HOT CHA! 294 FAVS!? ARE YOU GUYS FOR REAL!?
Chalk another victory up to you, the reader! I'd pop open a bottle of champagne, but I have no idea if y'all are legal drinking age. So, raise a glass of your preferred beverage. This one's for you.
The empty town had slowly regained its life, doors and windows opening up as the citizenry peered outwards. Some bore looks of fright and confusion, others held a rage equal to my own… some stared in defeat… Yet what mattered most was not the worries of the people…
"River…" Rushing to the fallen avian's side, I held her head in my hands as she huffed and rubbed her face into my palms. She was in no danger of death, but I had neither potion nor…
Talon gave a quiet, high pitched howl as they rushed off of my shoulder and landed atop River's body. As if disgusted with themselves, Talon began to lick and rub River's body for what was three seconds before coughing and hacking as if they had devoured filth.
Thankfully, whatever Talon sought to accomplish helped River to her feet… the two quickly snapping at the other. They were almost like…
Siblings, my Master.
Both River and Talon flinched to attention as Fera drew near, her voice seeming to echo in their minds as well.
Shaking my head, I started to walk, "Come, Gaelion requires our attention," River quickly took to my side, nudging herself as close to me as possible as Talon once more jumped atop my shoulders, wrapping themselves around my neck.
If I did not know better, I would think those two were fighting for your attention. Yet are you not opposite to River, holding my arm in your own?
"MISTER HOLLOW!" Wyndia cried out as she slammed into me and started pounding her fists upon my armor, "MISTER HOLLOW, THE EGG! THE EGG IS GONE AND IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"
Talon cried out causing Wyndia to flinch, the child looking up as she lost herself in Talon's ocean filled eyes. Tears still streaming down her reddened face, Wyndia reached out to the decaying dragon with shaking hands. Shaking hands which soon found themselves upon the decay covered dragon's spines, said dragon having jumped from my shoulders to Wyndia's neck.
"S-sis… I have a sister…" Wyndia whispered as her tears threatened to flow once more.
Sister… sister…
"But… Dad was so sure…" Wyndia's face held… worry? Confusion? "Well… I wanted a sister anyway."
Talon let loose a tiny roar, happiness more than evident in her howl. Yet now was not the time for such moments.
"Wyndia. Your father. How is Gaelion?" I asked as the child nodded, quickly leading me to the fallen dragon. Griffon bodies lay strewn about haphazardly, scorch marks and fractured earth decorated the land, and Bargram and Eustice stood at attention round Gaelion.
"Laddie!" Bargram shouted, Eustice echoing the shout with one of his own as they ran towards me, "Laddie! The egg… was it…"
"The egg is no more, Bargram," This statement caused him to curse and bite back a snarl as he curled his fist all while his avian companion sought to ease his frustration, "I… you must forgive me… I am unused to… tending to emotions."
"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean!?" The giant shouted, Fera, River and Wyndia drawing near, "I did my best to protect who I could…" He growled as Wyndia tugged at his shirt.
"Um… Mister Gram?" She asked meekly.
"Not now, Little Miss, I'm trying to scold our leader," His words had filled with venom before he took note of Talon, "Ah, mighty strange dragon, Little Miss-" His rage soon returned before shock consumed him. Quickly, his eyes returned to Talon, then to me, then once more to Talon before he cried, "THAT'S THE DRAGON! THE DRAGON HATCHED!?" He shouted as I nodded, "YOU COULD HAVE LED WITH THAT YOU DAFT PRICK!"
"You did not give me the chance," I replied softly as he took me by the shoulders and started shaking me.
"DON'T GIVE ME LIP, BUG HERO!" He continued to shout, tears in his eyes as he pulled me into a hug, "Ah… what am I even surprised for… of course you'd save the egg…"
"But the egg is nowhere to be found," I replied as I hung limp in his comforting hold.
"Bah! Semantics, laddie!" He declared as Talon spat out a rotten piece of egg at my face, the slime covered shell sliding down slightly, "Might want to clean that off, lad."
[Eggshell Rapier Unlocked!]
Once I wiped my mask clean of the shell, I had fed my Nail the mess as it morphed into a white and strangely formed blade with a half egg for a hand guard. The blade itself was round and bulbous at its base while curving upwards to form a point.
"Didn't think that would actually give you a new sword," Bargram mused, "Shame the little one doesn't have more to gi-" Talon had cut off Bargram's words, proving him wrong as she spat out a mass of muscle and feathers.
[Griffon Wing Unlocked!]
The sword was a massive yet lightweight wing shaped slab of sharpened steel, it's jagged handle wrapped finely in feathers. The blade itself had even offered some level of flight…
[Griffon Wing Rank: 1/25
Damage 60
Passive: Jump once more upon the air
Active: Stay afloat for 3MP/S]
Yet my main concern now had been Gaelion, Wyndia and Talon having already made their way to the grounded Void Dragon. His thoughts… muddied. Buried within an ocean of Void, and yet… the closer he was to Talon… the less suffocating the Void within him had become. Both Wyndia and Talon had touched upon Gaelion's Pale Mask, the dragon breathing out as his memories were dragged from the Void one at a time.
First, it was the day he adopted Wyndia into his family, forever marking the beast-master as one of his own children. Second, the day he presented her his egg… an empty vessel meant to house his spirit should he ever be relieved of his mortal coil…
Now? Now his mind was filled with surprise. Not only had an empty egg given life… so to had it born not a male heir encompassing his soul… but a female of a species not his own. More still, it seemed Talon's body walked a gentle equilibrium between Life and Unlife… though her blood was most assuredly of Gaelion's.
With a mighty roar, the Void Dragon had regained his strength as if the care and love of his progeny had given him renewed vigor. All seemed well with Mirso's guardian…
"Sir Sword Hero!" A villager shouted, rudely taking me from my reverie, "Oh thank the gods you came to us!" The portly and balding man shouted, "But… how did you know Mirso was under attack?"
"Gaelion, the dragon subjugated for this town's defense," I replied easily, said dragon enjoying the time he spent with his daughters despite his Void filled heart.
"Ah… yes," The villager mumbled as he broke into a nervous sweat, "The… dragon we hired you to slay… it ah-"
"'He' has a name."
"Of course, of course!" He shouted as if to stave my wrath, "Please… don't misunderstand… we're simple villagers… we meant you no disrespect your highness!"
"I am no prince, my kingdom dead."
Flinching, the villager took to his knees and bowed before me with great haste, "A thousand pardons, your highness!" When I did not immediately answer his castrations, he looked up, "U-unfortunately Sir Sword Hero… we do have a bit of a problem currently…"
"And that is?" I asked as my party slowly gathered, the visage striking fear into this pitiful man's heart. Fera with Nail at the ready, Bargram carrying Wyndia upon a shoulder as she held Talon, and River and Eustace staring at the groveling Maggot as if he were a piece of meat.
It does not help that he reeks of freshly slaughtered and smoked meat. Ah… I do believe I noticed that.
"The… th-the Lord of this village fled the moment it was brought to our attention that the dra- that… Gaelion… had started fighting against an unknown force."
"Ah, let me guess," Bargram interrupted, "He took the gold we gave the town?"
"Al-all ten thousand coins, yes' He replied weakly, "As well as any and all gold monster drop that circulated around town."
"If he survived, he will no doubt return to reap the remains of a ruin that does not exist," I stated calmly as I walked to town.
"W-wait… what do you mean by that!?" The butcher shouted in fear.
"What he means... ya pig smellin, ass kissin, bald headed, dog nosed-"
Bargram had continued his verbal assault against the butcher all throughout town, the portly man doing nothing to fight against the abuse laid upon him. The giant's words only halting once we opened the doors to Mirso's Town Hall.
"-weak knee'd, noodle armed, ninny!" As his tirade ended, so too had what had once been a lively and spirited discussion within the great Hall…
"SIR SWORD HERO!"
"HOW DO YOU PLAN TO FIX THIS, INSECT!?"
"I'VE LOST MY CROPS!"
"MY LIVESTOCK IS DEAD!"
"LOOK AT ALL THE PROPERTY DAMAGE!"
"THE CHILDREN! THE CHILDREN! WON'T ANYONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!?"
Untill it resumed in full. Fera had sighed in exasperation before taking in a breath of air…
"BEEEE QUIEEEET!" Surprising even herself, Fera quickly attempted to speak once more as the Hall fell to silence. Unable to speak however, I placed a hand atop her head and took her place.
"As Bargram was just about to explain… this town will soon be invaded by Melromarc's forces," This brought the survivors to attention, children staring up at me with fright as I moved to stand before the podium, "And as it stands… by the actions of your Lord and your inability to defend yourselves despite being aided by a dragon…" Their faces became further decorated with fear as I turned to properly address the villagers, "This town shall now be under my direct control."
Outrage. That is what followed. Which was answered by the destruction of the back wall, my explosive blade creating a hole for Gaelion to look through. All of the villagers stopped their incessant ranting as they looked upon the black eye of the void dragon staring at them.
"It would seem as though neither of you have yet heard," I stated calmly as one of the petitioners swallowed their fear.
"H-heard what?" one of the many villagers spoke up regaining his courage and anger.
"I am not surprised, it was a fairly recent event. You see, Princess Malty had sought to annex Lute Village for herself," I replied as I returned to the entrance slowly.
"WAIT THAT RUMOR WAS TRUE!?" Another more excitable villager shouted which was soon followed by a hushed cacophony…
"The princess was going to tax the town five gold per entry and exit…"
"I heard she brought a small army in addition to the Spear Hero's forces…"
"Isn't there a rumor that the Spear Hero is stealing young virgins for playthings?"
"But… the children… what will happen to the children…"
"Until I return, I am leaving…" I slowly scanned the area until I stared down the butcher from earlier, "This man as mediary."
"What- ME!? But, Sir Sword Hero!" The butcher shouted as he started groveling.
"This shall be temporary, for now, you are all to maintain the appearance of a town suffering onslaught," I explained as I waved a hand to my party, "They shall remain close by should Melromarc Knights enter the village. I wish you all well."
Their shouts resumed in earnest, some questioning why I would leave them in the care of, in their words, filthy Demi-humans, while others had begun to fear for their lives.
"So, where ya heading, lad?" Bargram asked, curiosity written on his face.
"I must pay Aultcray a visit," I replied coldly, "Should this play as expected, he will find his daughter here as a conqueror."
As I prepared to leave, Dragon Hourglass at the ready, River had flinched as she rushed towards me. I intended to take this trip on my own, but I suppose a bit of company would be appreciated. Only… as she came upon me, River had… grown. Almost immediately, what had been a Filorial no taller than myself had turned into a hulking mass of black feathers.
MASTER! ARE YOU HURT!? Calm, Fera. I am unharmed.
Lo, River had only taken me in her warm feathers. Of course, as I finally activated the spell that would take me to Melromarc, I felt a smaller weight collide onto my back as Wyndia called out.
"TALON WAIT! HOLLOW HAS IMPORTA-"
But by that point, I was already gone.