"I'm telling you to kiss the princess, Elijah." A voice pierced through the haze in my head. I struggled to open my eyes, which felt glued shut.
When they finally obeyed, I saw a boy about my age sitting by a campfire, soaking in its warmth. His pale blonde hair fell into his face as he looked up to his right.
"Elijah, I'm telling you for the last time, give the princess a fucking kiss," he said with a serious tone.
He shifted his gaze and locked eyes with me, a smile forming on his lips. "Looks like the princess doesn't need any," he said, still smiling.
I blinked, trying to process the situation. "NANI?" I blurted out, confused.
Lucas chuckled, "Welcome back to the land of the living." He looked to Elijah, who seemed embarrassed, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. "You were out cold. Thought you might need a little...fairy tale magic to wake up."
I shook my head, slowly sitting up and rubbing my temples. "How long was I out?"
"Just a few hours," Lucas replied.
Elijah interjected, "He's lying, it's been about half a day."
"It's the same freaking thing," Lucas shot back.
"But thank God I didn't have to handle his blah, blah, blah alone for much longer," Elijah said, screaming into Lucas's ears.
"It wasn't just any talk, it was about the future of your regeneration," Lucas muttered, a bit touched by Elijah's comment.
"Yeah, PURE RETARDIUM," Elijah scoffed.
"Looks like you don't want any kids," Lucas retorted, summoning a fireball near his finger in a gun style, aiming at Elijah's crotch.
Shielding himself, Elijah quickly stood. "Pwahaha," Arthur laughed, unable to contain himself any longer. He tried to stand up, using his arms to maneuver himself and leaning against the wall. Elijah moved to help him.
Arthur raised his hand in front of Elijah, as if inviting him for a handshake. "I'm Arthur, Arthur Leywin, but you guys can call me Art," he said, looking over at the seated Lucas.
Lucas extinguished the fireball with a flick of his fingers, a smirk playing on his lips. "Nice to meet you, Art," he said. "I'm Lucas Wykes, Must have heard the name."Lucas said he combed his hair back in pridefully manner. Elijah looked at him with a disgusted expression on his fabously introduction.
Elijah glanced between Arthur and Lucas, the tension easing slightly. "Elijah Knight," he introduced himself, shaking Arthur's outstretched hand. "Good to finally meet you properly."
Arthur knocked on the wall behind him. "Are you responsible for this metal shelter?"
Elijah, nervously scratching his chin, spoke in a low tone, "I conjured it just as the cavern caved in. I think the Elderwood's body is supporting the entire cave."
Elijah glanced at Lucas, who was eating his famous RAINBOW LOBSTER, a smile on his face.
"What are you smiling for?" Elijah irritated asked.
"You're about to be exposed," Lucas said, grinning as he stuffed his face with white flesh.
Arthur laughed. "Are you a dwarf?"
Elijah looked at Arthur, realizing his secret was out. "So much for keeping secrets, eh?" he said, a bit downcast.
Lucas and Arthur both chuckled. Arthur, smiling mischievously, asked, "Tell me about it?"
Elijah glanced at both of them, then sighed. "How about this... I'll tell you what you did back there as well."
Lucas whistled. "Looks like the black dog is biting back," he said, smiling.Elijah continued, pointing to his own head.
"Your hair turned white!" He moved closer to Arthur. "And there were these shining symbols on your body." Closer still, he added, "And your eyes! Your eyes were glowing purple too!"
Arthur pushed Elijah back with his arm. "Fine, I'll tell you about it."Elijah sat back. "Well, for one thing, you are right. While I was raised in the kingdom of Darv, I'm not sure where I originally came from," Elijah said, scratching his head. "Elder Radheas, who has taken care of me for as long as I can remember, always avoided the subject of my parents."
Lucas interjected, "You're a half-dwarf, then." He punched his open palm as if solving a mystery.
Arthur nodded. "That could be," he said, looking at Elijah with curious eyes. "But still, you don't look like one."
Lucas, now more interested, fixed his posture. "So what about your life? Why did you become an adventurer?"
Elijah grabbed his head and spoke, "My memories of my childhood tell me that I lived a normal life."Lucas nodded.
"Until I broke the dark orange stage. After this weird surge of energy, I blacked out. When I came to my senses, I was surrounded by these black spikes of metal."
"And after that, Elder Radheas told me it was time to leave and explore the rest of Dicathen, without even telling me why. It all happened so fast that I always feel an itch that I can't quite scratch. But I know it has to do with my powers. And where I came from."
There was an awkward silence, broken by Jasmine's sleep-talking. "Arthur, that fish is no good, this one is tastier."They all chuckled.
"So, what's your story?" Elijah asked, looking at Arthur sitting in a relaxed manner.
"I'm a Quadra-elemental Augmenter with two deviances: Ice and Lightning," Arthur replied.Lucas whistled.
Elijah, stunned by this new discovery, stood up, smacking his head on the roof he had conjured. "Holy... Ouch!"
"Here I thought I was a freak, but I guess you win. But wait, what's with the hair color change thing?" Elijah asked, rubbing his head.
Arthur scratched his cheek. "I'm also a Beast Tamer. What you saw back there was me releasing my beast will."Lucas, intrigued, fixed his posture again.
Elijah asked, "Wait, how old are you?"
"I turned eleven a couple of months ago," Arthur replied.
"Hey! I'm older than you! I turn twelve in a few months," Elijah said."And I'm older than you, dog," Lucas added, smiling with pride. "I turned thirteen a month ago."
Arthur shifted his focus from Elijah to Lucas. "So, why were you holding a sword?"
Lucas smiled, countering, "I didn't sign up for this questioning program. As for your question, it was mine, so I had it."
"Nah, not that. Aren't you a conjurer?" Arthur pressed.Lucas replied, "Well, I work as both a Conjurer and an Augmenter."
Arthur, still a bit suspicious, relaxed. "So, what are your elements?"Lucas summoned a blue flame with purple lightning glowing in it in his hand. "Not much, just fire and lightning." Extinguishing the flame, he looked at Arthur.
"So, have you ever felt like one of your elements is stronger than the other?"Arthur nodded, deep in thought.
"Anyway, Princess, tell me how you train the Beast Will," Lucas said, looking at Arthur with interest.
Arthur looked annoyed. "Stop calling me that."
Lucas smiled arrogantly. "I won't. But tell me, how do you train it?"
Arthur sighed. "Well, it is different for everyone..."Lucas interrupted, "Don't give me that. I did it. Tell me how you use it or awaken it. Is it by triggering it?"
Arthur countered, "Why? Do you have one?"
Lucas facepalmed, looking disappointed. "Duh, I got one. That's why I'm asking."
Arthur sighed again. "Okay, okay. You just trigger the Will by giving mana to it."
"Thanks. I would have figured it out eventually," Lucas said with a cocky smile.
Arthur, annoyed, placed his head in his palm while Elijah chuckled at the exchange.
"So, what Beast's Will do you have?" Arthur asked, lifting his head, looking exhausted by Lucas's antics.
"Who do you have?" Lucas countered.
Arthur smiled, lifting his fist. "Keeping secrets."
Lucas also lifted his fist. "Of course."
After some time, Jasmine woke up, but Samantha's breathing was hectic. She wasn't in great shape.
Lucas, checking her pulse, saw the Elderwood vine still incorporated in her leg. "Guys, I think we should get out of here fast," he said.Arthur and Elijah nodded as Jasmine picked Samantha up.
Elijah opened a way out of his self-made wall, revealing a scene of colorful crystals and ice everywhere from Arthur's fight. Arthur seemed to be looking for something.
Lucas smiled as he watched him.
Suddenly, an earthquake hit."What now?" Elijah said, about to activate his ring.
Arthur stopped him. "It's okay."A wall in front of them broke as a black dragon, about 15 feet long, appeared. Lucas summoned fire in his left hand.
The dragon approached Arthur and licked him. Arthur started petting the dragon.Elijah, scared out of his mind, looked at it with fear. "Is it a wyvern? No, it can't be, it has four limbs. Wait, that's not a dragon, right?"Arthur, with a straight face, spoke, "She's a dragon."
"Don't look at me like I'm the weird one!" Elijah exclaimed.Arthur petted the dragon and spoke, "This is my bond, Sylvie."
Elijah said, "But weren't dragons supposed to be extinct for centuries now..."
Arthur looked at both Lucas and Elijah. "That is why I need you guys to keep it a secret."
"Yeah, sure," Lucas said in a monotone voice.Elijah looked disappointed as he muttered, "An 11-year-old, Quadra-elemental, dragon tamer."
"Yeah, he's the cousin everyone gives examples of," Lucas said, patting Elijah.
Jasmine sat on Sylvie, and Arthur spoke, "Let's go, guys."Elijah went and sat on the dragon.
Lucas approached the dragon and asked, "Can she lift us all?"The dragon growled as if answering. "Just drop me near the exit of the dungeon," Lucas said.Arthur looked at Lucas, questioning him, "Why?"
"Got something to do." Lucas answered.
Sylvie took off, carrying them all.
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