Forming a large crescent circle, inside prison grounds, stood around two hundred men. Captain Bork and his lieutenants were there too, commanding the gaurds to keep their ground and face the dungeons entrance. Actually, Bork was in a bit of a dilemma. What he thought to be a hard battle just went into an insanely difficult one, if not outright impossible. That is, because instead of facing one strong enemy, he now faced two, with one outclassing the other in terms of strength by many magnitudes. Captain Bork was in a bit at a loss of what to do next. His plan to subdue the witch did not account for any factors other than few stray prisoners and a single knight of foreign country. What they met however, far exceeded what they expected.
"You know capt'n, I wanted to fight a demi for a long time now. Heck, I even enlisted and followed you. You told me you will provide me the opportunity at some point..." Andol cackled slapping his thighs loudly. "...but you've got yourself demoted, because of some noble lass. I had the laugh of my life when I heard she was already married."
Bork was perceived by his troops as a strong and reliable man. They knew they could rely on his experience and charisma. However, people around felt uncertain when Andol was loudly mocking their commanding officer. What was more, Bork was not denying even a single word of his lieutenant.
"Now, color me impressed. I never thought that your promise would come out to be true. Here of all places. I'm disappointed though. That girl is no challenge. Witch of legends is nothing but a skinny skeleton. My pops used to tell me tales of how she was capable of leveling whole towns with her powerful magic. Looking at her now I think those must have been just exaggerated ramblings of an old man."
Andol returned his sight to the dungeons entrance. He focused on the man leading two girls.
"Capt'n, I would like to fight the demi, but that girl is not even worth rising my sword. She is no threat. That guy on the other hand, I'll have to pass. I am not as crazy as Valerie."
Captain Bork was deep in his thoughts. He was trying to calculate and find some way to get the witch and avoid confrontation with the being standing in front of them. Every scenario seemed hopeless. He could use the flute, but that was the last resort after Valerie. Using it would have a very steep price.
"Val, what'cha thinking? Wonna have a go at that dude?" Seeing as his captain was completely ignoring him, Andol turned to the girl next to him.
Valerie, hasn't spoken a single word yet and was just staring at the trio with contemplating look. She rarely ever talked. Only Bork had any form of solid understanding of what this girl was like. Because of that, Andol wasn't really hoping for any kind of reply. She had a unique skill or more to say it was a blessing, but it made her detached from most of her surroundings. Apart from some particular situations she kept herself withdrawn from people.
"I am going."
"Huh? Valerie?"
Valeries melodious voice took Andol by surprise and left him with his jaw wide opened. Contrary to what he thought, Valerie made a one hundred and eighty and started to leave the courtyard, directing her steps to prison grounds entrance. She was going to leave through the main gate.
"Valerie? What's wrong with you? Val?" Valerie didn't listen and just moved straight for the exit. "Where the hell do you think you are going! Hey!"
"Oi, Captain! Valerie is leaving, wake UP!"
Andols shout brought poor captain out of his stupor. Valerie, was Borks most powerful asset and she just left. He knew well enough that he had little to no power over his lieutenants. Apart from Caraan, Bork was surrounded by oddballs and weak wielded men of questionable honor and background. He was once a colonel and was fast on his way to higher ranks. He longed to times when he had real power and reputable people under his command.
"Ravan, go after Valerie with few guards and stick to her, maybe she knows something we don't."
"Captain, sir, but I am needed here. You need me to fight the witch. Sir, she is right there!" Ravan Mongbock pointed to the girl with seven tails and wolf ears, but completely ignored a far greater threat that was standing in front of her. He was obedient but at the same time stubborn to some degree. His mind wasn't great at finding opportunities, but even he saw a chance to gain recognition for himself, by catching a runaway witch of great fame and splendor. His ignorance blinded him to many situations that took place around him, including interference from his siblings. He wasn't at all happy to abandon possible merits from this fight.
"Do I need to repeat myself? Go, NOW!"
Ravan made a crude salute. With sour expression on his pouty cheeks, he made his way through the gate leading to the city. A five man group of prison guards were tagging along with him. His stout body moved with clumsy haste. Ravan would look as a good and diligent soldier if not for a still visible footprint on his face. He wished to be seen as a true heir of Mongbock household, but his looks and actions denied him that wish. Golden and far too gaudy armor along with halberd that was too big for him, made his silhouette sway to the sides when he walked. It made his appearance look silly, thwarting any attempts at seriousness. His lack of any notable skills and tunel vision set on becoming the first heir, when he had no serious bone in his body to present, made him a laughing stock of the whole city, as well as his family. Still, he was a son of a powerful and very rich noble. His position made it difficult for people to openly laugh or scorn him. Young master of Monhbock family did not know that commoners who openly mocked him, would often end up with their heads parting their bodies. His more capable siblings would defend family honor and in doing so would gain recognition from the patriarch. For many of his brothers and sisters, Ravan was just an opportunity and a stepping stone. It is sad but his father has never praised him or recognized his efforts.
"Was that reasonable Capt'n? Sending him away?"
"That idiot would charge only to die a fools death. It's better for him not to be here, also I would have hell to pay if anything happened to him." Captain Bork made a hand motion and Caraan showed with impeccable timing.
"C-captain, LOOK!" Rosh who have kept himself close by, pointed at the trio at the entrance to the dungeon.
Following his outcry every soldier on the grounds as well as Bork and his lieutenants, concentrated on a man who slowly started walking. He was wearing blackish armor accentuated with golden patterns. His cloak was a deep shade of green. Chest part depicted an ominous scene of a winged being holding out a sun. Its rays were piercing all creatures crawling below it. Mans eyes were glowing with menacing black and gold. The glow seemed liquid in form, mixing constantly, like moving grains of sand, flowing away and disappearing in the air seconds later. He had otherworldly aura that was hard to grasp.
Andol stood up readying his greatsword and both the captain and his right hand man Caraan tensed. All men in the vicinity could feel an ominous deep seeping feeling of fear as their skin covered with cold sweat. Apart from the eyes, the enemy looked human enough. Everyone present could feel however, deep down in their hearts, how far away from humanity that person was.
"Captain, he is rising his hands, maybe he is going to surrender?" Andols voice was shaking and it was obvious he was trying to keep his cool with his standard banter. The effect was rather miserable.
"Don't be stupid. He is..." It took only a second for Bork to come to a solid conclusion. He was, of course, mistaken, but he couldn't have possibly known that. "Is he, going to cast a spell? He is casting spells! CARAAN! Mage Unit! Suppression fire! NOW!"
A group of 50 men in dark red robes with strange symbols moved from the rear. Lord of this city sent them as reinforcements to aid his son, who in all seriousness have already left. They started to chant loudly sending air ripples as ether concentrated into different kinds of phenomenons. Hail of elements in form of earth arrows, wind bolts and fire bullets showered straight at Ian who was walking with his hands raised in gesture of peace.
***
I looked around this over-exaggerated congregation that chose to meet us head on. It was over two hundred men in crescent formation. We had nowhere to escape to. The man using a voice-tube is probably one in charge so I decided to head in his direction. Intending to not provoke any misunderstandings and worsening the situation even more than it already is, I rose my hands in the air. I only made few steps when I was abruptly stopped by their commanders shouts about someone using some, spells?
Next moment I thought I was going to die. However not because of any mortal wound. You see, strange people with robes and pointy hats started popping out of nowhere. I said that but they just came from the rear in a rather unsightly way. Their attires covered in mystical symbols and occult signs screamed 'I am a wizard'. That wasn't the silly part though. I had to cover my mouth when they stepped forward and started whispering or yelling very embarrassing phrases. When I heard 'fire obey my command' I held my stomach. Moment later 'wind hear my call' forced me to bend on one knee. That wasn't all. Most of these 'mages' were advanced in age. Hearing a sixty year old grandpa screaming at the top of his lungs in full seriousness, phrases like "Goddess of Earth, grant me your eternal bossoms power." just can't be taken seriously. It's never going to happen. These people however, were completely serious. I was wondering if this is some kind of stupid, yet elaborate prank. It's just that surreal. It wouldn't be silly, normally that it is, since it very much was. I did everything I could for my mental fortitude to hold on. I kept my face straight, but internally I was screaming for them to stop. It was important to me to be perceived as responsible and grown up adult, but I do have my limits. If I laugh I might be offending these people. Also, two girls behind me tensed up and started to run to where I was.
Moment later I broke and started to openly laugh my brains out. In my defense, it could not be helped. Why? Because except of simple yells and embarrassing chants, this theatrical troupe started to gymnast their way into making me completely unable to stand on my legs. It was no longer 'salamander, lord of fire grant me your power'. Now, it was scale making or arm flexing or jumping around old dudes in wizard robes, waggling their walking sticks and canes in the air, screaming to godly powers for aid.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
The deciding moment came for me, when a young man in his twenties most likely an apprentice, looked in my direction, full of determination not to fail in the performance and follow with his troupes marvelous play. He did a duble squat, squinted his eyes and after making a pompous face, shouted to the god of thunder to strike me down with righteous fury. So, I had no option left but to break and laugh it all out.
I was laughing like crazy when something changed in the air and I heard a distinct whoosh near my ear. I rose my head to check. Did they use a bow by chance? It turned out it wasn't a bow.
There was a mass of light of different color and shape heading straight for me with great speed. I was crouching fully in shock. Another moment and I will end up as a well fried shish-kebab.
"What are you doing! Get down!" Just before fate turned me into some greasy, skewered potato, six tails materialized behind me. She pressed one of her skinny hands to the ground and said in a loud unnatural voice. "RISE!" Earth trembled and rose forming a thick wall around us. I could hear dull impacts as it took hundreds of projectiles on itself. However, although thick, it wasn't strong enough to hold this onslaught for long. There were already small holes forming in few places.
"What were you trying to do Ian? You said you were going to solve this! Was that your idea of a polite talk? Were you going to laugh them to death?! I saw what you did! Why in the world would you want to mock tower mages in situation like this! What is wrong with your head! Your idea of how a grown up should solve things is the very definition of what NOT to do!" Barrage of insults landed on my head, but I wasn't listening. I'll overlook the fact, that I literally had no option to actually talk with anyone, before they started shooting stuff.
"What are those lights?" I asked wanting to understand what is actually happening. Some of them are missing our spot and fly over our heads, creating loud booms and exploding.
"Not an hour ago you were conjuring sweets without a word and a drop of ether, out of thin air and now you are asking me what magic is?"
"You know, four tales? You do realize that you've dropped your pompous way of speaking, right? Also, you ought to show respect to your elders." I retorted wanting to buy some time and gather my wits.
"I have seven tails you schmuck! SEVEN! And you lost any respect you could have had when you started groping those grotesque statues in lower chambers!" Dull impacts intensified and the girl only cared about throwing unwarranted abuses at me. Wait...
"Y-you saw that?"
"Of course I did, now do something!" If looks could kill, she would be on a way to the first place in glaring championship. More importantly, all my work to look as a reliable and dignified adult was ruined by one instance of me fumbling at the very start.
I wanted to continue grieving my luck, but my musings were sharply interrupted. Time slowed to a crawl as one of fire bullets pierced the wall and passed just in front of my eyes. I followed it with my sight admiring its every detail. It sure was beautiful. Red weaves were encapsulating a blue flaming core and it was burning so brightly. It struck me deeply, that if flame bullets like this one hit me, I would end up with a fist sized gaping hole in my body. I really do not want to die yet, whether this is all in my head or not. Life is a pretty valuable thing. My death would not benefit anyone.
My heart started to beat furiously. I looked at my sweaty hands. My mind turned blank, my breath hastened. I started to pant and cold sweat formed on my neck.
"I just don't want to die. W-what should I do? What am I supposed to do?"
"Ian, don't start panicking on me now!"
"I-I a-am not panicked? I am an adult! Adults do not panic. I'm n-n-ot panicked at all! No ma'am."
Suddenly I felt a slap on my cheek and shorty grabbed my chin right after.
"Ian, get a grip, look! Even March is looking around and seeking a way out of this situation. You might be safe and those spells will probably do nothing to you, at most singe you a little, but with my current strength, I will die if hit enough times. Not to mention March who will be killed instantly! We need firepower to break through this siege. Think of something!" My mind cleared a bit. I looked at Catnip who was crouching behind Furry. Her eyes were closed but her ears moved to the sides constantly, perking up at every little whoosh and boom.
I looked at the earth wall that was close to crumbling down. Long tails was filling up the holes as much as she could, but it was obvious that we are already on borrowed time. My eyes opened wide as something that looked like a spark of blue lightning, found an opening in the wall and smoldered tips of my hair, blowing up just few meters behind us. It left a small crater of scorched earth. This is serious! We really do, need some heavy firepower, like a cannon or... a tank! We need a damn tank! However, I have no idea how to operate an actual tank. We need something strong, intimidating but not dangerous enough to be considered a weapon of mass destruction. We need to stop this situation, but I do not want to kill people. Something intimidating, scary, but at the same time harmless, just like my plush toy. Oh... I know, my plushy toy, that's the thing! When I was a kid I had a coloring book. It was sold along with the toy and both were from the same series about a sad and conflicted creature who searched for its partner. The author made it a sad ending, making me cry a lot, but the story grew on me. I was scared of it at first, but before I was much older, I was always keeping the plush with me. It became my best and only friend.
"Ugh... my head hurts like crazy." A splitting headache attacked me out of nowhere, but I still tried to remember how my dear friend looked like. My memory is hazy so this was a challenge. Images of the toys magnificent form and my time with it, flew through my mind. I slept with it, hugged it, talked with it, I told it my greatest secrets. I wouldn't allow anyone touch it. It completely stole my youthful heart. As a little boy I was so in love with the toy, that I painted its every part with different color for it to always be together with rainbow. I didn't want it to be sad about its partner being gone. I wanted it to smile and always be stupidly happy.
Remembering it now makes me really embarrassed. Thankfully no one here will ever know about that part of my history. I also imagined the toy to have special powers. But I'll omit that for my own sake, hoping it will stay buried for all eternity.
"Ian, I can't keep this up! Do something for gods sake or we are all dead or worse!" Three Tails was speaking something, but I was submerged in my memory. My concentration was barely holding. I tried not to faint because of the splitting headache and rush of memories. Furrys shouts were intertwining with the image of my friend. Words were repeating constantly in my head. We need help, we need to get out of here, we need a tank, we need firepower, I need my friend, I need...
"TATSU"
My words came as an incredibly loud rumble. It rolled over courtyard grounds indiscriminately silencing every single sound on prison grounds and possibly even beyond it. Magic bombardment stopped instantly. I looked around. Our little defense bunker looked more like a Swiss cheese than an actual shelter at this point. March choked few times and suddenly rose her head, making me look up too.
There was a change as air thickened. A kind of heavy, oppressive feeling started to weight on the surroundings, hitting everyone present on the grounds, except one clueless person.
Ether condensed, heavy fog started gathering several meters above ground. It glittered with different colors, tones and shades, creating beautiful view of myriad reflecting sparkles. Along with this breathtaking scene a feel of dread started to spread among guards below. Unexplained pressure assailed prison grounds, with full might of an awakened dragon.
"What did you do?" Few Tails grabbed my head. She looked me straight in the eyes while holding my temples in both hands. "Tell me. What did you do?" She looked quite determined to get the answer out of me, but I had little to no idea what was happening.
"I can practically lick the ether in the air. No amount of magical power, however condensed could possibly allow that, except for grand rituals and such need the efforts of whole country or several gods! Ian, you might as well have just called a punitive force of the whole Holy Empire as well as nearby countries, not to mention the attention of every major god! This thing in the air is like a big, bright, shining beacon! So, tell me. What. Did. You. Do?" She pointed her finger at the foggy cloud gathering above our heads. "Tell me what that is!" I had no idea what she meant. To me, it just looked like a pretty, rainbow color, sparkling cloud. She must have been joking with the gods thing, but I am ready to believe that a country might have some sensors picking up on stuff like that cloud.
"I.. I am not sure." Clarity was slowly bringing my brain up to speed on what was happening.
Almost every guard and mage in the vicinity was sprawled on the ground panting heavily and that was almost two hundred men. Their commander along with his lieutenants were wobbling on their feet, trying to stand firmly on the ground.
"You see Shorty. When I was young, I had a toy. I must have unconsciously called upon it in panic, you know? To calm my nerves and escape to what was best in my life."
"So you did panic after all."
Ups, I must still be in mild shock since I broke my character again. Lets ignore it, I hope that with time she will forget about this little slip up.
"Ian, you said it was a toy from your childhood, right? Tell me what it is exactly that you have summoned. This thing rings every possible bell in my head."
I cleared my throat and looked again at the cloud. It was really pretty. It glittered with every possible color you could think of.
"Ehem... If it comes to the cloud, then that thing there is most probably a ryuu or tatsu. Tatsu is an older naming and is not used that often. I don't know how it is originally called in China. I never looked into it. I only know how Japanese people call them, so..." I spread my hands, in gesture of not knowing this particular information. As a grown adult I should have possessed an extensive knowledge about many different topics, but in my current circumstances its quite limited.
"So? What is a tatsu?
"In most common understanding that would be... a dragon." As my words left my mouth, long tails stopped looking at the still forming cloud and directed her big cartoonish eyes back at me. Mind you she was still holding my head in an iron grip. I preferred not to ponder on how she was this strong while not having a proper meal in who knows how many years.
"Are you telling me that you summoned a dragon, here, in the middle of a city full of innocent people?"
I gulped. Unconsciously, I just wanted to hug my old toy and by accident performed an act of escapism. I try to act my age, but can you blame me with all that is happening around? Furry made a very solid argument. That is true. In all seriousness however, I didn't think that I would actually summon anything. As pathetic as it sounds, I just wanted to hug my plushy.
"Do you know what kind of creature a dragon is, Ian? Do you have any idea what you have just brought to this world? Let me tell you a bit about these lizards. The number of active dragons in my time were only one and it needed a combined allied forces of several countries along with few summoned outers and even a gods tool to kill it! They sleep most of the time, but when one wakes up, then there is a chance that rest will also wake up and when the rest wake up, then all hell breaks loose. Kingdoms would burn, people would burn, everything would burn or be eaten. If that cloud of yours is truly a dragon, do you know how many children would be left crying?
Long tails rant forced me to escape with my eyes to the left, after a second, when I realized that left side is where the cloud was forming its thickest part I moved them to the right. On the right however, Catnip was shaking and foaming from her mouth again.
"W-well Five Tails, we shouldn't rush to any conclusions yet. W-who knows? Maybe that is a good dragon?"
"You mean you don't know? Are you actually asking me if the thing YOU summoned is good? You don't even know its alignment? I can't believe I was acting to keep your respect! You're unbelievable!"
''T-thank you?" Looks like I'm still left with some good graces.
"I wasn't praising you! You are not very consistent with yourself, are you? Also, I have seven tails. Remember that. Seven!"
Or maybe not. The important part is, I am almost certain that the thing above would take form soon. Problem is, would we be eaten along with citizens of this small border city or not. How will I ever take responsibility for this mess. I would really like to run away, but I can't, can I?