Ruling as the Next Dragon Sage!

Cloudjumper's arm…it looks…smoked. Hurt. Limp. Don't tell me that spell…

But she's eyeing me. She's about to make a move. Attack. Fast.

I hold out my arm, come up with something prideful that aligns with her interest.

"Your arm. It's hurt, I can tell. This fight won't be good if you're fighting like a limped wolf," I say.

"Here, let me heal you, just for the moment."

As for once, as if Cloudjumper never taken the time to look at it, she realized it. Her arm. Completely limp. She might've endured the attack, but not to the best of her ability. Just be glad it wasn't seared off or something far worst.

Then, clenching her gauntlet hand, and griting her teeth, she looked right back at me.

"I…I don't need any hand-outs! I'll kill you with my head if I have to!"

What?

Are you serious? Are you deranged? Mental even?

No…probably is.

I said what I said perfectly…but her pride is something that even dwarfs my own! I can't even make any statements to align with her mindset. Her pride and ego…it's just on a whole different level!

Doesn't look like her fury will stand down any moment either. Trying to subdue it has gotten me nowhere, and I can't directly fight her at full strength, much less even half.

What do I do…?

Conversation, Ryuuzen. Try to prolong this more.

"Kill me, then what? You think that's what makes you a Sovereign? You think that's what grants you the power you've been chasing for?" I ask, but Cloudjumper's mouth moved too quick. As if the answer was already on the top of her head.

"That's what you did, not? Killed dragons, humans, elves, all in the name of you chasing for immortality? You were worse than scum, and you want to play hero and tell me how to live my life!"

Damn. Curse strikes me again. When did I ever kill dragons, humans, or elves…?

…

…

…

Even if it was true…there's no way they would be able to retain that information unless the Golden Age had someone record it from someone whom known me personally since the Dark Age…

And if all of the Sovereigns died out over the years and I'm the last one alive…then what Aarx said is also true, that the dragons of the Golden Age just…misinformed the history of the past. If they did that to me…

Then what about the other three Sovereigns?

"Pfft, you believe that?" I try to play it off, no matter how much it hurts. That no matter where, or who I go to, anyone of dragonkind will just recognize me for the absolutely worst.

Her tail stabs the ground, the scorpion stinger lodged deep. I always wondered how that happened, the tail, that is. Back way then, I remember the customization being vast, because guess what, it's a video game. So, stinger tail happens.

But since this is…real life, now, I guess, how the hell would that actually happen? You are a Dragon. Where in the hell do you get a fucking stinger from? And it actually secretes real poison too—did I mention that yet?

Cloudjumper, you may be a thorn in my side right now, but in every way, shape, and form, you are really fascinating! It's like cartoon logic to an extent. Where the hell do you even store the poison? Do you have an organ in your body for the poison? Like a poison sac? That would be cool.

Wait, no, mid-fight and I'm trying to see how cool Cloudjumper is. Lock in, man. Lock in.

"You are undeniable proof, no matter how much I want to deny it. You've killed, stole, murdered, assaulted, became infamous, and STILL…still, everyone parades your name and give you the praise that you shouldn't deserve."

Her voice became…smaller. Softer. I wasn't aware of it until the latter.

For once…I think I dropped my guard.

Because Cloudjumper did too.

She didn't meet my eyes, her clenched gauntlet hand came undown, and she looked away. Towards the sky.

"Maybe…it's dragonkind, but humans, elves, all the others. They usually defame those of the same acts, and make sure that their names are only held to make sure on what not to do,"

Then, she turns towards me.

"But…you. You…"

I deadpan, nevermind. That softness is gone, all three words laced with the usual venom as per usual. Maybe it's because she has that stinger? Maybe. Conspiracy theory.

"Each echelon of power that I reached, you were always there, all of you. Despite committing numerous atrocities, your name was always held in the highest regards as if you saved the entirety of Dragonkind! How could someone…no…! How could anyone have faith, glory, and pride in someone they had never seen! Much less commit these acts! It didn't make any sense!"

Cloudjumper is right. But…it just reminds me of what Aarx had told me. The Dragonkind of the Golden Age versus the Dark Age are distinctly two different generations of dragons. But right now, it only comes off as toxicity.

I've done the worse, they've written my myth personally, and yet, I'm hearing from Cloudjumper—the one who actually grew up with Dragons, that I was held in the highest regard! Regardless of my "acts" that I had never committed!

It's insane to think about, honestly.

It's almost like…they are clinging onto the past far too much. Why? Do people still find a way to resonate with "bad" figures even if they never knew them? Much less knew the entire truth?

Do…people find my actions to be justified? Even?

Do they?

"But I see now, it doesn't matter what I think. Forget morals, forget ethics, forget everything. I'm coming for your head, Ryuuzen! I'm coming for it all!"

Cloudjumper spoke harshly, and she meaned every word behind it. Because her tail unplucked from the ground and instead of flying towards me, she did something else. Held out her hand, and cracked a nasty smile.

Before I knew it.

My body fell to the ground, like an impending weight. As if…a sudden force just appeared out of nowhere. I strained my head to look up, but even that was a challenge.

All I could really here, was Cloudjumper walking her way towards me.

Then, that's when I reailzed, and underestimated her entirely.

Another school of magic.

Gravity.