Learning Magic!
Bruce gazed intently at the Cyclops that had stirred the ancient power within its veins, his interest piqued. With a graceful motion, he lifted himself, standing tall, and moved towards the tumult of the battle near the foothills.
The scene unfolded before Bruce: the Cyclops, infused with newfound strength, turned the tide against the duo of young dragons and the pack of werewolves. The skirmish, initially in their favor, now teetered on the brink of disaster. Without intervention, Bruce knew the Cyclops's ferocious onslaught would soon overwhelm them.
Such formidable might was no surprise—only a creature of immense power would dare challenge the sovereignty of the three-headed dragon.
Bruce propelled himself forward, wings beating fiercely against the air, and in no time, he descended upon the battlefield.
The Cyclops, sensing Bruce's formidable presence, ceased his rampage and cast a wary glance towards him. The aura of the majestic green dragon far surpassed that of his earlier adversaries.
Bruce's eyes locked with the one-eyed giant's. "State your name, creature. What boldness possesses you to provoke the wrath of the dragons? Do you believe your awakened bloodline elevates you above your station, challenging the grandeur of my kin?"
The Cyclops snorted disdainfully. "I reject the notion that birthright dictates strength. In my life, I've devoured all but dragon flesh. Today, I seek to sate that curiosity."
Meanwhile, Torenço, bolstered by Bruce's arrival, readied himself to leap back into the fray, only to receive a swift reprimand from Bruce.
"Again, brother? Why must you intervene?" Torenço questioned, rubbing his head in confusion.
Bruce understood the gravity of the situation. A Cyclops, bloodline awakened, was akin to a human berserker in a frenzy—no match for an unseasoned dragon, magic yet unmastered.
In the face of such brute force, finesse was futile. Simple, raw power was the only language this creature would comprehend.
As Bruce lunged forward, the Cyclops advanced, not retreating. With a thunderous roar, he swung his massive mallet towards the soaring green dragon.
The expected carnage did not ensue. Instead, Bruce effortlessly caught the mallet's other end, nullifying the attack with a flick of his mighty claws. Shock painted the Cyclops's face—his mightiest blow, rendered ineffective.
The Cyclops, panic-stricken, assessed the dragon, a behemoth unlike the previous challengers.
"What now? Still fancy your chances against me?" Bruce's tone was stern, his gaze unwavering.
The Cyclops, defiance flickering in his eye, growled, "Had I not been the first of my bloodline to awaken, you would not stand so proudly."
Bruce maintained his imposing demeanor. "Do you perceive any path to victory? As a grand dragon, I offer you but two choices: surrender and serve under my wing, or face your demise here and now."
Bruce observed the Cyclops, now named Sansham, as he kneeled earnestly. "I, Sansham, pledge my loyalty to you. From this day forth, you are my master. I only ask for your benevolence towards my kin. In return, I shall become your mightiest weapon, oh master. No dragonling, nor any but you, could stand against me."
Torenço, still bristling with youthful defiance, muttered under his breath, "Just you wait, one-eyed brute. Once I've grown, we'll see who stands tall."
The Cyclops, humbled by Bruce's display of power, understood his own strength paled in comparison to this formidable green dragon.
Carona, Bruce's sister, looked on in astonishment. "How does Bruce grow ever more formidable? His prowess now rivals that of a mature dragon, yet he is but a fledgling himself."
Upon inquiry, Bruce learned of the Cyclops' plight—their ancestral home in the Horbagan Mountains, north of the Green Forest, usurped by earth giants, forcing the survivors to this desperate crossroad.
Their initial aim was modest: commandeer the wild boar tribe and expand their domain slightly. Yet, fate led them to Bruce—a misfortune or a blessing in disguise.
Despite Sansham's oath of allegiance, Bruce remained cautious of the Cyclops' newfound fealty. Nonetheless, their addition bolstered his ranks significantly—a fact that pleased Bruce greatly.
Particularly intriguing was Sansham, whose latent potential hinted at greatness beyond his youthful years.
Bruce entrusted Sansham and the other Cyclops with leadership over the wild boar tribe, while he, his dragon siblings, and his capable werewolf allies returned to their stronghold, their spirits lifted by the unexpected gains of this skirmish.
Back in the dragon's lair, after a rejuvenating slumber, Bruce received news from the kobold, Seth. The gems were spent, but in exchange, Seth brought a trove of magical tomes.
Bruce's keen senses discerned the quality of each tome. Discarding the inferior, he preserved two ancient volumes, their pages yellowed with age and redolent with the essence of magicians long gone.
Carona and Torenço scoffed at Bruce's enthusiasm for human magic. To them, born of the noble green dragon lineage, already endowed with innate magical prowess, the idea of studying human magic seemed beneath their dignity.
Yet Bruce, aware of their contempt, understood their perspective. The dragons' innate magical heritage did indeed render the study of lesser magics unnecessary for most. But they seemed to forget Bruce's unique predicament—a dragon whose only inheritance was the basic lore and memory of his kind, nothing more.