Dragon Kings & Witches

With an arched eyebrow, you stared at the Dragon King, your lips twitching at his attire. What was he wearing? He had on jeans, furry boots, a sword, a red flowing cape with a fur-lined neck, tribal arm sleeves, and knee pads. It looked like he was playing dress-up in the Queen's closet. You continued to pick the herbs in the dragon territory. As a witch who brewed healing potions, you knew he had been tracking you. You weren't going to stop just because you had a stalker; you really needed the herbs, and they were located here. Your specialty lay in treating both humans and mystical creatures, and the patient in need was a dragon.

"Witch," you responded, pushing up off the ground with a basket in your hand. You were stunning. Your curly hair was tied back, the sun highlighting the freckles on your face, your full lips, long lashes, and strong body—evident from your trek to find herbs. You adjusted the basket, drawing attention to your medieval attire. You wore a leather corset that fit snugly around your waist, emphasizing your curves. The hem of your dress hooked to your belt, allowing easy movement, and your thigh was exposed.

You couldn't take him seriously in his attire and ended up snorting at him. "I'm so sorry, but what are you wearing?" you finally blurted out, adjusting the basket on your hip, your lips twitching with mirth.

"And what do you mean, 'call you by your kind'?" you tilted your head. "Yes, I'm aware," you remarked in response to his statement about your land, gesturing around. "My patient is a dragon, and you have herbs on your land that I need to heal them. I figured the Dragon King," you rolled your eyes at his name, "wouldn't mind."

Unbeknownst to him, you had been on his land before, concealed by a spell. You kept giggling softly as you picked the herbs, shifting to a new patch of different herbs.

"Well, many thanks, my lord," you mock-bowed, pivoting and striding away with the basket. "Demand respect," your laughter could be heard as you walked away. Even though it was mocking, your laughter was beautiful. The highlights in your hair shone against the sun as you trekked across his land back to your cottage in the forest across the border to make the remedy.

It had been a month since you last saw the Dragon King. The patient, your friend Kirishima, had been transfigured into a dragon by a warlock. Kirishima had gone back and fought the warlock, but that didn't help him out in the least to remove the spell. At least he could still flip back and forth, which was good.

Word spread among the dragons that you could help, and soon you had hoards of them showing up to receive your help, resulting in you going back onto his territory. You needed a good chuckle at seeing him in the childish attire. You were humming underneath your breath as you picked the herbs needed to make a healing paste, rolling your eyes when he appeared. "Oh, for fuck’s sake."

Gently releasing a breath, you carefully lowered the basket, allowing the tip of the sword to press against your corset made of dragon scales—a gift from one of the dragons. "For someone who's supposed to be the Dragon King, you're awfully tightfisted. There are dragons who need my help, and yet here you sit on a land teeming with herbs that you refuse to use, letting them go to waste as the dragons suffer and die," you exclaimed, your frustration palpable. Why wouldn't he lend a hand?

"If you ever come seeking my aid, know that I will turn you away, and you can suffer alone. Your so-called generosity seems to have an expiration date. Find another witch to tend to you when you're in need. That includes your kingdom," you declared, picking up the basket and turning away. You had gathered everything you needed before he had even arrived.

Pausing, you glanced back over your shoulder at him. "Well, perhaps you can enlighten me about the afflictions troubling the dragons. While I may possess the ability to cure them, I can't discern the cause and nature of these maladies," you commented, before turning and striding off towards the forest, leaving him with that troubling task until your next encounter.

A week later, you returned with a flushed face, having expedited your journey onto his territory, reaching farther than usual to collect a specific herb you had meticulously mapped out. Raising your hand, you let out a frustrated sigh before flicking your wrist, summoning your broom. Taking to the sky, you headed towards the mountain with its rich deposit of volcanic ash, the source of a special purple herb. As you flew, your hair whipped around your face, and upon touching down, your feet skidded across the dirt, the heat from the volcano menacingly close against your skin. You ventured to the heart of the area, recognizing the danger but understanding the necessity. You plucked and gathered until your skin felt dry from the intense heat.

"I require this," your eyes wild, your face displaying an urgent plea. "The dragons are perishing at an alarming pace, and I must aid them," you implored. Begging wasn't your style, yet desperation seemed to emanate from your very being. Your cheeks burned red from both the heat and the intensity of your entreaty. "Fly me back, and I'll owe you one," you added, knowing your broom wouldn't be swift enough to get you home in time. Every fiber of your being resisted the idea of being indebted to him, but your newfound passion for the well-being of the dragons, your kin, compelled you to make this sacrifice.

Upon landing, you swiftly dismounted, your eyes aglow with gratitude and relief. "Thank you, Dragon King," you expressed, then tore off your necklace and tossed it to him. "You can use that to summon me when you wish to collect your debt," you called out before dashing through the forest, headed for your cottage with urgency.

Bursting through the door, you swiftly began chopping up the ingredients and tossing them into the cauldron. You counted the turns in your head, feeling a sense of relief as the mixture turned purple. Employing your magic, you maneuvered the cauldron outside and scooped out portions to administer to the suffering dragons. Calling for assistance from those comfortable around them, you watched as the dragons, initially writhing in pain, gradually succumbed to sleep, their expressions shifting from anguish to relief. Dropping to your knees, you offered gratitude to the heavens for their recovery.

Unbeknownst to you the Dragon King had followed his curiousity winning out.

Startled, you gazed up at him, entirely unaware that he had followed you. In the clearing you had painstakingly fashioned around your cottage, now occupied by over ten colossal dragons, you realized that once they were healthy enough to depart, you would need to facilitate the growth of the surrounding trees. Utilizing additional potions to bolster their strength and venturing out to forage for their sustenance became necessary tasks. "I hope so as well," you murmured softly, turning back towards the dragons. Pushing yourself up from the ground, you approached one of them and rested your hand on its nose, leaning forward with your head against its scales. Under your breath, you uttered an incantation, suffusing the air with magic, all the while aware of the watchful gaze of the Dragon King's vermilion eyes observing your actions with the dragons.

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