Khuzdar

Near the heart of castle Perdiciun, hid the imperial dragon known as Khuzdar. Her cruelty was known far and wide, which she knew and utterly delighted in. Today, her scheming had been interrupted by the thought of that dragon Blaesus. They had apparently met before, but it was so long ago, and he barely been worth anything of significance. And now he was back... Which was unheard of. Who were so stupid to think they could leave and enter Bloodsurge's domain at a whim?

Perhaps she should drop by him, give him a little heart attack to remind him of his place. She was a General, Blaesus' cute place within the Leachate did not grant him much privilege as he might believe. She snickered to herself, pushing away the rotting flesh and tendrils hiding her sacred resting place from the clan. His sulfur smell should be easy to seek...

---

Khuzdar carefully entered the laboratory, looking around. He could see the male imperial dragon talking with someone, not paying her attention yet. She noted his multiple eyes darting around, there was no sneaking up on him. Though he did have a lair, didn't he? She snickered, laying another plan to see him there.

---

Blaesus knew better than to lower his guard, despite his current chipper mood. Learning so freely about his element was not a luxury he had for a long time.
Walking to his lair, he kept keen senses on the dragons around him, their attitude, their intent. Who were hiding, who were nearby. Who simply sought rest or refuge, he could not hear Bloodsurge nearby. Good, he was almost there.

One might wonder how an imperial dragon could find hidden passages when they were so large. But most failed to consider how they were just giant tubes, in truth. Making sure no one was looking, Blaesus passed by his lair entrance a couple times. Then slid in a crevice in the wall, it hiding him as quick as he could enter. With a key to the door he had put there, Blaesus usually considered his lair a safe space. But not today.

As Blaesus opened the door, a dragon inside sat there waiting. Not hesitating to cast magic the moment the door was opened, Blaesus lost his breath as his organs suddenly decided to end their subscription all at once. The caster smiled, looking amused at her prey.
"You know how to take all day." She said tauntingly. Then with a contort of her claw, Blaesus felt himself take step into the room. His body was not obeying, not quite dying either. What powerful magic...

Khuzdar closed the door behind him, then slowly started circling him. "Nice hiding spot. Not hidden well enough, I'm afraid." She snarked. Looking at his reaction, Khuzdar could sense he was worried. But surprised he was keeping... cool, as well. If only she could read minds, but her torture usually got them speaking for her anyway.

She let a little go of her magic, Blaesus taking a quick breath. "You must really like me," He said smiling. "If you cared to find this place, dear!"
Khuzdar frowned, for a second letting go of her control. What insolence was this?! For sure he knew who she was!
The imperial snarled, she walking closer and glaring at his contorted face.

"You brat! I am General Khuzdar! The Red Witch, The Cancerous Mage! You would be wise to remember that name, and the visage it belongs to!" She barked, starting to squeeze her phantom claws around his beating heart. Interesting how it felt so... wretched to her. As if what she was doing was barely even touching it. What a repulsive sensation...

"And... I am Blaesus..." The imperial dragon replied, forcing a grin. "Perhaps... Ask me to... dinner first?!"
The pure crudeness of him caught her off guard again. He must have understood this from before, as she find herself just a little calmer. This should not be happening... Her magic was still dominting him, but for a rare turn, she was certain he had a grasp on her too. What magic though? This was not a spell, how was he casting it...

Blaesus took a deep breath, then gave her the most stupefying look he could muster. "I don't mean to display disrespect, but I would rather if you did not." He said, trying to hide his immense pain. Khuzdar wanted to inflict more pain, he certainly deserved such now. But found she for some reason didn't want to. There was never a time she didn't want to...

"You... Quit this foul play, or I will-,"
"Keep hurting me? I already said I don't want to." He replied. Khuzdar looked at him, quickly thinking. She wondering, if he could keep her like this. Could he hurt her too? Or perhaps keep this stalemate up? Surely he would give in first. But her logical mind was also telling her there were far more powerful mages out there. While this one could of course be weaker, the Plaguebringer would surely have given her strength to break free by now...

Khuzdar decided to let Blaesus go, for now. He tried to not break a hint of relief as his organs behaved normally-ish again, but this was probably the best way this scenario could have gone without a fight. Khuzdar eyed him carefully, the imperial herself trying to appear as composed as possible.

"Well then," She started. "Looks like they aren't letting in complete losers nowadays."
Blaesus smiled. "I am going to suppose that's high praise, coming from someone like you."
Khuzdar flared her teeth, her eyes a malicious red as she glared him down.
"You speak like you assume I will forget these words! Don't you know I can end you at all times?! Don't you know I can cause you a death so agonizing, you will beg of me to grant you death!?"

Blaesus looked at her and raised a brow. "Darling, is what you do all day is threaten your clanmates? I won't forbid you have hobbies, but surely there is more to be done with your time."
Khuzdar was seething. She would have him personally lowered in the acid pits and reduced to copper muck.
"Who do you think you are?! You are the most pathetic filth that has ever crossed my path! Your blood shall be savored, I shall have it rain over the altar of the Plaguebringer! Your bones shall be the foundation of Her throne, I shall build by my own claw, and..."

Blaesus carefully listened, nodding and giving another snarky reply. Only to be met by more anger and more insults, then more threats in the wake. How long could she keep this up, he wondered. As the bickering went on and she was not getting any closer to casting her spells again, Blaesus even wondered if Khuzdar just needed some conversation. Though he was more than content with just keeping her fury at bay for now.

She finally lost her temper, this time launching at him with claws instead. Blaesus was no good in a fight, but luckily, she wasn't much scarier either. The only difference was her much more eagerness for murder, which Blaesus had to focus intensely to weaken some more.
Khuzdar hated his face, his stupid words and dumb eyes. Every fiber of his being offended her, but something was so incredibly intriguing. Even as she dug her claws into his scales, his blood was driving her into a frenzy.

Hmm... No... This wasn't right. He wasn't right, and she knew it was making her not right too. A bad omen, cursed even. She didn't know what. But was not going to find out either...
Blaesus was about to wonder if he had to put in some desperation soon, when she finally got off, shaking so intensely her wings flared about. "You are disgusting!" She managed to blurt out, before squeezing into a crevice in the ceiling.

There was an entrance there too? Interesting, Blaesus thought to himself. But this Khuzdar, she was dangerous. And the entire encounter had been too close for comfort. Perhaps one of these days, he could end a day without facing mortal peril of some kind.