The deeper they went into the forest, the more foliage there was. A mixture of bamboo and trees filled the place. It was definitely well camouflaged… A spot picked with care. Though as they neared the location, the cave they found was far too small for a Dragon… Perhaps it was a younger dragon? No, that wouldn’t make sense… This whole situation was strange.

“A Dragon can fit in such a small cave? Not only is this place hidden… But it doesn’t seem like a Dragon could live here…” Alice stated with a whisper, clearly weary.

“He is definitely in here… The Shadows never lie, my dear Alice.” Kazius responded quietly back. He would do a strange motion as if opening a door.

“Stay behind me.” He stated as he stepped into the cave, Alice soon following. At first, it seemed like a normal cave on the inside, but Kazius knew better than that… He knew an illusion when he saw one.

“Nice try.” Kazius stated simply before he raised a hand, the Shadows in the cave growing restless until the air itself shattered like a mirror, pieces falling and scattering. The illusion was gone, and the cave was shown for what it actually was.

Rather the cave was actually no cave, but a large house.

They were right in the middle of the main area… If you could call it that, that is. It wasn’t a living room, but closer to a library. Shelves upon shelves took up the place. The whole house was filled with nothing but books, an amount fit for a Dragon’s hoard.

“Well, isn’t that something… Here I am minding my own business yet I seemed to attract the attention of quite the unsavory person… You’re as rude as they say, Seselis. I don’t recall inviting any guests.” stated what appeared to be a Green Dragonborn. He wore clothing similar to what people wore in Blossom. He had two long whiskers and white horns. His eyes were a golden yellow, but their gazes never met. He seemed to care more about the page of a book he was reading than his so-called ‘guests’.

Kazius would frown ever so slightly, but his gaze remained cold. “It’s Kazius. Get that wrong again and you will see how ‘unsavory’ I can really be.”

“I can recognize someone like you even with that appearance… I know who you are, but if you mean your words as in you go by a new name now… Then I will happily accept this new piece of knowledge… I will write it down somewhere… When I get the chance…” the Dragon responded back, flipping through two pages as he spoke, seeming to be reading at quite the speed.

Kazius sighed, Dragons were an annoying proud bunch, but he knew how to deal with them. “Last time I checked, even Dragons know what manners are… If that is what you are… Do I need to start destroying some of these books to get your attention, perhaps?”

The Dragon frowned, “Of course, I am a Dragon, have you tried reading a book while being the size of a house? Someone of my talent and knowledge can manage to look like some silly lizardmen that enjoy pretending to be related to us… You also speak of manners yet here you are threatening to destroy my possessions.” He stated as he closed the book he was reading and then studied him and then Alice.

“A descendant of that horrid Human… Your family’s appearance has always intrigued me… Hard to not recognize you lot when you all look the same… And here with S-…. Kazius.” The Dragon stated calmly, correcting himself, almost calling Kazius Seselis again, but Kazius let it slide.

Alice did frown at his statement. She seemed to be developing a sore spot whenever people mention Ratier to her… Then again, considering the grief that the kingdom’s founding caused not only her family, but their friends… It was understandable. Of course, Kazius intended to get rid of the eyesore of a kingdom.

“What a troublesome duo… Anyway… My name is Lazertavidir… I’ve also gone by Vidir The Learned One… I am not so proud as to not allow my name to be shortened… Even if it has been many many years since I’ve gone by Vidir.” Vidir stated. With a name that long… He was indeed a well lived Dragon… Though with how he acted, it was starting to become clear why Lady Sakura has not heard of his name. He was a shut-in.

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“Well, Vidir. Are you aware someone has been framing you for harassing Blossom and inspiring a rebellion? The ruler there would very much love your head.” Kazius stated simply, indeed not believing the Green Dragon was to blame. Sure, Green Dragons were cunning, and sneaky, but Vidir had a lot to lose by starting something petty like this when there was no knowledge to gain. He also couldn’t even be bothered to stop reading to have a conversation, much less to stir up trouble.

“That does explain why whenever I go out as of late there has been nothing but annoyances… Mortals always pull troublesome things like this… Though at least you have the sense to know I have nothing to do with such nonsense… I have many books I rather read… I did once enjoy messing with the occasional mortal. I even miss it, but I’ve been too busy with my books to do anything like that.

I’ve been here long before that little settlement started… I let them make their little den… and then they trouble me anyway… Maybe you and Rubrumreptiscarlu were onto something when you two tried to kill them all.” Vidir stated in annoyance, clearly displeased with the fact he attempted to leave mortals alone, yet they are bothering him anyway by dragging him into quite the mess.

“That has never been my goal. I want to conquer, though it is of little importance to me whether those I rule over are alive or dead...” Kazius corrected. Alice seemed to show no reaction to his words, and even nodded along to the conversation as if acknowledging it, “Though there are a good amount of annoyances I intend on getting rid of… That is a different matter though… You have a few options in front of you… Lucky for you…” He stated with a smirk, the whole room suddenly growing pitch dark, as if enveloped in shadow. The little light in the place were Kazius’ glowing red eyes and the Dragon’s own golden eyes staring right back.

Despite the change and the sudden darkness, Alice did not seem startled. She seemed like she really meant her words from before about getting her hands dirty and changing to handle what was to come.

“One…” Kazius began as he paced around the darkness, “You could serve me and use that mind of yours to help me… Your books will be safe and you will get more… I am quite generous, you know? Two… You reject my offer… So, I allow the Lady of this area to keep thinking that you are behind what has been happening… And you become the first fresh corpse I play with. I’ve never seen a Skeletal Dragon before…Lucky for you, we both know your real value is in your mind… But we both are aware Ancient or not, you’re a Green Dragon… Physical strength is not your forte… So, I do hope you make the best choice…”

Vidir seemed to remain silent, remaining quite calm despite the position he was in… But he was a Dragon, Kazius understood they were not easy to intimidate and even if they were, they were not likely to show it.

“For someone so generous… You don’t really seem to be giving me a lot of flexibility.” Vidir responded calmly, “You really are as the rumors describe… There aren’t many people that would threaten an Ancient Dragon. Even someone like you should be at least a little intimidated…”

“I am a lot stronger than I once was… You could go ahead and be the first to test it… And whether it is me, The annoying rats hiding in Ratier… Or The Demon King, you will find staying neutral from now on won’t be an option, even for an Ancient Dragon like yourself or a beyond Ancient like Rubrumreptiscarlu. I offer you a friendship and all the books you could ever read…” Kazius stated.

He used the word friendship, but he clearly did not mean it in the way that he did for his actual friends… But with the changes in him… Was he even capable of making new friends? Despite how dastardly he spoke, Alice continued to be calm. Kazius did wonder… She seemed to have meant her words to him earlier… Where would such resolve take her?

Vidir would sigh, “It would be quite idiotic for me to refuse such ‘friendship’ I know that much… As you said… My mind is my greatest asset… I plan to use it… Not to mention… I quite love hoarding knowledge of all kinds… It is clear to me I am about to witness quite the interesting events… I will join you. Not like I have much of a choice.” The Dragon would finally agree.

Kazius smirked at this, the room returning to normal as if nothing, “You Green Dragons have always been quite reasonable from what I heard… Seems they’re true… Do understand though, betray me and Death will be the last of your worries.” He warned, his smirk turning into a warm smile yet his eyes grew cold while he gave the warning.

“Understood… So… You seem to speak of the Humans in Ratier with such hostility… What are your intentions with them? You spoke of conquest… Is this all some sort of ploy to take back your little Princess’ homeland? Protect the poor innocent mortals from secret plotters and The Demon King?” Vidir taunted, even in a situation like this, it seems he had quite the sarcastic attitude to him.

Before Kazius could even respond, Alice spoke up. Her expression was stern, unwavering, “Didn’t Kazius just tell you? They’re rats… I don’t know what you do with rats where you Dragons a from…” She trailed off, her tone cold, “But is there anything to do other than exterminate them?” She stated with a slight sneer.

Kazius could not help but have his grin widen at her words. His Alice truly did not stop making him proud.