by Logan Jacobs
Like Riondale, all the men were streaked with soot and ashes, but the grim looks of determination on their faces spoke highly to their ability to maintain calm under pressure.
It was a pleasant surprise to encounter capable defenses in a town from this world, so I turned my focus to the building they were trying to extinguish. It was two stories tall, and the door was engulfed in flames so hot they were purple. This was where the men directed their buckets, but their efforts were doing little to combat the blaze. So, I held up the palms of my hands toward the flames and uttered the word of power for my ice spell, and a moment later, the door was doused in enough water to kill the fire.
A cheer erupted from the men standing behind me, but I didn’t wait for the go ahead, and I dashed forward to kick in the smoldering entrance. Smoke burst out from the opening, and I coughed into my elbow as I squinted into the interior of the home.
Flames licked at the walls and climbed up the stairs to my left, so the route to the second floor was blocked. The room inside the entryway was empty of occupants, but it had a smoldering couch and a small table, so I took it to be a living room of sorts. I wondered where the people were, but I knew I would find them.
“Is anyone there?” I called into the next room. The air was hot, and the flames on the upper floor radiated heat down onto my head. There was a doorway leading into another room, so I carefully stepped forward.
“Up here!” a voice called from the other room.
I picked up the pace, and I made it over to the other side of what appeared to be a kitchen. The sound was coming from the ceiling, and when I glanced upward, I saw the family of four peering down at me from the second story. There was a mother with dark hair stuck to her forehead with sweat, a father with a worried frown, and two young boys who looked identical.
“My name is Bash, and I’m here to save you,” I explained. “Can you jump down from up there?”
“The children first,” the mother insisted, and she began to shove her children toward the edge of the hole.
I hurried forward and opened my arms, and I caught first one and then the other boy. I set them down on the floor and turned back to the parents, but then the father shook his head.
“Please,” he begged. “Get them out first.”
“Alright,” I replied with a curt nod.
I shook my head in awe at his selflessness, but flames burst into existence in the next room, and I realized I was out of time. I grabbed each kid by the waist, and I stomped my foot to activate my fleetness ability. Then I dashed out of the burning house before the flames could reach me or the two boys.
I deposited them safely on the street outside by the guards and soldiers, and then I ran back inside the house before my fleetness ran out when I stopped.
The mother and father blinked down at me in surprise, and then the mom edged herself closer to the rim. She slid off the second story, and I caught her in my arms. I set her down on the floor and looked up at the father expectantly.
He gave me a firm nod, and then he edged over to the opening and tossed himself over the rim. I managed to catch him, but we both almost fell over in the process.
My main concern was that he was okay, though, and that was enough for me. Now, all I had to do was get them out to the street, and they would be fine. I didn’t know if I could run while carrying both of them since the man was as tall as I was, so I was going to have to take them one at a time.
“Who first?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Her,” the father said, but I wasn’t surprised.
I scooped the mother up into my arms, stomped my foot, and ran out of the building. I put her down on the ground next to where her children stood and waited, but then I went back to the dad. I didn’t stop to talk, and I grabbed him under the arms and hauled him off his feet. We were outside before I came to a full halt, and the family was reunited once again.
“Thank you so much,” the father said, and he turned to shake my hand. “You saved our lives.”
“No worries,” I replied with a grin. “It was actually kind of fun.”
“How can we ever repay you?” the man asked in an earnest tone.
“Get to the palace,” I answered immediately. “Tell them that Sebastian, the God of Time, is going to destroy this dragon.”
“Yes, sir,” the man said with an emphatic nod.
The guards all crowded around the rescued people to see if the family was okay, and I turned to Riondale.
“Ri-man, will you make sure they make it safely to the palace?” I asked as I clapped the man on the shoulder.
“It shall be done, Great One,” the young lieutenant replied with a solemn nod.
“Good.” I mirrored his nod, and then I turned to locate the dragon once more. I unslung my obsidian bow from my shoulder so it would be easy to string, and I trotted down the street after the flying asshole.
The sun had set, but it still seemed like twilight since the light of the fires was bright enough to illuminate the streets. The wagon wheel shaped design was complex, so I was grateful I’d taken the time to study it on the road. While I hadn’t expected to battle the dragon as soon as we arrived, I was more prepared this time.
I made a new savepoint, and then I focused on getting the dragon to come within shooting range.
“Come down here, you scaly dick,” I taunted as I nocked an arrow to the string of my obsidian bow.
How dare you address me in such a vulgar manner, the dragon’s enraged voice boomed inside my head, and an ear-splitting ringing sound followed the telepathic communication.
I didn’t wait for the fire breath, and I released my arrow as soon as the beast was visible, but it went wide as the dragon veered at the last moment. The projectile zipped silently through the air, though, and I suddenly realized what the special ability of my obsidian bow was.
I took a moment to check the stats just to be sure I remembered it correctly, but it was the same as it was before.
Durability - 100%
Weight - 5lbs
Quality - Flawless
Magical Aspect - Night
Magical Ability - Whisper
Were the bow’s shots silent when it was night time?
It made sense, but I made a mental note to ask Mahini what she thought about it. The desert goddess was an avid weapons specialist, and I knew she would have some interesting thoughts on the matter.
Maybe there was an enchanter in Vallenwood who could explain some of the finer details of the craft I hadn’t learned from Burnyolf back in Castle Bullard.
I filed the thought away for later and refocused on my opponent.
The dragon’s flight pattern changed again, and he swerved around to come back toward me, so I nocked another arrow to the string. I shot true, and the projectile ripped through the skin of the creature’s leathery wing. Smiguel struggled to keep his balance in the air for a moment, but then he roared and let out another fiery blaze.
I could see the inferno heading straight for me, so I quickly reset to my savepoint to try again.
I ran through multiple attempts, and each time I managed to damage the dragon even more, but this only caused the half-blind dragon’s flying patterns to be erratic and harder to track. It was a double-edged sword since I knew the beast could be wounded, but his wound made him harder to hit.
By the time I’d reset twenty something times, I managed to get three shots off before the beast found me and covered the entire street where I stood with its fire breath.
Then I decided enough was enough, and I reset for what I was certain would be the final time. I gripped my bow tightly in my left hand, and I nocked an arrow while I waited for the perfect moment.
“Alright, asshole, come and taste my vengeance,” I muttered to myself as I took deep steadying breaths. I was determined to land a solid hit before the night was over.
Then Smiguel appeared from within the clouds, and he swooped down to scan the streets with his one good amber eye. He was looking
for enemies, but hopefully I would be the only one he would find.
The dragon got closer, and I lifted my bow as I took aim for his chest. I wanted to shoot him straight in the heart, so I fired three arrows in rapid succession, and then I used the ice spell to build a protective barrier around myself to protect me from the inevitable flames.
The dragon roared out in agony as my arrows struck true, and the scream of rage pierced the air and vibrated off the buildings around me like an earthquake. The structures shook and threatened to collapse, and the ground beneath me moved like a wave. I kept my balance, and my ice shield remained standing, but the dragon was obviously experiencing grave amounts of pain.
I’d gotten him good, but I wasn’t sure how good.
So, I peeked around the side of my tall ice shield to see the damage, and I saw two of my arrows embedded in the dragon’s wings and the third lodged in his chest. The beast tumbled through the air, and then he finally caught the wind and regained his balance.
I remember you, the dragon’s ancient voice echoed inside my head. His tone was calm, but I detected a hint of fear in the rich sound.
“You should,” I replied, and I wondered if the dragon heard my words telepathically, too. “I was the one who took your eye.”
I did not know you would be here, Smiguel rumbled, and then he flapped his wings laboriously and turned in the same general direction he did last time before he disappeared above the clouds. The risk is higher than the reward.
I inhaled sharply, and I searched the skies for signs of the dragon, but I didn’t see signs of the crimson creature anywhere. It looked like it had taken off, but I waited a long moment just to be certain.
If it came back, I would be ready for him.
I fingered my bow’s handle for a long moment while I thought about how powerful a dragon truly was. Even a god like me had trouble killing it, but I knew it was mortal to a degree. It was injured, and it was already having a hard time flying since I ruined one of its eyes, but now its wings were also damaged, so I didn’t think we’d be seeing more of the winged beast that day.
What was Smiguel after?
I couldn’t fathom the dragon’s reasoning for attacking both Bullard and Vallenwood, but it couldn’t be a coincidence. The beast was after something, and whether that was an easy meal or something else, I didn’t have the foggiest clue. I’d just have to take things one step at a time until I got more information.
Once I was sure the dragon was gone for now, I moved through the streets of Vallenwood and expelled ice into the flames licking at the various structures. I saved several buildings from utter destruction, and after a while, I began to run out of flames to douse. I didn’t see any survivors, but I also didn’t find any dead, so overall I’d call the day a success.
Still, this wasn’t the last I’d see of Smiguel, that was for sure.
It was tiring work saving Vallenwood from burning to a crisp, and soon my arms ached from the simple motion of raising them upward. Using my magic exhausted the last reserves of energy I had left, and I was barely standing on my feet by the time I ran into Riondale and the other guards.
The young lieutenant was leading Goliath by the reins, and he transferred them into my hand when I approached.
“Found this handsome guy in the stables,” Riondale said with a chuckle.
I gave him a tired smile of gratitude before I mounted my horse, and I rubbed Goliath’s neck affectionately as I got my seat.
“How goes the fire killing?” I asked.
“Good,” Riondale replied with a nod. “The soldiers of Vallenwood were more equipped to act swiftly than we were in Bullard, so we managed to save many lives. Very few people died today, and we have your quick thinking and bravery to thank for that.”
“I suppose it’s time to meet the king, then,” I said with a thoughtful frown.
“Bash!” Elissa’s voice echoing down the street was a sweet melody among the destruction. “You’re alive!”
“See, I told you so!” Eva grinned and waved enthusiastically at me. “I wouldn’t lie to you, you know.”
“I told her to wait,” Mahini said from behind her, but her blue eyes twinkled with merriment, “but she wouldn’t listen. Seems like a character trait of hers, don’t you think?”
“From my experience with Eva,” I laughed, “she doesn’t like to be told what to do.”
“I wasn’t about to be left behind,” Eva added with a sideways smile. “I was watching from the palace door, and I saw the dragon disappear for good, so I told the others I was going to find you, and they insisted on coming with me.”
“You’re lucky it’s safe now,” I admonished in a loving voice. “I would have sent all three of you right back to the safety of the palace.”
“Oh, Bash, I can’t wait till you see the palace,” Elissa gushed as she clapped her hands and bounced on the balls of her feet. “It’s beautiful.”
“We only went to the dining hall,” Eva said with a roll of her eyes. “Although, it is twice the size of my father’s.”
“As far as palaces go, it’s okay,” Mahini allowed with a wink.
“It is good to see all of you,” I told them in a warm voice. “I was just getting ready to head up to the palace to find you.”
“You have to talk to the king, too,” Eva pointed out. “So, we decided to come see you first.”
“As was fitting,” I laughed. “I’m glad you did.”
“The men are ready to escort you to the palace,” Riondale interjected.
I glanced around, and I realized the men had formed a circle around Goliath. I was the only one on horseback, and I wondered for a moment where all their horses were. They were most likely already stabled somewhere, and I trusted the men to make sure our steeds were in good hands. The men who had traveled with me from the duke’s castle were a self-sufficient bunch, and I was happy to have such helpful people in my group.
“Alright,” I replied with a curt nod. “I’m ready.”
The women took up a position on either side of me, and the men walked in a circle around them. Then our small group made our way through the maze-like streets of Vallenwood, and we headed toward the king’s palace.
As I neared the steps up to the entrance, I paused and considered dismounting my steed, but then I decided to ride Goliath straight to the doors, so I nudged him with my heels to urge him up the stairs. The huge warhorse snorted before he lunged forward and conquered the stone steps, but he seemed pleased with being the only horse around. The white stallion held his head up high, and I sensed pride in his demeanor.
There was a man standing at the top of the steps, and a circle of soldiers in green uniforms standing around him. A crown rested upon his shoulder length brown hair, so he could be no one other than the king. He was wearing gold plated armor embedded with gems, and he held a long two-handed sword with the tip resting on the ground. The weapon was a masterpiece, with intricate metallic engravings along the blade, and swirls of gold finery twirled around the hilt. It was a sword fit for a king, that was for sure.
We looked much more ragged in comparison to the gleaming armor the king wore. My men were covered in ashes and soot, and the haggard expressions on their faces betrayed their exhaustion. The king, on the other hand, looked refreshed and energetic.
“Welcome, Sebastian, God of Time,” the king said in a formal tone. “You have saved Vallenwood from the devastation of the winged beast, and we are in your debt.”
I dismounted Goliath, but I merely bowed my head to the man who stood before me. He wasn’t very tall, maybe three inches shorter than me, and he had a thin, loose form.
“It was the least I could do,” I replied in an equally formal tone.
The king nodded solemnly like he understood some hidden meaning in what I’d said, and then he cleared his throat.
“I would like to bestow upon you one of the highest honors in all the land.” He lifted his sword and inclined his head. “Do you accept a Knighthood of Sorr
eyal?”
I would be Sir Sebastian, the God of Time.
“Fuck, yeah,” I replied, and I knelt down on one knee before the king. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“With all the power bestowed upon me by the crown, the people, and the gods above, I now knight thee in the name of Sorreyal,” the king said as he touched the sword to my left shoulder, and then he moved the blade to my right. Finally, he placed the sword tip back on the ground, and the king leaned heavily against the hilt. “I pronounce you Sir Sebastian, the dragon slayer.”
Not only was I a god, now I was a knight. My life was pretty fucking awesome.
Chapter Nine
I rose to my feet a knighted man, and I clasped the king’s hand firmly in a shake.
“Just to be clear,” I said in a cautious tone, “I haven’t actually slain the dragon, yet. It’s injured, but it still lives.”
“It no longer terrorizes my city,” the king replied with a smile. “For that, I am eternally grateful to you. Please, allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Frederick von Vallenwood, and I am the King of Sorreyal. My family has reigned over this land for generations but never before has a dragon attacked my fair city. It is a dark omen for times to come, so I was glad to have your assistance today.”
“I couldn’t just stand by while innocent people lost their lives,” I pointed out with a shrug.
“I suppose gods do not just stand idly by, though, do they?” the king chuckled.
“I am surprised you already knew of my arrival,” I said in a pleased tone. “Most of the time I need to explain who I am first.”
“Yes, well, I am no mere citizen,” the king replied. “But enough seriousness, for now, you and your men must be weary after your battle and travels. Please, allow me to open my home to you.”
“A bath and a nap sound heavenly,” I confirmed with a grateful smile.
The king snapped his fingers, and one of the soldiers who stood behind him stepped forward.
“Take the God of Time’s horse back to the stables, please,” the king commanded. Then he gestured to another man who also stepped forward. “Lead our guests to the west wing of the palace, thank you.”