I do not own Legend of Dragoon or any of the characters.


Unwelcome

Cade stopped as they reached the hill where Kamuy had first appeared. He stared down the path to the North and the others all looked at him in confusion when they saw he wasn't walking any further.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked.

"Sorry," Cade said. "This is as far as I go. I can't go to the Forrest of Winglies. I'm an abomination in their eyes. A hybrid of the Human and Wingly species. If I try to enter the forest, I'll end up starting a fight with every Wingly in there. It's better if I stay out here so that I don't cause any trouble."

"That isn't fair," Albert said.

"No," Cade agreed. "But it's how it is. But don't worry, Meru can show you the rest of the way there."

"Meru?" Dart frowned, looking over at her as she backed away, eyes wide.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Meru said. "How could I know the way?"

"Meru," Cade said, smiling supportively. "It's time."

Meru hesitated before sighing and nodding. "It's this way."

The others, minus Rose, all gave each other confused looks before following her down the path. As they walked, Cade flew up to the top of the hill and sat down, pulling out his book of Wingly Magic and flipping to the part about making a blade from magic. He was pretty sure that was the basis for how the Dragon Buster had been made, so if he could make another, even if weaker, he wanted to know how. The process actually wasn't hard. All he had to do was have a hilt that was attuned to magic, then channel pure magic energy through it and form a blade with it. That meant that there were a lot of options for what he could use for a hilt. A bone from any creature that could use magic, certain types of stone, most trees, the closest good option being a branch from the tree Kamuy had fought them at, or an even closer and more appealing, if unlikely, option, the same metal Winglies used to make weapons and armor. It was a special metal that was attuned to magic enough to strengthen any wards or enchantments placed on it. And if he had pieces of ancient Wingly Power Armor, he'd be even more happy, because that would be the best option. Except the Dragon Buster, which he was almost certain was made from the magically preserved head of a dragon. Maybe he could take one of the Divine Dragon's bones or claws or something and turn it into a new sword. It probably wouldn't be the same, but it would at least be better than his physical sword. As much as he loved his normal sword, it wasn't quite what he wanted for dealing with Dragoons, Winglies, and Dragons. Plus, the prospect of having a sword formed from his own magic appealed to him on a borderline narcissistic level. Once he'd read through the instructions for making a magic sword, he turned the page and paused, finding instructions for making a power source for the weapon which would allow him to wield it without having to constantly focus magic into it, making it both easier, and making it so anyone could use it. That one was a bit more specific about its requirements. The type of magic jewel used in most Wingly armor, the eye of a Dragon, or the eye of a Virage. The eye of a Dragon would be best, with them having the most magical power, but either of the others would suit the needs of making a blade from magic just fine. He decided to wait on that piece until they killed the Divine Dragon, if they did. Its eyes would probably be the best option possible. He turned back to the other spells, reading through them carefully. The information was detailed to the point of step-by-step instructions, descriptions of how the spell should feel when cast, how it should look, and what it should do. They all sounded like amazingly useful spells. He kind of wanted to try them, but decided not to risk drawing attention to himself.

Just as he was about to turn the page, he sensed a spike in Magic behind him and dove forward, narrowly escaping a sphere of magic energy, which exploded on the ground, then spun, seeing a pair of Winglies in full armor minus helmets and wearing swords on their belts, both already charging another sphere of magic.

"Don't move!" one of them ordered.

"I'm not going to fight you," Cade said calmly, setting the book down and kneeling. "I don't want trouble. I'm just waiting for my friends."

"Shut up, abomination!" the second spat. "We're taking you to the Ancestor!"

Cade nodded and one of the Winglies dropped behind him, punching him and bouncing his face off the ground before tying his wrists. Cade tried not to get hard feelings as the other took his sword, bow and arrows, and book, and he was dragged to the magic gate to the Forest of Winglies. The one dragging him shoved him through roughly and he stumbled but stayed on his feet. Then, they both grabbed one of his arms before flying into the air and toward the building build into a tree where the Ancestor lived. As soon as they had him inside the building, one of the two drilled their fist into his gut, dropping him to his knees, though his armor protected him from the worst of it.

"Ancestor, we caught this thing outside the forest!" the one with his sword and book said. "He had these weapons and the stolen book of magic with him."

The Ancestor, an elderly Wingly with silver hair sticking out along the sides and back of his head but bald on top, narrowed his eyes at him. "Where did you get this book?"

"I took it from a Dark Elf I killed," Cade said, knowing full well they wouldn't believe him.

Sure enough, the Ancestor nodded and one of the two drilled a punch into the side of his face. "I'll ask again. Where did you get this book?"

"A Dark Elf," Cade said, receiving another punch, then a kick to the ribs, though the Wingly regretted that as his foot met Cade's armor.

"Go and fetch a chair," the Ancestor said, one of the Winglies leaving, then returning a minute later with a chair, which they tied him into. "Why are you here? Did you have plans to attack us?"

"I was just waiting outside the forest for my friends," Cade said. "The humans that are here. I knew entering would cause trouble so I waited outside for them to bring the Dragon Block Staff back so that we could go and deal with the Divine Dragon."

The Ancestor waved a hand and several punches slammed into Cade's face. He let his head fall forward, spitting out blood before one of the Winglies grabbed him by the hair and lifted his head.

"The more times you lie, the worse it gets," the Ancestor said. "How did you steal the book without our knowledge?"

"I didn't steal the book," Cade said.

Several more punches slammed into him, one of them breaking his nose, which he was surprised didn't happen sooner, and left his head spinning toward unconsciousness slowly.

"How did you plan to attack this forest?"

"I wasn't...going to attack."

More punches.

"How did you get into our village to steal the book?"

"I didn't...steal...the book."

The beating this time lasted nearly a minute, and when it ended, Cade folded forward, blood running out of his mouth through several splits in his lip, around several loosened teeth, which he channeled magic into to heal them back into their proper place, and gushing from his now repeatedly broken nose.

"This is going to be your last chance," the Ancestor said. "Tell us how you managed to infiltrate our village and get into our village's treasury in order to steal our most protected book of magic. If you lie again, we'll have to use more...drastic means."

"I...didn't steal...the fucking...book," Cade panted. "I killed...a Dark Elf...who had it."

The Ancestor straightened up most of the way and turned away. Instantly, the beating began again, worse this time. Rather than just punches, the Winglies began to take advantage of their armor by adding knees and elbows and even drove a knife into his thigh. After nearly a minute of this, as he was dancing on the edge of blissful unconsciousness, a voice rang out behind him.

"Stop it!" Rose shrieked, lividly.

Then, Rose and Meru were suddenly beside him, the Winglies leaping away from them as they stood protectively in front of Cade. He wanted to lift his head, but blood was pouring out of his nose and mouth constantly, and he was too weak and tired from being beaten to lift his head.

"Ancestor Blano, what is the meaning of this!?" Meru demanded. "Why are you torturing my friend!?"

"That thing is an abomination," Blano said. "And a thief. He was captured outside of the Forest of Winglies in possession of a stolen book of magic, our most highly protected one which contains some of our most powerful magic and spells. No doubt he was plotting to use our own magic to attack us."

"That's not true!" Rose snapped. "Cade chose to wait outside specifically to avoid causing trouble! He knew you all wouldn't accept him being inside the forest, so he waited outside of it while we asked to borrow the Dragon Block Staff!"

"That monster was probably lying to you and using you this entire time!" one of the other two spat.

"Cade is our friend!" Rose seethed. "If you continue to accuse him of baseless lies, you'll be dealing with me! You want to know how he got that magic book? We got attacked by Dark Elves and after he killed one, he found it in the Dark Elf's shirt, where they hide everything they steal!"

The two that had been beating Cade glanced at Blano, then back at Rose and the others, Miranda now holding her Dragoon Spirit out toward Cade, under Dart's instructions, allowing it to heal him slowly.

"He told you that, didn't he!?" Rose demanded. "He told you that and you kept beating him anyway!"

"How would a lowly creature like a Dark Elf manage to steal our most highly protected magic book?" the so far silent Wingly demanded.

"I don't know, but it obviously did!" Rose snapped.

"That's enough," Dart finally said, stepping out in front of them. "We didn't come here to fight, Cade least of all. You don't have to like that we're here, but you will not hurt our friend again, or else you'll have to fight six Dragoons. We came here to borrow the Dragon Block Staff from you in order to defeat the Divine Dragon."

Blano regarded him for a moment before turning back to Cade. "Very well. You may take the vermin and the Dragon Block Staff."

Rose turned, cutting Cade free, and Cade stood, turning to wear his weapons and the book were sitting off to the side. He slung his quiver and bow across his back again, strapping his sword to his side, then picked up the book.

"That book stays here," Blano said.

"Consider it the price of beating me for stealing it," Cade said. "It'll come in handy when I fight the Divine Dragon alongside my friends, and there's also no one in this forest who could wield the spells in this anyway, since you all believe that you are still superior and don't train to wield your magic properly. I'll tell you something I learned as a child. The ancient Winglies simply drew whatever magic power they needed from the Crystal Sphere, but magic is like a muscle. The more you train it, the stronger it gets. The longer that you all refuse to train your magic and simply delude yourselves into believing that it's already strong enough, you weaken your magic with every generation. I'll take this book because then it'll be put to good use."

Blano glared at him in silence for a moment before waving a hand. "Take it then."

Cade nodded as a rounded bark-like door in the wall to their left turned, revealing an opening. They all walked into it and it began to tremble as it rose. As it did, Kongol held out a silver cuirass to Cade. He glanced from it to Kongol and back before accepting it, staring at the silver metal, from which he could sense magic, the fist-sized green crystal in the chest, and the two pauldrons, which were rounded but stuck out to the sides about four inches and ended in points. There were a pair of vambraces tied to it, along with a pair of boots, all silver and with a smaller green crystal in the outsides of the vambraces and the front of the boots over his shins. All together, the armor was still no heavier than his chitin armor, though it would undoubtedly be stronger, and he could sense wards to protect from physical attacks, magic attacks, and one to slightly augment his magic power.

"You bought me Wingly Armor?" Cade asked, looking around at them.

"Rose did," Dart clarified.

"I figured it would probably be better than a scorpion's chitin," Rose said.

"Thank you," he smiled, giving her a quick kiss.

The others, minus Miranda, all looked away instantly, including Kongol, but Miranda hadn't learned to mind her own business yet.

"Wow," Miranda said. "I never would have guessed the best-looking one in the group would settle for someone as cold and miserable to be around as you."

Everyone gasped, backing away from Rose, except Cade, who wrapped her arms around her to keep her from killing Miranda.

"Not worth it, Rose," Cade said.

"I'm sure she'll survive one stab," Rose said, glaring at her.

"Better not to find out," Cade said. "She is our best healer, now."

Rose huffed. "Pretty poor substitute."

Rose allowed Cade to turn her away from Miranda, who was absolutely fuming at being insulted. Before she could say anything, however, the walls of the lift turned, opening the doorway again and they all stepped out, finding Blano waiting.

"The Dragon Block Staff is sealed in the Forbidden Land," Blano said, then paused glare at Cade as he swapped his chitin armor for the Wingly armor.

"Forbidden Land?" Dart asked.

"It's the place where our hideous memory sleeps," Blano said. "It used to be, until eleven thousand years ago, a palace for us Winglies, and it was the place where eternal prosperity was promised. It was the royal capital Kadessa. Now it is a mere ruin without a name."

"Are you sure?" Dart asked. "Is it okay to go in?"

"It is fine," Blano said. "Everything is in the past."

"I see," Dart nodded. "We have to do what we can now."

"Are you ready?" Blano asked.

"Yes," Dart nodded, the others all agreeing as well.

"Climb to the top of the stairs and I will send you all there," Blano said.

They all nodded, climbing the stairs, and Blano turned, pressing his hands to a crystal to their left, set into a large pillar. To their right, a pair of pillars stood, one of them bearing the lift at the bottom, and a pair of stone disks in the pillars began to spin, grinding against the pillar above and below them for a moment before the sections began to float a little above the piece below it, allowing the disks to pick up speed. Then, a ring of stones floated into the air in front of them, spinning quickly before a blinding green light enveloped them.


Leave a review.