Author's Note: Finally have all the dragons, with the exception of Saito, have their colors! Not to mention, player interactions are starting which will lead to greater story fluidity over the upcoming chapters. Hooray Character Development. Once again, I thank all my readers, now please enjoy the chapter!
icapppas: Don't worry, Derflinger will not be forgotten. He will be introduced into the story at a later point.
Life of a Zero Dragon
Chapter 19: Xaria, Goddess of the Elves
The Map Maker, creator of Life of a Dragon Sequel, the one who is worshiped and exalted by the non-player characters within the Kingdom of Kayla as their god, The Maker. His body slumped with exhaustion by his mental and physical state, yet if one would look, he would appear regal and divine, such is that invisible aura that leaks off of his form.
The World Editor of Warcraft 3 floated aimlessly, ready to do the Map Maker's bidding when he decided to work on whatever function it held.
But, he stood not alone.
"Oh, divine creator, the one who had created the realm of Kayla and all its inhabitants, the one known as the Maker. How do thou feel?"
The Map Maker stood at attention, his eyes darting towards the direction of the voice he had just heard, for it came not from the World Editor.
"Who goes there?" He questioned the endless white void.
His eyes narrowed, spotting a simmering disturbance in the air a few meters away. Then, the oddity formed into the figure of a Night Elf clad in a long white dress, her beauty, and grace unequal by mortal eyes.
But the Map Maker stood there unflinching, for while he looked human, his presence is that of a stronger state of existence. Though even if he himself did not know it, he was now of divine origin.
"Who are you?" The Maker asked the elf.
"I'm hurt," She said with a sarcastic, yet perfectly toned voice, "It is I, Xaria, Goddess of the Elven children that roam the world of your making. The beings hued in amethyst, living in the confines of moonshine grove and also the isle of forgotten ruins and magic."
"Xaria…" He trailed off.
Xaria, Goddess of the Elves within the world of Kayla, according to the Lore that he created, she is a minor goddess weaker than the Maker and his Testers. Ages past, she tried to become his equal by the creation of the Amulet of Xaria, an Artifact with immense bonuses to one's abilities. However, even with such an item in hand, he outclassed her. As such, she gave it to the elves in Kayla to protect them against terrifying threats.
Due to that, they barely survived the first invasion of Utheran…
The Map Maker shook his head.
The Goddess smirked teasingly, "You are behaving off, Maker, have your Testers been teasing you again?"
"No," He replied, deciding to roll with it for now, "Have you not noticed the changes to the world I created?"
Her smirk dropped, "That is why I have come here, though it is a shock to see you having changed as well, I can still identify your aura anywhere. Strangely, this incident occurred when the Chosen Dragons were just hatched."
"I'm aware, but I do believe they are innocent of being the cause of this… Transition." The Maker said, "In fact, I do believe one of them has just recently entered the domain of your children?"
The Goddess brushed her long hair aside, "Why yes, the little dragonet sure gave them quite a surprise, but that the Chosen Dragon also brought that peculiar girl as well has given me puzzled."
"And why is that?" He questioned, she was one of his suspects but he doubts the girl, Louise, could manage such an impossible feat on her lonesome.
Something or someone helped her, and that someone might have wanted to use her summoning ritual to get to something else.
A lot of theories and questions, little answers.
"Her mana, it is like a void, a sea of emptiness, yet she holds it in overwhelming quantity." She answers.
"Hmm… I'll keep an eye on her and the Chosen Dragon she's with, in the meantime, I will see if I can rectify many of the changes that occurred."
"Well I know you won't forcibly change the world, you care too much for your creations."
"You're one to talk, Xaria," He countered to her own love of the elves.
She laughed, "Still… We are not the only gods of this new realm."
The Map Maker perked, then narrowed his eyes.
"Do tell…"
The blade pummel was gripped tightly as Aylmer could feel the very tension residing in the air, the horse he rode breathing heavily as it carried the rider. Behind the King of the Kayla Kingdom followed five knights, a dozen footmen and archers, and two priests.
Knights were the primary cavalry of the Human Kingdom, having the health to withstand incredible blows. Covered head to toe, along with their horse, in armor, dyed in the Kingdom's pink colors.
Footmen were the basic swordsmen soldiers of the Kingdom, the backbone of the army.
Archers, well, they were trained bowmen, like the footmen, they were covered in plated armor. The quivers on their backs vibrated with every step they took as their bows were equipped to their left hands.
Priests, on the other hand, supported spellcasters, the medics of the Kingdom.
It was this force, quite sizable by Warcraft standards, that were heading towards the smoke pillars that stood the city of Polarvale. This greenhorn group hadn't experienced any combat outside their training, but for these units, they fought with just as much discipline and strength as any veteran soldier of the Kingdom. Such was the nature of their game of origin, Warcraft III.
Still, Aylmer felt anxious. This was his first upcoming battle in his entire life, and although he knew himself to be a Hero-type thanks to the mercenary, Elizabeth, he could help but think that there were a plenty of content he didn't know in Life of a Dragon.
He had known that there were demons, though very weak, at Polarvale before, but what had changed? Could they still be easy prey? Or did the Map Maker give them power and strength likened to bosses of RPGs?
He shook his head, such thoughts will only bring about ruin. No need to tempt Murphy's Law.
A Knight rode towards the group, his horse breathing heavily, "My liege, the demons have been identified as Mistresses of Pain, I could find no survivors of the populace outside of the ones reported to have retreated to the capital!" The Knight reported.
"Good work, walk back towards the capital and recover. Your mount looks too exhausted for combat." Aylmer said, eyeing the mounted beast that was beginning to recollect it's breath.
"Yeah," the Knight said, patting the side of the horse's neck, "Had to press him hard to escape when the demons spotted us. I'll be sure to give him a reward when we make it back."
"Dismissed," Aylmer said, the Knight saluting before heading off towards the capital. The King of the Human Kingdom hummed in thought, "Damn, Mistress of Pain, and multiple ones at that?"
Aylmer looked back to his troops, he didn't have the technology upgrades nor the manpower to deal with multiple high-level creeps, especially those of demon-kind and their deadly spells.
He decided to play it safe, if he recalls, the demons never left Polarvale before.
Plus, he didn't want to risk the chance of being the first to test the altar.
Death is not something to mess with.
"Alright troops, I want an encampment a fair distance away from the entrance to Polarvale! Destroy the local rock golems and use the natural boulders as walls for the camp! Let's get to it!" Aylmer exclaimed an order.
They all snapped to attention.
"Yes, my liege!"
Sometimes it was pretty cool to be King.
The depths of Moonshine Grove, a forested landscape, where the foliage would reach to the kneecaps of any traversing man. The sky above, barely visible through the thick treetops above and the non-silent sounds of birds, animals, and the whistling winds through the leaves made an almost musical piece. This was the very place in which an elven town lay hidden, housing its residents in the protective natural barrier that made the forest.
This was also where our two protagonists, Chosen Dragon Saito Hiraga, and noble mage Louise Valliere, were escorted towards.
The Elven Town.
Despite the beautiful, naturally carved houses into the trees around them, where the rainwater dripped down and fed the vegetation with serene grace, and a wondrous and awe inspiring well with glowing blue mystic waters vibrating with every drop that fell from above, Louise Françoise le blanc de la Vallière was on the edge of panicking.
Not the best of moments for the human teenager mage.
Louise's hand was gripping her wand so tightly, it was shaking, just the barest of reasoning keeping the girl from using whatever magic she had for self-preservation due to nearly overwhelming fear.
Fortunately, the nearby presence of Erisdar gave her some comfort, she could say with absolute conviction that her familiar would choose her over the elves in a heartbeat should they prove hostile.
Once the elven archers had led her inside a building and onto the second level where a guest room of some description had been prepared, the moment the door closed she let out some air she had been holding in.
"Brimir, Erisdar! We're surrounded by elves!" Louise exclaimed towards her familiar who gave her a confused expression at her reaction.
"What's so bad about that?" Erisdar replied to her, "They won't hurt us-"
"Hurt us? Hurt us? They are an enemy to mankind! They took the holy land and not even Brimir at his full power could defeat them! They're incredibly powerful and hate all humans! Did you not see those arrows pointed at me, familiar? I could have died, they will kill us if we stay here any longer!" She started to vent out her mixed emotions.
"Calm down Louise," Erisdar said, starting to get some information on Human Elven Relationships were in Halkeginia.
"No, I'm not going to calm down! We got to get out of here!" Louise said it to the Chosen Dragonet.
"Alright, alright, we'll have one of the elves escort us out of Moonshine Grove-"
Louise exploded, "Brimir, no! I'll rather be alone in the forest again without a horse than be with one of the elves!"
Erisdar took a deep breath, reigning in his annoyance with his 'master', "Once we figure out where we are, then we will leave. Just think for a moment alright, you're a noble, so act like it!" He exclaimed that last part.
Louise shut her mouth for a quick moment, recollecting her bearings and mumbled a few 'Rule of Steel' lines to herself. "You're right… I need to remain calm, collected, and dignified."
"That's the Louise I know," Erisdar said, "Now listen, they didn't harm you cause I'm with you, remember? Elves really like dragons, so as long as you remain by my side, they won't so much as touch you!" He stated with assurance.
The pink-haired girl nodded, "Well… You are my familiar, which means you have to protect me!"
"Hey, that's what I've been doing right?" Erisdar replied, "Now relax, I'll tell them not to disturb us. It's been a long day hasn't it?"
"Yes…" She trailed off, collapsing on the bed with her cloak hanging towards the side. "I am a bit tired… But I don't want any of them so much as entering this room, alright?"
"I said I'll tell them, sheesh, such a commanding master I got," He joked.
"Hmph, what an unconcerned familiar I have," She replied with a small smile.
The door knocked twice.
Louise glanced at the doorway, sitting back upright instantly. The Chosen Dragon player hovered over and pushed the door open, he looked up at the figure.
He could tell instantly, for some strange reason, that this being in front of him was a Hero, a Warcraft 3 Hero. The Priestess, except without the tiger mount.
She looked down at him, "Xaria's blessing be upon you, Chosen Dragon."
Erisdar hastily replied, "You don't mind if we take this outside the room? My partner has a little fear of being with… Unknown people," He said.
"I see no problem with that, I will inform them not to disturb your human companion," The Priestess said, stepping out of the way as Erisdar, or Saito Hiraga, floated out.
He glanced back at Louise, who looked at him with a concerned expression.
"Don't worry Louise, I'll be right back in a pinch!" He said.
Current Status:
Chosen Dragon Player 1: Saito Hiraga - Alive - Dragonet (Agility) Level 9
Chosen Dragon Player 2: Alex Storm - Alive - Bronze Dragonet (Strength) Level 6
Chosen Dragon Player 3: Asuna Godiva - Alive - Nether Dragonet (Strength) Level 6
Chosen Dragon Player 4: Artos Archway - Alive - Green Dragonet (Agility) Level 7
Chosen Dragon Player 5: Cora Rune - Alive - Blue Dragonet (Intelligence) Level 8
Dragon Slayer Player 6: Celdrahil - Alive - Slayer Level 7
Dragon Catcher Player 7: Rosina - Alive - Catcher Level 10
The Human Kingdom Player 8: Aylmer and Abigail - Alive - King Level 3, Princess Level [Error]
The Fel Empire Player 9: Grom - Alive - King of Fel Empire
Mercenary Player 10: Elizabeth Loyal - Alive - Sorceress Level 7
Observer Map Maker: Map Maker - Alive - The World Editor