I didn’t need to turn around to know that I was in the presence of one of the dragons tampering with my mind, after all it was this very scene I saw whenever I entered the world of dreams. My hands were still clenched into fists with the fury caused by witnessing the scene that was going on atop that altar just a moment ago. Wait Kayrux, you’re in over your head here and you’re about to be face to face with something strong enough to pull you into some kind of altered reality, so you might want to ease up and not do anything rash. I tried to take in a breath but this other place lacked any true physical aspect, thus making my effort to inhale a moot point. Tsk. Whatever, might as well just face this thing and get this over-

Greeting me upon my rotation was a dagger shaped head nearly a hundred times my size, a row of spikes protruding from the length of the spine stretching along its back parting a tangled briar of spikes and armored plates. Two enormous horns bobbed in the air as the sandy colored head tilted so the narrow eyes of crimson could look at me in full detail. A pair of hands large enough to crush the entirety of the workshop held onto the edge of the ground around me, and only now did I realize that in this particular version of the dream there was no floor of the great city, but instead a gaping maw descending down into what looked to be a sea of fiery magma. Fear gripped at my heart as this thing of impossible size pulled itself up to better lean on this strange mirrored platform I stood atop, those huge arms curling around the area until I was encompassed on all sides by the muscular desert colored scales.

The dragon opened its mouth slightly to reveal its teeth, fangs like kite shields in triple rows sharpened to a razors edge, and from the unmoving jaws came a voice that boomed in the back of my mind like a great drum. My head nearly split open from the force behind each syllable.

“You! What have you done?”

I blinked my non-physical eyes a few times to dispel the lingering fuzziness that came from those words, only for the dragon to boom louder than before in a voice that was much clearer than any of the thousand voiced messages from before.

“Answer!”

I snarled at the dragon, and without thinking began to speak in a voice that I did not recognize.

“What do you mean? I don’t know what’s going on, none of this makes any-”

“No questions, answer!”

I let a moment of silence pass to try and come up with some kind of logical explanation for what was going on. I looked down at the mirrored floor and saw that same strange mismatch of displayed reflections, as it looked to me like I was looking down into the eyes of the statue of this being. There, just at the edge of the mirror was the frozen image of the void-black priestess caught mid-chant. I looked back to the giant reptile as the information clicked together, a connection I had never considered now seemed possible and an option to ask. I raised my hands defensively, hoping to say something without being sent reeling again.

“Do you mean with the mirror? The one used for the rituals?”

The dragon twitched slightly, the red sheen of those eyes intensifying as it awaited my answers.

“I didn’t do anything to your altar, I was just there to see what was happening to my friend Vimna when your priestess poured some kind of liquid into there.”

A growl like a fog horn rang in my ears but was just barely within my tolerance to not double over in pain. The dragon’s features scrunched into a wrinkled mess of folds as it snarled its words at me.

“What of the aetherial surge? Only your source could handle such a feat, so tell me why you pierced the veil to speak with me.”

I shook my head, unsure if I had heard that right.

“Me? I was…unintentionally preparing to… attack the priestess for endangering all of those kids.”

A scraping noise drew my eyes to one of the hands large enough to crush a building raised up in a fist before slamming right behind me with a thunderous blast that would shatter stone, yet the mirror held firm.

“Foolish, you would destroy my tomb with such an act! You are most fortunate that the merciful light spirits, guardians of the veil between life and death, chose to redirect your magic into me instead!”

The who did what? The dragon’s fist screeched along the mirror as it dragged its pointed scales towards me, and before I could cry in panic there was an instantaneous snap as it swept me into its palm and held me close to its face. The fury radiating from the dragon was like a searing heat that I could feel in my soul at any point where my kneeling legs touched the leathery hide beneath me. I pushed myself to my feet where I stood angrily lashing my tail as I shouted at the equally enraged dragon.

“I don’t understand any of this. What did the priestess do that made you so angry, and what are these spirits you mentioned that are able to change where my magic went? Nothing makes any sense!”

Something different flashed across the dragon’s face: disgust. Four fingers as thick around as ancient oak trees curled close to me, the claws attached to them drooping close to me as the dragon seemingly lingered on the idea of crushing me. Before those massive claws could touch me, the head of the beast snapped to look at the thousands of ghostly kobolds lining the floors around us and above us, their voices speaking in strange hushed whispers of indecipherable languages. The dragon’s claws inched back as another emotion took hold, one I couldn’t read.

“You are that one. No wonder…reborn ones are such a hassle.”

The dragon winced as something from above flashed, the gargantuan lizard turning to look up at the crimson moons hanging overhead. As it raised its head I saw something red along the neck of the beast, and the further it craned its neck the easier it was to see. A jagged slash across its throat that hung open to reveal the torn veins and punctured throat within. I gagged internally at the gruesome display, but regardless I bit my tongue and watched as the massive beast looked to the sky. Its features were hidden on the top of its head so I could only see the bottom jaw and the mess of a throat it had.

The dragon spoke some words from it’s jaws normally, the jagged wound pouring blood as the hoarse voice boomed within the hollow mountain. I couldn’t understand what was said, but a reply came from the moons above as they seemed to shimmer in reply one at a time. The giant head arched to look down at me with scorn written in those embers for eyes. The vibrations of the frustrated growl coming from it shook me on its hand as it fought to contain the fury displayed before. The enormous jaws parted once more, and strands of red spittle began to drip as the psychic words returned to me.

“The spirits tell me that you have expended enough power to allow me some clarity of thought for a time. I refuse to thank you as that was their doing, but perhaps you may yet earn my favor. Let me see your truth.”

The hand I stood upon inched closer to the burning eyes of the beast until it's slobbering jaws were not visible. A slimy sensation in my mind made me shiver as what felt like a tongue slid across the surface of my brain. Never did those eyes leave me, but I could tell when they were focused and when they were in thought. The voice returned again in a calmer tone, but the deep rumbling was much more forceful and demanding than before.

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“I demand three things of you, and in return offer you three miracles. Your acceptance is required to recieve my blessing, unlike the gift from my brother you shamelessly bring before me. The first of my demands is easy: offer a portion of your immense power to my shrine so I might reclaim my wits from this vile toxin they have placed within me. In exchange, I shall guarantee the safety of all those who stand atop the altar as sacrifices.”

An exchange of mana for the safety of Vimna? Done. Not even worth a second guess.

“I accept, but will they recieve your blessing tonight?”

A single blink was the closest this thing had done to a nod, but I could feel from its radiating wrath that it was agreeing.

“Of course. My blood will be given to them untainted, if you provide me enough power to overcome this elixir that has tainted my divine essence. My second demand: I want the one who has poisoned my heart to die. I care not how it happens, but if that witch lives long enough to place her shackles upon me again, I will never give my blessing to another dragon-kin. In return I offer knowledge of your destiny, one that even the cutting of the threads of fate cannot change.”

This was a hard task. How was I supposed to off the priestess and not get executed myself? Wait, why would the dragon want their own priestess dead?

“You would have me kill your own priestess? Would that not upset you?”

The bared fangs of the beast shone with a bloody light as it’s maw twisted into a wicked smile.

“Those elders you cower from, they are not my servants. They believe they know what is best for my existence, yet when I decline to give them what they demand they place chains around me to limit my strength. My third demand is one that I am willing to give you a gift for now, as it is guaranteed that you will comply. You will leave this city one day to visit my brothers, and I ask that you partake of their blood so that your essence may yet grow stronger. The tide rises, and you must do this if you wish to survive. I shall grant you a boon of your choosing now.”

Seriously? You’re just going to tell me that I’m going to one day leave my home and go visit some of the other undead dragon gods? Fan-fucking-tastic. Great, and now this punk’s just going to stare at me waiting for me to ask for my wish, and if I ask a question they might just pull a monkey’s paw and take my question as my reply. Okay, let’s think carefully about what this thing might be able to give me, and how I can use it to move forward in life.

Should I ask for my voice to be healed? No, it’s already healing and I can live without it. Immeasurable power? Already got it and can’t use it without self-destructing. I don’t need any more money and I’ve already got all the material wants I have fulfilled at home and in the workshop. Going down the list of obvious things to ask for just kept making me hit a dead end of already having it or not needing it.

Really there wasn’t anything this thing could offer that I would want, and I didn’t even know if I could trust it. A dead dragon that had dropped a meteor on itself to make this mountain city was now a prisoner in its own tomb. We’re these guys supposed to be the great protectors and unkillable to a certain extent? Why couldn’t this lizard just get himself out of this bind and leave, and why was he trying to butter me up with a free gift? It felt wrong in the worst kind of way, and my level of trust in the supernatural was already low due to the recurring nightmares.

“Before I tell you what I desire, may I ask some questions?”

The dragon squinted at me, and the corner of its eye twitched as another shot of pain seemed to lash at it.

“You may, but be warned that our time is growing shorter, and your mind can only handle so much of this.”

Okay, prioritize the pressing issue first.

“The dreams, the vision of the altar, and the voices I’m hearing: is that you?”

The dragon snarled as the voice dragged across my skull like nails on a chalkboard.

“Hardly! That thing is a pretender, a conglomeration of souls devoured by that thing atop my crypt. It stole my voice and has since been a puppet for that witch. The only part of me that acts within you on my behalf is my blood that seeks to improve your body, to make it more akin to the strength and pride of a true dragon-kin. If that thing has called you here, it was to place you in the claws of those elders.”

Aha! I knew those crusty old bastards were behind that. I’m glad that this behemoth isn’t on their side, but at the same time it makes me wonder why the voice from the altar was different from the one in my dreams.

“What other dragons are affecting me and my brothers, and why are we still changing?”

The dragon released a tired groan as it tilted its head to see me better, the feeling that it was looking under my skin leaving me more than slightly unnerved.

“You already know, just look within that tome hidden in the wall. As I said before, you are becoming dragon-kin. More blood, more changes, more power. You already have superior abilities compared to a regular kobold, and will only grow stronger as the blood grows thicker. Make haste and state your wish, for I grow weary.”

I still hadn’t decided, so I guess it was worth it to just come forward and let them decide.

“I want nothing. I cannot think of anything you can offer me that I don’t already have.”

Unexpectedly, the dragon rolled its eye at me and jostled its hand until I lost my balance and fell on my tail. Those terrifying claws closed in on me from above, but the moment they closed I found myself lying on my back atop the mirrored platform below the dragon. I could only look up in terror as the dragon pushed a single knuckle into my torso, leaving only my head uncovered by the tremendous thing.

“You are too humble, unbecoming of a dragon blood. Your heart knows what it wants, and it craves control. Lost are the methods of the dragon knights, but they were taught their magic by me. Runes are but one half of the key, enchantments the other, but a spark is needed to bind the two. Learn to control the words of enchantment, then you will be set ablaze with a way to harness your full potential.”

A burning feeling rose from hy chest as the stony texture of the giant fist above me became hotter than a volcano. I tried to cry out in anguish as the burning drove its way deeper into my chest, but the crushing force of the dragon’s size kept me from doing anything. I almost believed that I began to hear cracking from both me and the mirror I was pinned against in that moment. The sensation of heat and searing pain grew stronger until sound and sight returned to my eyes, my mind being thrown back into reality by the unimaginably strong punch of the dragon pushed me through the mirror. I was back in the physical world again, standing face to face with the different kind of dragon that was my mother.

Juaki watched as I shuddered uncontrollably, her hand just a fraction of a second too late to catch me as I dropped to the floor in pain. Everything burned, and my arms couldn’t stop shaking. There were screams from all around me, but as mom lifted me to my feet I realized that hardly anyone was looking at me, but were instead watching the top of the altar. I looked up just in time to see a spray of a viscous black sludge run over the edge of the peak, atop which I could barely make out the shape of numerous kobolds kneeling atop the mirror.

The priestess was desperately chanting something, but as she kept shrieking out her magic words there came an awful gurgling as blood surged from her mouth. She was resolute though, and even as the tide of ichor washed over her shins she remained steadfast as if bolted to the floor. Her red eyes dimmed as her entire supply of mana was drained, and a few droplets of scarlet dripped from the corners of her eyes. She almost dropped to the floor, but was quickly met by a pair of the heavily muscled praetorians.

The magic in the air had gone berserk, and with each beat of the heart deep below it swelled higher and higher, only to come crashing down into the altar itself. Something in my mind told me that this was the offering the dragon had mentioned, and it was now that I should give in and follow the flow. My mana lines in my arms and back screamed in protest, so it was up to my legs to drop the mana directly into the stone beneath my feet. I looked down to watch it as it swirled away in the thousands, only to be sucked into the darkness beyond my range.

I saw the mana rise once again and slam into the orb that had been gathered by the priestess, and even from below I could see droplets of power rise from the stone and move towards each individual atop the mirror. The priestess was helped to the edge of the platform, and even through her bloody appearance she wore the look of a fanatical zealot. Her eyes locked with mine, and in that psychotic jubilation I could see many emotions that were specifically aimed at me, the chief of them being rage. Right back at you bitch, hope that felt as bad for you as it did me!