Merguam and Abe stood stalk-still, both of them stared at Icarus with wide eyes full of disbelief.
Merguam was first to speak "no, that's impossible, he spoke so recently, he heralded your coming..."
Icarus looked back, the faint stream of mana indicated one thing "this creature has been dead for many years, it can't have been him."
Maerguam raised a hand, a basic ice spear formed in the air.
"He has a shield made of ancient force! Observe!"
She fired at one of the creatures stone arms, it shattered and was torn off his body instantly.
She walked toward him in shock, stepping closer and closer, reaching down to feel the ancient dragons body.
"Cold... So cold... And..."
She knocked on it with her knuckles "he is nothing but Rock... He's been dead for centuries! Maybe longer."
She cried and hit the statue again, breaking another chunk off.
Abe stood beside Icarus looking ashamed.
Icarus turned to him "you can sense mana. Did you know?"
Abe shook his head "no, I never came here, I never believed the prophecy and refused this place, I'm a fool, I could have told them, I'm the only one who could have told them..."
Maerguam had stood up, she wiped tears from her face.
"We can't let others lose hope, even if we did, we can't let the others know about this, especially Ingel, he gave everything for this."
Icarus turned "what?! What did he give?"
She looked at him sadly "Icarus sacrificed his very being, he is no longer a dragon, he is turning into something... Else, a human, elf, Wyvern, who knows, he is no longer a dragon, he can't know he did that for no reason."
Icarus was still stunned "what on earth did this? The prophecy was never real so something had to have given it, it was never the ancient dragon though.."
Abe turned "it was likely the same one who sealed us here, and we can never know that one's name, this was a torture designed to break our minds, thank you for revealing that, at the very least."
Icarus shook his head "no. I'm sorry. I can't except thanks for something like that."
Maerguam clapped her hands "enough of that. There are things we must organize please come with me icarus."
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.
.
A day Icarus stood beside Ingel, who had recovered fully, this was likely due to his new sword which had improved his constitution greatly.
Maerguam stood before them, the crowd had gathered.
Ingel looked between them "what's the idea here?"
Maerguam laughed soulessly causing Ingel to drown again "Ingel, you will accompany Icarus back to the human world."
Ingel loudly protested "No! My duty is here! I will not leave you!"
Maerguam scowled "that is an order, must I exile you?"
Ingel bit his lip "I understand, I am no longer one of you so you get rid of me, but you will always mean everything to me."
He stayed quiet after that Icarus frowned 'thats not it Ingel... This is to protect you.'
This decision has been a quick one, If Ingel stayed it Would be meaningless and he may find out about the prophet, losing all hope.
Maerguam spoke again "on the way, you will need another party member, Alazea will fill this spot until you reach Wyvern held territories, after that you will need someone to fill in, I suggest none other then the Wyvern lord himself."
Ingel indignantly looked up "that bastard!? Why would we ever travel with him?!"
Maerguam calmly replied "he is the most skilled combatent on the continent, he may be not much stronger then either of you, but his skillset is far vaster, such a companion can help you, and if you promise him great things, he is sure to come with you."
Ingel looked back at the ground and Icarus turned to Abe who stood nearby.
"I spoke to you earlier, I told you I can't accept your thanks, but I promise you this."
"I will one day earn your thanks, of that you have my word."
Abe smiled "is that so? I'll hold you to that. Good luck, both of you."
Abe patted him on the shoulder and went to speak to Ingel, Alazea showed up and talked to Icarus for a while, the three of them left to the cheers and applause of the entire crowd.
"Good luck hero!"
"Free the dragons!"
"Xyrax Blessing!"
.
.
.
Icarus, Alazea And Ingel had exited the mountainous area of the dragon continent, at least the part that was most mountainous, as the whole region was mostly rock and slopes.
Alazea and Ingel had gone searching for camp supplies, they had been given some from the village but other things were need from the surrounding areas and they could still move faster then Icarus.
Icarus was set to guard their things, he sat on the top of a cliff that overlooked a vast gorge, they would have to travel through this gorge as it was the only way to safely reach the edge of the continent.
He sighed and thought back, Maerguam and Abe had seemed completely destroyed at the news of the ancient dragons state.
He wondered what had even given the prophecy in the first place, it had been so specific that he wondered if that being had known his identity as an other worlder.
He shook his head, that didn't matter now, he had to focus on the journey ahead, but he thought back to his promise to Abe.
It was in the spur of the moment, he had felt a strange feeling then, and acted on impulse, but he could not go back on his word now.
These people had done so much for him, he didn't think himself some kind of hero but leaving these people to their hopeless fate was not something he could do.
Even this thought he found strange, for years he had done work for the slave trade, killing, stealing, all together doing nothing that ever benifited anyone, he had been numb to this and perhaos because things had moved so quickly since he had escaped he hadn't had a moment to sit back and think about it.
He breathed in, the cold air filled his lungs and he puffed out a cloud of steam.
He felt something damp on his face and wiped at it, he felt more and was confused, "what the? Why am I?"
Tears fell from his eyes, he couldn't control them, the years of torment he had endured left him, replaced with the strong desire to help these people who had brought him out of his shell and fulfilled his dream of living a good life.
"I swear it! Whatever is holding this place, I'll shatter it! And set you free!"
The faces of everyone he knew, his knowledge of what Ingel had sacrificed flashed through his mind and he gritted his teeth further affirming his will.
"More important then living, freeing this place, before I can live I must do this!"
He would search for any knowledge once he returned to the realms of man, gathering the power and resources to do this but he promised himself no matter what happens he would not forget these people.
He got up and turned, his tears had dried and he saw Ingel and Alazea return up to the hill where they greeted him before laying down materials for a fire.
Ingel looked at them and smiled, they exchanged sceptical glances and Icarus turned, reaching a hand out to shield his eyes from the
glow of the falling sun.
'But my true second life begins now, a gift from these people, a gift that I will never forget.'