22 Kytlmyne and his Forest

Kytlmyne was in the forest getting his wounds healed by nymphs, spirits of the forest. Treants patrolled nearby, guarding him from any unwanted visitors.

It has been around two weeks, but Kytlmyne's body was still badly burned. He coughed and wheezed out blood, while the nymphs tried to soothe him and his pain. He couldn't make too much sound as any movement would cause him pain. His wings were badly damaged and torn. The ancient dragon wouldn't be able to fly for some time.

While he was being healed by the spirits, he was on constant guard. He had hoped that Akai would have died, but he sensed the black dragon still alive by the time he flew away. The only reason he could fly at all from there was adrenaline and a lack of sensation around his body. Now, even with the spirits soothing his pain, he still felt the burns around his body.

He whispered quietly to one of the spirits. "That sword was unholy. Made from the scales of a once good friend. No other would be able to produce such a flame."

His mind wandered back to battle on Mt. Geolith. At that time, the ancient dragons didn't want to kill Akai. Only to subdue him. He now thought that that was a huge mistake. They underestimated the young dragon and the cost was that two more of his friends died. Only one ancient dragon remained in the world.

His eyes turned green with rage just remembering what Akai has done.

"How much longer until my throat and wings heal?" the dragon whispered.

The nymph replied with whistling sounds that would translate to "I don't know."

Kytlmyne calmed himself and his eyes reverted back to normal.

"As soon as I can give out a call, I will have to bring them sad news..."

He paused catching his breath.

"But I will also need them to hunt."

His eyes began turning green, but he calmed himself again.

As the nymphs soothed him, he began to fall asleep.

However, within a few seconds of closing his eyes, his eyes opened up. He could sense another dragon nearby. He got himself up in pain and looked around. He prepared himself, hoping that it would be a friendly dragon, but expected it all the same to be Akai.

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After a minute, Akai arrived flying above where Kytlmyne was. He wasn't flying with his wings. No. He was being flown by rows and rows of crows carrying him. It was something out of a circus. As Kytlmyne saw Akai, the treants and nymphs also turned their heads upwards towards the sky. They watched Akai "fly" above them. He had his red and black dragon scale armor equipped with the exception of his helmet. He wore a new illusive ring that hid his scales. Miura created a new illusive ring for Akai.

"Kytlmyne! I'm still here!" he yelled.

The ancient dragon stood his ground. He didn't want to make any movements as the pain would be too unbearable even as the nymphs healed him.

Kytlmyne stared Akai and Akai stared back at his gaze. The ancient dragon's eyes filled with murderous intent.

Akai smiled confidently, "You know, I thought it would have been more difficult fighting ancient dragons."

Kytlmyne's eyes burst green. He tried to shout but his throat wouldn't let him. Instead, he coughed up blood and the nymphs quickly tried to repair the damage.

The ancient forest dragon then said in anger, "I should have tried to kill you, rather than trying to just stop you. I should have just destroyed the whole mountain rather than -" As he was about to continue talking, he coughed up more blood.

Akai looked around and noticed that the other treants were watching him as well.

He smiled and said, "And I thought my injuries were bad. My wings are still charred from that lightning bolt. I have to be carried around by all of these birds to get up here, and I do say that I look ridiculous like this."

"Wasn't that lightning your magic?" Kytlmyne quietly asked.

Akai could hear Kytlmyne, but only barely.

"Uhh. Yes. My associate's magic, really. She can't really control where the lightning goes from the storm," he said in an embarrassed tone.

As he said this, Kytlmyne didn't see any blade on Akai. Not the red dragon scale blade. Not any sword or human weapon.

"If you really want to finish me, then come down here and fight me," the ancient dragon said while coughing.

Akai paused for a moment. A crow came up to his ears and flew away.

"No. I don't think I will. I'm still quite hurt from that earlier fight," Akai said and paused again. His smile faded, and he continued, "I'm sorry. I don't want to fight you, but I have no choice. If I don't do this, now, then there won't be a future."

Kytlmyne listened angrily while waiting for his chance to attack.

Akai took a breath and said, " I remembered something while I was resting. It was some time ago, but you saved me once. Do you remember?"

Kytlmyne remembered saving a black dragon from a bandit. "I remember, but I don't care," the forest dragon muttered quietly.

Nobody would have heard the ancient dragon say this, but Akai heard it. There was a brief silence.

"Why did you save me?" Akai said but Kytlmyne gave no response.

"If you hadn't shown up, I would have been somebody's pet. At that point, I would have grown to hate humans, but you told me something. Something that made me think otherwise. You told me that dragons and humans could be great friends. I didn't remember that it was you, but now I know that without you, I would never have had left to become an adventurer."

Akai smiled, but Kytlmyne didn't give one back. His smile faded and sadly he said, "But it looks like humans and dragons would never be compatible. Not really. Not when dragons have their so-called divine power. Power to wipe off any life on Shieldrake and beyond."

He pause to catch his breath.

"I won't let that happen. I'm sorry."

As he said this, a crow flew up to his ears.

Kytlmyne observed the crow and said, "What are you planning?"

The crow flew away.

Akai's face was somewhat depressed. "I'm sorry."

As he finished his sentence, green gas began to surround the area where Kytlmyne, the treants, and nymphs inhabited. The forest began to protrude green smoke. As Kytlmyne breathed the smoke in, his coughing became worse. The treants and nymphs were unaffected by the poison, but by the time they had realized that they were surrounded by the gas, it was too late.