Disclaimer: I don't own LOD. The next person who asks is getting such a pinch!

And now onto some questions:

NeoCataclysm: Yes, more.

Chronogirl: In my story, the old dragoons have become popular legends, which is why everyone knows so much. That, and Sanjuro really likes to mess around with his abilities and stuff.

Chapter 3: The First Beast

Before Agito knew it, three months had passed, with him learning the ways of the dragoon from Sanjuro. "Well, Agito, there's not much else I can teach you," Sanjuro said.

"Thanks. I appreciate the help," Agito said. "This will help me get revenge on the monster that killed my mom."

"We talked it over," Mina said. "We want to go with you."

"This isn't your problem, Mina. You don't have to worry about my problems," Agito said.

"You're our friend, Agito. We want to go with you," Mina said.

"We're not taking no for an answer, so you might as well pack up your stuff, because we're going to help find that killer," Sanjuro said.

"…All right. But when we find him, I'm the one who kills him, got that?" Agito said.

"Sounds good," Sanjuro said. The three of them packed up their belongings, and headed out into the forest.

"So, where do we go from here?" Sanjuro said.

"I checked things out in Seles the other day, and there's no leads there. We could go to the south, to Hellena Prison, but I don't think there will be any leads there. The place has been abandoned for years now. I say our best bet would be to go across the Villude Mountains and to Lohan. It's a big city, and for the right price, you could probably find out just about anything you would need to know," Mina said.

"Sounds like a plan," Agito said. "How much money do we have?"

"Not a cent," Sanjuro said.

"Crap," Agito said.

"It's no problem," Mina said. "We can make some money in the arena there. They have weekly contests, and there's always a pretty good prize involved for the winner. For three dragoons, it shouldn't be a problem."

"Yeah, but wouldn't it be a bad idea to show ourselves in public as dragoons? I mean, a lot of people who have heard of the dragoons associate them with the end of the world. The last thing we need is a riot if we're looking for someone," Sanjuro said.

"Good point," Mina said.

"We shouldn't have a problem. Not a lot of people can match my blade," Agito said.

"Killing isn't allowed," Mina said.

"Crap."

"We should still do well," Sanjuro said. "Let's not worry about it for now."

The three set out. In a week, they had reached the Villude Mountains. "Wow, it's hot here," Mina said. "This place is really gloomy. I bet there's all kinds of monsters here."

"Hey, easy with that kind of talk," Sanjuro said. "That's the kind of talk that makes bad things happen."

They continued walking, across the mountains. They bypassed lava flows and fought many strange monsters on the way. Near the end of the mountain range, they reached a cave. On the side of the cave was a sign. It read, "Inside be treasure, garded by a fierse beest. Ye be warned."

"Someone really needs to learn to spell," Mina said.

"Let's go inside," Sanjuro said. "We could score some major treasure if we beat this monster."

"It's probably already dead anyway," Agito said. "That writing's really old style."

The two men walked inside. "You could have at least asked if I wanted to go!" Mina said.

The inside of the cave was dark. The only thing providing light was the flowing red-hot magma in the cave. For half an hour the three walked through the darkness. Finally, in the back, was a clearing. Lining one of the walls was a series of treasure chests. At the top of the alcove was a hole in the ceiling, through which moonlight poured.

"There's the treasure," Sanjuro said. "Jackpot."

As he spoke the words, the ground within the cave began to tremble. Through the darkness, the three could hear the sound of many feet trampling against the floor. "It's the monster!" Mina said. The stamping became even closer. Sanjuro and Agito drew their weapons. Mina gripped tightly on her dragoon spirit, should the need arise. Then they saw it. With over one hundred legs, clad in white hair, was the source of the sounds. Running through the darkness of the caves was a stampede of mountain goats.

The three were dumbfounded, then began to laugh hysterically. "Goats?" Agito said. "That was the last thing I would have guessed!" Suddenly, without warning, a large beast stomped through the herd. It picked up one of the goats, and bit its head off. Blood began to pour throughout the cavern as the monster tore through its prey. It stood about twelve feet tall. It had brown hair, and its face covered most of its torso. Its arms were long, and its legs were short.

"What is that thing?" Mina said.

"Well, it eats goats, so my guess would be a chupacabra. But I'm no doctor or anything," Sanjuro said.

"Guess we know why they were running," Agito said. "Enough with the comedy. I haven't had a good fight in a while."

Agito drew his sword in a flash, and jumped at the beast. After his first slash, it quickly knocked him into a pile of rubble.

Sanjuro powered up the Dragon Buster. "Let's see how you like this, you ugly son of a mother!" he said. He lunged, and rolled under its legs. He jumped and slashed at its back. It howled in pain, and sat on him quickly.

Mina shot an arrow at it. It grabbed the shaft of the arrow and broke it in half. "Too bad that's not a normal arrow," she said. She snapped her fingers, and the head of the arrow exploded. It rolled over off Sanjuro. Sanjuro jumped up and ran to Mina's side.

"I love you," he said.

"Make it up to me later," she said. "We have fighting to do."

Sanjuro ran at the monster and rolled, grabbing a rock. He jumped on the monster's head. "You know the thing about not having an innate element?" he said. "You don't get to use cool elemental magic like everyone else. You have to use stuff like this." He charged magic into his hand, and transferred it into the rock he was holding. He threw it into the monster's mouth. "Hit the deck!" he said. He jumped down and rolled. An unpleasant sound came from within the monster as the rock detonated, and it fell down. Sanjuro and Mina walked up to it. "Is it dead?" Sanjuro said.

The beast opened its eyes. It smacked Sanjuro away. "It was playing possum?" Mina said. It hit her as well. As it walked toward their unconscious bodies, light began to glow through a pile of rubble in the corner. The rubble exploded. From within floated Agito, in full dragoon armor.

"Let's see how much I've learned," Agito said. He began to fly around the room, slashing at the monster as he went. He had become so fast, that the monster could not touch him. "Well, swordplay's good. Let's see about magic." He threw his sword into the wall. Flame began to form a vortex in front of him. It began to form a ball at the center. When the flame had reached the appropriate size, it floated in front of Agito. "Flame Shot!" he shouted. He punched the sphere of flame, sending it at the chupacabra at amazing speed. It connected with its head, killing it instantly. "Yeah, it'll do," Agito said. He woke the others.

"Did we win?" Sanjuro said.

"Yeah, we won," Agito said.

"Did we get the treasure?" Mina said.

"Look for yourself," Agito said.

They looked in the treasure chests, all of which had been opened. Inside each was a note that read, "Treasure moved. Sorry for any inconvenience."

"You mean we fought that monster for nothing!" Mina said.

"Hey, look on the bright side," Sanjuro said. "We saved some goats."