A Field Trip to Dungeon

[System checking…]

[Congratulations to the host for receiving 1500 magic points from the newbie gift pack.]

[+1500 magic points.]

[You happy now host?]

"The hack I am happy about it. Do you think I look like someone happy?"

[Host, Although I don't know if you look happy or not, I can assure you that your soul looks extremely ugly. Trust me I have seen it ones.]

"System you dare…"

[Host please pay attention to your surrounding next time you talk about something with the system. That guy looks like he has finished contemplating.]

"This conversation is not finished. You hear that system. I'll deal with you later." After leaving the system with a stern warning, Alfred decided to ignore it and instead focus on Nathen.

"So, have you finally decided, Nathen?"

"My Lord, it is most certain that I cannot stop you. Nor I could do anything to change your mind. So, after deliberating for some time, I have decided to join you." Nathen said to Alfred.

"Finally, its good to here you say that. My faith in you is not misplaced." Alfred nodded content with Nathen's answer.

But Nathen continued speaking.

"But my Lord, I have a condition."

"Do speak of it."

"I must be allowed to remain by your side while you conduct your so called 'study' of the wind eagle." Nathen proposed.

"Humm, I can certainly agree to that." Alfred readily agreed. "I myself wouldn't want you anywhere else other than beside me when I will be busy examining the beast up close."

Alfred and Nathen left the study and with Nathen's lead the duo made their way to the dungeon of the Ever winter fortress.

The way to the dungeon was relatively uneventful. Nathen and Alfred did not discuss much in the way. The only real conversation they had was Alfred complaining about the cold and dampness of their surroundings.

"We are here." Nathen said all of a sudden.

"Are you sure Nathen? I don't see much around here except for pitch black darkness." Alfred said, looking around trying to spot anything in the darkness.

"Wait and moment, my Lord." Nathen said, while tapping on a ruby like stone on the wall twice. All of a sudden, the ruby like stone, which had no colour previously, started to emit white light which illuminated a part of the dungeon.

"And then there was light." Alfred exclaimed. "Nathen, what is this thing?"

"Lord, those are glow stones." Nathen replied. "Fairly common in the northern lands. The only function they have is that they can glow in the darked. Only thing you need to do is tap on them and they will glow."

"Wow, what an ingenious source of lightning. A few of these could easily replace light bulbs." Alfred said while touching the piece of glow stone. "Tell me. Do commoners have access to these glow stones?"

"No. Glow stones are although common, it is mostly used among nobles like us and rich merchants." Nathen explained. "Commoners use coal oil or snake oil in general to light up lamps at night. But don't you know this my lord?"

"Aham'' Alfred gave a light cough. "I know all this of course. I was just asking you this to test your knowledge. It's good that you have kept up with things happening around you in the day to day world. Let's move on, shall we?"

Nathen was puzzled by Alfred's odd behaviour. But in the end, he did not think much about it and attributed everything to childishness.

"My lord needs to marry soon or he will never grow up." Nathen thought in his mind. "I need to talk to Old man Stanley again about this when I return to the castle."

Alfred and Nathen soon restated their journey. Along the way, Nathen kept tapping on several glow stones, illuminating there way forward. Soon the duo left the dark corridor and entered the cell block where Alfred could see several empty cells with no one inside.

Contrary to Alfred expectations of an empty, cold and place like the hallway, the cell block was brightly lit with several glow stones and had fire lit at places to warm the temperature. Although he found the cells to be empty, Alfred could easily count ten of men patrolling and guarding the cell block.

Looking at Alfred's surprised expression, Nathen guessed what he was thinking.

"Just a small precaution in case the beast breaks its chains. The number of guards are enough to warn everyone else in the castle if something happens." Nathen said nonchalantly

"Good, now bring me to the eagle. I want to personally see it." Alfred said, trying to keep his excitement in check.

Nathen nodded and signalled one of the guards to lead the way. Following the guard, Alfred and Nathen went further into the cell block and finally reached the innermost chamber.

Looking Infront of him, Alfred's eyes widened. He was surprised, no he was shocked when he saw what lay in front of him.

An eagle that was as big as a human. Tightly wrapped in iron chains, the human sized eagle lay defiantly at the corner of the huge cage it was kept in. Although captured, fierce eyes kept looking at Alfred with the majesty that only belonged to the king of birds.

"What a marvellous creature." Alfred exclaimed. This was the first time Alfred saw such an extraordinary creature in real life. The nearest thing Alfred could compare was those creatures that he saw in simulated reality movies or games in his last life.

No. Even they could not simulate such a realistic eagle. This was the real deal. Not some computer generated art from some virtual artist who has to draw from his imagination.

As Alfred was marvelling at the sight of the wind eagle, Nathen on the other hand was watching the beast with caution. Unlike his master who was starstruck, he was ready to pounce at the beast and kill it at a moment's notice.

"My lord, be careful." Nathen warned. "Although the beast looks subdued, it is in fact waiting for its chance attack. You must not let your guard down thinking this beast has become ductile."

"Are you really sure?" Alfred looked at Nathen with scepticism. "Those chains look secure enough to me though."

Nathen shook his after listening to Alfred's answer. "You man, go bring this guy's food. Its time for it to eat something." Nathen ordered one of the men.

The man nodded and went out immediately. After sometime, he came back holding a dead rabbit in his hands. Alfred knew immediately what the dead rabbit was for. It was the eagle's food. But he was curious how the eagle was going to be fed the rabbit.

"Throw it in." Nathen ordered.

The man nodded and did as Nathen told him. He took the dead rabbit and threw into the cage.

On the other side, the eagle, smelling the scent of the dead rabbit, stood up from the pounced on it. The eagle devoured the rabbit in matter of one or two minutes, not leaving even a piece of bone for anyone else.

"You see My lord." Nathen said to Alfred. "No matter what you say. The beast will always be a beast. It will never change its inherent nature."

"Well it is an eagle." Alfred said as if it was all normal. "Not some cow or goat. It is programmed by nature to pray on other animals for survival. It can't just deny its inherent nature and start eating grass just because you put some chains on it and put it in a cage. No one can change that."

"But what we can do is use it to our advantage." Alfred explained as he turned to the man who bought the rabbit. "Tighten the chains binding the eagle, and pin it to the ground. I want to go in."

The man hesitated and looked at Nathen for confirmation.

"Just do as the lord says." Nathen said as sighed in helplessness.

The man nodded and went near to a side room. Soon the chains that were wrapped around the eagle tightened, restricting its movements and pinning it to the ground. The face restrained that was previously kept loose, became tighter, completely immobilizing the eagle.

"Open the gates." Alfred commanded.

Receiving Alfred's command, the gate was opened and Alfred slowly went in. Nathen followed closely behind him, his vigilance skyrocketing to his limits.

"My lord, be careful." Nathen reminded Alfred.

Alfred for ones nodded, indicating he understood. And slowly made his way towards the pinned down eagle.

Looking at someone approaching the eagle started to struggle.

The eagle looked at the approaching Alfred with clear hostility in its eyes. It was as if, not for the chains binding it, it would have ripped both of them apart.

The eagle's hostile behaviour was not overlooked by Alfred, in stand he clearly felt every bit of it. He knew the bird was angry. So much so that it wanted to kill him. He also knew that he was intruding on the eagle's territory would have its consequences. But he did not step back.

Slowly and cautiously, Alfred made his way towards the eagle.

"Now, now don't be angry. As long as you behave, Ill try my best to send you back to the forest." Alfred soothed the eagle.