Kaheru

Kaheru’s egg shell cracks in the middle of the night, while a sanguine moon stands high in the dark sky. His parents don’t give these circumstances much thought, but an elder in the lair by the name of Cero decides to keep an eye on the young hatchling.

However, the Cero’s cautiousness seems unfounded. Kaheru grows up together with the other hatchlings, playing hide-and-seek or catch between the lair’s caves. But as he grows older, he separates himself a bit more from the dragons of his age. He spends most of his time alone, lost in thoughts, staring off into the distance. He enjoys the calm and letting his thoughts wander.

One night, the sanguine moon rises once again. And suddenly, Kaheru hears them. Faint whispers like from far away, but still somewhat close. But weirdly enough, he doesn’t feel fear. Somehow, he knows that these whispers do not mean danger, but instead are reaching out to him for support and comfort. Without giving it another thought, Kaheru focuses his thoughts on the whispers, trying to make out the words with all his might.

Something around him changes. He feels the night more clearly. The scent of roses fills his nostrils and when he turns his head, he sees a few pale pink blossoms sitting on his night-sky colored scales. But he feels no confusion, no worry. Instead, he feels like everything makes sense, like he just discovered the last piece of a giant puzzle.

As Kaheru lifts his gaze, his eyes meet that of another dragon in front of him. Her scales are of a rosy color, blue swirls covering them. She seems so real, even though Kaheru can see the stars shining through her semi-translucent body. She closes her eyes, tilts her head to one side, and smiles. When she begins to speak, Kaheru hears her words just as clearly as that of any other dragon he ever talked to. Before he notices, they are deep in conversation. He learns she got sick and passed away, and now wanders the world to find her lover that she could never tell goodbye. And Kaheru makes a promise to her: He promises he’d find her beloved and carry her words to him. Again, she smiles, filled with joy and gratitude. But just as she continues talking, Kaheru suddenly feels weakness and fatigue taking over his body. He loses consciousness.

When he wakes up, the sun had already risen. There is no sign of the foreign dragon anymore. However, Kaheru can still see the roses blooming on his back. Insecure, he returns to his lair. The other dragons whisper upon seeing the flowers, none of them approaches Kaheru to ask where he had been. None, but Cero, who had kept watch over him since he was a hatchling. They distance themselves from the others and Kaheru tells the elder everything that happened during the night. Cero listens closely, and finally offers Kaheru to help him with exploring his powers and keeping his promise.

Together, they start their research. Cero acquires books from all over Sornieth, contacts old friends and acquaintances, establishes correspondence with scholars and magicians, and aids Kaheru whenever he needs help or support. Kaheru manages to get into touch with more spirits. He learns that his powers are strongest during a full moon and that each use will sprout a pale pink rose on his back. Their scent is in no comparison to their pale and fragile appearance, being full and sweet. But Kaheru also notices that carrying too many roses will leave him weary and exhausted. While he loves talking to and supporting the spirits he encounters, he also learns to be patient and wait for the roses to wilt. At first, Kaheru feels like letting the flowers wither will also mean letting the spirit down. Over time, however, he sees that spirits might stay or leave, independent of the flowers on his back. Still, he makes it his goal to fulfill the requests a spirit might have before their flower wilts away.

The roses of the female dragon Kaheru encountered during the sanguine moon stay longer than those of any other spirit he talks to. Every day, they remind Kaheru of the promise he made. Time passes, and he still doesn’t have any lead where to search for her beloved one. Fear clasps his heart, fear that he might not be able to keep his word.

Finally, however, Cero brings good news: He has found the clan the other dragon belonged to. Immediately, Kaheru knows he must leave his old lair and find the other clan to keep his promise. Cero joins him on the journey without hesitation. By themselves, they make their way through Sornieth, a difficult and dangerous journey.

Months after they left the lair, Kaheru has to bid farewell to his friend and mentor. Too old and exhausted, Cero decides to stay behind. Kaheru continues without him. It takes him a few more months before he finally finds the lair and even the dragon he was searching for. A heavy weight is lifted from his shoulders when he finally delivers the words of the female dragon, shortly before the last petal falls from the rose on his back.

Kaheru returns to where he left Cero, but he comes too late. He learns that his friend had passed away while he was gone. Sorrow fills his heart. He manages to speak to Cero one last time, thanking him for everything he has done. Their parting is not one of sadness, but one of gratitude and love. On his own, Kaheru continues his journey. He encounters all different kinds of people, living and dead alike, and lends them an ear and a helping hand.

Eventually, he meets a small clan in the Shifting Expanse. While he does not intend to stay, he enjoys their company and even makes some new friends. When he finally continues his path, he leaves some of his heavy luggage with the clan, knowing that after a long time, he finally has a place to return to.

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