Morning Blues

I don’t go far from where Maxen lives, but I am quite happy to explore the new world as a human. Creating the new ‘money’ thing with my powers is no easy feat, however, as I am so used to using the old world silver and cold coins, yet they do seem to have similar currency even if it looks different.

I don’t need to use the money to get what I want. It is easy enough to make mortals give me anything I demand, but I promised those busy-bodies from before that I would fit in. So, after a couple of ‘magic tricks' to get a hold of some money, I could easily afford a meal and a place to stay didn’t come hard to find either.

What I did notice were the cute little plush toys of my bloodline in the shops. I almost wanted to buy one, but I didn’t think my father would approve of them. Or rather, he wouldn’t approve of me having them. He would probably be pleased humans still worshipped us in some roundabout way.

As soon as morning came, I returned to Maxen’s place and let myself in. Perhaps he forgot I could easily fly up here, that he neglected to lock his door. It is still fairly dark outside, even if the birds are chirping and singing, but I am hoping to make some breakfast so that we can start this day off on a better note.

I must have been making so much noise, trying to find all his food in his pantry, as Maxen storms in like bandits are robbing the place. He gazes at me in both horror and amazement.

“Ah, good morning,” I reply, glancing back at the breakfast… or rather, the gigantic mess I’ve made. “Oh. I suppose I should clean this up. Also, how do you work the fire? I can’t seem to find any wood-”

“First you break into my home - twice! And now you’ve made an enormous mess of my kitchen! And what’s more, had I not woken up, you’d probably have started a damned fire! Get out of the way and I’ll show you!” He scolds me, almost like I am some kind of child.

I lift my eyes and remember why I am doing this, then step aside to allow him access to the kitchen. He turns some nobs and doohickeys and next thing I know, a red light appears on the contraption he was just toying with.

I don’t see any fire, though.

“This is a stove! An electrical one!” He tells me, “no fire required!”

I bristle at this information. No fire!? Humans have always needed fire to cook things! As well as many other tasks that only the heat of a fire can do!

“I do not see how,” I say while I move my hand over the red circle, my words cut short. “It is hot!” I exclaim, blinking wildly. As I look at Maxen, he has this smug grin on his face. “Then how do you bathe? Do not tell me you do not need fire for that, either?” I ask.

“Not a single spark,” he says, nodding. “And we have showers too. It's like hot or cold rain.”

After explaining to me, I can’t help but admire the humans for thinking up such ways to master electricity. Only my cousins, the dragons of the sky, have ever mastered that feat.

“You will not leave me alone, are you?” Maxen then asks, seeming somewhat annoyed again. I shake my head, but he doesn’t allow me to speak. “Fine. If you are that dead set on having this duel, then I accept.”

“Really!? Then I shall look forward to our battle, Sir Maxen!” I claim, almost unable to contain my excitement. Did my breakfast plan work to appease this stubborn human?

“First of all, just call me Max,” he tells me, holding up a finger. Next, he holds up two and continues, “second, we fight on my terms.”

I nod eagerly.

“Clean up the mess and I’ll set up the challenge,” he then orders me. I’m too pleased to even mind this order, and since I made the mess, I can’t argue that I should tidy up.

As soon as I am done, I return to the place where Max has set up some sort of game at a table. I look at it with confusion and then at him. This isn’t what I had in mind when I issued the duel, but if this is how he wants to fight me, then I can’t complain. Can I?

“It is called ‘Chess’. I’ll teach you some moves,” Max tells me. He has a smug grin on his face again, but a game or real, I won’t back down and I won’t lose. At least, that is what I tell myself.

The truth is, I do not understand why he will not battle me as the legend goes. The dragons always fight it out in combat. It can’t be that he is just a descendant. Unless Hafgan mated with a human woman, and there is no dragon left in this bloodline of his? That can’t be right, though. Dragon blood is far too potent to just fade like that.

However, if this is the only battle he will do with me, then I don’t have a choice.

“You’re not backing down, are you?” Max teases.

I frown and shake my head. “Not at all,” I tell him and sit down opposite him. “A dragon never backs down once we have agreed to the duel,” I responded.

After some brief instructions on how each piece moves on the board, Max finally takes on the actual battle of wits. I’ve never played this game before, but I feel it can’t be too hard to play. At first, I felt as though I was doing well. I have more pieces of his than he has of mine, so I must be close to winning.

“Check and mate,” Max responds, as he deposits his piece into place.

I blink and look down at the board in confusion. I’ve lost? Impossible! I check every piece of mine before my eyes land on the King. Just as Max has claimed, I can’t move without him taking my piece and as the rules state, if the King is taken, I lose.

I am so dumbfounded by this revelation that I almost don’t hear Max’s words.

“You agree, right? That since I won, I deserve a prize?” He repeats his words as if sensing I haven’t taken them in.

I glanced back up at him, unsure how I could have let this man win against me in a child’s game. I narrow my gaze at him and demand, “this is no proper battle. We should be fighting.”

“You promised we could do this my way,” Max reminds me with his smug smirk.

I can’t believe how cocky he is getting, just because he won. However, a dragon’s word is his bond and I sigh softly. “Very well, Max. I conceded defeat. I will grant you any prize you wish.”

Despite agreeing to this as a defeat, I know I still cannot return home without completing my true mission of finding and capturing Hafgan. He’ll show up here eventually, so I still can’t go home.

Max nods at me and then, with that same big smile of his, states, “then you have to be my boyfriend for as long as you stay with me!”

I perk my brow curiously. Does he wish for something so small as that? I shrug and say, “that is fine, but I am in this world for a year. You are fine with this?”

The look on his face tells me he is NOT fine with this. However, I made the promise to agree to his terms, and if this friendship is what he desires, then I see no reason to deny it. Before he can protest me lingering near him for the entire year, I summon up the magic that connects a dragon to another person.

There will be no turning back now. A dragon bond is impossible to break once we have made it, and I refuse to leave Max alone until Hafgan is sorted out. There is too much at stake to just leave now.