Spirit Taming

Chapter 406: A Deal Made

Whether it was about family or the city, Illia's mother would never change the way she acted. Right now she was the Nebula city lord. The most important tamer that ruled over an entire city. The person responsible for every life that was within the city.

Add in the fact that she had taken back this position for her family name fairly recently, then it was even more important that she showed seriousness at the current situation they were in.

"This is a child of the ice dragon. It is here to make sure that you begin preparing the best of the best forge masters to learn a skill that I taught another forge master already. Well, I taught a blacksmith." This was the first time that the city lord's expression had changed.

Lord Astrid looked down at Clark and was sure that he was getting at something larger. However, she had no idea what he might have known that came to forging that others did not. Especially those that had worked for years and years. Clark was too young to have developed his own techniques. Too young to have discovered something ancient that he could master.

Too young for a lot of things when it came to an entire field of arts that was incredibly important to every single city.

"It's about being able to forge eternal ice. Ralph invited the person that I taught the basics to, to your home. The blacksmith never came because he was most likely locked away in solitary study. To forge eternal ice a special technique is needed that I happened to learn when I was hunting around. It didn't make much sense until I showed it off. The ice dragon needs people with that ability.

A very high class of talent for that ability."

"I think you should know a little of why the ice dragon is there and how long she has been there. This skill can make something that will let her leave the dungeon. There might be a chance that it is able to revert closer to what it used to be many years ago. Or, you might be able to have a guardian of the entire mountain range return."

The explanation made Lord Astrid wonder just how this was possible. She had tried to speak with the ice dragon many times and just been ignored. She had also been able to see the records of those that had spoken to the ice dragon in the past. So many people had been used as entertainment. Just brought there and led around in circles by her children.

Those that had actually met the ice dragon as she had, were sure that they were just there to be toyed with in general. The challenges to get something they wanted were too high. And those that had managed to complete them were finding themselves with the lowest of low quality of whatever they had tried to get. A ridiculous endeavor.

The benefits had been great though. The tamers that went in would get tougher from the raging blizzards, would find rarer ice materials or herbs, and had even been able to challenge their instincts. This had been a good way to train the elite guards and soldiers of Nebula. Only the pressure of such dangerous conditions could create someone truly able to stand above the average level of their peers.

Many things rushed through lord Asrtird's mind. She could see that this was a good thing for the ice dragon. But as things were, it was safer to have an extremely powerful beast safe and sound locked away. There was not a chance for it to attack them. Yet, if they helped the ice dragon, then they could gain a much larger and safer territory.

One that could even yield more because the ice dragon would be able to show them things that they would not normally find.

The knowledge of the seal that was on the entire city and the entire mountain range was something that many would never discover, it was an impossible thing to know without a very specific set of skills. The sealing was very old and the only reason that nebula officials knew of it was simply because they had been able to find documents from long ago recording battles and other things in the area.

A few ruins had proven that something rested here, imprisoned.

"And what will we gain if we are able to send our best to the ice dragon? We will lose many blacksmiths, young and old." Lord Astrid glared down at the group with incredible pressure. She wasn't just looking at Clark. She saw that the entire group had been through the same thing as Clark and understood that they all had their views on this. Hearing just one might be foolish.

yet, they all had the same resolute look. They all agreed on their methods. A very odd situation for people so young who would normally be more divided.

"Just do it. You get blacksmith's that learn how to carve eternal ice. You have plenty in your city that can't be touched. A few of those pieces of ice are hiding eternal ice. We all noticed it. You know it.

Plus that ice dragon has been stuck there forever. The sooner she gets out the sooner you can become the city with a dragon guardian allied with Nova. basically, no fighting and you can make sure there aren't any orphans running around dying of cold and hunger."

Blunt. That was what Ralph had spoken like, had sounded like, and just generally was. That was the best method though. A blunt explanation of why he wanted to get this over with. He may have added his own reason since he was sure that Nebula had the same issues as Nova. there were always those that didn't have a home.

With a guardian taking pressure off of the guards, they could focus on the people even more.

What rang even clearer was the fact that the children could see the safety of just saying there was a dragon guardian. A powerful free beast that chose to protect lands. Allying with Nebula would be much greater than being an enemy. Therefore, they would have trade, allies, and knowledge sharing with every single city they decided to speak with.

Their strength would be immense compared to other cities even if they didn't have control of the ice dragon at all.

"And is the ice dragon able to help if this deal is unkempt by the people of Nebula?" the brutal ice lizard stood back up as Lord Astrid asked this. It looked at her before giving a soft hiss. Everyone knew that it was saying they shouldn't doubt its mother. That she would greatly uphold any deal made. The pride of a dragon was not something so weak. Dragons were not known for their deceit.

"We will hold another event. We will find those that want to win a prize for their usage of blacksmithing. The best young blacksmiths under the age of twenty will be allowed to compete for the chance. They will learn the technique to forge eternal ice then go to train within the dungeon. We will also send those to take care of them and have a way to reach them as needed.

If there is an issue, we will respond accordingly." The hard exterior of lord Astrid's words were clear. The brutal ice lizard didn't flinch but instead turned and immediately started walking toward the location of the dungeon. The guards outside made a little noise as they saw this.

"Escort the brutal ice lizard home. Make sure it is there safe. Do not allow a single scratch to a single scale!" Lord Astrid spoke loudly and every guard available moved to make certain the orders were followed. "Now, we may need more information here." The change was to a bit softer of a tune. Clark was sure this was the moment to explain a few other things that happened.

While Ella, Isa, and Maria took the bulk of explaining their journey in to the dungeon. Clark tried to keep things more or less hidden when it came to the information he shouldn't easily know. They made it seem that they had managed to find things that documented the events of the past in the dungeon.

When they got to the description of the ice garden, Astrid looked at them wondering just how they had managed to get that deep in the castle. But through the entire explanation and understanding that they had been able to do all of this because the ice dragon had taken an interest in them. The ice dragon had seen it all within her dungeon. Seen right through who they were.

"And the last item we got when the ice dragon had left is the saliva that we asked for to heal your husband and Illia's father. It is the most important ingredient in the antidote for his disease. So, I think it's best that you and Illia forget about us for a little while.

Eventually the price will be paid when the blacksmiths help the ice dragon." Clark left it at this as he placed the vial down on the table set up for them to sit at within the tent.