Adventures of the last Wild Dragon-Chapter 172: Cragkieth

The group of 10 walked down the large tunnel, its walls and door dotted with countless glowing crystals and bioluminescent fungi providing a gentle golden blue illumination.

The ground, which started as a basic dirt path soon began to transition into carved stone pathways. The walls similarly transitioned into a tapestry of carved landscapes, from beasts of all shapes, various plants and environments, to enlightened of all shapes.

Every aspect of life was depicted in the endlessly detailed engravings that painted a picture of life in all of its glory. Violet’s gaze was soon focused in a particular section of the grand wall. It showed a dragon, larger than a mountain flying across a sea of trees, the next depiction showed the same giant dragon settling down on a vast landmass, its enormous body reaching across the entire continent.

The next carving showed this dragon either sleeping or dying, it was slightly unclear. But from its body a mountain range grew, a mountain range that Violet was currently within. This enormous dragon was believed to be the source of the Spine mountain range that cut this continent in half.

Violet was unsure if this was accurate, or even feasible given the sheer scale of what was being shown. Yet at the same time, she dearly hoped that it may be true. For this entire continent spanning mountain range to be the result of a singular dragon’s existence.

But that was not the only fascinating scene displayed on the walls. Scenes of battle and war, showing grand armies clashing and powerful individuals dueling. Scenes of miracles being bestowed from a golden sky upon the mortals that walked down in the surface. It was a eye opening sight for the young dragon, to learn that this world contained countless things that she never even knew about.

Violet was not the only one who was engrossed with the carvings, Luna, Susan and Rhyana all looked over the beautiful carvings with interest, each engrossed in one scene or another. Tyre and his companions simply allowed them to admire the depictions, quite pleased that one of their city’s wonders could elicit such a reaction from the dragons.

Soon enough though the tunnel they were walking down began to open up, the already expansive space expanding into a truly giant cavern.

Glowing blue and golden spots littered the distant ceiling, thick columns of rock spiralled up from the ground to the ceiling far above, their immense size supporting the mountain from collapsing down atop the city beneath.

The city itself was hidden behind towering walls, easily 2-300 meters tall they dominated the surroundings, preventing even a glimpse of what lay behind. The pathway they had been following led in a straight line up towards a set of gleaming golden gates, their shine reflecting off the marble white stone walls.

Seeing such an exceed of white stone was strange for Violet, as the entire mountains seemed to be made from black stone, she wondered where they managed to gather all of this white stone but soon shook her head to dismiss the thought. She had more important things to consider at the current time.

The road they walked down had a couple of branching paths, leading off into the distance. Some heading towards buildings and others into different tunnels that lined the vast cavern. Despite being underground and in such a large space, the lighting was actually quite good, the innumerable glowing fungi and crystals jutting out of the walls and ceiling allowing all to see with ease.

At each side of the grand gates two people stood guard, they wore gold and blue armour, a mix between leather and plate metal around their important parts. Each of the 4 guards wielded a long spear in their hands and a sword strapped to their waist.

The guards instantly noted the arrival of the group of 10 and straighted up, they did not seem overly threatening, more cautious and curious. When they got within 10 meters of the guards and the gate one of them took a step forward and spoke in a commanding tone.

"Tyre, you return early. And with guests, who are these people and why have you brought them to our city."

Tyre tensed upon hearing the guard address him directly, then quickly glanced over at Violet and Rhyana before turning back around to face the guards. "Yes we discovered the elementals causing problems, they ambushed my group and nearly killed us all. These people assisted us in our time of need and defeated the elementals, we offered to guild them to the city in thanks for saving us."

The guard silently observed Tyre for a prolonged few seconds causing the young Lord to sweat nervously. Eventually thought he turned towards Violet and Luna who stood at the front of the group and in front of Susan and Rhyana.

"And who are you, what business do you have in our fair city?" He asked. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Violet thought for a moment before speaking. "I am Violet, this is Luna, Susan and Rhyana. We are traveling east and had to pass through the mountains. We were told of this city and wanted to visit it, are we not allowed to enter?" Her tone wasn’t exactly unkind, yet an edge was hidden towards the end. She didn’t particularly like this dwarf, his gaze was openly hostile towards herself, Luna and Rhyana.

Whilst she may not allow someone to open disrespect herself, if the same went towards her companion. Well only by spilling blood would she be content.

The guard snorted at her words his apparent contempt growing. "What reason should I allow lowly beasts to enter into our city." A growl began to grow in Luna and Violet’s chests at those words. Already they were considering just killing this creature, how dare he insult them like that, using their nature as beasts as a derogatory way. They were proud of their beast nature, to insult that was something they were not eager to allow.

Tyre who saw this paled, he knew how powerful Violet and her friends were. How this stupid guard knew that they were beasts was besides the point, he was currently insulting 2 dragons and their trusted companions! Did he have a death wish!? Tyre knew he had to intervene else risk blood being spilt, he did not doubt that the girls could easily kill these guards, they were only in the early stages of being lords. It was the more powerful people within the city that he was affraid of, if they emerged they might actually kill Violet and her friends before they knew that they were dragons!

He could not allow such a situation to occur! His mind raced as he tried to think up a solution, until he remembered something that Violet had shown him. He instantly stood between the two groups, facing the guards, he challenged his inner young master persona and bellowed down at the guards in his most domineering voice.

"How dare you insult members of the Wild Order like this! You know the consequences of harassing their members, shall I be the one to inform your captain of your bigotry and insults thrown at the orders members!?"

Tyre’s sudden shout halted anyone from taking any more action, the guard who had stepped forward suddenly staggered back, his eyes going wide in fright and his pale face turning ashen. The other guards did not look any better off, mention of the Wild Order was enough to rattle them, and with one of them insulting them, even if only slightly, things could get messy for them.

Seeing this Tyre felt momentarily happy with himself, believing that he had managed to come up with an appropriate way to avoid bloodshed. He began to turn around to face Violet when the giant golden gates began to open.

A voice called out, powerful and commanding. "Who is it that is apparently members of the Wild Order? I would like to know who claims so."

Tyre was the one to pale this time, he recognised that voice, that commanding presence. He slowly turned back around to face the approaching figure striding towards them from the now open gates. He was a tall man easily surpassing 8ft in height, his figure rippled with muscles, his mostly bare chest littered with countless scars and a truly giant war axe was strapped to his back.

His thick legs ended in bovine hooves and his head was topped with two jutting horns. The man, no Minotaur slowly walked forwards, his presence subtly exposed displaying his status as a sovereign for all to see and sense.

Tyre shook, wondering how this day could get any worse. He just had to mention the Order only for one of their enforcers to suddenly appear out of thin air! What were the chances of that happening!?

Violet who was observing the sovereign approach was not worried however, she could tell by the way his presence brushed against her own that he meant no harm. If anything he seemed amused, yet she also noted how when his gaze fell onto the now shivering guard that insulted her, that gentle gaze turned sharp and angry.

When the Minotaur finally stopped advancing he was standing above Violet and Luna, close enough to reach out and touch her. Yet instead of speaking or making any aggressive moves what he did was enough to stun everyone present.

The giant of a man proceeded drop down to a single knee, his head lowering in a show of submission. Then he spoke, his tone full of respect and reversnce. "I greet the Wild One."