Ul'lanna awoke in a daze, several sweating Blesseds stood over her. Her eyes heavy and body numb, she wearily scanned the room. Jacara stood over her, clasping his hands together, staring anxiously at her. "Ja..." He's expression lit up with joy, as she spoke. He rushed beside her. "Hey, it's alright. Don't talk. Save your strength." She couldn't think straight, feeling herself slipping from consciousness. Ul'lanna tried her best to remember, what had happened. All of it a blur. "You said, she was going to be alright!" Jacara yelled. "Prince, it's a miracle, she's even alive. Ruptured organs and crushed bones aren't something we can heal instantly." A Blessed snapped. The memories came flooding back into her. She had saved Yamada. Did she save him? "Ya...ya..." She eked out. "Yamada, is okay. He's alive..." Jacara said trailing off. His eyes distant and worried. What had happened to Yamada?
Irina stood in the room with the Blesseds, surrounding Yamada. His body saturated in exposed pus filled flesh, covered in balloon sized blisters. The Blesseds scrambled around him, trying to heal his organs. She hovered over his face. 'What would compel you to do such a thing? Why would you throw away your life to protect these people?...Did you know you would survive?' "Monarch Irina, you do not need to be here for this. I promise you that, we will save him." A Blessed said. "We're just having trouble stabilizing his Arcane energy. It seems almost...endless." The Blessed said, wiping his brow. "Almost as if he's absorbing it from you directly?" Irina asked. He gave her a confused look. "Yes...that's exactly how it feels. It feels like we're trying to quench the thirst of a dragon, with a droplet of water." "Take your Blesseds, see to the other patients. I will take this one into my care."
Jacara paced awkwardly in Ul'lanna's room. Blesseds rotated in and out, mending her internal organs. A tired Blessed woman came out, wiping her brow. "Prince Cagim. I know you are worried for her, but she is stable now." Jacara let out a sigh of relief. "You need to go rest, Prince." She said patting him on the shoulder. Jacara nodded, and trudged out. He noticed Saira being carried in by several guards. "What happened to her? Was she struck?" He asked, frantically inspecting her. They gave him a quick nod, before handing her to the frantic Blesseds. "No, Prince Cagim. She definitely ripped some muscles, saving us." He gave the guards a confused look. "You mean, you saved her right?" They shook their heads. "She took Commander Gwayn's old armour, and made some make shift lightning rods to protect us." "I couldn't even count how many bolts those took."
Jacara thanked and waved them off. He stopped a Blessed. "Where is Yamada? Which room is he in?" "Monarch Irina, dismissed us from him. She's taken him to the tower." Jacara gave him a peculiar glance, before letting him go. Why would she take him to the tower? He quickly made his way to the tower, asking for those who had seen her. She had been seen dragging a large slab of ice, to the lower levels. Jacara followed her down to the Blessed, training pits. He ignored the pleading and desperate woes for aid, from the empty rooms. All Blesseds, even those in training were helping in recovering the damage. Jacara found Irina, dragging Yamada in a block of ice to the lower levels. He quietly trailed behind her, placing a Feather card on himself. His body became lighter, and his breathing silent. With a racing heart, he followed her down to the depths. She floated down the pit, into the darkness. 'What the fuck are you doing Auntie?'
He waited a bit, peering into the darkness. Irina emerged from the darkness, smiling at him. "Boo!" Jacara let out a high pitched yelp jumping back. "If you're going to follow someone Jacara. The first rule is to, always have sight on them." He clutched his chest, taking deep breaths. "What are you doing? Why is Yamada encased in ice? Why isn't he being treated?" Irina wagged her finger for him to follow. The two descended into the darkness, with her illuminating the way. Jacara noticed how smooth her floating was. "Were you always this skilled?" He asked, scanning her. "Those who boast their powers, suffer the greatest defeats." Irina launched Yamada's slab into the den. "What are you doing!?" Jacara exclaimed, running after it. He sprinted to the ledge, and quickly leapt back. He spun back to Irina, sauntering over to him. "What the fuck!?" He hissed. Irina snapped her fingers, and the ice shattered into a cool mist.
Yamada plopped atop the swarm of Drakens. "The Blesseds aren't capable of healing him properly. He's a bottomless pit, that can never be filled with arcane energy." "So you're gonna feed him to the Drakens?" Jacara whispered. "No, quite the opposite. I was gonna feed them to him." She said creating a giant gate of Fire above the den. He cocked his head at her. "What?" The swarm awoke, writhing and slithering. In an instant, large frozen shards burst forth from their throats. Jacara watched on, in complete shock and disbelief. Irina had killed the entire den, in a matter of seconds. She was barely puffing. The Silver Dragon awoke with a roar, spreading its wings, glaring at Irina. "Oh, you are resilient one. However it is time you serve your alpha." "What are you-" The Silver Dragon lunged at them, letting out a roar. Jacara winced and covered himself.
The sound of gasping and scales being crushed rung in his ears. Jacara hesitantly opened his eyes. Several large bloodied shards of ice, stuck out from its throat. The Silver Dragon collapsed in front of them, its tongue sticking out and its eyes glazed over. Irina let out a deep breath, white smoke billowing out. "What the fuck is going on!?" "I'm testing a theory of mine." "And that would be?" Jacara asked sarcastically. "That Yamada, may have inadvertently created a magic, to siphon Arcane energy into himself." He glared at Irina, confused and annoyed. Yamada couldn't have created magic that advance. All he could was open the gate, and even then. It wasn't even a good gate after being tutored. Yamada's burnt and mangled body, rose a limp corpse. With a guttural roar, the blood rushed into Yamada. In a explosion of a bloody mist. Yamada stood up, hunched over. Blood dripping off his armour.
"How are you feeling Yamada?" Irina called out. He panned up, staring at them both. His draconic eyes, clearly still in a daze. He collapsed face first, his armour disappearing. The two of them peered over the ledge to see Yamada's body completely healed. "That can't be possible..." Jacara trailed off amazed. "It seems, my theory is correct. Yamada's monstrous strength, comes from a simple technique, being mastered to its highest degree." "You mean to tell me that, Yamada has learned to steal Arcane energy. Because he's mastered internalizing Arcane energy?" Jacara confirmed. "Well said." Irina said, nodding along. "I hate him, even more." He pouted. "About what?" Irina asked. "That's how, he's making girls unable to walk after sex!" She gave him a baffled look. "What?" "That makes so much more sense!" Jacara exclaimed. Irina had a confused pout, she stopped herself from saying anything.
Yamada awoke to the sound of a frenzied glass clinking. "Ul'lanna, you're gonna choke." Jacara said. The clinking speed increased. He rolled out of the bed, hearing the fabric tear and rip on his skin. Yamada took a deep breath, focusing his transformation away. He quickly got dressed and slogged out. Jacara sat beside Ul'lanna, in front of stacks emptied glasses. Various syrups glazed around her mouth. She wore her armour over leather trousers and a simple cotton blouse. Jacara wore his azure cloak, over a clean white shirt. "Seriously, slow down. You're gonna drown." Jacara warned. "Shut up." She said with her mouth full. "We're not gonna have more of this when-" She stopped seeing Yamada groggily standing in the door way. Ul'lanna quickly wolfed down another glass. "When what happens?" He asked, shuffling towards a seat.
"For when, we leave for Artaraxus." Jacara said. Yamada perked up, shaking his head. Did he hear him right? We? "What are you talking about?" He asked. "You've been asleep for three days." "WHAT!?" Yamada shouted rising to his feet. "You don't remember stupidly, flying into the Storm, and pissing it off, till a Lightning Dragon came out?" Yamada shook his head, slowly sitting back down. He had vague memories of what he did. "I remember flying towards the tower, and then...everything went dark." Jacara nodded with his lips pursed to a line. "Yeah, you got struck down by the Storm. So I had to save-" Ul'lanna punched him in the arm. "Ow!" He winced, rubbing his arm. "You did something, and made the storm leave." He said frowning at Ul'lanna. "Then what happened?" "Ul'lanna saved you from falling to your death." Yamada stared at Ul'lanna shocked, even as she stuffed her face. "You saved me?" She nodded. "Wouldn't do again though."
"Is Saira..." Ul'lanna set the last glass down, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I gave her your letter." Yamada winced. "Does she hate me?" "You would think." Jacara said. "No, in fact she's gone and taken another ship to the Citadel. Said she would, take your advice and gave you a kiss on the cheek, before leaving." Yamada reeled back in his seat. "Which is an absolute crock of shit if you ask me. If I did that to a woman, I would have been stabbed." Jacara pouted. "That's because you're not as handsome." Ul'lanna jabbed. He slowly panned over glaring at her. Yamada chuckled, before quickly shaking his head. "No, wait. Why are you two coming with me? You have lives here." Ul'lanna and Jacara shared a glance, before each taking out a small pouch of gold. "What? What's wrong? What is that for?" Yamada asked.
"Yamada, was your plan, to walk to Artaraxus. Kill their monarchy and then make your way to Kal'Nar. To do the exact same thing?" Jacara asked. Yamada took a moment thinking about his answer, before nodding. Ul'lanna grumpily tossed her pouch to Jacara. "Told you." He said, tucking it away. "It was a stupid bet anyway." She pouted, folding her arms. "Was there something wrong with my plan?" Yamada asked. The two of them, gave him a look of disbelief, lurching forward. "I marched for a good year and a half, to reach the Citadel. And that was a direct route, with minimal complications." "Okayyy...How long would it take for me to do my plan?" "Three years." Jacara said. "WHAT!? But the distance on the map, was only the size of my hand." Yamada said, inspecting his hand.
Jacara cleared the table, as Ul'lanna rolled out a map. She pointed to blue edge on the east that bordered Jux. "That's the Maelstrom." She dragged her finger over to Citadel, which was roughly fifty centimetres. "This is the Citadel." Yamada nodded along with her explanation. "That's roughly five hundred kilometres away." Yamada's jaw sagged. "From the edge of the Maelstrom, it's another hundred or so kilometres, of destructive waves and raging water, till you reach Yamata. "We're that far away?" Yamada asked. The two of them nodded. Ul'lanna moved her finger to the Silver City, roughly the same distance. It was positioned slightly south west of the Citadel. "This is where we are."
Ul'lanna pointed to a Lion head on the map, in the middle of a brown terrain, nearly two hundred centimetres from them. "That's Artaraxus." Jacara watched as Yamada's soul was slowly ripped out. Ul'lanna then slid her finger down to the bottom of the map, to its edge. "This map doesn't even have Kal'Nar on it." Yamada gulped. "How much further is it from Artaraxus to Kal'Nar." "Give or take two thousand kilometres, or a good years travel." She said rolling up the map. "Alright now that you've had your geography lesson. We should get going." Jacara said clapping his hands together. "What? I won't make you two do this trip with me." "That's not for you to decide." They both said to Yamada. "Elves killed my mother too. I'm also out for vengeance." Jacara said with a cocky smile walking out. Yamada glanced at Ul'lanna. What would be her reasoning for joining him, on his crusade. "You need a guide, and I won't be able to sleep at night. Knowing that I let you two die." She said, walking out after Jacara. "Now, come on. We've got a lot of distance to cover." Yamada smiled, and followed them out.
The three of them made their way to the southern gate. Awaiting them was Irina, next to a large wooden, horse drawn carriage. At the front was a giant emerald and gold Qilin. It's eyes blinded. Yamada stumbled back, shocked to see one. "Finally awake, Storm Slayer?" Irina asked. Yamada cocked an eyebrow at her. "Oh, just a name, I'm trying to get to take off. Do you like it?" She asked. "I didn't slay the Storm." "I suppose, I will have to think of another name to spread." She said cupping her chin. "Anyway, I suppose it's time I bid you three farewell."
Jacara bowed and hugged Irina tightly. "Take care Auntie, and thank you for everything." She ruffled his hair, as he leapt aboard the carriage. Ul'lanna curtsied to Irina. "Oh stop that. The next time we meet Lady Jiyū. I expect you to have people bowing to you." She said embracing Ul'lanna. She quickly joined Jacara at the front of the carriage. Irina pulled Yamada aside. "You've got quite a long journey ahead you, Serpent Knight." "I've waited 15 years to kill him. What's another three years?" He said with a smile. Irina smiled back to him. "Should you ever need help, know that the Drakens of Vasha, will always help their friends." She said in a hushed tone. Yamada glanced over to Ul'lanna and Jacara fighting over the reins, and smiled. "I have friends." He said happily. Words he never got to say on Yamata. He bowed, and shook Irina's hand. "Oh, I left you three a treat in the back." She said with a smile.
Yamada boarded the carriage, seeing several wooden crates in the back, with ample space for two people to sleep. "What's in the boxes?" Yamada asked. "Essentials." Ul'lanna said quickly. "If you count a whole crate of fruit syrups an essential." Jacara muttered. "Hey! I said they're essentials." She snapped, eyeing him, snatching the reins out of his hands. Yamada chuckled, climbing into the back. The three of them took off out of the city, heading towards Artaraxus. Yamada found a rolled up piece of parchment paper, tucked inside in the pillow, with a little ribbon tied to it. "What's it say?" Yamada asked. Jacara took the scroll out of his hand. "We really have to teach you, how to read proper handwriting." "If it was proper, I'd be able to read it." Jacara shook his head, opening the scroll. "Uhhhhhhh....." He let out a confused growl. "What is it?" Yamada asked. "Why does it my face, Ul'lanna's face and your father's face on it?" Ul'lanna's eyes bulged out of her skull. Jacara saw red and his skin boiled.
"Is it bad?" Yamada asked. "They placed a bounty on you two, and not me!? WHAT THE FUCK!?" Jacara shouted. "That's what you're angry about!?" Ul'lanna exclaimed. She shook her head, grimacing and cringing. She was now not only a defector, but a wanted woman. Yamada leaned in to read the scroll. "Are we only worth 10,000? Or is that 10,000 each?" Ul'lanna spun back glaring at him. "That's what you care about?" He shrugged at her, confused at why she was angry at him. "This is bullshit, I should be on this list." Jacara pouted. "What's that bottom part say?" Yamada asked. "It says a boon from the king and queen of Kal'Nar." Jacara snapped, tossing the scroll in the back. "What kind of boon could they even give? That would be worth attacking us?" Yamada asked. "A spot in the inner city. All the women you could ever want. And probably more." Ul'lanna said, glumly guiding the Qilin. Yamada smiled wrapping his arms around the grumpy Jacara and Ul'lanna. "We can still have fun on this trip." The two of them growled and muttered under their breaths, travelling into horizon.