by David Aries
“He wasn’t joking,” I said. “A dragon.”
“No. Boss taught me this,” Titania said. “That’s no dragon. It’s a wyvern.”
I’d heard the word but my fantasy lingo wasn’t as good as it could have been. “I thought wyverns were baby dragons?”
“Don’t be dumb. Dragons are bigger, with four legs.”
The wyvern roared. It flapped its wings and took off. The nobles shrieked, but they weren’t in danger. The shield kept the demon contained and the crystal was on the outside, secured above the dome. It was bright, full of charge. That thing wasn’t running out for a long time. The wyvern wasn’t going anywhere but around in circles, high above our heads.
Out of nowhere, it swooped. In mid-motion, it sprayed fire.
Déjà vu.
Rather than blocking, we threw ourselves out of the way.
Its flames scorched the ground, turning it black.
“Wyverns. Dragons,” I said, scrambling to my feet. “Which are stronger?”
“Dragons, for sure,” Titania said.
My demon eye had the wyvern in its sight. It was marked as a red level threat. “I’d hate to meet one,” I said, glossing over the beast which had chased me into Terix.
The wyvern swooped back down, mouth wide open. This time, no fire. It wanted a chunk of us.
Titania stepped in and lifted her shield.
The demon changed course. It flicked up and aimed its claws for our heads.
She threw her guard up and batted it away. “Dammit. I hate flyers.”
They didn’t gel well with our fighting style. We were the team’s close-range double act. Esther and Dessa were our ranged unit. We only had two distance attacks between us and one sacrificed a weapon.
“I’ll handle this,” I told her, avoiding the fireballs the wyvern rained down in passing. All I needed was one chance to repay the favor.
When the wyvern reached the shield’s edge, it made a sharp turn.
There! I opened wide and gave it a taste of its own medicine. My dragon breath consumed the demon.
“Yes!” Titania cheered.
No. The wyvern dove through my attack, emerging with its talons inches from my face.
Dodging from that range was impossible.
Titania stabbed. The wyvern ascended to avoid. Its claws sliced the tips of my hair but no more than that.
I exhaled. Too close. No amount of healing would have saved me from a direct hit.
The wyvern was completely unharmed. There wasn’t a hint of char on his scales. My fire had been a bust.
Idiot, remember the dungeon. We don’t gel with fire users.
It was that shit all over again. First, two-headed dogs. Now, wannabe dragons. My fire wasn’t strong enough to overpower theirs. I was too weak.
Back then, Dessa bailed me out. She couldn’t repeat the favor unless she felt like joining us in the shit. We had to win alone, somehow.
“Incoming!” Titania said, fending off another wyvern attack.
“Not so confident anymore, are you?” Ramses laughed. “Now would be a good time to grovel. Kneel and beg and I may spare your lives.”
“Fuck you,” Titania growled.
I wholeheartedly agreed with the sentiment.
“So be it,” Ramses said. “Die.”
The wyvern was well on his way to making that a reality. Titania and I were carrying fatigue from the previous battles. My increased half-breed restoration had been pushed to its limits and the wyvern wasn’t handing out breaks. We were saddled with an unneeded handicap. Our foe already possessed a speed and agility advantage, not to mention aerial supremacy. It could strike from close range or shoot fire from a distance; fire that actually did something. The odds were in its favor.
We defended against wave after wave. Each ate up a little more of our stamina. Titania didn’t say anything but I knew she was flagging. Her movements slowed and her breathing sped up. Sweat rained down her flesh, toward her shaking legs. It was only a matter of time until she hit her limit.
I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t let that happen. “I’m gonna go on the attack.”
“Are you crazy?” Titania said.
“Kind of.”
“Your attacks don’t work!”
“True but I gotta do something. I can’t risk you.”
Titania growled. “Dammit. This is why Boss hates you!”
“I know.” Didn’t mean I was making the wrong choice. If I had to put myself in harm to increase her survival odds, so be it. “Get ready to throw. I’ll slow him down.”
“You… I’ll kill you if you don’t come back.”
“Looking forward to it,” I said, running into open space. I waved my arms in the air. “Oi! Scaly! Over here!”
If you were a hungry demon, which would you go for? The armored girl with the shield and spear, or the unarmed idiot who couldn’t hurt you? It picked the obvious choice. The wyvern swooped, talons primed to snatch up a juicy piece of half-breed prey.
A moment before it connected, I hit the deck. I rolled across the floor, too low for the wyvern to reach.
It shot past and made a sharp U-turn, eager for another go.
That was when I struck. I charged up my sore legs and shot into the air. There was no reason for the wyvern to think I had such a move in my arsenal. By the time it knew what was happening, I had a hold of its ankles.
Even though my blows couldn’t shift it, there was no reason my weight couldn’t slow it down.
The wyvern yelped and teetered in mid-air, balance compromised. Its mighty wings were strong enough to keep it airborne but little more than that.
Just what I’d hoped for. “Now!”
Titania lobbed her spear with the same precision as ever. It flew like a javelin and hit the wyvern in the chest. Bullseye.
On impact, there was a loud clank. The spear dropped, bouncing off the wyvern’s scales.
The color drained from my face. I stared at the woundless form above, unable to muster up a comment. I’d placed everything in that one attack and it had failed spectacularly.
Perhaps due to my numbness, the wyvern managed to shake me off. I dropped to the arena floor and it went hunting. It had a new piece of weaponless game in mind.
Sharp talons met Titania’s shield. The wyvern lost interest in swooping and restyled itself as a wrestler. Without her spear, Titania couldn’t fight him off. Hiding behind her buckler was all she could do.
My feelings returned in a flash. “No!” I yelled, charging over.
“Idiot, stop!” Titania screamed. “My spear. Use it.”
I hesitated. There wasn’t time.
Listen to her! What can we do without it?!
He wasn’t wrong but she needed me sooner rather than later. My heart told me to rush to her. For once, I listened to my head. She’d trusted me to stop the wyvern in her own Titania way. I had to trust her too.
Precious seconds slipped by as I detoured for the spear. I’d never used one before so throwing and hoping was out of the window. I held it out and charged at the wyvern, full speed ahead.
The solo battle quickly turned in the wyvern’s favor. It was too strong for Titania. She had seconds left at most.
I roared, summoning all the demon energy I could. Blue fire passed from my hands and surged into the spear. Using the full extent of my strength, I crashed into the wyvern and pierced through its scales.
It cried and fell to the ground. The spear had slipped between its ribs and lodged into its vulnerable innards. Electricity surged through the metal, passing on the shock. Instead of the usual little yellow spark, it was a vibrant blue lightning. The wyvern squirmed, showcasing the increased intensity. It also slowly dislodged the crippling weapon.
“No, you don’t,” I said, pinning the vulnerable wyvern down.
The demon didn’t like that. It bucked back, utilizing its powerful body.
I grappled one of its flapping wings in a desperate bid to gain control. It didn’t work. The
wyvern was too strong and I was too drained.
I’ve got an idea. Put your hand on its head and focus.
What was that supposed to achieve?
Stop whining and do it.
I obeyed, channeling energy into my palm. Without warning, my power flared. My hand magnetized to the wyvern’s skull and wasn’t letting go. Demonic fire surged through me and into the trapped beast, almost as if it was being sucked out. “What the hell’s happening?”
I tried telling you earlier. Her ugliness left us a gift. Now seemed like a great time to test it out.
A heads-up would have been nice. Before I had a chance to make a fuss, the power came shooting back. I winced as the wyvern’s energy raced through my body and into my head. Felt like my skull was gonna split open.
Pictures flashed through my mind. It was a distant slideshow of dreamy imagery. There were mountains and snow. Lots and lots of snow. Hidden somewhere in that winter wonderland, a ruined city. It wasn’t empty. There were demons. So many demons. Different types, living together in the snow-battered remains.
I bit down as the scenery changed. The city vanished. More snow, more mountains, more nothing. My mind surged through the land of frost before arriving at a tower. Within, a girl. A prisoner. Demons surrounded her.
The images kept going. A fight. Who was fighting? Was it the wyvern? Were these its memories? Why was it fighting other demons? None of it made any sense.
Seeing any of this didn’t make sense.
Visions kept rushing through my throbbing mind. The wyvern was injured. It fled. It fell. It was discovered. It was captured. Cages, more cages. A dark dungeon filled with imprisoned demons. Days spent as a captive. Starvation, pain, misery.
This was more than seeing. I was channeling the wyvern’s emotions. Everything it experienced, I felt.
Finally, light. Freedom? Not quite. An enclosed arena, covered in blood and guts. Two people standing in the middle of this carnage. Enemies. Food. Must defeat.
My vision went white as the snow which had covered that wilderness. It was too intense. My mind was about to burst.
“Jake!”
I awoke to Titania’s voice. She was shaking my shoulders, concern clear as day.
“What happened?” I groaned, clutching my head.
“I don’t know. You stopped moving and didn’t respond. I was worried you’d…”
“Me? Nah, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it,” I said, doing my best to act normal. Inside, I was freaking out. The skull-splitting agony had petered out but I was still trying to process all the weird stuff I’d seen.
That can wait. Aren’t you forgetting something?
The wyvern groaned below me.
I jolted. How’d you overlook a huge lizard you’re lounging on? I’d stopped withstraining it yet it wasn’t acting out. At most, it looked at me like a pitiful animal. I couldn’t detect any aggression.
“You,” Titania growled, recovering from the same mental lapse.
“Wait,” I said, throwing up a hand. “Don’t kill it.”
“Are you nuts?!”
“A little bit. For some reason, I can’t…” I gazed at the pathetic demon still suffering from electricity’s cruel touch. For some crazy reason, I didn’t want to kill it.
It’s because you’re connected. Our souls are linked.
“That doesn’t make sense,” I whispered. Even by my inner demon’s standards that was ridiculous.
Put a little thought in it. Queenie controlled her minions without uttering a squeak. When she suffered, they suffered. They had to share some mental bond.
A power I’d absorbed when I’d killed her!
Bingo. We’ve earned ourselves a pet.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Stop being a Debbie Downer and try it out.
The wyvern watched me like a loyal dog, even as its insides fried. Nonsense or not, there was no harm in testing it out.
“Speak,” I ordered.
The demon let out a pathetic howl.
“Shake your head.”
It shook its head.
“No way,” I muttered. “It’s gotta be a fluke…”
Does this look like a fluke? I’m telling you. That wyvern is under our control.
“Jake, what are you doing?” Titania probed. To her, I surely looked insane.
“I’m gonna try something,” I told her. “Whatever you do, don’t freak out.” I slipped off the wyvern’s back and pulled the blue spear from its body.
“Jake! What?!” Titania squawked.
“What did I just say?”
“But you&emdash;”
“It’s okay,” I assured her.
The wyvern struggled to its feet. With the spear removed, there was nothing stopping the beast from attacking us. It didn’t. The wyvern gave me an unwavering look even as blood hemorrhaged down its flank.
I brushed his scaly snout.
“J-Jake?” Titania said, keeping her distance.
“It’s fine,” I said. “You don’t need to know the details, but it’s on our side.”
My new pal hummed like the weirdest cat you’ve ever seen. Turned out wyverns enjoy being petted. Who knew?
“What is the meaning of this?” Ramses said, jumping to his feet. “You are supposed to be killing each other.”
I’d forgotten all about the whole coliseum business. A very confused crowd had given us a surprising amount of leeway. They’d kept tight-lipped as their deathmatch turned into a touching buddy film.
I laughed. “Change of plans. We’re calling this a draw.”
My wyvern yapped. I took it as an agreement.
Ramses looked bemused. “How is this possible? Half-breed, what did you do?!”
I shrugged. “Made a new friend. That’s all.”
“No. Impossible. Nobody could. Unless…” His authoritative aura returned in a snap. “I will not allow this. Ready the cannons. Destroy the demon and the girl. Leave the half-breed alive.”
I gulped and scanned the area. That didn’t sound good.
Nothing happened.
Ramses stomped his feet. “Where are the cannons?”
“Something’s wrong,” Magnesia said.
“Sire!” a runner yelled, bursting onto the scene. “Somebody's sabotaged the cannons!”
“What?!” Ramses barked.
The crowd grew rowdy. Can’t be easy staying composed while your leader blows a gasket.
“Silence!” Ramses yelled. “Send in the guards! Take them down!”
The gates opened and in charged the reinforcements. They were the last thing I wanted to see after a long slog.
I backed away until I hit my new pet. We were in the arena’s center with the brigade on the outside. As was typical, we were outnumbered. On top of that, there was nowhere to run. The gates slammed shut behind the soldiers. With the shield in service, escape wasn’t an option.
We were all on our last legs. I wasn’t sure if I had another fight in me. Things were bad. Really fucking bad.
The soldiers came forward, but an explosion stole their attention. Snow rained down from above, concentrated above the battleground. The weather was getting cold but that couldn’t explain a sudden miniature blizzard.
As the ice crystals fell, the audience noticed another strange occurrence. A single figure was on the move. She appeared from nowhere and set off up the dome’s outside, treating it like a running track.
I laughed. “What the hell is this?” I’d wondered where she was. Of all the times to make an appearance.
Titania shook my arm. “Jake, is that who I think it is?”
“You better believe it.”
Silky black hair. Snow-white skin. Kitten cosplay turned real. Esther had arrived and was heading for the arena’s summit, where the shield crystal was located.
“Somebody stop her!” Ramses yelled.
Too late. Esther reached the top and grabbed the orb, deactivating the shield.
There was a moment of s
ilence before panic struck. The nobles screamed and took off running, fighting to be the first to escape.
“This is our chance,” I said, grabbing Titania and mounting the wyvern. “I hope you can still move.”
“Stop them!” Ramses commanded.
My wyvern flapped and rose into the air. Dust kicked out from below, blinding the closest guards.
I cheered. It was happening. We were flying; we were riding on a bloody demon.
Titania clutched my waist. “I don’t like it! Let me down!”
“Suck it up,” I told her. “Someone’s waiting for us.”
My wyvern ignored the massive gash in its side and carried us to the arena’s peak. Esther was there to greet us. She had the biggest smile on her face. “You never cease to surprise me.”
“Same goes for you,” I responded, offering my hand. “Let’s blow this joint.”
Esther left the crystal behind. Three passengers were enough trouble for my injured wyvern without expecting it to lug around a heavy sphere. We had more important valuables to collect.
The arena had emptied for the most part, but Ramses remained. His guards stood ready to fend off our assault.
We swept toward the royal box but shot past. Ramses wasn’t our target. That honor went to the blond making a break for the exit. Actually, it was more the dolled-up mechanic that he was trying to abscond with.
My wyvern landed in Frederic’s way, cutting him off. We’d dismounted a tick earlier, putting us behind him.
Frederic trembled. His face turned ghost white. “Please, don’t kill me.”
“Hand her over,” I ordered.
He released his prey and prostrated before us. “She’s all yours.”
Blair’s eyes darted around as if she was trying to comprehend what was happening. It was still hard to believe she was the same girl I’d seen in overalls. Baggy shirt or fluttery pink gown, there was no mistaking her.
I offered her my hand. “You heard him. We’re taking you back.”
“This… this is real?” Blair said.
“Real as real can be.”
Titania sprinted past me and snatched up Blair. “See? I told you I’d save you.”
