Hey guys, here is the next update of this fanfic. Sorry for the long wait with no update...

Anyway, enjoy this new one.

Chapter Cover: Aesyr standing by herself with the shadow of a dragon behind her.

Chapter Twelve

Dragon Slayer

Shinji continued to climb through the stairs as they continued to lead him on the upper levels of the Labyrinth. The old building has been renovated by Minotaur during his time here, Shinji observed as he took notice of the newer designs that were complimenting the old ones. It was to no surprise that he would put his own personal touch in this place after all, Minotaur had taken over this place ever since her rose into power years ago and from this place he had conquered the entire Dragmount lands.

Of course, the Dragon knights stood against him until their defeat five years ago, reducing their numbers drastically since then and now he was one of the last Dragon knights in existence thought…

Shinji thought back to his first meeting with Aesyr and the reason was that she had one of the coins as well and the though somehow made a smile rise to his face.

Maybe…not the last one.

When this is over, he will have to initiate her into the Order if she decide to stay in Atlasia. He'd actually have a partner to work with instead of doing everything by himself as he was doing for the past five years, but there was no time for that now. He is going to have to focus on finding Yael.

He was about to turn to corner, however the sound of voices caused him to slow down. The young man hugged the wall and peeked over the corner, staring out toward the direction where the voices were coming from.

They were two ordinary soldiers standing by a door, both of them armored and with sword upon their form. The two were talking to each other, their voices echoing in the empty hallway.

"…those shakings earlier," one was saying, "Could it be we are under attack?"

"Who would be foolish enough to attack us here?" the other said, surprised, "This is the boss's home base after all, only an idiot would do that."

"Even so," the first one spoke out, "We have been having trouble with the Lion's Gang in one of our territory, could be them mounting a surprise attack."

"We've got both Azil and Saul here," the other said, "And I saw Karmer earlier…with all three Commanders together, there is no way they'll get far."

The other soldier laughed.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he answered.

Two guys standing guard, Shinji thought looking at the two of them, If I was a betting man, Yael is on the other side of that door.

Shinji placed a hand upon his sword, taking a deep breath before launching himself forward once more, quickly running and crossing the space between his hiding place and where the guards stood. The two of them took notice of his approach and made to grab their weapons but Shinji was already on them and with a single slash of his sword, took both of them down.

The young man then straightened up, staring at the two guards for a few moments, sheathing his blade.

I expected them to be better…but then again, Minotaur probably through no one could have gotten passed his Commanders.

Shinji shook his head before heading toward the door seeing it locked.

Okay…

"Yael…," he called, "Yael, are you in here?"

There were the sound of movement coming from the other side of the door…

"Shinji?"

Hearing that familiar voice caused all the tension within the young man to evaporate. He was relieved to be able to hear her voice again.

"Shinji…is that you?" Yael spoke from the other side.

Shinji let out a small smile.

"It's me…," he said, "I've come for you."

"How did you even find me?" Yael asked shocked, "I didn't think anyone would have come."

Shinji frowned.

"Did you think you would have been left behind?" he asked her.

"No…it's not that," Yael told him, "It's just…Minotaur and his men are powerful…I didn't want anyone to risk their lives to come here in the Labyrinth."

Shinji stayed silent for a moment.

"Do you remember the promise I made you way back then?" he asked, "I promised you that I will always protect you Yael, no matter what. That is something I will always do…no matter how far apart we are…no matter who take you…you can always count on me to come to save you."

"Shinji…," Yael whispered.

"I don't care how tough the enemy is Yael," Shinji declared to her, "I will always come running, so don't ever doubt me okay."

A light giggle came from the other side of the door.

"Okay, I promise to never doubt you again," she said.

Shinji grinned.

"Good, now can you unlock this door?"

"No…it's locked from the outside with a key…one of the guards probably has it," Yael answered.

Shinji searched the two men and found a key in their pocket. He wasted no time trying to unlock the door and it worked. With a soft click, the door unlocked and he pushed it in, finding Yael standing in the middle of the room.

She was wearing a long dress upon her body as well as a coat upon her upper form. The young woman's long hair fell down upon her shoulders, blonde and bright as the sun itself. Her eyes which were a soft brown stared into his own as they were kind of glistening almost like she had been crying a few moments ago.

"Shinji," she said softly.

The young man crossed the room and took her into a hug, which Yael returned with equal favor. She softly sobbed upon his shoulder.

"I'm sorry it took so long Yael," he told her.

The girl stepped back from the hug, looking at him with a warm smile.

"It's okay," she answered, "I'm just…glad you're finally here."

Shinji gave her a glance before he started to inspect her for injuries.

"You're not hurt, are you?"

Yael shook her head.

"No…," she answered, "They didn't harm me at all."

Shinji gave a nod before taking her hand with his own.

"C'mon," he said, "Let's get you out of here before Minotaur realize what is happening."

Yael only gave him a nod, the two of them making their way out of the room, but as soon as they did so, a magic circle suddenly appeared beneath their feet.

"What the…?" Yael yelled shocked.

Shinji stared at the magic circle for a moment as the light from it suddenly became blinding. He raised his hand toward his face to shield his eyes from it's glow and he can feel Yael's hand tightening upon his and he responded by squeezing back.

Then the light was gone as suddenly as it had come.

"What the hell was that?" Shinji said shocked.

Then he became aware of something else. The corridor they were standing in had disappearing, replacing by a large open area that was filled with windows giving way out of the dark sky beyond it. Shinji glanced around himself taking in the surroundings as Yael stood beside him, looking around as well.

"This…this is the top of the tower," Yael said looking around, "But how did we…?"

Shinji frowned.

"That magic circle…it must have teleported us…," he said.

"Straight to me."

Both Shinji and Yael turned at the voice. Minotaur was standing across them, his yellow eyes taking them in. He was wearing his fur upon his shoulder, wild red hair spiking everywhere as the large man stared at the two of them.

Shinji instantly took his stance in front of Yael protecting her from the man across them.

"Minotaur," he said.

"I must admit," the man called Minotaur spoke out, "I was surprised that you managed to defeat Azil. Didn't think they were anyone could have been able to take him down in these lands. Then again, we underestimated you didn't we Shinji, Dragon knight."

Shinji narrowed his gaze at him.

"Then the magic circle from earlier…?"

"I placed a spell upon the Princess," Minotaur told him, "Not that she will know of course however, the spell activated when you tried to leave with her without my consent bringing the two of you here to me. Safe to say, I was curious as to whom would be brave enough to enter my base to try to save a princess."

Then he laughed.

"It's just like in these old fairy tales isn't it?" the man chuckled, "The young knight rushing to save the princess against the mighty beast that had stolen her."

Then Minotaur's hand glowed with magic power as chains appeared around of nowhere wrapping themselves around both Shinji and Yael's form before they could blink. Shinji struggled against them but they were twisting around his wrists like snakes binding them together behind him.

Damn it…they were so fast I didn't have time to react…

"Shinji," Yael yelled as she was getting pulled away from him.

The young man turned his eyes toward her making to move but the chains around him were pulling him the opposite direction.

"No…Yael…DAMN IT," he yelled.

He turned his gaze toward Minotaur.

"You won't get away with this," he snarled at him.

Minotaur let out a dark chuckle.

"If you're talking about your companion, I've sent Karmer to get her attention," he said, "Don't worry, she'll be heading this way soon enough, after all, I've always wanted to meet one of her kind."

Aesyr glanced at Saul.

There was something about him that was strange. From the way he was talking earlier, he didn't seem to be similar to that afro guy from the port town she faced when she first arrived in Atlasia. She had expected him to be similar in temperament but the man only fought against her because it seems that Minotaur is the only one that was in power here.

You're just like him.

Those were the words he said.

"Hey you," she spoke out, "Why did you join Minotaur?"

Saul looked at her but he didn't get to answer as the sound of footsteps drew both of their attentions away from each other and toward the new arrival. Karmer stood there along with a group of soldiers with him and the man was staring at her direction with wide eyes almost like he was afraid of her.

"You again?" she said.

"Karmer…," Saul mumbled looking at him from where he was leaning against the wall.

"This is a disgrace," Karmer spoke out, "To think the Commanders will face such defeat at someone like this…I should have expected it, after all you're not all that human either are you girly."

Aesyr narrowed her eyes at him.

"And what's that suppose to mean?"

"Because if you want to save your friends," Karmer said with a smirk upon his face, "You'll have to go through me…that is if the Boss hasn't been done playing with them yet."

Aesyr's eyes widened.

"Wait…you mean Minotaur has them?" she said, "Then I can't waste anytime here."

With that thought she launched forward just as Karmer yelled out, "Take her down men."

The soldiers that were with him all charged at her. Aesyr narrowed her eyes before she gathered magic around her throat and then with a single yell, launched a breath attack straight toward them blowing them all away from her, all the men screaming in pain at the blast of magic.

Then she was upon Karmer who had his eyes wide in surprise before a punch slammed down upon his face sending him crashing into the ground. Aesyr didn't even stop to see if he was knocked out or not. She just continued to run up toward the upper floors, her nose already locking on Shinji's scent as well as the scent she had picked up that smelled familiar to Hyades Village.

Damn it…I have to get there quickly before things get worse.

Saul couldn't help but feel shocked at how the girl had managed to overcame the group that was with Karmer. He seated there completely taken aback by her attack and he knew that she wasn't no ordinary wizard. Her power feels too different than what he was used too.

She launched that attack from her mouth…just like I thought. She isn't just some run-in the mill fire wizard…but just what is that type of magic she is using…

He turned his gaze toward Karmer.

"I know that wasn't strong enough to knock you out Karmer," he said, "What was that with that shitty acting you were doing earlier?"

Karmer who had been laying still on the ground slowly seated up.

"That girl hit hard," he said massing his face, "If I didn't face her before, that punch would have knocked me out for sure."

Karmer then turned his gaze toward him, taking in his state.

"So, you lost against her too."

"She was much stronger than I thought she would," Saul told him, "Back to my earlier question, why were you lying earlier?"

Karmer had a sweat appearing upon the side of his face.

"The Boss wanted to face her himself," he said, "All he said that I had to draw her attention toward him…I haven't seen Minotaur like this in a long while…"

Saul frowned.

What was so special about that girl that Minotaur will want to face her himself?

"Is that so…?" he murmured.

Aesyr continued to run up the stairs following her nose as it led her forward. She passed a destroyed hallway a few minutes ago with an unconscious man on the ground and from how strong Shinji's scent had been, the young man must have gone through here shortly after he had left her.

And there was blood on the floor, she thought, Shinji could be hurt…or it could be that wound he took from Karmer's attack in the Port town hasn't healed yet and had reopened.

The young woman continued her trek toward where her nose leads her, finding herself entering in large area. She walked into the room with a light frown upon her face, her nose picking up Shinji and the smell from Hyades village, probably Yael.

But there was another scent present as well.

"Aesyr."

She glanced upward toward the ceiling at the direction the voice came from finding Shinji hanging there, tied in chains.

"Shinji…how did you get up there?" she asked, surprised.

"Because I walked into a trap," Shinji yelled back.

"I'll get you out," Aesyr told him.

"No, don't worry about me," he told her, "Just save Yael."

Hanging not too far from where Shinji was, a blonde girl was tied to the ceiling also. The young woman was struggling in her bonds but she couldn't break them at all. Feeling her gaze upon her, the blonde girl, Yael met her eyes as soft brown fixed upon her.

Hearing Shinji's words, the girl turned her gaze toward him.

"Don't be foolish Shinji," she said, "We're not going to leave you behind."

A soft chuckle echoed across the large room, drawing their attention toward it. Aesyr already knew that he was there from his scent, so she glanced at him. The man was seating upon a throne that was almost hidden in the shadows with his yellow eyes almost glowing as he stared at her.

"Thank you for joining our little get together," he said standing up from where he sat.

Aesyr turned to face him.

"You must be Minotaur then," she said.

The man's red hair was spiky as it fell upon his shoulders which were covered by fur made into a coat. He grinned at her as he approached, revealing his muscled form to her. He was tall, taller than Aesyr and taller than most men she met in the past.

"Guilty as charged," Minotaur greeted, "But I am the Beast Eater, Minotaur if you want to be specific…no need to introduce yourself. I've heard such a riveting tale from Karmer himself and ever since then, I have been wanting to meet you…and I must admit, you've gained my admiration."

Aesyr narrowed her eyes, feeling confused.

"And what did I do to gain such admiration from you?" she asked, "I'm sure you didn't even know I exist before I set foot unto this country."

Minotaur nodded.

"You are quite right of course," he said, "I may not know you personally, but I have heard of your kind…after all, you've done such a good job with the Dragon problem in Fiore."

Aesyr feel her eyes widening understanding what Minotaur was talking about.

How did he…

"Dragon problem?" Shinji questioned, confusion in his voice.

Aesyr looked at the knight, hearing the confusion in his tone. The young man was looking in her direction as well.

"Aesyr…what the hell is he talking about?"

Minotaur laughed.

"Oh…she hasn't told you?" he said, "Well, some time ago now, a war exploded within Fiore between the Dragons that resided there. Of course, it was hard to tell which was real and which was embellished during that time but there was one thing that always stayed the same no matter how wild the tales has gotten…"

His eyes focused upon Aesyr once more.

"They told us of people who has been fighting side by side with Dragons," he continued, "People who were given the power to do something that hasn't never been done in the history of mankind. The power to kill Dragons."

Shinji and Yael both gasped in shock at the revelation.

"But that's not where the story gets interesting," Minotaur continued, "They said that the people went mad with power and started killing every Dragon they could find turning it into a bloodbath for Dragonkind…killed so much of them that they reduced the Dragon population to near extinction level…and when Karmer told me of you, I knew that the tales have some truth to them, after all isn't that what you are…"

He extended the hand toward her, pointing at her.

"Dragon Slayer."

Minotaur's game is revealed...

Next Time: Aesyr vs Minotaur

Jacques0 out.

R&R