Author's Note: Yes, Oraeus's son is alive. I know everyone expected that,
but it's important to the story later, so sue me. Rayen's still got the
Dragon Buster, but since there's no Dragons to kill, he hasn't really had a
use for it. But it's still around. One could call the Dragoons superpeople,
but of course they eat and sleep. I talk about Rayen sleeping all the time,
because he has all of those bizarre dreams. I mention the characters eating
every once in a while, but it doesn't make for very interesting reading, so
I usually spare you people the boredom. You probably get enough of it as it
is.
By the way, a Merry Christams to everyone! Mwahaha... presents. I got Metroid Prime, my own copy of Madden NFL 2003 (YAY! I was so sad when I had to return it to Blockbuster), Metroid Fusion, the Zelda game for GBA, about 7 books, a bunch of CDs, and 150 bucks! Lots of candy too... heh... sugar...
Chapter 53
The shadowy creature slunk slowly, maliciously through the poisoned forest that was no longer poisoned. The Green Tusked Dragon's foul enchantment had lifted over the centuries, but its legacy still remained in some of the twisted and malevolent life that inhabited the forest. No logging company would dare attempt to harvest these trees. The danger was too great.
But the mutilated beasts shrunk away from this mysterious new arrival with the ordinary animals of the forest. This thing held mastery over them, and seeking to dominate it would only lead to their own destruction. Thus they shrank away in fear, cowering as it passed. The shadow leapt into the trees, jumping from branch to branch with ease and grace, the sickly sweet scent of pine needles clinging to its body. Birds scattered when it landed among them, taking to the air in favor of spending a moment in its presence.
The enigma continued on its route, ignoring the forest's reaction to it. It would not be much longer. Its prey sat vulnerable, like the fool that he was. A few more days and he would be safely within its grasp. The creature sped up in murderous anticipation, eager to draw blood.
Soon its task would be completed. The hunt was on.
************************************************************************
Oraeus was still thunderstruck. There was no doubting this man was his son, but how was it possible? The hope that someone had made it out of that inferno alive seemed an unobtainable dream. But there he stood. "Artaeris... I thought you were dead."
"You didn't bother to check, did you?"
A perplexed expression flitted across the Golden Dragoon's face. "What are you talking about?"
This statement angered Artaeris further. "You left me for dead."
Oraeus felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. Surely Artaeris didn't think he had abandoned him! "I searched the village, but I was attacked. By the time I finished dealing with them, I thought it was too far gone for looking further to be of any use."
His son folded his arms obstinately. "But that doesn't change the fact that you left me behind."
Oraeus felt anger bubble up from within him, but he forced it down, remaining calm. "Yes, I did. But I checked the surrounding area countless times afterwards. What happened to you?"
Artaeris sighed, and he began speaking almost absently, as if the purpose for which he came seemed unimportant upon reflection.
************************************************************************
The new building was almost finished when they arrived. Artaeris's parents made no secret that there was an outside world, far more advanced than the way they lived. But they had taught him that greed and personal interest drove the human society. Nevertheless, Artaeris often found himself wondering about the world beyond their secluded haven, and was fascinated by the stories his father weaved occasionally, when Artaeris's pestering was too much for him to bear. But he never actually thought about seeing the real thing.
Thus, when he saw the strange metal contraption approaching, he was incredibly surprised. It was unmistakably human in origin, but it was hardly what Artaeris had pictured. It seemed so... awkward. But it moved much faster than a man, or even a horse, so Artaeris supposed that it appealed to the humans. A door slid open, and a group of humans spewed forth, laughing and jeering. So that was what a true human looked like. They seemed so small, so weak. Artaeris was probably as tall as most of the full-grown ones, and a great deal heavier than they were as well. Many of them were waving around empty bottles, and some held strange metal rods.
Many of the adults that were working on the construction halted their work and looked at the humans apprehensively. One of them motioned Artaeris back towards his home, which was located nearby and Artaeris complied. He still watched the scene, however, and peeked through the window as the humans approached. His mother urged him to stay inside before departing to join the others. One of the elders stepped to the front to attempt to parlay with the humans.
One of the humans and the elder spoke for a few moments, anger apparent on their faces. Eventually the human raised one of those odd metal rods, and a small burst of fire popped from the end and the elder fell over dead. Artaeris gasped. Those rods must be the weapons called 'guns' his father had told him about. Oraeus had described them as a sort of crossbow that fired 'bullets', tiny metal arrows that traveled incredibly fast and could kill from even farther away than a crossbow. He had thought about them often, but this was hardly what he had pictured.
Many of the other humans followed the first, and soon most of the adults lay dead. Then the humans produced cans of liquid, which they poured on some of the houses. Tossing flaming sticks onto the alien fluid, they set the homes ablaze. The remaining villagers fled in all directions. This appeared to spurn the antagonists on, and many gave chase.
Artaeris watched in horror as his mother ran past, with one of the humans hot on her tail. He hurled the can of liquid, the leftover contents splashing onto her body. As she passed by one of the burning homes, a spark ignited her clothing. The half-Giganto boy stared in complete disbelief as his mother was consumed in flame. When the fire finally died, she was charred nearly beyond recognition.
Their house caught fire soon afterwards, and Artaeris watched the flame climb up their wooden walls. He huddled in the middle of the house, still staring out the window. His father was still out there; he would come and rescue him. Sure enough, soon his father charged onto the scene. He picked up his wife's body, but then one of the humans saw him, and stomped onto his weapon.
Just then, a piece of the burning ceiling fell, and as Artaeris looked upwards in terror, it fell onto his face, searing the left side of his face. He tore it from his cheek onto the floor. He wanted to scream, but it came as sort of a bestial roar, one that blended with his father's as Oraeus began to slaughter the humans in his fury.
Soon the humans lie dead among the others, and his father picked up his weapons. Artaeris waited for his father to free him from the burning house, but Oraeus merely picked up his weapons and started trudging back towards in the other direction. Artaeris watched him leave in disbelief. More fragments of the ceiling began to fall, and Artaeris could no longer wait for his father to save him. Grabbing his own axe, he swung hard at the blazing wall. The charred wood gave way easily and he tumbled out into the destroyed village. He sprinted towards the only safe place he could think of, the forest.
Artaeris stayed in the forest for several more days, patiently waiting for his father to return. But he never came. After a week, Artaeris could do no better than assume more humans had caught up with his father. He had nothing left, then. He would have to make his own way from now on.
************************************************************************
Phil looked confused. "So, wait. You came all the way to Deningrad just to tell your father how much you hate him?"
Artaeris glowered at him, and the Jade Dragoon shrugged. "OK, I'm shutting up."
"Now that I've heard his side of the story, I've realized that in part the fault was mine. Besides, no matter what he has done, he's still my father. I came to request if I could accompany him in the army."
Rayen sighed. "We can't allow you to fight, at least not unless you gain a Dragoon Spirit of your own. But you can come with the army. I'm sure we'll find a use for you apart from the action. If you were so drawn here, maybe your destiny has a surprise in store for you."
Author's Note: Sorry that took so long, the holidays and writer's block kind of slowed me down. Next chapter is the incredibly important plot twist that will effect the rest of the story as we know it. Mwahahaha... I leave you in suspense.
By the way, a Merry Christams to everyone! Mwahaha... presents. I got Metroid Prime, my own copy of Madden NFL 2003 (YAY! I was so sad when I had to return it to Blockbuster), Metroid Fusion, the Zelda game for GBA, about 7 books, a bunch of CDs, and 150 bucks! Lots of candy too... heh... sugar...
Chapter 53
The shadowy creature slunk slowly, maliciously through the poisoned forest that was no longer poisoned. The Green Tusked Dragon's foul enchantment had lifted over the centuries, but its legacy still remained in some of the twisted and malevolent life that inhabited the forest. No logging company would dare attempt to harvest these trees. The danger was too great.
But the mutilated beasts shrunk away from this mysterious new arrival with the ordinary animals of the forest. This thing held mastery over them, and seeking to dominate it would only lead to their own destruction. Thus they shrank away in fear, cowering as it passed. The shadow leapt into the trees, jumping from branch to branch with ease and grace, the sickly sweet scent of pine needles clinging to its body. Birds scattered when it landed among them, taking to the air in favor of spending a moment in its presence.
The enigma continued on its route, ignoring the forest's reaction to it. It would not be much longer. Its prey sat vulnerable, like the fool that he was. A few more days and he would be safely within its grasp. The creature sped up in murderous anticipation, eager to draw blood.
Soon its task would be completed. The hunt was on.
************************************************************************
Oraeus was still thunderstruck. There was no doubting this man was his son, but how was it possible? The hope that someone had made it out of that inferno alive seemed an unobtainable dream. But there he stood. "Artaeris... I thought you were dead."
"You didn't bother to check, did you?"
A perplexed expression flitted across the Golden Dragoon's face. "What are you talking about?"
This statement angered Artaeris further. "You left me for dead."
Oraeus felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. Surely Artaeris didn't think he had abandoned him! "I searched the village, but I was attacked. By the time I finished dealing with them, I thought it was too far gone for looking further to be of any use."
His son folded his arms obstinately. "But that doesn't change the fact that you left me behind."
Oraeus felt anger bubble up from within him, but he forced it down, remaining calm. "Yes, I did. But I checked the surrounding area countless times afterwards. What happened to you?"
Artaeris sighed, and he began speaking almost absently, as if the purpose for which he came seemed unimportant upon reflection.
************************************************************************
The new building was almost finished when they arrived. Artaeris's parents made no secret that there was an outside world, far more advanced than the way they lived. But they had taught him that greed and personal interest drove the human society. Nevertheless, Artaeris often found himself wondering about the world beyond their secluded haven, and was fascinated by the stories his father weaved occasionally, when Artaeris's pestering was too much for him to bear. But he never actually thought about seeing the real thing.
Thus, when he saw the strange metal contraption approaching, he was incredibly surprised. It was unmistakably human in origin, but it was hardly what Artaeris had pictured. It seemed so... awkward. But it moved much faster than a man, or even a horse, so Artaeris supposed that it appealed to the humans. A door slid open, and a group of humans spewed forth, laughing and jeering. So that was what a true human looked like. They seemed so small, so weak. Artaeris was probably as tall as most of the full-grown ones, and a great deal heavier than they were as well. Many of them were waving around empty bottles, and some held strange metal rods.
Many of the adults that were working on the construction halted their work and looked at the humans apprehensively. One of them motioned Artaeris back towards his home, which was located nearby and Artaeris complied. He still watched the scene, however, and peeked through the window as the humans approached. His mother urged him to stay inside before departing to join the others. One of the elders stepped to the front to attempt to parlay with the humans.
One of the humans and the elder spoke for a few moments, anger apparent on their faces. Eventually the human raised one of those odd metal rods, and a small burst of fire popped from the end and the elder fell over dead. Artaeris gasped. Those rods must be the weapons called 'guns' his father had told him about. Oraeus had described them as a sort of crossbow that fired 'bullets', tiny metal arrows that traveled incredibly fast and could kill from even farther away than a crossbow. He had thought about them often, but this was hardly what he had pictured.
Many of the other humans followed the first, and soon most of the adults lay dead. Then the humans produced cans of liquid, which they poured on some of the houses. Tossing flaming sticks onto the alien fluid, they set the homes ablaze. The remaining villagers fled in all directions. This appeared to spurn the antagonists on, and many gave chase.
Artaeris watched in horror as his mother ran past, with one of the humans hot on her tail. He hurled the can of liquid, the leftover contents splashing onto her body. As she passed by one of the burning homes, a spark ignited her clothing. The half-Giganto boy stared in complete disbelief as his mother was consumed in flame. When the fire finally died, she was charred nearly beyond recognition.
Their house caught fire soon afterwards, and Artaeris watched the flame climb up their wooden walls. He huddled in the middle of the house, still staring out the window. His father was still out there; he would come and rescue him. Sure enough, soon his father charged onto the scene. He picked up his wife's body, but then one of the humans saw him, and stomped onto his weapon.
Just then, a piece of the burning ceiling fell, and as Artaeris looked upwards in terror, it fell onto his face, searing the left side of his face. He tore it from his cheek onto the floor. He wanted to scream, but it came as sort of a bestial roar, one that blended with his father's as Oraeus began to slaughter the humans in his fury.
Soon the humans lie dead among the others, and his father picked up his weapons. Artaeris waited for his father to free him from the burning house, but Oraeus merely picked up his weapons and started trudging back towards in the other direction. Artaeris watched him leave in disbelief. More fragments of the ceiling began to fall, and Artaeris could no longer wait for his father to save him. Grabbing his own axe, he swung hard at the blazing wall. The charred wood gave way easily and he tumbled out into the destroyed village. He sprinted towards the only safe place he could think of, the forest.
Artaeris stayed in the forest for several more days, patiently waiting for his father to return. But he never came. After a week, Artaeris could do no better than assume more humans had caught up with his father. He had nothing left, then. He would have to make his own way from now on.
************************************************************************
Phil looked confused. "So, wait. You came all the way to Deningrad just to tell your father how much you hate him?"
Artaeris glowered at him, and the Jade Dragoon shrugged. "OK, I'm shutting up."
"Now that I've heard his side of the story, I've realized that in part the fault was mine. Besides, no matter what he has done, he's still my father. I came to request if I could accompany him in the army."
Rayen sighed. "We can't allow you to fight, at least not unless you gain a Dragoon Spirit of your own. But you can come with the army. I'm sure we'll find a use for you apart from the action. If you were so drawn here, maybe your destiny has a surprise in store for you."
Author's Note: Sorry that took so long, the holidays and writer's block kind of slowed me down. Next chapter is the incredibly important plot twist that will effect the rest of the story as we know it. Mwahahaha... I leave you in suspense.