Sleeping on the floor soundly when, August finally opened his eyes after sometime, he gazed at the boy sitting beside him half asleep. Trying to move his leg a little, Noir woke up instantly as he felt some movement, looking at August he said with a bright smile on his face, " you're awake! "
Sitting up straight and holding his head with both of his hands, August said with closed eyes " for how long was I asleep ? "
" Not much ", the goddess said standing at some distance with her wings dismissed.
Standing up straight he asked her, " what happened to the curse? "
" You killed it... " Replied the goddess as the corners of her close mouth widened.
" I did what ? Is it even possible for a curse to be killed ? " Asked August not believing what he just heard.
Smiling more unconvincingly she said,
" it is possible, not for everyone though.... but what's important here is that it's gone. Now could you please step forward and make your way to that ancient weapon. "
Nodding to her August walked slowly towards the podium, the fear of electric shock was still there in his memory somewhere but it was nothing in front of the pain he was in--- sometime before.
Snapping out of his thoughts when August looked down at the floor, he found that he was already deep into the magic barrier that wasn't attacking him anymore.
The suspicions he had about himself to be accepted as a worthy wielder by that ancient weapon were also greatly reduced at that instant.
Coming close to that shining sword when he extended his arm to grab it, some old thoughts flooded his mind. Back when he was training very hard to find his own attribute -- an element that suits him, he recalled there weren't any weapons which were able to withstand the strength of his mana.
But the thoughts he had in front of that weapon surrounded by a cold atmosphere was not if the weapon would be good enough, but whether he would be a worthy wielder for that weapon or not.
When August held the handle of the blade, the snow around it began to melt with countless trails of lightning. With a bright light, the sword left its resting place and embraced itself in the hands of a worthy wielder.
The beauty of that straight, slender blade with a pointy - icy tip, with illusionary snowflakes moving around following its path -- could be seen perfectly under the ambience lightning of the dungeon.
When he moved around the sword, it made sounds as if cutting through the winds itself beautifully. Lost in the beauty of the weapon August moving it around when took a glance at his own hand he was surprised. It was like a frost bite was spreading throughout his arm reaching his elbow in no time.
Reacting immediately to the effect, he maximized the flow of his inner mana around his right arm through which he was holding the sword. Opposed with the heated mana, the Frost bite immediately retreated to its origin, the blade.
Taking a sigh of relief he heard the voice of Elythria from behind, " it looks like you are not fully prepared to use that in the battle yet "
Agreeing with her August asked, " so what do I do with it till then? Does it have any sheath? How am I supposed to carry it? "
The goddess chuckled, " Boy! The divine weapons are your companions in the battle, not some goods you have to carry like a burden around "
Coming close to him holding his left hand she said,
" Close your eyes! And feel the weapon, its coldness, its beauty everything about it will have to be in your imagination. Now make that image of it disintegrate in the surrounding... Oh my! Seems like you have a stable mind. You've done pretty well for your first time managing a divine weapon that is. "
Listening to her words, he frowned not feeling anything anymore in his hand but there was a new feeling as if he was wearing something. Letting go of his hand the goddess said gently,
" now open your eyes "
When he opened his eyes, August saw a golden - white shining bracelet on his right hand wrist. Explaining the scenario Elythria said,
" the sword had transformed itself to suit you even more. While it doesn't have consciousness, it tries its best to help the wielder but to use it at its full extent, ---that much you have to attain on your own. "
August gently nodded replying to her, while his mind was flooded with all of the questions he had for the goddess but before that he bowed in respect and said,
" thank you goddess Elythria, you helped me a lot "
" That was the responsibility bestowed upon me, no need to thank me, I've done what I was supposed to " she replied in a hurry.
Fearing the questions she saw coming next which she was not permitted to give the answers to, Elythria immediately turned the conversation into another direction. She said,
" with that your work here is done, I will now guide you two to the exit of this dungeon..... Walking straight from the dungeon entrance for sometime in the forest you will find the nearest city in no time. "
Reminded of red and Reneir, August asked immediately, " what happened to my companions? "
" Don't worry, they are safe, along the way you will find another dungeon entrance, the one that led you in August. For the six days in the dungeon they have been sleeping when faced with the immense mana pressure of the gate in which you fell.
Also the mana which put them to sleep was bonded with the same time spell, which means for you all only six days have passed but it was six months for the outside world. So keep that in mind. Also the time was normalised automatically when you crossed the third door on the stairs. So rest easy. "
Putting a hand on his forehead August said,
" ah.. six months huh? I was supposed to send my information home from time to time, my parents must be crazy worried. "
The goddess listening to the boy, held back her words as she bit her lip. Struggling with the words she said,
" Yes... Yes! I think you should head out now. "
Hurrying in her actions she opened a portal to the other side of the void leading straight to the outside of the dungeon.
August nod as a signal for Noir to head back, the young dragon smiled and walked into the portal,
Slowly walking towards the exit August turned his gaze behind looking at the worried goddess as he asked her,
" I know there is a reason you tried to avoid my questions before, but can you tell me,
why did the curse call me ,' the cursed child '? please tell me "
Closing her eyes with a worry some sighs the goddess replied, truthfully,
" because it was nothing in front of the curses binding your soul "
" Have you gotten any headaches recently ?" she asked
To her reply August gently shook his head with a silent expression.
He stood silent for a moment as the truth far exceeded his expectations.
At that moment he chose to ignore it as a problem for the future, he asked,
" Last question! Does these curses have anything to do with me being chosen for all this? "
Holding back all the explanatory words the goddess replied with a gentle nod.
" Thank you " said the boy as he walked into the portal leading to the exit.
The goddess bowed respectfully to him as he left.
-----
At the other side of the portal, they were welcomed with a mid afternoon sunny day. Suddenly being exposed to this bright and direct light after spending days in that darkness - embracing dungeon, August closed his eyes but the brightness was blinding even after that.
As his vision adjusted with the passing second he became more comfortable with the sunlight. August gave a big smile, inhaled deeply and then exhaled with the same emotion feeling the fuzzy warmth of the sun on his skin, saying, " yep! Nothing beats a sunny day "
Looking at the young dragon having worried expressions on his face, he immediately knew what was on his mind as he said,
" hey! Noir, aren't you happy finally being able to get out of that dark space. Man! I for sure felt like a bug hiding in darkness, despite that I love darkness but that was too much even for me.
What do you say, huh? "
Watching the young dragon being drowned deep into his thoughts as words of August wasn't reaching his ears. Slapping on his back August shouted,
" Hey! snap out of it "
Being smacked hard on his back, Noir returned back from his dreamland and immediately said with worried expressions, " I sense a gaze directed towards me, enemy might be tailing me. "
' I guess he is traumatized by what happened back at his homeland, witnessing his father's death and then being tailed by enemy.... Not many people can endure this much at his age. '
" What? Don't make any speculations now c'mon. There is no one don't worry. I don't sense anyone nearby. Let's go shall we? " August said brushing it off with a rather casual tone.
" What? You don't sense anyone?, I guess I might be mistaken then " said the young boy as he smiled again. " Yes, let's go "
Cracking jokes and with a few chuckles they began their journey back navigating through the harsh terrains of the forest.
With the setting of the Sun, they managed to locate a place near a gentle stream to spend the night. The royal prince wasn't familiar with this kind of stuff but dragons were considered as a wise species. Adapting to the surroundings was something they were more than capable of and besides August didn't give much of a chance for the boy to think about something worry some.
It was also a good distraction for August himself as he was concerned with the expression he saw on Elythria's face while talking about his parents. There was something she was hiding but no good have come out by thinking about that now.
Sitting around a bonfire, eating the fruits they collected along the way -- the night was looking good.
After some time, when noir fell asleep August left the sight of his for a short stroll to drink water from the nearby stream.
The young dragon, sleeping alone was in his most vulnerable state. A strange rustling noise coming close to him step by step which appeared to be a
man-like figure, wearing a hooded cloak hiding his face, holding a knife-like weapon in his hand. when looked at the young boy sleeping soundly, he tried to silently slit his throat.
As he extended his arm towards the neck of the young boy with a devious smile on his face as though he had accomplished the mission of his lifetime.
It was that moment of joy when he pressed his knife against the neck of the young dragon. The only thing remained for him was to push it a little more but to his surprise his hand was unable to move further.
Before losing his consciousness and falling on the ground unexpectedly, as he himself wasn't sure what happened he heard a voice whispering in his ear,
" So you followed us here all the way from the dungeon "
**********