Dawn of a Dragon Mage, page 4
However, most of the enemies were weak and easy to handle. There was one target who remained in the Shroud and refused to participate in the battle. Garret wasn’t going to let that slide, however, and he commanded Null to pull the target in.
Null followed orders and summoned all his magical power to throw a gravity ball at the target. The enemy attempted to flee, but Selina halted them in their tracks by sending an electric shock through the ground. The target stuttered and was drawn out of the Shroud and toward the group.
For the first time, they could finally see the commander of these black-clad warriors.
He was a tall knight, clad in black and gold armor, a black cape with gold lining trailing behind him. He wielded a small shield and a longsword, both of which were adorned with the symbol of a spider. His visor completely covered his face, and even the helm he wore bore etchings and elaborate symbols of spiders.
Garret leaped forward, conjured his sword, and engaged with the knight. They exchanged blows, and it was clear that this knight was a step above the ruffians he had brought with him. Fortunately, Garret had Null and Selina’s aid. Null didn’t hesitate to step in and teleport here and there to knock the knight when he couldn’t see him.
…but Selina was frozen in place. She stared at the spider knight with a look of fear and confusion.
“Selina!” Garret called out to her as the spider knight began to overwhelm him. “Selina!”
Still, she could not snap out of it.
Fortunately, Null managed to open a portal, and he swept his leg through.
This quick maneuver helped knock the spider knight prone, and Garret summoned Aven. Together with his sword and the dragon’s lethal fangs, they managed to damage the spider knight’s helm. The enemy was forced to remove his helmet, but he did so as he dashed back into the cover of the Shroud before anyone could get a glimpse of his face.
Once he was gone, the ruffians who were still alive quickly surrendered. Garret stripped them of their weapons and attempted to interrogate them, but they remained silent. They wouldn’t speak a word of where they had come from or from whom they received orders.
“Assassins,” Null said.
“I doubt they’re proper assassins,” Garret said. “They’re too unskilled. They’re likely just hired bandits. That spider knight, though…”
“He was no joke. So, what do we do with these ones?” Null asked, gesturing to their captives.
“They’re not going to talk,” Garret said, “and we can’t really bring them with us.”
Null gulped. “So we just kill them?”
Garret shook his head. “Let’s throw them back out into the Shroud. Let the gods decide whether they live or die.”
Now, they had no spider knight to keep them safe… and the dangers of the Shroud were a far better punishment than simply keeping these bandits in a cell.
After the captives were dealt with, Garret walked over to Selina. She had remained silent during the interrogations, obviously elsewhere in her mind.
“Are you all right?” Garret asked her. “You froze for a moment in the battle.”
“I-I apologize,” she stuttered weakly. “When I saw that knight, memories flooded my mind. I recall someone just like him, in my dreams, but there’s no guarantee it’s the same man.”
“In your dreams?” Null asked as he approached. “That scary spider knight was in your dreams? Color me confused. I wouldn’t want my dreams to come true if my dreams involved some fearsome menace in black armor. Might we call him… a knightmare, eh?”
“Shut up.” Selina giggled as she smacked Null on the shoulder. “I know it’s silly.”
The door to the carriage opened, and Lord Ghalen emerged. He smiled at Selina and gave her a reassuring look. “I don’t think it’s silly. Dreams can be a portal to our reality, to our past, or to our futures. They give us warnings and help us understand the confusing message of life. Like Null’s temporal portals, your dreams could be a gateway to something important. It’s crucial to pay attention to them.”
Garret stared into the Shroud. He felt angry and regretful at the same time, knowing that a person who caused harm to his betrothed was still out there. “I’ll find that spider knight one day… and he will pay for what he’s done.”
“Good, but for now, let us carry on our way,” Lord Ghalen said. “Your mother is waiting for us, and the last thing we need is her fussing over our tardiness. We’re already going to get an earful because we ran into trouble on the road when she specifically requested I bring more knights with me. I told her there was no need as you three are reputable dragon summoners now, and you have proven me right. You protected this caravan and did so with a swiftness that proves you are no ordinary mercenaries.”
Once the knights had recuperated, everyone hopped back into the carriage, and they continued on their way.
Chapter 4
Caerleone was one of the busier cities of Fraeldhen, being the trade center between Fraeldhen, the Destrahl Empire, and the Urthgad Isles. It had the largest open market and boasted many canals for tourists to take short boat rides around the city. It also had several towers with full dragon skulls that helped spread protection from the Shroud to the nearby farmlands. This was a safe haven for the weary, the poor, the traveler, and the common man.
Castle Vilfort, which stood atop a small hill surrounded by a manmade moat filled with mud and murky water, was a beautiful sight for one and all. The main keep was an intimidating four-sided block that stood well over three hundred feet tall, and many said that its foundations ran even farther down into the ground.
Its walls zigzagged, forming a bastion that allowed more archers to line the parapets and defend the castle against would-be assailants. Other than the Royal Castle in Danustre, this was the most revered fortress in all of Fraeldhen. It had stood the test of time, from the ages before the Last War of the Metal Dragons to today.
“Look, the people are preparing for the annual Iron Festival,” Garret informed his companions. He pointed out the window of their carriage, specifically at the smiths bringing out their forges and displaying their finest swords, armor, shields, and more. “During this week, the city celebrates when the last known metal dragon summoner ended the Last War.”
“But wasn’t the last metal dragon summoner a member of the Fraeldhen royal family? Why does Caerleone celebrate it instead of honoring their own metal dragon summoner?” Null asked.
Lord Ghalen chuckled and wagged a finger at Null, noting his keen observation. “That’s a good question, but alas, the answer is quite simple. Our metal dragon summoner during the Last War, Lord Garmond Vilfort, died protecting the Fraeldhen king. We have a separate festival in his honor.”
“Well, that does tell me one thing, Null,” Selina said with a grin. “Now we know you’re not from Caerleone. Anybody who was would know these things.”
Null pouted, but he did give her the win. “Okay, you got me there.”
“Oh, one last thing,” said Lord Ghalen. “Please don’t tell Lady Ysabel about our little encounter on the road. We don’t want her worried. There have been two assassination attempts already. Hearing about a third will simply get her riled up again.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Garret figured. “No worries, Father. I don’t like lying to Mother, but… this isn’t exactly lying.”
Selina sighed. “True, but we’re also keeping parts of the truth from her.”
Lord Ghalen noticed the hesitation and gave Selina some reassurance. “Don’t worry, I will tell her in due time. We need to deal with these issues first. If there is yet another assassination attempt or if we can get about our business and finish this job, then I will tell her about our encounter on the road myself. How does that sound?”
Selina nodded. It was a reasonable proposition. Garret and Null had no problems with it either.
After traversing the main roads of the city, they approached the castle drawbridge. Knights immediately lowered the bridge and allowed their caravan to enter. Null marveled at the bastion design of the walls, the thick barbican that loomed above them as they entered, and the wide space of the bailey, which was where they stopped and were told to disembark from their ride.
The main keep’s large doors were open, and the group saw Garret’s mother, Lady Ysabel, come bursting through the archway in a white and red dress. She first greeted her husband and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She then greeted Garret with a warm hug and gave Null an embrace as well. She then turned to Selina and bowed before the princess.
“Your Grace,” said Lady Ysabel with a curtsy.
The princess smiled and held Lady Ysabel’s hand as she gestured for the latter to rise. “Please, there is no need. I would rather be greeted as your daughter or as a dragon summoner than a princess.”
“You are all three and more,” Lady Ysabel told her, and the two hugged. “Now, come along inside. Your rooms are prepared. Hot water flows between the walls, and this keeps the rooms cool during the day and warm during the night. Null, I hope you’ll find your quarters acceptable to your standards. We prepared our most elegant guest room for your needs.
“As for the princess and my son, seeing as you aren’t married yet, we’ve prepared two rooms for you. Princess Selina will stay in the maiden room, which is the second largest room we have. We had it made in case my husband and I were to have a daughter. That never came to be, but with you betrothed to my son, it may have worked out that way in some sense, eh? Now, Son, you still have your quarters, right between Null and the princess. I hope this enables the three of you to communicate as needed with little to no interference.”
“Mother, while your hospitality is very much appreciated,” Garret said with a smile. “we’re here for official business.”
“That they are,” Lord Ghalen confirmed.
“I know, I know,” Lady Ysabel said with a shake of her head. “Still, allow a mother a moment or two to coddle her children and their friend. Speaking of which, Sir Null, I still believe that one day I will be the one to unravel all your mysteries. The servants and I have all placed bets regarding your origins, you see, and I’m betting a lot of money that you come from south Fraeldhen, in one way or another.”
“Well, he’s not from Caerleone, we know that for sure,” Garret informed his mother as he headed inside the castle. “We just passed by the festival preparations, and he had no clue about it. No true Fraeldhennie wouldn’t know about our festivals. People come far and wide to participate in the merriment.”
Null laughed. “I’ll just put it this way. You’re somewhat right but also somewhat wrong. I’m not telling you which is which, though.”
Selina pouted, and the whole group laughed.
The princess then bade Lord Ghalen farewell as she joined the others.
Thanks to Lady Ysabel, Team Iron Clad was given a fair amount of time to stay in their respective rooms and rest. Garret took a warm bath, and then they all sat down together for supper. It was during their meal that Null and Selina got to meet Lord Grahm, Garret’s older brother. Grahm looked a lot like his sibling, save for the slightly bigger build and the thick beard that lined his jaw. He also had a seemingly permanently tired look. Lady Ysabel explained it was because of all his studying as he prepared to become the new lord of the castle, but Garret also surmised it must’ve been due to a lack of sleep. He figured Grahm had been busy investigating these assassination attempts—whether or not their father permitted it.
Though he was set to inherit their lord father’s title and castle, Lord Grahm still hadn’t married… at least not again. He was married once, long ago, but his wife was killed while out on the road. Her guards and accompanying dragon summoners tried to protect her, but the monsters overwhelmed them, even managing to break through the dragon bone protection. That was five years ago, and there had been many young ladies from different noble houses who had tried to woo Lord Grahm, but he was focused entirely on his duties as Lord Ghalen’s son.
No one interfered or threatened family… especially not like these assassins had.
For the rest of the afternoon, the group got to celebrate in the castle’s main hall. As Lady Ysabel boasted, there were musicians, poets, and dancing. They had tables upon tables of food, and everyone in the castle was welcome to join the feast—from the young stable boys to the castle’s master-at-arms.
As for Team Iron Clad, they were given the most honored table, situated right below Lord Ghalen and Lady Ysabel’s. Lord Grahm sat along with the team, giving the group a much-needed opportunity to relax.
During the feast, Garret noticed two groups seated among the long tables. He leaned closer to his brother and asked, “Those two squads… they look like dragon summoners, but I’ve never seen them at the academy.”
Grahm nodded and whispered back into Garret’s ears, “That’s because they’re not from your academy. They were assigned here by the royal family. The group with the large barbarian-looking guy, they’re from Sky River. The other team, the one with the lady wearing an alabaster mask, they’re from the Golem Military Academy.”
Garret was immediately confused. “Why would the king and queen send two squads from a different school? Do they already know about the mines?”
“They do,” Grahm confirmed. “They were also talking a little bit about you, by the way.”
“What do you mean?” Princess Selina asked.
“They were wondering just how good you guys were or if all this praise about you was nothing but hogwash,” Grahm answered. “These guys believe they’re better.”
“We’ll see about that,” Null told the group as he munched down on mutton and boiled potatoes. “I don’t trust them. I’m sorry, Princess, but your parents really should’ve just sent more teams from Silver Wolf instead of asking other academies.”
Selina looked at the other teams and noticed they were looking back. She quickly averted her eyes and focused instead on her meal. “W-well… a bit of friendly competition would be good for our personal growth, yes?”
Grahm guffawed. “Don’t feel intimidated. I’m sure you guys are more than enough to handle the situation.”
“Oh, we are,” Garret said with solid assurance. “We most definitely are.”
The rest of the afternoon went by without a hitch. Selina did get a little apprehensive and shy afterward, however, and retired to her quarters early. Null followed suit once he realized it was okay to excuse himself from the feast. He had been intent on leaving soon after the festivities began, likely to participate in one of the many other parties being celebrated elsewhere in the castle, but he hadn’t known their customs and hadn’t been sure if it was acceptable to leave the table without an invitation first.
Garret stayed behind for another hour, but then he, too, decided it was time to prepare for their mission. All throughout the afternoon and the evening feast, his mind kept wandering back to the image of the spider knight and the fact that Garret was now a metal dragon summoner.
He was about to retire to his room when he passed by the keep’s library. He knew that his father kept rare books about dragon summoners, tomes which even the academy’s library lacked. Curious to see what he might find, Garret decided to go inside, finding it empty. He lit one of the oil lamps and perused the shelves. It didn’t take long for him to stumble upon a book detailing rare dragon summoners, including the metal dragon.
There was a lot of information there, but most of it was cryptic and conjectural. Then it struck Garret. He didn’t need to find out more from a book when he could simply ask his very own metal dragon.
These books are interesting… but I’m sure you can tell me all I want to know, Aven.
To his surprise, the dragon disagreed. ‘I wouldn’t know much—if I’m being honest. Remember, I was born the moment you and I resonated. It’s true that my essence comes from metal dragons of the past, but that’s about it. I don’t have their memories.’
“Ah, well, I suppose that would be too easy, wouldn’t it?” Garret whispered softly in response. He took the book and retreated to his chambers. With a few lit lamps, he now had enough light to do a bit of late-night reading. He got comfortable on his bed and skimmed the contents of the book.
Most of it detailed things he already knew. However, there was something mentioned that he had never heard before.
The Alloy of Divinity.
“Aven, do you know anything about the Alloy of Divinity?” he asked the dragon out loud.
Aven materialized and sat comfortably on his lap. The iron dragon looked up at him and shook its head. “No. This is the first time I’ve heard of it. As I said, I only know as much as you do.”
Garret went back to the book and followed the passage with his finger as he read it out loud for Aven: “The Alloy of Divinity is a fabled dragon essence, one that has not been seen since the Dawn of Heroes.”
“What’s the Dawn of Heroes?” asked Aven.
“That was the era before the Last War of Metal Dragons,” Garret explained. He placed a hand on the dragon and petted its head and neck. The little dragon closed its eyes and purred, very much like a kitten. “During the Dawn of Heroes, there were many metal dragon summoners, and they served as kings, champions, and adventurers. They achieved so many amazing feats.”
Aven got more comfortable, curling up on Garret’s lap. “Oh… that’s an interesting period. I wonder if it was real.”
I never thought of that. I always figured these historical times were factual. Amused and curious, Garret went back to the book and read some more, “The Alloy of Divinity could grant its user the most powerful magic. One that supersedes anything any other metal dragon summoner could dream to attain. It is even rumored that this was the very cause for the great war that would soon doom all metal dragon summoners and wipe them out of existence.”
