The sun slowly hid itself behind the mountain range far west. The wind grew a little stronger, making the leaves of the trees, the grass and the flowers dance.
Irene closed the book and let her hands rest on it as she left it on her thighs. She let out a gentle sigh as her dark brown eyes stared off to the sunset. No matter how much she saw it, it never did really cease to amaze her. Her hair had been rollled up into a neat bun and secured by a white hairpin which according to her brought out the beauty of her silvery-grey hair. And she was right.
Her face was slightly wrinkled, making her look as one whose beauty was constantly resisting the effects of old age. She wore a long white silk dress and placed a brown cloth on her back that enveloped her chest. Her seat was a brown wooden rocking chair that moved back and forth at the slightest of movementand was on a grass field that was infront of her wooden bungalow. She slowly moved her frail hand to her face revealing her radiant skin which soaked up some of the sun's rays giving it a more brown-orange appearance. And just like her face, it was constantly resisting the effects of old age.
Her right hand touched the right side of her cheek where a scar that ran to the back of her ear ran. On closer inspection one could see that her hands also had scars though they were hidden by the cloth. Her palms were rough and had a few bruises that had healed over time. With her right hand still on her cheek, she closed her eyes and her memories began coming back to her.
Irene Rose was a product of a beauty who had seen and experienced the horrors of war and had lived on to tell tales about it. Having served 7 years in the army, she had taken a fair share of wins and losses. She did not hate it, as that was what defined her. But now that it was all over, she seemed to have lost her purpose in life. She imagined the battleground back in Crotia. Filled with corpses of allies and enemies alike, all one could do was just to push on. She could smell the gunpowder, hear the gunshots as well as see bombs explode from everywhere. She missed all of that.
" Gooooooood evening ma lady." An enthusiastic voice suddenly interrupted her moment.
She slowly opened her eyes and was at shock to see a seven metre white Eastern dragon infront of her, bowing. As earlier stated he was white for most part except for his cream like horns and silver under side. It had 4 legs or talons, again Idk, and his smile revealed sharp white teeth arraned in perfect order.
Most part of him was covered in scales except for his back that had a white long silky hair that was green at the ends and ran all the way to it's bushy tail. Her eyes locked onto the fiery emerald eyes of the beast, pulling her away from her senses. After 30 seconds, she let out a laugh.
" I don't see what's funny," Etherion said as she observed Rose take a good laugh out of him. He then began looking at himself before turning around." I knew I should have gone with 'How dost thou faireth my good lady?'. Boogle is such a letdown."
While still laughing, she looked at the dragon. " So," she began," At what point of my sunset watching routine did I die?"
Etherion who was busy filing a complaint against Boogle on his laptop despite the lack of Mifi during that era of time was visibly shocked by the question. He then looked at her realizing that she wasn't really making fun of how he introduced himself.
" What do you mean by that?"
Her laugh had now converted into a smile." Come on, you know what I mean. A person who's alive couldn't be able to see such a magnificent beast." Her smile broadened enabling Etherion to view her white teeth. Her cheeks had then proven their ability to form dimples.
" So tell me, how long have I been dead for? A few minutes, hours maybe? Or maybe years!"
" Woah, hold it right there madam. You aren't dead." He said
" Oh really. Then do you mind explaining why such a magnificent creature like you would visit me, if not to accompany me to the other side."
Etherion did not really know where to begin so he took sometime and thought how he should answer her. Meanwhile, Irene just watched as the beast walked back and forth, mumbling to himself.
" I'm here to offer you a chance."
" A chance to do what?" She asked, curious as to what the chance could be.
" A chance to experience your greatest desires and hopefully relieve you of all the pain and regret you feel. I've seen your past, that's why I'm offering you a chance to change things."
Irene held her chest and looked at the ground. " Experience my greatest desires, relieve my pain and regrets... a chance to change things," she mumbled to herself. Her heart turned heavy as she remembered the last time she ever saw her battalion alive. She had finally gotten a chance to do things differently, though she knew she was most probably not going to be sent back to the past.
Etherion sensing her grief stretched forth his claws, I'll stick with claws, as he got closer to her.
" Would you like to be reborn and experience your greatest desires?" He asked with a warm smile on his face.
" I don't see why not," she said as she held his hand, her eyes almost letting out a stream of tears.
" Good!" He exclaimed with excitement." But, there is a catch though."
Irene was stunned when he said that." What catch?" She asked. A hint of fear was in her voice.
" You see, I'm trying to become a star novelist but I lack inspiration."
" Let me guesse, you hope to write a novel based on my life after being reborn, right?" Irene asked.
" Exactly, though I also hope to write another one about your past. So, you ok with this?"
" I'm ok with anything whatsoever. So, why don't we get this whole being reborn thing started."
" Couldn't have said it better myself," Etherion said as he put his claws together to cast a spell.
" Oh and I forgot to introduce myself. Etherion Count Munich, at your service." He winked at her.
" Irene Rose, pleasure to meet you."