The Smiling Red Wyrm

**The Smiling Red Wyrm** is a dnd small story focused around my main oc, the red dragon Launairk and his struggles through a world where he is hunted down for his good alignment.

## A Peculiar Dragon

The Smiling Red Wyrm, once upon a time a title that for many folks, would be associated with a red dragon with a forever macabre smile at the blood and fire of the massacres it would cause for entertainment. However, few would believe its actual meaning for Launairk, a young adult red dragon.

Launairk came from unknown origins, speculated to be similar as every red dragon, but at some point, he had a change of heart. The suffering caused by his parents upon the lesser races caused him disgust of such barbaric acts, which would later form his mentality once he was forced to leave his mother’s lair with his siblings.

The young dragon flew north, into the Spine of the World mountains, a quite popular spot, especially for red dragons and their wishes to settle upon the highest of peaks.

He settled into a lair upon a remotely populated area, not far from a small fishing village at the coast. Knowing such village had nothing to offer him, nor to gain from attacking it, he posed a very passive stance on the scared villagers, constantly seeing its wings shadow over it. Times later, he formed a small hoard, raiding over the traders who come to the village; He however, noticed such acts caused the town’s economy to collapse, as fear of his raids caused traders to change course or not come at all.

It was when a normal day in the poor town, a kobold, more properly clothed than most of the village folk arrived, announcing the arrival of Launairk, who appeared soon afterwards. The villagers were frozen in fear, many ran, very few took arms, a very foolish idea, he thought. Launairk had yet to fully control his emotions, the anger to the defiant stance, the hunger for red meat, he hadn’t eaten… Pratically since he arrived there, his last meal might have been at his mother’s lair, months ago.

While its true he even prefers the young tender flesh, thing he is guilty of, he had no intentions to demand sacrifices of younglings. Then controlling such feelings was required, for the elder, leader of the village came for the surprise meeting.

“Oh, mighty red dragon, we have no coins… or gold, but… But we may offer you sacrifices to satiate your hunger!” The old man dropped into the ground, bowing to him, his voice cracking in fear and desperation.

Launairk couldn’t deny he liked it, the hopelessness, the fear, but he had not come to this village to such petty scares and then leave, he wanted a deal.

“You may address me as Launairk, elder of this village. I come here not to demand sacrifices or gold.” He took a deep breath, causing some to panic, “I am here to offer you a deal, which I ensure you, it will bring benefits for both of us.”

“Oh. Oh, as you say, mighty Launairk, what is your deal?” The elder quickly brought his head up to listen.

“The matters of my appetite are not one I wish to discuss.” He sighed, “But, my desire for red meat brings me to this, I offer you a few cows I can bring, you breed them, nurture them, so I can come here and have my meal. In exchange for your services, I offer you my protection and passivity, no attacks shall come from me.”

Many villagers were, if anything, confused, many still were holding their loved ones, waiting for the moment the dragon crushes or burns them alive, mothers and fathers holding their children as tightly as possible, expecting to have to sacrifice them for the sake of the village, were took by surprise.

The elder stood up in shook but with a delightful smile. “We do agree with your deal.” Extending his arm but quickly backtracking for the fool he was making himself to shake hands with a dragon.

“I am most glad you accept.” Launairk said, surprisingly, lifting up his talons in offer to shake with the elder for a moment. “I will be bringing the cows tomorrow.”

He smiled, certainly a horrifying sight for most, but not for the elder of the village, he actually had done it, this peculiar red dragon come by and they made an agreement, no lives lost, no lives to be sacrificed, not even a single fire started, it was truly marvelous indeed, but he would start thinking if this was a trick, some kinda of sick joke, but why would it be? What this village, at best in the path of traders and ships, at worst of no importance would have for him to destroy? To lie to them all and later destroy them?

Barely did he knew, but Launairk had plans for the village indeed, but none of which them expected at all.

The followings months were as expected, Launairk brought cows to the village and attacks on caravans ceased, allowing traders to reach the village, its economic activity soon would restart, but also its need for grains to mainly feed the cows. The village was lacking in agriculture terms and winter would soon come.

The early optimism of the elder and the villagers would soon turn into an anxious wait. The elder thought so much about the marvelous side of dealing with a red dragon, that too late he thought about the consequences if they failed to meet his expectations. Of course, Launairk never mentioned he wanted a certain number of cows, but the elder was not betting he wanted one or two, but far more.

To worse the matters, goblin and orc attacks halted their loggers, shrinking their wood reserves for winters, as well as killing and stealing a few of the cows, no sights of Launairk to help them in those dire times at all, as a matter of fact, the red dragon had pratically no contact with the town’s folk whatsoever, to the point the elder started to really think this was all a trap, one which the villagers would have to live with, since what would they do? Face the red dragon? Hire adventurers who hardly come by those remote parts?

‘This dragon might laugh at us from its lair, in its twisted joke to set up the village to its doom, in the failure of meeting his expectations, what will he do to us? This was all a very foolish business, which in the least worst scenario, I will exile myself and let a younger mind replace me, for my terrible, terrible mistake.’ The elder thought.

At the morning of the deadline of their deal, the villagers woke up in anxiety, prayers and in many cases, waiting for their deaths. The elder was among the first ones to wake up, with a letter ready to be read to his people, should this not end well, but also not end terribly.

Much like the first time, a fancy-looking kobold came to announce the arrival of his master, who soon arrived.

“Greetings, Humans. Today was the day set in our agreement for me to take my livestock.” The dragon landed, spreading and then folding its wings, who for a brief moment overshadowed the entire village.

The elder gulped down and signaled for the herder who brought the astonishing three cows, one more than Launairk brought, a month ago. The dragon stared at them for a moment, its nostrils ever smoking in an ever fumming state, it wasn’t exactly pleased, but soon come the answer.

Launairk neck brighten up as he started breathing fire on the cows, nearly missing the herder. The animals burned alive as he approached its corpses and started gobbling up and ripping apart an entire cow, with audible crunching noises from its breaking bones, even though the dragon couldn’t chew it up, the strength and brutality of its bite was enough.

Once he finished the first one, he turned to the villagers, “My apologies. Haven’t eat such sweet roasted meat in months, couldn’t hold myself with those cows on sight”

Once he recomposed himself, though, he was less than pleased.

“I see there was only one cow more than what I brought here, aside the calves. I have to say I am slightly disappointed with your progress on this matter.” The dragon snarled.

The elder gulped down even harder this time, but he had to tell the truth of what happened to the dragon, especially its failure to meet its end of the deal.

“Mighty Launairk, apologies for the slow progress… B-But I need you to understand, t-this wasn’t completely our fault. The cows we nurtured and fast-grow with magic were… Stolen! They attracted bands of goblins and orcs, who killed or took them. We had no contact with you all this time, y-you did not protect us from those raids… You didn’t fulfill your part.” The elder said it, as he took a step back.

Launairk growled, its yellow-ish eyes so fixated on the elder, angrily burning him with the power of his mind alone. But then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Indeed. I understand, I failed my part of our deal.” He snarled.

The elder couldn’t believe he had won the argument, but what this actually meant for the village, as he was a DRAGON, argument victories matter so little to them, maybe a metallic one would be ashamed, but a chromatic dragon?

“Due to my failure to upheld our deal, I don’t feel like I deserve those two roasted cows.” Launairk said, sounding quite defeated, but as he turned and was ready to fly, the elder halted him for a moment.

“W-Wait! T-This doesn’t mean we have to end our deal, huh…” The elder said, as he held the dragon’s talons for a moment, before swiftly letting it go.

“What are you proposing, elder?” The dragon spoke, turning back to him.

“Uh, the goblin and orc raids we had recently didn’t also took cows, but also scared many of our loggers, as consequence, we don’t have enough wood to keep fire for this winter. After so much effort of the town, I… I don’t want anyone freezing to death…”

“That’s unfortunate to hear. What can I do for you?” The dragon said, surprising everyone.

“C-Could you break some trees around? You don’t need to carry them to us, we will take care of this part, but we just need those trees would the ground swiftly.”

Launairk nodded and soon went up flying away, then returning and with great speed and force, he knocked down a large amount of trees within a certain area down into the ground, and unexpectedly, begun picking them up and dropping nearby the village, after a few good minutes, he was done and landed back nearby the villagers.

“I hope this can fix my broke part of our deal this time.” The dragon said, which the elder nodded.

“Mighty Launairk… I… We can’t thank you enough for this but small act of kindness from you.”

“You can sing praises to me, I appreciate the it” The dragon laughed.

Out of nowhere however, a thunderous gurgling sound was heard by everyone nearby, with all looks on the Launairk.

“Oh… Apologies, villagers, the fires of my stomach are angry with all this work, so, I hope my part of the deal could finally be pardoned, for I will take those two roasted cows.” Launairk said, as he took the cows and was ready to fly away.

“Wait! ...” The elder said, as Launairk turned back to him “Do you mind some… Huh, way to call you in times of need?”

“Oh, of course. Hmm. You have a bell, right? Upon times of need, ring it, I shall answer as fast as I can.” He pointed to the small church’s bell at the center of the village.

“Of course, mighty Launairk” The elder bowed down, one last time.

“Ah, also please diversify your titles for me…” He joked, “I think I am already the mightiest dragon around here by title alone and I haven’t even fought my first battle.”

“...Of course, gracious Launairk…?”

“I like this one more.” The dragon nodded in approval and then quickly set up in flight back to its lair.

For the rest of winter things went as well as they could be, the village had enough to fish to sustain itself, the wood for fire was now plentiful and the cows protected into a hastily built cattle shed. After winter everyone hoped things would get better, the traders would return, the required grain to fully sustain the cows would finally come from the farms of the south, the deal could finally be set in full motion, for real this time.

As for Launairk, he was still young for a dragon, young and foolish, though should not be counted that his ignorance of his duties weren’t some shy form of his natural malice towards the lesser races, but he would wise up, make a name for himself and of course, attract less desirable company, for even if he is a rogue for his kind, he was no less of a target, as the ancient red rule still stands, “to have is nothing, to keep is all”, others will come for him.

Will he stand above his future foes and change the entire perspective on the red dragons?

Or will he die young, forever a mockery for a foolish hopeless project?

## Don't Cry Little... One

While Launairk has been around for a while and started to warm up with the villagers of his community, there has been one particular group he still keeps a very respectable, and dare some say, fearful distance of, kids.

The long-short story, red dragons love some tender flesh, and who better to have it than the young of the lesser races? Especially humans and elves.

So, it was of great surprise when a little girl approached him one day, while he was having a little sunbath nearby the village and sharpening his claws with a rock. Despite her attempts to sneak by him, he couldn't help but notice it easily, in the white snow.

"Come forth, little human, I can see you, what do you seek?" He said, as he slowly bent down his neck nearly to eye contact with her.

"M-Mister dragon, you are SOO Big and... Scary!" The girl yelped, as if she didn't expected to be noticed.

"Why thank you." He smirked, exhaling out two small smoke rings from his nostrils as he continued to claws his talons, "And you are so... Small, small but certainly a corageous one, typical."

"I... I am sorry to disturb you, mister Launairk, its just that... that..."

Launairk sighed, "Don't bother, little human, since I am not going to do anything with you, you might as well sit down and speak what is in your young mind"

As he said, the little girl just sat down in the snow, thinking what to say while staring with a blank face at him.

"I wasn't being serious..." He sighed, "Well, an opportunity for me too, so lets get started, what is your name?"

"Estrid"

"Estrid? Sounds... Alright." He said, as he flapped his wings slightly, "Apologies, I am not well versed into what human names sound good or not."

"Thank you" she said, shyly

"So, Estrid... Where are your parents? I am certain they would not like this... Meeting of ours." Launairk talked, as if trying to end this conversation as soon as possible.

"I... don't have any..." Estrid sighed, "I live in the orphanage back there... All the elders say is how my parents died to a white dragon attack."

"Oh, apologies" he said, "I... understand, white dragons \*buffs\*, simple minded creatures."

"I... I hear they don't like to talk a lot, this is why... Since you arrived here, I have been wanting to talk with you... I hoped you knew anything about them... You seem to like to talk... And I am all alone..."

"All alone, you say?" Launairk said, as suddenly a rush of thoughts plagued his mind as in a slideshow of some sorts, he shaked his head and slightly knocked his head.

"Yeah... What is happening to you??"

"No-Nothing... Just had a few thoughts... Hells..."

"Thoughts about what?!" Estrid got up as she yelled at him.

"Alright. Kid, since you want to know so much..." Launairk snarled, "We red dragons love the most sweet and tender meat of Faerun, kids! Humans and elves are the tastiest, and the only reason to why I wanted you as FAR AWAY from me as possible, its because of this, I... I don't know if I can control myself, and you are NOT helping it!"

Estrid jumped backwards into the ground as she listened to him, her face horrified with fear.

"Y-You eat... Kids?!?" She shouted as she started to cry.

"Yes. You have no idea what I had to do to not starve to death within my own mother's lair." Launairk roared as he started to circle around Estrid. "I had to... What options did I have? And while YOU little vermins are out here, risking your lives for such foolish goals, I am trying to resist the desire, the wish to take you to my lair... Who is going to miss you, after all?"

"Y-You go-gonna eat... Me?!" Estrid yelped, yet so coldly, as if 'if this has to be'

"YES!!!" Launairk thunderously roared, then realizing in her small face, the tears and the horror, "...No. no I wouldn't..."

Launairk slowly turned her again, lowering his body into the ground and gently approached his claw to her. The slight natural warm from him where enough to make her clothes cozy, but also evaporate the tears from her face.

"Don't cry... Little one." He said, growling so softly, "I have no way to tell you how I am sorry for my words and anger, but I had to tell you the truth, I never wished to keep it from you, but I had no idea how to make a young one understand my desire to eat it..."

Upon meeting only her silence, Launairk knew the situation was less than hopeful.

"Leave here, young one, for your own good." He got up and left her alone as he turned the other way, hopefully to listen to her small steps into the snow leaving, and after a tense few moments, he did, and finally sighed in relief.

'Well, Launairk, surprised? You knew this would happen, you did, and yet, you prefer to just let it happen and terrorize the child...' He thought to himself.

"Still better than what I had to do before." He muttered, as he was left alone to his own thoughts once again.

Unknown to him, a small shadowy figure coldly watched over the entire situation and smirked back at them.

## Mysterious Visitor

After the fiasco he had at his meeting with the human kid named Estrid, Launairk had grow certain yet disappointed and unimpressed that his relationship with the lesser races would not improve in any meaningful way, if a business partnership. The thought was weird for him, if not an unpleasant one, he was really all alone in this cold wasteland, while he had his very loyal kobold followers and fire elementals in a den below and in his lair, they were not the brightest ones, let alone capable of having constructive conversations with.

‘A red dragon seeking some conversation, what are the odds? What even am I? Some kind of brass dragon stuck within a red dragon’s body? Such stupid thought. At least I don’t have the need to kidnap those who don’t want conversation with me because my feelings are hurt. Well, I guess, point for me.’

Launairk stood from the ground and unfolded his large and majestic wings, flapping them strong enough to cause devastating winds, fortunately, at an empty local far from the village. He went far up into the sky and proceeded to probe over the village and its landscapes surrounding it, an activity, he admittedly really loved doing it, appreciating the greatness of his territory and its subjects, yet, harming no one while doing it.

‘Well, around me the white dragons have at least showed some respect with my boundaries… Good, they can’t engage into conversations anyway, this is why this place is how it is, there’s no thought or care to grow into a better land… Hard to imagine other dragons who would live here… Ah, yes, silver dragons… Haven’t met one yet, can’t imagine its a bad thing, I feel their hate for my kind… And weirdly enough, I feel I hate them too… But why?’

Launairk could pass near hours flying around, just contemplating his territory and thoughts.

‘Those poor creatures… Everywhere, they are nothing but pawns to dragons, thankfully, I am a benevolent emperor, to put mildly, will be. Sometimes… I think if I am doing the right thing… Every red dragon thinks I am a weakling, a small hoard not worth their attention, I see this as a good thing, they won’t bother me for the time being, I can focus in what matters, my knowledge, hoard and in the locals. If I can make this apathetic village into the trading empire I envision, why wouldn’t I be the greatest red dragon? I create wealth, not only steal it, an extraplanar concept for them… But to have is nothing. To keep is all. Such hoard demands a dragon strong enough to defend it.’

While in his flood of thoughts, Launairk realized a strange figure in the snow below him.

‘Hmm… Who would this one be… Brownish skin… Tall humanoid figure… Don’t recall any villagers like this, must be a traveler, or worse, an adventurer… To strike now would be wise, but if they survive my flames, this will get ugly soon enough, I don’t intend such fights, not yet… On the other hand, approaching it might lead to the same… Best case scenario, its just a lost wanderer… Just keep distance…’

Launairk begun his descent from the skies into the lower lands in front of his lair, gracefully circling the mysterious individual until landing into the ground with a considerable shaking of the earth.

“You Traveler! You are entering my territory. Announce your intentions!” He roared.

The humanoid female begun to laugh hysterically for a good moment, as if she heard the funniest joke ever.

“Your territory, young one?” She said back.

Launairk stared at her, confused and angered, but the figure suddenly begun to multiply and surround him. He roared back, desperately trying to push the figures back away from him.

“I am not sure this is your territory, young fella.” One of the figures said.

“I am pretty sure another dragon already claimed those lands…”

“Wasn’t Arauthator?”

“No you fool. His territory is further north.”

“Arveiaturace?”

“No, she stays in that island over there, but she claims water as far as I am concerned…”

“Then who?”

Launairk could only watch in confusion and disbelief as the many illusions around him continued to argue with each other as they surrounded him, but at that moment he had lost who was the actual illusionist.

“Enough!” He stomped into the ground, causing all the illusions to look back at him, “Illusionist! I have no quarrel with you, but I am done playing games, reveal yourself and we can talk this!”

All the illusions stared at him for a moment before laughing again, to his frustration, however, they all begun running at him, which caught him off guard, he stood ready and breathed fire at a couple of them, only to the fire pass through illusions. His eyes probed everywhere, the illusions disappeared.

Suddenly a gas spread around him, causing him to slow down in time.

From above, a brownish dragon landed nearby him, smiling in pure amusement.

“My… My… Looks like someone here can’t take some light hearted fun, can you?” She walked closer to him, as she analyzed through his body.

“Such young one.” She sighed, “You know… You are a weird one. A red dragon that wants to ‘talk’? Peculiar indeed. I heard rumors… Among other dragons, that there was a weird red dragon north of the Sword Coast, they say he had barely any treasure, cared about those lesser creatures and above all, was a fool.”

Launairk stared viciously at the dragon as she monologues.

“Alright. Alright. So, I have been watching you for a while, trading and interacting with that fishing village over there and I must say, almost gives me pity.” She laughed, “When I heard you to be the dragon’s joke, I couldn’t resist to meet you in person, I could say that I far from disappointment.”

The dragon then touched Launairk, causing the spell to undo itself and he fell into the ground after the stasis.

“You should polish your scales, dear.” She said as she watched over his scales, “Snow covers you to the point I wondered if there was any fire in this body. Don’t you have kobolds?”

“Why… Why won’t you shut up!” Launairk roared out of his lungs at the dragon.

“Oow… Not even a little smile? I thought you wanted to talk.” She replied.

“I want to know what you are doing here. What do you want from me?!” Launairk stood up from the ground, shaking the snow from his scales.

“Well. First proper introduction.” She coughed, “I am Landishura, a friendly copper dragon from the neighborhood. I came here to be amused and laugh, however, mister ‘Joke of the North’ isn’t being so funny as I was told he was.”

“You think I am a joke?!” Launairk snarled.

“In physical form!” Landishura laughed, “You sit and wait your petty humans do the work, where is the fun in it? Red dragons should terrorize and conquer, not make deals with such little fire usage. I, of course, am a more active dragon to travel and prank around.”

Launairk started to growl, his nostrils releasing smoke from the heating fire rage he was containing within.

“Getting heated, huh?” Landishura laughed, as she unfolded her wings, “Well, fine. You don’t want to talk to me. We might fight then, it will be fun.”

“I don’t want to fight you. Just leave me be!” He snarled.

“Not convinced enough? Hmm.” She replied.

Suddenly Landishura flapped her wings with a cocoon then bursting them open into a strong shockwave that traveled through the coast, hitting the mountain and causing an avalanche.

“No! My kobolds!!” Launairk snarled as he stared his kobolds running into the cave as the avalanche overrun a few of them before reaching safety.

Launairk had finally snapped, his eyes turning bright yellow from the fury he contained for so long within. He jumped into Landishura, swiftly charging up his fire and breathing on her. She however, had created a magical shield who repelled his fire while only pushing her away.

“Bad choice, young one.” Landishura smirked.

She charged her acid breath and released on him, who had too little time to react, hitting his head. He roared in pain while walking to the side. Suddenly a bright purple magical hand appeared and flashed over his eyes, smashing his head into the ground.

Landishura magically created another one and both of them started slapping Launairk’s head.

“Stop. Slapping. Yourself. Stop! Its not funny! Oh who am I kidding, its very funny. Don’t stop” She wheezed as she continue to beat him down into the ground, then using both hands to grab his head and take him off the ground, choking him.

“P-please!” Launairk yelped, causing Landishura to suddenly stop.

“Wait. Wait. Wait… A red dragon begging for mercy?” She stared at him for a moment, before coming very close, “Please, could you repeat it?”

She then put pressure into his neck again, beginning the chocking once again.

“P-please! I-Its E-ENOUGH!” Launairk cried out.

“AAH. Good.” She said as she released him into the ground.

Launairk coughed long enough and stayed in the ground for a moment, as Landishura had just landed next to him.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” Launairk snarled, “I have nothing. No reputation, no loyal followers, no treasure. I might as well not exist in the material plane.”

“Oh please…” She mocked, “If I kill you, who is going to be the ‘Joke of the North’? It would be such a shame. Besides, you still have one thing.”

Landishura stared into the distance, and so did Launairk, the village…

“Wait! No, no, they have nothing to do with this!” Launairk begged, as he grabbed her claws.

“Shush.” She snarled, as she scratched his arm, “This will be yet my greatest work. The joke was on you all along, young one, all it needs is the punchline.”

She breath her slowing gas on him, causing him to slightly freeze momentarily, as she flew away and begun the utter destruction of the fishing village. The screams and cries of dozens of families echoed over his mind and very eyes, the devastation of the acid, the pain and suffering, he was just too weak to face it, she was an ancient dragon, he never had a chance…

After a few minutes, Landishura had returned to him and popped him out of the stasis of time. Launairk moaned, weakened and incapable of pose any resistance, the greatest of dragon tragedies.

“Its done, my dearest one. All your work, your plans, your hopes, erased in minutes.” Landishura said, full of herself, “Its a tragedy, in all honesty, maybe a satyr, even a comedy, all in one.”

“Now… What…” Launairk said, in such a defeated tone he might as well had become an undead dragon right there.

“Oh, I am glad you asked.” Landishura said as she couldn’t contain her excitement, “Now, I spread your legend… Or rather, MY legendary work, its not such a joke or prank anymore, enough with any of this. I simply ruined your existence… Which means, I don’t need you anymore.”

“W-Wait n-no!” Launairk yelped, even if he was so broken at this point, his life was still something he held dearly.

“Fine… I want to show you something, anyways.” Landishura said, as she spoken magical words, creating a sphere around him, and then levitating him with her as she flew away into a considerable distant location.

After a few minutes, they had arrived at a large pit, Landishura had landed and with her the sphere that carried him, popping out of existence and then contemplating the dark pit below her.

“Look, young one. A great work of mine before you came to become the greatest.” Landishura pulled him to look at it.

Inside the pit, countless of distorted skeletons of white dragons were in eternal poses from their merciless deaths, Launairk started in pure horror as all of them were with an eternal smile carved into them, forever to be remembered as the victims that don’t laugh of Landishura’s jokes.

“Of course, my audience here were not good listeners in life, so I made them loyal enjoyers of my jokes… In death, its all that is good from white dragons, anyways.” She commented, “And you, you were too entertaining to kill, but your use for me has expired, now its my work to spread your legendary failure, you can join them!”

“No. No! Please, I will do anything, just don’t kill me…” Launairk begged.

“Smile… For ME!” Landishura roared.

Even after all that happened to him in a day, heck, in a few dozen minutes, Launairk had to have the strength to smile in face so much, which he did, if nothing but pure and sheer will to survive, to live another day.

The red dragon smiled…

“That is it, my dear”, Landishura said, as she touched his snout, “I am glad you enjoyed the show.”

Speaking words from another tongue, she frozen him completely still into a gigantic ice cube, in his face, eternally frozen in a smile, her work of most value.

Landishura pushed his ice prison into the skeletons of her laughing ‘audience’, as she unfolded her wings and flew away, laughing hysterically.

Launairk stood there, smiling, his mind was still aware, in this eternal torment, incapable of reacting, moving, living his life, his eyes frozen closed, unable to see the world, unable to hear and to feel.

‘Is this simply my destiny…? For the rest of times…?’

## Stormy Rescue

Through a large storm, a shadowy figure sneaked through the large rocks and snow into the entrance of a particularly large cave into the base of a mountain. The dragon was quite silent through the howling winds of the winter storm, looking up to the sky frequently while entering the large lair.

The sight was particularly disturbing as her eyes quickly adapted to the darkness that lied below, several full skeletons of white dragons, frozen with an eternal smiling expression, as if laughing for their very lives. The white dragon couldn’t hide her stress upon entering it, but soon she located her target, at the very center of the cave, a large block of ice, with a red dragon adult.

She quickly moved across the skeleton statues until arriving at the block of ice, pulling a scroll from a large bag on her neck.

‘I hope this scroll does something against this magic’ She thought.

After whispering the magical words, the white dragon launched a wall of fire into the ice, despite melting slightly, the block of ice seems to reshape itself, being immune to any fire damage, in case to specifically imprison the red dragon.

‘Hells... This ancient dragon magic is too strong, well, I hope the plan B works…’

The white dragon begun to slash, claw and bite the ice, breaking it apart piece by piece. From its inside, the red dragon seemed to be aware of its presence, and tried to warm the ice, to no avail, leading to the white dragon just continuing to break the ice until it was free.

As soon as the red dragon’s head was free, it opened his eyes and took a breath for the first time in a considerable long time. He begun to cough hardly.

“Hey you, cough more quietly, we are in danger here…” The white dragon snarled, as she stopped breaking the ice for a moment.

“Apologies? I am not sure what you are doing, but I am glad you are…” Launairk said, as he begun to claw the ice too, until he was practically completely free.

“I didn’t think this would work…” The white dragon said, rather surprised at the broken pieces of ice.

“Well, I am glad it did… Why are you… Saving me?” Launairk said, scratching his neck.

“No time to explain now, we must leave this place.” The white dragon snarled, disgusted at the sight of her fellow kin distorted into eternal smiles and laughing poses.

“Hey, hey… Whatever the reason you freed me, doesn’t mean we are allies.” Launairk scratched his neck.

“Just shut your mouth and follow me, you will get lost in the storm outside.” The white dragon growled, as she and Launairk begun to move to outside, into the storm.

As they stepped outside, Launairk was blasted with the strong winds, pushing him as he flapped his wings, quickly losing the sight of the landscape.

“Hells! It seems winter has come strong!” Launairk yelped.

“Yes… I love this stormy time. Too bad for you.” The white dragon laughed.

“I hope you have some shelter, right?!” Launairk roared, almost muffed into the howling winds.

“Yes… And also, take this” She took a rope from her large bag in her neck, “You might lose me from sight in this storm, its good for both of us if you don’t.”

Launairk grabbed the rope and slowly but steadily, they made their way through the storm; He kept his eyes over the dragoness, her scales being blueish barely appeared through the thick snow storm, but he couldn’t stop wondering about her.

‘This white dragoness… She is something else, she definitely wants something from me. But white dragons barely if ever talk! They jump to combat or retreat if too weak… This one is different, is she though? Well… An ally to defeat Landishura is a welcoming one… Despite being a white dragon.’ He thought.

“By Tiamat’s hellish fires… if I am any more cold, I might as well be an undead dragon already…” Launairk said, already trembling from the severe cold.

“Stand firm. We are arriving at the cavern.” The white dragon said, as she stepped forward, soon reaching over a hill into the base of the mountain, opening her wings and flying over to the entrance of the cave, soon Launairk following her, with difficult to fly with his freezing wings.

“I hope you can warm yourself, red dragon, for I have no fuel to create any fire in my lair…” The white dragon says, as she welcomes the red dragon within her lair.

“I can…” Launairk says, as he shakes the snow and finally begins to warm himself, “Well, now that the worst has passed, I must know… Why you saved my great gracious red scales?”

“Don’t overestimate yourself, Joke of the North.” The white dragoness growls back at him, “I saved you because I need an ally.”

“Ah indeed, an ally of the ‘Joke of the North’?” Launairk smirked, though still hurt that even a white dragon knows of his infamous reputation.

“The matters of your reputation matter little to me, red dragon.” The white dragoness responded, her tone always with screeches and growls.

“Hmm. Thank you, I suppose.” Launairk commented, “May I know your name?”

“Azulthragas…” She snarled.

“I am Launairk…” He said as he noticed an expression change in her face, as if she already knew. “Yeah, I know what you may be thinking, I am the weird red dragon, the one who likes to talk and-”

“Spare me of introductions, red dragon!” Azulthragas roars, but then looks around and realizes they were both trapped here until the storm was to end, otherwise, Launairk simply can’t go around in the cold. “UGH. Fine.”

“I know. You are not the only weird here.” She continues, “Most of my race scuffle me for my willingness to talk, ‘white dragons eat or kill, all the rest is a waste’ they believe, but I am… Different.”

Launairk notices as her eyes, ever so coldly, change over to a sad expression, filled with regrets. Launairk stands up and says.

“My apologies to hear this.” He says, with a soft growl as he slowly approached her, “I believe we could work some-”

“Stay back!” She hisses furiously, “I don’t need your sympathy, only your obedience.”

“Excuse you?” Launairk snarled back, “I serve only myself, white dragon. Your troubles aren’t mine.”

Azulthragas had no second thoughts in her decision, she jumped into Launairk, pushing him into the ground, clawing his neck and chest before he easily overpowered her grip and pushed her away, recovering himself from the ground.

“Well. I didn’t wished to be like this, but your white brainlet only understands one language, strength!” Launairk roared as he charged against her, pushing her into the ground and pinning her down and having a tight grip over her neck, chocking her as she was unable to overpower him.

He stood his ground for a moment, before realizing Azulthragas would rather die than admit her defeat, as she to some extent ceased all resistance and just let him choke her, which he hold back for a moment, letting her have a big gasp for air.

“You would never win against me, Azulthragas, not physically, anyways.” Launairk moves out from her body, slammed into the ground, “I hate Landishura as much as you do, her death will restore any reputation still left on me.”

Azulthragas turned her body and tried to got up, slowly and growling, “Her death…” She takes a big gasp of air, “Is just the beginning.”

“What do you mean?” Launairk turned back to her.

“The lesser races… They keep encroaching our land… My land.” She snarls, getting progressively ever angrier, “Matriarch Icasaracht warned us long ago, but we didn’t listen, they are too numerous and we ever fewer.”

“You are no different from the others, are you? You only wants to bring death and destruction to the innocent folks of the Dale. And you think I gonna join you?” Launairk snarled, stomping into the ground as he finished.

“And you? You think you are different from any other red dragon?! You think yourself this moral champion to tell other dragons what they should or not do, even if all I seek to do is in self-defense!” Azulthragas roared back.

“There’s no self-defense in slaughter!” Launairk yelped in near disbelief, “You massacre them, they will come back, with adventurers and metallic dragons at their side, back for revenge…”

“They already did.” She growled, “I have escaped adventurers numerous time, moved from lair to lair, even when I did nothing to them, they still want my head, because THIS is the humanoid nature, they speak of draconic greedy, when they are full themselves!”

Launairk stood silent for a moment, he had no answer to this, for it was one thing he feared most than other dragons, the idea that adventurers would come for his head, not because he killed innocents, but because they wanted an easy target, one not known to be a fighter…

“I will VANQUISH them!” Azulthragas roared, “I want my hatchlings to have a safer life. Should they fight each other one day, I don’t care, it will be their problem, but I don’t want to lose them to petty human affairs.”

“I see.” Launairk muttered, “Well, I suppose this will make us enemies, then.”

Azulthragas stays silent as she stared at him, but Launairk continued.

“So, truce? We have a common goal for now.”

He extends his claw into a shaking hand with her, but she ignores it as she turned to the wall and resting on the ground for the time being. Launairk turned the other way, disappointed but rested on staring at the cave’s entrance, into the storm.

For long he tried to sleep, ever so hungry or uneasy, thanks for his companion at his side, who deeply slept peacefully by now, but as well as during the night temperatures dropped further down. His eyes inspected the considerably small cave, big stalactites filled the upper parts of it, as well as deep further into it, a few frozen trinkets and treasures could be found, as well as a few goblins and an orc.

‘Hmm. For such a hater of the civilized folks, Azulthragas seems to not be found of their main enemies in this region either, but why? Don’t they seek the same goal? Ah well, goblins aren’t exactly the smartest either to be honest, last time I heard of goblins, they were trying to domesticate an adult white dragon, well, stupidity is with goblins’ Launairk lost in his thoughts.

As his eyes slowly but surely grew heavier and heavier however, he suddenly looked through the entrance of the cave and saw small lights moving through the storm, movement from… Giants.

“Hells…” Launairk snarled, he quickly got up from the ground and poked Azulthragas who annoyed growled.

“I hope you have an exceptional rea-”

“Giant party, just outside the entrance!” Launairk muttered, slightly loudly as he pointed to the entrance.

Azulthragas swiftly got up and peaked at the entrance, soon analyzing the situation.

“Hmm. They aren’t numerous, we can beat them.” She commented.

“Wait, you really think we should face them?!” Launairk yelped.

“Afraid of a good fight, red dragon? Because I am not…” She smirked at him.

“I suppose… We have no choice, should they uncover us, more will definitely come.”

“No choice but fight, huh? Now you think the way I like, lets go!” Azulthragas jumped outside the cave and flew in their direction in the middle of the night.

“W-Wait! We needed… A plan… Be damned those white dragons.” Launairk growled but then jumped outside as well, watching as Azulthragas released her ice breath into one of the giants, who defended with their shield as the others prepared their large hammers and shields into a defensive circle.

Launairk soon arrived in the battle and released his fire breath into the giants, who also defended.

‘Frost giants… Strongest among them, fortunately they have no range weapons, they were not expecting such attack. But what are they doing here? Or rather… What are they defending?’ Launairk thought as he circled the giants, then deciding to hard land on their circle.

With his strength, Launairk managed to stun the giants and desorganize their defenses, and soon Azulthragas flew by, releasing her ice breath on them, freezing one. In the chaos, Launairk stroke the giant he stunned and soon an attrition fight of strength between them.

Azulthragas soon landed and bite the head of one of them, once distracted and was unable to see her amidst the storm, pushing him into the ground and then ripping his head off, then looking at the next one near her.

“NOW, THAT IS HOW I LIKE IT!!!” She roared, laughing hysterically afterwards covered in its blood and going berserk against the remaining giants, as Launairk pushed them from the other side.

After encircling the giants, one them yelled sentences in giantish, causing the female of the group to run into the outside. Launairk and Azulthragas fought the remaining giants in the group, they swigged their swords and hammers against them, but after a good moment, both of them used their breaths against, making quick work of them.

While Azulthragas was busy ripping them apart limb by limb, Launairk brought his attention to the female running out into the open, she appeared to be carrying something and already in an unusual lust for blood, he unfolded his wings and quickly reached her while flying, landing in front of her.

He roared at her, with flames in his eyes, something told him he despised giants, as much as it told he hated metallic dragons, he stepped forward charging his flames, until the moment his eyes quickly caught a movement behind the female, almost fainting into the winds of the storm, a youngling was right behind her.

Suddenly Launairk felt his heart flinch, those giants, they were not fighting with the efficiency or strength of usual giant warriors, they were weak and felt desorganized…

‘They were no warriors… Not even… A party searching for dragons to slay… They were just a family traveling southwards, and we… We massacred them.’ He grew so wary and tired from the fight while in his thoughts.

“Giant! You got to go! I am letting you… But she won’t, move FAST!” Launairk said, in common, which the giantess understood and quickly run past him.

It wasn’t long before he looked back and saw Azulthragas was finished with the other giants and begun flying at the direction of the giantess at great speeds, so poised for her blood.

“Azulthragas! NO!” Launairk roared, but that wouldn’t stop her, his mind raced into a conclusion and he decided he couldn’t simple let them die. He swiftly unfolded his wings and flew upwards, slamming his body against hers causing both of them to fall into the ground.

Launairk suffered the heavier strength of the impact and was grounded hardly, he looked upwards, watching as Azulthragas painfully got up from the ground, she turned back her neck, staring at him so coldly. He noticed her pupils, shrinking to such a point she was on the borderline of considering him an enemy too, but swiftly turned her attention to the giantess.

The giantess was at that point, a long distance from them, running as fast as her legs could allow, but it wasn’t enough to compete with Azulthragas’ flight so silently over the howling winds of the snow storm. She however, could hear her roars, quickly looking around for any sighting of her.

Azulthragas surely wished for a spectacle and showed herself to the giantess, who released her son from the grip, yelling in giantish for him to run away, as she took her longsword and was ready to fight to death. Azulthragas snarled in annoyance at the sight of her sword and flew past her after her son, causing the giantess to yell in sorrow.

She charged her ice breath and blasted over the boy, freezing him in place with eternally a despair in display on his face.

The giantess roared in anger and sorrow, charging up against a now landed Azulthragas, piercing the scales of her arm, amidst her already open wounds from the fight against the giants moments before. She roared in pain and with a single tail swing, stroke the giantess into the ground while she removed the sword from her arm with her maw.

She walked slowly like a hungry predator sneaking up to her prey. In despair, the giantess now on the ground and severely hurt from the impact could do nothing, as Azulthragas reached her, stomping into her chest, making sure her last sight would be her bloodied smiling face, before opening her jaws and biting her head off and then devouring it.

Launairk approached her, angry but mostly deeply saddened at the sight.

Azulthragas turned to him, her anger finally decreasing, but not fully.

“You. Why did you tried to stop ME?! I was starting to… Enjoy you, the thrill of this fight, the blood everywhere, my chance to finally face those bastards with the cruelty they deserve… Dying brutally as they deserve.” She snarled and growled and roared, all almost at the same time, deeply divided between her enjoyment and absolute disgust at Launairk.

“They were NOT warriors…” Launairk angrily snarled, “No wonder this fight was so easy… They were just an innocent family, traveling through this wasteland, not ready to fight two dragons…”

Azulthragas stomped into the ground, “That changes what?! I don’t care who they were, only that they are dead by my claws. The fact that they were no warriors pleases me for an easy and decisive victory over their disgusting race.”

“If you only knew what I have been through, you wouldn’t think once in murdering those abominations…” She continued, while then turning back and walking to the frozen youngling.

“Well… Regardless, at least I got this little morsel as a nice meal for the morning.” She said as she carefully put her talons over the frozen sculpture with the youngling inside, before taking him towards her lair.

Without much choice, Launairk followed.

The next hours were plagued by Launairk inability to sleep, with the thoughts of what he had done, if he never warned her, this family wouldn’t have been murdered.

‘Seems after all, I am good to only one thing more… Death, bringing it and more to the bipedals around me. Makes me realize how fine I was with being a joke, my reputation is something I can rebuild, but the lives I destroy, those aren’t. Each passing day in the last ones that… I wasn’t frozen in place, were ones of me betraying all my ideals, the peaceful ruler, the trading empire, my hoard growing ever larger with honest labour…’ He lost in his thoughts, kinda reminding of the good moments just before all went downhill, how he was so glad and happy while flying over his realm, his subjects working tirelessly under watchful but fair eyes.

Now… Now he was stuck in this rather tightly packed cave with an ever rarer example of his polar opposite, the white dragon who has no second thoughts whenever she has to fight her way out.

He then turned at the frozen youngling, staring at its frozen sculpture, he somewhat wished she ate him earlier, so he wouldn’t be able to keep staring at the monument of his failures, the despair, seemingly eternally frozen in his small face deeply disturbs him.

‘I am… Sorry little one. I failed you, I know I could have done more but… Ugh, I am just a weakling, I accept it, the illusions are just breaking apart, nothing is left… Wait… Since… I am kinda supposed to be frozen within Landishura’s cave, and… Everyone thinks I still am…’ He kept thinking, as his face suddenly brighten up in excitement, ‘I can move somewhere else and… Start a new life! Fight my way through it, terrorize the local population, find a mate and… And… Live up my life to the best I possible can! No more humiliation, no more mockery!’

For a brief, ever so brief moment, Launairk’s face, so enlighten with happiness begins to fade. His betrayal of all his ideals in pursuit of his greedy and evil desires is all he wished to forever leave to others of his kind, but was ever worth it? Do bipedal, lesser being lives worth it? The worst thing has happened to him, he started to doubt, the before mighty, thoughtful, calm and slightly clumsy Launairk was disappearing in ever growing shadows of doubt and evil within him.

He turned to Azulthragas, sleeping so peacefully barely seemed she did anything evil at all, she was perfectly in peace with herself, something Launairk seemingly did not known the feeling ever since he was expelled from the lair of his mother.

Maybe… Just maybe… The partnership with her seemed not so bad after all...

## Visions of the Past

Through the days, Launairk thought and reflected about his choices so far in his life. He had plenty of time of course, the winter would not go away so soon, but rather than hibernate, his mind was too active, and so was he hungry, without some food to warm him through the storm.

He often looked to the side, to his white dragoness companion, who slept so peacefully in the last few days. He frequently would think about her, wondering what is in her head, if she was really capable of any thought and why, or rather how was she at such peace with herself. Such thing he never ever experienced, since he thought of the evil in his actions as a wyrmling.

Some times she turned in the ground, spinning into the walls, hitting something as in a nightmarish fight. She scratches the walls and ground, causing an infuriating noise, but he refrained from acting in any way, preferring to keep to himself.

‘Does my nightmare never ends? This storm won’t stop? The whole winter?! No. No. If Azulthragas is calm, this means its not that long, we will get out of here, I haven’t eaten in… Months. I would do anything for some roasted flesh… No! I can’t just eat anyone I find… Think about other things… Uh… Sleep! I haven’t managed to sleep in days…’

Suddenly, Azulthragas woke up with a roar, her pupils so thin and distressed, she turned to Launairk and released her ice breath at him. He surprised in the middle of his thoughts managed to dodge it swiftly, then turned from the wall to see she was jumping into him in a rage.

“Azulthragas! No!” Launairk roared and easily overpowered her jump and pinned her into the ground, hoping she would calm down, but she just didn’t. She tried desperately to struggle but soon was getting tired.

“Calm down! Its just a nightmare!” Launairk yelled as her movements begun to calm down.

She looked around, as if trying to find other enemies, and then into a long sigh she returned to normal. Launairk released her and both stood before each other, with Azulthragas looking to the side in shame.

“What happened?” Launairk decided to start, calmly asking the still slightly distressed white dragon.

“You… Allied with giants… Surrounded me and were… Killing me.” Azulthragas snarled.

“Me allied with giants? Well, that’s definitely something.” Launairk laughed light-heartedly.

“IT WAS A CHANCE!” Azulthragas roared, loudly, ‘You and your bipedal loving behavior…’

“I don’t love them. We respect each other.” Launairk muttered, “Respect, which you have no concept of, huh?”

“Besides… I need no giant allies to defeat you” He laughed.

Azulthragas’ face grew closed and sulking. “You earn my respect through a fight, nothing else. You still don’t get it. Those giants are the mortal enemies of my kind… Of everyone in this damn dale, a pest to be exterminated!”

Azulthragas explained as if somehow Launairk would ally himself with the giants, she somewhat genuinely believed this was a possibility, much to his confusion.

“Why you insist I would ally with giants?” Launairk indulged the thought.

“You showed mercy to them! Those giants, if they reached their camps, they would come in numbers here.” Azulthragas growled, “You chose to save that mother and child, they would not seek your death… They would all come for me, they have little reason to do else.”

“She was lost in the storm!” Launairk snarled, “She had no idea where you even where… And you think they would return here and immediately find you?”

“They would search every single snowflake of this land! I know it, I already saw it happen!” Azulthragas angrily said, but shifted her tone slightly. “Giants invade our lairs for fun, to fight us. You can’t possible understand living far south, we are a blessing on this land plagued by giants!”

“A blessing by attacking and massacring and slaughtering just as you say they do?” Launairk was not convinced, but she changed her tone further.

“Ugh. My mother once told me… Dragons are truly superior beings to giants, who struggle to try to reach our power. The bipedals are LUCKY we are here.” Azulthragas muttered, her voice becoming louder each time, “Yeah, we eat and kill a few bipedals here and there, after all, its all meat, but giants… They exploit the land and eat the small bipedals like livestock.”

“Wait. Wait. You are telling me you don’t do that? Seriously?” Launairk said, in disbelief.

“I don’t answer for my kin. I can think for myself. I know some bipedal livestock is better than a few scrunky bipedals.” Azulthragas said, confidently.

“So… You respect or not the bipedals?” Launairk commented.

“ARGH. Listen…”

“Once I was a young white dragon, my mother was Arveiaturace-”

“Wait. Wait, you are daughter of Arveiaturace?!”

“Shut up. Yes, I am. You will realize this means little very soon.”

“She was my mother, but she is a different white dragon, certainly from my father either. Me and my siblings were… Barely cared for, Arveiaturace allowed our presence in her lair, this was the furthest of the caretaking we received, or so most of us.

I curiously watched my mom, she enjoyed a good conversation, but well, there is not much kobolds and other servants can talk about, they aren’t the brightest of minds. So, I sought to be something else, I learned how to read on my own, how to speak, while my siblings barely reached even close, most would barely talk nowadays still.

I wanted… Something more than survival, I wanted my own empire, my subjects, my libraries, for that, I was ridiculed in mocking growls and roars at me. Well, in a few years, after pure sheer will of mine, I become interesting for my mother. She taught me some powerful white draconic magic… No, not ice storms… Not yet at least, I can only muster a gust of wind, I would love to say this storm right now is my work.

Well, while me and my mother talked and enjoyed each other, this naturally had to end. As the fateful day she would consider us too dangerous and we were forced to leave the lair. I still believe she saw me leave with a smile, one of her own had become just a little like her… Well, this is my fantasy. If we ever met again, she would kill me without mercy, especially me, I would be most likely the one to face her and have the ability and thought to win.

Now on my own, I did the usual stuff, made my lair, eat the animals around, raided a few villages. I had no servants, at least none which I remember, which likely means I ate them too...”

“Wait, you eat even kobolds? By Tiamat, is there anything sacred to you?!”

“Yes. Its not my fault I do not recognize them as servants, but as mere food too… Well, I… Look, I remember I had servants, I was working on it, you know, but soon giant raids in my lair would end whatever kobolds I had on my side.

I was forced to… Move around, going from lair to lair until there was barely anywhere left to hide. Those giants were becoming too daring. I know it was a lost cause, our last matron mother died, she was the last symbol of unity among white dragons, without her, we might as well just… Die off.

No. I was angry and filled with vile. I would kill every giant I could possible find. Regardless of intentions, I have no mercy for those creatures.

One day, I was flying around in the sky, through the mountains when I saw a small group of bipedals, traveling through below. I decided, rather quickly, that it would be a nice midday snack, so I flew downwards to them.

I saw one of them carried a long pointy stick, the largest one among them. But other than that, it was a defenseless group.

I landed right in front of them, causing the large bipedal to point the stick at me. This of course was a challenge to me, so I acted accordingly, powering my breath against them. In the process however, I watched each of them, hopelessly bellow me, I loved the feeling of weaker creatures cowering in fear of me, but something was not feeling right…

They were afraid, but strangely chill with my presence, as if a blessing to them. Even the man carrying a stick was oddly hesitant to fight me, rather slowly going back towards the rest of the group.

I looked further and saw a large group of giants approaching.

My jaw fell open, without any breath coming out. I felt a weird chill down in my body, as if fear consumed me. Something no white dragon would ever admit however, I looked down again, the small bipedals were terrified of both of us, but they seemed to be more scared of the giants coming, they probably were fleeing from them all along.

I felt… I felt empathy for those small creatures, so defenseless. My mind thought what the giants would do to them, I can’t imagine it would be any different of what I was about to do. So… I remembered how my mother was used to save sailors from ships through the sea, demanding her fair share, of course, but saving lives nonetheless. I think that if anything, denying them food would be a small victory against the giants.

So I not so gently took all the small ones and gone upwards flying away, as a few sticks started to rain from the sky, coming from the giants. The small creatures cried and screamed, it was annoying, but I knew a nearby village that would welcome them, I think, they like cooperation and welcome others, right?

I flew for a while, trying to not give any hint for the giants of were I was going to leave them by, that would be a disaster, right? I soon arrived at the village, causing confusion, many inhabitants fled in terror and what not, but I had very little with them, just dropped by the creatures in the snow and flew away.”

Launairk listened very attentive as Azulthragas finished her story, he was rather confused and pleased but was interested in learning about her anyways.

“So… You care about bipedals, well, care might be a strong word, you tolerate them whenever you feel bad for them? Well, that is a plot twist of this whole narrative, the fact that you could realize the difference between foe and food, innocent and evil, well, its remarkable, I have to say.” Launairk said, as he slowly clapped his talons on each other.

“Yes. I care. Now I don’t go out there slaughtering bipedals, not like before. Those who respect me receive my mercy and mutual respect. I seek to destroy the towns, not the villages.” Azulthragas respond back, angrily.

“I see it now.” Launairk mutters.

“This is why I respect you.” Azulthragas smiles faintly. “Yes, you seek to develop them, I seek to keep them primitive. But we are both shunned by our races, we have similar ideals.”

Launairk looks down, surprised to her the respect, which he couldn’t consider he had the same respect back to her, thinking she was a lesser by her actions, not words.

“I appreciate your respect, and now learning more about you, I respect you back.” Launairk commented.

Azulthragas faint smile turns into a full smile.

“Thank you.” She said.

“I believe we can cooperate if we trust each other, but most importantly, we respect each other.” Launairk commented, “But now… Will this storm last the whole winter?!”

“Ah, no no… Just a week extra… Soon we will leave, don’t worry...”

## Meeting an Old Friend

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.