As both of them rest in the forest. Art gets close to the campfire and starts wood carving.
Lutin sees one of the figures that resembles a child fish-folk. He observes it and asks.
"Do you know this child?"
As Art is carving, he looks at Lutin and says.
"She...she's a friend. A close one"
Lutin says.
"Is the necklace from her?"
Art nods in agreement. Lutin then says.
"You know what that necklace means right?"
Art says.
"Of course i know. She...loved me. I was too young to understand that"
Lutin asks.
"Do you think...she's alive?"
Art pauses and exhales. He then says.
"I'm confident. She is strong, i can't see her dying so easily"
Lutin then starts saying facts about fish-folk as a way change the subject.
"Did you know. The name fish-folk, isn't the real name. Marine-folk is more appropriate. You see, it's like when people call ants, beetles, praying mantises and bees bugs and for Marine-folk they come in many different looks. Some look like sharks, others look like manta rays or even octopuses. Simply calling all of them fish-folk is like calling all of the bugs, ants"
Art looks at him and tell to just sleep.
Eventually morning comes and they head back onto their road. As they are riding on top of Eira Lutin see a large festival from far away. He points it out and says.
"Hey! Look. It looks like a festival. We should check it out"
Art looks at him and says.
"No distractions. Until we reach Emberwind"
After a bit of arguing. Art finally agrees and they head to the festival. As they are getting there Art's icon mark starts glowing and the glow is getting stronger each time, eventually once they get there it disappears. They get to the festival and start walking in. They see multiple people. A female human mage, a male elf archer, a wolf beastmen wielding a claymore and the same knight, Art and Lutin saw coming out of the shop with a scroll. Art approaches them and they introduce them selves. Morgana the mage, Elrond the archer, Leander the wolf beastmen. Art introduces himself but only his first name. He then starts speaking with the three of them and learns that the festival is held due to a fissure suddenly appearing. Leander explains.
"The fissure seems to be frozen. But the man who is holding the festival is willing to pay big. He simply wants us to get the monster out of the fissure and kill it"
Art looks at his coin bag and it's somewhat empty. He looks at Lutin with an angry face and says.
"You spent most of our money on food, didn't you?"
Lutin looks away while whistling. Art ends up flicking him. He then looks at the knight and gathers up the courage to go speak to him. The knight is leaning his back onto a wall. Art goes up to him and asks for his name. The knight says.
"I am Baelor Harte"
The two of them start speaking and Art asks about the launcher on Baelor's right arm. Baelor looks at his launcher, looks back at Art and says.
"It's scroll launcher. I don't have much experience using magic. I made this launcher so i can use magic scrolls. I simply pull this small switch on it and it use the scroll that's inside"
A fancy old beastman comes in and starts speaking.
"I am honored to have you here, my dear guests. As you know, there is a large fissure outside in the plateau. All i want you to do is to simply bring out the creature and slay it"
Lutin asks how much is he willing to pay.
The man says.
"I am willing enough gold coin to make you bag burst, how about that?"
We cut to them reaching the plateau, as they stand there look up to the fissure. The old man leaves and tells them to be careful. A few minutes go by as they try to think of a way to get the monster out. Art decides to use Shiftnir and turn it into a spear. They're all left speechless. Art throws it with all his strength into the fissure, he then trys to recall it, but nothing happens. He trys again and it comes back to him covered in blood. They then hear a load roar, and something starts falling from the fissure. A large scaly beast, its horns go down while bending to the front. As it lands it shakes the ground with its four feet, and it slams its tail into the ground. As everyone stands in shock, Lutin says.
"It's….a drake!!!"
The drake lets out a powerful roar and the battle begins. They quickly separate and surround it. Morgana summons [ice spears] and starts shooting it. Elrond starts shooting at its face. Leander covers his claymore with fire and is trying to cut its tail as it slams it around. Baelor uses his grappling hook to quickly move around and get under it to strike its belly. Art runs around its legs. It keeps stomping around. It ends up ramming its horns into the ground, and launches multiple bolders towards Morgana. Baelor quickly uses his hook on Morgana and yanks her away. The drake keep stomping everywhere and tossing bolders around. The team keeps changing positions to confuse it. Art decides to run at it and stab its head. As he stabs it, it slams him into the ground. As Art is picking himself back up, all he could hear from Elrond is "WATCH OUT!!!" He lifts his head up and sees the drake's horns that are about to rip him apart.
A hook gets shot at Art and he is dragged away. As Baelor switches places with Art, he forms a fist with his right hand as drags his right arm near to the ground, clicking sounds and gears shifting are heard from his launcher.
He gets in front of the drakes head and throws a punch. The launcher, launches a scroll and the scroll ends up exploding, burning the drake's face. It then hits Baelor with a swipe attack via its front foot, Baelor is sent flying.
He adjusts him self and yells at Morgana and Elrond to attack. Morgana summons seven ice spears and launches them at the drake, Elrond summons a big bow and shoots three large magical arrows at it. Leander cuts its tail off. Art quickly gets back up and runs at the collapsed drake, he gets there and stabs its neck with his spear. He then uses his black soul sword and stabs it next to the spear, and slits its throat. As they head back to the meeting room, they sit down and try to catch their breaths. The old man walks in and is happy with them. Elrond says.
"No words. Just give us the damn money"
The old man grabs multiple bags and hands it to everyone. They grab their bags and start leaving. Leander and Elrond leave first and head to separate ways. Morgana tells Baelor she'll be waiting outside for him. As Baelor is checking the bag, Art approaches him and says "Thanks for the save back there" Baelor says "Don't mention it. But i think you should rest, you look tired" Art tells him that he hasn't slept in a few days. Baelor is left impressed. Art then asks him to remove his right gauntlet. Baelor asks why and Art says "Just do it, i'll do the same thing" he hesitates a little but take off his gauntlet and there it is. Art quickly takea his gloves off and shows him the icon mark. Baelor looks at it and says "you're….. like me" Baelor smiles and handshakes Art while saying.
"I am the Icon of Instinct, pleasure meeting you"
Art says.
"Pleasures mine. Icon of….. hatred"
Art then asks.
"Soo, who's that girl. Do you know her?"
Baelor replies.
"Somewhat yes i do. She decided to come with to help her struggling family. I decided to make it my duty to keep her safe until she gets back home"
Lutin says.
"I can't believe it, there's icon here. Is there a chance you met any other icons?"
Baelor says.
"Unfortunately no, but i'll still search. It's nice knowing am not alone for now"
Art asks about Morgana's home and Baelor says.
"It's in Sylvorra. It might take awhile, but we'll get there"
As the three of them head out. Art waves goodbye at Baelor and they both head to there separate paths.
END OF CHAPTER