DRACONIC LEGACY

Mountain Pass

“So why do you carry two blades on your back, Rygar?” asked Sancho. The two of them were much closer than last night, even formal language was no longer used.

"Hmm, that's my secret. Anything wrong with that?"

“It is rare for people to fight with two swords. Or could you be one of them, dual swordsman?” Sancho continued.

“Actually it's not, by any chance, my two swords for two different purposes. So if a blade breaks, there's still a spare." Rygar who was walking behind answered.

“Ah, or could it be like those people at Concordia? What's their name, mm yes, the Jaeger. Monster hunters, is that right?” although a little gasped because they were walking non-stop since dawn, Sancho was still sound enthusiastically fascinated by many things.

"No, I'm not one of them. Have you ever met a Jaeger?”

“Once upon a time, not in Hauger, but in another village. The Jarl is their host because the mineral mines often being disturbed by the likes of Kobolds unless the place cleaned the Dwarves refuse to continue.” Sancho answered while looking back between Rygar and the layer of the frozen lake they were crossing.

“It turns out that their ages vary, some are your age, some are old, and their equipment is sophisticated. Well, the Concordian is really brilliant. It involves very little magic in fact, that amazes me.”

"Yes, knowledge is developing very rapidly nowadays, people can get benefits equivalent to those previously accommodated by magic," Rygar replied, His eyes darting towards the flashpoint on the still blazing Mercu Andall.

“Sometimes I envy those who are free here and there. Seeing the outside world." Sancho said, stopping for breath.

And that conversation happened about two hours ago. As the two of them crossed the frozen Ural lake and ended up on a cliff of waterfalls hung by massive frozen stalactites, with only a subtle stream of air seen flowing between them.

Sancho, as a guide, walks in front of Rygar, his backpack is big and full of climbing equipment, plus a rope taken on his shoulder. Rygar carries the same roll on his right shoulder, his cloth backpack is smaller.

If you look to your right, the village of Hauger looks just like a brown dot in the white distance and a little black in the distance. The two of them were already deep in the plateau where the Frostwood forest was, beginning to climb the heights of the Hrothgarr mountain valley.

"I have a younger brother," said Sancho suddenly, as the two were having their lunch break in the depths of the forest. "Actually, it's Ina's brother."

"Is that true? Where is he now?" asked Rygar, between chews of beef jerky that was their lunch. He chose to lean on the rock bear Grizzly bear totem at the edge of their hiking trail.

"My brother went to wander, with some young people from Hauger, our poverty made a life-changing decision for him by wandering for fortunes," replied Sancho, the eyes staring at the small bonfire they made for the body. "But after several letters, we don't know where his whereabout anymore?"

Rygar listened intently, only shifting slightly from his seat to melt the lukewarm oil into their bonfire, then shoving his not-so-moist nagging into the coals.

"How's the travelling companion?" asked Rygar, who had returned to his place.

“Only one return, son of a rich man in Hauger. But some don't, some still send letters to their families, just like him."

"But it doesn't mean he's dead, right? We never know. I am sure he's fine."

"Sometimes I wish the same, though." Sancho sighed. “Losing someone is a bitter thing. Sorry, I got emotional like this.”

"I know. It doesn't matter."

"Have you experienced it yourself, Rygar?"

Rygar smiled and nodded without saying a word, throwing more twigs into their bonfire. It was only midday and to their surprise, the weather was very clear, although the air was still cold. So the two of them decided to relax for a while, after walking non-stop since dawn.

Sancho straightened his legs and leaned more sideways against the large pile of backpacks filled with their climbing gear. Sitting by the fire. Instead, Rygar got up and pulled out one of his swords that was leaning near them.

"What's wrong, Rygar?" Sancho gasped at the change in Rygar's face, which was suddenly fierce.

The young man stood in the middle of the uphill road like a wolf intercepting in the middle of the mountain pass where they were resting, his gaze fixed on the path that was lower than where they were standing. He motioned for Sancho not to move, and covered his mouth, while one hand tightly gripped the sword.

"Eavesdropping is not a commendable act, gentlemen," Rygar called. His voice echoed down the silent path.

Sancho straightened his back and tried to look, he was sure he didn't hear any noise other than the sound of fire and wind. 

His astonishment answered by the whistle of several arrows that flew from the rows of trees on a low path shot high in a parabolic trajectory, then swooped down to where Rygar was standing. Sancho spontaneously got up and rolled, and dodged.

However, Rygar skilfully slashed down the arrows that fell at him, without flinching at all. The latter, instead, he brushed off with one hand as if he was just swatting a fly.

"Are you all right, Rygar?" Sancho got up and was about to approach, but Rygar stopped him.

"You stay here."

The suggestion sounded cold, Sancho nodded subconsciously, his chat partner had reincarnated as the deadly figure he saw last night. And now took a long stride down their hiking trail, toward the line of trees where his assailant entrenched.

Sancho seemed to be about to burst his heart when at least a dozen big guys in thick clothes emerged from behind the trees, armed with axes and bows, to meet Rygar's arrival. And what made him shudder the most was that he recognized them. Khanz and his entourage, a group of mountain bandits who often act wild and known to be ruthless.

Rygar is in danger Sancho thought in panicked. They had to run, these guys weren't like Hyugh and his hometown gang of Foxhounds. Sancho was plodding down the incline, following Rygar.

“Stop it, Rygar!” he screamed as he managed to overtake and block the young man. "These are relentless killers, we better run."

“Oh… it hurts my heart to hear you say that, my best friend Sancho,” sneered Khanz, the leader of the group who had a large axe on his shoulder and stood at the front. The laughter of the crowd broke out. Both fronts were only a few dozen meters apart.

Sancho turned his head with clenched jaws, his big eyes seemed to harbour a repressed fury, disgusted and fierce at the same time.

"Khanz," he said.

"Yeah, it's me, it's us!" Khanz shrugged his shoulders, acting jokingly, and the crowd burst into laughter. "You didn't forget about us, did you? Also, our exciting adventures and our exciting camaraderie at the foot of the mountain?”

Rygar saw the emotional turmoil depicted on Sancho's face, his guide who was fond of chatting now acted like a mute, confused in answering.

"So you know them?" asked Rygar.

“I…I'm not one of you!” Sancho hissed. His shoulders rose and fell.