Chapter 10: Only the Deprived Can Obtain

Chapter 10: Only the Deprived Can Obtain

"Flame Finger." Kaye Aesir flicked his fingers, igniting small flames on each fingertip.

"Ignition." The tiny flames suddenly grew into a fist-sized fireball, and began circling around his arm.

"Heat." His incantation continued. He lifted his other palm, turning it a fiery red, as if scorched.

[Using fire magic against a Red Dragon... That's quite bold, Kaye,] Riseria mused, with her chin resting on her massive paw, as she observed Kaye’s spellcasting.

Feeling her gaze, Kaye nonchalantly shrugged. "I can't help it. My element is fire. But you, a dragon, wouldn't fear my flames enough to use magic of a different nature," he remarked.

[You despicable creature, out of all people, to talk of elements,] Riseria said scornfully.

"That's a given, since I’m a human," Kaye responded.

[Really?]

Their banter resembled less a deadly battle and more a conversation between old friends.

Kaye's hand, aglow with red, gripped a sharp sword. Interestingly, he wielded a sword instead of the common magician's staff. The green gemstone on the sword's hilt began to glow, absorbing his red aura.

"Fire Release." Kaye unleashed the five fireballs orbiting him at Riseria. With a loud explosion, Riseria, the Red Dragon, stomped on the incoming fireballs, obliterating two of them instantly.

"Fire Arrow." Unfazed by the dragon’s nonchalance, Kaye continued his chant. He pulled his arm back, and the remaining fireballs elongated, transforming into fiery arrows.

Such rapid casting... Karyl marveled. A magician who can invoke magic instantly with just an activation word and no incantation is indeed a rarity.

The fiery arrows pierced Riseria's tough scales, exploding upon impact. Surprisingly, the skin under her burnt scales turned black, as though seared by the fire.

If Kaye Aesir's words were true, it would overturn the entire existing system of magic. Karyl swallowed hard, considering the implications.

[Why do you hunt dragons? Aren't we of the same kind?] Riseria asked.

"Of the same kind? How could humans and dragons ever be the same?" Kaye answered, chuckling at her words. Yet Karyl felt those words were making Riseria's heart race.

[Just one question. Does my death bring about a new turn for you?]

"Of course," Kaye nodded. "But my magic ends with my generation. My essence..."

Before Kaye could finish, a tremendous explosion resembling a massive flame erupted from Kaye's sword. The meteors in the sky began to ignite. "...lies there."

Karyl couldn't hear the rest of his words due to the explosion but instinctively felt it. This was the last moment of the Flame Dragon, Riseria, in her lifetime.

Suddenly, everything turned black.

***

"Young master, young master!" Ruben's voice reached him. Karyl slowly opened his eyes. He was no longer in the musty and moldy library of Einheri but in his bed. Waking up, Karyl felt unfamiliar with his own body.

"Are you alright? Do you recognize who I am? No, wait, I’ll inform the lady immediately!" Ruben exclaimed, his voice laced with concern.

Was it because he had synchronized with Riseria's body? No, something had changed. Karyl noticed the veins on his outstretched palm glowing faintly.

"Wait," he commanded, stopping Ruben who was about to rush out. He didn’t want to create any disturbance; he just wanted to focus on this moment in silence.

The power he felt within, it was a foreign energy he had never experienced before, but something he instinctively understood. How long had he waited for this moment? Karyl clenched his fist tightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He had finally obtained the Magical Power he had long sought.