Part 4: At last. But for who’s sake?

After the ground they stood on stopped quivering, they ran ahead to the path in front of them. The roar from earlier must have been from the dragon.

Please be safe. Please be safe. Please be safe. 

After a while, they reach a point in the tunnels, where small rays of light shined through the edges of a hidden door. 

“Do you think this is it?”

“Leave it alone!”

“Shut it, peasant!”

Before she was able to open it up, two voices screaming at each other burst into their ears.

“Miss, you don’t have to be involved with this. We could go find the evacuation route and you’d be safe to run away without getting caught.”

Despite the things Nexus said, she kicked the door open and made her way insides.

“Alright then. Let’s head on-”

He bumped into her back, “Ouch, is something the matter? Why are you standing like-oh?”

She kept looking around the area. A gigantic cave like room, over hundreds of soldiers could be brought here and there’d still be room for more. The cell rooms, whose iron bars were rusty and bent, were empty. The rough floor was covered with broken chains and shackles. Someone must have crushed them with a powerful weapon. She kept running all over the place, unable to find any sign of a living being.

“Hm, I should write down a report to the emperor about this.”

“I can’t believe this. Everyone is gone. Actually gone. But how? And when?”

She kept walking in circles, trying to figure out what had happened.

Let’s see, it has been a few hours since I’ve seen Mister Miroslav and I’ve gotten the keys to get off those chains. He was distracting the emperor, who later on came to that dragon’s cave. So he must have been brought back here. I don’t see any guards either, and I can’t recall if everyone was called to the ceremony. Maybe they managed to escape when no one was looking? Or maybe they knocked them out? Did he plan this out or something? I haven’t talked to him for a few days, but there’s no way he managed to come up with such a plan in only a few days.

As she kept things through, Nexus just stared, walking in circles alongside her.

“Miss. I apologize for interrupting your thinking sessions. But you might get dizzy if you keep this up.”

“Dizziness is the least of my problems at the moment, and why are you so calm about this? For some knight of miracles, you’ve barely been acting like one at all.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“First, you just show up to me, saying you’re going against your boss's order to helo the prisoner. Second, even after I knocked out several people, you didn’t arrest me and acted like I’ve done nothing wrong. Third, for whatever reason, you brought the keys for the cells, for some reason, and then you still call yourself a knight?! Just spare me the headache and tell me what’s your deal, are with or against these guys?”

He simply tilted his head hearing all that, “A yes or no question? I can’t really answer it like that.”

“Really now-”

“But I can give longer answers.”

She decided to tolerate it and hear him out,

“First of all, and I must admit it, it’s quite selfish, but the reason I’ve brought the keys with me, and went against the general, was simply to free someone. An old friend that I’ve wronged once.

He began walking around, her suspicions rising. “I know it sounds strange, but it’s true. He was caught while I was still young, and I wasn’t able to do anything about it. So I thought I could use today as my chance to free him after the ceremony. Though everything with the dragon, I must admit, was a pure coincidence.”

“Uh-huh. That still doesn’t answer my question.”

“You’ve got me there. You see, I do think myself a knight, not in my appearance, but in my values and morals.”

I don't even want to know what those are.

“However,” he turned his gaze away from her, “I do want the Emperor Dead.”

She stumbled back, hearing what he said. “Excuse me?”

His posture was the same, back straightened, holding his hands behind his back tihtly. It was hard for her to see if he meant anything he had said.

“Oh, I didn’t mean it literally,” he turned back, his uneasy smile on his face, “So, truthfully, I just want to free someone dear to me, and I wouldn’t mind helping others as well. Though the latter seems to be over and done with,” he giggled.

She distanced herself from him.

“I’ll leave you after this is over and done with, miss! The dragon and the general still pose a threat to the runaway, so I hope you’ll still have me for just a little while-”

“Hiss!”

Another sudden shout had echoed through the enormous cave. The ground quivered. The remainders of the prisoners' shackles kept vibrating. Nexus almost fell, but Alice managed to catch him.

“Fire.”

The sound of bow strings, arrows landing on the rocky ground. A long scream. coming through to her.

“Was that hi,?” she ran towards the source of those noises, leaving the strange knight behind.

“Wait for me, miss!”

She finds herself near the entrance of the room. Hiding behind a mine cart, she watched the scene unfold. There were two sides. One was General Benedict, his soldiers behind readying their bows. On the other was Miroslav, an arrow through his leg as he was under the protection of the dragon.

“What are you doing?” her old friend shouted. “Fly away already! This is none of your business!”

“Silence you peasant,” the general scoffed, the dragon still growling at them, “And you-fire away, soldiers!”

No matter how many times they tried to shoot at it, it simply burned down their arrows to ashes.

“Sir,” one of his soldiers yelled out, “We’re going to run out of arrows at this rate. Should we maybe use our own flames to fight?”

 “Are you insane?” the general shouted. “Do you want to spite the gods?! I don’t think so! Go grab more arrows if you’re that desperate!”

“On it, sir!”

The battle kept repeating itself, more blood coming from her friend's leg every second.

Crap. It doesn’t look like they’re going to stop anytime soon, and I doubt I’ll be able to get him out of her without being noticed. Maybe I should use my flames. No, it’s too risky. I’m too tired and their arrows could quickly strike me. Plus, I don’t know if it’s safe enough for me to reveal myself yet. What to do-

“General!”

All the attention was taken away from the fight. The guards stopped shooting, and the dragon began growling at someone else. They were all focusing on the knight of miracles, who was pulling up his dress as he bowed down.

She was gripping her helmet, “What. The. Hell. Is he doing?!”

“What the hell are you doing?” they asked almost in unison. “Shouldn’t you have evacuated out of here ages ago? And where are your guards? Have they’ve gotten in a fight with the escapees or-”

“No, sir!”

“Then what are you still doing here? Why didn’t you get out of here?!”

Please come up with a good excuse! It can’t be that hard.

“Oh, that? Simply put,” he poked his own cheek, “I didn’t want to, is all.”

I will die today, won’t I?

“Didn’t want to!? Have you lost your damn mind?! And what are you doing shielding that beast and peasant!”

The dragon had gotten closer to Miroslav. growling at the people watching them. 

“Oh that, I just want your clarification as to why you are threatening an innocent man and animal.”

“Innocent!” he kept shouting, “Because of that man, hundreds of prisoners have gotten away!”

“I see. That does make things complicated. But I do think we need to discuss things over with a judge and jury before we get violent!”

“Oh shut up,” the general stepped in, pushing Nexus into the ground.

“As for you.”

The dragon tried to spit fire at him, but he dodged it. He was able to grab it by its neck, choking it slowly.”

“Leave it be,” Miroslav tried to stand up, but his injury persisted.

“How cute, pitying this abomination of living being.”

“Dear general, I wasn't talking about you.”

“Aw, are those your last words,” he lifted his sword, ready to attack him, “You’ll regret saying them!”

“Enough!”

Just as the general was about to go through Miroslav’s body, Alice managed to repel his attack, his sword stuck in her spear.”

“Agh,” the shock caused him to let go of the dragon, immediately using its tail to hit his head.

“General,” his soldiers yelled as he fell to the ground.

“Ignore me! Go after it!”

The soldiers all came attacking the dragon, who flew right at them. This gave Alice the chance to help Miroslav get up on his feet.

“Mister, are you alright?”

“Little one? Is that you?”

“Yeah and we need to go,” she carried him over her shoulder, “I know a way out, so be careful and-”

“We can’t,” he let’s go off her, slowly crawling on the ground, “He needs to get out of here”

“He,” in front of her, she sees the flying beast fighting the soldiers. “The dragon?”

“Yes, please. We-

“Have you forgotten about me?!”

The general stood up, aiming his sword back at her old friend, but Alice managed to shield him off.

“I don’t know who you are, but I have had it with you already.”

“Little one!”

“I’ll be fine! Just stay behind.”

While the two parties fought, Nexus managed to stand up, cleaning off the dirt from his skirt.

“Knight of Miracles,” the soldiers called out for him, “Please, in the name of Ignia herself, help us against this creature!”

“Hm,” he looks at them, back to Alice and the general fighting, then back to them, “Gentlemen, I apologize but I have my priorities!”

“What?” they were shocked enough to give the dragon the opportunity to bite their weapons, crushing them to pieces.

“You fool,” the general yelled out, “Whose side are you on?”

“The side of the sick!”

Walking formally next to the fighting duo like it was nobody’s business, reaching his hand out to Miroslav.

“Want me to look at your injury, kind sir?”

“You,” he crawled back, his arms clearly shivering, “Do I know you?”

Nexus ignore that, “That doesn’t matter. Please let me take a-”

“Get away. I need to help it.”

When Miroslav tried to crawl his way to the dragon, Nexus grabbed him.

“Mister, please,” Alice yelled out while she was still fighting, “I’ll take care of the dragon, you just stay there and relax.”

“As if I’ll give you the chance!”

She kept on fighting him, even as she got more and more exhausted. She ducks down, trying to stab him in the stomach, he deflects it. Meanwhile, the dragon was able to knock out every single soldier, so it flew towards the two.

The general scoffs, kicking Alice in the stomach while using his sword to deflect the dragon's flames. He picked up her staff, with which he hit the face of the dragon, causing it to hit against the walls. 

“Crap.” Alice was too exhausted to stand up or to use her powers.

“Now, who’s gonna go first? The traitor, geezer, or beast?”

“General, please,” Nexus called him out, “Isn’t this unnecessary?”

“Shut it brat! This day has been exhausting already, and my patience is waning.”

He looked at Alice, who was struggling to get up.

“I don’t know what your deal is, but you annoyed me the most. What will your last words be?”

She tried getting her staff back, but he kicked it away.

“Have a nice rest.”

Her eyes were wide open. Blood splattered across her chest. Her body was frozen, she was only able to move up her arm. When she tried to reach it out, Miroslav pulled it down, with a sword going through his heart. He smiled, “You’re too young for this.”

He pulled the sword out, “Pathetic.”

“No, no, no no!”

She grabbed his body, shaking it several, “Mister Miroslav! Hey, can you hear me? Mister please!”

She looks over at Nexu, who tried to stop him but failed. The general began approaching the dragon, its wings widened as he watched.

“It’ll be fine! I promise, mister! We’ll stop the bleeding! Carry you outside, get you to a medic, and you’ll be all fine!”

“Child-”

“Look, there has to be some sort of spare cloth! Nexus, come here. Your dress should be good enough! Just keep your eyes.”

“Little one-”

“It’ll be fine! The exit is near, and you can go see your family again! It might be difficult but I’ll bring you to them! Just hang on for a bit! You’ll get back home! I promise-”

“Alice.”

After he said her name, he coughed up a ton of blood.

“Please,” his body got colder, “If you are going to help me, do this instead.”

His shaking hands pulled out the golden locket, its necklace covered in blood.

“Go to the capital of the fire region, Ashenwood, and bring this to my daughter Teodora Blazeheart-ahh!”

“Mister!”

“Please, this is all I ask of you!”

Her gaze kept shifting between the locket and his face. Gritting her teeth, she decided what to do, “I will bring this to her. I promise.”

“Thank you,” just as he gave her the necklace, his arm fell, and all life left his body.

She carefully put his body down, closing his eye for him. She got back at her feet, grabbed her staff and walked towards the general.

“Wait,” Nexus grabbed her arm, “I’m sorry-”

She shook him off. “You tried to stop him, right? This isn’t your fault.”

“But-”

“It’s his.”

With no other thought in her mind, she ran facing the general, who was aiming his sword at the still frozen dragon.

“Would you shut up?” the general faced her, just holding his sword sideways. which she kept hitting over and over again.

“What do you think this is going to achieve? He’s already dead.”

Her hits became weaker and weaker. He simply stood there, scoffing at her weak attempts.

“I’m getting bored. Can’t you shake up things a bit-”

She grabbed his arm, pulling his body to her.

“You asked for it!”

Blue flames flared up within her hands, reaching the ceiling of the enormous room. She began choking him. As he gasped for air, he tried to get off her grip, but he already fainted by then. She dropped him on the ground. Picking his sword off the ground and breaking it in half.

She looks back at Nexus, who didn’t do anything to stop her. “Was that enough for you?”

She takes off her helmet. The world could now see her red teary eyes, “I wish,”

She then looks at the dragon, using its wings to try to wake Miroslav up. She carefully approaches, reaching out her hands to touch him. “Hey-”

His tail slapped her hand, “Hiss!”

He flies up, lava flowing through his teeth. With a gigantic blast of fire, a giant hole appeared in the walls. He flies through his, his wings brushing off the long leaves of the nearby trees. Only a small shadow of his could be seen amongst the dark violet sky.

“Miss."

He tried to catch up to Alice, who was going through the hole. Her steps were big and slow, her vision got blurry. She fell to her knees before completely getting knocked out. She escaped, but was it worth it?

—

And that’s a wrap on chapter 4!!! As you’ve just read, this chapter was… a lot, to be frank. Well, I am not changing my name to Frank anytime soon, but I am here to announce that the next update is going to be a bonus chapter from the POV of Lady Scarletborn (no, I haven’t forgotten about her) so I’m excited to see your thoughts on it! Thanks for reading and goodbye!