The Golden Dragon Emperor

Scroll 4: The Wager

For a decade, Darius had finally seen the clear blue sky and breathed in fresh air.

He stood still, basking in the fresh breeze that blew across his hair. His eyes closed as he reminisced about what it felt like to be free.

He had been robbed of twelve years of his life; they took his name, his childhood, and his future.

Darius stood there, raising his hand as birds fluttered around it.

“Finally…”

Darius closed his eyes as his veins shimmered, and his body radiated powerful energy.

His bones ached, and his stomach hungered; he did one thing…

Vengeance.

The sound of an engine snapped him out of his daze, and he turned to see a black-and-white SUV.

Arnold stood there, with a strange look on his face.

“Shall we?” he asked, pointing to the car.

Darius nodded, moving to the car; he was directed to the back seat, which was well decorated and made for a high figure.

He sat down, with Arnold sitting right next to him. The car's engine fired up, and they drove off.

Darius stared outside the window, seeing the magnificent city of Thalos, witnessing a sight that had been only in his dreams.

The drive was about ten minutes long, and they got to a hospital.

EMERALD COVE HOSPITAL…

Decorated like a royal palace, it had glass walls and symbols etched into the ceiling.

This was the place where the elite and the royal family came to be treated.

‘Tacky...’

Darius thought to himself as Arnold opened the door of the hospital for him, treating him like he was a king.

Arnold and Darius walked in, side by side like they were there on a top-secret mission.

The nurses and doctors turned to look at them; everyone in Thalos knew Arnold and the pressure he brought.

But the young man next to him, dressed in plain clothes, yet his presence alone commanded a crushing aura, almost as if the air around him made everyone uneasy.

They reached the ward where Arnold's family was. He opened the door, and inside Darius saw a woman with long brown hair; a girl and a boy lay on the beds with oxygen and tubes helping them live.

Seated in the room with his hand on over his head was Cole Zigga, Arnold's father, and Henshaw Kite, Arnold's father-in-law.

Both were high-ranking patriarchs in Thalos, but the condition of their families had made them uneasy.

Standing over the ill was a doctor, dressed in a well-decorated long coat, over forty years old.

“Father,” Arnold went to his father and father-in-law. “I brought someone who will help with Aliya and the kids…”

Henshaw stared at Darius, examining him from head to toe.

“And this is…” He raised his brow, staring at the odd boy right in front of him.

“Mr. Zigga, I didn't tell you to bring a consultant, and from which ragged establishment did you get ripped off?”

The doctor spoke, looking the man right in the face.

“He has saved hundreds of lives inside Zeta Doom; he is…” Arnold spoke, trying to defend Darius's presence.

“Zeta Doom?” the doctor repeated, his veins bulging as he looked at Darius and Arnold.

“You brought one of those animals from your prison here? We would have to disinfect this whole place!”

“What?!” Henshaw flared up, staring at Arnold in the eye. “You brought a prison rat to help your family, have you lost your mind!?”

Everyone knew that doctors, with age and experience, could turn the fate of anyone in any ward around, but a boy who looked like he had no experience in basic first aid was a slap in the face.

“I have seen him bring people who were on the verge of dying back to life, father; he has…”

“With bandages, urine and whatever it is he has in that dump?” the doctor added, his eyes turned to Darius.

“I bet he doesn't even know the severity of their condition; maybe he heard the gossip about your family from the guards and wanted to bargain with you!”

Darius stood there, silent and enraged.

“I didn't come here to be insulted, Mr. Zigga…” he finally spoke.

He spoke as his aura began creating pressure in the room.

“I would rather not stand here and argue with an inexperienced doctor who doesn't even know how to treat a simple illness.”

His words were calm and low, but they cut deep; Darius had insulted the doctor.

Arnold gasped; Henshaw was short of words.

The doctor's face boiled red with rage.

“Did you just call this simple?!” he barked, staring at Darius. “We have consulted specialists from overseas, doctors that have treated presidents and Lords-”

“Yet none of you could see what was wrong with them; doesn't that mean you are getting old, and you should retire?”

Darius took a step closer, looking at the people lying down on the beds.

His arrogance filled the room.

“You arrogant bastard, how dare-”

“This is Arijuis Poisoning…” Darius spoke, looking at them.

Everyone in the room froze, shocked to hear what the boy had to say.

“It's blocking their bloodstream, and their hearts are beginning to fail…all you have been doing is treat the symptoms and sustain their life.”

Hope flickered in Arnold's eyes as he stared at Darius.

“Arijuis poisoning?” The doctor scoffed. “Is this boy serious?! Warden Zigga, before this boy kills your family, I advise you to throw him out of here!”

“Silence!” Arnold roared, looking at the doctor. “We are giving him a chance…”

“Arnold!” Henshaw roared, taking Arnold by the shoulder, looking him in the eye. “If anything happens to my daughter, I will make sure that both of you rot in Zeta Doom!”

Darius let out a sigh, turning to leave the room.

“Kill yourselves if that is what you wish to do…” he spoke slowly, about to leave. “I have no business with that.”

Arnold saw Darius leaving; he threw himself to the ground. Holding Darius by his trousers.

“Please, Lord Winters…” Arnold looked up with tears in his eyes. “Dont leave my family to die.”

Arnold’s display shocked everyone; his father looked at his son, then at the man who stood there. He knew that there was something off about Darius, but he couldn’t tell what it was.

“Mr. Zigga, please…”

Darius spoke, looking at the people lying unconscious.

“I will treat them, but when I start, I want no distractions…”

Darius moved closer to the people he was about to work on.

The doctor looked disgusted and confused. “Mr. Zigga, dont call me when your family dies in the hands of this vermin…and as for you,”

He turned to Darius, with a cold look. “I will make sure that you are thrown back into Zeta Doom, once you are done with your foolishness.”

“Security, make sure you don’t head too far…there is a vermin you would remove in a few minutes.”

Guards stood by the ward door, waiting for the doctor’s orders.

“I will make sure he is thrown back to Zeta Doom, and no one will bring him out!” the doctor barked loudly, staring at Darius.

Darius paused, turning to look at the doctor.

“Why don’t we make this interesting, doctor?” he spoke with his brow furrowed. “An eye for an eye, blood for blood?”

“Tsk, what are you going on about? Are you trying to pull me into your foolish scam?” the doctor spoke proudly.

Darius smirked; he stood straight.

“If I am not able to save them, I will have my hands cut off, and I will be sent back to Zeta Doom.”

Darius’s words sent chills down Arnold's spine; he was looking at the boys, wondering what was going on in his mind.

“That sounds fair to me, and if you succeed?” the doctor scoffed, staring at the boy.

“If I succeed, you will bow down and apologize; after that, you will resign!”