174 Clearing the Vault

(A/N: Sorry I delayed this one, I've been writing something for the Fantasy Carnival competition, something I hope you guys will like. It will be released either the first or second week of December, I'm trying to get a good lineup of chapters so I can do a small mass release when it's ready.)

===============

Bottling the rage I inject my image into her mind, my feelings of pity, pensiveness, and loathing for the man who did this to her. I can feel her trying to reject me but with the aid of the darkness, her mind has no feasible way of pushing me out.

After she sees me for who I really am I try and calm her down a bit by soothing her mind. Her eyes close as she lets out a soft breath that pushes a warm gust of air against me.

Pushing a bit I show her the memories of me taking care of Gil and Enki around the time when I first got them. When I would spend days researching spells while playing with the two or watching the two play with Sin. They are memories with similar feelings that she had when the old man was taking care of her, familiar love.

Feeling Gil and Enki slither up my body till they rest on my shoulders I stop my memories, letting Isla open her eyes again. Through her eyes, I see the image of Gil and Enki standing tall on my shoulders looking expectantly at the dragon.

Her once-angry heart fills with a sense of envy and sadness as her eyes meet mine. Finally, I break my connection with her and rest my hand under her jaw. The dragon's head falls a little as her eyes meet the ground.

Putting my other hand on the side of her head I rub her snout pulling her head up to meet my eyes once again.

"Would you like to join me?"

The dragon's eyes appear hopeful for a moment before they fall again and it tries to lower its head. Strengthening my arm I keep her head up causing her to look at me once again.

"I swear, as long as I live, no one will ever be able to take you captive ever again. You will never be alone, you will be given a home alongside my other animals or you may live by yourself if that is what you wish."

The dragon's eyes look weary but I can tell she would like to come with me. Taking my hands off the dragon's head I grab Enki and Gil from my shoulders and hold them in front of me.

Giving the softest smile I can I hold them tight, "This is the last time I'll ask, do you want to join us?"

Isla's massive frame lays in front of me as she extends out her head and sets it in front of me as if waiting for pats. Setting Gil and Enki back on my shoulders I stroke the ridges on her head.

Her skin is rough and worn but also dull showing the wear that these years have taken on her. There are small scars across her skin showing there must have been a lot of wizards who came and fought her before me. Many have fallen.

Stepping back I take a moment to think about what to do with this dragon that is far bigger than a normal classroom. Noticing that I'm no longer there Isla raises her head and looks at me causing me to smile.

"You probably don't want to be left alone again huh?" Her eyes seem to verify my thoughts, "Let's wake the twins first."

Turning around I walk over to the twins who seem to be taking a good nap, Isla follows slowly creeping over not far behind. Kneeling down next to them I can hear Fred snoring. Rolling my eyes I shake them awake, they don't come to at first but after a few moments, George opens his eyes obviously tired.

"Hmm?" Seeing me his head snaps up as he whips around accidentally smacking Fred in the face."

This time Fred snaps up holding his face, "What in the bloody hell was that for?" He asks looking at George whose mouth is slightly agape staring at Isla. Fred too looks over at what George is looking at and nearly falls back seeing Isla's massive muzzle only a few feet away.

Putting a hand on her nose I smile at them, "Don't worry, she's a friend."

Fred and George exchange a look before glancing back at me with annoyed faces, "Then why did we fight it?" Fred asks gesturing to Isla.

Shrugging I stand back up and stroke Isla's snout, "Well, she wasn't a friend at the time."

"But you could have beaten it anytime right? So what was the point of us fighting 'her'." George adds.

"Well, you guys didn't think I would just walk in with you, do all the work, then share the rewards."They exchange another look, "Kinda, really." Fred says with a small shrug as he brushes dirt off himself.

Gesturing to the door past Isla I give a snide look, "The treasure should be through the door over there, you've earned it."

The twins pop up at the mention of the reward, "You're a good man… boy… guy, Soren, you know that?" Fred says with a grin as he and George quickly walk towards the door without paying mind to Isla anymore.

I'm a bit shocked at how quickly they came to terms with me taking Isla as a companion. Seeing them open the doors I sit down and lean against Isla's neck taking a small break.

After a few minutes, the twins come out with hands full of little metal amulets. They are both giving each other odd expressions as they make their way toward me speaking words I cannot hear.

"So, what did you get?" I ask speaking loudly across the large room.

Like throwing a ball George hucks one of the metal amulets toward me. Leaning forward I catch it surprised by how weighty the small thing is. As it rests in my palm I begin to feel something well up in my chest, a good feeling I can't quite describe. Bravery?

Once they get close Fred speaks up, "Badges of Courage. Nine of them. The clue for the next vault was the broken statue of a squid."

"Or Kraken," George chimes in.

I nod, "The lake?" I question aloud, "What will you do with the medallions?"

"Share 'em," George says with a shrug while Fred nods in agreement.

My brows raise a bit, "I'm surprised, I expected you to sell them."

"Well, they may be needed in the next trial," Fred says with wisdom I didn't think he had.

"I guess that's true… Hey, can you two do me a favor?" The twins look off-put by my question.

""Depends,"" they say in unison.

"Could you get my briefcase from your brother? I don't want to leave this one alone, even if it would just be a bit." Saying that I rub Isla's neck and pat her spikes.

Seeing the side-eye that Isla is giving them the twins nod, "Sure."

Like that they rush off with a quick walk towards the exit. Rolling my eyes I lean against Isla again.

"Buncha pansies," I say to Isla who curls her neck more to encompass me more.