(In Cornelius’s dream)
He was running in the snow, a large monster chasing him, he did not know for how long he was running, he just knew that the monster was drawing ever closer. So he ran like the wind even when his muscles gave in he kept on running, when his fingers gave to the frostbite he kept on running, yet the monster never gave in to its pursuit. All that was around him was the whiteness of the snow and the black of the rock, the cold was biting his skin like small needles being stabbed into him constantly, eventually, even the cold ceased and all that remained was numbness.
Finally, his body gave in and he could run no more, he collapsed into the snow, his entire body numb from the cold, he knew that this would be his end as the monster had finally caught up to him. It was a behemoth of fur and ice, its face contorted in anger as it looked down at Cornelius, it reached down and picked him up, it brought him to its face and roared, spit flying in his face its putrid breath assaulting his nostrils, it brought him to its mouth and he heard a sickening crunch as it bit off his hand yet he did not feel anything accept the numbness he had grown accustomed to.
(Outside Cornelius’s dream)
The ape had caught up to his unconscious body, red blood coated its once pristine white coat, and the place where its hand had once been was replaced with a block of red ice in the shape of a morning star, spikes adorning its surface. The beast stood there for a while looking down at the insignificant prey that had taken its hand, just as it was about to devour its prey a shadow fell from high above, blocking out the sun, a truly monstrous roar shook the mountain causing avalanches to appear all around the mountain range.
All around the mountain both monsters and people alike looked to the sky in fear, Cornelius’s unit looked back and saw a truly massive hegemon of the mountain fly above, it had two powerful wings flapping in the wind, and its two hind legs were adorned with sharp claws that could tear a man in two, and its head was adorned with a crown of horns. “A wyvern,” the Kalethi woman whispered as she shivered in fear, goosebumps running along her skin,
Commander Zoan was sitting at his desk doing paperwork when he heard the mighty roar looking to the north he whispered “It seems someone has awoken the lord of the mountain, fools,”
The roar caused the monstrous ape to run away in fear completely forgetting about its prey, in the preservation of its life. The mighty wyvern known as the Lord of the Mountain landed above the unconscious body of Cornelius, it leaned its head down and sniffed, recognition appearing in its eyes as it moved and picked him up with one of its hind legs with the care one would use when handling a newborn, it flapped its mighty wings and flew up the the peak of the mountain in a cave where its lair was.
(Cornelius POV)
Cornelius awoke screaming, the last thing he remembered was the monster biting off his hand sp he patted himself looking for wounds he saw that he still had his left hand, realizing that it was just a dream he sighed in relief.
He quickly jumped to his feet looking at his surroundings he saw that he was no longer on the treacherous slope of the mountain but instead, he found himself in an icy cave, in a nest of sorts with a single egg lying next to him. He shivered realizing he was in a monster's nest, he continued looking around and saw a truly massive statue made of ice depicting a dragon-like creature with two wings and two hindlegs the details of its scales would put even the greatest of sculptors to shame, looking up he realized it was no statue but a living, breathing being he knew that he was fucked just looking at the sheer size of this creature.
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“Ssso you have finally awoke little dragon,” a Low voice rumbled in a deep tone, the voice sounded like the thunder of a powerful storm as it boomed and echoed in the icy cave.
Cornelius had never heard of monsters that could speak not even in legends was this thought possible, he was frozen in fear for the mere presence of this being was enough to suck the air out of his lungs, only when the discomfort grew did he realize that he had stopped breathing.
“Fear not little dragon for I will not eat you,” the voice rumbled in a thunderous chuckle as if the mere notion of eating something so small was amusing. “No, I have brought you here for a different reason little one,” it said.
Cornelius was too afraid to reply all he could do was stare at the beast standing infront of him, he could not think of any reason this creature would need him for. “You see little one, I am old far too old,” it paused as if gathering its thoughts “I have lived for many epochs, I have witnessed Kingdoms rise and fall and quite frankly I am tired,” it said.
Finally gathering his courage he asked “So what is it you require of me oh great one,” he bowed his head afraid of the beast striking him down for his insolence. “Hahaha, never would I have thought that I would see a dragon showing me such respect, raise your head little one for I am not worthy of such respect,” its voice boomed.
Cornelius was confused ‘why does it keep calling me a dragon, and what does it mean not worthy, ive never seen a beast as powerful as this’ he thought.
“You see a long time ago, in the age of monsters I made a promise that I would look after an egg until it hatched, centuries have passed yet it still has not hatched. For a longtime I roamed trying to find the reason for why this egg has not hatched and when I found the reason, I thought I had been cursed by fate for it would only hatch when it is in the presence of its kin and the last dragon died centuries ago and as a lesser dragon my soul was too weak,” it paused “Imagine my surprise when I sense the presence of an adolescent dragon only to find a human in its place, for how can a human have the soul of a dragon I thought but it does not matter for I can finally fullfill my promise and finally I can rest and join my brothers in the eternal hunt,” it said.
“What do you mean soul of a dragon sure I have some draconic blood but I am still just a human,” he asked confused by the wyverns words.
“Hahahaha,” it laughed again amused by his question “If you are JUST a human than I am JUST a lizard.”
“No little one you are no mere human, but that is irrelevant,” all amusement left its tone the very air reverberated with its seriousness it was suffocating. “You have two choices little one, you either promise to me that you will look after this egg or,” it paused “you die,” its voice was colder than the mountain air yet again a shiver ran down Cornelius’s back as gulped in fear ‘Fuck of course there would be an ultimatim’ he thought.
“That is not much of a choice now is it,” he sighed “Fine, I promise I will look after the egg,”
“Now repeat it two more times,” it said and he did repeat it two more times as he said it the finall time he felt something happen inside of his soul “Thrice said, and thrice heard thus it shall be, an accord has been struck, but I will not just take without giving something in return, I will soon die and as a reward I will leave my body unto you, I would advise that you drain my blood and drink it to strengthen your bloodline,” it said.
“No offense but you are as large as a house how am I supposed to carry you down the mountain, as a matter of fact the egg is almost half my size how am I supposed to even pick it up?” he asked.
“At your feet is a ring, I want you to imbue your mana into it,” it spoke criptically, looking down he saw a silver ring adorned with a small amber jewel he picked it up and did as the wyvern asked, when the mana entered the ring he felt a conection form and all of a sudden he could feel a space of about a hundred square meters. “What is this?” he asked.
“It is my final gift to you little on it is a spatial ring, by imbueing some mana into it you can store things inside of it, but little one my time left is short I wish to ask you one more favor,” it said.
“What is it?” he asked. “It is simple really I wish for you to know my name so that I would not be forgotten,” it said.
“What is your name?” he asked “Its Aevor and with my death so too does my species die, it has been an honor to meet the last true dragon, may your wings take you further than the clouds and your claws lay waste to all that stand in your way,” the last part was barely a whisper as this once majestic beast drew its last breath.