6 Finding a Dragon

Ezekial Bemona, known as Shimerac - Twisting the simple tribe of people was simple. It was finding the pieces for the golem that was difficult. You see, during my travels, I discovered large stones of a black metal. I couldn't dent nor scratch nor mark them, but if I could possess them with my soul, then I would obtain a calamity all my own. I would become a god.

She stumbled, falling backwards before I leaned onto one knee beside her. She glanced upwards, her eyes darting with panic before she inhaled several deep breaths of air as she saw me. After several breaths, she said,

“Holyshit. It’s just you. I thought I was dead.”

“You might be. Why are you here?”

She blinked for a moment before she said, “I checked your room to make sure you hadn’t left without me. Of course you had, so I tracked you down.”

She turned towards a set of broken leaves and moved rocks as she said, “I have a lot of experience tracking things down. With how big you are, you’re bound to leave a trail.”

I glanced at the marks, noting each of them. I’d rectify my mistakes in travel later. After an extended silence, Jack rustled in my mind. Without delay, I pointed towards our encampment as I said,

“That is where my encampment is. If you walk any closer, I will rip out your entrails. After retrieving two other annoyances, we will join you here. If you are not here when I return, I will rip out your entrails. Do you understand?”

Somehow, she smiled as she saluted me and said, “Aye, aye, captain.”

Jack can tell the story from here. Just remembering her irritates me, so enjoy his spineless banter.

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You’re as genial as ever I see. Without warning, Deluge dropped our conscience, so our body fell on the ground before I injected myself into control. The sensation never stopped surprising me despite the hundreds of times I’ve done it, like jumping into something cold.

Being in the subconscious of your mind, it’s like being submerged in water. There’s a soft hum in your ears, and you feel no body, no breathing, not even the beat of your heart. No sensation touches you, only your mind and your thoughts. I used this time for reflection as nothing in this world is as peaceful.

On the other hand, Deluge often spent his time viewing the memories of his consolidated souls, and I understood the appeal. The memories taught him much of human life, and whenever we first came in contact, he used my memories for learning our language. He still lacks a proper upbringing, but Deluge maintains some semblance of humanity when speaking with others.

It was my turn for looking human though. When I pushed myself from the ground, a woman leaned over me with curious eyes and a wry smile. She balanced her weight well, and after I stood up, she said, “What’s wrong? Why did you fall?”

I brushed some dirt off my face before I turned towards her and said, “Who are you?”

She blinked for a moment before she giggled and said, “Now that’s cold. I didn’t expect you to fake amnesia to get rid of me.”

I gave her my own grin before I said, “I’d rather understand than get rid of. Are you a hostage of my other half perchance?”

She bursted into laughter before I scratched the side of my face while saying, “I suppose I didn’t kill everyone then?”

She nodded in response before I say, “What was the last thing I told you?”

She pointed towards our camp before she said, “You’d rip out my entrails if I went over there.”

I placed a hand on my chin as I said, “I see, sounds a lot like something I’d say.” I lowered my hands, “Alright, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d prefer you stay here while I go assess the state of our camp.”

She tilted her head while accentuating each of her words as she said, “You are the strangest person I’ve ever met. That’s saying something since I’ve known a lot of weirdos.”

With a teasing smile, I replied, “You’d best be prepared to meet a few more. Wait here, I’ll try not to be gone too long.”

I pulled a large, Trilelian coin from my pocket I gained from one of the students at Mareovosa. There empire minted enormous coins the size of a palm and heavier than a brick, which made sense considering there merchant based society. Regardless of where you were, the gold in the coin was valuable, so I tossed the coin to her while saying, “Think of that as collateral.”

Without waiting for her reply, I turned and sprinted through the forest as she fumbled with the coin. I got the feeling that she’s someone who reads people well, but due to our abnormal circumstances, Deluge and I throw surprise after surprise at her. It must have been exciting, even if all she did is watch from afar.

Just from listening, I had gathered two valuable pieces of information. Deluge loathed her, and he convinced the arcanum of his trustworthiness. Well, more like he trampled them with threats, but let’s give him some credit.

With this knowledge in tow, I reached the encampment woke Joan. She yawned and tried fighting off the sun with her hands as I pushed her shoulders. She slept long and hard, unlike the rest of us, but she never complained when I woke her. Instead, she always gave me a marvelous grin while saying, “Causing trouble?”

In response, I’d lean over her and sweetly say, “As always,” before we kissed in the morning. Deluge approved of the ritual as my saliva destroyed what he called pathogens. My mind glossed over the details of his explanation, but since we started the tradition, Joan never needed a rough linen for rubbing her teeth in the mornings. They just stayed clean regardless.

I appreciated the benefit, and after a quick morning breakfast of bread and some tough racoon jerky, I spoke with the others about Deluge and my plan.

We ground out the details before Sophia, Joan, and I met up with the random girl that Deluge spoke with. Obviously, we told Aether and Razor to head Northward ahead of us. After meeting with her, the woman said,

“So you're traveling with a noble and a chainer?”

I raised both my hands in front of me, tilting them back and forth like a scale as I said, “Well, sort of.”

The girl walked up towards Joan before sticking out a hand and saying, “The name’s Charlie.”

Joan grabbed her hand with a firm grasp before she replied, “I’m Joan. It’s good to meet you. I didn’t expect him to bring back a friend.”

Charlie looked under Joan’s hood before she said, “You’ve got quite the set of eyes there, just like Jericho.”

There was our alias. Joan smiled before she released her grip and said, “You’re pretty brave yourself. Most people can’t handle the ah...other side of him.”

Charlie shrugged before she said, “He’s like a chained tiger. It’s fun to mess with him.”

She turned towards Sophia before she stuck out her hand with the same enthusiasm while saying, “How about you?”

They shook hands as Sophia said, “I’m Sophia. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Charlie ruffled the top of Sophia’s hair before she said, “You’ve got the same look in your eyes as Jericho did before he passed out.”

Sophia slapped Charlie’s hand off her head before she snapped, “I am nothing like that part of him.”

Charlie grinned as she replied, “I disagree. You both get angry. I like that.”

I clapped my hands before I said, “Alright, enough teasing. Let’s go find that dragon.”

We traveled most of the day with Aether and Razor tailing behind us. The sun shined with full force, cloudless and clear as we chattered while walking. Within this span of time, I learned that Charlie had a strange way of doing things.

She enjoyed conflict of all kinds, as if she were some scientist testing chemicals, trying to get a reaction. The cold calculation in her words distanced her from those around her. She poked and prodded wherever she could for a reaction, and by the end of the day, I didn’t just dislike her. I despised her.

Deluge and I discussed it during our travel towards the great green North of Bastion. The journey only lasted three weeks, but by the time we reached the village closest to the dragon, every member of our group begged for the end of the journey, besides Charlie. She enjoyed our steady spiral towards madness.

Perhaps I’m presenting her in the wrong light, but whenever we entered the town, Joan’s patience shattered as she hissed with venom dripping in each word,

“Alright, I've had enough. You wanna rumble Charlie? I’ll beat the ever living shit out of you.”

With her chest puffed and the inklings of a smirk on her face,Charlie raised her eyebrows as she said, “What? I wouldn’t want to start anything with you. There’s no way I could beat a chainer, and we do need to save our strength for the dragon after all.”

I turned towards a clearing in the trees just outside of town as I said, “Well, here is an example of a fight among friends. I think this would do us all a lot of good. Besides-” I turned towards Charlie as I said, “You seem confident. Why not try your luck and see how you do?”

Charlie beamed a grin before she pulled out two daggers from the sheaths behind her. Her leather armor shined in the setting sun while Joan’s expression stabbed sharpened swords towards her.

Joan had always hated losing, even more since leaving the university, but instead of losing focus as she angered, Joan used her wrath like a charged gem. The anger only made her fiercer, like the stampede of a bull.

They set themselves five feet apart before Joan stretched while popping her back. Charlie leaned over with her daggers poised for stabbing as I said, “If you use weapons like that during a spar, Joan won’t go easy on you.”

Joan cracks her knuckles before balling her fists as she says, “It doesn’t matter. She’ll need the advantage anyway.”

She’d already lost her temper, but a demonstration may settle Charlie down. Besides, Deluge laughed in my mind as he said to me, “I let the situation play out. I’d love for a happy accident to occur. I’ll handle the cleanup.”

As they readied for combat, both of their steps showed experience, but Joan’s steps thudded against the ground while Charlie’s kept hers dancing over the earth. Joan faced sideways with her left hand and foot front and center, crouched, low, and ready for a charge. Charlie stood in a relaxed crouch.

The contrasting styles intrigued me, so I stood between them before saying,

“I’ll step in if things go too far, so have some fun.”

Charlie glanced at Joan before saying, “I wonder what a chainer can do without her precious gems.”

Joan snapped her words, “Curiosity can be a dangerous thing.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

They seemed primed, so I stepped back and said, “Ready? Go.”

Charlie jumped towards Joan, stabbing her left dagger towards Joan’s neck. Joan parried her hand aside with her left hand while grabbing the outer edge of Charlie’s wrist. Gliding through each motion, Joan pulled Charlie’s left hand towards her while stomping onto Charlie’s front foot. At this point, the fight was already over.

Charlie crouched down while swinging her back foot towards Joan’s throat, but Joan leaned forward onto her front leg while pulling hard on Charlie’s hand. Joan stopped Charlie’s momentum before the attack turned dangerous.

With her left arm and neck, Joan caught Charlie's foot that tapped against her hood, forcing Charlie’s legs to stretch wide while her other hand wobbled harmlessly on the other side of Joan.

Charlie lay there with three limbs immobilized, awkward as a fish flopping on a patch of dirt. After letting the hopelessness sink in, Joan said, “I’m gonna give you a lesson just like how my aunt taught me. Merciless and painful.”

Joan turned her hips like a top before her right hand slammed into the ribs of Charlie. The force caused the mercenary’s knees to buckle before Joan reared back and torqued another blow into Charlie’s side. This second shot broke ribs before Joan kicked Charlie’s foot from under her, causing her to fall onto her chest.

Thinking Charlie will stand up again, Joan maintained her steady, short breathing in order to keep on fighting. She jumped over Charlie while grabbing her worn leather tunic. As she landed, she bent into a spread crouch before grunting as she lifted Charlie overhead.

With her elbow leading the way, Joan crashed Charlie against the ground. Charlie thumped with a satisfying slam, her breath emptying from her chest. Charlie writhed on the ground, trying to breath before Joan leaned over her while saying,

“I was hoping for a little bit more competition.”

Charlie gasped for air while broken ribs prodded her insides with each breath. Each time she inhaled, her face wrinkled, but Charlie kept quiet. Without a word, Charlie stood up before she stuck out a hand before she says,

“Good one. You really got me there miss chainer.”

Joan’s triumphant victory transformed into a thick, palpable blanket of guilt as she grabbed Charlie’s hand and said, “Thank you for the fight.”

Charlie shook her head before she glanced at me and said with a knowing stare, “Naw, it wasn’t really a fight...It was a slaughter.”

Deluge laughed and said, “I’d prefer a feast.”

I walked up to Charlie before wrapping my arms around Charlie. She grimaced before saying, “What are you doing?”

I said, “Three of the ribs on your left side are broken. They’ll heal wrong if we don’t put them back into place. This won’t hurt that badly...after I finish.”

I compress her chest as she screams, but after a second of doing so, I feel her ribs slide back into place. Catching her on my shoulder, Charlie collapses before I turn towards Joan and say,

“I’m assuming you’ll nurse her back to health, right?”

Joan blushed before saying, “Yeah, sure.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon gathering information from the town about the dragon, but we gained no usable information. Charlie’s injuries would take her out of commission for at least a month, so time wasn’t the issue.

After seeing how honorable Charlie was in defeat, we tolerated her shenanigans, Joan in particular. I still didn’t understand Charlie, but I could respect her. We all could. Charlie had found her own respect for Joan as well. They discussed fighting and battle for hours on end for the next few days while Sophia and I learned about the town.

The best description of what we discovered could be summed up in one word: depressing. While the town maintained their population even after the dragon’s raids, they did not maintain their spirit. They paced up and down the steps with their heads low, either that or with a sort of hollow look in their eyes. We assumed these demeanor’s resulted from missing children or spouses. We were wrong.

Deluge ended up exploring the surrounding forest during the night, and within the first week, he discovered the location of the dragon’s lair. Deluge described its sanctuary as a hundred foot chapel, and during the night, he had seen the misshapen dragon as it slept on the roof of the enclosure. The whole area reeked of decaying meat, and no matter the time of day, the sound of squishy chewing could be heard.

With the location found, we discussed the situation with the others before deciding our approach. Razor and I would attack the building while Aether remained hidden in the forest nearby in case something went wrong. Sophia and Joan would look after Charlie at the inn while we fought.

I could regenerate almost any wound while Razor could slice the beast apart in seconds. Aether, could decimate the entire village with a single cataclysmic blow, but he chose a passive approach. We respected his choice. He helped in other ways, like acting as a safety net in case we lost the battle.

Still, Deluge and I readied ourselves for a grueling battle before we paced further north, towards the dragon’s resting spot. This involved a mental preparation of sorts. I clenched my fists and grit my teeth before I would remind myself of why I fight.

My mother had told me before she died, ‘Live a blessed life, my little angel.’ While I wouldn’t call my life blessed, I persevered. I never relented. Even when strange, writhing worms crawled from my crushed legs, I hacked them off and crawled away with just my arms. Even now, my skin shivers at the memory, but the event helped shape who I am.

With these thoughts preparing me, I met with Razor before we left the town at the break of dawn. Since the townsfolk spoke so little, nothing kept us here, and even after a week of playing at the inn, not a single soul had so much as sung along. Here I found the shells of people, hollowed out and empty inside like rotten stumps.

They exposed how devastating the dragon had been, so we hurried down the dilapidated road leading towards the chapel. As we traveled down a road walled in by mammoth pine trees, a few strange looking plants caught my eye. Their vibrant red coloring pierced through the sea of green surrounding them, and the radiant smell lingering from them reminded me of heaven.

Red leaves surrounded red flowers, each bloom sprouting from bundles of vines. Without any awareness of the act, I walked towards one before Razor said, “What are you doing, little one?”

Blinking my eyes, I snapped from my stupor. After I returned from my daydream, I sat leaned over as the bundle of vines had opened with several thorns pointed towards my face. Like moving blood, the spikes and vines curled towards me before I jerked my head back.

With a high pitched squeal, the vines clawed after me for a moment before Razor reacted. Three floating orbs hovered near Razor at all times, and each of these glowing spheres coated themselves with several colossal blades, each colored a dull yellow. For the first time, I saw her use them.

With the speed of a cannon, an orb flew through the air before a blade collided with this tiny red plant on the ground. A crimson liquid, not unlike blood, splattered in every direction as an earth shattering quake vibrated my feet. An explosion of sound, forceful as it was loud, reared me back before a wave of dust shot in every direction.

A spring breeze carried this storm of dirt away from us, revealing a ten foot blade stabbed halfway into the ground with a crater surrounding it. Even with my restorative powers, a single hit of that saber would have ground my body to pulp, yet she unleashed the full power on a puny plant. After the initial shock subsided, I chuckled at the excess that razor used.

With confusion distorting her voice, Razor asked, “What is it little one? All I did was defend you.”

I smiled at her, covered in dirt before saying, “It was just a little excessive is all.”

She pointed at the plant before I lean closer, revealing the entire body of the creature. A split pod, six feet deep in the earth with several suckers lining its interior, wilted as Razor raised her yellow claw. Razor glowed for a moment before a wave of force erupted off her blade, and the red gunk covering it shot everywhere again.

As I stared at the dark, goopy red liquid on the ground, the juice shivered before crawling towards me. Glancing at my hands, I watched as the remains of this plant burrowed into my body.

In a state of calm, deluge said, “I can easily fight off a creature of such little consequence. I will absorb the nutrients in this liquid. What concerns me is the composition of it.”

With Deluge’s calm being contagious, I replied, “What about it concerns you?”

After an elongated pause, he said, “This isn’t just the juice of the plant. This is the blood of a human as well.”

Panic roared through my mind before I turned towards the village while saying, “We need to help Joan and Sophia. We need to warn them.”

Deluge replied, “The humans infected by this plant are carriers, not actual threats. They will walk around the forest before spreading the infection like spores caught in the wind.”

I turn towards Razor while saying, “Deluge and I will converse aloud. Sorry if it gets confusing.”

Razor giggled before saying, “Don’t worry about me. Do as you will.”

I turn towards the plant’s corpse before saying, “How do you know all this Deluge?”

“The plant has a biological imprint. I learned from it.”

I nodded before saying, “Alright then,” and I roared my words thereafter, “Aether, go and protect Sophia and Joan. We will be fine.”

The rumbling of his step began as he maneuvered through the trees towards the village. With that loose end knotted, I say, “Let’s kill the dragon quickly. I doubt anything else is the source of all this.”

Deluge murmurs, “I have a few other ideas, but yes, let us devour it.”

With a sense of urgency pushing my steps forward, I dashed towards the cathedral at peak speed. Wind slid down my back as branches passed through my vision, yet despite my speed, my vision never blurred. Every leaf remained clear.

Deluge’s enhancements affected all my senses, so controlling this augmented body proved feasible, even for a human mind like mine. With my senses guiding me, I dodged both branch and bush before dashing onto the surrounding plain around the chapel.

What I saw there was nothing like the decay Deluge described. What lived there was a beauty both abominable and enchanting. We found death disguised and unlike any other. We found the dragon.