The Twelve Wizard Trials

Chapter 5- Bahamut

A/N: I have heard thy wish. I have returned! Yes, I am back! And here's chapter five! Enjoy.

Gaelic walked through the tall grasses, passed a withered tree, and sat by a large stone."When is this Trial going to start? Or is the first one a test of my patience?", he complained.

He looked up at the sky, long white clouds stretched across a twilight sky, a black shadow, moving across the orange-tinged sky.

Wait... black shadow?!

The figure in the sky gave a loud screech, as it dive bombed, landing in a heap of mangled earth and scattered debris.

"Holy shit!", Gaelic exclaimed, "What the hell is that thing!?"

Now that it was closer, Gaelic could see the rippling blue scales, and thick leathery wings, as it began to unfurl them, letting lose a roar that shook the ground. It lifted its gangly head, revelaing a Bound Rune, glowing brightly. It let loose a plume of azure flame, charring the ground around Gaelic, making him run for cover, behind a large stone. From cover, Gaelic threw every spell at his disposal, from concentrations of fire, to bursts of lightining, to gusts of wind only for each incantation to merely bounce off.

What do I do!? None of my Magic is working against it!

The Dragon continued its attack , the rock by which Gaelic found his cover, would not hold much longer.

That Rune binds him... but to what? Maybe if I Dispell it, it'll stop!, hethought.

With this realization, Gaelic drew his Stylus from his jacket pocket, tip illuminated with a white glow. Prepared to meet his attacker, he peered over his cover. But he met only silence and the Dragon was nowhere to be seen. Not even the wind stirred against the massive plains in which Gaelic stood. He took a quick glance to his left and right, claw marks and scorch marks littered the razed ground.

He then took a glance to the sky, only to be met with the open maw of the Dragon, teeth barred, and claw raised, giving a screech. Gaelic cowered as the claw began its descent, only to reemerge with his Stylus in hand, tip glowing brightly as he drew the Dispel Rune in the face of the Dragon. When complete the Dragon froze. The Rune on its head, sputtered, flickered and sparked with residual Magic. Soon, it shattered like glass.

Gaelic also froze, with fear mostly. Did I do it? Did I win?

The Dragon glowed a bright blue, its shape shrinking, much to Gaelic's surprise.

"What's it doing?", he asked himself, watching the creature morphing.

All that remained, was one of the  Dragon's indigo scales, gleaming in the sunlight, with an etched black rune, that Gaelic couldn't decipher. It seemed old, ancient even...

Then he remebered the words of the Prime Magician,

...Twelve Relics

This must be one of them, Gaelic thouht as he retrieved the scale from the ground. In his hand, it was about the size of a fist sized river rock, and not heavy in the slightest. With the Relic now in his possession, Gaelic took a minute to crack a smile. "Yes! I did it! I'm not dead!", he yelled at the stop of his lungs, arms raised in victory. Then he thought, How the hell do I get out of here?

With that thought, pillars of light shone around him, as Mages appeared, staffs at the ready, Cyrus was one of them. He stepped forward, "Gaelic Dresden, you've completed your first Trial, you will return with us now".

"Wait, so thats all this is, I kill eleven more beasts, and I get my Pardon?", Gaelic asked.

"Do as you've been assigned and you'll win your freedom, now come with us, Mr. Dresden", said, the Mage hurridely, as if on a tight schedule.

Gaelic stood next to Cyrus as he tapped the ground with his golden staff, the pillar shone around them, as did the other Mages, and in a flash, Gaelic stood before the Magistrate once again.

Councilman Dextris sat scowling, "You've returned, prisoner", he said emphasizing the last word, and noticing the runic dragon scale in Gaelic's hands, "you defeated the Bahamut!", he continued in exclamation, utter shock plasterd across his wizened face.

"Were you expecting me to get roasted, Councilman?", Gaelic asked daringly, raising one eyebrow.

Dextris was fuming,turning red as a tomato in his chair, gripping the arms with knuckles turning white.

The Prime Magician stood out of his chair, "You've completed your FIrst Trial, Mr. Dresden. And you've brought the Relic. Your Second Trial will begin at First Light, tomorrow. This Council is adjourned", he said finally. The other memebers of the small Council got up and left the chamber, leaving only Prime Magician Cornelius. He looked to Gaelic, as the Mages escorted him back to his cell.

"Mr. Dresden, a word", he said, as walked from the dais, to meet him face-to-face.

Gaelic stood surprised, the Prime Magician, wanted a word with him?  The Mages nodded in respect to their higher authority, "Yes, sir?"

"Do you know what that Rune, etched into that scale, means?", he asked

"Can't say that I do, sir", Gaelic responded. He, for some reason respected Cornelius. There was something benign about him. As if he wanted him to succeed.

"It is a much older Rune, used during the begining dynasties of Men. It means Guard. I'm sure it will assist your Trials to come", he said, "Under different circumstances, I'm sure I'd consider you a stellar student. But...I don't know what to say. How could you-"

"Look, I'm doing these Trials to prove my innocence. And I will complete them. I'm not a Conjurer", Gaelic responded, cutting the Prime Magician off, emphasizing his last sentence with a defiant gesture of his hands.

"Well then Mr. Dresden. We shall see", said Cornelius, shuffling off, to whatever duties his position would require of him.

Cyrus sat at the desk, the boy's cell was across from it, giving him full view of the prisoner. He was fast asleep. The boy completed his first Trial. This came as a shock to the Mage. He intially suspected that the boy wouldnt last a minute against a Bahamut. The boy was more resourceful than he thought.

Which was perfect for what was in store for him next, "Good luck tomorrow kid, you're gonna need it", he said, with a sly smile at the sleeping young man.

Hope you all enjoyed Chapter 5. Expect more my friends, as the Trials continue! Thanks to my Followers, my Readers, and my voters! Like what you see? Vote if you feel so inclined. I Love Your Feedback! Feed me with your Feedback so i can make my writing better!! 

Stay Tuned, Readers!