Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or my own promises for that matter, since I never seem to update on time.
Chapter 12: Rescuing Celton! Part 1
"Okay, so what was your plan again?" Hufanse asked for the millionth time. Again, the response he received was a soft sigh from his friend, Aundren. The two had nearly reached the end of the forest, and the skies were dark and cloudy. It was unclear whether it was still morning or evening, but they couldn't have been walking for too long.
"I have told you countless times already, must you still be unclear about our intentions? I suggested that we blend in and not ask anybody the whereabouts of Celton until we are assured that nothing has been changed since we departed and no charges of any sort have been set against us." The Knight looked over and waited for the Lord's nod of approval.
"Right. Little attention, no distraction, got it. Just go with the flow, blend with the crowd. I can do that."
"You must, or we shall be in major trouble." The two walked silently. Finally, they came to the edge of the hill that rose slightly before dropping into the road. As they had last seen it, the kingdom was still as busy as ever. At first, everything looked like any other kingdom. Families were out in the market buying their goods. Men hung around in little groups talking about the war while their wives bargained with the salesmen. Children scampered between the legs of customers, chasing each other eagerly with no regard to their surroundings.
However, past all the townspeople and the market that stood apart from the neatly packed houses, Aundren and Hufanse noticed the signs of war. Houses were starting to look more secure, with windows ready to be barred shut and the Dragon Shields cleaned if it was necessary to deflect blasts from Dragon creatures. The men who did not stand idly in the market were outside their doorsteps, polishing their swords while their wives mended their soldier uniforms. Despite the initial innocence, the two former Dark Kingdom residents could smell the fear and concern the people had. No doubt that was the only topic of discussion in these parts.
"Like I said," Aundren repeated one last time, "do not seem out of place. We look like citizens, and we shall act like citizens. Whatever happens, stay by my side and do not do anything." The two young men walked down the road into the first stretches of the market. By keeping their heads low and pretending to be in deep conversation, they avoided the attention of many salesmen. As they got into the crowded section of the market, they started to be a little less cautious and tried to catch snippets of conversation.
"What do you think the Light Kingdom is planning?"
"A secret group was sent out just a while back."
"How have the spies been doing?" Aundren looked at Hufanse and shook his head. Nothing he heard was of any use to them. As Aundren turned in different directions as if pretending to look for someone, he suddenly felt the Lord of Dragons tense at his side. Worried that something might be wrong, he quickly searched his mind for a spell he could use.
"It's not that," Hufanse whispered, sensing Aundren's worry. "Look." Aundren turned his head. Hufanse motioned with a quick flick of his own to a stall. Aundren squinted. All he saw was a salesperson selling apples. Nothing special there. He whispered in confusion to his friend.
"No, the girl!" Hufanse hissed. Aundren slapped his forehead.
"For Ra's sake, Hufanse. I thought you would acquire some sense by now. We are not here to catch flitting words with a pretty lady…" Aundren stopped, for two things had suddenly caught his attention that whisked his words away.
The first of them being that pretty lady, because she turned out to be more than pretty. She was beautiful and even more than that if there was a word to describe it. Probably the most striking feature she possessed were her bright red curls that floated delicately around her face and brushed a little passed her shoulders. Her eyes, even at such a distance, glowed a bright, entrancing green. She wore a simple blue dress that outlined her figure beautifully, and at her wrist hung a basket swinging delicately as its owner gently set in red apples.
The second thing that caught Aundren's attention was, at that moment, he had heard what he had been dying to hear.
"I heard that Dark Magician prisoner they mentioned earlier. They're going to put him in the Dragon Chamber."
Dragon Chamber Aundren thought, and his heart did a little flip. Whether it was because of the scary news or that young woman, he did not know.
"Can we talk to her?" Hufanse pleaded, though he did not wait for an answer. He went right ahead. Aundren stood rooted to the spot, his eyes wide open from both situations. Finally, he shook his head and tried to identify the speaker. It was too late. Any men around him had walked away and he was left alone in the street.
"Hufanse!" he cried softly, but his friend was already tapping the young woman on the shoulder as she walked away. She turned around in a flurry of curls and only then did Hufanse realize what he was doing.
"Oh…er…um…hi…um…hello." Luckily, Aundren had caught up with him. It was too late to correct the error, so he hastily decided they would have to take a chance with her.
"Hello. Sorry if we've disturbed you, Miss, but we have an important question. Have you heard of the Dark Magician that was taken to the Dragon Chamber?" Hufanse gave Aundren a confused look, but Aundren shrugged it away. The young woman looked between the two of them for a moment as if judging what they were after.
"Yes…" she finally said slowly, sounding a little hesitant. "Why yes I did… you don't look like no guys I've met recently." Aundren bit his lip.
"We haven't been out much," he said, looking around. Suddenly, he became conscious of all the citizen's mutteringsbehind him. The marketplace was dark enough now that the streetlights had been turned on, and more people had come out to enjoy what seemed like the evening because of the darkness and the cool air.
"I see." The young woman looked out into the crowd. "Are you two loyal to the Dark Crown?" Hufanse and Aundren looked at each other before looking at the young woman.
"Loyal…loyal?" Hufanse stuttered.
"I ain't checking on you or nothing because I'm going to turn you two in. I'm just asking."
"You can't say we are loyal," Hufanse admitted.
"Well, I ain't either. There's some of us still with a sane mind I see. Well, the prisoner obviously is of the other Kingdom.What are you planning to do with him?" Aundren nodded to Hufanse. The duo calmed down a little before explaining. They had found a safe territory.
"Well…he's our friend," Hufanse explained. The woman nodded her head. "We were fighting some Dark Kingdom warriors and he was captured."
"Keep your voice low," the woman cautioned, looking around. She flicked her head towards the wall of a building to signal to them that they were to follow her there. As the two of them walked away from earshot of the townspeople, Hufanse continued.
"As I was saying, he's our friend that was captured. We were hoping that you might know where that Dragon Chamber or whatever is. Then, maybe you could take us there?" The young woman thought about the request for a moment, biting her upper lip.
"Well… it ain't gonna be a problem for me to find your friend," she said, and immediately Hufanse and Aundren cried out injoy. "However…" The duo quieted down, worriedly glancing at their new friend. "However… there are a couple problems. First of all, how in Slifer's name are we gonna get him out of that Chamber, and two, what if I get caught? I'm…well, it's too dangerous to say it here. But, I have an important role to play in something, and the King and Queen could weed a lot out of me if they needed to."
"I assure you, we shall try to succeed in rescuing our friend in the safest way possible. Hufanse and I are willing to do anything, and we will protect you in case any harm comes in your way. Please, you must do this for us!" The youngwoman shrugged her shoulders, sending her curls bouncing around her face. To remedy this, she brought up her hand and used her slender fingers to tuck her bright red curls behind her ear. Hufanse and Aundren endured the silence patiently. They didn't attempt to make a sound in case it made her change her mind.
Please, I pray to the Gods, let her agree to our request. Cy has high hopes in that we will achieve what we intend to do and save Celton.
Oh Gods! Please let her say yes. If she doesn't, I'll be forced to hate her forever and she has such a pretty face. Forgive me Cy, but you have Svrion anyway.
"I'll do it!" the young woman exclaimed suddenly, and only then did Hufanse and Aundren realize they had beenholding their breaths, keeping their eyes clenched as tightly as their fists. They relaxed at the reassuring news.
"Thank you so much, we'll make it up to you if we can!"
"We better hurry, the sooner the better. I'm afraid they've already done enough damage to your friend as it is. I've heard nasty reports so this ain't gonna be easy, and we've gotta get through a whole load of security." The three of them started to pick up the pace and walked down a path that the young woman led them on. She suddenly realized her full basket of apples. "Say, do y'all think we can use these?"
………
"In you go, you pathetic fool!" A rough shove and a kick accompanied this command and the two guards threw the bleeding young Dark Magician into the Chamber. Celton rolled over a few times before coming to a halt, his eyes painfully squeezed shut and various cuts and bruises dripping in blood. His uniform was torn and ragged, as if he had been wearing itthrough ten years of hard toil. He definitely looked pathetic in this state, and yet the two guards had no mercy.
One was a Witty Phantom, tall and yellow-haired by the name of Sinth. In contrast to the injured Light Kingdom resident on the floor, his purple suit didn't even have a crease on it. However, his white gloves where stained from when he hadgripped Celton's bloody arm. In disgust, he ripped the articles of clothing off and threw them to the ground. Then, as if using them as a symbol for his prisoner, helifted his polished black boots and crushed the fabric with his heel. Celton coughed and sputtered before helplessly looking up at him.
Another guard, a Lord of Dragons, followed closely. He smirked at Celton sprawled on the floor and eyed Sinth.
"Figure out if he knows anything, if not, then give word to unleash the Dragons."
"Yes, Harsh, Sir." With a sinister chuckle, the Lord spun on his heel and exited as his cape flowed out behind him. The double doors slid closed with a hiss, catching Celton's attention. With a grunt, he opened his eyes more to look around.
He found himself in a tall room colored an eerie blue, the only light coming from the small windows high in the ceiling painting the floor in long shadows. The floor was made of cold stone and all along its length ran several long gashes from whatwere unmistakably Dragon blasts. Celton groaned at this. Even after the brutal beatings, he still retained enough sense to know where he was. The infamous Dragon Chamber.
"Well, well, who do we have here? A young spy, I presume." Celton made a move to sit up, but the Witty Phantomswiftly put his toe upon the Magician's shoulder and roughly pushed him to the floor. "What is your business?"
"Nothing!" Celton replied, coughing up some blood in the process. He could not even begin to count how many broken bones he must have had. Only a good Healing Charm could help him now, and unless Hufanse and Aundren found him, that would be impossible to obtain.
"That's a lie," Sinth sneered, oblivious to the condition his victim was in. He kicked Celton's side, painfully making his prisoner roll over and moan. "Tell me the truth, did you or did you not hear anything about the plans of our Kingdom?"
"I'm…telling you…I heard…nothing…honest…I am no…spy." Celton's answer received another sharp kick aimedtowards his chest. The pain was almost unbearable now. Sinth realized that his victim would not stay conscious much longer. He got down on his knees, pulling Celton up close to his face by his collar.
"I'm warning you," he hissed. "And all you other Ra-damned spies. If you Light Kingdom idiots think you are going to win this war, think again. The Dark will be victorious, and you will all pay with your lives. The women and children too! Now, I've had enough with you. Erkth and Mitirk will finish the rest."
"Erkth…Mit…Mitirk?"
"Yes…you'll see soon." Celton slightly whimpered as Sinth roughly pushed him away. He got up and swiftly made for the doors. They opened as he neared them. Before exiting, he took one final look at Celton. "You are going to wish you were never born, boy." Before another second passed, he was gone.
A long silence followed. Celton slowly mustered enough strength to sit up at least. He glanced around the Chamber for a longer time. The only ways out were the double doors and another much larger gate on his left. Celton raised his eyebrows. Surely, as he had glanced past them, the gate had opened slightly.
Frantically looking around, he realized the Chamber lacked any hiding places. Whenever danger advanced upon him, he would have no shelter at all.
"Oh no!" Celton whispered to himself, listening to his voice bounce upon the walls. "There's no way out! I'm trapped!" He looked back at the large gate. Sure enough, it was opening, no mistake about it. Celton felt an uneasy feeling stir in his chest. He struggled to crawl over to the other doors, but it was a slow process seeing as every part of his body was vibrating in pain.
I've got to get out of here! I can't let these Dragons kill me. Cy will be devastated, and Renalyn too! How I wish I could have seen her one last time, smiling and laughing as she always seems to be. Renalyn…what will she say when she figures out I died here, and she had no idea I even left her? Celton closed his eyes, trying to picture his girlfriend's face. However, a wave of pain swept his concentration away. When he opened his eyes, the gates were open. A large gaping hole met his vision. Celton's heart leapt to his throat.
Slowly, out of the endless black, a shadowy figure approached. It was a large beast, with a wingspan that stretched to either end of the Chamber and powerful claws that looked as sharp as daggers even in the shadows. Behind it, another large beast followed, one more massive body with a long, curved neck attached to a ferocious head gleaming with bright, blue eyes.
"Erkth…Mitirk…" gasped Celton, realizing the meaning of Sinth's words. The two Blue-Eyes White Dragons looked around the Chamber for their prey. Celton weakly backed up. If he could only reach the doors…
Suddenly, the arm he had been using to support himself gave away. With a loud thump he fell backwards on the stone floor, cursing himself immediately. Both the Dragons immediately snapped their heads towards him. The glint in their sapphire eyes told the tale – they had seen him.
"Renalyn…Cy… forgive me!" Celton knew there was no point in running. He was not in any shape to get anywhere quickly. He could only watch in horror as the two immense creatures snapped their jaws hungrily and closed the distance between him.