As Azulen finish their story tear started to pour and fall from Gale's face as they formed before reforming back into their original form. Jin was heartbroken of once, since Jin had the same experience when knowing he also witness losing his brother during his time at the mountain. But Ralian was more furious at Azulen even after hearing the full story.
"Is that why you took his identity a proud and generous warrior, to hide from the rest from your enemies"
"Ralian what are you saying!? The Gale that Azulen knew, trusted him with all his heart even though he knew Azulen was a changeling. Gale trusted himself that Azulen can change"
"No the worst is that this changeling had kept a secret from us"
"You don't think I haven't even learned that Gale was a changeling this whole time!" the two went silent and shocked as they both looked at Jin.
"You knew that I was a changeling?"
"Yes, in truth during our first chase when we first met. I got a hold of you in my little wind prison some of the air had gotten into your armour and I was able to sense the person who was wearing the armour which would be you. I didn't want to tell you because I thought you might feel upset if I knew who you really looked like"
"Jin... I... no deep down in my heart I wanted to tell you all my true identity. I even showed my true face to the captain but only blocked by the shadow".
suddenly from afar they heard some footsteps splashing in the puddles of water as they were approaching the cell that they were in "uh oh that must be her, Jin can you break the chains" Gale encouraging Jin to use his powers to break the chains.
"I'll try" Jin then surrounds his cuffs with the wind but his magic was disabled "oh come on, out of all the chains she put a binding spell on these chains" Jin in disbelief.
"Can't you do something Changeling"
"Listen I had to enclosed my changeling abilities for a while now, the only animals I had more practice was a mouse"
"Oh of course, I forgot when changing your appearance into another animal doesn't all form with your armour, yeah nice excuse" Ralian said in an antagonizing tone on Gale.
Then the person walking on through the cell stopping at the cell where the Nightly crew were in was Ezrael along with a smog hound the three were shocked by his return "Ezrael, your back" Ezrael says nothing but sees Gale without their help and sighs in disappointment.
"I see your identity got reveal. So Azulen I believe it's time"
The others were confused by Ezrael's choice of words as Ezrael then grabs the bars and uses his strength as the bars were pulled away breaking their cell. He walks in first approaching Gale and breaks the cuffs on their arm with one strike from his fist along with breaking the chains off their arms.
"Ezrael how did?" Before Gale could asked Ezrael answered Gale's question.
"Like I said I spent a long time perfecting my technique, I had to apply it to all the weapons I use. Including if I'm unarmed... and I apologize Azulen if I was more fast enough you wouldn't have your identity revealed to your friend, I can only imagine of what Moria had done to you and your friends"
"I understand, but you don't have to worry on me right now, get my friends out of those chains" Ezrael nods and walks towards Ralian and Jin quickly breaking the cuffs on their arm.
"Ezrael how did you find us"
"Well I think this smog hound here is pretty familiar to one you have chased and captured before" Ezrael pointing towards the smog hound with the white streak.
"Oh that one"
"Never mind the Smog Hound, Changeling, we need to find a way out of here"
"Simple you need get to the surface as this place is underwater"
"Then how did you?.."
"A smog hound uses smoke to teleport and was powerful enough to teleport me here to this dungeon, but there are civilians here. Thus we need Moria to create us a water warp portal to get all these people out of here"
"Do you know where she is? Also she is not one to willing to help us"
"yes, that's why we'll do it by force. Your weapons are only one floor above us, I'll lead you there, but we must hurry Moria can see everything" they all nodded as Ezrael is the one to lead the group as they quickly hurried going up the stairs in Moria's own domain but the water started to glow.
"Everyone get onto higher ground!"
"Jin!" Gale shouted his name.
"On it" Jin quickly levitates all of them away from the floor.
"What was that?"
"Moria already knows we escape and is trying to use her water warp ability to teleport us back in a cell. We cannot let that happened, Jin you think you can bear the weight of all of us"
"Yeah its like carrying ten boulders"
"Did you just compared us to boulders"
"Never mind that, I'll take you there". Jin started to levitate all of them as Ezrael is pointing the direction towards the nearest weaponry as they suddenly heard a familiar loud roar coming across the entire hallway.
"Oh no its the beast from before, it's here too"
"No that's an Unknown"
"An Unknown? That isn't a species I heard in the bestiary" Ralian said,
"That's the point it wasn't supposed to be discovered by humans, it was supposed to live in caves deep underground low enough that humans can't live. They have a special ability to change their body transparently at will, not only that they have a mighty roar and if concentrated enough can turn it into a blast"
"Humans can't live underground, can change its body transparently at will? Ezrael, how do you know this" Ezrael sighs carefully before turning to the others.
"That's because... I am also not human" as Ezrael shows the group his necklace with a purple gem in the middle and it gleamed with light as he began to show the group only half of his form. Revealing to them his draconian scales, horns appeared out of his head as a tail from his back and wings sprouted, everyone was shocked.
"You're a dragon"
"Not just any dragon. Just like your friend here I am also a hybrid, but not in the way that you think, the necklace you see here keeps my human form I just mixed both together." as he show them his legs are the species of a bird with talons strong enough to break Gale's armour.
"So you were also keeping secrets from us"
"At least I hide my interest to support others, when someone reveals their true selves mortals lashed for being different. Isn't that what you are to your friend"
"Gale or whatever you call them is not who you think, Changelings are only born and tasked with gathering intel from human communication and one day might rule the world"
"Is that what you believe in a better world."
Ezrael scoffs "no wonder your people scold you for your high opinions, Azulen is your friend and your only companion who treated you like a real person, other people might see your people whether having great knowledge or deadly power. But Azulen sees the best in you, a Druid who want to trust others but couldn't due to their status as Azulen is the one to support you all the way since they met Gale, Azulen has learned to see the goodness in oneself, please don't let your aggressive nature get the better of you. Ralian Thorner the descendant of Favian Apollo".
Ralian was then left silent as Ezrael reforms back into his original form while Jin stopped at the weaponry "alright Jin can you levitate our weapons"
Gale asked politely as he nodded. Levitating Gale's sword and shield, Ralian's bow and quiver and Jin's Sabertooth boomerang and more boomerangs, as they quickly get geared up, Ezrael sees another longsword it was lighter than his original sword but it had a darken blade and it's the most reflective of all swords, Ezrael first tested the sword slashing a table with minimal force as it gave it a massive slash.
"This will do as a last resort"
"Why? Isn't it a strong weapon"
"A strong weapon can only reach its true potential depending on its user, remember that Azulen"
"Okay... but there is something I may ask you?"
"Feel free to ask away. Since I've been living for five and a half centuries I shall bestow to you all my wisdom"
"What happened to your people"
"My people are draconic and normal are vicious and proud of their being, but when I was first born I first wasn't born with the same fire each spew when first brought into the world".
Ezrael then continues to enlighten the group about his unfortunate past from his perspective.
When I was first born I was first named Mulrum and I was born as a hybrid of both a dragon and a griffin, and due to my appearance I was immediately imprisoned by the high elders of the draconians as I was to serve to rot there for ten centuries.
But they didn't foresee that throughout the years after I was born the caves started to become inhabitable for dragons to live as the burning core that has been keeping our kind warm for many millennials started to diminish its power. The dragons were being distracted as they were trying to keep the burning core alive. As it was the perfect opportunity for my escape, flying passed through his people as they were quick to notice his escape as some of his kind started to chase after him determined to not let him escape.
But I was quick on his feet while flying I uses his tail with the end of his tail being the shape of a curved semicircle able to get proper aero dynamic gliding perfectly through many obstacles. It felt natural to me at the time as I was able to escape from my own kind. But I did not expect to receive a fire blast from one of the dragons, I was hurt and began to fall from the skies and plummets down at a nearby forest. Now feeling injured with only a few seconds of freedom I had ever felt in a long time. Though my time was short I was ready to close my eyes and let fate do what they were about to do to me.
But later when I was trying to feel a painless death. My body suddenly felt someone moving me onto a wagon, I opened my eyes a bit to see a human boy trying to save me, and on his wagon he was then covering me in hay and started to carry me on his wagon, as the person brought me into a shelter near their farm.
Later while I was a sleep, I then wakes myself up and finds myself laying on some straws, leaves, and rags, while I see my wounds were tended with bandages. Then I heard the door creaking to my right, though I was new to my surroundings I had to go on the offensive for anyone who has to harm me. As I go into a fighting stance and sees the person who brought him here as the person was bringing buckets of food and water.
"Oh you're awake. Sorry about that Nightstriker I know you're a little agitated at me though being hurt, but I am not here to hurt you"
The farmer didn't know my true name, but he decided to give him the nickname Nightstriker, because my body was a bit slim, and since I was unconscious during the night, I suspect that's how he names me that name. But the farmer carefully to approach me and carefully places down the buckets of food to me and walks back away giving me some personal space.
He needed to earn my trust a bit, but the food and water he left me were grateful, and I haven't eaten in days so I had to eat, soon slowly approaches the bucket of food and water sniffing making sure its safe to each. then with one bite, I knew it was food and was quickly chowing down on the food and drinking the water never felt the flavour I had tasted before, in my entire life of imprisonment.
Soon after finishing both buckets and feeling satisfied, and the farmer then slowly approaches me while I try to rest a bit, facing his palm towards him. But I see him approaching me and immediately retaliates and the farmer quickly moves back.
"Alright you obviously don't seem like a species to gain someone trust with simple food and warmth. That being your a dragon after all" as the farmer takes a more look into my body.
"A dragon with its lower body have a legs of a falcon" as the farmer if wanting to gain my trust he needed to introduce me first.
"Alright Nightstriker, since your in here and in need of my care. How about I shall start off with some introductions. I am Calem Fendrick, your new friend".
Calem smiles proudly trying to give a sign towards me that he is not a threat any longer. But there was a time that I couldn't trust him at the time, as I was still aggressive towards Calem. He sees my aggressive side and sighs as he needs to come up with other ways to gain my trust. Soon he leaves the shelter and heads back to his home and wonders, how can he gain his trust of a dragon.
(end of chapter 36)