Dragon Aster Trilogy

18: TORIA



This was not how she wanted to see Toria for the first time. Sybl looked up to the light of the Ain Soph Aur from the outstretched gate of the white castle that she stood on. But its light only gave sight to death, as several bodies of griffin somnus lay around the gate that was stained with blood. The bodies of the dragoons had already been removed.

“The Falls attacked Toria while the High Guard were away. Seems whatever alliance Yri made with the griffins has dissolved at their best opportunity to attack us,” Loki said.

“Is everyone alright?”

“We lost a few, but it seems like a small sacrifice on having come so close to losing our home entirely.”

She looked back to take in the view of the Sylvan Woods. It was no longer a warm and green forest that she remembered, but one frozen in snow and ice. “It has spread this far…?”

“It would look that way. Fortunately I got here in time to help. The griffins didn’t come prepared to deal with an Awl,” Loki explained. “One can almost think that we can be left in peace now. If it wasn’t for the snowy view.”

“It is rather depressing,” Sybl said, looking to the Lunar Waters in the distance. It was now an ice rink that circled around Toria just outside the reach of the Sylvan Woods. It was hard to single out anything with everything blanketed in the same coating of white snow.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Loki said with a softer voice.

“Loki, stop it. I already told you—”

“I know. I just want you to know that I’m here for you, and I always will be. Everything just feels such a sickening kind of wrong when you’re not around.”

She smiled and shook her head. “Get out of my head before you find trouble.”

“I’m just looking,” Loki replied innocently. “Testing out the extent of my powers on the Caelestis herself.”

“Uh huh.” Sybl’s sights then fell on what looked like a brown feather. Pluma? Here?

“Princess,” Loki said, calling her attention back to him.

She turned around as the memory of the feather was lost to her.

“Welcome to the real Toria.”

“I don’t know… I think I still like your castle more,” she replied, picking up a panel that a fallen griffin soldier had dropped on the gate. She guessed that Gwa might be interested in it when she returned to the Suzerain Continent. But as she looked up at the Sylvan Aur, as dim as it glowed now, she wondered if there would be anything left by the time she got back to them.