Chapter 01.4
"Did any of them have elven blood?"
"They might have... again, why does that matter?" Jake asked, getting annoyed at his question being ignored.
"It's in their nature; before you bite my head off, I'm not condoning it. However, High Elves have never been of great numbers like the Wood Elves or the Dark Elves. In order to ensure that their race propagates, they practice polygamy. When it comes to other elves, it will take precedence over other relationships. Did she not explain this to you?" Shion inquired as she partook in some of the honey he placed on the table over her jackcakes.
"No, she did not, do you think I would have courted her if I knew this?"
"True... I doubt you would be into it. I don't think many men would be into sharing their woman with other men. I'm sorry she didn't tell you the truth about them. Did you at least give her an onyx stone?" Shion asked, clearly seeing he had no idea what she was talking about.
"Do what now?"
" It's their version of ending a relationship. Words mean nothing, at least in such things, according to them," holding up her hand in surrender when he started to speak, "I'm just telling you what I know about High Elves. The stone is meant to represent death, given its black color. They normally respect the decision... usually," Shion said, seeing his mood sour.
"You're sure of this?" Jake asked for clarification.
"Yes, after my first husband's death, a long-time friend asked if I wanted to join his household, and that's how I learned about it. I declined, obviously. I don't judge them for their ways, but that's a little too much drama for my tastes," Shion said, waving off the strange custom. "Jake, your breakfast will get cold," she muttered as he surged to his feet.
"The thought of still being tied to that woman has killed my appetite," Jake uttered coldly as he dug around for his gem pouch he had hidden in one of his many hidey-holes.
"Then you won't mind if I finish off your meal, hmm?" Shion asked, eyeing the cakes. She would have assumed he wouldn't be able to cook very well. She was pleased she was wrong as she swiped his boar bacon from his plate as well. "Jake, what are you doing?"
"Looking for an onyx stone," Jake answered, going through the fifth pouch and no luck.
"And you just happen to have gems just stashed around like they were pebbles in the street?" Shion's voice carried her curiosity as she watched him move around his home. As she finally looked around the room as the sunlight streamed in through the window.
"Don't you?" Jake retorted, his voice carried after him as he entered his bedroom.
"I'm not answering that!" Shion called out to him, glad he wasn't upset with her.
"Wait... you said your first husband, I take it you're around two-hundred?" Jake asked; that tidbit of information finally settled into his grey matter. "What happened to him?"
"Close enough... he was killed on a mission for the clan. After that I grew disillusioned with my elders and their orders that no longer seemed to hold any sense to me, so I left. That was seventy-five years ago," Shion said, revealing her life before adventuring to him. Even her party members didn't know the whole truth about why she left her homeland. Yet if they were to be man and wife, as her traditions state, then he needed to know everything about her. As she needed to know everything about Jake. "So Jake, just who are you really?"
"Thought I told you who I was when we first met," Jake shot back.
"No, not that fluff you fed us, the real truth, because elves don't just hand over their knowledge freely no matter what you killed. That alone would take at least more than a human's natural lifetime. So Jake, if that is your name..."
"It is; why would I lie about my name?"
"Are you even human?" Shion asked, her eyes flicking over to his bedroom's doorway, noticing Jake already in his armor.
"Last I checked, why?" Jake uttered, wondering if she'd figured it out or not.
"Because those two books alone could only be given to you by a certain elven man since he only ever printed a hundred of them who passed away eighty years ago after he gave out his last book. I know this because my mother has a copy of the same book. I know she would sell you her soul for the other one. So I ask again, Jake, are you human?"
"My answer didn't change from last time."
"Then how can you possibly be alive!" Shion asked, her mind raced for answers to her mounting questions.
"Elves aren't the only ones that can have a long life if you know where to look for the answer to that question. While I'm not technically immortal like the elves aren't, we might as well be. Like my pummel?" Jake asked, drawing her attention to it.
"What does that have to do..." Shion's words stilled on her tongue as her eyes were drawn into the depths of that dark purple gem. "Don't tell me... that's...?!"
"Yeah, if we are to be married, which I find insane, you won't tell a soul about this, right?" Jake spoke, stating the seriousness of the knowledge he was about to impart.
"Of course, Jake, I would never betray your trust like that. It would be unbecoming of me as your future wife if I cannot ensue trust from my venerable elder," Shion teased.
"What I told you all is the truth, just tweaked slightly."
"How slightly?" Shion asked, crossing her arms.
"I was born into this world over two hundred and thirty years ago. I was a foolish adventurer a month out on my own after my master ended her tutelage. I don't know if it was fate or stupid luck that I stumbled onto this thing," Jake said, brushing his thumb over the Philosopher's Stone, or that's the closest translation he could manage at the time. "It was around when I turned thirty that I noticed I wasn't aging normally. Afterwards, I never stayed in a town for more than five or so years. Safer that way."
"I suppose it would be," Shion agreed, following him outside. "Jake, when exactly did you move here?"
"After I left that party, it seems like a fitting place for a man like me," Jake joked.
"I don't know, Jake; I don't think a haunted forest is the correct place for a very, very good elven bath," Shion cooed, showing him that she could be affectionate. Her eyes watched as the sandy pit Jake was standing over wiggled and rippled before the grains began to lift into the air. "No wonder he can do Gold-rank quests on his own, he could probably be Platinum-rank if he wanted to," she said to herself as what she took as a globe appeared at Jake's waist height.
"That will take you to a little grove out beyond the town's walls," Jake said, nodding to the doorway.
"And when will I see you again?" Shion asked, keeping her face hidden from his gaze. She had no wish for him to see her blushing cheeks.
"Couple of days unless you want to travel with me to fetch some ingredients to make rot potions," Jake said, noticing how that caught her attention.
"Jake, there's no place around here where those plants grow," Shion uttered, confused.
"Here, yeah, totally wrong climate for it. However, in Litium, they should be in bloom, don't you think?" Jake asked, wondering if she knew the elven town. With how her eyes sparkling he had to assume she indeed knew of the town.
"Yes, they should be ready to harvest in Litium," Shion nodded, trying to hide her smile but failing spectacularly. "I wouldn't mind joining you, Jacob," she said, feeling her cheeks heat all over again when Jake nodded.
"Good, I'll find you in a day, depending on how long this takes," Jake said, trying to keep his anger from his voice.
"I'll be waiting, Jake... wear this when you face her, she'll know what it will mean," Shion said, taking off her necklace she got from her mother when she came of age ages ago. She gave him a flirty smile as she attached it around his neck. "I assume you're in your armor for a reason, so I won't ask," she uttered, her fingertips running along the pendant as it rested against his breastplate. Waving to him, a happy light filled her features as Jake waved back before she passed through the doorway.
Jake's features hardened as he moved the globe to the town he wanted to put behind him for at least a hundred years. He didn't appear in his old Guild like he had done before. No. No matter how much he would rather not walk and get this over with. It just seemed to him it would dirty him more than what it was going to feel like once he walked into that building. He nodded to those who recognized him when they offered welcoming greetings after being gone for so long. He had even read the news article of Morgan that someone had pasted to the wall of some building. He couldn't help it, but his eyes rolled when the troll hyped up her involvement in dealing the killing blow to the Mountain dragon. He was mentioned briefly only because of the way he used his wands. That was the only contribution his former Guild gave him for his participation in the battle.
So, that only proved to him that he indeed needed to extract himself from that group of people. He ignored the cheers he was hearing. He had no care whatsoever what was happening in the streets he was only there for one reason.
"Jake! Jake!" Uriel shouted.
"Jacob! It's been some time," Morgan greeted as she and Uriel approached him, surrounded by sycophants. "We missed you at the capital."
"No, you didn't. Otherwise, you would have told the truth about why you were able to kill the dragon. Yet not a word of how it was my attack that allowed your own spell to penetrate the dragon's hide. But hey, good job taking it down. Did you get all the accolades you wanted?" Jake asked; he never liked Paladins. They were always hypocrites.
"Yes... I did; you would have too if you were there, so don't blame that on me," Morgan countered, keeping her annoyance in check.
"Yeah, see, I don't need Platinum-rank. I'm not about to be the King's little lap dog," not voicing he was already one, hence the urge not to be one again, "but I'm not disparaging you, savor it, and when they turn on you because you fail, don't say I didn't warn you," Jake said, he didn't sense any hostility towards him from the two of them.
"So, where've you been?" Uriel asked, trying to change the subject.
"Hunting."
"For the Guild?" Morgan asked, confused, she didn't hear about any monster hunt.
"No, why would I ever do anything for that place unless I'm threatened to?" Jake asked, looking at them like they were stupid. "Now, excuse me, I have things to do and would rather be gone from this town as quickly as possible," he said, moving past them and pushing the crowd aside.
"Goodbye, Jacob, it would do you well not to become my enemy," Morgan warned before continuing on her way.
"You don't scare me, Morgan. Paladins are very easy to deal with," Jake said from experience. "I don't need to make threats to get my point across," her little lackeys scattered to the protection of the shops as Jake's magic pressed down on them, "my actions alone do that," he said, demonstrating how to properly intimidate someone.
"Damn, he's just a cheery guy," Uriel said sarcastically, letting out a low whistle.
"Come, Uriel, we have our own work to do," Morgan said, marching off, making it appear that Jake's words didn't irk her, which they did, and she hated that. Only to come to a stop, and turn around knowing Jake's actions alarmed her. She wasn't about to allow him to molest her town because of some slight that happened years ago, from her understanding.
"Morgan... why are you heading back to the Guild Hall?" Uriel asked, keeping close to her so he could steal some of her spotlight for himself.
"Jake's headed there, and you know how he hates the Guild Master. Just think what would happen if we aren't there to stop his temper tantrum if he has one," Morgan said, walking quickly. "If he's left to his own devices, we might not have a guild to come back to," she uttered darkly.
"Okay, he might actually do that," Uriel said, matching her pace.
The chatter that filled his former Guild Hall stilled as he walked through the front door. He ignored their looks as he scanned the common area of the Guild Hall for her. His sneer formed on his lips at the sight of his former party just sitting around like they weren't the lowest of the low. He saw Darline running for the stairs as he strode towards where they were. Jake saw the shock on their faces when he stood over them.
"Jake... I didn't..."
"Yeah, you never do; where is she?" Jake asked, cutting the man down in the process.
"And why would you be looking for me, Jake? Have you finally come back to me? Are you over your anger now?" Celine asked, appearing behind him. "I'm glad Jake, now we can return to our..." Her eyes narrowed in anger, her nostrils flared at the sight of the necklace when he turned towards her, knowing full well what it meant. She noted how it held hints that it came from Dark Elven lands.
"Hold out your hand," Jake ordered; he found her movements odd. He obviously ignored all the red flags that she was about to hit the crazy button. "I assume you know what that means," he said, placing the stone in her hand. "Never show yourself in front of me again." With that, he headed for the exit.
"Well, well, well, looks like the battlemage finally showed himself," Shasa spoke, her voice dripped with venom. "Are you ever going to do your job around here?"
"Didn't I fight a dragon I didn't want to under duress?" Jake retorted, peering up at her.
"That was two months ago! We have quests piling up!" Shasa screamed, noting something was different about Jake. The anger he showed off was all gone, and in its place was just a look of indifference.
"How's that my problem? Don't you have your oh-so-famous Morgan?! Maybe you should actually promote some people, then you wouldn't have such a back log. Because the days of me doing any quests for this Guild are over. Whether you care or not, I don't give a shit. Each and every one of you, except those that weren't here three years ago, are pieces of shit. It's not about that lying cunt," pointing at Celine, "I was over her long ago; it's about all of your lies, even the oh so holy Morgan. Living up to the principles of a Holy Knight, are you," Jake stated, peering over at her knowing she came to kick him down if he got uppity.
"You know nothing of what a Holy Knight is," Morgan growled.
"Faith. Loyalty. Honor. That is the code of a Holy Knight," Jake rattled off clearly, which surprised Morgan. "Neither of those things are your strong point, are they? I've seen enough of you, Morgan; how you became a Paladin is beyond me. But that doesn't concern me since I refuse to ever work with you; I so don't want to get wrangled into some god's wrath you piss off."
"Easy, Morgan," Uriel stated; his hand took hold of her elbow to keep her from getting into a fight with Jake.
"NO!!!!" Celine screamed out, startling them all. Jake was very, very taken aback at how speedy she was as she appeared in front of him. "You do not leave me!" she screamed in rage. The shove she gave Jake sent him flying as she wasn't regulating her strength.
"Oh? Did you think you could lie to me and think I would stay when I learned about your ways? No, you knew I would leave your ass the moment I learned about the crazy shit you do in relationships," Jake uttered, extracting himself from the wall he had been embedded in. "Next time you lay your hands on me, it will be the time you won't be breathing. We clear?" he stated, grinning madly at her as she was snarling like a wild beast.
"Well... you didn't know?" Shasa asked, confused, she always assumed he knew about High Elven ways. That's why she was always ragging him about it. That was why she wasn't allowing him to leave as a favor to Celine. Now that the truth was out, she knew she was going to have to address the elephant in the room. Honestly, she was growing tired of seeing his face, and since he wasn't bringing in money for the Guild, she was better off cutting him free.
"You honestly think I would know about something as secret as High Elven mating rules?" Jake uttered, calling her an idiot at the same time. His eyes glanced down as Celine got up in his space.
"I reject this!" Making a show of it and dropped it onto the floor, and used the butt of her staff to crush it. Sticking her finger in his face, her face contorted in rage at the thought that he could leave her for another elf! "I will not allow you to be with another woman! I will not give you to another elf!" Her protective shell instinctively activated as Jake's magical push caused the soles of her feet to slide along the floorboards. Her rage flared into fury at the taunting smirk on his lips as the look in his eyes that she couldn't stop him.
"I don't give a shit what you allow. You have no control over me. You got those fuck nuts, go wrangle some other foolish man into your twisted life and leave me out of it. I want nothing to do with you or any other High Elf in that way," Jake said, turning his attention up to Shasa. "I will not be returning here ever; I don't care what you do. I've never did. And the word of a Guild like this means little in other countries."
"Kind of figured you wouldn't be; you put on a grand show of it," Shasa said, landing in between him and Celine. "Stand down, Celine, I'm not about to have my Guild Hall destroyed because you can't let go. Know this, Jake, after today, you will not be able to rejoin us ever... seems you don't have a problem with that," she spoke as she ambled up to him.
"Why would I?"
"Very well, I'll inform the other branches. I won't even bother asking if we could possibly work together in the future. I hope you find a place you belong," Shasa said, removing the guild plate, and quickly moved away from him out of sword reach. Knowing full well how close she came to dying months ago.
"I sincerely hope each and every one of you knows a gruesome death," Jake said, uttering the spell in his head. His hand remained on the hilt of his sword as he walked backwards through the doorway should either one of them feel froggy to try and steal through it.
"Jacob!" Celine screamed, running at him; she was not going to let him leave her. It was the only reason she was lowering herself in thinking of laying with a human was because of the depths of his mana. The audacity that he thought he could leave her was atrocious! People had to hold her back as she strained to cross the room and drag Jake back through that spell of his. "You are not leaving! Get back here! I'll have you cleaning me out for this aggravation!" Insanity flared in her eyes at the look of disgust and how he was gagging at the thought of it. Jake's laughter mixed with her scream as the spell crumbled to dust.
"Shit, who thought she'd go fucking bat shit crazy," Jake uttered, rubbing the back of his head, knowing he had dodged a bullet. He was also glad he had worn his armor. Sighing loudly and stretched feeling lighter now that he had truly ended it with Celine. He wouldn't get involved with High Elves again unless it was to do business, nothing more. As he removed his armor, he felt Shion's necklace moving against the undercoat he had placed it under as he placed his armor onto the stand. Then, his undercoat and his sword belt hung off of it. Now that dirty bit of business was over, Jake's stomach growled in hunger.
The sauce he had whipped up to go with the dragon steak he had thinly carved off the leg he had hanging in his basement dribbled down his chin. His fork guided what he took as this world's form of potato across his plate and through the sauce. His stomach was filled faster than he would have liked as he stared down at the half of his steak that remained. He was surprised when he thought of how Shion would like to have a sandwich. However, before all that happened, he had a promise to keep to Marda. He didn't just get rid of Celine to be popped like a pimple by Marda. His eyes glowed in his mana as the three magical locks opened one after another, allowing the door to swing open. Jake made a mental note to himself to organize his material room better as the endless dimension he had seeded in that room stretched out before him. His mind brought up the thought of dragon bones, causing the room to zoom to where he had stored them as he had designed it. He didn't have eternity to walk across a room; well, he did, but he would rather not.
His old dragon bone armor, scale, not plate, plate was a little beyond his strength, and he couldn't constantly use a strength buff just to wear it. Also, there were plenty of tales about him wearing it, not that they spoke his name in those tales, at least not the ones he'd heard. But it was well-known enough to put two and two together. He wasn't about to let his identity be released out into the world. Not if he could help it. It took a hundred years of sticking to the elven lands just for the legend of him to be watered down enough for him to walk freely through the streets without being harassed by the masses or called a title he hated. He never wanted to be a hero; hell, he didn't even want to fight. Yet whoever sent him to that world didn't care about any of that, he had to believe whatever brought him there had to have a sadistic streak. He looked through the piles of dragon bones he had. Hence why he didn't quarter his kills any more, he had more than he needed. Some would say he had become a hoarder, and he would say to them pick up a weapon and go fight a dragon themselves and then see if he was being smart or not.
He came to a stop in his amble as his eyes fell upon the right thigh bone of the dragon Shiron as the locals called it. It was a fearsome battle that lasted what seemed like days to him as the shadows of his friends played out in his mind as it recounted that memory. Sadness filled him, knowing he lost three of his friends and his first wife in that battle. Nevertheless, the ice dragon needed to be stopped, and he knew his friends would have it no other way if it meant that the dragon went with them in death. In truth, it did, although the ranger that accompanied them somehow survived, yet he was never the same after that battle. He never left the area where he settled down. It seemed to him he feared death more than anything. After that battle, he tried to live a quiet life. The people of the kingdom he was in at the time wouldn't leave him be. Always begging him to end some problem or another to the point it forced him to exile himself into the elven lands. His fingertips ran over the bone, remembering the gory scene of dismembering the dragon after the ranger had left for some safe heaven after the battle.
"I think you'll do nicely. This should please her," Jake said, starting to shape the bone into a weapon she might like. He couldn't make it into a hammer like her stone one, although he thought she wouldn't have a problem with a dragon bone warhammer. His eyes saw the spike opposite of the head in his mind as pieces of bone crumbled to the floor. His magic began to smooth the bone and strengthen it so it wouldn't shatter under Marda's blows. It took twenty minutes to fully shape and smooth the bone to his desired shape. He tested the spike on a few of the medium-sized bones, just watching the bones shatter. The shards of the bones he gathered with magic. The really small ones he tossed, the ones the size large enough for arrows he gathered up and put them in one of his pouches on his belt. Once that was done, he lowered the now completed weapon into his hands, grunting as the weight was still too much for him. He was glad he had already enchanted it as it dropped to the floor. So, with the help of magic, he lifted it off the floor as he thought of leather. The word of power left his lips, closing and locking the door as he left the room. With his packet of food, he wrapped up and packed away, strapped on his sword belt, and walked through the doorway.
Jake was getting a tad bit embarrassed by the slacked-jawed looks not at him but at the giant warhammer. It was with the help of his magic that he wasn't on his ass. He flashed the town's children smiles as they ran around him asking him all kinds of questions about the weapon on his shoulder. Ever since he started at the Three Suns Guild, he's gotten to know the people of the town. After all he would be operating in it for a long time. Every time he visited the town, he made sure to seek out the hideaway places where the young lad he befriended would be given how the town's people treated the child. He made sure they knew not to be too harsh with the boy, given how he was looking after him. Since Jake paid the innkeeper every month for room and board for the boy.
"Hello, Adam," Jake greeted at the boy's upturn face when he saw him as he was performing one of the odd jobs Adam did around the town to earn some pocket money since he paid for every meal and his clothing.
"Hello, sir, how are you?" Adam asked, cleaning his hands the best he could.
"I'm fine," groaning when he set the head of the hammer on the ground and leaned the weapon against the wall, "okay, better now," Jake said, grinning down at Adam.
"That sure is a big hammer; why are you carrying it?" Adam asked, moving up to it.
"Made it for a friend, a really tall friend," Jake said, seeing Adam mouth 'Wow.' "Have you eaten?"
"Of course, sir, Miss scolds me if I miss one," Adam said with a toothy grin. Jake remembered how thin the boy was when he first found him.
"And you're listening to Sister Agness when she teaches you your letters and numbers?" Jake asked in a fatherly voice, getting a nod out of Adam.
"I won't let you down, sir," Adam said, determined to make Jake proud of him.
"It's not about letting me down, Adam, I want you to learn the most you can, and when you're a grown man, you can make the best choices for yourself. If you become the smartest man in the world, I'd be very proud of you, but if you only learn how to use this," tapping Adam's forehead, "before you use these," holding up Adam's hands, "then I'll be equally proud that you grew up to be a level headed man," Jake said imparting his wisdom to him. "Now, let me get a look at you. Yeah, you're filling out nicely. Mrs. Matty must be feeding you good, huh?" he teased with a warm smile, getting another toothy grin from Adam. "Seems we need to get you some new clothes; these seem to be wearing out," he said, noting the holes in the shirt and pants.
"No sir, the ones you bought me are at the inn, I only wear these for when I'm doing this. I'd never dirty the ones you got me. They mean too much to me," Adam said on the verge of tears. He knew if it wasn't for Jake, he would have been dead months ago since no one would help him due to his heritage. While the town's people might not like him Jake had gotten them to at least leave him alone. Which was night and day to how they were treating him.
"I see; we are at least getting you new shoes," Jake said, getting to his feet. His hand dug into his coin purse and pulled out five silver coins. "When I come back, I expect to see new shoes."
"Yes, sir," Adam nodded. "Sir?"
"Hmm?"
"Why don't you take me home? Surely, you need someone to take care of your home. You know I would work very hard..." Jake's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"I know you would, Adam, yet where I live isn't for children. The monsters around it are eager to eat smart little boys," Jake said, trying to lessen the blow. "Plus, where I live, there's no one else, not even a living soul. You would be lonely for the weeks I would be away, and you wouldn't have anyone to hunt or cook for you because nothing living roams the Haunted Forest of Jura. That's why I don't," he stated, seeing the fear and befuddlement in Adam's eyes. "You understand?" Adam weakly nodded at his question. "That's why I got you a room at the Inn, so you be around your friends and not living with a mage in a very haunted place." Jake just smiled down at Adam when he asked if he'd ever touched a dragon bone before. The joy he felt at how Adam's face lit up when he ran his hand over the bone.
"What kind of dragon did this come from?" Adam asked in awe, wondering if he could become a dragon hunter.
"An ice dragon, a very deadly ice dragon," Jake answered, chuckling. Adam yelped happiness. "You should get back to work, and I need to get this to my friend."
"Bye, sir, be safe," Adam said, quickly hugging Jake before running back to his job. Tears of happiness filled his eyes, wiping them away with the back of his hands. Hoping that Jake would come back soon. He didn't know what he would do if something happened to him.
"There's nothing wrong with crying, Adam, I'll see you soon. Don't give Mrs. Matty any trouble, hear?" Jake uttered in a fatherly tone.
"Yes, sir," Adam said, while he would be very happy if he could serve Jake as a house boy. Yet he was right. He had no wish to live in that forest. That just proved to him that Jake was really powerful if he could live in that place alone.
"Marda!" Jake called out as he saw her and Holly leaving out from Guild Hall.
"Jake?!" They both stammered, a little unnerved by the size of the weapon on his shoulder.
"So I thought you might want this, glad I caught you before you and Holly wandered off somewhere," Jake said, setting the weapon down.
"This... this is the weapon you promised me?!" Marda asked, eyeing the weapon with envy.
"Sure is," Jake said, backing away when she took hold of the weapon. He kept his shock from his face as Marda picked it up like it weighed nothing to her.
"What kind of leather is this?" Marda asked, giving the weapon a few swings out of the way of people.
"Dragon, of course, it will keep you from suffering from the effects of the bone if you know how to channel mana into a weapon," Jake instructed, watching her eyes widen in surprise as the chill of frost played along the surface of the bone.
"Jake, just what kind of dragon did that come from?" Holly asked, seeing the glee on her friend's face.
"Does the name Shiron mean anything to you?" Jake asked, hoping it didn't. Since the kingdom soon fell after a civil war when the Queen tried to take power from her stepson the crown Prince. Both dead in the final battle, and with no other member of the royal family alive, the kingdom fell apart like most do. So he was hoping the name meant nothing to her, thanking his lucky stars when Holly shook her head. "It was a very large ice dragon; it killed four of my party members before we finally killed it."
"Then I'll make sure I use this to its fullest," Marda said, joining in on the conversation. "I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Good friends are hard to come by, especially in our line of work. I promise you, Jake, I will cherish this to my dying days." Jake was not expecting the huff and how puffy Holly's cheeks got as Marda enjoyed her gift.
"Jake, I know dragon bone is very expensive and very, very hard to come by. Yet you can't just give out such things to one of us; it's not fair!" Holly grumbled like a spoiled child.
"Hey, what's going on out here? We saw you were just standing out here, and we thought you were heading to the market? However, it seems you got something new," Bard spoke; he wasn't liking the cocky smirk on Marda's face as her thumb brushed along the left side of her nose as she just stood there gloating down at her friends.
"I did, I did, it's a mighty fine weapon, Jake. Can't wait to see how it handles in battle," Marda stated, eager to put it through its paces.
"Yeah, me too," Jake agreed.
"Jake... is that dragon bone?" Shion asked, coming to stand by his side.
"Mmmhmm," Jake hummed.
"Jake," putting on her charm, "you wouldn't deprive me of my own weapon, right? I know you're not cruel to your," her cheek brushed against his, "future wife, right?" Shion whispered into his ear. "Also, what dragon was it from."
"Shiron the ice dragon," Jake said, seeing the realization in her eyes as the name registered in her mind.
"Y-y-y-..." his finger on her lips stilled her tongue.
"Shh... kept it to yourself, but yes, I'm that man," Jake said low, moving Shion's body in front of him as Mark and Bard glared murderously at him. He had a feeling he was going to be murdered in his sleep by the way they were looking at him.
"Stingy!" Bard shouted.
"Am not," Jake retorted.
"Then where's my sword, their staffs, Shion's bow, and daggers, huh? Stingy," Bard huffed, sticking his nose into the air.
"The nerve of such a man!" Mark joined in. "No fair, not fair at all!" Jake almost fell on his face when Shion slipped out of his grip and joined her friend's side.
"Yeah, not fair, not fair," Shion joined in with Holly chanting along.
"Hmm... oh well, it's been fun; bye now," Jake said, turning to the left about to walk out of the town's eastern gate.
"Oh no, you don't!" Mark and Bard took hold of his cloak preventing Jake from leaving.
"What's the ruckus? You six are scaring these nice town's people to the point they aren't giving us any quests! Clear out, will ya!" Marlin said, making a shooing motion with her hands with a mad grin on her face.
"Come on, let's go to the forest. I want to test my new warhammer out," Marda instructed, leading the way.
Marlin just smiled at the group of six. She noticed Jake seemed more lighter than when she first met him. A knowing smirk lifted the right corner of her lip when she noticed how close Shion was walking to Jake. "Oh?! Interesting," Marlin mused low as she noted Shion's missing necklace. She turned and headed back to the Guild Hall wondering if Shion's already stated her intentions since she didn't see a necklace on Jake. She hoped Jake knew what he was getting into.
"I love this thing!" Marda's laughter filled the forest as she practiced with her new weapon. The five of them all stared in awe as a cone of frost erupted as the head of the hammer struck the ground freezing everything within range. With the conjured shield she was using to see if she could fight with it and her new weapon. The shattering of the ice-encrusted monsters thundered, causing the birds to seek the air. Jake didn't have any time to prepare himself before Marda ran over to him, lifted him, and buried him deep into her vast bosom. Jake could hear the news now, death by breasts! "Sorry, Jake, I just got carried away!" she chuckled, extracting Jake from her bosom and setting him down on the ground.
"Oh, we are so going to be unstoppable now!" Bard hollered in glee. Instantly, the four others surrounded him. Their murderous intent pressed down on him as they all were jealous of the gift he had given Marda. Who was looking everywhere but at them like she didn't see a thing.
"We want ours now!" Or that's what Jake was inferring from the glares of jealousy that were burning into his hide. Blowing out a breath as he extracted himself from them; this was why he didn't voice what his weapon was made out of or wear his regular armor. "Sigh the life of a dragon hunter," he muttered to himself as they gathered around Marda begging her to launch her attack again just for them to see it again. However, Shion did return to his side as he kept an eye out for monsters while they had their fun.
"Marda really likes that hammer of hers," Shion said, smiling warmly as she watched her large friend having fun.
"Seems so; here, thought you might be hungry," Jake said, holding out the sandwich he had made from the leftovers of his lunch.
"Oh?!" Her nose wiggled; her ears twitched in anticipation of what treats Jake had for her. "My thanks, betrothed," Shion said sweety as she took the package from him. Her fingers unwrapped the broad leaf he used to wrap the sandwich in. Shion looked strangely at the item in her hand. Something she had never seen before in their world. An odd look appeared on her face as she watched Jake bite into his own sandwich. "Jake, what... is this?"
"Dragon steak sandwich, unless you don't want it," Jake answered, watching her cheeks heat before taking a bite of the sandwich. He could only smile at how wide her eyes got as she savored the bite. He wasn't expecting her to lightly lean against him as she nibbled on her meal.
"Thank you, Jake, that was delicious; then again, dragon meat, as I've come to learn, is very, very tasty," Shion said loud enough for her friends to hear, causing the others to snap their heads towards them. She could only chuckle as Jake took off in a run as her friends chased after him. Demanding where their share of dragon meat was.
"I'm'a kill that elf," Jake huffed and puffed as he finally lost them.
"Oh?" Her voice caused his head to snap up, a chill ran down his spine when Shion stood in front of him. "I'm hurt to hear you say that," looking away, her mock hurt showing on her face, "then you won't mind if I do this? I found him!"
"No arrowheads for you then," Jake taunted, moving past her to escape their demands. "Huh?!" he uttered, confused when his forward momentum stopped, and his entire body was jerked backwards and thrown onto the ground like he weighed nothing.
"What did you say?!" Fear crept up his spine as Shion stood over him.
"Umm... Shion... don't you think you're taking this a little too far?"
"Oh, I'm sure the hero of the last age can handle a single elf," Shion uttered, voicing what she knew about him or what the stories about him said. "The slayer of Shiron, the ice dragon, certainly can't be afraid of a little o' elf like me," she said, taking on a sickly sweet tone. "So, betrothed, care to elaborate what you meant by arrowheads?" Shion asked, straddling his lap. She didn't mind if he stared at the top of her breasts; he was allowed to do so. "Come, Jake, I didn't take you to be tongue-tied by the sight of my breasts. A man of your age shouldn't be stymied by such things. Betrothed, are you saying you brought me dragon bones to make into arrowheads?" she inquired. The pad of her index finger ran down his chest in an alluring way.
"I don't know. You probably shattered them to pieces with that display," Jake retorted, trying not to grow hard at the way she was looking at him. He would readily admit Shion was a beautiful woman. Yet he wasn't so green to be swayed by her pretty face.
"No, no, Jake, I know dragon bone is very durable," tapping the hilt of his sword, "so I know what I did wouldn't damage them," Shion said, grinning like mad. "Now," taking hold of the front of his shirt, "let's get you to your feet," she stated with a huge grin on her face as she lifted him to his feet. She just held out her hands for her gift. She looked confused at the shards of bone neatly bundled together. While it wasn't the kind of arrowheads she was used to. She could make this work. She knew what arrows she made out of them would pierce any armor other than dragon or magical. "Thank you, Jake, I'll know exactly what to do with them."
"You're welcome," Jake said, knowing he was going to have to be sure not to piss her off, knowing his long life would be cut short.
"Man, for a little guy, you can run really fast without all that armor," Marda teased with the others following after her after they dealt with the creatures that got in their way. "Come, I'll buy you an ale," she said in a friendly manner, patting his shoulder and leading the way back to town.
"Jake," Shion whispered as she walked beside him. "We talked about my first husband. Have you ever been married?"
"Twice, Shiron killed my first wife, then my second wife turned out to be a spy and stole our son and fled to her kingdom she was from once I learn of her machinations. Then, she was a part of the force who tried to capture me to fight for them. They learn quickly; I'm not so easily defeated. Then I razed the country that thought they could use me. My son became a victim of their plans. I found his mutilated body. So I levied the same torment on her as she probably had no qualms about what they did to our child. I'm sure you know what happened afterwards."
"I do," Shion nodded. They all knew the stories of the enraged and heartbroken hero destroying a kingdom just to find his son. What happened next became a litmus test for other kingdoms on what not to do to a very powerful man. "But worry not, I, Shion, shall never do such a thing to my betrothed," she spoke with righteous fortitude.
"They might have... again, why does that matter?" Jake asked, getting annoyed at his question being ignored.
"It's in their nature; before you bite my head off, I'm not condoning it. However, High Elves have never been of great numbers like the Wood Elves or the Dark Elves. In order to ensure that their race propagates, they practice polygamy. When it comes to other elves, it will take precedence over other relationships. Did she not explain this to you?" Shion inquired as she partook in some of the honey he placed on the table over her jackcakes.
"No, she did not, do you think I would have courted her if I knew this?"
"True... I doubt you would be into it. I don't think many men would be into sharing their woman with other men. I'm sorry she didn't tell you the truth about them. Did you at least give her an onyx stone?" Shion asked, clearly seeing he had no idea what she was talking about.
"Do what now?"
" It's their version of ending a relationship. Words mean nothing, at least in such things, according to them," holding up her hand in surrender when he started to speak, "I'm just telling you what I know about High Elves. The stone is meant to represent death, given its black color. They normally respect the decision... usually," Shion said, seeing his mood sour.
"You're sure of this?" Jake asked for clarification.
"Yes, after my first husband's death, a long-time friend asked if I wanted to join his household, and that's how I learned about it. I declined, obviously. I don't judge them for their ways, but that's a little too much drama for my tastes," Shion said, waving off the strange custom. "Jake, your breakfast will get cold," she muttered as he surged to his feet.
"The thought of still being tied to that woman has killed my appetite," Jake uttered coldly as he dug around for his gem pouch he had hidden in one of his many hidey-holes.
"Then you won't mind if I finish off your meal, hmm?" Shion asked, eyeing the cakes. She would have assumed he wouldn't be able to cook very well. She was pleased she was wrong as she swiped his boar bacon from his plate as well. "Jake, what are you doing?"
"Looking for an onyx stone," Jake answered, going through the fifth pouch and no luck.
"And you just happen to have gems just stashed around like they were pebbles in the street?" Shion's voice carried her curiosity as she watched him move around his home. As she finally looked around the room as the sunlight streamed in through the window.
"Don't you?" Jake retorted, his voice carried after him as he entered his bedroom.
"I'm not answering that!" Shion called out to him, glad he wasn't upset with her.
"Wait... you said your first husband, I take it you're around two-hundred?" Jake asked; that tidbit of information finally settled into his grey matter. "What happened to him?"
"Close enough... he was killed on a mission for the clan. After that I grew disillusioned with my elders and their orders that no longer seemed to hold any sense to me, so I left. That was seventy-five years ago," Shion said, revealing her life before adventuring to him. Even her party members didn't know the whole truth about why she left her homeland. Yet if they were to be man and wife, as her traditions state, then he needed to know everything about her. As she needed to know everything about Jake. "So Jake, just who are you really?"
"Thought I told you who I was when we first met," Jake shot back.
"No, not that fluff you fed us, the real truth, because elves don't just hand over their knowledge freely no matter what you killed. That alone would take at least more than a human's natural lifetime. So Jake, if that is your name..."
"It is; why would I lie about my name?"
"Are you even human?" Shion asked, her eyes flicking over to his bedroom's doorway, noticing Jake already in his armor.
"Last I checked, why?" Jake uttered, wondering if she'd figured it out or not.
"Because those two books alone could only be given to you by a certain elven man since he only ever printed a hundred of them who passed away eighty years ago after he gave out his last book. I know this because my mother has a copy of the same book. I know she would sell you her soul for the other one. So I ask again, Jake, are you human?"
"My answer didn't change from last time."
"Then how can you possibly be alive!" Shion asked, her mind raced for answers to her mounting questions.
"Elves aren't the only ones that can have a long life if you know where to look for the answer to that question. While I'm not technically immortal like the elves aren't, we might as well be. Like my pummel?" Jake asked, drawing her attention to it.
"What does that have to do..." Shion's words stilled on her tongue as her eyes were drawn into the depths of that dark purple gem. "Don't tell me... that's...?!"
"Yeah, if we are to be married, which I find insane, you won't tell a soul about this, right?" Jake spoke, stating the seriousness of the knowledge he was about to impart.
"Of course, Jake, I would never betray your trust like that. It would be unbecoming of me as your future wife if I cannot ensue trust from my venerable elder," Shion teased.
"What I told you all is the truth, just tweaked slightly."
"How slightly?" Shion asked, crossing her arms.
"I was born into this world over two hundred and thirty years ago. I was a foolish adventurer a month out on my own after my master ended her tutelage. I don't know if it was fate or stupid luck that I stumbled onto this thing," Jake said, brushing his thumb over the Philosopher's Stone, or that's the closest translation he could manage at the time. "It was around when I turned thirty that I noticed I wasn't aging normally. Afterwards, I never stayed in a town for more than five or so years. Safer that way."
"I suppose it would be," Shion agreed, following him outside. "Jake, when exactly did you move here?"
"After I left that party, it seems like a fitting place for a man like me," Jake joked.
"I don't know, Jake; I don't think a haunted forest is the correct place for a very, very good elven bath," Shion cooed, showing him that she could be affectionate. Her eyes watched as the sandy pit Jake was standing over wiggled and rippled before the grains began to lift into the air. "No wonder he can do Gold-rank quests on his own, he could probably be Platinum-rank if he wanted to," she said to herself as what she took as a globe appeared at Jake's waist height.
"That will take you to a little grove out beyond the town's walls," Jake said, nodding to the doorway.
"And when will I see you again?" Shion asked, keeping her face hidden from his gaze. She had no wish for him to see her blushing cheeks.
"Couple of days unless you want to travel with me to fetch some ingredients to make rot potions," Jake said, noticing how that caught her attention.
"Jake, there's no place around here where those plants grow," Shion uttered, confused.
"Here, yeah, totally wrong climate for it. However, in Litium, they should be in bloom, don't you think?" Jake asked, wondering if she knew the elven town. With how her eyes sparkling he had to assume she indeed knew of the town.
"Yes, they should be ready to harvest in Litium," Shion nodded, trying to hide her smile but failing spectacularly. "I wouldn't mind joining you, Jacob," she said, feeling her cheeks heat all over again when Jake nodded.
"Good, I'll find you in a day, depending on how long this takes," Jake said, trying to keep his anger from his voice.
"I'll be waiting, Jake... wear this when you face her, she'll know what it will mean," Shion said, taking off her necklace she got from her mother when she came of age ages ago. She gave him a flirty smile as she attached it around his neck. "I assume you're in your armor for a reason, so I won't ask," she uttered, her fingertips running along the pendant as it rested against his breastplate. Waving to him, a happy light filled her features as Jake waved back before she passed through the doorway.
Jake's features hardened as he moved the globe to the town he wanted to put behind him for at least a hundred years. He didn't appear in his old Guild like he had done before. No. No matter how much he would rather not walk and get this over with. It just seemed to him it would dirty him more than what it was going to feel like once he walked into that building. He nodded to those who recognized him when they offered welcoming greetings after being gone for so long. He had even read the news article of Morgan that someone had pasted to the wall of some building. He couldn't help it, but his eyes rolled when the troll hyped up her involvement in dealing the killing blow to the Mountain dragon. He was mentioned briefly only because of the way he used his wands. That was the only contribution his former Guild gave him for his participation in the battle.
So, that only proved to him that he indeed needed to extract himself from that group of people. He ignored the cheers he was hearing. He had no care whatsoever what was happening in the streets he was only there for one reason.
"Jake! Jake!" Uriel shouted.
"Jacob! It's been some time," Morgan greeted as she and Uriel approached him, surrounded by sycophants. "We missed you at the capital."
"No, you didn't. Otherwise, you would have told the truth about why you were able to kill the dragon. Yet not a word of how it was my attack that allowed your own spell to penetrate the dragon's hide. But hey, good job taking it down. Did you get all the accolades you wanted?" Jake asked; he never liked Paladins. They were always hypocrites.
"Yes... I did; you would have too if you were there, so don't blame that on me," Morgan countered, keeping her annoyance in check.
"Yeah, see, I don't need Platinum-rank. I'm not about to be the King's little lap dog," not voicing he was already one, hence the urge not to be one again, "but I'm not disparaging you, savor it, and when they turn on you because you fail, don't say I didn't warn you," Jake said, he didn't sense any hostility towards him from the two of them.
"So, where've you been?" Uriel asked, trying to change the subject.
"Hunting."
"For the Guild?" Morgan asked, confused, she didn't hear about any monster hunt.
"No, why would I ever do anything for that place unless I'm threatened to?" Jake asked, looking at them like they were stupid. "Now, excuse me, I have things to do and would rather be gone from this town as quickly as possible," he said, moving past them and pushing the crowd aside.
"Goodbye, Jacob, it would do you well not to become my enemy," Morgan warned before continuing on her way.
"You don't scare me, Morgan. Paladins are very easy to deal with," Jake said from experience. "I don't need to make threats to get my point across," her little lackeys scattered to the protection of the shops as Jake's magic pressed down on them, "my actions alone do that," he said, demonstrating how to properly intimidate someone.
"Damn, he's just a cheery guy," Uriel said sarcastically, letting out a low whistle.
"Come, Uriel, we have our own work to do," Morgan said, marching off, making it appear that Jake's words didn't irk her, which they did, and she hated that. Only to come to a stop, and turn around knowing Jake's actions alarmed her. She wasn't about to allow him to molest her town because of some slight that happened years ago, from her understanding.
"Morgan... why are you heading back to the Guild Hall?" Uriel asked, keeping close to her so he could steal some of her spotlight for himself.
"Jake's headed there, and you know how he hates the Guild Master. Just think what would happen if we aren't there to stop his temper tantrum if he has one," Morgan said, walking quickly. "If he's left to his own devices, we might not have a guild to come back to," she uttered darkly.
"Okay, he might actually do that," Uriel said, matching her pace.
The chatter that filled his former Guild Hall stilled as he walked through the front door. He ignored their looks as he scanned the common area of the Guild Hall for her. His sneer formed on his lips at the sight of his former party just sitting around like they weren't the lowest of the low. He saw Darline running for the stairs as he strode towards where they were. Jake saw the shock on their faces when he stood over them.
"Jake... I didn't..."
"Yeah, you never do; where is she?" Jake asked, cutting the man down in the process.
"And why would you be looking for me, Jake? Have you finally come back to me? Are you over your anger now?" Celine asked, appearing behind him. "I'm glad Jake, now we can return to our..." Her eyes narrowed in anger, her nostrils flared at the sight of the necklace when he turned towards her, knowing full well what it meant. She noted how it held hints that it came from Dark Elven lands.
"Hold out your hand," Jake ordered; he found her movements odd. He obviously ignored all the red flags that she was about to hit the crazy button. "I assume you know what that means," he said, placing the stone in her hand. "Never show yourself in front of me again." With that, he headed for the exit.
"Well, well, well, looks like the battlemage finally showed himself," Shasa spoke, her voice dripped with venom. "Are you ever going to do your job around here?"
"Didn't I fight a dragon I didn't want to under duress?" Jake retorted, peering up at her.
"That was two months ago! We have quests piling up!" Shasa screamed, noting something was different about Jake. The anger he showed off was all gone, and in its place was just a look of indifference.
"How's that my problem? Don't you have your oh-so-famous Morgan?! Maybe you should actually promote some people, then you wouldn't have such a back log. Because the days of me doing any quests for this Guild are over. Whether you care or not, I don't give a shit. Each and every one of you, except those that weren't here three years ago, are pieces of shit. It's not about that lying cunt," pointing at Celine, "I was over her long ago; it's about all of your lies, even the oh so holy Morgan. Living up to the principles of a Holy Knight, are you," Jake stated, peering over at her knowing she came to kick him down if he got uppity.
"You know nothing of what a Holy Knight is," Morgan growled.
"Faith. Loyalty. Honor. That is the code of a Holy Knight," Jake rattled off clearly, which surprised Morgan. "Neither of those things are your strong point, are they? I've seen enough of you, Morgan; how you became a Paladin is beyond me. But that doesn't concern me since I refuse to ever work with you; I so don't want to get wrangled into some god's wrath you piss off."
"Easy, Morgan," Uriel stated; his hand took hold of her elbow to keep her from getting into a fight with Jake.
"NO!!!!" Celine screamed out, startling them all. Jake was very, very taken aback at how speedy she was as she appeared in front of him. "You do not leave me!" she screamed in rage. The shove she gave Jake sent him flying as she wasn't regulating her strength.
"Oh? Did you think you could lie to me and think I would stay when I learned about your ways? No, you knew I would leave your ass the moment I learned about the crazy shit you do in relationships," Jake uttered, extracting himself from the wall he had been embedded in. "Next time you lay your hands on me, it will be the time you won't be breathing. We clear?" he stated, grinning madly at her as she was snarling like a wild beast.
"Well... you didn't know?" Shasa asked, confused, she always assumed he knew about High Elven ways. That's why she was always ragging him about it. That was why she wasn't allowing him to leave as a favor to Celine. Now that the truth was out, she knew she was going to have to address the elephant in the room. Honestly, she was growing tired of seeing his face, and since he wasn't bringing in money for the Guild, she was better off cutting him free.
"You honestly think I would know about something as secret as High Elven mating rules?" Jake uttered, calling her an idiot at the same time. His eyes glanced down as Celine got up in his space.
"I reject this!" Making a show of it and dropped it onto the floor, and used the butt of her staff to crush it. Sticking her finger in his face, her face contorted in rage at the thought that he could leave her for another elf! "I will not allow you to be with another woman! I will not give you to another elf!" Her protective shell instinctively activated as Jake's magical push caused the soles of her feet to slide along the floorboards. Her rage flared into fury at the taunting smirk on his lips as the look in his eyes that she couldn't stop him.
"I don't give a shit what you allow. You have no control over me. You got those fuck nuts, go wrangle some other foolish man into your twisted life and leave me out of it. I want nothing to do with you or any other High Elf in that way," Jake said, turning his attention up to Shasa. "I will not be returning here ever; I don't care what you do. I've never did. And the word of a Guild like this means little in other countries."
"Kind of figured you wouldn't be; you put on a grand show of it," Shasa said, landing in between him and Celine. "Stand down, Celine, I'm not about to have my Guild Hall destroyed because you can't let go. Know this, Jake, after today, you will not be able to rejoin us ever... seems you don't have a problem with that," she spoke as she ambled up to him.
"Why would I?"
"Very well, I'll inform the other branches. I won't even bother asking if we could possibly work together in the future. I hope you find a place you belong," Shasa said, removing the guild plate, and quickly moved away from him out of sword reach. Knowing full well how close she came to dying months ago.
"I sincerely hope each and every one of you knows a gruesome death," Jake said, uttering the spell in his head. His hand remained on the hilt of his sword as he walked backwards through the doorway should either one of them feel froggy to try and steal through it.
"Jacob!" Celine screamed, running at him; she was not going to let him leave her. It was the only reason she was lowering herself in thinking of laying with a human was because of the depths of his mana. The audacity that he thought he could leave her was atrocious! People had to hold her back as she strained to cross the room and drag Jake back through that spell of his. "You are not leaving! Get back here! I'll have you cleaning me out for this aggravation!" Insanity flared in her eyes at the look of disgust and how he was gagging at the thought of it. Jake's laughter mixed with her scream as the spell crumbled to dust.
"Shit, who thought she'd go fucking bat shit crazy," Jake uttered, rubbing the back of his head, knowing he had dodged a bullet. He was also glad he had worn his armor. Sighing loudly and stretched feeling lighter now that he had truly ended it with Celine. He wouldn't get involved with High Elves again unless it was to do business, nothing more. As he removed his armor, he felt Shion's necklace moving against the undercoat he had placed it under as he placed his armor onto the stand. Then, his undercoat and his sword belt hung off of it. Now that dirty bit of business was over, Jake's stomach growled in hunger.
The sauce he had whipped up to go with the dragon steak he had thinly carved off the leg he had hanging in his basement dribbled down his chin. His fork guided what he took as this world's form of potato across his plate and through the sauce. His stomach was filled faster than he would have liked as he stared down at the half of his steak that remained. He was surprised when he thought of how Shion would like to have a sandwich. However, before all that happened, he had a promise to keep to Marda. He didn't just get rid of Celine to be popped like a pimple by Marda. His eyes glowed in his mana as the three magical locks opened one after another, allowing the door to swing open. Jake made a mental note to himself to organize his material room better as the endless dimension he had seeded in that room stretched out before him. His mind brought up the thought of dragon bones, causing the room to zoom to where he had stored them as he had designed it. He didn't have eternity to walk across a room; well, he did, but he would rather not.
His old dragon bone armor, scale, not plate, plate was a little beyond his strength, and he couldn't constantly use a strength buff just to wear it. Also, there were plenty of tales about him wearing it, not that they spoke his name in those tales, at least not the ones he'd heard. But it was well-known enough to put two and two together. He wasn't about to let his identity be released out into the world. Not if he could help it. It took a hundred years of sticking to the elven lands just for the legend of him to be watered down enough for him to walk freely through the streets without being harassed by the masses or called a title he hated. He never wanted to be a hero; hell, he didn't even want to fight. Yet whoever sent him to that world didn't care about any of that, he had to believe whatever brought him there had to have a sadistic streak. He looked through the piles of dragon bones he had. Hence why he didn't quarter his kills any more, he had more than he needed. Some would say he had become a hoarder, and he would say to them pick up a weapon and go fight a dragon themselves and then see if he was being smart or not.
He came to a stop in his amble as his eyes fell upon the right thigh bone of the dragon Shiron as the locals called it. It was a fearsome battle that lasted what seemed like days to him as the shadows of his friends played out in his mind as it recounted that memory. Sadness filled him, knowing he lost three of his friends and his first wife in that battle. Nevertheless, the ice dragon needed to be stopped, and he knew his friends would have it no other way if it meant that the dragon went with them in death. In truth, it did, although the ranger that accompanied them somehow survived, yet he was never the same after that battle. He never left the area where he settled down. It seemed to him he feared death more than anything. After that battle, he tried to live a quiet life. The people of the kingdom he was in at the time wouldn't leave him be. Always begging him to end some problem or another to the point it forced him to exile himself into the elven lands. His fingertips ran over the bone, remembering the gory scene of dismembering the dragon after the ranger had left for some safe heaven after the battle.
"I think you'll do nicely. This should please her," Jake said, starting to shape the bone into a weapon she might like. He couldn't make it into a hammer like her stone one, although he thought she wouldn't have a problem with a dragon bone warhammer. His eyes saw the spike opposite of the head in his mind as pieces of bone crumbled to the floor. His magic began to smooth the bone and strengthen it so it wouldn't shatter under Marda's blows. It took twenty minutes to fully shape and smooth the bone to his desired shape. He tested the spike on a few of the medium-sized bones, just watching the bones shatter. The shards of the bones he gathered with magic. The really small ones he tossed, the ones the size large enough for arrows he gathered up and put them in one of his pouches on his belt. Once that was done, he lowered the now completed weapon into his hands, grunting as the weight was still too much for him. He was glad he had already enchanted it as it dropped to the floor. So, with the help of magic, he lifted it off the floor as he thought of leather. The word of power left his lips, closing and locking the door as he left the room. With his packet of food, he wrapped up and packed away, strapped on his sword belt, and walked through the doorway.
Jake was getting a tad bit embarrassed by the slacked-jawed looks not at him but at the giant warhammer. It was with the help of his magic that he wasn't on his ass. He flashed the town's children smiles as they ran around him asking him all kinds of questions about the weapon on his shoulder. Ever since he started at the Three Suns Guild, he's gotten to know the people of the town. After all he would be operating in it for a long time. Every time he visited the town, he made sure to seek out the hideaway places where the young lad he befriended would be given how the town's people treated the child. He made sure they knew not to be too harsh with the boy, given how he was looking after him. Since Jake paid the innkeeper every month for room and board for the boy.
"Hello, Adam," Jake greeted at the boy's upturn face when he saw him as he was performing one of the odd jobs Adam did around the town to earn some pocket money since he paid for every meal and his clothing.
"Hello, sir, how are you?" Adam asked, cleaning his hands the best he could.
"I'm fine," groaning when he set the head of the hammer on the ground and leaned the weapon against the wall, "okay, better now," Jake said, grinning down at Adam.
"That sure is a big hammer; why are you carrying it?" Adam asked, moving up to it.
"Made it for a friend, a really tall friend," Jake said, seeing Adam mouth 'Wow.' "Have you eaten?"
"Of course, sir, Miss scolds me if I miss one," Adam said with a toothy grin. Jake remembered how thin the boy was when he first found him.
"And you're listening to Sister Agness when she teaches you your letters and numbers?" Jake asked in a fatherly voice, getting a nod out of Adam.
"I won't let you down, sir," Adam said, determined to make Jake proud of him.
"It's not about letting me down, Adam, I want you to learn the most you can, and when you're a grown man, you can make the best choices for yourself. If you become the smartest man in the world, I'd be very proud of you, but if you only learn how to use this," tapping Adam's forehead, "before you use these," holding up Adam's hands, "then I'll be equally proud that you grew up to be a level headed man," Jake said imparting his wisdom to him. "Now, let me get a look at you. Yeah, you're filling out nicely. Mrs. Matty must be feeding you good, huh?" he teased with a warm smile, getting another toothy grin from Adam. "Seems we need to get you some new clothes; these seem to be wearing out," he said, noting the holes in the shirt and pants.
"No sir, the ones you bought me are at the inn, I only wear these for when I'm doing this. I'd never dirty the ones you got me. They mean too much to me," Adam said on the verge of tears. He knew if it wasn't for Jake, he would have been dead months ago since no one would help him due to his heritage. While the town's people might not like him Jake had gotten them to at least leave him alone. Which was night and day to how they were treating him.
"I see; we are at least getting you new shoes," Jake said, getting to his feet. His hand dug into his coin purse and pulled out five silver coins. "When I come back, I expect to see new shoes."
"Yes, sir," Adam nodded. "Sir?"
"Hmm?"
"Why don't you take me home? Surely, you need someone to take care of your home. You know I would work very hard..." Jake's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"I know you would, Adam, yet where I live isn't for children. The monsters around it are eager to eat smart little boys," Jake said, trying to lessen the blow. "Plus, where I live, there's no one else, not even a living soul. You would be lonely for the weeks I would be away, and you wouldn't have anyone to hunt or cook for you because nothing living roams the Haunted Forest of Jura. That's why I don't," he stated, seeing the fear and befuddlement in Adam's eyes. "You understand?" Adam weakly nodded at his question. "That's why I got you a room at the Inn, so you be around your friends and not living with a mage in a very haunted place." Jake just smiled down at Adam when he asked if he'd ever touched a dragon bone before. The joy he felt at how Adam's face lit up when he ran his hand over the bone.
"What kind of dragon did this come from?" Adam asked in awe, wondering if he could become a dragon hunter.
"An ice dragon, a very deadly ice dragon," Jake answered, chuckling. Adam yelped happiness. "You should get back to work, and I need to get this to my friend."
"Bye, sir, be safe," Adam said, quickly hugging Jake before running back to his job. Tears of happiness filled his eyes, wiping them away with the back of his hands. Hoping that Jake would come back soon. He didn't know what he would do if something happened to him.
"There's nothing wrong with crying, Adam, I'll see you soon. Don't give Mrs. Matty any trouble, hear?" Jake uttered in a fatherly tone.
"Yes, sir," Adam said, while he would be very happy if he could serve Jake as a house boy. Yet he was right. He had no wish to live in that forest. That just proved to him that Jake was really powerful if he could live in that place alone.
"Marda!" Jake called out as he saw her and Holly leaving out from Guild Hall.
"Jake?!" They both stammered, a little unnerved by the size of the weapon on his shoulder.
"So I thought you might want this, glad I caught you before you and Holly wandered off somewhere," Jake said, setting the weapon down.
"This... this is the weapon you promised me?!" Marda asked, eyeing the weapon with envy.
"Sure is," Jake said, backing away when she took hold of the weapon. He kept his shock from his face as Marda picked it up like it weighed nothing to her.
"What kind of leather is this?" Marda asked, giving the weapon a few swings out of the way of people.
"Dragon, of course, it will keep you from suffering from the effects of the bone if you know how to channel mana into a weapon," Jake instructed, watching her eyes widen in surprise as the chill of frost played along the surface of the bone.
"Jake, just what kind of dragon did that come from?" Holly asked, seeing the glee on her friend's face.
"Does the name Shiron mean anything to you?" Jake asked, hoping it didn't. Since the kingdom soon fell after a civil war when the Queen tried to take power from her stepson the crown Prince. Both dead in the final battle, and with no other member of the royal family alive, the kingdom fell apart like most do. So he was hoping the name meant nothing to her, thanking his lucky stars when Holly shook her head. "It was a very large ice dragon; it killed four of my party members before we finally killed it."
"Then I'll make sure I use this to its fullest," Marda said, joining in on the conversation. "I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Good friends are hard to come by, especially in our line of work. I promise you, Jake, I will cherish this to my dying days." Jake was not expecting the huff and how puffy Holly's cheeks got as Marda enjoyed her gift.
"Jake, I know dragon bone is very expensive and very, very hard to come by. Yet you can't just give out such things to one of us; it's not fair!" Holly grumbled like a spoiled child.
"Hey, what's going on out here? We saw you were just standing out here, and we thought you were heading to the market? However, it seems you got something new," Bard spoke; he wasn't liking the cocky smirk on Marda's face as her thumb brushed along the left side of her nose as she just stood there gloating down at her friends.
"I did, I did, it's a mighty fine weapon, Jake. Can't wait to see how it handles in battle," Marda stated, eager to put it through its paces.
"Yeah, me too," Jake agreed.
"Jake... is that dragon bone?" Shion asked, coming to stand by his side.
"Mmmhmm," Jake hummed.
"Jake," putting on her charm, "you wouldn't deprive me of my own weapon, right? I know you're not cruel to your," her cheek brushed against his, "future wife, right?" Shion whispered into his ear. "Also, what dragon was it from."
"Shiron the ice dragon," Jake said, seeing the realization in her eyes as the name registered in her mind.
"Y-y-y-..." his finger on her lips stilled her tongue.
"Shh... kept it to yourself, but yes, I'm that man," Jake said low, moving Shion's body in front of him as Mark and Bard glared murderously at him. He had a feeling he was going to be murdered in his sleep by the way they were looking at him.
"Stingy!" Bard shouted.
"Am not," Jake retorted.
"Then where's my sword, their staffs, Shion's bow, and daggers, huh? Stingy," Bard huffed, sticking his nose into the air.
"The nerve of such a man!" Mark joined in. "No fair, not fair at all!" Jake almost fell on his face when Shion slipped out of his grip and joined her friend's side.
"Yeah, not fair, not fair," Shion joined in with Holly chanting along.
"Hmm... oh well, it's been fun; bye now," Jake said, turning to the left about to walk out of the town's eastern gate.
"Oh no, you don't!" Mark and Bard took hold of his cloak preventing Jake from leaving.
"What's the ruckus? You six are scaring these nice town's people to the point they aren't giving us any quests! Clear out, will ya!" Marlin said, making a shooing motion with her hands with a mad grin on her face.
"Come on, let's go to the forest. I want to test my new warhammer out," Marda instructed, leading the way.
Marlin just smiled at the group of six. She noticed Jake seemed more lighter than when she first met him. A knowing smirk lifted the right corner of her lip when she noticed how close Shion was walking to Jake. "Oh?! Interesting," Marlin mused low as she noted Shion's missing necklace. She turned and headed back to the Guild Hall wondering if Shion's already stated her intentions since she didn't see a necklace on Jake. She hoped Jake knew what he was getting into.
"I love this thing!" Marda's laughter filled the forest as she practiced with her new weapon. The five of them all stared in awe as a cone of frost erupted as the head of the hammer struck the ground freezing everything within range. With the conjured shield she was using to see if she could fight with it and her new weapon. The shattering of the ice-encrusted monsters thundered, causing the birds to seek the air. Jake didn't have any time to prepare himself before Marda ran over to him, lifted him, and buried him deep into her vast bosom. Jake could hear the news now, death by breasts! "Sorry, Jake, I just got carried away!" she chuckled, extracting Jake from her bosom and setting him down on the ground.
"Oh, we are so going to be unstoppable now!" Bard hollered in glee. Instantly, the four others surrounded him. Their murderous intent pressed down on him as they all were jealous of the gift he had given Marda. Who was looking everywhere but at them like she didn't see a thing.
"We want ours now!" Or that's what Jake was inferring from the glares of jealousy that were burning into his hide. Blowing out a breath as he extracted himself from them; this was why he didn't voice what his weapon was made out of or wear his regular armor. "Sigh the life of a dragon hunter," he muttered to himself as they gathered around Marda begging her to launch her attack again just for them to see it again. However, Shion did return to his side as he kept an eye out for monsters while they had their fun.
"Marda really likes that hammer of hers," Shion said, smiling warmly as she watched her large friend having fun.
"Seems so; here, thought you might be hungry," Jake said, holding out the sandwich he had made from the leftovers of his lunch.
"Oh?!" Her nose wiggled; her ears twitched in anticipation of what treats Jake had for her. "My thanks, betrothed," Shion said sweety as she took the package from him. Her fingers unwrapped the broad leaf he used to wrap the sandwich in. Shion looked strangely at the item in her hand. Something she had never seen before in their world. An odd look appeared on her face as she watched Jake bite into his own sandwich. "Jake, what... is this?"
"Dragon steak sandwich, unless you don't want it," Jake answered, watching her cheeks heat before taking a bite of the sandwich. He could only smile at how wide her eyes got as she savored the bite. He wasn't expecting her to lightly lean against him as she nibbled on her meal.
"Thank you, Jake, that was delicious; then again, dragon meat, as I've come to learn, is very, very tasty," Shion said loud enough for her friends to hear, causing the others to snap their heads towards them. She could only chuckle as Jake took off in a run as her friends chased after him. Demanding where their share of dragon meat was.
"I'm'a kill that elf," Jake huffed and puffed as he finally lost them.
"Oh?" Her voice caused his head to snap up, a chill ran down his spine when Shion stood in front of him. "I'm hurt to hear you say that," looking away, her mock hurt showing on her face, "then you won't mind if I do this? I found him!"
"No arrowheads for you then," Jake taunted, moving past her to escape their demands. "Huh?!" he uttered, confused when his forward momentum stopped, and his entire body was jerked backwards and thrown onto the ground like he weighed nothing.
"What did you say?!" Fear crept up his spine as Shion stood over him.
"Umm... Shion... don't you think you're taking this a little too far?"
"Oh, I'm sure the hero of the last age can handle a single elf," Shion uttered, voicing what she knew about him or what the stories about him said. "The slayer of Shiron, the ice dragon, certainly can't be afraid of a little o' elf like me," she said, taking on a sickly sweet tone. "So, betrothed, care to elaborate what you meant by arrowheads?" Shion asked, straddling his lap. She didn't mind if he stared at the top of her breasts; he was allowed to do so. "Come, Jake, I didn't take you to be tongue-tied by the sight of my breasts. A man of your age shouldn't be stymied by such things. Betrothed, are you saying you brought me dragon bones to make into arrowheads?" she inquired. The pad of her index finger ran down his chest in an alluring way.
"I don't know. You probably shattered them to pieces with that display," Jake retorted, trying not to grow hard at the way she was looking at him. He would readily admit Shion was a beautiful woman. Yet he wasn't so green to be swayed by her pretty face.
"No, no, Jake, I know dragon bone is very durable," tapping the hilt of his sword, "so I know what I did wouldn't damage them," Shion said, grinning like mad. "Now," taking hold of the front of his shirt, "let's get you to your feet," she stated with a huge grin on her face as she lifted him to his feet. She just held out her hands for her gift. She looked confused at the shards of bone neatly bundled together. While it wasn't the kind of arrowheads she was used to. She could make this work. She knew what arrows she made out of them would pierce any armor other than dragon or magical. "Thank you, Jake, I'll know exactly what to do with them."
"You're welcome," Jake said, knowing he was going to have to be sure not to piss her off, knowing his long life would be cut short.
"Man, for a little guy, you can run really fast without all that armor," Marda teased with the others following after her after they dealt with the creatures that got in their way. "Come, I'll buy you an ale," she said in a friendly manner, patting his shoulder and leading the way back to town.
"Jake," Shion whispered as she walked beside him. "We talked about my first husband. Have you ever been married?"
"Twice, Shiron killed my first wife, then my second wife turned out to be a spy and stole our son and fled to her kingdom she was from once I learn of her machinations. Then, she was a part of the force who tried to capture me to fight for them. They learn quickly; I'm not so easily defeated. Then I razed the country that thought they could use me. My son became a victim of their plans. I found his mutilated body. So I levied the same torment on her as she probably had no qualms about what they did to our child. I'm sure you know what happened afterwards."
"I do," Shion nodded. They all knew the stories of the enraged and heartbroken hero destroying a kingdom just to find his son. What happened next became a litmus test for other kingdoms on what not to do to a very powerful man. "But worry not, I, Shion, shall never do such a thing to my betrothed," she spoke with righteous fortitude.
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