The Northern Noble is a Grinder (Chapter 12).

The Northern Noble is a Grinder (Chapter 12).

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Commissioned by Sivantic

Word count: 2500

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I had idly considered the possibility that with Chloe our days would be easier.

I was proven wrong the very next day.

Wyverns were faraway cousins of dragons. As far away as an ape was to a human, according to some scholars, and some even said that they were even more different. Dragons were quadrupedal creatures with wings on their shoulders that could grow to immense sizes. Beasts and monsters worshipped them as gods, though dragons cared little for them. Some dragons were known to shapeshift and change form, siring or bearing children with mortals, who would in turn become dragons themselves as they aged.

If those children had children before they became dragons, dragon’s blood would flow through their descendants. Dragons, many theorized, were more amalgams of wild, primal magic with sentience than creatures of flesh and blood. Some even postulated that dragons were the source of magic in all species. Primordial gods unshaped by faith, belief, or mortal ideas. Forces of nature given flesh and shape that intermingled with creatures of flesh and gave magic to mortals and monsters alike.

Some were beasts, some were without thought and more like living calamities, and others still were part of civilization and lived with mortals without being noticed.

Only a child would confuse a wyvern, a mere monster, with dragons.

Yet looking at the task of killing over two dozen of them in a day, I felt as though they may well be.

“You’re all strong enough to do it. Three against one. Fifteen to twenty minutes for each kill. Plenty of time, actually.” Lord Trelawney took us to another armory. He deemed the weapons we had initial access to no longer suitable. Past two iron doors, we followed him into another armory, and all three of us stopped at the threshold. “Yeah, I spent a bit of time hunting them. Good materials and a lot of power per kill. You three will be grinding them down and training at the same time.”

It was an armory filled with weapons made from killed, powerful monsters. The eye of an ogre was aglow on a staff, and frost clung to its surroundings. A club made from a femur the length of a horse hung on the wall and somehow exuded a sense of bloodlust. There were weapons forged of some sort of glittering crystals. They had the shape of swords and axes, but they were made of thousands of small slivers that were all somehow floating close to one another.

Four walls were stacked with weapons that would beggar belief, and the room itself was entirely filled with shelves filled with more.

I felt as though I walked into some ancient treasure room instead of an armory.

But any excitement that had died as he handed each one of us single-handed warhammers.

“These are the best for killing Wyverns.” Lord Trelawney explained whilst holding up the well-balanced, weighted weapon. It had a hammer as one face, a claw on the other, and a spike at the end. A part of me screamed that it was a weapon unfit for nobility. The part of me that endured so much conflict the last few days wondered if it was strong enough to survive more than one bout of combat while considering the utility of a weapon that can cut, pierce, and smash depending on how it was held. “It’s been enhanced with a few enchantments. Mostly to keep it strong and in one piece, but that’s not the main draw. Pour some power into it.”

Alice stepped forward and did as he asked while holding the one-handed hammer at arm’s length.

In an instant it fell out of her hand and fell onto the floor of the armory.

Instead of bouncing off, the hammer smashed into the rack, cracked it, and embedded into it.

Lord Trelawney laughed while Alice’s hand shot back in surprise.

“It only lasts for two seconds. Activate the enchantment as it's falling. It’ll hit like a truck.” He motioned for Alice to pick the hammer back, and she did with slight hesitation. When she picked it up, she froze, and she considered the weapon that just embedded itself into stone with a hint of wariness. “If you’re good, you can throw it really, really hard and have it ruin something’s day. A downward stab with the point will go through wyvern bone easily. The hook will pierce and give you a hold on the wyvern after the weight comes off.”

Chloe considered the weapon for a moment before simply nodding and taking the sheath for the weapon and placing it at her belt.

I did the same along with Alice a moment later.

My mind was already abuzz with possibilities for the weapon.

Then, he moved on to a wardrobe at the end of the armory.

“The three of you aren’t resistant enough to magic to fight against wyverns, so you’ll need these.” The wardrobe opened, and I almost took a step back. There were multiple shelves inside and prongs on the sides of the door. Artifacts hung on every surface. Ranging from golden bracelets with rubies the size of my thumb to necklaces with plates of gold that had gems the size of eyes inlaid into them. I almost wondered why he had need for funds until he sorted and found three bracelets and threw one each to us. They weren’t treasures. They were equipment. “They’re a bit gaudy, but you won’t roast to death even if you’re caught up in the breath attack’s center. You’ll be very, very hurt, but I’ll be able to put you back together.”

Each one was a treasure of a household. A wonderful artifact that would elevate a knight to folklore with ease.

He had them stored away in an unassuming wardrobe in the corner of a room filled with magical weapons.

I almost didn’t want to acknowledge the fact.

Not because I could not believe it, but because I found it too easy to accept.

“Now you have the damage and survivability. It’s time for mobility. Here’s what I used before I learned to fly.” Lord Trelawney moved to an unassuming box in the corner of the room. When he opened it, I thought that I looked upon lengths of iron chain until I looked closer. On one end there was a robust bracer that would go over the entire arm. At the other end of the chain is a three-pronged hook. “A simple tool. You control the chain and the hook with magic, and you use it to pull yourself somewhere or pull something towards you. When you flood the bracer with magic, you’ll slow yourself down. The faster you’re going, the more power it takes.”

He took the ‘simple’ item in his hand, and the chains moved silently to his beck and call. It coiled around his armor’s arm like a snake, then he aimed his hand towards one end of the room, and it shot out, and the hooks embedded themselves in the wall. It was as tough as the hammer we now held, it seemed, and that fact lessened the worry gathering about my brow.

Then, as he passed the new equipment to us, that worry returned.

Because our respite was over.

“Now, are you all ready to start slaying some wyverns?”

The answer was most definitely no, but I knew that I had no choice.

I wanted to keep my family and friends safe from the turmoil that lay ahead.

This strength was something that I desperately needed.

…

I did my best to not scream as a roaring, winged lizard the size of a house chased me through the forest.

Trees broke in its mere passing.

The ground quaked with its every step.

Its roar knocked off snow and pine needles from the trees and killed lesser creatures in its presence.

Screaming would only make the beast more eager to end my life!

I ran and ran, moving through the forest and searching for any impediment or obstacle that might be in my path. My hammer was light in my hand, as were the chains and the bracelet that granted me resistance to fire, but all I could think of was that I could discard them and run faster.

Why was it that I was always the one that had to lure the monsters!?

I ran, my heart thumping so hard that it felt like it was leaping up into my throat, while the taste of iron permeated my mouth. The chill of the northern continent filled my lungs with every breath, but still my throat ran hot along with the rest of my body.

Some part of me yearned to stop and catch my breath for just a moment.

I knew that part of me was without sense and needed to be dealt with.

A single pause or moment without movement was most assuredly death!

Then, there was a glimpse of hope.

“Now, Chloe!” Alice’s voice resounded through the fog of my consciousness. All that I was focused on was running and avoiding obstacles. Her voice cut through that fog, and I became aware. My hand surged up and towards the trunk of a towering tree. The chain shot out instantly, embedded itself into the trunk, and I willed it to pull me up. There was a slight pull to my magic, but I was whisked away in an instant towards the tree.

The wyvern was a smart beast who already saw me use it once.

Therefore, it was ready, and it launched itself at me, faster than even the chain could drag me away.

But that was just what we intended.

Chloe and Alice appeared just as it took flight and aimed for where its extended wings met the rest of its torso. Their twin blows struck at the creatures ‘shoulders’ and ripped through the limbs. The wyvern lost its ability to fly whilst in the air and floundered. While surprisingly quick on the ground and in the air with all its limbs, it was now falling, unable to move, and so I could strike it down.

I willed the chain to unlatch from the tree and instead had it surge towards the wyvern. It wrapped around its neck and pulled me towards the creature. The chain was tight enough that the gout of flame it aimed at me was nothing more than a wave of intense heat thanks to my artifact. I landed on its head, brought my hammer up, and as the hammer descended, I poured magic into it.

I felt as though I hit the side of a mountain, but the weight of the hammer carried the blow. The hammerhead concentrated all the force into a flat surface a quarter the size of my palm. Scales and bone broke, and my hammer struck vital brain matter, turning it into nothing more than mush inside of a skull.

The creature crashed onto the ground, rendered dead and limp in an instant, and I fell off it onto the snow.

“My lady!?”

“I’m fine! Just tired.” I was smoking and melting some of the snow. The flames hadn’t harmed me. It hadn’t even singed my clothes. My bloodline’s inherent propensity towards flame atop the artifact that protected against the same granted me immense amounts of protection. Both Chloe and Alice would’ve been harmed greatly if they were caught in the same attack. “And very warm.”

“Close to boiling hot, actually.” Lord Trelawney descended from the sky and landed in front of the wyvern. His armored hand shot forward and broke through the chest of the dead creature. The creature’s core was the size of my head and was a vibrant, deep red. “You’ve got enough toughness now, so I think this should go to someone who can deal damage.”

He looked over at me and gestured towards Chloe and Alice.

For a moment, I considered giving it to Alice, until she shook her head.

“Chloe, it’s yours. We need you.” Lord Trelawney tossed the core her way, and for a moment she was apprehensive, but she soon closed her eyes and took in its power and strength. Unlike all the songs and tales of wyvern slayers taking in the power of their foe with grace and humility, Chloe looked like she was going to be sick as she took in its strength and power. She was still unused to consuming the strength of monsters. “With that, do you think you’ll be able to empower your blade?”

Chloe took a moment and drew her sword.

With speed and precision born of years of practice, as well as innate talent, she swung her blade in an instant.

The throat of the wyvern opened in the passing of her blade.

“Yes, my lady. I have enough strength to use my blade now. Lord Trelawney, I return this artifact to you.”

“Nah, keep it for the day. A backup weapon with a lot of oomph is always good to have.” Lord Trelawney replied with a shake of his head. I almost sighed in relief. Chloe had attempted to do the right thing in accordance with tradition and custom. She no longer had an overt need for the hammer; therefore, she offered it back. Honor and duty demanded she do so, but I hardly cared for it at the moment. I wanted to survive this day. “Why don’t you learn how to throw it? It’ll be useful.”

“I shall do so. You have my thanks, Lord Trelawney.” Chloe gave a stiff bow towards him before coming my way. From her belt, she took a canteen. My canteen. I had divested myself of anything besides my armor and weapons before the pursuit. “You asked for this back after the bout, my lady.”

“I did. Thank you.” I didn’t know how she was able to do it. She was struggling and enduring just as much as me and Alice, but she was standing with pride and strength. She had less sleep than us and was working harder as she just joined, but she stood with me and Alice on near-equal grounds already. Was this the difference between those who were raised to fight from birth and those who were raised to rule? “I’ll be counting on your blade for the coming days, Chloe.”

“And I shall not fail you again, my lady.”

All that I knew was that I was grateful that I forgave her and had her beside me now.