Volume 2 - Chapter 21: The War Council

Isao's departure left a void. The fear his presence inspired was gone, replaced by the much more immediate fear of the dragon waiting for us up the mountain. We were escorted to the knight-commander's tent for a final strategy meeting.

The commander, a stern, grey-haired man named Sir Gideon, looked at us with a newfound respect that was clearly warring with his military sensibilities. "Our scouts report the dragon, Ignis, resides in the central caldera," he said, pointing to a map. "However, the entrance to the lair is guarded by the main force, led by an Orc Warlord named Gorgutz."

"So we just have to punch our way through an orc army and then fight a dragon," Rina summarized, cracking her knuckles. "Sounds like a Tuesday."

Sir Gideon ignored her. "Your party's… unique talents… make you the ideal choice for a surgical strike. While the main army engages Gorgutz's forces here," he pointed to a narrow pass, "you will take this hidden path up the mountain and infiltrate the lair."

"And what about the Evil Lord you mentioned?" I asked, remembering Isao's warning. The dragon wasn't the final boss.

Sir Gideon and the other knights exchanged uneasy glances. "The king's mages have felt a dark presence," he admitted. "An ancient power stirring. We believe this… Evil Lord… is the true mastermind, using the dragon as a pawn. But we have no concrete information on his identity or location."

"So we're fighting blind against a mysterious ultimate evil," Kenta said. "Classic. I love it."

"Your mission is to defeat Ignis," Sir Gideon said, his voice firm. "Severing the head of the beast may throw the rest of the army into chaos and expose their leader. The fate of the kingdom rests on your shoulders."

No pressure, then.

We left the tent, the weight of the mission settling upon us. For the first time, this wasn't just a quest for some silver coins. It was a real war.

"Okay, team," Kenta said, trying to sound like a leader. "We need a plan. Rina, you're our front line. Luna, barriers and support. Chloe, get your weirdest potions ready. I'll… uh… I'll command the snail."

"And what about Akane?" Rina asked, looking at me.

They all looked at me. I was the weakest link in combat, but Isao's presence had given me a strange sort of authority.

"I'll be the wild card," I said, clutching the crystal flower Isao had given me. "My luck got us into this mess. It's about time it did something to get us out."

It was a flimsy plan, held together by alchemy, snail slime, and sheer desperation. But it was all we had. That night, under the red glow of the volcano, we prepared for the battle that would make or break us.