Adalon nudge Thal to awaken him. it was already dawn. Remembering the event of yesterday he was too exhausted. It was miracle to survive yet alone sleep all night in the middle of the forest without any incident. Adalon Perk up as if he was reading his though and telling him its was his presence kept the wild of the forest at bay.

Thal, pet his companion from head to tail proud of the little dragon. Adalon responded with happy chirps.

They survived the ambush. They need to find the rest of the griffon riders and continue their expedition to lost garrison.

But before all else he check the system and their status window. To his surprise Thal had gained a level from the encounter and had choice to spent 2 skill points.

─Level 2

─Skill points Gained: 2

Thal could not believe he gained a level. He did not have any expectation he was no longer playing a game.

Thal felt an incredible sense of exhilaration and wonderment.

Thal checked the information.

─Name: Thalandrim

─Race: High Elf

─Age: 22

─Class: Tamer

─Level: 2

─Hp: 100/100

─Mana:200/200

─Unspent Skill Points: 2 ─Skills:

─Taming Arts 1/10

─Nature Magic 1/10

─Dimension Magic 1/10

─Divination Arts 1/10

─Knowledge of the Elders 1/10

─Nobility 1/10 ─Titles:

─7th Prince of Kingdom a Garanthor

─Friend of Dragons

─Receiver of Gift

─Legendary Dragon Tamer

Thal think for a moment, considering his options. He has two skill points available and he need to spend it wisely.

After consideration, he decided to invest one point into Dimension magic. Dimension magic allow him to teleport and blink through space. He realize the importance of this ability during yesterday's events.

He decided to spend the last skill point into Nature magic, an ability that help him during the fight. He felt that it was an important ability to learn.

Thal check the information and saw that Adalon had gained a level and had two skill points to spent also.

Adalon spent both his points into dragon magic arts. The dragon magic arts are like spell but the dragon's mana and will are the power source. This allow them to do powerful attacks but drain their mana quickly.

Considering the events of yesterday. Thal needed to find the remaining griffon riders and get out of this forest

With determination he and his dragon companion set off. Hoping that they can find the rest of the riders before something else happens.

After a long walk through the forest, Thal was starting to worry. There were no signs of griffins or the riders. Did he run too deep into the forest and got lost?

He was about to give up hope when a griffon swooped out of the sky, landing gracefully before him.

Thal looked at the griffon. It was a beautiful creature, with shimmering golden feathers and piercing blue eyes. It reminded him of his gaming characters.

He approached the griffon cautiously. He was still wary after the ambush and the subsequent battle.

Thal held out his hand, letting the griffon sniff him. After a moment, the griffon nuzzled his hand. Thal relieved that the griffon wasn't going to attack him.

He mounted the griffon, Adalon resting comfortably on his shoulder.

As the griffon took flight, Thal couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration.

"Where are we going?" Thal asked, not sure if the griffon could understand him.

The griffon turned its head towards him and let out a small chirp.

Thal couldn't help but smile at the griffon's response. It was as if the griffon was saying, "Follow me and you'll see."

He didn't know if the griffon could understand him but he was sure that the griffon was guiding him to the others.

Griffon started a landing maneuver. thal could see a small clearing in the forest where sun's reflection shined througha small creek. He saw he captain of the Riders.

The griffon landed gracefully.

"Captain Eryndor, where is everyone?"

"My liege you are alive!" Captain was almost at the verge of a breakdown.

"Calm down, captain, I'm alright. Where are the rest of the riders?"

"Dead"

"What? Dead? How did that happen?"

"We were ambushed by a Dragon. An ancient one that is! black scales like obsidian and big as the towers of Rethlenan"

He begun the describe events of the encounter

"You mean a shadow dragon"

"Yes! A Shadow Dragon"

Thal realized that he was dealing with the legendary evil, the darkness dragon.

He remembered the game lore. Released before to the public on early beta

The Dark Dragon is one of the five Great Dragons that serve the Dark Lord. It is the first and largest of the dragon, known as the Shadow dragon. It is a massive black dragon with the ability to turn invisible. But to think such event unfold for so early . He remember something very useful at his disposal and check his system windows. And there it was

─ Knowledge of the Elders

He activated his ability and system return with a prompt

─"What is it you wish to learn?"

Thal ask " More info on Black Dragon"

The system window show him a screen with info about the Dragon.

Black dragon are the second form of the dragon. They are the strongest and the darkest dragons. They are intelligent and powerful.

He needed to have more tags on his search and tried again

Thal ask " More info on Black Dragon which is first and largest of the dragon of the five Great Dragons that serve the Dark Lord. Please describe any physical difference to other Black dragons"

A window pop up

Thal had found the information he was looking for and he could now proceed to the next step.

"Does the dragon had a wound on his left eye?" Thal asked the Captain.

"No my leige. Dragon had no injuries"

As expected shadow dragon was just an underling. Thal was sure, This is how they survived the such ordeal. If the real thing was there they would not had any chances.

"My Liege, the dragon will not be the only thing to worry about". Eryndor continued " We have lost the rest of the griffons, our supplies and gear lost with them, and we have no idea where we are."

Thal stunned. How were they going to continue the mission now. He had no idea where they were or how to find the lost garrison.

He considered the situation.

"We are not going to give up," he said, his voice steady and determined. They still had one more griffin at hand they could survey the area from sky and had a sense of direction.

Suddenly a shadow past over them and with it come a crushing sense of dread. Griffin screech and jolt to the sky in an attempt of maddened escape. Thal try to move to reach the saddle of Griffin but his body was not responding. He check on the Captain but the grizzly veteran was on his knees. Lost in fear not responding to the world around him. Before long shadow past again silencing the screech of escaped griffin.

On the corner of the his eye Thal seen the system tag of the shadow

-Shadow Dragon Haerin

-Level:???

There was a silver Skull on the corner of the name tag. It was a boss alright.

After a minute shadow did not return. and he was able to move again. But the captain he was still in his lost state. Thal wondered if his bond with the Adalon made him resist the full force of the Dragon's fear.

They had to move but Captain was in no condition to move. Thal opened the system browsing through his skill and abilities to see if there are anything that could help the Captain.

With his additional level on Nature magic there was a new spell very much fits the current need.

-Harmonious Aura: Creates a calming aura that soothes allies' nerves, granting resistance against fear and anxiety-based effects.

Thal directed his mana toward Captain and Chant "Harmonious Aura". A ripple of warm energy released and captain started to blink as if he awakened from a nightmare.

"My liege! the dragon!" said the captain with desperation and fear not wanting to hear the answer.

"Its gone, took the griffin with it" with a tone of his own desperation.

They have no option to move on land and no luxury to stand there and wait fro shadow's return.

"We move to north" thal said firmly. Adalon already perched on his shoulder.

"Eventually we will reach the borders and we will move from there." Thal sounded more confident that he is.

With the fear induced by the dragon lifted entirely Captain was his old self again. He was already applying survival drills of his training years of experience in the field. He made a makeshift water bag with the leathers left from the griffin's saddle. Found the general direction of the north and pulled some nutritious roots from the ground for sustenance.

Adalon was not happy with the root but ravaging hunger in his tiny stomach left him no choice. He gnaw on the root unwillingly.

Thal watched as little hatcling fight with his food. every bite was disappointment, It can read all over his tiny face. Thal cant stop but giggle the struggle of his tiny companion.

Traversing the forest was effortless for two elves. with the presence of Adalon keeping lesser critter away from them. their walk was event less leaving much room for Thal to contemplate of the last couple of days.

He was an ordinary man in his ordinary world with mundane job. He woke up to find himself in and elven palace more to that in the game he wanted to play. He was immediate tasked with a grand quest only to be ambushed and end up lost in a forest. He wonder if there were others like him. Coming to this world access to the system. He did not know even if others know the existence of the system.

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"Captain" thal rises his voice to get his attention. Captain was leading the war vigorously. Only stopping briefly to check if they are still moving to the north.

" Yes my liege!" Captain answered without changing his vision from the path ahead.

Thal hesitated, not knowing how to ask right question without making captain question his sanity.

Thal decided to hit directly to the home. If it fails he could just say it is something special for Legendary class he has.

"Do you have access to the system?" Thal asked not knowing what will come next.

Captain stopped his advance turn to the thal with a puzzled look into his face. " You can only access system in the pools of reflection in the great temple of forest father." He answered hastily "and only once in a year at your day of birth with the guide of Bishops" he added. As if stating the most obvious thing in the world.

Thal shrugged as if he was testing him and said "yea I know". Again with a puzzled look Captain returned to his advance.

It was getting dark and shadows of the forest was getting tall and dark. Captain opt of sleeping on the forest ground and chose a grand oak tree to climb on. They have spent the night on the listening the eerie sound of the old forest. Thal fall a sleep with the Adalon on his lap.

Thal saw a great garrison. Made in the glory of elven craftsmanship separating the harsh lands of the north from the lush forests of the south. He saw the of a figure of a man hiding an obsidian like oval object into the treasure room. And Shadow pass over the garrison and there were only ruins.

Thal awaken suddenly with a notification on his vision saying;

-Divination received.

It was a vision a glimpse of what was happened in the garrison. Someone planted something to pull the wrath of Black dragon into the garrison. Was it an egg? no it has to be more complex than that. He recalled the meeting with the advisors. There were something powerful enough to cut of surveillance magic of Elven Arch mage.

"Divination's time has a meaning too" thal thought to himself they must be nearing the lost garrison.

Keeping up with the captain, thal debated on the usage of system in his mind. Thal activated Knowledge of the elders and received as much information on the topic as he can. He was outside of the rules of this world. Developing skills was so easy for him but others had to wait a year. There were no exception to this rules as entire processes was a divine ritual led by bishops of the temples. Not to mention of hefty donations required to temple.

Some simple folk were never be able to asses their skills and stats. Those who were luck enough to awaken classes for joining army, or find apprenticeship to an artisan keep progressing.

Skill awakening was a completely random. Not related to your parents nor your ancestors. First awakening ritual was taken at age of seven. Temple was keeping a good record of who awaken to what class. Those with the rare class recruited by nobility, artisans or army there were schools for these young talented.

Awakening was life altering. If you had a rare class you were taken from your families. Get educated in these schools and later directly go under the service.

If you awakened a dark class. Like bandits he encounter before, you were shunned from temple. Forced to most basic and ugly labor . Many tend to run away from cities and involved in criminal life. there were dark cults out there performing skill up ritual for these people.

Elven people were blessed there were no evil classes awakened but that did not mean elven lands were free of crime. There were always people willing to do whatever to take some short cuts. Even in elven people.

Captain Eryndor come to a sudden stop, startled thal left his inner debate and focus on the present.

"What is it captain?" Thal whisper to avoid triggering an unseen danger.

"Come look" Captain pointed to his side.

Thal approached the captain. They were at the end of the forest. They were looking to a chasm. Calling back to his information this was a natural border to his kingdom. It was called as Chasm of Garanthor. Local folk called it abyss.

Abyss was so wide and so deep that thal could barely see the other side. Mist was hanging in ever hiding how deep actually this chasm is.

Captain started to move again, " we should move my Liege, keep to the forest line so we could have shelter when needed." With the shadow dragon lurking around, running on open was unnerving even for the veteran captain.

When the sun getting ready to set, Captain found a suitable tree grove just at the edge of the forest to spent the night. Tired from the non stop running thal slip away to sleep rather quickly.

A shadow swept over her forest, She felt the similar sensation of her kin. But this was not one of her brood. Who dared to invade her forest, hunt in her land without her permission.

She rose from her slumber, massive green wings rise above the canopy of forest. With a magic fueled jump she rose to the sky in her full glory. Forest was hers, entrusted to her brood to safe keep for generations. No kin is allowed without a permission.

She survey the skies both physically and magically and spotted the intruder. With the flap of her massive wing she ride towards this unwelcome quest. As she approached her target she saw it was gorging on a griffin in one of the clearance of forest. Much to her surprise it was a shadow kin never seen one this side of the land. the Aura emanating stench of death and dread from the shadow kin and it was almost overwhelming even for her.

She come to s atop still hovering over the clearing not losing her advantage of being above in case things turn ugly.

She bellowed in the ancient tongue of dragons " Kin of shadow! How could you hunt my forest without permission!" Putting all her will and authority to her words.

Shadow's Long neck raised from his prey blood dripping from monstrous jaws " Permission!" word bellowed with an ugly echo "I do not need permission, I serve the dark one!. You lesser kin are beneath me." head return to his prey more blood were splattering.

"Blasphemy, ignorance, you will be punished" She have lost her temper. Sudden verdant breath poured over the clearing erasing anything and everything within. When she stopped there were a pool of acid in place of the clearing and it was sizzling. There were nothing left from the invader and pool can be fixed with magic.

Happy with her accomplishment she start to make her journey back to her nest. She landed gently and swirl around a shiny green egg, the next guardian of Forest.

A cold sharp pain, one that she never felt before sapping her life away. She tried to cast her healing magic, protection magic but mana not answering her. What ever attacking her also sapped her mana. She saw the shadow coiled around her body draining her of life and power.

How could he survived her attack! there were no time for this she was dying powerless. Only thing left mattered was the egg. With the last of her strength. she pushed the egg to the nearby creek. She watch it drift away into the underground water way. her life fade away.

"Save her!"

Adalon and Thal jerk up from their sleep. They shared the same dream. Death of a majestic green dragon and a egg floating through the little creek.

They need to save the egg. but where could they find it? there were dozens of creeks running trough this forest. All of them ending up to the Abyss feeding the river far below.

Thal knew he had to act fast. he summoned the menu to his sight and started to checking for any ability that might be useful.

After a through search there were nothing that could help Thal to locate the egg. Adalon let loose an angry chirp. Tugging the mental connection with his master. Thal realize his mistake. Again he left out Adalon's skills and only focused his skills. There, the very thing they need were sitting Adalon's Dragon authority skill;

Dragonkin Detection: Adalon focuses his magical energy and taps into his innate connection with dragonkin. By casting this spell, he can sense the presence of other dragons within a certain radius. The intensity of the sensation varies depending on the distance and strength of the detected dragon. This ability helps Adalon locate and communicate with other dragons. Forming a telepathic link or guiding Thal and his allies to potential allies or threats.

Thal bow his head slightly to show his respect to the dragon prince he was very resourceful. And thal kept ignoring him.

Quickly Thal urge Adalon to use Dragonkin Detection. Adalon, focused and a ripple of mana wash over the forest. after a couple of second Adalon soar to the ground from the branch they spent the night. It was still twilight and sun was about the rise.

Adalon keep the Detection spell up and keep moving, his mana dropping steadily. Thal feed his own mana to Adalon so he could keep the spell up.

Adalon took a sharp turn left. moving out of the forest getting out to the bare land that marks the border of chasm. Adalon speed up his flight Thal barely keep up behind. There! a creek flowing to the endless Abyss there were debris of leafs and branches stuck to one of the larger rocks. There thal see the reflection of first light of the day from a curious object.

Thal rush over Adalon chirping and circling the debris. As thal getting closer he realize the debris was about to give way. Egg was bound to wash over to the abbys. Thal used blink cross the wast barren in an instant. There were no time left. Thal focus his mana and hit his palm to the ground. "Root!" he shout. One of the nature spells he saw early in his list.

Root Entangle:

Thal calls upon the roots of nearby trees or plants to come alive and ensnare his target's legs. The roots wrap around the enemy's limbs, immobilizing them and rendering them vulnerable to further attacks.

Roots like living snakes shoot out from the ground moving swiftly to the debris. Roots circle the debris keep it anchored to the location not allowing water to carry it out .

With a sight, thal get close to the debris.

─Green Dragon's Egg

─Description: The egg of a great forest dragon. Its shell made of Verdant scales.

─Condition: Critical!!!

Thal gently lift the egg to his arms. journey through the creek must hurt the egg somehow. He needed more info on what to do.

He had to take the risk and use his knowledge of elders.

He open the skill description and read carefully

Knowledge of the Elders (Passive)

As the inheritor of the legendary Dragon Tamer class. Thal blessed with the knowledge of the Elders. to be able to access information about creatures, items, and spells.

Thal learn that Egg needed nature mana to sustain and separated from its mother egg was in critical condition. Thal check his spells to see if there is a way to help the dragon egg.

There was another useful spell he had

Nature's Blessing:

This spell imbues the target with the essence of nature, healing their wounds and stabilizing their condition. This spell is especially effective against curses, diseases, and poisons.

Thal was hoping for something more but this needs to be just enough. He need to get out of this barren to the forest to perform the spell.

Thal start making his way to the forest with the egg cradled in his arms.

Adalon was flying over them circling his master.

Thal reached the edge of the forest and started his spell. He placed the egg on the ground and started casting.

He concentrated his mana, visualizing the flow of energy surrounding the egg. He could feel the power flowing through his body, his hands glowing with a verdant aura.

He gently laid his hands on the egg, feeling the warmth of its scales. The energy flowed into the egg, bathing it in a soft green light.

Thal could feel the life force inside the egg stir, growing stronger.

The glow faded and Thal stepped back, a feeling of exhaustion washing over him.

The egg was now safe and sound, its condition no longer in danger.

Thal watched the sun rise above the horizon, a feeling of satisfaction and contentment washing over him.