The herald bells in the tallest towers over the verdant valley ridge ring a steady dirge.
Floating on a small raft in my oxbow river pool, I pause halfway through a sip of my tangy spiked orange juice and hope to the Goddess that those bells are not tolling for me. I'm not going to bother checking in at the cathedral like all us Fables are supposed to do. If it is my turn to save the fucking world again, I don't want to know, not until the moment I can no longer ignore those damnable tolls. Enjoying more of my drink, I kick back and relax on my raft with my legs and tail in the cool water, soaking up the bountiful rays of the Heavens' Solaris high up in that wondrous pale blue amidst the puffy white clouds.
"Ahhh… This is the life… I hope nothing changes…"
And then… everything changes.
"Crimson!" a woman sharply demands. Ah. Great. My ex-girlfriend, Hildegaard. "What are you doing? Get your lazy ass up and get dressed! Goddess, how many times do I have to tell you? It is–"
"Every Fable's duty to answer the call," I quote before she can say it, not budging in the slightest. "I know, I know. Listen, Hilz, I'm incredibly busy, as you can see. Far too bogged down by my current responsibilities to go picking up anything more. Why don't you attend on my behalf? Let me know if it's something interesting."
She crosses her arms, giving me that look of hers. Always dressed in flowing white fabrics and adorned with silver jewelry of all kinds, the cobalt blue scales on her arms, legs, wings, and thick tail practically shimmer in the sunlight off the water. There's a flower crown atop her head, white daisies to compliment the light blue of her long, long, long hair. How she doesn't trip over it is still a mystery to this day. Her backwards curving horns are perfectly polished and sharpened, dangling with more silver jewelry and charms and gemstones.
Locking eyes with her, I loudly slurp my juice.
She lifts a brow.
"Damn it. I'm bringing my drink."
"Wonderful."
Dragging myself out of the water, I flick my white tail in her face and grab my clothes out of the tree branches. White linens for me, accented with a few reds here and there. Simple, comfortable, but stylish. I don't bother with long skirted robes like Hilde. Again, I don't know how she doesn't trip over them. All of mine are at least above the knee. After tossing my head around like a dog to get the water out of my white hair, I straighten it up and untangle it from my horns–red as red can be, a little unkempt, and unadorned. I haven't gotten around to trimming them down so they're a touch long, arcing from my forehead to the Heavens like scimitar blades, and I can't stand the feeling of things dangling around and knocking against them.
Jewelry is a nuisance. I don't wear any.
Once dressed, I make sure to refill my cup before returning to Hilde. With a sigh, I meet her icy slitted eyes and begrudgingly nod.
Then I smirk. "Race you."
Pumping my white and red wings, I take off first. All I hear is a brief scoff from her and then I'm gone, soaring through the Heavens over my gorgeous marble castle on my gorgeous green skyland while making sure not to spill a drop. I enjoy a brief laugh to myself, which doesn't last. A massive blur of cobalt blue rushes past and her wings nearly beat me out of the damn sky. There she goes. Can't compete if she's using her full dragon form.
Otherwise I'd have to toss my drink. As if.
Though I challenged her, I take my sweet time. I figure the longer it takes to get there, the longer I can ignore the whole thing. I'm just on a nice float through the clouds, going nowhere in particular. But then Hilde swoops by and fucking grabs me in her talons.
It's all I can do to cover the rim of my cup and pray it doesn't spill.
She flies us both up to the highest Heavens closest to the Solaris and quite forcefully drops me off at the towering cathedral before circling around and joining me on foot. A head taller than me, Hilde gives me a smug look and gestures for me to go first, specifically so she can make sure I don't scamper off. I'm already here and I have half my drink left, so it's less of a hassle to just go and get it over with.
With another sigh, I stroll along the white marble walkway, looking up at the enormous and ornate cathedral in the clouds, which is rife with dragons of all kinds who are arriving just as late as we are. As I climb the steps into the grand hall, I take a moment to mentally prepare myself for what's to come.
"Listen, Hilde–"
"I know." She struts past with those long legs of hers. "Just stay behind me."
"Mhm." I grumble a low tone, gazing around at the congregation up ahead. "Aren't your Valorant Order colleagues going to judge you for arriving with your filthy rotblooded ex-girlfriend?"
"Don't call yourself that," she sighs with a sympathetic look. "That's my friend you're talking about. You're crossblooded. And there's nothing wrong with it."
"Tell your other friends that."
"I've tried. But, as for them…" Her tail curls. "They're beneath me, of course. I care not for the opinions of mere drakes."
"Right. Drakes. The most prestigious and acclaimed Fables of our time, likened to mindless crawling lizards. Is that verity or delusion, my darling Hilz?"
"It's a little of both," she winces over her shoulder, then begins the performance. "Raiden! Kayus! Lucien! How delightful to see you! The Goddess has certainly given us a lovely day! Are those new horn adornments I see?"
Even though I know she has some perfect plan for explaining away my very presence to her elite colleagues, I save us all the trouble and slip away the moment her back is turned. Even with the breakup, we're still friends, but I can't stand the snobbish people she associates with. It's just easier this way. I don't want her to feel obligated to defend me from them, and she chose them over me anyway, so this way it's like I'm setting her free from the burden.
Me.
My wings folded tight and my tail held low, I make my way through the crowd and find a spot by myself just under one of the incense burners to sip what's left of my sweet, citrus drink. I have plenty of people I could track down and associate with, but I don't even want to be here. This way, I can escape this place the instant I know it isn't me being summoned. No strings attached.
I actually was doing something important. One of my serpents in the oxbow pool, Slippy, always has difficulty shedding, but the hardened scales along the top of my tail are her favorite things to scratch against. Sharper than river rocks, that's for sure. The sooner I get back to finish helping her, the better.
Primarch Seraphim, one of the most highest of the Goddess's chosen inner circle and an albino quetzal with feathers that shimmer and shine in the decadent sunlight pouring through the giant stained glass behind him, raises his head at the front of the cathedral, beyond the altar and beneath the Solar Knells. He's ancient beyond belief, with heavy pale pink eyes and one thousand lanterns dangling from his horns, which shine like stars even in this daylight. Once upon a time he was a mighty warrior of the Goddess, with power so fierce that it rivaled even the Fallen Queen's, which he wielded in the Goddess's name through centuries of divine warfare against the Queen's malevolent forces. Most notably of all, he vanquished the Bastard Terrelyx, one of the Queen's most powerful Wretched Draconids whose skeleton now marks the burial site for every other Wretch we faithful have defeated since.
The Seraphim is a hero, through and through.
"A summons," he rumbles, voice low and soft, yet filling every corner of the cathedral. "For one…"
The crowd begins to chatter. Usually, a handful of us are summoned all at once, so single Fable summons are coveted dearly. Everyone wants their chance to have the glory all to themselves and impress the Legends and Primarchs, so they can join the ranks of the Goddess's higher echelons. I don't tend to give it much thought. Advancement through the ranks simply isn't in my interest.
I'm content with what I have. Is that so wrong of me?
The Seraphim moves his head so that all the lanterns start clanging against one another. As they do, the light they're emitting gradually grows brighter and brighter. This, one of the many means by which the Goddess communicates with us. One thousand flames for one thousand Fables. As they move, more and more of the lights blink out, extinguished.
Until only one remains.
"Crimson," the Seraphim announces.
"Shit," I hiss before killing my juice.
The crowd's chatter takes a more sour note, and slitted eyes start cutting my way from every direction as the others grumble amongst themselves. Most of them are simply disappointed it isn't them and have no issues with me personally, but I know a fair number who are likely furious. The Fables of the Valorant Order are most certainly malding. For all I know, Hilde might be upset too.
It's not like I asked for this. Quite the opposite. However, my lament ends here. I'd prefer to stay home but I've been chosen, and I will stay true to my duty as a harbinger of the Goddess's will. I'll have to ask someone to look after my pets and plants…
"To the world of Avi," the Seraphim elaborates as I pass through the glaring congregation on my way to the front. "The enemy… One to us all. Such is the abhorrent cruelty… of the Fallen Queen. The Wretched Overgrowth… threatens the balance once more. And must be… contained."
Kneeling at the altar, my head tilted far back to look up at him, I ask, "Why me, luminous one? Dozens of us have fought the Fell in the past, but I am not one of them. Why would the mortals of Avi summon me and not another?"
"It appears they believe… The might and swiftness of the Red Storm… is best suited. To the particular… parameters of the crisis." Coiling up and flaring his brilliant feathers, he lowers his head to draw closer to me. "Do you accept these summons?"
"I require one condition, Seraphim. The lifeblood of my home needs tending to while I'm away. My serpents, salamanders, snakes, and such. As well as the greenery…"
"It will be done."
"Thank you. In that case…" I set my empty cup on the altar and bow my red horns. "I accept the summons. The Goddess's will is mine to execute."
"Then go forth, Fable Crimson. The fate of Avi… is in your talons…"
A swirling iridescent portal opens between us.
I don't look back, passing through the Aether.
I'm sure this will be a quick and painless victory.