The ability to defend one’s home is often defined by their ability to fight. Power is essential to defend those you love. Or so Himrol had thought. He’d dedicated his years to discovering the secrets of the universe, of Alteran, of himself. And in his 211 years of learning, he’d never found the solution. The power he sought was always just outside of his grasp, in some unreachable place. Some unattainable goal, ever far away, yet ever so close. And Himrol finally gave up. But it was then that disaster struck.

There came a knock on the door. Just two raps. Himrol’s thoughts snapped back to reality as he stood up and approached the door. Himrol opened the door to see a familiar face standing there.

“Ah! Percel, how lovely to see you!” The large figure grabbed Himrol in a tight hug and after a brief moment of quiet, they separated.

“Iss nice tah see ya, mastuh Himrol. Ah came to warn you, though. The foightin’s gotten closah. Miz Kari wanted me tah make shuh you wuh well protected. So, here I am!” He lifted his arms up to show his full wingspan proudly.

“Well, Percel. I’m glad you came all this way for me. I'm sure you know better than most that I’m capable of protecting myself. Say, I’ve been learning this new spell. Wanna help me test it?” The giant laughed a great, belly laugh and turned to Himrol, who just stared at Percel.

“Did I say something funny?” Percel just shook his head as he finished chuckling to himself.

“Well, come along then,” and Himrol walked back to his study where he had come from, with Percel right behind him. Walking into the small room, Himrol stopped at his book-cluttered desk.

“Sorry for the mess, Percel.” Percel transformed into a small figure with numerous limbs and began to put away the books with a speed Himrol had never seen this boy move, even in all his time training with Himrol.

“Iss no problem, Himrol. I gots it. You’re lucky I still remembuh wheyah all these books go, though.” Himrol reached forward and grabbed a book on the desk before Percel could snatch it up. After what felt like a few seconds, the room was tidy again.

“See? Theyah we go. All bettah.” 

“Thanks, Percel.”

“No problem, Mastuh.” Percel smiled one of his kind, big smiles, and Himrol felt himself getting nostalgic towards the son he’d lost. Snapping out of those thoughts before they consumed him again, Himrol instructed Perce to sit in the chair in front of the desk, and after a quick transformation, did so. Himrol sat down on his own chair and opened the book, turning the pages, scanning each one as he went. Eventually, he found what he was looking for.

“Ahh, there we go. Percel, do you mind closing your eyes? I’ve found it works much better that way.” Percel immediately shut his eyes in compliance. Himrol began to speak the words for the spell, and despite him keeping Percel in the dark, he knew it had to be done. Percel began to squirm in his seat, and even whimper. Himrol stood as he continued to recite the words. Percel shifted his weight from one side of the chair to the other, and underwent several transformations of very small creatures.

Himrol knew that the only way to defeat Haldore was through the transformation of these changelings that joined the service just a few years ago. Artuck had been most helpful, and Himrol saw in him the makings of one of the most brilliant strategists of all time, perhaps even a great leader. He saw Marl and Totto becoming the strongest warriors the world had ever seen, and Krim would be their voice of reason. In Percel, Himrol didn’t know what he saw. But he wanted to see something, so when they arrived, Himrol decided to train the boy in hopes that he could also become something great. Not many people are given the gifts these boys had, and he wanted to make sure Percel knew that. He wanted Percel to see that if he put his mind to it, he could become as strong as dragons themselves. But Percel’s fears were getting in his way, and Himrol knew he had to cleanse them in order for Percel to begin his dragon transformation. But he saw Percel charging towards his own death with some reckless abandon, and Himrol wanted the best thing to happen to Alteran to persevere.

Percel continued to squirm in his seat, now changing into odd creatures Himrol had never seen, though they were getting larger. He could tell Percel was still very afraid, but getting braver. But before long, Percel began to yell and scream in terror.

“Puhlease, Himrol, no mowuh. Puhlease!” Himrol sighed deeply before releasing the spell, releasing a small Percel to the ground below, panting, attempting to catch his breath.

“Why, suh? Why did you do that?”

“So that you may learn to overcome your fears before you face your greatest fear.” Percel continued to pant, as Himrol began to walk out of the room.

“If you cannot learn the strength and bravery like that of a dragon, then we have lost before we have even started.” Percel stood, still panting.

“I- I’ll show you… mastuh. J-Just you wait.”

Over the next few years, Himrol watched as the boys grew in power. He was positive that if Percel could master the dragon transformation, they had won. But every time, for the next four years, Percel would succumb to his fears and allow them to control him until he begged Himrol to stop. Artuck only grew smarter, and stronger. Himrol knew Artuck would soon master the dragon transformation, as would Totto and Marl. Krim was just small, so his transformation would be more wyvern than anything else. But still, Percel needed to master the transformation, overcome his fears, and yet, Percel could not.

When the day came for the invasion of Haldore’s Invincible Fortress, Himrol knew it was a lost cause. He stayed away for the duration of the fighting, applying aid to wounded soldiers, but even Himrol could not save them. He watched as their lives crumbled away in his hands, the same way he’d watched his wife and son as they died in his arms.

“ General Himrol, sir!” A small elvish boy stood in front of Himrol at attention, with a small salute.

“Well get on with it, messenger. Before you die out here.” The small boyish soldier nodded before opening his mouth to speak.

“At the edge of the forest sir, Haldore awaits. He’s finishing off the army as we speak, sir. The Changeling boys are there, sir. They-” An arrow struck the boy in the throat, and Himrol watched as the boy’s eyes filled with panic and terror, before those same eyes became glassy, and his body fall to the ground.

Himrol stood, looking around for the warrior who’d killed his messenger. Spotting the soldiers, Himrol conjured a few spells to enhance his powers, and flew towards them with incredible speed. The soldiers barely dodged his first attacks, but soon succumbed to the sheer power of Himrol’s magical ability. Red with anger, Himrol knew nothing of what was going on, but only saw hate in the form of his dead wife’s smile and his son’s laughter. Now weeping and angry, Himrol continued to kill the soldiers before he heard a voice boom from not too far from him. Haldore.

“What are you all doing? I gave you an assignment! I told you, insubordination will not be tolerated,” Himrol, now hearing the voice clearly, dashed towards the source of Haldore’s voice. Time to see if Percel learned. 

“Now stand down, or else face my wrath! Not just as your father, but as your enemy!” Himrol could hear the voice getting clearer. Then Himrol heard a smaller voice.

“Father! Father, please!” Himrol tried with all his might to go faster, to save the boys before it was too late. But deep down, Himrol already knew it was too late. Then a scream filled Himrol’s ears. A scream of sheer terror, of panic, of death. Then he heard Percel.

“YOU BAHSTUD!” No, Percel. He’ll kill you. He’s using your anger against you. Don’t succumb to your fears. You’re stronger than that. And Artuck, run. Take your brothers and run. Run as far away as you can, because this ends here. For all of us. Then Himrol saw in a flash out in the distance a body fly up in the air and an extremely fast being follow him up, and Himrol saw a blade come out of the body’s back, before the body writhed one last time, and he heard Haldore scream in pain. Then he watched as the body was launched into the air, and held there a moment, before the being sent a pillar of pure light at the body, and Himrol knew Percel was dead. It was too late. All Himrol could do now was to hope one of them would live. As Himrol approached the scene, he saw what had happened. Haldore had massacred the boys he had placed so much hope in. Killed them like his own family.

“Why, hello, Himrol. Care to join Percel, your wife, and your son in whatever comes next after life?” Himrol stopped just twenty paces from an intimidating Haldore, who had his back turned on Himrol. Himrol could feel the power-hungry tyrant’s confidence just dripping off of him. Haldore turned to face Himrol, and Himrol could swear he saw a tear run down Haldore’s cheek.

“A shame, truly. They could’ve been great, you know that? Of course you know that. They could’ve been all kinds of great. But you knew that already. That’s why you trained them. That’s why you fed them with lies of hope and freedom from their ‘tyrannical father.’ Am I right?” Himrol’s anger began to bubble up inside of him.

“Oh, I am so sorry about your wife and child. I had no idea they were yours,” Haldore said, sarcastically, and he began to chuckle to himself. Would you like me to chase down Artuck and kill him too? I can, you know. I will always be able to kill him. As I will always be able to kill you.” Himrol readied a spell.

"Trying your old tricks again, Himrol? How naive of you. How childish you have become. To fall prey to such ideals like reparation, freedom, or even release. You know what, Himrol? I'll spare you today. As I will my own child, who I know is going to Halden to hide. But we'll catch his brother. And I'll make sure you watch him die, too. Just like the others. But know if I see or find you again, and Artuck is with you, I will kill both of you. Myself. Well, off you go. Don't let me accidentally kill you on your way out," and with that Haldore chuckled to himself and flew away, leaving Himrol frozen to where he was standing. I couldn't move. Why? It was if I had been paralyzed in place. B-but why? Why would he spare me? After all the killing? It makes no sense. But I couldn't save them. No matter how close I was, it was never going to be enough. I could've done something. I-I could've saved them. The pain of it all. It hurts. I will avenge them. No. i won't be strong enough alone. I needed them. I need others. No. I need to go. i need to get far from here. I will go far from here, and hide in a place hardly anyone can reach, and I will make a new name for myself. I will wait. yes. Wait for the day Artuck finally defeats Haldore. The ultimate triumph of good over evil. And I hope to be there, lest I shall join my own kin. Yes! I shall be waiting, Artuck, for you.