The Orc territory was the largest in all of the demon side. It wasn't a match for countries like the Klerical Kingdom or Elsbeth but held its own unique charms. Generally Orcs were large, some shade of green and muscular. Even their women tended to be very athletic. Although their eyes were small they had excellent vision. Their hair was usually dark and of all their features their most prominent were their teeth that jutted out on the edges of their mouths and a slightly squashed nose. For many of the demon races orcs were regarded as not the most appealing to look at, however they had a hidden beauty that wasn't too hard to see after spending time with them.
The Heroes and I were on our second day after leaving my town and were passing through a village on the north edge of the Orc territory. It was a small farming village with a population of several hundred, as such, they didn't get many visitors and eyes glued to us like magnets as we entered.
"Wow so many Orcs," Alicia mumbled. "Is it like this everywhere?"
"We're in a small village so other races don't come by often," I replied. "But the bigger towns will be pretty much half orc half something else."
A small child ran to us from the fields, "Hey, hey Mister! Why are you all here? C-could you be adventurers?"
"That's right," I said and patted him on the head lightly.
"Wow! I want to be an adventurer when I grow up."
"You need to be really strong you know?"
"I help dad in the fields, so my muscles are really big for my age."
"Is that so," I chuckled. "But shouldn't you be helping him now?"
"Ah, that's right," the boy ran off.
Carl looked at the kid fondly, "I guess it's every boys dream to become an adventurer."
"Yeah if this job existed back home I'd totally go for it," Gary said. "Though is it okay to say we're adventurers here?"
"Why not?" I replied, "After all the adventurer system was started here."
"What really?"
"Yeah, though the humans wouldn't admit it. It was initially started about 700 years ago by a high demon. Our plates only have our names and rank, and are the same for the human or demon side."
"That's handy."
We walked through the village and bought some supplies. It was the early evening but the village had a decent inn so we were contemplating spending the night there instead of in the middle of a field or forest. That's when it happened. We were putting away our goods when, from the skies, an enormous figure ploughed into the nearby field. The Heroes covered themselves from the impact as dirt and water flung in every direction. The village was immediately alive with panic. Even for Orcs not all of them could or wanted to fight.
Whatever it was that fell began to rise again but as it did another even bigger shadow crashed into it, tossing it away from the village.
"Were those dragons?" Sayuri asked surprisingly calm.
"Probably Dragonkin in their dragon form. Actual dragons are much more destructive when they fight," I replied just as calm.
"But didn't that first one look familiar?" Alicia pondered. She was right, it kind of did.
I raised my voice to the villagers, "Everyone calm down, we'll investigate what the problem is. Until then please stay here and watch over each other." They nodded nervously.
I led the Heroes quickly in the direction we saw the dragons go. It was really easy to spot them. The earth had been torn up and trees had been broken in half or entirely uprooted. Three dragons were fighting. It was two versus one and the one was severely on the losing side. He was tackled in the side and thrown to the ground but managed to kick his assailant off. The other dragon let out a burst of fire to which he countered with his own. In a rush he pulled back, claws dug into the ground and wings spread out in preparation.
"Tell us where she is Draft and we'll spare your life!" one of the two assailant dragons roared.
He replied with a vicious growl, "Over my dead body!"
"Then we shall force it out of you and then rip you to shreds," they charged at once.
I flew up between them, "Hold it." A barrier blocked both sides. The two dragons recoiled from the sudden impact and looked at me with angry reptilian eyes,
"This is none of your business High Demon. This is a matter between Dragonkin."
"Unfortunately for you it is my business, see you're trying to kill my neighbour."
Gary clapped his hands as he floated up, "Ah so it was Gilbert." The same Gilbert who ran the bakery back home. By no means was he a fighter but the fact that he managed to hold his own was a testament to his determination.
"You hail from the same home High Demon?" the other dragon eyed me dangerously. "Tell us where it is and we shall let you all go freely."
"Nope," I smiled. "If you had nice intentions I might but you're kind of reeking the whole evil thing."
"That fool you're protecting created a child with a human! A detestable half breed that needs to be purged before it comes of age," he spat. So that's what this was about. Damn Dragonkin and their stupid pride. If they knew who I was they wouldn't dare look at me like that but there were relatively very few people who knew what I looked like without my mantle on.
"Now that's a problem because 'Tina' isn't a detestable half breed but a very happy young girl. Sure she can be a bit cheeky but I'm not going to let you take another step." I looked at Gary, "This is yours."
"Sure," he grinned more than happy to comply. Roots burst out of the ground and wrapped around the two Dragonkin's limbs. They struggled but couldn't pull free as they were slowly pulled to the earth. Gary was certainly improving.
"You bastard! We'll get you for this. We represent the council! A word from me and your head wi-," he shut up as Gary's roots bound his mouth.
I looked at Gary with raised eye. He just shrugged, "What? They were annoying me."
A wave of heat burst behind us and Gilbert turned back to his more human form. His clothes had been torn all over and blood splattered his skin.
"Mr Draft!" Sayuri caught him as he fell.
"Sorry," he coughed.
"What are you doing here?" Alicia asked almost angrily, "Didn't you leave town to buy herbs? Leena and Tina are probably worried sick."
Carl gently held Alicia back, "Calm down, I'm sure he has his reasons."
"And I'd like to hear them," I settled to the ground beside him and began to ease his wounds.
"I'm sorry my Lo-, Davios," he groaned as the magic began to work.
"If you're sorry then spit it out."
He sighed sadly, "I left to protect them. Leena and Tina are my life. But as you can see the rest of my race are not as forgiving as yourself."
"But why are they trying to kill you?" Carl asked, "Is having a half human child really so bad?"
I replied for Gilby, "Even having a child of mixed demon descent is looked down upon in most places. Being half human is even worse. Dragonkin however are a special case. Even those born from a non-dragonkin mother can use the gifts normal Dragonkin can use. Having a human be able to morph is a great sin to Dragonkin."
"It is as Dave says," Gilby nodded.
"But what I don't understand is why they knew about Tina. Everyone should know just how sensitive that information can be."
"It can't be? Did someone betray the town?" Sayuri looked mortified as she remembered the smiling faces of the people.
"No," Gilby shook his head. "The fault lies in me and what can be said as bad luck. We Dragonkin have a tale of one who can turn into a Gold dragon. To most it is a child's story of a being that can wield great power, a Hero to our people, one that will herald a new age to our kind. However there is some truth to it. The ability to become such a dragon is beyond rare and our elders have searched for one such child for centuries. They have gone so far as to create a grand magic that will search for the one who carries it."
I frowned. I had indeed heard of the story but never thought much of it. Out of all the tribes my family had the least sway on the Dragonkin. They were split into a purist faction and the Lord's faction. The purist faction believed Dragonkin held a higher standing among other races, especially humans. Honestly it did have some merit. Dragons were existences that could be traced even further back than High Demons and Dragonkin were the race who had received their blessing. The purist faction were led by an elder council, whereas the Lord's faction was led by a General under my command. To think that the council had gone so far as to create a grand magic to find someone. Grand magic took years to create and were on the level of the barrier that was currently sealing the Monster behind my castle.
"So this magic found Tina?" Alicia asked.
"Not quite. It couldn't find Tina but was able to discover her blood mix, or really, the fact she is half-human. From this they found out I was the father. They had my smell from the time before I met Leena. The two who attacked me are trackers. It was by chance I met an acquaintance as I was buying herbs. She told me the trackers had been sent so instead of returning I ran."
"Gilby…," I looked at him sadly, then slapped him. He looked at me in shock. "I understand you didn't want the town to be involved but your first duty should have been seeking my help."
"B-but how could I bother my L-, you."
"Tina bothers me all the time so I'm used to it." Now the problem was what I should do from here. This matter took precedence. If the purest faction of dragonkin reached my town they would definitely try to destroy it even if they knew I was the one who made it. Their elders were crafty bastards as well, spin it in the right way and they could cause a civil war. My family couldn't deal with a civil war and that Monster at the same time. Now to think about it they'd always been a thorn in my family's side. A part of the demon community but at the same time against it. It's no secret that they desired my family over turned and replaced with themselves. To them dragons were the true powers of this world. Which mind you was partially correct. Even I couldn't take one on without preparation or equipment.
I was still in thought when Gary rushed over to us, "We have a problem!"
"What is it?" Carl immediately asked.
"They escaped…."
Silently Alicia walked to him and slapped on the head, "Idiot."
"Hey watch it! It's not like I didn't try to stop them. They poofed into their other form and my bindings fell off but before I could bind them again they just vanished. I think they were teleported away."
I rubbed my chin and sighed, this wasn't good. "If what you're saying is true Gary that means the Elders are already on to us. Teleporting others is hard to do, let alone from a distance."
"Then what now?" Sayuri asked me.
"First we get Gilby to shelter." He was keeling over barely awake. "He's no warrior and who knows how long he was fighting those two before we came. Sayuri look after him. Carl, Alicia go as well. Gary, you and I will stop by the Orc village and gather more supplies."
We split away from each other. Gary and I went back to the village and explained it as a simple dispute. After buying extra supplies for Gilby, I passed over some money and fixed the damage to their fields. On our way back to the others Gary suddenly called to me,
"Dave. I know this isn't the right time and all but since we're alone, do you mind if I ask you some stuff?"
"Sure, but why can't you tell the others?" I answered.
"Well…," he hesitated. "It's because I'm having some doubts about the Demon Lord."
"Doubts about what?" I was curious.
"While we were in Trafkir I had a run in with a succubus, or at least a half one."
"Oh…," from memory the only person would be a succubus I knew called Mira. I had offered a place in my town but she wanted to be a spy instead. "Umm did you…."
"No," Gary shook his head as he reddened. "Well to be honest I almost fell for her but her trying to kill me kind of ruined the mood. But that's not the important part. The thing is she started to ramble about how the Demon Lord was actually trying to make peace with the humans… it didn't feel like she was lying."
"…." So that's why Gary had been a bit moody while we were in town. I thought it was because his twin sister was spending a lot of time with Carl.
"What do you think?"
"I can't really say," I shrugged, "I've never met the guy." After all can you really meet yourself? "But don't take it too seriously, succubi are masters of manipulation. Just save the judging for when we see him."
"Right…." From his expression he was still having doubts but knowing Gary he'd bounce back soon enough.
The others came into sight. They had laid Gilby down beneath a tree and washed the blood and grime off his body. Although he was sleeping, his expression was pained. Physically he was fine but fear and apprehension for his family had started to gnaw at him.
Sayuri stood up as we returned, "Dave what do we do? Will Tina and Leena be okay?"
"We'll make sure they are," I smiled softly. "But to do that we might need to take an extensive detour."
"Detour?"
"Yes, we'll be heading towards the Dragonkin territory. It's at the north most point of the demon side. Even by cloud it'll take us about a week without stopping but time is imperative right now. They'll come looking for us, so instead we'll go to them and settle this as quickly as possible."
"And what about the Demon Lord?" Carl asked.
"He can wait," I replied nonchalantly.
"Then let's get going," Alicia huffed. "Anyone who would dare lay a hand on Tina is going to get my fist shoved so far up their-,"
"Okay we get it," Gary sighed, "Let's just go."