The Blue Mage Raised by Dragons

Lindyss leaned back in her seat and exhaled as she closed her eyes. Her breath was hot, and she could feel the warmth leaving her body as she breathed out. She brought her bottle up to her lips and took a swig, swallowing a few times, letting the wine burn as it flowed down her throat. Her eyes opened, and she turned her head towards the tree’s knothole. Tafel was standing outside the tree, staring inside at Lindyss. The demon waved upon meeting the cursed elf’s gaze. “So, I think you probably heard what’s happening, but dragons and phoenixes are having difficulties negotiating peace.”

Lindyss’ brow furrowed. “So?”

“So…,” Tafel said, dragging out the word, “since you’re so great at running countries and handling political stuff, I thought you’d know a way to end the war.”

Lindyss stared at Tafel. The demon stared back with bright, hopeful eyes. They seemed to glisten, and Lindyss couldn’t help but look away. “Sure, there’s plenty of ways to end the war: imprison all the phoenixes or imprison all the dragons. That way, one race will be happy, and the other won’t be able to do anything while they’re locked up. Heck, you can imprison both dragons and phoenixes for all I care.”

Tafel pursed her lips. “Do you have any other solutions; perhaps, one that’ll make both parties happy?” The demon’s eyes lit up. “The dragons and phoenixes are upset over the loss of their fallen companions. Can you bring them back to life?” She paused. “Undead life works too.”

Lindyss lowered her bottle and stared at Tafel. “You really believe I can do anything, huh?”

“I mean…, sometimes it does feel that way,” Tafel said with a sheepish expression. “Does that mean you can’t bring the dragons and phoenixes back?”

The cursed elf shrugged. “It depends on how they died,” she said. “Are their souls still intact? Are their bodies still whole? Who’s going to supply the mana to upkeep them? I sure as heck can’t support skeleton dragons and phoenixes indefinitely with my pitiful amounts of mana.”

Tafel scratched her head. “I’m not sure, but aren’t those details something you can discuss with Volearden and Malvina?”

“I’m your chaperone, not your nanny,” Lindyss said. “Besides, I doubt the dragons and phoenixes who’ve died would want to be brought back to life as creatures that can’t feel, eat, or sleep.” The cursed elf sighed upon seeing Tafel’s expression. “Look, sometimes, things won’t go your way, and no matter how hard you fight, it’s hopeless. I’m not saying stopping the war between phoenixes and dragons is impossible, but to achieve a clean result where everyone’s happy? I can’t see a way to do it. Try asking Vur.”

Tafel pursed her lips. “What if I wait for you to sober up and ask again?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Maybe the alcohol is having a negative effect on your brain.”

“Come closer, and I’ll show you a real negative effect on your brain,” Lindyss said and snorted. “Like I said, I don’t have a solution; ask Vur.”

Tafel scratched her head before walking away from the knothole. Apparently, being drunk made the cursed elf a lot more aggressive. The demon shook her head before walking back towards Malvina and Volearden, who were glaring at one another without moving. Tafel cleared her throat, catching the two magical beasts’ attentions. “She said Vur would have a solution.”

Volearden and Malvina shifted their gazes onto Vur at the same time. He was in his dragon form, reaching around with his front paw to scratch his butt. When the two magical beasts looked at him, he paused mid-scratch and blinked before pointing at himself with his free front paw. His head tilted to the side, and he furrowed his brow upon seeing Volearden and Malvina nod at him.

“What do you think, Vur?” Tafel asked. “If you were in charge of stopping the war, how would you do it?”

Vur blinked. “I’d tell the dragons to stop.”

“Oh, if it were only that easy,” Volearden said and sighed. “The mother who lost a son won’t listen to you until she’s torn apart her son’s killer with her own claws and teeth.”

“If they don’t listen,” Vur said, his eyes slowly narrowing, “put them in time-out.” He nodded.

Volearden’s helmet turned purple, the color swirling around while forming question marks before disappearing. “How would you put a dragon in time-out?”

“Evil-sealing tower,” Vur said. “There’s a lot of open rooms in there. We can put misbehaving dragons inside.”

“Your idea is to lock up the dragons who disagree with you?” Volearden asked.

“For the record,” Malvina said, raising a wing and a barrel of phoenix liquor that she obtained from who-knows-where considering Tafel took away the phoenix queen’s root bracelet. “I think Vur’s idea is brilliant.”

Vur turned towards Malvina. “The phoenixes that don’t listen, they go in time-out too.”

“And, suddenly, the dragon nature within him bares its ugly fangs,” the phoenix queen said and sighed.

Tafel rubbed her chin. “Even if you don’t like it, do you think it could work?” If all the dragons and phoenixes who opposed the end of the war were no longer able to voice their opinions….

“It’ll never work,” Volearden said. “How are you going to lock up dragons and phoenixes? Do you think they won’t resist?” He hiccoughed out a jet of flames. “I’m not letting anyone stuff me into no evil-sealing tower.”

Malvina nodded. “I’ll be one of the first to oppose this plan. Phoenixes are meant to enjoy the open sky, not be stuffed into some room because we want revenge.”

Tafel turned her head towards Vur. “I don’t think your idea’s going to work this time.”

Vur snorted and crossed his front legs over his chest. “It’ll work,” he said and glared at the two magical beasts. “Sometimes, you have to do things you don’t want to do. Tafel wants the war to end, so I’m going to end the war, and if some beasts have to be locked away in the evil-sealing tower to do it, then I’ll lock them away. If they resist, then I’ll beat them until they don’t.”

Malvina turned towards Volearden. “Your great-grandson is about as empathetic as a piece of cabbage,” she said. “I can see how the two of you are related.”

Volearden stared at Vur. Did the armored dragon’s great-grandson always resort to violence when he needed to get things done? Volearden shifted over to Tafel. “Hey,” he whispered. “Domestic abuse is a serious issue amongst dragons. If Vur’s beating you, you can tell me, and I’ll have your back.”

Tafel blinked at the armored dragon. “Oh, uh, thanks,” she said after a moment of collecting her thoughts. “I’ll remember that.”