The next morning the party began their trek westward in hopes that Krasis would show itself to them. To Alex, this was his only hope of saving Lunar. Although he had high hopes in reaching Krasis, deep down in his heart was a skepticism that made him believe that it was impossible that this city would just 'pop up' out of nowhere.
Mathis however, as usual, had his infinite sense of optimism flowing through him. That was his virtue, Alex believed. Mathis was always optimistic no matter what the situation. But with optimism, came usually stubbornness.
"Hey Alex," Mathis called. "Do you think we can stop by a town."
"We have to continue this route without going askew," Nevanyk stated.
"But I need a new sword," Mathis whined.
"No you don't."
"What do you mean I don't!" Mathis was now quite mad at Nevanyk. Who does he think he is?
"You're a fool, boy." Mathis was flabbergasted. He had no idea what the man was talking about, but assumed that he would soon find out. "You suck with a sword little man." At this Mathis was thrown into a vortex of surprise and uselessness. Mathis couldn't believe what Nevanyk was saying. All his life he wanted to be a swordsman. And now to be told that he was horrible with a sword was quite a blow.
As Mathis was still in his daze, Nevanyk continued. "However, you did show quite an amount of potential with Matron. You should veer off the macho swordsman act, and do what you're good at. Only a complete idiot ignores potential."
Mathis, still being caught in his daze, didn't really hear the rest of Nevanyk's words. He stood there, pleading silently for someone to re-enforce his beliefs that he was good with a sword. However, none came.
"You know Mathis," Aren said, "I don't know about your skills with a blade, but Nevanyk has a point about your skill with Matron. You're one of best the Matron magi that I have seen." Mathis was now starting to come out of the trance. Did Nevanyk give me a compliment? He did! He said I was good with Matron!
Jezza approached Mathis and placed her hands upon his shoulders. Mathis had a good six inches on her so she had to reach up to him. On any other circumstance he would have laughed, but he was to distraught to do any of the sort. "Mathis, Nevanyk is right. You're good with a sword; but you're great with Matron. It would be beneficial if you do in fact try to become a Matron mage."
Jezza knew this would make him feel better. It was good to tell a few white lies here and there, she thought. Especially since the fact that she also thought that Mathis was quite bad with a sword.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" Nevanyk laughed to himself.
"What's so funny?" Mathis asked, now fully back to reality.
"It's just that," Nevanyk stopped as he pulled something out of his pocket. It was Matron; an indigo one. Nevanyk tossed the sphere at Mathis and he caught it. "I never thought I'd be giving this to a boy." Nevanyk buried his face into his chest for a moment, then raised it and stared at the boy. "It would be a lot more helpful in your hands. Cuz' personally, I suck with the stuff."
Mathis looked at the orb he held in his palm and asked the absolute stupidest question in the world. "What is it?"
"It's a Matron you idiot! Stole it off a Malachyte a few years back. I think it has the power of lightning."
Mathis closed his hand over the Matron. He could feel the magic coursing through his veins; the knowledge of many spells saturating into his brain. It was a pleasant feeling. He looked into the party and announced, "From now on, I am no longer Mathis the swordsman; I am now Mathis, the Matron mage!"
On the trip to Ruid, Jessica continuously asked Nall questions about his new form. She asked about "how he learned how to do it", and "how long can you stay in this form", or even "do you even know how to use that sword". Her latter question would soon be answered.
As they approached Ruid, they saw that it was surrounded by a gargantuan iron wall. The door that they used to get in seven years ago, was mysteriously re-sealed. "I wonder who re-sealed it?" Jessica asked. She asked even though she knew the answer. Taben had done. Taben had re-sealed the door to keep people out of his work, whatever that might be.
"Taben no doubt," Nall replied. Before he had a chance to closer inspect the door, a mechanical beast leapt from behind the wall towards them. Before Jessica had a chance to attack it, Nall had already drawn his sword and slashed in several arcs.
The slashes were quite visible, as the machine sparked in those areas before it exploded in a cloud of black smoke, and red-orange flame. Several more beasts attacked the two. Jessica leaped behind one and slashed some tubing with her claws. Crude, black ooze sprayed out of the tube, and the machine ceased to move.
"What the," Jessica said amazed and confused. "I thought these things ran on steam!"
"Looks like the old fart improved a bit the past seven years." Nall and Jessica continued to attack the machines, but there were just to many of them. "Jessica!" Nall ordered. "Follow me!" Nall returned his sword to his scabbard and began to retreat.
"I hope you know what you are doing!" Jessica told him as she followed him away from the fray.
"Just trust me all right!" When they ran a certain distance, the machines stopped following them. "Just as I thought." Nall said eyeing the horde of mechanical beasts returning to Ruid.
"Myght told me allot about these machines," Nall told her. "He said that they didn't have a mind of their own, so they had to 'programmed' orders. These machines must be programmed to just guard the city."
"Got any ideas?" Jessica asked.
"Just one," Nall replied. Before she could ask what it was, a flash of white light temporarily blinded her. When she was finally able to see, she saw that Nall had transformed into a White Dragon.
"Great idea!" Jessica knew exactly what Nall wanted to do. He wanted to use his dragon breath to destroy the wall along with all the mechanical guards. "Just make sure that you don't destroy the tower all right!"
Nall flew high over head. When he was above the city, he opened his mouth. A bolt of white lightening spewed from his maw. When the beam reached the city, it exploded in a upwards spiral of white light. All it took was one shot. The two should be able to take care of the rest of the surviving machines.
Nall landed and reverted to his human form. "Hey, aren't I awesome!"
"Enough with the bragging," Jessica scolded, "we should head towards Taben's Tower." Nall nodded in agreement, and they proceeded back toward the ruined city.