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[Cheating, you say, Gravaxthuur] King Brakkh'zhaarn rumbled, [That is a very serious accusation. Especially when Luke performed before the eyes of every wyrm in this hall. MY EYES!] he practically growled out the last part.
[Tell me, senior. What has your wisen eyes glimpsed that the rest of us missed?] Brakkh'zhaarn said, challenging the senior of his bloodline. [Think of your answer carefully, lest you insult every bloodline in the room for not having your superb insight.]
Gravaxthuur took this opportunity to not put his foot in his mouth and shut up.
[That's what I thought.] Brakkh'zhaarn snorted before turning to Professor Sageira.
[I would have expected you to take on a young wyrmling as an apprentice, but this too is interesting. But despite my interest, this is a worrying matter. If one human can learn to use Dragon Tongue, what is stopping a hundred or a thousand more from doing the same?] Brakkh'zhaarn said as he narrowed his eyes at her.
Professor Sageira nodded her head, [As you said, this is a worrying matter. But I cannot in good conscience let such a discovery as this die out, nor can I kill him just for his discovery. Already, he has assisted me in discovering quite a few new fields of magic, and a mind such as his is a shameful thing to waste. So I have taken a Soul Oath from him. Only he and his direct descendants are allowed to learn how to use Dragon Tongue magic, and only upon my approval.]
Immediately after, Vruulkthaz stepped forward. [I, too, vouch for this human. At Sgaer'khathz's recommendation, he was chosen to assist the Trial of Broken Scales for my son.]
Turns out, the job to beat down on Thryz actually had a name. I only found out about it while waiting in Vruulkthaz's cave.
[Interesting, and what was the result of the trial?] Brakkh'zhaarn asked.
[Excedingly well.] Vruulkthaz answered. [He tenderized my boy's scales well and good. Making him yield when he broke out the Dragon Tongue magic.]
Brakkh'zhaarn gafaued at Vruulkthaz's answer, but for some reason, Gravaxthuur could not keep a sock in it and muttered loud enough to be heard, [I would expect nothing more from a weakling of a wyrm being beaten by just one human.]
Hearing the jab at her son, Vruulkthaz snarled and was about to retort, but Brakkh'zhaarn raised a hand to silence her before speaking himself. [Gravaxthuur, since you have so much to say during this meeting, I am sure you would not disappoint me, would you? And since you said that Vruulkthaz's son is such a weakling, I am sure you would like to show us the prime example of what a wyrm should be, am I right?]
Gravaxthuur was about to open his mouth to reply, but the dragon king continued. [This gives me an idea. Aren't you mentoring a young dragon who just came back from his own Broken Scale trial just a week ago?] he asked.
At this point, everyone in the room and I were catching on to what was going down. So I telepathically messaged Professor Sageira. {You got my armor and weapons in your dimensional storage? I think I am going to need it soon.}
{Yes, but let's wait until it plays out until the end.} she replied.
Gravaxthuur obviously knew what was going on, but also knew that he was too deep to pull out, answered with confidence, betting on the young dragon he mentored. [Indeed! Young Druuv attacked a castle and came back unharmed with the head of their leader. He can make short work of one human.] he said with a snear in my direction.
Brakkh'zhaarn smiled and said to Gravaxthuur, [Then let your words not be hollow.] He then turned to me and said, [I am also interested in what you can really do.]
***
An hour later, we were deeper in the mountain, where they had apparently hollowed out to build a dragon-sized coliseum, and now, there were a lot more wyrms than just the elders.
"Did you know this was going to happen?" I asked Professor Sageira in common while I double-checked my gear.
"Kind of, but not to this extent." she said with a shrug.
I narrowed my eyes at her and said. "You don't seem as worried as I am. What can you tell me about this Druuv I am going to fight?"
"Not much. He must have been born while I was away. All I know is that he is a red dragon, so expect fire-breathing attacks, and seeing that he is mentored by Gravaxthuur, there will most likely be heavy use of Dragon Tongue magic and only Dragon Tongue magic. Gravaxthuur sees all other magic beneath it."
"Of course he does." I grumble.
And just as I was mid-grumble, the sound of a gong rang through the coliseum, followed shortly by Brakkh'zhaarn's voice. [Let the two combattants come forth.]
"Well, go out there and show them what's what." Professor Sageira encouraged me while nudging me forward with her enormous hand.
I turned back to her and asked her, "Exactly how much 'what' do I show them?"
She grinned at me, displaying all her dagger-like teeth as she said, "Wyrms respect power. Show them all the 'whats' and beat that overgrown hatching within an inch of his life."
I smiled as I rested my spear on my shoulder and made my way towards my opponent.