Arise the Dragonslayer [The Flash warrior series #1]

Chapter fourteen: The prophecy

I kept remembering what Claes told us during training. "When it comes to using weapons, you need to be quick, strong, and smart enough to take an enemy down. However, you must know and remember every advantage you can use with your weapon of choice and its limits.

 

Using a weapon is just like using a wand. Like a wizard, it can interact and manipulate your magic with ease, but take note of this: 'The weapon's interaction depends on your magic. Learn to find a way to attack, like the river endlessly going forward and push through until it pierces to the end. By using every weapon, learn and use every tactic and maneuver on how to use it, that is the true warrior way.'" Claes demonstrated a proper way on how to swing a sword. Thankfully, I know how to handle these weapons, especially the ones that are used for hunting. Thanks for the training, dad.

 

Chloriette got very used to light weapons such as daggers. Incredibly, Lenard was a fast learner, he knew how to use an agile weapon such as a saber. He's quite good at it. The way he swings, the way he grips the sword as if he could be one of the top swordsmen. Lenard was flattered, a wizard and a swordsman at the same time, why not? But to our surprise, Lenard wasn't actually into swords.

 

Victor, last but not least. By the time he got used to the whole-weapon-training-stuff, Claes managed to train Victor as his rookie. As he said, he's an athlete, a newly recruited athlete. Victor favored more in close combat, so he only used brass knuckles.

 

Due to what had happened during my first day of training, my shooting skills got more impressive. I even thought this would make me a cheater. Every shot I take, always hits the mark as it goes faster and further, the arrow (Darts, metal, spiky-shaped stars, and other weapons for range) dashed more than a speed of light.

 

Lenard and I sparred in sword combat too. Somehow, I could see everything went into slow motion. I parried his attacks and by a flash, my wooden blade (yes, I was using a wooden sword) almost reached my sparring partner's neck. His eyes grew wide. "Whoa, you're fast!"

 

I pulled my blade, sorry- wooden sword, away from him. "Yeah, my dad taught me a couple of things."

 

"I wish my dad can do the same." Lenard furrowed his eyebrows. "But he mostly does research and all that other nerdy stuff." Then abruptly I dodged as he swung his saber on me.

 

"The most important thing in using a weapon: never lose it, unless it is badly damaged." Our training goes on and on, I swear. To make this clear, the weapon training was all about using any kind of weapons by knowing every offense and defense, same as combat training.

 

Fortunately, we had our break, and we brought lunch. The background changed into the summer forest. All of us were sitting underneath a tree, safe from the sun's heat. "Wow," Lenard patted himself on the back. "I have to admit, I feel relieved. I never thought that I would love training. Not at first, but . . . It changed me."

 

"You can say that again." Victor drank a bottle of water. "This reminds me of my dad and my uncle Szhcotts, they had fun and got used to this type of training, and they liked it."

 

"I have to be honest guys," Chloriette called. "We didn't just learn in our training, we achieved this training progressively like it's natural. Don't you think it's a little strange?" We all stared at each other, wondering about that question.

 

"Yeah." I drank a whole bottle of water. "I didn't even realize how fast we've learned in training for a few days."

 

"It's because the four of you are gifted prodigies," Claes appeared on top of the tree. "I forgot to mention to you guys." Claes jumped down, but his feet didn't make any sound as he landed. "The four of you worked together as one. And judging from your past experiences, you apply it here."

 

"So we're like fast learners?" Lenard asked. "I don't feel like it."

 

"Of course, there's no need to. A fast learner doesn't need to feel like he is a fast learner, you just have to deal with it like what you're doing right now because of how your brains process it very well." Claes was right, even if you do feel like a fast learner, something tells me that something's not right about it. You just have to deal with it, as I dealt with myself being one of the enchanted warriors. "To make myself clear, you're learning every lesson in an accurate condition." Except for math, I wanted to add.

 

"Cool." Victor beamed. "But I'm still bad at chess."

 

"But." Claes eyes filled with seriousness. Really? there's a but? "You have to keep improving and train hard."

 

"Okay," I said. "Come on guys, let's do this." As the training goes on, we focused.

 

***

 

"MaXabiere, wake up." I was magically awakened by Chloriette's melody, which was not. I saw Victor waved at me and Lenard smiling awkwardly. "What are you guys doing here? Wha- what time is it?" I squinted. "And how did you get in here?"

 

"Four in the morning," Lenard said. "Oh, and uh, Victor broke the doorknob."

 

"It won't happen again, I promise." Victor raised his right hand.

 

"Can't I just have a good night's sleep?" I wrapped the blanket around me, but, in an instant, Victor threw the blanket away. "We saw Claes going into some sort of hidden passage . . . wait, why is your pajama pink?"

 

"Laundry. Sister's fault," I groaned.

 

"Oh . . . "

 

"So, why do you guys care? And why are you telling this to me?"

 

"We thought he might be going to the Oracle of Prophethia," Lenard said.

 

"And why are you guys so interested?"

 

"Because, while Claes was talking to this woman, they're talking about you." My sleepiness wore off in an instant and got out of bed.

 

"Wait, you're not going to change?" Victor asked.

 

"I still need my beauty sleep." I snorted. On every hall, there were blue warriors, walking around, probably patrolling the place. (You're going to be like "Wait, patrolling while it's four in the morning? There's no danger going on.") The good thing was Lenard knew the way without being spotted.

 

"Lenard," Chloriette called. "Are you sure you know where we're going? Because we're outside." It was completely cold, but the air was suitable for me. Trees rustled in the wind softly as to why I didn't see the view as scary.

 

Few boring hours later (It's only a hyperbole), we reached a secret location that looked like a dungeon. Stone walls, bright torches, and creepy spiders crawling on dusty web lines. Lenard was startled as a rat appeared. "I was being alert," he lied. After a minute, we reached the dead end.

 

"You know where we are going?" I asked.

 

"Yes," he replied. "I remembered where I last saw him. I assure you that he headed this way." But we're just standing here. "Okay, now what?" Victor asked. I noticed something different along with the same image of the stone wall. I pressed my hand onto that different shaped-stone and pushed it, followed by the rusty sound. The stone wall transformed into an opening of a dark cave. I heard Lenard gulped, "Well, I didn't know Captain Claes will go to this place."

 

"Come on, before I return to my comfy bed." I yawned.

 

"I wish I have a comfy bed." Lenard scratched his neck "Darn bed bugs won't leave me alone." Luckily, the torches led us the way to where Claes might be. In the never-ending tunnel, we heard voices that could be Claes'. However, more voices were echoing as we got closer. This made me wonder, Why me? Why in the great magic would they be talking about me? By the time we heard the voice of Claes, we hid behind the stone wall near an opening where he was.

 

"This doesn't sound so good." A soft voice echoed.

 

"We know," Claes said. "The Devastrigon is quite powerful than what I could have ever imagined. If we don't do something at this very moment, the whole world will be piled with bones."

 

"And ashes." Another woman's voice echoed across the room.

 

"And ashes," Claes finished.

 

"But Claes and I were thinking about this solution," the woman's voice said, again. "It has something to do with this recruit whom we've encountered."

 

"Oh, yes. The boy from the Berrygrewd family. I knew that my dream was real."

 

"Dream?" Claes asked and so did I.

 

"Yes, I have a good and a bad dream. The bad dream was about the three heads with volcanic eyes burning the earth, together with other life forms beneath it." I gulped and sweat trickled on my forehead.

 

"And the good one?" Claes asked.

 

"The good dream was about a warrior flashing from the sky, destroying the monster as he descended." I almost got closer to the edge of the wall, but Chloriette pulled my shoulder to stay hidden. "So, as you've heard it, the boy is destined to destroy the Devastrigon once and for all."

 

"So the prophecy is good?" Claes crossed his arms.

 

"I don't know, the new prophecy was complex: He must go to a place of hallow. 'He must choose, win or lose. He must find the destroyer for it is hidden in a chamber. Life itself rests in his hands or it will disintegrate where it lands.'"

 

"Well." The woman started. "The prophecy doesn't involve good or bad?"

 

"Believe it or not, yes. However, this prophecy is not yet complete."

 

"Let me guess." I saw Claes crossing his arms. "The prophecy's ending depends on the kid?" The Oracle of Prophethia nodded. Wow, she's young. So young, that her age might be the same as ours. But she had long, white hair and white eyes, and wearing an oversize violet robe. Her face is calm and unreadable. The woman beside Claes was the person with him from the announcement, still wearing her black uniform, but her hair was braided with violet jewels.

 

"How are we supposed to prepare when the dragon is in some sort of hiding spot?" Demanded the woman. "It says in the prophecy, for it is hidden in the chamber."

 

"A huge chamber, I suppose." Claes turned to her. "But, if MaXabiere is our only source of hope, we're not sure if he's ready. He's just a kid, and we don't even know when and where the Devastrigon will strike again." He may have a point though, I'm just sixteen with such power, but still unprepared for what is coming. 

 

"Claes," the Oracle called. "The boy will be ready, I assure you. He is born with supernatural abilities beyond our imagination and expectations. He also has the power to learn fast and good enough for him to face his fate." That scared me.

 

"Great, what about the other Flash warriors?" The woman shrugged.

 

"We'll just send them to other vulnerable villages and cities to protect the people. The warriors in the west could assist and convince every kingdom with their powerful military. I'll take care of the recruits," Claes told her. "With this plan, I'll still have time to train them."

 

"Okay." The woman crossed her arms. "Especially the boy?"

 

"Especially the boy," Claes repeated. "I'm going to call Sean."

 

"For what?" she asked. We heard Claes and the woman's footsteps getting louder In other words, they're heading outside. The four of us looked at each other with panic. They're coming! So each of us headed to our hiding places, which was the hardest part of all. "He and I have an unfinished business." By the time Claes and the woman got out after thanking the Oracle, we headed back to our rooms quietly.

 

"Holy Challis, we have an incomplete prophecy." Lenard looked at me.

 

"Look, Lenard, we don't even know what's going to happen. But hearing about her dream, I have certainty and doubts at the same time." Chloriette held my shoulder.

 

"I'll hold that kind of responsibility?" I said, looking at them. "Like you guys, I'm just a prodigy. I don't know if mom knows about this."

 

"I hate prophecies." Victor yawned.

 

"Let's go get some sleep," I told them. "Whatever happens according to her dream and the incomplete prophecy, I'm hoping this could go in a right way." By the stars, Guiseppe's right, I am the one.