Between practicing Dragonstryke in my grandpa's vast backyard and playing with his pets, I kept reading the book Ronoke gave me, "Quests of the Dragon Tamer."
I never read much for fun, but I couldn't put the book down as soon as I picked it up. Reading was always so boring. I’d be halfway done with a paragraph and not have any idea what I just read. But this, was much different.
I read the first story on the trip to Englaria from Port Harbor.
The Beginnings
The Manticore brooded. Hungry with power and filled with jealousy, The Manticore witnessed other species inhabiting all the islands in Lementum. It saw an opportunity, the world could belong to The Manticore. Clearly, no being had such power as The Manticore did. Although The Gargantuan had its own unique ability, rivaling The Manticore's, The Gargantuan spent most of its time sleeping and collecting treasures and jewels from the dragons -the children of The Gargantuan.
Jealous of The Gargantuan's family with dragons, The Manticore discovered it could create its own minions to do its bidding. Rather than risking The Manticore's life by flying to the Lementum islands and wiping out species, it could divide its power and replicate enough to create a formidable army of minions.
The Manticore first created the Molten Marauder and another minion, the Iox Sage. The Manticore figured it could send the two of them to any island, warn the people to give up their land, and obey The Manticore, or else the innocent people would perish through a long, drawn-out, bloody war.
The first tale of notoriety begins with the Molten Marauder going to Hartsera, where most of the mages lived and flourished. The Manticore knew that gargoyles would not give their land up so quickly, but perhaps the mages would since they were human, with soft skin and an inability to fly.
The Molten Marauder made the sky over the island of Hartsera turn blood red. He flew down to the main town square, and everyone saw him since they were already outside staring at the abnormal sky color. Many people thought that the Molten Marauder was a gargoyle at first, but when they noticed his skin flowing like lava, they knew it was unlike anything they had ever seen.
The town constable alerted a Glacien and an Aquaso, thinking it would stop this monster, even though the Molten Marauder had not moved an inch from when he landed. The townspeople could feel his threatening aura.
An Aquaso and a Glacien sprinted forward at the constable's request. As soon as they held out their hands to charge a blast, the Molten Marauder said, "I do not wish to fight any of you at this moment. I recognize you all as the people of The Manticore. The Manticore has requested your island of Hartsera."
The Aquaso and Glacien turned to the constable for direction. The constable pointed his finger and made a pushing motion with his other hand.
Just as the Aquaso and Glacien were about to launch their attack, the Molten Marauder suddenly sprang into action. With lightning reflexes, he drew out his obsidian blade and plunged it deep into the ground in front of him. A deafening shock wave rippled outwards, hitting both mages with such force that they were thrown off their feet and sent tumbling across the cobblestones. However, this was just the beginning of their misfortune. As they struggled to regain their balance, a deep crack appeared in the ground beneath their feet, growing wider by the second. Within moments, the crack had turned into a gaping chasm, swallowing up the two mages in a terrifying whirlwind of dust and debris. The sound of their screams echoed through the town square, causing bystanders to freeze in horror and disbelief.
"I come to talk in peace. If anyone else tries to attack me again, it will be the end of them,” The Molten Marauder boomed.
"How can you claim to talk in peace when you've just murdered two innocent men!" someone yelled from the crowd.
"I was defending myself. Not that the attack would have done much, your abilities don't affect me like a standard mortal or mage, but I refuse to be treated disrespectfully. I have a message to deliver, and that's it. No misfortune comes unprovoked. I will not explain myself further."
"Will y-you deliver your message and g-go? W-we don't want any more trouble,” the constable said.
The Molten Marauder nodded. "Now, here is the message from The Manticore. The Manticore God wants this island and wants all of you to recognize The Manticore as its leader. You must worship The Manticore at least once a day. The Manticore will come again, and anyone who doesn't kneel before The Manticore during its flyover will be seen as an enemy of Hartsera. There is no choice. You kneel, you live. If you disobey and take a stand, The Manticore will proceed to fight. I will be by The Manticore's side, assisting with the takeover. You have 24 hours to decide the best for your family, and might I remind you, the best decision will be to let The Manticore take control."
The crowd gasped and exchanged glances at each other. There had to be something that could be done. The idea of a Manticore takeover was a nightmare.
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From the distance, The Gargantuan had a dragon friend, Corleos, flying nearby Hartsera, who heard the Molten Marauder's entire speech. Corleos flew back deep into the Dragon’s Cavern, a magical island hidden with complex magic. But Corleos told The Gargantuan all about what had happened.
The Gargantuan was disgusted by the news and tried to think of a way to prevent The Manticore from taking over land at will. The idea of telling all the dragons to go and fight would be worthless. The dragons wouldn't want to be involved in a war. They would have done something if the dragon's land had been invaded. But this was the land of the mages, which they didn't care for at all.
Corleos could tell something was amiss. "Gargantuan, why must you let the news of The Manticore bother you? Do you have direct ties with the mages?"
"I do not. But something doesn't feel right about The Manticore taking what he pleases. He is causing senseless harm to those existing and enjoying life."
"But it doesn't impact you. Why is it a bother?”
"I believe in free will. Let, whatever happens, happen. But it's wrong to conquer land. You are inhibiting free will by taking over and controlling the lives of others."
"But again, I ask, why does it matter to you? You are not in any immediate danger even if you hold those beliefs."
The Gargantuan paused. "If The Manticore takes over Hartsera without resistance or pain, The Manticore will inevitably want to take more land from others. We must set a precedent before it's too late. Tell the dragons to prepare for war."
"I don't think that's a good idea. The dragons are creatures that adhere strongly to their opinions and beliefs. Their creeds are sacred. There is no way that I could convince them to mobilize for war."
The Gargantuan knew that he couldn't tell the dragons to fight on his behalf. They wouldn't unless The Manticore actively invaded the mountainous island they lived on. But an idea struck him. Perhaps if he had a more direct connection with the dragons, he could influence them.
"Corleos, this is a matter of utmost importance. We need to protect the mages in Hartsera. If we don't, The Manticore will keep on annexing islands until it's a force so strong we cannot stop them. We must set a precedent now. Give me some of your energy and strength, and I will pool together mine. Together, we shall create a warrior who can communicate with dragons and understand them better than any other being. He will also have the ability of a mage with elemental magic."
"Gargantuan, I'm not sure how I feel about this. You would be commanding my people in this attack that has no relation to us."
"It's of utmost importance. It's either we do this, or the world comes to an end."
"I think you might be exaggerating."
"Corleos, if you don't obey me and my request, I will have no choice but to take your soul. I’m sorry to be so severe, but evil is approaching.”
Finally, once Corleos was threatened, he understood the gravity of the situation. "If you wish, Gargantuan." Corleos breathed a black flame into a caldron, a unique flame containing half of his magical energy. Corleos would recover, but it would take months, but even after the fact, there was still more residual recovery needed.
Adding to the cauldron, Corleos bit his right leg, and blood oozed inside, creating a green flame.
The Gargantuan breathed out a black flame as well, feeling significantly weaker, but since The Gargantuan was a god, it could recover in a quicker time frame, but it couldn't create minions with ease anymore. Creation would forever be an arduous process. The Gargantuan also bit its right hand and poured blood into the mixture.
The Gargantuan worried it wouldn't be enough time for the flames to create the warrior. It feared The Manticore would have already started the invasion.
As the hours went by, finally, signs of life. The warrior took form, the shape and size of a human, but taller, stronger, and filled with magical properties.
Thus, The Dragon Tamer was finally born. "Hello, Corleos, Thank you," The Dragon Tamer said immediately.
Corleos's eyes widened. Something about how The Dragon Tamer communicated made Corleos listen and perk his ears.
"And also, Gargantuan, thank you for giving me life."
Gargantuan explained everything that The Dragon Tamer had to do for his mission.
"I accept. But I have a request. My body is naked. I need armor of some sort to adequately defend against any attacks from the Molten Marauder or The Manticore."
"Your wish is granted. I have a coat of armor made out of dragon scales," Corleos offered.
When a dragon finally passed away from natural causes, it was customary for other dragons to harvest the resources and turn the deceased dragon into treasure or tools. Finding something more durable and stronger than dragon-scale armor was nearly impossible.
"And I can make you a helmet," The Gargantuan said. He breathed out another stream of black flames until the helmet of the Dragon Tamer was made. It had a spike on top and on the left and right sides. It was intimidating. Although heavy and just as durable as dragon-scale armor, it was lightweight to the wearer.
The Dragon Tamer wore the mask. "This is perfect, Gargantuan. Unfortunately, I just have one more request."
The Gargantuan observed the Dragon Tamer and realized at once the last missing piece. Although it took more energy out of The Gargantuan to make the helmet, it just had enough to make one more item. Once again, black flames exhaled from The Gargantuan formed together and solidified into a giant whip capable of destruction.
"Unfortunately, that is all I can make for you right now. My energy has been depleted. But I think it's important that we give you an orb at some point soon, but I am incapable of making one. I would have to commission Helena, the greatest smith the world has ever seen."
"That's okay," the Dragon Tamer said. "I think this will be enough to ward off any attack or invasion today, but I definitely foresee a need to equip ourselves with a powerful orb in the future. I will now travel to Hartsera and speak with the Molten Marauder."
"I don't think the Molten Marauder wants a conversation. I think he's out for blood from the people. Be careful. He might attack you," Corleos said.
"I'm well prepared to thwart any attack from the Molten Marauder. When I said I planned on talking to him, I meant showing him the way out."
"But I think the Molten Marauder will attack."
"It will be his mistake to learn from. Although the mistake might be fatal."
"Hurry, you must go soon. The Molten Marauder will be arriving in Hartsera at any moment. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll have time to convince any dragons to join your quest," The Gargantuan warned.
"And, unfortunately, I am too weak to accompany you. I'm sorry," Corleos said.
"It's okay. The Molten Marauder will arrive by himself, and so shall I." The Dragon Tamer bowed in front of them.
Fortunately, Corleos still had enough energy to fly the Dragon Tamer to Hartsera.
End of Passage 1.