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Chapter 13: Drahkras

Veledar stirred within his softened bed, gently pushing off the thin sheets that covered him. Eyes didn't open as he inhaled the crisp morning air, sighing in the back of his throat. His limbs were already aching till he groaned. Days upon days of constant exercise and meditation had taken their toll. Even his stomach was more nauseated than it ought to be. He flopped his tail uselessly, scattering tiny dust particles into the air. He could just lie here and drift the day away, pondering the mysteries of the world. Unfortunately a dragoness had other ideas.

Fremra was upon him before he could do much else, the great teal dragoness sliding in like a hunter. Around his bed she paced, tail ever tapping the stone. She was humming, eyes locked to every inch of him. She suddenly stopped, shoving a paw against his snout. “And here I thought you were avoiding me like your human. My fault, should have checked the bed first. Thought you could have a lie in?"

Batting at her paw he hissed, still unwilling to relinquish an inch to the morning. “You're training has left me weakened and drained." He rolled back, his paw pressed to his snout in a dramatic fashion. “I want you to tell Arcturus he may have half of treasure. He'll need it when I'm gone." He thumped his tail. That wasn't right, that was a significant portion of treasure! “Second thought ten percent, how much could he need?"

“Oh, how sweet of you to think of him." The amused female sat upon her haunches, pressing both paws against his bulk. “But where are you going? Is it on another trip? Why leave your mate here? He'd love to come!"

“Not that kind of trip. I mean to the great beyond!" He tried to resist but ended up rolled over and sprawled onto his back on the hardened cavern floor.

“Is that the name of a tavern?" Her head peered over his bed, lavender eyes bouncing in laughter. “Sounds like a really rough place. Sorta place adventurers gather around. Is that it? Another adventure?"

“I meant dying!" He growled, pushing himself to all fours.

She merely swept around him, nudging at his haunches with her own. “You're not dying." She chuckled deep in her throat.

He huffed and snapped away. “You don't know about my innerworkings. Your arduous training and so forth could be harmful for my wellbeing!- Hey what are you!" He found himself pushed to the floor, the female belting out another good laugh. Even her wings were flaring out with every breath.

“You seem well enough alive to me!"

There was to be no morning hunt, just like all the previous times. She'd bring him to spout some spiritual nonsense that made his head hurt. Malevolently he was sure, she dragged him passed where Jandar was already getting to work on whatever culinary experimentation kept a dragon busy. The red tasted hints of vanilla, growled at the lustful scent of cinnamon, and groaned dramatically at the prospect of roasted sword fish. Why did she have to torment him so? Wait a minute was she talking about Arcturus? His head perked up as the female slightly turned to give him a sly smirk.

“So now you're listening." She nudged him to the side, “Here I thought you were going to be seduced by my son's cooking."

“Nonsense." He snorted, quickening his pace to decrease the temptation. When the smells were hardly a distant sensation, and they were climbing upwards towards the exit did he speak again. “Now what about Arcturus?" He lashed his tail at the idea his mate hadn't woke him. Here he thought this nonsense ended after their previous talk! Yet the longer they stayed here, the more the man seemed to be slipping. He'd slip off for his own practice, or he'd stare off into the ether. Patiently waiting for some wicked intent.

“Just playing with that metal stick of his. He's worse at hiding than you are." The teal cantered across the grassy hill, announcing herself with a brassy trill. Her target was Arcturus, going through his motions with his onyx blade. “Hey, you're supposed to be riding me! Not playing with some metal stick!" The female's frills fluttered as she stopped to have a good laugh, realizing her mistake. “I meant riding with us! I have something to show you both!"

The human didn't stir, merely continuing with his morning prayers and sword motions. Veledar at least was understanding of such things, it was morning tradition after all. Fremra on the other paw was less than understanding. The dragoness marched across the field, and with the flick of her tail the human's sword was glowing hotter than a dwarf's forge.

At once, Arcturus' hand yielded, and the sword collapsed to the grass with a faint hiss as the grass began to burn. His hand shook. “They hell was that about?" He glared at the dragoness, quickly shifting tone when her snout snapped to mere inches from his own.

“There will be a severe lack of playing with your sword when this is done."

Veledar snickered as he took a stance around them. Though he froze when her jests turned back to him.

“At least you're doing something productive instead of the lazy dragon you call mate."

“That was uncalled for!" He puffed up his chest, taking a spot besides Arcturus when the man defended him. It almost made him trill in delight.

In amusement Fremra pulled back, a humm within her bouncing movements. She paused, staring into the sparkling ocean beyond. She took a deep breath, letting her eyelids flutter close. “Not entirely though." She smiled back to him. “So both of you, what do you know about Drahkras?"

Veledar's head tilted. “Drahkras what are those? And why have I never heard of them?"

“And can they defeat Dreadflame?" Arcturus' questioned.

She sighed, frills trembling. “Alright then. It would appear we have to start with the basics. That's good though, no mis-information to unlearn."

The man's brow furrowed, “Is it some dragon form of trickery?"

The female warbled in delight, pouncing around them like a wrymling filled with too much energy. “Not at all if you must know." She came to a halt, giving them both a wink. “It's about allowing the magical weave to flow through you, like a winding river of magical energy." She nodded to Veledar as he stared at the underside of his paw. “Dragons might have an easier time because we have it pumping through our veins. Humanoids generally need special blood to experience it in the same way. For you it might have a more spiritual side to it." Her snout curled around, blowing back the man's hair with a snort. “Perhaps it will even cure that grump you've had the past few days."

“Its not a grump." The paladin crossed his arms. “Just each time I go to practice y-“

“You're not practicing." She smiled, pulling back. “You're using that sword."

“Its one and the same!" He protested, but the dragoness was having none of it. His words were better off smashing down a wall.

She didn't answer, merely extending a wing and pushing the red dragon and human together. “That's the type of training we should be doing. Not the metal stick fight nonsense. It's not what you need now." Her wing talon came to touch each of their chest. “Either one of you."

Veledar rubbed his chest, coaxing out the cold that crawled there. Each morning she was always confusing and head scratching, but today more so than usual. He huffed and exchanged a worried look with Arcturus. By the man's raised brow, he was just as stumped as the dragon was. Fremra was merely striding away, her tail happily swishing back and forth through the field.

“Come now! The day is all ahead of us. I do hope the wrymlings are where I told them to be. Not like last time."

“Where were they last time?" Veledar bounded through the grass, kicking up dirt as he went. Arcturus had to sprint to catch up, but that wasn't any surprise. He nudged him as he did so, almost knocking the man to the ground. He got a hefty shove against his snout in return. Already he was chuckling, a smile threatening to grow. Glimmers of what they had shining through.

“Would you believe that Xervir would be gathering all his pets, Emmess would be trying to hunt them?"

“And Briva?"

“Painting?" The teal shrugged, guiding them through the forest.

Silence lingered about the trio as they casually strolled through the pink and green dotted forest. The stone dragons would occasionally peer through the branches, painted a lovely honied hue by the morning sun. Birds would tweet and flutter overhead, racing through the canopy without a care. In the distance they could set their pace to the flowing of the ocean's waves. With every salty breath the red dragon found himself with a cold aura slithering up his paws. Not that it hurt, but he did lean in to inspect it several times. He had to bound back as his confounded teacher hadn't stopped.

Their trip ended at a cleared off section around the base of a rolling hill. Stones had been cut and shaped into a series of stairs leading up to a pristine platform. Nature it seemed no mastery over it, as it's silver speckled surface dazzled in the sun. Pillars the size of humans around the platform, carvings of dragons and humanoids carved into every inch. They were swimming, flying, teaching, practicing magic, and for some of them, even sharing their hearts. It gave the dragon pause, drawing him closer to Arcturus. Together they stood, silent as they drifted off to a far off section of history. Of somewhere long ago where dragons and humans had not been so violent. That peace and understanding was an answer, not a hopeless dream. A future could be forged, someone just had to be willing to make the effort. Oh god he was starting to sound like Cordenth.

That didn't stop his gentle sigh and nuzzle along his human's cheek, earning his snout being caught by the man's ever strong arms. He actually would have to try to get out of the hug.

“And here we are for the first bit of the lesson." Teal scales flowed powerfully as she slipped through the stones. She padded a paw against a platform. As if summoned by her very will, leaves from the cherryblossoms behind them raced and then swirled around her paws. They twirled and danced like little dragons, before whisking themselves down a path along the hill. “Lets follow them shall we?" She smirked, racing like a wrymling after them.

“I can't believe that---Hey!" Arcturus was lifted, Veledar having slipped his neck under him. The man tumbled, and scrambled to find a place to hold as the dragon sprinted after the female. “Warn me next time"

“We'd lose her if I did!" Veledar rumbled as his human held tight to him. Even with such a gesture the contact sent his insides flipping head over heel. Steady breathing and concentrated effort with every beat of his paws against the soft earth. In a matter of minutes he'd managed to narrow the female's lead. She clambered over a series of rocks, crossing paths with a gentle creek flowing below her paws.

The creek fed into the carving of a dragon, her stone face stoically admiring the sea. Around her scaled body were numerous pools of water, all fed by the single stream. The water shimmered in the sunlight, dotted gently with the pink leaves. One almost might call it enchanting.

“You'd the think the youth would be faster." Fremra rumbled, taking a seated position beside the statue. She started to lick her paws, eyes drifting close. “This is the statue of Shurla. The first dragon to learn about the Drahkras and spread their teachings. Dragons with humanoids that came from far distant lands, hundreds of kingdoms to the ends of the earth. She and a human named Iroh sought to teach them all."

“And the pools?" Veledar tentatively strolled, peering down to see that the stream was but a tiny trickle at the statue's end. “Seems like they're not working."

“Oh, they're working." Fremra peered up, “But they are ever clogged with debris and flowers. As you can see, the water can't flow or move properly. Thus, we have the tiny trickle far below."

“And this has to do with what you wanted to teach us?" Arcturus' spoke softly as Veledar strolled around, poking, and prodding the stone.

Fremra merely nodded, “The chakras are like these pools of water. If nothing were around the creek would flow in harmony from each one. But life is messy, and things tend to fall into the creek, and what then do you think happens?"

Veledar approached, peering into the clogged bowls. “They become clogged, the creek cant flow."

“Yes, but if we open the paths between the pools-“

“The energy flows!" The dragon beamed as she sifted through the pulled out the mess into wet piles of dirt and leaves. “How come I've never heard of this before?"

“It's no surprise." She sighed, staring off into the deep blue sky. “The order of dragons that dwelled here spirited themselves to another world. They grew tired of the woeful state of the world. Saddened by the deaf ears their teachings fell upon. What became of them after is anyone's guess."

He rolled his eyes at the idea of such things. It figured that the mortals would ruin such a place. Spit back in the faces of the dragons trying to make things better. Would they do such things to he and his friends? “Perhaps they should have kept to themselves. Tried to hide from the world."

“Can they be faulted for trying to make the world a better place?" She merely sighed, “To keep one way of thinking is to stagnate and draw up walls. To thrive and grow you must seek out other ways. The riders had a strong bond to their dragons. Together they performed marvelous feats of magical strength. Even willing magic when none should be possible."

“Can they even heal my…complication?" He gestured to his barren back.

Her response was calm and quick. “Perhaps, it is why we're covering it." Her wing came around them both, pushing them together. Her grin spoke of mischief in store for them both. “Now come. The lessons I have instore to help you are quite…Interesting." She scampered off without another word, merely stopping to gesture them along with a curl of the neck.

Arcturus and Veledar exchanged worried looks, each merely chuckling at the larger dragon's antics. Neither knew what to make of what was instore, each being stuck in a state of anxiety and concern. Atop the dragon's back the human crawled, and with a flick of the tail they were in hot pursuit. Veledar just hoped whatever was awaiting them, it didn't make him look foolish. Though with each crack of a stray branch or toss of a loose rock, he was suspecting that just might be the case.

*

Their journey through the twisting path of the island was shorter it seemed than ever before. Perhaps it was the hope that his healing was at paw, or the uplifted human on his back. He'd peer back every so often to catch those dazzling eyes, the glimmer of a satisfied smile. It powered the dragon's movements, filled him with determination, and in no time, he'd caught the female who hadn't slowed her stride in the slightest.

She merely hummed and brought them to a cleared field of purple hued grass, gently blowing in the morning wind. From this sea of lavender came sprouting flowers of yellows and whites, each the size of Arcturus' head. They smelled of lime, lemon, watermelon, many more fruits than the dragon could name. With each tentative paw step the scents tried to draw him closer, yet the ever threat of a teal scaled tail brought him back to purpose.

The weeds cleared to a more secluded area, pressed down by dragon paws or magic. In fact if Fremra were to curl around, it seemed the edges were exactly shaped to the curvature of her spine. Almost as if she'd merely rested and chosen these spots to be convenient. What flowers that lingered here were mere fractions of the others, almost like babies that lined the ring.

Dead center of this clearing was the three bronze wrymlings, piled together in a mix of limbs and wings. Their eyes were closed as gentle snores drifted lazily from their snouts, followed by the gentle twitch of a frill or tail. It would have been cute if not for the fact they were trying to steal Arcturus away.

The dragon trotted in, scales already bubbling with fire. “I see they get to sleep in." He lowered so that Arcturus could slide off, though gently shoved the man when he insisted that because they were little that gave them a pass.

Fremra merely chuckled as she strolled around, inspecting each bent section of grass. “Oh they didn't, I did wake them before you, though it would appear they took meditation too serious."

“If that's meditation I envy them." Veledar snorted, plopping down to his haunches and sulking.

“Oh, they would have been fine if a certain red would have woken up on time." Fremra paced the circle several more times, before taking a seat and curling her tail over her hinds. “Who could have predicted you'd have picked now of all days to sleep in."

He lashed his tail, snorting when Arcturus gave him that knowing look. The kind that might have insinuated it was his fault, of all the preposterous ideas. “I thought you were supposed to be the perceptive one? Have you not been studying me? Perhaps you should have predicted better."

She ignored him, waking the little ones with gentle prods of her nose, and tender licks upon their spines.

He merely snorted and rolled his eyes. Of course she was more delicate with waking them. No prods with her paws till they awoke, merely the care a mother might have taken. By the time they were wiggling and yawning into their stances, Veledar's tail was tapping most impatiently.

“What took you so long?" Emmess wiggled her yellow spine frill and inspected her paws before snapping to Veledar with eyes filled with daggers. “Was it his fault?"

Fremra shrugged, “We did have to go on a field trip. We're covering the drahkras today. He doesn't know them."

The trio of wrymlings gasped in unison, turning to the red with slackened jaws. “You don't? But that's like hatchling stuff!"

Warmth flooded to Veledar's frills as a low grumble tickled his throat. He exchanged a look with Arcturus, letting him know not to say a word. Last thing he needed was the likes of Merlia or Lyndis getting word of this revelation, or worst yet Cordenth. He'd never live it down, he'd be constantly defending his pride till the end of time!

“It's not hatchling stuff if you've never heard of it." He rolled his eyes, “I could say the same of breathing fire or counting treasure to the exact coin. Two things I bet every hatchling red dragon could do." He pretended to inspect his claws as Arcturus merely sighed, apologizing for their tardiness.

“It's okay Ordis." Briva bounced over, curling around Arcturus and making sure each scale of his flank graced his trousers. “We know it wasn't your fault."

Emmess chuckled and waved her paw, “I bet big ugly here was as dense as ever."

He snapped at the little ones until they wove themselves around Arcturus' leg with their wing's splayed.

“Defend our little hides!" Briva shook.

“Make sure he keeps his nasty teeth away!" Xervir smirked.

“Because we're most cute and need protection!" Emmess dramatically pressed her snout to the knight's side.

Such manipulation on display nearly made him vomit. Veledar merely rolled his eyes and shoved passed them, grumbling as Arcturus traced his scales with a palm. He lashed his tail as warmth bubbled about his paws, staring at Fremra's amused expression. “So why the field? Are we going to be just lazing about?"

Fremra merely shook her head, padding the ground below his paws. When he slunk closer she began her words calm and collected as ever. “There are seven drahkras that flow through the body. Each one of them has a purpose and can be blocked by a specific emotional muck." Her eye peered down, a more serious look in her eye. “Opening the drahkras can be an intense experience, and you cannot stop until all of them are open. Are you ready?"

It wasn't even a question. This was his destiny, and he wanted back his wings. Anything would be a well enough trade to get them and his magic restored to working order. He shifted his forepaws, already imagining the discomfort that was to be coming through his scales. He peered back to Arcturus, who was nodding along with the wrymlings. “You have to ask?" He scoffed to Fremra, giving her a tooth filled smile. “It should be obvious I'll master anything."

Her tail thumped in amusement. “And yet you sleep in."

His frills pinned, heart stopping. “Will I not be able to sleep in anymore?"

She didn't respond.

“Will I?"

Gently she licked upon her forepaw. “Of course, you will. That would be ridiculous if you couldn't!" Her coming laughter merely changed anxiousness into bubbling anger. “But I won't let you."

“Wonderful that." He groaned, flaring his frills to hide the shiver crawling down his spine. He looked up to see that twinkle in her eye, the one from before. Her lesson was going to be ultra-serious or absurd, there was no in-between. His snout wrinkled. “I already regret what's going to happen. But if it's what I must do to get my life back-"

She only laughed, slinging a wing around him. “Oh, don't think like that! Life is not something we're putting on hold to achieve our goal." Her paw pressed close to his chest, “It happens whether we want it to or not."

He flared his nostrils, letting out the harshest snort he could muster. “Let's begin and get my wings back, so we can get over this slight detour of my destiny."

“Indeed." She drew a circle with her claw through the dirt, “We will first open the drakhra of earth, located at the base of the spine. It deals with survival and is blocked by fear. What are you most afraid of?"

Him fear? Veledar scoffed at the notion with an amused chuckle as he closed his eyes. He was the great Crimson Sky, it would be ill fitting for him to be fearful of anything. He'd faced down undead armies, human airships, dragon hunters. What else was there to be frightened of? As the female went on explaining the survival angle he couldn't help but remember that slimy wretched smile, the blackened void where eyes should have been. The ease at which his wings were stripped from him, his crash to the earth. Without warning he was trembling as he focused, almost shouting as Nigel reached down with a boney hand-

“Your vision isn't real Veledar." Fremra's soothing voice cut through the storm laden sky, putting an end to the darkness around him. “Let your fears flow away from you, run down the river."

He took a breath, recalling the sun's warmth on his scales. He opened his eyes, a warmth throbbing in his spine. It was invigorating, he wanted to leap around. Which to his surprise is what she wanted them to do. They were to take turns hunting each other, doing their best to avoid the other. It was meant to focus on the physical act of survival. Veledar proved the best at it, as the wrymlings nor Arcturus could catch him. Though the human was forced to try and crawl on all fours.

“As you should try it as a dragon." The teal snickered as the wrymlings pounced upon his mate. “I recall Veledar was a human for awhile?"

“For like a few days!" The man struggled and fought to release himself from the squirming, laughing, and nipping wrymlings.

“And yet it was terrible." Veledar slunk over, nudging them off with a grin. “Horrible experience. I'd never wish to inflict that horror on anyone again."

The man pulled himself up, hands wrapped around the dragon's snout. “Should I be insulted or amused."

He flared his frills with mischief in his eyes. “Both?" He pulled back to lick the man from chin to forehead, relishing as he tried to whisk away his slobber.

Fremra was already onto all fours, a bounce in her paws as they fought off another tackle attack by the bronze wrymlings. “Onto the next one!" She gestured to the sun. “I'm quite shocked you opened that one so soon. Here I was thinking you'd be too stubborn to admit you were afraid.“

“Why thank yo-“ He went to thank her, even bowing at his apparent skill. Then it occurred to him the veiled insult she left him. He was galloping the second Arcturus climbed to his back. “I'll have you know my skill of getting over fear is legendary!" Though as he gave chase, he wondered if he was merely placing it aside. Squashed down into the back of his mind. That couldn't possibly be it.

“You're going to lose me!" The human clung on for dear life, bouncing with every stride.

“Then hold tighter!" He growled, dodging, and weaving through the numerous thick trees that the field had given away to. Branches reached down to try and scrape his scales with every breath. It was all he could do to avoid close lining Arcturus right off him. Why was he getting stronger whiffs of salt?

They burst from the treeline with a renewed surge of speed, but the earth fell apart under him. Instead of a forest floor, it had suddenly given way to a sandy and unstable incline. Down the red dragon slid, managing to not topple over as he and his human screamed out in surprise, drawing a thick line of haunches and tail through the sand. They came to a stop, covered in layers of warm dirt. Fremra was inches from them, chuckling like a mad woman.

“I forgot to mention, you might want to watch your step!"

Veledar shook himself with a withering glance, yet the sun bathed shore was undermining that.

Sand stretched far as he could see, curling and twisting with the landscape. Trees waited patiently, watching over the golden grains of loose earth. Paw prints pressed lovingly to the sand, signs of a dragon's joy captured by nature's grace. The waves gently licked the shore, setting the atmosphere with a comforting and relaxing chorus. If not for how foolish they had just looked, he might have called it beautiful. Though Arcturus didn't share that sentiment to his growing ire.

“It's beautiful." The man slipped from his back, spreading his arms wide. “Worthy of painting I'd say."

“Needs more red dragons." Veledar snorted.

“Of course you'd say that." He scoffed.

“Only because I brim with wit." He flicked his tail.

“In the land of the witless, you'd be king."

He rolled his eyes, gently proding the man. “Only because I have so much wit. They'd be envious!"

“Clear the way, dragons coming through!" The wrymlings shouted, leaping from above the slope and gliding upon eager wings. Together they soared like a trio of arrows, sailing squarely into the watery depths that awaited them. Instantly they were splashing and swimming, nudging at each other while the waves rose them up and down.

Arcturus turned to Frema with a raised brow, ignoring the little one's gleeful shouts tried to call them over. “What does the beach have to do with the drahkra?"

The dragon was already ahead of him however, curling in to nose at his mate with a chuckle. “It's probably the drahkra of water."

Fremra was warbling in delight, casting up waves of sand with her tail. “Exactly right! Maybe when you're older, you'll be a wise mentor to some stubborn upstart."

He sat down without a word, grumbling his complaint to the wind.

“And why the ocean?" Fremra smiled, stepping gently around them both. “This drahkra is fueled by creativity and pleasure." She rumbled, rolled her eyes. “Yes that kind of pleasure as well."

While the human's face had turned a bright red as he chuckled, Veledar was doing all he could to shift and curl his tail as lustful images sprung to mind. Perhaps when everything was all said and done, he and Arcturus could make up in other ways. Despite their stay, they still hadn't reconnected in that fashion. He gave a small warble without a thought, getting a comforting slide of Arcturus' sinful fingers across his flank.

Fremra merely dusted the pair with a swish of her tail, “There will be none of those activities for this drahkra."

“You could have said something." He was coughing and spitting out the ever-clinging sand, hoping he didn't have to drag his tongue across some stones. “If not opened by my lance, then what?"

“She merely sighed, sliding up to them both and gesturing to the ocean beyond. Her wings nearly caught the clouds, framing them in a perfect picture. “I was thinking more of the creative side Not everything is opened with your lance."

He kneaded the sand, lashing his tail. That was certainly an opinion he didn't share. “And what may I ask mucks up this drakhra?"

“Guilt." Her reply was quick, accompanied with a heavy sigh. “How much guilt burdens your life? What do you blame yourself for? Look at all the things that burden you so."

What the fear had done was nothing compared to what he saw when he closed his eyes. He could see his mother, calling out for him to arrive when he would not. He heard his brother's final cry for someone to hold him as he died painfully alone, only brought about because Veledar had wanted to fly that day. The red's paws trembled in silence as he played out each in his mind. They were like stains upon his soul. He knew she was to ask him to let them go, but how could he?

She wasn't dismissive or condescending, nodding when he didn't share. “You must accept the reality these things happened. Don't let them poison and corrupt your energy. If you want to be a positive influence on the world, you need to forgive yourself."

It was against everything he thought of, the idea gnashed it's teeth. As he composed himself, he stuffed it down, whispering that he'd tend to it later. For now, he couldn't dwell on them, his wings were more important. As Arcturus' hands found his side, he was able to take a deep breath, and let a cooling energy run upwards the next part of the spine. Though unlike the building fire that was before, this was but a trickling stream.

“And so another of my drahkras is opened." He grinned, proudly swelling his chest. He met Fremra's eye, and for a flicker of a moment he thought she suspected his deception. Thankfully, Arcturus drew her attention with all the skepticism in his voice.

“Peace and tranquility are all fine and good to aid in his healing, but what of dreadflame?" His arms crossed forcefully, “Inner peace will do no good against such a beast's scales and treachery."

Spreading out her paws in the baked sands, the dragoness paced away with a playful bounce in her paws. What ire she drew fell upon her scales like rain upon a fortress. “Poor human mistaking a moment of rest and peace for weakness. Continue to stress and work a taxed muscle will see it bend and break beyond recognition. While I collect my reagents for the continued lesson, dwell upon my words. Perhaps what twists beneath your armor will ease." She chuckled and strode towards the mighty trees at the beach's edge. “It's astonishing how you get anything done." With a paw risen she spoke the words of power as before, creating a gateway among the thick bark. She slipped through with but a wink, a playful swish of her tail marking her departure.

The knight fumed in silence, marching straight passed Veledar and towards the soft waves. Though he glared towards the horizon, he didn't push the dragon away as Veledar crept over and sunk to his haunches.

“I thought It was I that wasn't listening." He said proudly, thumping his tail around the human.

He shook his head, “It's not that simple. I'm not going to let that go." He held out his hands, fingers visibly shaking.

The dragon knew what dwelled beneath the surface of his mind. They'd spoken of it plenty of times before. The night two years prior where he'd failed to protect his crew and family against the terrible red dragon. Again the dragon returned to nearly kill him, his closure denied him. “I suggest putting it aside for now. At least just to get this done." He snorted and watched the wrymlings splish and splash among the waves. Their snouts filled with happiness and didn't know the baggage of tragedy. He envied them, even despite their grating nature.

“Come on you slow pokes!" Briva bobbed atop the surface, “Water is fine for human paws."

Emmess battered her brother with a wing talon, “He has hands you dolt!"

The human didn't seem convinced, throwing down his limbs. Though what conviction held upon his features wavered if just for the moment. “It drives me, fuels me. Without it…what then? We've seen what complacency caused."

Rolling his eyes, Veledar nudged the human in the back until he was sprawled to the sand, spitting out the grains. “You were only dealing with a problem thrust upon you. Nothing you could have done different would have changed the income." His scales shivered as cold tendrils slithered down his paws. “What are you afraid of if you let go of that? That you'll cease to be the man you are? Cause whatever fuels this revenge has pushed you away. Perhaps simply trying will be enough to start you on a different path."

Arcturus sighed, pushing himself up and dusting off the lingering grains of sand. “And yet I don't think you're letting go of your guilt."

Eyes widened for just a moment before he snorted and looked away. “But my drahkra was open. Clearly I put them aside to do what needs to be done."

“Uh-uh." Up went the skeptical human's brow, so back to the beach he went with another nudge of the dragon snout.

“No one asked you anyway."

They returned to watching the captivating seascape, letting the crashing of the waves and the call of the seagulls in the distance dull their concerns. The dragon crept closer, cherishing the lack of mortals in any direction, an untouched paradise safe for his kind. If only he'd had such a place when he was grown, perhaps he'd have ended up a totally different dragon. One with a still alive caring family, not fractured and spread across the globe. One who rested and relaxed, never having to wonder if they would be remembered as a legend.

Along the waves he almost thought he saw images of his sister and him swimming happily, a mother silver watching them on with pride. He could picture themselves now swimming about the waves like the little ones were now. He smiled bitterly as the pictures of his brother and sister batted against one another.

“Then satisfy my query." He rose, shaking the sand all over his human. When the man sputtered and had to shake himself, it brought a satisfied smirk to the dragon's snout. “Why did you forget me in the city? Leave me to heal and struggle on my own." Veledar shifted on his paw, nearly growling at the weakness of his heart. “I could have used some of that knightly strength to support me. Yet when I looked, you were gone."

Turning to him with tired eyes, the knight didn't yell or shout. He approached the scaled snout as gently as he spoke. “I had no idea that you needed me so much." He sighed, eyes traveling to across Veledar's flank. “It's hard to see weakness in such a protected form. But when I saw you almost taken from me like they were…" Arcturus tightened his fist, a viridian flame flickering in his eyes. “I knew that I wasn't going to let you down. Not let what dreadflame did to me before. I just couldn't. I don't think I could stand to lose another one I care about, not by some crazed mage, tyrannical king, nor an ancient dragon set on revenge."

Now he understood. It wasn't out of anger or hate, or even annoyance. A weakened heart ached and swelled. With a flick of his tail he was pressed closer, trying to wrap the human with his neck.

“I'm sorry I drove you away."

“You should have said." He pulled the human against his chest, laying them both down along the sand, “I'd have understood."

“I'll endeavor to never do it again. You have my word." Arcturus gentle caressed the dragon's paws. “That bastard won't make me lose you again."

Heart fluttering like mad the dragon flopped to his back, holding the man tenderly with his paw. They said nothing, smiling back at one another. Both knew the weeks of hardship were close to an end. The only path ahead would be the one they were to forge with one another. There was a chuckle, and a soft smile before they were leaned in towards one another. Hands wove their way around the dragon's snout as their faces pressed against one another. In a gentle sigh they were truly united by lips once again.

Soft smacks became the norm as the pair laid out their frustrations through touch and kiss. Neither one stopped to even chuckle at how awkward human lips and dragon snouts were ill suited for one another. When they parted, the other merely looked to be the most valuable of treasures. Raising a paw, Veledar ruffled the hair of the man who made his heart want to leap from his chest.

Arcturus caught his paw, cheeks flushed with warmth. “I still love you. I hope that you never questioned it."

Rising up he failed to mention he'd considered it. Why ruin the moment? “Never questioned it." He chuckled softly, licking the man tenderly along the cheek. Though not to be outdone Veledar was left a purring mess as Arcturus caressed the underside of his jaw.

“Did you think I was really going to replace you with Howling Tempest and the others?"

Stopping dead his frills pinned. He laughed but only to hide his warming scales. “Of course not." He waved a paw with a hiss of dismissal. “That would be preposterous."

The human's arms crossed, a tilted head and smirk revealed he knew. Curse his knowing eyes. “And yet it matches what I know of you to a T."

“Fine!" He groaned dramatically, shoving the man to the sandy floor. “But think about it being in my paws." He shot up, grumbling. “I found our relationship built on lies."

“Lies?"

“Yes, lies." He hissed, casting aside some sand. “I wasn't the first dragon you saved. I was no longer special. The one who broke you out of that shell. The one who turned the dragon slayer into a dragon lover!" He smirked at the last bit at the idea, he slunk to the water's edge, until the waves kissed his paws.The man he cared for followed dutifully, wrapping his arms around the red snout when it was offered. His look was filled with all the tenderness that he'd come to know.

“Well that describes the grumpiness. But it's not warranted you know. You think someone like them can make the grand Veledar any less special?"

He looked away, wiggling his tail. He could see through exactly what the human was doing. He snorted and didn't say a word, it wasn't like he didn't want to hear whatever pleasing words were coming next after all. But the human was only chuckling, so he had to wave his paw. “Well come on then, spit out with all the compliments!"

Again, they found themselves in a kiss when they got closer. It was just bound to happen with the way they were looking at one another.

“Hey we found a ….eeeewwww!" Briva scampered over, stopping to gag. “Kisses? That's gross! Think of the snooties!"

Xervir leaped over, joining his brother in his exaggerated responses. This only made Veledar smirk and nuzzling against the human's cheek.

“Then look away." He announced in a brassy voice, “I'll show my affections anyway I want." Thankfully to his rumble, the human had nodded in agreement.

It was then Fremra's singsong voice belted out over the sands. “You were supposed to wait for the opening of the heart drahkra for that! And here I was already prepared to celebrate your reunion emotionally." She rolled her eyes, “Figures you dash my dreams."

“That we have." Arcturus chuckled, “Just working our way through draconic stubbornness."

“And human stupidity." He laughed, turning to Frema with a pleased snort.

To her left and right the large dragoness had two invisible trays littered with barrels of art supplies. With but a look revealed vials of paint, blank parchment, brushes, everything an aspiring artist might need. The only problem was that they were dragon sized, meaning this was going to be hilarious.

“Looks like Arcturus here is going to be painting me with a log."

“Keep that up and I'll be painting with your tail." The man's hands found his waist. “And pray tell what whispers heard you that I'll be doing any artwork of you?"

Veledar smirked back at him, “What else on this isle could you find so beautiful?"

“US US US!" The wrymlings bounded over, stumbling, and flopping across the beach. “Paint us Odis!"

“Yea." Emmess gave the dragon a mischievous smile, her tiny frills fluttering in excitement. “Don't let him bully you around with those oafish forepaws of his."

“They're not oafish!" The red gently pushed and shoved the bouncing wrymlings out from underfoot, but all that did was have them curl and nudge at Arcturus until the man collapsed. “You'll have to wait your turn whelps! That's my human you cling to."

Emmess turned to him, her eyes narrowed. She settled to her haunches; a paw went to Arcturus' leg. “I called dibs way before you red scale. Submit to this and I'll be merciful."

“Oh yea?" Veledar grumbled, meeting her little snout.

“DUH." She bat at his snout, “We met him first by like what, fifteen years? So you wait your turn red face."

“Red face?" He merely laughed at the attempt of an insult.

“And besides." Fremra put this to an end with a flare of the wing and a yawn. “The rest of you will be doing your own thing. We can't just have Arcturus here connecting with his drahkra."

“Awwwwww." The wrymlings groaned, dramatically flopping to their bellies with wings spread.

Only Xervir shot up, a smile on his bronze snout. “Can I make a feeder for my pets?"

Veledar rolled his eyes at the idea. He gave it a few weeks before the tiny dragon's stomach rumbled and he accidently ate one of them. “I'm surprised you even eat fish."

“Well fish are jerks." The little dragon's snout wrinkled, “They're terrible to talk to. They deserve to be eated."

His coming head tilt and numerous questions were pulled away as Arcturus grabbed hold his frill and pulled him to the trays of supplies. “Let's not get into a debate with children."

“But I was going to win." He groaned, begrudgingly sifting through the multitude of supplies. As it turned out, there were implements sized correctly for Arcturus. They were just expertly hidden away at the bottom of one of the pine barrels. The dragon was watching the man's rear shift as he dug deep down into the confines of the barrel. Oh how he wished no one else was around, and he had his magic. He'd mount that man in a heart beat. He was forced to watch in envy until Arcturus gathered what he needed.

The human held up his brushes quizzically staring at Fremra. “You think a simple painting will help open it up?"

Fremra planted herself, inspecting her scales along her forepaw. She rumbled and insisted that perhaps a more creative activity would assist where he'd failed. Though as she spoke she eyed Veledar, almost as if she was aware his drahkra hadn't opened as clearly.

“Just think about your masterpiece of me Arcturus." Veledar mused, nosing at the human's cheek. That should get the juices flowing.“

“Oh?" The human's fingers found his chin. “Because you're some spiritual draconic muse?"

“I might be!" The dragon slipped away to dig and gather some basic supplies. Like a fire had been lit in his soul, the colder bits had been seared away. He had a bounce in his paws, his tail happily swished. If he dare say he was in a playful mood!"

“Quick wrymlings. I have a gift for you." He announced clearly with a smirk, catching Arcturus' eye. The knight's brow had lifted, clearly wondering what sly plan bounced between his horns.

The wrymlings already had an idea.

Xervir and Briva came racing along with a flurry of sand and wings. They practically leapt over one another to stick their noses to the art supplies.

“What kind of gift?" Xervir asked with twitching frills. “And can we eat it?"

“Is it cake?" Briva perked up, swiping his lips with a tongue. “Cause that's the best type of reward. Especially when Jandar's making them. He's really good at them! I hope I'm half as good when I is bigger."

“No, no no." Veledar shook his head. “Not that kind of treasure. And Briva, we must have a talk about what constitutes treasure. Clearly your priorities are misaligned."

“Says you!" Briva stomped his paw, “Cake is delicious incarnate! A gift from the gods!"

Emmess silenced her brother with a swipe of her tail in the sand, pelting them with a wave. “Don't listen to such lies brothers." She slowly slunk away, “He's just trying to trick you into something. Just you watch."

“Nu-uh. He said treasure. Of the best kind!" Xervir flared his tiny wings, then nudging at his brother. “Wasn't that right?"

Briva nodded. “I heard half his hoard and lots of cake. Especially ones with lots of yummy fruits."

“Hey." Veledar snorted, pushing them along with his snout. “That's most definitely not what I said. Now pay close attention." He reared up to his hinds, cupping a dragon sized paintbrush as his scales thumped with mischief. Even Fremra was patiently waiting to see what he was about to bring to life.

His order came with a smirk, “Make sure Arcturus can't move. I need to draw him." He rumbled as the wrymlings shot to Arcturus with little prompting. The human tried to run and fight away from their cute snouts, but it turned to be a half-hearted effort. They knocked him over by dashing through his legs and had the poor human propped up in the sand.

“I let you win you know." Arcturus spat out and dusted a fine layer of sand from his hair and lips.

“Nonsense Ordis!" Xervir playfully nosed him. “No one likes a sore loser."

With that Veledar started humming away, drawing the three figures in the sand. Thick and thin lines all over, even if he wasn't that skilled at it. Perhaps in a day far from now, Arcturus would instruct him on a more precise manner. For now it was his throbbing heart that guided him. He paid the chorus of laughter no mind, sometimes peeking up as his drawing progressed. He felt alive, energized, each step around his drawing filling his bones with bliss.

Fremra could all but breath at the display. “What of all your charkas?" She laughed as the human pretended to try and escape.

“But were doing it!" Briva chimed in, “Were making a statue of Ordis!"

“Yea!" Xervir grinned, “And Ordis is posing. Like as a model. Isn't that right?"

Arcturus rolled his eyes as the wrymlings turned to him with large puppy dog eyes. He sighed, “Yes, yes. My aren't you all the cleverest of dragons."

“YAY!"

Veledar continued, letting what creativity he had flow. He was certain Fremra said something about focusing on his thoughts, but he simply enjoyed this moment of merriment.

“And try to let go of what guilt you have lurking within your heart. For like the leaves it can bring your drahkra river to an early halt. If not done properly it will only cause pain down the line."

He finished his work, settling onto all fours with a well-deserved rumble. Careful as he was, he tip toed his way out of his handiwork. He was brimming with peace, the cold from before lingering about his spine like a summer's pond. Clearly he must have opened the charka during this time. He knew he was going to get it. He was Crimson Sky after all. “And thus my art masterpiece is done if I say so myself." He rolled his paw, placing it pridefully to his chest as Arcturus was loosed.

The man studied it with a quizzical look. Only looking up when Veledar insisted on how it looked. The man chuckled, “It certainly says it's you. Doesn't look half bad."

“Ah but of course." Veledar rumbled in approval, “I had a most alluring mate to inspire me."

“Can a muse have a muse?" The man chuckled.

“I suppose they can."

“And now for Arcturus." The teal dragoness sung, leaping to curl around Veledar and pin down his limbs. When he tried to protest and squirm, she merely bared down on him with a mischievous grin. “Fair is fair after all."

Joke was on her thought. He was going to pose for Arcturus without being forced! He said as much and convinced her to leave and keep track of the human's progress. In the while he put on his most regal of poses, making sure the sun was catching every beautiful detail of his scales. For an unknown amount of time he was left to bask in the sweet determined look of his mate, the gentle caress of the sea. He could drift and give thanks to what gifts that he had born to him. Perhaps Arcturus deserved twenty percent of his treasure when he was gone. He really deserved it. He snorted and chuckled at the thought. He had no intention of giving his treasure for anyone. That would require him to die. When was he going to do that?

“We want to be in this one too!" All three wrymlings pressed in at the dragon's side, each of them doing a perfect mimic of his own motions.

Veledar grumbled for a moment but relented with a groan. For now, his picture would have four noble dragons in it. He merely took solace that he would be the noblest of dragons within it. “Wait until you see this whelps. It will ever be something to inspire to be."

“One who talks a lot?" Xervir chuckled.

“Who gives yucky kisses?" Hacked Briva.

“And has a super big ego that won't fit in his skull?" Emmess smiled up with all her teeth, earning a quick paw to the haunches to send her sprawling out from the picture.

Time passed like a slug, testing the dragon's ever shortening patience. Eventually he snapped, “Well how does it look? Can I finally move? I think I've put in an additional effort for this you know. I should have resorted to napping. Then it would have been easier for both of us."

“Way ahead of you" Emmess chuckled, padding her brother's shoulders with her wings. Both wrymling were folded on one another, snoozing away in the afternoon sun.

Arcturus was still busy away. Determined eyes traced back to Veledar with a warm smile that pulled on what heartstrings the dragon had.

Scales itched to move. Dragons were not supposed to be still until their limbs numbed! “And I'm done." He leapt up, toppling over the wrymlings as he raced to inspect his love's handiwork. “How do I look?" He sneaked in his head, frills twitching in interest.

The piece had its base work done and the paladin was applying the finishing touches. Veledar had been sketched rather regally, holding the three wrymlings in his paws. Each stroke he could sense was filled with admiration that just downright tickled his scales. Though the human had done something bizarre, he'd restored Veledar's chipped horn and drawn his wings nice and tucked. Cold slithered down his heart. “Arcturus." He said softly, “Why did you add them? You know that they are-“

The human cut him off, placing his hands over his snout. “On their track to return? Why paint it the other way when this is how you look?" The knight's eyes shimmered like gold. “Just you watch. I know you can do whatever you put your mind to."He gently guided the dragon closer, Veledar smiled as warmth replaced the cold.

“Only because you keep pulling me forward."

“That's what we're supposed to do are we not."

Tender hands trained to do battle hooded the dragon's eyes. Crimson scales were massages and stroked until deep purrs radiated down his throat in pure emotion. “What a way with words that you have, ever capable of warming this dear dragons heart."

“Ah but you don't know?" Arcturus tapped Veledar between the nose. “It's evidently my profession. After defending the weak and uplifting the helpless I seem ever destined to do the same for distraught dragons."

“And they taught this to all your brother and sister knights?"

They gently kissed as everything else was drifted away on an aura of comfort. For a time they existed in silence only broken by their soft chuckles and lips realigning. Only the coming seasong like warble of Fremra pulled them back to their senses.

“Onto the next chakras. Save the kissing for later."

They exchanged passionate looks, silently vowing that this would be the case.

“And what pray tell is the next one?" Arcturus chortled.

“One that deals with the stomach!"

*

Out of respect for his inability to fly, Fremra decided they were not to taunt him. Course this could have also have been more opportunities for the hatchlings to wedge a fine thorn of annoyance below each one of his scales. With every step they were weaving and ducking through his paws, bombarding himself and Arcturus with questions. Have you seen that tree? Do you like flying? What's your favorite color dragon? Just to name a few.

Through the winding forest they strode, following a different path than before. Weathered rocks littered the path like tiny signals, guiding their snouts around the thick trunks. Eventually the multitude of branches and shrubs reaching to his scales parted to reveal a towering cliff of weathered stone. Upon its surface were signs left by dragons. Carvings from their claws, scales, some even getting creative with applications of paint and placing their paws. All in a singular purpose to immortalize their trip. Something he was aware that humans did as well. So many dragons, the list went all the way to the tip top. How many years did this date back? Hundreds? Thousands? He'd never seen this many dragons in his lifetime. Part of him longed to see where they came from, share niceties, trade stories, let them know they were not alone.

Without prompting he bounced over to the hardened stone, flicking up a claw to add his name. If anyone were to come, they'd remember Veledar. His tail swished happily over the stone as he proceeded to add Arcturus' name as well. Might as well show those dragons who else was here. He rumbled at the thought, paying the inquisitive human no mind when he asked what he was doing. “Oh it's nothing." He plopped to his paws, grinning at a job well done. “Just adding another legend upon the wall."

“Us?" The man tilted his head as Fremra proceeded to laugh aloud. “I can't read it."

Veledar's heart stilled. Arcturus had been able to speak draconic and read it since their bonding. He shifted on his paws, once this drahkra teaching was finished, hopefully it restored that as well.

“Oh it's that rock." The larger dragoness eyed it with a glimmer of mischief. She sighed and peered to the top, “Even Storm had the urge to add our names. Right at the edge." She rolled her eyes dismissively, but her frills were turning a darker shade. “Thought it was romantic to prove he could."

“Hardly an effort with wings." Veledar scoffed.

She turned to tap him on the snout. “But that's not the point." The dragoness gestured with a wing. “You're supposed to climb without them." She pointed out the numerous marks made my dragon claws along the path to the top. Each of them a permanent symbol of determination and draconic pride. “Use but your strength to go as high as you can." She thumped her tail, “Without magic of course. Would defeat the point obviously."

“Hmmph." Veledar snorted, fidgeting his paws. He eyed the tip top of the monolithic rockface, swearing to return later and out do the older dragon. Besides, it would be even better to add he and Arcturus' names to the top. If he could, just higher than Storm's. That would do nicely. He snaked in his head when they returned to their path, resting right above Arcturus' shoulder. With a smirk he made his promise, perhaps adding in a few lewd suggestions on what they could do following such a legendary accomplishment. He rumbled at the series of comforting pats for that. Unfortunately, they had company, and though he suggesting some things that didn't need magic, they'd have to wait.

The sun already was high overhead as they returned home. The golden rays painting every speck of land they came across. Dragonflies danced along the numerous flowers, some chasing insects through the air. Veledar scoffed at them, wondering which genius had decided to name them. They hardly looked like dragons nor flys.

“Here go and gather some supplies." Fremra called over the little ones, each with a different task. Mainly she stressed they were to find “The dragon buds." Jandar would know what they meant. And try not to dawdle." She wagged a paw, snickering as she gestured back to her pupil. “He gets rather impatient." The little ones nodded and scampered off into their home. “And no playing tug of war!"

“We won't!" Xervir called back, “That would be ridiculous!"

Chuckling to herself, Fremra started circling through the grass. “Ridiculous they say, but it's happened at least three times." She rumbled and started swaying a paw through the air, conjuring up a stack of chopped and cleaned wood.

“I'm not impatient." Veledar growled in protest, only silenced by Arcturus' hand at his shoulder. “But it's lies and you know it." He placed paw to his chest. “I'm the most patient dragon of all time…Ever."

Arcturus rubbed his cheek with a smile, letting out a sigh. “Sometimes your delusions are amusing."

He pulled back with a roll of his eyes, shoving the human to the ground with his paw. “You're supposed to take my side." He tripped the human with his tail when he went to stand. “Come now Arcturus, surely you know how to stand." He grinned, letting the sun sparkle of his teeth.

Viridian eyes dotted with flames were his reward. When the dragon's tail wiggled again, the man leapt back, managing to finally stand.

“Arcturus, stop falling for Veledar. Veledar come here." Fremra mused, weaving her paws around in a circular fashion. Lines of black followed in each rotation, slowly forming a cast iron pot out of thin air. “I'll need your help with the water." Another flick of her tail, her eyes hooded. Water sprung from the air to flow like floating creeks into the pot. She placed it all atop a stack of cleaned and chopped wood.

How did she expect him to help? He had no spells. When gave him a knowing stare, he figured it out. He sighed at not seeing it before. With a rush of his fire glands, he let loose a concentrated plume of red-orange flames. In but a breath the wood was lit, and what water the dragoness conjured began to bubble. At least he could still do this, his chest swelled with an iota of pride.

“And thus proves at least some of your magic remains." Fremra nodded, blowing upon the curling flames, stoking them to life.

And this was to help with his drahkra how? He thumped his tail. “Besides making me hunger more, what is this going to accomplish?"

She rose her head into the shape of an S, basking in the steam now curling off the water's surface. Her tail curled around them as she sighed, frills slowly fluttering. “Third is the drahkra of fire, located in the stomach."

His stomach snarled in demand, “I think my stomach would certainly want something to fill it."

She ignored him, continuing with a snort. “This drahkra deals with willpower, and is blocked by shame. So you must ask yourself, what are you ashamed of? What are your biggest disappointments in yourself?"

That was certainly the question. The red dragon grew still, closing his eyes as he thought it over. This would imply that he was doing something, wrong. He'd done just about everything right that he could think of. Yet the longer he dwelled, listening to the bubbling of the water, the steadiness of his breath, the more he thought to previous days. Thanks to him instructing Arcturus to lead them here, the man's best friend had died. Not only that, but he'd destroyed his mother's crystal. The one chance he had of getting her back to any semblance of life.

Strong scales shivered in the air as his heart ached to no end. Small lines were dug through the ground as he forced breath through his lungs. The more her cries whispered to his ears, the more things occurred to him. How was he the greatest dragon if couldn't stop such things? He saw a flash of silver scales, marred by layers of crimson blood. His brother's final breaths were deafening on the air, laced with a weakened whine for help. The help that would never come. The dragon looked away as his eyes grew wet. If he'd been stronger, faster, somehow smarter than he was, perhaps his brother would still draw breath. If only he hadn't scampered away in fear, hoping his mother could save him.

“Shame?" He scoffed, “What would I have to be ashamed of? If you have not seen, I'm quite proud of all my actions." Up went his snout, letting out a snort. “Each and every one."

“And yet I question that." She clicked her tongue. “Pride is not the solution to shame you know, but it's source. From what I've seen and you're friends have spoken of, you're quite the proud dragon."

“So, I should not find satisfaction in my accomplishments? All dragons are if you've not noticed."

“That's not what I meant." She shook her head, “You feel shame when you can't live up to the image of yourself you've created. Every action you take is weighted against your desire to be a dragon of legend, the most beloved and sun about through all the land. I wonder what first created this image of desire. You must let what shame you feel be swept away by the river."

She was asking the impossible. Especially with that memory. She was asking him to cast away the first promise he'd made. The one to his brother days before the tragedy. That was to be free of all that responsibility. A dragon was supposed to be about his word, how was he supposed to break that? He stuffed it down like before, willing the energy up his spine.

“There we are, another chakra opened." He grinned, pushing to all fours with a warble. Around the pot he trotted, ignoring Fremra's curious eye. Yet she said nothing as he settled to his stomach and waited for Arcturus to open his drahkra. It of course took longer; he was only human after all. That was when the wrymling's returned, dragging a thick brown satchel across the ground with their teeth.

“We're back, hope you didn't miss us!" Emmess announced proudly, issuing a series of commands for her minions.

“We're not your minions." Xervir hissed, spitting out the satchel. “You're just lazy."

Emmess scoffed, placing a paw to her chest. “I think you mean working smarter. I got you scale heads to do it for me."

“Oh yea?" Briva spat out his portion of the satchel, crouching and leaping upon his sister until they tumbled across the field in a flurry of teeth, flaring wings, and paws. “Who's the minion now?"

“Still you! You're just rebelling! Xervir help me, you'll get double your pay!"

The red wrymling sat and watched, tail swishing behind him. “Double zero is still zero, Briva get her wings!"

“Traitor!"

As it turned out, what the wrymlings had been sent to gather were ingredients for jasmine tea. The last thing that Veledar would have expected. He was left scowling as Fremra dug through the satchel and scattered the dragon buds into their steaming cauldron, his stomach begging for anything to grace it. When he was told that this concoction would aid in him imagining the fire within his belly, he was all but skeptical.

“It's just hot leaf juice." He scowled, thumping his tail as Arcturus' hands did little to quell the building storm within him. “What could it possibly do?"

Fremra gasped, flaring her wings. “I'd take that back if I were you. Or at least until after you try some." She clicked her mouth. “To think one of my species said such a thing. I'm too shocked. I mean, honestly."

They soon had sipped and tasted the bitter yet invigorating concoction. Veledar's breaths were each filled with minute tremors pulsing through his veins. Every second he was fighting the urge to leap up to his paws, bounce around the field and roar his joy. Yet he managed to keep himself in check, he was a regal dragon, not some wrymling drinking their first chocolate drink. When they finished the drahkra was explained again, but he paid it no mind. He'd clearly mastered it, and he didn't dare think of forgetting his promise.

“Yes, yes. I'm aware. I mastered this one easily." He gave the female a smirk. “No surprise I know, but still something of note."

She wrinkled her snout, eyes like steel. “Then you won't mind the next one." She was pressed to his side, pushing the dragon to his paws and dragged him across the field.

They cantered across the grass, turning to laugh as they realized Arcturus lay forgotten. Sprinting back they were dropping to let the human mount him proper. When they called to the wrymlings they were already exhausted, each of them passed out on their backs. Silently he wished to be one of them, but he had a dragoness poking at his frills.

With that completed they were back to it, this time rumbling away to the pleased sounds of a human desperately clinging on for dear life. Down hillsides painted with daisies and sunbathing rocks they wove themselves, like scaled snakes slithering among the high grass. Only did they stop before a peaceful meadow dotted with stone dragons that watched overhead. Each of them was nuzzled up close to one another, looks of pure love captured in stunning detail. They were almost lifelike.

“The fourth drahkra is located in the heart." She nudged the rocks with a grin, “It is fueled as you can imagine by love." She sighed curling in her tail as her neck drooped. “And is blocked by grief." She composed herself and bid them to take their positions before her. “Lay your grief before you."

He did as she asked, though admittedly his scales turned to ice. Darkened thoughts pulled each grief stricken moment screaming from the recesses of his mind. Not just of Covrias, but everything else. His sister that he never contacted him, traveling the world to parts unknown. He didn't even know if she were still alive. His true mother lay slain before he could even know her, the head resting on a human's wall until he destroyed it. Father? The dragon was unknown, given his luck he was most likely dead as well. Veledar stared off, frozen, lost to the painful thoughts. He quivered, considering stuffing these emotions down too, but Arcturus' words shattered that idea.

“My wife and son, best friends and their families." Arcturus' voice was soft, “Justice against their killers did little to quell my heart." The man softly caressed his chest, hands shaking. “I can always feel the ache. Yes there are times I can dull it, distract myself with things or people. But when it gets quiet and I'm alone." The man's head drooped, only to be nudged by his dragon. “It always returns, like a icy chasm that wants to devour me body and mind."

“I have the same as well." Veledar added, pulling the human close to his chest. “My mothers, brother, sister, unknown father. It seems we have a common trait."

Fremra nodded, an understanding look swirling around her eyes. “You've both experienced intense feelings of loss, even recently." The dragoness looked up, admiring all the trees around. She smiled, almost as if gazing upon a long-lost friend. “But love is a form of energy, and it swirls all around us. The love for you that they had, has not left this place." She shifted forward, touching each of them on the chest with her snout. “Their love is still inside your hearts…" She glanced between the two, nudging them closer with her wings. “And is instead reborn in the shape of new love."

The human and dragon looked to one another, their pain wetting their eyes. Arcturus reached out, pulling the dragon's head to touch upon his own. Their eyes closed in unison, quivering at the other's touch. Nothing else needed to be said, their pain was shared, a cruel bond of fate. They whispered comforting words as they nuzzled and pressed tighter against one another. Veledar even curled around them, never wanting it to end. For minutes they stayed locked with one another, letting everything they had flow away.

“That's good." Fremra's soothing voice rang around them, “Let it trouble you no longer."

*

From the field they climbed one of the tallest mountains, resting only when they had risen to the stone wrapped peak. The fresh smell of the waves below was ever enticing to the snout, only it was marred by the ache in their bones. Veledar stared at the ivory stones that dotted the numerous slopes, wishing they could have flown. Fremra's tail beckoned them towards a pristine block of marble, resting between a few statues of humans and dragons dancing about the ground. Their frozen expressions ones clearly of roaring or singing, they weren't quite sure.

“The next drahkra is the one of sound." Fremra rose her head, letting the afternoon breeze ruffle her frills as she took a deep drag of the air. “It is fueled by truths and blocked by lies. The ones that we tell ourselves."

Another easy one, he had no reason to lie to himself. Veledar closed his eyes, smirking at the truth that he was the soon to be legendary Crimson Sky. He was patient, humble, and so heroic that it even inspired those around him to ever greater deeds of heroism. He happily rumbled as he pictured himself and Arcturus, surrounded by adoring and thankful mortals that cheered and sung in their name. He'd look up that day, knowing he'd completed his life's goal.

“Think you might have trouble with this one?" Arcturus couldn't help but nudge at his side.

“Hardly." He snorted, “Unless you think I lie to myself."

“Well you certainly tell a lot of half-truths."

He waved his paw, “They're white lies if anything. I never intentionally meant to hurt anyone."

Fremra sighed, silencing their words with a wave of the paw. “Are you certain there is nothing you believe that isn't true?" She looked him up and down, her eyes sharper than her claws.

“Nothing." He thumped his tail as Arcturus groaned, but he ignored him, swelling his chest, and placing a claw to it. With a deep breath he guided the energy up through his spine, it tickled the base of his sky. He sighed and enjoyed as it pooled and swirled, and for but a moment he could have sworn he felt his wings. “Almost." He whispered, fighting the urge to leap up and warble.

“Then if you had no trouble than you should have no problem with the next one." Fremra touched the center of her snout. “The sixth pool of energy is called the chakra of light. It is in the center of the forehead. It is fueled by insight and blocked by illusion."

“Illusion?" He tilted his head, surely not by the spell?

Fremra nodded, taking another drag of the coming wind. “The greatest illusion of all." She looked at Arcturus, and then to the rest of the islands. “That everything is separate and different. We are all one and the same."

Her words were like ghosts he could not grasp. Everyone the same? He turned to Arcturus, whose eyes were deep in thought. He knew his resentment for his kind had all but dulled, but truly his equal? That would have gone against everything he knew, the superiority and strength that dragons wielded. Yet as she stayed silent, the idea bounced between his chipped horns. How many of his friends and allies had assisted him in a moment of trouble? He recalled Shandalar, did he honestly think his life was more precious? Would he die for someone with but a drop in the sea that was his lifespan?

He thumped his tail in frustration. He had been willing to rescue Arcturus from that fall, then again choosing him over his book. Though had he honestly believed he was to die, or simply emerge victorious as always? It weighed heavily on him until his head hurt.

Feeling his tremble, Fremra nodded with a deep rumble. “You're thinking of it, good. Just look to the bond you and Arcturus share, two different souls yet they resonate so strongly together. Neither one cares if it belongs to a dragon nor a human, they are one and the same. Even these ideas and thoughts are not our own, they once belonged to the humanoids that old dragons believed we towered over. Some of us I suppose still feel that way." She growled at the last bit, clearly being reminded of a certain lady.

So, he did as he required, with a gentle nudge from Arcturus. He tried to picture the living embodiment of their bond, a mystical construct he could touch and bend. The sensation from previous drahkras rushed upwards into his head, spreading like rivers across his snout. They thrummed with power, invigorated every breath, magic was right at the tip of his tongue he just knew it. With a tap of his tail he pictured all the mortals he'd come to know and trust, from Arcturus himself to Shandalar who'd defended him to her very last. While he claimed dragons were always the best, deep down he questioned the validity of that statement he'd long ago read.

They could wield magic with the best of dragon kind, practiced a multitude of arts and studies that could captivate any mind. From their hands came sprawling cities and works of what once he might have believed was fantasy. If only they could have come together all those years ago, when the world was relatively new. Perhaps a grand future could have awaited them, where dragons filled the skies above.

He could picture it now, the multitude of shimmering colors, touched by the glorious sun. Riders would be with them, joining their friends in the glory and joy of flight. Danger and fear would come from darker places, instead of a mob hunting one down as a monster or beast that needed to be destroyed. Together they'd improve the other, and set their dreams for what aspirations lay beyond the horizon.

“You alright?" Arcturus chuckled as the dragon wiggled in place, practically warbling at his vision. “You seem to have an earthquake beneath your tail."

“Just thinking about our same-ness." He grinned, “Focusing on all the things I'd discounted and dismissed before."

“Uh-uh." The man's arms crossed, “So no more talk about dragon's being better?"

He nodded, “Although now any words of superiority will be due to who I am, not what I am." He chuckled in his throat, “I have to have some measure of greatness."

“That's the dragon I know." The knight chortled and shook his head, letting his defenses down for a quick nabbing of paws and dragged towards a scaled chest. “Hey!"

“And here I thought you were supposed to be vigilant." Nuzzles where the man's reward as magic waited to be released. One more chakra and he'd be healed, his heart was shining like the sun when he peered up to Fremra's warm eyes. “So which one is next, I'm ready to be whole once more."

Giving the now dwindling sun a sideways glance, Fremra rose from her spot with a gentle sigh. The winds found her frills and battered against the sensitive membranes. Between them her eyes traveled, silence filling the air. For a moment it appeared she was going to deny them, but composed herself with a shake of the head. “Forgive me…for a moment I thought." She laughed it off as the pair tilted their heads.

Was there something they'd done? Veledar released Arcturus and returned to his stance, ready to master whatever chakras was coming. When this was done, he was going to have even stronger spells of magic. Or at least less likely to be disabled by some underhanded trick. He tapped his paws gently as the female came in, moving his limbs gently with her paws.

She spoke softly as she paced around them, giving instruction to the pair. She asked if they were ready, and both nodded they were willing to do whatever came next. “Then if you've unlocked them as I said, this next part will be invigorating. We might even have a sudden display as all of them are unlocked."

They exchanged grins, counting the very moments.

“But be warned." She pulled their attention with a growl. “If you've not unlocked them as I said, this is going to be a very painful affair. Do I make it clear?"

Arcturus bowed his head like the practiced knight, “Crystal. I shall not let you down."

“Good." She rumbled, flicking to Veledar, “And what of the illustrious Crimson Sky?"

Like she had to ask. Veledar's chest swelled as he waved a paw at the question. “Of course. I was born to do this. Magical abilities come naturally for me as breathing. Just ask Arcturus here how fast I mastered shape shifting."

“I wouldn't say mastered." The man winced, “You still lose-“ A prod of the snout silenced his concern.

“You're supposed to have myside."

“Apologies."

Composing himself, Veledar's heart sounded in his ears. It was like he was standing before a cliff, ready to take the leap.

With a nod and snort the wise dragoness placed herself back opposite of them, twirling around a teal scaled paw. The sun had fallen below the waves, leaving the twilight and stars above. The moon woke with it's departure, painting all before it's face a ghostly white. The dragoness rose up as if to grace the moon itself, twirling her paws with ghostly light. “The last chakra is located deep in your mind, some might say your very soul. It has a special purpose over the others. Once you can unlock it's mysteries, you can begin fueling your very body to cast the magic you wield. If you're a dragon that is." She sheepishly smiled, “As our very beings are made of magic…And I suppose some sorcerers." The dragoness' expression sunk, “Long story short, not a lot of individuals can harness that aspect."

Then that was something he could do. Oh how wonderful, a goal that Veledar could aspire to. Even as Arcturus nodded in acceptance, Veledar was already planning on what future endeavors could be bettered by his mastery of this element.

“It is fueled by our living energy, and blocked by earthly attachment."

The dragon stalled, cocking his head. He must not have heard that right. How could you not care about anything. He shared his misgivings in not so polite a manner. “Just a few drahkras I was holding onto what I loved." He gestured to Arcturus, “How can I just let go?"

Fremra was a brick wall, if but an understanding one. She shifted, pulling back as a fireflies danced about her snout like tiny motes of flame. “It can become too unhealthy and affect the rest of you. Look to the other drahkras, understand these are just things. Life exists beyond what we see here, our souls go on into the next life. When we cling too much to life we stagnate and pervert." A cold chill went up her scales as she stared daggers towards the sea. “Look to the monster back within Struport. Death and misery has become his currency he dispenses on those unfortunate to cross his path. Something born out of a need to survive, unwilling to let go."

“But look at dragons." Veledar hissed, “We are immortal, we need not worry about such things."

“That might be true. But think of it in such a way that holding onto your life might bring ruin upon it. Hiding one's life away to preserve such a thing will diminish the rest. How far would you be willing to go to hold onto Arcturus?" She peered over with as much sympathy as she could muster. “His life is but a drop in that of yours. What lengths would you go to keep him alive? Could you let him go?"

Silence clung to them like fingers. They'd asked the question before, numerous times over the months. Yet here he had no answer, it was always about their deaths if they came un-naturally so. Somehow he'd always pushed back the fact staring at him in the face. Arcturus was going to die one day, if not by a weapon or poison, but by age itself. He'd be left to live on, never united with his once love.

Scales that deflected blades and dulled blunted weapons now seemed thinner than paper. He grabbed his chest as it ached. It was almost selfish if he thought about it. To hog Arcturus' life the entire way, then never be reunited with him in the afterlife. Unless of course the red were to die in some fashion. He turned to the human, their eyes saying everything without a word. Veledar would be left to suffer on, or perhaps find another love to fill his time.

“It's alright." Arcturus' words were soft as his hands touched upon the dragon's cheek, guiding him to rest against his chest. “We knew in a way."

“I still don't like to think about it." He replied, dare not thinking when that day would come. “I'd like to say I'd never do anything to prolong it…" His frills pinned, “But that'd be a lie. I'd scramble to find what I could to keep you alive, leaving out the darker methods. Not like I'd resort to you being a lich or something."

They laughed nervously together, understanding the sensitive nature of what eventually they would need to cross. Fremra let them settled down, pressing their heads together.

“You will still cherish those you have." The dragoness rumbled, “And understand when it's the right time to let go. Not let their anchors continue to bring sadness and despair into our lives."

The red dragon stilled, letting Arcturus' gentle strokes soothe the icy chill about his heart. He took a breath, trying to let it all go. Accept that everything one day would end. His friends, the kingdoms around, even Arcturus. All of them beautiful notes on the sonnet of his life. Each of them grand, cherished, and leaving their impression for all time.

The thoughts swirled between his horns, drifting ever higher into the sky. They were lost within the heavens, dancing through the clouds and stars that dwelled there. Yet his spine's energy wouldn't come, no matter how he shifted his tail. It remained stuck, trapped within the refines of his skull. Veledar grunted, groaned as he tried to force it like a peg into a hole two sizes too small.

“I can do it." He grit his teeth, the strain shaking his limbs. Every passing second was a test of endurance as the cool energy began to heat and warm. As he ignored Fremra's coming concern, the heat became a bubbling caldron. Pulsating, growing, until the heat had enveloped his whole spine. He almost had it, he just had to- Then came the pain, rushing in like a relentless tide. He collapsed in shock as it plunged a cruel dagger into his heart. He winced as it unundated him, yanked a scream from his throat. He could barely see as he curled inward on himself, molded by some maliceious invisible hand.

“What did he do wrong?" Arcturus shouted, almost deafened by Veledar's painted writhing.

Claws dug through the dirt, scraped against the stone. He could hardly see as the dragoness dragged his mate back. Everything was a blur of color and pain, even his hearing was assaulted by the ever screech of some ghostly apparition. His tail lashed like an angry whip as he lost all sense of himself. Flames bust from his scales in an orange wave of devastation, consuming nature around them in hungry, fiery, teeth.

He screamed until he couldn't, and collapsed when his body could no longer support him.

Veledar slumped a defeated pile of scales atop the devastated hilltop, smoke billowing like blackened snakes from him. Weakened groans signaled his passing into unconsciousness as Fremra and Arcturus looked on with twin looks of shock and horror.

The dragoness approached, pushing him to ensure he was alive. Seeing that he still drew breath she bowed her head, ensuring Arcturus he was fine. “I warned him of what would happen."

The human knelt beside the battered dragon's scales. He rested a hand, stroking tenderly against the scales. They were warmer than they'd ever been, almost painful to the touch. “Will he be alright?"

Fremra looked away, closing her eyes with a sigh. “He should, he's stronger than most. We'll see if he has the courage to continue, and the wisdom to not lie about his drahkras." She lowered herself with a fluttering of her frills. “Or this sadly will become the norm."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Hope you guys liked it. Don't forget to fav if you liked it, vote on it. If you feel like engaging and fueling my drive to keep it up don't forget to post a comment.

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