Aurora stood agitated before the dragon statues. One was a majestic dragon with long, outstretched wings, flames eternally emanating from the stone. The other depicted a serpent-like dragon, its long body coiling gracefully through the air, devoid of wings yet floating effortlessly, electricity crackling along its scales.
Pacing back and forth, Aurora's mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. 'The castle is surrounded,' she thought, a chill running through her veins. 'Feral beasts in the sky and enemy armies on the ground.' The distant sounds of battle were a haunting backdrop, a constant reminder of the imminent danger.
Suddenly, a man appeared. He was tall and muscular, exuding an aura of command. Clad in red and gold robes, his eyes—bright red like Aurora's—held a fierce intensity. His white hair and neatly trimmed beard gave him a regal air, and a long red cape with golden embroidery trailed behind him. On his head rested a tall, luxurious crown.
Aurora's breath caught in her throat. She ran towards him, her voice breaking with desperation, "Father, Father!" She stopped before him, her heart pounding. "What should we do to escape this situation?"
The man looked at her with deep sorrow, as if he bore the weight of terrible news. He turned away, his shoulders heavy with burden. "I'm going to help on the front lines," he said, his voice steady but grim. "There are traitors in the palace, Aurora. You must stay near the statues."
Her eyes widened in fear. "But Father, what if they capture me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
He paused, his expression one of pained resolve. "You must not be captured alive," he said finally. "Your fate would be worse than death." With a final, sorrowful look, lightning crackled around his form. In a flash of light, he disappeared, leaving only his cape fluttering to the ground.
Aurora stared at the empty space where her father had stood. Despair threatened to overwhelm her, but she swallowed her fear and sat beside the statues, the weight of her destiny pressing heavily upon her. Hours passed, the sounds of battle outside gradually diminishing.
Minutes later, a loud crash came from behind the wall, shattering it into fine dust. Through the breach stepped a woman clad in full armor on her torso and legs, her arms bare for agility. She had dove-like wings and razor-sharp claws extending from her fingers. Behind her stood two men, similar in appearance but more muscular and covered in fur. One of them held the severed head of the man Aurora had called father.
Aurora's heart clenched at the sight of her father's head, but instead of fear, a deep, consuming rage took hold. 'How dare they,' she thought, the fury nearly blinding her. She screamed, a sound filled with all her pain and anger. The flames from the winged dragon statue and the electricity from the floating dragon statue began to be absorbed into her body.
The invaders hesitated, sensing the surge of power emanating from her. The woman with wings glanced back, urging her companions, "Whatever happens, we cannot let her unleash this power!"
Eight beasts gathered around Aurora, preparing to attack. But as they lunged, a brilliant light exploded from her, vaporizing the eight creatures instantly.
Aurora rose, now enveloped in an aura of fiery and electric energy. She stepped forward, power radiating from every pore. The woman and her companions recoiled, fear flickering in their eyes.
"You have no idea who you are dealing with," Aurora declared, her voice resonating with a supernatural echo. Flames and sparks danced around her, the air heavy with magic. The woman with wings tried to advance, but a wave of energy from Aurora sent her sprawling back.
"Your reign of terror ends here," Aurora said, her eyes glowing with an intensity that pierced through the souls of her enemies. She extended her hand, and blue flames mixed with electricity circled her.
Aurora gasped as she was jolted out of her memory. She struggled to hold on, desperate to see what happened next, but the vision faded into the recesses of her mind. She looked again at the statues, recalling the overwhelming sense of power she had felt, a power granted by these very effigies.
Tentatively, she stepped forward, her hand reaching out to touch the statues. Just as her fingertips were about to graze the stone, she saw the necromancer watching her intently, curiosity etched across his face. She froze, her breath catching in her throat, and remained motionless.
"What did you remember?" the necromancer asked, his voice calm but probing.
Aurora hesitated, gathering her thoughts before she spoke. "I had a memory," she began, her voice quiet. "I saw a battle, and my father...he told me there were traitors in the palace. I watched him disappear, then saw his severed head." She paused, struggling to articulate the surreal experience. "I felt this immense rage and...I somehow absorbed the energy from these statues. I don't know how I controlled it, but I remember the feeling."
The necromancer nodded thoughtfully. He stepped aside and gestured towards the statues. "Then try touching them as you wanted to," he said, his tone encouraging yet enigmatic.
Aurora took a deep breath, nodding in response. She swallowed hard, her throat dry with anticipation, and took two more steps forward until she was positioned directly in front of the statues. With one hand, she gently touched the winged dragon, feeling the cool, rough texture of the stone. With the other hand, she reached out to the long-bodied dragon, now no longer floating as in her memory.
Nothing happened.
Aurora's heart sank as she stood there, her hands resting on the statues. The necromancer watched her with a slight frown, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, but it was clear he hadn't expected much to begin with. On the other hand, Aurora was bewildered. She pulled her hands back, then touched the statues again, over and over, trying to evoke some reaction, but there was nothing.
Her mind raced. 'Why isn't it working? What did I do wrong?'
Just as she was about to try once more, a loud, echoing creak filled the hall. The sound of the castle's main doors opening interrupted their thoughts, resonating through the vast, empty space. Aurora and the necromancer turned simultaneously, their eyes fixing on the entrance.
"It seems that our guest arrived." the necromancer muttered under his breath, his curiosity quickly replaced by caution.