Ashton checked his beast counter, over thirty kills but no points... well, he didn't think anyone was expecting a dragon. Of course, a first-tier cored dragon was stronger than a guardian class horned rabbit but still. Ashton had the lordlings return to the carcass while he waited for Lucian and the others to arrive. Even though the dragon wasn't dead yet, it wouldn't be able to move with such a large burning hole in its chest.
Ashton had ensured even the soul was damaged, so it wouldn't be able to reincarnate for several decades, maybe longer. Without a whole soul, the dragon was little more than a living corpse.
Ashton had all the golems start to charge again, then quickly had two of the fourth-tier golems forcibly ascend through mana alone. Since so many parties were coming so fast, he simply charged the rest to full then used his substitute to leap down the charred hole to retrieve the mana core, while simultaneously drenching itself in as much dragon blood as possible.
The dragon was too injured to move, but wasn't technically dead until the mana core was removed or destroyed. Dragons were resilient creatures...
As the substitute was climbing back out of the man-sized hole two golems arrived to help. Now the dragon was dead. Nix closed his eyes, watching until the dragon breathed its last. The moment the soul was freed he breathed a small sigh of relief. One less damned was one more saved.
Ashton glanced back, he could already hear the cavalry charging toward them. Between the dragon's fire and heat from his soul form, there was a decent clearing for the group.
Charmaine and Charles had come charging out of the tree line with more than a dozen soldiers. Ashton glanced back at his substitute being gently placed on his own feet, a pool of blood already forming as he gripped the mana core. Just a few more moments.
Serafin didn't dare to move as the black clad figures still had them in the barrier. "Stay back! The barrier attacks anyone!" he called as his mother started rushing her horse toward them. Serafin was gripping his reins even as he had dismounted. Ashton and the guardians were still standing by the smoking dragon corpse.
Charmaine saw the additional figures as she drew her stallion to an abrupt halt. She took a deep breath, "I trust you are both well?" She asked pretending to be calm, while her exterior was as gracious and motherly as always, her heart felt as if it were going to pound out of her chest. "Allow us in." She ordered looking down at the first masked figure. As soon as they'd seen the eerie green light she had ordered them to mount up to find Serafin and Natasha. When she'd seen the dragon's head over the trees she'd thought she'd never see them again... She hadn't believed Ashton, even with his barriers or those creatures could kill a dragon... even a flightless dragon was capable of destroying cities.
Luckily, Natasha's bracelet and Serafin's dagger had tracking nodes so Charmaine could follow them in the forest. They were one of the few enchantments to still work in the forest, and a secret from most nobles. If the nobles learned that amber made from the cerulean tree sap could hold enchantments, the imperials would lose their small advantage during the biannual hunts.
The figures seemed to share a look, then they all turned to face the away, looking at the dragon corpse.
Charles finally caught up, "Peace, we don't know if it's safe yet. Or how they are maintaining the barrier." He reminded then turned to the guards, "Protect the children, no one is to come close without her Majesty's approval until his Majesty returns." Charles ordered waving for the guards to surround the group.
"Imperial mother, Imperial father went after the mage controlling the dragon!" Serafin informed as the messy nobles changed, luckily their horses had their emergency supplies. Serafin tried to calm himself, his mother was right here, no need to yell. Serafin took a deep breath, hiding his trembles as best he could.
Charmaine nodded glancing at the black clad figures, "You will be rewarded for your service." She announced drawing their attention again. They all just stared without a word... she had only seen them the one other time, but they still didn't feel... human. They were also stubborn or ignorant, she'd clearly hinted several times to let her pass...
Ashton quickly swapped places with the substitute after a spell to wash and dry its appearance made it more presentable, then started to slowly walk back with two golems. Ashton could see his breath in the air just a few steps away from the dragon corpse.
Ashton released the barrier around the children during the distraction, Charmaine lifted her skirts rushing forward to gather her children close. The guards also merged, keeping the noble children in their center as if Ashton would suddenly order their deaths.
The other two golems were busily dismantling the still steaming corpse for salvageable materials, dragons were rare after all. The fresher the parts, the better the quality and the more the fish would mourn the loss. For them to have prepared a dragon, even if only a land dragon, was an incredible feat for having less than two weeks' notice.
Ashton glanced up at the sun, the chances that the rebels already had the dragon were high, but the control spell had been hasty. Still, dragons of all kinds had been regularly sacrificed for centuries... how were they always found so conveniently? Perhaps he should... no. The sacrifice of Smyrna was not his responsibility... A spasm of agony reminded him that he had more immediate concerns.
While Ashton couldn't put it off forever, he used a quartz to mask his overall expression. The pain was only a dull ache with occasional sharp throbbing for now, but the longer he waited the harder it would be to repair his newly damaged channels. Ashton slowly walked back, he tried to make it look leisurely, but a stiff wind might knock him over.
After about three minutes Ashton had almost reached the group as Lucian and Devlin arrived. Devlin looked beyond exhausted as Lucian steered the stone horse just a few yards short of the human shields protecting the children.
"Mage Devlin, the battle must have been fierce," Ashton teased raising a brow. The one statement had turned everyone's attention to Devlin. With each breath, Ashton's felt as if his ribs were breaking, then falling back into place, but he would endure. He had already endured worse, this was nothing.
Lucian noticed Ashton's pleased countenance, not only that he was as clean as if he'd just bathed in the palace, "Hardly worth mentioning compared to defeating a dragon." Lucian remarked eyeing the two figures following Ashton.
Ashton tilted his head, even his mask felt as if it would rip half his face from his skull as the weight shifted. "Ah, well it's good to get some exercise, besides the materials will be a pleasant upgrade." Ashton tossed the green mana core up then caught it drawing their attention. Based on how deep the shade was, Ashton guessed the land dragon had just broken into the third tier of the lord class. Another hundred years or so and it would have peaked in power, though not intelligence.
Devlin had to lean on a guard after dismounting the horse, his backside was already regretting the free ride. "How can any of you stand? Even here in the first ring I feel as if I were submerged to my knees in mud. Casting even flight spells feels as if I'm carrying two dozen men instead of two." Devlin groaned eyeing the largest of the figures.
"We are not the same." The primary golem informed, while all could speak and think without direction, their thoughts were closer to that of flighty children. As the de facto leader the primary golem stood closer to his height as Alphonse. Ashton had also hastened the... maturing process for the first two golems... interesting to see how they would grow.
Ashton's smile was a little more genuine as the once lost lights of his innocence started to become whole. Truly, to be able to think and speak so well after less than a day... they would make any bird proud.
Lucian narrowed his eyes on the figure, "What are you?" He demanded stepping between the figure and his people. Ashton merely tilted his head with a polite smile.
"I don't think we are close enough to share such secrets your majesty, rest assured they are also bound by my contract so are no threat." Ashton informed stepping between Lucian and his golem. Without a word all the golems bowed then sank into the ground.
Devlin felt his hairs raise; no human could merge with the ground so seamlessly. He suddenly looked up at the green mana core in Ashton's right hand and the corpse of the land dragon also started sinking into the ground. "What's happening?!" He demanded taking a few stumbling steps toward the land dragon. When Devlin almost collapsed he stopped, helplessly watching as the dragon corpse disappeared. All that material... gone...
Ashton tilted his head again, "Ah, well I didn't plan to submit the dragon, besides I do believe my counter is wrong, surely the lordlings will act as witnesses that I killed over two dozen lightning wolves and other beasts prior to the dragon's death. Yet I have no points?" Ashton asked showing his small stone with a 37 on the front, and 0 on the back.
Lucian stared at the counter, then to the Serafin who was now in Charmaine's arms. Natasha had also buried herself in her mother's skirts. "You will of course be announced as this year's winner, should we proceed to the campgrounds?" Lucian asked after Serafin nodded.
"Of course, your majesty," Ashton agreed jovially then let out a long whistle. A horse started trotting toward them from the tree line. Ashton quickly mounted, following the procession back. As they were moving rather slowly, so many groups caught up before they reached the campgrounds.
An emergency meeting was announced to start in two hours while guards were dispatched to search for any injured, stragglers, dead, and even rebel groups who may still be lingering. Ashton retreated into his tent so he could make a temporary fix for his channels. It would keep the pain manageable. That, next he would have to keep his mana from leaking.
Guards were assigned and ordered to forbid anyone from entering Ashton's tent before the meeting started. Devlin was also tasked with explaining over the mage relay what had been happening since the battle was partially witnessed from the capital.
Ashton seriously debated trying to push for sixth rank now which would also be a bigger heal with correspondingly more pain than when he reached fifth rank... or waiting for a safer environment to recover. Unfortunately, a commotion near the gates probably meant there wouldn't be time even if he could muster the motivation. With a great sigh, Ashton decided to see what the ruckus could possibly be.
Ashton wasn't tall enough to see why two dozen guards were suddenly in front of the gate, Ashton also saw Lucian, Aaron, Devlin, Charmaine, Charles, all three Dukes, and even more guards marching solemnly for the gate.
Most of the camp was trying to push their way forward, Ashton decided to... just stand behind the guards protecting his feeble tents from the surging crowd. He noticed his two attendants were also trying to take a peek as guards were rushing forward with shields. Ashton turned to the tallest of the guards, "Are we under attack?"
The guard hesitated before answering, "Umm, no, people were saying elves were at the gate. I didn't see them myself though." The guard added quickly.