Nobody was perfect. Doomwing had learned that the hard way. Focusing on one thing meant neglecting something else. Time spent learning magic was time he couldn't spend improving his skills in close combat. Of course, there were tricks, ways to shift the odds in his favour. Doppelgangers and constructs could be used to split his attention and effectively multiply his time. Dream walking could be used to make even the time he spent sleeping productive.
However, there were things that no amount of ingenuity could overcome. Magical affinities were a prime example of that. For all of Doomwing's magical prowess, he was not equally gifted in all types of magic. He was predisposed toward certain types of magic, both due to being a nova dragon and due to more idiosyncratic quirks.
Yes, he could – and had – beaten people in the past while using magic for which they had a stronger affinity than him. However, those victories were predicated on two conditions: either his opponent was lazier than him or less powerful than him.
Lazy opponents could be beaten with their own magic because they knew less about it than him and had less experience with it. Their stronger affinity meant nothing if they didn't have the knowledge and experience to make use of it. He'd lost count of how many opponents he'd beaten over the years due to his greater knowledge and more thorough practice regime. Many of those opponents had been other dragons who simply hadn't been able to believe that he could beat them with their own magic despite not specialising in it.
The smarter ones handled their defeats with grace and used them as motivation to work harder and study more. Those were the ones who improved and Awakened further. The stupider ones blamed their losses on bad luck or some sort of trick on his part, as if study and practice were forms of deception. Those were the ones who stagnated, often failing to Awaken further or falling in battle against the Catastrophes since their skills failed to match their courage. Still, he'd give them credit for being willing to help. They might not have been smart, but their bravery was still worthy of praise.
Power was another matter. Some of his opponents over the years had been exquisitely skilled, but it hadn't mattered at all due to the overwhelming disparity in power between them. He could remember one particularly determined storm drake that he'd met. The drake had been a master of weaving lightning and controlling the winds and rain to his advantage. Unfortunately, he'd been a quarter of Doomwing's size and had possessed perhaps a tenth of his magical power.
Despite his greater skill, Doomwing had overwhelmed the storm drake with raw power, seizing control of the storm from him and unleashing bolts of lightning that had dwarfed the smaller reptile's. It would have been easy to kill him, but he had managed to win Doomwing's respect. In the end, he had let him go and suggested he steer clear of him in the future because he would not be so merciful a second time.
To his credit, the storm drake had taken his words to heart, and they had never crossed paths again although he had eventually found his way into Stormbringer's service. He had died an Age ago, having Ascended further than any storm drake Doomwing knew of. Stormbringer was hopeful that at least one of his descendants would manage to go one step further and reach the drake equivalent of a Fourth Awakening.
The most troublesome opponents to face with their own magic were people who not only had a strong affinity for a particular kind of magic but who were also knowledgeable, hardworking, and powerful. Such individuals were true masters of their magic, and Doomwing knew better than to face them using their own magic. Instead, he would draw upon the breadth of his skills, bringing to bear magic that was designed to defeat them.
Ashheart was one such person.
His friend possessed an overwhelmingly strong affinity for volcanic magic, as well as fire and earth magic. He also possessed raw power befitting his titanic stature. And although Ashheart had never been the most studious individual, he loved to learn more about his powers and how they interacted with the world around him. He had an almost childlike curiosity, and Doomwing had often found him happily fiddling with some small, subtle aspect of his power that would later prove incredibly useful.
Ashheart did that not out of any specific desire to plumb the mysteries of magic. No. He did that because it was fun and because he loved learning more about his powers and what they could do. It was amusing to see a gigantic dragon hunched over a small pool of lava, his attention focused on some miniscule effect that most would have considered barely worthy of notice. It became considerably less amusing – and more awe inspiring – when that same dragon used that same seemingly miniscule effect on a larger scale to produce effects that Doomwing would never be able to recreate using the same method.
So when it came to altering the terrain around them, Doomwing was content to stay out of the way and let Ashheart work.
Rather than stay airborne, Ashheart preferred to be on the ground, as close to the changes as possible. His mighty frame grew taut as he bent not only the crater but the entire landscape around it to his will. The volcanic glow within him grew brighter, and his eyes blazed like twin infernos.
Doomwing reached out with his senses, and a slow smile crossed his lips.
Ashheart was impressive as ever.
Beneath them, the other dragon was carving out a massive cavern and filling it with magma. It was a roughly spherical space more than ten miles in diameter, and it was still growing. The magma that filled it was torn up from the very depths of the world, pulled from an even vaster reservoir that lurked far, far beneath them.
Apart from the central chamber, Ashheart was making other chambers. These were not being filled with lava. Instead, he was weaving magic to keep lava out of them. They would probably serve as chambers to hold his hoard or as rooms for he and his family to rest in. Having to travel through an underground sea of lava would make his hoard and family virtually impossible to reach for anyone who wasn't a dragon or some kind of subterranean monster. If Ashheart wanted to put things in his hoard or take them out, he could always manipulate the earth or use protective magic to carry things through the magma, and his family should have no problems traversing the magma.
But Ashheart wasn't done yet. Simply having a hole in the ground full of lava was hardly befitting a dragon of his stature. Instead, he heaved up the edges of the crater to form a shield volcano. The vast lake full of lava that filled the massive crater served as the entry point to his lair, with the lake extending down through the rock until it met the underground sea of magma below.
Not far away, both Adamantheart and Diamondfang were watching in awe. They could both sense what was taking place, and it was likely that neither of them had ever seen anyone manipulate the ground like this before. In the entire world, Doomwing could think of only one person capable of something similar.
Quakeclaw was a primordial chthonic dragon – the highest form of earth dragon – and he might have been able to match the sheer amount of rock, earth, and stone that Ashheart was moving. But not even he could have manipulated so much lava.
As Ashheart finished crafting the bones of his lair, he turned his attention to the currents of magic beneath and around them. He gave a low rumbling laugh and then turned to Doomwing.
"You made quite a mess of the currents of magic, my friend."
Doomwing shrugged. "Had I managed to trap the Sixth Catastrophe, I would have made an even bigger mess. On the upside, I would have been able to win without taking a spear of god-metal to the chest."
"A fine trade," Ashheart said. "Work with me. It will be easier if we work together, and you will be able to weave your defences into the currents of magic."
Doomwing allowed himself to descend until he landed on the slopes of the volcano Ashheart had made. Staying airborne while manipulating the currents of magic would be almost impossible, especially if he intended to devote his full effort to them – and he was not about to cut any corners when it came to his friend's lair.
He closed his eyes and extended his senses as Ashheart did the same.
His friend's presence in the world of magic was like a volcano on the verge of erupting, a font of tremendous power kept in check by his unshakable will and determination. As Doomwing reached for the closest current of magic, that will and determination expanded, enveloping the entire area. Doomwing was incredibly skilled at manipulating the currents of magic, and he was capable of far finer control over them than any other dragon. But when it came to shifting currents of magic rich with the power of earth, fire, and the molten heart of the world, nobody came close to Ashheart.
The entire region's currents shifted as Ashheart bent his will to fixing the damage Doomwing had done and sculpting the currents to best serve his lair and it surroundings. At the same time, Doomwing made minor tweaks and adjustments, honing the larger, rougher movements that Ashheart excelled in. At the same time, he began to weave potent magical defences into Ashheart's lair and the area around it.
Nobody would be able to sneak up on him, whether by air, on the ground, or even underground. The lair would be shielded using power drawn from the multitude of magical currents that flowed through and around it. Combined with the magic Ashheart had woven into his lair that would reinforce it when under attack, it should virtually invulnerable to aerial bombardment or underground assault.
Anyone hoping to attack Ashheart would have no choice but to dive into the lava and face him – and that was really just a complicated way of committing suicide because Doomwing doubted there was a person alive who could face Ashheart in a sea of magma and hope to prevail.
If Doomwing wanted to attack Ashheart's lair, he would have to sabotage the currents of magic in the area before calling upon some of his strongest runes and spells to blast the volcano apart and lay bare the sea of magma beneath. It would not be easy, even for him, and if Ashheart chose to retreat deeper into the magma, Doomwing would be hard pressed to draw him out unless he was willing to call upon power the likes of which had laid waste the homeland of the vampires and wounded Mother Tree.
And that was the point.
A dragon's lair should be their fortress, their place of ultimate safety and security.
Doomwing's volcano might have stood alone, but it commanded an excellent view of every possible avenue of approach. With all of its defences and detection magic, it would be able to weather the might of even another primordial dragon while giving him ample time to attack his foes before they could even reach him. He was confident that in a long-range battle, he would emerge victorious. He had multiple ways of attacking targets who were further than his eyes could see. Few knew just how capable he was in that regard because virtually everyone who'd seen those abilities was dead.
Ashheart's lair would be the same – an impregnable fortress where his friend could relax, secure in the knowledge that he, his family, and his hoard were safe. Only a fool would ever lay siege to this place, and such a fool would perish the moment Ashheart chose to retaliate.
When Doomwing next opened his eyes, it was well past dusk. However, there was no shortage of light, as the orange glow of lava lit up the night. He took a few moments to stretch, extending his senses once again to make sure that all was well. He nodded in satisfaction. The currents of magic were exactly as he and Ashheart had discussed, and the magical defences he'd woven into them were all in place and functioning properly.
Not far away, Ashheart shook himself, the volcano trembling in response. "That went quickly."
"More hands make light work," Doomwing remarked. "And this area was yours up until your wounding. It is not surprising that it responded so eagerly to your touch."
Ashheart beckoned Adamantwing and Diamandfang over. "Now to the matter of my hoard… how shall we organise it? In the past, I simply grouped things according to their worth, with the most valuable items together and the least valuable items together."
"A decent system," Doomwing said.
Ashheart grinned toothily. "A decent system? You seem displeased."
"It is not how I would have done it," Doomwing said.
Ashheart glanced at Diamondfang, and she hid a smile behind one wing. "It is nice to see that some things do not change. I recall you lecturing me on better organising my hoard back when we were still young dragons who had yet to experience our Third Awakenings."
"Is that so? I do not believe I lectured. I believe I merely offered sound advice."
That prompted a barely hidden snicker from Diamondfang. "He was quite happy to offer both me and Adamantheart advice when it came to our own hoards," she said.
Adamantheart's smile was brittle indeed. "He was… most thorough."
"Of course, he was." Ashheart nudged Diamondfang with his head. "Did you and our son bring your hoards?"
"Of course," she replied. "We have been carrying them with us since you arrived. Admittedly, we are not as skilled in storage magic as you or Doomwing, but he crafted several storage devices to help us."
"Ah… so that is what you have been carrying around. I had wondered." Ashheart reached out with one wing and patted Adamantheart on the back. "You are young yet, my son. In time, you will have your own lair with your own hoard. For now, you shall share my lair. It will keep your hoard safe and offer you safe haven as you work toward your next Awakening. The currents of magic here are especially rich, and they will nourish you."
Adamantheart inclined his head. "Thank you, father."
"Hah!" Ashheart beat his chest with one enormous claw. "What father does not wish for his son to succeed? You have only recently experienced your Second Awakening. Staying in a place like my lair will make it much easier for you to achieve your Third Awakening."
"That is still a while away," Adamantheart said.
"Your foundations are solid." Doomwing peered at the younger dragon, a handful of powerful analysis and scrying spells activating. "It will, of course, take some time for you to reach that level, but the work we did in preparing for your First and Second Awakenings has left you with very solid foundations to work with. Many dragons spend centuries after their Second Awakenings dealing with instabilities or working through impurities and imperfections."
"Hmmm…" Ashheart studied Adamantheart intently as well. "You speak truly, my friend, and you have my thanks for the guidance you have provided. What of my mate?"
Doomwing turned his attention to Diamondfang. He had not been as involved in her Awakenings as Adamantheart's simply because she had grown up elsewhere. In contrast, he had been there for Adamantheart's First Awakening and had helped guide him toward his Second Awakening although he had not personally witnessed it. "She has some work to do…" he murmured. "Her Third Awakening was well done, but it was not perfect. In particular, her raw power could have been greater before making the attempt, so there are places in her magical circulatory system that need to be smoothed over and reinforced, as well as places where other struggles during the process left blockages that must be cleared or impurities and imperfections that must be further honed and refined. Still, there is nothing too troublesome to deal with I believe her greatest issue will be acquiring the power required to try for a Fourth Awakening."
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Ashheart nodded in thanks and gently stroked Diamondfang with his tail. "Then my lair will be good for her, as will my presence. There is a lot of power here for her to draw upon, and I can give her exposure to my own magic. It is not quite the same as hers, but it may help." He paused. "Or would that be unwise?"
Doomwing shook his head. "Both of you have some relation to earth dragons, so focus on that aspect of your magic more than one the fire or volcanic aspect. Be mindful of your power too, Ashheart," Doomwing warned. "Your fine control is not always the best."
The other dragon accepted the warning without complaint. "That is true. I shall have to be mindful, lest I harm her by using too much of my power. As the time draws near, or if she encounters any issues, I may call upon you for advice."
"By all means," Doomwing said. "Now, back to your hoard…"
"What would you suggest?" Ashheart asked. "Since I will have to reorganise my hoard anyway to put it in my new lair, this would be the ideal time for a better organisational system."
"I would suggest a system that splits items up into their Age of origin before separating them via subject and then alphabetically."
Ashheart gave him an amused look. "A most thorough system although I can see the advantages. Items from different Ages do tend to stand out, and it is always good to know where items from the First, Second, and Third Ages are since they tend to be quite different from the others. And grouping by subject and then alphabetically… a reasonable choice. Still, that is a lot to remember. I know you make extensive use of memory magic, but I prefer not to rely so heavily upon it."
"Fair enough." Doomwing knew that Ashheart was less gifted in those arts. "But you need not rely on memory magic. He took out a crystal. I call this a filing crystal. When you add an item to your hoard, you can imprint your magic upon it and this crystal. You can then tell the crystal where you are putting an item and why. The crystal will remember, and in the future, you can ask it to help you find what you want based on the sorting criteria you used when adding things to your hoard."
Ashheart nodded thoughtfully. "A most useful item."
"I developed it while organising my collections of books and scrolls before expanding it further." Doomwing grinned. "You can even make copies of the crystal and give them to your family, so they can locate whatever they need from your hoard."
"My parents would have liked something like that," Ashheart said. "I remember when I was a hatchling, I would go rummaging around in their hoards. I would ask them where to find things, and they would get so sick of me looking for them that they would just go off to find those things themselves. A crystal like this would have saved them plenty of time."
"Yes," Doomwing said. "Although my parents did not have the largest hoards, I too spent many a day looking through what they had, especially since my own hoard was so small." He patted the crystal fondly. "Better still, these crystals can also detect where the objects you've imprinted are, so even if they have been moved, the crystal will still be able to find them. And if someone tries to steal something, then as long as they're not too far, the crystal can lead you to the missing items."
Ashheart's eyes blazed for a moment at the thought of someone stealing from him before he too regarded the crystal with obvious glee. "Yes, such a crystal would be most helpful indeed." He turned toward the lake. "If we have settled upon a way to organise my hoard, then let us begin putting my hoard where it belongs."
He dove into the lava, and Doomwing. Diamondfang, and Adamantheart followed him.
Travelling through lava was always an interesting experience. Lava itself was not something that dragons could easily see through. Instead, they had to rely on their powers and other senses to navigate. For Ashheart, that was simple enough. He could sense and control lava, so he essentially had a map of the entire cavern in his mind's eyes. Doomwing, however, preferred to use magic to navigate although the spells required to do so were trivially easy to manage.
They went from cavern to cavern, and Doomwing was only too happy to deposit Ashheart's hoard where it belonged. It was pleasing indeed to see the joy on his friend's face as he watched his prized possessions come to rest in his new lair.
"I remember this," Ashheart said, nodding at a set of giant shark jaws.
"Where did you get those from?" Adamantheart. "They look… rather small by your standards."
"Hah! Of course, they do." Ashheart laughed. "Those are the jaws of the first giant shark I killed on my own. I was a poor swimmer then – I suppose I still am compared to many dragons – so rather than chasing after it, I used my claws to wound myself, so it would come to me." He bared his teeth. "And although I may not be the quickest in the water, I do know how to manoeuvre. Once I got my claws and teeth on that shark it was over."
Later, Diamondfang asked Ashheart about something else.
"That thing?" The tectonic dragon puffed out his chest. "That is the heart of the leviathan that served as the second in command to the Lord of the Tides. I tore it from his chest." He smirked. "He was a nasty creature, and he managed to inflict several serious injuries on me. But in the end, I was stronger."
In another chamber, Ashheart was happy to boast about another prize. "This? It's the skull of the largest fire titan I've ever fought. The Fourth Catastrophe managed to turn him into a zombie, and let me tell you, that was an interesting fight. He was tough, I'll say that, but in the end I slew him."
"Is it safe to keep around?" Adamantheart asked. "I've heard that powerful zombies can haunt those who keep their remains."
"I had it purified," Ashheart said. "It is no longer tainted."
It took them some time to finish setting up Ashheart's hoard and for Doomwing to give and explains his gifts, like the communication-stone. However, they still had to deal with the hoards of Diamondfang and Adamantheart. When they were finally done, Doomwing was about to retire to another chamber to rest when Ashheart asked him a question.
"You have mentioned your doppelgangers. They seem to be quite useful. Would you be able to teach me how to make some?" Ashheart asked.
Doomwing considered the question carefully before shaking his head. "I'm afraid not. The magic involved is very complicated. At present, I don't know if anyone except me could make them. However, I am working on simplifying the process, and I will let you know if I succeed. In the meantime, have you considered forming a pact with some elementals? They can tend to your hoard and perform a variety of tasks in exchange for being allowed to gather power from your lair."
"Elementals? Hmm…" Ashheart nodded slowly. "I have not given much thought to them since I generally prefer to fight on my own without relying on summoned creatures to aid me. But perhaps it is time to change that. Certainly, it cannot hurt to have a few under my command, if only to watch over things here in my absence."
"I can give you a book about how to form the relevant contracts," Doomwing said. "I would recommend starting with weaker or middling elementals."
"Oh? Why not the stronger ones?"
"The stronger ones tend to be prideful and uncooperative. They often hold themselves above their summoners – even when that summoner is a primordial dragon. The weaker and middling elementals tend to be more respectful, and they can become quite loyal over time if you help them to further their power."
"I see." Ashheart glanced back to where Diamondfang had already curled up, her gleaming, jewel-like scales shimmering in the lava light. "It has been a long day. Some rest would be good, and we can tidy up tomorrow."
Doomwing turned. "In the morning then."
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Morning found Doomwing back on the surface with Ashheart. There was a bit of tidying up to do in and around the volcano, but nothing too big. Adamantheart and Diamondfang were both basking on the slopes of the volcano, savouring the morning sun and drawing deeply from the power around them.
However, Doomwing's attention was soon drawn to the horizon where a large group of dragons was approaching. He turned to Ashheart. "Nine dragons, all of them familiar."
"Oh?" Ashheart reached out with his own senses. "Ah." He hit his tail upon the ground, and Adamantheart and Diamondfang stirred from their meditation. "We must greet our guests," Ashheart said.
The dragons reached them and landed a respectful distance away. At the head of them was a male dragon who had already experienced his Third Awakening. He belonged to the volcanic dragon lineage, much like Ashheart, and the resemblance between them in size, build, and bearing was plain.
"Father," the dragon rumbled. "It is good to see you well. I had planned to visit, but my territory came under attack."
Ashheart bared his teeth in a smile. "Lavatide… I trust you dealt with the attack."
Lavatide puffed out his chest. "My enemy fled before me with many wounds. It will be decades before he has the courage to try again."
"Did you slay him?" Doomwing asked.
Lavatide shook his head. "He issued his challenge fairly and openly in accordance with the old ways. We have faced each other in the past, and our battles have always been honourable. There was no need to slay him."
Doomwing nodded in approval, and Lavatide smiled broadly. They were not so many that they could afford to go around killing each other over every challenge. Besides, an honourable dragon who challenged openly and fairly was precisely the sort of dragon they wanted alive. Moreover, should Lavatide lose the next time they fought, he could expect his mercy to be returned. "Good."
Ashheart's gaze went to the female dragon behind Lavatide. Like him, she was a tectonic dragon although she had been born toward the end of the Second Age rather than during the First Age like Ashheart. "Cinderhowl. Are you well?"
Beside Ashheart, Diamondfang bristled. Cinderhowl noticed, and the female tectonic dragon gave the younger dragon an amused look. She and Ashheart's had been mates for a time before going their separate ways. However, they had parted on good terms, and they both cared deeply for their son, Lavatide. There were those who mated for life whilst others stayed together for a time before parting, usually after their hatchlings had reached their First or Second Awakening.
"I am well. And you?" she asked.
"As strong as ever," Ashheart said. He flared his wings and called up his magic. The ground beneath them shook, and the lava behind them bubbled furiously before shooting up into the air.
"That is good." Cinderhowl looked past him to Diamondfang. "Calm yourself. Ashheart and I were mates long ago, but no longer. However, we parted well, so we remain friends." Her attention shifted to Adamantheart. "He takes after you, Ashheart, despite the obvious differences."
"He is my son," Ashheart replied. He looked between Adamantheart and Lavatide. "You two are brothers. I expect you to treat each other accordingly."
Doomwing bit back a laugh as the two regarded each other awkwardly. From memory, they had never met before since Cinderhowl's domain was a reasonable distance away, and Lavatide had chosen to spend most of his time there, perhaps because the volcano where his mother lived was particularly agreeable to his magic. Still, Ashheart had visited him regularly, and he had never hesitated to pass on resources or knowledge that could help him.
"I have my hoard again," Ashheart said to Lavatide. "If there is anything within it that can help you toward your Fourth Awakening, you need only ask."
"Thank you, father." Lavatide inclined his head. "I do not think it will be long before I make an attempt." He glanced at Doomwing. "Although…"
"I will offer what advice I can," Doomwing said. He was not as familiar with Lavatide as Adamantheart, if only because he had been less involved in raising him. Even so, he was Ashheart's son, and that entitled him to no small amount of leeway.
"I will compensate you," Lavatide said before continuing quickly. "I know of the friendship between you and my father, but I am no hatchling, and my wealth is respectable. Allow me to offer compensation."
Ashheart nodded in approval, and Doomwing did the same.
"By all means," Doomwing replied. "But we can discuss that later. As for the rest of you…"
The other dragons came forward. He recognised them as former followers of Ashheart. They had gone their separate ways after Ashheart's wounding, but they had still checked in on Diamondfang and Adamantheart from time to time. They were all brave, honourable, and mighty warriors in their own right, largely taking after Ashheart in their attitudes and dispositions. They had returned to pledge their loyalty once again, and Ashheart was happy to accept them after he was certain they had upheld their other oaths and had not neglected the duties he had given them before his wounding.
With the work on Ashheart's lair done and with his friend speaking with not only to his followers but also to his mate, his sons, and his former mate, Doomwing decided it was time to take his leave. Seeing Ashheart like this put whatever lingering doubts he had to rest. His friend was at full strength, and he once again had followers ready to serve him. Besides, he knew Cinderhowl well enough to recognise the gleam in her eyes. She had no real interest in Ashheart anymore, outside of their friendship, but she was undoubtedly going to tease Diamondfang a bit, if only to see how she would respond. Given her personality, nothing would please Cinderhowl more than for Diamondfang to threaten to tear her throat out despite the disparity in power.
Doomwing had no intentions of being around when that happened although it was strangely heartwarming to see Lavatide and Adamantheart discussing some of their most recent hunts. He bid them farewell and set off toward his next destination with Ashheart promising to visit Doomwing's realm when he had finished settling in and handling his own affairs.
As Doomwing flew he reached out to inform Firetail, and the drake seemed oddly amused. Doomwing also heard some strange noises in the background, but he dismissed those as a few hatchlings mucking around. It wasn't unusual for the drake to keep an eye on some of the younger dragons.