Once Issei returned to the mansion, he found it to be empty, thinking that Valerica and her team went on a mission or something like that, he didn't worry.
As he walked into the kitchen he found Elaine cooking lunch.
"Yo, Elaine, where's everyone?" Asked Issei as he came up to her side to help with the food.
"Oh, hey Issei, your back. Everyone is on a mission" Said Elaine with a smile.
"I see, anything interesting happened while I was gone?" Asked Issei.
" No, not really, me and Arthur went on a couple of dates together though" Said Elaine with a warm smile.
"That's good, finally the guy actually does something besides wielding a sword day in and day out. Anything else?" Said Issei.
" No, just Valerica a bit worried about you" Admited Elaine.
"Why would she worry about me? She knows that I can take care of myself pretty well" Said Issei.
"She just cares about you and wants the best for you after what happened to you" Said Elaine.
"So you know it already huh"
"Yeah, Le Fay told me about it" Said Elaine sadly.
"Hey, it's alright now, no need to worry about lil ol' me, besides I have a great family and friends watching over my back" Said Issei with a smile, once he noticed her sad expression.
Elaine nodded with a smile of her own and they continued cooking.
After lunch, Issei decided to go train with Ascalon for a couple of hours, he barely trained with it so he decided to get some practice in. When he finished he took a shower and went to the living room where Elaine was cleaning.
"Hey, Elaine, when did they leave anyway?" Asked Issei.
"Two days ago"
"Did they say when will they return?"
"No. Oh! I forgot!" Said Elaine as she suddenly went to the kitchen, before Issei could ask Elaime already returned with a letter in her hands.
"Here, take this, Valerica left you this, she said if you return first I have to give you this letter" Said Elaine.
Issei opened the letter and started to read it.
(We are leaving for the meeting with the three factions, we gathered information that the chaos brigade is preparing for something big.
It's related to the holy relics, according to Azazel and Michael together the relics if used correctly, they can unseal the calamity beast 666.
We were sent to find out about these rumours to see if they are true or not by Azazel within the chaos brigade and possibly locate the relics.
We will probably return in a week or so, if we won't return by then we told the faction leaders that we have someone that could help find us. I didn't tell who exactly it is because I didn't know if you wanted to stay low for some time. So hopefully everything will go without a hitch.
Don't get too bored alone.
Love you my red dragon)
Issei learned about the beast not too long ago but he knew what kind of danger it was for the world and possibly other dimensions.
Elaine seeing his distraught face tried to call out to him.
"Issei?"
It worked and Issei snapped out of his thoughts.
"It's nothing Elaine, everything is fine" Said Issei as he walked out to his room.
"Ddraig? Could the chaos brigade try to unseal Trihexa?" Asked terrified Issei.
"Hmmm. I don't know, but it's a high possibility. I advise you to prepare for anything partner, don't drop your guard down" Said Ddraig with a serious voice.
"Right" Replied Issei.
The next day Issei woke up early. He went downstairs to make coffee for himself but Elaine already beat him to it.
"Morning, I see you are already awake" Greeted issei.
"Good morning Issei, want some coffee?" Asked Elaine.
"Sure, thank you" Replied Issei with a smile.
After a cup of coffee, Issei decided to visit Tannin and talk about the crucial information he gathered yesterday.
"Elaine, I will be gone for an hour or two, so if you need anything just call me and I'll be here for you" Said Issei as he created a magic circle to teleport.
"Sure Issei, but where are you going?" Asked Elaine curiously.
"I have some serious talk to do with Tannin, so I'll be back after a couple of hours" Said Issei.
"Alright, good see you later then" Said Elaine as Issei teleported away.
As Issei teleported into his cave in the dragon mountains, he immediately flew into the sky to find Tannin and after some time Issei found him flying in his direction.
"Issei, I didn't expect you to visit this soon, what? already out of apples?" Joked Tannin.
"I want to discuss something important with you, this might help us build the faction and save the dragon race" Said Issei with a serious voice.
Seeing how serious Issei was he decided to fly towards his cave to discuss the problems.
Ten minutes later they landed at Tannin's cave entrance and set up a barrier so no one could heaar their conversation.
"So, what is it that you have in mind?" Asked Tannin.
"Chaos brigade have the holy relics and are planning to unseal Trihexa. To help us build the Dragon faction, we can gather our strongest dragons and train them. I can help with training when I have free time.
Right now Valerica and her team are investigating this from the inside of the brigade. I know that we already don't have many dragons, but we don't really have any other choice. We will assist the three factions as the mighty Dragon faction for more land and supplies for us to get our faction stronger.
I know it's risky, but I think it might work out for us" Explained Issei.
"I'll agree on this with one condition" Said Tannin.
"Alright, and that is?" Asked Issei.
"You have to become the leader of the faction while I will maintain the lands and do paperwork" Said Tannin with a smirk.
Issei was speechless. He only thought of helping to rebuild the mighty Dragon faction and be a part of it as a protector.
"A-Are you sure about this Tannin? I mean you are more of a leader than I am" Asked Issei in disbelief.
"Sure! why not? I believe that you'll be a great leader, of course, if you need any help I'll gladly help, plus you have Ddraig with you, he can advise and help you anytime" Said Tannin with confidence.
"I agree partner, I think you'll do good, and I'll always help you with any problem you have" Said Ddraig proudly.
Issei's confidence and pride grew immensely high, so he agreed to the deal.
"Alright old man, sign me up" Said Issei with confidence and determination burning in his eyes.
"Haha I knew you would do it, I think all the dragons here will be really happy about the news" Said proud Tannin.
"Whatever you say, old man, now I have to go home so see ya later" Said Issei as he teleported away.
"I think that boy will bring the dragon race back and lead us to the great future" Said Tannin smiling.
-Line break-
"I'm back Elaine!" shouted Issei as he entered but got no response.
Issei immediately put up his guard and saw something really disturbing.
In the living room and kitchen, everything was destroyed. It looked like it was a battlefield.
Then he noticed something on the wall. He saw a piece of paper stabbed with a knife into the wall.
The letter said:
(Hello Arthur, last time when you sent your assassin to the lords mansion who stabbed me and took the maid with you I wasn't in the best mood, so I sent our spies to find you and your slut.
If you want her back better come to the mansion and take her if you want her alive that is. You have two days)
"Damn It!" shouted out Issei.
"They got Elaine, should I contact the others or..." Panicked Issei.
[DIVIDE]
"Partner, calm down, just go and get the girl back after dealing with those weaklings" Said Ddraig.
"Right, I'm not a weak pervert anymore, I can do this" Said Issei with burning rage inside him.
Issei unfolded his wings but now they had Ddraig's flames on the sides of the wings.
Issei teleported near the location and immediately flew with incredible speeds towards the mansion but he was surrounded by guards once he landed in the front garden and in front of him stood the same old man who tried to assault Elaine.
"Who are you? why are you here boy?" Asked the man.
"I'm here for Elaine" Said Issei suppressing his rage.
"So Arthur got scared to come by himself so he sent his servant here?" Mocked the man.
"No, he doesn't even know about any of this, currently he is on an important mission, so I'm the one who is here to deal with you tonight" Replied Issei with a smirk.
"What are you going to do about it boy? I bet you're just a weakling last time was just a lucky shot. When I'm done with you I'll have my way with that slut and torture her to death" Mocked the old man again while laughing like a maniac.
Now Issei flared his aura, his eyes glowed from the rage and his voice mixed with Ddraig's.
"I'll slaughter you all if you stand in my way, I will take Elaine back. Now KNEEL!" Shouted Issei as he flared his aura.
No one could withstand his aura and the guards immediately fell to their knees and had trouble breathing.
The head guard now saw how big of a mistake he made angering Issei, Issei slowly made his way toward the old man while he begged for mercy.
"P-please have mercy I'll do anything! I'll give you money, women, anything you desire!" Shouted the head guard with the last strength that he had.
"Filthy scum! you deserve to die a thousand painful deaths" Said Issei with a voice full of rage.
Issei then proceeded with a fire breath but instead of using regular fire he used Ddraig's fire and burned him slowly while he was screaming out of pain.
The other guards looked at their leader horrified and scared for their lives, they shivered from the fear and hoped that the boy would spare their lives.
When Issei was done he calmed down and returned to normal.
He proceeded to look around the other guards thinking if he should kill them too, they were just carrying their orders after all.
But before Issei could decide the front doors of the mansion were opened by two maids and a middle-aged man who wore a noble outfit and resembled Arthur to a great degree walked outside with the maids in tow. His demeanor was brimming with elegance.
"Red Dragon Emperor, please calm down and let my guards free please" Spoke the man.
"I assume that you are Arthur's father... Tsk, fine, they can go as long as I get what I came here for" Replied Issei as he calmed his aura down.
"That is correct, my name is Uther Pendragon the head of the Pendragon household, but what is it that you need? It might cost you dearly for killing my head guard" Uther spoke.
"You better give Elaine to me or your life is no more" Threatend Issei.
"... But she was kidnapped a while ago, she's not here anymore"
"No, that bastard who you called head captain almost assaulted Elaine so I kidnapped her that day, but today she was taken back here by that scum, threatening to follow-through with his plan of using her" Spoke Issei in a low tone of voice as he clenched his fists tightly.
"... I see... I didn't expect my men to become this corrupted"
"Well you're not a saint yourself" Huffed Issei.
Uther just smiled sadly before talking.
"Follow me, I have an Idea where she is" Said Uther, motioning to follow as he entered the mansion.
Issei followed with no hesitation, if it was a trap he would kill them all then and there and find Elaine by himself.
after walking through several corridors Uther stopped in front of a brick wall, but before Issei could voice his words, Uther pressed one of the bricks and a magic circle appeared on the wall rotating slowly before opening a secret entrance to a dungeon.
Issei immediately went downstairs to find many chambers and in one of them Elaine with torn maid outfit was crying on the ground bruised up and chained to the wall.
"Elaine! are you alright!?"
"I-issei? what are you doing here?" Asked a hopeful Elaine.
"I'm here for you of course, did that bastard do anything to you??" Asked worried Issei.
"Not really, just hit me, that's it" Said Elaine.
"Alright, don't worry I'll get you out of here" said Issei as he broke the cell doors.
He then proceeded to free her from the chains.
"Here, drink this" Said Issei as he took out Phenix tears from his pocket dimension.
Elaine took the tears and drank them, She healed immediately and retained some of her energy.
"Alright, let's go" Said Issei as he helped her stand up.
Elaine and Issei left the underground dungeon with Elaine in tow and was met by Uther waiting for them.
"I'm sorry for what happened to you Elaine, please have a heart to forgive me" Said Uther.
Elaine was confused but more shocked by her former lord's actions, he would never apologize to a maid especially Elaine who stole Arthur's heart.
"And I'm sorry for the inconvenience to you too Red dragon, I will personally deal with my men" Said Uther.
Issei just stared at the man for a good two seconds before walking away in silence with Elaine by his side.
Just as Issei was about to leave Utjer spoke again.
"Please tell Arthur that I'm sorry, and that I want to talk with him when he can"
Before Issei could deny his request Uther reassured Issei.
"Don't worry, I have learned not to force my children, I will have a talk with him and that's it, he can do whatever his heart desires"
Issue calmed down and nodded after some thought before teleporting with Elaine away.
Upon arriving at the mansion's destroyed living room the both of them were met with worried Valerica and her team.
They all immediately hugged Issei and Elaine and checked them for any wounds.
"C'mon Val, we are fine don't worry" Said Issei nervously.
"Just what happened here!?!" Demanded Valerica and Arthur for an explanation.
"Well, while I had to talk with Tannin about important plans, Elaine was kidnapped here. Your father's head captain wanted you to come and take her back yourself if you wanted her alive.
I was so pissed off that I almost killed a lot of people there but I managed to get her back mostly peacefully." Explained Issei.
"Where is that bastard! I will kill him!" Shouted Arthur with rage.
"Dead" Replied Issei with no emotion in his cold voice.
"Eh? what do you mean" Asked Arthur.
"I burned him till there was nothing left" Replied Issei with a blank look.
Everyone was shocked by his statement.
"When he said he will torture and have his way with Elaine... I just couldn't hold my rage anymore so I let off a bit of steam there" Replied Issei while clenching his fists and gritting his teeth.
Arthur placed a hand on Issei's shoulder before talking.
"Thank you so much, Issei. You have no idea how much that means to me I don't even know how to repay you" Said Arthur.
"No need to repay, we're family. I'm just glad I could help out a brother" Said Issei.
Before everyone could leave Issei stopped Arthur for a chat.
"Arthur... Don't freak out but your father asked me to tell you to come back and have a chat with him and don't worry, he seem to accept your decisions now" Spoked Issei.
"... I'll see what I can do" Replied Arthur before leaving g with Elaine.
Not much longer Issei went to his bedroom to rest after an eventful day like this.
Not even five minutes passed before Valerica came into his bedroom.
"Issei, are you sleeping?" Asked Valerica quietly.
"No, can't sleep without ya" Said Issei jokingly.
Valerica smiled before she went to his bed and laid down next to him.
Issei immediately hugged her and wrapped her into his warm and comfortable wings.
The flames on his wings didn't hurt her, in fact the flames comforted her. She wrapped her arms around issei and they both fell into a deep and comfortable sleep...
(To be continued)