“Yes, but I’ve seen both Wasnera and Tra’vis in the dream. I’ll admit I was shocked to see the orc.”

  Vox gave me a draconic smile which was all teeth. But for my experiences with humans, I might have thought she meant to attack me, but I realized that she was smiling with pleasure. For some reason, me asking this question made her feel… good?

  “You’ve realized the truth, have you?”

  I had no clue what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to appear ignorant. Then that voice in the back of my head, which I realized was my better senses told me that true ignorance would be to not gain me the information I desired—and pride was a small price to pay for this knowledge.

  “Perhaps not… if you wish to be my advisor, then advise me about what it is I am missing.”

  “Yes, my liege. The Dragon Dream is ancient. There are hints that it goes all the way back to the beginning of our race, but so much of the information has been lost that some of this is conjecture… Yet I believe it makes sense. The dragons were born of Ileria, from Ileria, with Ileria. We lived in the primordial soup that became this world.”

  “Alright,” I growled.

  “That is why we are all connected to Ileria’s magic. It’s magic is our magic. So long as this world lives, dragonkind will never completely die out—though it is perhaps more accurate to say that as long as dragonkind continues, this world will as well.

  “But then outside forces came to this world and sought to make it their own. Great wars were fought and dragons defended Ileria. Some invaders established connections with this world, and we dragons were reduced in number. The primordial dragons of our beginning died to keep the world free from the invaders.

  “Then Tiamat arose and became the mother of a new age of dragons. She was both more and less than the primordials. Whereas they had been creatures of raw elemental power, she mastered those elements. She never had their raw connection to the elements, but she had a keen mind which discerned options they never had.

  “It isn’t that she was physically the mother of all dragons, but rather that she became the mother of a new era of dragons. There are hints of other types of dragons that existed, but Tiamat enforced a future upon the world which only had room for prismatic dragons. It was in the later centuries of her rule that the gods seeded this world with what we know of as the lesser races. Tiamat saw no threat in them, so she did nothing.

  “Over time, some dragons developed a curiosity for the lesser races and out of that, the bond formed. Some of our ancestors thought that the bond was created by the gods or even the system, but it was a free-willed creation of the dragons’ curiosity. Those dragons, in turn, became stronger and a new order rose up, one which Tiamat opposed. She saw the bond as a corruption of dragonkind.

  “That is the point about which there are almost no records. We know another war happened. We know that the Pact appeared, that the system appeared, and that Tiamat disappeared. Some think she yet lives but was imprisoned. Others believe she left Ileria of her own accord. And yet others believe that her soul became the basis for the system.”

  Vox hissed softly in frustration. “If there is a definitive answer, then it is not one which I have been able to uncover in my research.”

  “She left Ileria,” I interjected.

  Vox stared at me for a moment. “May I ask how you know this, my liege?”

  I paused before answering. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share the vision I’d had during the battle. I certainly couldn’t share it with her before I shared it with Cami.

  “Just assume, for now, that I know that for a fact.”

  Vox paused to consider my assertion.

  We stood in silence for a few minute, during which Cami and Nagafen both arrived. Neither spoke. Cami simply came up beside me and placed her hand on the scales on my chest. Her presence was strangely soothing. There was something about being near her that calmed me.

  Vox and Nagafen seemed to react to one another in a similar way.

  Perhaps this was a side-effect of the bond? No, I shook my head. I couldn’t afford to get distracted, I needed to focus. I’d asked Vox a relatively simple question but in reply had gotten a lecture. If this was what having a royal advisor was like, I wasn’t that keen on the idea, though that little voice in the back of my head pointed out how I’d grown stronger by leaning into what made me different from other dragons.

  Finally, Vox said, “As fascinating as that is, I’m not sure what impact—if any—it would have on your question. Suffice it to say that the dream is in some way connected with Tiamat. The Pact is thought to have come after Tiamat, but again that period is extremely difficult to find a trace of in the records. Our race was never the best of record keepers…” The ancient Silver sighed. “But we became much worse after that. One thing is for certain, though. It is during that period that a new position arose amongst dragons.”

  I nodded. “Draconis.”

  “Yes, the so called strongest of all living dragons. They are supposed to safe-guard other dragons against outside threats. They are similar to a Balance Warden in that regard.”

  Vox paused, then continued, “Although a Balance Warden is supposedly more concerned with maintaining the balance set forth in the Pact. Following that second war, the bond disappeared from Ileria until it was reintroduced to our common ancestor by Nilarue, the so-called Lord of the Sky.”

  Vox snorted as she said this last part. It was good that she agreed with me. Dragons were clearly the masters of the sky. No god could ever supplant us.

  “But you still haven’t answered my question,” I

  “I’m trying to,” Vox snapped, “but I can’t very well share a lifetime of study with you in a few simple breaths.”

  Cami laughed. “Don’t worry. Nico can be quite patient, but he doesn’t like listening to anyone speak for long. Or rather, he doesn’t like focusing on lectures. If he cared less about the answer, he would have long since stopped paying attention. The fact that he’s annoyed is just proof that he is still listening.”

  I started to protest, but then realized that Cami was right. “Just get on with it,” I growled.

  “Yes, my liege. I was trying to provide you historical perspective, but I can see you find it tedious. The simple answer is that we don’t know exactly why, but a few select dragons appear to hold a different spot within the dream. We know that all dragons can see any of the eleven dragons who held the title of Draconis. Yet, it seems that a few other dragons have also experienced the lives of others who are not their ancestors in the dream. The most common example, is that bonded dragons seem to be capable of dreaming about any other bonded dragon who lived before they were born.”

  I considered her answer. In the end, I’d only wanted to verify that I could trust her. For now, I would extend a small amount of trust. As for the rest, I’d have to process it. For now, I needed to decide how to move forward.

  “Then I accept you as my royal advisor. Vox. Now tell me this, do you have any idea where Iskaldurdauoi’s lair is? I have a date with his gold.”

  Chapter 7 - Preparations

  Vox frowned at me, then grinned. “That’s one thing all dragons share. If I help you get his hoard, what do I get?”

  I wanted to protest that she got the privilege of serving me as her King, but dragons were not so foolish as to work for free. A dragon King was not like some feeble human wearing a crown upon his head. No dragon would bow simply to bow. If I wanted faithful followers, I needed to show them the gains they would reap with me.

  “That depends on what you have to offer. If it is merely directions to his hoard, then I’ll give you ten percent of what I find.”

  Vox snorted. “Hardly. I know you are young, my liege, but this is why you need an advisor. Strength must be guided by wisdom, after all. That is the truest dragon way.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Simply that an ancient dragon such as Iskaldurdauoi will certainly have many layers of protection guarding his hoard.”

  “I think I can handle a few minions.”

  “No. Iskaldurdauoi was not much for magic, except as it served to protect his hoard. There will be numerous enchantments which will hide or trap the unwary seeking to take his hoard. It would do you no good to find his hoard, but be unable to claim it.”

  I stood up a bit taller. “What are you suggesting?”

  “I would say that I could go with you,” she shook her head, “but it likely isn’t wise to have two dragons find the same hoard—even if I am sworn to you. Instead, let me teach you some magic which will enable you to get around any traps he has left.”

  “My anti-magic pulse will suffice for that.”

  She laughed. It was a deep, sonorous sound—but given that I was the object of this humor, I soon found electricity dancing over my teeth while I strove to restrain myself.

  Lord Nagafen stepped up. “Don’t be foolish… either of you.”

  Four dragon eyes zoomed in on him.

  “There’s nothing foolish about hoards,” I said.

  “You think I could have lived with my wife all this time and not know that? No, you will need detection magic and other such things or you might fail to identify all the important traps. Besides, the best magical defenses will only deactivate for a short time in the presence of anti-magic before triggering again afterwards.”

  I grumbled, but reined in my gold lust. It would be foolish of me to stop listening to sound advice. Besides, it confirmed my wisdom in selecting Abjuration and Divination as two of the five schools of magic I could learn when I underwent my Mind Evolution.

  “Luckily for me, I already noted the benefits of both Abjuration and Divination Magic.” I eyed Vox. “What do you have to teach me?”

  After that, we spent the rest of the day going over various magical options. Nagafen actually had more options to share than Vox. She had a number of powerful spells, but his class allowed him to search through spell books and learn new spells for a limited time.

  Of course, he had to periodically restudy the spells or he’d lose the use of them. It was but another way that dragons were superior—or, for that matter, that my bonded was superior. Cami’s classes wisely allowed her to learn a certain number of spells without any restrictions on how many times she could use them, other than her mana pool.

  By the time we were done, I’d gained four new spells. Nagafen also wanted us to learn a spell called Ethereal Form, but I felt that my Astral Projection ability would be just as good for scouting. Besides, while I could see uses for becoming ethereal during battle, it wasn’t really my style.

  We had already tested it out and the ring I had gifted Cami allowed her to make an ethereal jaunt—which should keep her safe. She’d refused to take the ring off for me to try it out myself, but I figured that was just because she knew how valuable it was as part of my hoard.

  I never considered ordering her to take it off. What kind of dragon would I be if I gave a gift to the being closest to me and then took it back a day later?

  As for the spells I did learn, they were a pair of Divination and a pair of Abjuration spells.

  Sphere of Revelation - Tier 6 spell: This spell will create a sphere around the casters body. Most methods of obscuring magical auras will be detected by this spell up to 7th Tier Magic. The spell may however be boosted with extra mana to increase its effectiveness. Under those circumstanced it may be able to detect more powerful magical auras.

  Mana: 50 + 25 per minute

  Cast Time: 9 seconds.

  Cooldown: 30 minutes

  AoE: 30’ field extending all directions from the caster’s body

  Duration: variable

  Given that most hiding magic was in the lower tiers, we felt this would be sufficient. Dragons could naturally see magic, so this was only meant to enhance my senses for specific magic which had been used to hide it.

  Psychic Cognition - Tier 7 spell: This spell will cause you to become sensitive to the psychic impressions left behind by beings who acted in the area of effect. The more recent the actions, the more powerful the impressions. Motivations, intentions, intensity of actions, and degree of power will all impact which impressions are left behind. For example, a murder would leave a significantly greater psychic impression than a theft.

  Mana: 275

  Cast Time: 12 seconds.

  Cooldown: 2 hours

  AoE: 300’ sphere centered on target location.

  Duration: 5 minutes

  Next came the abjuration spells. They were going to fill up the last 6th and 7th Tier spell slots I had, but as I grew, I’d gain more slots and I hadn’t even touched the slots which my Living Storm Class would provide, even if they were fewer since it granted unique and powerful abilities. I certainly wasn’t going to complain about those abilities.

  Banishment - Tier 7 spell: This spell is the bane of extra-dimensional creatures, whether summoned or otherwise brought to Ileria. It will cut their connection to this world and force them to return to their home plane. They may contest the power of this spell, but then it will come down to who has better control of the magical energy in the area. Extra cost will accrue based upon the degree of resistance. Targeting multiple creatures is possible, but will increase the cost accordingly. Note: Banished creatures cannot generally return to Ileria for 100 years.

  Mana: 400 or more

  Cast Time: 1 second

  Cooldown: 10 minutes

  AoE: 1 or more targeted creatures

  Volley - Tier 6 spell: This spell attempts to capture the energy of another spell and return it directly back to the enemy caster. It has the added ability to return elemental energy, which was created by a spell, including wands and other magical items. Only spells or energy which directly affect the caster may be affected by this spell.

  Mana: 200

  Cast Time: Nearly Instant

  Cooldown: 5 minutes

  Volley was likely my favorite new spell. It was as quick as saying a word. I could just see the look on Serius’ face now if I made him eat one of his own spells. It was almost too bad that Galbrecht had permanently slain Tolston. It might have been nice to have another battle with the old mage.

  Beyond the spells that I learned, Cami had also added a couple of spells.

  The first spell was one which I was positive she only learned because she wanted to imitate me. I didn’t have the heart to scoff at her. I simply let her savor this attempt to be as much like me as possible.

  Somewhere, in one of my dream based memories, I seemed to have heard that imitation was the sincerest form of compliment.

  Magical Disruption - Tier 6 spell: This spell disrupts the underlying magic of Ileria. Unlike Disjunction, the dreaded masterpiece of Abjuration magic, this disruption is only temporary. It will affect magical items, both passive and active enchantments, and other spells. For the duration of the spell, no magic can exist within the area of effect. Only beings who directly control the magic of Ileria can resist this effect.

  Mana: 150 mana

  Cast Time: 1 second

  Cooldown: 1 hour

  AoE: 30’ radius centered on target which must be with range

  Range: 900 feet

  Duration: 12 seconds

  Then, she added a second spell which Nagafen had suggested. I couldn’t argue with her increasing her defensive abilities.

  Spell Turning- Tier 7 spell: This spell will repel up to 10 tiers of magic which are cast directly against the target. It will not, however, counter spells such as lightning bolt since the spell is elemental energy be the point it contacts the caster. There is also a chance that the spell will be redirected back at its source.

  Mana: 600 mana

  Cast Time: 10 minutes.

  Cooldown: 1 hour

  Duration: 5 hours per class level

  We rested after all the training and got a good night’s sleep. It was delightful once again to sleep in my true form. Vox’s true lair was actually hidden underground—and unsurprisingly, she was not willing to share it. But there was a large cliff on their estate which had a cave large enough in it for me to sleep unimpaired.

  I was surprised when Cami had said she wanted to sleep curled up in the crook of my neck. I had expected she’d feel more comfortable staying inside the manor house, but she assured me that she was warm enough, despite the fact that I didn’t put off any body heat.

  In the morning, Cami cast Spell Turning—first on herself and then on me—as soon as we ate some breakfast. For her, it was something called scones. For me, nothing could beat a breakfast of fresh beef. Thanks to our combined mana regeneration she regained the mana casting both spells cost in less than ten minutes.

  With that, I felt confident that we had everything we needed to deal with any defensive magic the ancient white might have left behind, as well as to ferret out any traps. In the future, we would undoubtedly need more buffing and offensive magic, but I was anxious to get to the dracolich’s gold.