by Liandra Jake
Everyone leaned to the left as Rusty took a sharp right turn. "We're here!" Rusty called out. The car was emptied as everyone finally got some space to move. The hospital Arend was in was an hour drive from Dragon's Den.
"I see you've cleaned up a little." Arend said as he looked up at the building.
All the previous damage was gone and it was remolded to look like a normal building instead of something abandoned. Nate lit a cigarette. "Panzer's in the back. I think meeting your fans would be important right now." Nate said.
"Here goes nothing." Arend said as he headed around the building. Kronth followed at his side, and the others followed a few feet back.
As Arend rounded the first corner, he was surprised at the lack of rubble in the fields surrounding Dragon's Den. Grass was even growing in spots and patches. He could hear a rhythmic cry coming from farther on. Arend was impressed yet again as a grid of people came into view as he rounded the second corner. They were paired off into 12 groups and were following Panzer's strict instructions.
"Upper chest!" She called out. Half of each group aimed a punch at their partner's chest. They quickly brought their arms up to block. "Legs!" Panzer called out. The blocking of the pairs swept their legs at their opponent. They all jumped back, but one wasn't fast enough and fell back.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" The young women exclaimed as she bent down to help her partner up.
"You two!" Panzer yelled at the boy-girl pair.
"Six laps after practice!" She ordered.
"Yo Hellsworth!" Kyrel called with a wave.
"Arend!" Most of them yelled excitedly when they saw him.
"Hello!" Arend called back. They then glanced nervously at Panzer.
"Chh!" She tutted before walking away. "I gotta go!" Kyrel said before running after her.
"Are they…?" Arend asked.
"He is, but not her." Kronth replied.
"That doesn't make any sense." Arend said with a shake of his head.
Arend was soon surrounded by excited fans. "Hold it!" Arend exclaimed, making a T with his hands. "I'll answer one question per person, and then two second chances if I don't want to answer it."
A large huddle soon took place. Fourteen people remained in the field, looking at Arend with disapproving faces. They whispered quietly to each other before breaking the circle and pushing a teenage boy with thick glasses forward.
"Well, are you and Kronth together? He asked nervously. Kronth and Arend glanced at each other before nodding. He looked relived and stepped aside.
[Q2] "Do you plan on tracking down the two from the tournament?"
[A2] "Yes, once I get some things organized first."
[Q3] "Do you plan on taking an apprentice in Kruxsetting?"
[A3] "When I'm older. Nineteen is a little young for that."
[Q4] "How did you manage taming a Pendragon?"
[A4] "Kicking his ass."
[Q5] "Are you someone hired to bring Dragon's Den out of the dark?"
[A5] "I joined because I wanted to. I didn't really have my eyes set on becoming famous."
[Q6] "Do you plan on entering any other tournaments or other event?"
[A6] "I'm not sure. I'll probably shoot for high reward in order to pay a debt."
[Q7] "What level of Dragon's Den did you climb to?"
[A7] "All the way to the top without using the ropes."
[Q8] "Why do you carry that bag?"
[A8] "It contains most of my Kruxsetting tools and other necessities. Mock me for having a 'purse' all you want. It doesn't remove from its usefulness."
[Q9] "What can you tell us about your family?"
[A9] "I'd like to pass on that one."
[Q92] "Well, what went through your mind during your fight with The Black Monster?"
[A92] "To tell you the truth, I didn't really think about it like that. It was more of think less and fight more."
[Q10] "Could you show us the Dragon Drive?"
[A10] "Well let's see." Arend twisted his ring. King instantly dropped from the sky. "How's the Drive been?" Arend asked as he pulled at the handle. It came out by itself.
"Kind of fucked up and turned to shit." King replied.
Arend dumped the shattered remains of his sword from its sheathe. The blade and Matrix were intact, but the mechanisms were stripped and twisted into a mess.
"You guys could have told me sooner!" Arend exclaimed as he picked through the pile of metal.
"You would have insisted on fixing it and would have never recovered." Kronth replied.
"True enough. Most of this can't be salvaged, but I do have an idea of what went wrong. The whole thing slowly unbalanced itself. I'll need to find some high quality metal to replace the parts. And I mean high quality." Arend said as he picked out the important parts.
"What are you going to do with the rest of it?" Hunter asked as he picked up a bolt. "Hmm?" He held it with his hand flat. It inched slowly towards Arend before catching on Hunter's hand.
"It's moved towards you Arend." Hunter said with an amazed look.
Arend waved his hand over it. It jumped in the air after him before falling into the pile. "
They've absorbed enough of your Orenth to Polarize to it. They're like little needles of a compass." King explained.
"Luthuraininium right?" The man who asked if Arend took apprentices asked.
"Yeah." Arend replied.
"There have been studies involving Luthuraininium from old war zones that reacted more to Orenth than the mineral would usually." He explained.
"Huh. Geographical Metallurgy isn't one of my strengths." Arend said as he gathered the bolts.
"Is that even a thing?" Kronth whispered to Hunter. He shrugged.
"It holds very little value as scrap." Arend said as he looked down at it.
"You could sell it as souvenirs." Janese suggested. "Some people would pay an enormous amount to have a part of history. The Black Monster touched a lot of people."
"Fair enough. Just make sure to make each piece the same size." Arend said as he hopped onto King.
Hunter snatched up the blades. "No way in hell you're breaking this. I'm going to get a model made to hang in the lobby." Hunter said.
"Whatever." Arend replied with a wave of his hand.
"Grey Heart!" Corenden called out as King started to step away from the pile.
"Oh, hey!" Arend called back as Corenden floated down from the sky.
"I have a favor to ask." Corenden said quietly.
"Why are you whispering?" Arend asked.
"Because it isn't something most people would agree with." Corenden replied.
"Well?" Arend asked.
"I want to join the Guild." Corenden replied. "I promise I'll work hard and serve as best as I can. Things have gotten kind of rocky with my old job and my wife and I are tight on money-"
Arend silenced him with a wave. "I thought your job included membership in a Guild." Arend said with crossed arms.
"No. My job operates through a Guild, but I can never be a member. No Monster ever gets membership except when given as an honor." Corenden replied.
"Kronth handles that kind of stuff. Why not ask her? As a Beastmaster she should sympathize with you." Arend asked.
"He's terrified of rejection." Kronth explained from behind him.
"Kronth!?" Corenden exclaimed, a shiver going down his tail.
"He went to you because you are one of his friends that would have influence on me and are the least likely to reject it." Kronth continued.
Arend poked her. "Am I influencing you yet?" He asked.
"Why yes you are, and I agree that he should be allowed in. Think we should ask some others?" Kronth asked.
"Hell no!" Arend exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah I got your point." Corenden said as he started to float away. Arend threw his hat at him.
"Get back over here!" Arend said with a playful smile when Corenden turned around. Kronth was rapidly filling out a form. Passing it to Arend, he signe
d his name under 'references'.
"Take it to Panzer. She'll be in charge of your training." Kronth said as Arend handed the paper to Corenden.
"Good luck!" Arend called out as he replaced his hat and King took to the air. Corenden waved with tears in his eyes.
King quickly dropped them off on the roof. A shade was built from the remaining wall so King had a place to rest on hot days. Kronth and Arend quickly made their way into Arend' room. Arend was surprised to find Richard relaxing on his sofa.
"Ought to lock the door." Richard said before Arend could ask.
"I see you got my message." Kronth said as she sat in a nearby recliner.
"Yep. Arend will be starting his training today." Richard replied.
"What?!" Arend exclaimed.
"I think it's best if you start as soon as possible. I don't want you to break down like that again." Kronth explained.
Arend sighed. "I don't even have a weapon put together."
Richard tapped his head. "As of right now, this is your weapon. But don't worry; gathering materials is a key thing we will be working on."
Kronth's phone rang. "Hello?" She said curiously.
Arend could hear Panzer yelling, but it was unintelligible. "Alright! Alright! I'll find someone else to train him." Kronth replied.
"Corenden?" Arend asked. Kronth nodded.
"The little mailman Monster?" Richard asked.
"Yeah, I guess Panzer doesn't want to train him. We just approved him of joining the Guild." Arend replied. There was a brief silence as Kronth tried to reason with the raging Panzer.
Arend and Richard glanced at each other. They grinned as they came upon the same answer. "Kronth, have Panzer send Corenden up here." Richard said.
"Why?" Kronth asked.
"Because he's coming with us." Arend replied. She paused briefly before telling using this to Panzer. Arend could hear her pause in her rant and ask "Really?" Kronth hung up. Corenden came waddling through the doorway thirty seconds later.
"Seems we're together on this." Arend said.
"Are you seriously going to train me?" Corenden asked.
"If you think you can handle it." Richard replied. "We're leaving in a few hours. Meet me at the Harbor. Dock ten; many colored sails."
"Now?" Corenden asked.
"Now."
Corenden hurried back out the door. "You too. Meet me at the harbor." Richard said before heading out the door.
"Um?" Arend said when Richard didn't come back through the door.
"Want to help me pack?" Arend asked Kronth when it was clear Richard wasn't coming back.
"Already packed." Kronth replied as she stood up.
"And since all of your other stuff is in this little bag, we've got the next two and a half hours to ourselves."
Arend raised an eyebrow, tossing his bag and hat next to the door. "Well what do you want to do?" Arend asked.
Kronth replied by tackling him. "Oh I think you know." Kronth replied before kissing him.
The First Step
King dropped Kronth and Arend off at the entrance to Dock Ten. "Keep an eye on her alright?" Arend said to him as they started down the dock.
A soft chuckle came from King. Kronth whistled loudly. A nearby ship blasted its horn. In quick succession, every ship in the harbor was blowing some kind of horn.
"I think our newest hero needs a proper farewell." Kronth replied when Arend turned to her in his confusion.
"Arend!" Kyrel called out from above.
Arend looked up. Kyrel was straddling the wings of the aircraft he had at the mountains. Corenden's friends and family were hovering behind him, some waving frantically. Arend gave him a salute. Hunter and the others stepped up to Arend' side from behind him. Kyrel jumped down and lined up alongside them, shoulder to shoulder.
"Care for a race?" He asked as he bumped Arend.
"Bring it." Arend replied.
Kronth stepped out in front. "Ready…Set…GO!" She called out as she pointed down the dock.
Arend took a single step forward. By the time his foot touched down, everyone else was far past Kronth. "C'mon slowpoke!" Kyrel called back. Arend ran as fast as he could up to Kronth, grabbing her hand.
"Yeah! C'mon!" He exclaimed as he pulled the startled Kronth behind him. She smiled.
Kyrel was the first to the ship; all the way at the far side of the dock, followed by Hunter and Nate. Kronth and Arend arrived about a minute later. They took a moment to catch their breath. Arend looked over at the ship he would be boarding. King had just dropped off Arend' stuffed bag. Which he apparently forgot was still on his back.
The ship was a thirty passenger vessel. About thirty yards long and with a rust free white metallic hull. It had a set of sails ranging from red to violet. Arend assumed they were purely decoration since they were simply netting.
"It was great guys, maybe when we get back; we can all go out to dinner or something." Arend said with a wave as he started up the gang plank.
"Hold on! You've forgotten something." Nate said as Jenifer walked forward.
She held out a grey cell phone. "It's got all our numbers. Speed dial one will put you straight through to Draken, or the next highest authority." She explained as Arend took it.
"And one last thing!" Corenden called out as he floated out of the sky. A light green Pog was flying beside him. She had light red eyes and matching hair. Arend assumed it was a girl since her oddly 'inflated' chest didn't seem masculine.
She was holding an old style of camera. One that didn't use any kind of Matrix or Korvan; just simple film. "Care for a group photo?" She asked as Corenden jumped onto Arend' shoulders. They all crammed into the photo in front of the ship. Corenden's friends sat along the railing of the ship. "Everyone smile!" She called out before taking the picture.
Shortly afterwards, Kyrel fell back into the water. Laughing, Arend hopped up onto the ship. Corenden went to give a hug to the green Pog before rejoining him. "There's not much more to say than good bye." Arend said with a wave.
"Good luck!" Kyrel called out as he pulled the others in for a wet group hug. Arend gave a final wave before disappearing onto the ship.
A pair of sailors untied the ship from the dock and pulled the gang plank back up. The ship began to pull away slowly. The captain opened the mainsail. It fell open like a gigantic paper fan. It was attached to the sides of the main mast; A brilliant psychedelic rainbow membrane that pulled taunt in the wind. The ship quickly picked up speed. Corenden's friends followed for a bit before flying back to the dock.
The group watched the ship as it headed for the horizon. Hunter, Nate, Jenifer, Cris, Kronth, Kyrel, Rusty, and Jacob. From the far edge of the harbor, on top of a lighthouse, Duke and Faulken watched as well. As Arend' ship turned past the horizon, they all turned their backs on it and walked away. For four months, Arend had some severe training to go though before he would return.
End of Prototype
Full Burn
Full Burn
- - Soul - -
The port town Chewek was part of the Terran Republic, a neighboring country to Karakas. A normally six day trip across the Carnassian Ocean, but Arend, Corenden, and Richard made it across in only two. Richard had changed into a more climate friendly attire. A white V-neck with a red tie-dye-like stain, and high-water jeans missing their knees. Arend stood beside him on the front railing, leaning out over the ocean. Corenden was perched on his shoulders, enjoying the warm tropical breezes.
Arend and Corenden couldn't care less about the humidity or the high temperature as they glanced around excitedly at the harbor. "They're so many boats!" Corenden exclaimed with wide eyes.
"Now listen you two," Richard started "Unlike Sareville, Syndicates here are very strict, as well as rare. It leads to arrogance and very dishonest members. Be careful and avoid any unwanted attention, especially you Corenden."
"Why just me?" Corenden asked.
"Because you're different." A sailor said as he dropped their
luggage at their feet.
Richard picked up his backpack. Arend picked up his and Corenden's bags. A board was haphazardly thrown to the dock. "So, where to next?" Arend asked as the three of them left the ship.
"A friend of mine has a small Guild in this city. He'll give us a place to stay as we work on the first part of your training." Richard replied.