The Soul for the Dragon - Summoner book 4 - (Fanfic)

Fulfilment Levels

"I am Lord Raleigh, this is Othello Thorsager and this is Cress Freyja." Fletcher half-mumbled, his eyes half closed.

"Raleigh... Thorsager... Freyja..." The man behind the small wooden table crossed off their names after he searched for them in a pile of paper. "Ok... You are all in A-1, the 'special' officer's barracks, while your soldiers..." He looked down at his paper. "... are in A-2. Wow, you guys must be special for the king to put you all in the A barracks." He stamped the paper handed it over to Fletcher and then shood them off. 

Fletcher didn't have to look far for their places because their barracks were the ones closest to the barred iron front gate. 

"Ok Foxes and dwarves. Your camp for today is there." He pointed at a big, collapsible tent marked A-2. "You have all done well to keep yourself awake after travelling for the whole night." Fletcher thought about the relief that they briefly felt when they reached Corcillum, but then found out that they had to trek all the way down half-way to the frontlines. This fortification was built to house the injured and reserves of all of Hominum's and the Elves's forces, also as a final barrier to Corcillum. "You are all dismissed!"

The audible sighs of relief can be heard from them all as they trudged to A-2.

"Lets go in." Othello said. "I don't think I could be awake any longer."

Fletcher was in agreement and lifted the flap of the smaller tent and walked in. He saw a two rows of beds and collapsed on one of them. Without even taking off his belt, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

* * * * * *

Thump! Fletcher woke up and found himself staring at the underside of his bed. He groggily got up and rubbed his eyes. Othello and Cress were still sleeping, although they faced each other and their hands were hanging over the side of the bed. Fletcher went over to the entrance and pulled flaps open. He stepped outside and saw that it was still dark. A few dimly lit torches revealed the silhouette of the guards on their duties about two hundred metres away. Fletcher looked up to the moon and judged that dawn was on its way. Then Fletcher tensed as he was tapped on the shoulder. Fletcher spun around, Blaze and Gale suddenly in his hands, and pressed both the barrels on the man's forehead. However, his eyes widened as he saw who it was and his hands were dropping down when he was suddenly seized from behind in a choke hold. Fletcher spluttered for breath.

"At ease men, at ease." Fletcher was released from his death choke and stared at King Harold. 

"Sorry King Harold, I was a bit tense. Thank you for releasing me..." Fletcher glanced at the man who choked him, who was evidently his bodyguard. "... or else I would have died."

"Why the formality Fletcher? Seriously, just because I am king doesn't mean you can't talk to me as a friend." King Harold replied, his grey eyes glinted in the moonlight. "But now we need to talk. Alone." The last word was directed to his bodyguard, who took a few paces back, close enough for protection but out of earshot. "Fletcher, you, Othello, Cress and Sylva..."

"Sylva? Is she here? Is she all right?" Fletcher blurted out, then blushed at his remark. 

"No, she is not here. Yes, she is all right. Now let me continue." Harold said with a raised eyebrow. "You, Othello, Cress and Sylva and all your soldiers are probably the only way to turn the tide of this war."

The message hit Fletcher hard. "Why?"

"Because you are all experienced warriors, same with your soldiers. Plus, you are all battlemages. And you." Harold's flinty grey eyes bored into him. "Show me that Drake of yours."

Fletcher complied and reached for Ignatius, and pushed him through the pentacle on his left palm. A flash. And Ignatius appeared beside Fletcher, his nose exhaled mist in the cold night air.

"Now with that magnificent creature anything can happen. Just like how Khan used his Dragon to devastate our forces, this Drake shall be the turn of the tide." Harold praised Ignatius, and Ignatius gave a snort, as if pleased with Harold's words. "However, why is he not a Dragon yet?"

"You will need lava for every metamorphosis stage."

"Not according to this." Harold took from his pocket an enchanted scroll. "This scroll was made by a orc shaman as he watched Khan do the last stage. According to this, a Drake has a fulfillment level of 20. For the last stage to be completed, the summoner need to have a fulfillment level of 24 and the summoner need to sacrifice something close to them, like... a special bond. A soul for the dragon, as they might say."

"Woah, hold up." Fletcher said. "First I don't have a fulfillment level of 24..."

"Do you not? Then how are you able to have a level 20 Drake and a level 4 Gryphowl?" Harold interrupted. "We shall check that statement."

Harold took off running towards the left tower of the camp, Fletcher hurried after him after he infused Ignatius. The bodyguard, momentarily stunned, followed them.

As soon as Harold reached the tower, he opened the door and went up the winding stairs. Fletcher was right behind him and so was the bodyguard. They went up the stairs, careful not to stray too far from the centre of the stairs, as there was no railguards. They reached the top and Harold opened the door.

A pillar stood in the middle of the bare room, segments formed the pillar one by one to the ceiling. He recognised it as a fulfimeter, although not as large as the one in Vocans, it still had about 30 segments. 

"Lets test your theory then." Harold said. He moved out of the way so that Fletcher had a clear path to the fulfimeter.

Fletcher walked over and pressed his hands to the bottom. He focused his mana to the fulfimeter. One segment. Five. Ten. Sixteen. Twenty. Then it slowed down and Fletcher focused harder as he felt his reserves draining. Twenty two. Twenty three. And just as he thought he wouldn't do it, a final segment lit up.

He had a fulfillment level of 24.

Although neither of Fletcher or Harold mentioned it, Fletcher knew that they were both thinking about the same thing.

He would need to sacrifice Athena for the Dragon.

Word count : 1146