The air grew heavier as Alister’s words hung between them, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.
“What sort of man bargains while placing the lives of his companions at risk? Or perhaps… they mean little to you at all?”
Quinton clenched his fists, his calm façade threatening to crumble. “You don’t understand-” he began, but Alister interrupted him, his voice rising with an almost mocking tone.
“Oh, I understand perfectly. I understand that you think yourself clever enough to navigate these murky waters unscathed, sacrificing pawns to secure your position on the board. Tell me, Quinton, is that truly the mark of someone who values his friends?”
The silence that followed was suffocating. Vira and the others watched, their fear growing as they awaited Quinton’s response.
Alister’s eyes narrowed, his voice lowering to a cold, almost dismissive tone. “If you have nothing more to say, then perhaps it is time for you to leave.”
He pointed toward the humans nearby, trembling with fear. “My dragons and I have others to attend to… humans who need to answer for their sins.”
With that Alister turned around and began walking away.
Quinton stood frozen for a moment, the harshness of Alister’s tone sinking in. His grip on his composure faltered, but he quickly masked it, his expression hardening.
“W-wait…” Quinton managed to call out causing Alister to stop in his tracks.
“So it’s only a favour you can offer… Right?”
Alister paused at Quinton’s call, his expression remaining unreadable as he turned back to face him.
“Yes,”
Quinton’s eyes narrowed slightly, a look of of hope sparking in them. “How far could your favor go?”
A slow, smile crept across Alister’s scaled face. “As far as it needs to.” His voice deepened, with a tone that left no room for doubt.
“If this celestial being want another celestial dead, I will gladly make it happen. If it’s a war they want won, I will bring them victory. If it’s a search they need done, I will scour the cosmos to find what they seek. You see, Quinton, for the help you have offered me in my time of need, I would pay back that favor tenfold.”
He stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Quinton’s with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.
“As long as it does not endanger those close to me, I will do anything.”
Quinton’s face lit up slightly. The offer was more than he had hoped for, yet something about the way Alister said it felt like a reminder of the power that he wielded.
But then, Alister’s expression darkened, and his tone shifted to something colder, more intense. “But…”
“…it will only be a one-time favor.” He straightened, his eyes hardening.
“I will not perform more than one task for you. I may be willing to pay back the favor, but I will not do so at the risk of my pride. For I am the Overlord of Dragons…”
“…and I answer to no one.”
The the weight in his voice was unmistakable. The offer was generous, but it came with the reminder that Alister’s pride, his sovereignty, could never be compromised… not even for a favor.
It was clear his dragon blood was slightly affecting his thought patterns.
After a brief moment of consideration, he nodded. “Alright, that will be the terms of our deal. You will grant your protection to me and my companions, as well as granting the celestial I spoke of one favor, in exchange for the moonstone.”
After a long pause, Alister gave a single nod. “Indeed.”
The simplicity of the exchange made it clear… there would be no further negotiation, no room for doubt. The deal was set, the lines drawn.
Quinton carefully handed Alister the briefcase, Alister took it without a word, his eyes flickering over it for a brief moment before he opened it.
Inside, nestled securely, was the moonstone. Without wasting a moment, Alister tossed the case aside, the sound of it hitting the ground barely audible in the heavy air.
A smile spread across his face as he held the moonstone in his hand. “I believe we are done here,” he said.
Quinton nodded, though a touch of curiosity remained in his eyes. “How do I contact you when the time comes?”
Before Alister could answer, one of his dragons stepped closer. Terra, in her massive dragon form, emerged from the shadows of the landscape, her imposing size causing the very ground to tremble with each step.
“Telepathy,” she spoke, her voice deep, sending a vibrations through the air.
Quinton’s eyes widened as he noticed the dragon slow her movements, bringing one of her massive claws forward. Terra lowered it, as she spoke. “Place your head here,” she instructed. Listing to her instructions, Quinton stepped forward and gently placed his head on her claw. In an instant, a strange marking appeared on his forehead… a dragon skill crest, glowing bright blue befir fading.
“Good,” Terra said, as she nodded her massive head slowly. “Now, when you wish to speak to my lord, you must first go through me. Then, I will deliver your message.”
Quinton’s gaze lingered on her for a moment. After a brief pause, he nodded. “Understood.”
Alister, who had watched the exchange, nodded once in approval. “So that should be it then,”
he said.
“You’d do well to retire back with your female friend there.”
Quinton turned around, walking away, As he took a few steps, however, something unexpected happened. He suddenly felt a sharp grip on his leg. Looking down, he saw one of
the guild members, their eyes wide with desperation.
“Please, save us,” they begged, their voice trembling with fear. “We can’t survive without your help.”
Quinton’s face twisted into a grimace as the weight of their hand pressed against his leg. He winced.
“That’s my broken leg, man,” he muttered, annoyed by the interruption. Without hesitation, he stomped on their hand, forcing them to release their grip in pain. “Gees, man.”
The guild member yelped in agony, pulling their hand away as Quinton continued slumping, not sparing them another glance. The desperate pleas faded into the distance as Quinton moved forward, clearly unfazed.
As he reached Vira, who was waiting on the hover bike, Quinton quickly hopped on, and without a word, they sped off into the horizon, the wind rushing past them as they left.
Behind them, Alister’s voice rang out, cold and commanding. “Now, my dragons… finish what we started.”