My thoughts were interrupted by Einvaldskonungr as he let out a rumbling chuckle. "Trust is not given freely, little one. It is forged through fire and trial. And if any of them betray that trust..." His claws scraped against the ground, leaving deep gouges.

"I will deal with them personally. Hopefully, a magic oath will be enough. However, I wouldn’t count on it. There are many ways around such things."

I sighed, "It’s a dangerous game you’re proposing. Also, how many of them are likely to have a divine spark?"

"All games are dangerous when dragons play them," he said, his tone sharp with certainty. "But if we play it right, we will win. And when we do, the skies will thunder once more with the wings of dragons. As for the divine spark, I suspect that they either have one in their possession or know where one is located."

I nodded slowly. "Alright. Let’s see if the others are willing to play by our rules."

Einvaldskonungr’s lips curled into a toothy grin. "Oh, they will, Nóttormr. They will. I suggest you visit at least two of them instead of me, though. First, I would go to Silver City and meet Silfriglóa, the Silver Dragon. Then, head south to Golden City and meet Gullhyrndr, the Gold Dragon. Both are reasonable and won’t make things overly difficult for you.

I tilted my head, curious. “Why Silfriglóa first?”

Einvaldskonungr leaned forward slightly, his fiery scales gleaming in the dim light. “She is the most sociable of all the dragons I know. She enjoys meeting others and values peace. She does not rule with fear but with kindness. The people there love her for it. Although she is a good dragon, her trust in others can be a weakness. However, that should work in your favor.”

I thought for a moment, then asked, “Has she always been that way?”

“Yes,” Einvaldskonungr said with a small smile. “Even when we were younger, Silfriglóa always sought to minimize the fights between us. One time Blárdynja and Skjallgarganíss argued over who controlled the Frozen Ruins. Silfriglóa stepped in and found a way for them to share the territory. Neither was happy, but they accepted it. That is her gift. She can turn chaos into order.”

I nodded. “And after I meet her?”

“After Silver City, travel south to Golden City,” Einvaldskonungr said. His tone grew deeper. “There you will meet Gullhyrndr. Like Silfriglóa, he is a good dragon. He rules fairly and cares for his people. His city shines with wealth and prosperity. Yet, he is more cautious than Silfriglóa. He values fairness, but he does not trust easily. You will need to be patient with him.”

“What should I know about him?” I asked.

Einvaldskonungr’s gaze softened, as if he was remembering something. “Gullhyrndr has always been the wise one among us. When we were younger, he often spoke of balance and justice. Once, when Banisámreitr, the Black Dragon, argued with Gullhyrnd about a dungeon located between their lands, he did not fight. Instead, he invited Banisámreitr to speak. They made an agreement that lasted to this day. That is the kind of dragon Gullhyrndr is. He prefers words over claws, but he will not hesitate to defend what is his.”

I took in his words, thinking about the two dragons. “What should I say to them?”

“While they probably already know, you should tell them that you are willing to share with them the knowledge of the ritual,” Einvaldskonungr said firmly. “Explain how it can elevate us all. Tell them it is not just for me, or for you, but for all dragons and our kin."

I frowned, “And if they refuse?”

Einvaldskonungr’s eyes blazed brighter. “They may hesitate. They may question. That is their nature. But remind them of what is at stake. Their power is great, but no dragon stands alone. They know this, even if they do not admit it. The ritual is our chance to secure our place in this world. They must see that.”

I nodded, then hesitated. “Why not summon all the dragons to one place? Wouldn’t it be easier to speak to them all at once?”

Einvaldskonungr laughed, “It would be easier, yes, but not wiser. Old rivalries still burn, even among the most reasonable of us. If I were to call them all here, they might see it as a threat. No, it is better this way. Go to them. Speak to them on their own terms. Show them that we seek alliance, not dominance.”

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“I understand. I’ll leave for Silver City first, then head to Golden City. I’ll make them listen.”

Einvaldskonungr’s expression softened. “Good. And remember, while Silfriglóa and Gullhyrndr are good dragons, they are still dragons. Their pride runs deep. Approach them with respect, but do not forget your own strength.”

As I turned to leave, Einvaldskonungr’s voice stopped me. “Wait, Nóttormr. There is one more thing we need to talk about before you go.”

I turned back to face him, nervous about what he had obviously waited to tell me about. “What would that be?”

The red dragon’s voice became serious. “I heard about the draconic system you created. Your system has strengthened many kobolds and created fanatical followers. They now carry the twilight bloodline, which has created a problem.”

I frowned. “What kind of problem would that be?”

Einvaldskonungr answered, “The other dragons will see this as a threat. When their kobolds notice what you have done, they may want the same power. They might even leave their masters and seek you out, desiring the twilight bloodline so that they too can become a dragon.”

I hesitated. “You think the other dragons will see this as my fault?”

“Yes,” he said. I could hear in his voice how serious he was. I had suspected it might become a problem, but I hadn't really had the time to worry about it. Apparently, it was something I needed to take care of soon.

The red dragon then continued, “Stealing their kobold followers is an insult most dragons cannot tolerate. In fact, even I am not happy that many of my kobolds now follow you."

After hearing that, I definitely felt some pressure. Even though the kobold I had given the system to were refugees or survivors of attacks, they had been Einvaldskonungr’s followers. Technically, I had stolen them. I was lucky that the red dragon wasn't making a big deal about it.

Einvaldskonungr continued speaking, unaware of my thoughts. "Others will see you as the one who took their kobolds’ loyalty away. It could lead to conflict, even war. We cannot let that happen.”

“What do you want me to do?” I asked.

Einvaldskonungr’s eyes narrowed as he studied me. “I want you to think of a system for the dragons themselves so that they can empower their own kobolds. However, instead of the twilight bloodline, their kobolds should inherit the bloodline of their dragon master.”

I tilted my head, considering his words. “So, each dragon would give their kobolds a part of their own bloodline? A silver dragon’s kobolds would gain a silver bloodline, a gold dragon’s kobolds would gain a gold bloodline, and so on?”

“Exactly,” Einvaldskonungr said with a nod. “This way, each dragon can control their kobolds and strengthen their bond. It will also stop them from seeing the twilight bloodline as the only path to power.”

“But won’t that make the dragons stronger too?” I asked cautiously.

“Yes,” he said simply. “But that is the point. If they feel stronger and more secure, they will have no reason to see us as enemies. It will unite us instead of dividing us. That is what we need.”

I thought about it for a moment. “It could work but creating a system like this will take time. I’ll need to study their bloodlines. I’ll also need to find a way to make it balanced. Otherwise, some dragons might feel cheated if their kobolds don’t grow as strong as others.”

Einvaldskonungr nodded again. “This will not be easy, but I hope that you can do it. You have already proven yourself by creating the twilight system. This is the next step. Otherwise, I fear that the dragons might turn on you.”

I hesitated. From his tone, I was a little worried that he would be one of the ones who might also choose to turn on me. I tried to ignore this feeling and asked, “And if the other dragons refuse? What if they see this as a trap or a way for you to control them?”

“If they know that you can steal their followers, but are willing to empower them instead, they should listen to reason. Dragons are proud creatures, but they are also practical. If they see the value in it, they will accept it.”

I nodded slowly. “I’ll think about it. I’ll do my best to come up with something they will agree to.”

The red dragon leaned back, his wings folding behind him. “Good. If you succeed, it will mean a new age for our kind. One where dragons stand united, not divided.”

“I understand,” I said. “I won’t let you down.”

Einvaldskonungr tried to reassure me, “I know you won’t. Now go.”

With that, I nodded and turned around. Then I spread my wings before leaping into the sky. I had a lot to think about. Namely, how was I going to create yet another draconic system? This time, one which the other dragons could control. While I was doing this, I realized that Einvaldskonungr had completely dominated the conversation we just had.

Everything he wanted, he got. I was like a little puppet that he controlled. I grimaced, quite annoyed and disappointed with myself. Because of this, I tried to think of where I had lost control. I knew the red dragon had centuries of experience, but I hadn’t realized just how much advantage they gave him. That made me worry about what I would face with the other dragons. I was really starting to get the feeling I was about to walk into a disaster of my own making.