We come closer and closer to the big battle of Altea... but Medeus has a nefarious idea...

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The Blossoming Dark

It had been a long and unexpected journey, but finally, Fafnir's goal was in sight.

Before him stood Castle Doluna: home of the Dragon King, Medeus.

The sheer force of power that pulsated from the peaks of the towers ahead made his skin crawl with anticipation.

"So, this is Doluna…" he whispered.

Gharnef, who was just paces ahead of him, glanced back over his shoulder. "Try not to get too excited. Remember that Medeus owes you nothing, even with the "long journey" you've taken to meet him."

Fafnir paid Gharnef's gaze no mind as he continued to stare up at the castle. "That is no matter. Just take me to Medeus."

The sorcerer's eyes narrowed as he contemplated the manakete. There was something odd about Fafnir, that much was for certain; however, Gharnef could not quite put his finger on what it was.

Sunlight was denied by thick, murky clouds and mountains surrounded them on all sides. The screeches of wyrms and wyverns that flew overhead and crawled in the valleys below echoed throughout the open air as the two men proceeded down the craggy path to the entrance of the castle. Medeus' domain was nothing if not intimidating, but Fafnir only smiled as the castle doors rumbled open, granting them entrance.

Immediately before them was the grand hall. With languid steps, Gharnef led Fafnir into the hall towards the throne. Looking straight ahead, Fafnir's gaze met with another's.

Medeus.

The elder manakete's eyes were piercingly red as his glare bore into Fafnir's. His posture was relaxed—bored, even—as he leaned to the side and rested his cheek against the knuckles of his right hand. He was bald, significantly larger than either Fafnir or Gharnef and his face was hardened by thousands of years of torment. No words were spoken as they approached the Dragon King.

They stopped just short of the steps that ascended to the throne.

Silence weighed heavy in the hall as Medeus' eyes remained trained on Fafnir. All that could be heard was the muffled echoes of the dragons outside. Though Fafnir stood firm, he could feel the overwhelming presence of Medeus' soul as it extended to him, and Fafnir could feel the phantom press of claws in his chest as he was silently tested.

After moments that extended for what felt like eons, those claws retracted, and Medeus' expression shifted from one of boredom to one of mild interest.

"Your soul is old," Medeus grumbled. "And it is foreign."

Fafnir smiled slightly at Medeus' judgement. "As I told Gharnef, I have come from very far to meet you."

With a quiet scoff, Medeus shifted to sit straight up against his throne. "Though you have yet to disclose just how far. Tell me, from what land do you hail?"

Fafnir closed his eyes as he shook his head. "A land not present in this world."

At this, Medeus' eyes narrowed. "Explain."

This new development certainly piqued Gharnef's interest as he also turned his attentions to the manakete beside him. Fafnir's smile did not falter as he raised his hands with a slight shrug.

"It is as I say," he said. "You must be well aware of the many worlds that exist. Surely your vision as the Dragon King could not be so narrow that you had not considered the possibility…"

Medeus' snarl elicited a chuckle from Fafnir as he relaxed his shrug. "My apologies, Your Highness. I am not used to being in the presence of royalty. Forgive my rudeness."

"I have no interest in your hollow pleasantries," Medeus said. "Tell me. If you claim to be from another world, how is it that you arrived here? And why?"

Medeus' questions were not exactly unexpected, though Fafnir had been hoping to be more in charge of the pace of their exchange. He frowned in discontent as he considered his answer.

"I arrived here… truthfully, by accident," Fafnir admitted. "I passed through a passageway from my world without a destination in mind… and I ended up here, in your realm. Yet I see now that it was perhaps fate that brought me here…"

With narrowed eyes, Medeus said nothing, though the silent question of why yet hung in the air.

"In my world, there are few dragons left," Fafnir explained. "It seems as though the dragons have met a similar fate here… is that not right?"

With a low growl, Medeus rose to his feet. "You have assumed correctly. Humans have all but rendered dragons extinct, and we Earth Dragons were betrayed by our own kind."

"Betrayed by your own kind, you say…" Fafnir mused, interested. His tone reflected his understanding.

"The Divine Dragons," Medeus said. "When dragonkind and humankind waged war, the Divine Dragons turned on the Earth Dragon clan… and sided with humankind. Earth Dragons were all but eradicated, aside from myself."

The Dragon King's eyes closed as he recounted the past. "That witch, Naga. The leader of the Divine Dragons… she sealed my brethren away and entrusted me to guard their slumbering bodies. Meanwhile, humanity continued to subject what remained of the dragon clans to torment. After years of watching our kind suffer, I had enough. I lead dragonkind in a war against the humans. Victory was within my grasp… and then I was slain by one of those human worms, with a blade forged from Naga's own fang—the Falchion."

His rage billowed and the atmosphere in the room grew hot from his anger. "Now, I have been resurrected… and my second chance has come. This time, I will not fail."

Upon hearing Medeus' recounting of this world's history between man and dragon, Fafnir remained silent, though his eyes narrowed critically beneath the shade of his hood. Medeus' gaze shifted down towards Fafnir once more.

"Now tell me. Why is it that you seek me out?" Medeus questioned, his gaze burning. "I can feel how intensely your soul yearns for vengeance. Tell me your plight, wyrmling."

To be called a wyrmling made Fafnir's frustrations flare, though he kept outwardly calm as he gazed up at the King. "… Your story is much like my own. In my world, dragonkind was persecuted by humankind until the dragons were forced to flee or be killed in cold blood. The Divine Dragons… they turned on their own kind, electing to stay neutral and hide while their brethren were slain left and right."

With a rough humph, Medeus' glare softened. "I see. So, you, too, understand."

Fafnir paused. "… I do. However," he started, once again eliciting a critical look from the Dragon King before him, "Not all Divine Dragons that remain from my world are… neutral."

Curious, Medeus tilted his head back to look down his nose at Fafnir. "Explain."

At Medeus' command, Fafnir's expression twisted into a small smile. "Ah, do you not understand…"

Slowly, Fafnir reached to the clasp of his cowl. With a movement of his hand, the gold plating covering the top pulled away, revealing a stone that glowed like opal.

"A Divine Dragon!" Gharnef spat, shocked. "You…"

Medeus' gaze darkened as wrinkles formed beneath his eyes. He scowled deeply.

"So, you are one of them," Medeus said darkly, though after a moment of pause, he continued. "No... You are not of pure Divine blood."

Medeus' keen senses drew a scowl from Fafnir. "… Your observations would be correct," he affirmed. "I am but half Divine Dragon. My mother… she was from the ice tribe, and my father was from the divine tribe. However, my father bestowed upon me his dragonstone before he met his end."

"I see," Medeus said. "That is a power that few can claim to have. Consider yourself lucky."

The vitriol in Medeus' voice betrayed his compliment. Fafnir could not blame him; in truth, Fafnir hated his progeny just as much, if not more.

"I wish to return to my world," Fafnir admitted. "However, I realize that I am cursed to remain here until I discover a means to return. In the meantime, I wish to assist you in crushing humankind here, before I do the same in my own realm."

Gharnef's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that truly all you wish for?" he questioned. "Or is there more to your story that you are withholding from us, wyrmling?"

With a deep scowl, Fafnir turned his attention to Gharnef. While he could withstand Medeus' use of such condescending language—as Medeus was far older than Fafnir, and in a much higher position of authority, though he loathed to admit it—he had little patience for the mutterings of a decrepit corpse of a human.

"Watch your tongue," Fafnir hissed. "I have told you my piece."

"No," Medeus interjected, "You have more to hide. Out with it."

The pressing nature of Medeus' command drew a huff from the younger manakete. He turned his gaze upward to stare at the derelict ceiling of the castle hall.

"… Fine. You are right," he admitted to the King. "There is one more piece to my plan here. There is a… hybrid man travelling with the prince. He is from my world. I wish to crush him."

At this, both Medeus and Gharnef became far more intrigued. "So, there are two of you from your realm here?" Gharnef questioned, his tone all too readily expressing his interest. "… The red headed boy that you fought in Khadein. Is this the one you are referring to?"

With a slight nod, Fafnir continued to observe the architecture of the walls and ceiling. "Yes. He is the reason why I was thrust into this world in the first place... I wish to get my revenge on him for being such an inconvenience to my plans."

Medeus observed Fafnir's behavior with suspicion. It was obvious to the Dragon King that there was more yet to the younger manakete's story, but he elected not to pry. The truth would come in time, and Medeus was far more patient than most would give him credit for. He was a brutal ruler, but he knew when to play the pieces on the board to his benefit.

Though with that established, he still knew of one way to test this Divine Dragon's supposed loyalties.

"I see. Then if your wish is to ally with Doluna," Medeus boomed, snapping Fafnir's attention straight to him, "Then I will give you your first order. Prove to me your loyalty."

Fafnir tilted his head just enough to rustle the fabric of his hood. "And what would your order be?"

The question made Medeus grin, his fangs sharp and intimidating as his lips pulled back. "It is only a matter of time before the prince arrives at the doorsteps of Altea. Though it has been entertaining to watch him as he scrambles to free the realm from my grip… I grow bored of his folly. End him."

Fafnir's eyes narrowed. "That seems—"

"And," Medeus interrupted, not caring for Fafnir's opinion, "Unleash the power of your own dragonstone to do so. I wish to see the look on their faces as a Divine Dragon turns on humankind. Whether or not you are from our realm, they do not know that, as they have never seen one from the divine clan in true flesh and scale. Surely seeing a beloved Divine Dragon side with Doluna will crush their morale to the point that it would blow away like dust on the wind."

The silence that followed Medeus' command drew intrigue from the Dragon King. His gaze hardened.

"Well? Do you oppose my orders?" he questioned.

Fafnir's nose twitched as he held back a scowl. "No. I simply was awaiting any further words. If that is what you wish for me to do, then I shall abide."

The grin resurfaced on Medeus' face. "Good. Then we are done here. Go—and once you have fulfilled your mission, return to me."

"… Yes, Lord Medeus."