Chapter 20

From a Demi-God unto a Mortal

"No trouble," replied the dragon in a ghastly voice.

"Then where are we going?" asked Stefan, as politely as possible.

He looked to his left, where Molgoby was eyeing a whelp with a sideways glance. The tiny dragon screeched at him, flying annoyingly close to his head. The Tauren pushed the whelpling away with the back of his hand. It screeched again, spitting a tiny lick of blue flame at the Tauren. He lurched away in surprise, then growled.

One of the elder dragons laughed at the exchange before answer Stefan. "To our master, Human."

"M-M-Malygos? The B-Blue Dragon Asp-pect?" stuttered Geraldros.

"Nice one, Dwarf," congratulated Haydric.

"What does Malygos want with us?" inquired Iyana, her soothing, melodic voice seeming so out of place among the dry, barren winds.

"Nothing with you in particular, young Kal'dorei. Malygos is interested in your friend here," replied one of the dragons, turning its ancient gaze to Stefan. "He holds something that has caught our master's interest."

The key, thought Stefan. He looked over to Mae, and judging by her expression, he knew she was thinking the same.

---

The cavern was magnificient. As Stefan and the others passed under the tall ceiling of the cave's entrance, warmth wrapped around them like a cozy blanket. The ground was hard-packed snow, almost completely frozen. But no part of the icy-looking cavern shed a sliver of cold. The entire cave was bathed in a soothing heat wave. Statues of ice were everywhere; Trolls, Humans, Elves, all of the races were present. There were creatures, some distinctly familiar, and others that Stefan had never seen before. Mae stared around at the icy constructs like a child in a candy shop.

"A beautiful place," said Lyra, slurring her Common as she gazed around.

"We are walking in a temple of history, an epicenter of centuries passed," added Mae. "It's..."

"Magnificient?"

The voice could have come from the heavens itself. It emerged from ahead, bouncing off the walls to echo in the groups' ears several times. Stefan felt his knees buckle as the voice shook him to the core. Ancient wisdom oozed out of every syllable. Close by, Molgoby had to arrest Geraldros' fall as the Dwarf began to tip over.

"I'm sure that is the word you were searching for," spoke the voice once again. The darkness of the cavern was slowly chased away by an ambient light, and from the inky darkness, a dragon swam into view.

"Malygos," Stefan dropped to one knee, bowing his head slightly.  Upon realizing, the others followed suit.

The Blue Dragon Aspect sat idly atop a mound of treasures, running a claw through it like a pond of golden water. Statues, idols, tokens, and artifacts from all kinds of Azerothian culture lay side by side, the ethnical and geographical boundaries of their existence nullified within Malygos' own private collection.

"Stand, travelers. You do not have time to drop your jaws at me. I am an ancient, but I am no god," commanded Malygos.

"Do not have time? What for?" inquired Stefan.

"You know, Human. It is the reason you come to Coldarra in the first place. It is also the reason why you did not join all the others foolish enough to tread in my land without rhyme or reason. But you," said the dragon, pointing a claw at Stefan. "You have both."

"I do not follow," replied Stefan.

"Show it to me," said Malygos.

The bounty hunter was unsure. What would the dragon do? Would he take it for himself, and leave Stefan and the others to rot in the snow, or keep them here for eternity? There was no time for questions, only time to act. He pulled the pouch forth, and withdrew the Nerubian artifact. It glowed an icy blue in the strange light of the cavern.

Malygos nodded. "As always, Nozdormu believes."

"What?"

"Do not worry yourself, Human. You need only understand this: you have been selected out of sheer luck to take this key, and unlock an ancient secret. Upon doing so, your goal will become apparent," said Malygos, slumping his back in a lazy position.

Silence ensued. Stefan waited patiently for more.

"Is that all?"

The dragon looked annoyed. "Is it not enough? The gods themselves, through their messengers the Dragon Aspects, have chosen you as the bearer of important events to come. Resume your journey. Head east from my lair, until you find the Nerubian tunnel. From there, the path is clear. Now go."

Stefan turned on heel and walked off. Cautiously, almost dumbfounded, the others followed. Fineus scuttled up next to Stefan and began to talk in a low voice.

"Them dragons are awful rude."

"Tell me about it," replied Stefan.