We enter the cave with caution. Despite the enormous entrance, almost no light gets inside. The same goes for the strong winds that are raging outside - no more than a small breeze makes it into the dragon’s lair.
‘It’s so dark here, I can barely see anything,’ says my partner. I guess elven eyes aren’t that good when it comes to night vision, after all.
Fortunately, there is a spell for that in my memory. Gathering mana from the surroundings so that nobody will notice our presence, I form a ball-shaped spirit in my hand and let it fly around the place.
A few moments later, the spirit starts glowing enough to fill the space we are in with light. It’s not the same as daylight outdoors, but definitely better than complete darkness.
‘Better?’
‘Much better. Thank you, Sunamar.’
With that out of the way, we can finally descend further into the cave. The path ahead of us is very challenging to say the least.
Every few steps we have to climb over obstacles or jump over some holes. I’m pretty sure we would be lost by now if not for the very linear layout of the entire cave. Luck is on our side, it seems.
It must’ve been hours since we’ve entered this place. With each step down the tunnel, I can feel the dragon getting closer to us. Its power has to be quite impressive now that I think about it.
Judging by its aura alone, they might be stronger than even myself. Hopefully we can settle this without a fight, although I’m not very optimistic about that.
Dragons are very proud and greedy beings, after all.
‘So, how exactly do you plan on convincing them to give us the shard?’ I can hear a great deal of fear in her voice, which is very understandable. No mortal has ever defeated an adult dragon. The difference in power (and size) is just that great.
If anyone has even the slightest chance at causing harm to a fully-grown dragon, it would be the former archmages, although only two of them are still known to be alive and one of them has never left his kingdom after barely surviving a battle with the mighty beast.
Even the elven people, revered among all the mortals to be magically gifted without equal, stood absolutely no chance. I can imagine Aleiana’s mind is full of worries that if the dragon refuses to cooperate, we’re both done for.
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Well, that might just be the case, but better not say that out loud.
‘I have a trick up my sleeve, don’t worry. And in case the negotiations fail, I still have this.’
The worried look on her face quickly changes to one filled with curiosity.
‘I’ve been wondering why have you been conjuring swords while fighting when you’re carrying one on your back?’
‘It’s not exactly meant to be used for fighting mortals nor magical beasts. Say, have you ever heard the word Godsword?’
She shakes her head in silence, probably expecting further explanation.
‘Back when the Eternii have still inhabited the Nine Worlds, one of them forged several powerful weapons. Unlike any others, the blades were created as vessels for souls of their fallen kin, great warriors of the past. Upon dying, their souls were bound to the blades in order to continue using their powers against the Void. As such, they hold more power than you or I could probably imagine.
That is what the Godswords are.’
‘And the black blade on your back is one of them?’ she asks more.
‘Not just one of them - Exarian is the strongest even among the highest grade of the Godswords. Partially due to its different nature in comparison to the others.’
Yes, it’s better not to explain that any further. Exarian, or as you would translate the name into common language, ‘The Bane of Saints’, wasn’t made as a vessel for an Eterni’s soul.
The thing bound within this blade is something else, something so evil that everything miles away from us recognizes it as a threat and keeps its distance, so vile that when I tried communicating with the soul once, hearing its voice almost made me go crazy from all the negativity surrounding it.
It is also the reason why I’d like to avoid using it unless it is absolutely necessary. This thing is just too strong for me. For anyone, really. Only my dad knew how to handle the madness that floods into your soul the moment you unsheathe the blade and then use it in combat.
I wish you had told me, dad. Or that you never left us in the first place, so that I didn’t have to do this.
‘We're almost in the mountain’s heart.’
Not long after me briefly explaining the plan to the elven ranger, we finally make it to the end of the road. The colossal space, hiding behind a small crack we’re allowed to see through the thick mountain mass, that you could call the central room, or the heart of the mountain, opens right in front of us.
It is the perfect place for a dragon to nest itself in. A large space, wide enough for even such a huge thing to freely move around, wide enough for it to hoard various treasures made of gold, gems or rare metals.
Or, perhaps, a Shard of Eternity.
‘Just stay close to me and don’t provoke the dragon. I will handle the rest. Can you trust me with this thing?’
She takes a moment, then responds with an ‘Okay.’
‘Let’s just hope the thing agrees to hand the shard over peacefully so we can run away without risking our lives any further.’
That being said, at last we enter the large central room of the cave.
