I'm getting into this one, here's the next chapter.
Enjoy
Canas and I awoke early the next morning. We ate and left without waking Emily or Hugh. Despite this, we had still kept Fiora and her trainees waiting for a us
"There you two are." Fiora said, sounding somewhat disappointed.
"Sorry, we didn't realize you meant dawn." I apologized. Fiora sighed.
"It's fine, I wasn't clear. And hear, take this." Fiora handed me my bag.
"Oh, thanks. So which way are we going?"
"Out the north exit, over there. We should be able to reach the path that leads up the south side of the mountain from there."
"Sounds good to me." I said as I started walking with Canas. Zealot mounted his horse and followed us while Fiora and Yuno led from overhead. I couldn't help but be thankful that my robes were so thick, it was a blistering cold in Ilia that morning. After a walk which felt like it took hours we arrived at a path up the mountain. Looking up, I couldn't see the peak past the clouds. I had to wonder how high up Niime was living. "So how high are we going?" I asked Canas.
"I'm not sure yet, we'll have to get higher before I can know."
"What?"
"My mother has a system that tells the people who know what to look for where she is at any given time. Once we reach the right place, I can tell you exactly where she is."
"I see, interesting. Shall we be going then?" Fiora nodded and took off again along with Yuno. Canas, Zealot and I followed behind as quickly as we could. As we came around a corner we found that Fiora and Yuno had landed and were waiting for us.
"The bandits are just ahead." Fiora told us.
"Let me take a look." I walked forward and, without being seen, took a look at the bandit's formation and relative strength. "They don't look particularly strong, but you can never be too careful. Give me a rundown of what you've all brought with you."
"This was going to be a simple job, I left most of my stuff back at the guild. I just brought some iron weapons and an elixer. Zealot was given iron weapons, so he's equipped the same as me as well as a vulnerary. Yuno, on the other hand brought along a slim lance and a javelin, and of course a vulnerary."
"I see, well the weak weapons shouldn't be an issue, especially with you here. What did you bring with you Canas."
"A tome of flux, a vulnerary and the physic staff you gave me back before the battle with Nergal."
"Physic? excellent. I think we can beat them down easily enough." My ears perked up and I turned back to the bandits. "Shh, be quiet."
"See anyone?" One of the bandits asked in a monotone voice.
"No." The other said, just as soulless.
"Something seems wrong here." I muttered to myself.
"Mark, what are you listening to?" Fiora asked me.
"The first thing a tacticion of small groups needs to learn is the ability to gather intelligence on the enemy. In other words, I've trained my ears and eyes, and those bandits don't sound right."
"What do you mean?"
"They feel soulless. Like they're... not there. They're being controlled? Or, no... they sound like... morphs."
"Morphs? Are you certain?"
I took another look at them. They all had black hair and the ones close enough to see had golden eyes. "Yes, no doubt, that's what they seem like to me. Well, if they are morphs then we should remove them now."
"But who created them?" Canas asked rubbing his chin.
"Hmmm, perhaps they're leftovers. They don't seem particularly strong. They definetely aren't the type that Nergal would have sent against us."
"But then, why are they attacking?"
"Perhaps it was an old plan of Nergal's to help collect quintessence. Though it certainly doesn't make sense. Zealot, Yuno, I want you two to hold back and do what you can but leave the bulk of the enemies to Fiora and Canas, you never know who or what could be waiting when we're dealing with morphs." Both of the trainees nodded at my orders, clearly frightened. "Ok then. Fiora, Canas You two need to take point. Fiora, trade your elixer for Canas' vulnerary, if you're in trouble then Canas can help you with the physic staff." Fiora and Canas traded their items. "Alright then, Fiora take the eastern half, Canas head along the western half. Zealot, Yuno stay near me and handle the enemies near the entrance to the path here." As I finished giving basic tactical orders, my 'troops' took their positions and began the assault on the bandits. Fiora took her sword and mowed through their ranks as they attempted to set themselves upon her, Canas was in no worse shape. Even Zealot and Yuno were having an easy time with the enemies, despite their inexperience and weakness.
"They're so weak..." I muttered to myself. Not only were they weak but their weapons were ready to fall apart, it was a wonder that they ever managed to attack anything. I began to scan the battlefield, they had to be doing something. And I was right, there was a hut near the end of the path and a few bandits had begun to move inside. "What's in there? Fiora!" I called to her, the hut near the end of the path, check it out for us, quickly. "It would seem that she heard me as she left the bandits she had been fighting and began moving towards the hut. I felt the air change suddenly. It felt like... like we were back at the dragon gate, just before our final battle.
"Fiora! get away! back here, quickly!" Fiora looked back at me confused as an enormous blast of fire shot from the roof of the hut, nearly hitting Fiora as she made a quick and desperate retreat. Fiora flew back to us as a hooded man walked out of the hut.
"Is that a mage?" Fiora asked as she landed next to me.
"I don't think so, I responded. To create fire like that, he'd need Athos' power, the infernal element, forblaze."
"Then what is he."
"I think we're about to find out." Fiora looked away from me, back to the man who had hunched over and appeared to be shaking. He was still a distance away from us, but if that fire from earlier was any indication then that wouldn't pose him a problem. He reared his head back and began to change. My eyes grew wide as he became a fire dragon before our very eyes. No, that's not right. He wasn't a fire dragon, not even a small one. According to Bramimond the dragons we fought at the dragon gate were newborns, but this one is smaller than they were. Suddenly, a thought dawned on me and I quickly turned to Zealot and Yuno. "You two have to get out of here now!" I ordered them.
"But-"
"No! leave now!" They complied, seeming somewhat afraid of what I would do if they hadn't. I felt myself lift off the ground and fall several feet to the side as fire rushed past me. It seems that Fiora had pushed me before flying above the flames.
"What are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know, I'm thinking." I told her, not sure how I was going to defeat a dragon with only two ill-equipped fighters. Suddenly I realized that Canas was nowhere in sight. "Have you seen Canas?" I asked Fiora.
"No, I can't see him, even from up here." The dragon's shriek caused us both to look back as an orb of dark magic found it's way into it's body. We spotted Canas, hiding behind the side of a cliff, it seems that he had been trying to get close enough to attack, even without my orders. the dragon breathed fire into the area where Canas was hidden. Afterwards, Canas, his robes somewhat charred, came running out while attempting to drink his elixer. "Fiora, get in there and help him."
"But I'm not even sure the weapons I have with me can harm that thing."
"We have no choice, Canas' magic seems to be working so see what you can do to distract it." Fiora took off, sword drawn and attempted to attack the dragon's head, drawing it's attention. Canas cast flux at the dragon immediately afterwards, causing it to take more damage. Flux was doing damage, but it was clear that Fiora's attacks were doing nothing more than irritating the dragon as it's flame attacks came quicker and quicker with less waiting time in between. "They can't keep this up." I muttered to myself as I desperately searched for something that could help us. "No!" I watched helplessly as Fiora was knocked off her Pegasi by the dragon's tail. Canas immediately pulled out his physic staff and began healing her, but the dragon's head was already reeling back ready to consume her within the flames. "Fiora!" I screamed as I began running towards her. I fully understood the frivolity of my actions, but I felt compelled to run towards my old friends. Suddenly a quick flash of light rushed through the sky and a clang of metal could be heard near the dragon's head as it was knocked out-of-place and his breath disappeared harmlessly to the sky. Fiora jumped up, hopping on to her pegasi and taking off as quickly as she could. I looked around the field and saw a tomahawk stuck in the ground near the dragon. I looked around, trying to find the identity of the one who threw it. I didn't have to look long as a man jumped from a nearby cliff landing next to the tomahawk and picking it back up. I smiled, knowing that we may stand a chance now as I looked at the sharp-eyed, red haired man returning the tomahawk to it's holding place behind his shield. He pulled out a sword and threw it into the air.
"Fiora, catch!" he yelled as she flew by, grabbing the hilt of the wyrmslayer.
"Good to see you again Raven!" she called down to him as she turned around in the air, ready to strike at the dragon. Raven reached behind his shield brandishing the brave axe that he had disappeared with after the final battle. Fiora swooped in, slashing at the dragon with the wyrmslayer, the scales seemed somewhat damaged by the attack, unlike the previous attack from her iron sword. I could see a way to win this. I immediately started giving orders.
"Fiora, continue using the wyrmslayer in the same place!" I yelled, Fiora complied and continuously swooped around attacking the same place on the dragon's side. The dragon continuously attempted to claw at Fiora or hit her with his tail, with no success. The scales were becoming more and more worn with each attack. "That's it, now Raven use your tomahawk on the same area." Raven smirked at me and complied, brandishing his tomahawk and throwing it towards the damaged scales. The weight of the axe broke through the damaged scale into what appeared to be a soft flesh beneath. Blood flew up from the newly acquired wound. Raven smirked again, drawing his brave axe and jumping towards the wound. sinking his fingers behind the scales, he continuously smashed at the wound with his axe. The dragon attempted to shake him and hit him with his tail. He finally lost his grip, and dropped to the ground, dropping his axe. The dragon seemed rather worse for wear at this point, it seemed that it had lost a lot of blood. Raven quickly got to his feet again.
"I'll end this!" He told us as he brandished the regal blade from behind his shield. "Fiora, give me a hand." Fiora swooped in, grabbing Raven's hand, And dropped him towards the wound. He embedded his sword into the dragon's exposed flesh with great force thanks to the speed he had picked up while falling. He pulled the regal blade from the wound and grabbed the tomahawk before pushing off the dragon and landing on the ground. The dragon swayed and collapsed. Raven confirmed for us that the dragon was indeed dead. The snow around it was being soaked in crimson blood. Fiora landed next to Raven as Canas and I approached.
"I'm glad you were here Raven. It's good to see you again." I said to him.
"You to, Mark." He said in his usual gruff tone. "What was this thing?"
"Did you see it transform?" I asked him.
"It what?" the dragon suddenly started glowing and returned to the form of the hooded man.
"Was this a morph like the bandits?" I muttered to myself as I removed it's hood. He had pink lips, brown hair, and blank black eyes as opposed to the red lips, black hair and golden eyes that all morphs had.
"The bandits were morphs?" Raven asked.
"Raven what are you doing here exactly?" I asked.
"I was hired to deal with the bandits, though I see the guild was going to deal with them, since Fiora's here."
"Why don't you join the guild Raven?" Fiora offered him. "I'm sure they'd give you a high rank in no time."
"Thanks for the offer, Fiora, but I do things my own way. I need to be free to go where my feet take me. I only took this job because I was running low on gold."
"Fair enough, it's good to see you all the same." Raven nodded his head slightly.
"What do you think Mark?" Canas asked me after I finished examining the body.
"I don't know what to think. Honestly, at this point, I'm just hoping that Niime might have some answers for me."
"You're going to see the mountain hermit then?" Raven asked.
"Yeah, she's Canas' mother, that's where we were headed."
"Mind if I tag along, then? I'd also like to learn more about the dragon."
"If it's OK with Canas, then it's OK with me."
"Of course you can come Raven, I see no issue with this."
"Fiora." I turned back to her. "What do you think Zealot and Yuno would do? Should we turn around and find them or do you think they can handle themselves?"
"If they've got any sense then they'll return to town and wait for us, and if they don't then they don't deserve membership in the guild yet anyways. I'll just make this another part of their test."
"Alright, if you say so then we can just move forward from here. Canas, lead the way."
"Of course." With our old friend, Raven, along for the trip, we followed Canas to a small area about halfway up the mountain. Further ahead was a strange stone that jutted out of the ground, it almost seemed like a monument. "One moment as I determine where mother is." Canas walked towards the stone and sent dark magic flowing into it. The stone began to glow black and then a single line of light moved down the stone and on to the ground. It ran across the ground and turned, flowing into the wall of the mountain, causing it to disappear and reveal a path through the centre of the mountain. "It would seem that she is currently staying on the western side of the mountain. Honestly, I must talk to her about settling down, even if it is up on this mountain." Canas began walking through the path, Raven, Fiora and I all followed, slowly as walking through a mountain made us feel rather uncomfortable. After walking for what felt like hours, we exited the mountain on to a small cliff with a cabin. Canas walked up and opened the door. "Mother?" He called inside. He turned back to us. "Come in, she's here."
We all followed Canas into the cabin.
"And who are they?" An old woman sitting on a chair just inside the small, one-room cabin asked.
"Allow me to introduce you. These are some old friends who I fought with during my time with lord Eliwood. This man is Raven, a mercenary from outside of Ilia. This is Fiora, a high-ranking member of the mercenary guild here in Ilia. And lastly, this is Mark, the tactician who led us to victory at the dragons gate." The old woman stood and walked towards me, slowly, supporting herself with her cane. She examined me carefully, looking into my eyes or checking various parts of my face and body.
"So you're the young genius that so many people have spoken about lately." She said as if she was the type to constantly listen to gossip. "Interesting, so why have you come here."
"Lady Niime, I wish to ask your help with something."
"Well, what is it?" She snapped at me. I quickly produced the book from my bag. Her eyes grew wide. "Is that Bramimond's cursed book of prophecy?" She asked, almost entranced by the sight of it.
"It is, ma'am. I cannot read it myself, but there are questions that I believe this book may be able to answer for me. Please, I need you to read it for me."
"Amazing... when I began studying the dark arts it was so I could one day read this book."
"It is worthless to me, ma'am. If you help me answer my questions, then I would be more than happy to leave you the book."
"Excellent, excellent. Of course I shall help you in this matter, but no others! All of you, out! leave us alone now." She said quickly as she pushed my companions out the door into the snow. "Just wait out there." She said as she closed the door. "Now tell me what it is you want to know?"
"First, I need to tell you of what I know of myself."
"Go on, young man."
"It began about two years ago. I awoke in Bern. The only things I knew about myself were that my name was Mark, and that I was an apprentice tactician. I wasn't particularly hungry, and didn't seem to be dehydrated, or injured so I concluded that my loss of consciousness must not have lasted long. I walked for a time, trying to find a village, a city, anything. What I found was a shrine. The shrine of seals. All I could do was approach it hoping that someone was nearby. And it turned out, that someone was. Someone was watching me. The next thing I knew I was inside the shrine, and a strange person stood in front of me, a very strange person. This person had no face. Their voice sounded, exactly like mine and he spoke with all of my mannerisms, or at least the ones I could remember. It was Bramimond of the eight legends, the master of all things dark. He gave me that book and told me that in the coming years the world would be in great danger, and I had an important role to fulfill. a great evil will be revived by a misguided man who has lost faith in humanity. For a time, I thought this referred to Nergal, and I thought the important role that I had to fill was acting as tactician for the army that would defeat him. However, it was only after we had won, during my time with my friend in Pherae, that I remembered the latter part of the prophecy. I had an important role to fulfill... in a battle that I would be unable to take part in. I need to know what my role is and how to accomplish it. If the prophecy is true, then the fact that I was present for Nergal's death means that he was not the man from the prophecy. And thinking back on it, he created his own evil, but never did he revive anything."
"I see... and you're hoping that a clue might be hidden somewhere in the depths of this book?"
"Yes, please, even the smallest hint of where to go from here will be very much appreciated."
"I will see what I can find." Niime slowly and carefully opened the book. I turned my chair around and sat with my back to her so that I would not catch a glimpse of the pages. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, I heard the book close behind me.
"Can you tell me anything?"
"I have only two clues for you. The next step in fulfilling your role is hidden within the depths of the shrine of seals."
"I have to return to the shrine then?"
"Yes, but that is not all. The second clue is that you will need a certain item in order to find your path."
"What do I need."
"Something that will not be easily obtained. You must take with you, the fire emblem." The fire emblem. The royal seal of Bern, a kingdom which currently houses a tyrannical leader. My journey had become that much more difficult.
"I see, thank you for your help. Is the book still closed?"
"Yes, you can turn around." I stood and turned to Niime, bowing to her in thanks. "Do me a favour and let the others back inside, I'm sure they're freezing by now." I couldn't help but chuckle as I let my shivering companions back into the house. It seems that a small blizzard was beginning up on the mountain. Fiora, in particular, looked very cold as she was wearing by far the smallest amount made of the thinnest material. Raven and Canas immediately crowded around the small furnace sitting in the house leaving no room for her.
"Here, take this." I told her as I removed the heavy robes I always wore and wrapped them around her. "These'll keep you warmer than the furnace will anyway."
"Thank you, Mark." She said as she grabbed the robe from either side and huddled on the floor pulling them all the way up above her nose." I couldn't help but laugh again. But it was time to get back to business. "Now that everyone is back in here, there's something else I'd like to ask about. On the way up here we stopped to deal with some bandits that had been attacking the town. However, there were a few issues. First of all, none of the bandits were humans, they were all morphs, zombie like beings that Nergal invented and created. I was willing to chock that one up to them being leftovers after Nergal's death, but the next thing is something I can't overlook."
"What happened?"
"A robed man came out of a small hut, then he transformed into a fire dragon. Well, a smaller version of a fire dragon, but even so. It took all three of them as well as me coordinating their actions in order to defeat it."
"A human, turning into a dragon?!" Niime asked alarmed. Then she started muttering to herself. "Perhaps, it could be but... that wouldn't make." She continued muttering incomprehensible half-sentences to herself as she tried to sort things out. "Well, I see two possiblities." She finally concluded as she returned her attention to the four of us. "Do you know what Manakete are?" Fiora, Raven and I all shook our heads. Canas on the other hand, looked quite fascinated. Among dragons, there are those that are born and live in human form. However, as they grow they create stones called dragon stones. This is the essence of their souls as dragons and with these stones they can transform into dragons. These half beings are known as manakete. They are both fully human and yet fully dragon. They can do anything that humans can do, including raising human offspring who, while having dragon power within them, can not create dragon stones. However, all known manakete were killed during the scouring 980 years ago. The second posssiblity is far more unlikely. Perhaps, it was a manakete war dragon, an even rarer and less possible possibility."
"Mother, even I haven't heard of war dragons." Canas added in.
"Yes, 980 years ago, during the scouring, the dragons were losing due to their inferior numbers. So they created something known as the dark dragon. The dark dragon had the ability to create emotionless dragons, tools of war. These are known as war dragons. And, supposedly, every now and then, manakete war dragons were born. But due to their lack of ability to create dragon stones and their purpose of battle, they remain conflicted in human form until the dragon within them breaks free. War dragons who break free from human form go berserk attacking anything near them without prejudice."
"I see, a war dragon stuck in manakete form..."
"But how would a war dragon exist now?"
"War dragons do not break free of their manakete shells unless surrounded by battle. That creature had probably lived for 980 years in solitude, with no soul, no mind and no way to die. Sad, when you think about it."
"Unbelievable, a war dragon that remained dormant for 980 years..."
"In the book, I noticed a prophecy. One day, supposedly 1000 years after the scouring, war dragons will return. Better than before. There is no detail as to how they will be better, but it is an ominous prophecy to be sure, and if it is true then it is a mere 20 years away."
"Indeed." Niime walked over and closed the window.
"It would seem we have a small blizzard going, I think you four are stuck here for the night, though it's rather small. Canas has a bed here, but the rest of you..."
"It's fine, I can sleep right here." Raven told her from his position leaning against the wall next to the furnace.
"Er, please Fiora take my bed for the nigh-"
"It's alright Canas, I'm comfortable on the floor. I've had to sleep on worse during jobs before."
"I can handle the floor to, don't worry about us Canas."
"Well, yes but we don't have any extra blankets just lying around up here."
"It's fine." I said as I took my robe back from Fiora, who was still shivering. I opened it up fully, and then undid a hook inside which allowed it to open even further. "My robe doubles as a large blanket, why did you think it was so thick? It's more than big enough for me and Fiora."
"W-well, if your sure." I put my robe back together and gave it back to Fiora who immediately wrapped herself back up.
"We're sure Canas, don't worry about it."
"Well then, I think we should all be going to sleep, there isn't much to do around here and you'll all want to leave early in the morning I'm sure."
"Yes, I suppose so. Thank you for all your help, Niime."
"Well, thank you for the book, Mark." I nodded and took my robe back from Fiora again. I quickly detached it into a blanket and set up an area near the furnace for the two of us to sleep. Fiora got under the blanket as quickly as she could. Canas and Niime, were both getting into bed, and Raven, who was towering over us from our position on the floor, was already asleep. I got underneath the blanket with Fiora and rolled on my side, facing away from her. Niime blew out the lantern near her bed and the room went dark other than the small red glow coming from the hole in the furnace. the heat on my feet felt good as I dozed off. I suddenly felt a rush of cold hit my back. Looking back I could see that Fiora, still shivering, had pushed herself against me. Her body really was very cold. I tried to shuffle away from her but she grabbed me from behind.
"Please, Mark?" Fiora whispered to me. I sighed.
"Just this once, ok." I rolled over and pulled Fiora close to me. She rested her head on my chest and somehow managed to fall asleep. Her body was freezing and I could tell that I wasn't going to be sleeping as quickly as I had hoped. My last thought before dozing off, was a hope that no one woke up before either Fiora or me.
Well, review tell me what you think, and thank you for reading.