Janelle approached the waiting Alexander with bemusement on her face.
“Are you ok? Are you feeling ill?”
“I think I’m ok.” Alexander said as he felt the dragon creep through the shadows off the kitchen island. He was looking right at the Demi-dragon but could see no physical signs of it. As if the dragon had merged with the shadow.
“You were doing so well!” Janelle lamented. “Did you give up or something?” She asked.
“Pardon?” He asked half paying attention. A dark blur rushed up from a shadow onto the cabinets a foot away from the charcuterie board.
“Hmm.” She sighed looking him up and down. “You still might have a chance. She kinda likes the oblivious types.”
Alexander pushed past Janelle and lunged with the bag over his head, just as the Demi-Dragon jumped from the overhead cabinets onto the board. It had just put its mouth around the turkey as Alexander's plastic bag engulfed it and the board. Alexander hastily slid the board off the table and flipped it upside down dumping all of the contents to the bottom of the bag.
Pulling the top closed, the bag was thrashing about as Alexander pulled it to his chest, confining it's movements.
“What the hell is going on.” Jim asked, thoroughly confused.
Alexander—noticing all eyes on him again—said the first lie that came to mind. “I think the food is contaminated. So I thought I might remove it for everyone's safety.”
The bag was still thrashing at his chest.
No level in acting this time I see.
Alexander moved to the door as he rambled, “I am terribly sorry to leave again so early Emily. Allow me to take this to the dumpster for you as way of apology. I will make it up to you on the morrow. Goodnight!” He finished just as he reached the door. As he turned to close it behind him he heard one of the male students say, “On the morrow? I’m totally stealing that.”
As Alexander returned to his living room he set the bag down, but did not open it. He watched as the little beast's teeth started to rip away at the garbage bag. It was taking longer than expected, so he decided to take a seat and watch. It finally poked its head and neck out but forgot that it had wings as it tried to launch itself out of the bag. It continued its fight for freedom, getting its left wing out then its right.
Just as it eyed a shadow to rush toward, Alexander interrupted.
“Webs.”
The sticky webbing easily pinned the dragon to the ground.
“Now I recall that we had a bargain.” Alexander said, standing and pacing a circle around the living room. He turned on every lamp as he passed. “I said you were too dangerous and that I might need to dispose of you.”
The demi-dragon struggled harder.
“I am impressed that my suggestion didn’t work on you. That—from my understanding—is indicative of a high wisdom.” Alexander stopped at the edge of the web and squatted down to stare into its face. Unflinching he was daring the demi-dragon to try and electrocute him.
“Do you think your actions today would reflect that wisdom?”
The little guy squeaked in indignation.
“What was that?” Alexander asked, cocking his head sideways.
Squeak.
“Say that one more time.” Alexander said daring the demi-dragon to insult him further. Alexander made a gesture with his hands and a fireball twice the size of the demi-dragon appeared in his hand.
^
You have tamed a Demi-Dragon
Please decide a name to continue to bonding status
You have gained a level in Intimidation!
Intimidation level 1
You have 1 points to distribute to your Intimidation skill tree.
Alexander extinguished his minor illusion. There was no way he would end the life of such a divine specimen as the one that sat before him.
“It says I have to name you, but you have a name already don’t you? I believe the neighbors called you Fafnir?”
The demi-dragon grunted and shook its head.
“You don’t like that name? Why?"
Squeak, squeak.
“Well true, you are your own dragon. Plus I believe Fafnir was a symbol of Greed.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Not entirely inaccurate, if you take into account salami.
Alexander pondered for a second.
“Flick. That is your name.”
Squeak.
“Because you flick between shadows and your sparks flick between your teeth as you are about to shoot electricity.”
Chirp.
“I’m glad you are satisfied with it.” Alexander nodded as he mentally released the webs causing them to dissolve.
Flick stretched his front legs and licked his wings clean of honey mustard sauce before flapping them dry and looking up at Alexander.
“Now what are we going to do about your terrarium?”
Alexander climbed the stairs with Flick trailing behind. Alexander hypothesized that either the demi-dragon was too tired or too drained of mana to jump through shadows. He seemed he wasn’t going to attempt to fly yet either.
Reaching the pedestal Alexander decided to pour the rest of the crystals on top and absorbed them all as magical resources. Despite a few minor attempts he was unable to find additional uses for them yet. Also he didn't want the Flick eating any more of the stones and turning into something else.
^
Pedestal Resources Available:
Unattributed - 49
Wind - 0
Water - 0
Earth - 20
Lightning - 10
Fire - 12
Ice - 0
Light - 23
Dark - 34
He was happy to see that he was more than halfway to his goal of upgrading his Encyclopedias. As he looked down at Flick he had a thought.
"Hop on the pedestal." He commanded.
Squeak.
"No more sass please, just obedience thank you."
Flick used his claws to climb up the side of the pedestal, thankfully it didn't seem the claws were sharp enough to leave any scratches.
As he circled to settle down on top of the pedestal an information window identified the demi-dragon.
^
Name: Flick
Species: Umberbolt Demi-Dragon
Rarity: Unique
Bond: 2%
You must increase your bond to see more stats.
"Interesting, I assume unique as a rarity classification means you are one of a kind?"
Flick chirped before sitting a bit taller and splaying his wings proudly.
"I suppose it's not everyday a pogona that breathes fire eats magical crystals."
He pulled up the terrarium and checked on the upgrade options he had.
^
Terrarium+
(Originally created as Aquarium+)
Craftsmanship: Above Average
Durability: 97/100
Size: 120 Gallons
-Would you like to upgrade?
-Would you like to destroy and convert to an arcane resource?
“Should I just make the terrarium bigger for you?”
Squeak.
“Not interested?” Alexander thought for a second. “Do you want more of a burrow or a perch?”
Flick flapped his wings and squeaked again.
“Ok. I have an idea that I think might work.”
Alexander descended the stairs and noticed Flick on the lip of the top ledge. He pumped his legs a few times before launching himself off, locking his wings outstretched. He glided adorably in a slow circle around the room as he descended.
Alexander placed himself in position to catch him, but as Flick landed on Alexander's outstretched arms he pushed off, scrambling to a shadow.
“Well, it’s a new pet.”
“Stay inside.” Alexander said firmly while pointing at Flick.
He walked at a faster pace than normal and went to the dumpster. He thought the chances of finding what he wanted were pretty high. As he rounded the brick wall hiding the dumpster from view his eyes landed on one. A torn up cat tree sat resting against the dumpster's containing wall.
Alexander opened the door to his apartment triumphantly. Flick jumped from the window to the cat tree and squeaked indignantly at the rubbish Alexander had retrieved for him.
“Well it's obviously not done yet. What do you take me for? After all that work I put into your terrarium?”
The dragon had the grace to look abashed at his words and Alexander patted his head. He let Flick ride the cat tree clinging to the side with his claws. The dragon occasionally smelled the old carpet covering and shook his head in disgust.
On the opposite side from Alexanders bed, where the wall went up sufficiently high before turning to stairs, he placed the cat tree on the floor against the wall. Flick decided to wait on top to see what exactly Alexander would do with this abomination.
Hopping up the stairs with amusement, Alexander placed his hand on the pedestal and scrolled through the domain management options and found his newly claimed property.
^
Cat Tree
Craftsmanship: Poor
Durability: 4/20
Size: 4 feet
-Would you like to upgrade?
-Would you like to repair?
First off, Alexander repaired the Cat Tree. He looked down into his room and saw a glow from the tree causing Flick to leap off in surprise and land on his bed. Flick looked up at him and made a tiny growl.
Naturally Alexander next selected upgrade and looked at his options.
One category of upgrade was to increase the height of the tree from 4 feet all the way up to 20.
The other however seemed suspiciously on the nose.
Convert Cat Tree to Fairy Dragon perch?
Requires the following arcane resources:
Unattributed - 3
Earth - 4
He would have to assume a Fairy Dragon was similar to a Demi-Dragon. The evidence that the pedestal was intuitive enough to give these kinds of options was a wonder.
With great glee Alexander accepted the cost and raced down for the light show.
The cat tree once again glowed before it melded with the wall. It stretched upwards and branched in several directions before forming outstretched limbs and widening. It took the shape of a tree, complete with leaves and as the glow faded it had several large nests that popped out of the branches and a hollow in the trunk near the top.
Alexander touched it and felt a bark-like texture covering the surface of the tree.
Flick scrambled up the perch with ease, passing by his hand and into the lowest nest. He circled for a bit to see if he could get comfy, then tried another nest. He sat in the hollow and then back to the second nest. Flick curled into a ball laying his head on his tail and closed his eyes.
After a second Flick opened one eye to peer down at Alexander.
Chirp.
^
Your bond with Flick has reached 3%
“Really? I built you a magical tree perch and all I get is another 1%?”
