Chapter 7
Unexpected Alliances
While Zero and Priestess Yida were busy conversing, a panting priest suddenly entered the room. Both were startled upon hearing the news.
"What?!" Yida's eyes widened
"Yes, Priestess Yida!" the priest said, seemingly gasping for air. "A horde of Dhor soldiers are coming this way!"
"But!" Yida exclaimed, "But why?!"
Zero tightened his fist and answered, "I think I know why."
No sooner than done, Zero stormed out of the room. He knew for sure that the Dhor soldiers were after him. He could not let what occurred in Dhor happen in Afaria just because of him.
"Zero! Wait!"
Yida ran after him in full speed. As she and Zero tracked the long stairs of the tower, they witnessed the incoming brigade of soldiers from the tall windows. Remembering what the old priest told him the previous day about the fact that Afaria has never been infested with armed men before, he was not too surprised to see the citizens of the town succumb to fear.
Lineah pulled her horse to a halt. She pulled up her visor and examined the area, which instantly suddenly fell into a deafening silence. The citizens immediately hid from them in fright, startled by the sight of such a great number of soldiers that barged into their once-peaceful town.
"Lady Knight Lineah, this is definitely improper," the prince said in a low tone. "Barging in all of a sudden into such passive town is…"
However, it was as if Lineah did not hear a single word he said. Instead, the piloted her horse towards the front of the Afaria Tower and shouted.
"High Priestess Yida Benedict! Show yourself!"
Seconds later, the tall entrance of the tower opened. The two anticipated individuals finally exited the door.
"Lady Knight Lineah," Yida said, slightly bowing to show respect to the leader of the kingdom's army.
"It's… It's him!" Mignard's eyes widened upon recognizing the man who stood alongside the high priestess.
"I do not wish to prolong this state of alarm I have caused the moment I entered your so-called holy ground. And so, I shall go straight to the point," Lineah said as her eyes shot right towards Zero. "Surrender this young man to us at once."
Yida did not move an inch.
"I have direct orders from the king," Lineah said. "You will not dare interfere, will you, high priestess?"
However, instead of turning Zero in, she unexpectedly stood in front of zero, as if covering him.
"Priestess, move aside," Zero said in a melancholic manner. "I don't want anymore trouble."
Suddenly, Yida rolled her eyes towards the lady knight.
"No."
"What?" Lineah scowled.
"The mercenary isn't coming with you," Yida repeated.
Lineah glared at Yida in a threatening manner. Almost instantly, the soldiers drew their swords and bows and pointed them towards Yida and Zero. The people, who were previously watching the scene, started to run away frantically.
"Resistance means death," warned Lineah. She descended her horse, drew her sword, and pointed it towards Yida's neck. "Even if you are the High Priestess of Afaria, orders are orders."
"Ah! Lady Knight Lineah Air… The cold voice and the enigmatic persona," Yida said, raising her eyebrows. "Why do you have such bitter attitude towards me?"
From beneath the helm, Yida saw Lineah's eyes narrow down. She was quite pleased with this reaction.
With a malevolent grin, the high priestess continued, "Is it because my powers aren't capable of bringing back your deceased father? Or is it simply because you're acting like the king's puppet?"
Lineah was not able to give a response immediately. However, she pushed the sword further to Yida's neck, giving her a small cut. Blood trickled down her neck.
"P-Priestess!" Zero exclaimed. "Stop it!"
However, Lineah did not move an inch. With the sword still pointed towards the priestess' neck, she said with a cold tone, "Do you still desire things to end bloodily?"
Unexpectedly, Yida's calm expression did not change.
"Then try me."
"Lady Knight Lineah! High Priestess Yida… I plead that you stop this senseless fight," Mignard immediately descended from his horse and came between the two parties.
"And I also plead that you put a stop to this ridiculous chase," Yida said with a grin. "I'm NOT turning over the dragon child."
Sacred Dragon Protection!
"UGHHH!" Lineah yelled as a powerful force pushed her back several feet away. She crashed on the ground, but was able to get back on her feet almost instantly.
Yida stood there, now holding a scepter she pulled out of her sleeve.
"Priestess!" Zero exclaimed.
"You think you can still seal off the Death Dragon once the king captures you?" Yida said to him. "You have a lot of things better to do than rot in jail!"
Hearing this from the priestess, the young mercenary could not help but smile, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," Yida said, glaring at the incoming lady knight who was now ready to attack anytime. "We have some pending tasks."
"Soldiers, put down your weapons! I'll fight her alone!" said Lineah in a serious tone. The soldiers obeyed without hesitation. Her eyes flashed a terrifying gaze.
"Get ready… Here they come!" Yida said. Zero nodded as he pulled the sword that hung on his belt, which was lent to him by the high priestess earlier.
Lineah charged towards the high priestess. Yida attempted to dodge, but she was struck on her left sleeves tearing her cloak partially. Mignard, meanwhile, rushed towards Zero and exchanged blades with him.
"You're… really the dragon child?" Mignard said.
"Gaia Sphere is in grave danger, Your Majesty! If only the king would take time and listen! YAAAA!" Zero retorted.
"Ugh!" Mignard grunted as he was powerfully forced a few steps back by the mercenary.
"Y-Your Majesty… Are you alright?!" Zero's eyes widened.
"Don't let him distract you, Prince!" Lineah shouted. "Hurry up and use the artifact! Finish him off quick!"
"B-But… But I…." Mignard hesitated.
"Zero, keep your defenses! Don't let him get through!" Yida immediately warned. Lineah swished her sword once more, but misses her target.
"I can't!" Mignard said, turning pale. "I can't do it!"
"USE IT!!!" Lineah screamed to the top of her lungs.
Without warning, Mignard's dragon artifact began to glow in red light. The prince stood in surprise and watched as the four headed dragon was unleashed without his command. His whole body emanated very bright light, forcibly setting out a vast amount of energy beyond his control.
"What's going on?! The Elemental Dragon Pendant… has gone out of control!" Yida exclaimed.
"AHHHHHHH!!!" the prince screamed in pain as the energy continued to storm out both from his body and the dragon artifact that hung on his neck.
Suddenly, an ominous chorus of 4 different voices, coming from each head of the four-headed dragon, echoed inside Mignard's head.
Son of the Dragon of Death!
Must destroy!
"It's gone beyond the caretaker's control! Do something at once!" Lineah anxiously said to Yida.
The soldiers and the other townsfolk looked at the sky in awe as the great four-headed dragon roared in fury. The eyes of the red head glowed, looking straight towards Zero.
"AHHHHH!!!" Mignard continued to scream in pain.
"No!" Lineah shouted.
Immediately, the high priestess ran in front of Zero. She raised her hand with the Sacred Dragon Ring. A white sphere magically encircled her.
Sacred Dragon, reveal your power and bind the enemy's energy!
White mist surrounded Yida. The wind gathered more and more force as it pushed back everything in its way. Zero shielded himself from this powerful display of energy with his hands, yet his eyes never left the marvelous view that unfolded right in his very eyes.
A white dragon… The Sacred Dragon Medina…
Sacred Dragon Seal!
The Sacred Dragon rushed towards the four-headed dragon, encircling around it with an unbelievable speed, forming a huge sphere. However, that was not all.
The sphere compressed. It gradually became smaller and smaller as if squeezing the four-headed dragon inside it. The earsplitting cry of the dragon was heard all over Afaria, as if it was struggling to escape from a robust cage.
The bright light surrounding Mignard diminished instantly. He fell to the ground, cold sweat rolling down his forehead as he gasped for breath. "What… What happened… ugh…"
The sphere continued to shrink smaller and smaller until it was only the size of a pearl. Little by little, the energy emanating from the high priestess disappeared. The small glowing sphere landed on Yida's palm.
Then, the high priestess collapsed on the floor.
"Priestess Yida!" Zero shouted as he rushed towards her, holding her head up. "Priestess Yida!"
Lineah and Mignard also rushed towards Zero's side as they anxiously checked on the high priestess' condition.
Slowly, Yida opened her eyes.
"Priestess Yida!" the three of them said in unison.
Yida weakly lifted her hand that was holding the sphere and handed it to the prince, "Your… dragon… Take it…"
"Are you alright, Priestess Yida?!" Mignard asked as he received the shimmering sphere from the priestess' hands.
"Yes," Yida answered. "The Seal… requires a huge amount of energy… I should be alright soon… ugh…"
The prince looked at the small sphere closely. He saw four colors seemingly swimming inside the pearl-shaped item: red, blue, green, and white.
"B-but…why?" said Mignard in a confused manner. "I did not summon the dragon… But it came out all of a sudden…"
Son of the Dragon of Death!
Must destroy!
"The four-headed dragon…" the prince said, recalling the ominous voice that he heard as his body went berserk earlier. "Mentioned about destroying the 'son of the Dragon of Death'."
Zero's eyes widened upon hearing this from Mignard. He swallowed hard as cold sweat rolled down his forehead. Then, he noticed that blood was once again profusely oozing out of his palm with the dragon mark.
I… must be that 'Son of the Dragon of Death'
I am the dragon child…
All of a sudden, a voice of a woman echoed out of nowhere.
Pierce through the enemy's nerves!
Dragon of power, put a halt to all actions!
Put him into your control!
The woman suddenly charged towards them, her whip glowing in green, resembling the scales of a snake. The familiar figure greatly resembled the one who assaulted Mignard and Lineah back in the forest.
"No…" Yida said faintly. "Run, dragon child!"
"LOOK OUT!!!" Mignard shouted to warn Zero.
"What the…" Zero looked back.
He tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Dragon dwelling in the whip I grasp, paralyze him at once!
Stun Dragon Bind!
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