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Scales and Honor: Swirling Storm

Chapter 10

Ramakox awoke with a start, his nerves instantly going on edge by the loud scream that sounded out into the air. He swiftly rose his head, ice starting to grip his heart as he noticed that Jandar and Infinity had wandered off from their sleeping spot. Quick as lighting he summoned the energy to rise to all fours, swiftly scanning the field for the illusive pair. Where did you go little ones? He thought as his heart started to race with ever passing second. There were several dozen gruesome scenarios that were enacted in his head, but he shook them from his mind with a thrash of his tail. He narrowed his eyes at the dusk covered tree line, flaring his nostrils and taking in the air of the next breeze. He gave two large sniffs, finding traces of human in the air, mixed with the soft smell of a night breeze. That must be Infinity.

The blue dragon unfurled his wings and bound into the air, making sure to not stay two far into the air. He pounded his wings against the air as his breaths started to come quicker and quicker. He could feel anxiousness sinking all the way to his claws, with each moment he did not have them safely within his sight. Come on. He willed himself to fly faster, following their scent. He felt his blood run cold when he heard something else sound into the air. It was the mighty pain filled roar of a dragon...An adult dragon. Come on slow scales. Ramakox chastised himself and redoubled his already frantic pace towards the direction of the roar, and to his horror. The same direction that Jandar and Infinity had gone.

Please be something minor...Some misunderstanding...His mind said to him, trying to calm his nerves that were already on edge. He tried to will away the fear that was spreading through his limbs with each pounding of his wings, and each beat of his heart. He followed the scent until he was just near the forest's edge at the cave that contained his friends. His eyes widened to the billowing smoke coming from the cave, and the body of Asdreea slumped over by the entrance. He felt his nerves go numb as he realized that she was dead. For her body was covered in bright purple wounds, and it looked like several sections of her hide had suddenly exploded outwards and covered the ground with her blood and guts.

He formed his snout into snarl as he took in the scent on the air. He tried to search for the pair he had been following, however something else caught his mind first. It was a vile smell he had not smelled in ages. It was the wretched stench of undeath._ I have to find them_ . He thought to Jandar and Infinity as he sniffed again in desperation. With a relief he found that Infinity and Jandar were really close, practically right on...The dragon looked down as he heard Jandar shout his name out to him.

"Jandar! Infinity!" Ramakox landed beside them with a quick-backwing. The blue dragon rushed over towards the pale faced human, and frozen wrymling and picked them up in a great crushing hug. "Are you two okay?..Whats going on?" He set the teen and wrymling down onto the grass, arching his neck to gaze at the corpse in front of the cave.

The human said not a word as he continued to try and peak over the dragon's shoulder to the cave. He looked briefly once to Infinity, who shared the same worried eyes of the human. "T-theres..." Jandar stuttered, "S-something I have never seen before."

"Was it an army of skeletons? Zombies?" Ramakox's eyes narrowed as he inspected the unmoving corpse of his friend. He grit his teeth as he realized such simple undead could not do this to a dragon, not without an army anyway. And I don't see any tracks of one. His eyes fell to the ground, not seeing one patch that looked like it had been trampled on by bony limbs, or anything for that matter. Unless they can fly...Maybe it was a Vampire...Mummy...Or..The dragon shivered. A lich....but why? Why would they attack dragons seemingly at random? He looked out to the nearly vanished sun. Maybe not a vampire..not when we have little bits of sun left. Ramakox wrinkled his snout as that only left a Lich or mummies, and both were equally bad for various reasons.

"It...held out it's bone hands and struck the dragoness from the sky. He used some quick spells on her...but ended her with some powerful bright purple glowing spell. He seemed to draw several symbols in the air, like runes."

"Probably a lich then if it knows powerful spells." Ramakox grumbled, swelling up his chest and already picturing spells of his own he would need in order to fight this creature, and by the sound of explosions rocking the cave he would have to work fast in case the red dragon couldn't hold it off. "Did it have multiple wrappings all over it's body?" he asked, hoping just maybe he was wrong and it was just a mummy that could cast spells.

"No..It wasn't a mummy...although it could do magic...I have never seen cantrips spells be tossed out of ones fingers so fast."

"Jandar." Ramakox growled in the back of his throat as he placed a claw to his chest. "Take Infinity out of here, and keep running. She should not be here right now...Things are going to get extremely dangerous." The blue dragon thought to his magic swirling around him and protecting him like a protective cloak. He drew runes on his scales with his talons, the lines lighting up to shine a brilliant blue.

"But..But." Infinity fidgeted in place, her spines drooping as she looked to the body of her dead mother. "What about..." tears had started to well up in her little emerald eyes. "Dad...Mom.." She looked up to him with eyes so full of pain and sorrow the blue dragon felt his heart almost break.

"There...is nothing I can do for your mother." he replied with a frown. "Although I will try my best to save your father." He gave her a reassuring lick across her snout, but found she did not respond to it. She just hung her head and started to grace the ground with her tears. I am going to tear that undead monster apart. "Now follow Jandar...he will get you to safety." Ramakox spun to face the cave, his tail passing just over Jandar's head. "Jandar." he said softly, worry once more starting to work it's way into his heart.

"Yes?"

"Keep your head up, mind your spells. Don't try to fight it, the thing is most likely a more powerful caster then you. So use your spells to hide, avoid detection, run away from that monster."

"Oh no..in this scenario you are what? Dead? What if he finds us then? What do I then?"

Ramakox did not say a word as he kneaded the ground with his claws. "I won't be dead...If he does corner you, try to hold him off as long as you can...I won't be far behind...You can count on my very scales." The blue dragon flinched as he heard another explosion sound from the cave, this time it was much louder, like the fight was about to come roaring out of the cave and meet Ramakox head on. "I have to go Jandar...go!" he shouted out,breaking into a wing quickened sprint towards the cave. He glanced back, sighing in relief as the human bolted off with the wrymling back into the forest as quickly as they could. Good...now that they are safely away from the battle...I need not worrying about them getting hurt.

Ramakox continued to spring with his next heavy breath, his claws dragging up large sections of earth in his desperate attempt to go faster. He wondered for a brief moment why the undead creature had come to attack them. It must have been for some dark purpose, since a spell caster did not simply become a lich through good means. What could be good by becoming immortal, and turning yourself into that thing.. His breaths came quicker and quicker as he was practically at the entrance now. His heart once again broke as the body of his red scaled friend flew over his head, and impacted the ground a good distance away with a loud crack. The crimson dragon tumbled and tumbled violently, until he came to a groaning stop. " Munaranax!" Ramakox shouted out, panic starting to flow out from his chest like a river. His sight did not linger on his friend for long, for what floated out of the cave drew his full attention.

The thing floated out of the cavern like a specter on the air. It's long flowing black robes were tattered and ripped in numerous places. At the base of said robes were soft glowing orange runes. The lich looked like a skeleton with parts of it's body covered in rotted flesh, with it's face looking like it was two sizes too big. It had large section's of it's undead flesh ripped away by what looked like dragon's teeth, it looked like the two dragons had put up quite a fight. "It is a shame that you do not bear the same blue flames as your sister...She seemed ever so pleased to tell me your location...Such a wonderful family of drago-" The lich stopped in mid air as it's one pitch black eye stared at Ramakox, the other one seemingly had been stabbed out, if the gaping hole was any indication.

"I don't believe we have met." the thing said with an amused tone. "And you are?"

"Monster!" Ramakox opened his maw, his wings lighting up with sparks of electricity and making his limbs warm. The sparks flew from his maw and shot a bolt of brilliant white lightning towards the lich like a bolt of holy vengeance. The electricity struck the thing's flesh cackling. Where a creature would usually spasm in pain, or scream, the lich simply stood there. It even held out a bone hand to inspect while the sparks flew off of it.

"Ah..You must be the swirling storm." it replied, not skipping a beat. He backed away in a dash as Ramakox closed the distance. Both of his claws found their mark in his rotted flesh, ripping large chunks out of him as the thing laughed. Did the claws do nothing? Then try my teeth! The dragon tried to snap his jaws around the thing's torso, but it managed to avoid that attack. It placed a hand on the dragon's scales, freezing to the touch as Ramakox felt pain flow through his body. It was like the very life force was getting drained from him.

Ramakox bounced away from the thing's touch, already starting to feel his limbs growing sluggish. What is this...The dragon took a step, shaking his head. What are you-?

"No talking then? I figured at least you. The Swirling Storm, the dragon who loves to tell stories would want to talk." the lich took a confident step as he placed his arms behind his back and stood up straight. "Feeling a tad sluggish? First time fighting a being such as I?"

Ramakox narrowed his eyes and let out an angry snarl, finding words were lost on him. This thing had to be destroyed, not just for what it had done to Asdreea, but to keep Jandar and Infinity safe. If the creature was going to talk, it would only allow the dragon's breath to recharge.

"Well let me explain..You see my limbs here." the lich held out one of his pristine white looking limbs. "They have special properties." the thing smiled. "Can freeze with but a touch...and...paralyze the living...makes things oh much more easier." The lich chuckled deeply as he backed away and Ramakox snapped again and only tasted air. "Really? The teeth again? I have to admit, your a bit smarter than those other two. They just kept on trying to use their claws...and look where that got them."

"Monster!" Ramakox bound into the air, snapping at the lich, who kept on evading him and continuing to strike the dragon's scales with beams of freezing cold magic. The dragon grit his teeth as his heavily armored scales shrugged off numerous beams, he pushed the cold from his mind as he latched onto the lich and ripped a large section of his shoulder with a snarl.

"Really? Not a single why are you here?" the lich snarled, clicking his fingers and teleporting a short distance away. "You're rather boring arn't you?" the creature held out it's limb, throwing a ball of red-orange fire towards the dragon. The sphere impacted against his blue scales, exploding and sending pain through his hide.

Ramakox responded by passing by the lich, his white lines shining bright into the darkening sky. He let all his rage flow forth into his attack, the bolt of lightning loosed from his maw striking the lich square in the chest. However just like before, the thing did not shout out, but mere twitched and looked amused. "Fine! Why are you here then?" the dragon pounded his wings and avoided the creatures gaze as he circled him.

"Finally a question instead of this rude attacking of me!" the undead spell caster laughed with a raspy voice. "That doesn't concern you swirling storm, but thanks for asking! I am sufficiently amused right now. You should turn tail right now get out of here. I will even spare your life!"

"You attacked my friends!" the dragon roared, letting another bolt of lightning pass through his maw striking the ground uselessly as the creature teleported out of the way.

"Well I tried to warn you!" the lich held up one of his hands, and traced a white swirl in the air. The thing flicked the rune once, causing a flash of white light to explode in every direction all at once. The rune then flew towards the dragon, and no matter how frantically he tried to avoid the thing, it impacted his scales anyway.

Ramakox felt a cooling sensation suddenly strike his body, spreading forth from the rune and leaking into his limbs. He snarled and hissed into the air when he realized he was starting to not be able to move his limbs. NO! He screamed out in his head as he fell towards the ground at high speed. The dragon tried to close his eyes but found he could not, he crashed into the earth with a hard bone rattling smack that left him groaning and moaning in pain. Must have been...power word of stun.. Ramakox's mind grumbled to him, his scales already shaking off the effects of the stunning spell. Thank Bahamut for the spell protection...otherwise... The dragon pushed himself to all fours, his limbs wobbling for a moment. I would not be able to defend myself. "You will have to try harder then that monster."

"Trying?" the lich crossed his arms as he floated towards the dragon once more. "I am merely toying with you dragon.

"Toying with me?" Ramakox shook his scales, scattering any dirt that had wedged their way beneath them. He eyed the dead thing's black sphere, finding it lacked any emotion to read in it. It made unease snake it's way into his mind as he took another step.

"Yes....Although consider yourself lucky this day Swirling Storm...For I am no need of blue dragons today."

"Why not?" the dragon snarled, baring his teeth. "You had no qualms about killing the dragoness."

"Oh her?" The lich looked the corpse with a frown. "That was sadly unavoidable. She left me no choice but to do that. I would have rather liked her help for the next part of the plan."

"What part is that?"

The lich wagged his bone finger in the air. "You don't really need to know about is Swirling Storm.

Ramakox took another step as he tried to focus on the other spells that were swirling around within his horned head. Clearly electricity was not working as well as he had hoped. He would have to try something else to see it worked better on the creature. "How about this little proposition for you lich. What should I call you? I certainly want to give you a name in the stories I tell, about how the mighty Swirling Storm vanquished you." the dragon grinned as he saw the lich cross his arms. "I don't want to simply call you...The lich...It's fitting of the stories of course, but I would like something grander to pass from my lips."

"You will have to wait then. For I will not be giving my name to you Swirling Storm. You can certainly just call me "lich."...Now as I said...Be a good dragon and fly away so that I may get back to asking the red dragon over there some questions.

"H-he wants Infinity!" the red dragon shouted out, raising his head out only for it to flop down onto the ground seconds later.

He wants her? Why? "What is it you want with their offspring?" Ramakox crouched himself, entering a hunting stance as he pictured some spells in his mind, readying himself for a flurry of blows.

"Must I say this every time...That is for me to-"

Ramakox launched himself at the undead monster with a snarl. He watched the lich try to back away, but he was only really interested in avoiding the dragon's teeth. Big mistake. The blue dragon flicked his tail quickly, his claws shining a bright white light as they ripped right into the lich's hide and causing him to loose balance and find himself caught in Ramakox's shining white teeth. He pulled his neck, and with a sickening crack he ripped the lich's right limb from his socket, and took a portion of his rib cage and flesh with it. He was about to follow through with another attack, when suddenly a large yellow spectral hand flew into him with the strength of a flame giant, tossing him to the ground it it's vice like grip.

"Graah!" Ramakox roared as he struggled against the thing that was latched onto his scales. It was all he took to prevent the thing from squeezing down on his hide and popping him like a grape. The dragon grit his teeth as his limbs quivered and shook from the effort, however it was no use. When the thing started to clench around him, Ramakox felt himself slowly losing ground.

"You actually maimed me good." the lich laughed, looking down to his armless chest. "You ripped right through me!"

"I can...do..much more..then that!" Ramakox roared, fighting a losing battle against the hard as stone magical hand."

"Looks like your going to be crushed actually...It was rather fun Swirling Storm..Pity you could not impress me further."

"Oh yea?" Ramakox snarled, focusing on canceling out the magical hand that held him held taught. He let the feeling in his chest that he had taught Jandar all those years ago swirl around his body and into hid claws. He grinned as little cerulean circles formed around where his claws met the hand. Thin little lines then cracked along the yellow hand, until with a shattering sound like glass, the hand broke apart into a thousand pieces before poofing up in a vibrant yellow smoke.

Without skipping a beat the blue dragon unfurled his wings and spun quickly to face the lich that had started to walk away. He felt the earth beneath his paws. He reached out with his thoughts and pictured them as an extension of himself. He pictured great tentacles like the great kraken, rising up and plucking the undead monster from the air. "I would rather you stay awhile!" he snarled, as great earthen stones rose from the ground. The rose towards the lich, and nimbly wrapped around his legs and dragged him to the ground with a grunt. Ramakox chuckled as he watched the lich slam into the ground hard, and several of his rotted fingers flew off.

"Clever dragon." the lich snarled, no longer chuckling in good cheer. The thing blasted several beams of magic at the stone holding him firm, but each time his spell broke away the hard earth, more seemed to replace it.

Ramakox tried to not think about the pride that was lingering in his head as he lashed out towards the trapped lich in a vertical fashion. He let out a roar of victory as his glowing claws slashed down towards the lich, ready to bisect him in two lengthwise. He figured that would certainly stop him from casting spells, but to his frustration the undead monster clicked his finger and teleported out of the earths grip.

_ Where did he-?_ Ramakox frantically rose his head to look around for his adversary. He thankfully did not have to wait long, as his entire back lit up in pain that made him nearly collapse to the ground in agony. He let loose with a loud growl from his throat as he pushed himself through the pain and spun around, his tail glowing a bright light as it smacked the lich right in it's rotted face. He must have caught the undead thing with one of his spines, because the upper portion of the thing's head was sliced through, and fell to the ground with a sickening schlump. "There..I think that's a better look for you."

"Oh my!" the lich laughed, reaching up to fondle where the upper portion of his head used to be. "I think you actually disabled me here...Not that surprising honestly..I did best two dragons before you."

"Shut your tongue!" Ramakox grabbed hold of the lich and slammed him onto the ground, ripping his other arm from it's socket as he did so with a loud pop. "Now you can't cast your spells you vile monster! Now tell me why you came after us, or I will keep you in pieces so that you may never regenerate!" Ramakox let the lie slip from his maw easily. Regardless of what the undead thing was going to tell him, he was going to do exactly that. He just had to be careful he did not separate him too much, or the thing would cease to be, and the lich would simply regenerate again.

"Ah yes." the lich settled his laughter down as the dragon pressed down further onto his dead chest, breaking a few more of his ribs. "What if I were to tell you Swirling Storm...that I was not really here right now?"

What? Ramakox turned his head around to see that his friend Munaranax was no longer resting where he had flopped down. He felt ice once more start to flow into his limbs as he heard the thing continue to speak with a chuckle.

"This fight was pointless..Why waste my time fighting with you Swirling Storm? Honestly I was not certain I could fight a third grown dragon after the previous two...Now my time is rather fleeting at the moment dragon..I think I have found the wrymling that the red dragon was so keen on keeping from me."

"WHAT NO!"

"Farewell." the talking corpse below him suddenly went limp and melted away into a pile of black goo that flowed off the dragon's paws.

"No...he can't have...no he couldn't." Ramakox rambled to himself as he spun around, looking for the creature to suddenly spring forth and catch him by surprise. When none came, his nerves went numb once more. No..No..No. He flared his nostrils, finding the scent of Jandar and Infinity. He bolted after it, quickly spreading his wings and pouncing into the air. With his next breath the terror started to sink in, for mixed with their smell was the scent of undeath. Jandar!....Infinity!

*

_ If he hurts one scale on Jandar..Or Infinity.._Ramakox's heard threatened to leap from his chest as he frantically pounded his wings against the air in a desperate attempt to catch the mortal and wrymling. He could see that the sun was almost gone from the sky now, the perfect reflection of the dwindling hope within the dragon's mind. With his next breath he pushed himself harder, pounding his wings against the air.

The trees and fields were a blur to his eyes as he focused on flying faster then he had ever flown before. His lungs were on fire with each pain filled flap of his wings. He simply grit his teeth at the realization he was going to be sore the next few days. How will you fight the lich if you're exhausted? His mind questioned him, practically begging for him to slow down and conserve some energy. But how can I? How can I live with myself if he hurts Jandar...or Infinity. His eyes fell to a small black shape running through one of the various clearings, her posture one of worry when she came to a stop and gazed up to the blue dragon in relief.

"Ramakox!" the dragoness cried, bounding over to him with tears in her eyes and he landed softly with a bump. "Jandar...h-he..h-he!" the stammered, jumping into the dragon's waiting limbs and pulling herself tight against his scales. "Hes still there with..it.." She buried her snout into his chest, sobbing into his scales. "I..I tried ta get him ta run!....But he told me to jus keep goin!"

"Shhhh....Where is he?" he asked softly, trying to hide the worry that was every increasing in his chest. It made him flick his tail involuntarily, and made his scales itch. I just have to get Jandar...and run with Infinity...then everything will be alright....but after that..where can we be safe?

"H-hes fighting the bony man!..he told me ta run!"

Fighting him? Ramakox looked back in the direction that Infinity had been running away from. Somewhere in this forest, the boy he had saved, the one he had trained, was apparently fighting a powerful undead monster. He kneaded the ground in worry, giving off a snout to hide his unease from the wrymling clutched in his limbs. I know hes good at spells...probably better than most mortals his age...but fight a creature like that? One that has probably ages on him?...Hes going to die.

"Infinity...Where did you see them last?" he felt his stern voice start to crack as he pictured his mortal lying on the ground with blood covering his face. He tried to shake the lifeless look his eyes would have, staring off into the void.

"B-back to the river." she replied, wiping away one of her tears with a claw. "Jandar thought it had some good hiding spots...but It found us anyway." Infinity shivered in Ramakox's grip, fighting off another sob it seemed. "I didn't wanta run...I was brave...and strong...but he mades me promise to run..."

"I know...I know.." he replied softly to the wrymling, giving her a single comforting lick on the top of her head. "It's going to be okay...We are going to find Jandar, and then I will be getting both of you out of here...I already beat his duplicate back...there." he snapped his mouth shut. Without another word he pounced into the air, and quickly maneuvered so that he was heading in the direction of the river they had been in earlier that day. He was about to ask her how she was doing when suddenly he felt his wings scrunch up. Like he had been plucked from the air by an invisible hand, he felt his entire body compress. "Graaaaah!" He roared out in pain as he felt several bones of his pop by the sudden pressure, it was all he had just to hold onto Infinity.

"Ramakox!" Infinity screamed out, closing her eyes as the blue dragon started to plummet towards the ground once more.

The blue dragon felt her tighten her grip on his forelimbs as he regained control of his wings. He beat the air with his membranes, not caring if he was going to rip them or anything. However it was not to be , for he had recovered his wings a moment too late. He pulled Infinity against his chest, as he slammed into the ground with his back. He gasped out in pain as stars danced around his vision and he felt the air pulled from his chest. His entire body wracked in pain as they came to a stop and he flicked his tail weakly. At least...Infinity is safe. The thought comforted him as he took an agony rich breath of air. It felt like firecrackers had gone off in his lungs as he winced from the effort. But at least your alive...for now.

"Ramakox." Infinity whispered softly, nosing the great dragon on his snout with her own. "You gotsa get up! Hes..Hes coming!"

Sure enough, the lich seemed to spring forth from the trees. He looked like he had done so before, the efforts of Ramakox's battle seemingly wasted on whatever he had been fighting. "See? What did I tell you Swirling Storm?" the lich curled his rotted lips into a smile as his blackened eye gazed to the shivering wyrmling hovering over him. "Thank you for finding the wrymling I have been searching for."

"N-No." Ramakox gasped, gulping down the pain as he struggled to flip over and defend the little dragon. "I...I'll stop you." his tail flicked weakly again as he brought himself upright, glaring at the lich.

"I think you are done dragon." The lich held out his hand, it glew with a soft purple light as he pointed it at Ramakox, and without a word a purple mist flew from his bone finger and impacted the dragon square in the chest. "Die."

Ramakox spasmed in pain as the purple mist hit his scales and lit up his body in pain he had not experienced before. It made his vision go white, and everything else fade away except the talon curling, tail twitching pain. It was all he could do, to pull Infinity against him. One last defiant act before this undead monster finished him off.Have...To..protect...Infinity...."Graaaahhshhdhsh!" Ramakox roared into the night as his scales started to smoke, and when it was finished he slumped to the ground gasping for breath.

"Oh my, oh my." You're not dead yet?" The lich chuckled, striding over to flick the blue dragon on his nose. "I would have thought that spell would have finished you off after such a tiring battle with my clone spell. I have to admit, you did a fine job in dealing with it. Ruined a good amount of time that I spent making it." The lich then refolded his arms against his chest, chuckling as he saw Infinity shiver. "Don't worry little one. I will be taking you home to my place..Your father will even be coming with us, and we are going to have a pleasant time."

"I don't wantsa!" the wrymling hissed at he lich, shooting out a small gout of brilliant blue flames at him, causing him to laugh and step a foot back.

"Blue flames!" the lich clasped his bone limbs together. "You will be perfect! Now I won't have to go grab one of the Enchanted Rubies wrymlings instead." The lich sighed. "Its wonderful when things just come together, falling..perfectly..into..place." he took step after step, easily avoiding Ramakox's weak flail at him with a limb. "No..You're done Swirling Storm..Just lay there and be a good dragon...and I just might let you survive this day."

"No! No! No!" Infinity screamed as the undead monster grabbed hold of her with his limbs. She screeched in agony as his hands started to cause a thin layer of frost on her scales. "Ramakox!..Ramakox!...Mother!...Father!...Pleeease..." the wrymling struggled, thrashing as the lich fought to hold onto her.

"She is going to be a fighter." the creature smile. "She is going to be....perfect." The lich brushed her scales one last time, letting her scream's echo through the night until she fell unconscious in his arms.

"You...take me instead." Ramakox gasped, pulling himself forward. "Leave the little one...use me instead....I beg of you...please!"

"I told you this before." the lich frowned, holding out his finger towards the blue dragon's chest. Purple magic started to swirl around it slowly, misting in the air as it did so. "I don't need a blue dragon for my experiments...But this little one...She will do nicely."

"You..Monster!" Ramakox summoned up little energy he had left to bit into the lich as hard as he could. His teeth found purchase in the thing's arm holding Infinity. You...MONSTER His mind screamed, as his eyes started to go misty. If he failed now..She would have something bad happen to her..

"Good bye Ramakox." the lich snarled, and flicked the purple magic at the dragon's chest.

Ramakox closed his eyes and readied for his death that was going to be just as pain filled as the previous spell had done. _I....tried..I'm...sorry Infinity..._He winced, clamping his teeth down harder on the unfeeling Lich. However to his surprise the spell never landed, and the lich let out an anger filled hiss. The blue dragon opened his eyes to see that the purple mist had formed a trail passed him, and to a grinning human with blue scales completely covering his arms. The purple magic was circling his finger now casually, orbiting around it like it was the moon that hung overhead.

"How..are you alive?" The lich gasped. "I thought the chain lightning would have finished you off!"

Jandar did not smile, but glared daggers at the lich. "You will find that I am full of surprises." The teen replied, holding up his hands and entering the stance they had trained to redirect spells. The human then flicked the purple magic right back at the lich. It struck his undead flesh and burst into a small plume of smoke, seemingly doing nothing to him.

"Oh wonderful, you can redirect magic back at me." The lich grinned. "Makes me want an apprentice of my own someday." He backed away with Infinity held within his arms tightly. "Now..Since I already have what I came here for...and I am not entirely sure that I can fight...both of you...I think I will be heading home."

"Oh no you don't! Jandar snarled thrusting a finger towards the Lich. "I'll stop you."

"Boy...I think you have enough to redirect some of the spells I have left...But you do not have the strength to finish me off...Besides...would you want to hurt the little one?" The undead caster gestured to the limp dragoness held within his arms. "You might hurt her...Or I might drop her out of pain....and it doesn't look like Ramakox there is up for much flying right about now."

"Jandar..." Ramakox forced himself through sheer willpower to stand on all fours, casting a defiant look towards the nightmarish creature. "Do it."

"Glady" The boy let loose 8 of magical fire spring from his fingertips. They flew towards the lich, ready to melt the black hearted thing. However to his and the dragon's disappointment, the lich waved a bone hand and the rays faded out of existence.

"See boy? Dragon? It is because I know spells similar to that as well. So as you can see." The lich started to float higher and higher into the sky with cackling laughter. He blocked every other spell that Jandar threw at him, each and every time his laughing getting louder and louder. "Farewell Boy...Farewell Ramakox..You will not be seeing me again!" The lich clacked his fingers, and he and the wrymling he held vanished into thin air.

"Coward!" Ramakox shouted out, flopping onto the ground out of breath. He felt numb all over as he ripped at the ground with his trembling claws. "Coward." he said again quieter than before as his body quivered. His wings resettled against his broken and bruised body as he let out a pained groan. It was when Jandar collapsed onto him, and draped himself over his snout did he start to tear up. The boy was once more sobbing as he clutched at Ramakox.

"I..couldn't save her...I couldn't..:" he gasped out, his tears dripping down like rain onto the dragon's snout.

Ramakox wrapped his wing around the human and pulled him tighter against his chest. "It's okay.."he lied, his own tears joining the humans own. The only comforting thought that he had was that he still had Jandar right here with him. I'm sorry Infinity.