Ultimate Level 1

“It’s my fault,” Rakonath said, receiving a growl from the red dragon after his statement.

“No… it is not. It is mine. You obeyed me, and it was my decision to be out.”

“Still—”

“Forget the blame,” Max exclaimed. “Why is your core gone?”

“I’ve used it to fight and make it back here. Our fight was not one most could hope to make it back from. Every trick I know was used, and now… we’re here. I was able to make it back. I kept my promise.”

“Can you replace your core?”

A snort came, and Max moved to the side, dodging the blood-covered phlegm that flew free.

“There is no time. I have nothing left to consume. I’ve already eaten the small stash I keep, and none of that is enough. I’m afraid—”

Max held out his weapon he had gotten made in Igarra’s world.

Both golden eyes locked on to what he held, and Rakonath even turned his snout to the weapon that was being offered.

“You… cannot. That is too much.”

“No,” Max replied, shaking his head and pushing it closer to her mouth. “Eat it. I can replace a weapon. I cannot replace you.”

A tear rolled down the scales from Aerthen’s golden eye, and she moved her head slowly.

“Max Hoste… you are different from any other human I thought was possible. Would you really offer me this?”

Dropping the weapon on the ground, Max summoned the two daggers he had kept from the other day and added them to the pile. Soon over twenty magical weapons of all different qualities were piled up on the hard stone floor.

“Life is more important than things. You are more important than any object. So please, take these and consume them.”

Stretching out his hand, Max scratched a few of the cracked scales gently on her snout.

“Both Rakonath and I need you.”

A labored breath came, and then Aerthen cleared her throat, opened her mouth, and used her tongue to pull in a few of the weapons on top.

“It is hard to argue with that,” she said after swallowing the first few items. “Still, I am grateful for your kindness.”

Rakonath freed himself from the place he had been against the large red dragon and came to where Max was standing, finally revealing how much he had grown.

“Uh… what happened to you?”

“What do you mean?” the dragon asked, giving himself a quick inspection. “I am fine.”

“No… you’re huge. I mean like… you’ve grown again! You easily are now the size of most houses where I grew up. Soon…”

Pausing, Max started to smile, the worry and concern of Aerthen gone for a moment as he took a few steps back and looked at the dragon he was bonded with.

“How big do you have to get before we could perhaps fly together?”

A trill came from Rakonath and was cut off as Aerthen snorted.

“Not yet… I’m not sure if it is safe. I inflicted some pain on Kemruss. He will be hurt, but based on his size, I would expect him to return in a month or two.”

“How big is he?”

Aerthen didn’t reply, her mouth chewing on some of the weapons for a moment until she swallowed.

“He is about a fifth bigger than me.”

That is a large dragon.

And why are all the gold ones seemingly so mean?

Do not forget the gold dragon which gave you that mark.

Nodding at no one, Max frowned.

“Can you two be safe? For like a month?”

Aerthen nodded her head slowly. “We can. I will ensure that no one who isn’t invited comes into my domain. With what you have given me, I should recover soon. There is no way I can repay what I owe for what you have done?”

“You don’t owe me a thing,” Max replied. “Friends don’t owe friends.”

A thrum started and then stopped, the red dragon’s face turning into a snarl as the laughter appeared to hurt.

“That word… from most it would seem as nothing more than a tool to get close and then betray someone. Yet when you say it… it feels different.”

“It’s because I don’t need anything or want anything from you in return for our friendship. Already, you have proven yourself to be a protector of Rakonath. That was a promise you made, but you went beyond that, almost dying in the process. Had you failed, I would not have held it over you, nor would I have required anything in return. I’m certain the pain of the loss of a relationship I see between you two would have been hard enough.”

Huffing, she nodded.

“You are wise for someone so young. I am grateful then… that I can call you friend.”

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“What am I?”

Turning his attention to the silver dragon that was now pressing his head against his side, Max reached over and started scratching the silver scales.

“I don’t have an answer for that yet. You’re not a friend because what I feel is closer than that. Likewise, you’re not some pet or simply a companion. A part of me is connected to you. Even the word child wouldn’t sound right.”

“I am no child or pet.”

Max nodded and chuckled at the change in tone, glad to hear that Rakonath understood he was neither of those.

“Correct. So for now all I can say is you are important to me. Do we need to define that with a title?”

“Beyond the fact I am your dragon and you are my person? No.”

Aerthen grunted, and Max turned to see the dragon with the shaft of his weapon, which he had crafted on Igarra’s world, sticking out of her mouth.

“Having problems?”

“This is more durable than I had anticipated. Are you certain you wish to give me this?”

“Yes, as I have said before, you are worth far more than a weapon.”

With one last bob of her large head, a crack came, and a small explosion of power erupted from the side of her mouth.

Before the shaft could fall to the ground, her tongue snaked out and wrapped around it, bringing it back into the maw that would consume it.

Watching her enjoy the treat, he continued scratching Rakonath, enjoying the moment he knew was going to end soon.

Minutes after she had swallowed his best weapon, Max could see some of the wounds starting to heal faster.

“Well it looks like you will be alright in no time.”

“Thanks to your kindness,” Aerthen replied.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

Focusing on the pouting silver dragon, Max nodded.

“I have to. Still I could feel the pain you felt, and it is what brought me here. That is good to know I can sense such things. Now I’ll come here the moment I feel something is wrong.”

“Still, I miss this. Soon we must spend more time together.”

“That time will come,” Aerthen said, nudging the smaller dragon with her snout. “Both of you are learning what this rare thing is. So let it go for now.”

Max stood there and then smiled as Bob started to talk.

I think you might be on the right path. How long would it take to make this happen?

We are what? Two weeks from the wedding? Surely afterward that would give us the time we need.

It would also provide time for you and your team to get a little stronger in the tower. Of course, if only you had a weapon.

Someone must have something I can use.

“Why are you standing there, looking like you ate a whole herd of cows?”

Max shrugged.

“A little over two weeks from now I intend to be here. Do you think you will be fully recovered?”

Motioning with a claw to one of the sections that had been ripped open on her neck, Aerthen displayed all her teeth in a wicked grin.

“I should be fully healed in a week after what you gave me. Why?”

“Just wait. I know you’ll hate that question, but I think I can solve a few different things while keeping you both safe. I just need to return home to my friends and run things by them. If everything works out, we’ll be fine for a while to come.”

A single snort came, and she shook her head.

“You and these secrets. Sometimes I’m not certain you fully think out a plan and just pretend you do.”

“Sometimes I think you’re right,” Max replied. “Now then, let me give a few more scratches before I go. If I’m honest, I enjoy giving them as much as he enjoys getting them.”

***

“You’re serious?” Fowl asked. “Right after the wedding?”

“Did you two have other plans?”

He grunted, and Batrire shook her head.

“Beyond a day staying in our room and just doing what we do every night? No.”

Cordellia groaned slightly, pretending to get sick at that comment.

“Let’s not go into any more details, please.”

“Bah, you’re an elf, easily in the age to find a mate. Surely you should—”

“How do you know how old I am?” their ranger asked, her eyes narrowing on Fowl.

“I… er… so, yeah I think Max’s plan is a good idea.”

Tanila frowned, still tapping her chin with a finger.

“Do you not agree, my love?”

She nodded slowly at Max’s question.

“I do… it’s just… you gave up your weapon, and that will be hard to replace. Are you certain that you can so easily acquire another one?”

“Easily? No… Acquire one? Yes. But there is going to be a cost, and for that to happen, we’re going to have to depend upon the tower to be generous, and I’m going to have to see if King Dagon will allow me to plunder his armory for a moment. I’m all out of materials, and while I could easily use the dagger I just gifted him, I’d prefer something with a reach.”

“Do you want to use my hammer?”

Max frowned for a moment and then moved his head from side to side.

“Would you be willing to let me?”

“Gods yes, I mean, you made it and gifted it. Besides, I’m not doing much with it. If speed is what we need, then you’re going to want something you can use.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll stop farming the bonus experience for now and focus on the 53rd floor and above. The day after the wedding we’ll return to Rakonath and Aerthen, and together all of us will travel to Igarra’s world.”

“Hey, babe,” Fowl exclaimed, smiling at their healer. “For our honeymoon, I got us a trip to another world!”

Groaning, she nodded and smiled.

“Only the best from you, my hairy beast.”

Tanila looked at Cordellia and stuck her finger in her mouth as the two dwarves started to make out.

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