Burning Soul

…

After walking for over three hours, they finally arrived at their campsite.

It was still morning time and the sun was not high yet, and it was not that difficult for them all to walk as they used up almost all resources they had taken along with them.

After returning they started packing all the stuff together and filled up the cart, that’s when Theo realized, “Are we going to fit in? It looks like we are carrying a lot of stuff now!” He said looking at Aeneas putting in piles of packed materials.

“We will need to camp every now and then, we will carry essential materials needed, though what you say is true! How? all of us are going to fit in?”

As they all were having the discussion, Vivian along with Naomi went to gather some food for the journey.

“You sure! You know where we are going right?” Nuae was arguing with Aeneas about their next destination in the journey.

“Yeah! It’s the only place where we can get a custom forged weapon that he needs! After all, this is a very pure crystal, any amateur will just ruin it.” Aeneas replied as he was packing up the last of the stuff.

“But we’ll be traveling to beast-men’s territory! And especially in the territory of the northern plane guardian, Duvrion! And from what I know, he doesn’t like humans entering his territory without permission, at all!” Theo replied in a worried tone.

“Yeah! But that’s where this old guy lives! And as for Duvrion, everyone has a history of their own.” As he said, his tone saddened again. Perhaps something happened to Duvrion that made him who he was.

…

Where they were going was known as ‘Arnor’, a sanctuary for all beast-men, kind of a utopia for them. This was the only place where humans were not allowed freely, only merchants or those with an invitation or pass were allowed, with limited access as well. It was towards north east of the continent and was home to the 2nd plane guardian, Duvrion.

He has been there for over 120 years, though age was not a number for him as he belonged to the proud and pure line of Beast men. His strength was formidable and there were stories of him nailing beasts just like dragons in one hit with his long sword. There is hardly anyone who hasn’t heard about him. Entering his territory was a bad idea as those who did were never seen alive again. His territory was more secure than of the High Elven garden of Queen Athena in the south, heavily guarded and under constant surveillance. Though unlike elves who would strike you in one go with an arrow or stealth, here the prominence was being guarded by sentinels! A well-trained troop consisting of all high-level beast-men, and they were all well-equipped as well. They were most formidable in groups but even no one should underestimate them in one-on-one melee, as these people will show no mercy. Tales like such, were quite famous in the southern region as there were very interactions with beast-men down in there.

…

“It’ll be fine! Besides we will be entering just a little as his place is quite near to the borders of the territory. That place is usually only for high-level adventurers, so it’ll be fine, we will get a pass.”

As he replied he could see a baffled look on Theo’s face.

“What do you mean by we will get a pass? We ain’t adventurers?” His reply was some news to him.

“Wait! Isn’t almost everyone who holds a weapon needs to go through the adventurer’s registration? And you all are prince and princesses, right? You must have done it sometime?” As he was asking Vivian and Naomi heard him talking.

“Why would we need one Aeneas? We are royalties! We govern the guild!”

Her reply baffled Aeneas as his understanding failed him.

“Wait that means! How? Damn it! How are we going to get through without trouble?”

He was in a mess now.

“And you planned without even asking us? Wow!”

Catherine said in a mocking tone as she sat on one of the seats of the cart.

“Let me lend you my expertise then!” Nuae replied as he grabbed the helm of the cart.

“You know away?” Theo, Vivian, and Aeneas asked altogether.

“Been to his territory and if what Aeneas describes the tavern is, same as what I know, I know a way to that place, Olive tavern!”

…

“Even though we have a little problem here! How are we going to fit in?”, Theo had asked a valid question. The cart was carrying a lot of stuff, first, there were tents, and now these newly found crystals which didn’t occupy much space but were heavy to that matter.

“We didn’t plan for this much load! The horses will get tired and it’d be difficult for us to squeeze in as well!” He continued.

“I’m sorry that I barged in out of nowhere!” Just as Naomi was apologizing Vivian stopped her,

“Let’s not go there! It’s no one’s fault. Let us work this one out!”

“Yeah! Now that we have a dragon, just tell her to fly along with some of you, that’ll do the trick!” Aeneas said to which he received a smack on his head by Vivian,

“That’s why we don’t ask you while planning. Wouldn’t she get spotted in her true form?” As she said Ember looked at both and said with a smirk,

“Huh! Do you dare order me? I don’t heed to anyone but my master, Right!”

“But do you have any other way? Like any magic that you can use to just do that. Fly without getting spotted!” Theo put his hand on her shoulder and asked her as he sat on his knees to get to look her in her eyes.

His question got her eyes sparkled,

“Hmm! Let me see!” She replied with a smile.

‘Too easy’, everyone had the same thought.

“Can you not get small and take only one person?”

“Or maybe you could go high enough to not get spotted!” Everyone started giving options when Theo suggested,

“Can you get invisible? I heard it in stories, that some dragons had the ability to do so!”

As he said so Catherine replied, “That may be a bit tough, it takes a lot of mana to stay invisible!”

She was indeed right! There were spells to get invisible but to stay in that state for a long time was a problem as it would suck in mana continuously.

“That’s not true!” Ember replied.

“What do you mean by that?” Catherine was startled by her reply.

“It’s only for you, I use different magic, I don’t run out of mana when using such easy magic!”

Her reply was a jaw-dropping one for all, ‘low magic! Isn’t that something which only high wizards can pull off?’ was on everyone’s mind.

“I can use the invisibility spell, but I can use it on only one more person! I don’t remember much of the spell, but I can cover one person along with me with the spell I think!”

Her reply didn’t solve the problem completely but relieved ‘em as they’d have more space in the cart by doing so, now the question was, who’ll be that one person?

“So, take me with you then!” Vivian stepped forward with a blushed face!

“Why are you blushing for? I ain’t taking you for sure!”

Her reply wasn’t shocking to anyone as everyone had an idea as to who’ll be that one person.

It definitely was Theodore whom she was referring to, as when she said she can carry one person she looked at him with a sparkled look in her eyes. It was as if her eyes were saying no one else was allowed to do so.

“Hya! Why not? I want to!” Vivian was clearly trying to keep her off her way, but here she was helpless as if she took him, she won’t be able to stop her!

“Hmph! I don’t carry heavy things, and you aren’t my master, are you?”

her reply got everyone quiet.

Ember jumped and grabbed Theo’s hand and looked back at her with a smirk. This wasn’t the thing that tipped her off, but it was what she said earlier.

“I’ll accompany her then! You guys lead the way and we’ll alert if we find something suspicious. Alright then!” He said so sweating and looked at Ember who walked a bit away to change in her true form.

As she chanted something, her body started to glow, and it grew back to its original form in mere seconds. She was back in her majestic form now, though she looked a bit smaller than how she looked earlier, maybe it was the result of the fight she had, perhaps she wasn’t at her 100 percent yet.

As she transformed Theodore climbed on her back, it was difficult as there was no helm of a seat on top of her but as she guided him on how to grab onto her scales to not get blown away, he managed to sit comfortably before they took off.

With a powerful flap of her wing, she took off blowing a ton of dust on the ground while she did so. A dragon taking off was no joke, their wings were quite large and would blow almost anything away that was nearby which nearly blew everyone away as she leaped towards the sky, a giant magic circle appeared above her and she vanished right in front of them.

“Whoa! So that’s the infamous draconic magic, so beautiful!” Naomi commented on the scenery.

Now there were 2 people less to carry.

After they took off, everyone else stepped in the cart.

“Hmph! don’t worry she won’t eat him, and whoa she called you heavy! Haha... So finally, there is someone who could talk back to you!” Aeneas was laughing hard as he said so, but the thing that he didn’t notice was a frightening figure standing at his back, looking at whom everyone else was being varied.

He turned around to look at what was scaring them, he could see her standing with a dominating pose full of anger, it was as if he just called upon his death.

A loud bang echoed through the forest a moment later.