Hey Yo! NerdRyuu is back for the ninth chapter of Udan's Legends! Last chapter we met our variants of Leni and Luan, and ended with Luan, ominously walking away...
But first, lets go real quick to this month's questions!
Skully13: is Luan going to become a temporary villain and any thoughts on adding thicc QT to Lincoln's growing harem
yes, Luan will return as a antagonistic force in the future and about Thicc QT, not really, I sometimes regret revealing right out the gate about this story having a Harem subplot, in retrospect, it woud be more fun to not stablish this so soon (right on the description!)
Without any further ado, let's sail to Annecia in this chapter of Udan's Legends!
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own The Loud House
Lincoln felt uneasy. He looked at Marrietta. The old lady, although relieved that she was able to see again, looked nauseous. Maybe was from the sudden shock of having someone rudely grabbing her face.
Leni kept her gaze down the road for some seconds more before sighing, and turning around, taking a 180 and opening a gentle smile.
"Sorry people, but, like, we're finished for today!" the crowd released groans of disappointment. "I know, I know, but everyone, remember, none of you need to worry about the cargo ships, I'm going to sail to Annecia island and figure out what's making this storm!" Some let grunts, as the crowd disbanded, leaving Leni and the trio.
"Now, hello!" Leni said with her smile on her lips to the trio. "I haven't seen you around here in Attum." She said holding her staff with both hands, leaning slightly onto it.
"Oh." Lincoln realized she was addressing them. "We're not from here. We have a quest to do!" He said. "It may save Udan."
"Oh, really? I am also in a similar journey." She said pointing to herself.
"Oh, what a coincidence." Lynn snarkily commented sheathing her sword. Luna snorted at that comment.
"These are Lynn Griffinheart and Luna Acai, they're accompanying me. I'm Lincoln by the way. Lincoln Snowtop." The young mage introduced himself and his friends.
"Oh!" Leni realized she didn't introduced herself. "I am Leni! Leni-" the elf however, was interrupted by Lynn.
"Yeah, yeah, Leni Gintama or whatever, what's that deal about being "enlightened?"" Lynn said motioning her fingers in a quotes. Leni laughed humbly at her remark.
"I am the one chosen by lady Siddha." Leni explained. Lynn and Luna changed confused looks. "The goddess of light and kindness! We high-elven worship her teachings back on Akkuan."
"Oh, so you're from Akkuan?" Lincoln repeated, fascinated by the beautiful being in front of him. Picking on his tone, Lynn stepped forward to Leni and asked."
"Chosen one? This sounds awfully arrogant for someone that says that worships the goddess of kindness." She remarked crossing her arms, Luna cringed, that was very blunt to say to someone looking so gentle as Leni looked. Leni gasped.
"Oh, You're, like, right, I think it came out sounding very arrow gaunt!" Lincoln furrowed his eyebrows
"Arrogant?" Lincoln tried to correct her.
"No, I don't have a arrow for my head!" Leni spoke, almost like she was offended.
After those words, the wise aura she had, vanished in the trio's eyes. Yet, the words she spoke, both to the old woman and Luan still remained in Lincoln's mind. He studied the concerned Leni for a second and laughed.
"Sorry, sorry!" He said matching her kind tone back. "But could you explain again?" Leni sighed before speaking.
"Lady Siddha touched me in a way that changed who I am." She explained. "Enlightened my world view, allowed me to see beyond what meets the eye." She spoke with a hopeful tone, looking at the cylindrical ornament on her staff. "Because of this new worldview, I made the decision to seek helping who needs most. Not just physically, but mentally too."
Linc made a appreciative smile. That elf was the proof that one didn't need to have deep knowledge. She was deeply wise, even if she was an airhead.
"Heh" Lynn made a surprise laugh. She always thought of elves as very intelligent and wise beings due they having a life span 5 times longer than humans, but this one was different from her notion, she was a dumbass, but a wise dumbass.
Luna turned her head down, with her words resounding in her head. She related to Leni so much. She looked at her newly healed arm and wondered how long it would take for her Sorrow return.
"Yeah, this is nice and all…" Lynn took the attention to herself. "But How do you plan to 'sail to annecia' anyway, with the perpetual deadly storm and all?" She asked putting her hands on her hips.
"With a boat." Leni spoke with a Smile. Lynn shared a look with Lincoln then with Luna. Yeah, she will end up killing herself. Lynn groaned, as she knew very well that once again.
"We're never going to Windholm…" The young knight mumbled pinching the bridge of her nose.
"It was very kind of you offering yourselves to sail with me to Annecia." Leni spoke happily.
"Do you even know how to sail?" Lynn asked as Luna held the wheel of the rather small sail boat Leni had borrowed from a old sailor in Akkuan.
"No!" Leni said with a smile.
"We're in luck that Luna knows how to." Lincoln stated, holding onto a rope that held from the mast.
"We need to hope to find the source of the storm when we arrive on Annecia." Leni spoke observing the sun set by the horizon.
"We need to hope that we arrive on Annecia." Lynn spoke as she saw it.
The four approached in their tiny boat, a mass of black clouds. The sea had started to rock the boat harder, obligating Luna to spin the wheel back and forth to keep their trajectory straight.
The rain finally started to pour onto their heads as they were swallowed by the storm.
The unrelenting winds blew the sails sideways, and Luna fought from them tipping over, turning the wheel onto the direction the wind blew. It was a hellish task as the musician held the wheel with all her might, but heavy rain and water from the waves that splashed into the boat made the wooden wheel quite slippery.
Lynn held on the rails of the boat firmly, the waves shook the boat from what seemed all the sides, each collision making her tremble and nearly making her lose her grip.
Lincoln held onto the rope with a tight hug, he had quickly regretted using that rope to hold onto, as it shook him back and forth making the young wizard hit the mast quite a number of times, but he absolutely wouldn't let it go now.
Leni on other hand, wasn't holding onto anything at all, she held her staff with both hands and used it kind of a anchor as she let herself tumble side to side and back and forth but moving away from the edges of the boat when she got too close to it.
When the boat started to surf up a particularly large wave that started to form, Luna knew that she had one chance to not get them killed. With all her might, she started to turn the wheel, and the boat, down in relation to the wave, and pray that they didn't tip forward and let the boat skid down as the wave splashed on top of the boat, without sinking them too in the process also.
Luna's plan fortunately paid off, as the boat surfed the wave just far enough to run from the brunt of the wave, yet, the water that hit the boat was strong enough to make Lynn lose her grip.
But with her knight reflexes, she unsheathed her sword and stabbed the wooden floor as the boat almost tipped again.
"THIS WAS A BAD IDEA!" Lynn shouted as it was the only way she could be heard with the roaring of the wind and splashing of the water.
"WE NEED TO KEEP FORWARD! I KNOW WE'RE NEARLY THERE!" Leni shouted back, still holding her staff.
"WHICH WAY IS FORWARD?" Luna shouted.
At that moment, the rope that Lincoln hugged snapped and he was sent flying, as the other side of the rope still was firmly on the mast. The wizard screamed as the wind blew him in every direction, aside from the direction that the boy really wanted, that was down.
"LINCOLN!" Lynn shouted as she looked the boy flailing like a kite on the wind.
Lincoln slipped from his hug but managed to held with both hands onto the rope, he knew that if he let it go from it, he was done for.
But the wind blew strongly, he slid down the rope, making his hands burn, what it stung even more because of the unbearable cold he was feeling.
Cold.
Lincoln made an effort to concentrate and focus on his burning hands, then, he blew o to his hands.
The cold breeze that left his lungs, coated in magic froze his hands onto the rope with a sturdy layer of ice, it wasn't a way to get out of that situation, but was a way to not slip from the rope.
Luna's arms were starting to get sore, the unstoppable back and forth with the wheel was getting onto her, she genuinely didn't knew which way she had to go, she heard that Annecia had a Lighthouse for this exact reason, but she wasn't able to find any light for the life of her.
"OH, HOW I WISHED THAT RUMOR OF ANNECIA AND SANDSTORM WAS TRUE!" Luna roared to herself, remembering the obviously erroneous rumors she heard about Annecia.
As Luna felt her arms fail, another pair of arms held onto the wheel, It was Leni. She had a fierce look of determination on her face, this gave Luna little more strength, as both of them held onto the wheel.
"JUST A LITTLE MORE!" Leni shouted.
"ROCK!" The two at the wheel heard Lynn shout, but was a little to close as they turned the wheel to avoid the rock. But weren't able to avoid the second and third.
With a powerful thud, the boat run over the rocks, splintering onto them.
But in a way, the rocks were a good thing, because this signaled that they had arrived.
The sudden stop and wind flung Lincoln forward violently, the ice cuffs he made weren't able to hold the strength and shattered, and Lincoln was tossed on top of a grassy hill that dropped onto the water.
Lincoln groaned, that was very painful. To the point that the boy wished to stay stretched on the soaking grass for a little bit more.
The shredding of the boat onto the rocks forced the other three to jump onto land when the part of the boat they stood came close enough to it, and after, they rushed to meet Lincoln.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT LINC?" Lynn shouted, they might have arrived onto land, but the storm above them still roared louder than they could speak, so shouting was the only way one could be heard still.
Lincoln shook his head, he was conscious, but wished he wasn't. His chest hurt and the impact made him expel all air from his lungs, but it also pained him breathing, it also didn't helped that he had half is face buried onto the mud and rain still poured onto him. He had no strength in his arms to lift himself up.
But he felt a strong arm wrapping around his stomach and lift him.
Leni, the High Elf held him up like he was a simple purse.
"ARE YOU BETTER LINKIE?" She asked gently, somehow being
"Linkie?" Lynn repeated, but not loudly enough to be heard over the roaring storm.
"OI!" They heard someone shout. They turned and saw running onto them a stocky man with a beard. He head a yellow coat over a grey shirt and a matching yellow hat. "I HEARD ONE HELL OF A BANG HERE!" He looked at the remains of the boat scattered on the rocks and coast. "Y'ALL MANAGED TO SAIL THROUGH THE STORM EH?" He Spoke.
"SORRY FOR THE MESS." Leni shouted. "WE DIDN'T SAW THE LAND COMING!"
"WE COULD HAVE!" Luna interjected. "BUT I DIDN'T SAW ANY SIGNAL! DOESN'T THE ISLAND HAVE A LIGHTHOUSE?"
"IT DOES, BUT-" The man almost slipped on the wet grass. "…I THINK… IT'S BETTER WITH WE TALK AT MY HOUSE, IT'S NOT FAR, THERE WE CAN TALK AND HELP YOUR INJURED FRIEND THERE." He motioned to Lincoln, still being held by Leni, who just managed to muster a weak moan of pain in response.
"Ten, did you find what made that sound?" A squat woman asked the man as he swung the door if the old stone cottage. "Oh my, who are these people?"
"It was their boat, Nin, they wrecked onto the rocks." Ren explained as the party sighed after feeling the heat from inside the cottage.
"Oh." She spoke before going through a door at the back of the room, shortly after she returned with three towels for the soaking party. "Here, come closer to the fireplace, it'll heat you all up." She said offering the towels. Leni gently put Lincoln down near the fireplace before grabbing one of the towels.
"Name's Ten." The man introduced himself.
"Name ten what?" Leni asked confused drying her hair. Lynn rolled her eyes, getting her iron armor off to dry herself.
"No, his name is Ten." Luna explained wringing her vest of water.
"Oh!" Leni spoke understanding now. "I'm Leni Giddhaltama, they're Lynn Griffinhead, Lincoln Snowball and Luna." The elf introduced herself and the others.
"It's Griffinheart and Snowtop actually." Luna corrected Leni who nodded.
"Huh, this is my wife Nin." He motioned to the woman, who made a slight bow.
"You four managed to sail through the storm!?" Nin stated amazed.
"Barely." Lynn clarified, looking at Lincoln, who held his chest in pain, he was sitting beside the fireplace, leaning against the wall. "Lincoln got injured, and he's the one that heal people around here."
"Really?" Leni asked surprised. Lynn nodded.
"Just a minute." Nin spoke walking back at the other room again.
"Why'd you kids made such a risky stunt?" Ten questioned crossing his arms, he motioned to the bench by the long table, a plate of freshly baked cream filled sweet rolls rested atop of it, the table was set and seemed that the couple were going to eat before they arrived. Ten sat on the chair on the end of the table, the trio sat on the opposite side of the bench before responding.
"We're here to find a way to stop the storm!" Leni spoke with confidence.
"Stop eh?" Ten repeated, resting the elbow on the table. Nin then returned with a large frozen fish that still had chunks of ice on it.
"Please, gimme that please." Nin pointed to one of the towels that the girls still held. Luna handed hers to Nin, who wrapped the fish around it, kneeling and gently resting it on Lincoln's l chest.
Lincoln let out a moan of relief when he felt the cold on his chest.
"Here, hold it tight, dear." Nin spoke with a nurturing tone.
"Thank you ma'am." Lincoln finally managed to speak again to thank the woman.
"You four came to Annecia to stop the storm?" Nin asked as she sat at other end of the bench by the side of her husband.
"What do you know about it?" Lynn asked.
"Not much." The man spoke was the shrug. "Feel free to eat by the way, you look starved." He motioned to the sweet rolls. Each one of the three were delighted to grab something to eat. Luna even grabbed one and handed to Lincoln.
When Lincoln bit on it his stomach thanked him as he felt the sugary cream on his tongue, it was sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and a little hot still, the mass wasn't very chewy but crumbled and mixed with the cream white he chewed making the cinnamon pop forefront. Delicious didn't started to describe it.
"Do you like it?" Nin asked, noticing the shine on their eyes as they ate the sweet.
"It's amazing!" Lynn shouted without even swallowing yet. Nin snickered in delight.
"It's really good!" Leni said nodding.
"It reminds me my dad*s cooking." Luna said, looking at the half eaten sweet roll on her hand with a smile.
"I'm happy that you liked, they're our famous Annecia Sweet Rolls!" She said with a proud smile. "Is a regional delicacy!"
After some minutes with silence, only with the six of them enjoying the pastry in silence.
"When did the storm started?" Luna asked, breaking the silence.
"It's making two weeks now." Ten responded "It started and never stopped. Not even for a minute." He continued. "All my plantation, and everyone else's were ruined, and with the harbor unable to receive shipments, the provisions are starting to be scarce. Me and Nin were lucky that I had provision stored in case of emergency."
"Without mentioning the souls lost at sea because the storm." Leni added. Ten nodded with sigh.
"What happened to the lighthouse?" Lynn asked.
"The lighthouse is located in a small island close to the harbor, connected by a bridge." He explained. "But the storm brought the bridge down. And the keeper isn't able to reach it to relit the bonfire." He completed.
"We need to find a way to relit the lighthouse." Lincoln spoke up, making them turn to him. "This may help any ship that try to venture to Annecia until we find what is causing the storm, and maybe we can find a clue there." He explained. Leni, Luna and Lynn nodded in agreement, that was probably the best action they could follow.
"The lighthouse keeper is a friend of mine, he lives on a hut near the harbor." Ten spoke up. "Talk to him, say that Ten sent ya." He instructed. "You'll need to follow the road northeast. You'll reach the harbor in no time."
Lincoln suddenly stood up with a groan, presenting the packed fish back to Nin, who grabbed it.
Lincoln made a deep breath and moaned once again, placing a hand over his chest, and made a second deep breath.
"Let's go guys." Lincoln spoke before turning to the couple. "Thank you, Mr. Ten, Mrs. Nin, for helping us."
"Don't mention it kid. Anyone would have helped ya." Ten said with a side smile. Leni let out a laugh.
"No. Not anyone." She responded in calm, yet melancholic tone.
"It's sure raining daggers!" Luna said. They've been traveling for some time now, in the path Ten said, and once again, the four were soaking wet. The cold rain drops hitting them like small pebbles, and strong winds sprinkling even more droplets that hit them like cold needles from every side capable. It even made a little difficult to see at all with the freezing temperature making their eyes plead for warmth.
"Oh No!" Leni Gasped. "We need to go faster so none of us get stabbed!"
Lynn rolled her half closed eyes. "It's not literal Giddhaltama."
"Wait, I think I see lights!" Lincoln spoke, pointing to some lights in the distance, it was difficult to see now as the sun was starting to set, making even more difficult to see where they we're going.
"Finally!" Lynn said groaning with relief. They increased their pace and quickly saw the source of the light.
They finally reached the abandoned harbor of Annecia, several houses along the boardwalk without any trace of life.
The lights came through the windows of a small hut the only one that had signs of life, and like Ten had told them, close to the coast the tall lighthouse stood in a near island so small that Lincoln had to guess that in the past, that island had to be part of the main island, and the lighthouse was built on the peninsula, but some time after the connection between it and the main island has been severed.
He saw the remains of the bridge that was built to connect the islands. It didn't seemed to have been a flimsy thing either, the storm was able to destroy a sturdy construction.
Lincoln was pulled out of his thoughts about the lighthouse when Lynn knocked on the door of the hut.
They heard something fall inside it and the muffled sounds of cursing, between the door was half open. The door was stopped by a small chain lock, allowing just part of the occupant be seem.
"Who are you?" Spoke a old man with grey beard, in a high pitched voice.
"Hey, Hum, Ten send us." Luna spoke up. The old man raised an eyebrow, making his eye pop a little. He then slammed the door shut once again. They heard the sounds of him unlocking the door before the door swung open.
"Come in lads." The old man said and the four did so. Lincoln finally got a good view of him.
The old man had them arms and legs but a oddly chubby belly, he had a long grey beard that came down all the way to his bellybutton, he had a large nose, his eyes looked asymmetrical, as one looked far larger than the other. He was wearing a large brimmed hat, old hags and overalls completed with suspenders.
Lincoln couldn't not be remembered of Marlin looking at him, the two had the same empty head, no thoughts aura, but Lincoln knew that in Marlin's case, it was just the looks.
"Wait a sec, you're not Ten's lad." The old man said pointing to Lincoln. "And none of you are his fiancée… or are you?"
"No, no, we're not his fiancées." Lynn was quick to respond blushing. The others also blushed.
"We're actually friends of Ten. He said to talk to you." Lincoln said. "Do you have any idea of how the storm. started."
"Meh." The old man grumbled. "Why'd I know? One night this storm started and never stopped. I did my job of keeping that light on up until the bridge fell."
"Humph…" Lincoln sighed. "Thank you Mr…?"
"Elven! My name's Elven." The old keeper introduced himself.
"Well… How exactly you pretend to lit up the lighthouse?" Lynn asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"You want to lit the lighthouse?" Elven repeated. "You can't! Without the bridge, no one can get to the lighthouse! Much less with this wretched storm!" The keeper added.
"If we need a bridge." Lincoln spoke. "Then I'll make one!"
"Eh?" The keeper spoke confused. With this storm? You won't be able to even hammer a nail!"
"Yeah Lincoln, what, you became a carpenter out of nowhere or what?" Lynn asked, teasing him.
"Who said I was going to use wood?" Lincoln responded with a smirk.
Lincoln around and exited the cabin, walking in the direction of the lighthouse the others followed him, with Elven right behind, curious of what the boy meant.
Lincoln stopped near the ruined bridge and observed the gap between the coast and the island. He bit his lower lip. Now that he was about to do it, he realized that he may not be able yet to go further in his idea.
But the cold rain hitting him made he remember that he wouldn't improve if he didn't practiced. His path would never be built if he never laid the bricks.
The young wizard closed his eyes, made a deep breath and started to rub his hands together. He made another breath, and a cold breeze grazed his hands as a small blue ball appeared on his palms.
"Oh no, is he going to do that again!?" Lynn spoke surprised to Luna, who nodded.
"I hope he knows what's he doing." Luna responded.
"Oh, this going to be good." Leni said with a lopsided smile.
Lincoln breathed again. He then, with a quick movement, slammed down this yand still holding the ball onto the ground, and like a bang of a cannon, the tremendous sound made the near ground shake a little, and from his hand, the wet grass froze over, crystalizing the leaves and creating a trail. From the coast, giant ice stakes erupted from the ground, falling down to the rock there, freezing on place upon contact, creating ice pillars that connected onto the sprouting trail that was forming on the gap between the coast and the island. The cold rain helped the bridge be built fasters as the droplets fell and instantly froze upon contact on the freezing cold bridge.
Lincoln stood up again, letting out a final cold breath as he sighed in exhaustion.
"Holy cow!" Elven exclaimed incredulous of what his eyes had seen.
Luna's jaw was left hanging, a entire, solid ice bridge didn't compare to the rather small ice block he made earlier that day, that demonstration of magic by a self-titled "novice" wizard made the musician start to reconsider what he really meant as a novice.
Lynn also was left speechless. Different from Luna, the young knight had already seen Lincoln make some smaller spells, well, not counting the two times he used the dragon word the boy had as a trump card. Lynn knew that every free time they found themselves on, Lincoln used to read one of his books of magic, but even him had admitted that reading the theory was only part of magic, time and practice was ironically, was where the real magic happened. But Lincoln hadn't much time to do so since they started their quest. The only option Lynn could imagine was that Lincoln had been practicing while she wasn't paying attention.
Leni had the same amazed look as Elven, her twinkling eyes were the same of those of one small girl on Christmas day, upon seeing the gifts Santa had brought to her, and her smile reflected her eyes.
And Lincoln himself opened a large proud smile. Very differently from what his friends were thinking, was surprised that his plan actually worked. He had read about ice shaping and imagined that he could make a passageway between the islands using it. What he had no certainty was his ability on making such a big structure, in his very first try, mind you.
Lincoln had been reading quite a lot these days, and he had forgotten the other crucial part of a wizard's training, training itself. In retrospect he had some opportunities to train his figurative magic muscles and improve his skills. Not that he yearned for freezing over hordes of guards that are only doing their jobs.
Lynn shook her awe away and turned to the old keeper.
"What are you waiting? Let's go light this thing!" Elven nodded, him and the girls approached Lincoln, that still was awestruck, Lynn bumped on his shoulder to grab his attention as they walked past him.
"Good job, mate." Luna said. Lincoln then accompanied them. He hesitated a little as he noticed he was about to give his first step on the ice bridge he had himself made. But the boy trusted his own abilities, the ice was firm and solid. He took some small deliberate steps onto the bridge.
The others that were already ahead of him, looked back to him.
"Don't worry Linc." Lynn spoke. "The bridge is safe!"
"I know, I just don't want to slip-" As the boy was saying that, his foot skated on the slippery ice, soaked by the raging storm. Lincoln fell sideways, right on the edge of the bridge with his other feet sliding upwards.
But he reached his arms forward to the brass staff with a cylindrical ornament that had already appeared right in front of him as he fell of the bridge.
"You need to take care Linkie!" Leni said, holding the other end of her staff and hoisting the boy with help of Lynn and Luna. "It's slippery!" Leni concluded when Lincoln held her hand as she helped him regain feet on the bridge.
"Thanks Ms. Giddhaltama." Leni chuckled.
"You can call me just Leni, Linkie." The elf spoke with a warm smile.
"I still can't get over that nickname." Lynn spoke to herself, rolling her eyes, noticing that Leni still had her hand holding Lincoln's.
"Let's get there already!" Lynn shouted to them, the rain still raged over them after all. "Before we get even our bones soaked!"
"But our bones can't get wet." Leni spoke as they resumed their walk through the ice bridge, this time Leni held Lincoln by the hand to secure he wouldn't slip again. "Our bones are already wet all the time!"
Luna cringed after hearing that. "Thanks for that in my image in my mind!" She said.
"You're welcome!" Leni spoke with a smile, not noticing the sarcasm in Luna's tone.
The young adventurers ascended the staircase inside the tall lighthouse, soon arriving at a second floor, a mostly open area with just a roof and half a dozen walls that held it up, on the middle, a large round pyre with the remains of the long extinct fire, with entire burnt logs that once were the fuel of this lighthouse.
Elven was prodding the extinct pyre with a long metal pike, adjusting the burnt logs over one another, the unstoppable rain from every side for weeks had not only put the fire down, but soaked the few good firewood that remained.
"We've got a problem." Elven spoke scratching his mostly empty of hair scalp. The kids approached him and he continued. "With this little firewood, I can't restart the fire because of the soggy logs!"
"Damnit!" Lynn grumbled. "Another obstacle!" Just then, the young knight remembered Lincoln's amazing ability to spit fire, and had an idea. "Hey Linc, you know that thing you did to that dragon?" Lynn asked to the boy, who turned to her with a puzzled look.
"Yeah?" He spoke.
"Dragon?" Elven and Leni repeated, surprised that they had even heard that word.
"Why don't you do that here, with the pyre?" Lynn suggested, pointing to the pyre. Just after that Lincoln realized were she was trying to get at.
"Oh!" Lincoln got a little nervous. "I don't know if it's a good idea Lynn, last time I used that I got very hurt." Lincoln remembered his lungs stinging after having burned them by overusing that word.
"Oh come on Linc!" Luna said excited, hooked her arm around his shoulders in a side hug. "You made that bridge out there, and You said you stopped a dragon, I you can do this again, whatever it is."
"He stopped a dragon!?" Leni asked, for the first time genuinely surprised.
"Okay." Lincoln spoke with sigh. "But stand back, I don't want to anyone end up hurt." Luna did so, releasing Lincoln and taking several steps back, along with the others.
Lincoln made another deep breath. He had already done that, it was as easy as speaking a word, he only needed to relit the pyre, nothing more, he didn't need to overdo it.
Voh!
Lincoln shouted the dragon word but instead of dropping his mouth open like the times he did before, he shaped his lips in a whistling pout and the flames he felt coming from the back of his throat came out in a single stream of flames directed at the pyre.
Luna yelped surprised, that wasn't exactly what she expected. Leni, in turn seemed amused at that display of power. And Elven jaw was left hanging, leaving his single front tooth on display.
The flames quickly heated the place, evaporating the water from the soaked firewood and igniting them. Lincoln moved his head slightly side by side, motioning the fire stream over the entire pyre.
"I think that's enough Linc!" Lynn shouted, to the boy, who clenched his teeth together, stopping the flames. Smoke came from Lincoln's nostrils as he recovered his breath.
The pyre in front of him sizzled, elven cheered with a yelp and a slap on his knee.
"The lighthouse is lit once more!" He elder cheered.
"You never tire to impress me, do ya?" Luna spoke, again side-hugging Lincoln. "What other things do you have on your sleeve, huh?"
Lincoln made a nervous laugh, blushing, as Luna's face was a little to close of his.
"Okay you two." Lynn said separating the hug, putting herself in-between Lincoln and Luna. "We still need to find out what is causing the storm and stop it." She remembered them why they had cane to that island on the first place.
Their smiles faded after remembering that their job wasn't over yet.
"Lynn is right." Lincoln agreed begrudgingly. "If only we had a hint on where to start looking for…" he looked down, pondering their options.
They had virtually nothing, they could look anywhere, ask anyone for information, investigate any cave, dungeon, tower, town they could find, it could take days, if not weeks or months
However starting at nothing was in some ways good, since anything they find would be something.
Lincoln's thoughts were cut by Elven interjecting on the conversation.
"Hey, before ye go look somewhere, ye can pass the night on mi place, I've got work 'ere, I can lend mi shack to y'all."
Lincoln turned to the elder lighthouse keeper with a smile. "That would be nice. Thanks."
A man wearing an leather armor and a conic metal helmet ran over a open stone hall with an throne made out of wood and stone on the end. A old man with a with pointy beard sat on said throne, he had fine silk brownish robes and had a book on his hand that he was reading before the guard entered.
"My Jarl! I have news!" The courier said after kneeling before the jarl.
"Tell me at once warrior, did you finally managed to slain that foul beast?" The Jarl questioned slamming the book close.
"No my lord, I apologize, but my news do not come from the grand porch, but from our lookouts, they noticed that the lighthouse has been relit!" The courier relayed the notice. The Jarl stood in silence for a second. The lighthouse relit? The bridge has fallen weeks ago, and the fire was long extinct.
With the storm, it was impossible of anyone getting on the lighthouse's island to relit it. A task so foolish that he, as the Jarl, and ruler of the hold, had to begrudgingly close the harbors to stop ships of wrecking and sinking due the lack of the lighthouse.
A small amount of panic crept on the back of the Jarl's mind, they couldn't afford another beast coming onto the island, they still weren't able to deal with the one that was causing the storm. Two of them would be the ruin of Annecia.
"Send a recon squad." The Jarl ordered the guard. I want to know how the fire was relit, and I want it as soon as possible!"
"Yes my Jarl!" The courier spoke saluting the ruler and turning.
The Jarl observed his courier ran away of the hall to relay the orders to the leader of the guards.
The Jarl stood in silence as he raised from the throne. He walked to a side door and walked down some stairs. He was heading to the great porch, a area of the castle made to be used as training and practice grounds for the guards, as the name said, it had a large porch that made view to the ocean, the castle was carved onto a mountain making it very sturdy and a great fortress.
He looked down over the upper ledge as he arrived on the great porch.
Chained, bolted to the ground and immobilized, a gigantic grey dragon struggled to get free. A dozen guards surrounded it with pikes, poking the dragon from every side, trying to pierce his hide.
The dragon's muzzle was also strapped and chained close, just one small part of it's mouth was free and from it, it growled and moaned.
"We'll find a way to kill you." The jarl spoke to himself.
N/A: And with this, chapter nine is left with a dragon jailed on Annecia! I don't have much to comment really, we saw a little more of this variant of Leni, and I think I'm doing a fairly good job in balancing her ditziness and gentleness with her wisdom.
I am particularly satisfied with the storm sequence in the middle of the chapter, and something you might not have picked, but the locals of Annecia have names inspired by numbers, Elven (Eleven), Ten and Nin (Nine). and other people from there will have similar names.
This chapter chapter got a little longer than usual, I originally wanted to make all of Annecia a single chapter, but once I reached the Storm scene, I noticed that if I did it, the chapter would not only be at least thirty to sixty percent bigger, but would'nt be ready for the release on September, as I write this notes, I am to start writing chapter 10, and hopefully, it'll be ready for release on october. I might take a week break for my bday, that is on october 1st.
Anyhow, if you have any requests, has any questions, or just wants to say something, feel free to do so, on the comments or DM
With this said, I'll see ya next time, be good!
Bye.
