The Red Fury
Mrs Bixi, a Pixiu, a winged lion-dragon hybrid and messenger from the Sparkling Heaven. Teacher and guardian of the gate. Lover in her fullness, resisting corruption and protecting children.
“Such is Love, the Mystic Flower of the Soul. This is the Center, the Self.”
C. G. Jung
Lerophaneth was at the gates, it had been a long while, they still had her daughter, she had sent the imps and Lilishmani away. Not a good look after what the demons had done to the, ha, to the now ex husband.
Still, she could do something useful. She had need of new allies and the fey, they were on the list, it was a long list. But, the fey would be easy, they were her mothers old henchmen and mercenaries. But after The Scouring, the decimation of their homeland, the LeyWild, the half plane that runs alongside this one, that was a blasted ruin now, the battleground of her mothers many wars, they needed a new homeland. The Deoraíocht, the exiled ones, they called them.
She would return them to The Shadow.
She approached a lone Kelpie, their local leader at the school at least, they stuck together in clans and kin did the fey.
“Aisling wasn’t it?”
“Aye. And what of it?”
“Your peoples were shattered and ruined after the last great dragon war, the fey realm purged and left a twisted ruin. In their efforts to defeat great Queens like my mother…”
“Aye the Queen bitch herself. Half my kin fell in her wars, absolute dosser, minus craic for that red cunt.”
“Quite. Dear Ma Maa was hopeless with her allies. Her daughter has not made the same mistakes. I look after mine. Times are changing. You are speaking to the richest and most powerful dragon in Arehctopia feyling. And I have a deal for you and your kin.”
Aisling adjusted the collar of her coat and shook her long everdamp raven hair, taking it in for a second, then smiled.
“Oh you got a story horse for me? Go on, what’s the craic?”
Mrs Bixi, the dragon-lion was at the gate leading the exit of the kids, making sure the little ones all got picked up safe. But, she could tolerate this no longer. Her ears were sharp, the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter did not get through her teenage years by missing important conversations.
She prowled up to the Lerophaneth, who went from big, to massive, to looming over her. She coughed once loudly.
“Ahem. Lerophaneth, I think it is about time you left this girl alone.”
Aisling leaned back, adjusted her silken blue coat, rolled her eyes and flipped off her teacher behind her back.
“I saw that Aisling! Talk to me…”
The red dragon leered at the tiny celestial teacher.
“Excuse me. What do you think you are doing? Half breed.”
“Eurr. I’m…”
“I wasn’t finished, little half-creature. You should know not to interrupt your betters. I am the lead funder of this school, head of the parents association, in my husband’s absence of course,” She grinned menacingly. “And the richest, most powerful being in this nation. I will speak to whom I wish. Mind your words Pixiu.”
“That is quite enough! I am…”
“HOW DARE YOU!” The red dragon roared. “Know your place! Who do you even think you are?!”
Mrs Bixi stood up straight and adjusted her glasses. Staring straight back at the massive raging form of Lerophaneth.
“I am a teacher. A guardian of young souls, protector of the gate, messenger from the sparkling heaven and chief safeguarding officer here at this school. And I am banning you from school pick ups. And, I might add, I am not afraid of you.”
The great crimson dragon, the “Red Fury”, ego swollen with pride, heart full of shadow was fed up with this pathetic new age and its rules. For the first time in a long time she fully gave in to her dragonrage, she let the mask drop and she roared.
“YOU SHOULD BE! BURN!”
And, with that Lerophanth let out a mighty gout of scarlet red flame.
Mrs Bixu was shocked but not unprepared.
The Celestial character for water 水 appeared above her head in glowing blue as she chanted in the language of the Radiant Heaven.
“The supreme good is like water.
In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
The supreme good is like water.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
The supreme good is like water.
Which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
The supreme good is like water.
Thus be like water my friend!”
A shield of radiant sparkling sweet water swirled around the Pixu as she glowed from within, the sparkling water of a clear lagoon, pure and heavenly, crisp, cool and bright.
But the force of the flames could not be undone. Lerophanth’s eyes opened wider, as did her mouth, more fire, layers of burning hateful flames, thicker, stronger and denser than before piled on and on. It was too much. Red dragonfire is more than just flame, it is the magic of rage and hate and fury, it is might incarnate.
The shield was gone, boiled away, and just in that very instant before the brave teacher was burnt to ash there was a single earsplitting cry from above.
“Get back you Dragon of the West,
Who lives in the charnel slopes!
Devastation of you is upon my wings,
For I have absorbed the power of 10,000 lives,
And I am Radiant!
I am a true servant of the Hidden Flame,
Wielder of Imperishable Truth of Chronais, the Illuminated Heaven,
Yield! Your dark flames will not aid you!
As all fires are but servants to the light.
Get back you Dragon of the West!
The ever burning radiance is still in my belly,
I have not yet given myself to death.
Your flame will not be on me,
Nor any these wise wings shelter.
Go! Get back you Dragon of the West!
Go back to The Shadow.”
As she called and descended, her celestial words soaring into the hearts and minds of all present, she twisted and wove her mighty wings, and with those powerful beats, the fire danced and was tamed.
Lady “Radiance” Eterna, Principle of Jungian High, sacred being divine of fire, watcher of the great wheel, Queen and Enchantress in her fullness had come.
She wove the dragonfire, hotter than any furnace, like threads at a loom, effortless, spiraling in a mandala of divine fire that surrounded and protected her. The raging burning heat diffused into the flames of radiant compassion.
Lerophaneth’s fire went out of her, then her voice, then her lungs, she gripped her throat and struggled to breathe, collapsing on one knee. She was like a child before a true being of fire.
“As my most trusted colleague said, Lerophaneth, “The Chaotic”,” The old bird turned and winked at the singed and startled but still very much alive Mrs Bixu, “You are banished from this gate, you are cast out! Lerophaneth “The Callous”, in my position and authority as principal you are removed as acting head of the parents association. Lerophaneth “The Cruel” your daughter is to be safeguarded with my team until the ongoing criminal investigation into the death of your husband is resolved. And, for attacking my staff you are no longer welcome at my school. Now, flee, crawl away. Begone! Back to your schemes and your madness and leave my institution and my children alone. BEGONE!”
Lerophaneth’s flames were banished, but her heart was now one with The Shadow, its power flowed through her, she had other strengths. Her eyes rippled with darkness for an instant and her lungs opened. She took a massive inhale and smiled, sword length fangs gleaming in the light.
She slowly and with great effort stood and spoke. One eyebrow was raised by Eterna in response, she had seen it, the soul of The Shadow, she had returned.
“I leave of my own will, old crow. And…” She coughed and spluttered, purple lines dancing across her flame red irises. “Your days grow thin. Your plumage, pale. Your powers, failing. We shall not wait long.”
And with great back breaking effort, with the strength and will of The Shadow, she spread her mighty wings and soared away, not crawled, but soared.
The phoenix let her spell and the fire spiral away safely and turned to her colleague and friend. She seemed to grow smaller, and if you were most keenly observant, a few more feathers had turned from red to white.
“Are you alright my dear?”
“Yes a little charred but I am well, by the Sweetwaters of the Varuna, I am sorry, I was not prepared, I never expected her to do that.”
“I fear she is no longer the mistress of her own dark heart. There is a spider crawling upon the earth, pulling her strings of shadow.”
“She has returned?”
“I fear it is so. Come, we have much to attend to, and I have little time.”
Aisling had slipped away the second it had all kicked off and had taken out a cigarette, terrible for a water feys health, sure, but cool as shit she thought. She took a drag and flipped open a small sending stone.
“I have a job for you, a chara! Aye, an chlann ar fad. Aye!”