Kinsoriel tried not to make a habit of issuing challenges. Even with it being the ordained way to resolve issues between two unbudging parties, restraint was needed. Throw them about, and you make an unsavory name for yourself. On top of that, you also ran the risk of potentially dying, given how fierce things could get. Only do so when you absolutely must. Why in the name of Valorian was he fighting for the sake of this deathbound then?

“Will there be any additional rules, or will this be a standard duel?” How sporting. It was nice to see younger dragons still cared for the finer aspects of a challenge.

“No harming the deathbound,” Kinsoriel said with a glance to the side, “that is all. Do you accept this?”

“I prefer my meat as intact as possible, so I see no reason to object. Human!” Seigill called over to the cage, “You shall countdown from three, starting now.”

“Three,” Benjamin announced as both combatants readied themselves. “Two.” Kinsoriel tensed up his muscles and dug into the ground beneath him, keeping his eyes on his foe. Seigill did the same. “One.” He stood completely still. “Zero.”

Immediately, the green dragon tossed up a huge cloud of dirt with his foreclaws. This irritated Kinsoriel’s eyes, forcing him to fan it away with his wings. He could hear Benjamin coughing in the background. Able to see once it had cleared out, he saw that where Seigill had once stood was a great mound. If he was fighting another color of dragon, he’d think that they had ducked around or taken to the air. But this was a green one after all.

Flying up from the ground, he hovered far off to the side, watching. Within moments, the spot he was on exploded outwards with a pair of horns, ready to impale anything that was above.

Out of the hole snaked a wary Seigill. If he sincerely thought that would work, he was in for a painful awakening.

Taking the opportunity that had presented itself, Kinsoriel started to create a spell. He couldn’t risk something too destructive with Benjamin nearby, and he didn’t want to kill him either. Instead, he opted for something more precise. Holding a hand up into the air, he began to conjure the image in his head. With the storm he had weathered shortly before, it came to him easily. Bringing form to the mana, he declared “Lightning!” before pointing a claw at his foe. A blindingly bright bolt streaked towards its target, crackling with power.

He jerked out of the way before it struck. Seigill looked down at the smoldering spot, just as surprised. Was that intentional? He looked up at Kinsoriel, snickering.

“Off and to the air already? What a splendid idea! I think I’ll join you!” With a bounding start, the green dragon leaped from the edge and sped towards Kinsoriel with claws raised.

Unable to intercept from a standstill, Kinsoriel twisted himself out of the way. He didn’t react fast enough, however, receiving a graze against his upper forearm.

Grunting at the pain, he swiped out with his back legs at the passing dragon’s tail. He managed to make contact, giving a little wound of his own as he struck.

Both of them turned to face each other with a snarl. Without letting up, they both rushed at the other, interlocking their hands in a grab. Their wings were out of sync with an irregular rhythm as they both grappled, awkwardly keeping them in the air. Neither side had enough strength to overpower the other outright, each exerting more and more as they struggled.

Kinsoriel tried to get his teeth around the neck bobbing in front of him. If it was clear he could land a fatal injury, his foe would have to concede.

He stopped as his opponent took a deep breath. Claws dug painfully into his own in an attempt to hold him in place. Not at all eager to see what was to come, he speared his tail between them, straight into his jaw. Not a moment sooner, Seigill blew out thick black smoke through his now-shut teeth.

It didn’t stop there. Smoke continued spewing out of Seigill’s maw. The area around was soon shrouded in darkness. This wasn’t mere smoke from failed fire breath. It didn’t scratch his throat but rather moisturized it like a cloud would. Realization struck him as he remembered that sudden storm from earlier. Even having been smacked right under his mouth, Seigill smirked at him.

Redoubling his efforts, Kinsoriel twisted his arms around and beat his wings in the opposite direction. The green dragon lost his grip and spiraled off into the darkness. He didn’t celebrate this. After how secure he had been held, that was far too easy. This was exactly what his opponent had wanted, he was sure of it. He readied himself as best as he was able, not letting his guard down for a second.

While he was prepared for an ambush, he wasn’t prepared for the ear-splitting boom of the clouds around him. Reeling, he closed his eyes and raised his hands to his ear frills in reflex. In that crucial moment, he felt a burst of wind pass him. A cut across his lower torso was made as it did. The sharp and sudden pain made his wings nearly buckle, but he persisted.

So that’s how it was going to be. More than fine by him, he had tricks of his own.

To ensure he didn’t create an opening like that again, he had to protect himself against the thunder. Envisioning a layer of sound-blocking mana around his frills, he moved to make it happen, placing his hands up to his head. Spoken softly, he intoned the spell, “Tranquil Bubble”.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The nearly invisible bubbles came into being just in time. Thunder crashed over him just as the spell was finished. Dampening the sound didn’t stop his body from wincing entirely, but he was able to keep up his guard this time. As if on cue, the green dragon darted out from the dark for another hit-and-run. Seigill tried to rake his underbelly again.

This time, he was thwarted by well-placed arm scales. The sting was worth taking over another hit to his more vital areas. It also gave him the spacing he needed to attempt an attack of his own. He thrust out a claw but struck at thin air. The green blur disappeared back into the clouds as quickly as he came.

Kinsoriel growled. Reaction alone would be a losing battle. He had to see him coming, have time to attack first.

Luckily, he had an idea. A craftier deathbound tried to steal away some of his tomes in his younger years. He used an array of smoke pellets and diversions to try and hide. No matter how sneaky, none could hide the heat of life.

Forming the shape of a circle with his middle and thumb claws, he started thinking of the warmth in everything, all in the space he formed. Pulling from his reserves, he cast the spell. “Eye of Thermo,” he said to himself as the mana came into action between his claws. A swathe of colors swirled around before settling. He brought the circle up to his left eye and began looking around. It would show him how hot and cold everything around him was. Blues and purples were in abundance up here. Then he spotted a large orange with a slight trail behind it. Found you.

He continued to follow the orange shape as it circled around, waiting for his next move. It stopped suddenly and started to rear back. As it did this, the storm roared out once again. It rocked him harder than it had even moments earlier, which meant it was intensifying. Without knowing how violent it could get, it was in his best interests to get out of there quickly.

He opened his hand and let his spell unravel. It wasn’t needed now, he was ready. He placed both of his hands to his ear frills and pretended to be in pain. Green popped out from the direction he had last seen. It rushed up to him with the intent of attacking again; the bait was taken.

In a swift motion, Kinsoriel brought down his arms and caught Seigill’s head between them. Before he could realize what had happened, he also positioned himself onto his wings with his legs. He took a few scratches from the now thrashing dragon, but he paid them no mind. Now in control of both of their movements, he dove backward, careening towards the ground.

“What are you doing?!” Seigill yelled with a bit of a voice crack, “L-Let go of me!” Kinsoriel ignored the complaints and continued to hold on. Land came back into view as they left the clouds behind them.

“We’ll both die! Are you really going to kill us over a deathbound of all things?!” Kill them? Any dragon with their scales grown in could walk away from this. Whatever the reason, it seemed fear had gnawed its way into the previously proud dragon. Kinsoriel smiled wickedly.

“You might die.” he whispered, “I’ll be fine.” Seigill continued to struggle but was gripped too securely to do anything significant. Each second that passed by brought them closer to the splintered wrecks beneath. “I wonder how far your remains will end up. I’d say a good few hundred feet. What do you think?”

Kinsoriel got ready to break off from this drop when he heard two magic words from beneath his arms: “I yield!” Now that’s what he wanted to hear.

Having no reason to continue, he released his hold on the green dragon. They both angled themselves away from the ship remnants, one far more frantically than the other. Kinsoriel managed to come to a complete stop before crashing into the white waters, landing with barely a tremor.

Seigill didn’t. The follower of Isdri plowed into the waters, creating a large wave. Hopefully, he could appreciate not going headfirst at least.

From above, the once raging storm started to rain, as though it was crying for its creator. It began to thin out shortly after. Storm breath; now that’s something he hasn’t seen in a while. Kinsoriel should have predicted it with how he dodged his lightning, but wasn’t going to beat himself up over it.

Coming down from the heat of battle, the rain and lapping waves managed to agitate the injuries he sustained. He gritted his teeth as the salty droplets burned, but sucked it up all the same.

He trotted over to the now shuddering Seigill and extended a hand gracefully. “That was wonderfully fought. You have my thanks.” Once he was more coherent, Seigill reciprocated the gesture, getting himself hoisted up with a yank.

“Likewise Son of Ortremel.” He shook off the water briskly and produced a smile. “Though I don’t agree with your reason for this challenge, I will not deny that.”

A gracious loser as well? This one has to have had a good upbringing. He’d certainly make his ancestors proud.

Praise aside, it was time to collect. “Now, if we are done here,” Kinsoriel said with a slight stretch, “I want my servant back.”

The positive expression Seigill had faded. “Yes, right. You’ve the right to him of course, and I won’t impede that any more than I have already. If you would humor me though, I would like to know something before we part.”

Kinsoriel considered his request. Though he had given him some trouble, mistakes happen. There wasn’t any real reason to say no to such a request. “What is it?” he asked the green dragon.

“Why a deathbound? Any of Isdri’s creations would jump to serve you. Our lesser kin seek redemption in our care.” Seigill frowned. “Those pests have done nothing but darken our world with their evils. They will do whatever they can to usurp us. Our kind and theirs will forever be at odds. You know that don’t you?”

Kinsoriel, slightly taken aback at how much was put into that question, responded, “I do.”

In an almost pleading tone, Seigill asked again, “Then why take a deathbound as your servant?”

Despite hearing it a second time, the scholarly dragon found himself unable to say anything definitively. By all means, nothing said was incorrect. He hated them much the same as any other dragon. Getting all the help he wanted from any other source would be trivial in comparison. If he was patient in finding a cure, anything only Benjamin could provide would evaporate. The man needed him far more than Kinsoriel had need of him. So why was this even a question? And more importantly, why was this so difficult for him to answer?

Thinking, Kinsoriel looked up to the cliffs where the little author would be, hearing the mortal cheering him on. “He's... not quite the same as others. His oddity always manages to surprise me, and I suppose I wanted to see how far it goes. That may not be the best reason,” he admitted with a sigh, “but he's my responsibility now regardless.”