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"Daddy! Daddy tell me a story!"

"Alright, alright, calm down Jayson. Which story do you want to hear?"

"hmm"

I ponder before speaking.

"The one about the frost drake!"

I say beaming my most cheerful smile.

"Ooh, again? Okay it's a good choice anyway."

My dad says as he laughs.

Our story begins in the dead of winter, the year is 558 of the imperial calendar. A Frost Drake has been terrorizing the villages of Shadow, Sleekwich and Loshied in the Atzian Theocracy, and Dreadgeport, Fadegarhar and Litval in the Grand Duchy of Nerdula. The drake has been making trouble in the area for decades, and has gotten worse in recent years.

There's not much of a harmonious relationship between both countries.

"Daddy what's harm-mon-ious mean?"

"You've asked this before. It is "harmonious" son, and it means they don't get along well together."

"Well I forgot. Why can't you just say that then?"

"Right right, now let me finish the story or I won't finish it for you."

My dad and I are both laughing as he tries to continue the story.

Anyway, with these countries at odds they still fight each other while the drake destroys the areas around it's nest on the island near both of them. The city of Shadow in the Theocracy had enough of this so-called lesser dragon; so they took what money they could gather from everyone willing, and hired adventurers party after party to try and kill the beast. All of which failed.

After the fifth party met its demise, a sixth party came to Shadow from the Marbian Empire this time. One of the party's that was eliminated were friend of theirs, the sixth party went by the name of Morning star's Avarice. They cared more for avenging their comrades than they did the mountain of gold they would receive from killing the drake.

The party that took charge of the campaign to slay the frost drake headed towards the island as quickly as they could without burdening themselves and their horses.

"Wait daddy, sorry for asking again, but who's the Morning star's Avarice?"

Briefly sighing before he looks at his son with a smile on his face that looked lost in nostalgia.

"Well Jayson, they were the wood elf ranger named Daedan. He was somewhat of a loner even in the group, and he loved to drink. There was also a Kitsune spellcaster named Veria, she was a beautiful woman who took no prisoners with her ruthless assaults of spells. Next is Cotus, a Goliath of a man who was their blacksmith as well as their front line fighter wielding great mauls in each hand. And lastly there's the nameless human of the party. He acted as their leader, tactician and he preferred dual wielding his magical swords of fire and lightning. Can I continue the story now?"

"Yes daddy, sorry."

Tussling his son's hair with a smile he continues.

As the sun sets Cotus and the nameless human donned special goggles that allowed them to see at night. After hours of travel they finally reached the coast and boarded a boat to the island to find the drake. Under the cover of night, they silently rowed to the island. Once they reached land they spoke amongst themselves about their plan.

The plan was simple, Cotus would distract the drake while Daedan and Veria would find its weak points and exploit it. The nameless human fighter would cover any gaps roaming freely along with the ranger.

Using the foliage and night as cover as best they could they climb the mountain where the drakes nest supposedly is. Upon their arrival their jaws drop at the sight before them. Towering walls that seemed like they pierced the sky built into the mountain.

An old Dwarven fortress was right before their eyes. Morning star's Avarice didn't know if they should sneak in and try to fight the drake inside the Dwarven fortress or if they should lure it out, if it was even in there in the first place.

Suddenly a chill ran down their collective backs as the wind picked up with the force of a hurricane; looking up, the full moon in the sky illuminated deep azure scales descending upon them. As it circles about in the sky it lands in the nearby clearing turning its crimson eyes towards the adventurers. The drake lands on the ground and lets out a mighty roar to intimidate the invaders of its nest.

Not feeling deterred, the group of adventurers get into formation. Cotus in the front with Veria some distance behind him. Daedan is maximizing his surroundings moving in all directions in search for an opening. And lastly the nameless dual-wielder cycles around the battlefield to engage while the drake is distracted by Cotus.

This is their favored formation, having defeated countless monsters through this method. Cotus charges at the drakes swinging both of his great mauls, unfortunately for him the drake stops him in his tracks with a swing of its claws. Seeing that Cotus was halted, Veria starts unleashing her most powerful fire magics at her disposal.

Beginning with multiple fire arrows and firestorm Veria pelts the drake relentlessly. Seeing that it's effective Daedan brings out his mithril tipped arrows and begins firing at the drakes few weak points, namely the eyes and mouth as it opens trying to bite at Cotus.

Determined not to be done in by what it views as puny mortals, the Frost Drake bites at Cotus narrowly missing him. Just as an arrow pierces the left eye of the drake, the drake lands a blow with his claw swiping Cotus into the tree line hitting Daedan. Enraged seeing their two friends taken out so easily, Veria begins her long chant for her strongest spell Continual Meteor Storm. Not missing this chance either, Daedan speaks the magic words to release the magic imbued within his swords.

Daedan begins charging at the drake as it's preparing it's own magical breath attack, right at the moment of release, Daedan leaps up at the drake using it's foreleg as a platform he quickly slices into the drakes right eye and at the roof of its open mouth with the lightning and fire sword respectively. The drake falls completely to the ground on its belly.

Veria screams for him to get out of the way as her incantation is complete. As he dashes away, Veria unleashes Continual Meteor Storm pelting the drake endlessly. The drake succumbs to its wounds and perishes leaving behind a charred body as the area has craters all over. Once a beautiful open area between the trees and the old Dwarven ruins now is littered with craters and meteors made of magic. While dragons have a high immunity to magic, the drake is not so lucky as it's known as a lesser dragon. For good measure Daedan makes his way over to the Frost Drake and severs what's left of the head and prays that it passes on and finds eternal rest so it doesn't become an undead drake to further terrorize the region.

Seeing as the battle is over the remaining two check on their party members. Cotus is missing an arm, and Daedan was impaled by a collapsed tree. The state of the two was horrific for their friends so Daedan used two scrolls he kept on him at all times. One contained the spell Regenerate, the other was Resurrection, he cast both of them respectively on the two based on needs.

Sighing in relief as Daedan's soul was willing to return to his body, and Cotus' severed arm began to slowly reattach itself. Claiming the head of the drake, they return to the city of Shadow with proof of their subjugation of the beast. The group turns down the reward the townspeople have prepared for them stating what they want is the island the drake once called home.

"But daddy, what happens afterwards?"

"I'll have to tell you another time Jayson. Now is the time you should go to sleep, if you're a good boy tomorrow night I'll tell you the next part of the story. It's already past your bedtime."

*******************************

Why did I have that dream… I think I was five or six during that time. Why did I remember that now? Whatever.. I need to get up.

Rising up from the cold stone floor Jayson looks around in search of Misrurri. He notices that she's still asleep next to him covered up in a terrible looking blanket. Jayson gently shakes her.

"Misrurri, are you awake? I want to talk with you about something."

She stirs groggily looking over at Jayson.

"What do you need Jayson?"

"Sorry to disturb you. I wanted to run something by you when we had some time to be alone."

"Alright."

She keeps her response short as she turns back over to go back to sleep.

Just how much can that girl sleep? Actually what time is it, well the sun doesn't look like it's close to rising so I guess I should go back to sleep as well.

I lean back down and pull the tattered blanket over myself and close my eyes in hopes of my plan succeeding.

A few hours later, everyone in the cell including myself are woken up to the sound of a metal pipe beating the metal bars. It's the same as usual in the morning for the past month or so I've been here. By my count there's five days left until this Kathro comes to the camp and I'll be branded like Misrurri. I only have one chance to make this plan succeed.

Feeling good about my odds, I go about my daily routine with Misrurri of taking care of the livestock and other animals. Our guards today aren't the usual careless duo so I can't be caught slacking off with these menial duties and conversing with Misrurri about my plans. Hopefully tomorrow is better for it.

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