Week 7 Story: Possession of the Dragon's Eye

*This story is now a part of my Portfolio*

In faraway lands, there existed a legend of a jewel called the Dragon’s Eye. The jewel was said to have been created from the remains of the very first dragon to have existed. The dragon was called Xinrui, and the stories stated that she could wield all of the four elements – fire, water, air, and earth. While Xinrui was hailed as the most powerful and wise creature alive, the dragons that descended from her were said to have lost their touch with the original creator, which is why they gradually lost their ability to control all four elements. The existing dragons could now only control one single element.

It is in this world that dragons are revered and worshiped as the guardians, and it is in this world that a legend exists of the Dragon’s Eye that can grant its owner, not matter what species, the ability to wield any element of their choosing. While no one is quite sure of the jewel’s precise location, there is a general consensus that the jewel can be found at Xinrui’s final resting place deep in the heart of sacred dragon territory.

It is also in this world that a young woman finds herself seriously considering the possible existence of the Dragon’s Eye. Make no mistake, this lass was not enamored by the jewel’s power nor did she desire its power for her own personal gain. Her attention had been brought to the jewel by her childhood friend who had gotten the idea that with the use of his wits and her strength, they could surely retrieve the jewel and save their country from impending doom. His heart was set on the matter, and he knew that his friend’s heart was far too noble to not explore even the slightest chance of saving their beloved home.

With great enthusiasm on his part and great reluctance on hers, they both set off in the middle of the night so as to not arouse suspicion from their respective family members. After all, they were certain that any that heard of their endeavor would simply call them fools. But the pair knew that this was one of the last chances they had if they had any hope of saving what was theirs. The others in the country fervently prayed to the dragons for assistance and guidance even though the dragons had shown time and time again that they would not meddle in trivial human affairs. And so, it is with this knowledge in mind that our two young heroes depart from the safety of their homes and embark on a journey that is sure to be an incredible one.

Source: DeviantArt

Author's Note: In the original story, there is a fisher-maid that retrieves a special jewel that was thought to be lost in the sea for a man that she loves. As she grabs the jewel from the top of a coral pagoda, a sea dragon emerges from his lair, and it essentially calls all of the sea monsters to begin attacking her. The girl, knowing that the dragon will not touch a corpse, ultimately kills herself and inserts the jewel in her chest so that her loved one can still get the jewel once her body surfaces. I think that the basic premise for my story is the same in that there is a special jewel to be retrieved from the possession of a dragon (or dragons in my case). I decided to leave out the idea that a girl would give up her life for her loved one because I am not a big fan of romance in adventure stories, which is what I am kind of gunning for. Also, I thought a story of two friends embarking on a potentially home saving adventure would be more interesting for me to write.

Bibliography:  The original story can be found here. Story source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917).