Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Dragonoids

I was very interested in Luton's background. "Are there any other species back there?" I asked. "Yes. Hundreds of different species. Each species has their own turf. The mountains to the north belong to the dragonoids and large bears. The forests belong to the majority of the species such as Trolls, Ware wolves, carnivorous plants, large number of imps and many others. Humans live near the coastal areas and farm in the plains and supplement their diet with fish. That was fifty years ago. I have not been back ever since." Luton said. I was curious to travel there but I had unfinished business to take care of. "It sounds like a very interesting place to visit. Maybe one of these days we should head there." I said. "I would want nothing more but my bones are not what they used to be." Luton said. This was a perfect opportunity to bring out the question that I had been anxious to ask. "Luton, there is a way to rejuvenate your body. It is a very dangerous procedure but it will lengthen your lifespan for a few centuries." I said. "A few centuries? That would be ample time to conduct and finish my research on a variety of things." Luton said. He was susceptible to the idea, good. Very good. "This procedure entails making you my kin and become a dragonoid. However, I must warn you that the process is very dangerous and painful." I said. Luton remained silent for a while before he spoke up. "Well the benefits outweigh the risks according to me. I have no objections." He said. I then explained in detail what ingredients were needed to make the concoction. Luton went and either bought or scavenged for the ingredients the next day. "Are you trying to turn him into a dragon?" Zari asked. "No. a dragonoid." I answered. "What is that?" Zari asked. "A mixture of a human and a dragon. Like the ice dragons did?" I said. "Ice dragons? Isn't that clan extinct? You are telling me humans gave birth to dragon's children and vice versa?" Zari asked while puzzled. I was surprised she did not know this. Was it intentionally hidden to prevent fire dragons from doing the same? "Yes. Luton told me that there are dragonoids who are remnants of Ice Dragons. You have never been there?" I asked. "No. I didn't find it interesting so I never bothered. But this time we should go and take a look right?" Zari asked. "Yes. When we are done here, I think we should visit there. It sounds more interesting than this boring place." I said. This continent had nothing interesting. I had been here for a little more than a week and I was utterly bored. The atmosphere was very depressing here. All that people did was work. As soon as a kid learns to walk and talk they were put to work. There were no schools, no entertainment, nothing was here. When compared to Capel, there were schools and colleges for kids and adults. The capital was always bustling with life from either street performers or theatre. The capital was always a bee hive of activities. Here in Orthon and Lokain, things were opposite. The traders in markets did not even shout the prices of goods and remained silent with their piercing gazes. I asked around and found that there was only one festival once in a while to celebrate their god's blessings. "If we were not for the assignments here, I would have left a long time ago." Zari added. We were similar in this regard. "I have finished making the concoction master." Luton said. I glanced over and inspected the final product and found it satisfactory. I turned my left hand into a dragon claw and pierced my index finger in my right hand. Three droplets of blood were poured in the mixture in the large bowl. "Drink it immediately." I said as I got out of the way and begun healing my finger. Luton wasted no time and immediately drank the contents to completion. "How are you feeling?" I asked. "I …" before Luton could answer, he fell to the ground and begun having a seizure. I was not expecting this intense and immediate. "Chrono, what is wrong with your subordinate?" Zari shouted in a panic. I didn't think she really cared about Luton so her raising concerns was also unexpected. [Every parameter is within the expected margin.]"He's fine. That is just the expected reaction." I said trying to downplay the seriousness of this situation. I levitated Luton's body and placed it on a bed to enhance his comfort. I was panicking as the situation continued for a few more minutes before calming down. Luton fell silent. "Chrono, did you kill him?" Zari asked. Talk about no tact at all. "No he is just a sleep." I answered. We left him to recover and got out of the room. Coincidentally, the priestess was looking for me t the same time I left the room. "Sir Chrono. I was informed you were back. Apologies for not meeting you earlier." The Priestess said. "Don't worry about that. The hospitality was very good nonetheless." I said. "Did you go to Lokain's temple?" Priestess asked. "Yes. I also went to the god's realm but could not complete the trial." I answered. "Then you have met the objectives our goddess set out for you." Priestess answered. What? I was confused for a minute before she gave out additional information. "You were sent there to make sure that you were worthy. That was proven when the god of war accepted your participation in the god's trail." She said. That took a lot of pressure from me because I was not confident in my ability to defeat FC in the immediate future. If the objectives were met then there was no need to over exert yourself. "Would you mind following me to the temple?" The priestess asked. "Yes, certainly. Could I ask for someone to watch my subordinate? He is not feeling well at the moment." I asked. The Priestess agreed to my request without further probing. She was far more interested in me meeting her goddess. We walked to the designated room and just as before, I entered the gate linking the goddess world to the mortal realm. The feeling of coldness and blindness was expected unlike last time hence I did not show any reaction. A few seconds by my count passed before anything happened. "Yes. I see it. Your body is covered with the aura of the god of war. You have passed my first task. In order for me to give you my blessing, you must complete another task for me. Bring me the fruit of Contradiction. That is all." The voice said. I woke up to see myself lying unconsciously on the ground outside the gate. "What is up with this goddess? Why is she in a hurry for?" I asked. "Sir Chrono hold your tongue." The Priestess lashed out. What was the name of that fruit again? Contraction, contraption…aah yes contradiction. "Priestess. Have you ever heard about the fruit of Contradiction?" I asked. "No. Why do you ask?" the priestess inquired. "Well the goddess wants me to acquire the fruit so I can gain her blessings. What does a blessing entail?" I asked. "I have not heard about it before. I will find out what I can about that fruit. You ask about blessings? Well blessings vary from one god or goddess to another but the common outcome is that they offer protection against evil spirits. Your mind and soul can never be possessed or corroded by them if you have a blessing of any god or goddess." The Priestess answered. "Do you know the specifics about the goddess's blessing?" I asked. "I have the inferior version of the blessing from the goddess. I did not undertake any trials because I am just a messenger from her. I do possess a limited vision on the future which manifests itself as signs and omens. I have never met or spoken to the goddess so these sins are what I take as her communication to me." The priestess replied. That is unfair if I think about it. I do not nor do I have any desire to serve the goddess. With this in mind, she chose to speak to me and not her direct messenger? Damn this goddess is confusing. We talked a little bit more with the priestess where I took her to a separate room within the temple to see the looming threat. She screamed as soon as she entered the room. "What are these abominations?" she shouted. She had just witnessed for the first time the low level and mid-level spiders. Up close, their cilia and faces was were very frightening. I explained to her about the number of such creatures we had destroyed and their threat levels. "Goddess please protect us with your divine powers. However, Sir Chrono, I cannot accept this abominations living here in the holy temple of the goddess. Please make haste and remove them." The priestess said while covering her face in fear. Some of the spiders were frozen while others were bound by metal. I agreed with her assessment and promised to remove them as soon as possible. "So this was the cause of all my nightmares for the past month. Now I can make preparations." The priestess said as she left the room.