“It’s not charity,” he said. “It’s necessary. Dragons are dying out. We were once mighty and numerous, but now we are only a shadow of what we were. Each age makes the skies quieter. We can’t stay idle. That’s why I share my blood. It’s why I create children through other races. Kobolds, humans, elves. It doesn’t matter.”

I tilted my head, listening carefully. His voice softened as he continued, “But even that isn’t enough. Dragons must rise again. That’s why we find others with dragon blood, even if it’s from rivals. We give them the gift of our bloodlines. From those unions, true dragons can be born. When that happens, they’ll become our mates, ensuring our survival.”

“But… wouldn’t…?” I started, then stopped. My thoughts were spinning.

The dragon chuckled, a low, rumbling laugh. He seemed amused by my confusion. “No dragon will kill another. Not now. To do so would betray our entire species. We fight and drive each other away from our lands, but we don’t kill. Even the proudest among us knows that every dragon is needed to survive and procreate. When we fight over treasures or land, it’s not just for power. It’s to show the world that we’re still here.” His eyes blazed with determination.

I frowned, confused, and asked myself. How could anyone forget that dragons existed? That seemed impossible.

Einvaldskonungr paused and looked at me closely. “Remember this, little one. Your wings, your strength, your existence, these are part of that legacy. You carry the future of our kind. Don’t let it fade.” He laughed again, the sound booming despite his humanoid form. “You’ve changed, Nóttormr. You’re not the kobold I sent to build a city. You’re a god. But more importantly, you’re a dragon.”

“Thanks,” I said dryly. “I think.” Did he really just say being a god mattered less than being a dragon?

The dragon’s gaze sharpened. “You’re both a dragon and a god now, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I replied, folding my wings tight against my back. It was obvious, so why ask?

His growl was deep and even, neither approval nor disapproval. “Which do you think matters more?”

I hesitated. “I’d say being a god gives me the power to shape reality, to command faith, and to influence destiny.”

A puff of smoke escaped his nose as he scoffed. I was surprised he could do that in humanoid form. Could I use my breath weapon like that too?

“Spoken like a gnome distracted by a shiny coin,” he said. “Let me tell you something. Gods are fleeting. Their power depends on mortals’ faith. They rise and fall. While gods are powerful, they have limits.”

He leaned closer. “Dragons endure. We are not tied to the beliefs of lesser beings. Our power and majesty have existed since the dawn of the world.”

I wanted to argue but didn’t. It was clear he believed this fully, and anything I said wouldn’t change his mind.

“Don’t misunderstand me,” he said, his tone softening. “I don’t dismiss your godhood. It may be the key to saving our kind. With divine power, we can strengthen our bloodlines and expand our influence. We can create new dragons. But being a god is a tool. Being a dragon is your essence. That must endure.”

His words made me think. I understood why he wanted to become a god. Like me, he could spread his bloodline more widely. Some kobolds were already close to becoming true dragons. If this kept up, the other types of dragons might vanish while only black twilight dragons remained.

“Dragons are already gods to kobolds and others who worship us,” he said. “Our bloodline is their salvation, their path to greatness. Through us, they evolve, becoming more like us with each generation. Your duty as a dragon-god is not to seek glory but to protect and strengthen our race. That is your legacy.”

I nodded. His words weighed on me. “I understand. My godhood serves my dragonhood, not the other way around.” I hadn’t thought much about my situation, but he made sense. I was the god of kobolds. It was time I took that seriously.

A slow, approving rumble came from him. “Good. Remember this. Faith may fade, but the fire of our kind must never die.” His body shifted back to his dragon form, wings spreading wide. “You should visit more often. We’re allies now, aren’t we?”

“We are,” I said, though his earlier request stayed in my mind. The Ritual of Apotheosis was a dangerous gift. For now, I kept my thoughts to myself. “I’ve decided to give you the ritual.”

Einvaldskonungr’s eyes lit up with satisfaction. “So, the young god sees reason. Wise.”

“Maybe,” I replied. “But how will this help you? The ritual isn’t enough. You need a divine spark to complete it.”

His tail flicked as he chuckled. “Do you really think I’d ask for the ritual without being ready?” He leaned forward, his massive head lowering to my level. “I’ve had a divine spark in my possession for decades.”

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That surprised me. “Why haven’t you used it?”

“Because rushing into godhood is foolish. Only an idiot would absorb a divine spark without the ritual,” he said, amused. “The spark is dangerous. Without the ritual to stabilize it, it could destroy even me. Now, with the ritual, I can ascend.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What kind of spark?” I tried to ignore the annoyance I was feeling since I had accepted a divine spark without the ritual. In essence, he had been calling me an idiot.

“The spark of fire,” he said, grinning. “A fitting choice, don’t you think?”

I nodded slowly. A red dragon with the spark of fire would become far more powerful. Fire was already his domain. As a god, he’d rival even the elder gods.

“You’ve planned this for a long time,” I said. I wanted to ask how he got the spark but held back. If he wanted to share, he would.

“Naturally,” he said. “Patience is key with something this big.”

Giving him the ritual would tie him to me. Even as a god, he’d owe his ascension to my help. Still, I hesitated. “Do you understand the responsibilities of godhood?”

Actually, I doubted gods had any real responsibilities except to answer prayers and help their followers. I was just trying to sound wise. What I was actually wondering about was whether the red dragon would be joining the System Lords’ pantheon or if we’d be creating a new pantheon of dragons.

“Of course,” he said seriously. “Power is survival. With godhood, I will be able to ensure the rise of dragons.”

I sighed, not really sure that I was doing the right thing. “Very well. I’ll give you the ritual.”

He inclined his head, “Thank you. This will change everything.”

I raised my hand, transferring the ritual’s knowledge to him with my Faith Points. When it was done, he closed his eyes, absorbing the information.

“It’s done,” I said. “The rest is up to you.” More than likely, he would start bathing in lava and cast the ritual there. I started thinking about what would happen when Einvaldskonungr then reminded me of something that I had forgotten.

He said, "This ritual is a powerful temptation. You must realize that others will covet this power. They will come to find you. It might be best to gain some allies in preparation for this."

I frowned, not having considered that. If it was true that the ritual had been lost, anyone with a spark of divinity would be looking for me. Considering someone had to be powerful to obtain the spark, that meant a lot of powerful beings would be searching for me as soon as they heard that I had ascended to godhood.

"Do you think other dragons should have the ritual?" I asked.

The red dragon answered, "I do. But not without conditions. If we are to share this gift, it must be with purpose. Concessions must be made, particularly by Groenneitr."

His tone hardened as he said the green dragon's name. He was definitely not happy with the green dragon. Then again, I couldn’t blame him. After all, the green kobolds had caused a lot of problems for the red kobolds lately.

I tilted my head, curiosity flickering. "I assume this is because of his recent actions?" After everything I had learned, I wasn’t sure if there was another motive behind his words.

Einvaldskonungr let out a low growl. "Groenneitr is cunning, and his ambition is limited only by his imagination. Giving him the ritual without binding him to an agreement would be foolish."

I frowned, considering his words. "And the others? What about Blárdynja? Silfriglóa? Gullhyrndr? Banisámreitr? Skjallgarganíss?" The only reason I knew of these names was because of a map that I had seen when choosing the location for my city. One reason I was saying them was to make the red dragon think I knew at least a little.

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Blárdynja, the Blue, is shrewd but wise enough to see the benefits of such an agreement. She would see the logic in an alliance. Silfriglóa and Gullhyrndr would join as well. The silver and gold have always sought to preserve our kind. They understand the stakes."

He paused, "But Banisámreitr, I am hesitant about. He is treacherous. I trust him as far as I can throw him. Despite my strength, that isn’t very far. Skjallgarganíss is unpredictable. She is a brute, driven by instinct more than reason."

I tried not to appear surprised. I didn’t know the genders of the dragons, just their names. As for Skjallgarganíss, I had assumed the black dragon was a male. It was also odd that she was considered a brute. "So, you’d trust some of them, but not all? Is there a way to compel their loyalty?”

"Those who wish to partake in this power must swear an oath, a binding agreement that ensures their loyalty to the draconic cause. While its effects will be minimal after they ascend to godhood, it should retain at least some impact."

"And what kind of concessions are you expecting from Groenneitr and the others?"

Einvaldskonungr’s tail lashed, the movement slow and deliberate. "Groenneitr must repay me for what he has done. Blárdynja has nothing that we need, but Silfriglóa and Gullhyrndr must share their wisdom freely, rather than hoarding it. Banisámreitr must be watched closely though. The same can be said for Skjallgarganíss, although for different reasons." He hesitated, then growled.

I couldn’t help but smirk. "You’re asking a lot."

"They will if they understand what’s at stake." His voice was firm, unyielding. "Our kind has been fragmented for too long. Divided, we are weak. Together, as gods, we would be unstoppable."

I tilted my head, skepticism creeping in. "And what of the other dragons? The ones you don’t know about? Surely there are more out there. Do they get a say in this?"

Einvaldskonungr’s eyes narrowed. "They will come forward in time. If they prove themselves worthy, they too may join. But the ritual cannot be given freely. It must be earned."

"Earned how?" I pressed. The conversation was making me feel odd. I was definitely feeling more like a subordinate than a boss.

"By demonstrating loyalty to our cause. By contributing to the survival of our kind. By abiding by the agreements, we set. Those who refuse or oppose us will be left to their own fate." His gaze burned into me. "This is not a matter of charity, Nóttormr. It is survival. The weak and selfish have no place in the world we seek to build.

I mulled over his words. "You’re asking for a lot of trust," I said. However, I did have to admit that I was looking forward to what he was proposing. It did raise some questions for me, such as could I belong to two pantheons? Would I have to share some of my divinity with some of the dragons? How would I be able to ensure that I was the boss and that I didn’t get replaced?