The last time I visited Scandinavia, I was accompanied by Fleur. It was a perilous journey, marred by deceitful profiteers, which led us to this mystical place. It was here that I encountered Heinrich, but our meeting turned sour when he attacked Amohan, dragging me into the fray. Flying with the fire dragon team, soaring high above the clouds, spared us from many troubles along the way. As we neared our destination, a valley that appeared as a colossal ring from above came into view. This was the Valley of Never Rest.
Upon returning to his domain, Amohan's spirits soared, invigorating the entire dragon team. Our group, consisting of four formidable fire dragons, was a sight to behold, deterring any who dared cross our path.
"That's the Valley of Never Rest," Amohan announced, his wings beating powerfully. "Dragon Whisperer, it would be wise for you to transform into a dragon. The valley is not kind to wizards."
Heeding his advice, I stood on Amohan's back and began my transformation. My skin morphed into dark green scales that glistened under the sunlight, and formidable dragon horns sprouted from my forehead. With a leap, I descended through the clouds, my body expanding in size.
My arrival was met with a chorus of roars from several female dragons, their messages clear and filled with admiration. Despite their maternal status, they were unabashed in their flirtations, likening me to a desirable mate. Amohan, however, looked on with disdain, though his expression soon shifted to one of amusement at my discomfort.
"Dragon Whisperer, your appearance has certainly caused a stir among the Dragon Clan," he commented, noting my powerful build and fearsome features, which aligned perfectly with the fire dragon's ideals of beauty and strength. Among the dragons present, I stood as tall as Amohan, if not taller, measuring over 55 feet in length.
Surrounded by what felt like draconic admirers, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "Why does it feel like I'm being ogled by a group of female hooligans?" I muttered, half-tempted to revert to my human form.
Upon entering the Valley of Never Rest, the attention from the female dragons waned, allowing me to take in the ancient, untamed beauty of the place. Enclosed by a crater wall, this secluded valley served as a sanctuary for dragons. At its heart lay a rugged mountain, revered as the birthplace of dragonkind.
"The legendary ancient dragon fell here, and this land was formed from one of its horns," Amohan explained, his voice filled with reverence.
The valley was teeming with fire dragons, their numbers dwarfing those found in Romania. Each dragon had carved out a cave within the Valley of Never Rest to call home. Amohan's former abode had been claimed by a Norwegian Ridgeback, which quickly vacated the premises upon our imposing arrival.
Settling into Amohan's cave, he shared insights into the dragon community, including the existence of guardian dragons. These venerable beings, powerful and wise, conducted tests for the fire dragons. "Passing their test grants you your true name," Amohan revealed, his tone hinting at the significance of this rite.
The cave, devoid of treasures save for some crystalline pillars, reflected the dragons' affinity for all things shiny. Amohan, with a gleam in his eye, claimed one such pillar as his bed.
"The test begins on the fourth day after the full moon in April," Amohan informed me, setting the stage for what promised to be a pivotal moment in our journey. "When the ancient dragon is said to have died," Amohan lay on the crystal pillar, embodying the epitome of laziness. John observed this and couldn't help but think it was no surprise that Heinrich had managed to attack it. Simultaneously, a thought crossed his mind about the full moon—the day they were to leave the Forbidden Forest. Calculating the days, he realized that tomorrow would be the day of the test.
John stepped outside, where each of the three dragons was accompanied by a baby dragon. The inherent maternal instinct allowed the female dragons to nurture the young ones. Standing on a protruding stone platform, John surveyed the land, a domain solely of dragons. Here, one could witness every kind of dragon imaginable. An Australian Opaleye was locked in a confrontation with a Norwegian Ridgeback, their conflict escalating as they breathed fire at each other. The skirmish grew, moving from the ground to the air, until the Ridgeback was struck by the Opaleye, its scales torn and blood spattering towards John.
The three little dragons, seemingly considering John as their guardian, were at his feet when the Ridgeback approached. Unable to dodge in time, John watched as the little dragons were impacted. Reacting swiftly, he grabbed the Ridgeback by its neck with his thick dragon claws and hurled it against the stone wall, causing rubble to fall and the Ridgeback to collapse. This act of dominance stunned the Opaleye and attracted the attention of the surrounding dragons, who were now fully awake.
John's imposing stature and the ferocious horns adorning his head sent a clear message to the other dragons: he was not to be trifled with. In dragon society, where combat is a display of status, some dragons considered challenging John. However, this thought quickly dissipated as they witnessed his strength, and one by one, they lowered their heads in submission.
"What's wrong with them?" John asked, puzzled.
"They fear your strength because you have four mates," Amohan explained.
John was taken aback. Dragons, with their keen sense of smell, could detect the scent of female dragons on him. This earned him a mix of awe and respect from the male dragons, while the female dragons, known for being fiercely independent, were a testament to his status. To have four consorts was akin to being a legendary figure among dragons.
A green dragon approached John with admiration in its eyes, almost begging for his approval. John was left speechless as the dragon's gaze shifted to Amohan, clearly entranced by her beauty.
Then, a red dragon, towering at nearly 50 feet with spikes adorning its tail, flew over. Its gaze fixed on Amohan, it challenged John, "I want to fight with you!"
Puzzled, John inquired, "Is this 'dragon fight' similar to the skirmish we just witnessed?"
"Don't compare me to those weaklings," the red dragon retorted with pride. "Their fight was mere child's play. If you lose, you must relinquish the female dragon."
John quickly grasped the concept of the dragon fight—a battle for ownership, a practice that, while straightforward, was an accepted part of dragon society. It wasn't limited to claiming mates but could extend to territories and possessions, reflecting the dragons' simple yet battle-oriented culture.
"Sorry, I can't agree to this. Amohan isn't mine to wager," John responded calmly to the red dragon's provocation, maintaining his composure. "If you wish to fight me, I can't stop you, but know that Amohan is not a prize to be won." John was eager to test his mettle against the formidable dragons he had encountered in his first challenge. He wondered if his own draconic form could withstand the fierce fangs and razor-sharp teeth of a fire dragon. His curiosity and experimental approach led to a misunderstanding with a red dragon, who perceived John's attitude as an underestimation of its power. Enraged, the red dragon charged at John with a ferocious roar, its massive body hurtling towards him.
John's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he met the red dragon head-on. The impact of their collision resonated with a deep, muffled sound. John, raising his sharp claws, clashed with the red dragon, which retaliated by biting at John's neck. The dragon's teeth scraped against John's scales, causing a sharp pain, but John's powerful swipe sent the red dragon tumbling through the air.
Touching his neck, John realized his human instincts had momentarily taken over, making him forget that a dragon's most lethal weapon was its venom-laden teeth. Thankfully, the bite wasn't deep, and his scales offered significant protection. With a powerful flap of his wings, John soared towards the red dragon once more.
The red dragon, regaining its composure, prepared to unleash its fiery breath. Its cheeks glowed a menacing red as it expelled a stream of fire towards John. In response, John summoned a concentrated blast of flames from his own maw, chanting "Fire Burning (Incendio)." The two streams of fire collided, but John's flames, enhanced by ancient magic and his fire dragon form, quickly overpowered the red dragon's, engulfing it in an intense blaze.
As the flames dissipated, the red dragon lay on the ground, its scales charred black. John, realizing the potency of using flame spells in dragon form, approached the defeated dragon with a sense of accomplishment. Amohan's voice, filled with excitement, urged John to claim his trophy by breaking off the red dragon's horns.
Feeling the red dragon tremble beneath his feet, John sensed its fear and humiliation. For a dragon, losing its horns was a mark of disgrace, a fact John was unaware of but could infer from the red dragon's reaction. Despite this, John's resolve hardened as he grasped the dragon's horns.
The red dragon's pleas for mercy went unheeded as John, understanding the need to assert his dominance, snapped off the horns with brute force. The red dragon's wails echoed as John, holding the horns aloft, let out a victorious roar. This was the posture of a true victor, a statement of his unchallenged strength and authority in the face of formidable adversaries.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge