Orb Guardians [Volume 1: Fire]

Chapter 9.1: Xidrem, the Fire Dragon

Chapter 9: The Red Orb of Fire

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"Gramps, which path do we take?" Blaise asked.

"Simply follow me. I know the way." Zephania replied.

"Okay."

Zephania turned around, walking down the path behind him. Blaise trailed Zephania from behind and grew curious.

"Hey Gramps, how do you know the ways of this place?"

"I've been traveling around Fantasía. Going from place to place for many years, I search every area of all the places I've been to."

"That's so cool! I never heard of one person being able to travel all over the world!"

"How big isss thisss 'Earth' anywayssss?" Autumn asked.

"It's really big! There's seven continents and seven oceans! There's also many types of people and countries too!"

"That sounds nice. I would like to go to this 'Earth' someday." Nix said.

"You should. Maybe we can go together when we're done!"

Nix nodded in agreement, excited to go to this 'Earth'. The sound of hearing the word Earth and saying it was new to her. What was Earth and how exactly is it?

"If you don't mind me asking, what does Earth look like?" Nix asked.

"All I know is that there's lots of water and big lands. There are also islands, and there are lots of islands. I don't know a lot about geography so I don't think I can give you the right answers. Sorry."

"No, it's alright. Just hearing you explain it is enough for me to visualize this Earth."

Blaise smiled at Nix. "If that's what you say, then okay."

Nix nodded as the two became silent with Zephania leading the way.

As the four walked in the cold, silent underground path, they took many turns. It was as if they were in the Temple of Fire's maze but safer. It seemed booby traps didn't exist in the underground maze, relieving Autumn and Blaise.

While walking in this underground maze, it seemed as if they were walking deeper into the ground. The way it grew colder and the darker it looked as they entered a path every time gave it away.

"We're here," Zephania said.

Zephania stopped walking as well as Blaise. In front of the four, was a large cave. Around the cave were flames that would grow every few seconds before dying down like a wave. A flat but rocky path lied ahead of them to the center of the cave. But instead of seeing the Red Orb of Fire, as Blaise expected, there was... a Red-Scaled Dragon, awaken as if it knew they had arrived.

"Oh? A human, an Elemental, and two other creatures? What an odd group? What brings you four here?" asked the red-scaled dragon in a deep, male voice.

The red-scaled dragon had piercing red-colored eyes and large, sharp teeth. His black claws were large and his ears were rather pointy but soft-looking. His large tail was wrapped around his body to his legs and on the very tip of his tail was on fire; his hidden scaled wings laid open on the ground, revealing how large his wings were. His appearance was definitely intimidating but less since he was sitting.

"This boy is here to claim the Red Orb of Fire," Zephania stated.

Blaise looked at Zephania and said, "H-hey, what about you three!?"