The village rejoiced upon hearing of the freeing of the dragon, although the announcements anticipation was spoiled by sights of Ganrir flying through the sky in a blazing glow.
"We would be more than happy welcome you again!" The towns people all bowed at his feet, for he had done something truly remarkable, and they would be forever in his debt.
"I was more than happy to help. ganrir also offered me a favor, so I gained a precious amount from this encounter." Anton seemed surprised at this.
"What do you mean by that?" As far as Anton knew, the last person to be able to speak with Ganrir had been killed centuries ago. By the people from the city no less. The more Anton thought about it, the more he bagn to realise that city seemed to either hate or fear their guardian.
"Tobias, can you come with me for a second. I need to talk to you about something." Maso grabbed Tobias' arm and pulled him off to the side, trying to avoid the gazes of the villagers. To them, he was dragging their hero along.
"Do you realise what you've done!? We are trying to go to the city, and you have just opposed something that the military enforced. We just need to pray that we can get past the guards without being detained!" All of Maso's anxiety came out onto Tobias, trying to convine him of how his spontaneous actions had placed their trip in jeopardy.
But Tobias knew he was just selfish.
"What should we have done!? Left this village to defend for themselves? Let them be slowly killed by random contracts because they can't defend themselves? We saved their lives. It doesn't matter what the City's motive was. It was wrong. The one who needs to stop and think is you, not me." The aura of confidence coming off of Tobias was like a thick glaze of truth. He believed every word he was saying, and...
"I'm sorry, I didn't think about that. I just want to get back safe." Tobias understood his concern, but he knew he that this was the right thing to do.
"I get why you're upset, but being selfish while lives are in danger is just idiotic."
A great shadow fell across them as Ganrir descended from the sky.
'I have released my built up energy, it is safe to come close now' Ganrir hadnoted that Tobias seemed to fear Ganrir, although respectfully. His voice once again came from inside his head, and now that Tobias wasn't in danger, he was curious about it.
"How do you do that? No other contracts I've seen can do that. How do you do it?" The dragon snorted a puff of sparks and watched down upon Tobias.
'We Guardians were blessed with the ability to speak with an exceptional few. They only come every now and then, but they always bring change or order. Whichever one is needed most. They are the lands way of righting wrongs.' Righting wrongs? What did Ganrir mean by that? Did he mean how Tobias had saved him from the cave?
"Why were you in the cave, Ganrir. I heard that people from the City did this to you, but I can't imagine why."
'There is another Exception, but we had a disagreement. He ordered me to be imprisoned, and there was nothing I could do. You see, we Guardians have to listen to the Exceptions orders, for they are absolute. We simply cannot ignore them' That explained why such a monstrous creature had been contained in such a way.
"Why am i an Exception? What am i here to change?" Tobias thought he knew, but it seemed unreal.
'To overthrow the other Exception in this land, the current King.'
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Tobias had not imagined this. He had thought he was here to help contracts and work leather, but now he had to kill a King? A King with complete control over the City and the Guardians?
'I suggest you meet with the other Guardians in this land, for once you have spoken with them, they shall help you in your fight. I can assure you that we all wish to help you succeed.'
"What if the King gets to them first? Won't they have to listen to him?"
'We have choice over which Exception we listen to, as discovered many years ago. Now, I am sure you are tired, so I suggest getting some rest, as well as proper sustenance. I shall resume my position as Guardian.'
Dust coulds gathered as he rose into the sky, and Tobias realised just how much his body was aching. That, and everybody was staring at him, covered in burns and having just spoken with a dragon.
Maso had watched the exchange open-mouthed, but rushed to help Tobias when he passed out.
When Tobias woke, he was in a large room, covered in salve and different medicinal leaves. Outside, he could here concerned voices, presumably for his well being. But his burns were mostly healed, most likely the doings of a healer. "I need to find a healer too, at this rate."
Maso's head shot up from the table next to Tobias bed, and grinned at his friend(They had argued in the past, but always reconciled without speaking to each other). His grin faded when he remembered what he was supposed to tell his friend.
"The King is coming, and he's bringing an army."
"What?"