Dragon Emperor 3_Human to Dragon to God
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“And how would they accomplish that?” I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest. “We would be able to dig out and find a way back to the orichalcum even if they buried all the entrances. Unless … and this is a long shot, but is there any way they would be able to permanently destroy the mine? Either by moving it all elsewhere or a type of magic that would stop us from getting anywhere near it?”
Even as I spoke, I was already imagining the magical equivalent of a nuclear bomb being set off either in the mine or above that. I hadn’t checked to see if there was anything similar to uranium or plutonium in the soil underneath our feet, but I bet there was some type of destructive magic in this world that could take its place.
“They could have opened a gate into the demon world,” Alyona muttered as she paced in front of us and crossed her arms in front of her generous chest. “Such an opening would have the potential of swallowing up the entire area if, and only if, it had the backing of a Demon Lord or more than one. Much like the land that has been swallowed up by the Breach. It no longer exists in our world.”
“Someone definitely doesn’t want us to get our hands on this orichalcum,” I laughed dryly. “If someone’s trying this hard to stop us, that means we’re definitely on the right path.”
“You are right,” Natalya tapped her booted foot on the ground and frowned at the clouds, “but I am unsure about something. Why would they only attack from the sky?”
“Well, we know the harpies couldn’t have come from far away,” I explained as I paced in front of them and tilted my face to look up at the sky. “So, maybe the ones we fought were scouts, since we know they had to fly here from their home base. Maybe they were just testing our defense of the orichalcum mine and our fighting abilities.”
“But that runs the risk of us knowing,” Laika argued as her tail twitched back and forth. “They would lose the advantage of surprise over us with such an attack.”
“Maybe they hadn’t expected any of us to be here.” I stopped pacing and sighed. “We aren’t going to know what they expected to find, but we’re going to have to be prepared in the future for this. The mine has to be under constant guard, no exceptions.”
“A sound plan.” Natalya nodded just as she lifted a hand to point at the hollowed out trunk of a large tree. “Shall we sit down? We have had a most strenuous day, after all.”
I stepped forward to follow after the Asuran and the others, but something hit the tip of my boot. It didn’t feel like a stone or a twig, or even a piece of bone, so I bent down to try and find what exactly I’d touched with my foot.
The ground was covered in an almost kaleidoscopic glitter that shifted hues in the sunlight, and it was actually quite mesmerizing. It was funny to think this glittery ash was the remains of the demonized harpies when it was so beautiful.
It didn’t take long for me to find the object underneath all of the ash. I picked it up and stood as I brushed off the excess dirt from the object. In my hand was a green jade charm, beautifully carved and in the shape of a leaf. It was just like the one worn by Olivier when he’d appeared outside of Hatra a few weeks ago.
Anger pulse through me as I clenched the jade pendant in my hand.
I wasn’t quite sure what finding this meant and if there was a link between Olivier and these harpies, but this seemed to indicate that there could be. Last time, when the Corrupted Corpses had rained down on Hatra through a magical array and attacked my city, Olivier had been inside of the walls. This time, no one had seen Olivier or even caught his scent.
“Evan?” Laika came to a stop in front of me and pulled me out of my thoughts. “What do you have in your hand? Is that a piece of bone?”
“No, it’s a piece of jade.” I glanced up at Laika as I showed her what I’d found. “Do you remember Olivier?”
“Yes.” Laika scowled, and the fur on her tail bristled. “How could I forget the bastard who attacked our city?”
“He had a piece of jade just like this one,” I said as I tilted the small jade charm so it caught the sunlight. “I think it was tied around his hair. I wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but this is twice now I’ve seen this when we’ve been attacked. Do you think it could be an emblem or something? Maybe it’s their symbol, like how the blue tree is the symbol of your own guild.”
“A symbol of the Green Glass Sect?” Laika plucked the piece of jade from my hand and brought it close to her eyes. “It could be. We should hand this over to Daya or Tion and see what their informants have discovered.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” I rubbed the back of my neck as I tilted my head to the side. “Get them to make a list of questions and things we’d need to know to get more information about the Sect. I’ll make some time to visit the prisoners this week, too. They should be more comfortable now and willing to talk to us, or at least, to me.”
“Should we look for more of these things?” Anton pointed at the jade charm and frowned as he turned to look at the heaps of ash in the clearing. “Through all of that?”
“Thank you for volunteering,” I laughed as I thumped Anton on his back and stepped toward the entrance of the mine. “Try and find them all, there might be more clues in there for us to find.”
“Should have kept my mouth closed,” Anton muttered to himself as he walked over to one of the ash heaps.
“I will help you.” Natalya stoically walked over and crouched in front of a heap with a slender branch in her hand. “I shall sweep away the ash. Only the heaviest things will remain.”
I shook my head in amusement at Natalya’s composed manner, it was like nothing was capable of shaking her resolve. Then I turned my attention back to the entrance of the mine to figure out how we could defend it in the future.
It was pretty much just like any basic mine entrance back on Earth, but instead of wood timber framing the opening, stone pillars and a long slab of stone decorated the entrance. It was large enough that I was sure I would be able to fit through even if I was in my dragon form.
“What are you thinking of?” Alyona asked as she placed her hand on my elbow and glanced over the mine entrance.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted to the princess by my side. “There’s a lot of options, but I don’t know which one would be the right one.”
“What options are you thinking of?” Laika walked over to where we stood and placed her chin on my shoulder. “Would you place a gate over it?”
“No, that wouldn’t exactly work.” I frowned as I tilted my head to the side. “The entrance would still be exposed. We need to have guards here, but there’s always the chance of someone sneaking past them with magic and getting through the gate. Enclosing this entire area might be the better option, that way no one would be able to get into the mine without us knowing.”
“It is better to have a foolproof plan from the beginning instead of finding flaws in the midst of a fight.” Laika nodded sharply, and one of her furry ears brushed against my cheek. “We should place as many defenses here as possible before we leave.”
“Well, I guess that’s my cue to get to work,” I chuckled as I pulled away from the two women and stepped close to the entrance. “Hey, Alyona? Could you make a warning system to let us know if something gets close to the mine? Especially if it isn’t anyone from Hatra?”
“Of course,” Alyona replied sweetly as silver light glowed in her hands. “I can create a barrier that will keep them out, will that be better?”
“That’ll be perfect.” I smiled fiercely as I gathered my power inside of myself. “Wait until I encase the mine’s entrance in stone, then place it.”
I called on the stone all around us, and it eagerly answered my call, ready to be molded and shaped into whatever I desired. The stone listened to the power deep inside of my spiritual sea and rose up in a great wall around the entrance. Then I made sure it was entirely seamless so there would be no opening for anyone to get into it.
“O stars of day and night, those who answer my call,” Alyona int
Alyona’s power seeped into the earth surrounding us and into the stone I had summoned. It was like her power had merged into mine for a moment, and I felt it so deeply inside of my spiritual sea that it was like she was in my mind.
Then everything settled, and the world found its equilibrium again as a steady hum of power and life filled the air. Nothing seemed out of place, not even the new rock face where there once had been a mine entrance.
“Well, we should head back to Hatra now,” I sighed and rubbed at my sore neck. “We’re going to have to iron out these plans for protecting the mine and setting up a watch around the entrance. Once we have a more permanent defense system worked out, I can come back and reopen the mine.”
Everyone seemed satisfied with my plan, but all I could think about was the looming threat of Olivier’s re-emergence.
I tightened my fist around the jade pendant again.
That bastard was going to pay, one way or another.
And soon.
Chapter 2
“Laika, let everyone know we’ll be on our way back to the city soon,” I ordered as I turned away from the now sealed mine.
“Of course,” Laika replied as she placed her hand on the gorget at her throat.
I frowned at the small amount of space in the clearing and tapped my foot in thought.
“We’re going to have to head to the old Asura village first,” I sighed, “I can’t change back into my dragon form here.”
“That is perfect for me.” Natalya nodded as she folded her arms over her chest. “I want to see if I can salvage more objects.”
“More objects?” I asked and turned to face her. “Like what?”
“Tools from the village and materials for crafting,” Natalya answered as she listed the items on her fingers and shrugged. “There is not much left after it was destroyed, but I have been looking every time I come to the mine.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me.” I leaned against a nearby tree and smiled at the Asuran blacksmith. “Do you want any help?”
“No.” Natayla shook her head rapidly, and her blue hair swung from side to side. “I will be fine alone. It will take some time. I do not want to delay you. It is important to return to Hatra.”
“Anton,” I rumbled as I glanced over my shoulder at the wolf Demi-Human.
“Yes?” Anton dusted off his hands and passed a handful of jade pendants to Laika.
“Stay with Natalya when we leave,” I commanded as I stepped away from the tree.
“No problem,” Anton replied, and he rubbed at his neck as he glanced up at the sky with a scowl. “I’ll keep an eye out for any more harpies, too.”
“Are you heading back to Hatra now?” Natalya asked as she tilted her head to the side.
I opened my mouth to respond with a yes, but then an idea occurred to me.
“Actually, not yet,” I sighed as I folded my arms across my chest. “Change of plans. Even though I blocked off the mine’s entrance, I don’t want to leave it unguarded. Tell me, your old village is what, thirty minutes from the mine?”
“Yes, a leisurely walk would take thirty minutes.” Natalya bobbed her head in agreement, and her hair moved in time. “It would be far shorter if one hastens their pace.”
“Then that settles it,” I said with my own decisive nod. “We’re going to make a base out of the village. It will work perfectly for defending the mine.”
“That’s a good idea,” Laika hummed as her gray tail swished behind her languidly. “I don’t know why we didn’t think of it before.”
“We didn’t think about the mine being attacked, or even anyone knowing of it,” Alyona pointed out as she peered up at Laika and smiled gently. “Very few people even know of the location of the Asuran village, Father ensured that.”
“The past is in the past, we’re going to worry about what we can do now,” I said as I glanced at the blocked mine and then back up at the clear sky. “The future is what matters, and we’re going to safeguard it no matter the cost. We’re going to go step by step and stone by stone until we’ve built something no one will ever be able to tear down.”
“Spoken like a true lord.” Alyona lifted her sleeve to hide the smile on her face, but the pride in her eyes was clear for everyone to see.
“How many do you want stationed at the village?” Laika asked, and one of her ears flopped as she tilted her head to the side.
“Before we decide that, let’s get to the village first,” I replied and clapped my hands as I glanced between the two wolf Demi-Humans. “Laika, Anton, I want to see how fast a Blue Tree Guild warrior can cross this distance.”
“Of course.” Laika’s ears and tail perked up straight. “Anton! Let’s run!”
An excited light gleamed in the eyes of both wolf Demi-Humans, and they took off quickly.
“Well, let’s not get left behind by them.” I grinned as I took a step closer to Alyona and picked her up in my arms.
“Evan?” Alyona gasped and immediately wrapped her arms around my neck. “What are you doing?”
“A leisurely walk takes thirty minutes, right Natalya?” I asked as I glanced over at the blacksmith.
“Yes, my lord.” A faint smile was visible on Natalya’s face as she walked to stand beside us.
“I’m sure Anton and Laika won’t mind if the three of us take a bit longer to get there.” I started to walk in the direction of the ruined Asuran village and stepped over a tree root. “It’s such a beautiful day after all, it would be a shame not to enjoy the forest. We’re not out here much anyways.”
Natalya nodded and strolled ahead of us as she hummed a cheerful, if slightly haunting, melody that echoed throughout the forest.
“It is a lovely day.” Alyona leaned her head on my shoulder and hummed happily. “The sun is bright and the wind is clear, we couldn’t ask for more perfect weather from the gods themselves. I hope the rest of Rahma is graced with such lovely weather as well.”
I glanced down at the princess in my arms and smiled softly. Even in quiet moments like these, she had the well being of her people at the forefront of her mind. She was so pure and unselfish, and I could only love her more for it.
“Alyona,” I said quietly to her, “I spoke with your father last night, about Hatra and everyone’s future.”
“What did he say?” Alyona asked as she glanced up at me, and the sunlight reflected off her amethyst eyes.
“He told me his hopes,” I tightened my hold around my princess as my heart skipped a beat, “and asked for me to become one of the suns of Rahma to stand beside you against whatever darkness this world may bring.”
“But only my father is the sun of … ” Alyona quickly caught on to what I was saying, and her eyes widened as happiness clearly shone in them. “Wait. Father wants us to marry?”
“Yes,” I laughed as I pressed a kiss to her cheek, “but he wants me to win over the nobles first before the engagement is announced.”
“I am sure you will do splendidly, my dragon.” Alyona pressed a kiss to my jaw before she snuggled into my chest. “A glorious future will await Rahma.”
“So is that a yes?” I asked with a grin. “You’re okay with marrying me?”
Alyona smiled up at me, and her joy was as bright as the sun over our heads. “Nothing would make me happier, Evan.”
The dragon part of me preened in my chest, and I shoved down the urge to take my princess right here and now.
“Good,” I said, but it came out as more of a possessive growl. “I can’t wait to make you mine for all of Inati to see.”
And Alyona was right about the glory that was going to come to Rahma. The king had placed his trust in me and believed I was the right person not only to marry his daughter, but the right person to help him wipe away the corruption that had begun to stagnate in Rahma.
I would not let him, or my future wife, down.
Walking to the Asuran village from the mine didn’t take as long as Natalya had mentioned, maybe because Alyona and I were talking absentmindedly about little things we noticed in the forest or because we were able to move quickly. Whatever the reason, it had only taken us fifteen minutes to reach the village, and by that point, Laika and Anton were already waiting for us patiently at the center of the Asuras’ old home.
“If you will excuse me, I will return to my old smithy,” Natalya said as we stopped beside her at the edge of the village. She glanced away from us in the direction of her former workshop, and her voice had taken on a dazed quality, like she couldn’t believe she was back here in her old home.
“Make sure not to overwork yourself,” I warned. I knew the Asuran was ready to get back to work, and she probably wouldn’t stop until everything was perfect. “Pace yourself.”
“I have enough work to last until the mine is reopened,” Natalya replied as her brow furrowed. “I think. I will do my best to work slowly.”
“It took us two minutes to get here,” Laika reported after she had walked over to us. “We will do better in the future.”
“Gonna train everyone to the bone?” I raised an eyebrow at her before I glanced over the village.
“Two minutes is still too long if there’s an emergency,” Laika explained as she motioned in the direction of the mine.
“It’ll have to do for now,” I said before I closed my eyes and focused on the power inside of me.
Visualizing what I wanted was simple. A stone building with rooms spread out over three floors, enough to accommodate thirty people. On the first floor was a simple kitchen and leisure space. The second and third floors were just rooms, and on the roof I created a look out point. Connected to the building was a simple latrine for them to use, and I knew the Blue Tree Guild warriors would be able to manage until I had more time to expand the building and figure out how to get running water to the base.
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