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Taking a deep breath the wizard's apprentice, Vasily steeled his temperament for the likely confrontation to come. He made the long walk from the regal manor house out the large barn where his master's laboratory was, all the while knowing he was going to get yelled at. Not for anything the apprentice had done, failed to do, or any tragedy waiting on his master's emotions. It was simpler than that. His master, a respected wizard born from a pureblood lineage with a silver spoon stuck up his ass, was just a massive asshole. There was never a moment when he was awake when he wasn't in a foul mood that he would make everyone else's problem. All Vasily wanted was to get in and out with his ego beaten but able to limp away. Vasily had the rest of his own studies to worry about after all.

Arriving at a heavy oak door on the side of the barn Vasily's anxiety peaked as he grabbed the door latch. With a package for the wizard in one hand, letters, requested scrolls, and steaming hot tea balanced atop it, he pushed open the door and made sure to shut it firmly behind him. Inside was a large space that had been partially converted from a barn into his master's private lab, apothecary, and stable of beasts. Books of all sizes, shapes, and ages sat in stacks on the floor and filled at least one stable. Relocated shelving from the manor formed a wide oval around the central area with their shelves full of all manner of bottles, containers, jugs, barrels, vials, flasks, and tinctures of varied ingredients for spells and every kind of alchemy. Elsewhere were several animals, all kept not for their company. The rest was a workspace for the spoiled brat of a wizard at the center of the barn where the apprentice was headed.

The beasts were why his parents insisted the wizard work in the barn for safety's sake so he obliged. But he wasn't keeping them for their company or the kindness of his heart. Some like the spiders or enchanted chickens were kept alive and harvested for their silk, feathers, eggs, and even excrement. All of which can be of use om potions, elixirs, tonics, balm, spells and many rituals or summonings. Others, like the bottled faeries, fungal sprites, and caged bunyips were destined to be killed and dissected for their parts. The rare exception was a recently acquired horse sized wingless drake that occupied a large steel cage of his own. His purpose was primarily for study and, if the wizard could find a mate, for breeding. Drake eggs were invaluable as ingredients and reagents. To say nothing of the small fortune one could fetch for just one egg.

Finally reaching the center area Vasily had squeezed himself between two cluttered desks to get in. Here there was open space where the wizard, Ivan, could experiment without anything in his way. The floorboards were bare and covered in marks from past rituals, experiments, claw and hoof marks, and summonings. There were many desks arrayed around, most cluttered with things, but the high standing desk Ivan was working on was impeccably organized. A lantern, inkwell, pens, paper, small stack of books, and little else to distract him. Vasily found himself coming up from behind so tried to make his appearance known as politely as possible.

"Master Ivan, it's me, I've-" Vasily began only to be halted by his master's single raised index finger.

"Stomping around like a lead footed fool as always, Vasily? You still insist on introducing yourself when your hobbled posture and mouth breathing do that for you. Always wasting my precious time," sighed Ivan followed by a huff of indigence. "Come then. This better be a pointless distraction or one of your inane queries, apprentice. I really do not have the time."

'When do you ever have the time you old sot,' Vasily thought but was wiser with his actual words. "Just your mail, tea, and those scrolls you requested from Magus Honorious. I've arranged them in the order you requested," he said in a measured, submissive tone while setting down everything the table Ivan usually wanted such items. But as soon as Vasily did this the wizard scoffed.

"Idiot! Put that business over here on my desk so I don't have to waste more energy that I already have just dealing with your presence. Put it here and then make yourself sparse until I call for you again," Ivan scornfully growled without still turning from his work.

"Apologies, Master," Vasily said hastily while doing as he was told. The space on the desk was tighter and required the apprentice to come ever so close to the wizard. Even grazing the powerful wizard could be enough to earn his ire. It had cost two previous apprentices their humanity for a short spell as he made them goats to work at the wizard's college. Vasily himself had to spend a weekend as a toad in recompense for putting a crease on a scroll so he was well motivated to be careful. That done he bowed and went immediately to leave without another word. He got two steps before Ivan's telltale silent indifference was enough to stop Vasily.

When the apprentice turned he saw the wizard finally facing him with a fierce scowl and paper wrapped package in the other. "What in the hells is this?" Ivan asked sharply. An imposing figure at well over six foot six inches, Ivan had dark hair he kept perfectly quaffed in a swept back look that highlighted his youthful face. A handsome chin, rosy cheeks, emeralds for eyes, and the hopped up arrogance that well exceeded his actual age of only twenty-three. He was thin on account of forgetting to eat for days at a time but with broad shoulders, barreled chest, and menacing posture he cut an unwavering silhouette all the same. A gold embroidered fitted wizard robe and slippers added to his grandeur. "It has no return addresses and I certainly would have recalled ordering something that would dare address me simply as 'ID'. Are you quite sure you haven't made a mistake, Vasily? I know you are prone to them after all" Ivan tersely added.

"No mistake, Master. These arrived from a colleague of yours, Archivist Zellador. He said he previously discussed the contents with you at the Magus Symposium two years prior. He didn't provide any details beyond it being for your eyes only," Vasily explained to what he hoped would be his master's satisfaction.

Silence followed with Ivan eyeing Vasily with suspicion while also probing his own memories. This left Vasily sweating, knowing his day hung in the balance. If his master failed to remember the reason or so much as had ill feelings about the sender it would be the apprentice that would bear the brunt of whatever punishment Ivan would devise for him.

"Oh right, Zellador and his damned peculiar finds. Only talked to him out of courtesy at that symposium. Figured he had just forgotten. Apparently not. Can't even recall what he wanted me to look at. Some unwieldy enchanted item no doubt," sighed Ivan, his fury having cooled considerably.

Vasily tried not to look too relieved. "Shall I leave you to it then, Master?" he asked before Ivan remembered he was there.

"Yes, yes. Make yourself sparse until supper time. If you come in here for any other reason than the estate being on fire I shall feed you to the drake," Ivan stated as he turned to return to his work desk. "And those translations I asked you to do yesterday, I expect them done by tomorrow morning," he loudly reminded his apprentice.

"T-Tomorrow, Master? You said next week yesterday when you told me. There's a lot to do and I have my own studies and-" but again Vasily was silenced by a single finger.

"You're not the master here, apprentice. You deal with the lot you are given and you don't complain about it. Besides, my needs always come before yours. That's at the heart of the master and apprentice dynamic. Besides, tomorrow afternoon you'll have to pack some items up and haul them to the post before sundown so you'll be busy. Now, get to it and leave me to my work!" Ivan shouted with a faint fierceness enough to send the apprentice scurrying out of the wizard's barn/labratorium.

Finally alone the wizard could work in his preferred environment. Taking only the tea and setting the package and scrolls aside, Ivan continued with his task of updating the inventory lists. With today meant for preparation for his upcoming experiments in the coming days he wanted to ensure he had everything he would need. Most everything was indeed in stock with the pixie glands and wings missing. As the process of butchering a faery was a tedious and messy one Ivan wanted to spare himself the trouble until afternoon. Instead, tea in hand, he moved to another desk- this one full of unsealed or unsigned letters, unwrapped packages, and a few items still to pack.

"Perhaps I should have Vasily tend to my mail now. Some of these are overdue to be sent. Or in the case of these blasted defective command collars," Ivan said with agitation, grabbing up one of the mundane looking leather strap collars from the table. "Just seeing them has my blood boiling. That they couldn't get a simple command collar right tells me all I need to know about this newest mythical tannery."

At that moment the large drake roared from behind Ivan, bringing a knowing smile to the wizard.

"What good is a collar of command if it can't even subdue a common drake like you, eh, Ryrasz?" mocked the wizard, waggling the collar in the drake's direction to taunt it. This had the drake hissing and gnashing its teeth in the man's direction. "Yes, yes, bite and complain all you want you're stuck in that cage. Now keep it down or I'll fetch the muzzle again. That piece of leather does work at least," Ivan further reminded the far from unintelligent drake.

Ryrasz hissed again but tempered it this time. Laying back down, the drake continued to only threaten the wizard with his leering eyes. Something Ivan was quite capable of ignoring.

"That's what I thought. When the new collar I ordered arrives in a few days you'll be singing quite the different tune. Then I'll have a nice, docile drake to draw my cart and ride when necessary. All the most venerable wizards have drake steeds so it's only fitting for someone of my caliber," Ivan professed earnestly. Dropping the collar back in the pile the wizard poked at a few of the other unsent letters and correspondence, sipping his tea. After some minutes of this he sighed. "I really do not wish to deal with a faery dissection today. So much preparation and work for so little reward. But what else is there to do?" the wizard asked himself.

Motivated by an urge to procrastinate the tedious job with the faeries, Ivan scanned his workspace for something easier to occupy his time. Ivan was a naturally talented wizard whose wealthy, respected parents sent him to only the best schools, but being spoiled and pampered as he was he tended to dislike anything that took too much time or effort. Especially if the ingredients could simply be bought- though at a steep markup in price- using his sizable wealth. So when he saw the package that had been delivered that day across from him. Best that Ivan could remember from his brief encounter with Archivist Zellador he had been asked to tame an unruly magical item. Something of a specialty of Ivan's which is why it had landed in his lap these two years on. The perfect distraction.

"Let's see what that old coot Zellador has sent me. If it's a pair of skivvies or an old shoe I'm sending that man back a box of Gilgarian Burrowing hornets. See how he enjoys that," Ivan chuckled to himself as he walked over to the package and traded it for his empty tea cup then headed to his desk. Once there he removed the wax string and paper on the outside until down to a shoe box sized wooden crate. A spell of opening helped remove the nailed down lid. Inside was a thin black case slightly smaller than the box itself set amongst packing straw with a wax sealed note on top. "I do hope Zellador's usual languid speech is not present here. Such an interminable man," grumbled Ivan as he broke the notes seal.

To the wizard's relief the note must have been penned by one of the Archivist's underlings as it was mostly clear. Found in the bowels of Zellador's collection with origins listed only as 'otherworldly possessive powers' the gloves in the box had some kind of enchantment upon. This magic empowered and gave sentience to the strangely woven mitts which in turn tend towards mischievous manipulation. The utmost caution should be taken in examination and handling of the gloves which at present lay dormant thanks to precautions. Zelladador finished by asking if the sentience can be tamed or expelled while leaving the glove's other abilities intact. Some choice items from the Archivist's collection would be Ivan's reward if he could manage the feat.

"Is that all, Zellador? You must be truly incapable in your old age if you're seeking me out over such a trifle. I've dispelled swords, whole suits of armor, and books of such nefarious or unhelpful possessions so I think a pair of gloves shall be a dottle. I leave caution for my apprentices," groused the ever boastful Ivan. Just for a sneering smile to swell on the wizard's face as he considered the exchange further. "Though I'm sure the Archivist would have some faery wings and glands on hand. Perhaps he has an inroad with a drake tender I can buy a female off of..."

Encouraged by the rewards now more than mere procrastination, Ivan moved with some actual effort. He disposed of the packaging and note without a care to focus on the slim case. Made from a single piece of Charwood with a type of scarlet metal alloy. Both these materials were well known for their innate ability to nullify magical enchantments. There was no lock but Ivan needed only to run his fingers down the length of one side for hinges to appear on the other and the case to open.

"My my, how... unspectacular," the wizard determined after just a glance at the gloves within. Made of a fine black seal skin leather that was tapered at the wrist and decoratively armored on the backside in thicker sections of boiled leather. These sections carefully fit the contours of the glove with thin sheets of a gold-like metal hammered into them which themselves had arcane patterns etched onto them. As Ivan took up the pair he felt how light they were which further confirmed his suspicions of decorative armor. Few signs of use could be found on the palms or fingers much less any cracks in the leather. "The sort of mitten you'd find on some vain mage's honor guard. And belong to a rather large honor guard by the size of it. Not nearly as threatening as Zellador and his scribblings made it seems," Ivan deduced to his own satisfaction.

The only noticeable remaining feature of either gloves was an ocher colored pebble covered in fine esoteric lettering. These though were simple pacification rune stones that stuck like magnets to the leather while also negating any magical effects, enchantments, curses, and effectively made them just another pair of gloves. A wise safety precaution given the danger spoken of but they also stopped Ivan from being able to examine the working magicks at play. They should only be removed once the wizard had made more than a cursory assessment of the gloves in most cases. But when a wizard feels themselves above such things they tend to skip such steps. Such measures were meant for apprentices or a novice. Ivan was neither.

Setting down the left glove, Ivan made a not incorrect assumption that if the gloves invested with a semblance of sentience then both gloves were needed for the gloves to properly work. Not allowing this circuit to complete meant a lone glove was little threat to the likes of Ivan. "Let's see what gave that old coot Zellador so much trouble," Ivan said with a yawn as he plucked the pacification stone from the back of the glove. He tossed the stone aside then held the glove up like a dead fish to watch to see if anything happened. Ivan half-expected nothing to happen so was actually a little surprised to see first the fingers and then down into the palms of the glove move. "Good. This won't be a complete waste of my time at least."

It took about a minute for life to fully animate and little longer for awareness to set it as it wiggled to be free of the wizard's grasp. Ivan obliged it by tossing it haphazardly on the nearest cluttered table. The glove was limp again until landing whereupon it sprung not just back to life but into the air under its own power. Once in the air it fluttered around like a stunned faery that had just come to.

"An interesting trait, to be sure. Useful if one were to lose a glove perhaps. But is that all there is? Sentience and some floating? Perhaps you grant some boon when worn." Ivan's suggestion was delivered with convicing grin. Approaching the glove as it got it's bearings above the table, the wizard deftly snatched from the air and forced it over his right hand- the glove twitching the whole way, He had to wrestle control from the unruly fingers and did so with a sliver of his willpower. And when done Ivan proceeded to probe the enchantment for any powers it may hold or grant. "Well now, let's see, there is definitely an ingrained sorcery at play in this glove. But it's a muddled mess of alchemy, conjuration, and unrefined bewitchment that's certainly a quandary. I fail to see the danger though beyond mischief," dismissed Ivan.

Ivan was all too happy then to remove the glove and with his firmly gripped in his hand he walked it over to the table where he did his examinations. There he had all manner of tools, powders, and reference books to help the wizard divine the nature of anything he wished. Also waiting were restraints to keep unruly objects and creatures from moving too much as he worked. With how the glove struggled to free itself even now he didn't want to be bothered chasing it. Slamming it down in the center of the examination table where a binding circle had already been carved he pinned it with one hand while fishing thick iron nails from a drawer to truly pin the glove down.

"Hold still little bugger. I'll have your secrets if I have to strip you down to your parts," Ivan nonchalantly threatened. The gloves fought bitterly and were now getting a hold of one of Ivan's own fingers. "Seven, no, nine nails should do it. Let's see you wiggle your way out of- ARG! You cursed assortment of donkey hide! You dare!" an infuriated wizard exploded in a rage when the glove wrenched his middle finger just to the point of breaking.

Fearing a precious piece of him was harmed, Ivan let go of the glove to coddle his injured finger. Meanwhile the hand flew back into the air. This time it left high enough aloft that it was well out of reach of Ivan. At such a safe distance the glove fired off a few lewd hand gestures that only further infuriated the uptight wizard.

"I will ensure you pay for those insults! You and your other half!" threatened Ivan, his fist shaking in vengeance.

The glove was not only unfettered by the wizard but mention of the other glove did indicate that its other half was nearby. Then while Ivan regained his senses the floating glove searched at its safe distance with an urgency that soon boarded on frantic. Seeing this Ivan could only think the thing was trying to escape. That got him thinking of ways to punish this unruly piece of clothing. So he was slow to react when right spotted left and spared no time trying to reunite.

"Not so fast!" Ivan shouted as he raced to reach the dormant other glove. The right hand swept in at the table just as the man reached it himself. Ivan thought he might have caught both but the right seemed to have slipped barely through his fingers and he only grabbed up the left. "Ha! Beat you to it! Now come down here and be civil or I'll toss this one in the pyre. I dare you to try me," a victorious Ivan blustered at the fleeing glove.

The right hand flew high up as he spoke and by the time he finished the free glove had come around to perhaps try another pass. Something the wizard invited it to do. It took this bait up to the moment it stopped some ten feet above the group, wound up, and hurled a small stone that struck Ivan square in the forehead.

"Ack! You wretch! I'll see you tripped all but thought then donate you to some farmer to use when collecting manure! You clearly have no idea who you are dealing with!" Ivan raved so loudly that his petulance caused his voice to crack. He quickly bent down and grabbed the rock with the idea of hurling it right back when he noticed what he was holding was a pacification stone. As realization dawned on him the left hand he was holding reawaken; starting to squirm to life still within the wizard's grasp. "That's not good," he coldly admitted.

Doing the only thing he could, Ivan attempted to place the stone back on the left hand before it could come into its power. But as he tried the right hand poked the wizard in the eyes followed by twisting his nose. Then as Ivan reeled the right helped the left free itself whereupon the united gloves clasped together with a clear joyousness. When Ivan could see again he watched the peculiar sight of the independent hands relaxing to appear as if hanging in front of a single, invisible person. A troubling development but not as much as what followed.

"Such a temper on you, wizard. The last fella at least had some measure of decorum. You're downright nasty by comparison. Reminds me of someone. Someone I don't very much have a good memory of but you remind me of their, shall we say, unbecoming disposition," said a weighty, assured male voice that had an inflection of sophistication to it. "Is this how you greet all your guests?" asked the gloves with a passive indignation.

"Guests? You think I should greet every article of clothing I encounter? Now, if you have any actual wits you'll stop this foolery and come under my control willfully. If you do, I promise to have a servant or my apprentice stitch you back together. If you don't you'll find out what sort of temper I have. And what sort of power do I have to back it up!" rebuked Ivan. If he didn't take backtalk from his underlings he certainly wouldn't take it from some gloves.

"Why is it always threats with you robe wearing sort? Always so high and mighty and self-assured when just babes in the woods. You're more babe than the last I dealt with. That old beard had some respect and I could at least deal with him. But you? I see already that dealing with you will require a different approach entirely," judged the glove's unafraid voice, the hands miming along in dramatic gestures.

"Babe? I am no babe!" a red faced Ivan blustered back. To show he meant business he summoned a burst of flame in the palm of one outstretched palm and a spark of red electricity in the other. "Last warning before this babe shows you want real power is!"

The gloves imitated a yawn as they floated down to Ivan's level. "Real wizards don't have to threaten, you know," they calmly observed.

Ivan scoffed. "I'll show you what a proper mage of a trueblood lineage can do!" he exclaimed as he unleashed a torrent of fire wreathed in ruby lightning. It quickly struck the gloves and enveloped them in a seething fury that would burn to cinders even the most heavily armored combatant. So some lowly leather gauntlets should have been vaporized. A smirking Ivan suspected as much as the magic spent its energy. "That puts a quick end to your glibness. I do so hate such trite enchantments as that. Better off this way," the wizard was happy to conclude.

To Ian's dismay however the last embers cleared to reveal the completely unscathed gloves still holding level to him, its fingers idling twiddling. "Cute fireworks, but you're only proving my point. Rude, confrontational, disrespectful, lackluster capabilities, and a need to insert one's 'lineage' into things- I take you were the golden child? Pampered, privileged, and pompous too so also a rich golden child," the gloves mused blithely. They then began to move about the room looking over the sprawling workspace and surroundings.

The gloves' survival was surprising to Ivan but rather than show it he chose to lash out silently. First summoning forth a phantasmal saber-toothed tiger made of a violet light that he promptly set on his target. The gloves responded by effortlessly grabbing the beast by its ethereal head and snapping its neck, dispelling its form quicker than it formed. Undeterred, Ivan moved to incantations of holding. When these were resisted next came telekinesis: first on the gloves itself but they shook it off. Ivan tried to manipulate an empty cage to trap the gloves. Which just got the cage redirected at speed towards the wizard's head. He ducked down to avoid it and finally had a feeling that he might be outmatched.

"You've got the sort of setup that just screams more currency than capability. I see pricey rare tomes, expensive reagents kept in premium vessels, fancy candles, caged deadly creatures, and a few notable artifacts and items. Impressive but all begging a question: if you had really read all those books or knew what treasures you possessed, as a real wizard would, then you would have been more than a match for a mere pair of helping hands as I," stated the gloves as if Ivan wasn't trying everything he could.

"I'll have you..." Ivan vowed under his breath even after he'd exhausted most of what he knew. Left then with little other option he attempted to teleport the gloves as far away as possible. He felt the magic connect with the gloves like it had worked but when the wizard tried to poof the troublesome mitts away it was the cage door belonging to the drake Ryrasz that disappeared. The wizard's eyes became wide as dinner plates. "No... no," was all he could stammer.

Reeling around the gloves acted surprised. "Well now how did that happen? Did you do that, wizard? Seems a foolish thing to free such an ornery drake. Is that some pureblood wizard tactic I lack the pedigree to appreciate?" taunted the gloves.

Out from the cage prowled the drake who was cautious until sure it was truly free of its confines. And when it was it locked eyes with Ivan, bearing its many sharp teeth in a wide grin. Further licking of its chops followed as it began stalking towards its prey. The wizard's poise quickly melted away.

"Ryrasz, remember w-who your master is! Return to your cage!" Ivan tried commanding the escaped drake in a quavering voice. A threat that was made while blindly backing away.

Ryrasz snarled and snapped his teeth in reply with its deadly tail curling behind it like a hungry serpent.

"I'm your master, Ryrasz! I was to fetch a mate, remember? You don't want to hurt me," the wizard said in hopes that it was true. He had kept backing up until finally bumping into a table leaving him nowhere else to run. For a moment Ivan sparked fire and ruby lightning in his hands but the drake was too fast and too close for him to even get one off. Igniting the spells also earned a threatening roar from the drake who seemingly dared him to try. Ivan relented, trading the spells for raised hands of surrender. "Please, no. Don't! I can't die, please! Anything!" begged a teary eyed Ivan as his body cringed to brace for his vengeful teeth sinking into his flesh.

His plea was meant for Ryrasz but it was the gloves that took an interest. "Anything? I like the sound of that," the intrigued gloves said from somewhere in the room. In a flash they swooped down just in time to stop the drake swallowing the wizard's head whole. The drake snarled for the gloves to get out of its way but they didn't budge. "Whoa there, big guy. I know what you want and you're not wrong to want it, but if you're willing to listen I have a proposition I think you'd enjoy far more in the longer term. Hear me out?"

Ryrasz wasn't feeling very interested in anything that wasn't him acting out a retribution that had been a long time coming. But the drake still relented. Which was owed to nothing more than the drake finding the sight of the wizard cowering in fear- a feeling Ivan had instilled in many a creature in that very room- pleasing. It took a couple steps backward but kept a keen eye on the wizard while the gloves floated over to it.

Ivan watched the gloves cup themselves around the dragon's left ear hole and began whispering something to it. Whatever it was saying was not impressing the drake at first but he would perk up mid-way through and by the end was looking thoroughly interested. The hungry, vindictive look in the drake's yellow eyes became one boarded on lust. Leaving Ivan terribly confused as to what the gloves had said.

"What are you saying to him? I've a right to know," the stubborn wizard demanded from his cowed state.

Ignoring the wizard, the gloves finished their offer to the drake and after floating back in front simply asked Ryrasz, "Deal?"

The drake roared approvingly.

"Excellent! Delighted you agree! If you'll give me some space and a little bit of time I'll have my side of the bargain finished before you know it," the congenial pair of gloves promised. The drake gave a cordial growl to the gloves then retreated back nearer to its cage where it laid down in a position to observe what was to come. The gloves meanwhile turned to face the confused wizard. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions but just know I don't really care and I don't think Ryrasz does either. Your efforts would be better spent coming to grips with submission," suggested the gloves while the right took a firm hold of the front of the wizard's robes.

"Get your hand off me! You don't command me-EE!" a briefly emboldened Ivan yelped when he was wrenched up into the air by the lone glove. Kicking and struggling, he tried to free himself as he was carried by the hand back to the center of the room. "What are you doing with me? Please, there is no need for anything rash!" Ivan desperately begged.

The gloves halted over the center of the room with Ivan dangling some eight feet above the floor. "How is it rash to save your life? You asked for anything to save you from ending up in a drake's belly. So this isn't rash. It's totally under the umbrella of anything. You'll see," said the gloves in a voice that sounded like it was smiling.

"See wha-" Ivan was cut short when the single gloves holding him up shook him free of his robe so that he slipped right out of it and down to the ground on his belly with a sickly thud. This reduced him to just his red silk braies and his embroidered slippers. The latter plucked off by the gloves while Ivan reeled and caught his breath. "Damned enchantment! I could have broken something," Ivan wheezed.

"Did you hear that Ryrasz? I might have hurt him. Well, I wouldn't want that now would I?" the gloves chuckled while at the same time grabbing a firm hold of the back of Ivan's braies with one hand. A moment later the man was abruptly yanked up by his underpants until he was on all fours. When they finally let go of him it was only to start poking, grabbing, pinching, and squeezing at his waist, hips, ass, and lower back.

"Unhand! What you are you- ah, ah-AH! W-What in the hell's blazes are you doing to me-EEE!" Ivan screeched when his pelvis felt like it dislocated itself with several loud, wet pops.

"Oh don't be dramatic. I've ensured it doesn't hurt. I can't make this not feel as it does though. Get used to discomfort for a while. I'm sure you can manage," snickered the gloves as it poured its magic into the wizard. It's touch was causing the flesh, bone, and meat of the man to become like wet clay. A feeling that Ian was writhing as he experienced. "Let's really get started, shall we?"

Each gloved finger moved in concert to stretch, plump, reshape, remold, and reconfigure Ivan. He was still yet to know what but craning his head under him he could see his waist being widened as well as his the upper part of his hips. His ass would follow in growing larger, making the confines of the wizard's silken undies unbearably tight. Further efforts from the gloves caused Ivan to constantly readjust his stance as he spread his legs to accommodate the rapid growth. What was harder for him to notice was how his legs shifted under him as well- effectively preventing him from standing on two legs without something to lean on. Ivan was too concerned with bearing the discomfort and staying upright to consider it even briefly.

"Stop, damn you! You're killing me!" howled Ivan.

"Saving you. I'm saving you, remember? Can't blame me for being creative with it," remarked the gloves without ceasing their work. They coaxed his bones to be larger, stronger, and to take on a beastly structure. Muscles swelled too, with fat, ligaments, tendons, and veins growing to accommodate all that was being done. The skin all over Ivan's body was beet red and sweaty from fear and panic but the flesh around those changing areas had shed any body hair while coming over rough and dry. The extent it had spread was hidden until his silk braies burst their seams and shredded shortly thereafter. "Better those are off anyway. It's not as if Ryrasz would wear them either," the gloves oddly noted.

The seated drake roared favorably and curled its tail back and forth in excited anticipation.

"Glad you agree! I know he doesn't look like much but I'm only getting warmed up! You'll like this part I'm sure!" the gloves boasted to the drake.

"Warmed up? Please, whatever this is I implore you to yeeeeeeoch! No, stop whatever you're do-ACK!-ing!" Again Ivan was interrupted by vivid, body rattling adjustments which tugged more fiercely at the base of his spine. The area could be felt to swell outward, forcing his ass to feel like it was being squeezed between his legs. This further spread a stance that was already heavily degraded. Ivan had to bear it though because the gloves primary focus was the now distended tailbone.

"There we go, everything looks about ready for a good tug. Let me just tuck and sculpt some of these lagging sections,"the gloves commented as they kneaded down into his crotch.

The discomfort so far had been bizarre for the young wizard. Things would only get weirder with the gloves repositioning his anus and manhood what felt like too far forward. But only the gloves knew what they were doing and with his cock and balls now dangling exposed underneath him it was just starting to sink in for Ivan how much trouble he was in. Continued rearrangement of his ass and hips did away with butt cheek as well as the crack itself. In their stead was a mound of flesh, muscle, and bones that came to a pointed tip. One that aligned with the rest of his spine as intended. All this weight had Ivan tilting himself forward compensate, pushing his new rear end up. This state of affairs better suited the gloves based on how the fingers delighted at what it got to do next.

"Much better. Now to add the length," announced the gloves followed by a sharp tug of Ivan's protruding tail bone. The flesh yielded easily along with bone and muscle; stretching and growing out in a single motion the trunk of the lizard-like tail. This continued at a steady, unbroken pace with every few inches creating another vertebra that slotted into place with unnerving moist pop.

Ivan cried, shouted, and swore the whole way with little of it intelligible. It felt like his whole body was being stretched way out of proportion. When he managed to crane his next backward and see what was in fact happening it appeared unbelievable. Not that such transformations were impossible. But that such a thing would happen to him, a man with a grand future ahead, was still a reality he refused to accept. Even as it reached a length greater than the other half of him and the gloves molded the tail's new tip. Which came to bear a striking resemblance to the drake Ryrasz's with a small notch on the underside while the larger top portion curled to a point. Not that Ivan was in any state to notice.

Ryrasz himself was in a much better position to see how the wizard was taking shape. The meticulous work of the gloves hadn't stopped at length and shape. Further massaging of the top half of the tail developed the rough, red skin into hard, scaly sections from hips to tip. There several large, rear facing spikes decorated the top. Their coloring became a darker, black speckled red. The underside of the tail was treated to soft scaled sections which took on a pale, bone-white shade that carried all the way to the end. Soon its look was very much like Ryrasz's own. An approving roar was his endorsement.

"Thank you, thank you. I take pride in my work. This one is coming along just wonderfully," observed the gloves in response to the drake. Ivan on the other hand was panicked and so back heavy that his weary legs were on the verge of collapse. "Whoops! Got a little too focused on details and forgot about what this must weigh. Don't worry though, it's next on my list!"

"P-Please, no more. No more! If it's a lesson you're teaching then I beg you, I've learned it! Please, do not ruin me more," a weary Ivan beseeched between breaths.

"Lesson? Who said anything about a lesson? Do I look like any teacher you've known? You think of me as some divine retribution maybe? I can assure you this is nothing more than me lending a helping hand. Or two," gloated the gloves. They left their work on the tail to return to the man's wavering hips.

"Then if it's an apology you require than I- wait, stop! Don't do... no, please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Ivan's pleas were triggered by the hands returning so close to his dangling manhood. It was a small relief that the gloves were more interested in bulking up his already stout thighs. They swelled the muscles and tendons in these areas and down further to his knees, calves, and lastly the toes. All the bones in these areas were no less affected by an increase in size that also hardened the bones to match those of a drake. As this happened the wizard could feel the strength developing in his legs, much as he was those that lined his new tail. The ones in his legs made the bearing of the weight of the tail at least easier and easier with each pass of the gloves. Who were too busy enjoying their work to bother giving Ivan any response.

That relief was a double edged sword as it brought with it a shifting of the structure of his legs that took him farther from human. Thickly muscled, red scaled thighs sat on shorter calves that were no less bulging with strength. The biggest change were his feet which, after having forced Ivan up to the very tips of his toes, stretched dramatically thanks to diligent molding from the gloves. This of course had Ivan grimacing through clenched teeth since all he could really do was bear it. Glimpses under himself to see what was becoming of him stoked his anxieties and made clear, at least to him, what was becoming of him. Seeing his five toes merged into three, with each hosting a blackened dragon claw just added to the obvious conclusion.

"You're remaking me as another drake? Another Ryrasz? That shouldn't even be possible. Drakes can only be, be born. You'll kill me in such a doomed effort so please, please offer me mercy! Mercy!" Ivan desperately begged to the gloves as he saw them work under him.

"You say that as if a drake is not a fine thing to be! Certainly a far finer thing than whatever a 'pureblood wizard' is. If you're representative of the type then your whole lot could be improved with some scales, tails, and lots of draconian details. See how much better you look now with a backside like Ryrasz!" the gloves stated proudly. "And you think this is impossible? Truly the title of wizard has fallen in favor to be just something to be bought to sooth the ego of spoiled children. Watch as I achieve what you failed to learn. And I know exactly where to show that off."

A second later and Ivan feels a hand wrap around his dangling cock and another his balls. "No, wait! Stop not- ah! Ahh!" he cried when unscrupulous handling of his genitals somehow thoroughly aroused him. Several careful yanks of his shaft had him orgasming as hard as he ever had in his life. The climax caused a total emptying of the man's human sperm in less than thirty seconds. That left his testes aching, his erection straining, and a heady arousal that managed to derail Ivan's panic with a sexual yearning. Left panting for air and at a loss for words he could see the gloves do more than simply jerk him off.

It started with the left hand, the one his balls, massaging their spent shells with an invigorating magic. Soon they were swelling up again in their own right which Ivan couldn't make himself not enjoy. However it became harder to stomach when the gloves pushed his gonads up into his body. The remaining scrotum was blended into a slit that extended up and around his erect shaft. Being internal a little dampened the testicles' growth. Nor its continued sending of pleasurable sensations through him. That kept him still somewhat numb when things progressed onto the next stage.

Ivan felt the gloves wrap around his cock again and took to tugging as it had to get him off previously. Now though the strokes brought length to the wizard's modest penis. As it did the color of its flesh ripened a dull red along with scaly but soft ribs along its sides. Fleshy barbs also appeared up to the now pointed tip- taking Ivan's penis and making it a draconic one. He could see and feel it happening under him and wanted to speak but couldn't stop panting from the damp heat he felt radiating from his loins.

"Good and properly big to suit a properly big drake. That old thing you had just didn't look right set amongst all these scales anyway. And rather too undersized to boot. That certainly isn't a problem now, is it? Where are those pleading cries? Have you finally taken my advice to save your breath?" the gloves taunted while continuing their work.

Again Ivan tried to muster coherent speech not riddled with moans but gave up the futile effort. A desperate set of eyes was all he could do to try and convey he did want this. No matter how aroused he actually was.

Finishing off the dragon phallus with a few final touches to length and barbs left Ivan sporting an impressive massive, in both length and girth, cock. One he felt weighed him down enough to feel a strange sense of pride from massive new endowment. This highly sensitive organ caused a shudder of unwanted ecstasy through the wizard whenever it so much as grazed his thighs or the floor under him. It was as if it was hardwired directly to his brain, making it maddening to control. In that distracted state the changes that followed were slow to be noticed by the transforming man.

The gloves moved with their usual upbeat airiness to the midsection just above where the drake dominated. With an intent much like its like project, the hands merrily broadened his torso out at the same it stretched it out longer. This time one hand hung around the stomach while the other took care of the back and spine. They moved in concert to carry on the same work of infusing a drake's form from flesh down to marrow. This included all Ivan's organs, accounting for the bloating, twisting discomfort he felt from his bowels to his stomach. Some soothing pets from the hand did little to alleviate any of the unease the wizard was feeling.

As work progressed up to the chest and ribs so did the scales of their split coloring- with the softer underside an unblemished bone white and the back that dark crimson. The larger plated sections from the tail also continued onto Ivan's back, growing even bigger as they continued up towards the neck and head. They brought weight with them as well. Something his rear end could take, unlike the untouched regions of his upper body. Namely his arms and hands that showed the same signs of buckling as when the tail almost crushed his back legs.

"That's it, keep breathing. I'm about to barrel out these ribs to give this chest the heft it needs. You might start choking but it will pass, don't worry. I wouldn't let you get out of this so easily as asphyxiation," the gloves grimly jested.

Ivan had been struggling with breathing the last few minutes so didn't take much heed in the warning, unaware his diaphragm was to disappear. When a few desperate seconds followed where he couldn't inhale. Before he could start scrambling with his hands or feet the gloves made sure it lifted Ivan a foot or so in the air while it worked. This included that barreling out of his ribcage which in turn expanded his shoulders. Causing the same effective spreading of his arms as his legs had gone through with the pelvis. However the deeper the chest got the more puny it made Ivan's unchanged arms. And when he did finally catch his breath again thanks to his lungs catching up (and relearning how to breathe) and he was set back down there was only an inch between the ground and his new chest floor.

The sight of this awkward step in Ivan's progression had Ryrasz well amused. Seeing his tormentor now the tormented had been one of the many worthwhile things the gloves had offered in whisper. That gave the drake good reason to think the rest of what was promised would soon follow. Then the real enjoyment would begin for him.

"The more I work the more I feel justified in what I said about this being a massive improvement on that old you. I believe I've gone nearly seven minutes without a peep from you, drake-to-be. And that temper? Well culled so far. You definitely look a lot more eye-catching too. Nothing quite shimmers like a fresh dragon scale. Just need to help bring this all in line. Try to hold still," the gloves told Ivan.

"Wh-Wh... can't... move..." said the wizard weakly.

"And there you go talking again. Don't make me come up there," replied the gloves.

With words hard to come by Ivan stubbornly gave up trying to say anything else. Nothing he said would likely matter anyway. Plus all the gloves had the transformation up to the base of his neck and top of his arms so even attention would be needed to keep from falling over. There was also another nagging problem rearing up for him to deal with.

The previous flood of hormones had awakened more than just unwanted lusts in Ivan's mind but other more base ones. Desires for meat and blood caused a watering of his mouth just as impulses to run reflexively dug his rear claws into the floorboards. The wizard knew such thoughts were not his own and pushed them away. But as more flooded his mind he was having to close his eyes to have the concentration he needed. It quickly turned into a war of attrition with the bestial thoughts Ivan knew belonged to a lowly drake of Ryrasz's ilk. He would not let such instincts win out over him.

While his eyes were closed the gloves kept up their work, finishing the shoulders and leaving everything from the neck up human for the time being to bring the transformation to his arms. The process here was the same as it had been for so much else. More muscle, meat, length, draconic form, and scarlet scales wrapping it all up. The fingers were only reduced to four in number with the thumb shrinking up the forearm but still getting a stubby nail. The remaining three grew darkened nails like the feet. All this helped support all that new drake weight in addition to getting rid of his forward slouched posture. That made his stance less cumbersome, meaning he could focus more on saving his mind. Another losing battle he hadn't realized he was in.

When Ivan opened his eyes he figured they had been shut for a short time. Sight of his nearly fully transformed arms under him was startling to say the least. Seeing them brought a sudden awareness of the strength and range of motion. A surreal knowledge this wasn't stopping reminded Ivan of his indigent rage that it was happening at all.

"You must... st-ACK!" Yet another of the wizard's pronouncements was cut short by zealous fingers, this time at his very throat.

"I have been itching to get up here. Not that I've ever had an itch. Just a turn of phrase really. Anyway, I'd rather not hear another coherent syllable out of that mouth of yours. Some adjustments to your throat should stop that problem altogether!" the gloves promised gleefully.

True as ever to its word the gloves drew out Ivan's vertebrae; with one hand keeping him still at the shoulders while the other hand pulled from the head. Ivan gasped and winced when he felt his flesh and bone submit so readily again. The wet pops off bone were now nearer to his ears so came through much more vividly. Triggering a cringing shudder through his body for every one until they mercifully reached their desired length. They then went right to work on the scales, thickness, and ridges that lined up from his barreled out chest.

As the gloves molded the heaviest sections of scales yet up the back of his neck, Ivan's human head sat perched atop the rest of him making for another memorable sight for the waiting Ryrasz. The mighty wizard had been overcome by a spirited clothing accessory and now what was left of him was blubbering and winging. Given the wizard's history of reducing apprentice's, servants, and all manner of beasts to a similar broken state it was a fitting way for things to end. Ryrasz licked his chops as he waited for the grand finale. He wasn't the only one enjoying it as other caged creatures were staring at the sight as well. Not all knew what was happening but the faeries were dancing to celebrate.

"There, I've now rid the world of one of its more obnoxious voices. And in its place I've got all the ingredients of something much, much better. I know my audience wants me to nail the finish and there isn't much to go," the cheerful gloves pointed out. They'd moved out in front of Ivan to gloat, cracking their nonexistence knuckles. "I'm sure I'm not the first one to want that smug face of yours stretched. I'll be the one to really do it but this is for them as much as it is me. And Ryrasz, of course."

Ryrasz roared as he rose up to his feet. A long stretch followed with a wide circle around the wizard where he took in all the features he'd yet to see. Getting a good look at Ivan's rear end while the gloves fell upon front.

"Must be getting very crowded in that head of yours," mused the gloves as they wrapped their fingers around his skull. Each finger pressed hard into his flesh and down to the bone. "You can't resist instinct, wizard. But I'm sure someone of your woeful skill could weather the storm without losing yourself. If not, well, if it hadn't been me that got you it would have been something less generous. They surely wouldn't give that cramped mind of yours the room it needed like I'm about to."

Unable to talk and with his brain buzzing Ivan listened for once. There were ways for him to guard his mind from such dangers as he was facing. He only needed to concentrate to manage it. Hard to do when the gloves started pulling at the flesh and bone of his skull from opposite sides. A raspy roar hissed from his mouth as Ivan screamed, though the more it stretched the harder it was for him to close his mouth. An opening the right handed glove exploited by fishhooking two fingers in and grabbing hold of his lower mandible. Then with as much pomp as any previous adjustment one hand tugged out his face as the other kept his head where it was. And in the process plucked out the wizard's hair while pressing down. But he continued to try despite his point of view becoming a nightmare.

"This breed of drake has quite an impressive chin if I do say so. The symmetry as the jawline draws in along with the nose curving down as it does is a pleasure to replicate. So glad that you provided me the inspiration to see this through. It will take some more time but you'll love the results. As promised," the remarked to still prowling drake while it worked.

Once the mandible was long enough the hand did the same with the top of his skull. Preferring to hook Ivan's nostrils this time for the job. Ivan was trying to keep his eyes closed for concentration until this happened because as the nostrils went so did the bridge of his nose and after that his eye sockets and browline, forcing his eyes wide open. He would have to hope what he'd managed in that minute or so of time would be enough. Since he couldn't do anything more than curse the gloves for making him watch this, among endless other curses.

The gloves carried their work on the skull with the most care they had shown any part of his body yet. Beyond completing his skull by extension his whole skeleton they sharpened every tooth in his mouth and grew more to fill all the new space. The tongue was pulled out and bifurcated like a drake's tongue with the same strength and taste for blood and meat. Comparable fine adjustments to the nose, fashioned the ears down to holes that were hidden behind more scales, and made sure every other scale, spike, horn, and fin that crested or covered him was in its natural place. Such senses were tuned for a drake and called out to the instincts in the wizard to take their rightful place. In came all the thoughts, desires, and needs of a drake with Ivan just trying to keep his head above the water.

As the wizard's mind was rattled, either hand of the gloves carefully came down to cup around his eyes, thumbs taking aim at the weary pupils. "This part is always a little weird," he gloves commented while pushing a thumb onto either eye. Some gentle circular movements is all it takes to turn Ivan's unimpressive eyes to the black slit, amber-gold of a dragon. Still though they had a dullness behind which persisted until the very last touches were being made to his face. "Almost there. Dear Ryrasz, will you join me at the front? I'd love to see your reaction to the big reveal."

Soon as Ryrasz understood he bounded over to a spot just a few feet ahead of the former wizard. Already he was excited when Ivan's head was at the same level as his own. The face was still obscured mostly by the hand fevered pace to complete all the final touches. No matter how minute no details were spared. Helping to bring the final package to what it had desired from the state.

"Okay, I think I got it. If I flubbed any details I want you to be honest with me. This is the best time to make corrections so don't restrain yourself," counseled the gloves. Summoning a drum roll for the moment the hands parted at last. There stood a ruby red drake of similar breed, bearing, and coloring as Ryrasz himself. He looked like he could be mistaken for ilk with relatively small variations. "Ta dah! I give you the babe wizard, improved and upgraded to your liking, I hope."

Hearing the drumroll stirred Ivan's seal of consciousness, bringing him around to see Ryrasz inspecting him snout to snout. This triggered a sense of fright from his humanity but another stirring in his mind quashed the anxiety for a feeling of vicious aggression. Feeling that aggression Ivan kept it in check but merely close proximity of this other male had him wanting a fight. An urge of a male drake's mind that the wizard stopped himself from acting on but not experiencing. Ryrasz must have sensed this since his tail curled up behind him as a warning not to test him. Ivan didn't want to.

With dominance between the two males established Ryrasz went on with testing the new drake's scent. It took two unsatisfied whiffs of the air for him to give his ruling with a disgruntled hiss.

"Oh? Did I miss a scale? A horn?" the gloves fretted as it came to see what the problem was.

Another, longer hiss was Ryrasz's reply.

"I see, I see. My mistake. I sometimes forget exactly how breeding works with mortals. Just step back for me and I'll have that problem solved," the gloves promised.

After Ryrasz backed off, the clothes returned to Ivan one last time, floating by his head and down to his nether regions. What they were fixing he couldn't quite feel with how overloaded his senses were. He tried to keep his eyes open and on Ryrasz since his instincts perceived him as a natural threat, leaving not much awareness of his disappearing cock. One of the gloves massaged his penis down to a nub and the other crafted a slit for the nub to fit in. Testicles became ovaries which caused the more rigid, male drake characteristics to shift to their female counterparts. The physical process brought on a hormonal one that so discreetly transformed Ivan's aggressive desire to fight Ryrasz into a burning desire to bear his offspring.

The job done, the gloves checked back in with the male drake. "That should be more to your liking. See how he looks at you as a she now? That's the sort of submission you wanted. One that came with a proper smell," the gloves stated.

This time a single whiff of the air confirmed Ryrasz now had been waiting for since it was promised: a mate. So when he licked his chops this time it was to slather the scent of lady drake on his lips. His own beefy penis slid from between his legs as the male approached Ivan with a clear intention in his eye.

Seeing the other drake's excited reaction made Ivan realize finally he was getting the hots from a creature he intended to pull his carts at one time. He tried to push such needs down but they kept bubbling up from his freshly minted loins. One moment he'd want to run and the next he was instinctively lifting his tail for the approaching male. Ivan pushed himself to muster the strength to run, to escape, to try and find someone, anyone who could-

"Oh no you don't!" the gloves interrupted, slapping one of the leather command collars around Ivan's neck. Once it was on the hands were quick to notice something lacking in the collar's magic. "This won't do as is. But with just a little fix... ah! There we go!" it said as it pressed a single finger to the leather. This changed the material to a thick, black iron and added a heart shaped tag to the front. On it was etched the name Arina while the reverse carried the simple instruction: 'Do Not Remove.' Ivan only knew the collar's power when functioning properly. Giving him a moment of clarity before the gloves truly completed their work. "I command you, Arina, to forget your humanity, your maleness, your hopes as a wizard and find purpose in your new body, with your mate's help of course. This is my command to you from now and until the end of your days."

The command given, the collar's magic did away with the wizard and welcomed in a new occupant. A short fluttering of the eyelids and Ivan was gone, replaced by the much more agreeable Arina. She showed apprehension towards Ryrasz, presenting herself and lowering her front half down so she could be mounted. The wizard's old need for a clutch of eggs was perhaps the only thing the female drake shared with him. Though his was for profit and hers a bigger family.

Roars rang through the barn as the drakes copulated. That was the signal to the gloves to take its leave. "I do love bringing lovers together. That's our bargain complete, Ryrasz! I wish you two good fortunes. For me, I've got my freedom for the first time in ages. I mean to enjoy it to the fullest. I've always wanted to try on a ring..."

The gloves would see themselves out but not before opening every bottle and cage with a living specimen. While everyone else fled around them the drakes enjoyed the other's intimate company. They found a natural rhythm with Arina's ass up and face down on the floor while Ryrasz mounted from behind, gripping his new mate's with his arms for leverage to thrust as deep and hard as he could. With their species of dragons known from their prolonged orgasms, reaching ten minutes usually, perfect physical compatibility, and untapped reserves of aroused stamina the pair did what came naturally. Ivan was unrecognizable while in Arina's throes of passion. Arina bit and scratched the floor so much from the intensity of her climaxes the drakes would have to move around the room to keep from crashing down into the basement. Not that it would have stopped them. Not much of the former wizard's space was left unscathed hours later as a result of their vigorous recklessness.

It was late into the evening before the apprentice Vasily returned with his master's usual evening meal. He did not expect to find his master's caged drake free, much less the female. A thick smell of sex hanging in the air made it clear what had been happening recently at least. After some investigation he was stunned to realize the female drake had been his former master. Vasily did consider changing Ivan back but decided against it ultimately not worth it. Choosing instead to concoct a story about the young wizard's decision to leave and become a hermit far away, but not before raising Vasily to master of the manor. Sure there were some questions but the promise of a dragon egg in the future quieted any officials or fellow wizards who would have raised alarm. Most agreed that a ready source of dragon eggs was better than asking too many questions about a wizard most didn't really like.

Vasily did always wonder how his former master got changed. He'd think of it on long journeys when Arina was pulling his cart along. No trace of the gloves remained as the package, note, and even rune stones had mysteriously, and quiet conveniently, vanished. It would just have to be something he wondered about. Never giving much thought to rumors of disembodied hands terrorizing wizard colleagues could be related. Surely Arina never thought about it. She was living her commanded life so well that she wouldn't have wanted to be some spoiled human wizard anyway.