Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 474: Difficult Decisions

Chapter 474 – Difficult Decisions

“This isn’t my fight. Asking me to take part in it puts myself and the remaining dragons on this world at risk.”

Max let out the breath he had been holding slowly.

“I understand. With Rakonath joining me, you may still be in the crosshairs.”

“Far less than if two or three dragons come to aid in a fight that has nothing to do with us. We have stayed away from your kind and the other races after the man whose name you hid behind slaughtered our two greatest. There are fewer than ten of us remaining and all that would do is announce to the world that we are a threat. While you might not care about that, what happens if you survive this fight and go on to defeat the tower? Like all the others who have done so, you will be gone, and I must endure the hatred of a race.”

“I do care, and I am sorry for asking.”

Mucus flew across Aerthen’s lair as she snorted, shaking her head.

“You ask because you care too much. Eventually, you must learn to do what any creature does when its foot is caught in a trap. You chew it off and go through life missing a foot instead of dying because you were too stubborn.”

“That’s not fair,” Rakonath proclaimed. “He offered to help hunt down Kemruss because he knows you won’t leave here and are at risk again.”

“You are too young and do not understand everything. Even with his stats and the essence you gained from the tower, neither of you realizes the risk this quest brings. It would be better if you left her to die.”

“And then what? What happens when they come again? Suppose they get my mother, my sister, or even Tanila? Do I just keep cutting off my feet until I cannot walk?!” Max’s voice continued to rise as he spoke, using his wind magic to hover right next to her snout.

“I will not let people I care about suffer that fate. Just like I will not let you be terrorized by a male dragon who doesn’t understand you are more than a trophy or toy.”

Her mouth started to open, but he held up her hand.

“No more. I asked. You said no, and I cannot afford to spend more time here having philosophical discussions. I’m sure you can tell I am upset, but trust me when I say my mind is clear. Stay here, I will return when I have freed my friend and taken vengeance on those who took her.”

He ended his spell, landing next to Rakonath and putting his hand on his dragon’s silver scales.

“Be safe, Aerthen, and thank you for watching over him.”

[ Planetary Travel - Waypoints ]

“You know the reason she gave is valid.”

Max nodded and took a few deep breaths, bobbing his head slowly.

“I do. Still, I am grateful you said yes when I asked.”

“There are many reasons I said yes, but the greatest one is that you asked. I knew that you would have accepted my answer had I said no. Even though it would have hurt, I could sense that you wouldn’t have forced me to come. That was one of the greatest signs of how you value me. Just like I know each person coming with you has decided to do so on their own.”

Both eyes were closed, and Max couldn’t help but chuckle. Then he started to get choked up, a few tears running down his cheeks as he struggled to catch his breath.

Bob… I really need you. This rage inside me… I want to give in so badly and need you to walk me back from the cliff I’m standing next to, that I’m ready to jump off of.

“He’s not back yet. I am sorry to hear.”

Scratching the scales on Rakonath’s neck, Max smiled at his dragon.

“You know… I owe W… your father for allowing us to bond. Right now, I cannot express how much you mean to me.”

“Do not worry, Max. I can sense it through our bond. Now let us return to your friends. If what you told me is true, there is not much time to wait.”

***

Everett and Tom stood with his family, watching as Fowl and Batrire climbed into Max’s dimensional space.

“We’ll be back.”

“You better,” Stacy said as she held Callie in her arms. “I swear, if you don’t come back, I’ll find a way to track you down and kick your arse.”

Chuckling, he gave her and his niece each a kiss on their foreheads.

“You’ve grown into a fine man,” his mother said softly. “Who knew we could raise someone as kind as you?”

“I just copied what I saw you and Dad do.”

Tears ran down his mother's face like a small stream, but she didn’t wipe them away.

“Take care, son. We’ll see you soon.”

Giving his father a nod, he embraced them both.

Finally, he turned to where Everett and Tom stood.

“Tell the other Faction leaders I’m not going to make that dinner we planned.”

Laughter came from both men, slightly force,d and each nodded.

“I’m certain they’ll understand. Do you need anything else? Items? Potions?”

Shaking his head, Max pointed at Tanila sitting on Rakonath’s neck.

“We have everything we need. All that remains to do now is find Atheila and save Cordellia.”

Tom put a hand on his shoulder.

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“If… for some reason you can’t–”

“I will.”

“Stop, just listen one last time to me. Take one last piece of advice, please.”

Clamping his mouth shut, Max stopped talking.

“If she can’t be saved, do not lose yourself. We all know vengeance. Trust me when I say Everett and I know how it can consume a person. When all this is said and done, come back as the man we know and love.”

Seeing that Tom was done talking, Max held out his hand.

“I’ll try.”

“That’s all we can hope for,” Everett said as he bid him goodbye. “Travel safe.”

Giving one last wave, Max moved to the open dimensional space.

“You two good?”

“Stay in here or sit on the back of a dragon? I’m perfect. Now go find our friend,” Fowl replied. “There’s a blood oath I need to fulfill.”

With a single thought of Max’s mind, the opening vanished, and he vaulted himself into the air, using his skill to maneuver until he was right behind Tanila on Rakonath’s back.

“You ready?”

“No, but remember to let me lead when we get there.”

He nodded.

I’m ready when you are.

Rakonath didn’t say a word, simply launching himself into the air and flying out over the walls of the faction and the city.

“You know they’re going to tell her we are on our way?” Tanila called out.

“I’m betting on it.”

***

He watched as Tanila approached him with some of the food that Batrire had finished preparing.

“You need to eat, even if you don’t need to eat.”

Snorting, Max took it and held it up to his nose, smelling the stew.

“She never ceases to surprise me. Who knew our healer couldn’t cook?”

Tanila chuckled as she sat beside him on the log he carried to their clearing.

“We’re going to be there tomorrow. You need to understand that what happens next isn’t going to be easy.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? I know it’s going to get ugly and messy. All of us are going to be flagged as murderers, and I’m not sure how long that status will last. So for the tenth time, I know this isn’t going to be easy!”

Every part of him wanted to set the bowl down and tear up the giant trees in the forest they were camping in tonight.

“He's complaining again?” Fowl asked as he arrived with his food. “I was certain we’re done with this conversation yesterday.”

Frowning at his friend, Max grunted.

“Seriously, I’m ready to march in there and burn every part of that city down.” He paused and looked at Tanila, making sure that her gold eyes saw the expression he wore. “Even if it means that innocent people are lost.”

Sighing, she set her bowl down on the ground and stood up.

“Fowl, talk to him… again. Find the man I love inside him, and let him know that I cannot accept that. Somewhere in there has to be the Max who understands that afterward the guilt of his actions would eat at his soul.”

She walked off, leaving the two of them there in awkward silence.

Clearing his throat, Fowl shook his head, seemingly unaffected by Max’s scowl.

“You’re being a real jerk, you know that.”

“It’s Cordellia, and–”

“Yes, the princess has her. Yes, the king and queen are bad elves, but that doesn’t mean an entire nation has to die for their actions. Would you want your entire race to be killed because of something you do? Your sister and her child?”

All his rage and anger vanished as the cold, hard truth of Fowl’s words pierced his heart like a dagger.

Wincing, he clenched his hands so hard and fast that they destroyed the wooden bowl, spraying him and everything within a few feet with stew.

He glanced at Fowl, and both of them started to laugh as Max wiped off the mess with a towel he pulled from storage.

“There’s the man I call a friend and Tanila loves. Use your brains. I mean you got more intelligence points than all of us, maybe put together. You know that we can’t go in there slaughtering children just because they’re in our way. She already warned you that her sister might use them as a shield to prevent you from acting.”

“I know Fowl… I know… It’s just… I promised Cordellia that I would always protect her and treat her like the rest of you. I’m tired of everyone going after the people I love. And with Bob missing… It’s even harder.”

Fowl nodded, took a bite of the stew, and winced. He quickly glanced in Batrie's direction and tossed the contents out before setting the empty bowl on a log and retrieving some food from his storage.

“But you still have us, and we’re here to help you. All we need to do now is make sure that everyone makes it back. Besides, I know what has you scared.”

He could see the frown on his friend's face.

“What is that?”

“Tanila’s father. Him finding out she’s pregnant and that it’s yours.”

Slowly, he nodded, his eyes finding where she was standing.

“We’re going into a den of monsters, and I’m fairly certain I can’t defeat one of them.”

“And that’s why you must trust Tanila to take the lead on this one. Perhaps if you had more time in the tower and if Bob was around you could go in there, kick in the doors and mop the floor with anyone who tried to stop you, but you can’t. So for once, let someone else lead. I mean…”

Fowl cleared his throat a few times, and Max could see his friend chewing on his lip.

“When you joined our party, you still let me lead for a bit and then slowly you took over. It was hard… and… I kinda acted out. Like a fool, I thought if I got better gear, I could maybe take that spot back, but when you were taken from us… I admitted what I had ignored despite knowing it wasn’t true. It was never the gear. You are a natural leader and were a lot stronger than me. Your heart was the only thing bigger than your stats, and I watched you love on Batrire. Right there I knew I could trust you with the most precious gift in my life. That’s why I was honored when we became blood brothers.”

Fowl started massaging his hand, which had been cut for that ceremony.

“Now you need to realize that Tanila is stronger here. Let her lead and know that her heart is in the right place.”

Max nodded and grinned, watching his friend look at him confused.

“What?”

“It’s just that Batrire and Bob are both right. You’ve gotten smarter. Those potions must have given you some intelligence points.”

“Ahh go hump a troll!” Fowl cursed, winking as he gave him the middle finger.

“I’d prefer not to. No telling what they might pass on.”

They laughed, each choosing to ignore what tomorrow held for just a few moments.

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