The Kingdom Of CalBridge

8. Zek the Dragon

Struggling to pull himself up Pierce dropped his torch, the torch falling revealing spikes at the bottom of the cave's floor. As he watched his torch fall he whispered to himself in disbelief, ripping a leaf from his book he created a light orb to replace the now outed fire.

Using ice magic he created a stepping stone to safely get back on the path, opening up the folded map while having one hand under the light orb to guide it, he continued still panting from the near death experience he had. He soon reached an open area in the cave holding the light orb up revealing a pit that looked bottomless.

Lowering his hand he hid behind a rock as a big gush of wind began to come from the top of the cave. Upon hearing the flaps of wings he peeked around the corner to see a pair of blue wings.

"Don't you dare hid from me Acolyte" A voice coming from the pair of wings said while perching on a rock.

Pierce came from behind the wall holding the light high to see the creature. Standing on a rock was a blue dragon, his eyes were silver making his scales look shiner than ever it was obvious that he truly was magical. His wings were tucked in as he looked at the Acolyte.

"I sense you're here for the Akibrus Flower" he said stretching out one of his wings. Behind it was the flower shining brightly, the yellow pedals of the flower could be used as a better source of light than a torch.

"Who are you?" Pierce finally said after gorging at the majestic dragon.

"I am Zek the dragon, but you may call me Zek" The dragon said proudly as if earning the title by greatness.

**

"Father, I have the flower you seek" Pierce said bowing, the flower in his hand. The journey back home wasn't as bad as Pierce thought it would have been. He now knew the routes, and finding the horse still in the spot where he had left it was a relief. He was still in pain from all the cuts he had from climbing the wall to get the flower. His hands had scratches all over them so as his elbows at the countless times he slipped on the rock walls. When exiting the cave the flower stopped glowing, now Pierce for sure knew they were magical.

"Good, did you happen to see the dragon?" 

"Yes, matter of fact I did" a cheeky smile on his face.

"Your so arrogant the dragon let's everyone see him, I only told you that so you wouldn't get yourself killed" Oscar said putting on his glasses and walking to take the flower from him.

"Really, if anyone came into my home I would come to see who it was but that doesn't mean the dragon is always the nices" adjusting his glasses to see the flower better.

"Well nevertheless 'the blue dragon' was wise he told me about how he knew everything being alive for 300 years, maybe we can help him get out of the Cave"

"Thank you for the flower Pierce" Oscar said while rubbing Pierce's hair and walking away, ignoring Pierce's last sentence. As he left he bowed to Aria who had been at the door, a grin on her face as he walked off.

"Dragon, I know you're here come now" Aria said looking into the empty space in the cave where the dragon stayed.

"Another Acolyte, I see you seek knowledge. What is it you want?" The dragon said flying down from the top of the cave landing on the flat rock.

"I heard you're wise, I need your help bringing back the King's wife" Aria said to the dragon.

"I shall not help you do such a thing, as I do not mess with the magic you possess but nevertheless I sense you don't know the consequences of your actions"

"Consequences, what consequences?" Aria said looking at the dragon confusingly.

"Either way if you fulfill the deal who knows what can happen to you even I can't tell that, messing with dark magic is deadly depending on the vessel but you being royalty, you may most likely be consumed it" The dragon's voice was old and husky. He spoke wisely, given by his voice you could tell he had age on him. 

"Dark magic, no. Gadreel gave me a spell to bring back the de-" She was cut off by the blue dragon, his wings spreading out.

"Gadreel is the name of an angel, the Gadreel you seek was nothing but an illusion. The only magic that brings back the dead is dark magic" He said flying away back to the top of the cave.

** 

Oscar sat at his dinner table in his taller chair looking at the paper with the old markings. He still couldn't figure out the meaning or translation. Staring at 'التنين الأزرق ' all day was surely putting a strain on his old eyes and although having workers at the castle work on the message, he still attempted to decode the unknown language.

"King, your food" A lady in a dress entered holding the golden plates filled with food on a tray. Setting it down she clasp her hands to rest them on her blue apron, standing to wait for her dismissal.

"Cateline, have a look at this. Do you recognize it?" He said placing the paper in front the girl. She leaned over to get a better look at the paper, her hands still firmly pressed against her apron.

"Yes King Oscar, I do believe I have seen it but I am not quite familiar with it" She said formally.

"Really, where?" Oscar looked at the woman in shock as she was the only one to have a lead. After everyone kept saying they didn't recognize the language, it wouldn't have been much of a surprise if she didn't too.

"I believe I've seen it before in a book in the Library, I spend all my time there after all" she said while pouring something for the king to drink. "But you have to eat, with all due respect you have not taken a break since the Caverns"

"Yes, you're right, but can you at least tell me the book name so I can get Bassanio on it?" He said taking the fork in hand.

"The Book Of CalBridge"