Deep within the cavern, where ancient magic still clung to the stones like dew, Veldora —in his humanoid form—was busy delivering dramatic kicks and punches into the air, narrating his own imaginary battle.
"Hah! Take that, foolish intruder! Feel the wrath of the Storm Dragon!" he shouted, launching a spinning kick that accidentally sent a chunk of rock flying into the cave wall.
"Oops. My bad."
Just as he was preparing a make-believe finishing move, a calm, almost lazy voice echoed from behind him.
"Still pretending you're fighting invisible enemies, I see."
Veldora stopped mid-motion, turned around with a smirk, and greeted the familiar figure with outstretched arms.
"Varvatos! My savior, my liberator, my eternally mysterious friend! Back so soon?"
Varvatos stepped into view, hands in his pockets, his expression as relaxed as always.
"It's only been a few hours, Veldora. Don't be so dramatic."
"Hours of FREEDOM," Veldora said, arms wide like he was welcoming the sun. "That seal was killing my social life. But more importantly..." He leaned in conspiratorially. "You went to the Barren Lands, didn't you? Saw him, didn't you?"
Varvatos tilted his head. "If by him you mean Draguel, yes."
"Oho!" Veldora's eyes lit up. "So? Was there an earth-shaking clash of titans? Did the skies weep? Mountains crumble? Magicules go boom?"
Varvatos chuckled. "None of that."
"Wha—what do you mean none? You're telling me you walked into Draguel's domain and didn't fight him? Not even a friendly slap or stare-down?!"
"We talked," Varvatos said plainly, sitting down on a flat stone. "He's… cautious. Smart enough to sense when not to fight."
Veldora blinked. "You? Talking? No dramatic entrances? No flexing your aura to make the big guy sweat a little?"
"I was polite."
Veldora stared at him, utterly betrayed. "You're no fun sometimes, you know that?"
Varvatos allowed himself a small grin. "Fun can wait. We had more important things to discuss. His history, his duty… he still guards the Heaven Tower. And he hasn't forgotten his brother Fenn."
Veldora flopped onto a nearby boulder. "Still can't believe you just talked. You're the guy who made the strongest Demon lord feel powerless and made the daughter of my brother the creator taste utter defeat."
"He was overdramatic."
"Says the man who freed me from a seal with a yawn and a finger tap."
Varvatos gave a small shrug. "You're welcome, by the way."
"Forever grateful," Veldora grinned. "Now what? You gonna go visit every big-shot in the world and not fight them?"
Varvatos stood, his cloak gently stirring though there was no wind.
"No. Next…" He gazed upward, as if seeing beyond the stone ceiling. "…I start building my kingdom."
Veldora raised an eyebrow. "Wait, seriously? You're finally doing it? Like, an actual kingdom?"
"One of order, strength, and balance. No thrones of blood. No false gods. Just a sanctuary for those who wish to live freely under my sky."
Veldora grinned wider. "Sounds poetic. And knowing you, it'll probably be terrifyingly powerful."
"That's the idea."
"Count me in when you need a dragon's flare," Veldora said with a toothy grin, cracking his knuckles. "As long as you let me name something. Like… 'Stormfang Citadel'! Ooh! Or 'Veldopolis'!"
Varvatos side-eyed him. "Absolutely not."
They both laughed, and for a moment, it felt like the world was still.
Then Varvatos continued,"I've seen the world's structures—the balance of powers, the flaws in the systems, the potentials buried under old laws. If I'm to reshape this world, I'll need more than strength. I'll need people. Allies. Subordinates. Builders. Teachers. Fighters. Dreamers."
Veldora's grin widened. "Heh! That sounds like the start of something fun."
Varvatos nodded. "It will be."
Then, turning slightly toward the Storm Dragon, he said, "Tell me, Veldora. About the intelligent monsters in the Jura Forest. Who are they? What tribes? Which ones have potential?"
Veldora stroked his chin, walking over to a makeshift stone bench, and plopped himself down. "Well… there's plenty of them. Goblins, lizardmen, ogres, orcs, treants… and a few more oddballs scattered about. Most of 'em are tribal or isolated, but if you brought them together under one banner…"
Varvatos's eyes sharpened with interest. "Then?"
"They could become the backbone of your kingdom," Veldora said with a smirk. "With the right leader, some protection, and a goal… monsters can evolve fast. Real fast."
Varvatos nodded slowly, his mind already planning. "Then that's where I'll begin."
"And if anyone gives you trouble…" Veldora flexed his arm. "They'll have to go through me too."
Varvatos chuckled. "Good to have you by my side, Veldora."
The two shared a look. The kind that spoke of future adventures, grand battles, and a kingdom yet to be born.
The morning was quiet. A cool breeze rolled over the vast canopy of the Jura Forest, rustling leaves like waves whispering secrets to each other. Birds chirped in distant harmony, and faint traces of magic lingered in the air—soft but primal, wild and untamed.
Varvatos stepped through a veil of golden light that shimmered into existence just beyond the cave's mouth. His long coat fluttered slightly behind him as he stepped onto the forest floor, eyes half-lidded in thought.
Behind him, in a burst of wind and lightning, came Veldora in his humanoid form—relaxed, arms folded behind his head.
"Smell that?" Veldora grinned. "That's the scent of freedom. Ah, I've missed this forest."
Varvatos glanced at him. "I doubt the forest missed you."
"Hey!" Veldora laughed. "I'll have you know I was a legend here!"
"You destroyed half of it."
"Details."
Varvatos smirked and turned his gaze to the forest beyond. "Let's begin."
They started walking, not flying. Varvatos insisted on it. "If I'm going to build a kingdom here, I need to feel the land. The terrain. The heartbeat of the people."
"You and your poetic ideals," Veldora muttered, kicking a rock. "Flying's faster."
They passed through thick woods, twisted trees, and shallow streams. Varvatos occasionally stopped to touch the bark of a tree, or observe faint traces of magic lingering in the soil.
Veldora eventually broke the silence. "So, what exactly are you looking for?"
"Potential," Varvatos answered. "Not just strength. Intelligence. Loyalty. Those who are more than what they seem."
"Hm… then I think I know where we should go first." Veldora grinned. "There's a goblin village not far from here. Weak, maybe, but their elder is clever. And goblins evolve fast under the right conditions."
Varvatos nodded. "Lead the way."
It was nearing dusk when they finally approached the outskirts of a tiny goblin village nestled beneath a cliffside and encircled by thick trees. The huts were crude—made of wood and dried grass—but there was a strange resilience to the place. Smoke curled from a few cooking fires. Goblin sentries—scrawny and armed with old sticks—spotted them and immediately froze in place.
Two towering figures walking into their village, one glowing with a calm, otherworldly pressure and the other smirking with the energy of a barely-contained thunderstorm—it was enough to send most goblins stumbling over their own feet.
"Wh-what do we do?!" one cried.
"G-get the elder!"
Varvatos raised a hand and spoke gently. "We come in peace. Call your leader. We'd like to talk."
Veldora snorted. "You're too soft."
"You're too dramatic."
Moments later, an elderly goblin, hunched and leaning on a staff, approached with a nervous but respectful bow. "I am Rigur, elder of this village. May I ask who stands before us?"
"I am Varvatos," he answered calmly. "And this is Veldora."
The elder froze. "V-Veldora… the Storm Dragon?!"
"In the flesh," Veldora said with a wink.
The goblins collectively gasped and dropped to their knees, trembling.
Varvatos stepped forward. "I seek to build a kingdom. One where monsters may live in peace, evolve, and thrive under a greater order. I need workers, builders, hunters… and those willing to grow."
The goblin Elder eyes widened. "You would accept us?"
"You have land. Numbers. Loyalty. That's a good foundation. With my blessing, you could become much more."
The elder hesitated, then turned to his people. "We've always lived in fear… of humans, of other monsters, of dragons and demons. But perhaps…"
He turned back to Varvatos and kneeled. "Then we shall follow you."
Varvatos smiled faintly. "Good. We'll begin preparing tomorrow."
Veldora nudged him. "And just like that, you've recruited your first village. Not bad."
A fire crackled softly in the center of the goblin village as goblins sat around, cautiously relaxed, casting curious glances at their new guests.
Varvatos and Veldora sat a bit apart, watching the flickering flames.
"These goblins are… small," Veldora noted. "You sure this'll work?"
"Small, but full of potential," Varvatos said. "We all start somewhere. The key is knowing who's worth investing in."