Chapter 16: Ancient Beings

ARTHUR LEYWIN'S POVAfter the intense dungeon raid at Mistral's Den, Jasmine and I made our way to a nearby inn, each retreating to our separate rooms to rest and recover. The day had been exhausting, filled with unexpected challenges and discoveries. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts about Mistral, the colossal wolf we had encountered.Suddenly, I felt a familiar presence fill the room. A soft, melodic voice echoed in my mind. [Arthur, I need to speak with you.]I sat up quickly, recognizing the voice. "Mistral?"In the dim light of my room, the shimmering mist materialized, and Mistral appeared in her smaller form, about half a meter in length. [Yes, Arthur,] Mistral replied, her tone serious. [There is something important we must discuss.]I listened intently as Mistral explained the gravity of the situation. [There are three more beings, similar to me, safeguarded somewhere in the Beast Glades. They hold ancient knowledge and powers of the other 3 elements. I need to find them, but I cannot unseal them alone. I will require your mana to help me in the process.]My mind raced with the implications of her words. "Three more beings like you? And you need my mana to unseal them?"[Indeed,] Mistral confirmed. [The process is delicate, and your mana, which resonates with the ancient symbols, is the key to unlocking their seals. Once I locate them, I will need your help to awaken them.]I nodded, understanding the seriousness of the task ahead. "I see. But how will you find them?"Mistral's eyes shimmered with determination. [I possess an innate sense that will guide me to their locations. It may take some time, but I am confident that I will find them. When the time comes, I will call upon you, and together we will unseal them.]A sense of responsibility settled over me. The journey ahead would be challenging, but I knew I couldn't back down. "Thank you for entrusting me with this, Mistral. I won't let you down."Mistral nodded appreciatively. [I know you won't, Arthur. Rest now, for the journey ahead will require all your strength and resolve.]With that, Mistral's form dissipated into the mist, leaving me alone in my room, deep in thought. The weight of the responsibility I now carried was immense, but I was determined to rise to the challenge. The fate of the ancient beings—and perhaps even the world—depended on it. I needed to be extra careful because I also had to protect my family and friends. Soon sleep eluded me and I felt the darkness take over me as I fell asleep._________________________________________________________________________________1 years later~~The past year had been a whirlwind of challenges, discoveries, and relentless pursuit of strength. Jasmine and I had delved into multiple A-rank dungeons, each raid pushing us to our limits and beyond. The experience was grueling, but the rewards were substantial. The numerous B-rank beast cores and some A-rank beast cores, we collected became invaluable resources. I gave most of them to Sylvie, my dragon bond, knowing they would help her grow stronger and more capable.Our adventures were not without their share of danger, but having Jasmine by my side made every battle a little more manageable. Her skills complemented mine, and together we navigated the treacherous depths of each dungeon. The bond we formed through these trials was one of mutual respect and unspoken understanding. Somehow, she has now become more like an older sister to me. Mistral has also been busy finding the safeguards, as she says. After a few months, she returned with news of a dungeon where one of the ancient beings was safeguarded. Her ability to clear the dungeon in advance was a blessing; it meant that I only had to find a nearby safe dungeon to raid with Jasmine during the day. At night, Mistral and I ventured into the dungeon to unseal the ancient being.The process of unlocking was much like how I had unsealed Mistral. I simply had to infuse my mana into the seal, and the creatures protected there would awaken from their sleep. After the initial unsealing, another wolf, slightly smaller than Mistral but bulkier, stirred. She identified herself as Nehir, the Guardian of Water. Like Mistral, she also had a blue aura signifying her element.Nehir and Mistral then set out to locate the other two guardians, and that's how we found the third and fourth guardians. We first visited the one found by Nehir. It was a mysterious dungeon deep within the Beast glades, a place inhabited by dangerous S-rank and SS-rank mana beasts. However, with Mistral and Nehir having already cleared the dungeon, I could enter safely without any trouble.The one safeguarded there was Ignatius, the Guardian of Fire. He was also a massive wolf, taller than Mistral and Nehir, and exuded an air of dignity and royalty. His aura danced with fire and electricity, emitting a fiery orange glow.The last one, which Mistral discovered, was, as expected, the Guardian of Earth named Demetrius. Unlike the other three, who exuded a sense of dignity and majesty, this one appeared as a demonic wolf, with a mane around its neck and a fiery countenance. However, as I learned from Sylvia, never judge a book by its cover - he also turned out to be the calmest and the oldest among them all. With that, our search had ended, and now Sitting around a small table in the dimly lit inn room, the air was thick with anticipation. Mistral, the wind wolf, had gathered us here for an important discussion. Beside her were Nehir, the water wolf, Ignatius, the fire wolf, and Demitrius, the earth wolf. Each exuded a unique, powerful presence that still left me in awe. Jasmine wasn't with here; she had gone to the guild hall to search for our next dungeon raid so, this gave us a chance to have a proper conversation. Mistral spoke first, her melodic voice resonating through the cozy space. "Now that we are all unsealed, it is time to discuss our next steps."Nehir, her voice as fluid and soothing as water, added, [We must each find someone to form a bond with. It is essential for our strength and as we have lost most of our strength due to being sealed.]Ignatius's fiery temperament flared up. [I agree. Our powers will be far more effective with the right bond. We need to search carefully.]Demitrius, ever the calm and sturdy presence, nodded. [Indeed. Our bonds will define our roles in the coming trials.]Mistral then spoke, her voice steady and filled with purpose. [I will not be joining you in this search.]Nehir turned to Mistral, surprise evident in her eyes. [Why not, Mistral? You will need to find a bond right?.]Mistral's gaze softened as she looked at Nehir. "I have already found someone worthy of being my bond."Curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but ask, "Who is this person, Mistral?"Mistral's eyes met mine, and a knowing smile graced her lips. "It is Jasmine."I blinked in surprise. "Jasmine?""Indeed, Jasmine possesses an affinity towards wind elements and she has the talent to become a lot stronger. She has proven herself time and again, not only in battle but in her unwavering resolve and loyalty. She is the one I have chosen." It was true that Jasmine was a genius without a doubt, and I was honestly hoping that Mistral would choose Jasmine. I felt a mix of emotions—pride for Jasmine, knowing she was truly exceptional, and a twinge of sadness, realizing the weight of the responsibility that now lay on her shoulders.Nehir nodded thoughtfully. "If Mistral believes Jasmine is worthy, then I trust her judgment."Ignatius grinned, his fiery eyes glowing with approval. "She will be a formidable ally."Demitrius, ever calm and supportive, simply said, "It is a wise choice."I looked at Mistral, gratitude filling my heart. "Thank you for choosing Jasmine. I am sure that you and Jasmine will be very compatible with each other." Mistral nodded, her eyes reflecting a deep bond of trust. As the conversation drew to a close, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The ancient beings were setting out on their journey, and now I had my journey to walk."So, how are we going to introduce you to Jasmine?" I asked, even if I was happy that Mistral chose Jasmine, the problem was how are we going to tell Jasmine about Mistral. I don't think telling her that Jasmine that Mistral is an ancient being sealed inside the depth of Mistral's den is the right decision. Mistral's gaze was calm and reassuring. "[Time is the key, Arthur,]" she said, her voice carrying a soothing certainty. "[Time will reveal the best way to introduce myself to Jasmine. We must be patient and let the right moment present itself.]"I nodded, understanding the wisdom in her words. Rushing into things could lead to complications we didn't need. "You're right. We'll wait for the right time."Mistral then shifted her attention, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "[Arthur, I've heard much about Sylvie, your bond. I wish to meet her.]"I smiled, proud of Sylvie and eager for Mistral to see how amazing she was. "Of course. Let me contact her."Through our mental connection, I sent a message to Sylvie. Sylvie, where are you?It didn't take long for her to respond. I received a mental 'kyu?' from her and a small projection appeared in my mind, It seemed she wasn't far from here probably a few miles deep in the Beast Glades. Great. Can you come to the small clearing behind the inn? I have someone I want you to meet, I replied.'Kyu!', she responded eagerly.I turned to Mistral. "She'll be here soon. Let's go to the clearing behind the inn."We left the inn quietly, making our way to the small clearing nestled within the forest. The evening was serene, the Sun casting a gentle glow over the trees. As we waited, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation.After a few moments, I sensed Sylvie's presence before I saw her. She emerged from the shadows, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. "Kyu!" 'Papa!' she called out, her voice filled with warmth and the same child-like voice that rang in my head, the dragon that stood before me was far from anything akin to a child. She now looked even taller than me.Her body wasn't as large as Sylvia's, but it was still over eight meters long. I could now say with full confidence that Sylvie was indeed a dragon. Her scales had an obsidian-black sheen, reflecting the light from the dungeon in an almost divine way. The two horns that sprouted out of her head were sharper and even more menacing than the titan's horns I had seen years ago. With wings similar to Sylvia's—except with pitch-black feathers—and blood-red spikes that protruded along the ridge of her spine, she exuded a menacing, if not baleful, aura around her. The once adorable face and muzzle of hers were now elegant and sharp, her black sclera and yellow irises reminding me of a particularly bright topaz shining in the dead of night.Sylv's powerful limbs—armored with jagged spikes at the elbows and knees—lifted as she approached me with a graceful poise, despite her large size. She lowered her head which was as large as my torso, bringing her snout close to mine.Suddenly, her snake-like tongue shot out as she licked my face with the force to lift me from the ground."My God, your breath is foul, Sylv," I sputtered, barely able to keep myself upright.'Hehe!' Sylv's childish giggle rang in my head.I smiled and motioned for her to come closer. "Sylvie, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Mistral." Mistral's eyes widened in surprise as she took in Sylvie's form. "A dragon?" she murmured, awe evident in her voice."Yes," I confirmed, pride swelling in my chest. "Sylvie is indeed a dragon."Mistral's gaze turned thoughtful. "And the will inside your core, Arthur. Is it also that of a dragon?"I nodded. "Sylvia, Sylvie's mother, gave me her will and entrusted Sylvie to me before her death."Mistral's eyes softened with understanding. "I see. To think a dragon would give its will to a lesser, that certainly explains the extraordinary power I sensed within you."Before I could ask what she meant, a voice broke through the clearing. "Arthur? What's going on here?"I turned to see Jasmine standing at the edge of the clearing, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the sight of Sylvie and Mistral.~~A/N: I was originally planning to write a whole arc where Arthur goes from dungeon to dungeon in search of safeguards and clears the dungeon but realized that would just be extending the story for words and only make him non-sensically OP, and that's why, now I have discarded that idea entirely. That was also the reason I said the chapter would be coming next week. Tell me whether I delivered this summarised version nicely without Arthur fighting was good or not. Also, I was too lazy to describe each of the wolves or ancient beings, so to speak, therefore, I just added pictures, hope you don't mind.