Chapter 34: The Red Lizard Guild
(Acnologia's POV)
The dragon slayer was bored.
He released a pent up breath as he lay on the root twisting around the large boulders he had crushed for practice. He had a pretty good view of most of the island from this spot.
The sun was starting to set along the ocean's horizon, creating a cascade of colors over the island. A faintly crimson color was darkening the giant tree's normally brown trunk giving the illusion that the upper portion of the island was bleeding.
Acnologia tried to stay away from the fairies that lived in the city on top of the tree.
Especially the Queens.
In their eyes, he found the disappointment that so many others hid.
Anger entered his world. Or maybe it was more akin to hatred. The wood under him hissed at the increase in temperature as flames leaped from his arms and legs.
He hated beings that had the power to do something, but didn't. When they stuck their nose down at him like he was dirty, he just wanted to rip their faces off. Filthy vermin. The best remedy for an infestation was to eliminate it quickly. And if that made him a beast, so be it.
Sometimes, if he admitted to himself, he got an urge to squeeze a Tenrou fairy and see if their hearts were as strong as legend says. Supposedly, if you stole their heart, you could become immortal.
Although, if he tried something like that on this island, Queen Zera would strike him down. Her and her band of merry creatures were ever aware of everything on the island. It was their magic that kept the island hidden. Not by illusions or shielding spells, but by actually moving the the landmass. That was why the place was so hard to find.
You had to be a fairy.
Or a dragon.
Or one badass mage to find this place.
Some days, the island sat in the water. Other days, Acnologia awoke to beaches made of clouds and sky. He could have sworn that the island could even cross into other dimensions. Of course, Igneel would just roll his slitted eyes before giving him a good whack to make him shut up when he had mentioned it.
Really, the only reason the Tenrou Queen allowed the dragon slayers to use such a holy place was because of Igneel. In fact a rather large guild of slayers, dragons, halflings, and celestial mages thrived under the watchful eyes of the fairies. In honor of their leader Igneel, the dragon slayers called themselves the Red Lizard Guild.
Didn't really have a nice ring to it.
Maybe one day they would change the name.
Speaking of their fearless leader.
If Queen Zera killed him for harming a fairy, Igneel would burn him, resurrect him, and burn him again if he ever tried to do some idiotic shit like that. Igneel's temper was well known among the dragons and dragon slayers. Acnologia had been on the receiving end a few times now - never a pleasant experience.
One day they wouldn't treat him like an insect.
He would treat them like that.
People everywhere would remember his name. Even dragons would speak of him in hushed tones. And he would be immortalized in the stories they would tell of him.
He sighed.
Dorianthe would have bashed his head in if she knew how he talked, but the fire dragon queen had died a year ago.
At the moment, the island was desolated. All the dragons had left to patrol Ishgar. The dragon slayers had went home to celebrate with their families during this tentative peace from the dragon civil war.
Acnologia had nobody so he remained on the island.
The only home he knew.
Although there was nothing left in this place that he would call family.
He actually preferred the solitude most days, not being a man of many words. After months of being stuck doing nothing else but babysit the newer additions to the guild, he had wanted to patrol, but Igneel had left him on guard duty.
Translation: We don't trust you enough to let you out in the real world.
Most of the dragon slayers spent their time on the island, but their families lived in cities like Hargeon, Crocus, Sun Village, and Magnolia. They were bonded to people that kept them on the straight and narrow path. When he was allowed off the island, he was friendly enough to the humans and a select few other species, but mostly he just didn't care about society and their norms so he tended to get into trouble. A lot. Then the humans grew scared of him and reported it to the dragon slayers who would ride his ass. Their constant bickering would eventually get back to Igneel who would make his life hell.
The man rolled over, shifting his position to where he could watch a nearby bird nest.
He could feel his humanity slowly etching away. A part of Acnologia wished he had stayed in the outside world for more than just fighting. Mingling with the humans, did allow him to at least see some good. Because if he ever lost sight of the good in people, than he would stop fighting to protect people.
And then he would really become a beast.
Maybe even a real dragon.
When Dorianthe died, he had unlocked his dragon force to slaughter the dragon that had broken her neck. He had ripped into his body, severing the internal organs before bursting out the other side. The blue lightning dragon's blood had been spicy. And he had revealed in dominating his enemy before bathing in the warmth of its essence while feeling it grow cold. Before he had been able to use his fire to burn the carcass to ash, ridding the world of one more parasite, Igneel had arrived to burn everything in sight. Acnologia having a base of a fire dragon was not hurt in the attack. The other dragons and dragon slayers who had witnessed his ferociousness in battle, had wanted to kill him. Igneel told them no… being of same mind as Achnologia. They both agreed to just let the world burn.
Although he learned later that he had gained a new mode from absorbing the energy of the dragon. Lightning. The dragons had forced him to give it up. They sealed the power in a dragon lacrima and buried it somewhere in Magnolia. Then they had sworn him to secrecy. They did not want slayers to find out that they could eat multiple elements if it came from a dragon or dragon slayer.
Life had been different since then. Igneel had taken him in half halfheartedly. The dragon might have welcomed him more if he had not been grieving over his mate's death. Their actions together had caused the peace that the humans and dragons now enjoyed. Both sides of the dragon civil war were currently at a stand still.
In the end, Igneel was the only one who stood up for Acnologia when everyone else was willing to turn their backs to him after the war; therefore, Acnologia would sometimes listened to him. Really, Igneel was the first and last creature he respected on the island.
Everyone else made pitiful attempts at living life while belittling him for the choices he made to kill without hesitation. He found their shallow natures disgusting.
They wanted the freedom he gave them.
They just did not want him.
Acnologia had killed eight more dragons in the same manner as the first . All of which were absorbed into his body before lacrimas were created to strip him of the powers. Those lacrimas unlike the first, had been given to humans for implantation. Creating a new type of dragon slayer.
He exhaled before grabbing a vine that grew alongside the large root he had been perched on. He felt the rush of wind as he dived off the side. Swinging around, he fell towards the ground before twisting in the air to land on his feet.
Draco taught the humans how to control elements by turning their bodies into the form of dragons to have perfect control over an element. Dragon magic only siphoned the powers of a dragon by making his body similar to a dragon in order to manipulate an element. However the longer a human was transformed into a dragon, the harder it was to transition back into a human. Some never completely change back. Slayers on the other hand, were a watered down version and the only danger was if you used Dragon Force. Dragon Force was a perfect form of magic that both dragon magic and dragon slaying magic wanted to achieve. It would be when the human bodies would be in perfect harmony with their dragon side.
Only the slayers that had complete control over their Dragon Force could actually slay a real dragon.
What the dragons feared the most about Acnologia was that he was the most evolved version - a dragon human hybrid that could easily make the rest obsolete; thus, the reason why they treated him like a freak. Nobody had witnessed anything of the kind in hundreds of years. And he was strong. Not merely just stronger than the average human with similar powers. He had the strength of at least five dragons.
So the dragons kept him on a short leash.
Sniffing, he detected an unfamiliar scent on the island.
Male.
Fairly young.
Growling, Acnologia sped through the forest knowing no boats from the mainland had arrived nor had any new dragons or winged creatures.
He stopped as two new scents hit his nose. One was recognizable, the strange blonde female that he had met months ago. The female who had looked human without being quite human.
And the other scent smelled like brimstone and fire dragon.
(Andromeda's POV)
Andromeda's hand let go of Precht's shoulder as soon as her feet touched the warm, sandy beach.
"Thank you," she said as she hugged the boy who had teleported her to Sirius island.
The fair haired youth blushed against her massive cleavage. Precht was fairly strong with his magic, but his intellectual mind was more suited for research than interacting with celestial maidens.
"This meeting is very important to me," the blonde explained as she released his smaller body.
The third member of their group, a young redhead, snickered beside them. "Maybe you shouldn't have touched him Blondie. He looks like he could spontaneously combust any moment now." She peered sideways at the landscape before giggling, "Dad said nobody will be on this island except for the one you are looking for."
Her name was Flare, not a dragon slayer like most of the inhabitants of the island, her father Atlas Flame was a dragon mage who had retained his human form. Flare as his daughter was half dragon. A human with natural control over some aspects of dragon hellfire that was not taught, but inherited.
Andromeda had journeyed deep into Fiore, searching for the man who had saved her after waking up alone in the middle of the dead lycanthropes. Finally, at a village of giants, she had learned about the boy named Acnologia who lived on a magical island. Flare had become a very good friend to her and had decided to come.
Precht interrupted her thoughts by smiling at Flare, "Jealous? You're the one more likely to combust if she tried to hug you," he said taunting Flare who punched the boy.
Andromeda ignored their bickering as she excitedly looked up at the Tenrou tree. Now she was here to find him and thank him for his actions and try to help him anyway she could.
A celestial spirit always paid back their debts.
(Acnologia's POV)
The three were not hard to find.
Hidden in the shadows of the trees, Acnologia followed the mismatched group as they ventured into the wilderness from the beach. Watching silently, as the redhead led the other two towards the town.
He was not familiar with her identity, but the
symbol on her breast showed she was the daughter of Atlas Flame. A chimera, half dragon, half human. She seemed to know her way around the island. The dragon slayer searched his mind for a memory of her being here. Perhaps she had visited during a time when he had been fighting.
The three humans unaware of their stalker continued through the forest only pausing to occasionally study the bright orbs that trailed in their path. Acnologia knew that the orbs meant the fairies were watching the intruders as well. Mist floated eerily out of the woods, clinging to trees and shrubs so that they seem to rise up out of a seas of white.
Curiously, he wondered why the three were there. They did not feel particularly strong although he could not get a good reading on the blonde. The man remembered being drawn to a strange power that one day, so many months ago, but when he arrived he had been disappointed to find a half dead girl fighting werebeasts.
Unusual energies drew his attention because most of the time they meant strong opponents for him to face.
He had checked her after she had fainted, which made him aware that she was something entirely different from what he had first assumed. Although he could not put a finger on what species she was. Something he had never encountered before. It fascinated him enough for him to whisper his name to her, but once the bloodlust had faded from his body, he had left without a second thought. She looked more like a princess than someone who would be a worthy opponent.
Or even good in bed.
Although he might change his opinion on that last thought.
His eyes followed her movements. She wasn't wearing the robes she had been in the woods. She presently wore trousers and a blouse showed off her curvy body which had been previously concealed.
The boy of the group turned to look straight at the bushes Acnologia crouched behind.
"I think we are being followed," the youth commented.
The dragon slayer's attention became focused on the boy with the two. He didn't like him. There was something fake about his presence. Underneath his aura lurked something wicked. What simmered there reached out to something similar in Acnologia's soul. And his inner self was screaming for him to kick the boy's body off the island.
Preferably in pieces.
Atlas Flame's daughter shouted as her hair elongated with flames. They twisted in the air, extending towards him. He grabbed the strands, licking the fire that danced over his hands before snapping them with a enough force to propel her body his way. He used her own momentum and hair to cocoon her body. The boy leaped toward him with some type of grappling chains shooting from his arms.
(Andromeda's POV)
Her mouth went dry at the sight of her two new friends sent flying into a patch of briars. The surprise slowing her reaction time. Clearly the man did not mean harm because if he had wanted to kill them… They would already be dead.
The figure she sought months for loomed over her.
She smiled, "It's you..."
He grabbed her arms in a tight grip, momentarily puzzling the girl. Time stopped as she stared up at a face that held hints of amusement before disappearing behind a mask of indifference. She went completely still. A deep rooted fear leaped in her throat.
Maybe this had been a bad idea.
"B-bind!" She stuttered, unsure if she should attack him or not. She had been searching for him for so long. How could she show him her thanks if the first thing she did was trap him in her power?
He purred against her sweaty forehead, "You're going to have to do better than that sweets."
Infuriated at her easy capture, Andromeda's elbow connected to his collar bone. The beast laughed at her attempts to escape. The sound rusty with lack of use. The sound vibrated through his chest, echoing in her ears.
Flare and Precht could not move in time to stop the stranger from retreating back into the shadows carrying a now kicking, and screeching, celestial princess.
Next Chapter: Fairies, Dragneels, and the Tenrou Jade
AN: Dedication to NaluFTfanatic and ThatOneTroubleMaker for being awesome enough to be my beta readers! Honestly I was becoming a bit discouraged at writing this story, but these two people have renewed my inspiration.
Sneak Preview for next time:
He pushed her to the ground before stroking her neck almost reverently as if she was a holy object.
The mist grew thicker and the number of burning circles increased as if the woods were unhappy with this outcome.
Acnologia's face became carefully guarded as balls of light worked themselves into frenzy around them. He slowly retracted himself from the girl lying in a heap along the ground, glaring at the interruption of his game of cat and mouse.
Laughter from children surrounded the pair.
The man stiffened as two girls, holding hands, appeared from the mist that swirled around them.
A large wolf with plants growing from his joints and claws stood behind them, growling menacing at the dragon slayer.
The two children, one blonde and one brunette, smiled at Andromeda who struggled to stand.
"It's so nice to meet you princess," the two bowed.
"You two are fairies? Are you hot? I must apologize. My senses are dimmed in my current form and it's hard to recognize members of the seelie and underlie courts," stated Andromeda as she followed their action. The courts are the ruling bodies of the fairies.
Auroras, Sprites, and the Tenrou's royal families make up the seelie, or "Blessed Courts.". The unseelie are the "Unholy Courts," which include only one group, the spriggins. .
"Actually we aren't just members of the courts. I'm Queen Zera and this is Queen Mavis."
Andromeda gasped, "Then it is I who has the honor of greeting you."
"Ah, but that you are wrong. It's been centuries since a celestial being has tread these grounds. Welcome to our island, Princess of the Stars."