Chapter 14

Reaching the Wyvern, Yozora reached out and gently touched its chest as it stood on its hind legs.

Looking down at her, the Wyvern growled and its tail whipped behind it violently as Yuna and Philomena stared, frozen in fear as it moved forward quickly.

Shutting their eyes, they expected to hear sounds of violence and Yozora's pained voice but all they heard was a soft, almost purr like noise.

Opening their eyes, the saw the Wyvern purring and nuzzling its head into Yozora's chest as she pet it.

"What the? How?"

Looking at them, Yozora smiled.

"The poor thing had some kind of sharp crystal forced into its belly."

Tossing a large green crystal toward them, she chuckled as the Wyvern licked her face like a dog.

As it thudded to the ground, Philomena stood and inspected it.

"Where did simple Kobolds get this?"

Lifting it, she shook her head as Yozora and Yuna shared a look at her frightened voice.

"What is it, anyway Dear? This poor boy said that some cloaked people forced it into its belly before he escaped and found this cave. The Kobolds fed him so he stayed around."

Shivering slightly, Philomena took a shaky breath as she placed the crystal down just as a set of yellow eyes flashed within its green, hazy, mist like substance it contained.

"It's a subjugation crystal. The Demon tribe uses these to enslave beasts and larger creatures like trolls or giants. It usualy turns them into mindless slaves. I guess the Wyvern escaped before the bonding spell could be incanted. Though I suspect the Demonic influence is what caused his aggression."

Hearing Inoue groan as he woke, Yuna hugged him tightly as Philomena and Yozors walked over.

"What happened?"

Rubbing his head as I sat with Yuna clinging to him, he gasped when he saw the Wyvern behind Yozora.

"It's ok, Dear. He's a friend. A very cuddly and friendly one at that."

Seeing the Wyvern nuzzle her, he looked at Yuna who was just releasing him to collect his sword as Philomena crouched.

"He was being controlled by a Demon subjugation crystal."

Pointing at the crystal, Philomena shuddered again.

Standing and walking over to it, he picked it up.

"Be careful, Darling. It might try to influence you."

Heading her warning, he placed it down.

"Where did the Kobolds get one of these?"

He asked in confusion while taking his sword from Yuna.

"He says that some cloaked men forced it into him. He also says that he is very sorry for attacking and hurting you."

Glancing at Yozora and the Wyvern, they saw that the Wyvern was hanging its head with its tail between his legs like a sad dog.

"It's ok. If he was being controlled by that, then it wasn't his fault. But dealing with Demon stuff like this already? We're only level one. This shouldn't be happening for like another twenty levels."

Crossing his arms, he began to think as the girls discussed the dangers of the Demon items like the crystal as well as the gold and gems.

Walking over to the treasure, Philomena tapped her foot.

"How are we gonna get this stuff out of here? There's so much. And it would be a shame to leave it for other people to find and take. Imagine how much it's worth."

Joining her, Yuna tapped her chin as the Wyvern squeaked.

"Ken says that if we something to put it on he would pull it for us."

Looking at Yozora, the girls tilted their heads.

"Ken?"

Seeing their confused reactions, Yozora giggled.

"Thats what he says his name is."

"I'm pretty sure I saw half a wagon back in the central chamber. I'm guessing it's what the Kobolds brought the cows on. That's where I left the crate of milk we got from the farmer."

Yuna and Philomena quickly ran toward the central chamber at Inoue's words, leaving him and Yozora with Ken and the treasure.

"We should take this back to town. Maybe that woman in the magic shop might know more about it or where it came from. I know Demon magic is different then normal magic but it's worth a shot."

Nodding, Yozora joined him, watching as the green mist inside flashed with a pair of evil looking yellow eyes.

"She did seem to know alot about magic. And she did tell us to come back if we ever needed her magical expertise."

Hearing Ken growl, they looked at him and Yozora touched his head.

"He said that as long as it doesn't touch his body, he'll carry it."

Nodding, they heard Yuna's voice from the tunnel.

"We found the wagon but it won't fit down the tunnel!!"

Looking at Yozora, Inoue hummed.

"Do you think you can use some levitation or wind magic to carry the treasure through the tunnel?"

Opening her tome, she scanned through pages and nodded.

"I think this should work. Stand back boys."

Backing away from her, Ken moved slightly behind Inoue as wind began to circulate her.

The pile of gold and gems began to rise into the air, forming a trail behind her as she walked toward the tunnel.

"Follow me boys, just be careful not to get hit by the treasure."

Following her into the central chamber, they joined Yuna and Philomena. Watching as the treasure dutifully piled itself into the wagon as well as the crystal that was magicaly pulled from Inoue's arms and buried inside the treasure.

Once the treasure was in the wagon, Ken took his place and let Yuna and Philomena hitch him on.

"All right. Let's get this back to town. We can turn in the quest and then see about exchanging this for Guira."

"All of it? But some of the gems are so shiny."

"And there are some really nice jewelry pieces in the pile Darling."

Chuckling with Yozora at Yuna and Philomena's complaints, Inoue nodded.

"We can exchange most of it for Guira. But first let's get back to town. It's gotta be getting pretty late."

Exiting the cave, Inoue took up the lead as Yozora settled onto Ken's back while Philomena and Yuna sat on the wagon, fishing through the treasure. The setting sun casting a warm, calming orange glow across the wide open plains as they made their way back to town after a job well done on their first quest together.