16 Forging the Dragonslayer
After Akai and the rest of the dragonslayers were done celebrating their new companion, Akai needed some equipment. His gauntlets were destroyed against the battle with the brown dragon and his armor was slightly chipped and haven't been maintained. His sword was also dull in parts.
His ring hasn't been damaged, so there was no problem there.
He asked some of his dragonslayers to help him out with some new armor. They suggested some armor and swords made out of dragon scales, though they also said that it would be expensive.
He thought to himself.
"What if I could get the dragon scales. Is there a blacksmith that can forge what I need?"
One of the dragonslayers said, "Yeah. The blacksmith is nearby. Old man Barb. If you say that you're a dragonslayer, he'll give you a big discount for first timers."
"Thanks," Akai replied.
---------------------------------------
As Akai heard this, he went over to a wagon and rented one to take him to a town. The witch followed wherever he went. The captain didn't like having that witch around, but trusted that Akai could keep an eye on her. Even Akai didn't want Miura to wander alone. He hoped that the restrictions he put on the carvings would prevent her from causing any trouble. But that hope only works if the carvings even have an effect on the powerful dark mage.
Akai and the witch sat on the wagon towards the ruins of a destroyed town. Butterton Town. The two got off the wagon near the entrance as the pathway was full of rubble, and the driver waited for them to return. Akai grabbed an empty crate, while the witch was ordered just to follow along.
The two went over to the remains of Jezeboyah. He saw ravens and crows picking at the dead remains of the dragon. There were still plenty of dragon scales to use, though. Akai hoped that the dead dragon wouldn't mind.
"I hope you forgive me, Jezeboyah," Akai said to the remains as he walked towards the body while the witch followed behind.
"Are you asking forgiveness on looting your dead father-figure or on becoming a dragonslayer?" Miura asked.
Akai ignored her and took out his sword. He began cutting off pieces of the dragon scales. Scale-by-scale. Each scale he place in a bucket. The crates were big enough to hold about 500 each, if Akai fills the bucket to the top. He brought five crates with him. He didn't know how much he would need, but knew that there should be plenty of scales on the ancient dragon. Four of the crates remained on the wagon.
Miura was watching as Akai worked tirelessly cutting off the ancient dragon's scales for hours.
Miura sat on the empty crate in boredom during most of it, until enough scales were on the ground that would fill up the first crate.
"I think I can speed this process up if you may allow me the use of magic," she said.
Akai paused and looked back at her. "Well, by all means, go ahead."
With this, the runes glowed and she used telekinetic magic to rip off the scales by the dozens. They began to gather into a giant ball above them.
Akai looked at her and asked "Why didn't you say that you could do that before?"
"You didn't ask," she replied with the same gently smile.
Akai wiped off sweat from his forehead and sheathed his blade. "And I thought I was a wise guy," he said sarcastically.
---------------------------------------
As the driver was sitting by the wagon. He began drinking some water, but as he looked over towards the entrance of the town, he spit his water out in suprise. A shadow loomed over him. A ball of dragon scales was floating above Akai and Miura.
Akai walked past the confused driver and placed a crate full of dragon scales onto the wagon. He then took out the other four crates and opened them. When they all opened, Miura used her magic to spread the dragon scales evenly among the crates. Each one of the crates were filled to the top.
With that finished, Akai grabbed each crate and placed them on the wagon. When they were done they went into the wagon and took a seat.
Akai looked outside and noticed the driver in shock.
"Well. Come on. Haven't you seen a mage, before?" Akai said jokingly and laughed.
When Akai looked at Miura, her face just looked the same with her gently smile.
Akai sighed. The driver got back on the wagon and straightened himself out. He began moving the wagon back towards King's City.
---------------------------------------
When Akai and Miura arrived to the city, they went straight to Barb's blacksmith. The wagon dropped them off right in front of it. Akai ordered Miura to use her magic to carry the crates with her. As Akai entered the blacksmith, he was greeted by Barb. An old man, but still strong and rough enough to handle heavy metals.
Miura gently dropped the crates containing the red dragon scales of the ancient dragon, Jezeboyah. Akai ordered a new gauntlet, graves, and sword made out of these scales.
Barb looked at the red dragon scales and felt around it. He nodded and said that he would gladly do this job for free. Akai was suprised and said, "Uh. No. I can pay if you want."
"Nonsense. These dragon scales are some of the finest I've ever seen. It's payment enough for me to try and cast some armor and weapons out of these."
"Akai, what about your head? If your... thing fails, then wouldn't a helmet be beneficial?" Miura suggested.
"Helmets block my vision. Just makes it harder for me," Akai replied.
Miura took a second and said, "I can enchant your helmet, if you'd like. I would be able to make it so that you would be able to see completely through the helmet, as if it wasn't even there."
Akai turned to Barb and asked "Do you think that the amount of scales we acquired would be enough for a helmet, as well?"
"I think there's plenty of material to use."
Akai replied, "In that case" he removed his cape and then his breastplate "I want a helmet and some scales mixed into my armor, as well. I want some of the scales added into my current breastplate."
He handed over his breastplate and gave it to Barb.
"Very well. Give me a week and I'll have it done," Barb replied.
---------------------------------------
Akai and Miura both had a room at the Den of Dragonslayers.
When they entered their room for tonight. There were two separate beds.
Akai said, "I'll take the left bed. Don't try to do anything during the night."
The runes didn't glow. "Too broad," she replied, "but don't worry. I won't try anything."
They both slept for the day.
---------------------------------------
A week has passed and they arrived at the blacksmith hoping to get his new armor.
Akai entered with Miura following behind. Barb said that he just needed to do some finishing touches. Akai noticed the helmet. It looked like that of a dragon. He could tell much craftsmanship went into his new armor.
Akai waited outside for Barb to call them in.
As the sun set, Akai was asleep lying by the door, while Miura was still standing over him questioning herself.
"This guy is supposed end the dragons? That's getting hard to believe," she whispered to herself.
As she finished this sentence, Barb ran out the door and yelled, "I finished it! I finished it!"
He looked down and saw Akai snoring.
Miura kicked Akai and at that moment, her tattooed collar started to burn her with an intensity higher than any fire a dragon can muster. Akai woke up and said "Is it done?" while Miura was rolling on the ground holding her neck.
---------------------------------------
Akai entered and saw the armor. The helmet, greaves, and gauntlets were smooth crimson red. The breastplate was black with red scales on the sides and crimson patterns reflected from the contrast of black. The helmet was in the shape of a dragon. It's visor covered the face and had openings for where the person would see through. There were two reptilian eyes on the side of the visor made of glass, but Akai couldn't see through that piece of glass. The greaves and gauntlets were shining red. Then, Barb took out a sword.
The hilt was stylish and cross-guard. Red lines of the scales were beaming out from the guard. The blade itself was red and reflected the fires from the forge all around the room.
"It's beautiful," Akai said, "I must pay you for this work."
"No. No. Next time, you can pay me double if you like for either more armor or maintenance. I have never worked with scales of this quality. They were harder than any other dragon scale that I worked with," Barb replied, "But please try on the armor."
Akai took off his cloak and equipped the pieces of armor. First he attached the black and red breastplate. Then, the crimson greaves and gauntlets. He put the cloak back on him. Last, but not least, he held the helmet in his hands and looked at it.
He held the master crafted helmet and put it on his head with the visor closed.
Barb and Miura were both surprised. The armor fit perfectly. It felt light-weight and strong at the same time.
He held his visor open and said, "Miura, I hope you can do some enchantments."
---------------------------------------
When he arrived through the Den of Dragonslayers, the other dragonslayers looked at him in awe. Captain Halido and Leo had their mouths wide open as Akai strolled through as if he was a lord. He gave off a supreme aura that would give a feeling of fear and respect to anybody that saw him. His new armor was far stronger than anybody else's in that room.
Akai and Miura went to their room. Miura began enchanting the helmet, so that when Akai wears it, he would be able to have full sight with the extra benefit of protecting his head.
"I could add more to the rest of your armors," Miura suggested. Akai nodded.
As soon as Akai agreed she started reinforcing the rest of the armor. Making it stronger to resist other magic and elemental forces. She looked at the ring, and saw that it was still working. She then took the sword. Miura held the sword's blade and with that, white fire burst out from the dragon scale blade. Miura handed the blade over to Akai and he held the fire in his hands.
"When you want to turn the fire off, you just need to think it. Same applies to when you want to bring out the flames."
With that in mind, Akai reduced the flames in his mind and as he did so, the white fire on the blade dispersed. Then, he tried to imagine the fire coming back, and the fire on the blade appeared.
Akai smiled in excitement. He had full control over the flames.
Miura watched and said "I was right about you. You are meant to be followed. All of these other dragonslayers know it."
Akai put away his blade and armor. As he was putting away his armaments, the witch continued, "Are you actually committed?"
Akai thought for a moment. He knew now that the only way to save the rest of life is to cause the extinction of another. He couldn't rely on the ancient dragons. None of the other dragons would believe him and every second he wastes, the more likely that the dragons' minds will degenerate. He had to act quickly.
"I'm going to start with the ancient dragons. They're the most dangerous and if their minds become lost... then, I don't know how many will die. I was lucky with Jezeboyah. But I can't rely on luck."
He looked at Miura. "I'm absolutely going to need your help on this one." Akai said, "But two things I need to know. First, what are your most powerful destruction spells? Second... how good are you at heights?"
