by Eden Redd
“Done,” The dragon said in a deep voice and opened his maw.
Lyssa took control of the very air as the spell activated, manipulating it to her will. Arrow bolts were pulled from midflight while air slammed into the back of heels and knees, knocking assassins off their feet. Energy poured into the dragon’s mouth as he aimed and unleashed. A stream of lightning shattered stone and large bodies as it streaked across the room. The display of power was terrifying as trolls attempted to dodge and flee but ultimately, they were blasted to broken shards. Kaylik continued his roaring rampage as he turned his neck, blasting away every figure and shadow in the room. The use of his breath weapon drained him the longer he fired. Weakness crawled into his heart and he clamped his snout shut. Lyssa counted over twenty when they first crawled over the side, now only seven remained.
“Leave now and keep your miserable lives or face the fate of your cohorts!” Kaylik bellowed.
The remaining assassins glared at the dragon and mage before charging. Kaylik and Lyssa unleashed a torrent of lightning attacks. The dragon exhaled another stream just as his wing sliced at an incoming troll assassin. The troll was knocked away and into the stream of lightning, shattering to pieces. Lyssa advanced, chain lightning striking a troll and then another and another. Their bodies fell and shattered to greenish light. The three-remaining launched into the air with blades held high. Kaylik blasted one with lighting breath while Lyssa blasted another with a lightning spell. The final one was within inches of the dragon when a tail flashed. The troll’s eyes widened as the top part of his body separated from the waist. Cracks appeared along both halves before bursting into a shower of light.
The battle ceased as smoke curled up from blackened stone and smoldering broken furniture.
“Did we win?” Lyssa asked with spells still at the ready.
The dragon was about to speak when an arrow darted through the room and sank into Lyssa’s shoulder. The mage stumbled back, hand clutching at the arrow shaft. Hit points drained as she gripped the shaft and pulled it out. Kaylik turned his keen eyes to the balcony. Vision adjusting, he watched as a troll stood on the roof of a tower, pulling another arrow from his quiver and notching it to the bow. Without a word, the dragon charged off the broken bed toward the balcony. With a flap of webbed wings, Kaylik launched himself into the air.
Lyssa was running to the balcony, shouting “Stay with me!”
Kaylik flew on as he opened his maw. The archer drew back the bow string as the blue dragon’s wings flapped. Letting out a small exhale, the archer released. The arrow sped through the air but a flash appeared. Lighting disintegrated the arrow and streaked on to the tower. The troll turned and jumped into the air as the lightning bolt struck the tower, shredding it to pieces.
The archer was free falling when a large, hand curled around his body and turned him around. Kaylik flapped his wings as his snout moved in closer to the struggling troll in his grasp.
“Is my brother behind this?” Kaylik asked with a deep growl.
The troll wiggled his hand to his belt, fingers curling around the pommel of a dagger. Kaylik growled as his dragon hand squeezed. The troll screamed before his body burst into shards of light.
Lyssa heard a loud “Bang!” and turned back to the room. The main door to the bedroom banged again before it blew off the hinges and hit the floor. Karrik stepped in with a sardonic smile. The mage whispered a few words and a glowing aura appeared around her body. Before she could whisper her next incantation, Karrik turned to her and opened his mouth. Lightning blasted out as the mage threw herself to the side to avoid it. The blast shattered the railing and chunks of stone fell to the streets below.
Kaylik turned back toward his room as he flapped his mighty wings. He stared as Karrik stepped in but Lyssa was nowhere to be seen. The dragon roared and pumped his wings toward the cracked balcony. Cloaked figures emerged from their hiding places on roofs below. Arrows gleamed as they were pulled back. A moment later, the trolls released.
Kaylik roared as arrows penetrated his soft underbelly. They penetrated his flesh to mid-shaft but the dragon ignored them as he barreled to the room. Terrible thoughts filled his mind as he rushed to Lyssa.
Lyssa stood up amid the smoke, aura glowing. Finishing her incantation, her fists burst into flames and raised them up.
Karrik let out a laugh, “Hand to hand with a dragon?”
“You don’t have a choice,” Lyssa growled.
The dragon in human skin let out a tired sigh before opening his mouth. Lightning blasted out, striking the mage’s aura and reflecting off. Karrik’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as his lightning breath veered off the mage and struck a pillar, shattering it to pieces. Mouth closing, he backed up as the mage rushed him. Lyssa pumped her legs to reach the backpedaling dragon and lashed out with flaming fists. Karrik blocked only to have the fire fist burn his sleeve and flesh underneath.
The dragon backed up, rubbing his burned arm, “How?”
“A lot of practice,” Lyssa smiled and charged.
Karrik backed up, dodging the mage’s strikes as his own body grew bigger. Shape shifting made him clumsy and Lyssa took full advantage of it. Flaming fists rained down on blooming scales. The dragon cried out as magical fire burned at him. Lyssa unleashed herself as her burning fingers took hold of a scale and pulled, ripping it off. There was a painful shout and a tail whipped around. The blue tail struck the mage’s aura and sent her flying sideways to the floor.
Kaylik crashed landed on the balcony and slid into the oversized bedroom. Eyes locked on his brother who had finished shifting to his true dragon form. The two wyrms eyed one another, snouts snarling and teeth showing.
Karrik looked down at the arrow shafts sticking out of Kaylik’s underside, “The poison should be entering your bloodstream.”
“Why, brother?” Kaylik snarled.
Karrik gave a serpent grin, “You don’t deserve a kingdom. Die so I can rule it in peace.”
“No brother, you will never rule,” Kaylik growled and charged.
Blue dragons crashed into one another, claws flashing and tails whipping. Sparks burst to life as talons raked across hard scales. Karrik opened his mouth and clamped down on Kaylik’s neck. The dragon roared but could not shake off the bite. Karrik allowed a charge to build in his throat before exhaling pure lightning. The bolt struck Kaylik point blank, blasting away scales and tearing dragon flesh.
Kaylik let out a sickening shout as his hand reached up with talons slashing at Karrik’s face. The younger brother released and pulled back, clutching at his bleeding snout. Kaylik centered his head and roared out a stream of lightning. The streak struck the younger dragon in the chest, sending his whole body sliding back and crashing into a wall.
Kaylik tried to pour on the lightning but weakness took hold. Mouth closing, the dragon stumbled forward as his vision lost focus. Karrik lifted his scaled body from the broken wall and grinned at his brother. Energy accumulated in the younger dragon’s throat as he opened his maw for a killing blow.
“Hey! Dragon breath!”
Karrik’s eyes shifted to the mage and his serpent eyes widened. By the destroyed bed, Lyssa stood by an open night stand. In her hands was a blue amulet as she put it over her head and around her neck. Karrik turned his head and screeched out a stream of lightning. Lyssa dove to the side as bolt ripped the destroyed bed in half. The mage rolled to her feet and pointed her hands. Incantations spilled from her lips as power from the amulet increased her mana pool and spell power.
Balls of fire filled the mages hands as she reared back an arm. Karrik took a deep inhale, energy glowing in his throat. Maw open, he prepared to blast out at the mage when a clawed hand wrapped around the younger dragon’s throat. Karrik choked on lighting, clawing at the hand gripped around his throat. Kaylik moved in close, his grip powerful and unwavering.
Lyssa hurtled a fireball and then another. The flaming orbs crossed the room and struck the struggling Karrik in the face. The explosions rock
ed the stone and crystal chamber as wild screeches filled the air. Kaylik moved his scaly face closer to his struggling sibling. Karrik’s face was blackened and charred, mouth gasping and one eye sealed closed.
“Stop this and I will let you go,” Kaylik hissed, weakness causing his hand to tremble around Karrik’s throat.
Karrik looked to his older sibling with one eye. The moment Kaylik’s hand loosened its grip, the younger dragon spit lightning. Lyssa was rushing forward as Kaylik pushed at Karrik’s throat. The lightning stream missed the elder dragon and blasted out chucks of stone from the ceiling. Karrik continued to defiantly blast out lightning as the older brother took hold of the dragon’s neck with both clawed hands.
“Forgive me…brother,” Kaylik whispered.
Muscles bulged under thick scales. Karrik’s eye widened as his lightning attack stopped and an inhuman scream filled the area. A terrible ripping assaulted Lyssa’s ears as she watched. Horror colored her eyes as Kaylik separated Karrik’s head with a sickening crunch. The younger dragon’s body cracked with light. The screaming stopped and the blue armored body shattered, falling to the floor in thick shards before bursting into the abysmal, greenish light.
Kaylik let out a sorrowful moan before collapsing to the floor. Lyssa rushed to his side, falling to her knees and taking hold of his pointed head. She cradled the dragon’s head in her lap and stroked his neck, eyes watering.
“You should have stayed by me,” Lyssa sobbed.
Kaylik let out a huff as he looked up into Lyssa’s eyes before shifting to the necklace around her neck, “The…Bright Storm…Amulet…suits you.”
“I can get a healer. I can…..” Lyssa trailed off.
The dragon’s mouth curled into a small smile, “This is my fate. I killed my brother and even…in self-defense….I would be sentenced to death….”
Kaylik groaned and the mage held him closer.
“The…poison they used…..fatal to my kind….” The dragon lord said with labored breath. “The trolls…..they have found ways to kill us…..please tell the other lords and ladies…..I fear they may try to wipe us out…”
“Kaylik…you can’t leave me…..”
The dragon looked to the beautiful mage as a tear rolled down her cheek, “Live well….beautiful mage. May we meet again…..”
Lyssa clutched at Lord Kaylik’s head as cracks of light appeared all over his body. The cracks grew longer until they engulfed his entire form. The mage held him close as he whispered a kiss and fell apart in her hands. Lyssa cried out as the last bits shattered in a flash and faded into the stone floor. A cold wind blew into the smoldering room as guards rushed down the hall.
Five
Thick shafts of light filled the middle of the crystal and stone throne room. A shadow touched the marble floor and the lord turned his head. Kaylik let a small smile slip as he witnessed a white dove flying past the immense windows. Wings flapped as the dove changed direction and flew off into the clear blue sky.
The dragon lord turned his attention back to the throne room. Guards lined up against the walls to the right and left of the cavernous chamber. Local nobles gathered to the right and left of the throne dais, discussing politics and gossip. The Hand stood in the middle, his eyes up with a stiff demeanor. Kaylik was happy to see his brother in such an important position as Hand. His organization skills were necessary to run a kingdom and his passion for order was unmatched.
The lord shifted in his seat as his gaze moved back to the large windows. A faint whisper of wanting filled his heart, a dream of leaving everything behind and seeing the world. It was a happy dream but not one for dragon royalty. Kaylik sat back on his throne, pushing away the childhood dreams and focusing on the kingdom.
The main doors to the opposite end of the chamber opened. Mouths ceased their gossip and eyes turned. Karrik lifted his head, eyes on the open doors. Kaylik watched as a lone woman stepped through. Her hair was red with blue streaks running from her temples and a blue rose perched in her ear. Her robe adhered to her nearly perfect body. Around her neck, a blue crystal amulet gleamed, inches from warm, inviting cleavage. The lord was stunned by her beauty and smiled as she crossed the throne room. The closer she stepped, the more he noticed the bright sadness in her eyes.
“Welcome traveler to Bright Storm castle!”
The Hand stepped forward, walking to the woman’s side. Karrik bowed to her before standing up to ask her name, the woman continued walking forward ignoring him. The Hand moved to her side but she shot him a dirty look and continued to the bottom of the dais steps. Karrik stopped following and looked to the human woman in puzzlement.
Kaylik gazed down at the beautiful woman as she stared at him, “Have you come to answer my call?”
The woman’s eyes lowered and she barely shook her head, “No my lord. I have come to see you and ask for a moment of your time.”
Kaylik eyed her and warmth filled his heart, “My ear and time is for the people. What brings you to my humble home?”
The woman shifted her feet a littler, eyes looking away as if trying to pick her words carefully. Returning the lord’s pleasant gaze, her heart firmed up.
“My name is Lyssa Spellfire…..Do you remember me?”
Kaylik’s eyes gazed upon the beautiful woman. Something familiar and comforting touched his mind but it quickly fell away.
“I must confess if we had met before, I would never forget such beauty. Sad to admit, this is our first meeting,” The dragon lord said with sorrow in his heart.
Lyssa’s lip trembled, “You don’t remember anything? You don’t remember how we met? You don’t remember giving me the Bright Storm amulet? You don’t remember how we became close?”
Kaylik’s bright demeanor dimmed as he stared at Lady Spellfire, “I truly wish I did, but I cannot say with certainty.”
Lyssa kept her gaze steady, “I stayed on the grounds, and have come back to this thrown room every day for the last four days, waiting for you to respawn. You came back today and….you don’t remember anything?”
Kaylik stood up, his hand over his heart, “I must apologize. I have no memory of a prior meeting or spending time together. Was it for a previous quest? Maybe it was connected with another dragon lord?”
Lyssa’s head bowed forward, shadows covering her eyes, “No, it was you.”
The woman lifted a hand and a fireball appeared. The nobles gasped as they retreated back. The guards pulled swords from sheaths. Karrik backed up as the mage stood motionless.
Kaylik kept his stance as he looked down to the mage, “Please, don’t do this. It is a crime in the dragon kingdoms. You will never be able to come back.”
Lyssa let an evil smile slip, “It is a crime to assault a dragon lord, lady or elder.”
The mage turned her attention to the Hand as he backed up, “But anyone else, is just a hefty fine.”
Karrik’s eyes widened, “Please my lady, there must be some kind of mistake.”
Lyssa eyed him long and hard, “No mistake.”
The mage shifted her body to face the back-stepping Hand, “Karrik Bright Storm will betray Lord Bright Storm again and again!”
Kaylik’s heart sagged in his chest, “These are serious accusations. Do you have any proof?”
The mage let out a small, insane laugh, “I don’t need proof. It will just happen. I know I can’t stop it but I will make sure he regrets it when he does it again.”
Karrik tried to speak to his own defense when the mage whipped her hand forward. The ball of fire crossed the distance between them. The Hand braced himself and just as the fireball was inches from him, it exploded. The force knocked the Hand to the floor, robes singed but no damage. Karrik raised his head and gave the mage an incredulous stare.
The guards moved on mass until the lord lifted a hand. They halted in their tracks. Karrik scrambled to his feet and darted through the guard ranks, hiding behind them. Lyssa eyed him with contempt before turning to the dragon lord.
&n
bsp; “Lyssa Spellfire, I must ask you to leave,” Kaylik said with a quiver in his heart.
The mage nodded, “I know. I just have to say two things before I go. I love you, Kaylik Bright Storm. What we experienced together will haunt my dreams. The second thing, if you ever decide to be free from your kingdom and obligations, I will be travelling to the West. I could use a fellow explorer.”
Lyssa gave the dragon lord one last gaze, drinking in his handsome face before turning around and marching to the main doors. Guards turned and followed her, swords still drawn.
The mage walked with her head held high. Part of her swirled with embarrassment. Never had she spoken out loud like that in her entire life. Another part stormed with passion as she knew now that she could do it. Memories floated on as she stepped through the main entrance into a beautiful courtyard. On she walked with her escorts keeping a safe distance behind her. Mentally she called up her skill list. At the bottom were the three question marks and a 3% beside them. Over her stay in the castle, she watched as the percentage rose little by little. The time they spent together meant something and the mage smiled at their union, no matter how brief it was.
The main gates appeared and the mage continued her march. Lyssa touched the blue rose at her ear as she thought about the future. The west called to her with the promise of high adventure. The mystery of the skill she acquired would reveal its self with time. The player decided she wouldn’t worry too much about it until it neared a hundred percent. For now, she would keep to her quest and happy memories.
Lyssa stepped through the main gates and onto the road. The guards closed the gates behind her. The mage continued to walk the stone road before her, eyes to the southwest.
“When you’re ready, please come to me my blue dragon. You will always be welcomed in my heart,” Lyssa whispered to herself.
Sunlight bathed the lands in yellow light as doves swirled into the air, their song praising another day.
~Fin~
Lewd Knights 3.0: Serpent Horizon