Age of Heroes

'Here' Arial looked and he could feel the excitement in his heart right now

'Finally,' he muttered.

Arial has trouble breathing these past few weeks. Long enough and he wouldn't be able to fight.

The black veins are beginning to spread further now reaching around his arms. If he is at home right now everybody would notice.

He then tells the information to his mercenary's troops and that they are to be prepared. After their usual dinner all went to sleep but Arial and Velamina stay awake resting together near the big rock.

'Dragons, huh' she said

'Finally.' Arial muttered under his breath. One step closer to his objectives.

'May I inquire, why you want to hunt a dragon?' Velamina ask

'You may not, though you could tell me what you know about dragons.'

Velamina smile.

'Your unwillingness to tell me your motive saddened me, but I accept your request, my lord' she said and she chuckles

'Do I sound like lady of respectable birth just now?' she asks. Arial laughed and shakes his head and said

'Not at all. They don't sound that pompous' She also laughed.

She then calms herself down and then she said

'Dragons. Their blood is red like humans. They can live at the harshest climate whether in the sweltering heat or extreme cold. Their wings are large and terrifying. Their roar resounded to the heavens. Intelligent and aggressive. Live for a very long time. Most of them are in an age of extinction.'

'Why?' he said suddenly curios.

"Man, of course."

"Man?"

'Do you want to hear the story?' she asks

Arial look at the stars in the night sky, feeling the caressing of the wind and he nodded

'I have always liked hearing stories'

She smiles and then she began

"Man is the relentless enemies of the dragons. When the King of Dragons died in the hands of Great Avenger Levitia and his companion, he roared to the Heaven, saying 'The Age of Gods and Dragons, Giants and Lich, of Ancient things and Old Gods are at its end. Now the Age of Man begins as we return to the Sea of All Things.' Since then, dragon never speaks. Their noble disposition is replaced with furious anger and terrible hatred, their words stripped away from them. They burn. They slaughter. And then came judgment upon them in the form of the Four Brothers. They were hunted nearing extinction. That is what I know of dragons. Now they are nothing but beast.'

Arial nodded. Then he asked

'Why do you think that dragons do not speak anymore?'

'There are many theories' she said

'Enlighten me then' he said

'Some say it is because of magic but I believe it to be different.'

'And what is your theory?' Velamina took a deep breath and there is a sorrow in her eyes as she said

'Treat an intelligent creature like a beast long enough; they themselves might believe themselves to be a beast. Now the dragons are nothing more of nuisance, their era ended ages ago. A remnant of an ancient past'

Even while saying so, there is wistfulness in her tone. Arial look at the bright stars that lined the skies and nod. A remnant of an ancient past.

'Maybe' he suddenly said. Velamina nodded

'I hope you survive this quest of yours my lord.' She suddenly said. Arial smile.

'Yes, let us pray that would be the case. Because if not I am going to be the dragon food' She chuckles a bit hearing Arial cracking a joke.

Arial open his bag and sit down.

'Sit, Velamina.' She sits and then she was offered a drink by Arial.

'Faeries wine. White and smooth' he said.

'How did you get it?' she asks her eyes widening.

'I happen to travel around the Faeries Fabled Forest and was given to it by some of their grateful citizen.'

'You are a lord of great renown if you are offered Faeries wine.'

'I am a normal lord, of no consequence.' She giggled.

'Now, who is keeping secrets?' she said

Then they talked about various things under the starry skies.

'Did you get the Flame wolf blood?' she asked

'I did.' He replied and he gives the bottle of blood to Velamina.

She asks a favour from Arial if he ever encountered a flame wolf to get their blood for her. A few days before, Arial coincidentally enter the wolf territory so battle ensues.

'What you're going to use it for?' he asks

'It can help heal external and internal injuries though if we succeed in killing the dragon it will be a better then wolf blood'

'How do you mean?' Arial asked not following. She looked puzzled at Arial.

'Why are you hunting dragon? Is it not because you want its bone?'

'Why would I want its bone?' said Arial puzzled

'For its healing properties obviously! Dragons are after all magical creatures. Ancient creatures. Old Things. Old Gods.'

'Tell me.' And Arial seem a little bit excited to learn about dragons. Velamina titled her head. She could not believe that this young human lord did not know about this.

Then why is he hunting a dragon? She waves this out of her mind and then explain

'Dragons bone can be grinded to make a powerful potion to heal internal injuries and external injuries rapidly. I have seen nobility use dragon dust to heal their injuries. Rub it at the wound and the wound disappear. Their bones can also be made to be forged into armours and arms. You don't think that all those men only followed you because they want gold, do you? One fine dust powder of dragons would fetch a hefty price in the markets. Their scale makes a good armour and shield.'

Arial shakes his head. He doesn't know this.

His only objective is to take the dragon heart. He did try to read about the dragons but since he was busy all the time he never got the time to properly read.

'Is that so?'

'You don't know?'

'This is the first time I heard of this'

'Then why do you want to hunt it?'

'I want its heart.'

'His heart? What would it be good for?' She asked.

'I have my reason.'

Velamina looked at Arial, her confusion deepened. This human lord is smart, powerful but his motive and behavior are strange.

Velamina knew he is a lord, yet he has no trouble consorting with common folk, and have not the arrogance of a lord or their pride.

He was enjoyable to be around with, and a man that is highly dependable. Velamina could not hate him.

And even though her prophecies dictate that she has to have an offspring with such a man, she doesn't think she qualified.

Dark Lords do not have any scuffles in taking a second wife, so does the faithful of Sun Emperor but this young lord doesn't seem a man that is like that.

He seems to be a loyal husband and full of honour. Velamina glance around the mercenaries in the cave soundly sleeping.

These mercenaries even form certain bonds of loyalty to Arial, one that is highly rare for mercenaries.

He is a great leader, with great leadership and he was more comfortable in battle like it was his home, like he has fought in many war.

But he is so young. How could such a young man could have been involved in a war, Velamina wondered.

'What are you thinking about, Velamina?'

'Nothing, my lord.'

Then they continued their drinking, exchanging stories, and finally exhausted and tired, they sleep on the large rock, her head on top of his arm, his face near her head and from afar it will appear as these two are embracing each other.

So end the night, filled with the starry skies as the dawn show itself and their journey to the dragon lair begins.

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See you all tomorrow. And Age fo Adventure has come out of hiatus now. At least for this month since I probbaly would hiatus it back in next month.