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Chapter 15: When It Rains, It Pours
“Often,
the
worst
of
storms
is
heralded
by
the
arrival
of
one
singular
destructive
force,
laying
the
pathway
for
an
even
worse
catastrophe.
Head
these
warnings
well,
just
because
you
survived
the
flood,
doesn’t
mean
you’ll
survive
the
hurricane.”
-
Hakkon,
cleric
of
Leviathan
Suddenly
the
wyvern
turned
behind
it,
and
let
out
a
roar.
Taking
to
the
air,
and
flying
in
the
direction
the
knights
had
been
traveling.
The
Midnight
Crusaders
all
gave
confused
glances
to
each
other,
while
Teormand
and
Eli’s
faces
became
stricken
with
fear.
Looking
at
the
clerics,
their
fear
told
all,
and
they
began
to
chase
after
the
monster.
As
the
chase
began,
Sylvia
saw
the
destination
ahead,
it
was
the
temple.
Whatever
this
thing
was,
it
had
full
intent
to
kill
whoever
was
in
that
temple.
This
monster
wasn’t
acting
on
instinct,
its
movements
and
actions
told
a
different
story.
Something
or
someone
was
influencing,
maybe
even
controlling
this
creature
as
a
weapon.
Tervann
stood
in
the
front
seat,
channeling
arcane
energy
into
his
pistol
and
aiming
at
the
wyvern’s
neck.
With
a
burst
of
arcane
energy,
a
singular
sphere
of
purple
energy
fired
past
the
neck
of
the
creature
before
exploding,
raining
down
a
barrage
of
magic
missiles
into
the
back
of
the
wyvern’s
neck.
The
monster
screeched
as
each
missile
pierced
into
its
blue-scaled
hide,
a
cascade
of
blood
dropping
like
rain.
Tervann
glared
as
the
wyvern
turned
towards
the
wagon
as
raised
his
gun
again,
firing
another
spell.
A
bolt
of
shadowy
arcane
flame
shot
towards
the
wyvern,
this
time
missing
the
mark
as
the
wyvern
banked
to
the
right,
seeing
the
attack
coming.
Tervann
spat
and
cursed
under
his
breath.
“Damn
this
thing
is
fast
and
resilient,
but
I
think
I
got
his
attention,”
Tervann
said,
looking
at
Sylvia.
“We
can
divert
him
away
from
the
temple,
we
need
to
throw
anything
we
can
to
get
him
on
the
ground.”
“I
will
take
the
beast
down
to
the
ground,”
Drox
said,
turning
to
everyone,
and
brandishing
his
ballista
javelin.
“Time
for
some
fire.”
Before
anyone
could
object,
Drox
leaped
out
from
the
back
of
the
moving
wagon,
rolling
on
the
much
more
soft
grassy
ground.
Standing
up,
he
felt
overwhelming
heat
as
draconic
rage
began
to
course
through
his
body.
Above
him,
the
wyvern
made
a
bank
towards
the
wagon,
rearing
its
head
back.
Drox
let
out
a
roar
toward
the
creature,
catching
its
attention.
With
javelin
in
hand,
he
planted
both
feet
on
the
ground
and
focused
his
energy
on
his
arm.
Drox
threw
the
javelin
with
a
force
comparable
to
a
ballista,
hitting
right
into
the
base
of
the
wyvern's
right
wing
which
exploded
with
blood,
scales,
and
pieces
of
bone.
The
monster
let
out
a
pained
screech
as
it
began
to
careen
into
the
ground,
landing
with
a
thunderous
crash
in
front
of
Drox
a
mere
twenty
feet
away,
and
his
javelin
landed
right
next
to
him.
Soon
after,
the
bleeding
monster
stood
up
and
let
out
a
roar
as
the
others
alongside
the
clerics
would
join
the
fight.
The
wyvern,
bloodied
and
furious,
made
the
first
move,
rearing
its
head
back
and
firing
a
blast
of
lightning
right
toward
Drox.
Before
he
could
dodge,
Drox
was
struck
by
the
powerful
electric
force
knocking
him
back
a
few
feet
and
almost
bringing
him
to
his
knees.
This
would
only
cause
his
fiery
rage
to
grow
more
intense.
To
the
left,
a
couple
of
bullets
flew
in
the
wyvern's
direction.
As
it
looked
towards
Tervann,
a
secondary
attack
from
Sylvia
and
Crabapple
was
already
upon
it.
Sylvia
threw
Crabapple
into
the
air,
and
the
goblin
spun
with
both
his
club's
mid-air
and
slammed
down
onto
the
wyvern’s
back.
Sylvia
now
brandishing
her
blades,
slid
under
the
beast,
slashing
its
legs.
From
the
right,
Teormand
alongside
Eli
charged
with
blades
and
shields
raised.
The
wyvern,
seeing
the
approaching
clerics
swung
its
tail
towards
them,
with
Eli
stepping
forward
and
raising
his
round
shield.
As
the
tail
made
contact,
Eli
was
sent
flying
back
rolling
into
the
ground.
Teormand
raised
his
blade
towards
the
wyvern,
a
bolt
of
golden
divine
energy
firing
into
the
skull
of
the
creature
with
an
explosion
of
divine
magic
billowing
out
in
all
directions.
“Face
the
wrath
of
a
knight
of
the
emerald
sun!”
Teormand
yelled,
bashing
his
sword
against
his
shield
a
few
times.
Tervann
fired
another
spell,
a
skeletal
hand
clamping
down
upon
the
wyvern's
jaw,
with
necrosis
eroding
outer
layers
of
scales
and
flesh.
Then,
he
fired
a
bullet
into
the
monster's
now
eroded
jaw,
blowing
the
bottom
half
off
entirely.
Tervann
turned
to
Drox,
and
motioned
to
him,
Drox
nodded
taking
up
his
javelin.
Charging
forward,
Drox
leaped
into
the
air
with
his
javelin
aimed
down.
Drox
landed
atop
the
back
of
the
wyvern
and
stabbed
his
spear
down
into
the
creature's
back.
The
wyvern,
now
having
two
on
its
back
began
to
shake
violently
before
rolling,
trying
to
crush
Drox
and
Crabapple.
Drox,
seeing
this
coming
removed
his
javelin
and
grabbed
Crabapple
with
his
tail
before
jumping
off
in
the
opposite
direction.
“Damn,
here
I
thought
you
were
crazy
strong
before,”
Crabapple
said
before
leaping
onto
Drox’s
shoulder.
“Thanks
for
the
save
Drox.”
“Of
course,
and
you
still
got
agility
on
me,
my
friend.”
Drox
smiled.
“Eli?
You
okay?”
Teormand
turned
behind
him,
helping
his
companion
up.
“I’m
fine,
we
just
gotta
make
sure
this
threat
is
taken
care
of,”
Eli
gritted
his
teeth.
“We
will
not
allow
the
lord's
house
to
be
desecrated
by
this
vile
fiend.”
Eli
stepped
forward,
waving
his
sword
in
his
hand
with
golden
flames
crawling
up
the
blade’s
edge.
As
the
wyvern
got
back
to
its
feet,
Eli
swung
his
blade
in
the
beast's
direction
with
a
ball
of
golden
flame
flying
forward.
The
ball
of
divine
fire
impacted
the
rotting
face
of
the
monster,
staggering
it
as
Eli
moved
in
and
slashed
its
neck.
Sylvia
took
the
opportunity,
leaping
forward
for
an
attack
with
both
her
blades
slashing
against
the
other
side
of
the
wyvern's
neck.
With
scales
and
blood
flying,
the
wyvern
jumped
into
the
air
shooting
out
a
bolt
of
lightning
at
Sylvia.
Seeing
the
attack
coming,
Sylvia
jumped
back
and
slid
across
the
ground
her
eyes
glued
on
the
wyvern
as
it
landed
back
on
the
ground.
Crabapple,
using
the
opportunity,
got
behind
the
wyvern
and
with
both
clubs,
slammed
into
the
back
of
the
beast's
leg.
A
loud
crack
rang
out
as
leg
bone
splintered
and
pierced
through
the
monster's
skin.
The
wyvern
turned
to
face
Crabapple
snapping
its
jaws
toward
the
goblin.
However,
before
it
could
reach,
Crabapple
leaped
into
the
air
roundhouse
kicking
the
wyvern
in
the
skull.
Then,
the
monster's
already
splintered
leg
bone
fully
snapped
causing
the
beast
to
collapse
on
the
ground.
And
with
a
ragged
breath,
it
finally
succumbed
to
its
injuries.
Soon
after
the
beast
fell,
Tervann
noticed
odd
dark
purple
arcane
signets
etched
on
the
wyvern’s
scales.
While
everyone
else
was
celebrating
the
victory
against
the
wyvern.
Tervann
felt
uneasy,
a
sinking
feeling
in
his
stomach,
a
building
dread
in
his
heart.
Then,
he
saw
it,
a
shadow
of
a
flying
creature.
Looking
up
to
the
sky,
Tervann
gasped
as
he
saw
overhead
the
familiar
visage
of
a
true
dragon.
One
whose
scales
were
clad
in
light
green
scales,
a
lashing
snake-like
tail,
a
crocodilian
head,
and
a
pair
of
large
bat-like
wings.
Before
Tervann
could
issue
a
warning,
the
dragon
dove
down
and
snatched
Eli
up
into
its
jaws.
In
one
quick
horrible
moment,
the
dragon
devoured
Eli
and
continued
into
the
air,
flying
towards
the
temple.
Silence
befell
them
all
as
they
all
watched
the
dragon
as
it
flew
in
the
air.
And
then,
they
saw
what
appeared
to
be
a
relatively
small
airship
following
the
same
course
as
the
dragon.
Teormand
fell
to
his
knees,
slamming
a
fist
into
the
ground
and
yelling.
Sylvia
silently
watched
the
dragon
with
wide
eyes.
Drox
gripped
his
fists
with
fury,
Crabapple
smeared.
And
Tervann,
watched
the
airship,
seeing
a
banner
being
flown
on
the
side
of
it.
A
banner
that
depicted
a
purple
dragon
curled
up
around
a
raging
fire.
He’d
seen
that
emblem
before,
it
was
unmistakable.
In
some
nightmares,
he’d
see
the
hooded
figures
with
that
emblem
tattooed
to
their
arms
and
backs.
At
that
moment,
Tervann
came
to
a
horrible
realization,
the
wyvern,
the
dragon,
Marlenzo,
and
the
airship
he
saw
now.
They
all
are
working
under
one
influence.
“There’s
no
way…
That
emblem…”
Tervann
shuddered
before
falling
to
his
knees.
“I've
seen
it
before.
It's
them..."
"Tervann?
What
are
you
talking
about?"
Sylvia
asked
with
a
shuddering
voice.
"I'd
only
have
seen
them
in
nightmares,
I
thought
they
were
just
conjured
phantoms
meant
to
torture
my
mind.
Nightmare
has
become
reality..."
Tervann's
eyes
began
to
well
up
with
tears
as
his
body
began
to
involuntarily
shake.
Soon
after,
Tervann
felt
nauseous
like
he
was
about
to
puke
up
his
stomach.
Then,
in
one
horrible
moment,
his
vision
blurred
and
he
found
himself
in
a
vision.
Laid
in
what
seemed
to
be
a
stone
bowl.
Everything
looked
bigger,
even
the
hooded
figures
around
him
seemed
giant.
His
hand
was
the
hand
of
an
infant,
one
that
was
scarred
and
healing
with
stitches
from
the
top
of
his
knuckle,
all
the
way
down
to
the
bottom
of
his
forearm.
All
he
could
hear
low
chanting
in
what
Tervann
recognized
to
be
draconic,
but
something
was
mixed
in
there,
something
infernal,
something
dark.
It
was
a
spell,
these
hooded
figures
were
casting
something,
and
the
baby
that
Tervann's
eyes
saw
through
was
the
arcane
focus.
As
the
spell's
incantation
was
chanted,
searing
pain
caused
the
infant
to
squirm
and
scream,
and
the
arm
began
to
glow
with
the
same
purple
energy
he'd
seen
in
his
arm
when
he
cast
spells.
As
Tervann
watched
this
scene
play
out,
a
dark
elven
woman
ran
up
to
the
circle
of
hooded
figures
and
said
something
that
was
drowned
out
by
the
chanting.
Then,
the
chanting
stopped,
with
all
but
three
of
the
hooded
figures
leaving.
When
the
closest
figure
hastily
reached
towards
the
infant,
the
other
two
brandished
knives,
with
one
stabbing
the
reaching
figure
in
the
back
and
the
other
slitting
their
throat.
Blood
spilled
in
the
stone
circle,
and
one
of
the
hooded
figures
nodded
to
the
other.
With
the
one
who'd
nodded
scooping
up
the
infant
in
their
arms,
holding
the
infant
against
their
chest.
It
became
apparent
that
the
figure
was
female,
and
looking
at
the
face,
Tervann
felt
a
strange
feeling.
It
was
a
familiarity,
but
also
at
the
same
time
a
distance,
like
seeing
someone
from
many
years
ago.
But
as
far
as
he
knew,
he
never
knew
this
person.
In
fact,
he
couldn't
even
see
her
face.
"The
bastards
of
the
platinum
are
here!
We
must
protect
the
avatar,
where
is
he?!"
A
hoarse
voice
called
out
from
somewhere
the
infant's
eyes
couldn't
see.
"Run,
protect
him,
he
mustn't
go
back
into
their
grasp,"
A
male
voice
came
from
the
other
hooded
figure.
"I'll
keep
them
and
those
clerics
busy,
take
him
somewhere
safe."
"I
will,
but
please,
come
back
alive."
The
woman
said,
with
tears
dropping
on
the
infant's
forehead.
"You
and
I
both
know
that
won't
happen,
but
a
bastard
like
me
doesn't
deserve
mercy,"
The
male-hooded
man
stifled
a
sob.
"Help
our
legacy,
be
something
better,
I
impart
that
hope,
into
this
child."
When
he
said
that,
he
removed
his
hood,
revealing
a
young
man
who
looked
to
be
about
Tervann's
age.
With
a
beard
wrapped
at
the
bottom
of
his
face,
messy
dark
brown
hair,
emerald
green
eyes,
and
the
same
shade
of
tan
that
Tervann's
skin
was.
The
man
kissed
the
infant's
forehead,
before
brandishing
his
knife
and
running
away
from
the
woman
and
child.
The
child
reached
out
for
the
man
before
the
woman
hugged
the
infant
close,
and
jumped
through
a
nearby
window.
Out
onto
a
series
of
roofs,
with
heavy
rain
pouring
down,
and
the
sound
of
battle
ringing
out
in
the
street
below.
"We
need
to
find
a
way
out
of
here,
my
boy."
The
woman
said,
looking
down
at
the
infant.
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