Page 5 of Crown of Flame

Eventually, I have created a primitive recreation of the structures around me, and I theorize about their purpose.

Perhaps some creature took joy in its creation?

But the creatures like me, the only beings I know to be capable of creation, would not waste time with such frivolities.

I hover through the hole in the structure and note that it reminds me of the burrows goblins create, where they take shelter and gather their food sources.

Then it dawns on me.

“Somebody built this to take shelter.”

But from what? This investigation only yields more questions. Not only have I still not identified the source of the iron smell, but I also have no idea who created these structures.

I resolve to follow the scent, understanding that I won’t find the answers to my questions here. One thing I can safely conclude is that something has intruded upon my domain. In my long existence, I’m certain I would have noticed these abnormalities before.

The scent leads me toward a cavern across a bridge. But before I can cross the bridge, I note the scent of ash growing closer, as though moving toward me.

I steady myself, preparing to fight.

A bright conflagration catches my eyes, almost blinding against the shadowed walls. It stretches out, dropping before me with a powerful quake, its serpentine form dwarfing my own.

“I have no issues with you,” I say to the creature, letting my words echo in its mind. “Please allow me passage.”

But something is twisting its senses, driving it to act savagely and without thought.

It drives its tail forward, swinging flames in my direction. Quickly, I dodge out of the way, not keen on letting it throw me into the pits below.

I’m sure I could survive the impact, but it would bring me farther away from my objective.

The serpent retrieves its tail, staring into me with its seven yellow amorphous eyes.

It flings itself at me again, but this time, I’m ready. As its tail flies in my direction, I grip it with my fiery arms.

The beast wails in confusion, the sheer volume of its cry sending parts of the nearby wall tumbling into the abyss.

“You could make a fine meal,” I admit.

I begin prying the tail loose from the serpent’s body, ripping the creature in half with my mind. The strain is admittedly more profound with such a sizable being. Eventually the fiery skin falls to the floor of the bridge, a bright, glowing orb revealing itself.

As I lift the orb with my mind, it echoes distress to me. There are lights surrounding the creature’s soul that aren’t its own, influences that tampered with its existence.

Something was controlling the serpent for its own means.

“Curiouser and curiouser,” I say aloud.

I breach the entrance of the cavern, detecting the iron scent all around me, filling the room. And I behold creatures, the likes of which I’ve never seen.

They are lifeless all around me, their white and pink flesh covered in materials I’m unfamiliar with. I touch one of the creatures, and the material burns easily. They leak a black, or perhaps red, fluid, which I now understand to be the source of the scent. I try bringing the fluid to my mouth, and it tastes foul and unpleasant.

“Still no answers.”

They are all gathered around the circular cave. In the cavern’s center is a bright glowing round light, which seems to be drawing power from their energy.

Moving forward to study it yields no discernible answers. I move my fiery arm through the light, and my arm disappears, before I pull it back through.

I have a strange sense of foreboding in this room.

Deciding that my questions will never be answered and that no creature can provide the closure I need, I settle on leaving the room.