Since we're all inside, the knights inform me that we're going to meet the other two at the throne room. That was what they agreed upon in advance for emergency situations like this. I assume that the original intent was to ensure the king's safety, but this works too.
"So what's up with Pepper's magic?" Me and Bill are lagging behind the others, making sure that they can't hear us. "I thought she could use it?"
"It's a truly tragic tale." He tells me. "One that I wish I could've prevented."
It really is sad to hear. Of course, I already knew about the dark times of this world. The event that transpired is not really a surprise. During a castle siege, demons had breached and were taking out lives. Pepper had tried her best with fighting, but she was still only a little girl back then. Especially with how powerless she was at taking on the demon lord all by herself.
That girl would've been killed were it not for her mother taking the blow in her stead. It was thanks to her that enough time was bought for the king and Saffron to make their arrivals. The demon lord got away, but at least the girl was still fine. The woman, unfortunately, succumbed to her wounds that fateful day.
"She still blames herself for her mother's death." Bill concluded the story. "To such an extent, that she refuses to use the power that failed to prevent such a tragedy."
"I see." It makes sense to me. I'm glad that I've yet to witness someone I care deeply about perish before my eyes. Hopefully, the only time that'll happen is due to old age rather than being taken too soon.
It doesn't take too much time to be reunited with the rest of the guard. Formulating a plan doesn't take too long thanks to the experience and leadership that Bill brings. It seems that each member of this team possesses four separate elements as their magical ability. Fire, water, earth and air. At least that part explains to me why they're a team.
With my light magic and Pepper's ability with a sword. We might be able to pull through with this yet. There's just one last thing to take care of before we set out.
"Salt, please make sure you stay safe in here." I kneel down to her along with her older sister.
"Yeah, don't come out of this room until we get back. You hear me?" Pepper's a bit more harsh with her tone, but I can sense her care there.
"You guys will be okay, right?" Salt asks with a lot of worry in her voice. "You'll come back, right?"
"Of course, I promise we'll be back before you know it." I honestly can't say that this will be a success. But I have no plans of dying today, so I'll give it my all.
***
It's time for the moment of truth as we approach the courtyard with this little team of ours. We only got one real shot at this, so it's time to make it count.
Carefully, everyone exits the building without giving ourselves away to the dragon. Every person needs to get into position for this plan to work, and hopefully everyone will be able to perform their roles perfectly as well.
Once we're right where we need to be, it's time to execute the plan.
I'm the first one up. Jumping out of my hiding spot, I shoot off a flash of light directly for the dragon's eyes. So far so good, as it recoils from my attack. However, it doesn't need perfect sight to be able to use its magic. After all, this is a tight space. It doesn't have to use skill, all it has to be is lucky.
Hopefully, we won't be unlucky in this engagement. A shock wave is sent out from the beast, but I'm able to narrowly dodge it. It seems that distracting and blinding the monster was less effective than we were hoping for.
With me out in the open, Phil and Till hop out for their turns attacks. Using his water, Phil's able to provide a barrier to redirect the sparks flashing all about. That allows me to retreat, but Till is on the offensive here. The man throws a fire ball that lands a direct hit. It's enough to garner a reaction from the beast, but judging from the lack of superficial damage. I'm assuming that it did little to harm it.
Not that it matters because that wasn't what we were looking for in an attack like that. Instead, what it chooses to do next is what we were after. Getting it to turn like it does allows a new opportunity of attack with that angle.
With a swift pull upward, Bill uses his air magic to blast up his partner to the sky. While he's in the air, it's my turn to provide the opening we're looking for. With the sparks of lightning still moving about in the air, I leap out to intercept one. A major mistake here would mean death, but I get my shield up just in time to deflect one of the bolts.
I'm so glad I don't miss, redirecting this monster's own attack back at it. Precisely back to where its tail is at. The power of his magic is so strong, that it hurts the dragon, causing the tail to swing outward. This is exactly what Will needs to summon the earth around the courtyard. The stones on the walls, the dirt on the ground. Everything is needed as he pulls it around the tail, immobilizing it in place.
Now it's time for our main player to move in. Waiting patiently for this opportunity, Pepper makes her appearance. I was told that her blade is one of the sharpest in the world. If she can't cut through, then this plan was never going to succeed.
"Ahhh!" She lets out a battle cry as she jumps high into the air. Bring down her full weight with the sword, she lands a direct hit. And A clean slice at that. The tail and this dragon are no longer one, as it lets out a massive roar in pain.
Amazing, our plan worked!
...I celebrated too soon.
Even if this thing has been weakened by our assault. It's still far from helpless, as it lets out one huge burst of energy in the area around us. Will is still in the air and he gets out knocked over the walls from that retaliatory attack.
"Will!" Bill screams out for him, but he too is soon blasted backwards from the outburst. The same goes for the other pair of knights, and I would've too if it wasn't for my shield.
Once that barrage is done with, I'm able to take a quick look at the dragon to see just what a failure we are. All we've seemed to do was make it angry, and that rage is directed at one person. That being the girl who just cut off its tail.
Pepper was able to stand her ground by stabbing the sword right into the ground and hanging on for dear life. Even if she didn't get taken aback, her torn up clothes and deep breathing show just how much damage she took from that with how close she was. Maybe it might've been better to just get blasted backwards, as the beast is now staring her right in the eye.
It opens its mouth and a ball of light grows. There's barely any time to react, and I feel my body move on its own without my mind thinking. A powerful blast of lightning shoots out straight for Pepper, the poor girl has no time to dodge with how weak she got from that last attack.
However, I knock her right out of the blast's range. Unfortunately, I put myself in danger as I can only see white from this attack. I'm going to die, aren't I?
You know, I thought that when you're about to die. That your life was supposed to flash before your eyes. Yet all I can see is…
...Saffron.