The Dragonslayer's Beginning

"What the hell!?" Captain Halido screamed as he unsheathed a blade pointed at the witch.

The dragonslayers getting up from their slumber took some time to get themselves up and were slightly disoriented. Even Captain Halido still looked half-asleep.

"I can explain." Akai said as he raised his arms. Miura only smiled gently, not saying a word.

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Akai explained to Captain Halido about how Miura was able to break all of those counter-magic runes and cuffs. He also explained that Miura used a master-slave collar spell on himself with the witch acting as the slave. Halido was confused, but skeptical at both Akai and Miura. Akai also explained that she used a spell to make everybody fall asleep.

"Look. I know that keeping her around is dangerous, but if she wanted to escape, she would have escaped. And if she wanted to kill us all... she would have killed us all and then some." Akai explained.

He knew that this witch had capabilities far beyond any human and quite possibly, any dragon's understanding. Akai didn't want to take a risk in finding out. He inspected the runes. They seemed very difficult to break for any high-level mage or dragon.

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After seeing those visions of a destroyed Shieldrake and the visions of a possible future where humans create a world that rivals that of a God, he decided.

"Captain Halido. I want to join your dragonslayers." His eyes filled with resolve. He knew that if he did nothing, the continent - no, the world would be utterly destroyed. He didn't have the time to find any other solution.

Captain Halido smiled in relief at the news and welcomed him fully. "I have seen how you fight. I want you to know that we don't have a real leader, right now. Our last leader, may his soul rest in peace, died in battle."

Captain Halido shook Akai's hand and said "I believe that these men will follow you into any battle. Against any dragon, beast, or monster."

The other dragonslayers listened. "I would follow him" One of them said who saw him fight the brown dragon and kill a dragon in his sleep.

They began gathering around the table where Captain Halido, Akai, and Miura were sitting. "I would follow him" Another said.

"I would follow him!" the young boy, Leo shouted.

"I would follow him except on horseback." Another said while laughing.

"I saw you fight that dragon outside the city. If it weren't for you, I don't know how many more would have died. I will follow him"

"I would follow him"

"I will follow him"

"I would follow him"

More and more dragonslayers shouted bringing their swords up for Akai. Some of them saw him fight that chimera. Some saw him next to a dead dragon that he said he killed while it was asleep. They all saw him fight that brown dragon in front of the city. They would all follow him into battle against dragon, beast, or monster.

Akai stood up as they cheered and he smiled. He felt like he actually belonged somewhere. A family.

The witch smiled as well, but for more sinister purposes. "The end of the dragons is near, then?", she whispered and paused. She was listening, but no voice could be heard. At least not to anybody else.

The other dragonslayers shouted and drank their beer for their new member.

They partied until the late night for their new member. Akai was having fun with the rest of what he would call his new family.

While they partied into the deep nights, the witch kept to herself in the corner.