Ultimate Level 1

So many questions swirled in his head as Max watched Rakonath dozing on the stone floor of the cavern.

After eating four elves, the dragon’s belly was bulging slightly but not near as much as Max had thought it would.

“It’s part of our nature, how we’re made,” Aerthen said as she sat on her stone chair near him. “He would struggle to eat a full-size cow, but those four are not as big as you think they are. None of them had a lot of actual body mass, most elves being lean and all.”

A chuckle came from Fowl as the dwarven warrior turned his cup slowly in his hands.

When he noticed everyone looking at them, the warrior shrugged and pointed at the sleeping silver dragon.

“You’ll realize we’re discussing how fat elves are compared to a cow, right?”

Max grinned, as did everyone but Cordellia.

“Is he going to be okay if I only come back every week or so? Part of me feels like each time I go away, something gets cut off. Something deep inside.”

The large dragon shifted, her humanoid form supported by the stone seat she sat on. She smoothed out the red dress she wore with both hands.

She paused, frowning as she tapped her fingers together.

“Yet there are other worlds where a dragon like myself would override the mind and soul of the person it bonds with. They become nothing more than a vessel, designed to allow me power through them and obey whatever wish or command that I have. Like a king or queen, my command would be absolute, and even worse is the knowledge that some can bind thousands to their will like that.

“And then there is the one I hope you two have.” She sighed. “Dragon and man, bound together on equal terms, granting each a bit of their own essence, listening and learning to the advice and wisdom the other has. That is what I hope you two will share. My only concern is how and when you two can experience such a thing.”

“Because I can’t stay here or keep him with me for a while?” Max asked.

Aerthen slowly nodded, her gold eyes fixed upon him.

“Part of me wonders if that is for the best, though. Each of you will experience the longing for the other. It would be like you and your friend being kept away for months, the pain of missing and the longing making those moments you are together better.”

Max and Tanila glanced at the other, squeezing the hand they held.

“We have been there,” their mage said quietly. “It is a pain I wish to avoid for as long as possible.”

“Yet now, is your relationship better?”

“I’d like to think so,” Max replied.

“Then perhaps Rakonath will be the same,” Aerthen said, cracking her neck as she spoke. “He shall gain wisdom and knowledge from me, things that he will need to know in the coming days. If he were to leave with you right now, those things would be lost, most likely never learned. Instead, when the time comes, and you two can travel together, Rakonath will be better prepared for what is out there.” 𝑅ÄŊỘ₿ЁS̈

“What kind of knowledge does a dragon need?” Fowl asked.

“Oh, that’s a simple one,” she replied with a grin. “Cooking times for a dwarf is a tricky thing. Too long, and they are burnt, tasting and smelling awful, but when done just right, it’s a delicacy.”

Their warrior leaned back in his chair, eyes darting at the others before everyone except him burst out laughing.

“Bah, dragon nuts!”

His curse increased the noise of their outburst, finally reaching a point loud enough to make Rakonath stir for a moment. A heavy eyelid raised to see what the fuss was before closing again.

***

How long this time?

“A week, maybe two,” Max said as he scratched the ridge of Rakonath’s head. “I need to get these dwarves to their city. Even though it might not look like it, they are to be married.”

Such a foolish thing for our kind. You either choose to be one’s mate or not. No ceremony changes that. Your word is all that is required, as is your commitment.

Grinning, Max’s head bobbed as he increased the pressure of his fingers, earning a trill from his dragon.

“That is true. Tanila and I have that. Still, I look forward to the day you can be with me as I travel. For now, just grow stronger. Aerthen has promised to provide you with the best training possible.”

You have no idea the pain she already makes me endure. Even though I know the reason behind it, my body does not like how it hurts sometimes. Still… Thank you. I can sense that you are different from most of them, and Aerthen’s thoughts are hard to hide from me when I am this close. I can feel how she sees you. The very light she talks about draws me closer to you.

It is like a… thread, I believe, is what you call it. Somehow, it connects me to the one who gave you that mark in a different way. Inside me is a smaller version of it, she said. That is what has allowed me to learn so quickly from what she shares.

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“How does that work?”

A grin appeared as the scales over his lips pulled upward on Rakonath’s snout.

Dragons share by touch. Each night, she draws me close and puts me under her wing. As I sleep, I learn through the dreams she creates. Some are clear, while others are blurry. Worlds… so many worlds… so many different dragons of all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some are two or three times taller than her, and others are no bigger than your head. Each, however, bears the mark of our Father. No dragon can escape the bond and connection with him.

In those moments, she creates stories that are like… ballads? Tales?

“I know what you are trying to say,” Max said, staring intently into the silver eyes that were looking back at him.

Those are how I learn. Lessons of other dragons sometimes, occasionally ones I know aren’t real stories, just simply things to pass the knowledge through. Yet as the night goes on, I am there in them, beside her, part of that moment.

“Do I ever show up in those?”

A thrum came as Rakonath’s head moved up and down slowly.

Sometimes you are a… knight! Other times a standard warrior. Each time she has shown me you, there is always an aura of power. Every dream shows you in a light of honor or respect. Know that she was honest about her hunger for your friends. Inside her is a desire that wishes to eat them. She can sense how much stronger they would make her, just like she can sense the same thirst inside you.

Max felt a shiver run through him as Bob laughed in the background of his mind at that statement.

This voice inside you… it is a part of you, and yet it is not. Are they like Aerthen is for me?

He let out a low whistle and smiled.

“That one is a longer story and not for a moment like this, but yes, he is. He will protect you and me. Do not fear him.”

There is no fear of him. Every part of you tells me that you see him as… a friend.

Unable to help himself, Max snorted and watched as Rakonath shook his head.

I’m sorry. I was afraid you might shoot mucus from your nostrils like Aerthen sometimes does when she snorts. I do not enjoy being covered in it.

This time, Max roared with laughter and felt everyone’s eyes upon him and his dragon. Glancing at Aerthen, he would have sworn he could see a confused look on her face, eyes narrowed slightly at him.

Stop that! I will get in trouble if she learns what I said. Now, then, go. I will be here, anxiously awaiting your return. Just remember, I am always happy with any food you bring me.

Max moved forward, wrapping his arms around the dragon’s neck. He felt how much Rakonath had grown in such a short time, and a thread of power came from this moment.

The silver dragon responded in kind, using its wings and neck to encircle Max as best he could.

“Be safe, and I promise to bring something back to eat.”

“Do not forget the one who trains him when you bring back food!” Aerthen called out.

“I won’t,” Max said as he moved to where his friends stood, waiting a few yards away.

“We can wait a few more days if need be,” Tanila said as he took her hand.

Shaking his head, Max frowned slightly. “It’s been far too long, and I need to check on Blake. We don’t know if he is alive. Even worse is if he is alive and the destruction is as bad as Bob fears, we might have rumors growing in the capital.”

“So check on him, then return to the capital, and then we head home?” Fowl asked.

“That’s the plan.”

Max turned to find Aerthen had moved a bit away from them, her body glowing and growing.

“HOLY DRAGON NUTS!” Cordellia cursed as the red dragon showed her true size.

Fowl coughed, nodding in agreement as the other four all gazed upon the owner of the cavern, her real power on display for them.

She roared, and Max laughed as he understood it.

“Your friends best not believe I have balls! I am not some weak male dragon!”

“They don’t!” Max shouted back. “Sadly both of them like to curse and have far too many ways of doing so.”

A thrum caused the very ground they stood on to vibrate as its tone echoed around the cavern, causing some of the falling lava to almost dance from the force it was assaulted with.

“I’ll return soon! Until then, thank you again!”

Aerthen’s head lowered slightly, and a row of teeth appeared as her lips moved away.

“Be safe, Max Hoste. Try not to cause too many problems between now and then.”

Grinning, he shrugged and beckoned to his friends.

“It’s time to go. She doesn’t like it when Cordellia accuses her of having nuts.”

“WHAT? I… I didn’t—”

Their archer stopped talking, seeing how Max was grinning, and the obvious noise of laughter from the dragon grew louder.

“Gods, I hate you,” she muttered.

“No, you don’t. You love me like the brother you wish you had but would never come over for dinner.”

At that comment, both Tanila and Cordellia started to laugh, leaving the two dwarves frowning and squinting at the pair.

“Elf jokes… never funny,” Batrire stated.

As everyone came close and put their hands on him, Max leaned backward until he could see Rakonath.

“Grow, my friend.”

Oh… I will.

‎ @@novelbin@@