Chapter 794: Temptation

The commander of the Lord Iron Guards stationed here hurries over and studies the child.

"Hello, kid. I'm Anzo. You'll be living with us for a while."

"We'll keep you safe. If you need anything, just tell us."

Ronan looks up at the burly man in black armor traced with red and offers an awkward salute, one he has clearly only just learned.

Ronan shifts nervously. "Thank you for taking me in, my lord."

Anzo laughs and waves a hand. "No need to salute. I'm not a noble, so don't call me my lord."

"Call me Anzo, or Captain. I command the troops stationed here, and I'm a Second-Class Guard Captain of the Lord Iron Guards."

Ronan's eyes brighten. "You're one of the Lord Iron Guards too! Why does your armor look different?"

Anzo points to the distinctive crest on his shoulder. "This? We're a reinforced combat company personally designated by our lord. We're larger than a standard company, with three hundred soldiers."

"We protect our lord and carry out special combat missions!"

Ronan rises onto his toes to study the emblem on Anzo's shoulder. "What kind of creature is that?"

Anzo smiles. "A dragon! A death dragon! See how half its body is nothing but bone?"

Ronan tilts his head, studies it for a moment, then points at the pyramid. "But it isn't dead. It keeps beckoning to me. It wants me to go over and talk to it!"

Anzo's smile freezes. "You can see it?"

Ronan nods. "Yes! It's saying bad things about you. Oh, it can conjure all kinds of things. It wants me to go over..."

Anzo turns grave. "Don't communicate with it. It will draw out your darker impulses..."

Ronan shrinks back, and Anzo softens his voice. "I'm not scolding you. It's dangerous, that's all. Never believe a word it says. It's a wicked creature."

Ronan shakes his head. "My lord, I'm not afraid of you. The dragon inside was just hit."

"There's a man in there. He struck the dragon with a chain, and now it's rolling around on the ground!"

As Ronan speaks, a distinct tremor runs through the pyramid.

Anzo's eyes widen. "Is our lord awake? Quick, tell me what's happening. Did he say anything to you?"

Ronan peers into the distance. "No. The man isn't awake. He struck that vicious dragon in his dream."

"In his dream? What do you mean?"

Ronan tilts his head and waits. "I don't know. It's just a dream. The voice in my mind has gone quiet. It's frightened."

"Who? The dragon?"

"No. An apparition in my mind."

Anzo lifts Ronan onto his shoulder. "Take another look. Is our lord awake?"

After a moment, Ronan shakes his head. "He isn't awake. But the dragon keeps cursing. It's insulting the man and even spat at him."

"Oh! It's tied up. The spit landed on its own face, and now it's going to be whipped again!"

A moment later, another tremor runs through the pyramid.

Anzo asks, "Is it rolling around again?"

"Yes! It looks like it's in terrible pain, but it's still cursing."

Anzo raises an eyebrow. "It's cursing our lord? If you curse it back, can it hear you?"

Ronan replies, "I think so. It heard us talking, and now it's glaring at us!"

Anzo's eyes gleam. "Come on. Repeat after me and curse it back!"

Ronan lasts only a few insults before bursting into tears. The death dragon is saying horrible things, and he cannot match it.

Anzo gives up, but silently vows to begin teaching Ronan how to curse properly tomorrow.

That night, Ronan falls into a deep sleep.

In his dream, he sees Barbarossa, the death dragon.

The death dragon bares its teeth in a vicious snarl.

"Wretched insect! You dared insult me today. Now I'll devour you!"

With that, it lunges at Ronan.

Terrified, Ronan drops to his knees and begins to wail.

The enormous dragon head bears down on him. "Little one, I can forgive your blasphemy, but you must become my servant."

"In return, I'll spare your life and even remove the fallen-god resentment creature from your soul."

"All you need to do is submit, swear your loyalty, and carry out a few tasks for me."

"Once I break this seal and regain my freedom, you'll have power and wealth as my follower!"

Ronan shakes his head through his tears. "No. I can't let you out."

"Everyone here has been kind to me. The lords give me good food every day. I can't let you hurt them."

"Insolent insect! How dare you reject my gift!"

Barbarossa opens its enormous maw and snaps at Ronan.

Ronan shakes from head to toe, sobbing uncontrollably. He says nothing. He only grits his teeth, closes his eyes, and waits to die.

A moment later, he opens his eyes. Nothing has happened to him.

In the distance, dozens of spectral chains have appeared around Barbarossa, the death dragon, binding it tight.

Red flames race along the chains and engulf Barbarossa.

Barbarossa lets out an agonized howl.

At first it keeps cursing, but the curses slowly turn into pleas for mercy.

Ronan has no idea how much time passes. Then Barbarossa vanishes, and a tall, black-haired man appears before him.

Henwell studies him for a moment. "Where did a little fellow like you come from?"

Ronan shakes his head. "I can't tell you. The lords said I mustn't tell anyone."

Henwell smiles. "All right. What's your name, little one?"

"Ronan."

"Then, Ronan, I'll teach you martial techniques in your dreams every night from now on. You have real talent."

Ronan hesitates. "But the mage lords said I should study spells, not train to become a Knight."

Henwell scoffs. "What's so great about mages? I don't think much of them!"

"Besides, studying martial techniques doesn't conflict with becoming a mage."

"After all, a mage only needs to learn one Illumination Spell."

"The advanced training is what really matters. Dual-Wielding Mastery, Heavy Strike, and Whirlwind Slash are all essential!"

The next day, Anzo beams when Ronan comes to find him. "Come, come!"

"I've gathered all my best insults. Soon you'll be able to curse that evil dragon until it cries."

Ronan shrinks back. "The lord told me not to learn how to curse from you."

"He told me to ask you for a training weapon so I can practice during the day what I learned in my dream!"

Anzo freezes. "Who?"

Then it clicks. "Our lord? You can speak to him? What else did he say?"

Ronan falls silent, gathers his courage, squeezes his eyes shut, and shouts, "The lord said you were an idiot, Anzo!"

"You finally found a child with exceptional talent, and now you're trying to turn him into a foul-mouthed spellcaster!"

"Are all of Peace Haven's battlemages supposed to chant incantations while hurling insults?"