As I sat under the tree to wait for the others, Adel and Sophie both snuggled up next to me, hugging my arms. "So, how was it?" I asked. I was curious as to what they had to deal with.
"Ugh…. This kingdom has so many issues. We ended up killing almost all the city and town lords. They were so corrupted and sick…." Adel's beautiful face scrunched up. I reached up and pressed my finger to smooth out her brow wrinkles.
"At least we helped as much as we could. Doing what you can is the only way around things. Our next target is the capital city in front of us. We will see just how this kingdom's king or queen truly is and hopefully find the path to the next floor." I said as I leaned my head on her shoulder, I closed my eyes. I was also tired. It has been busy the past few weeks.
At some point, I must have fallen asleep. I awoke to Sophie drooling on my chest as she hugged my waist, sound asleep, and Adel still hugging my arm while she slept as well. I looked around to see a few more groups had returned. They, too, were resting and looked very much exhausted. Iena was standing in front of me, looking out towards the capital. "Iena, what is it?"
"I feel a faint magic power coming from the castle in the distance, but it seems to be below ground," Iena replied, causing my eyes to open wide. I quickly sent out my detection magic to the spot Iena was talking about to see a very familiar person chained to the wall by some very thick chains. Using my dragon speak, I sent a message over my detection magic: "Father! Are you alive? Say something!"
The man raised his head. He looked ragged, but I would still recognize him. My tears began to well up, seeing how he was okay. "Faith?" His eyes looked dull, and his cheeks were sunken in, which meant he had probably not been fed for a while now.
I stood up, accidentally throwing both girls off me. "You all stay here. I will be back." Without another word, I flapped my wings and flew off towards the city. I am sure everyone was confused because I heard both Sophie and Adel cry out my name, but I had to go. I finally found him. I could not let him suffer anymore!
As I flew over the city, I felt a strong suction force pulling at my mana. I snorted and continued forward. It seemed this city had some kind of defense barrier against people with mana. I wanted to destroy the barrier, but if this barrier was blocking the powerful figures of this floor from being able to cast magic, it was best not to disturb things and make more trouble for myself. There are times when you have to trust your gut instinct.
As I flew over the city, I saw that it was thriving. There were still poor people from what I could see but nothing like the other cities and towns I had been to. This makes me wonder if this ruler is just negligent in checking up on their subordinates. Well, in any case, I could care less. I was going to get my father out of this place and head home. I do not care to finish this dungeon at this time. We have already spent well over three months in this place. I do not wish to continue being here any longer.
When I reached the castle and landed in the area by the dungeon entrance, the first thing that I ran into was a group of guards rushing at me. "Halt! How dare you enter the castle grounds!"
"Out of my way!" I yelled in dragon speak, causing all the guards to stop in their tracks and make a path for me. Dragons are, after all, the rulers of all, or at least this is how I see it.
I entered the dungeon and held my nose after smelling the putrid smell coming from below. It seemed they never cleaned this place. I formed a barrier around my nose to block the smell of the place out as I hovered in the air and flew towards where my father was. He was on the fourth floor of the dungeon in a cell surrounded by darkness.
Anyone who got in my way was controlled with dragon speak and was very obedient in getting out of my way. When I reached the cell where my father was, I smashed the door open to see his figure chained to the wall. I could tell his mana was just about to be depleted. I quickly tethered him to my mana to keep it from being drained away and flew over to his side.
"Father…." My tears began to well up. If I knew this was happening to him, I would have ignored the people and flown directly here….
"Faith?" My father looked up at me. His eyes were slightly dull. I ripped the chains up off the wall and shattered the cuffs on his hands and feet. My anger began to rise. These people….. I took a deep breath…. And forced a smile: "Father…. We will go home now, okay?"
"Mmmm…" My father nodded before passing out in my arms.
I flew out of the dungeon and up into the air. I wanted to destroy this castle, but I knew getting my father out of this place was my top priority. I flew out of the city without issue and landed down on the ground in front of everyone. "Faith this…."
"We are leaving. Our task here is done." I said as I adjusted my father and began walking towards running towards the exit.
"Faith, Steven, and Grace have yet to return," Sally shouted behind me. I turned and looked at Iena. Iena nodded and disappeared: "Let's go."
The others all stared at me in confusion but still followed behind me. We ran at full speed towards the exit. By the time we reached the spot we entered from, both Steven and Grace were being carried in Iena's arms. "What happened?"
