âWaxy wax and more wax. Seriously, have you ever seen so much wax?â
âYouâre a fool. This canât go on much longer,â The Dragon Lord said. âI fear we will have to forfeit this place.â
The lizardkin looked up at the dragon with disbelief. âBut, my lord! Thereâs no way weâd lose to candles!â
âAre you blind?â The Dragon Lordâs voice shook the cave. The surrounding lizardmen took a knee. âTheyâve already reached the inner sanctum. Itâs only a matter of time now.â
âSo, youâre saying we will simply abandon our home?â The general shook, gripping his spear tight. âYouâre mad if you think I will let them do what they want!â
The dragon nodded in understanding, his face painted with pain.
General Agama knelt before Dragon Lord Knifurtix. âI am sorry for my insolence, my lord.â
Knifurtix shook his head. âI understand your love for this place. I understand your will to protect it, as I do too.â
General Agama peeked at his lord. âIf you understand, then why? Help me understand.â
âItâs simple. We wonât win, and I am not talking about the candles,â Knifurtix looked past General Agama to the shadows of his domain. The marshland held such beautiful castle walls, and it added a unique aura to the moss. The Dragon Lord sighed deeply. âItâs the only way. I will protect your escape, especially the elderly, women, and children. But we canât remain here.â
âThen what about you!?â Another lizardman yelled.
âI will stay.â
General Agama shook his head. âYou canât force us to leave you here. What? While we escape?â
âSomeone needs to protect the next generation. Who would be better for that task than you, Agama?â
âFine, if this is really as big of a threat as you say, I wonât question your judgment. But, I will come back for you when I am done.â
The lizardmanâs captain pulled on Agamaâs sleeve. âSir?â
âYou heard me. Evacuate the people! Children, women and elderly must go first! Only then, can you come back and protect our lord! You better hurry your scales! Unless you want to lose our home in futility!â
âYes sir!â The captain saluted, gathering the troops quickly.
Agama turned back to his Dragon Lord. âI will come back for you. I promise!â
Knifurtix nodded. He watched his precious people begin to leave. He turned his large head back towards the shadows when they all left his throne.
âArenât you a perceptive one?â A small voice asked. She made her way into the light. Her black horns curled up and behind her head. She had an eerie childish face, like that of a doll. She grinned, her teeth looking like rows of shark teeth. âWhen did you notice?â
âSince my general started speaking of wax. What does the Lord of Gluttony want with a measly dungeon master?â
âItâs simple really.â She smirked, etching even closer to Knifurtix. She leapt from the ground, landing on his nose, and staring straight into his deep-orange eyes. From this distance, Knifurtix saw the foul aura coating her black armor. âI want you out of my way.â
âDo you aim to kill me?â He asked.
âNo, you arenât a failed experiment. Donât you have people who depend on you?â
âSince when did you care about experiments?â The dragon huffed, billowing smoke from his nostrils. âI thought all you cared about was that appetite, or am I wrong?â
She cackled, her high pitched maniacal laugh creating an annoying echo in Knifurtixâs home. âYou could never satiate my appetite. I am so much more than gluttony. I have overcome that! Youâd never suit my palette. You know why?â
Knifurtix narrowed his eyes in response.
âYouâre too boring! What is a meal without seasoning?â She asked, walking further up his nose towards his eye lid, and basking the dragon in even more putrid aura. âWhere are the sauces? Youâd never understand a true glutton! Your worthless appetite is beneath me! No one can know true Gluttony. No one but me could be myself. I eat, and I feast, but itâs not enough. Thereâs never enough spices. Thereâs never enough sauce. All of the pain and anguish from breaking my enemies, thatâs what I want. I want to eat it when itâs ripe. I want to savor in the flavor. Itâs endless hunger for the best flavor! Thatâs Gluttony!â
Knifurtix considered the retched creature. Heâd not throw away his life in an impossible fight if sheâd let him go. A dragonâs pride was more than his own life. It was the pride of his people. The pride of future generations, and their thoughts that he will always be there to protect them.
âYou expect me to believe you will simply let me go?â He asked.
She frowned before leaping off him back to the ground. The Lord of Gluttony walked away from The Dragon Lord. She waved him off, damaging his pride slightly. âYou arenât ripe yet.â