Dragon Quest - I - Chapter 4, Part 3

3 - Reunion (pp154-159)

In the end, Aleph had learned nothing about the home in which he was born. Plus, looking for the priest that had given him the life stone would take too much effort, and he didn’t have the time.

In the morning, he would head to Domdora and look for Loto’s armor. Finding the artefacts entrusted to the sages came first -- Aleph headed straight for the inn after leaving the item shop.

The road was quiet and empty. The only sound was that of Aleph’s footsteps echoing off the stone path. A waxing crescent moon was visible between the clouds above. It’s going to be another cold night, thought Aleph, and a brisk wind blew between his legs.

He had just about reached the inn when he sensed a presence above him and jerked his head up. A group of creatures with the bodies of large, fat snakes and the heads of eagles were rushing down at Aleph at full speed.

155

A flock of chimeras! They were smaller individually than a human and used their razor-sharp beaks as weapons.

Aleph cried out and jumped out of the way, swinging his blade, but cut only air. The chimera’s beaks scratched at him one by one. A second later, another flock of larger, stronger chimeras appeared to join the assault. Mage chimeras, these were called.

Aleph counted nearly twenty chimeras and about ten mage chimeras. They took turns exchanging blows one after another, giving Aleph no time to recover.

Another, larger chimera watched over the battle from far above. It was a giant compared to the others and would have towered over Aleph. This was the star chimera -- one of the six Dark Generals -- and she was giving orders to the birds below.

These monster squadrons were put together in order to more easily raid cities that had thick walls or were otherwise difficult to attack by foot. The star chimera, a particularly strong and skillful female chimera, was elected by the Dragonlord to lead the flocks. The star chimera’s grandmother had helped to raise the Dragonlord and the star chimera from childhood, treating them almost like siblings. The star chimera had lost the majority of her forces during the Radatome attacks, so now she and her underlings are operating as the Dragonlord’s private scouts.

Aleph dodged their attacks and ran, but was caught between the pursuing chimeras from behind and the mage chimeras that swept down before him, forcing him down an a side street.

156

The side street led to an alley, which dead-ended at the city walls. The walls were twice Aleph’s height -- he was trapped.

The star chimera flew down before Aleph and sniggered upon seeing him up close. “He’s just a boy!” she said to the others. “Hand over the fairy flute, child!”

“Oh, you’re funny!” retorted Aleph, renewing his grip on his blade.

“Give it up or it’s your life, little monkey,” the star chimera screeched as she signaled the others. The chimeras and mage chimeras resumed their onslaught.

She had been shocked to hear reported from one of her under-wings that the great golem had been put to sleep. If one had the power to entice the statue into slumber, perhaps it could also dispel the dark druid’s curse. If the golem, free from the curse, would to return to its former mindset -- the star chimera took flight to Melkid immediately after, fearing the consequences if she and her flock didn’t settle this matter themselves.

They separated themselves into five squads, four chimera and two mage chimera each, and continued their attack with abandon.

Aleph reached the wall then turned, preparing a spell. With his back to a wall he had no fear of attack in that direction. His Begirama spell engulfed the beasts with bolts of light. With a blast like they were all struck by lightning, the chimeras froze in shock in mid-air.

Yelling in effort, Aleph jumped through the air and cut them down one by one.

Yellowish blood sprayed from their wounds and they fell to the ground. Nearly immediately, their bodies began to decompose and melt into nothing.

The star chimera clucked her beak in anger. “He’s just a child! Disgraceful, the lot of you!” she spat.

Frustrated at the ineffective attacks of her underlings, the star chimera took matters into her own hands and dived at Aleph, breathing fire as she came.

Aleph jumped to the side just in time, but a ball of fire came flying at the spot he landed. “Aagh!” He jumped into the air again, this time slicing off the star chimera’s wings.

Seemingly unaffected, she let out a wet-sounding laugh as her entire body began to emit a brilliant red-white light. When the light had faded, it revealed a brand new set of wings, as if the old ones hadn’t just been removed. She had used a spell to recover her wounds in a mere instant.

158

The star chimera immediately redoubled her attack. She spread and beat her great wings, creating a small whirlwind from the force which enveloped Aleph.

Aleph cried out and was spun like a top as he got swept up into the air then tossed back down, hitting his back hard against the ground. The star chimera’s flame breath engulfed him as he lay prone.

“Aggh!” he cried out again as he was set ablaze, while the force of the impact blew him ten paces backwards into the great wall. He struck his back again with such force that he nearly lost consciousness. His vision was now muddled and his focus was hazy.

“Time to finish you off!” the star chimera cried as she prepared to swoop in low.

By the time Aleph’s head had finally cleared, the general’s beak was flying towards his eyes at incredible speed. Aleph jerked his body to the left, but the star chimera’s beak instead lodged itself in his right shoulder.

Aleph yelled out and dropped his sword from the shock of the pain. Once again spitting flame, the star chimera swooped around for another attack at even greater speed. Aleph turned his face away and prepared for the worst.

“Urk!”

159

The star chimera let out an odd noise.

Her beak had stopped about a fist’s length away from Aleph’s nose. Her already twisted face contorted into something even worse. Aleph could see a piece of metal jutting out of the back of her mouth. He had no idea what just happened.

Then the star chimera let loose a screech that stretched across the night sky, convulsing as she tumbled down onto Aleph.

“Agh, no!” he grunted as he shoved off the creature’s body. Looking down at it, he saw a single arrow sticking out of her neck as she gushed brackish yellow blood onto the stonework.

Suddenly, the star chimera’s body began to rapidly decompose, then explode. Blackened, charred fragments of bone were all that remained. Not appreciating what just happened, the remaining flock flew off in fright.

Aleph spun around to the direction of where the arrow came from. He saw a tall man standing with his back to the crescent moon. In his hand was a bolt-action crossbow and a long sword was strapped to his back. His long hair was being blown in the wind.

“You!”

Aleph remembered this face. He didn’t think that he would ever forget the man that saved him in the wintry desert all those months ago.