The four of us immediately sprinted back toward the fort. Upon reaching it, we discovered that the wall had been obliterated in the spot where it was damaged. The troglodytes were all dead, so what caused this? I turned to look in the direction I assumed it had come from. There was nothing but trees and some rocky outcroppings.

"Holme! You guys alright in there?" I shouted.

"We're alive, but many are injured!" she yelled.

"We're coming in!" I shouted as we walked across the rubble and through the new ten-foot gap in the wall. Holme was helping others drag injured men and women away from the destroyed section of the wall. I heard moans of pain all around me and noticed a man with a huge chunk of wall on his legs. Leo walked up to me and nodded. I hefted the giant piece of stone off the man and tossed it aside. He screamed in agony as I did. Leo immediately began healing him. His legs were mangled and bloody, but as Leo's magic poured into him, they slowly began to recover. I was amazed at both the potency of the magic and the fact that I had even been able to lift that piece off the man. It had to weigh over three hundred pounds, and I tossed it away with minimal effort.

Leo finished healing the others who had been caught in the mayhem, and once everyone had been removed from the area, I pulled Holme aside.

"What did this? If there's something you're keeping from me—" I began, but she held up a hand to stop me.

"We don't know, honestly. I assumed the trogs had some earth mage among their ranks who remained hidden, but they're all dead now. One of the survivors claimed he saw it come from the direction of the forest, but there's nothing out there. Besides, no troglodyte could hurl a boulder that far, mage or not." she stated.

"We'll go scout it out. Maybe the mage has some form of stealth ability," I declared.

The team joined me as I walked toward the forest, nearly a hundred yards away. We kept our guard up as we approached the tree line, but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. It was hard not to take in the scenery around me. The trees were massive, with beautiful vibrant green leaves large enough to use as a blanket. Flora, wholly different from any I'd seen on Earth, was all around me, yet I couldn't take the time to enjoy it. We proceeded a bit deeper into the forest and lost sight of Wallerdale behind the thick vegetation. There had to be something here. I was searching for any sign that the forest around me had been disturbed when I had an epiphany. There was nothing here. No birds singing. No animals scurrying through the trees, nothing. Even the desert of Larell was teeming with life, so this forest should be absolutely alive. A large boulder protruded from the ground a few yards away, and I climbed it to see if I could spot anything from a higher vantage point. I found nothing. I was about to hop down when I felt it. The boulder was shifting ever so slightly. It was rising and falling rhythmically as if it were...

I realized too late what was happening. The "boulder" abruptly rose from the ground, knocking me off. I scrambled back to my team and stared at the beast that was uncoiling in front of us.

[Stonescale Drake - Level 92]

It was a wingless dragon with golden yellow eyes and a maw that could swallow a car whole. The beast had four massive limbs ending in scythe-like claws. Earth-tone scales covered every inch of it from nose to tail. They were in alternating patterns of various browns, greens, and grays. The scales weren't smooth but were rough and textured like rock. The drake's natural camouflage was so perfect I was standing on top of it and couldn't tell it was there. I whispered its information to Cass and Leo, who went pale when I mentioned the level. Teos was snarling and baring his fangs. The drake stared back, its nostrils flaring with each breath. It could easily swallow us whole but made no move to do so. I focused on it, prompting extra information to appear.

[Stonescale Drake - Level 92]

Health: 100%

Mana: 3074/5000

Stonescale Drakes are the subterranean cousins of copper dragons. They rarely venture above ground unless their nests are threatened. They can accurately hurl boulders using their powerful forelimbs and tunnel through dirt and stone at incredible speed. Stonescale Drakes are typically docile, only attacking when threatened or guarding their young.

It was hard to believe that a fucking dragon had the word "docile" in its description, but I was praying my ability was correct.

"Nobody move," I ordered. When I spoke, the drake's yellow reptilian eyes focused on me. It opened its massive jaws slightly, and I heard a deep, rich voice. The tone was regal and elegant, giving me the impression I was speaking to royalty.

"I have not heard a mortal speak Draconic in thousands of years. I am called Gilthurdez. Who are you, little one?"

"I am called Alexander. It is an honor to speak with you, Gilthurdez. My friends and I were sent here to discover the problem involving the mine. Forgive me for asking, but are you responsible for what has happened at the fort over there?" I asked nervously. I did my best to sound subservient.

"Alexander. This is a good name. I sent the troglodytes to scare away the mortals who reside there. They have dug too deep and are approaching my nest," the Drake answered.

"I am confused. How did you control the troglodytes?" I asked, curiosity overwhelming my fear.

The drake made a noise that I think was supposed to be a laugh but sounded more like deep rumbling as if two massive stones were being ground together.

"Alex, why are you and the drake growling at each other?" Cass whispered.

I quickly answered that we were speaking and for everyone to stay calm. Gilthurdez seemed to be reasonable. He hadn't attacked us at first sight, and he could have quickly demolished the fort and killed everyone inside himself if he had inclined.

"We Greater Dragonkin can influence our lesser kin. Control is not the correct word. It is more like a strong suggestion. Have mortals forgotten so much in so little time?"

"I am not from here, Gilthurdez. I come from a place called Earth and am ignorant of more than I'd like about your world," I answered. The drake became visibly excited when I said this, and for a moment, I feared I had made a mistake.

"You are a Terran! I miss Terra, the dirt and stone were much easier to dig through, and those large fur-covered tusked animals were delicious. Have you ever tried one?" he asked me.

I didn't respond immediately as I processed what he had just said. A dragon, a drake, whatever had been to Earth, and was he asking me if I had ever eaten a wooly mammoth?

"No, I've never tried one. Why did you use the troglodytes? Surely you could have scared away the people in the fort yourself," I said to the drake. I omitted the fact that wooly mammoths had been extinct for millennia.

"I did not wish to reveal myself. Most mortals hunt my kind for our treasures and scales. Word always spreads amongst mortals when one of my kind makes an appearance. I had planned to eliminate you four, but hearing you speak Draconic gave me pause. They have forgotten the old ways when we were allies and friends. I suppose it cannot be helped now, though. I will not let them discover my nest," he declared.

"Wait! If I can convince them to leave, will you spare them?" I questioned the great beast.

He paused before responding, "As long as none have seen me, and you give me your word that you will keep my existence a secret, I will agree to these terms."

I knew Holme and the others would never leave just because I asked them to, and I didn't want to risk exposing Gilthurdez by telling them if they didn't go, something will kill them all. I promised the majestic beast we would keep his secret.

"Gilthurdez, how good are you at digging?" I asked the drake, which elicited another rumbling laugh.

"How well do fish swim? How well do birds fly?" he responded.

I asked him a few more questions and, for a tiny favor, explained my plan, then headed back toward the fort. On the way, I quietly explained our conversation and told Cass and Leo not to reveal the drake's presence under any circumstances. I told them the plan, and we finished the walk back to Wallerdale.

"Find anything?" Holme asked as we approached.

"Nothing. If there was something there, it vanished. We have another problem, though." I told the Sergeant.

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"What now?" she said, not hiding her anger.

"I'm detecting strange seismic activity. I fear your mines are about to collapse," Leo declared.

"What? You're a healer. The hell do you know about mining?" she interrogated.

"I'm a Geomancer who is capable of healing," Leo answered sternly.

"We just had an Earth Mage here a few weeks ago, and he said everything was fine. What the hell are you talking about?" Holme growled.

I began to worry that my plan was going to shit, but Leo stepped up.

"Well, whoever did the previous evaluation must have overlooked the fact that you're mining in Jhainworm territory. My guess? You've dug deep enough to where they tunnel, and the mines' structure is being compromised. Are there any miners left inside?" Leo questioned.

"No, we evacuated them when the attack began. I'll have it evaluated again, but until the mage returns, we will resume mining operations," Holme said.

I stomped over to the defiant Sergeant. "You'll be risking everyone's lives for some money! This is foolish!" I declared.

Her face twisted in anger, and she was about to respond when the ground rumbled and shook.

"Run! RUN!" Leo repeatedly yelled.

The ground shook again, more violently this time. The tower on the wall collapsed from the quake.

Miners and soldiers poured out of the gateway in a panic, and it took around five minutes to clear the fort completely.

The ground shook even more violently, and the entire fort collapsed into the ground. A giant pile of rubble had replaced it.

"Gods-damn it! Now what are we gonna do?" one of the dirt-covered miners cursed.

Holme stormed up to us and glared at Leo. "Did you do this?" she demanded angrily.

"Did I do this? If I was capable of this, why wouldn't I have just demolished the troglodytes? No, as I said, the location of your mine was unstable. Had the owner gone through the proper channels, he would have had an ecologist make sure something like this wasn't possible," Leo rebuked.

Holme deflated at that. It seemed it was hard to defend a man who was operating an illegal mining facility.

"I would have had to report the situation to my commander once we returned. This mine was shutting down one way or another. At least now you all walk away without repercussions," I told the Sergeant.

"What will we do now? Some of us have families to feed," one of the guards asked.

"Head to Fayne or any other city with a Guild Hall. There's no shortage of work. Things are happening in the Kingdom, and we need all the help we can get," Cass declared.

Her words placated most, but I still heard some grumbling and moaning as they left the site. Most headed toward Fayne, but a few groups ventured in other directions. Holme narrowed her eyes at us.

"What really happened here? What was out in the forest?" she probed.

"Just let it go, Holme. What do you owe this guy, anyway? His greed nearly got you all killed. If we hadn't been here, and you repelled the trogs, you would've been buried under all that anyway. Just drop it," I stated grimly with a gesture toward the rubble.

She sighed and nodded, "You're right. I'll go tell the idiot his mine is gone, then decide what to do," she replied defeatedly.

"If you come to Fayne, look us up. We could certainly use someone with your skill," I told her.

She shook our hands and wandered off in the opposite direction of Fayne. I wasn't sure she would actually let this go. The owner might even investigate it, but if Gilthurdez had remained hidden for this long, I doubt a few people could ever hope to discover him. We waited for everyone to be out of sight before heading back to the forest. A large boulder waited for us deep behind the trees.

"They're gone. I can't promise they won't come and try to find out more, but your nest should be safe," I told the rock.

"Thank you, Alexander," a voice replied from an entirely different direction. I turned and saw the drake sticking his head above the ground a few yards away, and I could swear he was smiling.

Cass and Leo laughed at me, and the deep rumbling of Gilthurdez joined them. I even felt a wave of amusement from Teos. I was about to ask the drake a question when he exploded into motion. The four of us braced, fearing he was coming for us, but he raced a few yards into the forest with a single leap, and I heard a scream.

He returned with someone hanging limply in his mouth. It was Sergeant Holme. He gently placed her down.

"Damn it, Holme! I told you to leave! Why did you have to come back? Why couldn't you just let it go!?" I shouted in a mix of anger and despair.

"Forgive me, little one, but the risk was too great, she was one of the mortals from the mines," the drake apologized.

Seeing the drake move so quickly and decisively was a stark reminder of just how dangerous he was. He could end all four of us at any moment.

"Will you stay here for one moment? I wish to retrieve something for each of you as both a thank you and an apology," Gilthurzed rumbled.

I agreed and sat down. I placed my head in my hands. The drake vanished back underground. His tail somehow filled the crater where he had been as he left, hiding any trace of his disturbance. I understood why he killed her. I wish he had given me a chance to talk to her. Maybe I could have convinced her to keep this a secret. Cass placed her hand on my shoulder, and I looked up at her.

"I'm sorry, Alex. She didn't deserve that, but you did warn her. Her blood is not on your hands," she consoled me.

"I know," I said softly.

The drake returned shortly, coming back up the same burrow he had gone down. He spat three items onto the ground.

"Take these from my hoard. I hope they will serve you well on your journey."

I stood and examined the three items. The first was a beautiful staff. It was made of the most incredible wood I had ever seen. The entire length was inlaid with golden depictions of drakes and dragons. The top was carved to resemble a dragon's claw holding an orb with swirling golden mist inside. The orb was breathtaking, and it pulsed with energy.

[Harmony, Branch of the Runetree]

Legendary Weapon - Staff

300 Attack

+200 Intellect

+150 Regeneration

+50% Mana

+50 Vigor

+50 Endurance

+50% Healing and Spell Damage

Unique Effect: Call upon the Runetree's power to completely heal your target and purge any negative effects. Cooldown: 24 Hours.

WARNING: You do not meet the level requirement to use this weapon.

Next to the staff was an incredible battle axe. It was a sizeable bearded axe. Instead of being blunt or spiked on the opposite side, there was another small blade with savage serrations. The material used to craft it was unlike any metal I had ever seen. It was dark gray and lustrous. An engraving on the axe head depicted a ferocious wolf covered in chains.

[Chainbreaker, Harbinger of Ragnarok]

Legendary Weapon - One-Handed Axe

1,100 Attack

+200 Strength

+125 Dexterity

+100 Vigor

+100 Endurance

+100 Regeneration

Unique Effect: Become the embodiment of fury and unleash a whirlwind of strikes on all enemies within 5 yards. You are immune to control effects for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 8 Hours.

WARNING: You do not meet the level requirement to use this weapon.

The last item, which Gilthurzed had placed directly in front of me, was a sword. The hilt was a single piece of polished bronze, even the cross guard. The handle was textured lightly for grip. Rather than have a traditional cross guard, the bronze had been carved into a pair of draconic wings extending outwards from the handle. The blade was nearly three inches wide and double-edged, ending in a triangular tip. A large fuller had been carved down the middle of the blade to reduce its weight and improve its balance. Runes had been engraved down the entire blade length and were slightly darker in color than the reflective steel.

[Oathkeeper, Runeblade of Lost Voices]

Legendary Weapon - One-Handed Sword

1000 Attack

+200 Strength

+200 Vigor

+100 Dexterity

+100 Endurance

+80 Regeneration

Unique Effect: Unleash an aura of silence, preventing any enemies within 10 yards from casting spells for 8 seconds. While allies remain in the aura, they are continuously healed. Cooldown: 6 Hours.

WARNING: You do not meet the level requirement to use this weapon.

I was stunned. Had the drake hand-picked these weapons for us based on our abilities? I went to pick up the sword, but Leo yelled something right as my hand touched it. I felt all the mana drain from me instantly, and I passed out.

I awoke confused, unsure of how much time had passed. I sat up, rubbing my forehead. My head felt like it had been split in half, and my whole body ached. Leo and Cass were crouched over me, and Gilthurzed was watching nearby.

"What the hell happened?" I asked.

"We can't use those, at least not for a while. I should have explained earlier that gear drains mana from you to grant you the bonuses. For equipment that's appropriate for your level, you don't even notice it. But something like those weapons? The drain is way too high for us to touch, let alone use." Leo explained.

I translated what Leo said to the drake, who was concerned his gift had injured me.

"I am sorry, Alexander. I did not realize you could not use these items. I will take them back and find something more suitable," the drake said.

"No, it's quite alright! We love them, and you hand-picked each of those for us. I have an ability that can store them until we're able to use them. Thank you, Gilthurzed!" I replied quickly.

"As you wish, little one. I must ask before we part ways. Which of my kin taught you our language? Was it Fafnir?" the drake queried.

"I have another ability that allows me to understand and speak any language. Are you saying that there are still dragonkin on Earth?" I asked, shocked.

"Many were trapped when the Great Seals were placed. Fafnir is my cousin, and I was hoping you knew of him."

"I'm sorry, I was unaware they even existed until I met you. We have myths and lore on Earth about drakes and dragons, but no one has ever actually seen one," I told the drake.

"I will leave now, Alexander. I will take the body with me. Thank you for being so helpful. Should you encounter any of my other kin, tell them you are a friend of Gilthurzed." the drake said and began to burrow back underground.

I yelled goodbye and turned to the others, trying not think about what the drake would do with Holme's corpse. Teos was hungry, so I pulled a steak from my Cache and tossed it to him. Luckily, food and drink seemed to be preserved indefinitely while inside it.

I tried touching the legendary weapons with a stick to place them into my Cache, but it didn't work. I really didn't want a repeat of the earlier incident. My head was still pounding. I carefully lowered my boot onto the sword and immediately stashed it. I was surprised it worked, but I did feel it begin to drain me for the millisecond I touched it. I waited for my mana to recover before adding the other weapons.

"When do you think we'll be able to use those?" I asked the team.

"Probably not until at least Level 60, maybe higher. I'm not sure," Leo answered.

The communication crystal began humming, and I removed it from my pouch. I focused and channeled mana into it.

"Alex? Are you well? You should have returned by now." Nerzhyn's voice emitted from the glowing sphere.

"Yes, we're all okay. We ran into a slight delay but should be back in a couple of hours, " I answered.

"Make it quick. You three have a visitor," our commander replied.

"A visitor? Who?" Cass asked her.

"A man calling himself Samuel. We have him in custody. He claims that he helped you escape the arena," Nerzhyn answered.

"On our way!" I shouted as I put the crystal back.

We began running back to Fayne.