Titan's Expanse had changed since he last passed through. He was confident in his mental map and yet there were new tunnels, intersections, and more. He found evidence of scorching everywhere he went. Had the Mountain and the Worm’s fight continued throughout here? The scorch marks appeared old and faded but some of the tunnels looked freshly carved out of the mountain. He had learned to trust his senses and so far they were not tingling as he sniffed and moved cautiously forward.

He eventually found his way to what he recognized as old, familiar tunnels and used his previously established mental map to slowly find his way back to his old nursery. It appeared to be thoroughly abandoned by now though. The scavengers had picked the chamber clean of anything edible. Even the old egg shells were nowhere to be found.

He took his time as he made his way towards Ambass’s chamber. The tunnels twisted and turned in ways he was unfamiliar with. His keen eyes picked out the marks of teeth and claws indicating how well traveled this new tunnel had become. If he had not known where the general direction of Ambass's chambers were he could have easily gotten lost. Thankfully David's sense of direction in his new body was impeccable.

After hours of new tunnels he finally found and entered his destination. He rumbled loudly to announce his presence, “Ambass. It is I, Onyx, and I wish to talk. Trade.”

His voice echoed throughout the chamber and he was almost convinced it was empty before everything became engulfed in light once more.

“What a surprise. Yes. How is, not so little, Onyx doing? Hmm. You have gotten bigger still.” The glowing Ambass hovered slowly downwards. His voice almost had a whimsical nature to it this time.

“I was hoping to ask you a few questions regarding affinity and expanding its usage.” David rumbled and chirped towards Ambass.

“Oh? You have gained your affinity then? Tell me what it is?” Ambass chirped back.

“No information is free. You taught me this.” David simply shot back.

Ambass let off his trademarked sinister laugh, “Very good. Knowing one's affinity is useful but also not worth much. I will reduce the cost of what you will owe me for the information you desire. Fair trade?”

David considered it for a long moment. He really did need to learn more. If he was going to share his affinity it might as well be done with effect, no? David nodded before bringing up and dragging his sharp claws across his chest. They dug into him and tore his flesh and scales apart. Ambass gasped in surprise and even took a step back. David maintained eye contact as his healing fog rolled out of his mouth and began to seal his wounds. Ambass’s eyes were wide in shock, confusion and wonder.

As the last of David's self inflicted wounds healed he rumbled, “As you can see. I have an affinity of life…”

Ambass was quiet for a while before suddenly letting off a sinister cackling laugh, “How unexpected. Extremely unexpected. I have met some with your affinity but they have never matched your… physique. Most would assume you would bear a far more brutish affinity. Yes.”

“Worth enough to answer my question then?” David probed as he stepped closer.

“Hmm. Yes. I will tell you this then… Affinities are flexible by nature. They are a dragon's expression of their magic. You can mold and shape it any way you can envision. Some have reigned supreme for centuries for their unique techniques. You must develop your own.” Ambass bobbed his head as he finished.

David took his own time to process the dragon's words. So affinity was magic and it was also adaptable. That explained why he was able to change the function and focus it into a cone. He turned to Ambass finally, “I want to understand magic and how it interacts with our kind.”

Ambass cackled happily, “Further information will cost you now. Will you pay that cost?”

David let off a sigh, “Tell me what the cost is first?”

“I have been tasked with this guardianship duty by Qazayss. There is a Wyrm preying on your siblings before they have a chance to receive their boon. Which is unacceptable.” Ambass hummed.

“You want me to kill this Wyrm?” David asked as he sat down on his haunch.

“Yes. I need another set of reliable eyes, ears and jaws. I can only cover so many chambers and this Wyrm keeps slipping by me somehow. I have my suspicions but need a reliable assistant to confirm them.” Ambass almost seemed sincere as he spoke.

David needed more information and Ambass was his best bet. It was risky but everything so far in this world was risky. David finally rumbled in response, “I'll do it. You better not skip out on information though Ambass. Where do you want me?”

Ambass cackled a bit, “There are six chambers established for this birthing cycle. You will patrol two, and I will handle the other four. If you find the trouble maker you must not hold back. Qazayss is unforgiving for those that fail to protect her eggs when tasked with it.” Ambass's voice quivered as he spoke the last sentence.

Over the next few hours David was shown the two chambers he was responsible for. They were both identical to the one he was birthed in except each housed a cluster of eggs, each swirling with life. The eggs were each unique with a splattering of colors coating their shells in different patterns.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He also got the opportunity to observe Ambass in detail. He was roughly the same size as David but his elegant and enigmatic wings hung from his back proudly. He glowed as well from whatever affinity he had but upon closer inspection he realized that the Faerie Dragon's flesh itself appeared to be pulling a soft blue light towards it. He wasn't quite sure what was going on but he knew that size can be deceiving. His senses even now still tingled when he was near Ambass, and David had no doubt he could kill him with little effort.

After being shown around David was left alone to complete his new task. David began his watch right away as he found a corner of the first chamber and settled down. His black scales allowed him to blend into the darkness with ease. He slowly began to open his senses and simply listened. Time ticked by slowly and it felt like an eternity before he caught his first perpetrator. As it clumsily entered the chamber his mouth had closed around the creature's neck in an instant. He crushed it tight right before he activated Death Roll and ended its existence in a split second. His prompt pinged him just as the creature hit the floor.

Sabertooth Rat slain.

The creature was a massive rodent of some kind. The prompt labeled it as a rat but it didn't quite look like a rat to David. Its face was twisted and it had huge teeth protruding out of its mouth, which fit the Sabertooth title. Everything else about it except the expected naked tail was off. It was also larger than either Red or Blue. He sunk his teeth back into it and dragged it out of the way and into a corner. He didn't have time to eat as it was time to go check on the other chamber. Hopefully his kill would be here when he got back. He moved as quietly as he could to the other chamber.

A few twists, turns, and switch backs and he finally approached the second chamber he was responsible for. His senses were tingling but as he slowly crept into the chamber everything was dead silent. The large multicolored eggs were all intact and nothing appeared amiss. After spending some time camped in the corner again, like the first chamber, he started to leave when he spotted a blurry shadow of sorts in the corner of his eye. If he hadn’t been intensely watching the entrance he could have easily missed it.

He quietly sat still and watched as this thing that was there and not there moved through the room. It moved slowly before it stopped in front of one of the eggs. David acted in an instant as he darted from his corner and closed his massive jaws around the shadowy form. He grasped at only air though as the shadow seemed to shimmer away. David let off a deep rumbling growl as he flipped around to face the enigma.

The shadows had faded a bit and David could see the form of a fellow Wyrm masked underneath. It was significantly more scrawny compared to himself but he could see the deadly claws, and oddly protruding thorns over its entire body. David dashed forward and tried to bite at it once more and the shadow covered Wyrm side stepped him and slammed its shoulder against his own. The thick barbs and spikes sticking over the Wyrm’s body dug into his own, causing him to bleed. David didn’t let the Wyrm slip by completely free though as he leaned into the other Wyrm and shouldered into him as hard as he could. There was an audible crack as some spikes were snapped free and the shadow Wyrm was sent tumbling into the wall nearby.

David snarled as he stumbled from his own wounds but refused to pry his eyes away from the other Wyrm. Their small trade wasn’t in David’s favor that was certain. His body bled badly and the other Wyrm just seemed a bit jarred and bruised. He bared his teeth at the intruder as he growled softly, “I advise you to leave. These grounds are guarded by someone far more powerful than us both combined.”

The other Wyrm stopped for a moment before responding, “Best food in room now.” The words hissed out of its mouth as it licked its mouth, its eyes not leaving David’s bleeding form. David was surprised to even receive a response to begin with considering how mute his other fellow Wyrms had been in the past. Nevertheless this cannibal would find his end here if it insisted as David rumbled back as loud as he could project his voice, “Last warning Cannibal! Leave or die!” The Cannibal responded as he expected and lunged forward on the attack.

The two exchanged blow after blow as they weaved in and out of range of each other. For every three or four nips or slashes that striked across David’s body he returned a powerful single one. Unfortunately even when David could land a powerful blow it usually resulted in a spike jetting into his flesh as a result. The Cannibal demonstrated its affinity mastery by calling forth a shadowy fog that clung to its form again as the first had faded over the course of their skirmish. The shadow acted like a second skin that caused enough of David’s bites or slashes to barely miss that the fight was shifted against him, or at the very least that is what the Cannibal thought. As David drew out the fight they both sustained considerable injuries.

As David pulled free from the other Wyrm after their fifth bout they both struggled to catch their breath. The Cannibal had a wicked grin plastered across its face as it was convinced of its victory. David couldn’t wait any longer as he released his own affinity. The healing fog engulfed his body and as his wounds rapidly sealed the Cannibal’s eyes went wide. To its credit it understood the situation instantly and began to make a beeline away from David. David couldn’t afford to let it get away after seeing his affinity and began to chase after him, even though his wounds weren’t completely healed yet.

The shadow Cannibal was fast, much faster than him. As they twisted and turned through tunnels it began to inch further and further away. Right when David was about to give up the chase the entire tunnel length was engulfed in a blinding light. A blue barrier materialized in front of the Cannibal causing it to slam head first into it with a satisfying crack sound. The glowing Faerie Dragon, Ambass, appeared above the pair with a sinister laugh as he was observing the stunned, shadow-engulfed Wyrm, “My my… you have been busy little Onyx. Does it have a shadow affinity? Heehee. That would explain a lot.”

Ambass’s body glowed brightly as another barrier slammed in behind David as he closed the distance with the Cannibal. Ambass cackled from above, “Go get your kill Onyx”

The stunned Cannibal could barely comprehend what was happening as David closed his jaws firmly around the Wyrm’s front leg, he engaged Death Roll and the Wyrm’s leg parted from its body as David rolled with all his might. The Cannibal gasped, thrashed and passed away from blood loss and shock shortly after. As David tossed aside the leg his prompt pinged him…

Shadow Wyrm slain…

Ambass continued to cackle as he landed next to David, “Go on Onyx. Claim your prize. Perhaps you will find something beneficial to you?” He motioned forward toward the dead cannibal with his wing. David reluctantly leaned down to satisfy his nagging, endless hunger. He hated to admit how much he was enjoying the taste as his prompt pinged him again.

Shadow Wyrm slain and traits available. Please select at most one.

David blinked in surprise. More than one? Huh?