บท 95: Chapter 95 - Meeting the Red Dragon Again
The wind rushed past me, carrying the faint scent of pine and snow. The landscape below shifted from rolling hills to jagged peaks. My wings beat steadily as I tried to push away the nagging belief that the gems I had brought wouldn't be enough of an offering. I would need to offer something more, such as a blessing. However, I didn't know what type of blessing to give the red dragon.
Everything I could think of wouldn't be very useful to him. One or two additional damage would be useless. Einvaldskonungr's physical attributes were already high, so anything I added would be redundant. I felt like I was trying to decide what to buy for someone who had everything. The red dragon was proud. Since I didn't know what he would want or need, I decided to let him choose what type of blessing I would offer him.
As I neared the mouth of his cavern, the air grew warmer. The ground below was scorched, the blackened trees reminding me of the recent battle that had taken place there. I descended slowly, keeping my wings outstretched to control my landing.
Before I could say anything, I heard a deep, rumbling voice called out from the shadows of the cave, "Nóttormr, you've arrived. I hope you brought the tribute I asked for."
I was a little surprised that he recognized me. Then again, I probably shouldn't have been. Afterall, he did have kobolds who reported news to him. The fact that I had become a dragon was something he was bound to have heard. What I was curious to find out was if he had discovered that I had become a god. Even if the red dragon knew, there was no way he could know that I had become a lesser god.
The red dragon emerged and eyed me for a moment. Then he met my gaze with a twisted grin. For some reason, something about the look he gave me filled me with suspicion. Trying to shrug off the feeling, I said, "I keep my promises," as I brought the gems and jewels that I had collected out of my divine realm where I had stored them.
A group of red kobolds hurried out of the shadows and quickly gathered the gems. I blinked, somewhat annoyed that I hadn't noticed the kobolds. I made a mental note to be more perceptive in the future. Just because I was a god didn't mean I was invulnerable. Briefly, I wondered if I might not have noticed them because I didn't see them as a threat.
Einvaldskonungr watched as the kobolds scurried back into the cavern with the jewels. He seemed amused for some reason. "A fine offering. I accept." He stepped back, his tail twitching, thumping against the ground. "But you didn't fly all this way just to bring me gems. What else do you have for me, young god?"
I hesitated but then continued. "I've come to offer you a blessing. As a token of our alliance."
Einvaldskonungr's eyes narrowed, his grin widening. "A blessing, you say? How generous. But there is something else I desire more."
"What is it?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
"The Ritual of Apotheosis," he said, his voice reverberating even without being in a cavern. "The ritual you used to ascend to godhood. It has been lost for centuries, but I know you have it. Share it with me, and I will serve as your subordinate god."
The request caught me off guard. I stared at him, trying to gauge his sincerity. "You want to become my subordinate?"
"If it means gaining godhood, yes," he said, his tone calm but firm. "But don't mistake my willingness for submission. I would serve you because it would benefit us both. The world is changing, Nóttormr. Gods and dragons must adapt or be left behind."
I considered his words. Becoming a god had changed me in ways I was still trying to understand. Sharing the ritual with Einvaldskonungr would make him powerful, perhaps too powerful. But his loyalty could be invaluable. "I'll think about it," I said finally.
I was a little worried that he would turn against me as soon as he became a god. The only reason I didn't feel threatened at the moment was because being a god allowed me to bridge the physical differences. If he were a god too, despite being a lesser god, the red dragon would probably be able to overpower me. Now, if I had a lot of Faith points, it might be different. Unfortunately, I hadn't had a chance to accumulate a lot of them after upgrading from a minor god.
Einvaldskonungr chuckled. "Fair enough. Now, let's talk about the green dragon. Groenneitr."
My tail twitched. "What about him?"
"His kobolds attacked mine. Many of my treasures now lie in his hoard. We fought, but humans aided him. I had to retreat." His voice grew harsher, his eyes narrowing. "The Penningr Republic supports him. They're trying to undermine me. But I have allies too."
"Who?" I asked.
"The ruler of the Konungdómr Kingdom," he said with a toothy grin. "He asked me to deal with two traitors in his court, Baron Réttr and Viscount Landskyld. They were secretly supporting the Republic. I destroyed them at his request."
The revelation surprised me. "You've been working with humans?"
Einvaldskonungr's grin widened. "Sometimes, alliances are necessary. Even with mortals. The king and I have a mutually beneficial arrangement. Besides, it's entertaining to watch them squabble while I gain more power."
I couldn't help but give a nervous chuckle. "You've been busy."
"Always," he said, his tone becoming more serious. "There is a lot of chaos in the world. If you don't continuously strive to move forward, you will fall behind." He paused for a moment here before continuing, "Kobolds live by a simple yet profound philosophy, work hard and play harder. They believe that toiling away is the foundation of their survival, a necessity to stay ahead in a world that often dismisses their kind."
I nodded, curious to see where he was going with what he was saying. I also wanted to compare it to what I had discovered in my short time as a kobold. Another reason I paid attention was because I was technically a god of the kobolds, or at least the ones in my city. Because of this, I listened to every word intently as the red dragon continued.
"Every stone they carve, every trap they build, and every gem they unearth is a testament to their resilience and determination," Einvaldskonungr said solemnly. "Yet, they also understand that life must be savored. Toiling endlessly without joy would render existence hollow, a grim cycle of drudgery. Because of this, kobolds celebrate fiercely, reveling in games, songs, and feasts with their tribe."
The more he spoke, the higher my respect for the red dragon increased. I hated to admit it, but I had previously viewed the humans, the kobolds, and the dragons two-dimensionally. I viewed them very stereotypically, even when there was evidence that I shouldn't be doing so, such as when Einvaldskonungr was supposedly sleeping, but actually wasn't. I hadn't ever really thought about the implications. Even when he didn't take a healing potion before attacking the green dragon. It was as if there were games within games that I was only now starting to become aware of. Realizing I was getting distracted, I went back to paying attention to the red dragon's words.
"For them, balance is key. The hard work they endure ensures their future, and hard play makes the effort worthwhile. Life is not merely to survive, but to thrive. Without moments of joy, why bother living at all?"
The red dragon's piercing gaze settled on me as his deep, rumbling voice questioned my beliefs. "Do you think we dragons are lazy, little one? That we spend our days lounging atop our hoards, doing nothing but preening and sleeping?"
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. "N-no, of course not," I said, although that was actually close to the truth. Then again, I was technically a dragon, and I had done very little sleeping or lazing around.
He cut you off with a snort of smoke. "Lies. You do think that. Many creatures believe this, but you shouldn't. Let me enlighten you." He shifted, his colossal form casting shifting shadows along the walls. "When we sleep, it is not idleness. It is an investment. Each slumber strengthens us, allowing our power to grow, our minds to sharpen. And when we are awake, we are far from still."
The dragon's voice grew sharper, filled with pride. "We shape our lairs, making them fortresses of wonder and terror. We bend the world itself to our will. Every stone, every enchantment serves a purpose. And yet, even the mightiest dragon knows that power cannot thrive in isolation. That is where kobolds come into play."
His gaze fell on me, his lips curling into what might have been a smile, or a warning. "Kobolds. Tireless, clever, indispensable. They carve my traps, expand my hoard, and handle tasks in order to assist us. In doing so, they magnify my power, just as I magnify theirs by granting them my bloodline."
I swallowed, overwhelmed by his intensity but unwilling to look away. I had given my bloodline to my kobold followers as well. They were indispensable to me, and because of this, I too rewarded them. I got the feeling that the words Einvaldskonungr were saying were especially important to listen to.
"Understand this, we dragons are proud, but we are not fools. Strength lies not just in claws and breath but in the ability to lead, to inspire to command. Every moment of our existence must serve a purpose. To waste even a single second is to squander power." His eyes flared with molten fire. "And no true dragon would ever allow that."
The weight of his words hung in the air, "I will remember."
"See that you do," he rumbled. "You are a dragon and bestow the bloodline of dragons upon others. Do not forget what that means."
This confused me for a moment. He made it sound like bestowing the draconic bloodline was super important for some reason. Perhaps sensing this, the red dragon sighed and said, "I see that I need to explain more. I suppose this can be expected since you are not the typical dragon."
The immense red dragon paused, then slowly changed into the human/elf appearance that he had taken the last time we had met in person. He looked like a human but with the long, pointed ears of an elf. Of course, that was if I ignored that his skin retained a slight reddish hue. Einvaldskonungr's leather armor was the same color the red dragon's scales had been. It fit him perfectly and accentuated his muscular build. The leather was a deep crimson in hue, was etched with intricate patterns resembling the scales of a dragon.
His voice rumbled, low and resonant, as if the earth itself were speaking. "Do you know why I have allowed the kobolds to share my bloodline or why I take this form, little god?"
I shook my head while trying to ignore the slight. Afterall, it was true. I was a little god. Still, it was kind of rude. However, I didn't have time to think about it before the red dragon continued.
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