Author's Preface
The following morning, Ryan took a stroll down the street where the battle had taken place. Corpses of dragons were still being carried off and burned in a pile in the middle of the city. Four red dragons stood around the pile of bodies, using their flame breath to keep the fire going. Ryan walked by an alley and noticed a dead adolescent green dragon. He looked to his left and right. A voice entered his mind.
"Dragon make good shadow. Meatloaf want dragon."
Ryan smiled as he approached the dragon and knelt down. He looked back one more time for good measure before placing his hand on the dragon's head. "Serve me."
[Adolescent Green Dragon: 25,000]
[Insufficient Mana]
"I fucking knew it. Sorry, Meatloaf, no dragons anytime soon." Ryan stood and turned. As he did, Alyssara was standing at the entrance to the alley, staring at him.
"They are waiting for you, Kade."
Ryan nodded and hopped onto Alyssara's back as she transformed into a dragon and flew toward an undisclosed location.
Alyssara flew Ryan to a cave far beyond the city of dragons. Inside awaited the queen and other members of the war council, including Tyrus and Yru. Ryan entered the meeting chamber and took a seat next to the queen.
She nodded to Ryan and stood. "I am aware we held Ixur and his clan to a standstill. Both sides lost lives and suffered during the last battle. This man here." She gestured to Ryan. "He has a few ideas on how to deal a blow to Ixur, find my husband and son, and end this without catastrophic losses to our kind."
The queen took a seat as Ryan stood. He cleared his throat and steeled himself. "I understand how you fight, your culture, your pride. I do not agree with it, and that is okay, but if you want to win this fight, you must let go of your pride." Ryan moved to the side of the table, where a map of the area lay in front of everyone. "Alyssara showed me where Ixur's clan is. I also noticed you all move in your original forms even though you can change forms to look more like me. We will use that as an advantage. Ixur believes in dragons' pride. He wouldn't expect others to attack or sabotage them in any form other than their true ones. We will take advantage of this pride first." Ryan pointed at a small path that led to Ixur's clan. "I will take a small party up this trail. We will scout the area to get some sense of what Ixur is planning or even where the king and prince are. I also have my shadows. I can use them to gather intelligence. They can give us information regarding their plans ahead of time, though it means getting close enough to those dragons so I can send my shadows."
Tyrus stood. "You mean to belittle us? What do you take us for?"
"Do you mean to live under the rule of Ixur?"
"No. We will defeat him properly."
"No, you won't. You held on last time because he brought less than half of his forces. He himself didn't even bother showing. He sent his brother in his stead. This is a battle you will lose if you fight him head-on."
"Nonsense, we drag-"
Yru stood as flames appeared around his hands. Tyrus stopped talking and took a seat. "The boy is right. If Ixur takes the throne, he means to invade the world. I, for one, will not see another war between us and the world."
Two white dragons nodded to each other as the queen cleared her throat. "I say we do this. We do exactly what is needed to win and find the king. As unconventional as it may be, it is worth the strike to our pride."
Just then, everyone turned their attention toward the entrance to the cave. Footsteps could be heard echoing through the halls. Ryan looked around the table as everyone seemed nervous. Even the queen stood trembling. Ryan turned toward the entrance as a man walked into the hall. Tyrus immediately transformed into his dragon form. The stranger did the same. This dragon was different from any Ryan had seen before. It was pure black, with black eyes and black claws. The aura it exuded was suffocating.
"Enough!" the queen shouted.
Both dragons transformed back into their humanoid forms.
"Olar, why are you here?"
"He is still my father, whether you see me as a bastard or not. I am simply here to help."
Ryan looked between Olar, the queen, and Alyssara, whose head hung in shame.
The queen sighed loudly. "Wait outside. I will talk to you after this."
Olar bowed his head. "As you wish."
Ryan tilted his head as he watched Olar walk away.
"Master, he smells... familiar."
"You sensed that too, huh, Fido?"
Ryan looked at Alyssara. "What the hell was that?"
"Long story."
The queen sighed. "That was my husband's other child from before we became betrothed to each other. He is from the Shadow Clan. They stay out of dragon politics and war. They reside on the far reaches of the Dragonlands. They are also direct descendants of our god and the strongest dragons there are."
"Then why aren't they in charge?"
"They are lazy beings, like you two-legged creatures," Tyrus barked.
The queen held her hand up. "We will find a group to go to Ixur's camp with you. You will depart in two days' time. Now, Mr. Kade, if you'll excuse us, we have other matters to attend to that do not involve you."
"Damn, just like that, huh?" Ryan smiled under his mask and thought to himself. "No worries, I've got an idea for who I want to go with me to Ixur's camp already." Ryan bowed. "Very well. I look forward to working with all of you." Ryan turned and headed toward the entrance of the cave.
As Ryan exited the cave, he noticed Olar sitting with his feet dangling off the cliff. As Ryan approached him, Olar stood and stared at him for a moment.
Olar's head was next to Ryan's chest as he inhaled and sniffed him. "You smell like us. Why?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Why do you seem... familiar?"
"You are our father."
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?"
"Your power birthed us with the Dragon God."
"I have done no such thing. I'm still a damn virgin!"
"Master virgin. Meatloaf not!"
"Shut the hell up, Meatloaf."
"But you hold his power, do you not?" Olar tilted his head.
"Whose power? Who are you talking about?"
Olar transformed in front of Ryan. His black scales glistened in the sunlight. "Come. I know someone who may have answers."
Ryan stared at Olar for a second. "You're serious, aren't you?"
Olar nodded and lowered his head to the ground.
"Fuck, this is crazy. Fine." Ryan hopped onto his nose, walked up to his neck, and sat down. "But if I don't get answers, I'm going to be very unpleasant."
"Master scared."
"SHUT THE HELL UP, MEATLOAF!"