Over one-thousand years ago:

It has been three long years since I began this journey, and yet I feel no closer to being finished than the day Valn burned down my village. I gave a deep sigh as I pulled my green finger gloves off my hands. There was still a deep red cut across my palm from where a demon had cut it earlier today. Casting a small healing spell on it, I flinched as pain shot up my arm. When the ache of the wound died down, I leaned back off the log I was sitting on, pushed a tangle of my long silver hair away from my matching gray eyes, and blankly watched the moon while trying to forget the day's events.

It was finally done, I had managed to make a pact with every single elemental dragon. So then why am I so afraid? I guess I am fearful of Valn's dark power, I mean that's why I started this journey in the first place. Valn, or the Dark Lord, wishes to claim all of the world for himself. He is a power-hungry fiend who must be stopped, no matter what the cost.

"Do not be so fretful, Layna. It shall all soon pass." My head shot up as a familiar voice rang through my mind. The Light dragon gave a small growl of encouragement; her silver scales almost danced in the mix of fire and moonlight. Silently cursing myself for forgetting the dragons can hear my thoughts, I nodded while pulling my black cloak closer to my body.

The Receiver- that's what the seven dragons call me now. They gave me a little bit of their power so I can communicate with them, no matter what the distance. I can even use magic now- that's what amazes me.

I ran my wounded hand through my hair and watched as the dragons settled down under the dark trees in the circle of grass. Only the Holy dragon stayed with me. She looked me over with her dark blue eyes; she then poked my pale neck with her head.

"Why are you still so upset, Miss Layna? Tomorrow the land shall be saved. Is that not what you wish?" She settled down next to my log and didn't move her eyes off of me.

I shrugged my shoulders and began taking off my black boots before replying. "Of course, but I am scared... What if I die? What if any of you die? What if-"

The Holy dragon placed her tail over my mouth. She slowly shook her head, removed her tail, and used it to pull my sword from under a nearby tree to my side. "You are a wonderful swordswoman, Layna. Your name shall be remembered for many generations. Also, if it helps... My name is Miasaaka."

My gray eyes grew wide. A mystic creature such as a dragon can have their name used to control them. Having them say their name means a great deal of trust is between you and them. "Holy dra- I mean Miasaaka... I..."

She gave a small laugh and laid her head on her silver feet. "Go to sleep now, Layna."

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"It is time." I in took a sharp breath of the cool air as the Darkness dragon appeared beside me. Half of the new day had already passed, and I was standing in front of a large black tower. What seemed like over a thousand caverns surrounded the building on all sides.

"It will not be easy getting inside," the Fire dragon said. He stretched out his long front claws and scratched the ground in impatience. "Valn will have posted multiple guards."

"Then we shall take the easy way!" The Earth dragon leapt into the air, and she hurled a large boulder at the top of the tower. The building was thrown into mass chaos. "Someone take Layna to the top! The rest of us can battle down here!"

"I will do it!" The next thing I knew, Miasaaka had snatched me in her claws and began her flight to the top of the tower. The last thing I saw was the rest of the dragons fighting against an army of demons.

"Valn! Come out and fight, you coward!" When Miasaaka and I landed in the top of the tower, Valn was nowhere to be seen. Glass was scattered all across the gray floor. I howled my challenge into the air again; my regloved hand remained at the top of my sword.

"He is hiding. Waiting for a chance for an ambush, perhaps." Miasaaka nosed part of the rubble off the destroyed tower. She watched it as it fell, then turned in alarm. Before I knew what was happening, Miasaaka had pushed me to the side. "Miss Layna! Look out!"

"Miasaaka! Miasaaka..." I cried out in worry as blood seeped down the dragon’s side; I then glanced at the Dark Lord. Valn had his scythe at his side; the crimson red blood of the Holy dragon dripped off it. His hating gray eyes glared at me coldly. He then slid back, causing his long black hair to fly into his face.

"Valn," I hissed and drew my silver blade to my side; I glanced back at the silver dragon. There was a long slice down her side and Miasaaka repeatedly winced in pain. "Hold on... Please..."

Valn knelt down and charged for me. He was a streak of black as he ran. Surprise flew into me like a trapped bird when his scythe barely met my sword. The edge of his weapon scratched against my head and a small flow of blood stained my blue pants. Giving a small growl, I jumped back next to Miasaaka. I quickly used the sleeve of my blue tunic to wipe off the second blood flow, then my sword danced back against his scythe and the battle continued.

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I can't do it Miasaaka, I'm sorry. I failed.

Valn stood with boredom flared up in his cold gray eyes. In the timeless battle we have been fighting, my sword has almost never hit him. His scythe has managed to cut multiple scars into my body, however.

"The seal..." I glanced over to Miasaaka. Her blood has flooded the floor; I gave a small cry when I saw it.

"What?"

"Do you remember... the emerald stone your father gave you?" I fished around in my black jacket pocket and found a small green stone. It was the size of a rock, yet it reflected the sunlight like a mirror.

"This?"

Miasaaka gave off a small howl into the air, "Yes Layna, that... Duck, now!"

In one movement, I ducked and turned; I barely dodged a killing blow from the scythe above my head.

"Hurry Layna," Miasaaka continued as I fought. "You must gather all the dragons here before I die..."

"You cannot die!" Miasaaka's trust oath rang back in my mind. Why does she have a reason to trust me if I let her die like this?!

"I apologize... My time... has come... But you must... live on, Miss Layna. Hurry... call the others..."

I grunted in pain and a call for the other six dragons rang out in my head. As if they were one, the dragons landed on the roof in sync.

"Now what?"

"Do you see that black cave behind you? We must... focus our power on that cave to seal Valn!" Miasaaka snarled and stood up. "Use the emerald... the Stone of Judgment!"

Tears for the Holy dragon blurred my vision. A spiral of color temporarily blinded me, and all I could hear was a cry of defiance from Valn. Whispers spoke all around my head, and one shined out from the rest. It was Miasaaka.

"Thank you for protecting this world... Do not feel sad, Miss Layna. We all gave our lives to protect it. There is one more task for you to complete. To preserve Valn's seal in the Cavern of Darkness, you must take the power or all seven dragons into you. Your human body will not be able to hold it for very long, so you must pass off this power to seven different people. Tell these people that they are to be known as the Elemental Holders, and they are to pass of their power to someone else if they are dying. Hurry, Layna, or it will all be for naught..."

As Miasaaka's dying words left their mark in my mind, I blinked back the tears that flooded my gray eyes and turned to go home.

There was an oddly familiar man staring at me when I reached the edge of the roof. He looked exactly like Valn, except his eyes were green unlike Valn's gray ones.

"Brother... Valn! You imprisoned him!" He raised the knife that was at his side, but a wound from the Fire dragon's claws stopped him. "Grr... Just you wait, Layna..." He jumped into a nearby plane. "I'll get you eventually!"