The dragon let out a piercing shriek as surges of intense pain coursed through its enormous body.  Rocks and debris fell from its prison walls as it shrieked again and flailed in all directions, trying with all it's might to break free of the chains that held him within his volcanic prison.  It's keeper all the while watching from a, relatively, safe distance, muttering like a madman, however, his words were not those of disillusioned insanity, but a spell.  He stood rooted to the spot, continuously re-casting his spell upon the chains the dragon was so desperately trying to break.  For this was his punishment, his eternal duty, the vicious sentence cast upon him by the oracle. His sole responsibility to restrain the very creature he once commanded in his reign of conquest.

This was not of course his original sentence, he was initially sentenced to death, but when his immortality was discovered, this was quickly changed.  The dragon was also initially sentenced to be destroyed as well. Unfortunately for the oracle's kingdom, this didn't work out either, despite countless attempts. The monstrous creature was immune to all of the oracles failing attempts at destruction through a combination of dark magic, pure power, and the everlasting bond it shared with its master.

The way it works is, the dragon will chose a guardian to protect it during its transformations, during which time the dragon's magical influence upon the world around them.  This made the dragon vulnerable as it shed its old scales, and its fire sacs collapsed and rebuilt themselves to produce even hotter magical flames.

In exchange for this protection, the chosen guardian would receive immortality so long as the dragon roamed the earth. This dragon chose a master immediately upon hatching. He chose a boy around the age of 17. As customary, the dragon, as a symbol of it's trust, would bite off one of its scales, in this case a dull black, and spit it at the chosen one.  Upon contact the scale transferred immortality to the dark, aspiring young mage.  As years passed the boy noticed that he still possessed his 17-year-old body.  He puzzled over this as his friends aged, and eventually died.  

One day during his pet's time of disillusionment, he thought to himself," why have I retained my 17 year old body for all these years?"  Immediately a strange thought entered his mind, but it wasn't his. Taken aback by the thought that he did and didn't think, he attempted to calmly interpret the words.
"Because, Malchior, I am Vordregg and you are finally ready to receive my full power."
Concentrating on the words as they repeated in his mind, he was suddenly jarred from the realm of his thoughts by a loud crushing, crumbling sound.
He turned to look at Vordregg and nearly tripped in astonishment.  The mighty beast had stood and one of the spines of its neck had caused a small portion of the cave ceiling. This is quite common with recently shed dragons, but when Malchior looked back to see the dragon once more, it was gone. He looked desperately in all directions but did not see the creature anywhere.  He then looked to the ceiling so as to access the damage to it.  He was astonished to see a pair of black wings so dark in color that they seemed to suck color from the surroundings.  
Once again the strange voice boomed in his mind," You have protected me for nine hundred and forty-seven years, now it's my turn."

Malchior suddenly realized what had happened, and could see it playing out in his mind over and over. He looked around to the cave walls and floor to see the massive damage that had been done.  Enormous stalagmites had falling demolishing every inch of the cave floor except where he stood.  Using its claws the dragon had dug into the walls and shielded its master with its elegant wings.

' Oh great and powerful Vordregg, you have become more powerful than I ever could have imagined all those years ago." Vordregg then let down the rocks cradled within his wings a few feet away from Malchior and replied.
" Please master, do not address me as such a magnificent being, for you and you alone possess powers equal to mine." as he said this he took the staff which Malchior held, and gazed deeply upon it.  The staff had been masterfully hand carved by the boy during the dragon's many exiles.  Malchior could do nothing but watch what Vordregg did next.  Without any indication the powerful creature effortlessly ripped through the cave wall with a single elegant motion of his sleek claws.  The mountain roared and rumbled as a few gigantic rocks fell from the cave ceiling. Enormous rocks fell sharply from the ceiling all around him.  Malchior flinched as a horse sized stalagmite landed upon his head. His mind raced." He betrayed me! I protect me for 947 years and he betrays me!?"






Chapter 2



Curled on the floor clutching his head he waited for the pain to arrive, but it never did.
" Did he save me? Am I dead?" nervously reaching to inspect the wound to his head he gasped.  There was nothing, no cut, no bump, no anything, just a few fragments of the massive rock imbedded in his otherwise glorious white hair.  After meticulously
Searching his hands for even the tiniest speck of blood.  He looked to Vordregg who appeared somewhat amused by the boy’s reaction once his bemusement passed the mighty beat returned to the task at hand.  Scanning the newly exposed cave wall with his magnificent amber/red eyes he found a rock which no different from any of the others to Malchior.  Vordregg without warning crushed the rock in his hand without looking away from the cave wall. He repeated this about 10 times each time releasing a clear rock the size of Malchior's fist from its clutches to crash violently to the ground.
"We must leave this cave master. For the walls will not withstand my flame” As he said this he began to pick up the rocks.
Greatly curious Malchior attempted to assist his companion by carrying one of the rocks. Sensing this, Malchior took all but one from its crater and backed away as if anticipating what would happen next.

Reaching down to pick up the stone as thoughtlessly as Vordregg had he stared at it.  They seemed to be made of glass and contain swirling vortexes of gray smoke. Desiring to inspect it further he attempted to lift it. Nothing happened, he tried again, this time with two hands, once again nothing.  He bent his knees and tried with all his might to even roll the stone. It was like trying to move a mountain with a rope woven of wet noodles.  Vordregg extended one hand and leisurely picked up the rock between the points of two claws. "Come on master, let’s go, I wish to stretch my wings."
"Alright, lets go. What was that you mentioned about fire earlier?"
Vordregg said nothing as he led Malchior from the cave. They reached the surface about 20 minutes later.
"Step back pleases master."  Having known the dragon for nearly 950 years, he knew when Vordregg was about to do something that needed space, to give plenty of it, so he retreated about 200 yards away.

Once there Vordregg thrust open his wings to their full length, throwing acid like droplets of liquid that hissed and sizzled upon contact with the surrounding rocks, and let out a piercing screech unique to the dragon species.  The shrieking became louder and louder until surrounding mountains began to crumble. It reared back its mighty spined neck and thrust it's hear forward enhancing the volume even further. The sound of collapsing mountains prevailed momentarily, only to be drowned out a moment later by a yet louder screech that made it feel as though the earth itself would shake apart.  Then Vordregg reached down to pick up the rocks which now glowed brilliantly in the mid-day sun.  Drawing back his spined neck once again, Vordregg bellowed flames passed his great yellow fangs.  Malchior stood, transfixed by the black flames that seemed to suck darkness from the air itself.  The darkness created swirls of purple just along the edges of the flames, which seemed to hypnotize him.  Planting its feet, the dragon focused all it's energy on compressing the now black orb.  Harder and harder the dragon pressed, it engulfed the orb in flames once more and then with one last effort squeezed the orb with so much force that Vordregg's body began to tremble, and the claws of its hind legs dug deep into the ground.



Chapter 3


Once the orb had cooled, Vordregg dropped it.  The earth shook once more as the sphere imbedded itself in it's own crater measuring over 8 feet easily.  Malchior, who had been leaning as far forward as he could to see what was happening, was knocked headlong to the ground.  Then Malchior picked up a recently shed scale and melted it to weld the staff and orb together never to be separated again.
" Master, come here, this is but the beginning of my repayment for your many years of protection.  Its power, coupled with yours, will give you, and you alone the power to share in my strength."  Vordregg then carefully laid the scepter upon the ground at his feet, and bowed anxiously waiting for the boy to retrieve his gift.  As soon as Malchior touched the scepter he felt immeasurable power coursing through him.  The scepter felt like nothing to him as he effortlessly lifted it.
"Master, I bid you warning, for my powers are vast and must be used with great care.  In addition, Only you may touch this scepter, because any other living thing that comes in contact with it will cease to exist very... very, quickly."
"What if they wear gloves?" Malchior replied trying not to sound disrespectful.
" A good question. Indeed, the hides of my brethren will protect them, but it would take over 1000 men to so much as roll that scepter even an inch."
" Other dragons?" he asked, trying to analyze exactly how much strife the staff was going to bring him.  " Would they be able to take it?"
" Ah, a smart lad... it's always good to know exactly what you are up against. But no, we are forbidden to willingly touch the orb of another of our kind, unless special circumstances arose, and even then our intentions must be pure or even we may be harmed by it's potent magic.  Any other questions?"
"Actually, yes, I have a few more."  
" I would imagine so, but lets discuss them once we've returned home, it is getting dark."



Chapter 4


When Malchior awoke the next morning he could not stop staring within the orb atop his old staff.  It emanated strange energies, the center of which was yellow and then turned to a dull crimson as it neared the sphere's walls and then to an insidious black which seemed to feed from the others.  He then decided to head into town to visit his favorite bar.  " Vordregg is in isolation to test his new limits, so I should be fine to leave."  He finished his breakfast and then used a standard teleportation spell he had known since he was only 19 to instantly arrive in town.  As he entered the bar everyone’s eyes were transfixed upon the glowing orb.
"That sure is a fancy shhtick ya got there."  It was sidney, an old prospector with green teeth and a gray beard. Everyone chuckled as his old rotted green teeth caused him to whistle his words.  Completely disregarding Sidney he leaned his staff upon the wall in the corner, and warned everyone not to touch.  The bar patrons laughed at him as if he were a young child claiming toys.  After looking around the room he approached the bar and ordered a beer, the bartender turned around to the kegs and happily obliged buy drawing him a tall glass.
"Put it on my tab Charley." he said as he lifted the mug to his mouth.
" You do realize that one of these days I'm gonna make you pay this thing right?" Charley replied chuckling.
The rest of the bar seemed oddly quiet.  Eh turned to see many of the other bar patrons in the corner, staring at his staff.
" You can look all you want guys, just whatever you don't touch it.  "And why not wizard boy? You afraid we’ll get our grubby prints all over it?" Sidney flexed his coal-blackened fingers as he said this to illustrate his point.  The men in the bar erupted once again with another round of laughter.
"No, because if you touch it you will die." Malchior replied, leisurely enjoying another drink.  
" Was that a threat boy?"  Malchior had forgotten how scrappy the little prospector could be.
" No it's a warning." Malchior once again calmly replied. The group oooooooo'd as if children on a playground.
"I dunno bout you boy, but where I comes from that's a threat, and I ain't gunna take that from a young'n like you!" Sidney stated as he walked toward Malchior, stopping so close that he could smell Sidney's rotting teeth in front of his face."

" Oh I won't be the one killin ya, it'll be that thar shhhhhhhhtick." Malchior retorted mocking the little man.
" You better watch it boy, or I'll shove that stick of yours right up yer ass!"  Malchior just chuckled and returned to his beer.
"Hey!!! Turn back here!! I ain't finished with you yet!!"
" Just don't touch my scepter ok?"  He uninterestedly warned as he waved an uncaring hand over his shoulder as though to shoo him away.

This had done it. The little man ran over to the corner as if to retrieve the staff and carry out his earlier threat, however as soon as Sidney’s grimy hands came in contact with the scepter, he let go, screaming in agony.  Tiny threads of light spread from his fingertips and snaked their way up his arms. The tiny yellow threads continued to spread themselves until they had encompassed his entire body and the screams intensified, as the threads grew wider.  With one final scream Sidney fell to the floor, not as a corpse, but as a mound of ash. Everyone stared at Sidney who was now literally a motionless pile on the floor.  "Once again, I advise you all not to touch my scepter."

A strange voice drew Malchior's attention." So you have a companion as well."  The voice had come from a girl, roughly his age in appearance She wore robes with long black leather straps falling from the sleeves, and vembraces, which seemed to be woven from the hide of a black dragon. He noticed that she had boots made of the same material. "Yes." he answered, "I have a companion, and do you possess one as well?"
"Indeed. It seems as though we've become the center of attention, shall we go outside where we may speak more freely?" Malchior then drained his tankard and followed the girl out of the bar grabbing his staff from the corner as he passed by. She was about a foot shorter than him and had straight jet-black hair that hovered just above the collar of her robes as she walked.
"What is your name?" the girl didn't reply, just stared blankly into his eyes.
  A moment later she blinked and blurted out" Rana!!... I mean, my name is Rana.  She blushed as she corrected herself, but did not lose her composure.
"Don’t you have a scepter?"
"Yes, of course I do."  Without saying a word she put her hands together and as she slowly pulled them apart a crystal scepter coursing with blue and white energy appeared between them.  
"You've gotta teach me that."
"Ok its simple just do this."  Malchior watched as Rana demonstrated the technique. He mastered it quickly, and they spoke for a while about their masters and how they were trained.  Before they knew it, dusk was approaching and they both left for home to meet their companions.

Vordregg awoke the next morning to find Malchior deep in thought.
"So you met Rana last night. What do you think of her?"  Malchior fell from his rock to the cave floor in surprise.
"How!?!?, How do you know that!?"
" Because I smell Methusala on you."  Malchoir just looked at him blankly. " Her companion," he explained.
" You know Methusala personally then?"
" She didn't tell you?"
‘‘Tell me what?"
" Methusala is my mate, Rana was supposed to meet you there and tell you that."
" Well that explains how she knew my name without asking anyway. So then those boots and vembraces she wore were made from your old scales?"
"Yes."
" So that's what you've been doing every night."
" You knew?"
" ... Yea... you're a dragon... not quite the quietest, stealthiest animal.  When you step the whole cave shakes, remember!"
"... Oh... yea... I suppose you have a point there."
" Solo, ummmm, where do they live?"
" They live in a cave in the mountains just a few hundred miles away."
" You're saying u flew over a few hundred miles!!! Twice!! Every night!?!?!?"
" Vordregg, confused by Malchior's surprise, looked at his wings."
" Oh, flying, I forgot, mummy, wow, that was a bit dumb huh? Anyway, you think you could take me to visit them?"
" Sure, hop on."    






Chapter 5


When they arrived, they were greeted by Rana, and a massive black dragon  that looked nearly identical to Vordregg, except her spines were not as aggressive looking as vordregs, and they were blue not red.  Malchior anxiously leapt from Vordreggs back while still in the air and landed in a three-point stance at Rana's feet.  From this close he could see that Methusala looked much more feminine than Vordregg, her horns were shorter and thicker than Vordregg's.  There arose a sudden flapping sound as both dragons took flight, and in a matter of seconds they were both gone from sight.  By the time the two dragons returned at 6'o clock, Malchior and Rana had become good friends.  The two dragons returned with a cow they had caught for dinner.  Setting down the steer, Vordregg used a single claw to quickly skin the cow. As he always did.  Blood poured from the bovine causing the underlying dirt to become a deep crimson.  Methusala rested her head passionately on the base of Vordregg's left wing as he skillfully prepared the cow for cooking.  Once the skin and organs were all removed, he cooked it to perfection with only three breaths.  Vordregg laid the cooked cow on the hide, which Methusala has spread out to keep dirt and rocks off the meat.  Then he walked back over to the pile of organs he removed and using his serpentine tongue snatched them up one by one and ate them raw.  Then they returned home.


2 years pass


Chapter 6


Malchior decided to go back to the bar Where he had met Rana exactly 2 years before.  As he entered, he found himself instantly the center of attention.  He heard people whispering to others near them they all were to the effect of," that’s him," or" He's back” Everyone in the bar seemed to fear him. Everyone, that is, except for one black man at the end of the bar whom he took to be one of the tenants on Brady’s plantation nearby. He wore dirt stained shirt and overalls.  Malchior decided to sit next to this man so as not to scare anyone who already feared him any further.
"I heard about what u done to Sidney." the man said in a deep raspy voice.
' It wasn't my fault, I warned everyone not to touch my staff and he ignored me, he grabbed it anyway. It was his own fault." as he said this he noticed how brutish the man looked up close. His biceps alone were bigger than Malchior was wide.
The man chuckled and said," ya know, usually I'm the one everyone's afraid of in here.  kinda nice not being center of attention for once."
" S-s-s-sir, you’re not w-w-welcome here n-n-no more. Please pay your tab and leave."
" Charley!! It’s me!!! Remember!?!? What are you talkin about me not bein welcome here?"
"What am I talkin about!?!?!? I’m talkin about the last time you come here I had to sweep up my best customer!! That’s what!!!! Now pay of your tab right now or get outta my bar!!!"
Malchior stared at Charley's terrified face for a moment then reached his right hand inside his robes.  He pulled it out slowly a moment later. Within his hand was a fist-sized fragment of one of Vordregg's molted horns. He held it up so that Charley could see it.
"You think I'll drop your tab for a pointy rock!" Malchior laughed.
" This is no pointy rock, it's a dragon horn, the tanner will pay you 5000 times what my tab is worth for it easy."
Charley looked at Malchior unsurely he considered both sides. " Malchior has never lied before, is he just starting now?"  Just then Charley saw that tarasin was actually there in the bar." tarasin!! Come here do you know what this is?" The moment tarasin was close enough to see what Malchior held in his hands he began to shout.
"Boy!! Is that a real dragon horn?!?! I will pay you 500,000 gold pieces for it!!!"  Charley's jaw dropped in astonishment.
" Don't ask me, this horn belongs to Charley." as he said this he dropped  the horn into Charley's hand.
"Sir please, I'll go as high as 600,000, I must have that horn!!!!!"
" SOLD!!!" the bartender shouted in disbelief."
" alright now my tab is all paid up, so can I have that beer now? just start me up a new tab."
" not on your life!!!" as he said this he fumbled under the bar for the camera he kept there to take pictures of banned patrons. he quickly found the camera and used it to snap his picture. "from now on you drink for free." before the picture had even developed he took a magic marker and wrote" malchoir free beer for life" right across the front and tacked it to the wall. then Charley cheerfully got Malchior his beer.  " Charley you do realize I am immortal right?"
"yea, but that picture refers to my life."

Malchior turned to the massive black man sitting at the end of the bar.  "where do you work? with arms like those, you must be one hell of a farmer. you look like you could pull a plow yourself, horse and all."
" actually I'm new around here, I'm a blacksmith lookin for a place to work."
"why don't you come stay here to work. ol George is gettin too old to work them bellows himself. As a matter of fact I bet he's sell you his whole operation, bellows and all if u promise to shoe his horses for him till he dies."
"till he dies?"
"don't worry, he's already 84 years old. he can't have to many years left in him, but he's a tough ol coot. he says he gonna live til he dies, that’s his heartsong and nothin is gonna make him do any different."
" how many horses does he have though?"
" He's just got nine old gals left and they're just like he is. they're old, strong, and stubborn. once I even saw one of them pull a red oak limbs and all clear through town like it was a little twig."
"alright then, lets go see a man about a shop."
"alright then, I'll take you there right now, his shop is right on the way to my cave." big John spit out his beer and began to laugh hysterically. "You!!!? live in a cave?!?! listen boy I may be new in town, but there's no way you sleep in a cave and manage to keep your hair, robes, and skin that clean'n fancy like that!"
" who says I sleep on the ground?"
" hahahah whaddaya do just--" John was suddenly brought to the realization that his mug was no longer where it had sat moments before., but two feet above it, floating in mid air." lev-I-tate." he slowly finished , staring at the floating glass.  he grabbed the glass and a moment later its gravity had returned.


chapter 7


John and Malchior arrived at George's around 3 o'clock to discuss their offer, and George gladly accepted.
" now I just gotta find a place to buy materials and I'll be in business."
" I’ll make you a deal,  I'll handle materials at no cost, and all you have to do is teach me to become a skilled blacksmith."
" how long will this go on?"
" Until you are dead."
"how do you know I will die first?"
'because my new friend, I am immortal."  More than slightly affected by this, John stood speechless for a few moments as his mind was flooded with confusion.
" This boy is no older than 20 yet he knows so much, and he's a wizard no less." John's mind frantically considered. something about Malchior's face just made him want to trust the boy." alright Malchior  you've got a deal, but I doubt you could even swing the heavier hammers at all, let alone accurately."
"Oh, I don't want to learn how to use the equipment to shape the heated metals.  I just wish to know the secrets of the formulas for the strongest metals.  The shaping I can handle no problem."
" okay sure" John cluelessly agreed.
"alright then while I'm here I'll get you a load of materials."
" Wait, before you do that, I'll need to bring in my tools, the ones here simply will not do."
" okay, stand back." John did as he was told and stepped back a few feet.  Once he was sure John was far enough away, Malchior placed his hands flatly together and then separated them slowly pulled them apart to reveal his scepter as Rana had taught him.   then  he motioned towards John's cart and all his tools began to fly freely to their hangings.  then he looked back to the wagon and motioned once more, but this time the movement was slower, not quick and commanding like his first ones were.  They were more enticing, as if asking the huge anvil to float to him of it's own accord.  The great heavy anvil slowly and clumsily floated towards the workshop a mere six inches off the ground, and slowly touched down where the old anvil had previously sat. Then Malchior  thrust his right hand downward, the earth beneath him obligingly split in two. The he wrenched his hand back up  to chest height and in response  thousands of rocks flew up out of the seemingly bottomless crevice and piled neatly next to the shop.

"Wow!! that was amazing!! do you think you could teach me just a little magic in exchange for me revealing my secret ore  smelting techniques? I also see now why people wanted so badly to feel that staff of yours. it is magnificent, and those carvings are amazing, may I feel them for myself?"
" I suppose so."  John walked over and placed a single finger upon the intricate carvings Malchior had so painstakingly created.  The intense magical power within it made his fingers tingle. John then grabbed the scepter with both hands and felt its immense power wash through his entire body the feeling was like no other he had ever felt before. Malchior  said something under his breath he could not understand.
" tarakeo, hinara ,naginata dan watashiwa nihongoga."Malchior took a deep breath and continued chanting," anna ni issho datta no ni yuugure wa mou chigau iro arifureta yasashisa wa kimi wo toozakeru, anna ni issho datta no ni kotoba hitotsu tooranai kasoku shiteiku senaka ni ima wa anna ni issho datta no ni yuugure wa mou chigau iro semete kono tsukiakari no shita de shizuka na nemuri wo,unmei to umaku tsukiatte iku nara kitto kanashii toka sabishii nante itte rarenai nando mo tsunagatta kotoba wo muryoku ni shite mo taikutsu na yoru wo tsubushitainda ne anna ni issho datta no ni fuzoroi na futari ni ima tadoritsukeru basho nado nainda anna ni issho datta no ni hajimete au yokogao ni fushigi na kurai ni miserareteru tomadou kurai ni kokoro wa doko ni iru? doko ni fukarete iru? sono hitomi ga mayowanu you ni, anna ni issho datta no ni kotoba hitotsu tooranai ugoki hajimeta kimi no jounetsu anna ni issho datta no ni yuugure wa mou chigau iro semete kono tsukiakari no shita de shizuka na nemuri wo."  as soon as the spell was complete he let go of his scepter.  It promptly rocketed to the ground tearing off John's arms on the way.  John looked from one shoulder to the other, yelling in hoarse voice because of the intense pain coursing through his body.  Tears flooded the man's eyes as he fell to the ground. he became weaker and weaker with every drop of blood that gushed from his now limbless shoulders.