FSE

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Once upon a time, there was a very hardworking and diligent people, who had the best cattle in the known world.

Along with the other multiple benefits of a cattle-based economy, the meat was their main product and was utterly delicious. It made the locals wealthy, the nobles happy, and the livestock bountiful.

Even the bears and the wolves didn't dare to approach well guarded herds, knowing full well how implacable and merciless the backlash would be. However, because mortals couldn't have nice things, the gods had created a whole array of monsters, daring and dangerous enough to ruin a farmer's honest life...

... At least that's how the locals explained it, generally right after downing the first bottle. After the second one, you'd get a blur of alcohol-induced mumbling about the peasantry's inability to cast fireballs at will at their most recent problem, including, but not limited to: gryphons, wyverns, large cats of all kinds, hippogryphs, giant snakes...

A branch creaked.

" NOW!"

... and of course, dragons.

At the command, five figures jumped out of the woods and ran straight into the clearing where the unfortunate herd had quite a fateful encounter. You didn't lure dragons with a piece of cheese, after all.

Damn it! Just yelling the order had left him out of breath. Even the adrenaline boost wasn't cutting it these days. Llyr leaned back against the nearest tree as the figures sprinted their way out of his line of sight. His instincts wanted nothing else than to run with them. After such a tiring day though, his legs were mighty clear about his available options. He could either sprint now, or make his way back on his own legs later.

The choice was rather clear for him, so instead of spending his strength in vain, the hunter closed his eyes and focused on the other senses. And while the smell of cattle's blood was too pungent to get anything out of it. His ears however were still sharp enough to make out the battle.

Llyr could barely discern most of the action from the commotion ahead, including the yelling of his companions and the snarls of the scaled beast. Their target was nothing impressive, really. Judging by their roar and the stomp of their steps on the ground, there were mere drakes that outscaled this specimen by far.

However, there was something else, a creeping sensation that made his hair stand on his neck, the primal reaction of a mortal before its better.

A carrier of the divine spark was nearby...

Despite his certainty that they were barely mature, his blood still ran cold. There was no mistaking that ancient feeling, especially for someone so attuned to the draconic nature. The human barely restrained himself from scratching the back of his hand by reflex. Even at this distance, he could feel it...

_ The P ull _was beckoning to him, and logically to his companions too. This was anything but good...

There was another chill down his spine. The air pressure suddenly shifted in the most terrifying of callbacks as he tensed up. This was utterly and definitely not good!

Llyr had to do what he was best at right now! Ignoring the pain in his worn out muscles and the shortness of his breath, the tired human channeled his will and pushed beyond the concern of his own safety. All that mattered was to save his men in this instant! The worn-out warrior unclipped the heavy bolas from his belt. Battle automatism taking over, deep breath...

Inhale.

The dragon took one, two, three quick steps backwards.

Exhale.

The bolas spun at a blurring speed in his expert hands, the result of decades of practice.

Inhale.

Sparks of raw magic began to crackle in the clearing all around, converging towards the scaled being he could vaguely make out. He closed his mortal sight again, and opened his aura to the world around him.

Exhale.

The silhouette of the oversaturated dragon was drawing ever more clear as it channeled more and more power in blinding spot of energy at the back of their throat.

Inhale.

Llyr could barely make out the outline of his associates. Even in formation behind magical shields, they would be pulverized without a shadow of a doubt! How could they know any better? He just needed a few seconds to predict where the dragon's head would be...

Exhale.

Now!

Lower!

Both parties lurched forwards while, without thinking, his arm followed the last second instruction. The fizzle of the bolas launched at high speed was lost in the roar of anger preceding certain annihilation.

" GET DOWN!"

The roar was suddenly muffled by a whimper of surprise. Why did he throw it lower?! He could have knocked out their target in one shot!

There was no time for regret though as the death ray lost itself in the tree behind him before the forest exploded, throwing them all on their backs. By the time any of them could move once more, the only sound left was the ever-more distant flap of wings.

"... A greater dragon you say?"

The tension in the throne room became palpable.

" Yes my lord, no lesser drake could ever exhibit such characteristics. I may not have seen them myself, but I have five direct eye witnesses. No mistakes possible."

Even though he was losing sight, Llyr wasn't missing much. He already knew how little the modest stone chamber had changed over the decades, as far as monumental throne rooms could anyhow. The duchy wasn't the most known for its architectural prowess, after all.

"And you couldn't slay the beast!" declared an anxious voice in the assembly, probably a worried noble who lost some cattle heads to the scaled scourge.

"This was merely a skirmish. We had no idea what we were truly facing!" Damn Leo and his impetuosity. He had told him to stay put for once and let him do the talking!

"What are we still waiting for then?" someone else interrupted. "We can't wait a second longer with a Greater Dragon hanging above our heads! Let's raise the banners and purge our land of this pest!"

Worried and angry whispers filled the room. It seemed that bloodlust wasn't a unanimous feeling.

Llyr raised from his knelt position, and the whispers died down as fast as they had appeared. Even past his eighties, the man was still a force of nature! Nobody believed that he had actually _shrunk_since his prime, as he was still standing around two whole meters in height! Absolutely towering above the assembly, who was not made of shortstacks. Far from it.

Logic would've also dictated a decrepit pilosity, but his long ponytail made of white hairs was still going strong, just like his small and similarly colored beard.

There was a hot debate across the world, among all the souls that had the luck to cross his path, about what made him more threatening. Either his wide and bulky frame, carefully maintained during his whole life, or the... _eccentricities_his body sported. The minuscule deep purple scales around his eyes, the definitely-sharper-than-humanly-acceptable nails, or his more than superior flexibility and strength.

While this old timer could still punch you straight in the face and make you sorrow your lost smile, usually no one bothered to escalate any conflict after a mere verbal exchange with him. Simply because you didn't want any foolish business with anyone over 60 who still sported two full rows of pointed teeth.

The scales? Disconcerting. The frame? Intimidating. But you had to be a damn fool to seek conflict with the thaumaturgical like that!

And someone was about to find out, as he turned to the source of the disturbance and proclaimed with a stern voice.

" Do not treat a greater dragon like one of your measly hunting games. This is no culling of troublesome wolf packs. No human army can take such beings head on."

"Then what?!" another interloper proclaimed "They were supposed to be extinct! While our first and only line of defense is well past his prime..."

Llyr wasn't the kind to feel insulted by a true statement, so he let it slide. The knight was accustomed to it by now. Despite everything, most people were disappointed when they met him nowaday.

However, someone else didn't have his patience.

"Show respect for sir Llyr you fiend! The champion of humankind! Scourge of the dragons! Slayer of the last Scaled Lords!"

" Leo please, we aren't here to antagoni..."

Evidently his young companion had stirred the hornet's nest though.

"Ah! How knightly of him then to have slain nearly each and every single Greater Dragon out of sight of anyone but only one easily corruptible witness! Not even in civilized territory most of the time, and without bringing back hard evidence of his victory! If you can't handle this then we'll take the matter into our own hands!"

That struck a nerve. "You SCUM! You'd be licking a scaled boot right now if the Dragon Knights..."

Yet another pointless argument, they had given up so long ago... There was truly no one that could understand their cause. Although It wasn't rightful, never was in fact. It had never been about the thrill of the hunt, the lust for gold, fame, or even hatred... It was only their duty, their mission to themselves, and to all of humanity. It was up to them to break the cycle, for there were beings outside of gods that wielded way too much power for global safety.

This was not the kind of power that could be shared, stolen, or broken down, no matter how many of them tried or had pure intentions. Only one was enough to throw it all down, and the world with them. And what were the mortal races supposed to do? How could you challenge mighty beings with such powers, such experience, and such resilience? What could be done about beings that could bend magic to their whims, outsmart whole nations and could muster whole armies of figurative ants if left unchecked?

The answer was simple, really. Instead of thinking of them as gods, you saw them as what they really were...

Someone who thought, someone who felt, someone who dreamed, someone who could die.

It was frightening how easy it was to slip into their mindset once you tore down the mythological veil in your own mind. No dragon knight had ever chosen for his physical prowess, his magical talent, or even his erudition. You were a dragon knight because of your empathy, for your capacity to understand someone and put yourself into their shoes.

The dragons never expected it either, they never expected to be slaughtered by someone who sincerely said "sorry" before cutting their head off.

"... Even so, it proves nothing! How convenient that they never let someone inspect the bodies! For all we know they've been killing mere drakes for years and..."

" Do you remember them?"

The noble blinked at the sudden and blunt question, he had been seconds away from jumping at the throat of his companion and stuttered.

"I, heum... what?"

Again, all conversation had ceased around them and again. He didn't care.

" The name of those you put by the sword?"

The dragon slayer let the rhetorical question hang in the air.

" Because I do. I remember every single one of their last moments, some begged, some cried, some cursed, some called for their mother, some accepted their fate."

Llyr approached the nobleman who was dearly regretting his doubt by now.

" They deserved a proper burial as much as you and I, with what little dignity we could offer them after slicing open their throat..."

An abrupt silence fell in the throne room. Nobody dared to move, fearing that the giant would interpret it as defiance...

"Well then!" The duke broke the uncomfortable stalemate "Since all of our disagreements have been settled for now, I'm dismissing the diet, until next month friends!"

"Now let's be honest here, how old was it?"

The private apartments of the duke were far more fitting for a direct conversation. At least Llyr didn't have to worry about petty powerplay here.

" I can't exactly say, my lord, but my second confirmed to me that they looked young."

The duke frowned.

"For the last time, drop the formalities Llyr! I'm only duke because of you. I can never repay the debt I owe you."

How could he forget? The duke was the living proof that there were exceptions to every rule.

" In my version of the story you saved _ my _ life that day Bertram..."

"Don't make me laugh! I only got lucky with a wild shot while you made the big play! A good overseer's only supposed to intervene when the Dragon Knight's will fails him, not recklessly throw himself into battle!"

Curious when you thought about it... The last overseer to be alive was the one that broke the rules. You couldn't really blame the others though. It was a comfy, if a little dangerous job. Just stand back, and maybe get the opportunity to slay the dragon. That alone was enough to get the hand of the duke's daughter.

Although you really didn't want to get left behind, nobody went after their overseer.

After all, nobody looked after infanticides.

"Anyhow old friend, at least it won't burn the whole country down alone if it feels like it. How long until you get rid of that spawn?"

" We have yet to locate their lair, but it's definitely somewhere in the region. The only reasonable option I see is that they're young and on their own. No sane adults would've let their offspring wander so deep in civilized territory."

"Well it might just be a brash, impetuous one that just didn't listen to it's progenitors. Their pride was always their downfall."

" That's a gross exaggeration who's still improbable. they were supposed to be extinct, Bertram. There's no way they would be taking any chances at this point. For all we know they're truly the last Greater Dragon, and you know that our order never broadcast** their intentions in advance.**"

That left the duke thinking for a good minute.

"Very well. I trust your judgment in the matter... However I can't be left in the dark Llyr, or my subjects will skin me alive! Things were tense before, but now we're inches away from an uprising that will fire at everything and anything indiscriminately!"

The old knight frowned internally, " People just aren't accustomed to superhuman beings these days..."

"We aren't just talking about the missing livestock here and there! There's sightings now! Scaled silhouettes on two legs roaming the countryside. Some people have gone missing, and the only thing we catch is shadows! Even I can feel it right now in the back of my mind! A little voice is telling me that something's amiss. _ The pull _is at hand all over the region!"

At the mere mention, the dragon slayer couldn't resist scratching the back of his hand where his scales first appeared.

" That would explain the sightings. The lost servants need a master. And at this point, they'll answer the first signal they can get."

This still did not explain why the dragon was broadcasting their existence with so little concern. There was no way they didn't know it would attract unwanted attention, and that he was still alive. A Dragon Knight departure from this mortal realm was a big deal, so the death of the last one...

It also didn't explain that sort of... mental influence? They were too young to be well-versed in this art yet, or competent enough to bypass his protections. Truth be told, it didn't even sound or feel like a dragon touching his mind.

For that matter, how did they know the precise way to deviate a bolas throw? His mind would have rejected brutish orders such as 'miss' or 'trip', but not a slight suggestion like the one he was subject to.

Llyr did not share any of these concerns with the duke though. After all, he had finally managed to calm down and did not want to stress him again. " The only advice I can give you is to channel and use that energy to put down the lost servants and their cults. We certainly don't need them in our way."

The only answer from Bertram was a pensive nod. Not wanting to overstay his welcome, Llyr made his way out until...

"By the way, my son, Peter, will be your overseer."

That was big enough of a news to force the Knight to stop in his tracks.

" We..."

"I know, you don't take overseers anymore. But that's the only way I can prevent him from climbing out of the castle and running at the dragon, sword in hand, all by himself!"

He was about to politely decline, but now he was frowning. They were not baby-sitters!

"Beside, his words carry my authority, and you'll need the safe-passage if I am to declare and coordinate a witch-hunt across the whole duchy. Safe travels, old friend."

Llyr had neither the time, nor the energy to argue, and simply capitulated before excusing himself.

The Dragon Knight wished he was surprised a moment later at the sight of a young lad clad in heavy armor conversing with his companions. The newbie was barely containing his excitement, and it showed.

"Sir Llyr! It's a great honor to..."

" Take that off. You won't need the heavy armor yet. We're going to spend at least the next two weeks tracking."

Usually he wasn't so rough, but this whole ordeal still rubbed him the wrong way and there was no time to spare in unnecessary bowing as he almost jumped on his horse.

Thankfully, or not, Bertram's son needed more than a simple rebuff to douse his eagerness. However, now that they were on the tail of one of the most powerful creatures to ever exist, some adjustment and clarification was needed...

... But for now though, the dragon slayer had bigger worries on his mind. The Old Tongue vowels were quite a pain to pronounce, and he certainly didn't need to start the whole prayer over.

"What is he doing?" At least the teen was trying to be discreet as he whispered to Leo, who couldn't care less. The young man's patience all but eroded after seeing his hero knelt before a mossy stone shrine representing some sort of giant deer head for nearly half an hour now. What was the point of such an altar so far from everything that looked all but abandoned anyhow?

Llyr finished his plea and got up, his gaze trying to pierce the dark forest ahead of them.

" You wouldn't trespass into someone's domain without asking first, especially ancient forest guardians..."

Without further details, as the boy definitely did not need to know more, they pushed onward, leaving the odd shrine behind them while the old-timer continued his explanations. His companions had a lot to catch up on _real_dragon-slaying after all.

Although, it seemed like not everyone was agreeing with his plan, and as a result, weren't exactly being attentive as they should.

"Is it true that his blade's named 'The Orphan Twin'?"

Leo sighed in annoyance, but still answered him. "Yes."

Unfortunately, the youth was apparently tone deaf about basic social clues. "That's strange. How did he lose the other twin though?"

" As I was saying..." The Dragon Knight had no patience for interruptions.

Silence at last? Good. " ... I don't want to see any of you charge in front. You'll be here purely to support me."

Someone wasn't happy with that tactic though.

"Hold on chief. I get that it'll be the most dangerous foe we'll ever face so far, but we can't let you do all the heavy lifting by yourself!"

The last Dragon Knight giggled. Leo was better at hiding it, but there was no mistaking that look in his eyes, he never was the kind to stay on the backseat for long. Poor fool...

" Trust me when I say that you're the best company I could ever ask for these days to end the legend, you're..."

He stopped an instant to glare at the newest addition to their group as everybody followed suit.

"Will there be a princess?!" asked the overly-enthusiastic center of attention.

Llyr internally groaned at the most stupid candid of their companions and continued " ... Almost all experienced hunters here, with the best gear and years of experience, especially since we're facing fresh blood."

There was a distant noise in the bush that almost worried him, but no bandits would dare set up an ambush here, or at least not for long. So, he continued.

" You may know the stories, but you don't know the truth. So** Listen to me closely now. Draconic essence has a bad tendency to... " He searched for the correct word. "... leak.**""Leak?"

" Yes, greater dragons are the worst offenders in that regard. Younger ones just radiate their essence at all times until they find a way to control it. Until then, prolonged contact will... shape the world around them."

He marked a pause to let the information sink in. Some of them seemed dubious though.

" What? You think I was born with these scales? Even with the most powerful wards we could muster, their power still seeped in, even though we only met in close proximity for minutes, hours at best..."

And it was never the clash of titans people figured them to be, you didn't outlasted a dragon after all.

" ...And since we, humans, have always been their favorite plaything, it's no secret that almost all of us have a fraction of dragon blood in our veins. As a result, their influence, already strong on most beings, is especially potent on us."

He paused to drink from his gourd, then continued.

"... We call this _ Th e P __ ull... _" The last word resonated unnaturally under the dark canopy. " ... You must've felt it since we encountered them the first time."

The company stayed in absolute silence, all finally noticing that little...itch, in the back of their mind. This really was no fairytale...

With his head turned however, Llyr failed to notice the nearby bush shake, and the doe that jumped out of it right in front of his horse, sending his mount into a blind panic and unhorsing the unprepared Knight in seconds.

Had he stumbled on an unruly vowel?

That was the last thing he could think about, before his back made contact with the road and a badly placed stone.

There was a crack, and his hearing numbed. People agitated over him, couldn't make sense of them anymore...

Someone forced something down his throat, and then the pain sent him to the abyss.

Lonely winters weren't the best.

Lonely winters in an empty dark hall were bad.

Lonely winters surrounded by memories of his long-deceased friends with a broken back were the worst.

And above and beyond all of that, the fire was dying and he was stuck in a rocking chair.

Leo said he could handle it from here, and the healer had been quite successful, maybe the best even! But there were some issues no potions or magic could fix...

Over two weeks had passed already, and his body still felt like a broken doll. To think he had healed from far worse in an even shorter time frame before, but those blessed days of youth were all but gone, now all but blurry memories...

Every time his tired eyes stopped somewhere, flashes of the past resonated. It had never been an easy life, but they had each other. Even near the end, he still had her.

And now he was here, a decrepit shadow of a closing era. Stuck with the echoes of the past, the laugh, the conversations, the sounds of life... They still felt vivid as day, only to vanish when he tried to grasp them.

The hall of the fading order felt as dead as it's former owners.

Then someone threw another log into the dying fire.

"Supper's here, sir!"

At least it wasn't soup every day, or he would have gone mad by now.

" Thank you Alice..."

"Always a pleasure, sir!"

She was like a newly lit candle, elegant, bright, warm, yet to be scarred by life, such a sweet little thing...

He took a bite. Delicious, as expected.

" Finally, some good fancy food..."

They failed.

His glass fell out of his hand and smashed into a million shards on the ground.

"Llyr!"

Defying the pain with great efforts, as his muscles threatened to give up and his old bones rattled in his chest, the Dragon Knight stood up from his armchair for the first time in days!

" I have to go..."

"What? Now?! You shouldn't even be standing!"

" Leo and the others were defeated. I will not stand here any longer while they need my help!"

Alice stood speechless for a brief moment, unable to process the giant absurdity he just uttered.

"Llyr you are shaking on your feet!" Was all she could muster to say.

He hated it, hated that she was right, that his body was failing his mind.

There was no greater betrayer than time, and yourself.

" I will not... let them down!"

Ignoring the pain, the Knight made his way to the armory, almost stumbling to the floor on the way, his body stubborn on keeping him down.

Right before Alice grabbed him, saving him from another painful fall. "Llyr, please! Even my dead parents could beat you down right now! Don't do something stupid!"

He gritted his teeth, eyes slightly glowing in the half-light.

" I have failed... enough people already!"

"What are you... No! For the last time Llyr, you didn't fail her! You couldn't predict what would happen!"

Standing again on his own, he finally arrived at his destination: the forbidden box. It was supposed to be reserved for emergencies, but eh... Old Duncan wasn't here to admonish him anymore. Besides, who would ever use them now anyhow? Taking the last bottle in it, he downed the dimly shining red liquid in one go...

Yup, dragon blood tasted as well as he expected it. He grinned against the harsh taste, but the magic pulsing through his veins, sustaining his failing body functions was worth it.

With a little luck, it would last long enough, hastily, he began packing up his gear. Every second was precious.

"Where are you going?!" Alice asked, panic rising in her voice.

" To the end of the road. Either I win, or the cycle will start anew. Either way, don't expect my return..."

"Llyr no! Please! Don't leave me alone! You're the only one I have left..." She began tearing up.

Seeing that he wasn't even slowing down, the young women shouted at him.

"This is stupid! You can get help! You don't have to run blindly to the danger!"

" And why shouldn't I?" He asked, not even looking back at her

"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU, YOU OLD FOOL!"

That... that made him stop. The knight on the warpath turned around. The sight of the heartbroken and distressed girl at the verge of tears almost making him reconsider.

" Alice, look at me..." he said softly, putting both hands on her shoulders.

" ... I could be your great-grandfather. You have no future here, my time's running out and you deserve better than an old decrepit like me. You're to inherit what's left of the order. That should be more than enough to start anew. Besides, this is how the Dragon Knight's legacy deserves to end."

She stared back into his eyes. They were definitely glowing now, ever so faintly.

"I remember how you used to talk of the future with Aïsha, how bright your old days were supposed to be."

He... did not want to remember any of these conversations, nor their final outcome, an empty seat, and a bloody deed.

No, dwelling on the past was for naught. It wouldn't change the present, nor the future.

" I'm doing this for you, for the future bright days of all of mankind... Besides, there was never supposed to be any happy forevermore for us. That's the lesson I learned that day. I wish it would have gone differently, but for now, time is of the essence. Goodbye, Alice."

He kissed her on the forehead and made his way out, leaving the wax to flow without shedding a tear himself, his dry eyes tied to a promise made a lifetime ago.

Whatever would happen, she'd never wanted to see him cry for her.

The second trip was deceptively faster when you were alone and galloped like there was no tomorrow. The effect of _ Th e P __ ull _had become so strong that he could just B-line to his objective. Although it was quite useful, the draconic influence had significantly decreased the quality of the local sights...

Wasted and untended fields, hastily abandoned or razed villages, cities on lockdown or burning in the horizon... In only two weeks, fear had permeated the whole region. Two times already he was pursued by a roaming band of marauders. The first were bandits, as expected. However, the second looked like some sort of ragtag militia of farmers, and in the distance he was pretty sure they called to 'remove that scaled bastard's head from his shoulders'.

Bertram wasn't kidding when he talked about witch hunting. His own people had done more damage in weeks than the dragon could've ever done in months. Worse even, he was quite sure that what he had noticed was but a fraction of the real damage.

The veteran remembered, visions of fire and flames flashed before his eyes, the madness, the greed, the desperation of the last Scaled Lords. For a brief instant, memories and the present mingled, drawing the same terrible image painted with blood, smoke, and the desperation of cornered animals.

What if...

No! Llyr steeled himself, banishing these thoughts away, locking them back where they belonged, like he was taught to. He couldn't let himself slip now, not when he was the only one left to fix this mess.

It only took him three mere days to reach the epicenter of the phenomenon, a lone mountain in the otherwise relatively flat geography. The first thing he noticed when he arrived at its base was...

... A quite impressive wooden palisade to be fair, standing around seven whole meters and surrounded by traces of fierce fighting. Someone had tried to lay siege to the fortification and obviously failed, yet he couldn't smell the rot of any decaying bodies. Of course, just what he needed...

Getting off his mount from a safe distance, he quietly approached the walls. The silence was absolute on the other side until...

"STATE YOUR BUSINESS!" yelled a comprehensive, yet definitely not completely human voice, as expected.

The Dragon Knight stopped, a dozen meters away from the entrance.

" I'm the slayer." he simply stated.

Silence again, but now he could sense apprehension beyond the wall.

" I have no business or quarry with you, lost servants. Let me pass and end the cycle once and for all..."

Either they were searching for their words, or gathering the wits to answer him, but it took them quite some time to respond.

"WE'RE NO LONGER LOST! MURDERER! YOU'RE A DANGER TO OUR NEW LORD AND WILL BE TREATED AS SUCH!"

Was that so? He was almost tempted to ask why he wasn't cribbled with arrows in that case.

" Open the passage at once, or I'll be forced to fire a warning shot."

"WE..."

"ENOUGH!"

Ah, that shall be their Overlord. There was no mistaking that inhuman roar with anything else.

"IF HE COMES TO DESTROY ME, THEN MAKE HIM SUFFER ALREADY!"

Someone was not happy about his visit. When you knew draconic intonations, however, you could distinguish that first, that was a male, but also a subtle aftertaste behind the wrath and anger...

... Fear.

Without any further delay, dozens of lizardfolk rose at the top of the wall, weapons already armed, and unleashed a rain of deadly streaks and darts upon the lone figure.

There was tranquility again, when one of them shouted in disbelief with a familiar voice.

" YOU MISSED?!"

Warning shot it was then...

Llyr's left hand reached out in front of him, his stern expression not even ticking while he channeled the magic charge of his gauntlet into a singular blow.

" HOW COULD YOU MISS? HE WAS THREE YARDS AWAY FROM Y..."

The ranting was cut short by a gigantic explosion which promptly disintegrated the fortified entrance and plowed through the wooden barrier in an instant, leaving a smoldering crater in its place.

Apparently the dragon had already departed. Good thing nobody had been waiting straight behind the doors. Vaporizing people wasn't his thing and with a little luck, they would be stunned enough by his display to let him pass...

"RELOAD DAMN IT! HE ONLY HAD ONE CHARGE ON THAT THING!"

... Apparently someone was well informed though, but not waiting any longer, the invader made his way in...

Uh.

... that was a lot of lizardfolk.

"CHARGEEEE!"

A wave of scaled persons armed to the teeth jumped on the Knight, overwhelming him.

At least until a blinding light took over the battlefield, radiating from the ring on the human's right index and stunning the tide of aggressive reptiles, who just couldn't explain why they stopped their assault, half gesture inches away from cutting their target down!

Channeling his willpower, Llyr's soul's very intent was powered through his Ring of Volition and launched it directly into the minds of the servile assailants as the mind-blowing command to _ CEASE _resonated across the camp.

Those unfortunately close enough of the order were left drooling on the floor, their psyche saturated for the time being while the ring smoked on his finger. He wouldn't try that again anytime soon. The Dragon Knight made his way over the pile of bodies while the rest of the defenders snapped out of their confused state. There was a smell he hadn't noticed before that led to two blurry figures in the distance.

He sensed magic on them. Not the best news, but he could manage. As he was about to grasp The Orphan Twin off his back, Llyr realized that there was, in fact, a dire lack of sword behind him.

"Ah! Bet you didn't see that one coming!" declared the first one. He didn't need the eyes of youth to see the smirk on his adversary's muzzle as they probably held his own blade in front of him. Accursed tricksters...

"He's half-blind, dumbass. He can't see us from here," answered the second.

"Oh..."

As he was about to charge them regardless, another deadly rain fell on him, a bolt even landing right in front of his feet.

Casters or Archers?

"I KNEW IT! IT'S AN ILLUSION! AIM EVERYWHERE AROUND WHERE YOU SEE HIM!"

Apparently sometimes the universe just chooses for you.

The human rapidly unclipped a tube from his belt and launched it at his feet, releasing a heavy cloud of smoke.

"RELOAD AND KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!"

An arrow fizzled from the cloud and missed the loudmouth's head by a few hairs.

"RETURNING FIRE!" He immediately yelled as he threw himself to the ground

"For our Lord's sake! Stop shouting! We're right... Behind you."

A lesson Llyr learned early is that no one checked the arrows that missed. A shame, if you were to ask him, because they might have a teleportation scroll tied to them.

The loud leader was surprisingly silent on the way down after a swift kick from behind threw him off the wall before landing on the floor with a hard THUD. That definitely hurt.

Taken by surprise, but with little room to escape, the remaining defenders tried scrambling away from the implacable Knight. Without wasting any more time, the slayer went to business on the fifteen harassers left.

The first three didn't even get to react properly before getting a fistful of steel gauntlets in the face, while one tripped and fell in panic and another was accidentally pushed off in the commotion.

What was left of the humanoid lizards finally got their act together and charged him from both sides, armed with their pointy smiles and sharp claws.

Two tried to check if there was a weak point in his armor, there wasn't. Two others stood a little too close to each other and ate not only his shoulder bash, but the wall behind them right after.

Of the remaining six, one failed to block a knee to his gut, four tried to pin him down before realizing a little too late that their target was no normal human and ended up on the ground below.

The last little lizard, still frozen by fear over the bloodless slaughter was literally slapped back into reality and offered a very generous proposition.

" Jump, or I'll make sure your smile will never shine aga..."

THUD.

Uh, maybe he was wrong. People _still_had common sense these days.

As efficient as ever, Llyr immediately popped open a potion of feather fall. It was never a good option to leave magicians the time to scheme.

Suddenly, mana exploded in the distance beyond his visual field. That wasn't good.

Indeed, nobody had ever managed to throw fireballs, lightning bolts, ice beams, and magical boulders at such brutal and rapid succession at him. It sent the man flying against the wall as his arcane shields flinched under the intense punishment.

He groaned, but got up. There was no telling what they still had in store for him, but they should've burned out a good portion of their firepower by now...

That's when another beam of pure energy collided with his position, and the remainder of the fortifications exploded.

"Wou-hou! I did it! I disintegrated the slayer!"

"You idiot, what have you done?! I told you not to use the doom-beam! You weren't supposed to use that scroll!"

"Hey! It was for a good cause! We were running out of options and we weren't doing anything to him!"

"So now we're defenseless, and Master said that he wanted him alive, you cretin!"

"That's not true, we still have my alchemy! And our Lord wanted him dead! You can't blame me for following his command!"

"Well_ I _don't want to get punished for disappointing Master!"

"You're just jealous that I got the kill and not you!"

"N-no! Shut up or I'll have your..."

" Who's 'Master'?"

Kobolds. Of course there were kobolds. Not even real magicians, if the pile of used magical scrolls on the ground was proof enough. Sneaky little scaly things. If it weren't for their giant hats...

"We-we-we won't tell you anything!" said the purple-grey female well-clothed one. Her giant ears folded behind her as they desperately tried to hide behind her hat.

" And why's that?"

"Because... We... Uh..." At least the cyan male was more normal-looking, but less clothed.

"...We're unconscious!"

Before he could react, the little cyan-scaled gnome threw an alchemical bomb on the ground, freeing a green cloud of... something he didn't want to find out. He jumped back as the two fell on the ground into a deep artificial coma. Damn scaly goblins! Always thinking outside the box...

Llyr sighed as he got his blade back. His arcane shields had been blown off, but his armor enchantments had absorbed most of the damage. Always use two layers of protection. That's what Old Duncan used to say...

Unfortunately, the little rascals had also pulverized his bag of holding, and he had no way to get a spare back in time. There were trinkets he still could've used in that.

He wondered for a brief instant where to go now, but the stench of dragon was so pungent that it led him right to the opening of a cave that was probably big enough to let a whole dragon through. Seeing how it just oozed draconic influence, just standing in front of it made all his scales itch, even with all his protective wards active.

The Dragon Knight damned his softness. He could've done this way more effectively, and now most of the power of the dragon blood was spent and the previous impact had revived his back pain.

How was he supposed to fight the dragon and his acolytes now?

Anyhow, the only way to go was in, so he took his first step.

His amulet turned burning hot as he felt something pressed against his defenses at the back of his mind. Someone was desperately trying to get in, someone really powerful, and really angry...

At least most dragons were polite enough and didn't put their cursed trap right at the very entrance.

Llyr stepped back, wondering...

No, this was definitely stupid, he knew exactly what awaited him if he ever dared to cross this line unprotected.

As stupid as facing a dragon with a broken back...

The Knight grumbled mentally. He didn't ask any external opinion on the matter, but it still landed. If he turned back now, they weren't going to let anyone get even closer next time, and the region would continue to burn...

A half-forgotten memory resurfaced, when he was still green, how he had almost fallen and his mentors pulled him back. Back then, he was unprepared. Now, he knew what he was facing, what dirty tricks _ Th e P __ ull _would try to use on him.

Maybe, just maybe, he could pull this off. He needed a fresh body, but not the mental twist that came with it.

But there was no one to pull him back now. It was all but a question of _subversion._Brute resistance could only work so far. Conceding ground was fair play, as long as he kept a clear and untwistable objective as well.

Hmm...

Accomplish his duty? Yeah no, too easy to warp around...

Slay the dragon? Nah, you were one letter away from catastrophe...

Finish the job...

Hmm...

That was quite grounded, finish the job...

Llyr pocketed his amulet and lit a torch as stepped forward again. Almost immediately, the presence barged into his mind, shouting at the top of his mental lungs.

YOU WILL SERVE .

An intriguing offer... That he swatted away easily, better luck next time.

The first minutes were the worst really, mainly because his back was killing him. However, he could feel it, oh-so-slowly, the pain was fading away.

Llyr didn't dare to stop to get a look at himself though.

You know how it starts. The skin first, then the rest...

The only way you could describe it was an itch. Not the kind that overwhelmed you. Just a slight tingle slowly making its way all over.

Finish the job...

Even if the tunnel was pretty straightforward, it took a moment to reach something of interest, a room with magic fire on the walls, some furniture and...

He put his hand on the hilt of his blade, then released it. The sitting green lizardwoman was way too gravid to try anything against him. What was she doing by herself though? Her form was barely, and if you were sincere, not really covered by the scraps of what used to be armor. A pair of prominent tits hanged around freely and unrestrained, swollen with maternal nutrients in liquid form.

Llyr quickly got his mind out of the gutter though. That wasn't his style, and a dangerous thought to have in such a place. It's almost like he was a ghost to her, not even caring for his arrival, just stroking her round belly with glee.

Hold on, that insignia, was that...?

" Leo?"

No answer. He got closer and spoke again. She ignored him as well. Out of frustration, the man smashed his gaunted hand on the nearest furniture.

" LEOF!"

That got her attention. Like snapping out of a trance, the lizard lady finally looked at him and giggled.

"Eheh, told them they wouldn't be able to stop you."

Her voice was... hazy, like she was distracted by something and could only dedicate half of her mind to the conversation.

The man rubbed his tired eyes." When I enlisted you, I said that I didn't believe in familial curses. How big of a fool I must look right now..."

She giggled again, cradling her pregnant belly. "It's not that bad! Master takes good care of us, and our Lord grants us his blessing. You'll look great as well! I'm sure of that."

Llyr looked down in shame, another failure to his list...

" I'm... I'm sorry. I should've been here."

She wasn't listening anymore, too enwrapped by her own body again.

Without a word, the Knight pulled out his amulet. It immediately caught the lizardess' attention, breaking her trance again as she seemed very interested in the object.

"Can... Can I have it?" she asked, seemingly transfigured by the necklace, slowly reaching at it with her hand.

Without answering he passed it around her neck. It might be too late for her body, but maybe the trinket could grant her some clarity again. Without further ado, Llyr hurried out of the room without another look.

Finish the job...

You know, she looks happier than you ever did...

Llyr gritted his teeth as he marched on. How did whoever this was know anything about that?! And what kind of happiness was this exactly? A smooth mind? Programmed into a brooding simpleton? Bounded to the absolute will of another?!

The tingle progressed along his arms, good thing he couldn't scratch them...

If that's what you call peace and purpose, then yes.

This was pure slavery of mind and body!

A body you thoroughly enjoyed looking at, didn't you?

His pace was getting faster. Energy he hadn't felt in decades was flooding his veins. Even his sight was gaining consistency again. There were advantages, yes. That's why he took off his wards...

Now his legs were itching, but he was too busy enjoying their renewed vitality to really care.

Or maybe because you wanted these same scales, the same muzzle as her...

No, no, that was ridiculous.

How so?

He chuckled, because first and foremost, his scales were purple, secondly...

Her eyes were up there you know...?

As he was saying , scales and muzzles were useful, yes, but they had their drawback like...

Like...

He coughed. Was it him, or the air had progressively become stifling? It was hot, way too hot for anyone in heavy armor.

A classic trick, separate the slayer from their protection. However, he had nothing to counter the threat at the moment, so there was only one solution. The Knight sighed has he swiftly let loose of most of his protective gear. Much better...

What were they babbling about again?

Whatever, finish the job...

After some time, Llyr's legs finally stopped itching. What a relief. He only had to be done with the rest of his body...

... That didn't sound right, but there was no time to dwell on it. As the tunnel continued downward, the atmosphere became more and more oppressive with each step. Soon enough, despite his best efforts, the Knight found himself panting more and more, gasping for fresher air...

Hold on, was that...?

He made his way to the unusual sound and, low and behold!

A kobold, a young one at that, crying in a corner. What was the little guy doing here?

" Hey!" He greeted the little lizard.

The kobold jumped of surprise, and upon seeing the massive figure, ran to him before hugging his leg with yet more tears in his little voice.

"Mister Llyr!"

Okay, he was known, but how did a mere child identify him so easily. Also, shouldn't he be afraid anyhow?

"I'm lost and there's no princess! Please don't leave me!"

Oh...

Should he walk back and...? No, he had a job to finish.

The young kobold was literally trembling in fear. This was no place for him...

Sighting, he picked up the little pile of scales and put him on his shoulder without a word, where he gradually calmed down.

Sadly though, the youth was still a tad talkative, and by a tad, he meant a lot. So much in fact that he served as the perfect distraction as the stale air worsened slowly and gradually snuffed out the torch.

Whatever, Llyr told himself as he pulled out his magic lighter.

Click

Rocks didn't go 'click'.

Trap triggers on the other hand...

A push of air all around and a pulse of some kind washed over them. His magic light was snuffed in an instant as he stood still. That definitely was a wave of magic dispel, and what was left of his protections had been canceled. What about the rest though? Poisonous gas? Soporific fumes?

He stood still in absolute silence, trying to restart his lighter.

A moment passed...

"I don't like being in the dark..."

Come on...

Suddenly, he realized, as magic light enlightened them again.

He couldn't breathe! try as hard as he might, whatever air reached his lungs wasn't enough anymore. Llyr collapsed on his knees, gasping for something, anything as his heartbeat went through the roo!

"Mister Llyr!" Cried out the youngbold.

" Can't... breathe..." the human answered with a raspy, desperate voice.

"You need an emergency snout!"

" I... What...?"

"MastertoldmeIdidn'tneedanythingtobreathethisfardownbecauseIhadone! So you must get one as well!" Answered the distressed kobold in a frenzy, too panicked to articulate properly.

His limbs felt like jelly and vision was blurring again. Gods damn it!

"Don't worry I'll help you!" Without asking, the youngster grabbed his nose and pulled with all his might.

Which, obviously, didn't really help at all.

This was madness! He couldn't have a snout! What stupidity was this predicament?!

You know what's even stupider? Dying of snout-deprivation.

As a raging fire overwhelmed his lungs, Llyr thought for the briefest of moments that maybe, just maybe...

... Maybe snouts weren't that bad...?

NO! His conscious roared mentally, but his survival instinct had already given in, allowing _ Th e P __ ull _to flood in.

It was done in an instant, his now scaly face just... shifted all at once. Without as much as a crack of bone, lips and nose pushed out in unison, dragging the jaw along with them as the upper one fused with the nasal cavity, ultimately drawing the eyes on each part of the growing emergency-snout.

At the same time the rest of his head reverberated with the influx of draconic energy. His whole cranium shifted as the scales spread even further. The ears were quickly absorbed while the scalp receded until it was naught with the rest of his facial hairs.

As the teeth sharpened even further and the tongue lengthened in a very inhuman and pointed shape, Llyr inhaled again with all his lungs...

Ecstasy! There was nothing you could ever miss as dearly as your own breath!

"I did it!"

Llyr didn't really care for the small jump of victory of the little one, too busy relishing the sensation of breathable air in his system. Thanks the gods for snouts!

... But this was no reason to slack, he chastised himself, picking up the overjoyed youngbold and his magic lighter. As he continued downwards, he still felt somewhat lightheaded, wasn't he forgetting something?

It had to do with the dragon, he'll remember when he got to him, that was for sure, in the meantime...

Got to finish the job...

" Don't touch it!" Llyr hissed with his now inhuman voice.

"But it's pretty!

" Magic fire doesn't just burn the skin, it inflicts a soul burn that might blight your very being to the core..."

That was a very fat lie, but still better than letting the kid burn himself, and dropping the lighter, again.

"Oh... but what if I touched it really really fast?!"

Maybe he hadn't changed and had just been a kobold in disguise this whole time?

Nah, that was a stupid urban legend. Kobolds were crafty, but still...

_ Oh you should see what they're able to do with a simple trench coat... _

Who would ever fall for that? Reptilians like them needed more than a simple article of clothing to...

Like Old Duncan always used to say, Llyr was quite the slow learner. Distracted by his inner conversation, the snouted Knight didn't notice the pothole until far too late and barely managed to avoid quite the dangerous fall. Cursing his inadvertence, he lighted up the way forward... That was a lot of downward-accidented slope! And it probably went for quite some time by the looks of it, seeing how he couldn't see the end from here.

The newfound cave-dweller abandoned the lighter, with some worries, to the kid, who, of course, was even more overjoyed with his new shiny toy. He wasn't climbing down with only one hand and a light-weight like the youngbold wasn't really in danger here, even if he fell down.

"I wish I had a tail when I climbed down that the first time..."

" You don't need such an appendage if you know what you're doing..."

"HEY! Are you implying that I'm clumsy?!"

Llyr took off more of his gear with reluctance, merely keeping his pants, belt, sword, armbands and shoulder pads. Of course you'd put the rope in a stupid bag of holding...

" No, because implying would mean that I'm being subtle about it."

"Yeah, you better be!"

The not-really-a-lizard took his first steps on the uneven ground. Judging by what awaited them below, a fall would indeed be _very_detrimental. Meanwhile, it took only a few meters for the kobold to realize the true meaning of his words.

" H-HEY!"

" Shush! Don't disrupt me!"

"I bet I'll be there before you!"

The kid began to pout, but in reality that was a welcome respite. Llyr had to keep all of his concentration on the matter at hand. Although that was strange, he had a far better grip than expected on both hands and feet. He took a moment to examine his nails, they a little untended perhaps...

Ok, a little _much_untended, but that was nothing that a good trimming couldn't fix.

Anyhow, focus!

... So far so good...

... A little more to the left...

... Gotta get a good grip on that one...

... Come on...

What was that on his feet?!

Taken by surprise, Llyr grip loosened.

Time seemed to slow down for a second, as adrenaline pumped into his veins while he tried desperately to keep his balance. The only thing the unfortunate climber could think about when he started falling was a way to stabilize himself, something, anything!

Strangely there was ripping behind him as he dropped to his doom...

Fate was with him this time though, as he only collided with a flat platform two meters below.Yeah it hurts, but it could be worse, way worse...

"MISTER LLYR, ARE YOU ALIVE?!"

He groaned back " Somewhat yes... Don't you take any unnecessary risk to get here though!"

The miraculous fallen recollected himself in the meantime, and examined the foot responsible for the disaster. And wondered in mild confusion, flexing the three large clawed purple toes. Nothing to see here, business as usual.

By the time his companion got to him, the unfortunate climber couldn't find any reasonable explanation, except maybe a trick of the light. To be completely fair though, it wasn't any normal cave. He just had to stay on his toes from now on.

The rest of the climb was nothing short of perilous too. Despite being quite prudent, Llyr found himself growing more and more accustomed to the effort and fastened the pace. Even his nimble companion began tailing further and further behind him as his balance kept improving with each step.

Finally, He jumped down from the last meters and landed graciously this time around. While dusting himself off though, the former climber realized with disbelief that he had ripped off his pants! The poor things had been reduced to rags!

That was annoying, but how, or when, did it happen exactly? Maybe during the fall, the cliff edges were quite sharp after all...

Anyhow, he looked up with a slight grin.

" So, sounds like experience beats the youth's enthusiasm!"

Annoyed, the little kobold jumped as well and was masterfully caught in his arms.

"No fair!"

Llyr hissed playfully " No excuses young man, the second part was far easier and you still lagged behind!"

"Well I sure could climb on the ceiling too if I had that big of a stabilizer!"

The adult lashed the air with the long and thick tail sticking out of his back, teasing the little one.

" I'm sure you'll have one as impressive when you're all grown up..."

"Really?"

" ...Or not!"

He stuck out his tongue to the bold and booped the small snoot with the tip of his tail.

"You're mean!" was the only answer he got from the flustered and positively outraged hatchling.

That much was expected from him. Llyr simply laughed and put the pouty kid back on his shoulder. It had been a while since he had a good laugh.

.

Yet somehow, the situation left a strange aftertaste. Why was he spelunking for a dragon with a kobold in the first place? To serve a Scaled Lord? That's what Lizards like him tended to do, but...

Aren't you in a rush?

That he could remember. A really big rush to, to...

Finish the job...?

Whatever that meant...

The rest of the trip continued in amused silence. Llyr just couldn't get enough of the kid's pouting mood. And, of course, a little calm felt good after all that action. Even the tunnel was going straightforward now. There better be another exit at the end! He really wasn't looking forward to the prospect of turning back in order to make it out.

Slowly though, more and more magic torches appeared on the walls. So much, in fact, that the lizard turned off his own lighter. No reason to waste it after all. What a strange change of pace though. Why bother lighting up the cave here?

Soon enough the reptilian explorer discovered the reason.

Another large cavity, a well-lit one as that, and standing in the middle...

"Miss Leof!"

Llyr's whole body tensed up as the kobold jumped down, and sprinted to the green lizardess as she turned away from the mirror at the mention of her name. Seemingly relieved to see the little one as he jumped in her arms.

"Now now, my child, what did I tell you about running off by yourself...?"

Her tone was definitely clearer and more focused than last time, like she could dedicate her full attention to the present.

"... I can't stay mad at such a cute critter like you though..." She said, lightly nuzzling the youngbold "... Me and Llyr have grown-up business to attend, so why don't you go see Master in the meantime? He was really worried about you."

The gravid green lizard dropped the smallbold who nodded and went on his way, leaving the two lizards to each other.

There was... a concentration of energy here, something that beaconed to the purple one. Something haunted this room, but what?

" How did you get ahead of us anyhow?" Was all Llyr could muster to ask though, seriously disturbed.

Leof didn't answer, pondering something in her reflection that the newcomer couldn't distinguish from here.

And the energy was radiating from the mirror...

Even from here, it sent shivers down the spine. There was a reason everyone dreaded their reflection on some level. The clearer it was, the more you exposed yourself to what lurked on the other side...

However that was only superstition right...?

But then why did the kobold reflection never appeared in the glass?

"There's something's wrong with you Llyr..." pensively muttered Leof.

This whole ordeal, the mysterious spelunking, Leof, the mirror, the dragon... Why did he come here? To do what? It seemed as blurry as his reflection. Something was indeed seriously wrong. All of his gut instinct was telling him to stay as far as possible from the unstained glass...

"Well! Don't stand there like a statue! We've got to find out!"

Too focused on his inner workings, the purple lizard missed the approach of the green reptile that had grabbed his hand and slightly pulled on his arm, towards the mirror.

His hesitation had all but vanished under her touch as _ T he P __ ull _emitting from the mirror cleared his mind of worries. His guide leading him closer and closer to the glass. With each step his reflection unveiled itself, gaining clarity until...

Oh...

Oh my...

"Ahah! I knew it..."

There were now two well endowed lizards in the mirror.

" But... That's not me..." Llyr whispered in stupor as he reached out to place his hand on the impeccable surface, the reflection magnetizing his gaze.

"What? Of course it's you Llyr! You don't even trust your own reflection anymore?"

Her words reverberated against the glass, and shook his very core. Of course he trusted it! But...

" ... But, I'm not a she..." he murmured again, fingers getting closer to their counterpart.

"Really? Hmm..." the lizardess looked very perplexed, pondering his words.

"I think the stale air's getting to your head! You look like quite the lass from here!"

A she? Was he a she? That's what she was thinking? This was getting even more confusing...

Then the purple claw touched the spotless surface.

Llyr did not care about the flow of energy that flowed through. All the lizard could care about was that, finally, it made sense, all of it...

_She_was here for him...

Coming all the way here...

For_her_Lord...

... And this form was what he wanted her to be.

A strange warmth began building up in her very core, directly fueled by the stream of magic flooding her aura.

A haze began spreading in her mind. This was so much easier! No more questions, no more hesitation. She was ready...

No...

Llyr shuddered at her Lord's rejection, why...?

Not yet...

Ah, of course, she looked again at the lucky lizardess in the mirror, if that's what her Lord wanted, then why couldn't she be like this?! To become what she wanted... no... needed to be!

"Leof..." she managed to utter as the inner energy began to spread all over her body. "... I think I need your help..."

"I thought you'd never ask..." grinned the green lizard.

Llyr jumped a little when she suddenly felt scaly hands grope her modest butt. It's not because you wanted something that you were prepared for it.

"Relax... we're just getting started..." she whispered in her earhole.

There was nothing else to do but vocalize, a small moan of pleasure as the firm touch of her friend reshaped her very flesh. From barely noticeable, her purple buttocks grew under her friend's tender, yet confident ministrations.

Thankfully there was no need to see it if you could just _feel_it. The fingers straining the scaled flesh, guiding their growth into a more shapely form. Soon enough they encompassed the whole of the green, scaled palms, who also had no qualms groping without mercy, proving again and again their newfound softness.

"L-Leo..." Llyr panted, barely restraining another moan.

"Hum...?" Her friend answered, obviously quite focused on the task at hand.

"It... tingles...?" she grinned in discomfort, trying to put words on the feeling as she put her hand over her pecs, where the energy was concentrating without knowing what to do with it.

"Poor thing... Let me lend you a hand..."

Leof closed the gap, her smaller green body pressing against Llyr's back before putting her hand on top of her's. The lustiest smirk possible was on her face as the warmness began converging in the deep purple nipples.

"That's it, now you just have to push!"

While most people would very sanely assume that pushing out your breast would be delusions, Llyr's whole mind decided to give it a try though. After all, if Leof said it, then it must be possible!

And, low and behold, the scaled tissue indeed began to expand! Growing out of the flat board that was her torso as soft curves emerged around the violet teats. As the newfound nerves made their way in, still saturated with mana, the lizardess discovered just how sensitive they were despite their very modest size.

So, of course, she gave them a good old squeeze.

"Ah-ahhhhh.." was the only reasonable response as her brain tried to compute the new sensations.

As her grasp relaxed, so did the spurt of growth, leaving still very limited assets. Mildly curious she clutched again slightly, and was immediately rewarded with another soft moan as they increased in size again...

"Seems like you're getting the hang of this..." Leof gaze's, for all it's sultriness, was still very focused as she let go of the purple hands, slipping her green fingers under her friend shoulderpads as she started massaging them.

Llyr though didn't exactly care, as she started to fondle her nascent breast with all of her might and intent! They needed to be worthy of her reflection, leaving her hissing with ecstasy.

Quickly the tits ballooned out of control, skipping cup sizes as the soft tissues continued to pile on top of each other as the nipples fattened, keeping relevancy on top of the inflating mass.

Unbeknownst to the very distracted lizard, her broad shoulder frame softened under the other lizardess' touch, smoothing their harsh square shape into a more feminine, less angular shape and ever so slightly reducing the muscle mass. Leof had no doubt that she'd be grateful for them overall.

Satisfied with her work, the green reptile moved her fingers downwards, these hips wouldn't do, their Lord liked his partners curvy.

Also, they would never be fit for their blessing...

Leof went to town on the still masculine frame of her friend's hips, there was a lot to curve up down here.

Once again, Leof tapped into the power still cursing through Llyr's body as the mirror guided her every move, moving the purple lizard closer and closer to her own reflection.

So she began drawing a curve along the violet scales, pushing the mass into a nice womanly sight. She just needed to widen them a bit, add a little more curve here, a little more, and a little more, and...

Perfect!

As Leof finished her handiwork, Llyr squeezed her boobs one last time, even though they had become quite massive as they settled in a more-than-respectable cup size already. The lizardess, still lost in a luscious stupor, craved a little more. No way she was finished yet! With the last bit of the energy, she fondled her bust one more time in a frenzy.

Splash

And was rewarded with a wet noise on the floor, as they pushed just a little further.

"My my... couldn't even wait for your blessing to get to business, eh?"

A thin line of... oh, yeah, that was definitely milk, and she was leaking.

It wasn't because Llyr was a lusty lizard that she couldn't be surprised or flustered as she stared down the thin stream of milky liquid. Meanwhile Leof, already half kneeled, gave the finishing touch to her friend's thigh. They didn't need much change anyhow. A lifetime of use and exercise had left them mighty fine already.

Now to seal the deal...

The green lizardess walked around, called upon all the energy left in that lovely body, and plunged her long tongue deep into Llyr's slit.

Completely unprepared for the move, the purple reptile eyes widened, blue irises glowing on their own as she panted like an exhausted dog after a cry of surprise.

Not without reason though, as her innards reshaped drastically, whatever she had between her legs before was long gone and forgotten now. The dextrous tongue pulsating with power was making sure of it.

It pushed, strained, and rearranged her insides, building her femininity's true purpose, molding it for life and pleasure as her brain chemistry subtly modified.

Now she would be ready for the blessing...

The green lizardwoman took a fresh breath of air as she disengaged with a little sadness, there's so much she wanted to do with her, but...

It was neither her role, nor her instructions. She had taken a lot of liberties with those already.

What she had not anticipated however was that her companion did not really care about that, nor how strong the larger lizard was.

In an instant, Llyr had turned around and lifted the other reptile off the ground until they met at eye level, overwhelming lust still clouded by the aftermath and left one desire only, getting sweet Lusty Lesbian Lizard action...

As she was inches from kissing the hell out of her Leof, she stopped.

Something a little downwards had finally caught her attention.

A necklace, sporting an amulet.

Sure, she knew somewhere in her memory what it did and why it was here.

But right now, it called, no, beckoned, to her.

It tingled something in her lizard brain. It craved it, and most importantly, it stirred something else in there.

Something about... a... Job...?

NO!

Without asking, Llyr swiftly ripped the necklace away, and it felt like a gust blowing away a thick cloud of smoke in her mind.

She blinked.

Gods, damn, it.

The not-so-lusty lizard anymore let go of her friend, who landed without an itch, more than confused about the whole situation. Had she done something wrong?

"Don't follow me." the purple scaled lizard said with her usual stern tone back, before leaving the room in a hurry.

Finish the job...

The tunnel was lit all the way, so it was inhabited after all.

Someone in the distance started clapping. Someone which she had a surprise meeting with.

It wasn't even that long of a walk, as she quickly arrived in the next room.

He was quite the hunk, to be honest, most lizardmen tended to be somewhat close to the average human. Not this one though, being more than two meters of black thick scales with a frame which would put a bear to shame.

"Clever, very clever..." He stated with his deep raspy voice as he stopped clapping.

"...To make your ward irresistible to a lizardwoman's eye... A risky gamble. I could have chosen someone else to wait for you both times."

He shrugged "So you expected that dispel magic, I reckon?"

Llyr stood firm, not showing a hint of hesitation.

"As clever as bribing a Horned Lord to split us up. I bet he's enjoying his crowded forest by now..."

The lizardmen sighed. "I have no greater regret than harming you in the process Llyr. I wish there had been another way."

Although he seemed sincere the Knight wasn't taking any of it.

"They didn't deserve this..." as she thought about her changed companions, their mind twisted into lusty servants.

"Indeed. We've been way too generous with these greedy glory-seekers. However, my Lord has his needs, and quite the taste for irony. Anyhow what's done is done..."

He seemed quite quick to judge, typical of would-be masterminds... She grabbed the hilt of her sword, it probably wouldn't end pretty.

"And who are you, oh wise 'Master' of the lizardfolk? So wise that you can bypass my mental defenses, and be privy about a lot of my secrets..."

He chuckled "Eh... I am Ash, 'the Master', and this..."

The black reptile presented his own blade

"... Is my weapon." he finished, waiting for her reaction.

"No..." was all she could utter in complete shock.

The lost Twin...

"I couldn't keep calling myself Aïsha after all..."

Several thoughts fired at the same in Llyr's head and the only thing that made it out was an incredulous babble.

"N-no... you died! You died fifteen years ago!" Emotions she had thought buried began bubbling under the surface.

"Correction, Aïsha the Dragon Knight died. She disappeared the same day she couldn't slay another mother under her child 's eyes... The moment I turned my Twin against my overseer and prevented another needless death."

There was nothing but honesty in his voice.

The lizardwomen growled at him, losing control over her voice."I-I-I searched for you. It can't be! I stirred and toppled earth and skies all around the world! Just for the chance to see you again, and found naught!"

The lizardmen snarled back. "My old Lord knew you would come for her, so she made me the guardian of her offspring and told me to run as fast as I could... Right before you crashed into their lair and murdered her in a fit of fury!"

"YOU LEFT ME! WITH ALL THE FUTURE WE HAD!" Llyr cried out with wet eyes, muzzle frowned with anger and distress.

"BECAUSE I COULDN'T FATHOM CRUSHING ANOTHER INNOCENT LIFE! FOR OUR CHILDREN I WOULD NEVER BEAR BECAUSE WE WASTED OUR LIFE IN A BLOODY MURDER SPREE!" Ash roared back.

There was absolute silence after that

Inhale, cold-blood is your best ally...

Exhale, don't let them get to you...

Inhale, a Dragon Knight's best weapon's their mind...

Exhale, to break the cycle forevermore...

They stood still for a moment longer, before she solemnly declared, emotions gone from her voice.

"Aïsha Giorgis, for the crimes of breaking your oath, and conspiring with dragonkind, I sentence you to death."

"Like the outside world ever needed dragonkind to set the world ablaze..."

The time for words was quickly running out, as Llyr finally unsheathed the Orphan Twin from its sheath, the friction of steel reverberating in the cavern as she pointed the blade at her opponent still blocking the way.

"I will do what I must."

The black Lizard unsheathed his own sword.

"You will try..."

Then the Twins clashed for the first time in years.

"Inexperienced with that body eh...?"

It would seem so, she used to have more forces in her arms...

"... And rusty with that sword!"

On the other hand, if he could only block inches from his skin...

In a grunt, Ash pushed his assailant back, making Llyr reassess her situation as she almost stumbled backward.

For once her adversary had the strength advantage, but she was clearly more nimble while he didn't seem keen on moving from his position. A frontal assault was useless without the element of surprise, and she didn't know exactly how much stronger he was, or how agile she could get.

Hmm...

The purple lizardess probed her opponent's defenses with a few limited exchanges, testing the waters of both her body and his skill, and the result was clear.

She was not getting past the black lizard without forcing him on the offensive, and getting a mistake out of him.

But first, she had to ask him as he blocked yet another blow, pinning their blades against each other in a deadlock.

"Two hundred years of bloodshed and suffering, and you almost make it moot right at the finish line!" She exclaimed in a furious grin.

"They have a right to exist, as much as every other race!"

Ash repelled her again, but this time she was steady on her feet and struck vertically with all her might!

The Twins' steel vibrated as they impacted, sending shivers down their arms.

"You saw what the Scaled Lords were capable of! You know how their reign ends!"

Her blade slowly slipped on his, disengaging the stand-off as she tried to cut him down.

"Every, single, time!"

Not exactly content on letting her continue her assault, Ash finally went on the offensive, forcing the purple reptile to concede some ground to evade his blow.

"Ah yes, that's what everyone's remembers these days right? Well guess what?!"

Not giving her the opportunity to catch him off-balance, Ash stepped back into a defensive stance.

"Eventually, the mortal races will conquer the world, try to tap into what they can't comprehend, and nearly blow the world up! Every, single, time!"

He readied himself for her next move.

"It just so happens that dragons are quite talented at sweeping in before it happens, in most cases."

Defying her words, he even added.

"If anything, the cycle protects us from ourselves!"

She did not answer, but he knew that, behind these focused blue eyes, the gears were turning...

Was it in the right direction though?

The duel continued, blows after blows were exchanged with neither side taking a decisive advantage against the other. One thing was becoming painfully obvious though.

Llyr wasn't going to outlast him. The first battle, the trek in the tunnels while he just waited for her here...

The Lizardess stepped back, panting with exhaustion. This just wasn't working and who knew how long it would take for him to realize how badly he outmatched her. Searching for a new plan as she caught her breath, the purple reptile realized something.

So far, _he_got the best of _her_emotions.

And despite his posturing as a cold mastermind pulling the strings behind the scene, the Aïsha she remembered wasn't immune to getting her buttons pushed.

Far from it in fact...

"I can't believe you betrayed us. Every single sacrifice we made, every single of our choices. You spat on them, on their grave, on their whole life!"

Ash immediately hissed back "How comical! We were a timebomb waiting to explode! Every single one of us was begging for a way out deep down! To let go, to give up that sordid oath!"

The black lizard grinned with disgust. "... But we were cowards and just waited for someone to break the line first!"

"Well spoken, for a traitor."

That got a reaction out of him, eyes filling with anger.

"And what's even _your_plan Llyr?! If you ever dare to slay our Lord, your friends will die! They're bound to him now!"

She stayed silent, not even reacting while staring back in defiance, sending him into a complete outrage.

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS?! YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO DIE!"

"Yes."

Ash blinked, bewildered by the sudden answer.

She continued, absolutely stoic "I know that he's my Lord now, and it doesn't matter. This is how it must end, for all of us. I will get past you, then I will end him, and finally get what I deserve."

"NO!"

Throwing caution in the wind, the black reptile jumped on his purple counterpart, the Twins bashing against each other furiously. Each of his strikes almost sent her to the floor as she desperately evaded the onslaught.

Llyr was seriously beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, pushing him out of his way may have been a bad idea.

Especially after an ingenious wrist roll of his left her guard wipe open, just before he struck down with rage at her shoulder.

What was left of her armor cringed as the blade cut through the protection.

The sword met the flesh.

There was a flash of pain as she cried out.

A second passed, waiting for him to cut through the rest.

...?

Her arm was still here?

Not wasting a single instant, the hilt of her blade crashed with his muzzle, making him recoil in pain.

She charged her elbow into his gut, making him stumble backward.

And with a magistral kick in the torso, sent him straight to the ground, his blade landing a good few meters behind.

Getting through the pain, Ash reopened his eyes to see lizard tits.

Lizard tits pointing the tip of a sword at his neck and examining their shoulder pain...

... Just a flesh wound?

Llyr stayed silent, gaze going from him to his handiwork, questions running in her head.

"...Why...?"

He put a hand to his still protesting gut with a groan of discomfort, there was no stutter, or anger, in his answer.

"I don't want to hurt you Llyr..."

Ash looked down.

"... Never wished for it either."

A heavy stillness filled the cave, as she pressed the blade against his scaled throat.

"Any... last words?"

Why were her own words stuck in her throat?

"I..." his voice broke down, as immeasurable sadness and pain made their way out.

"... I only regret having passed fifteen years away from you, to end like this, failing to save you, Llyr..."

The Orphan Twin shook in her hand as she took the most difficult decision in her life...

She made her way out with haste.

He wouldn't have wanted to see her cry for him.

Just finish that damn job...

Now that on the other end...

That was quite the cavern.

The vast chamber has a multitude of stalactites and stalagmites hanging everywhere, but that wasn't the point.

The point was the resting dragon in it's center. He really was young, barely four meters tall with the same dark hue as...

No, no point thinking about that now.

"Hello, my lord."

Her lord lifted his head, embers in his gaze as he stared her down.

"So... the old fool failed..."

He grinned with anger.

"You will pay for his death, as well as for the murder of my mother, and my race."

The only thing Llyr could do was grit her teeth, desperately holding back her tears.

She thought about the family she broke, the lovers she butchered, the innocent whose only crime had been to exist...

"Every single one of us was begging for a way out deep down!"

What was she doing here...

"I'm sorry..."

"I don't care."

She thought about her deeds, and the time she couldn't even finish it... None of them had cared that she was sorry, all they saw was the blade coming for their necks...

"She disappeared the same day she couldn't slay a mother under her child 's eyes..."

Why was she doing this...

The giant lizard got up, shaking his still numb limbs.

"They would still be alive, if it wasn't for YOU!" he roared the last word.

That was true, no point denying it.

She thought about the loneliness, seeing the elders go, your comrades fall one by one, her family fading away. Who would remember her for who she was?

"They have a right to exist, as much as every other race!"

Why was she _still_doing this...

"I..."

"ENOUGH!" the wall shaked under his wrath.

"You knew what you were doing, all of your miserable life, so let's end it here!"

In an instant, the dragon had opened his maws and vaporized the location of the intruder.

Which of course, wasn't enough. Battle instincts had taken over her own lethargy. Llyr had rolled sideways, landing behind a large stalagmite.

She thought of Alice she left behind, of Leo and his friends she couldn't help, of Aïsha and their broken dreams...

Of Ash, who couldn't muster to hurt her...

"...Never wished for it either."

There was no one else to blame but herself...

"DIE!"

A wall of flame engulfed her position. Even behind cover, the temperature rose way over boiling level as the air itself seemed to burn to a crisp!

He really was inexperienced wasn't he?

It would have been pretty stupid for dragons to not have fireproof servants.

Her feet landed on his scaled neck, in a very particular weak spot. Funny how easily you could neutralize such a mighty being with this simple trick. They had little to no strength here, and by applying enough pressure, you could just pin them down.

Nobody was perfect.

The dragon snarled, groaned, struggled against her grip, his anger not even dying down as he scrapped the rocky ground with his claw in a supreme effort to dislodge her.

To no avail though.

Llyr raised her sword, the Twin would cut through the scales like butter, and end it all.

It was easy...

Just plunge it in. He'll die without even suffering.

To end the cycle, to put everything to rest.

It was so easy...

So why...

... Why was her whole body shaking? Why was she on the verge of tears? Arms felt like jelly, she had no right to hesitate right now! She deserved this! More than anybody else!

Finish the job.

Suddenly two hands appeared on her shoulders, Llyr was milliseconds away from wrestling away the assailants when she realized that it wasn't a forceful assault.

"You deserve a better end." A soft voice said in her ears.

"Ash?" asked a bewildered dragon.

His tone reminded her of the sleepless nights side by side, the shared meals, the winter evenings at the fireside, their kiss, their laugh, their hopes, their dreams.

It reminded her of them, two unfortunate warriors hellbent on finding a path to redemption, together.

So the dam broke.

"N-no..." Purple sobbed "... I renounced salvation so long ago..."

"It's never too late..." Black closed the gap between them, his warm body against her.

"I have a job to finish!" she cried out, tears dripping on the dry ground.

"Yes, we never got to end what we started..." As he hugged her tenderly.

"W-what about them?! About everything?!" the lizardess slowly lowered her sword.

"What about us?" the lizard replied, gently caressing her breast.

There was the longest silence in the universe.

"I missed you..." Llyr finally whizzed "...so much..."

"I know..." was all Ash could answer as he nuzzled her neck.

"...I missed you too."

The Orphan Twin echoed through the cavern as it clanged on the ground.

The last Dragon Knight was dead.

"Argh..." The dragon finally got up again, shaking his head a bit. Did she really have to push that hard?

Whatever, he'll have one of his kobolds massage the sore spot later. He turned around and...

Well then!

They really weren't losing any time!

The two lizards were kissing like they never kissed before while Ash was fondling his mate's bountiful breast.

To be fair, they were quite the sight. None of his followers had such advantages. Could he change that? He'll need to ask the old fool when...

Oh, definitely later then...

Ash and Llyr were, in fact, really busy.

Fifteen years of broken fantasies and phantasm, suddenly revived in the most explosive ways. Who knew that extreme emotional distress could be the best aphrodisiac in the world?

The lovers explored each other's new assets, familiar, yet as foreign as you could get.

So, one thing leading to the other, they soon fucked, lost in the bliss of their passions, celebrating their long-due reunion the best way possible. Not caring an instant for the hard ground, or their unwilling audience.

They needed each other, in the most intimate way possible.

Llyr moaned and cried under her mate's raw enthusiasm, new stimulations she had never imagined before assaulting her mind, her whole body trembling under his ministrations.

She loved him, his powerful frame, his firm grasp, his virility deflowering her without mercy...

Ash grunted and groaned as she tasted her whole, her walls clenching his reptilian member. He needed more, more, more and more of her! Too much wouldn't ever be enough!

He loved her, her curvy figure, her leaking and soft blossom, her femininity begging for no one but him...

They could only last so long with such blunt fervor though, sealing back their broken bond in a shared climax.

The lovers had some much to tell each other, so much to catch up on, panting after their frantic session.

However...

"Playtime's over!"

The dragon gently pushed the black lizard away, eyes fixated on the defenseless purple reptile on the ground.

"For all of your past deeds, nearly killing us, and giving your lord quite the scare, there can be only one punishment..."

There was the most fleeting feeling of fright in her mind as the yellow glowing eyes stared her down again with the most devious grin...

... Then Llyr saw what the dragon had in mind for her, hanging between his massive hindlegs.

There definitely were worse ways to be punished.

"Yes, my Lord."

Some people say that size didn't matter.

And so far, she was convinced of that. You didn't last long as a Dragon Knight if you didn't believe that you could take down some gargantuan beings that could crush you by inadvertence.

Now, however, the lizardess was forced to reconsider her perspectives. You'd think it wouldn't fit, and it was indeed a close call.

But they pulled through, and that was even more exotic than anything experienced before.

When Llyr received her first blessing, something in her lizard brain made her feel like there was, indeed, no greater calling than this. Only after this stretching exercise though did she make a very, very dire realization.

The gifted lizardess had to contend with the whims of a horny young dragon, and his apparatus, and all of his stamina.

Eventually she lost track of time, not that Llyr even had a reliable way to keep track of it in the first place. At some point, Ash joined in on the fun. That's more or less when she lost the count too.

It went on and on and on... It felt like months upon months of savage, liberating debauchery. No need to drink, eat, or sleep, and yet they just continued, absolving her of all her past sins one by one.

At some point though, time warped back into place as their Lord finally dismissed them. All of this action deserved another good nap.

And the first thing the she-reptile realized as they left towards the exit was her sudden walking issues.

Of course her legs were a little sore, but that wasn't the main problem though...

Had it really been that long?

Her inflated purple belly and leaky tits seemed to indicate so. As far as she could tell, she seemed almost at the end of her term! The tummy scales were stretched thin and her bosoms couldn't help but gurgle with a wet sound every step she took.

It wasn't to anyone's displeasure though, as the black lizard even complimented the sight and was beaming with anticipation.

"After all..." He began "... Our Lord doesn't have a monopoly on boons, and I wouldn't have anyone else to carry my blessing but you," just before nuzzling her.

Ash's attention made Llyr feel like a teen holding her first partner's hand again, stupid and blunt happyness in it's purest form.

That slope up though, in her gravid state, quickly became quite the pain. Not wanting to lose face, however, she continued, step after step until. At some point though, collapsing of exhaustion became the only available option, if it wasn't for her prince in black scales.

"H-hey! Let me down!" she protested as he lifted her in his arms.

"No can do! It won't be said that Ash the Master has let his brave maiden down in her hour of need!" He proclaimed in an overplay fashion, grinning with glee while carrying her seemingly effortlessly.

Llyr blinked in stupor, then laughed, "I can't believe you waited fifteen years to pull this one on me..." This was definitely the kind of phrase he had reharsed for years every morning.

Soon enough, they felt fresh air on their scales, and made it out of the mountain.

"I waited for hours!" a small and annoyed voice Immediately greeted them as their sight accommodated to the sunlight.

"Eh, sorry little one, we had grown-up business to attend."

"I was a grown up once!" The kobold turned his attention a little lower and looked at the lizardess with disbelief and horror.

"Miss Llyr, no! I can't believe this!" he exclaimed, half-annoyed, half-surprised now.

"What?"

"You were the princess all along and you didn't tell me anything!"

The black lizard raised a metaphorical eyebrow at his mate, who just burst out laughing.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time she climbed down or up into the mountain. But for now...?

For now, life was good.