ENTER THE MYTHRIL Chapter VIII

CHAPTER 8


Stirling Castle catacombs. August, 1389 A.D.

The afternoon was somewhat dark due to the cloudy sky that also showed a red tonality. The coming of the autumn provided the landscape with a cuttlefish aspect as the leaves turned darker and fell off the vegetation. A wonderful sight that was only perceivable during certain twilights outside. It is the view provided from the open portal to the Chamber of Trails, where two Bronze guards stood immobile, even though their curiosity was almost encouraging them to look into the chamber itself. Had it not been for Cerberus standing so close, occasionally looking outside to enjoy the pleasant display of nature, the guards would have done so.

The Emerald one himself was concerned, for he had also sensed something out of place within. He couldn't tell what was it, but he remained alert anyway. Unlike most dragons in the den, he strongly considered that humans were more a threat to them than a helping paw, even though millennia of alliance have proven wrong. At his age, he could tell that humanity had evolved, changed into something utterly different. They had grown greedy with power over the land and wealth, easily seduced by mere earthly pleasures in spite of their own unity as a race. Cerberus idly adjusted his wings, leaning against one of the stone columns that supported the castle above them, cross-armed and engaged on one of his strong legs, the right one. His left leg was simply crossed before the other and his tail waved casually to his side. As a measure to keep him relaxed and distracted, the spades on his tail flared open and closed again repetitively. The gesture on its own made the guards somewhat uneasy, possibly what was keeping them from taking a peek inside the chamber, and the fact that he carried his gigantic mercurial sword with him made it worse for them. It was another year of tension for him, no doubt, and the members of the Council as well.

Cerberus wondered if the coming crisis would originate from the coming of Allastor to this world. Even though the Mythril Dragon was not his own son, he was as close to a father as Tal'kar himself. Allastor himself had shown a certain appreciation for the Emerald taking care of him, his mother and his sibling, even if Cerberus treated him in a rather rough way. Or at least not in public. His regal and severe demeanor towards the hatchling was really but a façade for the care he ended up feeling for the Mythril one in his almost 60 years of age now. In fact, Allastor reminded him very much of his long lost brother, except for the recklessness Allastor obviously lacked. From time to time, the Emerald one would turn his head to look into the chamber as Allastor stood at the center of it.

The scene seemed much like a personalized class in magic, normally taught by one of the members of the Arcane Council, but Elder Xenarius sought necessary additional instruction to Allastor, even though he was forbidden access to harmful spells, and most schools of magic. Few spells from the school of Conjuration were allowed, some forms of Illusion and Enchantment were not to be shown to the hatchling and Invocations were strictly forbidden for him. Necromancy was by default not taught among their ranks, due to the alignment of their order and the nature of the spells themselves. The few that knew about them were mostly self thought, and even such magic was restricted within their grounds.

The Mythril hatchling stood in front of a pedestal, on which hovered a ball of blue flame, created by Elder Xenarius himself. The Golden dragon slowly paced around the young one, watching as he performed. Allastor was meant to turn that flame into something else, but it had been quite sometime and many attempts, without a result, possibly to the fact that the spell in question was a complex one from the school of Transmutation. Gesturing with his hands with a slight frown and a squint, the hatchling focused on the pedestal and the crackling fire. He grimaced at times, but always remained quiet, focusing on the words in draconic he was though to remember and repeat the spell in his mind.

"Patience, young one..." Elder Xenarius spoke with a soft voice. "Straining yourself will drain much more energy from you than it is required. Focus is all you need. Do not hasten the casting."

Allastor made one deep breath, and carried on with the task. He would have sweated if his system would have allowed it, but instead he began to pant. After some time he gave up, lowering his arms and letting his shoulders and wings to fall, looking at the flame with frustration. He dared not looking at him, so he looked down instead, apologetically. His ears dropped as well. Xenarius simply sighed. With a wave of his hand over the flame, it quickly stopped cracking and became a solid red mass of flames that slowly faded and became a ceramic vase. Allastor noticed, lifting his ears at the outstanding ease and speed his master had done it. But after a while of examining the vase, he looked at Xenarius, who stared back at him. The look in his features was not very encouraging or comforting at all. It was pretty blank, and Allastor couldn't tell if he was disappointed on him or not. The hatchling flattened his ears again and pouted, his eyes becoming slightly misty.

"… I… I am sorry, master…" he spoke with a very apologetic and soft tone. Xenarius would only stare at him for a few moments with his silver eyes.

"You are distracted, Allastor. What is in your mind?"

Allastor said nothing. He couldn't find any word for his master, not even a cheap excuse for his dispersed mind. Although, he truly had some thoughts revolving on Tavah. Being his first experience with a female, the youngling thought of her almost at all times, even though he and Tavah had to somehow sneak out to a lonely place to really be together. Sometimes, they would be discovered by other hatchlings, Illidan, Allastor's mother or Tavah's father, each with different results that normally would end up separating them. The latter case usually was the most frightening for the Mythril hatchling, for Tavah's father was very distrustful of Allastor. Nevertheless, Allastor couldn't wait for that afternoon to be with her.

"So, it is that female of yours…" Xenarius somewhat smiled at Allastor, to which the latter one's ears blushed. He couldn't help but nod. The Golden one continued. "There will be time for matters of love, young one. I am aware it is a completely new experience for the both of you, especially under the circumstances you both are."

The hatchling nodded, embarrassed, grabbing his left elbow with his right hand. His own tail curled around his legs and his wings closed in on his torso shyly. The elder looked upon him, wondering at how he had grown into within a short time. One of his best students, he knew his potential would be limitless in every sense, once he learned his purpose. He would one day become a figure to follow, but that day was far from this one, many centuries far. The elder then looked at the horizon in deep though, to what Allastor followed his gaze. He found nothing but the afternoon fading slowly into twilight, and Cerberus looking at them both from outside the chamber.

"Today's lesson will be over now." The Golden one spoke, and Allastor looked up at him with his ears raised. "You may leave, young one. Go to your family. You will need to be together tonight…"

It seemed too sudden for one of the personalized tests from the elder to Allastor, and his last statement did not seem to make any sense, but the hatchling couldn't figure out why and he simply obeyed and exited the chamber. Once out, the dual doors closed behind him. He didn't feel any better that he would now see his lovely friend now. Never before he had fizzled in one of task put by the High Elder, who had great expectations of him. He had failed and not for magical insufficiency, for he had once turned water into a crystallized figurine branding the symbol of Bahamut in it. He just stared at the door, still looking for words of apology for his master. A larger shadow blocked the sun from him and covered him. When he turned around he found Cerberus looking down at him.

"No one is perfect, Allastor." He spoke firmly. "You cannot expect to best every single test put before you."

"… But… he is right, master Cerberus. I am distracted…" The Mythril hatchling sighed in frustration. To which the Emerald dragon bumped his head with a paw. "Ow!" Allastor rubbed his head with a paw of his, looking up at his arms master and combat trainer.

"What have I told you about letting your guard down, rookie?" Cerberus crossed his arms, staring at the hatchling skeptically. "Don't even dare apologizing! What I have taught you applies not only for combat. I may not be fond of the arcane arts, but I know what it takes to get the job done. Even the scars you may earn from it serve as a reminder of you mistakes."

No words came from the hatchling, as it was usual, he would not complain about anything, even if the situation would require him to in his own defense. Not to his superiors, at least, especially one as rough and strict as Cerberus.

A female, a Sapphire adult came into their presence, wearing simple attires, and accompanied by a little Ruby girl grabbing the lower section of the mother's dress. Kilyne had come to wait for his son to finish the lesson after picking little Illyanna at the play grounds. She was somewhat surprised to see them both before the closed dual doors to the Chamber of Trails.

"What is it?" she inquired, looking at the Emerald dragon beside her son.

"The lesson was dismissed sooner than expected."

Kilyne looked at his son with some concern. "Al?"

Allastor was already looking at his mother and sister. His looked turned much like that of a kid about to tell his mother that he had failed a test.

"The reason of the early termination of his lesson escapes me." Cerberus spoke again. "Whatever it may be, High Elder wanted him to have the rest of the evening for him and do as he pleases. I will assume you wish to spend some time with him."

"I would rather have him do as he wishes." She smiled at Allastor, walking to him, and offered him a warm embrace. Allastor smiled back and tenderly wrapped his arms around his mother and closed his eyes. She caressed the top of his head. "He has enough restrictions as it is."

Illyanna pushed against Allastor's thigh and he looked down. She was smiling brightly at his eldest brother, and waved her tail happily. The Mythril youngling could not resist that look on her -he never could-, and with his tail and one arm hugged her tightly against him. her sister was just too cute and too special to Allastor, perhaps overly and more than their mother. The little Ruby looked at him as an idol to follow, and she paid no attention to anyone who dared speaking bad about her brother. The little one giggled and the mother allowed them to stay together, smiling, and then looked at Cerberus.

"I will never be able to repay what you have done for him, Cerberus." She spoke sweetly regarding the Emerald one before them. "Both you and the council."

The larger male looked down at the two hatchlings hugging one another. For a moment, a faint smile was formed on his lips, and then turned his gaze to Kilyne.

"Bah! It is the least I could have done for you, Kilyne, and especially when Tal'kar was not around."

Just after they stopped talking, another female, much younger than Kilyne came into scene. Tavah had come to wait for Allastor, and was shocked to see many more than she expected. She flattened her ears shyly staring at them, and they back at her, smiling, perhaps with the exception of Cerberus. Allastor was the last to notice her and still holding his little sister, he gave her a smile. The Sapphire youngling returned the smile at him, and for a while they focused on one another. Illyanna let go of his brother and ran to Tavah with her arms spread, to which Tavah kneeled slightly got catch the little one and hugged her in return.

"Are you going to be Allie's mate, Tavah?" the little one asked innocently and cheerfully.

The Sapphire youngling laughed, and looked at his certainly potential white mate. His ears blushed and looked between Tavah, her mother and Cerberus. After a small speech amongst them, the adults and Illyanna allowed Tavah and Allastor to leave on their own, not before Kilyne reminding them to be home before late night. Cerberus had signaled -ordered- Kilyne to go to her mate and other son. He suspected something would happen anytime soon and he hurried to warn others to be alert.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They had been guarding the walls of Stirling for the whole night and the night before. The Bronze and the Ruby had begun to drift from consciousness. The night was dark and cold and it had already started raining. The crimson one of them yawned widely, and the other was suggesting his partner to call for a switch, when something pushed him violently from his post, outside of the wall and falling on the wet grass. He didn't have time to react and the ballista spear pierced his armor and back, keeping him agonizingly against the ground, bleeding. He was able to emit a few grunts and growls of pain before he went limp, and moved no more.

The Ruby dragon stared at his now dead companion in arms in woe, as panic began to crawl up his spine, a feeling that felt like a chill that came from the tip of his tail up to the back of his neck as he turned around. The horde of humans and soldiers carried torches in numbers that seemed overwhelming. Another spear flew before he could give a roar of alarm to his other kin within the caves, piercing his head through his muzzle. It killed him instantly and was unavoidably driven down on the grass with a loud thud and splashes of water accumulated there.

The army of humans did little noise for the size of it, counting with at least a hundred soldiers and almost half as many volunteers. General McGregor, now portraying a beard and going grey, leaded the horde of people according as planned years ago. He ordered the catapults to be readied and aimed to the caves into the den, which were loaded with boulders of stone drenched in oil and set a blaze. In the mean time, a small group infiltrated the den through alternate exits, leaded by a mysterious cloaked figure…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Back at the rookery, Kilyne did not found Tal'kar but she found the usual mothers and hatchlings from the new rookery. The kids played with one another, remained sound asleep by their respective mothers or even fed themselves from whatever pre-mashed meat was stored for the young ones to eat. Illidan sat with some others a rather violent game, which in the end served for their training, but Kilyne though it would be too harsh for him, even if Illidan himself said he was fine. Illyanna was sound asleep in her arms.

"Darling, biting others' tails is not good manners."

"Buff mommeh, iff ish jush a gameh!" Illidan complained, with his partner's tail still in his mouth. The other little one took a chance to pounce on him and constantly tried to immobilize Illidan against the stone floor.

"And neither is speaking on a full mouth", Kilyne chuckled. She then scanned the area around them. "Where is your father?"

"I do not know." The little Sapphire said from the ground, still struggling with the Bronze hatchling, who was giggling.

Kilyne sighed, a bit worried.

"Well, you better be ready for you bed time. It's getting late, dear."

"Aww, mommy…" He complained. "But you let Allastor stay up all he wants. It's not fair!"

"Now, now, Illidan! Do not get started on-"

She was interrupted by a loud explosion and the ground seemed to shake around them. Everyone in the rookery stopped what they were doing and looked around wondering what had happened outside of the stone walls. The hatchlings that were sleeping woke up alerted and some of them burst into tear and cries. Kilyne constantly tried to comfort Illyanna on her arms, sitting on her nest and held Illidan close with her tail, who hugged her back in fear. Other mothers did similarly with their respective hatchlings. They all gathered in their respective nests protecting their kids and some fathers and females without babies stepped close to the entrance to the rookery, in hopes to find out what was going on.

Commotion and confusion invaded the stone walls of the cons of Bahamut as more of those loud impacts succeeded to hit the walls, seemingly getting louder after the last, driving some of the parents and non-parents uneasy, making a couple of them get out of the rookery.

Outside, a more or less controlled chaos filled the halls lit by the blue fire torches. Hatchlings and youngling that were still outside ran into other dragons in hopes to go into the rookery with their parents. Guards and sentinels moved in and our of the improvised armory under the lead of Cerberus, who had been ready for this for some time now thanks to the High Elder and a couple of His Grace's counselors. The Emerald one ordered several tight lines of defense to the main entrance to the den and took a few dragons with him to distribute among the other gates. In pair, the dragons headed to the other gates, and Cerberus himself took a Silver companion to the library after a mental message from the Elder had warned him that it had already been breached.

Indeed, the cellar had been invaded by now by a group of human soldiers, supported by a couple of semi-dragon mages, who seemed to perform magic much like the dragons from the Arcane Council did. A couple of dragons had been beaten -slain- on the very floor of the blazing cellar. Entire tomes were lost to the fire and the lives of two hatchlings were risking being lost as well.

Allastor and Tavah had been visiting the cellar to spend time together for the last month or so, only this time they were interrupted by Norren and his gang, and had started to pick on him in order to gain Tavah for him. Fortunately, or more unfortunately, humans had interrupted them as well. They struggled to get past the smoke and the fire out of the inner chamber of the library, and a few dragons around them trying to save some of the tomes and scrolls did not help during their escape. Some shelves had already fallen and blocked their path outside of the library. The six hatchlings found themselves close to the magically concealed doors of the hall when Cerberus entered and saw them.

"What in the name of-!! GET OUT OF HERE!! Head to the rookery, NOW!!"

The six of them stared at the Emerald one, for instants before running out. In normal circumstances, they would have probably be frightened about the larger dragon getting upset, but the threat was too great to even bother with even reflecting on what to do about Cerberus roaring at them.

Within the Chamber of Trails, dual doors still closed, some of the members of the Arcane Council, the Dragon Council, remained relatively calm, awaiting for orders from the High Elder, who was sitting on his own preceding seat. He remained crestfallen for this whole time, and he looked to the doors. The other dragons accompanying him, including his beloved Silver one by him, stared at him as he stood up. He looked at his mate lovingly before looking at his followers. A few word escaped his muzzle in a low tone, barely audible by the present.

"It has begun…"