10-15: Taming An Ancient Being
The beast's flames burned hot. It's roar shook the girls to their very core. Everyone was trying to do what they could as best as they could. But the dragon was too fierce a foe.
Eleanora and Kazue had their hands full trying to heal the frontliners, Cassidy's spells weren't doing much aside for pissing off the dragon even more. And none of the girls' weapons even managed to get through the dragon's scales.
It really didn't help much when the dragon's swings blew the girls away, and it's claws shredded what little defenses they had. The rocks that have fallen from the mountain was their best cover, and even then, it was either reduced to dust or magma.
Something needed to be done, or the girls would die right here. In these hills. Their bodies never to be recovered.
'There's got to be a way. This can't, can NOT be the end.' Veronica thought to herself, taking cover as Eleanora healed a large gash on Veronica's arm.
"Come on... if only we could force the damn thing to calm down. Kazue, do you know any spells like that?" Cassidy asked.
"Not in my repertoire. If we had a druid, we could try spores? Something with a mind control affect. Assuming that works on Dragons."
'Mind control...?'
"Lilith, does Charm work on Dragons?"
"I wouldn't know, I never tried it myself, and I haven't heard any stories of other Hakano doing it. But it is something we have yet to try. Though, if we're going to try, we'll have to go all out. No holding back."
"Basically, attempt to turn it into a slave..."
"Yeah."
"I hope it's a girl dragon!" Veronica scoffed, peaking over her cover and trying to find the right time.
'No holding back. Use Charm at it's full strength.'
Veronica took a handful of deep breaths, readying herself for something that might not even work. But, she had no choices left. She would need to go all-in.
Right when there was a brief lull in the dragon's attacks, Veronica made her move, quickly leaving cover and focusing deeply on Charm. The dragon roared, attempted to breath fire, and stopped. The dragon seemed more confused than charmed, however. It then tried to swipe at Veronica with it's claws, but stopped just before reaching her.
Or rather, it stopped altogether. The dragon pulled back and sat down, as if waiting. The interesting thing was when it closed it's eyes and began to transform. Shirking and changing shape.
The form of a woman. A very busty woman. When her appearance was clearer, Veronjca could see that she had a rather mature look. Or at least, she seemed to only be slightly older than Priscilla. Though, there was one main thing. She was naked.
“You have my apology, Zhaela." She started. “My fire rose too swiftly. Ra-thrum clouded zha sythra. I did not mean death. I mistook you for Vor’kyn."
"Uh... I'm sorry, but I did not understand half of that."
“That is expected, Zhaela. Vyraakh is ash to this age. And your Common... I last spoke it when your world was changing which tyrants to worship. Fifty thousand years dull the habit.” She said before taking a look at the surroundings, and the rest of the girls peeking slightly out of cover.
"I must apologize. I am called Aeshryvael. In Vyraakh, Aeshryvael of the Ashen Sky, First Ember of Vyr." She inclined her head slightly. “Your tongue has no breath for the whole of it. This name will suffice.”
"Ae... Ai... Ay... Vael. I'll call you Vael, if that's okay with you." Veronica struggled with the Draconic name.
Aeshryvael responded with a simple nod.
Veronica cleared her throat. "I'm Veronica. These are my... lovers. Most of them, anyways. Two of them are just friends. Cassidy, Eleanora, Aviris, Seraph, Kazue, Sirtia, and Sable." She quickly introduced.
The girls carefully approached the scaled woman, not very happy about the attack, but relived that it's over.
"Dra- ahem, Vael. About your presence here..." Sable began.
“I did not come here for your people.”
“This mountain is… old to me. Draem remembers my name, even if the world does not. I returned to sleep where my vael first cooled. The stirring of monsters is consequence, not intent.”
"I see. But, we really need those monster attacks to stop."
“Then they will stop. I choose motion over slumber. I will live beside Zhaela. The beasts will feel my absence here, and my attention elsewhere.” Aeshryvael replied.
"Good. Now, how about we all get out of here, and get you, Vael, some clothing." Veronica sighed in relief, clapping her hands together.
“Clothing…” She glances down at herself, brow furrowing faintly, as if the concept itself is unfamiliar. “I have worn scale, ash, and sky. This is… new. But if it is what Zhaela wishes, then I will wear it.”
With the nightmare finally over, the girls all left the "abandoned" mine, and with Aeshryvael in tow.
'I wonder if I should study the Dragon language... are there any books on it?'