"Chin up, kid." Gänhir spoke. "You've got no reason to be down trodden. Don't worry, you'll make a fine king, that is if you are your father's son. Are ya?"
Dagon looked up at Gänhir. Again, he couldn't comprehend how someone could exude so much confidence. "Yeah." He said. "I am. Sorry, it is just a bit overwhelming." Dagon smiled. "Thank you for helping us."
"Don't thank me, kid.. I have your father's blood on my hands." Gänhir spoke.
"Were you the one who made the killing blow?" Dagon asked.
"No, but I never did anything to protect him."
"It doesn't matter. I forgive you… the one who deserves to die is Mourtas. As well as the others."
"Don't worry, kid. I've already killed the royals in my kingdom, and I've got quite the surprise for you when we get there."
"What exactly is going on here..?" Bella asked, moving forward with her dragon walking beside her.
"My name is Gänhir, one of the four Dragon Kin of the Four Kingdoms. But, I am not on their side, from the beginning I've made a plan to overthrow them. That plan starts now." He said. "I took the throne of Leina, and now that I've found Dagon and you, I'm able to begin the process of the return of the dragons."
"I realize that, but why do you need Dagon? Or us?" Bella asked. "How do we know we can trust you?"
"Dagon is the Dragon King, or at least he is meant to be. His father was once my friend, and he had asked me to teach Dagon how to be a good king, a strong leader, and a compassionate ruler." Gänhir said.
"So you know about the egg?"
"I do, as do most royals within the kingdoms. As you know, it is Mourtas's goal to get his hands on it."
Dagon hopped down from Sephtis and walked around to face his dragon, placing his hand on his snout.
"Sephtis?" Dagon turned to Gänhir. "Do you know what is wrong with him?"
"He used his strongest Draco Spell, yes?"
Dagon recalled Sephtis saying something about Draco Magic. "Yes? I think so?"
"Then that means he used up his life force. Dragons can't just use magic, even the magic you use if from your dragon's life energy. When too much of it is consumed, the dragon will go into a coma-like state." Gänhir explained.
"Is there a way to get him out of it?"
"Give him your own life energy. It will wake him up."
Dagon looked at Sephtis for a moment, then back to Gänhir. "How do I do that..?"
"Really? You don't know how… okay. Basically it's like when you get a Shift, just reverse the stream. Think of how it feels when your dragon Shifts to you, then have it reverse."
Dagon looked back at Sephtis and his dragon's blank expression. He imagined the feeling of being filled with magical energy from Sephtis, then he tried to imagine have that reversed. What came to mind was how it felt to be exhausted and to of used all his magical energy.
Sephtis's scales began to glow around Dagon's hand where it touched him. The glow began to spread outward as Sephtis's scales returned to normal and the dragon took in a deep breath of air and, after a moment, both Dagon and Sephtis collapsed to the ground.
*Did we kill him..?* Sephtis hummed.
*No, but we are safe.* Dagon responded as Sephtis slowly lifted his head.
Dagon sat up, keeping his hand on Sephtis as he explained the situation.
*I see..* Sephtis turned to face Gänhir and the white dragon. "Shiratt." He nodded at the dragon.
"Sephtis. It has been quite some time. I think the last time we crossed paths was.."
"Yes. That time." Sephtis growled. "No need to speak of it."
The white dragon, Shiratt, chuckled. "Yes, of course."
"Alright, we've wasted enough time." Gänhir spoke. "Do you think you can fly, Sephtis?"
"Yes."
"Good. We need to go before Mourtas decides to come back with reinforcements."
"Mind if I ask a question?" Bella spoke.
"It can wait till we are up in the air." Gena growled.
"I wasn't talking to you, 'Goldie'." Bella mocked.
"She is right, though. We need to leave."
"Fine, but I have questions and you are going to answer them." Bella said, clambering onto her dragon before Ellira shot upwards.
"Where'd ya find that one?" Gänhir asked Dagon.
"Ah… that's a long story." Dagon said with an awkward laugh. "But, you can trust her."
"I assumed as much." He grinned, "You a ladies' man then?"
"What-I-no!"
"Your father certainly was, I wouldn't be surprised if you were." He chuckled.
"He certainly finds her attractive." Sephtis hummed amusedly.
"Sephtis-shut up!" Dagon hissed.
Sephtis and Gänhir, even Gena, chuckled at this.
"We cannot waste anymore time, so let us be off. I'll lead you to Leina Castle."
— — —
Mourtas flew high in the air atop Zickarys's back. He retrieved a glass plate that seemed to be made from Drakeagen. It looked almost like obsidian.
He raised it to his face and incanted a spell, and a moment later the face of a woman as well as a man, Nargash, appeared upon the sleek surface.
"I have an important message that I want you to convey to the kings." Mourtas spoke.
"Oh? And what is your idea of important, Mourtas? I don't have time for any of your little experiments." Came a haughty feminine voice.
"It's about the Leina Kingdom."
"You mean about Gänhir taking the throne? Yeah, we know. What of it?"
"What? I didn't know of this." Nargash spoke in surprise.
"Well, you are stupid, so your opinion does not matter."
"Watch your tone, wench."
"I dare you to do something about it."
"Enough squabbling!" Mourtas roared, a crack appearing in the Drakeagen slate. "He has taken Dagon under his protection, as well as some of Dagon's allies, claiming Dagon is to be the Dragon King."
"Dagon? Maddris? You mean Ayden's brat?" The girl spoke. "Ah. So that's what you've been up to. And by the looks of it, you are retreating with your tail between your legs."
"Enough."
"Sorry, it's just rare to see you defeated. It's amusing."
"I'm sure it is, but it does not matter. Gänhir has declared war on the other three kingdoms."
"Oh? So he thinks he can win?"
"It would seem so."
"Strange. I never expected something like this from him…" Nargash spoke.
"Well, actually, it was obvious from the beginning he was never loyal." The girl said.
"It was?"
"Yes, you are just a simple minded fool." Mourtas spoke. "Have the kings prepare the armies. We are to invade the Lasia region in three days time. We will take them by storm."
"Understood."