Dragon Aster Trilogy

7: SYLVAN TOWER



The masked ball that was held in the Sylvan Tower danced like a synchronized rainbow of color. Kas watched it for a while, then looked around to find himself oddly in a Vision of the past, when he was still Erebus.

He wore all black to further illustrate that he never approved of Solar’s extravagant parties. But it never stopped her from adding him to her rounds of false pleasantries.

“It’s a shame your sister is so consumed by her warfare, that she won’t so much as appear to sing for the Festival.” Solar touched her red curls to make sure they were still perfect, as she stopped on the step he sat on.

Erebus looked up at Solar for a moment, before looking back across the main hall.

“She dishonors us all by her endless warmongering. A simple hearing of her voice would remind her people that she fights for a peaceful future, and not more blood.”

“It is not your place to tell my sister what she should and should not do, and your attempts to do so do not sit well on my stomach.” Erebus got to his feet and straightened his military-cut uniform.

“Then make her at least call the Feharin Army back to our shores,” Solar pleaded and caught his arm. “There is nothing on the Torian Continent that we could need.” Solar’s green eyes flashed from the candlelit decorations as their flames could not hide her own selfishness.

“Asil is convinced that there is a dangerous evil emerging from there, and I will believe and follow her as should you. She is our Caelestis, and everything she has done has been for our own good. You should show some respect to those bleeding with her on the battlefield, while you curl your hair here.”

Solar slapped Erebus across the face with her fiery rage behind it. “That monster is the only reason your sister is still in that throne of power she corrupts.” She stormed upstairs at that, her long red waves swaying back and forth behind her.

Erebus touched his face for where it might have hurt, if her fire had ever been strong enough to burn him.

“Lord Erebus,” a servant said as he stopped and bowed before him. “Moon has returned.”

Which meant Asil was back, and Erebus could stop hiding in the shadows from all her not-so-loyal subjects.

As much as he would never turn against his own sister, Solar had a point. The Sylvan people were losing faith in her. The chimeras had lost. After their strike against Toria, the Last War would be over. There would be no more enemies to kill. Even if his sister felt she only existed for battle.

He headed for outside as the usual awe followed Moon’s arrival. Keeping track of Asil’s actions would have been easier if Erebus could get a grip on her oversized pet. Moon was a complex creature trapped in the simplicity of life. In death, nightmares had to be extinguished quickly before they could spread. The future was less significant than remembering all of the past. Souls had to be watched, followed and protected and it was easier when they were dead. In life, Moon still clung to the rules of the realm of death rather than those of life. The struggle to survive was pointless to him. He had no emotions to feel the worth of living.

Moon was taught most of what he knew by Asil herself. When he rose onto a battlefield, nothing remained behind. The black-furred serpent was a master of delivering death like he was once at preserving it, and would obey Asil to the last. Even if her own court was on the verge of voting her from the throne she never sat on.

When Erebus reached the courtyard, he saw Moon, but as he looked through the crowd he couldn’t sense his sister. “Moon, where is Asil?”

Moon opened his claws, as his long black fur moved to reveal her festra. Then he set it on the ground before Erebus. It was in that moment that Moon understood the full emotional pain of losing the life of someone he loved.

It was in that moment that Erebus would not live on without her.



Kas woke from the nightmare with a start when Urio came into his room. He had forgotten what sleep felt like, and the nightmares that haunted it.

“Master Kas?”

“Where am I?” He recovered from his sudden waking and sat up. His vision cleared to see that Hain had dragged him to Urio’s tavern during his time unconscious.

“Are you healing alright?” Urio asked, as the large phelan somnus came the rest of the way into the small room.

Kas looked himself over briefly, before looking to his Mei on his left arm. He could feel that Sybl was close. He got to his feet with the relief that she was still alive. When he looked out the window, he realized that she was also lost in the mob of the Festival attenders, and the Fall’s griffins were everywhere. “Can I borrow some of your Pack?”

“Yea, yea, of course,” Urio replied, then closed his eyes to reach by psi the few who worked for him.

Kas picked up his cloak from the chair next to the bed, and draped it around him before heading downstairs. He pulled his hood over his head as he left the tavern, and turned in the street for where he sensed his soultwin.