not aware, but the Platinum Throne is moving its eyes to Mavi. Their naval forces are bolstering for invasion, and the Water Guild have their wings full preparing to challenge them. The next best choice, naturally, for combating the frozen tundras of Icehorn is the Fire Guild.”

Valryssa snorted. “And out of the talent found in this Guild, they chose to send a dragon on a diplomacy mission?”

Ynaz leaned back, folding her arms into her sleeves. “You will not be alone on this mission. Others will accompany you. The Water Guild is sparing an ice mage or two to accompany you. Did you not read this in the letter?”

Admittedly, Valryssa might have burned the letter before she got to that part. But she said not a word of this, instead continuing to fix Ynaz with a sharp glare.

“I think you might find that you and the barbarians of the south share a like mind…” The Phenixu continued, nonchalant.

Valryssa snorted again, out of offense and sarcasm. “A like mind? With barbarians? How kind of you…”

Ynaz stood, her robes and feathers falling to the ground once more. “Your classes will be notified of your absence. I will see to their education while you are gone. Prepare yourself quickly—your comrades will be waiting for you near the Kindred Flames. You are to take the Flames to Skybound City, and then to a location near Tyanis. If you could set up a Flame there, that would be lovely as well.”

Her trademark scowl made a return. “Of course it would.”

The Phenixu bowed. “Safe journey, scarlet one.”

Valryssa rolled her eyes and waved.