"So," Miranda called over. "Is conjuring blizzards going to be a regular thing now? Just want to know if I should start flying with a wider safety margin."
Clive winced. "I said I was sorry."
"Oh, I'm not complaining," she replied, grinning. "I'm just wondering what you'll conjure next. Lightning? A tornado?"
Lucia had been quiet for most of the flight, still adjusting to Verdania's movements. But now she leaned forward slightly, calling out, “Don’t give him ideas. He’ll really do it. I’ve watched him turn a sketchbook into a forge. If Clive gets an idea, he will make it real.”
"Too late," Sion said. "I saw that look in his eyes. He's already planning something."
Are they wrong? Azura asked privately.
"Completely accurate," Clive admitted, already imagining what he could create. A lightning storm was obvious. Almost too vanilla. What would happen if he painted directly onto clouds? Could he freeze them solid into platforms? Could they march a whole army through the sky? The possibilities were endless. Clive hadn’t been this excited since he first entered this world.
"Well, at least Clive’s experiments happen in the sky,” Guma said. “Remember when Prince Sion tried that new lance technique? We spent three weeks repairing the training ground."
"That was different," Sion protested. "That was a tactical miscalculation."
"You put a hole through the armory wall."
"A small hole."
"The supply master could fit through it sideways!"
The banter continued as the mainland grew larger ahead of them. Clive found himself relaxing further, the tension of the trial dissipating. He hadn’t known them for long, but these people were starting to feel more like colleagues. Maybe even friends.
The coastline came into view, and with it, the sprawling military encampment that awaited them.
Ignis led them down in a gradual spiral, each dragon following in sequence. Azura's descent felt smoother than Clive expected. His stomach lurched only slightly as her claws touched down.
Well flown, she said. For your first landing.
Around them, the other dragons landed in succession. Verdania touched down with Lucia, who dismounted on shaking legs. Miranda, Yarra and Guma landed their drakes with ease. Sion and Ignis were last, the Dragon King's massive form settling to the ground.
A squad of soldiers had already formed up near the largest tent. They stood at attention, but Clive noticed their eyes tracking the dragons.
The Grand General emerged from the tent. “Your Highness, I see the expedition was successful."
"Louis," Sion said, gesturing to the massive dragon beside him. "Allow me to introduce Ignis, the Dragon King."
The air shimmered with heat, and suddenly the Dragon King stood before them in human form. Ignis took a step forward, closing the distance until he stood an arm's length from the Grand General. The temperature rose perceptibly and his presence filled the space between them.
"Grand General Louis," Ignis said. "I am told you command the armies of this kingdom. That you are a man who has never retreated from a battlefield. That you fear nothing."
Louis didn't move. He stood there, hands clasped behind his back, and met Ignis's burning gaze. "Your Majesty," Louis said. "I have read the historical accounts of your last awakening. Three hundred years ago, you reduced the city of Heavenfell to slag in a single night. Two thousand casualties. The fires burned for a month." He paused. "It is an honor to finally meet you in person."
Ignis's eyes narrowed. The heat intensified another degree. "You catalog my destruction like a scholar reciting dates. Do you think knowledge makes you safe from fire?"
"I think," Louis said, "that if you intended to burn me, you would have done so already. And I think you respect directness more than groveling.”
"And if I'm simply deciding whether you're worth the effort?" Ignis unleashed another wave of heat, causing the surrounding soldiers to step back.
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But Louis stood unmoved. "Then you're wasting both our time. If you intended to intimidate me into incompetence, I would be a poor choice for supreme commander. I have fought gods' chosen, commanded armies against impossible odds, and held this kingdom's borders for decades. I will not waste your time with fear I do not feel, nor will I pretend to power I do not possess. You are the Dragon King. I am a soldier. We both know what we are."
Ignis studied him for another moment, then nodded slowly. "I see why Sion values your counsel." He glanced at the prince. "This one will do."
"High praise," Sion said dryly. "Louis, Ignis will be coordinating with us on the northern situation. I trust that won't be a problem?"
"None whatsoever, Your Highness." Louis turned to address his staff. "Major Kress, arrange quarters for the Dragon King. Somewhere with space and minimal clutter."
"The eastern command tent is available, sir."
"That will suffice." Louis looked back at Ignis. "Unless Your Majesty has particular requirements?"
Ignis waved a dismissive hand. "I require very little.” He gave Louis one last look before following the major across the field. The surrounding soldiers gave him a wide berth.
"Now, for the rest of you,” Louis said. “Take a break and we shall commence with our briefing in one hour."
The riders dispersed, guiding their dragons toward a cleared area on the eastern edge of camp. Large feeding troughs had been set up, along with what looked like reinforced hitching posts. Though Clive doubted any rope could actually restrain a dragon that wanted to leave.
Azura settled onto the ground with a satisfied rumble, folding her wings against her sides.
Hungry? she asked.
"I was about to ask you the same thing."
A camp attendant approached nervously, pulling a cart loaded with large cuts of raw meat. The man kept his eyes down, clearly uncomfortable being so close to the dragons. "For the Sky Dragon, sir. Fresh venison and boar."
As Clive looked at the cart, information flickered across his vision:
[Dragon Feed Available]
[Highland Venison]
- Quality: High
- Nutrition Value: 85/100
- Stamina Recovery: +15%
- Bond Growth: +3 points
- Notes: Lean meat, rich in iron. Preferred by Sky and Wind-type dragons.
[Wild Boar Haunch]
- Quality: Normal
- Nutrition Value: 70/100
- Stamina Recovery: +10%
- Bond Growth: +2 points
- Notes: Fatty meat, high energy content. Suitable for most dragon species.
[Black Forest Elk (Premium Cut)]
- Quality: Exceptional
- Nutrition Value: 95/100
- Stamina Recovery: +20%
- Bond Growth: +5 points
- Notes: Rare delicacy. Significantly increases bond development with first feeding.
The elk, Azura said immediately. I can smell it from here.
"Thank you," Clive said, taking the piece of elk first. The meat was still warm—probably brought down by hunters that morning.
He offered the first piece to Azura, who delicately plucked it from his hands. For a creature with claws that could rend steel, she was remarkably gentle. She swallowed it whole, then fixed him with an expectant look.
More.
Clive grinned and handed her another piece. With each offering, he felt their connection deepening.
[Dragon Bond: Level 2]
[Bond Strength: Developing]
[New Benefit Unlocked: Shared Stamina - Recovery rates increased by 15% when in close proximity]
"Azura," Clive said, watching as she finished another portion, "do you have a human form as well? Like Ignis?"
She paused mid-bite, considering. Eventually, she said. The transformation requires time and power. Ignis has been there since the beginning. He's had ample opportunity to master it. I'm younger. Only four hundred years.
"Only four hundred," Clive repeated, shaking his head. "That's still—"
Young for a dragon, she finished. Does it matter to you? Would you prefer I looked more human?
"No," Clive said quickly. "I was just curious. You're perfect as you are."
Flatterer. But I accept the compliment.
Nearby, Lucia was attempting to feed Verdania with significantly less success. The green dragon kept shifting away, more interested in a patch of unusual grass than the offered meat.
"She's vegetarian," Yarra called over helpfully. "It seems Verdania prefers greens. There should be prepared vegetation in the storage tent."
Lucia looked relieved and slightly embarrassed. "Of course she is. Why would anything be straightforward?"
Miranda laughed from where she sat with her drake. "Welcome to dragon bonding. They're all particular about something."
Clive offered Azura another piece of meat. The adrenaline from the flight was fading, replaced by a pleasant exhaustion. His muscles ached from gripping Azura's scales, and his eyes felt strained from tracking all those air currents.
Rest, Azura suggested. You pushed yourself harder than you realized up there. The etheric vision takes adjustment.
"I'm fine."
You're swaying slightly. Sit.
Clive realized she was right—he was swaying. He sat down against her side, feeling the warmth of her scales through his clothes. The steady rhythm of her breathing was oddly soothing.
"Just for a minute," he said.
Of course. Just a minute.
Around them, the other riders were settling in with their dragons. The camp took on the relaxed rhythm of afternoon rest. Clive's eyes drifted closed, the warmth of Azura's scales and the steady sound of her breathing pulling him toward sleep.
He wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting there when footsteps approached. A young soldier woke them up.
"Sir? The Grand General requests your presence. The briefing is about to begin."
In the ancient texts of dragon lore, there exists a passage rarely translated: 'The bond begins not in fire or in flight, but in the quiet space between breaths—where trust settles like snow, and two souls learn to move as one.'
Modern scholars debate whether this refers to a literal or metaphorical snow. Those who have flown through storm-painted skies know better than to ask.
—From The Compendium of Aerial Mysteries, attributed to an unknown Dragon Knight