Art and Lutin end up waking early and decide to explore the village. As they are walking, they see a small shop. A ogre woman kneading a ball of dough inside a tree log that is carved in the middle. She takes her hands off of it and then the ogre man pounds it with a wooden hammer. As Art and Lutin are walking to the shop, multiple children start gathering around and start buying the strange dough. Lutin goes to the young ogre girl and asks about the dough. She says.
"Oh, it's called mochi. It's like candy. Care to buy some?"
Lutin ends up asking for a twenty pieces.
The girl is surprised. She turns around and tells the woman. The woman says.
"Twenty mochis coming right up!!"
After a bit. The Art pays for the mochi then goes back to Akio's house with Lutin. They both sit on the porch and are eating mochi.
Lutin says.
"Mmmh, this tastes amazing!"
Art says.
"You're right. This is pretty good"
Akio comes up behind them and says.
"Why you two eating desserts before breakfast?"
Lutin looks at him and points at Art.
"It was his idea. Not mine"
Art looks at Lutin with an annoyed face and flicks him. The all eat breakfast and get ready to climb up the mountain. Akio calls "Mizuki!!"
The same ogre girl that served them tea, walks in. She says "Yes, master Akio?". He tells to keep an eye on everyone and take care of her self. He then tells her to bring his large spiked metal club. Art, Lutin and Akio leave the village. Mizuki and all of the villagers are waving goodbye.
The three of them keep climbing and killing any monsters that get in their way. As they kept climbing. The mountain quakes and boulders keep falling at them. They eventually reach halfway. As they are climbing they hear a loud scream. A scream of someone in pain. The three look at each other and decide to go check it out. They get there and see a man. He wears old and ragged clothes. He screams in pain while saying.
"THE PAIN!!. THE SUFFERING!!. MY LEGS TORN AND CRUSHED TO PIECES!. HEAR ME YOU WRETCHED WYVERN!!!. I WILL SOAK MY HANDS IN YOUR BLOOD AND RELISH MY REVENGE!!"
The man then continues groaning in pain.
They approach the man and Akio says.
"You human. Why are you here?"
The man who's still in pain looks at them and says.
"If you wish to bother. Then leave me be"
Art says.
"I can heal you if you want, but we want to know something"
The man looks at him and asks what do they want. Art says.
"We want to know, who you were screaming at and if it's related to what's currently going on in the mountain. How about that?"
The man agrees and then tells them his name " I'm Kellen". Art heals his legs and Kellen starts explaining.
"You see, at very top of this mountain. Rests a monster. [Dereol the fearsome]. A disgusting wyvern"
Akio and Lutin are left in shock. Lutin then asks.
"Is he the reason why you're so angry?"
Kellen says.
"That foul beast!. He caused the destruction of my village!!. He.….(Inhale) he killed everyone. My friends, my family. He left no one. He bickered with a another dragon and brought their battle into our home. I vowed, that one day i'll have my revenge"
Silence goes by. Kellen breaks the silence and says.
"How about this?. I'll go with you two. We share the same enemy after all"
Akio says.
"I'm an ogre. The kid with me is practically superhuman. What makes think you can
help?"
Kellen answers.
"I am a spear-thrower. I can manifest my mana into powerful spears. Spears so sharp, it can pierce through the thickest scales and hides"
Art says.
"You know what, that'd be pretty useful for a wyvern"
They decide to rest for today and continue climbing tomorrow. As Kellen stares into the cloudy night sky. He is approached by Art. Art sits near him and asks.
"Uhh….i wanted to ask. Why where these two surprised when you mentioned Dereol?"
Kellen answers.
"Dereol the fearsome. That was the name, that everyone knew him for. But, he is far more menacing. Do you know the [Dragon emperor, Lideol]?"
Art nods and says.
"Yeah, the dragon that made peace with all of the races"
Kellen says.
"These two are twin brothers. Yet they are soo different. One is a dragon, the other is a wyvern. One is kind, the other is evil. I expect you to know who's which?"
Art nods in agreement and says.
"I didn't know that Lideol had a brother"
As both keep chatting the night. Lutin and Akio rest back at the camp.
THE NEXT MORNING.
They gather their stuff and keep climbing the mountain. The mountain shakes. The clouds quake and surge with lightning. As they finally reach the large field that's filled with crimson tears. They see in the middle of the large field.
A dark wyvern with torn wings. Its hide scarred and ripped apart. Its twisted horns are broken. Half of its tail is torn off and its left foot is missing, with the right being twisted. As they all stand in front of the entrance. Akio and Lutin are nervous. Kellen walks in and start yelling.
"WAKE UP YOU COWARD!!!" As the wyvern starts standing up and says to it self "(Can they not just leave me be)" Kellen continues.
"LOOK AT YOURSELF!. PATHETIC!!. HEAR ME, YOU PILE OF FLESH. YOUR FATE HAS BEEN SEALED!!!. FACE US YOU WRETCHED CREATURE!!!". The wyvern lets out a loud roar that shook the mountain and the sky. As the lighting becomes more brighter and louder. They now have to face HIM.
[Dereol The Fearsome]
As they all draw their weapons. Art changes Shiftnir into a battle axe, Akio equips his spiked metal club and Kellen summons his spear. They quickly split up and rush towards Dereol. Kellen starts throwing his spears and they hit Dereol in the body. Art strikes his right foot. Akio jumps in the air and slams Dereol's back with his club. Dereol slams the sharp thumb bones from his wings in an attempt to kill them. He opens his jaws and shoots out fire. They keep dodging and attacking when the opportunity presents it self. Dereol Charges at Art and bites him sideways. He lifts Art in the Air and flails him around. Kellen throws a spear at Dereol's neck, causing him to let go of Art. Art gets back up and they continue their assault. As the three of them jump at Dereol and keep attacking him. He lets out a large roar and it pushes the three of them away. Dereol stabs the ground with his thumb bones into the ground and starts charging something. The three quickly back away. Boiling magma surrounds Dereol. His back starts to rip apart and comes out wings. They are four wings, two large ones and two smaller ones in the back, and they seem to be made out of flames and lightning. He flys into the air and starts circling the arena, while also summoning magic circles in the air. The magic circles start shooting fire balls and lightning spears around the arena. The three of them keep dodging. Dereol strikes down with his right thumb bone, that has been coated in electricity. He spins around the arena and slams his torn tail everywhere. He keeps relentlessly attacking them, they keep dodging and strike when needed. Dereol jumps into the air and starts spinning vertically. Charging electricity around his right foot and slams it into the ground. They keep avoiding his attacks. But they're starting to get injured. Dereol starts hovering in the air and summons six magic circles around him, three on each side. The magic circles start shooting lightning bolts from them. The three of them start dodging it but they are struggling from their injuries. While running Art yells "SEROPH!!!".
Seroph appears above Dereol and tackles him. As both of them are falling, Dereol yells at Seroph in the Ancient dragon language saying
"YOU TRAITOR!!! WHY BETRAY YOUR KIND?"
The end up slamming into the ground and Seroph trys to pin Dereol down. Kellen looks at Art then looks at Seroph. He lets out a smile and runs with his injuries towards Dereol's neck. He summons a spear, jumps at Dereol's neck and stabs it in the same wound he caused. Dereol flails and stabs Kellen in his stomach with his thumb bone sending Kellen across the arena. Akio yells "Kellen!!" He runs towards Dereol, jumps into the air and slams his club with all of his strength onto Dereol's head, shattering his skull and slamming his head into the ground. Art runs and jumps as well. He then changes his axe into a sword and starts stabbing Dereol's head multiple times.
Dereol lets out a roar and pushes all of them away. He raises his right wing and lets out one last roar. A roar begging for forgiveness. He then slowly fades away into the wind. The sky starts becoming clear. As Art, Lutin amd Akio celebrate. They remember Kellen and rush to him. They find him bleeding out. Art trys to heal him, but he grabs Art hand and says.
"Enough, you've done enough"
Art tells him he can heal him. Kellen looks at them and says.
"Thank you. All of you. You aided me in my revenge and Art, if you want to help me. Cremat me and if you're confident carry my ashes to Lorry village in the light continent….[Gleamora]. Then bury me with my people. His hand falls to the ground. He then takes a deep breath and exhales, one last time. Surrounded by the crimson tears. They stand in silence for a bit, Akio pick up Kellen and says to Art.
"Come on, lets go...can you also tell why do you have a dragon?"
Art says "he's a friend".
The three of them head back down to the village. Eventually they get back and end up making a funeral for Kellen. Art carries him and lays him down on a stone slab. Art decides against using fire magic and goes with a filnt and steel. Akio asks Art why is against fire magic Art says.
"It's disrespectful. He layed down his life and you want me to use fire magic because it's quicker...no he deserves better"
Art lights Kellen on fire and backs off.
Him, Lutin, Akio and all the village ogres stand in silence. The funeral ends and Art gathers Kellen's ashes. He then heads to Akio with Lutin and receives a letter from Akio. Akio says.
"Take this letter to Emberwind's prince. He'll let you in"
Lutin asks "why not give it to the gaurds?"
Akio tells him.
"If you want to be kicked out or executed, sure go ahead"
Art starts walking away only to hear from Akio "Thank you, brother".
As Art and Lutin walk out of the village gate. Mizuki tells them to wait. Art turns around and Mizuki walks up to him and hands him a charm. She then says.
"It's a luck charm"
Art says.
"Thanks. Take care."
As Art and Lutin start walking away. They hear Mizuki saying.
"Have a safe journey"
As the two of them are climbing down the mountain Lutin says.
"Looks like you a ladies man"
Art tells him to shut up. The both continue their descent not knowing what awaits them in this journey.
END OF CHAPTER