CHAPTER 2:
Its a dark gloomy night for this part of the world. footsteps which produced small echoish sounds on the cracks of broken stones that only added more to its disintegration towards the earth. A few muffled breaths could be heard as these people are trying to sneak or pass through something. As they continue to walk in silent, it was broken when one of theirs accidentally tripped..
"Ouh"
"Careful..."
As quiet as possible, the Black haired man warned his fellow kin who just tripped to the ground.
*Sigh* "I don't think this is safe. Hopefully they would pay us that much"
Grumbled by the Red haired man..
"I hope so, It took us 8 months to travel to the north."
Replied by the black haired man.
The man was muscular and tall, strong build & tanned, his name is leonard. He appears to be their leader or something. He wears an iron chain and behind his back a bag of supplies for their trip. wears a pants and Sandals and a sheathed sword on his hip.
Another voice rang out from the front. Clearly his voice indicates hesitation and fear on this trip.
"I see something far ahead. It's big and black with red thingy."
The brown haired lad spoke as quiet as possible on the dead of night wary of any creatures that may pop if he raised his voice even a little bit.
The mascular man nods and the group continued their sneak and walk.
The three men this night are doing what seems to be an illegal type of activity. the three are venturing beyond the perimeter and now deep within the dragon valley.
They've been walking and sneaking for half a day. Luckily for them, they brought bags and enough supplies to last for a day.
Upon the way, they've stumbled upon different bone corpses, already peeled with no skin or cloth left behind. Some are even missing and the rest burned and are disintegrating like ash.
The view was a slaughter and the group ignored the carnage that was on the ground as much as possible. Then a man with red hair spoke.
"This place is just hell on earth.. "
Soon they come across another wall, an obsidian type full of scratches coupled with a dark burned surface. It glowed in red and black which illuminated the dark environment.
It was the same boulder that the brown haired man has seen from earlier.
The formation itself seems unnatural and it curved from the bottom to the top. the three gasped at the scale of the formation. It's as if it was built by the dragon.
"Yikes... the hell happened to this place?"
On closer look, there was a stone plauque on the ground, the black haired man approached the stone and on closer inspection began to take deep breaths and uttered some words...
"Where the orarians managed to reach and retrieve the fallen banners of zeus and Hera's don't you think?"
"Oh.."
Soon the black hair muscular man knelt down in respect to the dead and read the following carved text on the stone.
"In the memory of the fallen adventurers lies here.."
A brown haired man moves forward and joins the black haired man.
"I Just couldn't imagine the hell that zeus and hera familias underwent that day."
.".. and thors.."
Replied by a young man with spikey red hair. His posture is fit and strong, not as strongly built as Leonard but neither as slim or clumsy as philip, the brown haired boy. The man was average and decent in looks. He wears a brown tunic with leather armor and pants as protection while the rest are bags of canteen on his back.
"Yeah thors too, I'm about to say it but you cut me off.." said by philip.
"Yeah yeah. keep telling yourself that.."
The two men were about to argue until leonard as usual broke the tension.
"Alright.." the black haired man spoke, which made the other two men look towards their leader or some sort.
"Write down any details of this area.. the more detailed the better!"
*Sigh* philip dropped down his bag as quietly as possible and knelt to the nearing stone. He took a paper and placed it on the stone that serves as a table for him to write. He took a wide 180° looked of the area before asking the red hair man.
"Alright I need ink and a feather.."
"Here philip."
Leonard on the other hand seemed alert of his environment. He kept surveying and scanning the dark corners far and wide as much as his eye can see. And upon his gut telling him that the area seemed safe, ordered the red haired man to begin the mining of rocks.
"Luciouss! Try to look for the minerals of this rock. See if you can extract something from it."
"On it!"
The red-haired man complied and began inspecting the surrounding formation. To his surprise there were already big chunks mined by something. He continued to scan and find any cracks for the pick axe to be efficiently used for breaking the formation.
A few hours at the location, leonard surveyed the area and found nothing but burned rocks and lifeless earth, Aside from the strange formation type.
"Philip! I'll go with luciouss, keep an eye out and write the best detail as u can of this place! Ok?"
"Alright"
Carrying an iron axe with a strange glass like surface he went with luciouss and the two men began looking around. Both then made an effort to dig & carved their way to the formation. The stone being hit and made strong sounds in the dead of night surprisingly made Philips worry at ease.
"Damn this sure is hard.. but with this, i hope it's worth it" the two men exchange pick axes every 10 mins to conserve as much as strenght for this process. after an hour have passed of digging and carving, they returned carrying a small bag which contained precious small stone like rocks that illuminated the same as the source of it. On the other hand leonard carried the pick axe which would horrified any smith. The deformed iron could not withstand the excessive impact for longer than an hour.
The stone-like rock is very similar to the strange formation except its small and illuminating red and black color. It's as if there's life inside.
"How much did that pick cost again?"
Leonard took a peek at the axe on his hands and said.
"90,000 valis"
Philip in horrified face began to speak inaudible words which would have no addition to the conversation
"Honestly i hope its worth it."
Said by Lucious
"We don't want the orarians to have everything do we?"
The two other men nodded.
Philip then uttered some words of encouragement.
"Yup. With this rock! We can use it for studying, experiment and... possibly more!"
Both leonard and luciouss looked surprised and a bit disappointed by the kids words but nonetheless they are glad to get some of those rare stone like.
The black haired man then clasped his hands and with a command, gave the other two of their roles.
"Alright rest as much as you can and when you are ready we will move and backtrack back towards the main camp."
Leonard then looked at both the men resting with new orders.
"Philip! you switch with Luciouss bag. Carry the canteen. water is utmost important here, you should be at the center where i once was."
"okay let me finish first."
Suddenly the face of the black haired man can be seen with a small faint smile.
( *" inner dialogue "* )
*"I suppose this is alright. I wished we got more of this rock."*
Looking down at the axe he noticed the dented iron and the newly enchantment that took 70% of the price for purchase.
*Sigh*
*"This axe won't do. Adamantine perhaps? Iron isn't enough. That means more cash*"
Leonard looked towards philip who was beaming with joy and satisfaction. It may very well be cause of the journey to achieve this or perhaps his goal getting closer to reality of uncovering alchemy.?
This time leonard looked conflicted about the whole thing, hiding the truth from their new companion was the worse. He felt disgusted and disappointed on himself for excluding the kid from the truth. Even though they just met for a few days and decided to bring the lad to their journey, spending months on walking and adventure just to reach the valley up north.. it feels hard when a man such as himself with good morals can do such a thing.
*" perhaps I will tell him the truth later "*
( *" End of inner dialogue "*)
Leonard straightened his body, carrying the bag once again with the rocks already in a separate bag for its space. He then peeked through the darkness of where they once came and surveyed the area surrounding the path. To his gut it feels like something is here but could not make out of it or determine what it is. So he shrug it off as small bugs or creatures that are returning after the dragons have been slowly cleaned by the orarians last years expedition.
He then faced the two men working.
The first to look at him is luciouss. Leonard winked and the man responded with a sigh.
"We should head back after this, Don't wanna starve and let day light catch us."
As philip and luciouss are packing and exchanging bags, leonard adds more command.
"I'll be on the front this time, you two observe and be vigilant of any movements on the sides and rear."
Unbeknownst to the three, there was a shadowy figure shadowing the group from the distance away. It then sprinted far away from them and immediately gained speed while being quiet at the same time.
An animal with brown-like features. It moved to a safe location towards another boulder for cover and continue to shadow the groups backtracking the valley.
Upon reaching the stone there lies another hooded figure waiting for him.
"So..?"
A hooded person which reveals to be an elf asked the animal person of the 3 men.
"I was having a hard time monitoring them close up. The tanned man was difficult and i had to keep my distance away."
The elf nods in acknowledgment.
"They didn't know my presence and judging from those guys' levels, mostly level 2s and 3s."
The elf seemingly satisfied with the answer responds to the beast man.
"Good, Simply observe and shadow them"
"Aye.."
Soon the two sped out of the valley. Their footwork alone can be described as special and precised with every move and ground they land and propel as they move coupled with speed and in a few moments they were gone. And with their after effects that only alerted the small creatures and bugs after they are already far away.
"Umm Leo! I heard something!"
"What is it?"
The brown haired man surprised Leonard who was fearing the possibility of a dragon.
"I think i heard some wind or something."
"Alright, stay focused. Keep an eye and ear out."
Luciouss then calls leonard upfront.
The red haired man overtakes philips position who was now at the rear confused and bewildered.
"Its like the last time, what should we do?"
"Worse comes to worse, we'll bury it."
"Alright"
"What are you guys talking about?"
The two men looked towards philip, this time their faces showed serious looks. Philip shuddered but suddenly they are attacked by a large snake burrowing out from the earth.
*Hhssssss*
"Ahh-"
Soon the palms of leonard covered philips mouth.
"Crap."
Dodging the incoming attack Leonard and philip rolled to the side while luciouss attacked the serpent.
Leonard moved to the snake's rear while it was busy hissing luciouss in a defensive position.
The snake threw up some vile dark and sticky poison towards luciouss and the red haired man managed to dodge but received a few scatch on his leg.
*Uhh!*
With quick reflexes of a high level 2, He closed into the distracted snake and unleashed a downward slice. Luciouss launched an incoming slash and stroked the serpent which staggered and hissed.
*Hsssssss!*
And with a few strikes, the two men managed to corner the serpent and it soon fled by burrowing to the earth.
Leonard immediately approach luciouss now poisoned and slowly weakening.
"damn that bastard. How are you?"
The red haired man staggered, slowly he could fee his strenght disappearing and he could feel that he may fell into sleep.
"not well, give me the needles."
Leonard took out a few needles and slowly told luciouss.
"Its gonna hurt, bite this"
Luciouss took the small dagger and bit the blade with his teeth to avoid biting his tongue.
"Here it goes.."
"aruuhhhhhhhggg"
Leonard pierced the needles towards where the poison scratched the leg and with blood gushing out leonard ignored luciouss ordeal and begin to slurp the poisoned elements out of his legs.
Slowly one at a time he spit out the poison fluids and redo the process until luciouss could feel his strenght.
After another 10 mins it seems luciouss is now back but still weakened from the poison.
"I don't want to see that bastard again"
In a jokingly matter luciouss broke the silence and soon leonard ordered the group to rest for a bit before moving out.
"Crap. i hope none heard that."
Philip exhaled and looked towards the earth.
"Sorry."
*Sigh* "alright lets move on.."
As time passed leonard brought the topic from earlier.
"Philip, listen."
Philip slowly listens while moving at the same time as leonard speaks.
"We are here to gather minerals and sell them to the black market. They needed it for something i suppose. I'm sorry."
Philip learning of this info suddenly came to a halt and processed the info.
Soon leonard looked behind while Luciouss from the rear stopped.
"I have been suspicious since earlier. But why?"
Leonard looked to luciouss who was flabbergasted and confused due to him telling the young lad the truth. The red haired man simply sighed and noded.
"Money"
Philip already knew the struggles of life and hearing it from his new friend only confirmed it.
"I had to cut corners… Black market money is much easier and they pay high."
This time its luciouss that responds.
Still haggared and breathing heavily from his ordeal before, he spoke to philip.
"Sorry for lying about the archeology thing. Our true purpose is to get this rock which is sought after."
Philip was shattered hearing that. His eyes lost color of all enthusiasm. Their whole archeology thing was all a lie.
Perhaps they could venture out but the objective of his fellow kin is to sell it to the black market, not for studying or experimenting.
Philip then uttered some words which was low but audible enough for both men to hear.
"I was really expecting to find artifacts and some stones. Reviving the original power of alchemy.."
Upon hearing the words, Luciouss stared at philips eye to eye for a few moments. Philips dark pupils and luciouss brown eyes.. for a moment it would've lasted like forever until leonard broke the silence.
Philip was stunned for a moment when luciouss stared at him with no movements or word. Leonard broke the silence however.
"Im sorry philip, but perhaps we can try again and maybe we could find some of the artifacts that were lost beyond the valley."
This time philip began to smile not the same as before but faintly even though he really expected some knowledge for alchemy, truth be told philip was mostly disappointed. soon the group continued the walk with philip having mixed emotions.
Leonard then orders a halt to the group. An area with big boulders and rock type.
"We shall rest here for a bit and recover our strength. Sunrise would be here soon."
Soon they set up their bedsheets and the three men quietly rested for another hour.
With dawn approaching and the skies turning gray. Leonard orders to move out and hopefully reach the outskirts of the valley for safety.
They are indeed in a safe location already but it's better to just be safe than never. And that's outside of the dragon valley.
*Roaaaaaaaaaar*
"!"
As the three men are walking with daylight slowly rising over the horizon, they heard a voice so dread that they may never want to hear it again.
This time their instincts kick in but luckily their leaders level headedness in this very type of situation managed to curb the feeling and ordered the group to hide instead of run.
"DUCK!"
Leonard ordered the others to hide and duck and find cover. Anything so the beast wouldn't see them or notice them.
"We are already at the very edges of the valley and one decided to popped up just now?"
Leonard observing and scanning every bit of shadow or form above the skies while hiding. His breathing already a mess due to earlier problems and now the worse thing appeared just as they were about to escape the hell hole?
Phlip was terrified and leonard quickly ignored the kid as to calm himself. Instead of words he grabbed philips shoulders and looked him as a way to calm the lad.
Luciouss was no different and was having a hard time breathing with exhaustion now seeping in.
Sounds of wind sent small shockwaves from the area, flapping its wings and the sounds of heavy growl and weight. It sounded like it flew a bit higher. What comes next is a loud roar which the beast unleashed a torrent of flames.
Then a yellow inferno ignites from the very rear from where they come from and the dragon swooped down and continously dig its jaw and teeth to the earth. It seems the dragon has spotted a live prey and as the higher tier of beast hierarchy it easily caught the prey and gulped the entire thing.
Leonard seeing the distraction for them to escape ordered the 2 men to slowly crawl while dugging their heads to the earth. Even if they scrape their faces off just to get away from an opponent that a high level 4 adventurer would have died.
Soon the plan worked and as they crawled for a few meters away the dragon took off opposite of their path and flew away into the thick fog that can now be seen as the sunrise grow higher.
The three men continued their backtracking, and after another 3 hours with the sun rising to their backs they finally reached the safety perimeter.
"Auhhhhhh, finally.."
"Green grass and soil! How i missed you!"
"Hey stop being weird"
"Hey can i have some water?"
"Here"
Leonard watched as the youngest of theirs breathed in exhilirating voice and relief.
Leonard dropped to the ground exhausted with fatigue and stress building up and now consuming him.
For another minutes of rest he stands up once again and issued a last order for the day.
"Alright, rest a bit. We will move out towards the edge of that forest towards our camp.
The other two men already collapsed to the ground, luciouss just dropped dead while snoozing. Philip just looked terrified at most.
"so that's a dragon..?"
Philip uttering some words contemplated whether to return back or just find a new goal instead of archeology.
Across a hill the 2 hooded figures watched. undetected and hard to see. even a level 3 or 4 would have not seen them neither can the 3 men.
Listening to their post from before the mission even began.
"Follow their trail and to whichever city or town they'll enter."
A were tiger in front of them speaking with great confidence and voice, with Brown like features. Falgar batros
A level 5 Vice captain from hermes familia
"We have strict orders from our God Hermes, Neutralize the black market trade."
Listening to him are the two figures who are now currently investigating and shadowing the 3 men.
A level 4 beast man with black hair features and a level 4 elf with golden hair and green eyes.
(OC) A half human half beast named Galor aoba and (canon character) Laurier swall.
Soon the two hooded figures slowly descends the hill while covering, maintaining distance from the group.
Now philip was anxious to ask about the topic earlier. He gathered enough courage and managed to ask the looming topic ever since they rested early on.
"How much does this rock pay on the market?'
Leonard looked at philip upon hearing those question.
1 million valis for each rock.
"Guh!"
"That MUCH!?"
"kid quiet down, my body hurts from that damn dragon. Could we talk about this later?"
Philip now looked shocked and contemplated whether he should strive to become a proper archelogist or jump in and cut corners.
The more his 16 year old mind think about it the more he realized that having this much money can help his dream become a reality too.
Philip prepared the next words formulating from his brain. Perhaps This is the only way for me to achieve that with my friends.
"I will help."
"?"
Leonard looked back again towards philip while tending to luciouss body and properly managing the bags.
The lad responds again this time with determination.
"I will help you and sell the rocks"
This time leonard shows a small smile towards the kid.
*" I guess money works too hehe wait- why didn't I think of that? Damn being a peasant sucks. "*
Leonard approach the kid and told him the following.
"Yeah I didn't think that, you can achieve archeology through this I suppose."
Philip smiled and this time both men bump their knuckles as some sort of brotherhood move while the red haired man was feeling all the pain in the world as he slowly awakes.
arriving at their camp at the edge of the forest, the three men prepared a campfire and soon their bellies full and it was leonard who went to bed early. The man was tired after everything while philip was about to say something was interrupted by Luciouss words.
"So, How much do you know about alchemy?"
The usual voice of luciouss was gone replaced by some seriousness behind the words.
Philip gulped from the question and simply replied with what information he know.
"Uhh to be honest I don't really know that much."
Luciouss now looking dead into philips eye. The red haired man straitened his back to release tension and replied
"Don't be too tense, I am curious about the power too.."
Philip breath a sigh of relief upon hearing the usual voice of his friend, he respond with whatever he known qbout alechemy that night and luciouss face did not change a bit nor showed any seriousness again or curiousity about the topic. The face he had that night was simply casual similar to a student when they listened to their teachers usual lessons with a bored face.
The conversation ended with not much curiousity for luciouss to say and in the end both men bid good nights and went to their respective beds.
That morning they woke up fresh and new. They slept for more than a day and were glad to be in full spirits.
As the three men departed the area one of the hooded figures departed to report about the information while one left behind to continue shadowing the group.
The elf travelled far and wide, riding a strong beautiful brown horse. Its speed and hoofs buckled the elf as the horse continues to ran tremendously. Forest, rivers and mountains all crossed in mere days with no rest.
At the third day however the elf rested with the horse and continued the journey the next day. After almost 3 weeks of travel the Elven woman with the horse companion managed to reach the cabin at the beol mountains.
The speed of the elf and the horse were magnificent and deserved of praise, however you cannot ignore the exhaustion of both as they slowly climb towards the steep mountain.
Rain and shine, cold winds and heat.. they endured hard and well and now exhaustion continues to consume the two.
All of this just to deliver information regarding the strange group of men that ventured to the dragon valley.
At the top of the cabin a woman opened the door and greeted the traveler.
"How may I help you miss elf?"
The elven lady, Laurier swall was covered in sweat and fatigue, almost collapsing to the ground, she held on still managing to conjure enough strenght to talk. Her determination to pass the message is all that matters to her.
She replied in coded phrase which could only be understood by the members of hermes familia. The womans face turned into duty like. She welcomed the elf inside and indulge on the information.
The next long minutes after tending the elf to the bed and taking care of the horse, the young woman now dressed in adventurer clothing sped down the mountain and travelled towards orario.
Leonard
Age: 27
Status: Level 3
Strenght: F310
Endurance: H190
Dexterity: G215
Agility: F320
Magic: I5
Hunter: H
SKILLS: Mobilium strike
Charges up an attack and deals 3 swift strikes to the opponent.
Lucious pyralus
Age: 25
Status: Level 3
Strenght: I90
Endurance: H100
Dexterity: I99
Agility: H150
Magic: H105
Hunter: I
SKILLS: Soul Crust
Able to inflict effects on an opponent which weakens their vision and magic.
Philip
Age: 16
Status: level 2
Strenght: G201
Endurance: H105
Dexterity: G220
Agility: H115
Magic: I0