My true destiny . . . what was the voice trying to say to me? Am I thinking who what I think they are? My body jolted before I squint to see two hands nudging my chest. I tried to speak, but it turned out I couldn't. "Rise and shine, kid. Haha. Just kidding." The beaming face was none other than Sean's. From my blurry vision, I couldn't see what was happening, but I could hear them. We're still together, thank the heavens. I heard Claes shouting and swords slashing with a powerful shriek. I shook my head before realizing the problem, which was quite a shocker.

A tree was grabbing Lenard and Chloriette with its thick branches wrapped around their waist, especially around Chloriette's mouth, I heard her squirming as she struggles. With her mouth shut, she couldn't sing. Without her singing magic, she couldn't hypnotize the gigantic aggressive tree. "What the heck is going on?!" I asked, looking at Sean but he didn't answer, instead, he told me, "Long story. Explain later. They need help. Now." The both of us were hiding behind a log. Yelling at the both of us, Claes wasn't surprise to see me awake, but he was surprised my hair was messed up.

"Where's Victor?" I looked at the sides of the tree, even behind it, in hopes of seeing a boy my age who liked punching so much. "Well, he was eaten horribly . . . ," Sean said reluctantly. 

"What!?" I reacted. I flew off so the tree tilted its trunk at me. My claymore was ready in my hand as it started to light up. I swung my claymore, shooting flames out to cut the branches off where Chloriette and Lenard were wrapped. The two of them collapsed on the ground, but the impact didn't seem to hurt them, but I had no idea about Lenard though.

I spotted a gap between those wobbling branches. "Victor, he's in there!" Chloriette pointed on top of the tree. Quickly barging into the hole, I was ready to strike the monster and rescue our friend.

"You can just strangle the tree by yourself, idiot." Lenard shook his head. We were all a mess. "What were you thinking?"

"I am not going to lie, but . . ." Victor cleared his throat as we sat on the dead tree. "I saw this cute little fuzzy creature running around like a little mouse." We didn't react to the thought that Victor was chasing a cute animal. We didn't know what to say either. "I couldn't resist. I went to chase it and . . . I want to catch its furry tail."

"Do not follow cute things next time." Claes glared. "It'll surely kill you."

"Yeah, like that one time I was lured by a puppy before I almost got devoured." Sean scratched the back of his head.

"Victor, you idiot," Chloriette hissed. "You could've died."

"Hey, look on the bright side!" Victor smiled. "At least we're here in the Field of Zescield and MaXabiere's awake."

I am awake. That reminded me. "Right, before we move on I have to tell you something."

"So you're saying is that you dream-traveled again and saw your mother who told your sister about knights coming, like what Avalar warned you about." Lenard rubbed his temple as we headed to the peaceful field. 

"And this weird guy with the voice, when and how will he find us?" Chloriette asked.

I shook my head. "I don't know, but the Shadow knights could be everywhere."

"And they are extremely dangerous," Claes said as he stepped over a log. "We cannot let them stop us. We're going to Mt. Impyerno, clean things up. And it's over."

"To get things done," I said. "Rhoamon told me that the Devastrigon's weakness is its heart." I pointed at my chest. "But it won't be easy. We need a distraction so I could penetrate it with this." I unsheathed my claymore, its blade shone brightly before I put it inside the scabbard again.

"First thing's first, how are we supposed to go in Mt. Impyerno, dig through the ground until we find it?" Sean scoffed.

I thought about that too, How are we supposed to find another way out of this field? It's so big. "Maybe we should find some clues," Lenard immediately suggested. "Mr. Aisle or King Xander must have put signs around here somewhere."

"I don't think-" Claes was cut off when Victor spotted a meadow of yellow grains sliced through as if a mad reaper rampaged its way here. "Check this out. A clue!" He shouted from a few feet away. We came to him and I knelt, looking closely at the torn field. 

"A sharp blade cut through here, because of the way it's been cut straightly," I said.

"A very sharp blade." I heard as Claes came over.

"Wow, I mean look at this mess. Just . . . wow," Sean reacted.

"This could be King Xandier's doing." Claes scanned the view in front of him. "No one could cut this many and with such perfection but him," he added. "Something happened here."

"You think?" Sean raised his eyebrow in doubt. 

"Maybe there's another threat here," Lenard said. "And those threats might be hiding under the fields." We all looked at him with curiosity. Then he shrugged. "Just a simple logic I learned back at the academy."

I turned again to see the fallen grains. When I looked up, I saw a trail between the other grains sliced sideways. "Guys, in here!" I said to them, pointing at the trail.

"And what could this be?" Sean knelt, picking up the fallen pieces of grain. 

"More trails," Claes responded quickly. "It means King Xander and the others must have fought something. Lenard's logic gave us a clue."

Victor grinned. "Then let's follow it."

"I hate following strange trails," Lenard pouted. We followed the trails on top of the hill, into a tunnel, and more crushed fields as if an army marched through, destroying the fields in the process. "So what do you guys think?" I asked them. "Is it big or small?"

"The what?" Victor's eyes widened in shock.

"The monster," Lenard nudged him at the side. "Man, if it's big. We're all going to die." He looked nervous, rubbing the side of his arms.

"Whatever that is, I hope we could find our way to the key or something after we settle this." Chloriette sighed. 

"Key or not, I just can't wait to impale the monster in the heart when we get to Mt. Impyerno," I said, blood almost rising in anticipation. I just need to focus here before getting into big trouble.

Finally, what all you've been waiting for, we stopped by the end of the trail and it led us toward aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa cottage. Yup, a single cottage, smoke emerging from the chimney. We all exchanged looks. "Okay . . . ? So that's how you make a trail that'll lead you to your house in the middle of nowhere." Victor snapped his fingers, then pointed at the cottage.

"Fields, technically," Lenard said straightforward.

"Well, I'm out. Peace." Victor turned, kissed his fingers, and raised them in a peace sign, but Chloriette grabbed him by the arm. "Oh no, you don't." She glared.

"Someone could be in here." I wondered.

"Then, let's be the visitors." Claes made his first move. But suddenly he backed away and shoved me in front. "Kid, I think you should go first instead."

"Wha-why it has to be . . . oh alright." I stammered out but I had no other choice. I didn't even expect that. I knocked on the door. Excuse the Dragonslayer. But no one heard me as if no one was living- "Who's there?" -never mind. A voice coming from a man in his fifties, I guess. "The ones who are gonna save the world before it gets destroyed," I awkwardly said. The wooden door creaked before a man with grayish hair and wrinkled face peeked out. "Who are you, how did you find this place?" He growled. I opened my mouth, but he stopped me. "Bah! Screw this! Come in, come in!" He gestured us inside irritatingly.

He poured us tea in our cups on his almost wrecked table. His home was not so bad, if it weren't for the cracked ceilings, ripped curtains, shattered portraits, and all the punctured flowers. How did he get flowers in a place like this? This senior wore dirty long sleeves with his tattered shorts. His curly, silver hair was so dusty, I wanted to brush it away. Like him, his sunken grey eyes held a dark and grim expression. His feet were so filthy it looked like he didn't take a bath for years- oh, wait.

"I'm going to ask you again." He broke the awkward silence. "What and how the hell did you get in here?" He was sitting in his rocking chair, waiting for someone to respond. We had no idea who was gonna answer first, neither Claes nor Sean. So, I did what I had to do. "We-"

"Wait a minute," his cranky, raspy voice said. He leaned forward and focused on every one of us. Then, he lazily leaned backward. "This is just fantastic! First, a red-haired guy barged into my territory and now a bunch of . . . teenagers with one man and one hippie-with-style." The old man tossed his arms to the air.

"You met Mr. Aisle McKenzie?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course I do, he's the reason why my house is a total wreck, especially that friend of his," the old man said. "Must be the darn genie's fault and those portals."

"Did he say something?" Claes asked.

"Of course, you dummy. Mr. Aisle began his stupid quest when bad things started to happen, he went here just to seek my help. Well . . . I did help him, and what did I get? This!" His arms waved wildly. A chunk of debris fell from the ceiling.

"It seems you know pretty much about us," Lenard said. "It is time to know who you are." 

Without a thought, he abruptly smiled and laughed. "Where are my manners? I am the opener of worlds, you see? Right now, I live here. I am Zescield, though they called my name with 'Mr.' on it."

Jaw dropped, every one of us reacted. "So . . . this is your field?" Sean asked.

"Well, since I lived here for many years, you could say that." Mr. Zescield nodded.

"Field of Zescield, no wonder," Chloriette mumbled.

"Will you help us get to Mt. I'm-" I was cut off by him again.

"Why does he look like he's been eaten by a tree?" Mr. Zescield pointed at Victor who was all ragged and messy, sitting quietly while trying to keep himself cool. 

"I thought it was a chipmunk," Victor muttered.

I asked again, completely. "Ahem . . . um . . . so will you take us to Mt. Impyerno?"

"And risk a chance that something bad will happen in my property, again? Not even a . . . did you say Mt. Impyerno?" He looked at me.

"Y-yes, will you help us get there?"

"Hang on, let me think . . ." He rubbed his chin.

"Please," I pleaded, "We're running out of-"

"Wait a minute!" His eyes widened. He jumped and went to his library. We followed him and found Mr. Zescield flipping at the pages, this guy was weird. "Aha!" He started to mutter before closing the book. "You're a Dragonslayer?" Mr. Zescield asked shockingly, looking at me with disbelief. 

"I know the feeling." I nodded, understanding that the concept of this whole thing is different. 

"Seriously, destiny?" Mr. Zescield blurted, looking up. "It just had to be a boy, hmm? It had to be a boy accompanied by teenagers with this hippie-looking fellow. Great job!"

"Mr. Zescield, we'll leave you alone if you just send us to Mt. Impyerno," I said.

"I don't think this would help, Xabe." Chloriette held my shoulder.

"Is it just me? Or is this guy Koo-Koo than I am?" Victor shook his head.

"Agree." Sean nodded, but the both of them minimized their voices. Mr. Zescield calmed himself down before he went back into staring-at-your-guest-like Mr. Zescield style. "What kind of dragon are you about to slay?" He asked. Before I even answer, he turned away. "No, no, no I don't wanna know. This is bad. Very bad."

"Excuse me, Mr. Zescield-" I was about to speak, but he stopped me, again. "On second thought, tell me the dragon you're about to slay." The look on his face was telling me that he had enough of his life.

A/N: 

Can't blame Victor when it comes to cute animals. So what are your thoughts on Zescield? Yeah, he is cranky, but he's not that bad. The story continues in the next chapter! Again, thank you so much for reaching this far!