Chapter III: A Hidden City
A dense mist began to form around them as they flew further south. Izuku shielded his eyes and held closer to Bakugo.
"Don't worry, we're almost there." Bakugo said, "Scatha knows her way home."
Izuku wanted to believe him, but the mist was making his mind fuzzy and his vision blurry.
"Are you sure?" he asked, and Bakugo let out a soft laugh.
"I would think an apprentice of All Might would have a bit more experience with cloaking spells." he said, a large smile forming across his face.
Izuku looked up at him, "C-cloaking spell?"
"Yeah, it's a powerful spell that the elders and I maintain. It protects our people from the outside world"
Izuku thought for a moment, "Do you interact with the outside world much at all?" he asked, 'That may be why many believe that they are simply legend'
"Occasionally, we mine jewels out of the mountain and will sometimes trade them with King Endeavor if we are low on supplies or need materials for stronger weapons. He would give his son's life for the riches that the mountain holds. However, it's our job to protect the mountain from that greedy maniac" he said with a slight growl.
'He really doesn't like the king, does he?' Izuku thought.
Bakugo extended out his hand in front of him, palm facing the mist, "Close your eyes Deku!" he yelled. Izuku blinked before a massive explosion erupted from the palm of his hand. They flew quickly through the smoke. Izuku inhaled in surprise, harsh coughs then erupting from his throat. His eyes began to sting from the smoke.
"What did I tell you, you idiot?!" Bakugo yelled, pushing down Izuku's head.
"S-sorry." Izuku coughed out, "T-that was incredible! I heard stories when I was younger about your power, but that exceeded any expectation I could have had!"
A soft blush returned to Bakugo's cheeks as he let out a soft growl, "I told you I am not some weak human"
The mist around them began to clear. Large mountains forming around them like walls attempting to close them in. As Izuku's eyes began to clear, he began to see large beasts against the mountains. A few blinks more and he began to distinguish them as massive dragons. A few a similar ruby red to Scatha, while others were bright green like emeralds and even bright gold and silver. If the jewels that came from the mountain were as beautiful as the dragons, he could see why King Endeavor would desire them so much.
They landed softly on a large cliff edge. Large dwellings surrounded them, carved with the stone of the mountains. The smooth stone glowing softly in the sunlight. Soft candlelight shown through a few windows, and smoke floated out of the sky light's of others. The smells of cooking meat and rice filled Izuku's nose.
"Y-you live here?" He whispered, attempting to take it all in as Bakugo helped him off Scatha.
"It's a little different from the village your from, huh?" Bakugo asked, waving at someone in the distance.
"I-it's amazing!" Izuku whispered, never in his life had he seen structures like this. All might had spoken during his training about villages of people that live in the mountains, however; he had always pictured tents or small huts, never the complex city that lay before him.
"Hey Bakugo!" A man yelled as he ran towards them, his hair a deep red, only slightly darker than Scatha's scales. He was a strong young man who wore silver pants and a silver vest to match, with a large red cloth tied around his waist. His left arm covered in a silver wrist armor, indicating he was a strong archer. The tattered scarf around his neck bounced as he ran. He stopped in front of them.
"Man, am I glad to see you!" He said, a large smile across his face, "When you got thrown into that portal, many thought you were a goner. Everyone will be ecstatic to see you."
"How is everyone?" Bakugo asked, "What happened with the demons?"
"The upper hand you gave us allowed us to drive them away, thought not without consequence. Many of our warriors were pretty beat up. Recovery Girl has been doing everything she can to help them"
Bakugo nodded and the red-haired man's eyes fell on Izuku, "What did you get a prize at the market?"
Bakugo placed his hand on Izuku's shoulder, "This is Deku. He's an apprentice of All Might and is a gifted healer. He healed me, and I figured Recovery Girl could use the help. Deku, this is Kirishima. He is my right hand man and one of our most talented warriors"
Kirishima laughed, running his hand through his hair, "That's high praise coming from the king" He said and Bakugo began walking past him. He reached out and grabbed his arm.
"The elders aren't going to like this." He whispered to Bakugo, "You know how they feel about outsiders."
"I know." Bakugo whispered back, "I'll sort that out later."
He led Izuku into the center of the city and towards a small hut. He opened the deer skin flap and led him inside. The scents of incense and lavender hit his nose. A short old woman with silver hair held in a bun on her head had finished up cleaning a large wound and was currently washing her hands. She looked up as they entered.
"King Bakugo, I am so glad to see you alive and well" she said, drying her hands. She grabbed her wooden cane and walked over to meet them, hugging Bakugo.
"I'm glad to be back, and I brought you some aid" He said
"Oh did you now, and who have your brought me?"
He stepped aside and revealed Izuku. Izuku quickly cleared his throat and held out his hand, "My name is Izuku Midoryia. I am an apprentice of All Might and quite proficient at healing spells and potions" He said. Her eyes looked him over up and down, examining him. She tapped his hand away with her cane and walked around him.
"His body is not very strong, but his magic is quite potent." She said, she poked his side with the end of her cane, causing him to jump, "You possess a strong magic, but you cannot wield it all at once can you?" she said
His eyes widened slightly, 'Can everyone here read minds or something?!' he thought, his eyes going towards his scarred hand. Before she had time to examine him further, three people entered the tent.
"Recovery Girl!" yelled on of the individuals, his bright blond hair striking in the dimmed light of the hut, "It's Ojiro, he was helping repair one of the houses when his wound reopened. You have to help him!"
He helped pull a larger man with short sandy hair into the hut, a woman with a high pony tail accompanying him as they laid him down on one of the mats. His white shirt already beginning to turn red with blood. Recovery Girl rushed to his side and began cutting his shirt with a knife.
Izuku quickly opened his bag, "Here I have something that can help with that" he said, pulling out the moss and a few other ingredients as well as his mortar. He ducked down next to the man and began mixing the paste. Recovery Girl looked towards his supplies curiously.
"Where did you find that moss?" she asked
"It was abundant near a river in the forest near my village. I am certain you are aware of its abilities"
She nodded, "I only have limited supplies of it as I am so far in the mountains"
"I have more that you can have."
She smiled, "That would be wonderful, thank you."
X
Izuku aided Recovery Girl for the rest of the afternoon. Bakugo went around the village and assessed the damage, as well as helped where he could. The demons had left their mark on a fair share of the dwellings, but luckily they would be easy to repair. They had managed to only lose a handful of warriors and their dragons remained unharmed. He met Izuku back at Recovery Girl's hut in the early evening. Recovery Girl met him outside the hut.
"Welcome back King Bakugo" She said
"Thank you. Did Deku prove to be useful?" he asked
"Yes indeed he was. Though I had to ask why you felt the need to bring him back to the village?"
"After that portal wizard transported me away from here, I did not know the state of the village. He is quite good at what he does, so I figured he would be quite useful"
"Is that truly all?
"Could you get to your point?"
She leaned against the hut, placing both her hands on her cane, "I raised you since your father died, and I know how important it is to you to maintain this village's safety. He also told me how he healed you. Do you feel indebted to him?"
Bakugo huffed, "Not particularly, I wasn't dying"
She smiled softly, "Though you do feel something for him?"
He growled and looked away, "He seems… familiar is all. I'm not sure why."
Her smile widened. Since meeting the young man, she could feel the magic around them change. As the village wise woman, she was able to use healing magic as well as assess the fates of those around her. She was able to understand if a person's days were numbered or if a couple was destined to be together. When the two young men stood next to one another, their magical energies intertwined together, falling into a pattern like musician playing an old, familiar song.
"Well, I can say I have never seen him before, at least not here. I am also certain you are aware that the elders will not be happy about this" she said, tapping her cane lightly on the ground.
"Yes I'm aware. I'm going to speak with them this evening" he said, crossing his arms
"Is he going to stay with you?"
"I was going to set up one of the guest huts for him"
"For tonight though, he should stay with you"
"What for?"
She met his gaze, a soft, playful smile playing on her lips, "He is your guest, you should host him." She looked out towards the sun as it began to set, it ducked between the large mountain as the dragons flew in circles around the peak, "Plus, I would like to put on a feast tonight to celebrate your safe return and to thank him for his aid. He will need proper clothes to attend"
Bakugo growled slightly at her, though did not protest further. He was curious about the young wizard, and rooming with him would give him time to talk with him.
Izuku came out of the hut, "I have finished organizing the shelves liked you asked" he said, unrolling his sleeves and patting the dust from his vest.
"Thank you very much. You have been a great help today Midoryia" she said, turning towards him.
He looked over at Bakugo, "Katsuki, welcome back" he said, bowing his head slightly and Bakugo nodded.
"Come with me Deku. I'll show you where you'll be staying tonight" Bakugo said before turning around and walking towards the center of the village. Izuku nodded and bowed towards Recovery Girl, who gave him a respectful nod in return. She watched as the young men walked away, smiling softly. It was too early to assess what their relationship would be, but she could tell that they would become very important to one another.
Let me know what you think