(One Week Later)
Virion Leywin
It's now been a week since the events at the Iron Tombs occurred, today I was being assigned to a new post, they haven't told me yet, but I was hoping it was the Sand Grotto. I was ready to get my hands dirty again, I was all healed up and ready to go.
I spent the last week recovering and spending time with my family, I also absorbed some of the mana in the horns and the beast cores I collected. There wasn't a lot of mana in the horns, but since I had ten beast cores, it was okay. I was still mid stage silver; I didn't think a couple of beast cores would push me forward though.
I didn't get to see Lance Aya sadly, I wanted to talk to her before I left again. I approached the guards standing in front of the council doors, and they opened them for me, knowing who I was by now and what I could do.
Everyone was inside this time, both Kings, both queens, Elder Virion, Aldir, Lance Varay, and Lance Bairon.
I walked up to the center of the room and bowed to Elder Virion. "Where are you sending me?" I smiled, excited to be going.
"Virion." He said seriously. "Victoria has agreed to bring your team to the Sand Grotto with the Twin Horns." I looked up in relief. "There are about fifty soldiers there at the moment, with all of you there, it will put the number in the sixties. Luckily, we have been having trouble in the Sand Grotto, and can use help searching through it."
"Perfect." I nodded, making eye contact with Lance Bairon by accident, that reminded me of something.
"And we are giving you permission to do as you see fit now." I looked at Elder Virion stunned, did that mean they weren't trying to restrict me anymore. "You may fight in any battle that occurs."
"I understand." I told him.
"But you still have to listen to the people in charge, no going rogue." I nodded. "We decided that holding you back now is pointless, you will do what you want anyways." At least he knows it now. "The teleportation gate is set for the Sand Grotto, you should say your goodbyes, and be on your way. Your team is already there."
"Virion." Aldir's third eye took me in. "How is your blood magic? Have you discovered any more abilities since moving into mid silver?" I shook my head no; I really wasn't looking for new abilities at the moment. "I suggest you try to do that, if you can of course, having a few more tricks up your sleeve won't hurt."
"I will." I started to step backwards. "I'll see you all again." I bowed. "Where is Tessia? I would like to say goodbye before leaving."
"I believe she is in the training hall." Aldir answered. "I finished training with her before I came here."
"Okay, thanks." I smiled, and then started to leave the room, they were silent as I did. I could feel their eyes on my back as I walked through the open doors and made my way to the training hall.
The walk there was pretty short, and as I entered, I saw Tess training with her sword in the middle of the room. I conjured a ball of ice and shot it at her, she spun around, and cut right through it. As I walked up to her, she smiled at me.
"Are you leaving?" I nodded my head. "I wish grandfather would let me go too, I am older than you."
"Haha." I laughed. "Yeah, but I'm stronger." I stood maybe five yards from her. "I just wanted to say goodbye before I left this time."
She got closer to me and punched me in the shoulder. "You should have brought me with you last time." She pouted. "We could have fought inside the dungeons together."
"You'll get your chance eventually, Tess." I smiled at her. "I know you will." Like literally, I know you will, I laughed internally. "Just keep training."
"Don't give me advice like you're older than me." She then proceeded to hug me. "Just be careful out there, okay?"
As we stopped hugging, I nodded my head. "You know I will be." I continued to smile. "Next time I go out, maybe you'll come along with me." I turned to exit the training hall.
"I hope, stay safe." She called out, as I exited.
I needed to say my goodbyes to my family now, that's going to be quite difficult. I already know my mother wants me to stay, and Ellie and I have been spending a lot of time together over the last week, she won't want me to leave. I think my dad was proud of me, and also slightly concerned, I didn't really know.
I believe everyone was on the balcony overlooking the Beast Glades, and watching Ellie train with her bow, that's where I was heading.
While I walked, I thought about the mana beasts that are going to be at the Sand Grotto, what were they going to be like. The different types fascinated me for some reason, but I guess for the people who know everything about the dungeons and mana beast, it may not be.
The most important thing was that I could fight Alacryans freely, no one would try and stop me now. Well, maybe people will hold me back from walking up to them like I did in the Iron Tomb's tunnel. They were really weak Alacryans though, that's why I did it.
I'm assuming that the Alacryan wanted me to go to the Sand Grotto for some reason, I haven't figured it out yet, but I was going to eventually. His information is most likely correct, there just has to be a reason he chose here.
I turned the corner and could see my family sitting outside on the balcony, Ellie was shooting her bow next to Boo, and my parents were sitting at a table watching her. I slowly walked out, and they all smiled at me, and then they quickly realized why I was coming to talk to them, and their faces changed to gloomy.
"You're leaving, aren't you." My mom stood up as I stepped onto the balcony. I nodded my head, and she walked over to to me. "I hate that you have to go." She hugged me. "We will all miss you, Veer."
"I know, mom." I let the warmth of her hug spread over me. "I'll be okay."
She held me tighter as Ellie and my father walked over as well. "Just remember to listen to Helen."
"He will, Alice." My dad said as I backed away from my mom, and he patted my head. "Our son is doing amazing things out there; we have to believe in him." I sent him a smile. "The mana core you gave me has been helping a lot, thank you."
"No problem, dad." I turned to Ellie; it looked like she was about to cry. "Ellie, I'll see you soon." I walked up to her and hugged her. "Make sure mom and dad don't kill each other, okay?"
"I will." We continued to hug. "Don't die out there."
I let go of her and then stared at her. "That is not something you say to someone leaving for a dangerous dungeon." I smiled. "You should be wishing me luck."
"Shut up." She pushed me. "Good luck." Ellie said sarcastically and stuck her tongue out at me.
"Haha." Both of my parents laughed at us. "We'll miss you." My mom walked over and hugged me again. "Are you leaving now?"
"Yeah." I said while in her arms. "My team is already there waiting for me, Elder Virion said to leave as soon as I said my goodbyes."
"Alright." She let go of me, and I took in my family one last time.
"You don't have to worry; I'll take care of things there." I told them all. "Then I'll be back here again for a little, just give me some time." I smiled as I started to back away. "I love you guys." I turned away and made my way off of the balcony.
"Love you." They all said as I walked away.
The portal isn't too far away from here, I'll be there in no time. Every time I passed a guard they gave me weird looks, that was probably because they thought I was some rich noble kid, or there the guards I beat up. It was one or the other, who knows.
I turned the corner, and the sight surprised me. "Lance Varay." I said and bowed to her. "It's a pleasure to see you." My favorite Lance was standing in the middle of the hallway looking at me, it seemed like she was waiting for someone. "Are you waiting for someone?"
"Hello, Virion, I was waiting for you." She paused and turned away from me. "I would like to talk to you before you leave, is that alright?" I picked up my pace and walked alongside her to the portal.
"Yeah, that's fine, about what though?" Why did she want to talk to me?
"When you're out there, what are you fighting for?" I gave her a confused look as we turned another corner.
"My family? Why do you ask?" I looked on ahead as two guards bowed to Lance Varay.
"That's good, remember that, don't lose yourself in the moment, and do something you shouldn't." I was surprised she was trying to give me advice, she didn't usually talk to me that much. "You are strong, I know that from the little time I have spent with you, and you are only going to get stronger, but don't lose who you are."
I laughed. "I know." To Elder Rinia though, I have to abandon my old beliefs to get what I desire. "Trust me Lance Varay, I fight for good reasons."
She eyed me up as we stopped in front of the portal room, the four guards already had the door open, and the portal on. Lance Varay nodded her head. "Be careful." She turned away and walked away.
I didn't know what that was about, but I'll just roll with it. I started to walk up to the portal, and the guards just stared at me. "I'm sorry about last time." I told them as I stepped into the portal frame, and my vision flashed.
I stepped out into a cave located inside of the Sand Grotto, the ground was filled with sand, but the walls were stones. The base was similar to the one at the Iron Tombs, but this one was a lot bigger, most likely to host more troops. I took my cloak at and placed it on, then started going through the base seeking my team.
"Is that a kid?" I heard a man say as I walked by a team's tent.
"It is." Another man said.
I ignored them, and sitting around a fire in front of two tents were Callias and Samantha, they stood up when they saw me. "Look who it is." Callias smiled at me and reached out his hand.
"What's up." I took his hand and shook it. "Where's Victoria?"
"She's --." Callias was cut off by Samantha.
"What? You don't say hi to me?!" She walked over and hugged me. "I was worried about you after the attack."
"I'm fine, Samantha." I told her, and as she let me go, I looked around. "Also, where are the Twin Horns?"
"There located on the other side, and Victoria is talking to our new commander." Callias sat back down, and Samantha and I joined him.
"Who's our new commander?"
"Commander Jagger, he's a human augmenter, with affinity for earth magic." I couldn't wait to go into the dungeon, this place looks amazing so far, the sand everywhere was a little annoying, but the people here didn't seem to be bothered by it.
"How are we doing runs? As a whole, or are we going in individual teams?" I asked them, seeking out answers.
"Two teams go in together, until something is found, and everyone is needed." Samantha told me. "It's a little different from last time, we were paired with the Twin Horns." That made sense, I'm sure Elder Virion did that.