Chapter 36: Of Flames Demise (2/2)

Tal was overwhelmed by the implications of Mike's spell. [Was he this powerful of a mage? This doesn't seem possible for such a young human......Has.....Has he connected to the Elemental Source?] The young man had surprised her constantly today, but this was by far the most shocking thing yet.

Mike shifted into a more aggressive pose, hands now clenched with his arms at his sides. The quiet voice rose in volume, channeling a primal fury that could no longer be contained. ”Now a torrent rages through my being. My peace is at an end. My soul cries out in anger. All shall know my wrath. [Guardian's Rage].”

Mike raised his hands above his head, as if lifting an invisible load. The world turned silent, as a pool of water stretched out in front of Mike hands.

A vertical pool.

It swiftly grew to nearly 40m in height, to the point it was nearly touching the chamber's ceiling. Tal thought it resembled a shimmering pane of glass.

The salamander was backing away from the water, its body posture suggesting a fearful desperation.

From the pool emerged a long and elegant set of jaws. Accompanying it was a horned and serpentine head, followed by a long, sinuous body. Shimmering blue and white and blue scales covered the creature's majestic form, which stretched nearly a 150m in length.

[A water dragon! He actually summoned a water dragon! That's supposed to be a low Tier 4 spell at the very least. How is this possible?]

The dragon coiled itself in mid-air and stared down at the trembling salamander with a predatory gaze.

”Ritalshi, onmiyolu.” Mike called softly

[Please finish it, honorable one.] Tal mentally translated with some difficulty. It had been a long time since she learned ancient Draken.

The dragon let out a sibilant hiss, before striking out with blinding speed. It caught the salamander in its jaws, as the elemental tried to flee back into its lava pool.

With a simple crunch the boss monster that had been giving the party so much trouble was bitten in two.

As the separate halves of the monster's body fell away, already disintegrating, the dragon turned to regard its summoner.

”Mitamishalm, onmiyolu. Jirktamintan amn pakiton.” [My thanks, honorable one. You have given this one life.] The young man addressed the majestic creature while bowing in thanks.

The dragon rumbled in a way that was almost cat-like. The vibrations of which seemed to excite the air itself in the chamber.

It opened its mouth and spoke in a gentle, almost feminine voice.

”Ashtolymanithe kolminth, undinekath. Heitomane gen tolonit jeniclat.” [You are welcome water-touched. May we meet again in friendship.]

Then as swiftly as it arrived, the dragon disappeared back through the vertical pool, which was now clearly some kind of portal. The pool quickly vanished, as if evaporating.

The suffocating presence abated, and Mike turned around to face Tal, exhaustion evident in his face.

There was so much for her to process, she hardly knew where to start. This strange young human just took everything she thought she knew about elemental magic and turned it on its head.

”What? How?” She was having trouble forming the correct questions. [Gods Akiriti, why couldn't you have asked for a more convenient sacrifice? This is making communication impossible.]

Mike muttered quietly. ”If possible, I'd like to ask the rest of you to keep this whole event to yourselves.”

His quiet determination, coupled with his display of power mere seconds ago, proved sufficient to cow the others, but Tal caught a glimpse of a well concealed emotion in Mike's face. One that looked very much like shame.

She realized that this young man must have waited to unleash power for a reason, one that evidently caused him emotional pain. That he would bear with that pain in order to save her, left Tal feeling humbled and guilty for her earlier thoughts.

No living being becomes that powerful at such an early age without some consequences, some means of paying for it. Tal understood that better than anyone. She sensed in Mike a kindred spirit.

[You must have some circumstances that you do not wish to explain to us. Burdens that only you can bear at this moment. Perhaps, in time, I will have earned your trust enough for you to share.]

The elf resolved herself to befriend this powerful young man, and show him that he need not be alone.

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[What just happened? AHHH, why was I using that cringey incantation? What kind of strange dance is that?] Mike cursed at himself.

As soon as he let go of the power he was building up, he had lost control of his body, and was forced to watch himself act out a ridiculously embarrassing ritual.

[Gahh, this is bringing back all my trauma from middle school!]

After the power faded and he finally regained control of himself, he could only depend on the goodwill of his fellow adventurers to keep quiet about this.

[Hopefully, this won't spread around any. I would hate to have move now that I've settled in here in Wyrport.]

He couldn't bring himself to imagine the kind of nicknames that could arise from this event, and just hoped to wipe it from his memory.

He completely failed to realize the significance of what he had just done.