Remy

I was nervous. My first attempt had failed. But I felt ready. Ready to make a magical covenant with a dragon. And not just for me.

No.

Of course, the dragon also benefited from this, even if it became dependent on me. But such a magical covenant changed their magic. Made them stronger. Therefore, the white dragons sought our proximity. They wouldn't have to.

And the covenant did not take away the dragon's free will. No. Instead, he allowed them to surpass themselves alongside a wizard or witch. In return for the dragon's eternal loyalty, the human partner swore to protect the dragons' mountains, respect their customs, and put their well-being above that of their own family.

For some people, this meant a great sacrifice.

This covenant was almost like a wedding. The magic of both decided that they belonged together. Forever. Neither the human nor the dragon were actively involved in the process. All of a sudden, they belonged together. That's how Uncle Chester had described it to me. I didn't want a dragon life partner. I wanted the right tool to make my dream come true.  Of course, I wouldn't say no to a loyal friend as long as it meant he would help me. My family was convinced of the outdated values of our city. But not me.

I didn't need my family. I needed a dragon!

I wanted to change my hometown. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to free little Lou from the horror that was done to him. Out of fear of a curse that did not exist. The people here were superstitious. There were no curses. There were no gods of sand. There was only us, the magic, and the dragons!

If they desperately wanted a god, then I could fulfill this position better than fantasy beings!

"Why are you laughing?" Uncle Garry looked at me in amazement. "Is the climb so funny?"

I looked around. We've been going up the mountains for a while. This time only Uncle Garry accompanied me. Actually, Uncle Chester also wanted to come along, but he had caught a cold. His wife complained all day about how much of a crybaby he was. So it can be said that I was happy to climb a dizzying mountain if it meant not having to listen to either Chester's whining or June's nagging. Uncle Garry was no different.

"I just had a funny thought", I replied to my uncle.

"A funny thought? Now?" Garry frowned. "Aren't you excited?"

"Of course I'm excited. Dragons are powerful, beautiful beings. And if I'm lucky, I'll make a best friend!" In the meantime, they didn't scare me anymore. But I had great respect for them.

"And an eternal member of the family! They're as long-lived as we are." Garry smiled. "Olive won't pick us up today. I can't wait to let Masson know that Chester has ditched us."

I nodded. "Masson is usually in a bad mood. So what's going to go wrong? Why isn't Olive coming?"

My uncle grinned broadly. "She's had a partner for a year now!"

"Yes, I know."

"The two of them are expecting their first egg."

"Already?" I frowned. "Olive is only... 116?"

"118!" Garry corrected me. "And, yes. This is very early. For white dragons. It was an accident, but Olive is looking forward to her first egg. She will lay it in the next few days. It could start at any time. That's why she isn’t coming today."

"Ah. Ok... And her partner? He's older than her, right?"

"360. Definitely older and ready for a family."

As far as I knew, most white dragons had offspring from the age of 300, if they chose to do so. Many took their time with it and they often did not even have the urge to produce eggs. Black dragons, on the other hand, were much more committed and precocious in this regard. They often started as soon as they could. And then they continued with the activity every few years. The females left their offspring to their own devices after about two to three years when they were still children. And before that, they often left the little dragons alone for days. At least that's what one of my teachers said.

Black dragons fascinated me. Not because they had a lot of offspring, no. I was interested in them because they were so dangerous. Unlike the white dragons. They were survivors and highly aggressive. If they smelled blood, they could go into a rush of blood. Then they kill every creature that crosses their path. And they didn't get along with white dragons, who were calmer and friendlier by nature.

But a hungry white dragon was no less dangerous than a black dragon. And so this visit to the white dragons definitely made me nervous.

It took some time, but finally, we arrived back at the top of the mountain. Like my visit a year ago, I was overwhelmed by the sight of the many caves inhabited by iridescent white dragons. A few of the dragons had some orange scales or feathers. They were all beautiful, with their iridescent scales and feathered wings.

And as expected, Masson was anything but pleased that Chester didn't accompany us. "That idiot! Who allowed him to be sick today! That's what he gets out of bathing in the river at night! In the cold at night! I told him it was a stupid idea", I heard him hum as he accompanied me to a narrow path from which all the caves could be seen. Garry was waiting for me. This time I had to walk the path alone. It was tradition. That's why Chester only led me along the path for a while.

"Keep close to the rock face so you don't fall down. Good luck. Or not. I don't know what a dragon is supposed to do with a child!", murmured Masson.

"Make friends?", I suggested.

The dragon grimaced in disgust. "You mean playing babysitter."

"And if the dragon is as old as I am?"

He shook his head. "Currently, we don't have any teenagers among our young ones. A covenant with such young dragons is very rare. Their magic is usually not mature enough for such a covenant. Unlike you sorcerous people. And maybe no one suits you either. Like a year ago. I'd be surprised if you didn't come away empty-handed today."

I grimaced. "Thank you for your words of encouragement. My magic has grown."

"It wasn't meant as encouragement."

"That hasn't escaped me."

"Don't fall. The path is narrow."

"I don't intend to." Sighing, I entered the narrow path.

I wandered along the trail for quite a while. Some dragons looked at me curiously, but most ignored me. Their enormous size intimidated me, but they didn't scare me at all. No. These were powerful, beautiful tools! I wanted a companion. A friend. A nice dragon who let himself be petted by Lou. Dragons didn't like to be treated like pets. But it was Lou's wish. I wanted to fulfill it for him.

Up here, the sun burned all the more mercilessly and the uneven path was tiring while I was at dizzying heights. I kept close to the rock. There were many caves. In one, they guarded their greatest treasure. The eggshells of all the dragons that had ever been born here.

Even we sorcerers were not allowed to see them.

A dragon child looked at me as he pressed himself against another dragon, the mother or father. How old might it be? It was large, albeit rather tiny, unlike the adult dragon. But it would certainly go up to my waist.

The grown-up dragon rumbled menacingly and I walked on, embarrassed.

White dragons guarded their offspring unmercifully. It was better not to approach the young. Would Lou like it here? So high up? Could he go down that path? Without falling? What would he see if he walked along here?

I often wondered how the little sad boy saw the world. He described it as a place full of colors. That sounded almost poetic. There were colors, yes. But also injustice, hatred... I wanted to end this. I would end this!

I was completely lost in my thoughts when I suddenly heard the flapping of wings and a loud roar.