A Mipedian looking very similarly to Vinta walked by the side of a smaller but bulkier Mipedian. Shimmark was the twin brother of Vinta with paler scales, orange iris and wore a gray loincloth.
They were often confused form one another by Chaotic Players. They found it amusing.
Today, he was pouting, "I can't believe my brother won't talk to me about his mission. I always brag on about mine and he said nothing."
Ario was the one who had to get assaulted by the complains. He was a bipedal lizard with some crocodile features on his face. He had green scales, except for his yellow underbelly with a blue emblem painted on it and a pair of crimson eyes. His long green tail had a few black spikes on it. He wore a blue loincloth and a few metallic plates on his wrist and head. He rolled his eyes and replied, "It is a secret mission by our king Theb-Saar. If it is forbidden to speak about it, it is."
"Do you know what the mission was? You are a royal warrior," Shimmark asked.
Ario sighed, "Yes I know, and I cannot share it. Orders from the king. You will know in due time. Now go. You are on patrol remember?" he walked away at fast pace. He didn't intent to get questioned more by his friend.
He was finally alone. He had some personal duties to take care elsewhere. He marched in the desert to an oasis where they kept the strange mount creatures Theb-Saar brought back from his self-exile.
Those mounts were kept a secret from the other tribes as it gave them a great edge. If they didn't know they existed, then they didn't know how to counter them.
He reached his destination. It was a large fortress with a big oasis on the side. They were many Mipedians present. Some were soldiers like him while others were citizens living in the large village by the side of it.
It was a village that held great history.
The village was one that was loyal to Theb-Saar. When the king decided to overthrow his father, it all began in this village. It was where the supplies were brought during the long battles between father and son for the future of Al Mipedim. Many forged weapons used during the war in hope that every Mipedians had a chance at a better life.
Everyone living there were loyal to their king and to his belief. As long as those believes remained. It made sense that their secrets would be kept there.
He walked towards the fortress when he heard someone talking. He recognised the voice of a Chaotic Player when he heard one. Especially when it was a bulky Chaotic Player who he crossed path a few times with Sobtjek. He frowned when his suspicions were confirmed.
Peyton was there and talking with the younglings of the village. If the females of his tribe did nothing, the boy already gained their trust.
Ario wondered if the boy found out about what was inside the fortress or not.
Chapter 13: Ario, The Rider
The big Mipedian liked the boy. Something he won't openly admit of course. It made sense that he was closed to his tribes and had a good affinity with everyone.
He crossed his arms. Unsure if he should say anything or not? If he asked if he had been in the fortress, the player would be curious. The boy would go inside. If he already been there, it would be troublesome if he scanned something.
He chose to ignore it and went to the fortress. The guards would have noticed the boy if he scanned anything or tried too. Since he was a friend of the king, they would already ask to get rid of the things they had in there.
The reptilian entered in the fortress and went towards the special rides their king brought with him. He walked in the cool corridor. The place was made to avoid getting hot as outside and it was a little refreshing. Just like when he went to Kiru City once in time of peace. He reached the end of the corridor and opened a metallic door leading to the mounts. His mount was behind that door among many others.
"What are you doing Ario?" the voice of the Chaotic Player was behind him.
He turned around and furiously grunted at himself for dropping his guard and not noticing him, he is a sneaky as a Mipedian sometimes, he grumbled with a small smirk in his mind, "What are you doing here Peyton? Did the king allow you to come inside?"
"No? There is nothing interesting in the fortress, so I don't know why-" and the human realised there was something in there.
Ario knew from the eyes beginning to sparkle with curiosity and wonder. He crossed his arms and replied, "Yes there is something inside. Unless the king let you in here, I will bring you outside. I don't want any trouble. Because what is in here better not be scanned."
"So, no scanning then. I promise bro," the boy put his hand on his chest.
"I wasn't putting conditions for you to come inside," he grunted at the Chaotic Player.
"But I really want what is inside? Is it that troublesome?" the boy curiously asked. Peyton didn't try to go inside yet. He seemed to be cautious about it being dangerous or not for himself.
"Peyton. I cannot let you go inside. My respect with the king is at risk. If I let you inside this, when we tried to keep a secret. It could cost a lot for me. It can even cost my head," Ario explained.
That dampened the excitement and curiosity of the boy, "I'm sorry dude. I didn't know it was that no can enter in. I better go then and-"
"Please stay Peyton," a voice was said.
The Mipedian immediately saw who it was and kneeled down, "My king. W-what are you doing here?"
"I got the feeling that someone might be here and… I came here to check on a project. We barely began but I was curious," Theb-Saar replied. He gave a sign to his soldier to stand up did so.
"The other project," the green humanoid lizard whispered. He instinctively gave a quick glance at the orange scanner Peyton was holding.
"A-are you sure?" there was hope in the voice of the boy. He said, "It's definitely somewhere I shouldn't be and-"
"I never said it was forbidden. A place where we don't seem like we are hiding something attracts… less problem and enemies," the king replied.
"So, can I go in there?" the boy asked with excitement. He coughed and added, "King Theb-Saar."
"Just do not scan anything and tell about this to no one," the blue Mipedian ordered.
"I won't!"
"Ario. Can you please honor us?" he smiled at his soldier.
The Mipedian nodded, wondering why he let the boy in there. It still saved him a lot of trouble. He opened the metallic door and went inside. Peyton and the Mipedian king followed him.
The boy stopped when he saw what they were hiding. Stars were in his eyes when he saw them. He immediately recognised them, "There dragons!"
They were a few large reptilian beings resting on the ground, their long tail spiraling towards their face. The visage of those beast was very animalistic to say the best. Compared to most Mipedians who were less animalistic than those dragons. Most were as tall as Theb-Saar, when they rested on the ground. If they stood up, they might be twice taller than the Mipedian king. Most had bronze scales and gazed at the strangers. Their amber eyes pointed at the three of them with their long white horn on their forehead pointing at the ceiling.
The two creatures gazed at the boy as he said the correct name of the mount. The king put his hand on the mouth of the boy and said, "Not so loud. They can hear us very well."
The boy nodded.
"How do you even know they are called dragons?" Ario asked as he approached one of them.
The boy was a little nervous. He could answer some of it, "We have a lot of stories in our world about mythical dragons. Some kinda looked like them and others don't," I feel like I'm seeing dragons from Panzer Dragons, "Depends on what the stories are about."
"What are they?" the king pressed a little while Ario checked on his mount.
"Some are savage and dangerous, others greedy and some possessed endless wisdom," he replied without getting specific.
The blue Mipedian nodded, "Interesting. Can you say a little more about them or it's better not?"
"Better not," the brown-haired boy replied.
"Why can't you even say everything?" the green creature asked after checking if his mouth was alright. He had searched for any wounds or any illness. The dragon could be used at any time.
"There are laws for Chaotic Players," Peyton answered with little details.
"There are laws everywhere," he grumbled back.
The king rested on the doorframe, "Anything linked to your own world and Chaotic I believe. No creatures I'm aware knows anything about your own world. Some were curious but never got an answer," he let out a small sight, "And I am indeed curious too."
Ario nodded but didn't reply. He knew what it was all about. He was also indeed curious about what secrets the Chaotic Players were forced to keep. Maybe Peyton would have told them- He would have if it was possible. Maybe it was forbidden to talk about the Cothica. He pat the snout of the dragon when he finished his inspections, "They will need some exercise to strengthen their muscles soon."
"Knowing Chaor, an attack will occur soon. And with everything I heard about the Deep Ocean, maybe some M'arrillians. Still…" the king replied.
"What happened?" Peyton asked.
"We learned that a Chaotic Player was captured and-"
"Oh yeah," Peyton wasn't surprised at all.
The two Mipedians suspiciously looked at the boy.
"Where you the one captured?" Ario worryingly asked.
"It was my friend Tom. They got him the second time and he managed to escape," the boy answered.
"They forgot to take his scanner. Real competent they are," Ario chuckled.
"They did take away his scanner," and the creature gasped loudly an impossible, "One M'arrillian helped him. That M'arrillian might be execute for that or not. Tom doesn't know," he resumed without saying it was Phelphor, they won't believe it even if I say it, "What are you doing?"
"I rather not let my mount get rusty," Ario pat the neck of the dragon, "Our lives might depend on them," he adjusted the saddle on the back of the large being, "We'll be invisible my king."
"Of course," Theb-Saar gazed at Peyton and saw stars in his eyes, "And for you Peyton, it will be another time," his hand was put on the shoulder of the human, "Because you cannot turn invisible like them or us. You will break many poor creatures mind you know."
"Ahhh," he whined. He could see it in his mind and it was hilarious.
"Once they are revealed to the other tribes. I'm certain Ario will let you ride one with him," he suggested.
The green Mipedian froze on the saddle where he almost finished sitting. He gazed at the side and replied, "O-of course my king," he couldn't refuse that, even if he didn't want to let the boy holding his back in the air.
The dragon stood up and began walking away. The dragon had his head high, filled with pride and strength. His muscles were visible under the scales. Those were majestic dragons, for the human.
The dragon amber eyes went to the Chaotic Player for a few seconds before letting a small nod and continued towards a door. The beast opened his wings and tested them, before rushing to the exit. The door opened and the dragon and its rider were invisible.
"The dragon noticed you Peyton. They are intelligent being. Much more than usual mounts. I'm almost believing they can understand us and our emotions. I am not certain of course," the king explained. He crossed his arms and asked, "By the way, why were you around here?"
"I came for a scan and my friends and I promised to be careful with the M'arrillians around. They kidnapped my friend. So, we stay close to anyone who can help us," he explained a little more of what was going on.
The king didn't like what he was hearing, "Good thinking. You better be careful. The M'arrillians are getting active again. I have no intention of letting them threaten my tribe for a third time."
"Third?"
"They launched two invasions and no tribes will let a third one," the blue Mipedian replied, "Anything else to share?"
"No. I'll have to go," he checked his scanner, "My match is soon."
The king nodded, "Remember to not say anything about what you saw here."
"I won't."
"Not even your best friends."
"Of course not. I promise," the brown-haired boy honestly answered before he ported out.
The king chuckled, "I was lucky to come here today. Time to check on him," he walked towards the largest and strongest of all dragons and did the same as Ario.
Author Comments: I know in the lore that Theb-Saar brought dragons during his self-exile, but we have no cards of them. I kinda imagine they would look like those of Panzer Dragons as you could ride them.
Next Chapter: Welcome To Chaotic Miss Kalinkaz.
Kaz mother finally joined Chaotic and her son helped her familiarise with Perim. To his horror, they crossed path with Chaor.
