Ultimate Level 1

“I am not one to be laughed at, human. Tell me, how do you have my father’s marking? If it were not for that, I would have already acted and enjoyed the taste of your flesh.”

Clearing his throat, Max moved with confidence, chest out, and right toward the dragon, who slowly lifted its large head.

“He and I spoke in the trial upon reaching level fifty. To say how I got it would be breaking our agreement, but if you can sense it now, you’re different from the other dragons I met.”

His massive host cocked its head sideways, never taking its golden eyes off him.

“I am Max Hoste. Tell me, what is your name?”

Slowly, the dragon rose to its feet, reaching its full sitting height, and didn’t even come to a fourth of the height of the cavern.

Each scale looked hardened, healthy, and almost radiant. It shifted slightly, bending its neck toward him, producing a shimmering effect.

“I am even more intrigued now. A human with the mark of my father and speaking the tongue that only dragons know. What has changed in your kingdom that such a thing could exist? It has been thousands of years since one of your kind has spoken our language.”

Max fought to keep his face straight as the dragon spoke. Now, its voice no longer caused his chest to vibrate, and he could sense the shift in its words.

A sensation like a sigh came from inside his mind.

I assumed you did but it would appear that was not the case. Yes, her first words were in their tongue, and you didn’t realize that you had simply responded in kind.

Her?! It’s a female dragon? How can you tell?

Laughter came from Bob, and Max would have believed his cheeks had turned slightly red, ready to blame it on the searing heat around him.

I am not your father and do not feel the need to point out dragon anatomy. If you cannot figure that out… perhaps you can ask Tanila to teach you.

The laughter grew, and Max shook his head, unable to hold back, and smiled.

“Forgive me. I must also compliment you on your appearance. I have yet to encounter a dragon with scales as beautiful as yours. Truly, yours shine almost as brightly as your father’s. He would be very proud of his daughter.”

Her lips pulled back, and a toothy smile appeared for a few seconds before a thrumming sound escaped her mouth and caused her body to shake.

“Dear Father, what have you found? A human who not only carries your mark, speaks our language, but spins words better than most males of our kind who might wish to lay with me!”

Lifting her head toward the ceiling, the dragon continued to howl for half a minute, before slowly relaxing and sighing as she fixed her gaze again upon him.

“I am called Aerthen. Tell me. Why have you ventured into my home? Surely you are not foolish enough to believe you can come here and kill me or steal my treasure?”

Shaking his head, Max used a hand to wipe his bald head. The sweat that formed had already been wicked away by the heat, but he needed a moment to collect himself.

“I made a promise to another dragon on another world. To keep that commitment, I need the help of a dragon, and so here I am, looking to find one who might be willing to allow me to keep my word.”

Aerthen shook her body, her wings flapping a bit and creating gusts of hot wind that swept around the cavern.

“I will hear your request. Come, you may walk the circle of flames, and I promise to not attack, provided you do not attack me.”

Grinning, Max fought back the urge to smirk.

“Would it be alright if I just flew over?”

“Fly? You can—”

She stopped questioning as a spear of air formed, and Max jumped onto it, balancing with ease. He then slowly glided across the lava that gave off heat beneath him.

“A mage? In warrior gear? And yet you move with the grace of an elf or a thief.”

Both of Aerthen’s eyes sparkled in the light, watching as he made it to the other side of the lava barrier and jumped off, landing on the stone floor near her.

Giving a slight bow, Max looked upward, straining his neck to take her in.

“You really are a majestic dragon. To be your size means you have lived a few years.”

Laughter came, and the thrumming inside her pushed against him with force, the waves of pressure assaulting him, no longer weakened by the heat of the lava or the distance between them.

“If you were a dragon… I might make requests. Still, I can tell that you will have a hard time conversing like this. Allow me to assist with that.”

Her body began to glow a bright orange, and then Max watched as he knew what was coming next.

She is far stronger than we realize. To have that kind of power…

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Not the same power as Igarra? Right?

That… I am not certain. Just be careful, Max.

As they talked, Aerthen’s body grew smaller until she stood in the center of her stone area, easily ten feet tall and wearing a red dress that matched what her scales did. Flaming red hair cascaded down her dark, tanned skin, and those golden eyes were locked upon him, a smile firmly in place on her lips.

“How is this?”

Max wanted to speak, but he was caught off-guard.

“You… wow.”

Laughing, she moved toward him, revealing behind her a red tail hidden by the dress when she first appeared.

As she moved, two large stone chairs appeared, one in each hand and she set them down.

Snapping her fingers, a force rushed past Max, and he felt the air immediately cool, almost like a mid-spring day as a dome of some sort prevented the heat from reaching them.

“That is impressive,” he said as he moved toward the chair she placed on the floor. “I’ve only known and seen one other dragon who could transform like that, and she was very powerful. A world champion.”

“And tell me, how did she handle meeting you?” Aerthen asked, sitting in her chair and shifting slightly to pull her tail around, setting it over her lap, slowly playing with the scales.

He couldn’t help but wince as he sat down.

“She died. She attempted to keep me from the woman I love and hurt many along the way. So I fought her and killed her.”

A cough came from Aerthen, and her eyes widened as she pressed herself back against the stone chair.

“You… claim to have killed one who can do what I have done?! Impossible! Yet…” Her words trailed off as she sat there, slowly relaxing, her eyes glued to him. “I sense no bragging. None of what you have said sounds boastful. I have heard many men and dragons try to exaggerate and make themselves seem bigger, and yet… you do not. Tell me, why would she do such a thing?”

Max sighed, and a bottle of alcohol he knew was worth thousands of gold, taken from Igarra’s own stash, appeared.

“Perhaps I can share that story with you while we enjoy a little of her drink.”

A crystal goblet appeared in Aerthen’s hand, and she held it outward, grinning.

“That would be a tale worthy of hearing.”

***

Max felt like an overprotective parent as he watched Aerthen gently stroke the outside of the silver egg. Her fingers caressed each groove, never seeming to leave the outer shell.

With each stroke, he could sense the dragon inside responding, watching the egg move slightly, quivering just a little.

“An egg… such a precious thing.”

Her voice was so low that Max might not have heard it without his Sonar skill.

“This is why I need a dragon willing to protect it. To help it grow and teach it how to live.”

She snorted and shook her head, gazing at him from above.

“You do not know the value of such a thing, and yet you offer it to me… not knowing what kind of dragon I am. I could be the kind to raise it to ravage the lands, burning down cities and killing all those who live in it.”

“And yet, by how you talk and how I see you touch it, I know there is a heart of a woman inside you that desires to have a child,” he replied, seeing how she winced at his last words.

“Max Hoste… I cannot… this gift… there is no way I could ever pay you for such a treasure.”

“I don’t need gold or items. I just need to know you’ll let me keep my promise to Kuneoss. Let this child know that their father was a proud dragon. One who wouldn’t bend no matter how heavy the load he was forced to carry. A dragon who sacrificed everything so they could live.”

A sniff came, followed by a tear from each eye, rolling slowly down those tanned cheeks, catching on her red lips, each one licked away a second later.

“This Tanila. The woman you love. She is very lucky to have a man like you. I pray she realizes this.”

“She better,” he replied, winking, glad to see Aerthen smile again.

“Surely, I could give you something. Scales? Teeth?”

“I have plenty for now. The only thing I might ask is if you would allow me to visit and check in on the dragon occasionally. Not because I don’t believe you will raise it right, but because I would like it to know that somewhere is a human that cares about it and will do what I can to protect it, as long as it doesn’t get in too much trouble.”

Her laughter carried far and wide, and he couldn’t help but join her momentarily.

“Well, you got past my first trap and many of the others. I see now I shall have to create a few new ones, since you easily flew over them. It was not something I had anticipated anyone would be able to do. Then again it has been many years since your kind has been foolish enough to venture into my lair. I will need to attune them to you so that they will not cause any harm when you touch them.”

“Part of me wants to learn so much of this magic you possess and many other things, but I don’t have the time for that right now,” he replied. “Besides, now that I have been here, you don’t need to do anything. Whenever I want, I can come to any spot I’ve seen in the cave.”

Her head snapped in his direction, her gaze having drifted down to the egg she was caressing.

“You… can travel?”

“I can, but I would prefer to keep that knowledge a secret. However, since you will be caring for this one, and we both know its value, I’ll trust you with that knowledge as well.”

Two gold eyes blinked rapidly for a few seconds, and then Aerthen shook her head slightly.

“Father was right to choose you to mark. To be that strong… to have the heart I sense in you. It is a rare thing. Know that I will take that secret with me to my death.”

As she spoke, she lifted two fingers, touched them to her lips in a kiss, and then put them against her chest.

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Besides, I need to—”

It’s happening!

Both of them stared at the egg, which was beginning to bounce.

His Sonar skill had told Bob what he now knew.

“It’s hatching!” Aerthen exclaimed. “Come! Join us, and tell us who you are, little one!”

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