Chapter 36. Village of the Sun. Part 2. Dragon !?

- How many decades have passed since our keeper contacted us… - Tears flowed from the eyes of the giant in armor.

Others expressed the same feelings as they looked at the mountain, the summit, which was engulfed in bright flames, illuminating the entire village.

Eros's forehead was covered in large beads of sweat from the pressure that emanated from the flames. Even Gildarts is just a little kid who can't do anything compared to him. The creature that emitted flame was ten times stronger than Eros. This at the same time frightened him and made him nervous, because if he had to fight with it, he would lose only if he did not use dark magic power. But he didn't want to do it ...

- Young Titan, come to me ...

Eros shuddered as the creature spoke.

"WHERE FROM ?!" - the giants looked at Eros in surprise.

- You are too small to be a Titan, - the man dressed in armor said slightly frowning, - But since these were the words of the keeper, then ... - a wide smile appeared on his lips, - Welcome home.

- Seriously? - slightly taken aback by Eros.

- Yes, - he said in a more serious voice, - Go, our guardian is calling you, and when you're done, invite your friends who are hiding a kilometer from the village.

"That was unexpected, okay ..." - the titan closed his eyes and, just in case, began to concentrate his last trump card in the chest area, so that he would be ready for battle at any moment.

- Get in, baby," he said, dropping his hand.

Eros surveyed the village with interest, standing on the giant's shoulder as he quickly approached the mountain.

Less than ten minutes later they left the village and were already approaching their destination. From afar, Eros saw the silhouettes of two more giants kneeling before the flames.

A giant in armor ran up to them and hit both on the head.

- You must guard our keeper, so that no stranger would disturb him, but you stand with your back to the only entrance, why are you looking for death ?! - he roared and again hit the guilty ones, - And if I were an enemy? You would have been dead here already!

- Forgive us, Mr. Kronos! - lowering their heads, both warriors uttered in a guilty voice and began to examine the man on the shoulder with interest, - And who is this?

- He is the same titanium, but he just did not grow out, - the giant shrugged his shoulders, forcing Eros to choke on the air, who looked at him with indignation.

"My height is normal!" - I wanted to object to him, but still decided to remain silent.

- Go, the keeper of only one called you, we are forbidden to cross this line, - dropping Eros, said Kronos with a bit of envy.

- Yeah, thanks for dropping, - nodding, he headed forward, bypassing both giants, he went out into an open clearing, on which stood a large stone altar, on which the very same flame was burning.

- Hello again, young titan, - the voice emanating from the flame was rather rough and filled with pride, something ancient and powerful emanated from him, - We met again four hundred years later, - the flame suddenly began to grow taking the form of a large fiery beast with four limbs. His height was in no way inferior to a giant.

- Again ... after four hundred years ...? - Eros said, taken aback, - I'm only thirteen, when could we meet with you?

- When the time comes you will find out ...

- Of course, I would like to know now, but I'll wait.

- A wise decision.

- Why did you call, I doubt that you just wanted to talk to me.

- So it is ... - the creature fell silent for a minute, as if pondering something, - I want to offer you a deal, on which the life of a person who is very dear to you may depend in the future, but in return I will ask for an equivalent exchange.

- The life of a dear person ...? - said Eros in surprise, he could not help but believe such a powerful creature, because he has no reason to lie and he simply will not get anything from it.

- Yes, and in return I will ask you to protect this village after my death.

- Don't joke with me, - the titan said, frowning, - I have never seen a creature stronger than you in my life, and who would think of attacking you?

- Anything can be, - said the creature quietly, - At least two will not be difficult to defeat me. The first is Calamity Dragon Acnologia and Black Mage Zeref.

- Okay, but why would these two attack you?

- Then let me introduce myself, I am the Dragon of Fire, the Fire Atlas, the Dragon-protector of this village.

Eros froze and stared in shock at the burning flame, which took on a more distinct form, more like a dragon.

- So there are still survivors, after the massacre that Acnologia arranged, - whispered the titan, who could not calm down, because before him stood one of the wisest, strongest and most ferocious creatures.

- So you know what happened then, - he said with a bit of surprise.

- Definitely not, I just found small facts, after reading many books and putting everything together, I came to this conclusion, but after your answer, I am now 100% sure of this.

- You are really very smart.

- If so, then I will have one request for you.

- M?

- I want you to take two people as your apprentices.

- It's impossible! - in a firm tone, he replied.

- Why?

- Do you want your friends to become dragons?

- What do you mean?

- If I teach them the magic of the dragon slayer, then in a few years they are 100% likely to turn into dragons if no one controls this process nearby, and this can only be done by a dragon. An example of transformation into a dragon can serve as Acnologia, who used to be a human like you, but after learning the magic of dragon slayers, after a few years he himself turned into a dragon.

- That's how it is, thanks for telling, though ... Why then, dragon slayers who got their powers from the lacrima, don't turn into them?

- This is an ordinary fake, a real dragon slayer would easily smear these fakes, - Atlas said with disgust, - Lacrima, this is just an imitation of a force that does not exist, it just rebuilds the body so that it would be possible to use similar spells.

- Okay, then just train them to get stronger?

- This is another matter, here I can help.

- If so, then I agree to protect your village, but if Acnologia suddenly finds you, then I can hardly help, you yourself must understand this.

- I do not force you to fight with him, if this happens, then I will take him away from the village where I will give the last fight, - said the Dragon with confidence.

Still, he understood much better than the rest that he could not defeat Acnologia, but he was ready to defend this village, even at the cost of his life, because this place is his home. He was ready to do anything for his protection, even ask for help from the one who almost killed him once ...

***

Three days passed, but Eros could not get rid of the strange words of the dragon from his head: "someday the day will come and you will have the choice to" kill or have mercy "do not do what you will regret for the rest of your life." The titan understood the meaning of the words, but who should he "kill or pardon" is this a question? And the dragon refused to explain in more detail, because then the future may change, because he already said a lot.

But still there was one nice thing, it was the fucking faces of Rick and Roni when they saw the dragon and learned that he would become their teacher. These memories will warm his heart for a long time, on dark autumn evenings.

In the village, Eros had nothing to do, so he continued to develop towards the runes, while both fire mages were studying, Atlas said that it would take at least a year, or even more, so Eros had no choice but to stay in the Sun Village.

The Titan also continued to train Kagura and learned through the ritual that she had a talent for gravity magic. Yet his demonic form is strong precisely in this magic and he was able to obtain almost the full amount of knowledge in its use, with the help of which Eros slowly taught the girl. And also, he discovered a talent in handling cold weapons, but it was a pity that the dagger did not fit her, and after going over all types of weapons, they settled on a katana that was forged by one of the giants.

Eros taught her in the magic of gravity, while one of the Titans whom Eros asked for help, trained Kagura in the use of the katana. Nevertheless, they are masters in battle using physical strength and they will definitely be able to teach her the basics. And with Eros, they arranged sparring, where one used a dagger, and the other a katana.

He also taught her to correctly use the magic of gravity, so as not to fall under its influence and to use it more effectively in battle.

And so it went on for almost a year ...