Reincarnated as a Dark Elf

  Chapter 10

  Title of chapter: Trouble in the Lava Grotto Part I

  Grace, Lenny, Enkida, Roland and their adult babysitters Captain Thane and Lady Bergen all soon reached the Lava Grotto. They rested briefly as they reached the end of the stone steps.

  The area of the Lava Grotto was a large and wide area. Pools of lava dotted the floor with a river of lava running through the center of the whole area. The river of lava was narrow enough for an adult to hop over but a child would need to be helped along. The grotto was naturally hot and the place smelled of sulfur and brimstone. The walls of the lava grotto were smooth and black with crystals inserted into said wall.

  The light spell that Lady Bergen chanted helped illuminate the entire area. The tiny crystals helped to reflect the light from the light spell.

  Captain Thane and Lady Bergen both led the way ever watchful of danger. Danger arose in the form of some lizard monsters. But they were quickly dispatched by Captain Thane’s sword and Lady Bergen’s magic. Thus proving they could be skilled combatants.

  Monsters weren’t a bother afterwards.

  Grace, Enkida, and Captain Thane separated from Lady Bergen, Lenny, and Roland to go search for Orange Lava Stone. But the two smaller groups didn’t go too far from each other.

  Keeping one ear towards Lenny, Grace tried to search for Orange Lava Stone or relied on Enkida’s nose to help find it.

  After some time Enkida was the only one still searching. Grace and Captain Thane spoke to each other.

  “How many of these Lava Stone’s do we need?” Captain Thane asked.

  “Two maybe three but if we can collect more then we should just in case” Grace replied.

  “Let’s try not to linger here for too long, princess,” Captain Thane warned.

  “Oh Nervous are we” Grace said with a sly smile.

  “No, this place can be dangerous and I would hate it if a member of the royal family was hurt down here,” Thane replied.

  “Or do you want to go back and be around Princess Hilda?” Grace asked, sounding a little sly.

  “Your highness please. This is not the time for this” Thane said, trying to sound professional.

  But Grace could tell that she had struck a nerve “Why don’t you tell me how you two met” she asked.

  “I was assigned to be her guard when I turned fifteen and she was thirteen. She acted willfully. Well actually we both acted willfully and got into trouble often and together. And somehow became close friends in the process. It was no small miracle that we weren’t punished worse at the time” Thane described, almost laughing.

  He seemed really happy thinking about it. But then he got really quiet. “Now Hilda is getting married. Well at least Sir Karl is a good man. He’ll treat her with the respect she’s due” Thane remarked. He tried to keep a straight face but it looked as if the thoughts were painful.

  Grace noticed all of this as he talked. She gave him a knowing smile that said what she was thinking.

  Thane could tell she wanted to say something, “What is it, princess?” he asked.

  “Pardon my bluntness. But I think you’re also a good man too, Captain Eric Thane and you obviously care deeply for my adopted older sister. So tell her just how you feel and ranks be damned, you would feel better once you did” Grace said as she smiled.

  Thane seemed at a loss for words “It’s not just status between us we’ve been friends for so long” he said candidly.

  “You two can be friends and lovers at the same time,” Grace said, still smiling.

  “In whose lifetime” Thane replied back.

  “Yours, if you're willing to go for it” Grace replied.

  Captain Thane was now at a complete loss for words.

  “Princess, I think I found it” Enkida said, interrupting any further conversation between them.

  “Let’s see,” Grace remarked as she walked in Enkida’s direction.

  Sure enough Enkida had found the Orange Lava Stones.

  Orange Lava Stones solidify from ordinary lava except unlike the normal lava stones it doesn’t turn dark. Instead it maintains its red orange hue and is often full of mana that Alchemists enjoy experimenting with. A stick is normally used to tell if the Orange Lava Stone is solid or not.

  “Good Job” Grace said to the Wolf-Girl. But Enkida looked at Grace with stars in her eyes as if she wanted something more. “Oh” Grace remarked once it dawned on her “Good job, my dear” she said scratching Enkida behind her wolf-girl ears. Enkida approved by barking.

  Grace got the container from Captain Thane and began to collect several Orange Lava Stones. Once it was full she quietly put the container in the MSS but used the pouch in the back as camouflage to do it. She had told everyone that it was a magical bag that could hold a few dozen items. She would give the container to Yengis later.

  Then they all went off to join Lady Bergen and the rest of them.

  Lady Bergen was trying to teach Lenny to cast a spell as Roland looked on from the background. Lenny had a magic wand in her hand. The Lady held her staff while teaching.

  Roland was trying to encourage Lenny in her spell casting. “You can do it, Lenny,” he said to her.

  Lenny tried her very best to chant one spell after another. Only for them to blow up in her face or fizzle out.

  Lady Bergen tried to encourage her apprentice as best as she could “Don’t give up Lenny” she encouraged.

  After some time and with some soot on her face Lenny began to feel depressed.

  “Alright my apprentice, it’s time to stop for the day. The Event is about to begin” Lady Bergen said.

  “I’ve practiced so much for so long and I’m getting nowhere” Lenny Lamented.

  “It can’t be helped. You have to go with the wand for the time being” Lady Bergen remarked.

  Grace had heard all of this as she, Enkida, and Captain Thane approached.

  “So what’s the trouble?” Grace asked.

  Lady Bergen seemed a bit annoyed but she kept that to herself as she answered the Princesses question “Lenny’s been having trouble casting spells lately, it seems that a magical wants, staves, or books aren’t exactly right for Lenny to focus her magic” Lady Bergen pointed out.

  “Do you have any idea how to remedy the situation?” Grace asked.

  Lady Bergen took a moment to think before speaking “Well I’ve been reading that for the past three decades that certain magic users have been using other non-traditional focusing vessels for their magical spell-casting. It could be anything from weapons to mundane items” she pointed out.

  “That sounds a little vague,” Grace thought.

  Then she asked “Hey what about a fan” Grace asked. This caused Lenny to perk up. “I’ve seen Lenny playing with fans a few times before and she seems to really enjoy it,” she added. Then she reached into her back pouch attached to her shorts and activated the MSS “Since Lenny’s 5th birthday was a few short days away I had a fan commissioned from Master Yengis” she remarked and then brought out a fan.

  The fan was white and green made of a special material that felt just like paper. It had a purple gen located at the base of the fan. The underlying wood meant to hold it together was a special make but it was laced with a means to help mana flow.

  The fan shimmered. Lenny seemed excited and cooed “Wow” she said.

  Grace handed it to her “Happy Early Birthday Lenny” she said.

  Lenny was all smiles.

  “Apprentice why don’t try to chant your last spell” Lady Bergan asked.

  Lenny then opened the fan and used it to chant. A fireball soon formed. She seemed confused. “What do I do?” she asked.

  “Fan it” Lady Bergen told her.

  She got the idea and fanned the Fireball away. It hurtled towards the wall and its energy was dispersed.

  Lenny was feeling good about this. “I have an idea, let me try another spell” she asked. Chanting another spell she made wind appear and fanned it. She was on cloud nine or in other words over the moon, too joyous for words.

  “Oh I’m finally getting somewhere” she remarked. Lenny chanted some more spells. And now she was chanting them like a boss.

  “I think the ability known as “Amplify” was responsible for this. It probably helped you out a lot Lenny. Amplify works like this. If I have a good friendship with someone my ability helps to increase all of their natural or hidden talents to maximum and thus they turn into a prodigy. It works well as long as me and this person remain good friends and nothing happens that causes a fallout. Which means I can have a group of good and loyal friends that are supremely capable backing me up in this so-called mission the gods gave me or that’s what I’m hoping for. I’m happy for you Lenny, you finally made progress” Grace inner monologue.

  After finishing her latest spell-casting Lenny was laughing happily. Everyone around her was smiling.

  Lenny then found herself suddenly face to face with Roland. How he got there was anyone’s guess. The two of them were blushing at each other.

  “That was amazing,” Roland complemented while blushing.

  “Thank you” Lenny replied while still blushing.

  They both had seemed nervous in their responses.

  “Oh that’s adorable, they're having a moment. Wait they are both five, is this okay for them” Grace wondered to herself. Then she looked behind them and saw Lady Bergen smiling brightly and her hands looked slightly outstretched as if she pushed Roland forward “Oh I see, she pushed her son towards her apprentice. Is she trying to play cupid” Grace thought. “What are you planning? It’s something nefarious isn’t it” she also thought with some anger.

  “Everyone, the event is about to begin” Lady Bergen announced after she looked at some measuring device that looked like a pocket watch.

  Lady Bergen, Lenny, and even Roland then unveiled several metal containers set near some of the lava pools. Their purpose was to help catch any extra mana the event was going to leave behind. The tops of the containers were rolled back like some old sardine cans.

  The event soon began. The lava began to suddenly change colors. Pink, red, white, black, green, blue, yellow. It was a rainbow display of different colors coming from the lava all around them. And the light these colors emitted reflected off the little crystals on the walls and they reflected in many different directions portraying a great show of light all around. The changing colors went on.

  It felt like a light show. Everyone present was in awe. Grace, although impressed, was slightly more subdued in her response. “Who would’ve guessed that this existed naturally in this world” she thought.

  While this was going on Lady Bergen and Lenny both chanted spells that made what appeared to be thousands of tiny sparkly stars come from the lava. This was the mana they had come to collect. It all entered the metal containers present filling them completely to capacity. Then the tops were rolled back into place and quickly sealed up before any could escape.

  After what seemed forever but was really a few minutes the lava in the grotto turned back into its normal orange yellow color.

  Everyone present was all smiles.

  “I loved it, that was so amazing” Enkida remarked happily.

  “I can see why” Grace remarked in agreement although she was a bit more subdued.

  Then Grace got a sickening feeling. Her danger sense thanks to the pendant she was wearing had gone off. Someone or something dangerous was close by. She quickly began to look around for any sign of danger.

  “Is something wrong?” Lenny asked. Others present also asked the same question.

  “We’re in danger,” Grace warned.

  Then came a growl. The kind you would hear from a dangerous creature. They all turned in the growling direction and someone said “What the heck is that?”

  In came a fearsome looking creature that looked like a three-headed dog that looked like a Pit Bull except it was made from solid hot stone with fire and lava coursing through its veins. The fire and lava could be clearly seen coursing through the stone dog as its life blood. It could also be seen whenever it opened all three of its mouths when it breathed fire.

  It breathed fire from its three mouths. A stream of fire came out of its three mouths that went in three different directions.

  Everyone had one heck of a time dodging this attack. Some of those present came close to getting singed or burned. If not killing them outright.

  Grace, Lenny, and Enkika being little girls were able to make it behind a large rock close by followed by the little boy Roland.

  “Stay behind this rock, children” Captain Thane ordered before rejoining Lady Bergen. He had helped them to escape.

  All four of them stayed behind the rock. But that didn’t stop them from peaking from behind it. They wanted to watch the unfolding fight.

  Lady Bergen attempted to scan the three-headed dog with a spell. Grace did the same from the sidelines. It launched another fire stream attack before either of them could complete their scans.

  Thane deflected the part of the attack meant for him with his sword. It had an enchantment on it that prevented it from melting in his hand or turning hot.

  Lady Bergen had to put up a magic shield to deflect the blast away. It saved her just in time.

  Grace was the only one to finish her scan of the stone dog. Then she quietly gasped.

  “This fight was going to be tough,” Grace thought.

  The Stone Dog charged Captain Thane and Lady Bergen who both blocked with either a sword or magic shield. More powerful streams of fire were thrown at them.

  Then Thane and Bergen attacked. Thane did a tiny bit of damage with his sword to the dog’s paw. But it, hardly noticed. Lady Bergen tried to use some earth magic to throw some boulders at it. Only for the stone dog to effortlessly swipe them away.

  The Stone Dog charged and Grace from the sidelines used her memory sphere’s to covertly create some rocks embedded in the ground and in the Stone Dog’s way. The Stone Dog then tripped and took a great spill onto the ground.

  Grace then saw it as did everyone else. The Stone Dog was lying on its side. Its back was to its enemies and attached to it was a square shaped piece of metal strapped to its back with leather straps. On the square shaped piece of metal was a symbol of a fist with some anger symbols around the fist.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Thane asked.

  “A Val Curse item. It’s bad news. Dad told me about them back when he was still alive” Grace thought back to her conversations with him.

  The Stone Dog staggered back up and it looked really mad. It quickly stamped its feet onto the ground really hard causing a small earthquake that knocked everyone else off their feet with cries of surprise.

  Grace was the first to get back on her feet. But everyone else was still stunned as they got up.

  Worse, the Stone Dog was about to attack again. And it seemed Captain Thane and Lady Bergen were having a hard time getting back on their feet.

  “Master, get out of there, it’s going to kill you” Lenny shouted.

  “Mom, run for it,” Roland shouted.

  “Captain Run” Enkida shouted.

  But it seemed that they were also equally confused as well as stunned. They were trying to make sense of the situation. But it was going nowhere.

  The situation had gotten so desperate. Grace had an idea. She suddenly used Quick Step to step in front of the Stone Dog. She didn’t care in the moment who saw. She felt that she had to act fast.

  “As much as I want to see Lady Bergen get what she deserves for what she did, Lenny and even Roland are both very fond of her and I’m fond of them. also Enkida respect’s Captain Thane as I do. So for now I will try to protect them both but she will get what she deserves. I swear it.” Grace thought.

  The stone dog looked at Grace glaring at her. Both of them were very close to each other. It was intentional. It looked as if she was about to be attacked. Until she did something to prevent that.

  Grace gave the stone dog a big hug on its center head. Her little body barely covered said center head. The stone dog was that enormous. Her clothes quickly began to burn. Her skin singed. She was in pain. But ignored the pain and powered on through.

  “I’m sorry” Grace began to say tenderly “I know you're angry, I don’t blame you, please stand down, we're not your enemy, so again I say please stand down” she spoke from the heart.

  The Stone Dog seemed confused. It also seemed sad. It couldn’t move. It seemed in conflict with itself. All the while it singed and burned Grace’s skin.

  While this was going on Grace felt for the Val Curse item and found the leather strap that kept the item on the dog. Working through the pain she felt she used her memory sphere’s to create several small but sharp knives to cut the leather straps tying the Val Curse Item to the stone dog. The square metal object was soon cut free of the stone dog.

  Grace had the Val Curse Item in hand the second the stone dog collapsed into a heap of hated stones and lava. Dust was around and she coughed briefly as she walked away. Pain from her burns seared onto her skin.

  She walked towards her little friends. They were trying to help the adults.

  “Princess you’re hurt” Thane pointed out as Grace got closer.

  Then she noticed the burns that she had been doing her best to ignore till now. “I’m fine, small price to pay to get this” Grace said, holding up the square metal Val Curse item.

  Both Thane’s and Bergen’s eyes go wide.

  “Give that to me” Thane demanded briefly but then checked himself and said “Appologies Princess, but will please give that to me” he sounded more polite.

  Grace did what she was asked and handed the curse item over to Thane. Then she noticed him put the item in what appeared to be an MSS of his own.

  “Let me heal you princess” Lady Bergen said as she knelt down to Grace’s level and began chanting a healing spell. “How did you know that thing was cursing that creature?” Lady Bergen asked as she healed Grace.

  “Oh it was a wild guess that this was it. You two seemed so concerned over it” Grace lied. She couldn’t tell them what her dad told her.

  “There done” Lady Bergen announced as she finished her healing spell.

  “Thank you,” Grace said with a smile. She still didn’t like her.

  Then everyone noticed that a small section of what used to be the stone dog began to move. A piece of rock seemed to be wiggling.

  Then from under the rock emerged a one and a half tall humanoid creature. Its body was a fiery orange color that had no features except that it looked nice and smooth. It had wings of fire. It had no face other than two bright red eyes. A small flame burned on top of its head.

  “Ahhh so glad to be free of that terrible prison” the creature said. It had the voice of a child.

  “What is that?” Enkida asked.

  “Let me see,” Lady Bergen said. She used her scanning spell. “The Mana fairy of fire” she remarked.

  Grace had known who it was thanks to scanning it earlier. But kept that to herself.

  “That explains a few things Masters Yengis and Albis told me that mana fairies are tough to find and mana fairies of a single element are even rarer but very, very, powerful otherwise” Grace explained like someone only pretending to just get it.

  “It only works if I make a mana contract with someone” The Mana Fairy of Fire said. It had clearly heard Grace.

  Then the mana fairy flew over to the group of them. They panicked at first.

  “It’s alright, the mana fairy won’t hurt us anymore” Grace assured everyone.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “I’m actually very weak until I make a mana contract” the mana fairy pointed out.

  The Mana Fairy fluttered around leaving behind small sparks from its wings all around. And sounds of fire could be heard.

  Everyone reacted with surprise to the mana fairy fleeting about. It stopped right in front of Grace’s face. “Thank you, for helping me, I thought that terrible device would be stuck to me forever” the mana fairy said to Grace.

  “Consequently, how did you get that device attached to yourself?” Captain Thane asked.

  This caused the Mana Fairy of Fire to become incensed and angry and when it spoke it spoke with anger in its heart “A bunch of meanies intruded into the area I was sleeping in and woke me up and when I protested they sent this horrible monster on me. They used it to play with me before strapping that horrible device on me and activated afterwards I was a rage filled slave until you saved me” the Many Fairy said finished her story.

  “How can a Val Curse Item do that, mom?” Roland asked his mother.

  “It’s named after the Goddess of Vengeance me dear” Lady Bergen began “It takes any underlying negative emotions someone is feeling and magnifies them turning them into a powerful monster that is utterly beholden to the one controlling the cursed item but something needs to happen to cause that person to have those negative emotions first” she explained.

  “So can you show us where those big meanies are?” Grace asked.

  “Your highness that might not be such a good idea” Thane warned.

  “It’ll be alright, Captain,” Grace replied. Then looked at the Mana Fairy of Fire “Lead the way, please,” she asked.

  “As you wish” the Mana Fairy said and led them through the Lava Grotto.

  The six of them soon followed the Mana Fairy through a tunnel at the far end of the part of the Lava Grotto that led to another part of the grotto.

  This part of the Grotto had much less lava but it was a lot less flat. It had small rolling hills that went up and down a lot. They all had to go up and down a lot of small hills. Till they came to a cliff that went down a dozen feet. A wall that went up to the ceiling was two dozen feet away from the cliff’s edge. But it was clearly seen.

  Looking straight down the cliff Grace and company saw something shocking. A tunnel had been gouged out of the wall and was guarded by several well-armed and hooded individuals. They were wearing masks with cloaks and outfits that clearly had the sign of the Spider-Temple on them. But, they were open and airy given the terrain.

  But most shocking of all with them was what appeared to be a large horned dog that was enormous. It had purple fur with white fur growing out of its back. It had a nasty looking disposition.

  “Spider-Temple” Grace thought. She had to fight hard to keep her rage in-check.

  “This isn’t good” Captain Thane began as he gestured for everyone to get down “That monster with purple fur is a behemoth and a powerful one, it makes for a mighty guardian of that tunnel” he said.

  Lady Bergen added in her two cents “These people seemed to have dug out this tunnel under the royal palace, it’s not hard to guess what they have in mind” she remarked.

  “Why do they need a tunnel under the royal palace?” Lenny asked.

  “There's a magical barrier around the entire palace that prevents anyone with ill intentions from attacking and a spell is in place to detect any and all attempts to dispel it and all of it is maintained by the mages of the royal court to which I am one” Lady Bergen explained to her apprentice in a whisper.

  “So those are the meansies that made you angry” Grace asked the Mana Fairy of Fire.

  “Yes” came the loud reply.

  “Shhhhh, we don’t want them to hear us” Grace admonished lightly.

  The Mana Fairy of Fire seemed to get it “Sorry, I’m just so angry at them, would you like to help me with it?” The Mana Fairy of Fire asked. It seemed really eager for Grace’s help. “I really want to get them back, especially that purple monster,” it added.

  “Why ask me?” Grace asked.

  “I’ve been sensing immense and unusual magical potential that seems to be bottomless more so than anyone else here. I am very interested in forming a mana contract with you” the Mana Fairy of Fire pointed out.

  Grace instantly had a slightly panicked expression on her face “Shhhh, please keep that to yourself” she asked with quiet desperation. She seemed slightly flustered. But no one noticed.

  “Alright everyone, it’s time to leave this place and report what we’ve found” Captain Thane announced.

  Grace could tell that the Mana Fairy of Fire was upset over this announcement. “Have some patience” she quietly counseled.

  “Captain Thane, I think we have a problem,” Roland said. Thane went over to where Roland was at the back of the group.

  “Looks like another group of people like the ones guarding that tunnel are wandering near the tunnel we just came through” Captain Thane reported.

  Grace went over to where they were and saw that they were correct. Spider-Temple goons were covering the tunnel and seemed to be in search of something or someone. She surmised they were likely searching for the group’s new found mana fairy friend.

  “I smell more enemies in that direction,” Enkida said, pointing in another direction.

  Both Thane and Grace went over where Enkida pointed and sure enough they saw more Spider-Temple goons “Were surrounded” Thane remarked with concern on his face.

  Several more Spider-Temple goons were looking around.

  “I get why you can’t openly say who they really are, Captain Thane” Grace thought.

  Then Grace heard someone speaking. She closed her eyes.

  “What are you doing?” Thane asked.

  “Shhh, I need to focus,” Grace admonished lightly.

  She listened carefully and heard from far off. “Ughh, where is that fiery menace” she heard someone ask.

  “Keep searching, The Swallow ordered that that creature be found at once” a second goon said.

  Then she clearly heard someone else far off say “How much longer do we have to guard this damn tunnel, the terrain is giving me the jitters” someone asked.

  “Only a few short hours now until night. Then Operation Moonstrike will begin. The Golem just has to gather up the forces of the Duke of Augsburg and his allies” someone replied.

  “Only a few short hours before the royal family will be no more,” a third person remarked with satisfaction.

  This horrified Grace and she stopped listening with a gasp “They’re going to attack the palace and overthrow the Royal Palace” she said with distress but trying to stay quiet.

  “How do you know?” Captain Thane asked.

  “My ears are more than cute,” Grace replied as a joke.

  But Thane seemed to believe her “When are they attacking” he asked.

  “All I heard was they’re attacking in a few short hours,” Grace replied.

  “That isn’t good, we would need at least a half-day to assemble the forces we would need to counter these insurgents” Captain Thane remarked. He seemed concerned.

  “But what about the Dragon Knights and their Dragons?” Lenny asked.

  “I’m sure they’ll have Dragon’s Bane nets and other means to subdue and kill the dragons,” Grace pointed out.

  “We can go down another tunnel,” Lenny suggested.

  “We would only get lost,” Lady Bergen replied to her apprentice.

  “What about your message spell, master?” Lenny asked.

  “I could use it, but once used it will alert the enemies down here that someone is here” Lady Bergen pointed out.

  “They’re going to find us anyway. It’s only a matter of time” Grace pointed out. “Use the message spell and tell Princess Hilda what is going on and where it’s happening. At least she can start organizing a response” she ordered quickly and quietly. She was giving the court magician a look of—You had better do this.

  Lady Bergen looked a bit reluctant to do it at first but then she complied with the Princess’s order. The court magician took a moment to chant the message spell. Soon a small cloud appeared right in front of the court magician and when she spoke she moved the cloud around like it was a camera at the enemies in sight.

  “Princess Hilda, I regret to inform you a crisis is brewing, a group of insurgents have gouged out a hole in the wall of the outer edge of the underground lava grotto and within a few short hours large numbers of them will pour through in an attempt to overthrow the whole of the Von Kurtz Royal Family , you must rally the troops immediately, and just so you know were minutes away from being captured, so please your highness get a move on” Lady Bergen said with some desperation as she shifted the spell around to Grace and friends.

  Then Lady Bergen turned the message spell into a white meteorite and it quickly flew off. Some of the Spider-Temple Goons saw it fly off, It disappeared before they could react. This caused them to redouble their search efforts knowing that someone was in the area that shouldn’t be.

  “I sincerely hope you have a plan Princess because the enemy is about to find us and I don’t fancy they’ll be merciful once they find us” Lady Bergen said to Grace and eyeing the five year old princess.

  “Were not going to help things by staying still” Grace remarked decisively “Their are times where we have no choice to take a leap of faith regardless of how we feel about the circumstances” Grace said as she walked over to where the Mana Fairy of Fire was still floating “Are you still interesting in forming a Mana Contract with me” she asked the Mana Fairy of Fire.

  The Mana Fairy of Fire cheered.

  “WHAT” everyone shouted forgetting the situation they were in.

  “It’s not a bad idea princess but are you aware of the conditions for a mana contract” Captain Thane asked.

  “Yes, Master Yengis told me what they were,” Grace replied thinking back to what they were.

  “WHO ARE YOU” came a shout. And then several Masked Spider-Temple Goons showed up. All were well-armed.

  Weapons were drawn. Everyone got into position to receive the attack.

  Grace knew the goons were behind her back. “Please keep them distracted” she asked without looking behind her.

  Sounds of battle erupted later. Steel clanged. Spell chanting was heard. Lady Bergen and Lenny made use of their magic spells. Captain Thane used his sword to strike down some of the Spider-Temple goons. And Enkida growled at them while keeping Roland behind her.

  Grace ignored it all and remembered the conditions needed to form a mana contract. “Princess you need to consider three conditions for forming a mana contract with any mana fairy” she remembered Yengis starting to say to her days ago.

  “What are they?” Grace remembered asking.

  “First the person in question and the Mana Fairy must be mutually interested in forming a Mana Contract, if one or the other is not interested it won’t happen, it can never be one-sided. Second the person in question must have good mana capacity, it won’t work if it’s weak, and third it’s technically not a condition but it helps a lot, the Mana Fairy in question must like the name it’s given by the person in question or it won’t transform much” she remembered Yengis saying to her.

  Back to the present.

  “I’m confident that I can meet all the conditions” Grace thought as battle swirled behind her.

  She extended her hand to the Mana Fairy of Fire as if she was about to shake their hand. The Mana Fairy of Fire did the same and it was taken by the princess. Her hand was singed briefly before the pain quickly departed. This went on as the sounds of battle continued.

  “I won’t beat around the buch” Grace announced “I’m naming you after a wonderful friend I once had but is now long gone—Mana Fairy of Fire, your name is Kreya” she also announced. “How do you feel about it?” Grace asked.

  “How do I feel about it?” the Mana Fairy of Fire remarked.

  Then the fairy began to spin around into an orange ball or magical energy. A big dramatic storm suddenly began. Whirlwinds blew all around forcing people onto the ground. Sounds of ecstasy were heard along with those of pleasure. And the mana fairy could be seen transforming into a humanoid shape. Magical energy was swirling all around. The storm ended as suddenly as it began. And the transformation too ended.

  “I love it, Kreya is now my name” Kreya answered after transforming. She sounded like a fully-grown woman and not a child.

  Kreya had transformed into a seven and a half foot tall woman with very large muscles. Her arms and legs were thick and huge as tree trunks. Her quads looked as if she never missed leg-day. She had six-pack abs. Her body was built like a tank but her face was beautiful. She looked naked except she looked as if she wore a furry bikini over her naughty areas. Her skin was now fire engine red. She also had red hair that was shaped-like a living flame and it moved like one. Her eyes looked human except the pupils were shaped like a fire.

  Grace could sense that Kreya didn’t just look like a powerhouse but she was a powerhouse.

  Grace lost her mind like a fan-girl meeting their idol of their dreams for the first time and screamed like a fan-girl on top of it. She was in total geek-out mode.

  “You look like you can compete for Miss Olympia and win,” Grace explained out loud.

  “What’s Miss Olympia?” Kreya asked in confusion.

  Grace went white with shock “Not important” she somehow managed to say quickly.

  Then with a yelp Grace was forced to remember the dangerous situation she was in when a Spider-Temple Goon with a dagger grabbed her holding a dagger to her throat.

  “One more move and this little brat is dead” the Goon threatened.

  “One move,” Kreya said confidently with a smile. The Goons head then began to catch on fire which caused them to scream in pain.

  “Master Duck” Kreya quickly said. Grace ducked. And Kreya sent that good with the head on fire flying far away with one good kick.

  Grace looked up at Kreya’s smiling face. “Wow” Grace said after getting up “I think I found my ideal bodyguard” she remarked. Kreya only smiled more at this remark.

  Just as another goon attacked Kreya with a sword. With one hand Kreya kept Grace safe and with the other she blocked the sword strike. One the sword connected with her skin the sword melted as if it had gone through a furnace. The goon didn’t see it coming until it was too late. And Kreya with one good punch sent them flying to goodness know where.

  “You need to stay close to me, master,” Kreya said to Grace.

  “Hoist me onto your shoulders” Grace told her. Kreya looked confused. “Have you ever heard of piggy-back?” Grace asked. “Get on your knees,” she asked. Kreya got onto her knees and Grace climbed onto her Mana Fairies now massive shoulders and sat behind her head. Grace’s feet dangled from her mana fairy. “Take my hand, I have an idea” Grace asked as she held Kreya’s head.

  Once Kreya took Grace’s hand a magical connection was made. Kreya instantly discovered that she could temporarily use Grace’s Quick Step ability.

  Together they both devastate the ranks of the Spider-Temple goons attacking Grace and companions. They were standing tall one second against them and in the next instant they were struck down with what appeared to be their bodies suspended in mid-air in one instant and in the next they were falling to the ground never to rise again. Many unfortunate Spider-Temple Goons met their ends like this. They didn’t stop until all their attackers were down.

  With this skirmish over. Grace and Kreya stopped right in front of Thane.

  “That was fun,” Grace said excitedly.

  “Princess Grace” Thane remarked not believing what he had just seen. He tried to speak more but couldn’t find the words.

  It seemed Enkida was the only other one present. Lady Bergen, Lenny, and Roland had gone missing.

  And Enkida seemed less inhibited when she asked “Is that the Mana Fairy of Fire?” The little wolf-girl was wagging her tail excitedly.

  “My Name is Kreya” Kreya replied.

  “It’s the name I gave her,” Grace said quickly. “Where’s Lenny, Roland, and Lady Bergen?” Grace asked, looking at Thane.

  Now Thane had found his voice “I don’t know I was so busy trying to keep Lady Enkida safe I lost track of them” he said.

  “Kida, can you find them?” Grace asked.

  Enkida started to sniff the air with her Wolf-Beastmen nose and suddenly put her hands over her nose “Eww, something stinks” she remarked with a disgusted voice.

  “Probably the Brimstone in the air. It’s more prevalent around her than in the previous cavern” Thane remarked. “But don’t worry I can track them,” he added.

  “So can I” Grace thought. She activated Hawker’s sense. “I’m guessing you’re doing the same thing aren’t you captain” Grace thought as she briefly noticed him looking in the same direction.

  She knew all members of the Ashe could use Hawker’s sense in which Thane was a member. Or that’s what she had read in her dad’s journals.

  A set of footprints were seen with Hawker’s Sense going down a smooth path that went down towards the wall where the tunnel had been gouged out.

  “This way” Thane said after a second. He had seen the same footprints it seemed. Grace let the Captain of the Royal Guard lead the way.

  It wasn’t long before they came across Lenny. She was alone with two goons lying on the ground. They weren’t moving. And Lenny was exhausted. The five year old wasn’t used to using so many spells one after the other. Her fan dangling in her hand.

  “Lenny, are you alright?” Grace asked when they saw her.

  Hoping off Kreya and coming close to Lenny she noticed that the little girl was distraught. She wasn’t saying anything, at first.

  “They were going to kill me, they were saying as much. I had to use my wind spells. I just wanted them to stop. I didn’t know they would stop forever, after crashing into that wall over their” Lenny said distantly. It was obvious the child was out of it.

  Grace looked over at Captain Thane who was checking the two goons. Then he shook his head. Lenny noticed and she seemed to understand what it meant because she began to cry.

  “Lenny it’s alright” Grace said as she hugged the little girl. Enkida joined in and hugged Lenny on the other side. Three little girls were hugging each other tightly.

  Grace didn’t know what to say to her friend or what words she could say to comfort her. But she did try. She remembered what her dad said to her the day her home was attacked and used that.

  “It was either them or you there's nothing wrong in defending yourself” Grace tried to assure her.

  “It might not help,” Grace thought.

  The three little girls did eventually stop hugging each other.

  “Lady Lenny, did you see where Lady Bergen and Master Roland went off too” Captain Thane asked.

  Lenny pointed in the direction of the hole gouged out of the wall they saw earlier.

  “Thank you Lenny,” Grace said. Then looked at Enkida “Do you think you can avoid any more enemies long enough to take Lenny back to the surface?” she asked.

  “I think so,” Enkida replied.

  “Be careful not to be seen by any of these insurgents on your return to the surface” Captain Thane warned.

  “Right” Enkida said looking very determined and she took Lenny’s hand and the little Wolf-Girl led her adopted sister away to the exit. They were soon gone.

  Grace, Captain Thane, and Kreya then began walking towards the direction that was indicated by Lenny.

  After some time and some protests from Captain Thane to Princess Grace about being too young to be putting herself in danger. Only for her to say that Kreya would protect her. They came to where the tunnel had been gouged out.

  A lot more of the Spider-Temple goons were stationed now. They were well-armed. And the purple behemoth was keeping alert.

  Kreya bristled at the sight of the creature. Grace noticed and put her small hand on Kreya’s arm.

  “I can tell you want revenge on that monster but only when I allow you to have it” Grace said in a whisper trying to help. Kreya reluctantly stayed put.

  They were hidden behind some large rocks several feet away from the tunnel. They were observing what was going on.

  A dozen well-armed and Hooded Spider-Temple guards were around. The behemoth was keeping alert.

  And at the center of it all was a masked and hooded woman with dark hair. She was armed with a short sword and a small round shield. Her cloak was nicer looking than the rest of them. But she wasn’t the Swallow. But she was someone important.

  “It’s obvious to me, that woman is in charge by the way she carries herself. From what I read from dad’s journals she’s likely a Captain in the Spider-Temple and a talented one by the embroidery on her cloak. And just right for guarding the tunnel that will allow the Spider-Temple to overthrow the royal family, my family. I wonder what Captain Thane will do” Grace thought.

  Then Grace was distracted by someone else “Princess Grace can you hear me” came Leah’s far off voice.

  “Leah, I hear you, what’s happening on the surface” Grace asked through their connection.

  “Queen Heather, King Oskar, and Princess Hilda have all been a whirlwind of activity, every Dragon Knight in the city has been called to the Royal Palace along with the Royal Guard being mustered and as many troops from the Royal Army as possible have been called and are assembling and when I offered to communicate with you, they told me to contact you” Leah explained.

  “That’s good to hear” Grace said through her connection to her Dragon “There’s a dozen insurgents guarding the tunnel down here. Tell Mother, Father, and Older Sister that Captain Thane says they need to send as many troops down here into the cavern as quickly as possible to seal up this tunnel before we’re overrun” Grace told her dragon.

  “Yes Princess” Leah replied.

  “I need to disguise myself to some extent” Grace thought.

  After a few moments “I told them. They promised to organize an expedition as soon as possible” Leah relayed.

  “I sent Lenny and Enkida back to the surface. Have they reached you yet?” Grace asked.

  “Yes they just returned I believe one of their parents took them away” Leah replied.

  “Oh good” Grace said, feeling considerable relief.

  “So, who is it that you're talking to?” Kreya asked through their connection.

  “What you can communicate the same as Leah” Grace said out of surprise.

  “Of course I can, we have a Mana Contract. It allows me to also communicate with you through the same type of connection you and Leah can use” Kreya explained. “And who is she?” she asked teasingly.

  “Leah is my dragon,” Grace replied.

  “And best friend,” Leah said quickly.

  Grace frowned. She didn’t like where this was about to go.

  “So am I, as well as her bodyguard” Kreya said with a superior smugness.

  But Leah wasn’t having any of this “No I am” the female Dragon replied.

  “No I am,” Kreya retorted.

  “Stop both of you” Grace almost shouted inside their connection.

  “Why didn’t you take me with you?” Leah asked quickly. It was a silly question. “I’m your dragon and you’re my rider, we’re supposed to keep each other safe” Leah also asked.

  “I know Leah, but you were too big to fit through the lava grotto’s entrance, had you been smaller it would’ve been possible, but it’s not you could’ve found your way down here, I’m sorry” Grace said through their connection. Grace heard stamping and growling on Leah’s end of the connection “Hye don’t act like a petulant child” Grace admonished.

  “Yeah, until your rider gets back, why don’t you blast something,” Kreya said smugly.

  “Stop that, you're not helping” Grace admonished her.

  “Yeah know I just might do that” Leah said sounding like she had scheme brewing and the connection went dormant.

  Grace wasn’t sure she liked that last statement but she had bigger fish to fry.

  Leah was furious.

  “How dare she speak to me in such a way” Leah angrily remarked.

  She was in the area where the entrance to the Underground Lava Grotto was. It was a hive of activity at the moment with Royal Guardsmen, Royal Army members and Dragons and Dragon Knights. They all assembled as quietly as possible. The Royal Palace was on lockdown. Guardsmen, Soldiers, and Dragon Knights were rushing everywhere preparing weapons, barricades, dragons, and anything else possible that could defend against incoming attackers.

  And since Leah was wearing the Dragon Saddle and collar Grace’s dad had created everyone could understand the only Gold and Red Dragon in the kingdom so she was appointed by Heather II as a translator between the Carrahe Barbarians and the Dragons. A role Leah did not cherish. But her rider was stuck in the lava grotto and it couldn’t be helped. So Leah performed her role because she remembered Grace saying to her that sometimes one needed to do things they didn’t like.

  All the while she did her duty Leah was fiercely worried about Grace. And now after that exchange between Grace and that other person she had now become even more worried. It had gotten so bad that Leah put her nose to the ground and started sniffing the ground like a large overgrown scaly blood-hound. She was using her connection to feel out her rider’s presence.

  She walked along the ground sniffing it. Some of her riders' eccentricities had rubbed off.

  “Leah what are you doing” came the Dowager Queen Hedy’s voice. The former queen had been the last to show up fully armed and armored.

  “I’m worried for my rider,” Leah answered.

  “We're all worried about Grace but you shouldn’t go too far away from everyone else” Princess Hilda said as she joined her grandmother and Leah. They were followed by a dozen guards.

  Leah suddenly felt something bad within her whole scaly body and looked up.

  Both Hedy and Hilda could sense something was wrong too. “Is something wrong?” Hedy asked Leah.

  “Is Grace in Danger?” Hilda asked.

  “Yes she has become fearful and that’s unusual even for her” Leah said sounding even more worried than before.

  The Gold and Red Dragon then put her nose to the ground again more focused than before to find what she was looking for. Then she stopped.

  “Here, Princess Grace’s presence feels strongest over here” Leah announced quickly.

  The Gold, Red Dragon had led them to a secluded area close to the palace wall and nearest some of the busiest places of Johannesheim. It had some trees scattered around.

  Hedy then got what Leah might’ve been indirectly applying. “Hilda, call your dragon here and every other dragon present, hurry” Hedy ordered.

  “Yes Grandmother” Hilda replied and she called as many dragons as possible with a well-executed dragon cry.

  Soon they were joined by dozens of dragons of different types and colors. The Queen and King also came over with many other troops in tow. They aided their daughter with their own Dragon Cries.

  Soon many more dragons came along with all the troops in the royal palace. They all prepared to blast the area Leah had marked with an X symbol.

  As if she were still Queen the Dowager Queen let out the order to strike. The Dragons let loose their fire breath attacks on the area intended. Blasts and streams of fire barreled down onto the indicated area with great force. Many different colors of fire blasts hit the area in a rainbow of destructive energy that acted a lot like a drill.

  The rainbow of destructive energy slowly drilled its way into the crust of the earth. Down, down, down it drilled.

  Soon all the dragons present ran out of breath attacks. They all had limits on how many they could unleash at once.

  Only Leah had withheld her breath attacks until this moment. She had also been on the ground as the Dragons in the air had used their breath attacks. But now Leah jumped into the area and unleashed her mighty breath attack on the hole that had been drilled.

  Her breath attack went straight down the hole until it connected and created a low-level explosion followed by a low level earthquake that lasted a couple of seconds. It made anyone who wasn’t a dragon temporarily unsteady on their feet.

  “We’re through” Princess Hilda announced as she went over to the hole and got a good look at it.

  “Yes but the hole isn’t big enough for our dragons, only our soldiers,” Dowager Queen Hedy remarked.

  “It can’t be helped,” Queen Heather remarked as she came over to the hole.

  King Oskar heard the conversation and he turned to several guardsmen “All of you get as much robe as possible and fashion a robe ladder to allow our soldiers down the hole, hurry” the King Ordered.

  The Guardsmen all saluted and ran off.

  Leah had heard the conversation and was in total despair. “All of that effort and we couldn’t get through” she remarked despondently.

  “It was the best we could all do,” Korra Leah’s mother said as the smaller Golden dragon flew next to her very large dragon daughter.

  “I must get down there,” Leah said desperately.

  “That would be difficult my daughter, you're the biggest dragon of us all” Red Horn the red scaled dragon flew next to Leah. He was a little smaller than his mate Korra.

  Both were on either side of their daughter.

  “I must go to her,” Leah said in desperation and ignoring what her parents just told her. Then she began to glow, “The Princess saved me from a fate worse than death, I am loyal to her alone, I will not suffer her receiving an unfortunate fate” Leah declared.

  And then Leah glowed brighter as she dove for the hole. People present screamed cries of protest. Others said she was crazy.

  Leah ignored this all as she glowed brighter and brighter as she flew towards the hole. Until she activated a special skill that would be later dubbed “Draganoid.”

  It was a spectacular sight for all when the special skill activated. It helped Leah to get through the hole. And to her rider.