New's Letter
Looking at Steoff, he just gave me a shrug.
That's when I thought, Hearthglen, the Blight Nest. I almost died a few times there. It must be now. It has to be.
Shouldn't it?
Swallowing my doubt, I ripped open the letter, revealing a folded paper. Upon unfolding, I saw it was somewhat wrinkled and had a few faded spots, as if someone had cried on it.
The first words left tears in my eyes.
Mom?
Looking up at Steoff, shocked. Waves of emotion flooded into me as I could feel my heart aching with each pound. I can almost hear the pounding in my ear. I looked around to see if anyone was looking. They weren't, so I started to read.
My steps were slow, hollow-like, while I made my way towards where my father was. As I read the letter, I realized tears had fell down my face.
"You alright, Will?" my father asked. His hand was on my shoulder, firm yet gentle.
Looking down at the letter, I handed it over to my father. "It's a letter from mom," I said softly.
My father looked shocked, his eyes wide as he looked down. He took a deep breath, placed a hand on the letter, and closed it, pushing it to me. Closing his eyes, he spoke with hesitance and emotion. "I didn't know of such a letter. If she wanted you to have it like this, it means she had a reason not to give it to me. So it's meant for your eyes only." He opened his eyes and gave me a soft yet emotional smile.
This is the only time I have ever gotten something directly from my mother, besides photos.
Lord Dimmal gave a sympathetic smile, pulling a chair up for me. He looked very out of place but seemed to be relaxed at least. His cloak has seen better days, though.
"Lord Dimmal, why are you still here?" I asked. He's a Dragon Lord, or was. He would have some level of importance. "Shouldn't you be getting ready to head back to Drakelene."
The response that Lord Dimmal gave me was blunt, yet a settling chuckle. "Lord Ryu requested my services when we got back from the Nest. Especially when Drakelene won't accept me back."
"Won't accept you back? Certainly Lord Barren would…" I tried to finish my thought, but Lord Dimmal paused me.
"Lord Barren tried, but tradition in Drakelene with the Order of Drake is harsh," Lord Dimmal stated, his look turning softer and sad.
My father placed a hand on Lord Dimmal's shoulders, then turned to me. "Dragon Riders are ageless when they have their dragons. They gain a level of nobility. But when the dragons die. So too does the rider's powers, making them…. Mortal…. Vulnerable."
"I am no longer a Lord, William." Lord Dimmal's voice was softer, soft enough to make my stomach turn, while my father removed his hand from him. "Drakelene won't accept me anymore, even if Lord Barren does."
Shaking my head, I couldn't accept it. The people of Drakelene trusted Lord Dimmal; they couldn't just throw him out.
"Lord Dimmal! No they cant just do that to you. What about you Bide and…." yelling out, but was halted by him.
Lord Dimmal places a hand on my shoulder. "It's ok William. I accepted my fate. Besides, I wanted to join Lord Ryu's services. I have a task that every rider must do when their dragon dies, and I can't do that in Drakelene. However, in exchange for Lord Ryu helping me, he wanted me to stay by your side."
I looked at him, confused. Hurt. Discomfort? But that soon faded when I felt Aurum sending her emotions into me. They formed a clear message to me—words forming in my head.
Apparently Aurum was listening to my thoughts. I really should try to spend more time with her. But that can wait for tomorrow.
Thinking for a brief moment, I made an assumption and spoke. "You're looking for your dragon…" My voice held doubt. I wasn't too sure if that was the case, but I'll let Lord Dimmal do for me.
Lord Dimmal shook my shoulders. "Yes.. The Blight has my dragon. And I will set them free. But until till then.. Please call me Dimmal…" Lord Dimmal pleaded with a smile.
I…... I…........ I understand. Supposedly, when a dragon dies, their rider feels their pain, their death. I heard tales that many riders go mad from it. It makes sense, even with him losing his title of lord. I hate it. But it makes sense.
"Ok. I understand.. Dimmal," I responded, my voice hesitant with the sudden lack of formalities.
It was odd. But at the same time, my father and Lord Dimmal, I mean, Dimmal, all working together. That's not a bad idea. We can search for Dimmal's dragon while we adventure.
"Sup ladies," Markus stated, interrupting the moment.
"Great timing, Markus," Lord Dimmal said bluntly.
"I dont care," Markus chuckled. "Anyway, since William is here now, I also have a letter."
Markus grabbed a chair and pulled it up for me to sit down. As he leaned into the table, Markus found his spot and pulled out a letter.
Stolen story; please report.
"A letter from Ryu himself," Markus said, waving the letter.
Lord Dimmal spoke first. "What for?"
"Well, let me read it first," Markus said in a girlish, sarcastic voice. "Geeze."
Raising a brow, I asked, "What does Lord Ryu have to say to me?"
"God dam it you impatient fucks let me read the letter first," Markus said with annoyance, but with somewhat a bratty attitude, giving my father and me a chuckle.
"Fuck….. ok," Markus coughed.
No no no no no, that's for me. Sorry."
I gave Markus a brief look of annoyance and confusion.
"I don't need training from you!" I yelled, interrupting Markus. "I'm currently fine as of right now." My brows furrowed as I glared at Markus.
"Really? Didn't you almost pass out after using magic twice?" Markus said with a smirk. The fact that he knows about that irritates me. "Most people don't usually do that. I also recall you almost dying to Art. He's not even a Wolf Knight."
"He's what?" my father asked with surprise. "I thought he was."
"No he failed to become one, and didn't finish all the training to be one," Markus stated.
"And you almost got killed by a Prophecy Breaker, and there are many," Markus answered with a cocky attitude.
Crossing my arms and giving Markus a menacing glare, then looking away. "I don't need your help."
"Really," Markus said. Looking back at him, Markus went from sitting down in a chair to a blur in front of me. He momentarily appeared next to the bar counter, grabbing two bottles, then reappeared in front of us. Within less than a second, he tossed the bottle up in the air, then blurred away next to someone across from us and broke the bottle across their head. Reappearing in front of us with a sword, proceeding to cut the bottle in the air, making its remaining pieces scatter on impact with the ground.
My father and Dimmal looked at Markus with annoyance, gesturing to him with confusion. Everyone behind Markus was too confused. He dashed right through everyone, pushing everyone around into their tables, spilling drinks and drinks, or shoving people into each other.
"Who spilled my drink!"
"Who hit my head!"
Next thing, someone pushed another, and now everyone is fighting each other, drinks and food flying around. Tables were tossed, people screamed. It was chaos.
"That was a basic 'Dash' skill known as Trickster," Markus explained to me as he made the sword in his hand disappear while not caring about the commotion he created. "It's a direct skill that's easy to do but tricky to do due to the conditions that you meet. Yet you don't know it. That says a lot since you wouldn't get any side effects from overusing it."
I scoffed loudly, remaining silent yet annoyed. How the hell can he help me? I ducked my head as the sound of glass shattering on the wall behind us.
"Anyways," Markus continued, unbothered by the noise behind, as he got hit in the head by a wooden stick.
"Thats everything," Markus finally said.
That's a lot to take in. It's one thing right after another. At least it's over now. It can't get any worse, could it?
Soon, a roar boomed over all the adventurers who were fighting. "STOP THIS SENSELESS FIGHTING YOU MAGGOTS!"
Looking over Markus's shoulder, the source of the voice and loud footsteps could be seen, with people crying out in disgust. I was confused as I saw a massive maroon Drakonic moving over to us, shoving any poor soul out of the way. They didn't have a shirt on, and once they came into full view, I looked down.
"Ahhhh," I howled out, covering my eyes from the horror of what I saw.
Both Markus, Dimmal, and my father cried out. "Argon put some pants on at least!" Markus yelled.
"A true warrior has no shame," this Argon person said, "his" voice boomed over everyone else. Soon, he moved over and gave me a sniff. "This is the hairless one that I rescued?"
"He is," Markus asked.
Argon snorted; his breath smelled like rotten fish, sending a wave of nausea. through me."Smells like death and shit."
"I smelled like shit?" I asked, turning my head to look up, not wanting to see… That…..
He snorted again and walked off. "Weakling losing to that tiny monkey pup."
I wanted to retort, but his shiny ass was too much to bear, keeping me silent as I blocked my view.
Dimmal looked towards Markus. "Is he always like that?"
"No this is new. Hey, Argon. Why are you only wearing sandals?" Markus asked.
"Yes," Argon answered. There was no hesitation in his voice—just a straightforward response.
"I don't think that makes it better," My father answered.
Soon, a group of other Drakonics shoving their way through the crowd. "Hey, Argon," a groveling voice boomed over everyone else. "Your making us Draconians look bad."
Draconians? I thought they were called Drakonics according to Drakelene.
The Draconian that was talking scales look cleaner, shinier, and less cracked, unlike Argon. His voice also sounded higher-pitched. He was younger.
Argon didn't even budge. He just glared at them. "Move, whelp." Argon's voice wasn't as loud but was still threatening. His wings twitched.
I finally took note of Argon's wings. The base of his wings had massive scarring, with obvious signs of cutting. Tracing up on the wing were sheets of metal that were attached directly through his wings' webbing, allowing for an odd, thin silver-looking device to extend down each finger and the single claw at the very top of his wings.
The younger Draconian hissed at Argon. "You call yourself a warrior while looking like a fool!" the draconian pulled his arm back, reeling up for a punch.
Argon caught the punch, leaving a loud smach in his palm due to the impact. Pulling the younger one closer, Argon slammed his head into their face, making an audible crunch as the young draconian stumbled back, holding their face. I took one good look and saw his nose appeared to be crooked, snout cricked and distorted, and blood was dripping down.
Argon didn't stop, moving towards the injured Draconian and holstering them off the ground by their neck. "And you call yourself one?" Argon asked slamming the Draconian into the bar counter, breaking it.
Steoff yelled out at Argon, clearly unhappy as everyone stared at him. "Hey! Calling yourself a warrior yet showing no restraint. Maybe I shouldn't invest in the supply of Gravis Cer you wanted so much."
Argon turned towards Steoff and bowed. "I'll be sure to have more restraint next time, bar keeper."
"It's Steoff, Argon."
Soon Mia intervenes, yelling out through the crowd. "Markus!" She wasn't happy at all. A group of patrons scattered, making way for her to make eye contact with Markus. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Markus just laughed. "It's fine, just put it on my tab."
"What you need is a god damn therapist!" Mia was livid. I didn't think she could be this scary. "Ever since you and Argon joined up in a party, you both been stirling up trouble."
Markus whined loudly. He took offense to that statement. "I don't find trouble, trouble finds me."
Everyone was laughing, picking up everything, and returning things to where they were before—even cleaning up some of the messes.
I never expected the Guild to be like this. I expected everyone to be rougher and ruder.
Soon, the guild doors open, and a guard runs in. He looked exhausted but also frightening.
"Everyone, theirs a city wide announcement!"
Everyone, including Argon, looked over to the guard in cold silence. The sudden change in atmosphere was infectious. No one dared speak.
Then the guard is looking at a note. "This is a city wide alert that will be told throughout Kalos. First things first. As of right now Lord Ryu has departed to Lianes to investigate its sudden destruction."
"Its what!" Markus shouted, standing up straight.. "What do you mean by its destruction?"
"As I said sir! Lianes has been confirmed to be destroyed and Lord Ryu is going to investigate the cause."
Markus sat down, stone quiet. It seemed like he was trying to process what was said. His face then turned back to a more serious look.
"Next. Every town, city and village throughout Kalos will be under quarantine. Sightings of Blight have spread outside of Drakelene with those aiding it. Every Adventurer and Mercenary, soldier, or anyone deployed under any Guild, will be required to provide security and assist with quarantining everyone. If you have any questions please make your way over to…"
The guard's voice faded as I tried to process what was happening. So much was happening. A new beginning for me. But now. I was hoping a little too much.
Markus leaned in close to me, whispering into my ear. "Welcome to the War."
I suddenly felt uneasy as a wave of emotions, foreign to me, flowed from the Mark and into my chest and stomach. It wasn't Aurum.
Pressing my fingers against my Mark, anger and concern rose in me.
Chapter Thirty-One
Gifts
