Chapter 21...
"...this place looks like it was hit with a meteor...and that meteor was hit with another meteor..." Natsu blinked as the group had arrived at the aftermath of their last battle. He was carrying Eclair on his back while Momon flew next to him. Mero and Treya were side by side while looking at the devastated landscape. The Gavil temple, however, was floating harmlessly in the sky right above the destroyed mountains.
"Even if the body of Kai'zin was inhabited by someone with limited knowledge on dragon abilities, the devastation they could bring is no short of a disaster." Treya noted. She then turned to Eclair who looked to be having an internal struggle. "Are you still hearing the voice?" She asked.
"...(pant)...yes..(swallows)." Eclair was sweating slightly. "Okay...we're here."
"Schni vosk. (Wait here.)" The voice sounded once again in Eclair's head.
"What does, Schni vosk, mean?" She asked Natsu.
"It means wait here, or remain. Is that what he said?" Natsu turned his head slightly toward her.
"Yes." Eclair nodded.
"Are you alright, Eclair?" Momon asked.
"I'm...I still feel numb." Eclair shook her head slightly. Ever since they left, Natsu had to carry her, due to her body being completely numbed to the point she couldn't move. They assumed the voice in her head had a hand in this.
"The dragon's attempt to reach out to you, is probably what's making you limp." Treya theorized.
"Hey, look." Mero pointed at the ground in front of them. It was magic circle that suddenly appeared on the ground. It had the drawing of a dragon on it.
"Nint. (Enter.)"
"...enter." Eclair said out loud.
"Okay." Natsu and them walked toward the glowing circle. Right as soon as they got into it, it flashed and teleported them in an instant.
Kai-zin's temple, sealing room...
The group reappeared, in a flash, into the same room that the sarcophagus, that was holding Kai'zin was present. Eclair laid her head against Natsu's shoulder and the numbness disappeared. "I think I can stand now." Eclair told him. Natsu let her down slowly and she regained her sense of balance.
"Why are we here?" Treya wondered.
"Yosh hava. (Hello humans.) " Suddenly a ball of light appeared in front of them, and it was slowly forming. It formed into a muscular jaw, then narrowed like a reptilian. Two glowing, orange eyes shined. It was the head of a dragon body that looked similar...no, identical to the one Drake had possessed.
"...it's him." Natsu widened his eye in fascination.
"Incredible. Still alive." Treya copied his reaction.
"Wohhhh~..." Mero was acting as if she were looking at the most incredible thing.
"So this...is what was speaking in my head." Eclair felt overwhelmed by it's piercing stare. She stayed behind Natsu out of instinct.
"Lak veer. Oshda gon weggo? (Answer. Why have I been awoken?)" It suddenly spoke in a much calmer tone.
"What's it saying?" Eclair asked.
"He want's to know why he's awake." Natsu interpreted. "I don't suppose you speak basic, do you?" He asked.
"...?"
"(Sigh). Yeah, didn't think so." Natsu sighed. "Um, okay...Has vak, sho gyle lat veeskay." Natsu said in a different tongue.
"Advar. Lie e kay van hava? Hokva...(I see. Humans are still greedy? Not surprising...)" Kai'zin's tone sounded displeased.
"Why is it speaking in Gavil?" Eclair asked Mero.
"The Gavil in the dragon's time, were among the first they made contact with. The dragons had to learn their tongue, and for centuries they pretty much thought that was how most humans spoke. He probably doesn't speak our language, because the Gavil lived on another continent." Mero theorized.
"What did you say to him?" Eclair made sure to keep with their current conversation with the being before them.
"I said he was unsealed by an archaeologist, that went mad with power. And he said that he isn't surprised by a human doing such a thing." Natsu translated.
"Osska, Dorrga. Lou, sa'leema keck? (Tell me, dragon slayer. Who are the lot of you?)"
"Youska shaveek, Dorrga, Natsu Dranigon, Treya Duella, es Mero Serene." Natsu introduced the three of them.
"Hohoho, Lagva ast Dorrgas? Leega Dorrga mash vat seega, hohohohoho...(Hohoho, you hatchlings are dragon slayers? Truly the times for acquiring power, are fresh out of the womb, hohohoho...)" Kai'zin had a deep chuckle.
"He says that we're really young for dragon slayers." Natsu sweat dropped.
"Hohoho...hmm?" Kai'zin stopped laughing and focused at Mero in particular.
"Hm?" Mero tilted her head and blinked.
"Oshba Dorrga. Esma zall Dorr Yoma Endveil. (Tiny Dragon slayer. You radiate the presence of Yoma Endveil.)
"Huh!? You knew Yoma?!" Mero was suddenly lit up with surprise. "Er, (clears throat), Es al yees Yoma Endveil!?" She asked with a hopeful expression.
"Oga. Yagiri tenmo yeespa, nosh giga Yoma, Dorr el kila. (Yes. I was a brother, and rival of Yoma, the Dragon of the Moon.)"
"He said Yoma was his brother...and was his rival. " Natsu translated for Eclair.
"Esk. Azbel yeek Yoma chachin, yobosko. Hohohoho..." (I see. What an interesting student Yoma has chosen, young lady. Hohohoho...)" Kai'zin once again had an amused tone, as if he were reminiscing.
"He...he...called me a young lady." Mero felt like crying tears of joy. "DRAGONS ARE REALLY THE BEST!" She cried happily.
"Calm down." Treya sweat dropped and rubbed her head roughly. "A brother. I see. A dragon of the sun, and a dragon of the moon." Treya nodded her head.
"Ask him why he was calling out to us." Eclair told Natsu.
"Uh, right. Flet grey chahaska tendo...yagabiri?" Natsu did his best to speak in the same tongue.
"Gosa ya ge yoska hadama kees kin no gal. Norrwa yam miska Dorrga. (When I had awoken I knew that someone had taken my body. Then I felt the presence of a dragon slayer.)" Kai'zin answered. "Yucan jej sekika, Dorrga. Nega jewel serika mah'og, Shoga le kagamiri dosir lair. (I commend you, dragon slayer. Better my body be dust swept into oblivion, than in the hands of a foolish madman.)"
"Uh, you're welcome." Natsu raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Momon asked curiously.
"He's basically thanking us for destroying his body." Natsu scratched his head.
"After I no longer sensed my body, I assumed you were victorious." Kai'zin responded in their language.
"Huh...WAIT HOLD ON!" Natsu suddenly realized he started speaking the same tongue. "You speak our language now!?" Natsu demanded an answer.
"Do not misunderstand. I knew how to...listen...but not how...to talk. I find it a little difficult, still." The soul answered while trying to word his sentence right.
"Incredible. I heard from Ravalla, that dragons could adapt to the language of people, but that was quick." Treya shook her head. "That was what you meant by 'listen', correct?" She asked him politely.
"Mm. I'm...glad you understand my race's...hm, I can not speak the word you humans say..." Kai'zin sounded like he was struggling.
"The word you're looking for is probably, predicament." Eclair answered for him.
"Ah yes. Much thanks human." Kai'zin thanked with a polite tone.
"...not to give you a bad impression Kai'zin, but...I read the wall on my way through this temple. It seems the people that worshiped you, were being completely annihilated by you. But you seem too courteous for that." Natsu put his hand on his hip and wanted to clear the mystery behind that wall painting he saw.
"...I made a mistake." Kai'zin responded with a lowering of his head. "I tried to warn them of what would happen if they misused the Flame of Destiny."
"Flame of Destiny?" Mero cocked her head to the side with a question mark appearing above her.
"I think I read something about that. Something about using it to seal you in here." Natsu recalled the book he found among the skeleton.
"Indeed. I was led into a trap into this prison, disguised as a palace in my honor. When I realized what they were planning on doing with me, I rebelled, and tried to take the crystal from them. I failed. I was lured in here, and was pulled into that stone box by some type of sealing magic. Magic strong enough to pull a dragon in."
"...the Flame of Destiny." Eclair concluded.
"Mm...it is not of this world's design. It was taken from the realm of...nen mau." As Kai'zin explained, the last bit was very ominous.
"The one magic." Natsu interpreted. "..." He was silent, and put his hand on his chin, deep in thought.
"Really?! It's real?! Oh boy, that sounds awesome! I knew the one magic was a mystery even to this day, but to think it was another realm..." Mero's excitement as a mystery enthusiast was setting in.
"..so, exactly, what does this Flame of Destiny do?" Natsu asked, prompting them all to listen.
"It is a forbidden magical crystal brought into this world by my kind." Kai'zin began to explain. "...and yours." Kai'zin looked at Eclair.
"You know about my...people?" Eclair was surprised.
"Mm. I sense the phoenix's magic within you. You are part of the Phoenix clan's priestesses, are you not?"
"I'm...urgh!" Eclair felt her mind being clawed open by something. She was reminded of certain memories from her previous life. She saw a young woman dancing in a outfit identical to hers, wearing a strange golden mask that resembled a bird.
"..."
...to me! Protect the priestess-!
...they're blocking the roa-!
...nooo-!
...quickly child, get aw-!
....keep running! They're getting clo-!
"You must, flee this place...take with you the stone-"
"ECLAIR!" She snapped out of her memory, and next thing she knew, she was on the ground. She was bleeding out her nose and was drenched in sweat. "Wait, she's comin' back." Natsu said with relief and was holding her head as she looked around her.
"I...saw something..." She slowly said while trying to catch her breath.
"What did you see?" Natsu asked.
"Myself...I think." She slowly sat up and held her head. "The stone...he gave it to me." She clenched the half piece of the stone in her hand.
"..." Natsu and Treya looked at each other and both shrugged. "Well, anyway Kai'zin, is there a particular reason you called us back? I don't think we can restore your body or current-"
"Hmph, I would not have you do the impossible. My tale had already ended the moment I was sealed. But, the point at hand..." Kai'zin focused back to the reason he called them. "I would have you destroy the crystal, less it fall into the hands of a individual, similar to the one that woke me."
"Destroy it? Why?" Mero asked.
"Anything taken from the realm is not safe for this world. If left untouched, it could end the world of all that is magic." Kai'zin forewarned.
"What?!" Natsu was shocked and confused to hear this.
"Please explain, Kai'zin." Treya pleaded.
"This world has not...matured enough in order to open the path to nen mau. If a gateway opened between the dimensions, I fear that this world would be enveloped into an existence similar to the other."
"Why is that a problem?" Momon asked.
"Because if it did, any living being that did not possess magic, would be sapped of their life, in place of magic."
"!?"
"(Gasp)!"
"..."
They all were shocked by the news.
"The whole...world?" Eclair couldn't comprehend that scale of power.
"That being said, the small trinket you have carried around your neck is also of that origin." Kai'zin revealed, the strange stone that hung at her neck.
"This...this thing?" Eclair asked as she looked at it..
"Although, I would not worry about that. For I sense only faint magic from it. I would not recommend joining the two pieces." He said as he began slowly moving up. "But back to the issue at hand, my brother Yoma, and his mate Harpuya made this discovery, and forcefully tore open a gateway. However, they did not know at the time of what the nature of the nen mau was. It was an entirely new world that made this one pale in comparison, from what he described to me. They could not remain there for long however, so they brought back a magical chunk of crystal they found, and were unsure of it's properties." Kai'zin explained further as they all listened. "We could not grasp what we had acquired, and sought the opinion and knowledge gained by the Gavil. However, they saw us more as supreme beings, or gods, and wished to serve us. I dispelled a curse that was effecting the...environment around the surrounding area. I simply told them that I would help them prosper for two centuries, and in return they would enlighten us with their understanding of the crystal."
"I imagine since they sealed you in here, they found out what it could do." Natsu could piece together what happened.
"If you can slay a god, you can take it's place." Kai'zin nodded.
"Wow. I'm so sorry mister Kai'zin. I thought that Calibor III was the guy defending his people, and you were just an evil dragon." Mero apologized.
"Fufufu, little one, I do not require an apology. Humans will ultimately rise above higher beings. Their tenacity at adapting and moving forward, despite whatever sin, or achievement they made. This is one reason dragon slayers were needed. I do not harbor ill will toward the Gavil people for what they've done to me...hm? Ah, it appears I can no long hold this form." The light began to shrink slowly.
"W-wait, this...flame of destiny, or whatever, where is it?" Natsu quickly asked.
"The last of it's whereabouts, is lost to me. Time has never been an ally of human or dragon. However, I suggest you start your search in the old city of Corre. Many treasures and weapons were made there. I...realize that I am asking something unreasonable to you, but...if you value this world, and what it has to offer, please honor this old lizard's last request." Kai'zin was almost completely dissipated into thin air.
"One more thing." Natsu wanted to ask. "If we do find it, how do we destroy it?"
"You destroyed my body, young one. Surely you can do the same to the crystal, hohohoho..." Kai'zin chuckled one last time. "Mero Serene? I believe your power is what I sensed that landed the killing blow?"
"Y-yes." Mero nodded.
"Then I relinquish my temple to you. I, Kai'zin de Folga, give you this as compensation for undertaking this important task."
...m-me?" Mero was shocked beyond belief. Her eyes widened in disbelief and felt her heart nearly stop.
"Yoma was the only family I had. Therefore, I see it only proper that you are it's caretaker, next in line." Kai'zin nodded.
"Th...thank you so much, mister Kai'zin! I-I promise that I'll take good care of it!" Mero saluted while trying to contain her excitement.
"Preistess? Your mind is in conflict within you. Allow me to ease some discomfort you are having. And with this, I fair thee well. Look to the sun and beyond, dragon slayers. Think of me, watching over your journeys every time you see a light coming over the horizon. Make your dragon's power be felt by all creation! MAY THE SUN FOREVER GUIDE YOU TOWARDS GREATNESS!" Kai'zin shouted proudly as he vanished in a bright light. Eclair suddenly felt like the heaviness from her mind was vanishing. She widened her eyes and felt more empowered.
"My head...its..its not foggy anymore." Eclair was in awe at the vanishing of her consciousness's weight. It was clear and more calm than what she normally felt. Natsu looked on the ground and saw a small golden rod with a sun emblem molded into the center of it. It also had some writing on it that was read like a title. He smiled as he read it. He walked over to Mero and handed it to her.
"I think this belongs to you." He placed it in her gentle hands. She took a look at the writing on it and smiled.
Mero Serene. Dragon Slayer of Yoma Endveil, Heir to Sun Temple of Kai'zin De Folga.
Later...
"Hm,hmhm,hmmm~!" Mero hummed happily while clenching on to the golden rod. After she took it from the temple, they discovered that they could use it on a light gate that could send them back to the ground, in a chamber hidden away from the mountains. Conveniently, it shortens the trip they made by almost a third. They were almost out of the woods and were heading back to the inn.
"That was a moment I will not forget." Treya said with a slight smile.
"Yeah. That was really cool meeting a dragon after so long. Shame he couldn't take his body when he was awakened. I had so many things I wanted to ask him." Natsu had his hands in his pockets while walking along side Eclair.
"Mm! I have a temple now! And it's allll mine! Hehehe~" Mero was so happy after given the key to the temple and ownership. Once she finished helping her latest friends out, she was gonna go back and study every inch of that place.
"Still, that thing he said about the Phoenix Stone being from another realm...I wonder why he said not to find the other piece." Eclair wondered.
"It would be best to heed his advice. If a simple chunk of crystal can bring about disaster, we'd best track it down before it can." Treya suggested.
"It's been hundreds of years though. Shouldn't we have heard something about it by now?" Eclair pointed out.
"Well, either way, since we don't have much answers, maybe we'll have some luck at Corre. Maybe the two are connected in some way." Natsu figured while putting his hands behind his head.
"Only time will tell." Eclair shook her head. "..." Eclair noticed that her head was still clear, and was just wondering if it was too good to be true. She never liked magic to begin with, but feeling it first hand, it didn't even come close to something she hated, but...a lot more relaxing.
"It was nice of that dragon to make your head feel better. You look a lot more better than before." Momon said happily as Eclair smiled down at him.
"I have to admit...it's a nice feeling." Eclair smiled.
"..." Natsu started falling behind them.
"Something wrong?" Eclair asked.
"..." Natsu just stayed silent. He sported an emotionless look. Treya noticed this, knowing that he was most likely listening for something, and walked up to him.
"...I don't have their scent. Did you hear them?" She asked softly.
"..." Natsu discreetly held up three fingers for her to see.
"Mm. What do you want to do?" Treya nodded.
"..(whispers).." Natsu looked at Mero and whispered something that only she and Treya could hear. Eclair stayed quiet, thinking something was wrong.
"..Mm! Eclair, lets go!." Mero tugged on her arm.
"What was that about?" Eclair asked.
"Whatever happens in the next minute, don't worry. I'll protect you." Mero sported a serious face.
"From what...?" Eclair looked back at Natsu. Natsu smiled slightly, and gave an 'okay' sign with his hand. Natsu then waited till they were a fair distance away from them. He then tilted his head in the direction of Eclair and Mero, telling Treya to follow. Treya placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Just give the word, I'll be at your side in but a moment." She told him as her eyes suddenly began turning pinkish, allowing her to see better. She followed Mero, Momon and Eclair, leaving Natsu behind.
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"..." Natsu didn't hear anything, but his instincts of a dragon slayer warned him that him that someone, or a group was watching him. He summoned his sword and his eye narrowed sharply. He turned to the back and looked all around. Nothing but birds chirping and chattering from small rodents. He then drew his sword slowly and held it to his side. His eye shifted to the right, and he could swear he saw the glimpse of a shadow, that entered the tree's shadow.
"Hrgh!" Natsu grunted and slashed upward, and split the tree with a high velocity slash, generated from his sword. The tree split and fell, but no reaction. He raised an eyebrow. He could have sworn he saw something. "Am I just being paranoid?" Natsu wondered. Natsu began to doubt himself, but he had never been wrong when he could sense an ambush. He had been through plenty to know what the setting was like. "..."
...
...
...
...
"Okay, one of two things is going to happen. I'm gonna count to three, then one of you is going to step out, or I finish counting, and start using the entire forest as target practice." Natsu said out loud.
Still no answer. And no movement.
"1..."
Nothing.
"2-"
"Wait!" A voice suddenly said. He looked to the tree, next to the one that he split. Out stepped a young, pink haired woman. She wore a red dress, a blue cloak, black knee socks, and brown boots. She looked to be sweating nervously. "Talk about cutting it close, he almost got me!" She turned to the tree that was cleanly cut. "I-I'm not anyone suspicious!" She quickly explained.
"Uh huh...then, uh, why don't you enlighten me, on your non-suspicious...ness." He sheathed his sword and propped it in front of him like a cane.
"I'm...I uh...I realize how this looks, but, I don't intend any harm, at all." She assured him in the most convincing way she could say.
"Okay. I'm gonna ask you one question now, and I expect a truthful response." Natsu told her with smile.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Is there only three of you here?" He asked.
"...mgh...y-yes." She swallowed nervously and answered.
"Okay, now we have established a bridge of trust. Treya?" He said under his breath. "You can tell them to come back. I don't think it's dangerous."
"Okay." Treya responded as she looked back to him.
"Okay, now, I want your friends to step out. Is that going to be a problem?" He asked her.
"I..don't think so. I can't really speak for us." She said as her green eyes shifted toward a tree behind Natsu.
"So you're not in charge. Alright, what's your name, girly?" Natsu asked as he eased up on his sword handle.
"Um, I don't think I'm supposed to give my name-"
"Alright, it's clear you are not the one who set this up, so have the guy behind me, who's magic power is starting to FLARE UP, come out, before he gets any dumb ideas." Natsu instructed her.
"..you knew where he was?" The pink haired girl was astounded.
"Mmmm, not really. But you seem to be giving me not much to work with, so if he doesn't want to come out to play, I'll just have to make him come o-"
"Hold it." The said figure revealed himself. It was a young man with blue hair, and a strange tattoo down his eye. He was wearing a similar cloak, and plated armor, with an insignia that looked like a guild mark that hung at his waist.
"...okay, now two have showed...but three makes the whole set. Have the the third one step out, and I'll listen to what you have to say." Natsu ordered them.
"...Ultear?" He turned to a tree not too far from him, and a long, black haired woman, wearing the same cloak. She wore tabard-like clothing with with no back, and long black boots.
"I hope you know what you are doing." She sighed as she came out.
"Okay, so this is the question I need answered, and, I'm sure you would like to know as well..." Natsu cleared his throat. Elcair and the rest arrived on the scene and were wary of the three new faces.
"Are you an enemy? Or not?" Natsu asked.
"No. However, we are tracking down some dark mages that we followed to this area. And we came upon you by mere chance." Jellal explained.
"Is that right?" Natsu was still unsure about these three's intentions, but they didn't look to be starting a fight. "Then why didn't you show yourselves to us?"
"We were unsure if you had any connection to them. We decided to play it safe." Ultear said.
"Yeahhhh. Normally when someone ambushes me, they more or less shout like an idiot, revealing their posit-"
"THERE SHE IS! GET HER!" Suddenly a ninja garbed in red with a headband that had the symbol of a tomb stone with a half skull on it.
"Okay, see? That's what I mean." Natsu said with sarcasm as other ninjas descended on them.
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