You’re not in Kansas anymore. A tiny voice somewhere deep in my mind whispered. Well, I never been to Kansas in my entire life but that one line really did sum up all I experienced so far.
“Whatever. First man see-say. Move.” The cat-person, more cat than a person, gave me no time to ponder. He, she, it? Grabbed my arm and dragged me out into the sunlight. I think it was sunlight. All I saw was a blinding brightness. Doing my best not to fall, I was half dragged, half walked off to somewhere.
That somewhere turned out to be a fancy colored tent, set somewhere in the middle of a camp full of knights and other weapon-bearing creatures. We passed many humans, quite a bit of half-something-half-human creatures and a few entirely non-human, angry looking people.
My handler, as far as my still adjusting sight allowed me to see, brought me in front of an important looking man and greet him with a salute.
“Me found in cage. Brought for see-say.” The cat creature shoved me forward, towards his superior.
“Yes, you did well soldier. I’ll see that you’ll get double payment for today’s service. You may leave now.”
The man said, taking a step back away from me as if distancing himself from something unclean. I steadied myself and got up, watching the cat-thing walk away in high spirits. From the looks of it, I’ve been delivered to someone higher up on the chain of command.
“What all the fuss about Reno? Did they found the Witch?” Another voice came from within the tent.
“No sir, no sign of the Witch. One of the haggu dragged in another survivor.”
“Again?! Just how many… Hope this one alive at least?”
“It appears so, sir.”
“A man or a woman?”
“A man, sir.”
“A man… Handsome is he?”
For a moment I thought I saw something on the man’s face. The one called Reno seemed to be, jealous? Or was it just a quick look full of disgust? I am not sure.
“Well? Is he? Should I go and see?”
“No need my Lord, this one is unclean.”
So much poison in his words. From all the people I knew only my old boss could utter words in such manner.
“Eh… then be done with it quick and come back here. I am getting lonely.”
“As you command, my lord.” Reno bowed in the direction from which the voice came then turned back to face me.
“You slave, do you know what has befallen the Scarlet Witch?”
“No.” I’ve decided to keep it simple. After all, he had the sword and all I had was my bird flapping loose between my bare knees.
“Do you have any knowledge of what took place upon this land?”
“No.”
“I see. Guards!”
On his words, two knights appeared and flanked me.
“Send him away to magistar Kempton. I have no use of him.”
With the judgment passed, I was whisked away towards another unknown.
Magistar Kempton turned out to be a slightly balding, short man in a dirty grey robe. He wasn’t fat thou the wasn’t thin either and right now he was bending over a case of some sort. I am not sure what exactly was that he did. To me it looked as if he stood there with his hands pressed against the wooden case while he mumbled something incoherent.
“…That’s that.” Apparently he finished whatever he was doing.
“Now then,” Pleased with himself he turned towards us.
“Today is a great day for all of you!” He beamed at our crowd counting exactly four men two women and one pair of pants.
“Our magnanimous lord, Rigor von Revolem has decided to grant you freedom upon the condition of completing the task I am about to explain.” He cast a quick glance to make sure we were following.
“Several day ago a dragon appeared in this area, laying waste to whatever stood in its patch. I see you tremble but fear not. The ancient beast is weakened and wounded after a battle with the Witch and if you remain careful it poses little to no threat at all.”
“Unfortunately right before we could slay it, the beast escaped and hid in one of the underground caves found beneath the remains of the Witch tower.”
“With our men busy securing the site, we need able volunteers to help us find the dragon so we could finish it off in its weaken state. To do so, each of you will receive a crystal device with special tracking magic implanted with in. All you need to do is find the dragon and throw the device at it. It doesn’t matter which part of the dragon you’ll hit, just make sure to hit it. Now, take your torches and I will give one tracking device to each of you. But you must remember, those devices are very brittle. Take grate care not to drop it or it will break. Make sure to hold it tight in your hand at all times…”
He sounded like a man giving out live hand grenades to angry children on Christmas eve. One by one we were forced to take a torch and a tennis ball size crystal. It was cold and smooth on the surface while an earie grayish glow came from the inside.
“Now off you go, the knights will show each of you which tunnel to take and remember you are now free people, citizen of Crovellem! Make the whole Crovellem proud with your courage! Advance!”
By the prods and stabs of several spears and yells of angry knight’s men, we were send away into the unforgiving darkness.
Should I describe what happened within that darkness? I walked.
If you rip away man’s fear and feeling of wonder, a cave becomes but a damp, dark, smelly, boring corridor. And so I walked through that corridor. I walked through wet places, I crawled through tight places and pondered at the spaces so wide the light of my solitary torch could not reach to the edges but was simply lost in the surrounding darkness. And I walked.
I don’t know for how long I walked, I don’t really perceive the flow of time as normal people do. I don’t get to “feel” tired. My body simply shut down when it can’t take it anymore. My feet don’t hurt. I could walk them to the bone and I would not notice. And I walked, feeling nothing.
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I had nothing else to do than walk forward and ponder. My mind occupied itself with random garbage pulled out from somewhere deep within my memory. Playing out memories I thought I no longer had. Most not even worth mentioning.
The torch I received expired some while ago. The only light I had left was the earie glow emanating from the crystal I still held. It was enough to show me where my feet were going but not enough to make any difference in the vast chamber I was traversing. Why was I even going any further? In this darkness I could probably bump into that dragon’s snout and I wouldn’t notice.
A dragon. If such a thing truly exists… What kind of manner of creature would it be? Vicious and primitive as the games portray it or would it be of high intellectual like books would describe? What would I even do If I faced a dragon. Should I ask, “Oh great ancient dragon, do you care for a game of riddles?”
Riddles? What manner of nonsense are you spewing you lowly human? Shall that be your final words in face of my majesty?
Rather than hearing it, I felt as is that voice just smashed against my body, smacking my mind with an alien, intrusive presence. I froze where I stood, the voice was coming from everywhere.
“I sincerely hope not. Forgive me my rudeness oh great dragon but it is my first time talking with one of your kind, I know nothing of the protocol.” I bowed in a random direction.
Indeed you don’t. A knight should proclaim his formal challenge and his lineage before entering the dragon’s den while you had done neither. The voice sounded calm, almost disappointed.
Tell me traveler, why are you here?
“I’ve been volunteered to find you and to give you…” I’ve raised my arm higher, making the crystal I’ve held more visible.
“… this fancy trinket of questionable fashion. Why are you calling me a traveler?”
Because that is what you are. A broken soul ripped away from her own world and forcefully brought to this one. Without a purpose, without a desire. A bystander. That is what you are traveler.
As for the stone, you are best off throwing it away. That tier of magic will not work against me. Not even now…
I tossed the crystal over my shoulder. A while ago It glow had become so weak it was useless anyway. The moment it shattered on the ground into myriads of pieces, a disembodied laughter washed over the entire cave.
Such boldness… or lunacy. You truly are a human child. In the eons I had not cross a patch with a species like yours.
What would you done had I lied? That stone could’ve been your only weapon.
“Nothing.” I laid down on my back, letting the body rest.
“Quick death by a dragon still sounds better than starvation. Getting out of here without any light or supplies doesn’t seem possible.”
I kind of doubted the people from before would come looking for me. Also I’ve realized something. Who was I even talking to? A disembodied voice that…
Erta. The voice spoke with a kind of feminine feeling to it.
As for your question… Thou that governs over light, open a path for this one seeking me.
I’m not sure how to describe it. It felt like a ripple running through the lake before myriads of shiny, puffs started floating all around us. Shielding my eyes from the sudden light, I just stared at what lie before me. An arm’s length away from me an enormous, scales covered body rested. A badly wounded body.
Traveler. She spoke again, after a time of silence.
I have but a one selfish request. It is not far, my bones tell me. The end of my time is nearing. I fear of what lies beyond. Please, stay with me. As a payment I shall grant you a piece of my remaining power. A light fairy that shall guide you out of this wretched cave.
I had never seen anything so beautiful and… sad at the same time.
Thank you.
Come closer and look over my side. There should be a scale missing where the golem’s spear hit me. If you put your hand into that wound, you should be able to reach my heart. Do so and I shall grant you my power.
Hesitant, I followed her words. Her heart throbbed beneath my fingertips.
Farewell traveler.
Suddenly there was a rush, as if a gust of wind hit me. Then, the heart beneath my fingers, stopped.
“Erta?” I called out but only the silence answered me.
I watched as the body of the last celestial dragon, Erta, turned into dust. However that was not the only change that took place. Something within my chest that was dormant so far, suddenly started beating. I felt dizzy, my ears rang while blood started dripping from my nose.
Impossible… A familiar voice whispered.
What have you done?
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As always thank you kind readers for dropping by. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
The next one should be much , much longer and explain a bit what happened so far to our dear MC.