Dragon Realm
Episode 35's

A small groan reminded Shade of the fact that Cabe was regaining consciousness. He hoped the reason would return so soon.

“Cabe!” Even the whispers felt stirring.

Rubbing his head, Cabe forced his eyes to open and looked in bewilderment at the strange color cage around him. It was like a rainbow going crazy. Bright tones crossed here and there, completely encompassing it. Turning around, he could only barely focus on the figure next to him. When he realized who it was, he almost tried to break through its shell. It was only a warning from Shade that prevented him from throwing himself aside in vain.

“That's not the way, Cabe. You must release the spell.”

“Let go of the spell? Azran—”

The shadow witch raised her gloved hand. “Azran is not responsible. The Turtle Shell was a pure defensive spell. If it is called, it must be from you, and you yourself!”

“Az—”

"Sunny! Say his name too often and he will probably notice it, even though the battle is coming!”

"What battle?"

Shade growling. "I'll tell you later! If you ever set yourself free!”

Cabe decided not to mention that he had no experience or training and could hardly be expected to let go of himself unless he could only hope for the shell to leave.

The turtle shell disappeared.

Confused, Cabe stood up. Even though his legs were wobbly, he was able to stay upright this time. "Is that all I have to do?"

His partner hesitated before speaking. "Yes, that's all."

The fierce roar of the inhuman warriors involved in the battle warned the two of them. The dragon herd of the lord of the Plains of Hell had met the Seekers and other Azran servants. The sound that cools the marrow is constant. Cabe had no intention of seeing a massacre outside.

"Come!" Shade reached out.

A tear in the air itself appeared out of nowhere and spread out until it was large enough for the two to pass through. The faceless witch led the way. Cabe is tempted to touch the edge of the tears, but decides that he might take the risk. Suppose the gap is closed when his hand is still in the room? The mind is not beautiful.

They are in a place that is not a place. Shade stopped long enough to warn Cabe.

“We are in something pretty close to what people call a curse. You have to hold on tight and ignore whatever you hear! If we have to lose each other, you might never find a way out!”

Both continue. Cabe looked at his feet, trying to see what they were doing. It was like staring blankly. A foggy nonland. If he let go of his grip, he wondered, would he fall forever?

The voices touched him. Calling her. Begging him. Laugh and cry. Not loud. Much worse. They were just above the lower limits of his hearing. Whispers from everywhere. Each one caught his attention and tried to distract him.

One of them sounded like a stentorian voice from Darkhorse. Cabe was tense to hear it, but his guide chose that moment to pull him forward. The voice disappeared as a new voice replaced it. He prayed that he would not go crazy before they returned to the real world.

Forever. They've been walking forever, it seems. Shade was calm and unusually loud. The voices seemed to affect him as well. Perhaps more than that, given the curse. He, no doubt, spent some time here.

"There!"

Shade's voice broke through the whisper. Cabe squinted in the direction pointed at by his hooded companion. He saw a tiny speck of light that was almost meaningless. Not significantly, until one realizes that no other form of illumination exists except for the slight light that accompanies both travelers as they enter this non-dream world. With renewed vigor, the two men moved towards that point.

It grew in a strange jump. Distance has no real meaning in this place. What is far away one moment near the next, and so on. They almost walked into a patch of light without expecting it.

Shade grabbed the light with his free hand. Tears are formed in the light. From behind his friend, Cabe caught a glimpse of the rocky landscape. Whatever land it is, it glitters. It glistens like a diamond.

They step. Cabe was so happy to be sitting down. The shade sealed the tear in reality and turned to a younger witch. The expression on the cloaked witch's face was, of course, illegible.

"We'll rest here for now." He sat across from Cabe. The ground was rocky and uneven, but both managed to find a satisfactory spot.

Now that everything was calm, Cabe had some questions to ask the others. “Simon—Shade, what happened to you? We thought you died with Seeker!”

“I'm not easy to kill. Although the spell was strong, my personal defense was able to save me. Barely got. I was thrown into the void between the universes. You might say that I am dead. ”

Cabe, remembering the curse of the shadow witch, shuddered. "Thank you to the gods, you didn't do it!"

Shade may nod a little. "Yes. Thanks to the gods.”

“Who attacked Azran fortress?”

“How do you know where Azran is and that he has me?”

“My strength is much older than what is now played. It gives me a certain advantage. The drawback is also.”

Cabe did not suppress what was clearly an unpleasant topic for his friend. "The black horse disappeared when you did."

His partner hesitated before answering. "I'm afraid Darkhorse may have been lost."

"missing? How's it?"

“The void between the universes is vast. Even though the terrifying horse had fused with the place, he could be banished there forever. Eternity can pass without finding the right way out. It is likely that we have seen him last.” Shade lowered his head.

Cabe wishes he knew the creature better. Apart from his unholy appearance, he was sure of an immortal heart—if Darkhorse had it—ada in the right place.

A small movement caught his attention. That thing—too far to see correctly—lost almost instantly. Whether it was animals or humans is still questionable. Cabe calls his friend, a low voice assuring that no one else will hear.

"The roar! Something's coming here! ”

The hooded witch's head appeared slowly, as if nothing strange had happened. "Can you describe it?"

Cabe shook his head. “It's big. Like a bear, but not too awkward. Besides, it's just a form. Can't see clearly.”

“We'd better be careful. I don't have much choice on location.”

"Why? Where are we?" Relief gives you reason to worry.

“Contest Legar. Land Dragon Crystals.”

Relief is escaping. The Crystal Dragon was one of the few Kings who did not deal with humans in any way. Of them, Ice hates mankind. Green only talked to the wood elf. Crystal—Crystal has no subject except her clan. At least, that's his belief.

That thing must not be human. Cabe looked towards Shade. The faceless witch sat quietly and seemed to ponder the nature of the multiverse. However, before Cabe could say anything, Shade shook his finger to silence him.

With a calm tone, the others whispered, “Let him come closer. Trust me."

It would put his trust on the limit, Cabe decided, but he refrained from saying it. His partner might be smiling. The young witch turned her attention back to the approaching intruder.

It's missing.

He's starting to get up. Shade reached out to stop him. Cabe looked at him questioningly. In return, the others pointed silently behind his younger comrade. Cabe spinning.

An armadillo. Armadillos are taller than men, and stand tall. It is well protected by a thick outer shell and a pair of arms that culminate in sharp claws along the length of the finger. The blackish brown, strangely non-tailed, contrasted with its appearance similar to that of the beast.

The creature stared back at him.

Shade stepped forward and started to let out a strange hooting sound. The heavy armored monster looked at him patiently and, when the magician stopped, replied in the same voice, only much deeper. Then he wandered. Shade nodded and leaned towards Cabe.

“She said she will guide us to a better place. Dragon King Patrol comes here too often.” There was a strange flat tone in his voice.

"What's that?"

“A Kuel. Once upon a time, they inhabited most of the Dragonrealms. Now, only the Legar Peninsula remains from what was once a kingdom rivaling the dragon itself.”

Cabe was about to ask more, but Quel came back abruptly. It was accompanied by another of its kind, almost identical except that it was wider and slightly shorter. There was an expression of malice in his alien eyes. Black is like nothing, he said.

Like the area around them, Quel sparkled brightly. Cabe first believed that it was natural, but then he was given a thin cloth robe covered with tiny sparkling diamonds. Merchants in Mito Pica or Penacles will pay handsomely for it. The first Quel suggests that Cabe should wear it. Shade was wrapping a similar cloth over his hood and robe. It was astonishing that the man did not die from the heat.

“What is this for?”

“The crystal bends and transforms the light and, more importantly, the mantra. It also works as camouflage. In this way, Quel mingled with their surroundings. Even the Crystal Dragon could not find him. As humans, we need cloth; Quel carries their protection in their outermost shell. They wear it during early growth. Cracks in the shell eventually cover much, but not all crystals.”

The creature with those sinister eyes moved furiously. It wants them to keep moving forward. They rushed to obey. Cabe noticed that the other Quel had lined up behind him. He did not think it was to protect them from the Dragon Monarch.

For such sluggish creatures, they moved quickly. Cabe and Shade, who are physically and mentally weakened due to their journey through the dark world of nondunia, are severely depressed to keep up the pace. No one speaks to save energy.