Chapter 7: The Onyx King
(Freud)
Hi everyone! As always, thanks to everyone that reviewed my story. We're going be in Leafre for a while, and then it's on to Elluel! I want to thank all of you for reading my story. Your stories and reviews inspire me to keep writing new things!
The town of Leafre was in flames. People were running and screaming as huge dragons flew and breathed fire at houses and trees. Among those were young apprentices of the powerful Arch-Mages that lived and studied in Leafre. The apprentices were young and fresh from their experiences in Ellinia. However, only the greatest of the great could study in Leafre. The worthy were selected by the great Master Roberia, one of the instructors for Magicians. They send the students to study in Leafre under the great scholars that study there. When they are ready, Roberia will send them to the spirit of Master Gritto - the first Magician. The Mages and Arch-Mages were rushing out of their houses. They whipped out their wands and staffs, and formed a 9x9 square of mages.
The back line cried out, "Meteor Shower!", causing a flaming void to open, where thousands of meteors caught on fire, pelting the dragons above them.
The dragons screeched out in pain, and looked down at the battalion of Magicians. They let out a roar and blew a fiery breath at the magicians. Most of them teleported out of the way, but about 8 of them weren't so lucky. They screamed as they caught on fire and burned to a crisp. The survivors looked in shock at the smoking piles of ash.
One mage turned towards the dragons and yelled, "You need to cool off! Here, I'll help you with that!"
He cried, "Glacier Chain!", making frigid chains come out of his wand. They wrapped themselves around a dragon's mouth and pulled him down.
Other Ice/Lightning Arch-Mages did the same thing and soon, all eight dragons were stuck on the ground. The dragons tried to get up, but were quickly pulled down by the icy chains.
An apprentice Priest took out a cross from his robes with shaking hands and stepped forward towards the dragons while holding the cross in front of him. A dragon looked at him with amusement and snorted steam from his nostrils. The Priest shrieked and ran back behind his master. The master looked disapprovingly at the Priest and pushed him aside.
He walked out with his cross in front of him and said, "Prepare to meet your fate, you beasts from Hell!"
"Doom!" he cried with a wave of his staff.
Nothing whatsoever happened.
Bemused, the Bishop again cried, "Doom!"
The dragon grinned, and gave a roar to his comrades. Simultaneously, the dragons rose up and broke free from their frosty bindings. They sat on all fours, and opened their mouths, shooting lightning at the terrified Magicians. They did not even have time to scream as the electricity coursed through their bodies. Now, only two remained - a Fire/Poison Mage, an Ice/Lightning Mage, and their master - a peculiar young man. He wore a red robe and had a sharp-ended staff. His face was gentle, with blue eyes as open as the sea. He had messy light-brown hair and wore a grimace upon his face.
He looked up at the head dragon and said, "O mighty dragon, you and your kinsmen have bested us. Take whatever you want, but please do not harm my pupils."
The head dragon looked down at him and rumbled, "Very well. I shall have you as my dinner!"
Saying this, he clenched the Magician and flew away, while his apprentices cried, "Master! Master, come back!"
The Magician was very uncomfortable in the claws of the dragon. He squirmed and rolled in the dragon's hands to no avail.
The dragon said, "Hold still. I don't want to have to scavenge a dead body as my dinner!"
They started their descent to a secluded area of Minar Forest where there were many eggs. He walked carrying the Magician to a cave, where the other dragons followed him.
"Now, how should we split him?" asked one dragon.
"Are you joking? This puny human can barely pass for an appetizer!" a second said.
"But a human will make you feel you've eaten a thousand pigs!" a third cried.
The dragons started arguing over whether a human or a thousand pigs were more filling. However, they quickly stopped and looked at the cave entrance, where a dragon - thrice as large as the rest - towered over them.
"G-Greetings, King A-Afrien!" one stuttered.
"What am I seeing here?" Afrien asked in a commanding tone.
Afrien was a large and majestic looking dragon. He was not scaly as the other dragons around him were. Rather, he had black and yellow plates that shrunk as they reached his tail. On his head, he had yellow horns that seemed to glimmer in the evening sun. He had large, powerful wings with the same yellow colored spike at the vertices and claws. His eyes were golden colored, which showed only a crack of his sophistication and intelligence. His face was contorted with fury as he pushed the head dragon aside with his horns. He came up to the Magician and looked closely at him.
"Why have you brought a human to this cave. And was I hearing you talk about cutting him up and eating him?!" he roared.
"Oh, n-no your Majesty! We were on- only- only-", but the dragon never got time to complete his sentence, as Afrien blew a jet of purple fire at him.
The dragon screeched as he disintegrated, leaving no ash behind him. Afrien turned towards the others that crouched in the corner and gave a jerk of his head, by which the others scattered and flew away.
Afrien now turned to the Magician and said, "I am very sorry for my subjects' behavior. Please, come with me and I shall compensate you for your troubles."
Saying this, Afrien gently picked up the Magician with his mouth and placed him on his back. Afrien then spread his wings and soared up with fleet wing. He flew ten times as fast as the dead dragon and in a matter of seconds, he landed near a large tree with an egg on it. Afrien wrapped his tail around the Magician and gently placed him down on the ground.
"Forgive me, where are my manners? I am Afrien, King of the Onyx Dragons. With whom do I have the pleasure of acquainting?" Afrien said benevolently.
The Magician, now recovering from his initial shock, composed himself and spoke in an equally warm voice, "Greetings King Afrien. My name is Freud, Master Magician and Scholar of Maple World."
"Scholar? I am pleased to meet you, for I myself am a scholar also." Afrien said with pleasure.
"Really? What do you study, Afrien?" asked Freud.
"My main study is of humans. I simply love them, and wish to find a way for humans and the Onyx Dragons to live together in peace." said Afrien.
"I have also aspired to find a way to have all life forms to live symbiotically." Freud said excitedly.
"Hmm... perhaps..." Afrien started.
"Perhaps what, Afrien?" asked Freud.
"Perhaps we could work together to find a way for us to live together!" Afrien proposed.
"We could! Maybe we could even make a special bond between our species!" Freud exclaimed.
"Then it's settled. You may stay here as my guest of honor so that we may find a way to forge a bond." Afrien said, "For now, we must return to the village so that you may rest, for tomorrow - we begin our research!" said Afrien.
Afrien lowered himself so Freud could climb onto his back. Afrien rose up and opened his wings, taking flight into the sunset.
