Eventually, while heading down, we came across a set of massive open doors partially frozen in the ice. They looked...eerily familiar...
"Umm...Mizik? Isn't this the same as..."
"Yeah...the water dragon's temple..." I said.
I didn't like where this was going.
The language written on the doors was so ancient that I couldn't figure out what it said...even with Iris' blessing.
Regardless, we pressed on.
I saw the ruins of a great temple on the way down... Broken down and frozen inside of the cave walls.
It was no wonder I hadn't seen anything strange using seismic lookout...
"Isabella, be ready for anything. We're a lot stronger now, but it's possible that we could find another one of those dragons."
"I wonder... How is it that these two temples could be so similar? I-"
Suddenly there was a rumbling that interrupted Isabella's speech.
Accompanied by a booming voice.
"INTRUDERS!!! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE! LEAVE AT ONCE OR FACE MY WRATH!!!"
The voice sounded male, and very angry.
"Hello? Can you hear us?"
No response.
"I don't think he intends to listen to any protests on the matter, Mizik. Is it a one way conduit?" Isabella asked.
"Hmm...good question. I'll check..."
I closed my eyes and tried to feel around for some kind of magic to grab onto...
From the sound of the voice, I assumed it might have been the dragon. It was possible that he could have been using telepathy to contact us.
If only we could get him to speak again...
And just as I had hoped...
"YOU MAY NOT ENTER THIS PLACE! A TERRIBLE OBJECT RESTS HERE THAT COULD DESTROY THE VERY WORLD IF RELEASED! YOU MUST-"
"Found it! Hello? Can you hear me?" I said using telepathy.
"WHAT MANNER OF SORCERY IS THIS!? HOW ARE YOU SPEAKING TO ME!?"
"I took the line of contact and opened it using magic. We want to speak with you."
"THAT IS NOT ALLOWED! I WILL NOT PERMIT YOU TO STAY HERE ANY LONGER! LEAVE AT ONCE!"
"I would rather not do that. In fact, I was hoping you would be reasonable enough to talk with us. I have an urgent mission that requires a great deal more power to complete. The fate of all creation rests on it."
"WHAT DO YOU SPEAK OF?"
"Good...you're rational. Have you heard of something called...Corruption?"
"..."
"Well? I need to destroy it. And to do that, I need heart stones."
"ARE YOU MIZIK IRATUS?"
I was momentarily taken back by the fact that this dragon knew me by name. I decided to play it off.
"I am. How did you know?"
"COME TO MY CHAMBER. WE HAVE MUCH TO DISCUSS, PURIFIER."
"Very well."
"Mizik, it sounds like he knows you. Who do you think he is?" Isabella said.
I shrugged.
"Not a clue. But if he's willing to help, he's an ally. And right now, we need all the allies we can get."
* * *
As we reached the gigantic cavern where the frost dragon rested many hours later, we had begun to see lots of glowing crystals jutting from the area...
They all radiated an intense amount of magic.
We approached the center of the cavern and we're greeted with another giant dragon.
He was slightly larger than the shadow dragon and his scales shone like freshly blown glass. His horns were transparent and his eyes blazed with a glowing magical power.
"Speak, Purifier. What are you doing on Delvandal? Who is this female, and what do you know of the Corruption?"
"This might take a while to explain..." I said.
I began answering his questions and as I spoke, he nodded in understanding.
After I told him about Difar, his expression looked grim.
That is to say, that if a dragon made such a face, I was sure that this is what it would have looked like.
"This woman is your beloved, then... And if you die, you return to Avernia. I had heard of this previously. Avernia...the place where it begins..."
"You know about that too? Who are you?" I asked.
"I AM ZANGRIOL! WORLD DRAGON OF FROST! GUARDIAN OF DELVANDAL!"
"World...dragon? What's a world dragon?" Isabella asked.
I could swear I heard that phrase before somewhere...
"You may have met one already. Your original world is home to Kelvastiol. A water dragon. Although if Avernia has fallen, she may have perished along with it."
"The water dragon was consumed by the Corruption. She serves the Source now. She bowed to him willingly," Isabella said.
Then Zangriol raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting... She was always consumed with her desire for more power...discontent with her position. It is not surprising...but this is disastrous. A world dragon serving the Corruption? All of our wisdom belongs to the Source now. Every magical world is in grave danger. Nay...every world in the whole of creation."
"So there are more of you?" I asked.
"One of us exists in every world that holds magic. We are dragons of great age, wisdom, and power. We guard our worlds from those who seek to destroy them and only arise from sleep whenever necessary. I have been awake since I felt your arrival. But I know now that you mean us no harm."
"And why do you call me Purifier?" I asked.
"You are 'he-who-purifies-the-Corruption', yes? It is your job. Your purpose. Although, here you stand without the ability to do so..."
"Which is why we've come seeking heart stones. They'll help us, won't they?" Isabella said.
The frost dragon chuckled.
"You possess one, yes? Do you even know how to use them?"
"They're sources of great magical power, right?" I said.
He nodded.
"They are to be placed on your heart. Hence their name. But if you seek to kill the Source, you will need legendary heart stones. The ones surrounding us have formed from such a legendary stone."
Isabella looked around in surprise.
"Wait...this cavern is full of them!? Then that means...all of these crystals..."
The frost dragon nodded.
"Zangriol, are you saying that there is a legendary heart stone nearby?" I asked.
The frost dragon slowly stood up and what I saw resting peacefully underneath him, was a crystal around the size of the one Aldaril had given me.
It shone with a brilliant radiance...and the power flowing from it was many times greater than the other stone. The energy radiating off of it had a slight teal color.
"BEHOLD! THE HEART OF THE WORLD! ONE OF THE THREE LEGENDARY HEART STONES OF DELVANDAL!" Zangriol roared.
"That stone is truly...one of the legendary ones!?" Isabella said.
"Indeed. And I am willing to part with it as long as you promise not to misuse its power."
"Where are the others?" I asked.
"The heart of the deep lies far below the sea. Within the Walskold trench. You will find it protected by its guardian. The heart of the sky is within a temple far above the clouds on the highest mountain in the world. It is called Gahu. The monks who live there are unaware of its presence, but I'm sure you will find a way to reveal it."
"Very well...we'll go get them as soon as we can," I said.
"The hearts are well protected...as they have been for a long time. They will await your arrival, but the Corruption continues to infest all of creation. You must prepare yourself to face the Source."
I nodded and he spread out his massive wings.
The heart of the world slowly came to me.
When it came close, I was taken back by the intensity of its power and light...
I wasn't even sure this thing was safe to touch, in all honesty...
I tapped it with one of my fingers and had to step back even further. The magic flooded into me and I started feeling somewhat sick.
"Are you okay, Mizik?" Isabella asked.
"I'm fine... That thing is seriously powerful. I can see why they sealed it away."
"Once you have acquired the remaining heart stones, keep them safe. Mizik will take this one and the female will take the Heart of the Sky. Those will have the best compatibility."
"What about the heart of the deep?" I asked.
"Keep it. One day, it will become useful. Until that day comes, you will not use it for anything. The female must keep it safe. I sense two of the Deus Arms resting within you as well, Purifier."
That is the second time I've heard that phrase...
"Deus Arms? What does that mean?" I asked.
"I only know that they take the form of blades. The Oracle will know more. And if you have not already been told, there is likely a reason. I will not tamper with her plans. It would be...unwise... But that is another subject. When you have the three hearts, seek out the Mad Admiral. He will help you make use of them. Under no circumstances are you to place them in your chests until you speak with this man."
"Is he friend or foe?" Isabella asked.
"He is neither. It is more proper to say that he is concerned with his own interests. But whether or not he will do you harm, I cannot say. Regardless, he is the only one able to help you."
"Alright then... Isabella, let's go back to the guild. We need to deal with Akari," I said.
The Mad Admiral was likely to be incredibly dangerous... We needed to ensure that he didn't learn of us until we had the heart stones.
Isabella nodded and then looked at the dragon.
"Will we see you again?" She asked.
"Perhaps. I am the guardian of Delvandal. If I am needed, I will arrive."
"Thank you for your assistance, Zangriol."
"It is my pleasure to assist the Purifier and his party in any way I can. I only ask that you try to save Delvandal and the rest of creation from the coming darkness."
After that, we exited the cavern and made our way back up through the tunnels.
Hours later, we emerged only to find it pitch black outside...
We decided to sleep just within the cave and left after waking up.
* * *
While we were on our journey, I checked the map to find out where these two locations were.
I couldn't remember the ridiculous names of the places Zangriol had spoken of, so Isbella had to refresh me.
"Walskold trench, and mount Gahu. Those are the places we need to visit. It looks like the Walskold trench is that the bottom of the Yadio ocean."
"Then after we get to port, we can kill Akari and charter a ship to take us where we need to go," I said.
With a nod, Isabella walked close and hugged me tightly. She kissed me and smiled as well.
"I don't want that to hurt you, but I've been meaning to do it for a while," she said.
"I don't mind it. I just try to stop thinking when it happens," I said.
"No fair... I want to kiss Mizik too!" Cassandra said.
I hadn't heard from her in a while, so I assumed she was just letting Isabella deal with the dragon.
"It is definitely fair! He's my husband after all, and I won't let you kiss him!" Isabella said.
"Don't start fighting again. We have to keep moving," I said.
"I will get along with Isabella if Mizik commands it!" Cassandra said.
Isabella just sighed.
With that taken care of, we kept moving towards the port city.
We were going fox hunting.