Scales and Honor: Emerald Secrets
Chapter 4: Spellcraft Problems
Arcturus yawned, his eyelids opening slowly to the ambience of his room. Immediately, he could feel the pleasant warmth radiated by the scales encompassing his being. Veledar had a strong foreleg curled around him., holding him snug against the dragon’s slowly rising and falling chest. Scaled eyelids fluttered as the slumbering dragon snored, his hind leg twitching across the bed.
How did he get me here? Or better, when? Arcturus began the slow wiggling to free himself from the still sleeping dragon. Once he managed to disentangle himself from the crimson-scaled limbs, Arcturus climbed out of his bed and started to stretch on the room's floor and ending them with cracking his knuckles. That done, the paladin grabbed his tunic, slung his leather belt around his waist, and stowed his longsword inside its sheath. He padded his way out the door of Veledar's room, only to freeze halfway down the hall when he remembered the spell book that had been loaned him.
Arcturus returned to the room with soft steps, eyeing the sleeping dragon as he snatched the old leather book. With a silent praise he quickly scurried out of the room, yawning away his grogginess as he went down the stairs. Despite the early hour that it must have been the paladin was graced with the alluring scent of cooking bacon wafting along the hall. With a hunger filled groan from his stomach the knight shuftled past the numerous wooden tables and chairs, resting his eyes behind the counter on a rugged human with onyx black hair tied into a ponytail. The man glanced up to offer to give Arcturus a nod, the same grogginess that plagued the paladin lurking behind the man’s brown pools.
"Good mornin’ lad," said the man, "Do ya want a cup of coffee? Ya look like you could use an extra kick to the plate. Got the grounds from out east, past Whitedell!" He thrust a finger towards a pot on the stove, "I just brewed it."
Arcturus gave the man a nod, sliding into one of the wooden stools that lined the bar. The man quickly poured him a cup, rubbing a hand on his apron that once had been white but now was covered in stains. With a hearty chuckle the barkeep placed a crème colored mug on the bartop with a dull thud.
"Your elven friend and that hearty dwarf already headed out. Tried to stop em for breakfast, but noooo, they insisted on flyin’ the nest early. Speaking of winged beasts,” He pointed to the stairs, "Dragon of yours still sleepin?"
Arcturus nodded as he took a sip of the steaming coffee, his eyes springing wide open. This coffee wasn't that bad; in fact, it, might’ve been the single greatest cup he ever had. It had just the right amount of flavor and bitterness. With another sip any lingering tiredness began its steady retreat into the far reaches.
"Those critters always be sleepin’ the day away. I am surprised they ever get anything done."
As if summoned by mention of him, there was a loud bang from above. Arcturus chuckled to himself as he pictured the red dragon stretching like a cat, then complaining that his broad, beautiful wings could not fully stretch while inside the cramped walls of the room.
"You want sausage and eggs?" The barkeep smiled, plopping three eggs and five sausages onto a brown wooden plate. Arcturus felt his mouth water as he watched the steam rise off the tasty food."Course ya do, yer a growin’ warrior." The plate was slid infront of Arcturus’, the steam radiating from the food like little white tendrils to caress his face.
“Not the word I’d use to describe myself, but-“
“Oh, right, right. Paladin, was it?”
“Spot on.” Arcturus grabbed an offered fork and knife and began to dig into the food. Just as he started to enjoy his first bites , Veledar scampered down the stairs, his tail making dull thumps as it struck each one on the way down.
"You got up without even giving me a nudge as to your whereabouts?" The red dragon strolled over, knocking aside a chair accidently with his tail. He ignored it with a growly chuckle before settling down beside the knight with his tail curled around the chair. “I take you to my bed, warm you better than anything in this entire inn, and your way of saying thank you is to stuff your face full of food?” The red’s snout tilted away from him, as if appearing as though he had been personally insulted. “How rude of you.”
"It's really not-“ Arcturus managed to get out between mouthfuls of food before the dragon pushed his scaly snout inches away from his face.
"It is exactly what it looks like. Can’t believe you, out of all people, started without me."
"Well, excuse me, your scaly highness. I didn't realize I needed your permission to eat."
"Well I..." Veledar seemed ready to snort and make a large fuss until it was cut off by a large plate covered in heaping piles of eggs and sausage. "It’s a good thing." The dragon took buried his snout into the offering, sending bits of egg and meat juice drooling down his chin. "That this mansh brought mesh food, or I mish have swiped your plate clean.”
"Yeah, as if that can put a dent in your appetite. And swallow for gods sakes, can barely make out your mutterings." Arcturus laughed as the dragon’s gulped down his current mawfull before swiping his snout clean with his tongue.
“Oh don’t be so squeamish.” The drake rumbled before tearing back into his breakfast like a ravenous beast.
Little chat was had between them as they finished their meal. Veledar even managed to not get most of it on the floor. The dragon had lipped his lips, gave a loud and hearty belch and thanked the barkeep. The man had been all besides himself as he picked up the dishes, repeatedly telling the pleased dragon that he need not be thanked. Arcturus figured that, when you are lorded over by dragons that think they are better than you, they might not always remember the basic manners.
"Well, I guess we can go find that dragon son of hers." Veledar grumbled with a roll of his eyes. He turned round, nearly knocking over several resting mugs with his tail.
"Which one of them was it again?” Arcturu’ hand when to caress his stubbly chin. He simply could not remember the two dragons’ names. Only thing that he remembered was one started with a C and the other with a L. It also didn’t help they were practically identical.
"The less uppity one. The one that unable to stop sneezing. You know, chipped horn, hog tied like a ham.”
"Oh, that.” Arcturus tried to keep himself from grumbling out loud. “Well, while you two are focusing on changing shape, I can work on channeling these spells of mine.” He smiled, patting the paladin spellbook resting beneath his arm. “How’s that for a plan?"
"Sounds good. I suppose we can head down to that training area. I will wait with you there."
"I thought you wanted to go find the dragon?" Arcturus raised his brow, chuckling as the dragon rolled his eyes at being caught in the slip of the tongue.
"I’ve simply changed my mind." Veledar held his snout up, "and besides, something tells me my presence will only annoy him."
"You’re really going out of your way to antagonize him, huh?"
"But of course! I can even make a game out of it.” The dragon grinned, tapping his paw against the floor. “ See how long I can keep it up until he cracks like an acorn under my foot."
"Your paws aren’t that sturdy.”
“You know what I meant.” Veledar stuck his tongue out with a resounding snort.
“Oh dear.” Arcturus scratched the back of his head in response, already picturing how many sneezes the dragon would be caught up in. Hopefully the area would not be all one big poison cloud. “Would you believe I’m feeling bad for this dragon already."
"You going to drink that coffee all morning or hurry up?" Veledar flared out his head frills and starting to creep towards the exit, his cerulean eyes locked onto the human with each painstakingly slow movement.
"What’s with the rush?”
“Grah! Do I have to explain myself?”
“Well, you certainly are in a hurry to head out and annoy that poor dragon. Do you get a thrill of it?"
“Oh, Arcturus. Nose-deep into books since childhood, and yet still so unaccustomed to our ways.”
“Fine, fine! I’ll play your game, you scaled rogue.” Arcturus put down the mug and followed his impatient dragon out into the crisp morning air. It smelled of dew, was damp, and had a slight chill that sharpened his senses. Arcturus took a deep breath and tried to keep his muscles from shivering. Under normal circumstances, he would’ve had no problem venturing in the cold with barely any clothes, yet the many nights he spent in the dragon’s warm embrace started to erode his military conditioning. Arcturus tried not to dwell too much on that. He surged forward when he noticed Veledar had not waited for him, simply striding along without a care. He rushed over until he was keeping pace with the mischievous dragon as they made their way to the outskirt of the village, down the stairways and back to the training area.
When they got there, nothing seemed to have changed since the previous night. Arcturus found the place Asterion had been sitting and decided it was good as any. With a deep breath he sat cross legged on soft ground, opening the old book on his lap. He focused on the pages, trying to shut out the rumbling noises coming from Veledar as the dragon roamed around the area with a swaying tail and deep sniffs of the air he seemingly every few seconds.
He flipped through the old manila pages, inside were various spells of healing, protection, and even one that enchanted his weapon an element like fire! He shivered as if the morning air was adamant in reminding him how cold it was. Veledar must have noticed, because the dragon strolled over and gave a deep exhale. Arcturus coughed as the humid and warm air ruffled his hair, a faint smell of the dragon’s meal lingering in the air.
"There. Can’t have you shivering like a little wrymling." Veledar mused, turning his head to scan the trees around them. Arcturus figured he looked for an ambush point, or to spy a dragon stalking them. With a shake of his scales the red drake relaxed, slinking around Arcturus and curling around him with a thump and a satisfied sigh. The frills on either side of his side flared outward as curious blue spheres locked onto the book within the knight’s hands.
"Anything worth casting in there?” The dragon’s head cocked to the side.
"Found a spell called deathward.” Arcturus pointed to the ink laden pages.” It’s said to protect against death and simply leaves you on the verge of death instead."
"Well, that only sounds useful if you have someone nearby to put your insides back where they belong." Veledar replied, wrinkling his snout. “Otherwise your out of luck.”
“Yea..” His voice trailed off as images of Veledar’s broken body came to mind. How useful it would have been then to have that spell. Then again, he would not have been granted the powers of a paladin. “Seems like it.” He shook his head, training his focus back to the pages. He mouthed the words written on the page, imagining the hand movements displayed through pictures. It seemed like the idea was to prepare the spell mostly ahead of time, then later preform the trigger that would activate it.
"Oh, finally! he's here!" Veledar thumped his tail down excitedly.
“What? Who?”
The dragon pointed his regal snout to the tree line. Among the many trees and leaves he could make out the form of the green dragon just standing there. "He’s been here for the last few minutes, I guess we must make him nervous."
"A nervous dragon? That’s a rare thing to see." Arcturus had to admit, it sounded much different than the dragons he had learned about growing up. Never did he think he would come across that oddity. However, this was his life now, full of twists and pleasant surprises.
"Lyyreth!" Arcturus called out to the green dragon. "Come out of there. We won't bite!"
"Speak for yourself." Grinned Veledar.
Lyyreth strolled over to the two slowly, his body language denoting nothing but uncertainty."You were not at the inn." Lyyreth glanced over to Arcturus a moment of hesitation flickering across his emerald snout. The green released a heavy snort, his voice coming in a grumble. "I was also told I was to teach you, not your servant."
The green dragon quickly changed his words to companion as Veledar’s gaze hardened and a low growl radiated through the dragon’s throat.
"You don’t have to mind me. Only here to practice my own magic.” Arcturus waved the dragons away with hardly a look as he returned to his book. “You two can go about your dragon business."
"Clever of you to correct your mistake. So, what’s first?" Veledar sauntered away after the green dragon, his tail flicking behind him like a red snake. “I’m interested in what a whelp like you knows.”
"Be nice, Veledar. Remember we need him!" Arcturus called out as the two dragons settled down across the area.
“Stick to your pages, bookworm!" Veledar shot back with a playful grin.
Arcturus rolled his eyes, sighed, and adopted a meditative state. He tried to picture himself as he had seen the girls usually did to prepare their own spells. Next, he tried to feel the magic inside of him like Veledar had instructed him back inside the cavern. He mimed the hand movements while he sat, trying to visualize the magic. There was a sligh vibration that traveled at the base of his spine, like a pool of cold waiting to be guided. He imagined it moving, flowing like a river through his veins. With each movement of his arms he could feel it shift. With a lung tingling breath he focused inward, guiding the sensation up his spine.
"No, you’re…. you’re doing it wrong!" Lyyreth hissed loudly, two consecutive sneezes following shortly after. “Didn’t you listen at all?”
Arcturus opened his eyes to find Veledar sticking his tongue out, "I’m not deviating from your instructions in any shape or form.” The red dragon pranced to his left, flaring out a wing and smacking his tail on the stone. “Look! I’m doing exactly what you’re doing."
"Then why are you still stuck in your usual form?" Lyyreth countered with a growl. “Or are you having a laugh at me?”
"Clearly I have a bookworm that hasn’t taught a single day in his life."
"Mraawwrrhh!" Lyyreth growled as he stomped the ground. The green dragon paced around Veledar, who settled down onto his hinds, his tail curling around him.
Veledar rose his right paw to his forehead, his maw forming words, but Arcturus could not make them out from here. Then as if a heated blade pressed to cool water, blue smoke came rushing from the dragon’s crimson scales until he was encased in the cerulean fog.
"See? That's how you---"
The smoke receded to show a humanoid figure, but clearly still dragon-like.
"Spell-wrangling paladins and greenhorn teachers, I proudly present to you… a human!" the red anthropomorphic dragon proclaimed, holding his arms out wide.
Lyyreth sighed and pointed to the red scales still covering Veledar's body. “That’s now how you do it…”
"Really? But I’m- “ Veledar glanced down, his head frills drooping as it dawned on him his predicament. “Manticore’s bottom!" Just like before the azure fog returned to consume the dragon. It vanished with a heavy cough, revealing Veledar had returned to his proper size.
"You also have to concentrate!” Lyyreth smacked his paw against the ground. “Or you’ll just revert back to your normal appearance! How did you not learn this growing up? You’re older than I"
"I'm trying hard enough without your sizzling snout spraying saliva all over me!" Veledar hissed through his teeth. “Perhaps I’d have success if you were a better teacher!”
Arcturus stood up with a sigh as the dragons began to bicker back and forth with saliva and snarls being exchanged between the two. He turned away as they snapped their jaws at one another. He was going to attempt the spell called shield of faith. The book described it as a shimmering field that would envelop the caster’s choice, and help guard them from harm. He placed his feet firmly with a stomp, and moved his right arm, forming a strong fist. He then punched forward while saying the trigger word, “Spaan!"
He expected a burst of magic like Veledar had just done, but nothing happened. He was left wiggling his arm on the air, as if the motion would summon whatever magic was lurking within."How can this be? I did everything the book told me to do!" he muttered as a frown weighted his previously confident appearance. He placed his feet once again into the position for the spell, pulled his arm back again. "Spaan!" he shouted as he punched forward once again. Just like before he was left awkwardly silent with his arm outstretched and nothing happening.
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"SPAAN, SPAAN , SPAAN!" Arcturus repeated the same movements over and over with similar results.
"Having a hard time, master?" snickered Veledar as he strolled over to the frustrated paladin.
"Hey, we’re still training!" Lyyreth called over the red’s shoulder, his proclamation ending with a sneeze.
"Yes, well, how should I put this?” The red fluffed up his wings, rolling his eyes as he curled his serpentine neck around to the flustered green. “I have decided I need a break from you and your constantly runny nose." Veledar snorted, turning back to Arcturus as the green dragon’s frills started to shift to a darker green, "So, dearest Arcturus, is that book outmaneuvering your quick wit?" the dragon smirked. “If I knew that was all it took, id have thrown a book at you during our first encounter.”
You won’t grin from ear to ear when I finally manage to cast something other than sparkling beams of light.
“Well, yes!” He placed a finger to his friend’s pebbly snout, right between the nostrils. “There are spells here that can literally save your life, and I swear I’m following all these instruction to the letter, but.. for some reason.” He slumped, a sigh escaping him. ”The spell fails to materialize.”
“Arcturus, my friend, you’re taking this far too seriously.”
Realizing his mistake, the paladin took a deep breath and retracted his hand. "I’m sorry. You’re right. You hardly deserve to be the target of my frustration."
"Of course not," Veledar replied, moving his snout closer to Arcturus. “I can think of a myriad of things you can provide me with, and all it takes is a simple request from your benevolent master to-“
"Oh, don’t go there. Go on. Get back to your own set of spells."
Arcturus tried to shove the dragon's head away, but Veledar did not yield. The dragon just rolled his eyes, "do I reaaaally have to? I would much rather practice divine spells alongside a man of virtue like you."
"I am afraid my virtue won’t save you from responsibilities." Arcturus sighed, fighting off the smile tugging at his lips, "Come on, it can't be that bad. Besides, think of the boons at the end of this little quest. You will be that much greater when you can shapeshift."
"Well, when you put it like that…." Veledar fluffed out his wings with a grin, "I suppose I can get back over there and master this shapeshifting thing." With a low rumble the dragon turned round, tail sliding just over Arcturus’ head as Veledar padded his way back to the disappointed looking Lyyreth. "Ok, Ok, hush your snout. I am here now, so stop your whining before you get into another sneezing fit."
"Alright, but please, please concentrate harder, or we’ll both remain here until nightfall.” Lyyreth said softly, settling onto his hinds.
Arcturus watched the two dragons bicker for a few minutes, before they returned back to their training. During this time, Arcturus went back to his own set of spells.
What should I try next? Perhaps this elemental weapon enhancement? Or should it be… this simple spell called aid?"
The possibilities kept him humming to himself, thumbing through the old pages of the book. He finally decided on elemental weapon as he firmly drew his sword. Dropping to one of his combat stances out of instinct he held the blade aloft. With a calming breath he proceeded to chop his sword through the air with a swoosh. "Pyra Zun!"He shouted. Yet, just like last time, he was left standing there, shouting the trigger word over the silent failure of his spell.
"Oh dear, it looks to me that your human over there lacks the gift of spellcraft." Came Lyyreth’s teasing jaunt, followed by a larger than usual sneeze that quickly earned him a tail lash over the snout.
"You cannot joke about something like that, understand?" Veledar hissed in the dragon’s face, even if his act of bravery earned him a spray of mucus all over his face.
“S-sorry. I truly did not mean to cause emotional grievance,” Lyyreth quickly cocked his head back, expecting further retribution from the angry red dragon.
“But you did. And it’s not me that stands wounded.” Veledar pressed his snout against that of the increasingly horrified green dragon. “That poor spellcaster saved me from certain death. Can you imagine how that feels? To lay on the ground, so helpless, so weak, your body so broken you can’t even whimper out your last thoughts?”
“No, that’s…horrible.” Lyyreth tried to look away from Veledar’s cerulean eyes, a pair of cobalt gemstones that would chill anyone to the core.
“Then consider yourself fortunate.” Veledar closed his eyes for a second. “Though he may not bear our scales and soar upon the skies alongside us, that man has the soul of a dragon.”
“I believe you. Please, if you’ll just give me a bit of room to…” Lyyreth took a sharp, jagged breath.
Veledar knew what was coming. He pulled his head back from the green dragon’s line of fire, shaking his head this way and that to rid himself of the lukewarm sludge. Lyyreth continued his fit for four more sneezes, dabbing at his oozing nose with the back of his paw, as if that could disperse the images that undoubtedly roamed through his head.
“I didn’t know…I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” he repeated in silence until Veledar gave him another light smack over his head with the frilled tip of his tail.
“Get over it. What are you, a wimpy whelp?”
Arcturus only heard that last part, too focused on his spell casting to pay mind to whatever squabble the dragons were into.
“You’re all heart, Veledar!" he laughed out loud, "for a second there, I thought you cared more about me than yourself!"
“This sneezing whelpling over here is suggesting I have poor taste in companions! Can you believe that?”
“Wouldn’t travel alongside your big lumbering butt if I did!”
After the brief bout of fun, Arcturus returned to his training. He tried several more time to cast the same spell as before, and after failing a dozen more times, he finally stowed his sword and kicked the ground in frustration. “Blasted damnation! Why? Why can’t I do it?”
He remembered when his father had taught him all the skills he would need to be a dragon hunter. Then he went further ahead, to his time in the military. Those arduous tasks had been easy in comparison. In fact, the weight of a sword, the finesse with which he moved around in combat…everything seemed to come to him naturally. Arcturus realized he was not used to this sort of failure. The inability to even produce a spark of a result was terribly frustrating to say the least. With a heavy sigh he stared up into the canopy of leaves, letting the myriad of greens bring a glimmer of comfort to his troubled mind.
"You are failing because you are missing a component," came the voice of the minotaur from last night. Arcturus turned around to see the brown furred creature walking over, still clad in the same garments from the day before. "Your stance is perfect, and the words are correct," the minotaur put one of his rough hands on Arcturus' chest, "what you fail to put into these spells is your heart."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Arcturus rose a brow. "I’m determined, I want to do it, surely that is enough to perform the spell!"
The minotaur sighed and closed his eyes briefly, when they opened, they brimmed with a hint of warmth."You lack the feeling of the spells. Without that spark, you will never unlock your potential."
"I already feel magic. Crimson Sky, the red dragon over there, taught me the basics. I admit I am not an expert, but everything I try ends up failing."
"That's because the spells are not entirely your own to cast." The minotaur’s voice grew stern as his arms folded across his muscular chest. "Now tell me, human, who is your patron deity?"
"That would be Bahamut, goddess of dragons." Arcturus replied, although it still sounded a tad foreign to be coming out of his mouth. He guessed he would have to get used to it. There was a moment of surprise that spread across the bull’s features, only to be replaced with his sternness with a flick of a tail.
"That is actually very odd.I had thought dragons placed themselves above all others. Why waste their time on a mere human?" The minotaur’s snorted, "regardless, while memorizing the spells, think to her. Do the same when casting." The minotaur held out his arm to perform the same spell Arcturus had been casting initially.
"You are your god’s will, their sword… you are part of them." The minotaur pumped out his fist, "Spaan" he uttered firmly. Just as the bull finished uttering the word, a blue shimmering field enveloped his body. He then retracted his fist, standing tall as if a statue.
"What is your name?" He admired each inch of the shimmering cleric, how it flowed and rippled as if a field of water had wrapped its way around the barrel chested minotaur.
"Asterion, Cleric of Kord, the god of strength. It is he who I draw strength.” Asterion banged a fist against his chest proudly. “ Now, try your again, but this time, add in the heart."
Arcturus took a breath and reset his stance. He pulled his arm back and pictured Bahamut spreading her wings all around him. He formed a fist, focusing on her tail curled around her. He felt a sudden warmth spread through his body, literally starting from his heart to his fingers. It was hard to describe how it truly felt, but he could swear it was her that blazed within his chest. Deep down he swore he could hear her breaths right by his ears, and soft whispers egging him to continue. He pictured her diving with her maw open in attack as he pumped his fist forward. "Spaan!" he shouted. To his amazement, unlike the first time, a blue shimmering field sprung forth from his hand and covered his entire body. He could not contain his smile as it spread all over his joyful face.
"Veledar! Veledar, I finally got it to work Look over here, Veledar. I’ve done it!" he cried out, literally jumping up with a clap of his hands. “hey Veledar!” He called out to the red dragon. “I did it!”
"Wonderful! I am so happy for your resounding success!" Veledar replied, his voice dripping with irritation. The dragon held a claw to his snout, and poofed back to a humanoid dragon with patches of human skin. “Damn this!” The dragon shifted back to his normal self, loudly smacking his paw against the stone. His tail coiled and thrashed against the ground as his red dragon narrowed his eyes and snorted a plume of smoke on the air. “I blame you green scales.”
"Thank you, Asterion, but hold on for a moment. I will be right back," Arcturus uttered rather quickly as he saw Lyyreth start to chastise Veledar’s attention. The bull simply nodded, waving a hand to let him go. The man surged forward, closing the distance between he and the dragon in a manner of heartbeats. Veledar had glared at Lyyreth, settling down onto his belly with a harsh snort.
"I would have emulated Arcturus’ success if you just had the courage to offer me actual criticism!" Veledar growled in Lyyreth’s direction, "Perhaps your brother would have been a better teacher than a mink buried beneath the scales of a dragon.”
"Mink or not, I assure you, I am the best at performing this particular spell. Has it crossed your self-absorbed mind that if you were not so thick and full of yourself, you could focus on the actual spell?" Lyyreth snarled, snapping his teeth at the air. When Veledar replied with a fiery glare the green backed away with a shake of his head, a sneeze following suit.
"Alright, that’s about enough of that!" Arcturus shouted, getting in the way of both dragons who were now baring their teeth at one another. "YOU!" He turned to point at Lyyreth, "Try to be more supportive of your new apprentice.”
"See? Arcturus always sides with...." Veledar began to say.
"AND YOU!" he swung around to point at Veledar, "Be a tad nicer to him. You’re obviously making him nervous with each word of criticism that comes out of your maw."
"He…he should not…!" Lyyreth protested, tried to hold back a sneeze, only to fail.
“See? That’s the only thing he’ll ever be good at.”
The insensitive remark earned Veledar a scowl from the very paladin he defended earlier. “Apologize.”
“What? But why? It’s his fault for not being a proper teacher.”
“Veledar. Please.”
“Fine. I’m sorry.” The red dragon rolled his eyes, shaking his scales with a series of soft clinks. “Happier? Are we all happier now?”
"That’s a start." Arcturus sighed, striding over to place a hand on the dragon’s snout. He rubbed the nose, getting a warm blast of air to tickle at his hand. He glanced up, their eyes meeting and locking onto the other. "Just focus like you told me back in the cave, alright? Picture yourself as a human and let everything else dissipate upon the warm winds of the high skies.” There was a pregnant pause that passed between the pair only broken by the soft sounds of birds chirping in the distance. Veledar’s claws kneaded the ground before the dragon let out another snort, his frills twitching in and out ever so slightly.
. "I will try.”
The red dragon performed the same hand movements as before and uttered something in his own growly tongue. Smoke once more shot forth from the dragon’s scales like a molten seam cracking on the earth. Heat suddenly flowed around the paladin, licking his skin like a campfire. He shielded his eyes, coughing as the smoke attacked his lungs. He waved it away, taking a step back as it began to clear before him. He blinked once or twice, even rubbing his eyes at what was standing before him. No longer was the dragon standing tall above him, but the form of a human instead. The fair skinned man’s face was all wrinkled up, his eyes clenched shut. He was dressed in a simple yellow tunic and brown pants. Lingering smoke wafted through his long brown hair. Veledar opened his eyes, revealing bright blue spheres that seemed to glow like that of a firefly.
“How’s this? Did it work?" The human asked, sporting Veledar’s voice. The once dragon glanced down at his body with a smile on his face. "I did it!" he cheered, clasping his hands together. Veledar looked over his shoulder at his back. "By Bahamut’s Grace! I don't even have a tail at all!" The excitement shown through his voice like the great sun overhead. He ran over to Arcturu, his arms wrapping the surprised paladin in a great big hug. He only stayed like that for a moment until he let go, his cheeks a bright red. He coughed several times, blue eyes locking onto a now smirking Lyyreth, "I mean, of course I did it. You’re the best at this, right? How ridiculous, to think I could ever fail at such a simple spell."
"Well, I have to say, this is certainly a vast improvement over your previous attempts." The green dragon growled with approval after he inspected Veledar’s work. "Now we only have to work further on your concentration to maintain that form. Otherwise, changing form will be pointless and the mere act of losing concentration will break the form."
"That sounds easy!" Veledar crossed his arms with a confident grin and nod. "You don't have to worry about anything breaking through my steel-like concentration.”
How could I resist an opening like that? Grinned mischievously as he shoved Veledar playfully from behind, "Come on then, big man. Give me one of those growls. Show me who you truly are beneath this form.”
Veledar stumbled back, his hands flying out to prevent himself from falling. The man’s cheeks were a bright crimson as he regained his composure, sliding a hand through his thick hair. “H-hey, that’s not very nice of you to poke a dragon trapped in such a fragile body.”
“That’s what you’ll say if you find yourself in real trouble? Stop?”
“Arcturus, I swear on Bahamut that-“
Arcturus shoved Veledar harder than ever before, and the dragon-turned-human gasped as his form broke. Proud crimson wings sprouted out of his back, and brilliant crimson scales grew all over his rapidly transforming dragon body. With a span of a sparrow’s wing beats the once human had shifted to his own dragon form once again. The dragon lay splayed on the ground, his wings outstretched and his snout curled up with narrowed eyes.
"Arcturus!" he gasped. “You’re supposed to be my ally, damn it!”
"Got to keep you on your claws for when we get to Entis.” The paladin smirked, tapping the dragon’s nosing snout with a finger. “so unless you believe the crowd there will ogle you like these villagers, consider this a very valuable form of training." Arcturus laughed as Veledar rolled to his belly, his tail thumping weakly behind him. The dragon crouched down and wiggled his rear flank and tail. That wasn’t good sign, he’d recognize that hunting pounce if he ever saw it. The paladin turned tail and began to run at a full sprint as the dragon pounced after him. He swerved out of the way, bright crimson claws missing him by inches.
"We’ll see who laughs when I get my claws around you!" the dragon cried , chasing the paladin for several moments before Lyyreth slid between the two and flared out his wings with a great swoosh. Veledar’s claws dragged on the stone as he tried to stop but it was too late. The dragon crashed into the other one with a great thud and groan as the two became intertwined with one another.
"Break’s over.”
"But I barely…grraaaahhh!” Veledar grumbled, freeing himself from the green. "You know, this teacher-student sort of relationship is starting to bore me. The paladin was at least providing a most pleasurable distraction from your do this do that antics. At least when I was a teacher, I was not doing this."
"Well I am the teacher here red scales. We get back to work now. You have lots to do before you master this form.” With a nod the green shifted his scaled neck to stare right at him with a more softer look behind those bright yellow eyes. “But Arcturus, please refrain from distracting us too much. By the looks of it he needs as much concentration as he can get.”
“Can do. Just go easy on him alright?”
“I will try.” Lyyreth curled his neck around to give Veledar a hardened glare as the red just gave him a tooth filled grin back. “I think he enjoys getting under my scales.”
If you only knew.Arcturus nodded as the green turned back around and tended to his student. The knight carried himself back to Asterion with a straightened back. The cleric was now sitting on a clear patch of grass with his legs crossed in a meditative position. His eyes were closed, beaths were coming much slower and his hands were spread wide with fingers curled. He had to admit that the minotaur looked like the positive picture of mental peace.
"You waste your time with them." the bull stated, "they only see you as a lesser creature unworthy of the friendship that we ground dwellers know. If anything you will be no better than a dog of your people.That is simply their way.”
"I’d not like to think that negatively. I think I’ve made an impression on the red one at least." Arcturus took a spot beside the bull. "Veledar and I have been through a lot. He’s been quite the pillar when my strength started to falter, and a better friend than many. Trust me. He’s not like the dragons you know."
Asterion just gave an amused smirk. "Believe what you wish. If you would like to get back to casting spells, I can continue to show you more. That I am more certain about."
"Yes please, if you would." Arcturus pulled out his book of spells. "But tell me, Asterion, why do the dragons hold you here as a pet?
The bull sighed, closing his eyes and shuttering as if remembering something terrible. When his eyes opened the sterness was gone, and within them lurked a pain as deep as an ocean. "It was a moment of great shame when this collar latched itself around my neck." The bull put a one finger beneath the collar and tugged at it. "I was a soldier for Lumara, part of the first push into Rothdell. My clan fought many battles against them, glorious battles worthy of song and tale. For you see, there is nothing better for a minotaur than to find themselves on the fields of battle, surrounded by the song of clashing steel. The crushing of our enemies’ skulls, the adrenaline pumping as you swing a heavy maul. Do you know how that feels like? For I remember the lives of each life that I have taken. I see their corpses whenever I close my eyes, and I know my place within the world.”
“I’ve fought my fights, Asterion, but today is a day of resting. Please, continue on.”
"Oh yes. I have fought longer than most, but that was not meant to last. In one such battle I was almost slain. Now there is nothing wrong about an honorable death in battle, my people believe in such things. Korde even rewards those that die in battle. The rest of my clan was killed by some of the Rothdell’s elemental bound warriors. I was greviously injured during the combat, enough to make me fall. Before I did however I slew my enemy and collapsed.”
The bull took a deep breath, his tail thumping the ground behind him as the bull’s hands tightened into fists. “I was ready for death to embrace me, to carry me into the halls of my fallen clan. However, I was saved by a passing group of the Emerald Lady’s followers. They tended to my wounds and healed me. Saved my from entering the gates of Valhalla. Yet, when I awoke I was certain that I was surrounded by enemies. For I was still within what my kind calls a blood frenzy. One by one I slaughtered every single one of my saviors. The minotaur’s voice took on a chill that would put the winter’s bite to shame, "I killed the men, women…and even the young ones. Everyone that had helped my life paid the ultimate price. I awoke some time later bathed in their blood, and their tattered and mangled corpses scattered around the town.
Arcturus sat in silence as Asterion stopped talking and just sat there, staring off into oblivion. "That is when I took up the mantle of a cleric and devoted myself to healing. This was not to be my fate however. The Emerald Lady found me soon after and she was not so forgiving. She had tracked me down with grim efficiency. I tried to fight her but in the end, it was for naught. She plucked me up as if a babe and dragged me here into her forest to enact her punishment on me.”
"Thank you for sharing, Asterion." Arcturus said as the bull went back to meditating.
“Learn from my mistakes. Never give yourself to the rage." replied Asterion. “In the end I shall pay for my sins.”
"I learned to dampen that rage with discipline a long time ago, my friend. Perhaps we can go about freeing you from her claws?"
"I do not see why she would do that. She delights in keeping me here, reminding me of my failure. Within that green snout of hers lurks a malevolent beast from our stories." His eyes narrowed as they brimmed around the edges with flames. “I would warn my children about her and if all dragons were like her, I’d be right behind your family in wiping out their kin.”
Arcturus glanced up to Veledar with a sigh as the red dragon scampered around the green dragon, his tail smacking the green on the side. “Thank good ness they’re not all like that. Theres some good in them, you just have to keep an open mind.”
“You do that paladin. I shall keep to my own thoughts. Now..” The cleric pointed at the book with a harsh snort. “Back to practicing. Otherwise you will be useless the upcoming battle.”
“You think there will be one?”
The cleric’s voice came as a near growl as he savagely tapped the page.“There is always battle human. Best be ready for it each day.”
The two returned to practicing their spells. Through the time Arcturus managed to try the elemental weapon spell. He grinned as he slashed out his sword, electric sparks flowing around the blade and dancing around the tip. After that he tried numerous other spells from the spell book under Asterion’s guidance. Each one was met with a small amount of success that left the man grinning from ear to ear.
This continued for the rest of the day, only stopping when their stomachs ached for the tasty meals of the inn. Lyyreth mentioned something about hunting their meal. Veledar, of course, bragged about how much better he was at hunting. Arcturus scampered back to the inn once the dragons were out of sight. He enjoyed a meal of flakey and warm cornbread, almond slathered boar, and cheese that tickled his tastebuds. With a hearty burp he thanked the man, whistling as he exited the establishment and set his thoughts back to the training area. He leaned over one of the railings, questions drumming through his head as he wondered just what happened to the girls.