CHAPTER 5: RHYS

Two days from now is the so-called special day, but they already set a job for me to do. That is escorting nobles and some distant relatives of the royals.

An escort is needed since bandits mostly show up in this kind of situation, or worse, dragons would.

They would take this opportunity to enter the castle and just like before, they will tear down these walls, and flood the castle with seas of fire.

I could hardly remember what it looked like before.

As I stand by the gate of stones, waiting for official orders. Carriages of exquisiteness already reached the castle, safe and sound. Gladly, not a sign of any assault from the foe, it is making me wonder.

I was about to stroll towards the other side of the gate when I heard my co-general called my name.

“General Rhys,” he formally greeted, “We assign you in the outskirts of the palace.”

I only gave him a nod, took my horse from the stables, and headed immediately to my destination. The outskirts, huh, that is the most dangerous part in the kingdom, and they did not let me carry a blessed sword.

They even gave me half a dozen of men. Why is that?

The dragons are not the only thing we should keep our attention to, the fact that the slum was just nearby, only made my position dangerous, for the slum is crawling with fearsome bandits.

Is that how they say they want me to perish? Silly, I had enough of their silly games. I guess I have to pay Hera a visit after this.

We reached the outskirts after an hour of horse ride. I assigned my troops by two into certain positions in an instance.

Some surprise attacks are to be expected, but me, on the other hand, is always in solo. As I walk further into the slum, I could feel the eerie atmosphere created by bloodlust.

Now come to me and die already.

---

“For seven hours with no casualties, we captured eleven bandits, Sire.” One of my troops reported.

This is the first time my troop did not meet any casualties. I guess I underestimated them too much.

“Take the prisoners to the dungeon and wait for further instructions,” I commanded and left the troop behind for another stroll.

Well, I might as well take them there than surrendering them to the other generals and meet their terrible death from their hands.

I stopped for a moment, wondering why I am quite considerate right now. As if I will be gaining something from such a righteous act.

How would ‘being good’ help me achieve my goals?

After one last survey around the border, I finally concluded it was cleared. The sun was setting, illuminating the scene with its tangerine color, bestowing new hope to everyone who wishes for a new tomorrow. But this scene, it only made me perceive the place like it was on fire.

I gaited towards where I left the troop. They were already gone and must have already reached the barracks. I then glanced to where I left my horse, only to find it there, silently eating by a shack.

On a horseback, I rode in full speed and arrived safely at the barracks while the sun still sets. As I entered the gates, a dozen of chained dragons welcomed me. I heaved the bridle, making the horse take a break in the corner.

There are exactly five full-grown dragons, three average, and four young ones.

The dragons’ iron shackles were too thick for them to even melt and too heavy for them to fly. Their mouths were even tied down with numerous thick chains. There is no escape for them.

The king casted those chains with spells that temporarily constrain dragons from transforming back.

For a moment, a dragon’s reddish eye met my bluish ones before guards with long spears guided them to enter the dark dungeon. It somehow resonated a familiar feeling to me, one I had forgotten long ago.

But this is interesting. Even with an inadequate number of blessed swords, the new Slayer troop managed to catch this much. Well, there are other spell-bound weapons, but swords are literally the best.

“Isn’t the scene amazing,” His voice is the only thing that annoys me this much. I turned to my right, only to meet my co-general, who I would never assume to lead the troop, Henry.

“I captured more than a dozen dragons without some help of a blessed sword, How could you possibly rival me now?” He happily boasted as he walked towards me. He then caressed his greenish-brown hair before fixing his collar with pride.

Catching dragons, in here, is a sport indeed, nothing more, nothing less.

“With the help of your partner,” I uttered without a single emotion before moving down from my horse.

“Partner? Tss,” He spat, “Dragons are tools, creep. They are not that special, you know--” His head jerked after being hit by a stick from behind.

Another presence came by.

“Say that again, you useless moron.” A female voice shouted to him. I watched a young purple-haired girl come into the scene from his back and halted by his side.

“Hello, General Rhys.” She greeted as she took a bow.

“Hey, what was that for, you slave!” Henry grumpily shouted to her as he rubbed his painful nape, and before he could even say another word, he was down for good.

“He actually led the troop, huh,” I mumbled as I set my gaze upon the useless and unconscious body on the ground.

“Well, not actually, we haven’t done a thing.” Dawn, who seemed to eavesdrop, corrected me. “The one who led the new troop was no other than the crown prince itself.”

My eyes widened at what she had informed me.

 I glanced back to the gigantic gate where the captured dragons entered and wondered.

Why is the king in such a hurry?

What is he up to?

“The Crown Prince was quite impressive, is he not?” Henry, who managed to stand up again, exclaimed. “I wonder who’s going to ride them. Those newly captured ones are quite strong too, not like someone here---“

“Tell me, Dawn,” I looked back to where the two were standing, only to see them wrestling, but they immediately halted when I called her name.

“Aren’t you a little bit too carefree, seeing that your kind is being captured?” I coldly ask.

“Hey, Rhys, what are you talking about?” Henry furiously blurted out in response to my odd question.

I stared at her purple orbs as she did the same. With a deep breath, she then replied. “I believe in good and bad dragons, and I will let the king decide which is which.”

Silently, I only gave her a stare before leaving them behind.

 “Nonsense,” That word prolonged in my mind after our conversation. 

The king has been greedy about something he never owns, and that ‘power’, for the most part, he uses it in his private accord; that is quenching his personal desires and wishes.

For almost a century, all dragons were said to be captured and enslaved. They were restrained with magic spells that keep their dragon form in place forever, until thirteen years ago, they broke out.

They are able to adapt and fit in into this mortal society, and they will surely be coming back to settle a score.

Those serpents that did not leave back then are those who are loyal to their masters. And those who left are considered ‘traitors’.

Why do you think those beasts decided to leave?

--

It was a moonless yet starry night. As I sat alone on the cold, stone window frame, I silently stared at my wrist. With the help of the little lamp that lit the room, I could be able to perceive this black dragon mark that was recently engraved on my skin.

“A pact, huh.”

I never wanted one.

“Humans and dragons will live together again with peace,” My father had been dreaming about that as he patiently waited for his crown.

He swore to free dragons from slavery, maintain peace from each other’s sides, and let the world be roamed by them once again.

But that Oath was said reluctantly by someone else instead, and so now is this world.

I wonder father, is this how you are meant to rule this place too?