My Dragon Cultivation System: Rise Of An Empire

Odeg spoke again, his voice softer this time. "I know what we did to you was terrible. We tricked you, deceived you, and tried to get rid of you. But I regret it, truly. Let bygones be bygones, boy. Let us start afresh. Let us begin on a clean slate."

Aeron looked at him firmly. "Alright. I will pretend we are starting on a clean slate. But I will not let my guard down. Not again."

Before Odeg could answer, King Rollo raised his hand. "Alright you two. I want to thank my General for staying alive," the King said. "And I thank him even more for coming to our aid when we needed him the most. I know I can always count on you."

"You're welcome, Your Majesty," Amber replied with a small bow. "But the truth is, your appreciation should go to Master Odeg here. He almost killed me, but in the end, he chose to hear me out. He believed my warning about the danger that threatens the world. And, as it happens, this same danger is what his people had been preparing for all along."

The King slowly turned his eyes to Odeg. "Very well, then. I must appreciate you, Odeg, for what you did. But I have been meaning to ask, how come? General Amber said your people have been preparing for the Hydra. And as we all witnessed, your weapons were able to cut them down, even to pieces. How did this happen?"

Odeg straightened and answered without fear. "It is not by chance, Your Majesty, nor by luck. It is history. We have been preparing for this day for hundreds of years. We thought the battle would come upon our own land, but who could have known that our preparations would one day save another kingdom instead?"

"Hundreds of years?" King Rollo repeated, frowning. "Can you be more clear? How did it begin?"

Odeg took a deep breath. "Three hundred years ago, a prophecy came to us. It was a prophecy so heavy that it drove all our pregnant women into madness. Every one of them. They all said the same words, they all muttered the same warnings:

'We must prepare. A great evil will descend upon us and wipe away the world. This evil will be born from forbidden magic. And it can only be stopped by forbidden magic as well.'

"They spoke these words, and then, as if cursed, each one took her own life. Every pregnant woman, Your Majesty. Even the wife of our leader at that time."

The hall fell silent as Odeg's words sank in. He lowered his voice as he continued. "The leader, broken by grief, gave an order. He said their deaths must not be in vain. From that day, our people began to prepare. We sought out forbidden magics, dangerous and costly, but we learned to bind them into steel. From them we forged that weapon and we call it Cuidian Steel.

"And with those steels, we waited for the day of prophecy. With it we fought the Hydra. And as foretold, the Cuidian Steels killed them. They cut their bones and dismembered them, just as the prophecy had promised."

The King sat back in his chair, stunned.

"Who would have thought that a prophecy from a faraway kingdom, spoken many years ago, would save us today?" King Rollo said. He sighed deeply and added, "I must apologize for your loss then."

"And Cuidian steel, you say?"

"Yes, Cuidian steel," Odeg replied. "It is no ordinary metal. It is made with magic itself, magic that has been forbidden and forgotten for centuries."

He leaned forward and continued, "This hydra did not just appear on its own. No… they are bound and guided by those who wield forbidden magic. Such creatures cannot act on their own. They are controlled by a great sorcerer… or perhaps sorcerers."

Aeron, who had been listening closely, interrupted. "That explains it. No wonder they all move together at the same time, and then stop all at once. They are controlled. But who is it that controls them? And why? Why would anyone want to destroy everything?"

"That we do not know," Odeg answered. "But if we hope to defeat this monster completely, we must find the one who commands it. For those who enchant the hydra can always raise more, and they will not stop until the hand that binds them is cut off."

Nyella spoke next. "That may be true, but first we must get more of this Cuidian steel you speak of. If the hydra returns, and I am certain it will, our soldiers will need it to stand a chance."

"Would we just sit and wait for them to return?" Aeron asked. "Why don't we just go after them instead, as I suggested before. At least now we have an idea of where they may be hiding."

The hall was silent. All eyes turned toward him.

"Where?" King Rollo asked. "Did you see where exactly, as you followed them?"

Aeron shook his head. "Not clearly. They scattered in many directions. But the ones I pursued entered into caves, far away from here. So I guess that's where they all hide. In the caves."

"So, if we are to fight them, that is where we must go," his eyes moved to Nyella. "After the weapons are prepared and ready for every soldier."

The king was about to respond when the doors of the hall opened. A soldier stepped in, walked quickly to the king's side, and whispered something into his ear. King Rollo frowned his face, but he gave a short nod. The soldier bowed and left.

At that moment, the door opened again and, a man entered the chamber. His body was covered in bruises, his clothes torn, as if he had barely survived a terrible fight. He staggered forward.

Nyella's eyes widened. "Lord Edgar," she breathed. "What… what are you doing here?"

The man's tired eyes found hers. He stumbled, then fell heavily to his knees before her. His voice shook as he spoke. "Your Highness… forgive me. I am sorry. I am so sorry."

Nyella stepped closer. "What is it, Edgar? Tell me."

The old man lowered his head, and with pain in every word, he said, "The throne… is lost."

"..."