Desert Dragon

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Desert Dragon Page 31

by Michael Rogers


  Karol: "I sometimes feel useless."

  Luna: "H-Huh?" *She whispered on her breath in shock.*

  Karol: "Everywon is doing what they want to dooh.. I still haven't done anyfing to halp find my mummy and daddy."

  Luna: "Nah, don't be like that, aye." *She looked up to the sky and stared at the darkening clouds the ship sailed towards.*

  Karol: "Loona?"

  Luna: "You're pretty epic with your stupid dances, aye. You've helped us out heaps, possibly even saved our arses from life or death situations."

  Karol: "Me?"

  Luna: "Just 'cause we're progressin' faster than ya, doesn't mean shit."

  Karol: "P-Poop?" *He looked at Luna in confusion.*

  Luna: "Ah, I'm not usually good with this stuff, but, like.. We'll be here for ya, we'll help you find your parents when we get some info."

  Karol: "Yooh will?" *He spoke with a smile and appreciation.*

  Luna: "Just, don't tell anyone I said this, aye."

  Destiny: (Luna...) *She thought to herself, as if she was smiling.*

  Karol: "O-Of course!"

  Luna: "That shit you were hummin' before, sounds kinda rehearsed."

  Karol: "Ah huh." *He nodded his head and started to kick his legs again.* "I want to do my own original song."

  Luna: "Oh, yea? I could help ya out some time."

  Karol: "Yooh?" *He looked unconvinced.*

  Luna: "Aha, you little shit-" *She grunted, placing her hand on Karol's head.* "I'm a writer."

  Karol: "W-What?" *He spoke with a dropping jaw, as if he wasn't expecting that.*

  Luna: "Yea. I like to write fantasy stuff."

  Karol: "Like what?"

  Luna: "Well, exactly wat I'm goin' through." *She spoke with a smile, as if she was recollecting her previous stories.* "They aren't good enough, though, so it's not like I got published or anythin'."

  Karol: "Pub-leashed?"

  Luna: "Don't matter. Wat do you like singin' about?"

  Destiny: "Yeu.." *She floated down, gently landing on top of Luna's head.*

  Karol: "Fwiends or famwily."

  Luna: "Corny shit, OK, I used to write some corny stuff in my stories too."

  Karol: "Whill you weally halp me out?"

  Luna: "Yea. Gimme another hum."

  Karol: "I couldn't imagine righting stowies. How do you do it?"

  Luna: "Well, it ain't the same for every fantasy series, but mine's through life experience."

  Karol: "I dhon't understand?"

  Luna: "I like to incorporate life experiences in my stories, it like, gives it a sense of realism or some shit."

  Karol: "Nee hee! Ohkay!" *He quickly stood up in a child-like manner, as if excitement was overflowing through his body.*

  *The grunt controlling the wheel started to struggle, as he slowly began to notice the growing waves.*

  Whitehead: "What is the matter?"

  Grunt: "B-Boss, the current-"

  Nathan: *He felt the entire ship rock to each side.* "Are we safe?"

  Whitehead: "This is nothing my Sheridan can't sail through-" *He quickly pushed the grunt out of the way and started to take over the steering wheel.*

  Nathan: *He lowered his arms, as the winds suddenly grew in strength.* "What's happening?!"

  Grunt: "Is it the Guardian?"

  Nathan: "Guardian? What Guardian?!"

  Whitehead: *The ship started to sail off balance, causing Rachael and Lezard to fall onto their sides.* "Oh no, seadogs!"

  Nathan: "Oh no what?! And what's this about a Guardian?!"

  Lezard: "Jinkies, what's happening up there? It's a little bumpy, children?!" *He shouted up towards Whitehead.*

  Rachael: *She stood up and help Lezard back onto his feet.* "This storm came out of nowhere-"

  --

  Trevour: *He leant up from one of the beds, causing his armour to rattle.* "Boss?"

  Champion: "Oh my, hello there."

  Trevour: "What brings you here? Heh heh, want to rest as well?" *He lifted his legs and leant on the side of the bed.*

  Champion: *She hobbled down and suddenly held a nearby bed, as the ship violently rocked to each side.* "Oh my-"

  Trevour: "There sure is a lot of turbulence out there."

  Champion: "It would have been a shame if you were asleep."

  Trevour: "Heh heh. If you aren't here to rest, what brings you here?"

  Champion: "I've actually wanted to speak to you."

  Trevour: "Oh? What could this be about-?" *He waved his hand towards the single bed opposite to him.* "If you may, boss."

  Champion: "It's actually what I sensed off you." *She hobbled down and swayed to the side, falling into the bed.*

  Trevour: *He looked up to the ceiling, staring at the cracks in between polished planks of wood.* (It sure is rough out there-)

  Champion: "It's about your Neurons signature."

  Trevour: "What about it, boss?"

  Champion: "I've come to realise that you may already know your Grand Rostical."

  Trevour: "Me?" *He leant back slightly startled.* "Not me, boss. I, unfortunately, haven't unlocked my Grand Rostical yet."

  Champion: *She shuffled to the edge of the bed, ensuring both feet touched the floor.* "It's possible for people to unlock their Grand Rostical without even knowing it."

  Trevour: "Even if that's true, I don't recall actually using it."

  Champion: "And that is what I'm trying to tell you. I believe you just need a little push, in helping you use it."

  Trevour: "What is the Grand Rostical for the ground element?"

  Champion: "I believe it is Desert Dragon, Brimestone Bath or Granite Coffin."

  Trevour: "Wow, there's so many."

  Champion: "Depending on the user's personality, that will determine which Grand Rostical you have."

  Trevour: "It's always fascinating how things like that work. Don't you agree, boss?"

  Champion: "Of course I do. I like talking to someone whom can appreciate Rostical."

  Trevour: "Heh heh, you're too kind, boss. About this sturdy push you mentioned a moment ago. Where exactly, or who do I seek for such a push?"

  Champion: "I'll be happy to assist." *She closed her eyes and smiled.*

  Trevour: "You? Boss? How?"

  Champion: "Oh my, so many questions. Do you trust me?"

  Trevour: "Well.. To be very honest with you, to an extent I do."

  Champion: "Well, that's fine. I will use an old Rostical. It's used to assist team members in combat, by applying a holy shroud of Astragons around their weapons."

  Trevour: "Yes?"

  Champion: "I will use the Rostical around your head, amplifying the Astragons around your mind."

  Trevour: "Just a moment there, boss. This sounds very risky-"

  Champion: "Hmm, you most certainly aren't the first person to say that. Why is everyone thinking that good things come from such little results? Of course, there is a risk if I could bring out your Grand Rostical."

  Trevour: "I see... Do I have time to think about it?"

  Champion: "I'm sorry, but I don't like leaving my offers on the table for too long."

  Trevour: "Heh heh, I understand.. Perhaps I may decline your offer."

  Champion: *She smiled in understanding and readied to get up.* "You're very welcome. It's been a pleasure talking-"

  Trevour: "May I please ask you a question? Why did you offer me such a thing anyway?"

  Champion: "Oh?" *She stopped readying to leave and focused back into the conversation.* "I understand the way your Neurons call out during battle."

  Trevour: "My-? What do you mean? Do you have some sort of ability?"

  Champion: "Excuse me. Since I've experienced a lot of battles, I get the feel of other Rostical Users, by the way their Neurons resonate with the Astragons."

  Trevour: "Pardon me, but this has gone completely over my head."

  Champion: "Well, I feel that you're a protector. A protector of the people he cares about."

&nb
sp; Trevour: "Of course? Who wouldn't want to be helpful to their friends."

  Champion: "I've also noticed you seemed to have distant yourself for some reason. Is everything okay?"

  Trevour: (She noticed that-?) "Yes, everything is fine, thank you very much, boss."

  Champion: "So I thought, you'd like the idea of learning your Grand Rostical to help protect your guild members."

  Trevour: "Oh?" *He paused in thought, as if he didn't have anything else to say.*

  Champion: "I guess I'll see what the fuss is out there. This fantastic ship has been experiencing abnormal amount of turbulence since-"

  Trevour: "I-I'd like to try it, please."

  Champion: "Oh my? What changed your mind?"

  Trevour: "I-..." *He looked down and noticed a smudge on his armour, causing him to rub it off.* "As you said, it'll be rude to pass down such a fantastic opportunity."

  Champion: "Are you sure? I wasn't pressuring you, or persuading you-"

  Trevour: *He shook his head.* "I understand, thank you, boss." *He spoke in determination, as if his mind was made up.*

  Champion: "Okay. Please lean towards me." *She leant forward, so she met Trevour half way.*

  Trevour: "Like this-?"

  Champion: "MYSTIC FORCE" *She calmly spoke with an echoing voice, as a white aura sprayed and glittered around Trevour's head.*

  Trevour: "K-Kergh-" *He suddenly reacted in a spasm-like manner.*

  Champion: "You're doing great-"

  Trevour: *His eyes twitched, as they slightly rolled back.* "Voices... There're voices.."

  Champion: *She stared at Trevour with widening eyes.* "You mean to tell me, you can hear The Voice of On?"

  Trevour: "Prse.. Ert, Bragferon?"

  Champion: "I don't quite under-?" *She watched blood run down Trevour's nose, causing her to lower her arms.* "I should stop-"

  Trevour: "No! It's close.. It's Presert Bragferon?"

  Champion: "I really don't want to-"

  Trevour: "Wow!" *He suddenly knocked the champion's arms away, causing the shrouding light to glitter away.*

  Champion: *She watched the room quickly dim into darkness.* "What happened?"

  Trevour: "Heh heh. Desert Dragon."

  ----------

  *Enormous waves splashed onto the deck, causing the guild and grunts to hold onto the nearest thing around them.*

  Lezard: "Holy fish-cakes! This is devilishly frightening."

  Luna: "Wat the flyin' fuck?!" *She screamed, as she violently held on to the side of the ship, soaked in water.*

  Destiny: "Yeu!" *She meowed in fear, as she tightly bit onto Luna's clothes.*

  Nathan: *He stumbled across the deck, as he couldn't regain his footing.* "Is this a Guardian's doing?!"

  Rachael: *She comforted Karol in her arms, frowning at Whitehead.* "A Guardian's doing? Is that why you did this for free? You wanted us to do something about it? Or are we just pawns?!"

  Grunt: "How did she know-?"

  Whitehead: *He hit the grunt behind the head.* "Now she does."

  Nathan: (That bastard-)

  Luna: "You fuckin' bastard!"

  Grunt: "We can't sail directly across, boss!"

  Whitehead: "Argh! If I follow the current, we will stop getting hit with the sea's resistance!"

  Lezard: *He noticed the waves continuing to crash onto the ship.* (The water is crashing on one side, if we sail downwards, the waves would act as tailwind.. Or tail water? I'm not sure if there's a word for that-)

  Nathan: *He noticed the waves suddenly stop crashing against the ship, causing him to lower his guard.* "It stopped?"

  Karol: "A-A-A-Are we owt of the storm?"

  Luna: "Looks like it-" *She spoke with sincerity, looking up to the clouds.*

  Destiny: (It's stopped?)

  Whitehead: "No..."

  Destiny: "Yeup?" *She glanced at Whitehead with heightened hearing.*

  Nathan: "What do you mean no? It's even stopped raining-"

  Whitehead: *He pointed to the side and let go of the steering wheel, drawing the guild's attention to a massive tsunami.* "Brace yourself, boys!"

  *Whitehead shouted at the top of his lungs and suddenly unsheathed his cutlass swords, violently jabbing them into the deck.*

  Nathan: (Using his sword as an anchor-) *He reached over his shoulder and unsheathed his sword, stabbing it into the deck.*

  Whitehead: "That will cost ya gold, matey." *He grunted at Nathan and listened to the rumble, as the wave arched over the ship.*

  Karol: "Eek!" *He squealed, quickly shoving his head in Rachael's chest.*

  Luna: *She looked up to the wave, staring at a warped, coloured reflection of the ship.* "Holy fuck-..."

  Trevour: *He opened the cabin door, wiping the blood from under his nose.* "What's happening out-?"

  *The wave violently crashed on top of the ship, causing foamy seawater to swallow the guild.*

  ----------

  *Klaus stepped out of a swirl of aurora light, watching it fade behind him.*

  Klaus: "I am growing closer and closer to finding what it is.." *He spoke to himself and stared at a wooden fortress.* "Out of respect for my heritage, I won't burst open my way to the village."

  *Klaus smirked and focused, causing mist-like light and smoke-like darkness to shroud off his shoulders.*

  Klaus: "Take the bait, Arcadia."

  --

  *Arcadia silently sat in her wooden wheelchair, staring at the wall, admiring the complete silence.*

  Arcadia: (This silence.. It comes rarely.. Pure silence that is enjoyable, relaxing, peaceful-)

  Ginger: *She burst into the room, throwing the curtain which acted as a secret door to the side.* "Arcadia, Arcadia-"

  Arcadia: "..." *She casually looked to the side, staring at Ginger in complete panic.*

  Ginger: "He's here!-"

  Arcadia: "Niklauseh."

  Ginger: *She momentarily paused.* "Yes."

  Arcadia: "Thy have already induced the process.. Thy shall be asleep soon."

  Ginger: "How long have you known?"

  Arcadia: "Unlike most people, who detect Neuron signatures once they are in a certain distance, or pick up the energy spike from teleportation glyphs. Thy can sense those that thy'm familiar with, almost like a tracking beacon-" *She slurred her words, as she struggled to stay awake.*

  Ginger: "By your logic, you should have known for quite awhile?"

  Arcadia: "Indeed."

  Ginger: "Ey? Then why did you not state otherwise?!"

  Arcadia: "..."

  Ginger: "Please respond!"

  Arcadia: "We must not allow him access to the village. Go immediately! Thy will see you soon-"

  Ginger: "I... Understood!" *She quickly spun around, flicking her long black hair over her shoulder.*

  Arcadia: *She listened to Ginger's footsteps run out of the room and onto the wooden veranda outside.* (My only friend.. And you will soon begin to hate me.)

  *Arcadia slowly fell into slumber, as a tear ran down her cheek.*

  --

  Klaus: *He stared at the wooden fortress and watched two wooden poles move on their own accord, revealing a small entrance.* "It took you a significant amount of time to-"

  Ginger: *She ran outside, causing Klaus to pause in shock.* "Niklauseh.."

  Klaus: "Ginger?" *His proud, arrogant-like attitude, faded away into nothing.* "What are you doing here? Please respond."

  Ginger: (His face, there's no emotion.. He's become cold-)

  Klaus: "Please respond!-"

  Arcadia: *She stepped out of a swirl of golden light, standing by Ginger's side.* "Niklauseh Susanoo."

  Ginger: "Please brother! Return the Aurorions before you get in trouble!"

  Klaus: "It's too late, sister." *He spoke with an emotionless face and opened his hand, as if he was holding onto something large.*

  Ginger: "Ey?"

  Klaus: "Isn't that right, Astraseeker?"

  Arcadia: "..."

  Klaus: "Dar
k Repulsor." *A large black scythe materialised into his hand, causing a sudden pulse to blow away the dirt and grass around him.*

  Ginger: "What is he talking about?"

  Arcadia: "...-" *She silently reached over her shoulder and pulled forward, watching sparks spiral around a holy halberd.*

  Ginger: "I do not desire to fight you, brother!"

  Klaus: "Then stand out of my way-"

  Ginger: "Is this because of Sasuke-"

  Klaus: *He suddenly frowned in anger, as his black scythe suddenly shined and re-materialised as aurora.* "Don't you dare!"

  Ginger: (Brother's weapon has materialised as aura? A Roharnia based weapon?)

  Arcadia: (Thy am even more confused.. As a Diareamer, I've also seen Niklauseh's dreams.. His heart is pure, yet-)

  Klaus: "Asuna, Sasuke, I will bring them back!" *He screamed with watering eyes and stepped forward, standing in a battle-ready pose.*

  Ginger: "That's impossible, brother-"

  Klaus: "How absurd! You two can stand there and judge me, oh, he's just a forlorn figure! But you're wrong!"

  Arcadia: (How can someone have a pure heart, yet do something so-)

  Klaus: "I wield the planet's power! Restoring lost Neurons and Astragons will be nothing to me."

  Ginger: *She shook her head with growing sadness.* "Stop this nonsense, please respond?"

  Klaus: ".. So be it.. Even my own flesh and blood will stop me!" *Strings of aurora coloured light wafted gently along the ground, causing it to harden and crack.*

  Arcadia: "Cover me, Ginger, with your Remenistal. Thy will keep him distracted through close quarter techniques."

  Ginger: "Understood!" *She shouted in regret and stood in a battle-ready pose, as a green glyph materialised and spiralled around her.*

  Klaus: "Tell me this! Where is the corrupted Radiatons?"

  Arcadia: "Corrupted Radiatons?"

  Klaus: "Do not take me for a fool! I know it's the corrupted energy source."

  Ginger: "What is he talking about?" *She spoke in confusion, causing the glyph's progression to pause.*

  Arcadia: "Continue inscribing the glyph! He's bluffing!-"

  Klaus: "The source to the yellow-eyed corruption! It's not Shadiatons, I checked."

  Ginger: (He went back to the secret area? They would not have let him leave-)

  Klaus: "So tell me, is it in Valhalla?! Is that where the corruption is?"

  Arcadia: "No!"

  Klaus: "I don't believe you!" *He shouted in frustration.* "Please respond!"

 

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