"Wait," Dagon called out, "I'm not here to hurt you like these soldiers."
"Then what reason have you to be here. To enslave me?" The dragon's voice was deep and raspy, like a low tone growl.
"No. I'm a Dragon Kin, the last of my kind, actually. I'm here to forge a Kinship with you." Dagon spoke.
The dragon hissed in response. "You think that I, Sephtis, the Great Dragon of Venom and Decay would honestly pact with some boy who only just now hit puberty?" The dragon spat, "Tis truly insulting."
"I'm the last Dragon skin, Dagon Maddris, son of Ayden Maddris. I intend to forge a Kinship with you and awaken all other dragons to bring about destruction and chaos through the Four Kingdoms." Dagon's tone was serious.
"You? A mere boy, thinks he could bring down the Four Kingdoms alone? Don't kid yourself." The dragon, Sephtis, hissed.
"Not alone. I intend to befriend as many dragons as I can. And you, Sephtis, will be the first." Dagon smiled at the dragon.
"You think mere words will grant you my trust, boy?" Sephtis growled, his green eyes rising within the cave as a talon stepped out, followed by his head and body.
Sleek, pointed spikes covered Sephtis's head and spine. He had blackish scales with a green tint to them that seemed to glow, and luminescent green patterns were etched into his body. His jaw was narrow and he had an overbite. His sharp white teeth were exposed and the fangs of his lower and upper jaw were disproportionately large compared to the others. His talons were long and serrated, coated in green acid. His wings were massive and tattered, and his tail ended in a barbed hook.
"To earn my trust and recognition, you have to prove you are worthy of my power." Sephtis hissed.
"And how do I do that?" Dagon inquired as the dragon drew closer.
"Simply hold still…" the dragon hissed as it approached Dagon, leaning in to where its jaws were mere inches away from his face. Dagon could feel Sephtis's breath on his skin, but he didn't waver. He knew the dragon was testing his bravery.
Sephtis's tail rose into the air, flicking before beginning to move towards Dagon's face, dripping with acidic green liquid that hissed when it hit the ground. The barb of his tail was millimeters away from Dagon's eye, but even so, he stayed steady and immovable. He did not shiver and he did not give way.
Even as the venomous tail shifted down and made contact with Dagon's lower arm, burning and scorching his skin, he didn't even wince. He knew the way dragons tended to be, as Gena had informed him. To them, show of bravery and determination was the most important thing you could do to earn their trust. If you were a coward, a dragon would simply eat you alive.
"Pah!" Sephtis spat, turning away. On all fours, the venom dragon stood at least five feet taller than Gena. "I refuse to take part in some pointless war that will result in nothing but death. The Four Kingdoms are far too advanced to bring down now."
"Not if we unite all the dragons." Dagon spoke.
"Unite them? How? By talking every single dragon one at a time across the land into committing suicide?" Sephtis shook his head, his horns shifting with the motion. "It won't work, boy. There are no more Dragon Kin to bond with other than you. How do you suppose to bring all the dragons hidden throughout this cursed land out of hiding?"
"I'll be their Kinship."
"What?"
"I alone will unite all the dragons. I will be the Dragon King, and bond with all the dragons. I will be the one to lead every last dragon to war." Dagon said with all seriousness.
"You are joking, right?" Sephtis asked, his tone low and aggressive. "You honestly think you could lead and control all the dragons?"
"Yes. I do." Dagon said. He was completely serious in this.
Sephtis gave a low tone growl. "And what of me? What is the point of me forging a Kinship with you when all you'll do is find more dragons?"
"Is someone jealous?" Dagon asked with a slight grin.
Sephtis raised a talon to Dagon's throat. "Do not mock me, boy."
"Calm down. You, Sephtis, will be my closest ally. Together we will be the dragon kings." Dagon spoke.
"Me? A dragon king?" Sephtis asked, then began to make a guttural, repetitive humming sound. That was how dragons laughed. "You do not know of me, do you, boy?"
"What do you mean?" Dagon asked.
"I am the Venomous God of Decay. The other dragons hate me."
"Why?" Dagon asked. "I don't see what reason they'd have to hate you."
"There have been events that transpired long ago. I have no right to be the king of dragons due to them."
"What exactly happened?" Dagon asked, curious now.
"It is none of your concern, boy. Go find another dragon. I am not worthy of such a title." Sephtis turned back to his cave.
"Wait!" Dagon called, "I have only till sundown! Otherwise it will be another two years."
"What does that matter to me, boy? I am over six hundred years old, two years is nothing more than a small sliver of time."
"But in that time the Four Kingdoms could grow even stronger."
"Then do something about it, excluding me."
"But I want you to be my Kinship. Sephtis, I do not care what you did, and I assure you, if you join me the other dragons will forget what you did as well."
"How could you possibly know that?" Sephtis hissed, "you were not even there."
"No. But I know that this is your chance."
"Chance?"
"Yes. To redeem yourself. To prove you are worthy of the title of dragon king. Do not waste this opportunity." Dagon pulled the necklace from over his neck, holding it out in his palm to Sephtis. "Be my partner."
Sephtis stared Dagon down for a long moment, his tail flicking back and forth as he growled softly. For a moment, Dagon thought Sephtis would turn him down, but then the dragon moved forward and placed a single talon on the Drakeagen stone.
"Fine. But if this goes wrong, I will tear you to shreds." Sephtis hissed as the stone began to glow.
Dagon smiled brightly. "I figured. But don't worry. Everything will be fine."