Over the two days of training, Dagon felt that he had a good hold on his abilities. He'd been able to learn three spells, the first of which being able to turn any stone or metal element to Mercury of the deadliest kind. The second was being able to manipulate the Mercury. He had found out that he had actually made the Mercury so dense it was solid, which is why it never took its usual liquid form. By changing the density and force of the spell, he was able to control where and how the Mercury moved as well as how solid it was. Though, he was still in practice with it, since it took so much focus.
The most he had been able to manage was making a Mercury spike shoot out of the ground, though it was only about three feet tall.
The last thing Dagon learned was that he could turn any liquid, including blood, to acid. Sephtis had captured a wild animal that they would eat for dinner that night, but he decided to use it for practice. Dagon ended up turning all of its blood to acid, melting the creature down and burning it from the inside out until it was no more than mush.
Dagon had then confronted Sephtis about the waste of life and food, but the dragon insisted that if Dagon had a problem with taking the life of a mere animal then he was not prepared for war.
"No." Dagon had responded, "That animal was innocent, but the Four Kingdoms are far from it. I would not hesitate to rip them apart."
Sephtis had stared at Dagon for a long moment, as if judging him, then gave a soft growl. "I see." He had said.
After the first day, Sephtis had Dagon focus on practicing with what he had learned the previous day instead of learning new things.
"One who is a master of few skills will always overcome one who is only adequate in many." Sephtis had explained.
Dagon's speed in casting his spells had grown by a large degree, to where he could send out attacks in quick succession. He had also been able to increase his control over the Mercury spikes, their height growing to about five feet.
Sephtis had grown physically in proportion to Dagon's magical skill. Spikes began to form on his shoulders and limbs, and serrated scales formed along the edge of his wings. Venom could excrete from the scales, so his wings were now like poisoned blades which he could swing through the air to cut down enemies. His talons grew longer and he became bulkier, thought he only gained a little under a foot in height, meaning he was now almost sixteen feet in height.
"Do you think we are ready to storm the castle, then?" Dagon asked Sephtis.
"No." The dragon responded.
They were laying down beneath a large overhang of rock by the Iron Scales. A fire was flickering between Dagon and Sephtis, the flames sending shadows dancing across the sand.
"We are not strong enough to compete with Zickarys yet." Sephtis explained, "if we are to rescue Gena we will have to wait for the right moment. Most likely, we will need to wait until Zickarys leaves… but.."
"But?" Dagon asked.
"They have most likely equipped Gena in Drakeagen armor, meaning she has been enslaved."
"Then.. what do we do?"
"I imagine, to be cruel, they will send Gena out to find us and use tracking magic to follow her movements. They will have her fight us, and regardless of if she loses or wins, they will come to find us once the battle is over to capture us. I imagine Zickarys and Mourtas will be there as well."
"Wait.." Dagon spoke.
"Hmm?"
"What if we lay in waiting for Gena to find us, then just have her chase us. We could lead her far across the desert to the tundra away from the castle, then free her. That way it would seem like she is still searching and we would have time to escape once we remove her armor." Dagon suggested.
"Yes. I had already thought much the same thing." Sephtis nodded, "It is our best chance."
"Then let's do it!"
"There is only one issue." Sephtis growled.
"What do you mean? What issue could we have, she is nowhere near her old strength. It should be easy."
"No. Remember how I told you dark magic can restore your life energy?"
"Yes…? So what?"
"They have the ability to heal her wounds and give her all her strength back. And I am uncertain of if we could defeat her or not." Sephtis growled grimly, "There is a reason she was called the Gold Fury and the Scarlet Valkyrie."
"Well… let's hope we can, because I'm not backing down from this." Dagon spoke firmly.
Sephtis snorted. "I never said I was backing down. I'm just warning you we may be committing suicide here."
"We won't die." Dagon insisted, "We will free her. All we need to do is break that armor, and with acid, that shouldn't be hard."
"Drakeagen metal does not break that easily, Dagon. You are too confident for your own good."
"And you aren't confident enough, Sephtis." Dagon shot back.
— — —
Mourtas led Gena by a chain atop a draco pillar to the edge of the stone wall. A draco pillar is term used for the castle towers in which dragons take flight from. Large stone steps led up to a completely flat stone surface at the top.
Upon the roof of another tower was Zickarys, watching intently from a distance.
Mourtas stopped, taking a black Drakeagen stone and fitting it into a hollow spot within Gena's armor at her chest. It was tracking magic, which was now active.
"I want you to go, find Ayden's son and kill both him and his dragon. I want you to bring their scorched skulls to my feet. Am I understood?" Mourtas spoke, releasing the chain.
Gena gave a short growl, then her wings spread wide, the sleek black armor glistening in the sunlight before she blasted into the air, soaring high above the clouds.