A tenday had passed, for Launairk, barely able to blink his eyes into some sense of sleep, had carefully thought his next moves as in the tenth day, the entrance, now completely covered in snow, with the seemingly endless howling of the wind fades into an ever so disturbing silent.
Launairk's eyes were heavy, his body unearthly cold for a red dragon, his mind consume by just one desire now, a chance to kill Landishura, to begin his life a new. He had time to think, maybe his thoughts of cruelty and terror were not needed, per say, he could be more like his kind, but secretly at ease with himself, and allow the bipedals to worship him like very well deserved.
Yes. Worship, this is what matters from those ungrateful things. He dared to show them mercy, understanding even dared to show that he cared, that a mutually benefical deal could be reached, but it was all for nothing. His reputation ruined beyond repair, he could only hope to die and start anew.
But he was no Tchazzar, he mattered not to Tiamat. Would Bahamut accept a red dragon?
The gods seem so silent. As if even they knew Launairk seems to believe in nothing, a secretive schemer, like a green dragon? Or a faithless fool, who lack of will caused him to accomplish nothing.
He looked at Azulthragas, the white dragon sleeping so peacefully. He often couldn't hide his overall disdain of white dragons, those bestial 'dragons' couldn't even comprehend the concept of reputation, he would question if they even know what food is.
But she was… Different… As much as he was. This white dragon has a story, she is civilized, regardless of how others look at her. Maybe he could learn how to not care this much, its a pity she is the only one… Only one…
Launairk's face brighted up, his eyes flashed some glowing fire sparks as he remembered.
He quickly got up from the ground and started to dig up the entrance from snow. In moments he started to see the first beams of light of a clear sky, a very warming feeling to his cold scales, but was soon overwhelmed by how bright the snow outside was against the sunlight.
"AARGH!" he snarled as he looked away, walking back to the cave, awakening Azulthragas with the noises.
"What are you… Ah." Azulthragas lifted up her head, looking at him, but seemingly unsurprised, "I thought this could happen, snow can be blinding bright."
"Ugh… How can you… You know, see through this snow?" Launairk said, as he sat into the ground, rubbing his eyes.
"I have a thing in my eye that protects me from this light" She responded.
"Oh? What is it?" Launairk said, as he finally was recovering his vision in the darkness of the cave, then turning back to her.
"I don't know. I just know I have it and other races don't." Azulthragas says, "Its great to hunt creatures that can not see you, especially foreigners"
"Well, fair." Launairk said, looking around then back at her, "So… Now that we are free from this cave, do you have a plan of how we will defeat Landishura?"
"No" Azulthragas said, with the most straightforward and sincere face the white dragon could ever muster.
"Well. I should tell you that I lied." Azulthragas continued, "I don't know how to defeat her, I only know that I want to defeat her."
'Great. Maybe the dragon storyteller was no planner. Well, I can't demand perfection from Tiamat right now.' He thought.
"Well, fine." Launairk growled, "I have a plan."
"Spill it" She said, with great interest, getting up from the ground and sitting up.
"I know, from an old black dragon friend, a few dragons who could potentially help us in this goal." He said, as Azulthragas continued to watch, shaking her head up and down, "His name is Mryrzindrax, he lives in a large swamp area just southwest of here."
"Hopefully… I can have an old favor from him for returning…" Launairk gulped, it sounded like a foolish idea, it probably was, but if anything happened, he could sure work for him once more…
"I expect this guy to be a cruel one. I like your idea, lets move… After a meal." Azulthragas walked towards the end of the cave, back to the giant youngling she froze into an ice block, "I was storing this one with great interest…"
"Well… I will pass any breakfast, at least until we are in a place I can hunt something." Launairk muttered, still slightly disturbed from the sight.
"Oh, don't be so picky. Here." Azulthragas grabs from her blocks of ice two considerable sized knucklehead trouts. "Those are some of the best this dale can offer."
Launairk smiled faintly and looked at the fish, if there was something he and other red dragons shared in common was the love for especifically red meat, there was no equal. He remembered his old black dragon friend had a passion for mollusks, one he could never understand, but he often went as far as the open sea in search of those.
He charged his fire breath and carefully melted the ice and roasted the fish, then ate both at once.
"Hmm. Not bad." Launairk commented.
"I know. I know. Your eating habits are known even by me." Azulthragas laughed, as she ate the youngling, a scene Launairk was avoiding to look towards, "Regardless, I believe you had to eat something. We can go long times without eating, yes, but… We can get a little voracious about that. I rather not have our soft boy here to eat humans, huh?"
Launairk sighed but nodded, "Yes. You are right. Even if I doubt my abilities to hunt with this blinding snow, its usually why I avoided this side of the mountains."
"Aw. Wonder what would be meeting you before you know, we had to be allies." Azulthragas smirked.
"Not like you were going to win, anyways." Launairk snarled, laughing into a small growl.
"Argh! Enough. Lets get moving, want to meet this old black dragon you say." Azulthragas finished her meal and then walked through the cave to the entrance.
"Take the rope again, as soon as we are out of the blinding snow you will able to guide yourself." Azulthragas took her bag and grabbed the rope, throwing to Launairk who also moved outside, then both launching themselves into the sky, flapping their wings for the first time in a while.
'This feels good… I miss flying around…' Launairk thought.
"So… This bag… Where did you get it?" Launairk said, intrigued over the white dragon carrying something rather refined around.
"Oh… You can guess it," Azulthragas shruged in the sky, "Took from a party of giants who invaded my lair, thought it was a fine addition to my hoard, together with themselves, of course-"
She seemed to sigh as if sad for saying this, remembering old times. "The bag… I think it was for climbing the mountains, don't have any use for its tools, but the rope seems to have its uses…"
"I see…" Launairk muttered, "I imagine they were a big prize of yours, in an old lair of yours."
"Yes… Ugh" She growled deeply, "I have hoped you would realize why I hate giants. The other races I can turn a blind eye when I feel… Oddly merciful. I love a challenge, don't get me wrong, but giants… Hmph, overglorified soft skins…"
"After staying with you for a while, I now… I now think I truly understand you." Launairk said, looking around through the sky, rather shyly.
"Appreciated." Azulthragas nodded, "You are a good fighter, Launairk. I hope to trigger the flames within you, we gonna need in the path forward. Not only strength, but brains too. Not every dragon we will meet can be beaten by sheer force alone."
"Yes… Better to intimidate them than have to fight our way…" Launairk smirked.
"Yes. You are… Better at talking than I am, I can talk and talk, but can I convince?" She looks back for a moment, "I doubt I convinced you to help me, even after all my story, all my talking, we are together now, because… be-"
"Because we don't really have any choice" Launairk snarled, "But, I found your story intriguing, it made me think, which is not something I ever expected a white dragon would make me do."
"Hmph…"
"Ok, ok, I am not entirely convinced… But I think you and me… We may share some traits, you know, when you are on your more oddly merciful period…"
"Ha. Well, I told you how things are… My kind considers me a fool, someone with aspirations greater than my instincts. Maybe they are right, I am a fool, but an idealistic fool, this, they will be scared of." Azulthragas commented, "And with you on my side, muscles, brain, might, this is all we need… One day… I would like to hear your story, too, I will be sure to remember it, forever."
"Yeah… One day… If we don't have to kill each other as you say!" Launairk laughed as he opened his eyes and let loose the rope held by Azulthragas, he was finally free to fly on his own as the blinding snow is left behind, looking around and now feeling the cold winds of the swamp below them.
They were approaching the swamps of the south, large forests covered the landscape, quite often flooded. Launairk knew it was a land of many dangers, he lived a long part of his life here, serving an old friend, or so he still hoped he could consider him.
Launairk approached Azulthragas, now flying side by side.
"As soon as we enter his territory, he will know it. He has eyes everywhere, be careful, I rather we find him first." Launairk said as he looked around for any movements that would sign the presence of the black dragon.
"Caution? I don't need that." Azulthragas snarled as she flew downwards.
"What are you doing?!" Launairk yelled as he followed her and she landed on a dry island, into a clearing through the dense forest and flooded areas.
"HEEEEY! BLAAAACK DRAAAGON! WE COME TO MAKE A VISIT!" Azulthragas roared loudly, fanning her white wings, calling as much attention as possible.
"What are you DOING?! Do you think he wants the peace of his swamp disturbed by fools like us?!" Launairk landed just behind and jumped into her, pinning her to the ground.
"Get off me!" She kicked him in the belly, scratching him and freeing herself, while charging her ice breath.
"Ugh! Not now!" Launairk jumped into her, throwing her into the ground and holding her neck, chocking her while a weak ice breath come out of her maw.
"Why. Do. We. ALWAYS. Have. To. FIGHT?" He snarled at her, angrily pressing his weight over her neck as she coughed harder.
Suddenly, Launairk halted like he saw movement in his peripheral vision, a shadow passed by, while he looked around, increasingly nervous.
'The movement… The fog coming… Mryrzindrax is here. By all the gods, how am I going to explain this…' He thought while looking around, before a large explosion-like happened just behind him, as a long and thick neck meandered from the shallow waters.
It was him, the ancient black dragon…
"Launairk!" His voice roared like a thunder over the disturbingly calm swamp, "I thought I had taught you manners, yet you come to my territory, my land and disturbs its peace, enough!"
Launairk swiftly released Azulthragas and yelped as he quickly thought how to word an excuse.
"It was my friend here, Mryrzindrax, and she is very sorry for it." Launairk explained to the annoyed old wyrm.
"Have you kept anything I taught you in your mind?" He smirked, "I need no apologies, only creative punishments… Maybe I should strip both of you from your wings and make you walk back all over whatever pit you came from, what do you think?"
"I believe we will not fall without a fight…" Launairk smiled, as he fanned his wings.
"Hmph. Spoke like a true red dragon… Well, I particularly wouldn't like my horrendous and fetid swamp burnt in a petty conflict." He sighed, "Besides, if I wanted both of you dead, I would kill both while you were in your… struggle."
Azulthragas coughed and got herself up from the ground, "Well… Sad to hear… I prefer to fight less sneaky ones…"
"While I need no introduction to our red friend here, I am particularly curious what is your deal, white one." He said while watching her.
"Oh, she is Azulthragas. She is… An ally of mine, we are-"
"A white dragon ally?" Mryrzindrax let out a long and insulting laugh, "Oh, poor Launairk, this is the best you got?"
"She saved me! I wouldn't be here if she hadn't released me from a frozen prison created by Landishura."
Mryrzindrax's mocking expression suddenly turns into a cold stare when he hears the name, Landishura, she is a true annoyance, even he wouldn't deny such thing.
"I see." Mryrzindrax nods, "So what do you seek here, young one?"
"I was seeking your help-" Launairk said while a sudden current of strong winds hit all of them, disturbing the rather calm and static swamp, as if a hurricane was coming down upon then, even if thousands of kilometers from the nearest coast.
"What is happening?!" Launairk roared.
"She found you…" Mryrzindrax muttered, unchanged by the strong winds.
Suddenly a portal opened into the sky and a copper brownish dragon came from it, fiercely angry at the sight.
"Ah, my little prize, I am afraid your owner has come to retrieve what rightfully belongs to her!" Landishura roars into the sky, then observing those below her, "Ah, Mryrzindrax, long time don't see you…"
"This red dragon belongs to me, Landishura, long before you even know he existed…" Mryrzindrax roars back.
"Aww. Apologies, Mryrzindrax, but you lost your red dragon in the north, finders keepers…" Landishura snarled, laughing maniacally.
Mryrzindrax held his breath, sighing, his eyes begun glowing stronger as he drew into thin air draconic symbols, casting a blindness spell into Landishura. As he muttered draconic words, Landishura was struck by an unnatural darkness blinding her, she roared and flew without direction.
Mryrzindrax then hold his breath and released a jet of acid towards her, striking her in full, causing her to fall into the swamp. He then let out a mighty roar, warning the entire swamp of the presence of the enemy, soon the kobolds and lizardfolk under his command begun to gather around them, with weapons ready.
"You… You did it! You defeated her, Mryrzindrax!" Launairk yelped, barely containing his excitement, while looking towards him, Mryrzindrax was rather static and emotionless.
"She can heal herself, Launairk, this is no victory, only a little time to breath for us…" Mryrzindrax muttered, "She also found a way to locate and teleport herself to you, this may be troublesome."
Launairk gulped, completely stunned out of fear, "Mryrzindrax, as I was saying, I need your help, I need you… I… I need now something so she can't locate me, whatever method is she using…"
Azulthragas had just started flying and releasing her ice breath into the body of Landishura, to little effect, while she shouted the kobolds and lizardfolk to release their ballistas into the ancient copper dragon.
"Well, I guess you already wasted the favor I promised you, by keeping you alive so far, Launairk." Mryrzindrax put his enormous talons at his chin, "Hmm… I suppose I am in need of a favor and you may be my candidate, hm? A favor for a favor, what about it?"
"I… I am listening, ancient wyrm." Launairk says as he makes a gesture of reverence to the ancient black wyrm.
"Good, good." He mutters, "I suspect she found your location through one of your scales, which allows precise tracking of your present location, I can make an amulet… Two amulets for both of you, though its a cost of my precious time, while I also keep her at bay, I require something equal in demand and effort."
Launairk patiently waited for his request, while his claws gripped into the muddy ground in distress.
"...Recently, I received reports from my loyal eyes and ears that my daughter is having an affair with a black dragon from the house of Orogoth… Those deceitful creatures are led by a dracolich, who they call 'the Old One', she had wyrmlings with one of theirs, children that contaminates my bloodline, my legacy! And that CAN NOT BE." Mryrzindrax snarled, even so louder as he spoke the words of disgust of the actions of his daughter.
Launairk could only realize that his request would be a hard one, one he may not be ready to, but he has to be, there is no other way, Landishura being able to teleport directly to him no matter when is a threat he has no lair to grant safety or magical wards to block it.
"I need you to kill both she and her wyrmlings." He said straight to the point, "I know this may be unkind for your nature, Launairk, I found you as a youngling myself, you would rather not to do this against one who is in a position once you were, but hear me out, their end goal is to turn them into dracoliches, to live forever in this despicable state, to kill them is an act of mercy."
Launairk sighed, looking down and thinking for a moment, his face swiftly changed from emotions, so conflicted with what he should do about this offer, if he should even accept what he can not do.
"Come with me, Launairk" Mryrzindrax said, as he turned away, "Leave your friend having her fun for now, I need to talk to you."
"O-Of course, ancient wyrm" Launairk said as he hastily moved to follow him up.
"Get yourself in here." Mryrzindrax said, as he entered in a chamber with Launairk following him, immediately remembering how many times he entered in this clearing to discuss matters with… His father figure.
"In all my years on this plane, you were always the weird, Launairk, out of place, out of mind…" He sighed, "You were special, or in a more proper definition of 'special' is, I never had any prediction of what would be of you, you have the mighty of a red, yet the compassion of a bipedal…"
Launairk looked down, doubtful of himself, all the thoughts he had so far, he wanted to abandon this life, to build a new, one he is just the red dragon he is supposed to be, Landishura showed him his kind nature is a weakness, a thing he should bury deeply into his mind and forget he ever was or what happened in the village.
"No, Launairk. Don't abandon who you are." Mryrzindrax snarled, reading into his mind, but Launairk was not surprised, "You never met my daughter, Launairk, this is for the better. She was just slightly older than you, cruel and malicious as any good black dragon, of course, I raised her… I did things wrong. Now this old wyrm see things as they were, she now mixes my bloodline with despicable dracolich-making bastards… And for what? The promise of easy power… Let me tell you, Launairk, easy power comes with no learning."
"Ancient one… I… I am not sure I can kill the wyrmlings…" Launairk muttered.
"To kill the mother and leave them alone only guarantees they will be indoctrinated by the Orogoths!" Mryrzindrax roared, "To have mercy is to doom them forever into servitude, Launairk."
He nodded, as Mryrzindrax put the tip of his wing into his shoulder.
"You were always a son to me, Launairk." Mryrzindrax exhales, "Your curious mind and purity of thought surprised me back then, and still does now. You were different from the youth around you, yet, you never backed down, but now, when the world challenges your beliefs you cower in fear and offers to abandon yourself?! Listen, if there's one red dragon trait you should keep in this blood of yours, is to not back down to ANYTHING. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, ancient one." Launairk says as he bows to him.
"'Yes, friend' to you." Mryrzindrax laughs, "As for the wyrmlings, if you don't have the guts, your friend will. White dragons aren't exactly known for their mercy, give her a good fight and she will ignore they are innocents."
"Mryrzindrax, huh, t-thank you." Launairk yelped, "Thank you for everything, this was a thing I never had a chance to say when you expelled me from here. And now that I am back, even if momentarily, just like you predicted."
"Oh" Mryrzindrax laughed loudly, "The failures of yours gave me joy, young one. Yet, I am not pleased, I embrace the failures of any red dragon, but not the one who I took under my wing, Launairk. Now get your friend and move, my daughter lives in the Orogoth's swamps, I believe I taught you enough to know where it is, her name is Visrenaka."
"Yes." Launairk nodded, the confidence and adrenaline ran through his blood, "I will not disappoint you, father."
Launairk then flew out of the entrance of the chamber, while Mryrzindrax stayed put, sitting down static watching his exit.
"I know, son." He whispered.