Chapter 4: A Scret Beneath the Mountain

-King of Excelsius' Throne Room-

The king can be seen sitting at his throne and in front of him was Mirabel Embers. On the left of Mira was the six royal knights standing in line adjacent to her.

"Hello Mira" King Hanael says while smiling.

"It's been a while"

"What is it this time King Hanael" Mira says as she crossed arms.

Mira's left foot keeps tapping the ground showing signs of irritation.

"You dare speak like that in front of the king" Quinn says.

Mira's foot stopped moving and she looked at Quinn with furious eyes. She did not know where she can vent her irritation and Quinn made the perfect opportunity for her to do so.

"You lowli-" Quinn says.

"STOP!" King Hanael says disrupting Quinn's words.

"I'm sorry my king, I couldn't stand someone who does not respect your authority" Quinn says.

"I wasn't talking to you Quinn" King Hanael says.

Quinn suddenly felt something piping hot drip on his shoes. He looked down and saw numerous amounts of spikes made of lava all over the ground near him all pointing at him. It was silent and none of the royal knights heard a single thing. Quinn couldn't believe his eyes, death was knocking on his door and he didn't even know. The other royal knights finally saw the spikes and also couldn't believe what they're seeing. They all froze in place.

*This. This is ancient magic* Avery thought to herself.

*How can someone have so much power*

"Mira, calm down" Hanael continued.

Mira took a breath and calmed down. Her eyes now were at the king and the spikes slowly came back to the ground. As soon as the spikes vanished Quinn's feet lost their strength and he fell down but quickly transitioned into a knight's bow in order to hide what happened. The other royal knights was finally able to breathe easily again. They remained standing.

"Now that everything's settled, let's get on why I requested you here Mira" Hanael says.

"It's about the person who beat Black Bandit's Don Johnson"

Mira sighed as if to say that she already expected that from the king.

"A royal knight reported to me that you had seen the face that individual. Is that true Mira?"

"Yes" Mira replied.

"Seeing that he did the kingdom a great pleasure defeating one the most notorious criminals of Excelsius. It is my duty to award him for his troubles"

"And you want me to tell him" Mira says.

"Precisely Mira, still as sharp as ever I see"

"Save those words for people who can easily be manipulated"

"Haha, oh Mira always the joker"

"And what if he refuses?"

"We'll see. Remember Mira, it is not an order but a request, although it will happen whether you tell him or not" Hanael says with a smile.

"Hmp" Mira says as she turns away from the king.

-Lost Brothers' shop-

"But you told me they were free? Why would you take it away?" Levi said with a long face.

"They are! But only to people whose last name isn't Frost" The blacksmith replies.

"But. But. Isn't that cheating?"

"My weapon, my rules!"

"I didn't even have anything to do with what happened between you guys"

"No means no kid! Leave! I ain't seeling to yah"

*I'm losing this fight* Levi thought to himself.

*Surely there's something I can do to persuade him*

"So you want me to just leave? That's it?" Levi said.

"Yep, exactly. Leave and get going"

"So you don't want to know about dad? How he's been?"

The blacksmith stopped for a moment. He looked at Levi with serious eyes and then looked away immediately.

"N-" the blacksmith says.

"Why he left?" Levi says interrupting the blacksmith.

The blacksmith focused his eyes at Levi again.

"Okay"

"you win" The blacksmith whispers.

*YES!* Levi thought.

"What's that old man?" Levi says.

"You... Win" The blacksmith whispers again.

"What I can't hear you?"

"YOU LITTLE BRAT! I SAID YOU WIN. LOUD ENOUGH FOR YAH?" The blackamith shouts.

Levi looked at the blacksmith with a smug look on his face.

"Well? Spit it out!" The blacksmith said.

"Tomorrow I'll get you dad, you give me the weapon"

The blacksmith hesitates for a moment.

"Deal" The blacksmith said.

The two of them shook hands.

"What exactly happened to you and dad anyway?" Levi asked.

"Well, you might as well know" The blacksmith said.

"Your father and I were partners in crime. He was ranked 3rd and I was ranked 6th royal knight, we were the unstoppable duo, no task was too great for us, whenever he charged forward I'd hack enemies beside him. The day came that being a royal knight was becoming a wall for your father, there were no wars back then, our lives was peaceful so there was nothing that needed protecting, no subjugations, no raids, nothing." The blacksmith said.

-Flashback-

The blacksmith and Vincent can be seen on the top of the front wall of the Kingdom looking at the sunset.

"Do you ever wonder what's beyond the horizon Erdin?" Vincent said.

"Why, what are you thinking Vincent?" Erdin replies.

"Do you ever feel the need to know what lies ahead. Like that irresistable feeling of exploring the unknown. To see the sun in a whole different point of view. Do you? Because I do"

"I can't say I do Vincent"

"Erdin..." Vincent said.

A long pause happened.

"I'm quitting the royal knights" Vincent continued.

Erdin looked at Vincent.

"I'm gonna become an adventurer and travel the world" Vincent said.

Erdin looked back at the sunset. A tear dropped from Erdin's eye.

"Then I guess this is the end of our-" Erdin says.

"Will you travel the world with me?"

Erdin was surprised. His tears became tears of joy. He quickly wiped off his tears.

"Of course you dumb meathead"

"So we retired being royal knights and became adventurers. Together with your mother and father we started a traveling guild called Champions of the Unknown. We traveled the world and became well-known across kingdoms, we took on giant beasts and conquered many tasks. Then one day we took on a quest, that quest led us to an undiscovered cave underneath a mountain. I remember that night like the back of my hand. It was dark and eerie, the only light was the moon. The wolves howled across the night."

Vincent looked at the map.

"Hmm, I guess this is the cave" Vincent said.

"Best keep our guard up" Luthor says.

"We never know what might come in our way"

~Luthor Shields: Paladin

"Should I scout ahead captain?" Dedric says.

~Dedric Towerfall: Assassin

"It's fine Dedric, all of us will go together" Vincent says.

Dedric nods in agreement.

"I have a bad feeling about this Vincent" Erdin said.

~Erdin Thest: Blacksmith

"You have little faith Erdin. With Nira, Luthor and Dedric on our team, nothing can stop us" Elsynia says.

~Elsynia Maerdrym: Archer

"Hey! I'm here too you know" Vincent says.

"We know dear" Nira says with a slight giggle and a genuine smile on her face.

The cave had an entrance as big as a mansion, bats flew out the moment the guild went inside the dark cave. The cave was empty, as if no monster ever dared to walk inside it.

"Illuminate" Nira said.

~Illuminate: The caster summons an orb of light that can be controlled.

The more the guild went deeper, the more silent the surroundings became silent. The noise from bugs and water droplets disappeared.

"Yaaahh" Elsynia shouts.

Elsynia suddenly fell in a shallow pit.

"Are you okay Elsynia?" Nira says as she helped her climb up.

"Yes" Elsynia said.

"What is this anyway"

Nira moved the light orb in the center of the pit and the guild was able to get a full view of what it was. It was a footprint of a large creature. Dedric examined the footprints closely.

"Footprint's old. About centuries old, whatever it was it's probably dead or long gone already." Dedric said.

"W-w-what kind of creature can create that huge footprint?" Elsynia said while shivering and holding Nira.

Suddenly a strong current of air came from the inside of the cave.

"I hope you're right Dedric, or we're about to find out what it is right now" Luthor said as the guild readies their weapons.

The guild got on formation. Luthor went to the front, Vincent covered the left side and Erdin covered the right, Dedric went to the ceiling, Nira and Elsynia went to the back. The guild was ready to strike in a moments notice. The current disappeared and the cave returned to being silent.

"Uuhhh. How long are we suppose to be in formation." Erdin says.

"I don't think anyone's coming guys" Elsynia said.

"HAHAHAHA that's right you insects, cower before my might HAHAHA" Nira says while holding her staff.

"I can never get used to Nira's change of character whenever she holds her staff" Elsynia whispers.

"Don't look at me, I've known them longer and I still don't get how she does it everytime" Erdin says.

"False alarm everyone" Vincent said as the guild puts away their weapons.

"But be on guard, we still don't know what lies ahead."

The guild went further. Elsynia went to the front of the group and led the walk. She casually walked with no care in the world.

"This is not a playground Elsynia" Luthor said.

Elsynia walked backwards while looking at Luthor.

"Oh please Luthor, Dedric said that whatever it was, it's long dead or go-" Elsynia says but was interrupted when she suddenly felt that her foot landed on nothing instead of the ground. The cave had a cliff and she lost her footing. Elsynia gasps as she was falling, raising her arms in an attempt to hold anything to prevent her from falling. Suddenly she felt someone pulling her up by grabbing her hand. The two of them lost balance, the person fell on the ground and Elsynia fell on top of the person.

*Sniff sniff*

*This smell!* Elsynia thought to herself.

Elsynia looked up and saw Dedric holding her tightly.

*OMG IT'S DEDRIC*

*EHEM EHEM*

*Hi Dedric!*

*URGH*

*He's so handsome!*

"You should always be careful Elsynia" Dedric said while looking at Elsynia.

"Uhh. I-I'm sorry Dedric" Elsynia said.

"Come on get up you two" Luthor said.

Luthor extends his hands to help them. Dedric grabbed Luthor's hand but Elsynia got up by herself. Elsynia looked at Luthor intently.

"HMMP!" Elsynia said as she rolls her eyes.

"What her problem?" Luthor said.

"That's a deep cliff" Vincent said as he looked down the cliff

"Whew"

Vincent's words echoed throughout the cave.

"The ceiling's gone dark too, I can't even see the top lf this cave anymore" Erdin said.

"This is most likely a dead end" Luthor said.

"Doesn't need to be" Vincent said.

"Dear?"

Vincent looked at Nira and Nira nods.

"Illuminate" Nira said.

Nira summoned two more orbs and combined them into one having a stronger light. She sent the orb to the bottom of the cliff and surveyed some of the area. They saw some pillar looking rocks and a somehow even ground.

"That's not so far down and not too steep either. We could go probably climb down slowly" Vincent said.

"Is this really the only way?" Erdin said.

"Why you chickening now, Erdin?" Elsynia said.

"I just. I don't feel really good about going down there" Erdin said.

"Something tells me it's not a good idea"

"Well the only way forward is through this cliff, so either that or we go back" Nira said.

"Nira's right" Vincent said.

"Don't worry Erdin, we're here, if anything comes up we'll beat it together" Luthor said.

"I'm telling you, my dwarf sense is tingling" Erdin says as the group climbs down slowly.

"They were always wrong anyways don't you remember?" Elsynia said.

"This time for sure, I know it"

The group reached the bottom. They continued to walk forward.

"It's just your imagination getting the better of yo-" Elsynia said.

"Shh!" Dedric said interrupting Elsynia.

The group stopped walking.

"What is it Dedric?" Vincent said.

"I hear something" Dedric continued.

"Hear what?" Elsynia asked.

"It's faint but it's there. I couldn't hear it at first because we were too high up. But now we're down. It's definitely there" Dedric explained.

"Just tell us Dedric" Nira said.

"I can hear something breathing" Dedric said.

"It sounds like someone sleeping"

"Where?" Luthor said.

"In that direction" Dedric said as he points forward.

Nira sent her orb forward slowly. Everyone stayed silent, none of them was blinking, their hearts pounding loudly. Every second was eternity for them as they await what lies ahead. The orb walked slowly passing through rocks and pillars, and upon reaching a certain distance, they saw a black pointy rock. It was different from the other rocks, it was a bit shiny and reflected a bit of the light. The orb went a bit further, then the black rock suddenly moved. It wasn't rock, it was a horn. The face of a dragon was illuminated from the light.

"Nira!" Vincent whispered immediately.

Nira swiftly raised her hand openly in front and closed it, commanding the orb to disappear. Everyone froze up, they are breathing heavily, no one could believe their eyes, their heartbeats pounded like crazy. A creature that was thought to be extinct long ago suddenly appeared right in front of them.

"W-was that a.." Elsynia said while shaking heavily.

"A dragon, yes" Dedric said.

"But I thought they were extinct" Luthor said.

"I told you guys, I told you" Erdin said.

"That was a dragon, a real live dragon" Vincent says a bit jolly.

"I can't believe it"

"Why do I feel that you're happy" Nira said.

"Because dear, it's a dragon, a live dragon" Vincent replies.

"And?" Nira said.

"It's the reason why we made the guild. To discover the unknown"

"Right.."

"Well we're about to be un'discover'able if we don't find a way out of here" Luthor said.

"The cliff's too steep to climb. Only Elsynia and Dedric can climb a cliff like this" Erdin says.

"We can try looking for another way outside" Nira said.

"I'll try to scout ahead captain" Dedric said.

"Okay, bring Elsynia with you, try scouting there" Vincent said as he points to the left side of the cave.

Elsynia and Dedric nods.

*Oh my god* Elsynia thought to herself.

*All alone with Dedric*

*Ughh even the thought of it is already killing me*

"Erdin, Luthor go here" Vincent continued as he points to the other side.

The two nodded also.

"Me and Nira will go check if there's a way around the dragon"

"Easier said than done dear" Nira said.

"Nah, we'll be fine" Vincent says.

"As long as nobody do-"

"CLANK!"

A loud sound coming from the group. It was the sound of metal hitting rock. Everyone looked at Elsynia.

"IT'S NOT ME!" Elsynia shouted.

"Then wh-" Vincent said as he looks the other way towards luthor's group.

Vincent stopped as soon as he saw Luthor's face and how Luthor's shield is still vibrating. Luthor's shield hit a pillar while he was turning. The sound was so loud that it echoed throughout the cave.

"Oops?" Luthor said.

"Oops indeed" Erdin said.

The dragon woke up and roared loudly.

"Everyone, heads up" Vincent said.

"It's gonna be a long night"

"Oh my god this is really happening" Elsynia said as she starts shooting arrows at the dragon.

"Get your head in the game Elsynia" Dedric said as he disappears into thin air.

"Take this you evil dragon bastard! Ice Bullet" Nira said as she points her staff towards the dragon.

~Ice Bullet: Caster produces ice spikes around him, all pointing at the desired target and shoots at bullet speed.

"CHAAAARRGGEEE!" Erdin shouted.

Luthor, Erdin and Vincent charged towards the dragon. Luthor stood in front of the dragon while the other two circled to it's two sides.

"Iron Skin! Call of the Mighty!" Luthor said.

~Iron Skin: Caster's armor becomes impenetrable by physical and magical attacks for a fixed amount of time.

~Call of the Mighty: Caster produces a shout that attracts enemies within it's range making them mindlessly attack the caster.

The dragon attacked Luthor with it's claws but Luthor managed to block it. Erdin, Dedric and Vincent, seeing the dragon open simultaneously attacked the from all sides.

"Twin Cleaver" Erdin said.

~Twin Cleaver: User dashes to another spot while spinning violently with his two axes cleaving anything in his path.

"Shadowfall" Dedric said.

~Shadowfall: User teleports a certain distance above the target and makes a powerful downward slash with his weapon.

"Dragoon's Ascent" Vincent said.

~Dragoon's Ascent: User charges his spear then jumps, striking with lightning speed.

Everyone's attack connected but made no such effect.

"Did we do it?" Elysnia said.

The dragon once again roared loudly.

"That's one hell of an armor" Vincent said.

"I think we just made it mad" Erdin said.

Elysnia made a sigh.

"I guess we didn't" Elsynia said.

"Stop your whining and start yapping you weakling" Nira said.

The dragon flapped it's wings violently creating so much wind current. Everyone struggles to hold their ground.

"Urgh! It's too strong, we're gonna get blown away" Elsynia said.

"Get. Get behind me! Everyone" Luthor said.

Vincent, Erdin and Dedric went behind Luthor.

"Fortress of Solitude" Luthor said.

~Fortress of Solitude: User creates a strong force field covering an arc in front of him, making them immune to magic and physical attacks.

The force field is formidable but the attacks from the dragon were relentless.

"The shield won't last very long" Luthor said.

"Nira reinforce it" Vincent said.

Nira covered the inside of the force field with thick ice to help it sustain the attacks from the dragon.

"The shield is holding" Erdin said.

"Nice work Nira" Elsynia said.

"Heh, 'Tis but child's play" Nira said.

Seeing that his attacks are doing nothing, the dragon stopped moving his wings.

"HAHA! NOW THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE. IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I LAST HAD FORMIDABLE FOES. ENTERTAIN ME MORE IN YOUR FINAL MOMENTS MORTALS"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Wait. Was that" Elsynia said.

"THE DRAGON?" The group simultaneously said.