Revenant

The day the stars fell, everything came apart.

I don't remember much of that day; it all seems a blur now. Every day there was like an eternity, but in one moment, catastrophe struck, creating a nightmarish landmark in an otherwise unremarkable dream.

One moment all was well; the next, the sky set itself on fire, and my future shattered before my eyes. All I knew was a pain like I'd never felt before, an agony as the Temple of Stars crumbled over me. Streaks of light were all I could see- then, nothing.

They found me buried under several large sections of the ceiling. I had only a few injuries, none of them too severe to recover from- save for one: my wings were tattered, broken, useless remnants of what they had once been.

I cared nothing for the help that was offered to me- without my wings, what was I? I could never again reach the stars. My whole life, I'd prepared for the day when I could take over for my parents and become the lead caretaker of the stars... and now that day was taken from me, the position given to my brother.

Oh, how it tortured me to see him step in to take on that role! He'd never wanted it. That was the only reason we ever got along. While I longed to take my parent's place, he simply wanted to preserve the Temple of the Stars, without the added responsibilities of the rituals and ceremonies taking up his time.

Of course, none of this is his fault. I can't blame him for it. We're brothers, after all.

---

No matter how many times I say it, I can't stop holding the tiniest bit of resentment in me. Not resentment- that's not the word for it. Bitterness, perhaps? Yes, that's closer. Mixed with a bit of sadness, and maybe regret, though I know there's nothing I could've done differently.

I need a distraction of some kind. My wings hurt and I don't want to move. Staring at the stars doesn't seem to help, they only serve as a reminder.
It's strange to see the stars from earth- I'm so used to seeing them from the Temple. They're so distant. I haven't met another dragon here, but I haven't really been searching. Guess I'm hoping that if I wait long enough, my family will take me back.

If only there was a way I could regain my wings...

There's a little voice inside me, telling me that I have to get back somehow, that they need me up there. My brother seems to be doing well, and I keep trying to forget, because I can't go back. But there's still that nagging itch that tells me I have to find a way.

---

Is this from me or not? The little voice is now trying to convince me I can get my wings back, and it's saying I know how to... but I don't, and never have.

My brother came to see me today. He used a scrying spell to appear in a pool of water. I asked him how he was, he said good, how are you. I walked away then. Better than being sarcastic, or trying to push him away. It wasn't his fault.

... the voice says it is, that he's the only one who can help me, but he won't because he's too scared. And soon it will be too late.

Do I trust it? I don't want to.

But what if it's right?

---

I wasn't imagining things.

There is a voice here, and it's not just in my head. It speaks through this place I've come to.

I've never been anywhere like this before, and not just because it's on earth. While it feels familiar - there's nothing really strange - it also feels... darker. I can see remnants of monuments here, broken pillars of stone covered in vines. But unlike at the Temple, these pillars aren't made of marble, and the vines are covered in sharp spines. There's also a strange mist that hangs here, even in the middle of the day, making it seem like it's always close to night.

This voice is trying to convince me of something, trying to manipulate me in some way. I don't know what it wants from me though. I should just leave- I should've left a long time ago.

But if I leave... then what? What can I do? I've never known anything but the Temple of Stars. And so I stay, despite instinct and common sense telling me to leave.

---

That voice keeps telling me I can get my wings back. It changed its message a bit, though - it says it won't be as easy now. Now, I have to sacrifice something that means a lot to me. I don't know what that would be though. I've already lost everything...

My brother appeared again. He seems to pity me, says it should've been him that fell. I told him it was alright. He replied with "I'd do anything to see you back where you belong, where you always belonged." I had to leave then.

He doesn't even want to be there.

The voice tells me there can be an exchange. My broken wings for ones that are whole. I want to believe it so badly- while my wings are almost healed, it still hurts when they touch anything, and I know I'll never fly again.

Unless it's telling the truth.

But even if it is, no one would give up their wings for me.

Except... for one who doesn't want them.

---

He appeared again.

I asked him to come meet me here. Said I had some good news, I'd found a way to get back and needed his help. He immediately agreed to come.

I kept telling myself this was for the better, that I could accept this new life... but a part of me refused to give it up. If he never appeared again, I'd never have another chance.

And now...

Now there's nothing I can do to change this path.

---

The journal ends after a final line, written with a shaky hand on a page stained with drops of red.

It is done.

---

Reverent could tell the voice was happy now. He didn't quite feel the same way. In fact, he didn't quite feel anything. Not anger, not grief, not guilt. Just emptiness. And the twin lines of fire that ran along his back.

A silvery lump lay on one side of the clearing, near the pool. It was stained with red, as was the ground around it and the stone pillars that had no doubt witnessed similar scenes before, caused by the mysterious phantom that now flitted about, exultant in the demise it had caused.

For it had caused this.

It had given him the sword, told him exactly how the exchange would be made. And he'd trusted it, telling himself either that it was to late to turn back now, or that his brother would be fine, and after all, hadn't he said he'd do anything to help Reverent return?

"To make the exchange, the other dragon must be someone like you, someone who has died to their former life and now lives a new one. Your brother will be resurrected when the trade is complete, and you can do whatever you want from there, knowing both of you will be happy."

A complete lie. How had he ever trusted it? The phantom was no more than a liar, one that had forced him into this, that cared about nothing, aside from taking everything from everyone else. It kept this place here, a trap for the unwary to fall into. A place it could cause anyone to do anything.

And yet...

It was still his hand that wielded the sword, his thoughts and ambitions that pushed him to do whatever it took. This phantom did nothing more than amplify those thoughts until he'd followed them.

Now there really was no turning back.

But there was still moving on.

Reverent watched the phantom, keeping his eyes glazed over as though he were still in shock. When it came within reach, he swung the sword at it.

Of course, the phantom wasn't expecting this. Not a being made of flesh and blood gave it the benefit of not being affected by mortal weapons. However, it had forged this blade itself, when it had a mortal form, and the blade was still covered in the blood of its latest victim. The phantom gave a shriek of pain and rage, with just a hint of satisfaction that even its death would not bring healing here, and vanished.

Reverent carefully wiped the blade on the grass and sheathed the sword, then walked over to where his brother lay. He tore a strip of fabric from the ceremonial robes his brother had carried - a fresh wave of grief swept over him, his brother had been so thoughtful - and dipped it in the pool, then carefully washed the red stains from his brother's scales.

As he did so, he saw the mist begin to dissipate as the sun rose above the dark trees, illuminating the small clearing. Reverent stepped back, knowing what would happen now. Where the light touched his brother, he melted into it, until, finally, he was gone. Reverent hoped he would become a star. He deserves it more than anyone.

He began to rinse the red from his talons with the cloth, but it didn't seem to do anything. Eventually he gave up and wrapped it around his arms as a reminder. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the pool; his wings, instead of being the shimmering white both he and his brother had before, were the same shade of red that stained his talons. Reverent... that name doesn't fit me anymore, does it. He thought for a moment. What had the phantom said? "... like you, someone who has died to their former life and now lives a new one." Revenant. He let the word run through his mind a few times before allowing himself to say it. All I need now... is a new life.