by Liandra Jake
"Good." Arend said as he tried to get to his feet.
"Enough already." Ros said as he grabbed the dropped Dragon Drive. "My purpose exists outside that Guild. I only have to kill you." Ros raised the blade.
Corenden raised his own, extended by his powers. A loud, explosives shot echoed within the bowl. The black, gauntlet-like brace around Ros' arm cracked. He dropped the Drive and began to convulse. Someone else's voice cried from his lips.
"Help him." Arend said weakly. "The Ring's control has weakened."
Corenden gave Arend a glance before cautiously approaching Ros. Arend glanced to the right. His uncle was sliding down the side of the bowl. A bulky rifle was in his hands, a high powered scope on top of it. Corenden had managed to pin Ros down.
"Hold still!" Arend' uncle exclaimed as he grabbed Ros' right arm and pinned it.
Black flakes of the brace peeled off like wallpaper before dissolving into black smoke that later evaporated. Mr. Prickett gave Ros' arm a swift twist, breaking his wrist along with Death's Ring.
Ros' face was soaked in tears and his nose ran. "I want to be free." His voice struggled against his own body.
Mr. Prickett took Corenden's sword and drove it between the barbed underside of Death's Ring and Ros' arm. He swiftly popped it up. The pain on Ros' face subsided and he fell unconscious. Death's Ring writhed on the ground, trying to crawl with its pointed teeth to a new host. Mr. Prickett shot it six times point blank. It crumbled into smoke.
Mr. Prickett glanced over to Arend and smiled. "Glad to see you're okay."
Cleaning Up||
Sareville was in shambles. No able bodied Guild member rested until the streets were thoroughly scoured for the dead and injured. Arend knew none of those who were lost; Dragon's Den's low member count was a contributing factor to this. Nonetheless, Dragon's Den didn't rest either. A total of twenty-two fallen allies and over six hundred injured. Kathy and Pith worked nonstop to save whoever they could.
Ros stumped everyone. He had no perceptible Orenth, and had no memories save for the letters R, O, and S. He believed them to be his initials. He decided on Rockel Orange Scythe until he could remember, although everyone still called him Ros.
While everyone was thrilled to have gained the Fire and Sun weapons, Finch's body unsettled everyone. He was to be sent to a hospital for an autopsy at a later date. While they knew how he died, they needed to know what else was done to his body.
The modified Fire Legendary Weapon, through a complicated process, was given to Duke. He was thrilled to hear the grey and white hair had nothing to do with the weapon itself. Arend was to tune it for him when he had the time. Helios Trune was being interrogated ruthlessly by Silver Napalm. His weapon waited for its next user under heavy guard.
Arend, Kronth, Corenden, and Berry left together to visit Cris' grave. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner." Arend said quietly to Kronth as they left Corenden and Berry at Cris' grave.
They wandered aimlessly through the headstones. Arend had an actual eye patch covering his left eye. Kronth wrapped her arm around his. "Don't worry about it Arend. I'm just glad you came at all. Though what you brought with was very surprising!"
"Not a surprising as hearing you were the new Guildmaster and how you got all these people together." Arend replied.
"So what's next? You've got the new Dragon Drive and put us up with the big boys. Going to finally set up shop?" Kronth asked.
Arend shook his head. "I still need to train. Something inside me is stirring and I need to understand it before I can face anyone who wishes to take it. Not only did I have a hit out on me, but I've learned a great deal about my powers in my travels. Right now, my destiny lies on the horizon with a pack on my back."
Kronth frowned and put on a puppy dog face. "I don't want you to go. It's boring without you."
"You could come with! Then you can help with any of the monsters we encounter!" Arend suggested.
Kronth shook her head. "I can't, I've got new responsibilities to Dragon's Den. Besides, my place is here. If you truly must go, at least wait a month. We need to get this Guild business out of the way. The Dragon Barbecue I coming up as well, and you can't forget we can spend the time together. "
Arend nodded. He looked out at the hills illuminated by the setting sun. "A month it is."
Shifted Tilt
Shifted Tilt
- - - Dragon Barbecue - - -
Arend and Kronth came back from their unannounced six day vacation to a city bustling with activity. Not only had more people shown up for the Dragon Barbecue, but for the increasing abundant opportunities for high-paying jobs to help restore the capital and the surrounding cities. While Kronth and Arend didn't see any damage on the way to Dragon's Den, the big projects like the collapsed highway and flooded buildings by the harbor were still being worked on.
The Den building itself looked the same as always, but a patio, pool, and even a slide had been built. Panzer was directing a group of people on where to set up grills, tables, and chairs for the barbecue.
Arend raised a hand. "Yo Hellsworth!"
Her head snapped to attention. She was relieved when she saw who called out to her. "That's a good way to get your ass kicked!" She called back. They met her in the center of her disciplined workers.
"Where have you two been?" Panzer asked.
"Around." Kronth replied with a vague wave.
"For six days?" Panzer asked.
"You've really cleaned the place up." Arend said as he looked around.
"Thanks to the hundred plus new members we've got." Panzer replied. "And they all aren't inexperienced civilians. Your friends Wake and Nojeski have opted for a place as well, listing in Duality with Dragon's Den and their old Guild for honor's sake."
Kronth and Arend were stunned. Panzer crossed her arms. "Yeah, I could barely believe it myself. The only reason you two weren't swarmed instantly is because everyone has work to do. Since you two disappeared, everyone's been using Arend' room to relax and such. Why don't you two say hello? I've got things handled here."
Arend and Kronth spun to face Dragon's Den. "That was spooky." Kronth said.
"I've never seen her in such a good mood." Arend suddenly picked her up.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Taking the fast way up." Arend replied.
Arend hopped with a starburst of red flames. Kronth clutched Arend tightly as he worked his way skyward. Panzer's workers took a moment to watch them land on the top of Dragon's Den before returning to work.
"Was that really nessicary?" Kronth asked as Arend set her down on the rooftop.
"Did you want to try to go through a dozen floors where people are waiting for us?" Arend asked.
"Good point." She replied.
"Here goes nothin'!" Arend exclaimed as he slid down the ladder to his front door. Kronth followed suit as Arend opened the door to the crowed loft.
Someone turned the music down and people hushed each other as Kronth and Arend walked through the door. Arend glanced around. "You know, Faulken was right; this is a great place for a party."
"I told you!" He called from the second floor.
"But maybe not so many people next time!" Arend called back, noting all the familiar faces in the crowd.
Kronth nudged Arend as Draken approached him. "Arend!" He declared loudly. The stairway was crowded by people from the second floor. "Thanks to your courageous actions, Sareville is safe."
Arend shrugged. "I didn't do much. A single fight isn't noteworthy."
Draken chuckled. "There's no need for modesty. Everyone looked up to you. You ride a Pendragon and killed the Black Monster. Even without the airship and the dragon, the fight would have turned the moment the word got out that you arrived."
"Though those two helped instill fear in Celestial Rim; they're the reason so few died." Kronth added.
Draken held out a cherry-wood about the size of an average dictionary. Arend took it with a raised eyebrow. Kronth peeked ov
er his shoulder as Arend opened it. "You've been awarded the following titles: From Tommori Felkin with approval from Iies, Allan, and Roberto; Kruxmaster. From Aegith: Archeologist. From Horace;Damned: Flaremaster.
"From the GTS: Speedstar. From the Northern Alliance: Shooting Star. From the Griffin Alliance: Rising Star. From the Terran Alliance, in return for dealing with the Harbor Masters: Superstar. From Piethel, the dragon from Dragon Valley: Dragonfriend. Finally, from King: Pencore."
Arend had looked at each pin in turn as Draken spoke out each title. Speedstar was simple, a solid rectangle of dark blue pained steel with "Speedstar" written as two layers: the top layer was at a 40 degree slant, with the second layer being a black highlight acting as a shadow.
Shooting Star was very similar to Speedstar, but was a slightly curved piece of yellow painted steel with a small red, five pointed star with a tail of orange set behind it the tail poked slightly past the yellow backing. "Shooting Star" was outlined in black with black and white specks in the blended orange and red in the tail.
Rising Star was a circle of a gradient from dark blue to sunset orange, with a seven pointed silver star resting on top of it. The writing was cut delicately into the silver and filled with gold. Superstar broke the mold. The pin was a simple piece of metal coated with paint that gave left a rainbow sheen with "SS" cut into it. What was arranged with it surprised Arend.
A pair of goggles were neatly tucked beside the pin. The single curved lens was carefully cut to prevent distortion and allow for an almost full range of view. Both the lens and its frame were made of Korvan; unmistakingly Myith's craftsmanship.
Dragonfriend was the most impressive. One of Pith's scales was ground smooth, with two lines of words engraved and set in gold. "Dragonfreind" and a line written in what Arend assumed was a dragon language. Two pins were attached to ensure it would stay where it was put.
Arend' eyes briefly shot up when Draken said "Pencore", but he quickly returned to the box. It was a small stone that sat comfortably in his hand. Four spirals of yellow, green, blue, and red blended together to form white at the center of the stone. Each spiral was a hairline of color whose beginning were hidden by the black socket of rock the stone sat in. Four pins on the back would hold it in place no matter the impact.
Draken watched silently as Arend attached each pin to his hat as symmetrically as he could. He hung the goggles around his neck with the orange strap it came with and placed the box into his bag. Draken cleared his throat. "Arend has also been boosted to double S rank. To commemorate his accomplishments, his Guild tattoo will be slightly different."
"You can do that?" Arend asked.
Draken laughed. "To put it simply: we don't do it for just anyone."
"When can I get it?" Arend asked.
"They're setup on the floor below." He replied. The crowd parted as Kronth, Arend, and Draken moved to open the trapdoor in the floor. A ladder had been added to take them to the unburned floor below. Arend was led into the room he had first met Aquaporus in.
A team of five artists awaited Arend' decision on where to put his tattoo. Kronth and Draken waited outside. "It was very childish to run off like that." Draken said.
"I know that." Kronth replied. "I had to go. For both of us."
"Ros is going to have to be dealt with." Draken continued.
"That's Arend' responsibility, not mine." Kronth replied, now defensive.
"Kronth, you're the Guildmaster now; you can't expect Silver Napalm to sit idly by as that monster sits in their jail."
"He has no Orenth Draken. I don't know what to do about that. By all means, he should be dead."
"He might as well be. His mind's been wiped clean so he's no use to us."
"He's still human Draken. No Changed, and no lingering signs of Possession."
"Does Arend even know how much the other Syndicates want Ros dead?"
"I'm sure he knows. Very much so. Nevertheless, he couldn't care less."
"He's as reckless as his father."
"Oh, that reminds me; Arend said the Dragon Hunters were hired by Teneo to hunt Pith."
Draken's head snapped to Kronth. "What? You better be joking."
Kronth frowned. "Arend had a similar reaction. He scattered their forces without mercy because of it."
"Let's just hope it's some impersonator. If he was still alive, it would be extremely dangerous."
"But it would go a long way to explain Finch…" Kronth and Draken shared a look. "I'll have Nem look in to it." Kronth said.
Arend emerged from the room once Kronth had finished giving Nem his new mission. He, Faulken, and Merchalice were charged with tracking the Dragon Hunter's exchanges and finding out where Celestial Rim had come from. When she added the detail about Teneo and Axis, Nem's voice gained a disturbing amount of fear before he hung up.
Arend had his shirt in his hands as he stepped out. "Where'd you get it?" Kronth asked.
Arend turned around. His freshly inked tattoo was centered on his right shoulder blade, extending down and to the left slightly. It was still the standard shield on top of a dragon, but the dragon was the color of his hair and the shield a blood-red shade of crimson. The dragon was drawn down to the scale, and the shield looked like it was covered in fur. It was detail not normally expressed in a Guild tattoo.
"It's a little funny you put it there." Kronth said as Arend turned back around. "Although Faulken put his on the left."
'And it looks like it hurt like hell putting on…' Draken thought.
"So what now?" Arend asked.
"We discuss the new responsibilities you now face." Draken replied.
"To start with," Kronth began. "You have to pay both rent and the normal tax on Requests below your Rank." Arend groaned. "Enough of that." Kronth said sternly. "In addition, you have to come when summoned and provide good PR for the Guild. I've personally allowed you to dip into the Guild's funds for Requests purposes or things the Guild could benefit from, whether functionally or socially."
"A Korvan repair shop is a shining example." Draken said with a smile.
"I can't do that." Arend said with a shake of his head. "I still need more training and understanding in Korvan before I can start that. I also need parts for the final incarnation of the Dragon Drive."
"There's no need for that." One of the artists said as he left the room with a large bag of supplies.
"Indeed. You're famous enough now that people will search you out. Parts and teacher will come in great numbers." Draken said with a nod at the passing artists.
"I take it the skillful detail in Arend' tattoo wasn't a joke then?" Kronth asked. "You really brought the best?"
Draken nodded slowly. "I only needed to say his name. The rest came easily."
Arend headed into the emptied room. "Well, I better get to work then. I've got to pay for the expenses I've racked up in my absence."
He hopped out the window with no protest from Kronth. "So Kronth," Draken began. "Has his condition decayed any further?"
Kronth shook her head. "His Pendragon side as quieted down. For now at least."
[X]
Arend stood before an orderly and busy Request wall. A temporary section was created; its' sole purpose to rebuild Sareville. A Guild-funded Superfund had been created to help rebuild the city. Naturally, those who provided the most money had their Requests fulfilled first. The smaller Syndicates were posted on a sub-board once half the big ones were completed.
Arend pulled off three he thought he could complete in time for the Dragon Barbecue. Dave, the ginger-haired man Panzer had worked had a station to approve Requests. Arend stood behind two others in line. A woman with a rainbow of neon dye in her hair; many of them Arend couldn't name. She wore a black shirt and a black skirt with neon feather trim. She looked like she had just come from a rave.
The other was a construction worker with a white hardhat. He was arguing with Dave. "We need more people to clear the streets of the collapsed roadway before we can begin t
o rebuild it!"
"That's not my job!" Dave replied. "I'm just supposed to stamp the Requests and post the new ones. Now if you'll step aside, I have some people waiting." The man stepped to the side to let the rave woman step forward.
"Neon Street is back to its pre-war conditions. I'm here to collect." She handed Dave a Request poster and a stack of white papers.
Dave glanced at the Request and flipped through the white papers before stamping both and pointing towards the main office. "Turn it in there. You can keep the poster if you like once they're done processing." He explained.