Author's Note: I've never owned Warcraft, that belongs to Blizzard Entertainment. I've never owned Zero no Tsukaima, which belonged to Noboru Yamaguchi, Rest In Peace. I own Life of a Dragon and Life of a Dragon Sequel custom maps. Also, yesterday was Blizzard Entertainment's 25th Anniversary! Happy Birthday, Blizzard!
Shirosaki Kizuro: I'm glad you are enjoying the story! And to answer your latest review, that's another reason why I post the Status List at the bottom of each chapter.
Life of a Zero Dragon
Chapter 8: The Wheel Begins to Turn
A step forward, an longsword held in one hand, armor glistening in the sunlight. This lone hero, a slayer of dragons, had traveled through the valley fighting foe against foe of hyena-like humanoids and mutant fish creatures the likes that this new world had never seen before. But in spite of this the realm of Halkeginia was no stranger to monsters, nor was Halkegenia unaware of the dangerous beasts that lurked in the shadows.
Celdrahil had left the valley's edges, but as he was expecting a wide mountainous terrain of snow, it wasn't there.
"What?" Player 6 said in confusion. The Dragon Slayer observed the new area he found himself in; he spotted a village not to far from his location.
"A village indicates people, which means possible quests." He said, referring to the roleplay thinking pattern.
He heaved the shield of his on his backside, lessening the burden as he stepped forward.
"Well… Better get walking…"
*Chrunch*
*Chrunch*
*Chrunch*
"Hah… Hah… Freezing…"
*Chrunch*
*Chrunch*
*Chrunch*
"Jesus Christ… So… Cold…"
*Chrunch*
*Chrunch*
*Chrunch*
*Kathunk!*
"Can't… Go on…"
…
…
The Dragon Catcher shot up from the bed sheets, gasping for air as her heart pumped madly before calming down. Rosina blinked, finding that she was within shelter despite having fall unconscious in the blistering cold. She raised her hands, patting over her body briefly and finding that frostbite did not occur at all.
"Can a Warcraft hero even get frostbite?" She whispered to herself, whoever rescued her did not take off any of her clothing; furthermore, her bow and quiver lay standing against the wooden wall.
The door into the room creaked open, revealing a twelve to fourteen year old boy, "Oh, you're awake!" He said in surprise, carrying with him a tray containing a bowl with a sort of stew inside.
"Did you help me?" Rosina asked as she sat upright, her feet pressing against the wooden flooring.
"My father found you lying in the snow a few hours ago when he was out hunting, he brought you here and both my mother and I took care of you." The boy said, setting the tray on a small table.
"Ugh…" Rosina said while stretching her arms. "Thank you, I owe you and your parents my life."
"Ah… Well… My parents always believed in doing the right thing…" The boy sported reddened face before turning his attention away from the ground he was staring at back to her face. "If you're feeling up to it, my family was about to eat at the table."
She smiled at the young boy's nervousness, it was cute. "I'll be happy too," Rosina replied back while standing up, unblocking her cloak and tossing it next to her bow then grabbing the tray and bringing it with her towards the dining area.
The so-called dining room was incredibly tiny even to apartment standards of her homeworld, Earth. There was an ongoing fire that kept the temperature at warm as it could without air conditioning backing it up.
Rosina now had a good look at the household's structure, and it was very medieval. She wasn't a big time roleplayer, quite casual to say, and she never did have much in terms of history knowledge either.
Still, she sat at the small table with the people who saved her from the bitter cold outside. They looked at her with curious expressions, taking in great detail the leather armor and decorative pieces threaded into the craftsmanship.
"I thank you for saving and caring for me," Rosina began. "If not for you I surely would have perished in snow and ice."
'What the hell, why did my manner of speaking go all fancy nancy all the sudden!?' Player 7 thought to herself.
"Think nothing of it, the Founder always stated in scripture to aid your fellow man." The father of the household stated.
The mother then asks, "Dear, are you by chance a noble, an aristocrat?"
Rosina raised an eyebrow; noting the particular hopeful looks on their faces.
"I think my memory is a bit hazy from the near death experience, but I do not believe I am a noble?" She said questionably. "But on the off chance, what would you need such a aristocrat for?"
The mother placed a hand on her chest, "As you might soon remember, all Nobles are Mages. It's been like that since the founding of Halkeginia six thousand years ago."
"That doesn't seem like a very effective system," Rosina commented, making the family's eyes widen in surprise at the sudden statement. "Shouldn't there be mundane nobles to balance out the system between both magic and mundane, otherwise it's just creating a bigger gap of power between the two. Over all, halting both technological and magical advancements?"
"I don't think anyone has ever stated anything like that before," The Father said, before laughing, "My, what a interesting person we saved. In any case, I'm Jacob. This is my wife, Elisa, and my son, William."
"Pleasure to meet you, I am… Rosina." She introduced herself, "Disregarding what I said earlier, if you are asking for a mage, then I assume you are seeking the aid of magic?"
They shook their heads, their son picking up the dishes and placing them elsewhere now that they had finished eating their small meals.
Jacob, the father, breathed harshly through his nose, "If we had a noble on our side, it would certainly help in getting the aristocats plaguing this small village to stop."
"Financial troubles? Taxes?" Rosina questioned.
He shook his head, "If only if it was that simple, no these nobles say that they deserve to obtain from what they steal from us. Stating it will help the Reconquista fight against the true Nobility."
"Reconquista? True Nobility? I'm afraid you have lost me Jacob. Simplify it for this ignorant archer for I wish to be graced by wisdom imparted by the common folk."
They blinked, what had she said?
"Are you sure you are not a noble, Ma'dam Rosina?" Elisa questioned.
Oh, she did the strange talk pattern again, did the Warcraft character she has control over have leaks that traveled into her speech pattern? It's not a farfetched guess because the Life of a Dragon Sequel's time period was likened to a fantasy 15th-17th century Earth, so the speech patterns could reflect that.
But perhaps the answer was simpler and she just was making wild guesses.
"Not that I'm aware of," Rosina answered. "I can do a form of magic using my bow and arrows, but nothing like wand-waving mages."
"So you can do magic, but don't believe you're a noble? This is very confusing for us."
Rosina waved her hand dismissively, "Just think of me as an regular archer with a enchanted bow."
The family nodded, seeming to accept that answer a whole lot easier.
"Excellent," The Dragon Catcher began, "With that out of the way, how about telling me the predicament concerning these aristocrats at the gates of your home?"
A long trek through the Orangebark Forest proved to be more tedious than previously anticipated, Erisdar had informed her, Louise Valliere, that it was strangely more expansive and typical to that of an average forest than usual. This only served to confuse her even more often, adding to the list of questions that began to pile up one on top of the other.
Who was Erisdar?
What is a Chosen Dragon?
When did he even learn all this when he had been with her since his hatching?
How does is he knowledgeable about this forest and its creature?
Why did she suddenly refer to Erisdar as male?
'Well that latter could be explained because his voice is masculine, if childish, in nature.' Louise thought to herself, Erisdar was a gender neutral name, so it fit all the same.
"We're out," Erisdar said.
"Finally…" Siesta said with an exhausted voice.
Louise Valliere gave out a sigh of relief, she too was exhausted from the day's events. She looked forward to see the town that made their original destination. "I can't believe I went through all that for a piece of decoration."
"I tried to warn you, but I couldn't yet speak." Erisdar said.
That was reassuring, Erisdar tried to warn them ahead of time so he understood that his goal is to protect his master, being her of course.
"You've grown quite a bit, Mister Erisdar." Siesta commented, stroking one of the Chosen Dragon's wings.
Louise looked to the dragonet, noting that previously as a hatchling she could carry him around in her arms. Now he had grown to a size up to her waist, but not yet big enough to consider mountable or flight worthy.
"Mmh…" The Valliere girl hummed in thought as she looked at him.
"What is it, Louise?" Erisdar questioned.
"Can you grow before the Exhibition?" She asked.
"Nope, at least, I don't believe so. I'm sort of a non-elemental dragonet at the moment, I need to discover the color of scales that best represents me before I can grow once more. Even then I think it'll take more time than a few days."
Louise deflated at that fact.
"Oh!" Siesta suddenly said in alarm, making both Erisdar and Louise look at her quickly in an alert state, remember the conflict with the Ogre from beforehand. "Wait, nevermind!"
"Don't scare us like that!" Louise yelled at the commoner.
"Sorry, sorry!" The maid apologized to the pink haired teenager.
"Let's get going already," The dragon reminded them.
"Right," Louise replied quickly, walking forward towards the town, a little hastily to finally be rid of the Orangebark Forest behind them.
They walked.
And walked some more.
"You know Louise, we have to go through there again if you wish to get back to the Academy." Erisdar reminded her.
"I'll rather walk all the way around if only to not smell the stench of those repugnant beasts!"
"I agree with Miss Valliere!" Siesta said, "Though more on the side of not wanting to be killed."
The Chosen Dragon chuckled, "I couldn't agree more."
"Oh wait, I remembered now! Erisdar, won't people find it strange you can talk since you're a dragon?" Siesta questioned.
"Uh…" It appeared the thought never came to the familiar.
Louise sighed, "Look, you're still a dragon, that means you do… Dragon growls and roars, just do that unless I tell you otherwise."
"Rawr! Yes, master… Huh, that actually works…" He seemed surprised his draconic growl actually sounded like one… Then again, he's a bloody dragon.
"Of course, it would, it's a suggestion from your master."
"Only a master of evil, Louise." He quoted.
"What was that!?" The Valliere quickly took that offensive, how dare Erisdar say that to her!
"Wait, it was a joke, it was a joke!"
"Fireball!"
Current Status:
Chosen Dragon Player 1: Saito Hiraga - Alive - Dragonet (Agility) Level 5
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: Artos Archway - Alive - Dragonet (Agility) Level 7
Chosen Dragon Player 5: Cora Rune - Alive- Hatchling (Intelligence) Level 4
Dragon Slayer Player 6: Celdrahil - Alive - Slayer Level 5
Dragon Catcher Player 7: Rosina - Alive - Catcher Level 5
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