Author's Note: As always, I thank all my readers, favorites, followers, and reviewers for all the support you've given me! I also welcome new viewers to this story and hope you have enjoyed it so far! Please, if you have any questions, I will answer them in the next chapter.
davycrockett100: You sure say that a lot, but I appreciate your kind small words all the same! Even the smallest reviews help in giving inspiration.
Vindicem: Thanks for the Grammar tips, and as for the reason behind why everything seems to go quickly at first. It's because I have many characters to begin the introduction. The first 10 chapters will be like the 'Story Introduction' Phase. Afterward, it shall be more focused and detailed, longer chapters and transitions between each character. After all, I can't begin the story like this concept without first introducing the players.
Life of a Zero Dragon
Chapter 6: Worldly Changes
Cora Rune, the fifth Chosen Dragon, tore apart the warcraft-made dire wolf that had wandered too close to the cottage. Her scales torn up, claw and teeth wounds from the creature upon her body. She could feel herself slipping up, her injuries getting the better of her, but not this moment.
The dire wolf cried out in a dying howl before falling on its side and heading into its eternal slumber of death. A golden light enveloped around Cora's form, before dimming back to nothingness afterward.
She had reached level 4.
Just one more and, hopefully, she will grow into a Dragonet.
There were five stages of Growth for a Chosen Dragon.
Hatchling, Dragonet, Young Adult, Full Adult, and then Wyrm.
According to the lore of Life of a Dragon, Chosen Dragons were five eggs blessed by the Leader Dragons, they sacrificed the Chosen Dragon's life of centuries to then have the potential to become the strongest Dragons to ever live. They did this in order to combat a future evil they couldn't hope to beat.
In the original Life of a Dragon, the player Chosen Dragons, the first generation, defeated the Demon King. This caused the destruction of a the Human Kingdom and the decline of many Dragon population, a peace treaty was formed between Humans and Dragons for two hundred years.
Life of a Dragon Sequel in the continuation of that, marking the end of the two hundred year treaty, the new generation of Chosen Dragons born into the world.
So while they now had only a century or two of life, they grew at an exponential rate, and upon reaching Full Adult, only fellow Heroes could stop them.
Reaching Wyrm makes them akin to god-like beings.
'But I have no clue if the growth system works the same, upon reaching level 5 I should grow, then it would continue to 12, 23, and finally 35… No, that latter is now 45 because the Map Maker increased the level cap in the newest version.'
"Grah…" Her draconic voice escaped in a small cry of pain, Cora needed to get back to the cottage and let Tiffania, the high elf caretaker, treat her wounds.
Well, the fifth player didn't know if Tiffania was a high elf or some other elf, but the former was a term she was most familiar with.
Cora brought her wings up, beginning to hover above the ground before turning, heading back towards the safety of her temporary shelter.
Saito Hiraga liked Siesta's presence, it reminded him of something he couldn't put his claw on. But whatever it is, he enjoyed it. It also helped that was quite generously gifted in a certain area, unlike his so-called master's figure.
That didn't mean he didn't like Louise, on the contrary, she took great care of him while he's been stuck in this dragon hatchling body of his.
Though she kept calling him by 'Erisdar', not that he didn't mind it, it was a pretty well-chosen name for a fire-breathing mythical creature.
Mythical being more real nowadays.
'Louise does have that explosive personality for sure…' Saito thought, chuckling silently to himself.
After calming a bit down from the rather humorous thought, the Chosen Dragon hatchling lay on the grass near the other familiar who took care to make themselves nowhere near Player 1.
'So… Bored…' Saito grumbled, 'If this was the map there would be always something to do… Crafting, creeps, roleplaying, item hunting, player fighting…'
Suddenly, he lifted his head and got on all four, 'What am I doing? This is the perfect moment to explore! I can teleport anywhere within distance with the Blink ability!'
In Saito's excitement, his wings beat heavily, causing the hatchling's form to hover over the ground. He felt his inner mana, reaching out for it and using the short-distance teleportation spell.
A blue light covered his vision before releasing once again, taking note that he had transported himself from the familiar grounds to the Vestri Court. His grin spread, Saito could already picture the moment where he would soar through the skies like a jet, feeling the rush of the wind passing along his scales.
Saito Hiraga used his Fast, Very Fast attribute ability, increasing his movement speed drastically and allowing him to zip over the grassy fields of the court. The first Chosen Dragon player felt the cooldown of the Blink hero skill click in his mind, allowing once again for the effect of blue light to engulf him and reappear over the rooftop of the Magic Academy.
It felt like a burning desire within him, Adventure, this was it, exploration paved the way to discovery and epic quests that filled the void of everyday life.
A brief moment let him think it might be because he is a hatchling dragon making him behave like this.
But then again, he is a roleplayer, did he not play games to experience the small fragments of adventure left in the world?
"Rawr!" His tiny hatchling roar didn't sound like much, but it emphasis what his current spirit is feeling.
The Chosen Dragon hatchling hovered over the rooftops, his claws scraping the very tips of stone that he moved over while his wings pushed himself above the ground.
Every second, every precious moment of time was a new viewpoint, the vast world was out there, waiting for him to make a difference. It felt like he was destined to make a change, the vast potential residing within him, whether for good or evil was his choice.
Once again, he made use of the Blink ability, vanishing in a small burst of tinted blue light.
Only to find himself in the midst of a class.
Perhaps he should have given himself a general direction to go too.
'Wait, isn't the Louise? What is she doing in front of that desk with pebbles?'
A single flip of her wand towards the small rocks was all he needed.
*BOOM!*
Saito released a cough from his jaws, 'Why do I always get the back luck…'
Louise's clothes looked torn in many places, leggings shredded by her own explosion revealing parts of her skin in numerous holes within the clothing. She coughed, bringing a hand to her mouth as if it was an elegant manner.
"It was only a minor mistake…" Louise said as if it was a common occurrence.
It was.
"Yeah right, this happens every time!" A peer of hers said from across the room near the desks that looked shaken and somewhat destroyed.
"All your spells end up in an explosion!" Another added.
"This is why you'll always be called a Zero!" They continued.
"Because you can't cast any spells! Louise the Zero!" The class finished together, leaving the room and leaving Louise to clean up the mess as directed by the teacher who had now recovered consciousness from being knocked out by the explosion.
'Louise the Zero?' Saito thought as he tilted his head, his position beside the pink haired girl.
Once everyone had left the room, Louise's shoulders sagged in sorrow as her expressions darkened with sadness.
"Rawr?" Saito said to try to ease the girl up a bit.
"Huh?" Louise questionably said, looking and noticing the hatchling. "Erisdar…?" She trailed off the words before smiling and patting the Chosen Dragon's head, avoiding the two horns at the back.
"Thanks, Erisdar… I might not be able to cast regular spells, but I got you! I'm sure that we'll figure out something to fix my magic, and you'll help with that!" The Valliere said proudly as her confidence once again boomed in defiance against the world.
'Well, at least, my so-called master isn't one to let the world go against her. That's always a plus in my book.'
A minute passed.
'Wait, what's that about me helping her do what?'
After class time has ended, Louise Valliere had obtained the maid known as Siesta to aid her in a few experiments involving her familiar, Erisdar. The plebeian proved herself useful in simple tasks that a magnificent dragon like Erisdar shouldn't lower itself to do, not that the hatchling could do them anyway considering Erisdar's claws would shred through many objects.
Louise had been thinking of possibly hiring the commoner to care for her dragon, but discarded the thought, Erisdar was her familiar, and as a noble she must take care of her familiar at some time without any servants being around.
"Ms. Valliere" Siesta spoke up with an empty blade folded in her arms.
"Yes?" Louise replied.
"I hope you don't mind, but I'm curious to why you had Guiche attack little Erisdar yesterday, isn't Erisdar a baby dragon?" Siesta asked.
The third daughter of Valliere thought about withholding the information only briefly, before deciding that a commoner knowing wouldn't hurt anything.
"Well, over time that Erisdar defeats an opponent of some sort, there's always this strange golden light that surrounds him, making him oddly more powerful than before," Louise explained, "I'm trying to see if this golden light might be from the runes and have something to do with my element of magic."
The maid blinked for a brief second, "Oh… I see…" She trailed off.
Louise clearly knew the commoner couldn't understand what she had just said, but it was the thought that counts.
"Um… What is the plan for you and Erisdar's act for the Familiar Exhibition?"
"..." Louise was silent, before she exploded in a fury of panic, "Oh no I completely forgot about the Exhibition! What should I do… What should I do…" She repeated to herself as she tried to run a hundred different scenarios all at once in her head.
Siesta smiled nervously, "How about you make Erisdar presentable first, Miss Valliere?"
"Good point, and you'll come with me!" Louise said, grasping the maid's hand and dragging her along, "Come, Erisdar!"
The dragon hatchling almost seemed to sigh before hovering after his master. Louise got on a horse along with Siesta while the Chosen Dragon sat in the latter's lap. It seemed to take it quite willingly too.
They traveled, the horse's hooves beating upon the ground as Louise's whipped it into action, making the loyal creature rush forth towards the nearest town. The distance between the group and the Academy waning as they went off.
Five minutes of endless travel on horseback, the grassland suddenly turned into a vast forest of orange-hued trees.
"What- Where did this forest come from!?" Louise Valliere said in alarm, reigning back the horse from traveling into the vast tall forest.
Erisdar growled.
"Erisdar?" Louise questioned as she looked around at anything that could be aggravating her familiar.
Siesta was just as shocked, "I've never seen trees like these before… Both bark and leaf colored in orange…"
Louise Valliere bit her lip, before bringing forth the courage within herself.
'Rule of Steel, Louise. The town could be just on the other side of this forest.' Louise brought the horse in, taking the time to cautiously begin their trek through it.
"Miss Valliere are you sure-"
"Yes, I'm sure! The town is probably on the other side, and if anything gets in our way I'll just use my magic!" Louise shouted.
"Grawr, Rawr!" Erisdar shouted.
The pink haired Valliere nodded, "Erisdar agrees, we're going in!"
Unfortunately, Erisdar meant to not go in at all.
The three plus a horse ventured into what is called, Orangebark Forest.
Current Status:
Chosen Dragon Player 1: Saito Hiraga - Alive - Hatchling (Agility) Level 4
Chosen Dragon Player 2: Alex Storm - Unknown - Hatchling (Strength) Level 2
Chosen Dragon Player 3: Asuna Godiva - Alive - Hatchling (Unknown) Level 1
Chosen Dragon Player 4: Unknown - Alive - Hatchling (Unknown) Level ?
Chosen Dragon Player 5: Cora Rune - Alive- Hatchling (Intelligence) Level 4
Dragon Slayer Player 6: Celdrahil - Alive - Slayer Level 3
Dragon Catcher Player 7: Rosina - Alive- Catcher Level 2
The Human Kingdom Player 8: Aylmer and Abigail - Alive - Royalty of Human Kingdom
The Fel Empire Player 9: Grom - Alive - King of Fel Empire
Mercenary Player 10: Elizabeth Loyal - Alive - Sorceress Level 1
Observer Map Maker: Map Maker - Alive - The World Editor