Kolvar

Lore:

Kolvar has always been attracted to shiny things. Ever since he was a little hatchling he was always going off in search of treasure, be it a glistening stone found by the river or a fork that was buried one hundred years ago.

However, jewellery was always at the top of Kolvar's list. He loved collecting necklaces, rings, earrings - anything that looked good. He even helped out the local jeweller when he wasn't busy with his schooling. Each day he would waddle along to the small house at the end of the path and help the old dragon by handing him any tools that he needed and even helped to create some designs!

The old jeweller was always thankful for Kolvar's help and always offered something for his help, be it a small, broken crystal that he couldn't use in one of his pieces or a hot meal.

As much as Kolvar loved the items he got from the jeweller he never declined a nice plate of food. The little dragon never had a home to go to at the end of the day and didn't have a lot to eat. He still attended school since the teachers were so nice to let him join in but there was never that warm house to stay in or a loving mother to kiss him goodnight.

Kolvar never knew his father and his mother disappeared one night when she went out to see a friend. He doesn't know if she had somehow passed away that night or simply left him... and he may never know.

After that night Kolvar was forced out of his home and into an orphanage. However, due to his eye disorder, the other younglings always made fun of him. His eyes were lighter than anyone else's - glossy and incredibly blurry. Due to this he ran away from the orphanage as soon as he could.

No one really noticed he was gone. No one ever really noticed him. That's probably why he loved hanging out with the jeweller so much. It wasn't the gems but the fact that this old dragon talked with him and actively invited him over to help make jewellery and stay warm.

The old dragon even offered him to stay the night, many times, but Kolvar always refused. He felt that the things he had already received was enough.

When the old dragon finally passed away from old age Kolvar wished he could have taken up the offers of staying with the jeweller and spend more time with him. He loved the dragon the way a child would love their father and he would never see the jeweller again.

Just before his passing the jeweller had invited Kolvar over one last time for dinner. They talked, they laughed, they ate. It was the perfect night.

"Kolvar. I must thank you for doing so much for me," the jeweller said.

Kolvar looked over and smiled at the old dragon. "It's no problem! I love making jewellery!"

"Ah, it's not just the jewellery, my boy. Just coming over to talk with me every day is a blessing. No one really comes around to visit this old grump anymore."

Kolvar blinked at the dragon and tilted his head. "But you're the best dragon around," he replied with a confused voice.

"Thank you, my boy! I'm glad you see it that way," the jeweller replied and got back to his meal. However, he knew his time was coming closer and he needed to make sure this youngling could thrive without him.

"Kolvar."

"Mmm hmm?" the little dragon asked with a mouthful of watermelon.

The jeweller got up from his seat and walked over to a very old cabinet. He opened the top drawer and pulled out an even older-looking book.

"I want you to have this," he said as he placed it on the table. The cover of the book was tattered and adorned the symbol that the Arcane dragons always used. "I got this book on one of my travels when I was but a young dragon. It's pages hold, shall we say, a certian magic to them."

Kolvar stopped eating and looked at the book.

"It has served me well throughout my career... I want you to have it."

"What? This?"

The jeweller nodded and pushed the book towards the little dragon.

"Not just the book but I also want you to take these." He pulled the goggles off his head and handed them to Kolvar. "These should fit once you're old enough. Hopefully you can use them to help make your own jewellery one day!"

Kolvar said nothing, took the goggles and bounced down from his chair. He hugged the dragon and thanked him for the presents.

That night was the last time he'd see the jeweller.

---

It had been years since he thought about that house. Years since he thought about that book. He had tried to read it but even looking at the cover brought tears to his eyes and a bad feeling in his stomach. He still really missed the jeweller.

Even though it hurt too much to look at the book he had to finally open it. Lately he's been having strange dreams and he could swear that he heard whispering coming from the pages within.

Slowly, Kolvar opened the tattered cover and read the first page. It looked to be a normal book used to help aspiring jewellers achieve their dreams... but something still felt... strange?

He turned a few more pages and found a strange diagram. Something about using an old magic to increase a dragon's internal body temperature. It also mentioned that liquid gold would be naturally produced by the magic within the body and can be extracted to make the most exquisite jewellery ever seen.

Was this the jeweller's secret? Had he used this magic to become successful? And more importantly, could Kolvar do it?

He read the description carefully:

Ulmatis (Yool-mat-us) is an ancient spell created by some of the most powerful sorcerers of the forgotten era. They used this magic to create a never-ending supply of gold and became the richest dragons to walk the land.

Ulmatis can only be performed by powerful sorcerers from the Starfall Isles and, if done correctly, the receiver will fall into a deep sleep for three days. During this time the whole underside of the dragon will turn transparent and create a pocket for storage. The canines will be connected to this pocket for easy extraction.

Internal body temperature will then increase dramatically to a temperature that can store molten gold without it hardening. This is completely safe for the dragon involved.

On the third day the body will start producing molten gold and it will be stored within the pocket. To extract the gold simply pierce a cloth-covered and heat-proof container, much like the extraction of venom from snakes, and the gold will steadily flow out.

… Perhaps Kolvar should try this?

---

A Few Years Later

"Riko! Wait! You can't just leave like this!"

"Yes I can, Kolvar. Just watch me."

"Please don't! I love you! I love all of you! Please just stay - we can sort things out!"

"No. I don't need this. It's all too much. The father of my children can barely see his hatchlings and one of them can't see at all. It's too much work for someone like me. I deserve the best. I deserve a palace - not this dump!"

"Riko…"

"Goodbye, Kolvar. Have fun looking after that runt!"

And she was gone.

Kolvar, now a young adult and just a fraction away from being completely blind, stood by the fountain where they had sat to have lunch that day. His oldest son - older by mere minutes - sat with a confused look on his face and stared in the direction of where he heard the argument.

"Papa, is mother gone?" Venato asked with a small voice.

Kolvar took a moment to answer. How could she do this? How could she be this mean? When Kolvar had met the love of his life she was kind and warm-hearted. She was everything that he loved about her. Yes, she had been growing more distant since their two sons hatched but she had never shown any resentment against him or Venato.

She called him a runt. She called his sweetest child a runt. Tears had started to silently fall down his cheeks.

"Papa?"

Kolvar wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm sorry you had to hear that, Ven. Don't worry. Why don't we go back to the house and pick the strawberries? We can make jam later."

"Ok."

Kolvar quietly picked up his son and placed him on his back. Normally he'd let him walk by himself but he didn't trust himself to keep an eye on him right now. Not with all these thoughts running through his mind.

The walk back home seemed like an eternity.

Riko was gone. Steele was gone. They would never be coming back. Perhaps that was for the best? After all, if that's how she truly felt living with two visually impaired dragons then perhaps it's good that she's gone...

… It still didn't stop the pain, however.

---

It's been almost a full year since she left him. The pain was still there but Kolvar had slowly been trying to erase all traces of her from his life.

His son, however, was more difficult to forget. On the one occasion that he was allowed to see Steele he had become dark and cold towards him and Venato. She had turned their son against them.

He didn't need to bother about them.

He had Venato to look after and that's all he needed. His little Ven was the sweetest youngling around and he wouldn't change that for the world - he'd protect his son with his life... and more!

Although, that didn't completely fill the hole in his heart.

He wanted someone to love like he loved her. He wanted to smother them in gifts and show them that he could become successful with his career. He wanted to make them the most exquisite jewellery they've ever seen.

He just didn't know where to start...

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