Kezoloc the dragon loathed his new position. Forced to research a spell to lengthen an aging king's life, when he was but a mere novice, the dragon lamented that he was nothing more than a tool or some animal to the ruler's subject. Still, desperation can lead one to perform some impossible magic, one that maybe would free him from his predicament.


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A dozen knights led the dragon by the noose, spearpoint, and iron chains, its wounds patched up with only the most basic of treatment, just to make sure the creature stayed put. The knights proudly displayed their banners as they headed their way towards the castle in the heart of town. The village peasants rejoiced with their heroes before them, yelling and shouting praise and celebrations.

Kezoloc the dragon was having a bad day. First his home was raided by some meddlesome warriors wearing plate. The brutes beat him up and dragged him in chains all the way out here to their miserable settlement. The dragon, around the size of an elephant could only bow his head in submission as the townsfolk celebrated his defeat, whilst bards sung songs of a battle that never happened. He might have been bigger than a score of these men, but the dragon was a yellow belly, in more ways than one.

The castle at the heart of Embershire was an old affair, built centuries ago and decorated in all sorts of creatures. From horses, to trolls, to manticores, to griffons. Strangely no dragons, but Kezolc sure hoped he wouldn’t be receiving a statue in his “honor” any time soon. Maybe if he lived in a different era, approaching the castle would have been less of a frightening affair. Such as when his kind dwelled in towns and made cities of their own. Alas, such times were long gone and humans now took ruled.

The Knights took him into the main entrance, past a dozen or so other guards that barred the way. The men greeted their elite warriors with friendly tunes and witty banter, all at the dragon’s expense, but he didn’t mind it… too much. Afterall, he didn’t have much pride to lose at this rate.

The group moved forward, poking spears and halberds painfully close to the dragon’s sides. Kezoloc couldn’t stand the pain and winced several times, but the hardened warriors simply led him forward across the red carpet that paved the entrance. He hated this and lamented his predicament. If the situation was different, he might have enjoyed looking at the artwork or admiring the architecture. Strange how it was that the corridors could easily have room for one so large as him.

At the very edge of the Great Hall sat single figure against an ivory throne. His brow was white with age, an aged man dressed in purple robes and wearing a glimmering crown lift picked himself off his seat and turned to his knights, in particular, the one with the armor that was given golden trimmings in key places. “Sir Leodric. You’ve returned and brought forth an interesting quarry.”

“Thank you, Milord.” he bowed to one knee and took off his helmet. Out came a adult male with brownish hair and face that had been weathered by conflicts past. “This one will not threaten the safety of the wild lands any longer. Our people are safe to return there now.”

Kezolc looked sullen. Really? He was here because some hunters and farmers were afraid of him whilst he had done nothing to warrant it. “Please, O human King, I bear no offense. I am bit a simple hermit. Send me back home” spoke the black winged drake.

The knights all turned to their quarry, raising their weapons. “Silence creature,” spoke one of them. “We will not fall prey to your silver tongue!”

“My tongue isn’t silver!” whimpered the dragon. “Please let me go! I beg of you!”

The Knights all turned to the beast, blades readying to strike at a single word from their lord. But instead, the ruler raised his hand and lowers it. He brings his head close to the subdued dragon, and stares him straight in the eye. ”Tell me, what can you offer me? What do you do?”

The dragon winced, eyes twitching back and forth as he tried to think of something. Servitude might have been better than say execution, he hoped. “Uh, I uh…” sadly, the dragon didn’t know of much that would help his case. Kezoloc was not a warrior, not like his father who was a warlord; not a powerful wizard, not like his grandfather who held a title of archmage; and he certainly wasn’t sure if he was cut out for the life of a courtier, not like his great grandfather a great king. No, he was simply the last of a line of dragons in the age of decline, a mere novice at things that his ancestors were masters of. Kezoloc gulped. “I make pottery.”

The knights all burst out into laughter, although a couple seemed to start realizing that their brave and heroic deeds… were against a potter. Not the sort of things bards should sing about, without a doubt. They didn’t plan on letting the village know about that of course.

The King didn’t move, didn’t seem to hesitate asking the next question: “But you’re a dragon, surely, there must be something in your long life that sets you above mere mortals? Riches, treasures?”

“I have nary a cent to my name,” said the creature, whimpering all the more. He honestly didn’t know if there was anything that he could offer the King; he was so pathetic.“Please, please let me go.”

The King grabbed onto the dragon’s noose and drew him closer to his face. “Tell me how old are you? And how many years would you think you have ahead of you?”

“... About three hundred and seventy two… and maybe if I-” he gulped looking at the king. “-live through this, maybe a thousand more,” stammered the dragon. “Why-what’s that matter?”

The king cocked his head back and simply chose his words carefully. “I am only sixty and my hairs greyed out long ago. If I am fortunate, I would perhaps live maybe another five without going senile, a decade at most maybe...”

Kezoloc looked at the King with fear; despite the other being an old man, the timid dragon was not prepared to fight. “I-don’t know, you look pretty well off.”

“But nothing compared to one of you…” the King’s eyes looked hungry, green with envy. “I lack sons and daughters and my legacy is insecure; I crave youth, power, and more,” spoke the King. “And you will give it to me.”

Kezoloc gulped another time. “How could I? I hardly know of any spells, and I at best know only a trifling of enchantments.”

“But you speak your native tongue, do you not?”

Kezoloc spoke an affirmation, fearfully in his native Draconic. “Taught from father to son…”

The King smiled and drew away. “Excellent. In this castle is a library, full of spells and incantations in the tongue of dragons. You will serve me as my court wizard until the day you can provide me with a spell to bestow me prolonged life, immortality!”

Kezoloc didn’t waste any time in nodding his head, fearful of execution.

The King seemed pleased and raised a hand in order. “And if I die before then, you will be slain thereafter. Understood?”

Dying later sounded better. Kezoloc nodded his head.

The ruler smiled. “Guards. Show to his new quarters. The room with the books.”

“Yes, Lord Perce,” confirmed Leodric.

The knights all raised their banners and brought their weapons onto the captive beast and dragged him into a cellar at the very bottom of the castle. Once there, the guards undid most of the dragon’s chains, but locked the cast iron door at the only entrance with reinforced bars. Thankfully it was dry, and the torchlight was a pleasant, eye catching sort of security for the captured beast.

Kezoloc sighed, looking at himself. He was a free dragon mere days ago and now he was a slave. He doubted the King would live up to his word once his desires were satisfied, but he was too afraid to stand up against the aged lord, despite being far larger than him and in his prime. He should have been ashamed of himself. Even worse, he was bound to work in a craft new knew so little about. The best he could manage was maybe a spell to light candles, hardly a mage who can undo the ravages of time and bestow the King’s wishes.

The dragon saw no point to wallowing in his own misery; not when he’d like to forget it. He took a look at his surrounding and gasped. Before him was the largest bookshelf he had ever seen… not that he had seen many. It and the books on its shelves looked far too large to have been ever meant for human hands and taking one text out confirmed his suspicions. It was written in his native tongue, in beautiful calligraphy that made the dragon weep with self-aware inadequacy. In another life, he could have done this artwork. Still, why was such an important collection of books for his race in some human keep? And in the corner was some large collection of mats, forming a sort of bed for the beast to lay; as though it was made entirely for him.

Kezoloc shrugged and decided at the very least, he might as well enjoy his captivity. At least here, he wouldn’t have to struggle to survive or wonder where food would come from. As long as the King believed the dragon would fulfill his duty, well, he wouldn’t dare strike down his shot at life extension with something so… mundane as negligence, would he?

With nothing to do but continue unraveling the mysteries that lay before him, the dragon could only spend his time reading in the dark via torchlight. Admittedly, it wasn’t completely unenjoyable, if a little repetitive. Day in and day out, the dragon’s only activity was reading the texts, trying to decipher the mysteries his ancestors once coveted, the histories that lay hidden. Each day and each night, the dragon would only be given a single meal, the portions weren’t too filling but it was far more consistent what the dragon was used to out in the wild lands. The knights always went in with the servant maids, always to make sure the beast stayed as far away from the door as possible.

One morning, one of the knights was doing something a little… questionable. The King decided to reduce the number of servants attending to the beast’s needs, up until only a single servant girl and a knight were left for his watch. This had a very obvious result. “So, after this beast is fed, how would you like to join me in my private quarters?” said the knight to the servant girl.

“But… Milord, shouldn’t you be doing your practice?” she seemed flustered.

“Nonsense,” spoke the warrior. “We can practice together!”

The maid seemed hesitant by Kezoloc’s reckoning. The dragon watched from afar as the knight closed in on the serving-woman, who appeared to be looking for a way out. “I-I don’t believe that’d be allowed...” spoke the young lady.

The knight continued his advance. “Please...I would...greatly appreciate your company…”

The dragon looked at the scene, wondering just what the knight was up to. As he closed in on the maid, however, moving to pen her in, the dragon decided to step in. “Uh, is something the matter?” complained the dragon. “I need my breakfast if I am to resume my work.”

The maid perked up. “Oh, yes, of course.” She went over to her food cart and deposited the contents by the dragon’s side. The maid then rushed out the room, without a moment’s hesitation. “I’ll… wait outside…”

The knight looked at the beast warily, and was that some sort of suppressed anger? “...Fine, have your meal, scale-face.”

The dragon ate his chunks in peace, the knight scowling at him with clear disdain. Kezoloc hoped he didn’t provoke the warrior, but he felt he needed to intervene then and there.

“Do you realize what you cost me…?” muttered the plate clad warrior.

“Cost you what?” The dragon asked, tilting his head. He didn’t quite understand what was going on, just that he knew he interrupted something.

He grunted something, a curse maybe. “...Bad enough I’m here serving you, I don’t even get a maiden to…”

“To do what?”

The knight groaned. “Just...eat, beast.” And then he left.

“Your name?” spoke the dragon. He hardly knew anyone’s name here, just as well, no one else seemed to know his name. Maybe he hoped to change that, of course, he was perhaps a bit desperate.

“Aldrin, Sir Aldrin” he grunted and then left. Though, Kezoloc was sure the knight wasn’t really mature enough to be a sir.

The maid came by later on to pick up the dragon’s leftovers. The knight was nowhere to be seen. The woman took away the plates and bones, eyes looking at the dragon, but trying to pretend she wasn’t.

“Uh…” the dragon stammered, peering up from his text. “This distraction is bothering me…” he spoke.

The maid gave an awkward grin. “Oh, sorry, it’s just uh… thanks back there. Aldrin was being well… him.”

“He does that often?” spoke the dragon, eyes attent.

The woman simply shrugs, a typical morning for her. “Whenever he can get away with it. He’s such a pain, you know…”

“I see,” muttered the dragon. He supposed it was a good thing for him to have intervened for the lady’s sake, but he hoped this wouldn’t come back to bite him in the future. “...You know you could complain to your lord about him, if he is such a bother, maybe find some other station.”

The maid looked frightened, the idea not all too tempting. “Oh, me. I’m just a simple wench.”

“Don’t say that…” spoke the dragon. He started to feel sorry, ashamed for making a small petite thing so afraid. “I mean… uh….”

“It’s fine. I know my place…Don’t worry about me. Mister uh…” the maid paused.

“Kezoloc,” said the dragon. Come to think of it, she was probably the first person in the whole palace who knew his name.

“Such a weird name,” she pursed her lips in thought. “Are all dragon names like that?”

The dragon could only shrug. “I believe so…” he holds up a book and shows it to her. “I think it’s one of the old Draconic, from my tongue. I know I speak the common language with you, but this is my native tongue. See? It’s different, the words are all changes, syllables are made differently.”

She grins, looking a little embarrassed about being shown a book. “Uh, sorry, luv, but I… don’t exactly know how to read…”

“Oh…” Kezoloc wondered if this was how his father’s and grandfather’s dealings with human women went.

She smiled and put her hands onto the food cart. “Well, ta ta for now, I’ve got to get going. They’re probably wondering where I went.”

The next day and the next week was without event. He received his regular meals from the usual staff; Aldrin just stood guard waiting for his shift to end. The woman did not speak too much to the dragon, just as he did not speak to her for too long. Both quietly respected the other’s presence and company, though there were limits to what could be done while others watched.


As the dragon slowly grew in knowledge, he was starting to wonder the origins of this castle. His room was far too suited for his size and boasted an impressive ceiling, far too big for any human’s purposes aside from lavish wasted. He wondered if the other rooms were the same way.

When Kezoloc saw the maid again, he spoke to her. “How big are the other rooms?”

“Plenty big, like this…” she spoke, not really understanding the point of the question.

“Really now?” spoke the dragon. Hm, so odd for a castle to be so extravagantly large.

“Hey!” spoke knight Aldrin, stepping into the room, eyes brows furrowed. “You better not be thinking of sneaking out!”

“Uh, he just wanted to ask me something about the castle, is all!” yelled the maid.

“Yeah, so he could sneak out!” spoke the knight.

“Uh…” Kezoloc probably realized this was the direct result of his meddling earlier that week.. The knight surely was making up a scene or looking for a reason to accuse the dragon for a crime that didn’t exist. And in a case of his word against a knight of the realm’s, well, the judgements would be obvious… He made something up, trying to move away from the topic. “I need reagents… and a place to practice rituals,” spoke the dragon, not exactly lying. “I’ve got the theory part down, but I’m going to need more practice…and well, this room might not be good for them, too much to burn.”

Aldrin stared the dragon in the eyes, making the beast wince and bring his belly to the ground. He sighed. “Is that right?”

“Yes, yes… I need reagents, mostly chalk and maybe oils… does your lord have those things?” Kezoloc really hoped this would work.

Sir Aldrin could only groan. “I’ll tell my lord then, but no funny business, you hear?”

The serving girl would only smile. “I… could do that I guess…” she seemed hesitant and quickly stepped outside.

Aldrin could only groan at her leaving, seemingly disappointed.

“Uh… so, uh you know her for long?” Kezoloc hoped to maybe not make an enemy today.

“Hey! Don’t talk to me!” snarled the knight, causing the dragon to only whimper a reply. He was unarmed beside the sword at his hip and even then the dragon was still terrified of him. But then a few moments later and the knight responded. “I’ve known her since we were kids, alright. Now, don’t you get involved, you hear?”

“Uh… don’t get involved… got it…” Though for what he shouldn’t get involved in, Kezoloc wasn’t too sure about.

Hours later, the dragon was taken from his one dungeon room to a different space, still underground and away from the sun. The room was bigger and full of beakers and tools, again all his size, even the furniture seemed made for a large four-legged dragon’s use. He was escorted from his chamber via a number of guards, led by the aged knight Leodric with Aldrin acting as the lieutenant. Once there, the door was shut from the outside by a metal bar.

Knight Leodric looked at the dragon, steel in hand. ”No, tricks foul beast. Do your work that King Perce wants of you and then you will be fed.”

Kezoloc sighed and then began planning out his rite. This was a simple one, one he will definitely need to perform his task.“Get me chalk. I’ll need a supply every day.”

The knights grumbled to themselves, eyes on the dragon. “Better not try anything.” They order a guard to present him with chalk, a big stick the size of the man’s arm.

Kezoloc whistled. “Well, that’s certainly going to be useful…” He took the chalk and then began to draw a circle into the ground, a ritual circle to hold magic and spellwork.

Aldrin looked at the dragon intently as he drew his circle. “Pray tell beast, what manner of sorcery do you plan to unleash?”

“Lighting!” declared the dragon, almost cheering. “It’s hard to read with only lamps and torches. If only you’d let me up to the sun!”

“And let you fly away? I am afraid not you winged demon!” snarled Leodric.

Kezoloc sighed. Well, maybe he’d work faster if he was outside and able to be free; I mean, the dragon did want to learn… albeit, not for some human noble’s intentions.

After his rite, the dragon was escorted out of his lab and sent back to his quarters, the knights returning him under threat of halberd. He didn’t cower as much before, especially since he held up a prize in his front paws: a shining jar of light that seemed to glow with a daylight the dragon knew he would not see for a long while. He was proud of his first great achievement, a step into proper arcane arts, and all on his own too, with no real teachers. It was amazing how much he could learn, achieve, when he had the tools for it, like he was finally grasping onto a part of him that he never knew.

“So how was it?” spoke the maid as she served the dragon his evening meal; strangely Aldrin was not present, but that didn’t bother Kezoloc that much. Most likely, the young knight was not interested in watching him having spent the whole day doing just that.

The dragon was weary, tired from a hard day’s work, eyes bulging from fatigue. “Oh, nothing much,” he yawned. “Just some practice before I do the King’s work. It’s all very boring and I’m such a long ways away from where I need to be...” And he was still stuck at making lights for himself. Maybe if the King had grandchildren, they’d die of old age before he was ready.

The maid smiled and let a laugh. “Well, aren’t you diligent? Our King is fortune to have one like you!”

“Yeah… he is,” the dragon muttered. He loathed that he was forced into serving a human ruler and longed to return to his forested hills, but he lost track of time; someone else probably claimed his lands, not that he was ever good at defending them anyways. At the same time, he felt like he couldn’t be upset at King Perce, not while she was around him praising him for it. Maybe once the King had what he sought, the dragon would be left alone… or…

“You alright, sir dragon?” spoke the servant girl.

“I… I am…” stuttered the beast. “It’s just uh, I’m just… er, thinking…?”

“Thinking about what?” mused the maiden.

The fact that this was the first person in the world to ever call him ‘sir’... Kezoloc really started to wonder more about this creature. She wasn’t too old by human standards; fair skin and long and shining locks with these bright eyes. Kezoloc if those things were attractive to humans for a moment. “... About you…” he mustered.

“Oh, really?” spoke the servant girl. “What’s so special about little old me?”

Being the only human contact who wasn’t immediately hostile to the dragon, that’s what. “You’re not afraid of me... “

“Well, I am!” she laughed, almost making the dragon even more insecure. “But you’re nicer than some of the pig heads in cast iron! Can’t treat a woman right!”

“Or dragons…” replied Kezoloc. She sounded like she had a problem with the knights, probably past experiences; obviously, the caged dragon was sympathetic. “Say, what’s your name? I hardly know you.”

“My name’s Gaby.”

“And you already know mine.” Well, she was no longer a stranger at any rate. “I guess we’ll be seeing each other often…”

Gaby grinned. “Well, it’s good to make your acquaintance, too... “ she then sighed and turned to the dragon’s food bowl. She took it once she noticed it was empty. “But I think I have to clean up the dishes tonight and I can’t afford being late.”

The dragon was disappointed. He was wanting to continue the discussion, but saw that he his own time was running out. Maybe he should eat slower. “But why?” spoke the beast.

The maid simply shrugged. “A lowly wench like me has plenty of chores to work for, but maybe we can catch up next time….”

“Next time…” Kezoloc resigned himself; it wasn’t like she had a choice anymore than he did. And what was he going to do in the meantime? “... Yes. Next time.”

The maid stepped out, closing the door behind her. She flashed a smile before she left.

Kezoloc turned to the books. He appreciated the reading, and while having done nothing other than pouring through the books was starting to grate on him, there was a sort of renewed vigor to his actions. Yes, yes. The King will have what he wants, but improving a maiden’s life seemed like a worthwhile optional priority. Maybe there was a way to do both...

Since the initial meeting and his capture, Kezoloc had in a way grown less afraid of the knights and their weapons, mostly because he was simply used to them. They held new terrors and as long as he stayed in the service of their lord, well… they weren’t going to threaten him unless he made himself one.

Time passed rapidly underground; It was amazing how much the dragon knew now. He lost count of the days, months, or even years at this point, wrapped up in his work. The only indications that time was passing at all for him, were that Gaby’s comings and goings were a constant, like the sunrise and sunset really. Each day he would be fed, do some studying, then be taken off to the lab to experiment. Usually, he would try practicing a spell to fortify his magic or give him some practice making reagents. Then he’d be sent back to his chambers, and be given his dinner to study some more. And each night, when Gaby came to visit. He would whisper about the events into her ear and they would gossip of the world above the dark and dank origins. Usually, Aldrin would come along as the other knights clearly seemed to have more important jobs, but he often found excuses to not be there to watch him.

Kezoloc’s suspicions of the castle’s origins were long confirmed since he started paying attention to the rooms. The supplies the dragon worked with, the castle itself, and the lost pages he read all pointed to a single truth, the castle was once home to a nation dragons, long gone with only their remains showing they were ever there. It is from their ancient texts and secrets that Kezoloc became more than a mere fearful hermit, and closer to a respectable mage. He had grown in the arcane arts in darkness, learning spells and mysteries that he had only once dreamed off, and became more than he used to be. Yet despite all of that, the dragon knew he would need centuries or even a millennium to fully prepare the working the King desired.

One morning, that came to an end… the dragon heard a heavy knocking his door, more forceful than ever. “...Is it done yet?” spoke a ragged voice, dry and withered.

The dragon didn’t have time to respond before the door was opened, paving the way for an entourage of familiar knights, many of them much older than the dragon remembered them since the last time he had seen them and a familiar though aged face. Kezoloc didn’t know how long it had been since he was “enlisted,” for this job, but however long it was, the passage of time ravaged King Perce more than before. The old man’s body was gaunt and slim, eyes heavy and milky white with age. He looked more like a ghost or an undying phantom than a man. Kezoloc started to wonder if maybe the old King had a point about his kind being so fortuitous in their first and only other meeting; he appeared so withered, in a time the dragon could only feel wasn’t too long ago for him.

Kezoloc took a moment to reply, gathering his wits. He bowed his head. “... Yes. I think I have something, a way to prolong life.” The thing was, Kezoloc didn’t. He had theory and conjecture, but was not ready for it. Yet, the King did not seem to have the time left.

King Pecre made a grin, a look of satisfaction on his old weathered face. “Ah, excellent. When will be an appropriate time?”

“Uh… tomorrow, I think,” spoke the dragon. Really, he would have preferred “never”, but time was running out. He had a feeling that the King was going to have only so long left. And that meant, he himself was running out of time.

The aged old man took a deep breath in. “Yes. That will do…” He wheezed and motioned for one of his companions to help him out of the room “I expect great things from you…”

“Yeah…” spoke the dragon.

After the knights and their lord left the dragon, Gaby came right in, offering the dragon the food she had been for the past… how long was it? “I heard everything that happened! Is this true?”

The dragon nodded, not wanting to lie to her. Atleast, not outright. “Uh, yes… I’m going to give it my best shot.”

“Aye! To think that our leader will be restored to his youth! I wonder what that be like…”

Now that that the subject of age was brought up, Kezoloc noticed it, Gaby had aged. He hardly noticed the decline, it seemingly happening overnight for him, but the maid was older now. Not in her prime, not an ancient or even middle aged, but certainly… matured and slowly on her way down. The dragon feared about letting her succumb to old age, more than he ever feared spears… It was the push he needed to see his work through to the end. If he could grant prolonged life to one person, well, why not more? Especially those he would have wanted to stay for longer. “Well, with any luck, the King might not be the only one…”

“Oh?” said the maiden. “You mean some of the Knights?”

“Maybe more than just them, too.” spoke the dragon.

The maid wowed. “I can only imagine… maybe the whole kingdom itself?”

The whole kingdom… Hm now there was a thought...

“Uh… Gaby, please leave my roast here for me, I will need to do some final preparations.”

The maid frowned. “Oh, alright, but you promise you’ll come see me afterward, right?”

“Yes!” said the dragon, drawing out a spell formula on a piece of parchment. It was going to be a complex one.

Gaby sighed and the dragon saw her go out the door. “Oh, Aldrin, what are you doing here-”

But she was cut off, the knight speaking over her. “Sorry, Gaby, but I’ve got a bone to pick with the dragon. Stay out for your own sake…”

The door closing behind her and Kezoloc’s head turned towards his new visitor. Aldrin had aged as well, though mostly he had grown bolder, more muscular than when he was a younger warrior. “Uh, is there something I could help you with?” The dragon didn’t necessarily like the knight, but he didn’t loathe him… just that the knight was always watching and eager to start a mess.

“Yes!” declared the knight, clearly motivated and full of some sort of fury. “I want you to back off from her!”

Kezoloc blinked. Uh, did he mean Gaby? “Pardon?”

“I’ve known her for years, long before you show up and I’m not going to have you take her away from me!” snarled the knight.

The dragon could only look at the knight with confusion. What was going on? “... I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

The knight grabbed the dragon’s head and brought it to his face. “Look at me. Don’t you dare!”

Kezoloc really wanted to run away, but it wasn’t like he was much of a fighter. “But I uh… sure!” he didn’t even know what he was agreeing to.

The knight let go, looked the dragon in the eyes for a few moments. “You better. I will hold you to your word, Kezoloc!” And then he stomped off.

The dragon could only just look as the human walked off, stunned. The knight actually spoke his name, not “beast” or even slightly better “dragon”. It was the sort of thing the dragon could not think about anything else. Moreover, it slowly dawned on him what the knight’s issue was. It was never him, but rather… his involvement with Gaby whenever she was around him. Did that human believe that the two of them were… no…. Was really he involved in some sort of love triangle involving humans? But then the issue might perhaps even be made more complex depending on the events tomorrow… and…

Kezoloc slapped himself. He had to focus, settle his priorities, otherwise his head was going to decorate the next ruler’s throne. He went back to his studies, and went to work on a way to solve all of his problems...

The next day, the dragon was escorted to the throne room for the first time in forever. The dragon had spent so long in darkness, that the sunlight pouring out from the windows stung his eyes as though he was a creature of the dark. He had to spend a few moments adjusting to the light before he was ready to step before the throne. It was like repetition of his first meeting here, only instead everyone was older. The king was situated on his throne as last time, aged and weary, like he could die at this very moment. The guards and several of the knights were there, as were a handful of the king’s servants… all of whom the dragon did not know all too much.
“I am here,” spoke the dragon. “I am ready to enact my spell. O wise king, know that there is more to my working than you realize. There is a cost to be paid.”

“Yes… yes…” wheezed the king. “No price is too great…”

Kezoloc squinted his eyes at the king’s dismissiveness over what he proposed, but on the other hand, he realized that if the king knew what he was getting into, he might have been cut to pieces right then and there. He sighed and took a stick of chalk. “If you say so…”

The dragon began his work, inscribing the circle into the ground. The crowd watched him as he did his work, delicately putting lines in the ground. The crowd eyed his work, muttering as they saw him. It might have been an hour or so of labor before the delicate inscriptions in the dragon’s native tongue were complete.

“This is the last step, O King, please… step inside,” spoke Kezoloc. He then turned to the crowd. “You may wish to step back.” because the dragon wasn’t quite sure what would happen. He had an idea of what was going to do, but it was all theory...

King Perce rose, his feet weak and exhausted, but he shambled forward. Even when offered assistance, the aging ruler pushed his aides away, as if he was determined to make his last steps in this weakened form on the little of his own power that remained. He stepped into the circle, right into the very middle. His legs shivered, unsteady. “Now. Get on with it?”

Kezoloc stepped away from the circle, said his prayers and then poured a small smidge of his own blood onto the outer rim. He held his breath. He hoped what he intended would work…and that whatever happened, the best results happened. He put his feelings, his experiences into the spell, hoping to make the greatest thing he could muster.

The chalk circle popped and fizzled, disappearing in an instant. The King stood in the middle, unchanged. “Well?” He was still old, withered and...

The dragon blinked. It didn’t work? Was he ill prepared? Something should have happened. “Uh…”

King Perce looked angered, feeling stilted and having wasted his time and effort. “Gah, I should have known how this was going to end with that charlatan! Guards seize him!”

Kezoloc backed away, but he had nowhere to run when he was surrounded and it wasn’t like he was able to fly. “Wait, your majesty, please, I beg-” The guards and knights advanced slowly, putting rope and chains against the protesting dragon in short order.

But then, one of the servants cried out something that might have just saved Kezoloc’s life. “My lord! Your hair! It’s… darkening...”

The room froze, everyone turned to the king. At first, Kezoloc didn’t notice what was going on, but the shade of the king’s hair was starting to darken. The knights let go of their ropes and turned towards their lord. Kezoloc might have had the chance to run, but he knew now he was committed to staying.

The king ordered one of his servants to fetch him a mirror and upon receiving it, the old ruler could only gasp in amazement. His hair was dark, his skin smoother, more alive. He touched his face a few times, just to make sure it was really happening. His withered hands seemed to refill with life and energy and as the king stepped onto his throne, there was a sort of ever increasing weight to his steps. He sat on his throne, feeling content. “Rescind that order!” the king spoke, his voice smoother, like silk, better than in the first meeting he had with the dragon. “I think I was… impatient a moment ago.”

Kezoloc stepped forward, shaking. The ruler looked so thrilled, and sadly, the dragon knew that this was not going to be the end. “O King, know there is-”

“Why Sir Leo!” spoke the ruler, his voice raised in laughter, cutting off his servant. “Ha. Look at you. I guess I’m not the only one benefiting from this! And you said this was foolish!”

The crowd, still silenced with awe, turned to sir Leodric, previously, an aged man whose hair was starting to show a golden color. He shook his head, not looking pleased, but not necessarily upset. “... Fine. You win this one my lord.”

The king laughed as his body rapidly strengthened and renewed. His eyes turned towards his benefactor. “Well, I had the aid of someone who had the power…”

The dragon was now starting to wish that he was being carted off to the dungeons and beheaded for being a failure. Because as the dragon observed, there was more to the spell work than a simple restoration of long lost youth. “But lord Perce, there is more to this-”

The king laughed, merry with excitement. “I’m sure it’s all fine, clearly, the results speak for themselves!”

Kezoloc was starting to lose patience. Did this child really think he knew better than to disrespect his elders? Wait… the dragon blinked. That was strange for him. The dragon knew better than to associate chronological age with wisdom and experience, after all, he was not much of a wise one despite being many times older than many humans before they die from simply living too long. However, the dragon started to feel it being more natural to see the former ancient as some uppity and impatient child rather than as some brazen and renewed man.

It was then Kezoloc realized that it was not just going to be the king that the dragon was going to think differently of from now on… and yet, the thought didn’t alarm him. Instead, it was comforting, right for events to play out as they will very soon. It was the results of his spell, taking effect. He surmised that his feelings and thoughts right now were simply it not only affecting the world around him, but the dragon himself… And he could only grin at the coming world. He saw the fates of all those inside the room, the new lives they will live in the chaotic working he spun.

He turned to the king, no longer feeling like he was some reclusive and half educated hermit. He had more prestige, more value, now; Kezoloc could practically feel the difference. “Oh, young prince, be more patient,” instructed the dragon. “Be more respectful, for you’ll need it if you intend to rule in the future.”

King Perce turned to the dragon with a look of utter confusion, oblivious to what was happening. “Uh, what did you call me, wizard?” The other members in the room spoke in hushed tones, whispering to themselves and each other what the meaning of the dragon’s words meant.

Wizard. Yes, that’s what he was inducted as; now Kezoloc felt the title was starting to suit him. “Simply addressing you by what you shall be called in the future, little one. Do you like it?”

The king, still baffled, raised a hand. “Cease these riddles! Explain to me!”

The dragon felt amused. He was completely ignorant of his future role and everything that entailed from that. The king hardly noticed how much his facial hair was receding. “Merely this: this castle belongs to dragonkind. I have begun to reaffirm it. You will retain your rule and I will serve you faithfully… once you’re done. Don’t worry though, I have a feeling you’ll enjoy your new life and this is what you asked me to give you! I hope you enjoy living so much longer!”

It was at this point, the king realized that there was a catch to his new found youth; that in his quest for more years of life, that he would gain more than he would ever want, whether he wanted to or not. He dropped his mirror, terrified by his clawed hand. Meanwhile, his facial hair, once thickened, slowly thinned until only a scant fuzz remained. “No! Sieze him!”

The king was stunned, his subjects were in terror, the knights made a move and went to restrain their treasonous guest. “Undo this, foul creature!” snarled Sir Leodric.

But the dragon was smug, content. He grinned at the knights and the guards, knowing their fate all too well. Maybe the old him would have been horrified, but Kezoloc could only feel a vindictive satisfaction, as though they were getting their just reward. “Ladies, please don’t trouble yourselves with me; our little lord will need your care.”

The warriors paused, their motions as the effect had quickly started to overcome them, as though simply knowing their fates caused them to rapidly change. The weapons in their hands feel, becoming useless supplies, while their metal armor turning into lightweight silks garments. Muscle won through hard fought training and battle had rapidly diminished, their frames becoming lither and thinner. Their hair didn’t lengthen, as they transitioned from bold men to mere women; it was not like they were going to keep it very soon. It seemed fitting that the ruffians that bothered Gaby would be made to changed this way; maybe they would have respect for the fairer creatures now…

Kezoloc turned to the others in the throne room. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgot about you! You’re all going to love your new lives!” The rest of the room’s inhabitants slowly changed, adopting new garments befitting new stations that the magic had decided would suit them in their new lives. Males became female and the otherway around, the old was renewed with sudden rushes of youth that left other new children in their wake. Few were spared and they had their own problems to deal with, making sure their companions were alright. It seemed almost random as to who was becoming what now, but Kezoloc could only wonder with amusement if it had to do with the castle’s sense of humor or maybe it really was completely random. He may have started the spell, but all he did was reawaken the castle’s magic and tie it to its current ruler; it was all out of his control now and he loved every moment of it. He wondered for a moment what sort of chaos was happening right outside the castle, with unknowing humans transition.

The dragon turned to the king, now a young man, and slowly the emphasis on “young” became more and more prominent. With the rest of the room disarmed and having to put up with their own changes, the dragon stepped forward towards the throne.

“No, stay away!” cried the the young man.

“Worry not,” spoke Kezoloc, his tone gentler, less assertive. “I do not covet your throne.” He could feel that the younger man was still resisting, pushing against the effects with his will. As the focus point for the spell, the one whose very essence was being tied to the castle, as long as he resisted, there was the chance that the spell’s effects would not last without his submission. The wizard was determined not to let himself be reduced to a snivelling coward once more… as well as make due on his promise of course.

“Help me?” questioned the young man, his tone uncertain, as though right now he couldn’t make up his mind. He obviously was… upset about what was happening in the throne room, still in his own mind the aged man who was nearing the end of his road. He didn’t see anything good from from this… But Kezoloc knew that that resistance was difficult, especially as the magic stripped away pieces of the ruler’s mind, practice, years, and experience being slowly robbed from him.

“Truly,” spoke the dragon. “Can’t you see the benefits?”

“What… what benefits?” quivered the young man.

Kezoloc pointed to the young noble’s back, a red scaled appendage slipping out from the crack between his trousers and expensive coat. “Well, for one, you get to be a dragon. Isn’t that lovely? You get to live so long; hundreds, maybe thousands of years if you’re lucky… you were jealous of that, remember?”

“I… I do…” spoke the tailed man. He examined his fingernails, noting their relative sharpening and that faint crimson scales covering his hands. He winced and put them away, turning his gaze towards the dragon with a fire in his eyes.“...But I don’t want this! I am not a mere child! I am a grown man!” He took a sword from underneath his throne and lifted it… only to find the thing too heavy for him once he entered his early teens.

Kezoloc suppressed a laugh, no longer afraid of such weapons, especially when wielded by one who was no longer even able to recall much skill. “You wouldn’t need such tools when your own claws can do it for you.” he suggested. “But such things should be far away from you now… instead, maybe you should look at your own wings. I think you’ll enjoy flight.”

“Wings?” the young man murmured. Kezoloc could practically feel the former ruler’s knowledge of statecraft and complex diplomatic scenarios fall away. The male noticed that two small batlike wings were stuck on his back. He grabbed one of them and pulled it, only to let go once he realized it was connected to him. “How… how is this possible?”

“I don’t know!” cheerfully declared the dragon. He was supposed to be the court wizard and he might have had more confidence than before, but the dragon knew when he was out of league. His intent was essentially to try to invoke the castle’s true legacy to try to turn others into dragons. He thought it would have been the best way to lengthen the former old king’s life, as he would have aged so much slower as dragon. He just didn’t expect everything else that came along with it, but perhaps it was for the best.

Kezoloc noted the rest of the room was starting to make note of their own changes into dragonhood, many of the former humans changing in front of everyone, growing claws, tails, and wings and turning all manner of shades of scale. Some, even began walking on all fours. Strangely, no one’s clothes was tearing apart at the seams, instead their garments changing along with their wearers, gaining openings for their new appendages to slip through with ease and gaining size as needed.

“But I do know this.” spoke the mage, his tone neutral. “History and events change before us, people and places and things are changing to suit the new reality. When this is done, you’ll never have been a grown man before, as though those years you spent were a bad dream...”

Unlike most of the others, King, well, maybe Prince Perce was more appropriate now, shrank, his body slowly losing size and width and depth. Now he was just a boy, with some features found on dragons. Meanwhile, his throne seemed to actually grow as he sat on it, making him seem even smaller than he actually was. “... but, but… that can’t be!” he wailed, afraid, as much as a child should be. “I’m a grown man!”

The dragon smiled, enjoying the smaller dragon’s weeping. It was going to make the rebuttal all the sweeter once it happened. “Oh, are you? You look more like a little whelp to me.” Kezoloc picked up a mirror, and shown the ruler his new face.

The image frightened the young prince even more. Before him was a small red whelping, his limbs small and feeble and utterly comical to look at. Gone were the vestiges of his old human form, replaced by a youthful beast’s. His beard was no more, having fell apart into nothingness and it was doubtful it would even return with old age. Small horns poked out underneath the little one’s crown, barely visible at all from his head. The snout too was short, underdeveloped in this state. His clothes once royal robes made of fine furs and dyes changed, no where near as extravagant, becoming a vest or tunic. Overall he seemed perfectly normal for a little red whelp, save that for the eyes, still human seeming, not the sharpened reptilian slits of dragonkind.

He sniveled, wanting to deny it. “But…but… but no,” he sounded so much like a child. He didn’t even notice he wasn’t speaking the common tongue anymore, his language that of dragons.

“Don’t cry…” Kezoloc sighed. He might have gotten enjoyment out of giving the old king his just deserts for his poor treatment, but right now, he was bullying a child… even if he was still too much of his old self underneath. It was not proper and unreasonable and dragons were to be above such petty, degrading things. Maybe he was too cruel, maybe he could make amends. He had one more point to offer and it seemed like it had arrived.

The doorway to the throne room was opened, two dragons stepped forth, blue and red, dressed in finery and jewels fit for the greatest of nobility. The entire room, now transformed into a court of dragons by this point, took notice of them, questioning their existence for a moment before bowing their heads down as the pair passed. Everyone seemed to know them.

“... It… it can’t be…” uttered the former king, his expression shocked. Kezoloc could feel that the little one knew by heart these two dragons and yet he was trying so hard to deny it. “They… they’re... “

“Alive,” Kezoloc finished, stepping back as they duo approached the throne.

Little prince Perce stepped down from his throne, no longer able to fill in it, looking at the two dragons with confused and frantic emotions on his face. Small droplets of tears formed in his eyes. “Mom… Dad…” he murmured, knowing them.

The red scaled dragon, a male, the father, the King, knelt down, licking his offspring. “Sorry we’ve been away. Your mother and I have just come home.”

The female, the blue one, the mother, the Queen, licked the child deftly, a dragon’s affections clear as day. “Don’t worry Perix,” she spoke, calling him by a new name, one fitting of his new race. “Mother’s here.”

“... You… are…” shed the newly rechristened Perix. His eyes darted back to the one who was responsible, still afraid of him, but maybe a little less so than before. He certainly didn’t know how to react, other than to cry as a young boy would.

“I did tell you,” spoke the wizard. “Everything has changed.” Kezoloc figured that in the previous “world” , King Perce’s parents died of natural causes, old age, as it were, likely when the King was already a full grown man. Now that everything had changed and that he was now a very young Prince Perex and a dragon, it stood to reason that his parents would thus have still been alive and dragons themselves, for afterall, what kind of human parents had dragons?

Both parents turned to the wizard, eyes skeptical and suspicious. “Who might you be?” said the father.

“Just a humble drake, sir,” grinned Kezoloc, laughing behind his teeth. “Your son here was trying to insist to me that he was grown up.”

“Did he now?” laughed the mother, unaware of the thing as anything more than a child’s fantasy.

Little Perex nodded his head, vigorously. “Yeah, yeah… I was a fulled grown man. And then I was made littler and then...” He seemed so embarrassed to speak it.

His parents could only coddle their son, amused by the short tale. “Hah, maybe I should teach you that spell once you’re older. It’s quite easy you see,” spoke his father.

“Don’t tempt him,” said the mother. “He’s far too young to go off learning such things. He could hurt himself by going off to strange lands. What if those humans would capture him!?”

Well, maybe he’d turn them into dragons if he followed Kezoloc as a role model, but the thought of being the former king’s rolemodel was a very odd feeling to digest. “But maybe we should conclude the question, humor him, are you a grown up or not?” There was a little dire tone in the dragon’s voice, a warning, that only the young dragon might have understood.

It was a simple question, with very simple results. If he didn’t accept, everything would be undone, his being a child, the fact that he and his whole court and maybe more consisted of dragons, but also it meant that his parents… well, it didn’t bear thinking too hard about. Little Perex didn’t know all the details, but Kezoloc knew that he knew just enough to make a call. His thoughts were complicated, still a grown man on the inside, but this new factor changed everything.

“Something wrong, dearie?” spoke the mother. “You’re awfully quiet.”

Perex whimpered, unsure of how to proceed. He was clearly afraid of his own parents… or maybe afraid of letting go a second time. For a moment, there was silence, thick and heavy, but then the little dragon burst out into a fit of giggles. “No. Course not!” he laughed “I’m just a whelp!”

The King and Queen sat on their throne, laughing at the events that transpired, not knowing their full significance. Perex jumped and ran around them, his movements filled with a new energy and excitement his old self had long forgotten. “Well settle down my boy, we have to address the realm!”

“Aw!” cried the little dragon. “That’s boring!” He should know.

Kezoloc smiled, the deed done, the spell coming full circle and solidifying. He went to move away from the scene, his part in it done. But little Perex ran up to him and nipped his elder’s toes. “Hey! Watch it there!”

Perex’s tail waged back and forth, so bright and young. “Tankies!” spoke the little dragon, his speech completely deteriorated. “Fo evwe ting!” His eyes shifted, the last remnants of his old form passing away, replaced by fine green slits. His tail wagged practically in every direction, without a care in the world.

Kezoloc smiled. “Well, I gave you want you wanted.” He could feel the last vestiges of the old king fading away for this new reality and identity of being just a young whelp. He traded away everything, knowledge, power, just to be by his parents once more, gaining youth as a mere side benefit. In a way, Kezoloc envied him, since he wasn’t offered the choice himself, but it was not his kingdom to rule; he was content for the life he has now and he was proud of his part in this. He moved away, his services done… for now.

“Oh, Leandara, would you kindly come here for me?” called out the Queen.

A young maiden of a dragoness, clad in light blue scale, a servant, but maybe a bit more moved towards the throne. “Er… yes my Queen.”

It took only Kezoloc a moment to realize who she was. She looked at Kezoloc in the eyes a few moments as they walked past each other, seeming to try to recognize the male, but then shook her head, putting those thoughts aside.

Kezoloc grinned, pleased by the new maiden’s station. It was amusing to say the least.

The castle then went back to working order as the wizard left, its soldiers and servants acting as though nothing, other than their rulers returning from a journey happened. No one else seemed to worry about their being clad in multicolored scales, walking all fours, flying, or even remembering what their old stations were; it was simply put, as though nothing changed at all and that this was all the new normal.

Still, even if the others could not appreciate the differences, Kezoloc still could and he felt that mattered more. The decorations of other animals were replaced, shifted into more draconic visages or even completely replaced entirely. The architecture of the city was changed more drastically, its citizens now being much larger meant that buildings had to thus be larger to compensate. Kezoloc had never seen so many dragons in his whole lifetime, let alone in one place… yet the sight seemed almost completely normal to him that it seemed perfectly mundane. Funny how altering the course of history could be like that.

He strode through the village, taking the sights and appreciating the new environment. He was no longer a monster, a beast, merely a citizen, a denizen. He was not a recluse in the wilds of a race that was dying, merely just a simple drake on his way home. He found a building, one that called to him and tugged at him. He pushed open the oversized door and stepped inside, greeting by a sight that comforted the former hermit. Books, full shelves of them, some decorative furniture and a single mechanical device that the wizard had not seen in some time. Some things never changed, he supposed.

Kezoloc closed the door, taking it in. This place was his home and it felt like it. He even had memories of the place, from a life that he didn’t actually live. But it was his all the same.

Then he heard a knocking on his door. He already knew who it was, though now that the spell had cemented itself, he actually wasn’t sure in what kind of form would they be in. He opened the door and found two dragonesses his age, both silver scaled and now that he saw them, quite beautiful. “... Gabria and uh…” the name slipped his mind for a moment.

“Aliria,” spoke the other, her tone clearly upset. She was clad in a fine dress silken and white clearly of noble standing, but her form was too faint for her to be a warrior as she had once been. “You never remember me, I’m offended. And you didn’t even tell us that you had an audience with the Prince!”

Gabria simply laughed, sticking out her tongue. The former maid was dressed similarly to the other, marking her as of a higher station in this life.“You don’t get this way about any other drakes, luv! I think you’re simply jealous!” The clothes however were the least alarming thing about her though. Her body language was different, her tone, more assertive. In this life, she wasn’t a servant...

“Am not!” claimed Aliria. “He’s far too beneath me!”

Kezoloc groaned. He had hoped not to be part of a love triangle after his business with the Prince was concluded. Now, he made it worse. Maybe the castle did have a sense of humor… or maybe Prince Perex sought fit to make his life complicated one last time before letting himself enjoy his childhood. The dragon felt it was simpler when Gabria was just a humble maid and that Aliria was a male knight. Both were very attractive, sure, but it was to the point that Kezoloc really wished he could undo their changes, just them. “...I think I have work to do…” spoke the wizard, heading into his home.

Both females simply shook their heads. “Are you seriously going to work right now?” muttered Gabria. “Relax, come on!”

“At least let it be interesting!” spoke Aliria. “Like, that spell weaving you sometimes do!”

Kezoloc shrugged, if he was going to be fought over. He might as well dictate the terms. “Well, do either of you know how to use a potter’s wheel? I can teach you… just try not to destroy my shop.”