The Unrivaled Holder - Season 1

Chapter 13: The Continent of Adventurers: Asnor Part 3

Fafnir's eyes softened, a smile of relief gracing his lips. "You're in a room near the Guild of Asnor," he replied gently, "The land of adventurers."

I took a moment to process the information, my brow furrowing slightly as memories slowly trickled back. "Asnor... the Guild," I murmured, piecing together fragments of recent events.

"You collapsed after you healed him," Ingi explained, "We've been tending to you ever since."

"Asnor.. Do you mean one of the continents of Norkiya?" My curiosity made me awake. "Yes" Fafnir replied

Ingi placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Rest well, we are safe. For now. That's what matters. But you pushed yourself too far."

Fafnir added, a hint of confusion in his voice. "You've used an ancient spell yet it does not give you lethal consequence. That's just amazing. Using ancient spell like that is not something you see often"

I blinked, trying to absorb Fafnir's words. "Was that really an ancient spell? I didn't even know I had that power because I can only use 15% of your magicores, you know? I just tried it and.. it worked?"

"and besides, how many days did we travel to get here?" I added

With a grin, Ingi lifted his hand, conjuring a faint shimmer of light above it. "One of my specialties is teleportation. It's how I managed to get us out of that demon's grasp so quickly." He paused, glancing around as if ensuring no one else was listening. "It's a complex spell, but essentially, I can move myself and a few others to a location I've already been to, or one I can visualize clearly in my mind."

"Teleportation?" I repeated, my mind racing with possibilities. "That could have saved us a lot of trouble back there."

"Exactly," Ingi said, his expression turning serious. "But it's not without its risks. If I miscalculate even a little, we could end up somewhere dangerous—or worse."

"Like the Netherland?" Fafnir interjected, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.

Ingi nodded gravely. "Or worse. That's why I focus on precision and practice for the last thousand of years. I can't just afford to get it wrong."

"But there's more to it," Fafnir continued, a knowing look crossing his face. "Father also has a spell that allows us to obscure our identities and auras. It's incredibly useful when we need to go unnoticed or escape detection."

"Obscure our identities?" I echoed, intrigued.

"Yes," Ingi replied, a spark of excitement lighting up his eyes. "When I cast this spell, anyone who looks at us will see someone entirely different. They won't recognize us at all, and our magical signatures become undetectable. It's saved our skins more times than I can count before we got here."

"Oh? That's impressive, Ingi!" I replied with enthusiasm

"Right?!" Ingi grinned. "But even though I hid our identities for now, I do not think if it will work on demons. This spell can also mask our presence from other magical beings, making it much harder for them to track us but then again, I am not so sure about demons." Ingi's face became serious

I felt a chill run down my spine at Ingi's words. "What do you mean you're not sure? We're dealing with demons here."

Fafnir's expression turned grave as he leaned forward. "Father's right. I've experienced the effects of a demon's curse firsthand. When I was attacked, I didn't just lose my strength; I was marked. This stigmata... it connects me to the demon that cursed me. It's like a beacon."

My stomach knotted at the thought. "A beacon? So, they can find you?"

"Exactly," Fafnir replied, his voice heavy with concern. "And if they can find me, they can find all of us. The stigmata slowly drains my life force, and with every passing moment, I become weaker. I've tried to suppress it, but I can't ignore its pull."

Ingi ran a hand through his hair, frustration etching his features. "This complicates things. If the demon can track you through that curse, our identities might not matter at all. Even with my spell, they could still sense you, Fafnir."

"So, what do we do?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to find us."

Ingi's expression hardened with determination. "We stay alert and move quickly. If we can find a way to sever the connection between Fafnir and the demon, we might stand a chance. But until then, we need to be cautious. I can cast the identity swap spell again when we move, but we'll have to keep our wits about us."

I nodded, a flicker of hope in my eyes. "We need to gather information, find allies, or even seek out someone who can help lift the curse. There must be a way."

"Maybe there are adventurers in the Guild who specialize in curses or demons," I suggested. "We should head there as soon as we're able!" I added

Ingi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You're not wrong, but there's something you should know. There's a way to remove the curse, but it's not easy. We'll need to face a creature known as Zarathorak the Bloodweaver."

"Zarathorak?" I echoed, a sense of dread creeping into my voice. "What is he?"

Ingi's expression grew serious. "He's a blood dragon, a fearsome creature that feeds on the essence of life. His very presence is suffused with dark magic, and he has the power to sever curses like the one that afflicts Fafnir. But make no mistake, facing him is incredibly dangerous."

I frowned, weighing the risks. "A blood dragon? How can we even hope to defeat something like that?"

Ingi sighed. "Defeating him isn't the only option. If we can find him and convince him to help us, he might be willing to lift the curse. Blood dragons are notoriously unpredictable, though, and they value strength and cunning above all. We'd need to prove ourselves worthy."

"And besides, he's my child and Fafnir's brother." Ingi added

"Your child?! What if he won't remember you or what if he refuses?" I asked, fear gnawing at my thoughts.

"Then we'll have to fight," Ingi said bluntly. "But remember, Zarathorak isn't just a dragon. He commands blood magic and can manipulate life forces. It would be a battle unlike anything we've faced."

I glanced at Fafnir, seeing the weight of his stigmata pressing down on him. "We don't have much choice, do we? We need to lift this curse before it consumes you."

Fafnir nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "If there's even a chance that Zarathorak can help, we have to pursue it. I refuse to let this curse define me—or end my life."

Ingi placed a hand on Fafnir's shoulder. "We'll need to prepare ourselves, gather more information about Zarathorak, and perhaps seek out other adventurers who might have faced him before. The Guild could be our best resource."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of our mission settle in. "So, we're really doing this? We're going after a blood dragon?"

"Yes," Ingi confirmed, his voice steady. "But first, we need to rest and regain our strength. We can't rush into this unprepared."

Fafnir glanced around the room, the flickering light casting shadows against the walls. "Let's gather supplies and information before we make our move. We can't let fear hold us back. Together, we'll face whatever comes our way."