The Elementiels

Ch. 30: CALL TO THE EAST

The next morning, Jason and the others arrived at the Knights’ Academy. As they passed rows of neatly pitched tents, a familiar figure approached them, his white and gold armor gleaming under the sunlight like a beacon of authority and strength.

“Ah, there you are. We’ve been expecting you,” Adam called out, a friendly smile breaking across his face.

Jason’s expression brightened instantly. “Adam!” he exclaimed as he rushed forward to meet him.

His eyes scanned Adam’s impressive new armor, and he whistled in admiration. “Wow, this is amazing! I guess I should be calling you “Ser Adam” from now on.”

Adam chuckled, ruffling Jason’s hair. “Knock it off, brother. Titles don’t suit me.”

Behind them, Anna and Connor exchanged amused glances.

Adam turned to the others, extending a hand with a warm smile. “It’s good to see more elementiels in the kingdom. I’m Adam Spencer.”

Connor stepped forward and shook his hand firmly. “Connor. And this is Anna. We’re happy to help however we can.”

“Great. Follow me. The commander’s waiting for you,” Adam said, gesturing for them to proceed. They followed him as he led them toward the commander’s office.

“So that’s James’s brother?” Anna whispered, leaning slightly toward Jason. “I thought he was a prince for a second.”

Jason shot her a sidelong look. “Ehn?”

The group entered the room, where a handful of captains stood gathered around a large wooden table draped with a detailed map of the kingdom. Commander Elijah looked up from the map, his stern yet welcoming gaze settling on them.

“Thank you for coming,” Elijah said, his deep voice commanding attention. “Now, let’s get to the matter at hand.”

Captain Sasha stepped forward, her eyes scanning them briefly before she spoke. “We’ve received word about three high-class A dragons heading east. A fire breather, an acid spitter, and a light dragon.”

Anna tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her expression. “Excuse me, but what exactly are high-class A dragons?”

Adam turned toward her, his tone grave but informative. “They are far more powerful than any other dragon types except for the High-Borns.”

The commander nodded, his face somber. “Indeed. Any one of them can easily wipe out cities and destroy an entire country at full power.”

He gestured to the map on the table, tracing the dragons’ reported trajectory with his finger. “Our current weapons and armor are no match for such beasts. To confront them directly, we need power far beyond what we possess.”

Adam turned to Jason. “We were preparing to send word to other kingdoms for aid, but since you’re all here… we’re hoping you might be able to help.”

Connor crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. After a moment, he nodded. “This is very serious. We’ll head out immediately and do what we can.”

Elijah’s expression softened. “Thank you. The kingdom owes you a great debt. Good luck out there.”

As the group began to leave, Jason lingered for a moment, turning back to the commander. “Commander,” he said hesitantly, “any news on the black dragon? The one with the crystal on its head?”

Elijah’s expression darkened slightly. “We’ve been studying it extensively, but so far, we haven’t uncovered its origin. It’s unlike anything we’ve encountered before.”