CHAPTER VI: BITTERSWEET FRIENDSHIP (3)
After a good while, the Golden King finally appeared. He headed towards the lower part of the waterfalls, in the center of the seven chambers. He began his speech.
While this was happening, Bongo turn his eyes to all sides of the chamber, for he lost sight of his son.
“Where did Argônæth went now?”
“Sir, he retired a while ago” Dael exclaimed.
“What?!”
“Yes sir, I'm sorry”
"But what the hell is he thinking! Where did he go?!"
"I have no idea, sir, he didn't tell me."
“All this preparation for so many days, to left just moments before the battle! For what? To do what? What is in the head of that insensible and plu–” said Bongo before he stopped. “You know what? I´m not going to fight with this. It's too late now. At the end of the speech, we will start the descent.”
“But sir, Argôn is the strongest warrior we have” exclaimed one of the dragons.
“I don´t care a goddamn brick!” Bongo shouted enraged. “We will carry out the attack without him! We will go to battle without him, and we will triumph without him! I don't want any rebels or disobedient soldiers in this battle, nor in this army! We will dismantle Nénufar, as we have done hundreds of times. That dishonored Raēn will be in serious troubles. Oh yes, your friend will not escape this. He´ll be in serious problems when I see his fraudulent face. Without a doubt, Dāel! Prepare yourselves for the battle!”
On land, the sorceress was still in Rihëren. She was close to some springs as the fireflies of the water were beginning to shine magically, giving life to the waters of the lagoons. The dragon was delaying, a good time had already passed. The sorceress suddenly looked into the dark night sky and saw, in the distance, a reddish light coming down aggressively from the heavens.
A rumble fell from the skies on top of one of the hills. Amalia quickly got up and headed towards the place, with some fireflies following her. When she arrived, she realized that it was the young dragon.
“Argôn what happened to you?” the woman asked.
“My friend! I'm finally here!” said the dragon while he coughed. “Sorry for the delay.”
“Smoke is coming out of your skin, you're hurt. Where were you?”
"I was on the mission that I told you about, I got out of it" said the dragon babbling.
“Argôn, you don't look good, let me help you heal” responded the woman. “Are you sure you want us to train?”
“Of course! Don´t worry about me. I was just solving an issue! I'll be fine. Where are the fish you brought? Let's eat! I'm starving!”
The Army of Splendor abruptly headed towards the battle. The great Colonel Bongo directed the header, just as he had learned from his grandfather. There was no better time to succeed masterfully in Nénufar as now. No army in the history of The Gradens had been prepared as well as it was now, and of all the attacks Bongo had directed, this was a special one. It could easily become the best victory of the Kingdom in its entire history.
The powerful dragons approached the region. This one was very cloudy, and when they passed the first ranges of the grays, they found a true m******e. The entire Nénufar region was covered in flames. The monsters of the region were destroyed; the swamps were disintegrated. The nests of the beasts were hollow. A true catastrophe had taken place, and the dragons looked stunned from side to side.
Bongo did not understand what was happening. He went towards the core of the waters, where the mother root was. Its enormous complexity was in pieces. He reached the head of the creature, and it couldn´t even speak clearly.
In the little that could be expressed, he spoke in Dragomař to the bewildered dragon.
"A single Raēn did this, Colonel" said the Mother Root Nénufar. “It seems that after all, we are not the evil beasts in this war. I don't think I can guarantee the survival of my race. Our roots have been damaged as never before. The main strains have been burned in their entirety. It is the end, of our times.”
When the creature finished speaking, he inclined his head to the side of the water, where he was resting. A small drizzle began to fall suddenly, and when the Nénufar died, the entire Army of Splendor began to shout for joy; celebrating the triumph. Dracko, who was immersed in envy, sent others to shut up, and the colonel who managed to understand the message sent to him by the eyes of the Nénufar, was cold and petrified.
When Argônæth finished training with the sorceress, he went up to the Gardens. Upon reaching it, he found the people where in the squares, and the Army of Splendor was excitedly waiting for him.
The entire kingdom received the dragon as a hero. His entrance was filled with applause and hugs. Dragons he had never seen, approached him to hug him and treat him like a true prince, a true legend. He crossed the main square, still worried about what his father would say, but he was truly proud of him.
At the end of the square, at the headquarters, was waiting his father, his brother, and the Golden King. They received the Raēn, meanwhile they tried to smile at the crowd.
“Father, I'm terribly sorry” said Argôn.
"Don't even bother talking to me" answered Bongo. “You will follow the Golden King, and you will discuss this issue directly with him.”
The dragon, worried, observed the Golden King who was only smiling at the crowd. Terrified of the consequences of what he had done, he then turned his gaze to his brother, who said, “Why do you look at me, leech?”
The Golden King flew to the royal stairs away from the main area, and Argôn followed. He began to climb them to reach his house on Mount Geneza, and the young dragon followed his steps. Not a single word was spoken along the way, and the Golden King did not even flinch to see him until they arrived at the isolated house of the King. It was the first time Argôn entered his distant and humble abode. It was still top of the floating stone. Behind it, it remained the very thick and giant trunk without leaves, as it flourished at other times.
Argôn noticed, the house had purple ceilings, which had a rather peculiar design. It had gold- plated overlays and the lines that descended from it were precious blue gems. The highest ceiling had a backward fold like a leaf. And in the middle of the fold, there was a giant golden spire, which was suspended in the air and spun around itself. The Golden King went inside his home, and Argônæth followed him.
"Sit down, son" said the Golden Dragon. "Excuse the mess, I was away for a few days."
"I congratulate you on your triumph” continued the King. “The truth is, it is worthy of recognition," continued the King.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Never before has a single Raēn faced the entire Nénufar Army. Your father tells me you were desperate to leave, and you decided to retire before I had arrived. You left your position without authorization. Disobeying the General's orders is a maximum violation, you know that, right?”
"Yes, your majesty, I know it perfectly" replied the nervous prince.
“But, on the other hand” continued Wiz, “you went to the battle and you won in our name, by yourself. You wanted to get out of this fast, which makes me deduce that you had something more important to do.”
“Well, not quite, but something like that, sir.”
“I wonder, what do you had to do?” asked the Golden King.
“Sir, that is to say, I had to go to the high areas of the forest to verify a gem that I had found in the northea–”
“Argôn. How do you want me to help you if you don't tell me the truth?” asked Wiz. “It´s okay son, you can trust me. What were you doing?”
“Excuse me, sir” responded the young dragon. “I had days without training with the sorceress, and I have committed a lot to her. She is a woman who has a lot of talent, and I have been fulfilling the commitment I acquired at your will, sir. It is special for Elgoneth, and I also want to hel her fulfill her purpose. I don't know why it's so important to me, but it really is.”
“Well, you've been with her for a while” said the King. “I know you've connected very well with her. I could see it in your eyes. It's something very strange, but it seems that the girl is special.”
“So it seems, sir, but in my rebellion, I understand that what I did was out of control, just; because I wanted to be with her. I was full of so much fury; I couldn't contain myself. My energy intensified as never before. I went to Nenúfar and had no mercy. Maybe my father is right, maybe I should stop seeing her. Maybe she should continue without me, and I continue without her. I wouldn't want to become a monster.”
“Quiet, son. I do not see it that way” said Wiz.
“You don’t?”
"Not at all" replied Wiz. “Moreover, I urged you and authorized you to continue seeing her. Your father believes that this is harmful to you, but I believe that this relationship you have is making you stronger. I don't think what you've done has been an eyesore, on the contrary. I think we are witnessing one of the most powerful Dragons this kingdom has ever had. I see a lot of potential in you, and this interaction is making you stronger every day.”
Argôn looked from side to side, for he was not quite convinced of what the King was saying.
“Do not worry, accept what is happening and follow” said the Golden King. “This path is leading you to explore unattainable capabilities. With that being said, I will not deny you that this link you have is completely unusual, since it is not in our nature to relate intimately with the terrestrial ones, but you are doing it well son. As long as you make this commitment with love, you will continue to grow, and the girl will do so, too. Elgoneth seems to agree with this. I don't see why we should worry. Just don't lose sight of your priorities.”
“Thank you so much sir!” replied Argôn. “I really appreciate it. It´s a huge weight removed from me.”
"I know " replied Wiz.
“But your majesty, what will we do with my father?”
“I will take care of him” said the King. “He was a little upset when he saw the image of the main Nénufar, as it seemed that you had extinguished the race. But I went to the place, and in the depths, there are still intact foundations of them. They will be delayed, but they will grow again. It is not so simple to make an entire race disappeared, not on in these creatures.”
“Okay sir, it's big a relief” responded Argôn. “All of this! And again, I am terribly sorry for what happened. It will not happen again.”
“I hope so” answered the King. “Keep up your trainings and when you can, apologize to your father. He really needs it. You can go now. And remember Argôn, you are a great warrior.”