Guinevere

Guinevere is aware that the Coatl that lives in a neighboring section of the clan’s territory is no ordinary dragon. She knows Levis glows like a nightlight, something at her core pulsating with burning purple light through her feathers.

Maybe it’s just her heart that glows like that.

They’ve never really talked. Guinevere admires Levis’ beauty from afar, but she’s curious. Guinevere always wants to know more.

It’s a clear night when she sneaks closer to Levis’ home. No stars shine above and the crystalline landscape is strange and alien, boding a rough journey for anybody without tough scales or wings.

Guinevere tiptoes around the crystal formations, not wanting to wake anybody with the beating of her gigantic wings. She knows there are some that are more active at night - she can see Moeras skulking around with his little nightlight - but the majority of the clan will be asleep.

Levis glows, even when she’s asleep. Her chest rises and falls with slow breathing, that light still visible through the thin robe draped over her body. As Guinevere approaches she can hear a faint pulsing hum. It almost sounds like electrical currents, but as she bends her head down towards the sleeping Coatl, it’s clear the sound is coming from Levis herself.

Guinevere’s head throbs. Clearly this little dragon is more mystical than she thought. The source of that light inside her body, Guinevere now realises, is not lightning or electricity. It’s almost certainly something less fathomable. Something arcane.

Guinevere’s compulsions get the better of her, and she reaches out a nervous claw. She’s aware that she dwarfs Levis, and moves extremely slowly to avoid waking her.

Levis’ eyelids flutter under Guinevere’s hot breath. Guinevere jumps, startled.

Her claw jabs forward as Levis wakes, wide-eyed and afraid.

Guinevere offers a startled apology, but Levis doesn’t seem to notice. She’s too busy staring down at her chest.

Guinevere feels the heat on her claws and pulls back from the white-hot sensation.

Levis screams, and Guinevere finally looks down to see a supernova expanding from her chest. Like a wave of unfathomable size the blast engulfs Guinevere, and she sees everything.

At first she doesn’t comprehend it all. It’s like she’s falling at the speed of light and at the same time infinitely slowly, through a black void. Then pinpoints of light appear, rushing past her, then turning into streaks, then filling her entire vision - then stopping.

She doesn’t hear her own roaring until she opens her eyes and realises her feet are on the ground. She looks down. Levis is prone, convulsing, vomiting deep purple goo.

“Levis? Levis?”

Levis looks up with a rattle in her breath and horror in her eyes. “Guinevere. What have you done?”

Guinevere feels like crying but she holds back her sobs. “I don’t know! I was just curious. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Levis pushes herself to her feet and shakes out her wings. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t know that could happen. But you shouldn’t have touched me.”

Guinevere lowers her head. “What are you?”

Levis sighs and curls her tongue. “I am… I was experimented on by Arcane dragons. They put a galaxy inside of me, and because I am a Lightning dragon, they were using it to power electricity. I was happy but… One day I blacked out and when I woke up, the Shade had taken residence in me, sapping my power and making me their home. Trovryss found me, and offered to rehabilitate me until we figured out how to rid me of the Shade. But…” Her nose quivers gently. “I think that isn’t… a problem anymore… for me.”

“What do you mean?”

Levis looks down. “I’m sorry.”

Guinevere blinks. When she opens her eyes they feel strange, and the world looks different. She doesn’t understand until she turns to look at her body.

There’s nebulous purple goo running from her feathers and from the cracks in her scales. It moves slowly, and Guinevere swears she can see stars and galaxies deep within it.

“Oh.” Her voice cracks.