Elder Glowbright's Arc

Chapter 1 of 7

Elder Glowbright crushed dried moonpetal into powder, careful not to waste a single grain. The blue insect's antennae twitched with focus behind thick goggles. For three seasons now, they had worked toward one goal: creating the perfect bioluminescent formula to keep the Draken away from Primordia forever. Each night, the shadow beasts grew bolder. Each morning, Elder Glowbright mixed new compounds in their lab, testing which glows burned brightest and lasted longest. But testing required real Draken. Elder Glowbright needed to know when the creatures came close enough to test each new formula. They spent two days building a warning system with the town council. The device stood tall, covered in glass bulbs filled with reactive chemicals. When Draken flew near, the structure would flash bright patterns across the sky. The lights would alert every lumenfae in town. Elder Glowbright could rush to the walls with their latest compound and watch the results. If the formula worked, the Draken would turn away. If it failed, they would start again. The elder adjusted their goggles and stared at the alarm, waiting for the first test. The warning system worked, but Elder Glowbright's current formula was too weak. They needed stronger ingredients. Deep in the swamp, past the twisted trees, lay a pond filled with glowing organisms. The creatures there produced light ten times brighter than moonpetals. Elder Glowbright packed collection jars and headed into the dark water. Their wings buzzed as they landed at the pond's edge. Blue and green lights swirled beneath the surface. They scooped water into a jar, watching tiny glowing specks dance inside the glass. This would make the formula powerful enough. The Draken would finally stay away from Primordia for good. Back at the tree laboratory, Elder Glowbright set the jars on the work table. The ancient tree trunk glowed with soft light from shelves lined with bottles and vials. This place had been their home for three seasons, every surface covered with notes and tests. They poured the pond water through a filter, separating the brightest organisms into a clean beaker. The creatures pulsed with blue-green light, stronger than anything they had collected before. Elder Glowbright mixed them with the moonpetal powder and three drops of crystal sap. The mixture flared bright, then settled into a steady glow. Tomorrow, when the alarm flashed its warning, they would be ready.