The bustling of the canteen painted a kaleidoscope of harmonies as people enjoyed their meals under the safety of the castle. The knights who had returned from their dangerous missions enjoyed each other's company over food and drinks. The heat from the kitchen next to the dining area circulated around, warming the entire place.
A lavish spread was presented on the corner round table where many young hunters were sitting. Several bowls of hearty meat stew and cheesy bread filled the table with delightful aromas while the sight of several skewers of salted grilled fishes whetted their appetites. Juicy steaks were distributed to each plate by the maids and served to each diner.
"Now then, let us pray and feast." Lilium led the prayer and began eating the steak with elegance. Her maid poured fresh juice into her goblet which she drank with great satisfaction. "Sharing a meal does create a great sense of camaraderie, so let us enjoy each other's company before facing against the incoming threat. Raise your drink for our Lord's blessings."
Everyone at the table raised their various beverages and bumped the containers against each other before drinking them. Lilium stood, took a ladle, and filled several wooden bowls with stew; the maids quickly carried them around the table. Catherine was surprised by the princess's action that was akin to a servant, but she nevertheless, enjoyed the bowl of delightful cream stew.
"Here you go, Alfina, Aria. They are your favourites." Lilium personally handed both Aria and Alfina a steaming bowl of meaty bean stew, accompanied by a side of warm, crispy bread for each of them. Both Aria and Alfina looked at their respective bowls of stew and smiled a little with the savory aroma wafting into their senses; they tore into the bread and scooped a spoonful of stewed bean onto the vessel before devouring them with delight.
"Both of you are rather similar, even with the way you eat that bowl of stew." The sight of both sisters enjoying the same meal brought a smile to Lilium who was consuming her own bowl of creamy fish stew. "You even share the same favourite food."
"Your highness, it may be because we are both from the region of Fjall where beans and barley are the staples." Alfina gently wiped her mouth with a handkerchief after emptying her bowl. "We may be sisters, but fundamentally, we are quite different."
"Indeed, I am not some prodigious heir that received a lot of love and attention." Aria emptied her mug of water to wash away the hearty meal she had just eaten.
"Is that a jab at me? If it is, that is a rather poor way of showcasing your immaturity."
"Immature? Hah. Please remember that I am the older one among us."
"By only a month. That is not something even worth bragging about. The fact that you brought up something so trivial only strengthens my point about being immature."
"Says the lady who has it easy. Have you ever faced death? Someone who has received proper guidance from excellent mentors, love from a great mother and the support from an entire brigade of servants will never understand how lonely it was being tossed into that wooden shed."
"Lonely? That is funny. I remember Mona being there for you, serving you breakfast and being a great companion that you can speak comfortably with."
"Oh, are you jealous of me for even having one friend?"
"If I say that I am, will you even believe me?"
"..."
"Laughable, is it not? The fact that the favoured child feels rather lonely."
"Is that a joke? Why would you feel lonely when you have everything? You had even gone to several social gatherings, meeting with others around your age, developing connections that I did not even have the chance to."
"Having connections and having friends are 2 different things." Silence lingered for a while before Alfina emptied her mug. "I am done with this childish banter."
"That is quite heated, though I do admit it happens between siblings." Rosa dabbed her mouth and re-applied a red lip balm before cleaning her hand in a basin filled with water that was being held by a maid. "However, it is rather regrettable for blood-kin to be in such a dismal relationship."
"I am of the same opinion as lady Rosa." Lillium polished off her bowl of stew and downed her juice. "Both of you are extremely talented and I hate to see such talents clash against each other instead of working together harmoniously. That is how much I judge both of you to be worth."
"I will work together with her if the situation calls for it. We have demonstrated it during the hunt of that Somnacanth."
"I too, agree. I chose her for that hunting expedition because I believe her talent would be useful in taking down that beast."
"Hah, the 2 of you are really childish. Well, not that it is surprising considering both of your age." Finishing her drink, Rosa stood up. "Nevertheless, do not let the toxic influences from adults get in the way of the beautiful relationship between sisters. You 2 ought to feel lucky that both of you are still alive; unlike me and my fiancé."
Watching the retreating figure of Rosa, both Aria and Alfina understood that Rosa had lost a sibling, similar to what Manifique and Marion had experienced.
"I will be retiring to my abode as well." Lilium stood and her maid began clearing her crockery and cutleries. "Rest well, my fellow hunters. Prepare your equipment and gather enough supplies by overmorrow. On that day, we will be departing to the fortress where we will confront that mountain dragon."
Heaviness loomed over as the realisation dawned upon them: Marion cracked her knuckles, Scarlet furrowed her eyes while Alfred held her hands, Catherine closed her eyes, Alfonse drained his mug in silent while Aria and Alfina took a deep breath.
The hunters, after satiating their bellies, returned to their individual room. Aria was about to leave when Alfred called out to her.
"Hey, umm, I have already submitted the report of my findings in the cave during the Viper Tobi-Kadachi hunt and gave the samples to the lab. One of the samples that I collected caught my attention and I was hoping to consult you about it."
"Umm... yeah, sure. What is the characteristics of that sample?"
"Let me see..." Alfred took out a notebook from his pouch and flipped to the desired page. "It is a flying insect that glows red, swarming around some mysterious red fruits found growing in small patches along the edge of the cavernous chamber where ample sunlight shines upon them. The bug seems to spark some kind of red lightning when handled and, personally, when I was struck with the red lightning, I felt sluggish and my mana seems to be leaking out, as if I lost control of my magic."
"That... is certainly interesting."
"Alfred isn't just the only one affected." Scarlet, who was waiting for Alfred, pointed to her glaive. "I was also struck by the bug after the hunt while helping to collect samples and for some reason, the glaive and kinsect reacted. When I inspected them, reddish spark appeared around them and when I tried swinging the glaive, it lost its icy touch while the kinsect seemed unable to accept and convert my mana into magic."
"In other words, it robs your magic and elemental properties of your weapon."
"Only for a brief moment. When the reddish spark disappeared, everything went back to normal." Scarlet caressed her kinsect. "We are unsure about it, but Alfred suspected that this may be the dragon element you've been talking about."
"He got it right, actually. I am sure those insects are called Dracophage bugs. They are very rare and are usually found around Dragonfell Berries, eating them and converting the special properties of the fruits into dragon element."
"Dragon element... The element that Lao-Shan Lung is weakest to."
"Yes, the very element that defies the logic of this world. I still have no idea how this element came about nor what it can do to the environment. All that I know is that some of these other world monsters are weak to it."
"That is great news! We can use these bugs as a weapon against that Lao-Shan Lung." Alfred was joyful at the discovery. "This must be the work of Lord Flare for he has bestowed upon us with such useful discoveries when danger is approaching."
"I'd much prefer if he could just take away these otherworldly beasts."
"Hahaha, the appearance of these invaders is in no way the fault of Lord Flare, Scarlet. They are more akin to a natural disaster that humans have to endure. That is why, we should be grateful for his help and pray to him, thanking him."
"... Perhaps that is exactly what happened."
"Our reunion must be his blessing as well." Alfred's smile succeeded in making Scarlet blushed who immediately avoided eye-contact with him.
"Ahem, perhaps I should leave."
"Ah, right. My apologies for the sidetrack. Let us bring you to see the specimen."
***
"Oh, Alfred, you are here as well." Arne greeted Alfred who entered his personal alchemical lab. "Ah, you brought your girlfriend and Aria as well. Perfect, I just got a breakthrough when examining these bugs!"
"Slow down. Please explain the breakthrough, and what do you mean by 'as well'?"
"Because I am here too." Alfonse waved his hand slightly from the corner of the room. "Oh, how sad... With 2 flowers by his side, I, his older brother has become a pebble on the road."
"Brother, that is because you are sitting in the corner. Anybody would miss you. Anyways, why are you here as well?"
"Why, to visit my best friend of course. You see, Arne can be quite clumsy when he is focused on his research, and I am here to ensure that he does not burn the lab down. After all, this is the royal palace, and an explosion would not be funny."
"Ahahaha, I am indeed, guilty as charged." Arne gave out a wry smile. "Anyway, these bugs seems to feed off these fruits and multiply rapidly. What is more, these bugs seem to render magic crystal useless!"
"I suspected as much, but to think it even render the magic of this world useless..." Aria approached the desk where a swarm of red glowing insects buzzed within a glass jar, examining them closely. "Indeed, these are the Dracophage bugs that consume the Dragonfell berries and release dragon element as a form of self defense."
"Wait, these red sparks are the dragon element? This is rather nasty... Will they also shut off the magic from a living being?" Astounded with the mystical properties, Arne knocked on the glass jar.
The Dracophage bugs flew around with violence, hitting against the glass in their attempt to escape. Intense bolt of red lightning sparkled along the inner surface of the glass, creating a mesmerising waves of sparks pulsating at every intersections.
"Based on what Scarlet had experienced, I am inclined to believe so. They seem to override the magical circulations of both living and non-living things, disrupting the flow and making them unable to release mana."
"That is fascinating, and yet terrifying... We can weaponise this against that dragon."
"That is exactly the kind of thing that I am thinking of. However, it is not that easy, for the elder dragon's scales are tough. We also do not have an infinite amount of these insects that warrant reckless usage. We need to be strategic about this."
"If that is the case, we have no time to waste; let us gather as many of these insects, including the berries so that we can increase their numbers. I am sorry Alfonse, could you inform the guild staffs and the higher ups, including his highness the Emperor if you can, about these bugs and to assemble a team to collect them."
"As you wish, my friend. Though, seeing the Emperor is a little too much of a hurdle for me." Alfonse got up and left the room.
"Alfred, you will be my assistant in these experiments."
"With pleasure. I think we should start with measuring their potency in releasing that dragon element."
"I share the same thought as you do. How about launching them onto some small animals first?" Arne began setting up his experiments.
***
"It seems that the discovery of the dracophage bugs became a rather big deal, huh." Marion took a bite off a grilled fish skewer.
"That much is a given. Afterall, we found a weapon that can effectively harm the Lao-Shan Lung." Scarlet finished her grilled fish and incinerated the wooden skewer. "To think that sir Alfonse would send the information to the Emperor through princess Lilium, resulting in the Emperor personally coming down to check the insects and mobilising the royal knights to aid in the collection and rearing. That's not something you see every day."
"That is something you should not be seeing. The duty of the royal knights is to protect the royal castle and the royal families. Once they have been sworn in, they usually never leave the inner domain of Elsyrium and spend the rest of their lives within the domain, unable to leave in fear of information leaking out. Meaning, they are totally cut off from the outside world."
"Yet, the benefits they received are immense. They only follow the order of the Emperor and no one else; in exchange, they command an authority that can outweigh even the high-ranked nobles. Is that where you are aiming to become, Marion."
"Ahahaha, although it will be such a great honour to be selected as the royal guard, I would rather be a commander like my brother or father. Besides, being confined to only the capital is kind of depressing and boring."
"Well, each to their own, I guess..."
Both arrived in front of the southern gate of the outer domain where a large number of people gathered. The bustling atmosphere shouted the intense level of activities where carters and labourers were seen hauling goods onto carts and carriages. Several knights were coordinating the workers and keeping peace, allowing the activities to move smoothly.
"Oh, you are finally here, both of our prized hunters." Alfonse waved at both Scarlet and Marion.
"Please stop that, sir Alfonse. We are just like any other hunters here, doing our best to repel that dragon." Scarlet approached her steed that was snorting, eager to move. "Anyway, thank you for keeping a look out for our horses."
"Hey, anything for the ladies. The entire caravan is about to depart soon; I guess both of your sense of timing are very good."
"Thank you for the compliment." With a proud smile, Marion hopped on her ride.
"If I didn't rush you back, you'd still be wandering around the market." Scarlet gave out a slight glare towards Marion while getting on her steed.
"Hahaha, I figured as much." Alfonse followed suit with his personal horse. "Hey, Alfred! We are departing soon! Are you done inspecting all the goods?!"
"Ah, I am sorry! Please give me a second! I am just about to finish tallying the number of potions in this last crate!" Alfred started to inspect each vial with such seriousness that he tuned out the cacophony of activities around him; most of the members of caravans had started moving out of the gate towards the fortress.
"Sigh, he really resembles Arne. I am wondering if he is related to him instead of me."
"Well, for starters, his features are very similar to you, so there is no way people would say he is unrelated to you. Secondly, personalities differ amongst siblings." Marion gave a wry smile, remembering her brother.
"You guys can go first. I'll wait for him and join the rear." Scarlet moved her horse towards Alfred and waited while both Marion and Alfonse began joining the moving caravan in the front.
"Alright! Everything is all correct!" Alfred placed the final tick on the small book and handed it over to a royal knight captain who was overseeing the entire operation. "Thank you! This one is ready to go! Please, haul these onto the last carriage! Hurry! We need to catch up!"
As the carters and labourers rushed to load several crates of potions, Alfred picked his bag and saw Scarlet waiting for him nearby. He instinctively smiled and ran towards her, mounting the steed. "Thanks and sorry for the wait!"
"It's no big deal. We are essentially still travelling together with the caravan, just slightly behind."
"Apologies, there was a mix up and I had to redo all the checks."
"You don't have to apologise for every single thing. You are just doing your part to ensure that the supplies are properly managed, which is a rather important job that supports the frontline fighters."
"Thanks." Alfred beamed a refreshing smile that made Scarlet blushed a little, turning her head back to the front and focused on the road.
The journey to the fortress lasted for half a day. As the last group of the day to arrive, the sun had dipped beyond the horizon by the time Scarlet and Alfred reached the fortress. Alfonse and Marion were seen near the entrance, waiting for them and helping to unload the last batch of goods.
"Phew, that is the last of everything." With the last crate of potions handed to a labourer, Marion stretched her arms. "I am getting hungry, let us go in and have some stew. I heard that Catherine's mother made it and everybody was raving about it."
"I am rather surprised that she is willing to come to the frontline."
"I do not think it is though, brother. Hearing stories about Catherine from miss Aria shows that bravery and loyalty flow in their blood. Besides, seeing her daughter's gallant figure in full display would be a proud moment for her to witness."
"Heh, perhaps our mother shared that same kind of pride with me when I first entered the knight academy."
"... In your case, dearest elder brother, it is because mother was worried that both you and big brother Arne would be up to some mischief... There is no sense of pride in there at all..."
"..."
The fortress stretched through a network of towering rocky canyons, where sheer cliffs rose on either side of a stream that meandered its way through the valley floor. Generations of travelers used the area as a safe haven from the wilds and as a resting place for resupply. Several small outposts were carved into the canyon walls or perched atop rocky ledges, offering shelter, fresh supplies, and the protection of the empire scouts and knights. The stream nourished a wide variety of plants and attracted small wildlife, providing weary travelers with reliable sources of food.
With the incoming threat of the elder dragon, the once tranquil refuge had become the Empire's foremost bulwark. Several massive stone and wooden platforms were constructed along the canyon walls by the labourers and earth-affinity magicians, who were dispatched in droves. Upon them stood cannons, catapults and ballistae while enormous gates were erected to seal off some of the selected passes in hopes of guiding the beast away from its path towards the capital.
Scarlet, Alfred, Marion and Alfonse strode along the massive platforms, climbing up several wooden stairs to reach one of the many outposts atop the canyon. They occasionally entered the cavernous passages carved into the cliffs and crossed broad bridges that stretched across several valleys.
"This scene reminds me just how much power and wealth the Coronamars Empire wields." Looking around with awe, Alfred felt thankful for being born as a citizen of the empire. "These bridges and platforms allow swift delivery of supplies while giving hunters countless routes to manoeuver and strike the beast from every direction."
As the group of four drew closer to their designated cabin, the fragrant aroma of the stew drifted into their noses. Several familiar faces greeted them when they entered. After unloading their equipment, they exchanged a few words amongst themselves before hunger led them towards the dining table where the maids had already begun serving dinner.
"Whew, that was rather satisfying. Your mother is a really great cook, Catherine."
"I'm thankful for the praise."
"Marion, do not display such unsightly demeanour."
"Ugh, please let me off the hook this time, lady Rosa. We are essentially in a battlefield."
"One must always be presentable, so as not to be looked down upon by others. There is no beauty in behaving boorishly just because we are out in the wild. Lord Flare, his Angelos and our ancestors are watching over our every move, so close your legs."
"Now, now, lady Rosa, it is not as if she is wearing a skirt." With impeccable manners, Lilium enjoyed her bowl of stew with grace. "Someone with a free spirit like her is rather charming in her own way."
"Ah... princess, you are a very understanding person. I might fall in love with you."
"Fufufu, to be confessed by such a cool beauty is quite the compliment."
"I mean no disrespect, your highness, but being lenient with her will not yield any form of improvement. She needs harsh lessons and strict mentors in order to grow."
"I second that. I have yet to drill all the basics of economy and finances into her, but I am planning to be a brutal teacher."
"Hey, Scarlet..." A single tear welled up from Marion's right eye.
"Even your travel partner agrees with my insight. Perhaps, I should also be teaching you all the elegant mannerisms and behaviours. Of course, I plan to be a martinet."
"Ughh..." More tears welled up from both of Marion's eyes.
Lilium noticed Alfina eating in silent and reached out. "Relax. Being this tense and serious even before the dragon is in sight will wear you down for no reason. Take a few deep breaths."
"Fuh... I am sorry, your highness. I just want to ensure that I can do well against that beast, so as not bring shame to the Sultier name."
"No one will judge you for that. If that is the case, then I too, should be worrying about bringing shame to the empire's royalty."
"That... I mean no disrespect to your highness."
"Fufu, there is no need to be that stiff with me. Afterall, we are all similar in the eyes of our Lord."
"I think, I am just afraid of bringing disappointment to those who expect much from me."
"Even those with overflowing talents are just humans. Whatever the outcome will be, it is up to the will of god. However, we must still do our very best to protect and grasp what is precious to us." As Lilium emptied her bowl, she washed down the rich flavour of the stew with water. "Therefore, just do your very best."
Alfina stared at her bowl of stew and wolfed it down, determined to prove her mettle in the siege.
***
Cavalry units arrived at the fortress from the south early morning. The hunters and their supporters had just finished their breakfast before the ruckus brought their curious bones towards the main gathering hub where the commanders would gather for discussions. The leader of the entire cavalry units reported to the supreme commander of the entire operation with a serious demeanour.
"So, the dragon sped up its movements..."
"Exactly, your highness. The beast would occasionally take a break and sleep, but just yesterday, the dragon did not rest and continued its journey through the night. Sensing the urgency, I sent a messenger bird back here, predicting that it will arrive tomorrow morning before sending the entire cavalry units back to this base."
"However, something changed on your journey..."
"Indeed, the beast increased its pace, almost matching our units... With that speed, it will arrive either in the afternoon or evening today."
"I see... Thank you for your hard work Earl Sultier. For now, take a well deserved rest, for when it shows its ugly face, we will have all the energy needed."
"Sincerest thanks." Elrion retreated and dismissed his entire cavalry unit.
"Brother, will we be ready in time?"
"Ah, Lili. Do not worry. Everything is under control. We are lucky that we made our preparations ahead of the schedule." The crown prince, the third born of the current emperor, Canopus Sekhmet Tyr Mars, stared over the map of the fortress with determined expression. "I do not want a repeat of that last war."
Lilium could only stay silent while watching Canopus clenched his fists.
Alfina saw her father walking back from the ground floor where he handed his ride to the stable hands. She ran towards him with enthusiasm. "Father! Let me lead you to your cabin."
"... I can go there by myself. You should be focusing on maintaining your equipment and taking enough rest. The battle ahead will be brutal."
"... Yes, father." Bowing her head, Alfina saw Elrion walking past her with an emotionless face.
Despite the chilly weather of early winter howling all over the fortress, the sun, having reached its zenith, provided ample warmth to the inhabitants. All hunters, logistic supports and commanders were in positions, waiting for the dreadful approach of the mountain dragon. The normally bustling activities had died down. The noises coming from nature had long been gone as the animals, being more sensitive to danger, fled the area in droves, leaving only the humans.
After a long stretch of silence, the ground shook a little, slowly building up its intensity. The presence of the beast was felt before it could be seen and the tension rose with every tremor. Loose rocks were falling from a distance, inching closer and closer; dust and debris fogged up the area and larger chunks flaked off the canyon. From snow to pebbles to gravels and finally to boulders, none were spared from the crushing power of the incoming beast.
The hunters' hands trembled as they tightly gripped their weapons. The commanders from various units steeled their mettle and prayed for the Lord. The cavalry units calmed their horses over the quakes.
As the tension reached its peak, the head of the gigantic dragon peered over the cliffs, causing many to sweat in fear. The numerous dark grey spikes protruding out of its massive copper body cast a terrifying silhouette against the dusty background.
The violent temblors grew and the dragon reached an open area of the canyon where it stood on its hindlegs; towering over the highest canyon and showcasing its mind-shattering size for the world to gape upon. It opened its maw, revealing rows of humongous teeth to the audiences who stood aghast and let out an earth-shattering roar.
The deafening roar of Lao-Shan Lung tore across the fortress. Dust and sand rose upon impact from the sound waves while water rippled in gushing waves, crashing against the rocky river banks. Gravels and snow came tumbling down over the vibrating echoes of the bellow.
The dragon's herculean power had been demonstrated on full display, cementing its presence as an elder dragon, the harbinger of natural disaster.