Fan Fiction ❯ The Ever Burning Flames ❯ The Beginning of a Long Journey ( Chapter 4 )

4

The Beginning of a Long Journey

Dremon woke up suddenly. He shook his head, and with a sigh he retreated from the Palace, hastily, he walked into a great aircraft, which took flight to the top of the dome. The top of the dome split open so the craft may take its leave, once it left, it closed once more. Dremon put the aircraft on autopilot and sat in the dark at the back of the aircraft. His head was bowed and his eyes were closed as his mind wandered to his dream and the `Magic Energy' inside him. The aircraft was fast so it was only two hours before it landed in Dermor. Dremon landed the craft just outside the city.

He entered the city in silence. The great buildings towered up over him. He knew instantly where to go, he ran into a great castle-like building at the end of the long main street, this was where the King dwelled and there was a strange assortment of different…people. There was a Fairy, a Mage, and another Dragon. Though this Dragon had a Green color to it and its wings lay folded on its back. This Dragon came from Narfon, a city in a different continent; it was a continent south of the continent Gwan (which is where they are now). They were led inside by one of the guards. Though none of them talked through any of this, they were taken through the maze-like castle in a disturbing silence.

"Greetings, my friends of different countries," the King of Dermor began. "I know why you have all come. Things go amiss in your countries, am I right? The answer does not lay here the answer; it lays, of course, in Maerdya. I know some of you must be weary after long trips. Please stay a bit and you could meet my daughter, Hartly." With that a beautiful young girl of 17 came from the shadows, the light revealed her golden hair which fell down to her hips, and her eyes were of a beautiful icy blue.

"Everyone please rise and say your names, cities and countries," spoke Hartily Rainos smiling toward everyone. The young female Fairy of the age of 16 was the first to rise: "I am Misty Cisum, I have come on behalf of the fairies of our country Arn, my city is its capital, Narstra," Misty bowed and sat back down.

The male Mage of the age of 18 was next to rise: "I am Issac Starn, I have come on behalf of Mages of Anasia, my city is its capital, Ara," Issac bowed and sat down. Next was the Dragon: "I would be Kio Hinarato, I have come on behalf of Dragons at my country Rant, my city is Tranda." The Dragon did not bow just sat down quietly.

Dremon rose: "I am Sir Dremon, General of the Dragon Knights of Dranurt, of the country of Straf." Dremon did not bow as well but instead sat down his head slightly bowed and his eyes closed as only to hear the conversation.

"Alright decide when you shall all begin your journey," began the King as all eyes turned toward him once more. "You might want to go another way, or all go together, that is something you should discuss yourselves. The trip is not long and not far. Be ready in haste." Everyone slightly bowed their heads in acknowledgement and got up to leave.

Dremon got up and followed everyone, once outside they all began to talk amongst themselves. He simply stood watching them talk of what route to take. Misty spotted Dremon and flew toward him. He looked up at the Fairy.

"Why don't you join us?" Misty said smiling gently at him. "We need all the help we can get. Aren't you coming with us?"

Dremon canted his head slightly and replied, "Indeed, I shall come with you." With that, Dremon walked with Misty back to the others.

"Good of you to join us," said Issac said looking at the Dragon. "Which route shall we take? I think we should waste no time at all. Any of you have an aircraft we could use, I feel not like walking." Naturally most of them came by sea or land.

"I have one. It is large enough for all of you and it can carry us with out anyone piloting it." Everyone looked at Dremon and seemed relieved for most of them were weary from their own journeys just to get to Dermor.

"So we are all going together, aye?" asked Kio glancing at everyone. "I mean it would be much easier perhaps faster with all of us together. And indeed if any of us get in some kind of trouble we'd all be there to help, aye?" Everyone gave a slight nod to this.

"Does everyone have some kind of weapon? We need to be equipped with some kind of weapon to defend ourselves. Aye?" Dremon added.

"I have my earth magic. I can call upon any spirit of the woods." Misty said smiling.

"Of course, I, being a Dragon, have my natural weapons and the ability to burn my opponents. Including I have a blade but I only use such weapons if I am in my human form," Kio said.

"Well and I have my magic," Issac said. "And that is all a Mage needs."

"What weapons do you hold, Dremon?" Misty asked.

"I have my magic. A number of blades but I hardly use them," Dremon answered slowly as if deep in thought.

Each of them checked their equipment and came aboard the aircraft. It was large enough for all of them. They took off slowly at first for they wanted to partly enjoy this time to get to know each other.

"I have heard we shall meet lots more comrades once there. I'd think we should land and have some rest here right here in the wilderness," Misty said eyeing the sky, as it grew a bit darker. Dremon stared at Misty mainly in horror.

"You couldn't possibly have such a wish!" Dremon exploded, making many people jump in surprise. "Do you know what lives in these parts? Incredibly dangerous creatures! We can't possibly spend the night here and not expect some Nadrom or something else more rather come and attack us while we are sound asleep!"

"Get a hold of yourself, my friend," Kio said calmly. "But I'll have to agree…it will be dangerous if we stay here. Let's simply move on."

Misty didn't say anything the rest of the way. Issac stirred a bit.

"Dremon… perhaps you did not have to be so harsh on Misty," Issac muttered to Dremon.

He grunted in response and turned watching the forest, clear away to show the large city (domed with the same material as the city of Dranurt). Slowly the aircraft landed a little in the forest.

"Come, I will have no stragglers," said Dremon. Everyone went up to the gate and Dremon pounded three times upon them. A loud voice called and it echoed in air;

"Who goes there?" the voice cried.

"Only ones who seek your king," Dremon replied.

"Our king? For what reason may I ask?" the voice called suspiciously.

"If you want your kingdom spared of the peril that might come upon you and your fellow citizens I suggest you let us in. We are here to destroy that of the evil that haunts your dreams," Dremon replied becoming rather impatient. There was a long silence, and slowly the gates opened. Kio glanced about the city at its large buildings and thousands of streets, turning this way and that.

"How in all Rimaria did they fit so many buildings into one dome," Kio stated as he glanced about at the buildings that seemed to wind its way around the city like a labyrinth. "Are we supposed to find our way through this?"

Misty stirred, "Perhaps there is a central control like in my city. Perhaps we may go there and confront the king?"

Issac glanced around. "I'm not sure. What of your ideas Dremon? Dremon?" Everyone looked about for him in vain. Kio pointed to the air above, "There he is. Dremon! Come we have something to ask of you." Dremon glanced down at Kio and descended, landing softly before them.

"Ah yes I know what you ask, for I heard everything. I believe that Kio and I should fly through this labyrinthine city to look for the palace where the king is. While Issac and Misty search on foot, we meet back here in an hour," Dremon said. They all agreed and were set to go. Dremon and Kio flew high in the air and off to find the palace.

It was not as easy as it seemed, the buildings were like a maze that reached to the very tip of the dome. Slowly they maneuvered their way to the center of the city. Sometimes feeling as if they were going about in great circles. After what seemed like hours a flash lit the area just around a corner. Dremon saw another flash of light, shielding their eyes Dremon and Kio drew closer to investigate.

"Dremon, I think we found it, we found the manor!" exclaimed Kio. "Let's go back to the entrance to the city to alert the others."

Soon they met up with their comrades and led them back to the manor. They gazed at it for a long while, for it was tall, and towered over all. The door opened and an Elf emerged. The hood of its cloak shadowed the face and the Elf signaled them to come forward.

The manor walls were far apart and the ceiling stood high. It was a long hall with doors leading to other rooms or halls. For what seemed like hours they walked down the same hall, it was bare of any others. The whole way the Elf said nought; finally they came to a large door at the end of the hall. Slowly the Elf opened the door to reveal a banquet scene. The small group made their way inside and as they did this strange larger group of people who were seated at the long table stopped to look at the interrupting guests. One of the Men seated stood up to greet the guests.

"Hello, my friends," he said with a grin. "I am Kunio Koto of Stranent, a capital of the country Omnrad. I shall tell you more of our mission as soon as you are comfortable."

Though they could tell by the way he was dressed, the young man was a Blue Mage. He wore a silken dark blue shirt along with baggy blue pants. He had black hair that slightly covered his green/bluish eyes. There were four seats next to his, which he invited them to sit in. The Elf must have left for he was nowhere in sight. The Blue Mage went into explaining why they were here, and what he thinks should be the next route, when the King came through the hall doors and silence flowed through the room. The King stood up by his seat was at the end of the long clothed table; the King cleared his throat and announced himself.

"I am Stradart, King of Maerdya," he began, "I have asked you all to join me here, for as you already know, trouble brews in the East. I have asked all of you to help stop it, and bring peace to the lands of Rimaria once again. It will be a long perilous road, once you have checked your supplies, you may take your leave." Dismissed them all.

Mean while…Astrono, the Lord of Unicorns and King of Horses, has arrived at Estral…