Exuberance - You see the positive in everything. Your status is contagious to allies and disheartening to foes. Your attacks are 10% more accurate and your speed is increased by 10%. Your resistance to hostile mental or emotional magic is 20%. Stacks up to 5x.

  “Are you sure about this, Nico? It’s practically a legendary item.”

  I snorted. “I wouldn’t have given it to you if I wasn’t sure. I already have my choker to protect my mind. I want to be sure that you are safe from such influences as well.”

  “Then I’ll wear your ring with honor, Nico… but to me, the honor will be because it is your ring that I’m wearing.”

  There was something peculiar about her wording, but I wasn’t sure what it was, so I let it go—which was just as well, because we were only twenty miles from the city and I’d been making slow lazy circles trying to decide upon a place to land. The city was massive, but cleaner than Urgoi. Most of the buildings were made of some white stone, so the entire city seemed to glisten in the sun.

  I could see why it was called the City of the Dawn.

  Then I noticed that we had company. I half expected a wing of dragons, but instead it was two knights and a man in robes who flew straight toward us under the power of some type of flight spell. For just a moment, I pondered how brave they had to be to fly two miles up into the sky, knowing that if their magic was dispelled they would fall to their deaths.

  The wizard spoke using a spell which amplified his voice. “Greetings, Lord Sandumas… or do you prefer Nicosandumas?”

  Stats 8.0

  Nicosandumas

  Race: Blue Dragon

  Maturity: Elder (10% to Ancient)

  DKP: 219

  Length: 76’6” Weight: 44,785 lbs.

  Base Speed: 18 mph on land/198 mph in the air

  1st Evolution: Mind

  Aura of Perception

  Enhanced Magic Sight

  1 Spell Slot per Tier

  1 to Maximum Spell Tier

  -50% to Spell Elevation for Bonded Rider

  25% effect to spells when cast in human form

  Astral Projection: 5

  2nd Evolution Paths Available: Claw, Breath, Scale, Wing, Prismatic

  Nascent link to oblivion***

  Stats:

  STR: 795

  AGI: 151

  DUR: 605

  MIND: 377

  HP: 6,005

  Regen Rate: 605 HP/day (805 with Cami)

  Immunities:

  Electricity

  Poison

  Sleep

  Paralysis

  Resistances:

  Magic- 55%

  Physical Damage: 35%

  Acid: 50%

  Combat Proficiency:

  Armor Rating: 52

  ATK: 40

  DMG: 5-50+50 (claws), 7-70+75 (bite), 5-40+50 (wings), 6-72+75 (tail)

  Critical Strike: 33%

  Racial Abilities:

  Breath Weapons:

  1: Spark storm 225’ x 30’ (30-240 damage)

  2: Lightning Bolt 500’ x 8’ (50-500 damage)

  3. Forked Lighting 300’ x 4’ (40-360 damage)

  4: Draconic Roar

  5: Acid Breath 360’ x 7’ (40-320 damage)

  6: Poison Breath- cloud 300’ x 300’ (15 dmg per second + toxicity)

  Sprint 2: Reach a maximum land speed of 180 mph for up to 30 seconds or maximum air speed up to 1050 mph for 1 minute.*

  Sound Imitation/Ventriloquism*

  Dragon Fear 7

  Project Image (36% real)*

  Shape Change 8*

  Dragon Warrior Form*

  Fabricate 1*

  Soul Space 7*

  Manipulate Sand 2*

  Glass Manipulation 1*

  Concentration 3*

  Meditate 3*

  Dracomorphic Breath

  Darkness 1* (black hatchling)

  Suggestion 1* (green hatchling)

  Shocking Aura 5

  Draconic Roar

  Anti-Magic Pulse*

  Astral Projection 5*

  Soul Seer Talent 1*

  * - These abilities can be used in either form

  Companion Bond: Camille Westfork Level: 20

  Bond Benefits:

  Empathic Connection

  Bond Telepathy (Range: 100 miles)

  DKP bonus: +25% (minimum +1)

  Gain 10% Age Rank Growth per level gained by companion

  Elevate Spell: Use 1 DKP to raise a spell’s effective Tier

  Titles:

  Morfi Apprentice- +5% Str in other forms, -50% transformation time

  Making Do – double the area which can be affected by Fabricate if you are only making repairs.

  Balance Warden- maintain the balance created by the Pact. A one time bonus of +50 stat points.

  Mana: 3720 points

  Regen: 37 MP/minute. (56 with Cami)

  Innate Magic Spells:

  1st Tier: 3/7

  Force Darts

  Identification

  Tripping Vines

  2nd Tier: 4/7

  Lesser Regeneration - Miseria

  Adoration of the Fearful

  Burning Sphere

  Resist Energy

  3rd Tier: 5/7

  Weave the Wind

  Call the Charge

  Life’s Blood – Miseria

  Thunderclap

  Fireball

  4th Tier: 3/6

  Airy Water- Temulara

  Wizard’s Eye

  Dimensional Ward

  5th Tier: 2/5

  Malcor’s Wings of Darkness

  Cone of Absolute Zero

  6th Tier: 3/5

  Breakdown and Analyze

  Earthen Construction

  Sphere of Controlled Speed

  7th Tier: 0/2

  Mage Spells:

  Tier 1- none

  Pending Quests:

  Free the Dragons: Shared with Cami Westfork. Cassandra Thomas, Modessa Lonerat, Lisella Forlay.

  Primary objective: Dragons have been altered by bondage. Free as many of the domesticated dragons as possible.

  Secondary objective: find a way to restore the freed dragons to their former glory.

  Tertiary objective: (personal only) – meet 3 free dragons and gain their perspective upon the place of dragons in the world.

  Rewards: Personalized based upon contribution.

  Minions: 39/500

  Named Minions:

  Daggin - Blacksmith

  Rubin - Enchanter

  Cassandra - Alchemist

  Sir Michael / Sir Thomas - Knights

  William - Infantry and Archers’ Commander

  Emilio - Head servant

  Bob - Chief builder

  Amos- Chief naval officer

  Exalted Minions: 0/3

  Hoard:

  1,083,614 gold coins

  2,632,885 silver coins

  42,508 copper coins

  Various gems worth 1,022,905 gold coins

  Assorted magical items:

  Amulet (Cami)

  Ring (Cami)

  Sword

  Staff

  Dagger

  Assorted valuables worth 310,314 gold coins

  HUMAN FORM

  Nico

  Apparent Race: Human

  Height: 6’5” Weight: 229 lbs.

  Apparent Age: 18

  Class: Dragon Disciple/Sorcerer*

  Level: 14th/9th

  XP: 8,822/25,000

  DKP: 107

  Base Speed: 14 mph

  Stats:

  STR: 310 (238 from draconic form)

  AGI: 144

  DUR: 605

  MIND: 372

  HP: 6,005

  Regen Rate: 805 HP/day (805 with Cami)

  Armor Rating: 23

  Immunities: Electricity, Sleep, Paralysis

  Resistances: Magic- 40%, Physical Damage: 4% (bracer)

  ATK: 27

  DMG: 3-18+ 30 (punch), 4-24+44 (kick)

  Critical Strike: 9%

  Monk Fighting Style: Dragon

  Monk Abilities:

  Rapid Movement

  Flurry Attack 1

  Stunning Fist 1

  Meditation 1

  Stillness

  Pure Mind-Pure Body

  Make Me Whole

  Evasion

  My Body Poisons the World

  Gear:

  Bracers of Natural Power (Armor +3, Dur: +5, +3 Unarmed dmg, +5 Agi, +25% of armor/senses, 3 stored attacks)

  Choker of Freedom (Armor +5, Magic Resistance, Scrying Protection)

  Belt of the Mountain (Str: +10, Dur: +40, Stone Skin 1/day, Weight of the Mountain 1/day)

  *Sorcerer class has not actually been realized

  ______________

  Name: Camille Westfork

  Height: 5’5” Weight: 120 lbs.

  Race: Human- draconic bloodline

  Age: 16.8

  Class: Dragon Knight / Elemental Valkyrie

  Level: 10th / 10th

  Crafting Class: Soul Forger

  Level: 4th

  DKP: 0

  XP: 0/25,000

  Base Speed: 9 mph

  Elemental Valkyrie Class Abilities:

  Vigil for the Dying 2

  Dragon Bond: Nicosandumas-Level: 20

  Benefits:

  Empathic Connection

  Bonded Telepathy (Rang: 100 miles)

  Bloodline: Claws and Wings

  Spell Share

  10% stats

  Elevate Spell 2 - Your bonded companion may use DKP to increase the Tier of a spell you are casting.

  Polymorph 3

  Mentor: Modessa Lonerat

  Stats:

  STR: 177 (80 from Nico)

  AGI: 150 (15 from Nico)

  DUR: 200 (60 from Nico)

  MIND: 190 (38 from Nico)

  Unassigned: 0

  HP: 2000

  Regen Rate: 200 HP/day (805 with Nico)

  Armor Rating: 27

  Resistance: All Damage- 6

  ATK: 28

  DMG: 10-20 (non-lethal)

  Critical Strike: 8%

  Skills:

  Tough Hide 2

  Meditation 3

  Concentration: 2

  Rapid Cast 2

  Empower Spell 1

  Spell Swap

  True Rider

  Spear Mastery 4

  Shield Mastery 4

  Dagger Mastery 2

  Dragon Jousting 2

  Mana: 1900 (2150)

  Mana Regeneration: 19 per minute (56 with Nico)

  DK Spells:

  Tier 1 (5/6)

  Offensive: Force Darts

  Offensive: Elemental Orb

  Defensive: Shadow Cloak

  Defensive: Tripping Vines

  Utility: Identify

  Tier 2 (6/6)

  Offensive: Burning Sphere

  Offensive: Venom of Silence

  Defensive: Shadow Haze

  Utility: Elemental Imbuement

  Utility: See Flaw

  Utility: Magic Disruption

  Tier 3 (5/6)

  Offensive: Call the Charge

  Offensive: Thunderclap

  Offensive: Fireball

  Utility: Shadow Clone

  Utility: Haste

  Tier 4: (3/4)

  Defensive: Elemental Armor

  Utility: Summon Lesser Elemental

  Utility: Shadow Step

  Tier 5: (0/2)

  Elemental Valkyrie Spells:

  Tier 1 (1/6)

  Death Watch (Nico)

  Tier 2 (1/6)

  War Horn

  Tier 3 (1/6)

  Shori’s Hand

  Tier 4: (1/4)

  Elemental Shield

  Tier 5: (0/2)

  Gear:

  Masterwork Cold Steel Spear

  Soul Spear

  Buckler of the Bonded

  Leather Armor

  Amulet of the Bound Sun

  Ring of Ethereal Bliss

  Chapter 37 - Family Reunion

  “The name ‘Nico’ has grown on me. Just go with that,” I said.

  The wizard bowed. “As you wish. Emperor Castine wondered if you would be willing to assume human form. It would be much easier to get you into the city that way.”

  A part of me wanted to be difficult, but now that I was so close to seeing my sister, Sheraleigh, I figured I could relax a bit.

  Cami asked, “Worried what will happen if your citizens see a real dragon?”

  The wizard’s eyes narrowed. “I was told to expect pushback from Nico, but not from you, Miss Westfork.”

  I chuckled. “I guess I’m rubbing off on her, proof positive that humans can improve.”

  The two knights tried not to laugh, but failed—at least until the wizard turned to glare at them. Then he said, “You’ll note that we didn’t send dragon riders out to meet you. We are trying our best to make peace between the Empire and dragonkind, but you are the only non-domesticated dragon willing to speak to humans.”

  I scowled—though it was more frustration at my kin than anything the wizard had said.

  “Oh,” he continued, “for what it’s worth, the system gave me a quest to free the dragons, which I’m working on. You don’t have to like me or even his majesty, but we are your allies.”

  I paused instead of releasing a scathing response. Of course, a pulse of anti-magic would probably be the most brutal response I could come up with, but he was right. If I didn’t want humans to assume things about dragons, then I shouldn’t assume things about humans.

  Dang, introspection sucked. I really preferred being wrapped up in my bubble of irrefutable superiority.

  “I will concede the point,” I acknowledged. I had already intended to enter the city in human form.

  The wizard’s frown softened up. “Good, we’ve prepared a landing spot for you which is far enough from the city that we will not disturb anyone. I will then teleport you directly to the palace.” He pursed his lips. “While I may not be able to teleport you in this form, according to the information provided by Grand Magus Serius, it is possible to teleport you in your human form.”

  Warning bells went off. They had ‘prepared’ a spot for me? Even if I was trying not to assume the worst, I couldn’t afford take a risk like this. I was putting myself into their power too much already.

  “No, I’ll just land here. I think I’d prefer to walk to the city.” I didn’t add that I wanted to see how the other humans lived—not just those within the palace.

  The wizard frowned again, but said, “As you wish Lord… err… Nico.”

  I descended in slow, lazy spirals.

  Cami asked me, “Do you not trust them?”

  “I think the Emperor means well,” I replied, “but I don’t want to give them any more power over us than necessary. Being a bit unpredictable should help us.”

  “That’s never been a weakness of yours,” Cami said with a laugh.

  I twisted my neck so I could look back at her. “I’ll have you know that I always act with my draconic majesty in mind. It isn’t my fault that humans don’t understand how a dragon thinks.”

  “Oh I know, trust me.”

  I transformed slowly after we landed, drawing it out for a full minute. It was hard to say exactly what the Emperor and, by extension, his minions knew. But if they didn’t know how quickly I could transform, that might give me an edge later on.

  The wizard said, “May I at least teleport you closer to the city?”

  Once I consented to the spell, I knew he could teleport us to a different destination. But if it saved me walking twenty miles, then perhaps a small amount of trust was worth extending. “Very well.”

  The teleportation was slightly disorienting again, but I quickly regained my composure. I was once again struck by the inherent injustice that I could not learn such magic. With it, I could still train at the university but could teleport to my hoard every evening. That would have been the best of both worlds.

  Oh well, at least I had wings instead of just twig like legs, my present form excluded, of course.

  The city guards saw the wizard and bowed as we approached. “Lord Mercius, we didn’t know to expect you, or we would have had a carriage ready for you.”

  The wizard frowned at me. “I didn’t know I’d be coming this way, either. We are escorting a new noble of the empire, the young Lord Sandumas, here.”

  The guards looked at me like they didn’t see what they expected. I realized then that when I had transformed back, I still wore my uniform from the Imperial University.

  The guard must have realized that as well, because with a delayed reaction he shook his head and said, “Ah, a student in Urgoi, then. Well, whatever wonder you have developed which prompted his Imperial Majesty to grant you a title, it must have been impressive.”