The dragon's harem

Thud! Thud! The mage walked across the forest following his crows, "Where did he go?" He mumbled, searching for Arad.

"This mage doesn't know when to stop, does he?" Abel said with a smile, standing beside Jack.

"Shut up for a moment. I don't buy it," Jack looked around them, "His movements aren't random. He's following something."

"You can tell?" Abel stared at Jack.

"Of course, he won't be changing direction randomly. He even lept over a small hill. If he is searching randomly, he would have walked around it," Jack replied, pointing back at the hill behind them.

Abel nodded, "If that makes sense to you,"

"He's moving away from Arad for now. Let's keep following him," Jack replied with a sigh, standing behind a large tree and glaring at the mage from afar.

After a few minutes, the mage started slowing as if he was approaching his destination, "Pull your weapons. He might stop to rest," Jack said, pulling his dagger, "We will strike when least expect it,"

Abel pulled his two swords and walked behind Jack, everyone now and then glaring behind.

"Someone behind us?" Jack asked, looking at the worried Abel.

"No, It's weird that no one is chasing us. Considering how he was guarded before, it's strange." Abel said with a worried face.

The mage stopped, glaring back with a smile, "The two rats following me, care to show yourselves?" He said with a smile, pointing his wand at the trees.

Jack walked from the trees, smiling, "So we're busted?" Thud! He pointed a hand crossbow at the mage, "It doesn't matter. You die here,"

From behind Jack, Abel walked out in Arad's form, "You were looking for me?" He said with a grin.

The mage paused for a moment, confused. ^The crows saw a while-haired rogue and a blond man. Arad wasn't with them. This one is the blond man using some illusion magic. But I can't tell what kind,^

"Saved me half the trouble of finding you," The mage smiled, playing along.

Jack glared back at Abel, screaming inside. ^What are you doing? Idiot?^

Abel smiled, looking at Jack and the mage. ^Let's see what information we can extract from this mage.^ He thought of pretending to be Arad and making the mage speak.

The mage opened his arms, "What is it? Why are you silent?"

Abel glared at the mage, "I don't like people coming after me like. Care to explain yourself?" He smiled, "I might even let you live if you managed to impress me,"

Jack gave up, Abel played his cards, and he had to dance in his plane, "Heard the boss, prepare to die,"

"Come on, come on. Why the hurry? I didn't come here to hurt you. Just ask for help in a secret matter," The mage smiled, "Are you interested in at least listening to me?"

Jack could smell the problem. This could be something that Arad won't like to have someone like Abel listen to. ^What should I do? Stab Abel and run away?^

"I'm interested, speak," Abel growled, pointing his swords at the mage.

The mage lifted his hands, "This isn't a place suitable for such a topic. I can teleport us to a more private location," He suggested.

Jack glared at Abel, ^This is clearly a trap, don't take his offer^

"Are you messing with me? Speak right here and now!" Abel growled, shouting at the mage.

The mage sighed, "Damn it," He waved his hands, "Well, fine, let's speak here," He waved his wand, creating a large table and three chairs. He then sat on one calling for Abel and Jack, "Come, take a seat."

"Speak!" Abel shouted.

"Dracorage Mythics, ever heard of it?" The mage said with a menacing smile.

"Jebrish," Abel replied with a single word, causing Jack to clench his fist, wishing he could punch him. "But you aren't lying. Speak," Abel growled, glaring at the mage.

The mage stared at Abel. ^I knew it, lie-detecting magic. That man is an idiot, but he's skilled.^ He then inspected Abel's body, ^Illusion magic, holy magic, lightning magic, and a curse. What kind of stupid magical monstrosity is this man? If my guess is right. He could behead me before I get a chance to cast any spells.^

The mage clenched his teeth, ^I have to speak the truth until I'm ready to strike,^

The mage cast a silent spell, hiding it below the table. A green root pierced the grown, slowly making its way toward Abel.

"Why are you silent? Speak!" Abel shouted.

"Dracorage Mythics is an ancient curse cast by a long-dead over deity called AO. We don't know where he came from, but that curse is a testament to his evil," The mage started talking.

"Keep going!" Abel shouted. Till this point, the mage hasn't lied. But Abel wasn't stupid. This was what the mage believe is right. There is the possibility he had convinced himself with magic.

"AO cast the curse on a meteor several thousand years ago. When the celestial body passes by our land, all dragons shall fall into a murderous rage. Ripping, burning, killing, and destroying all in their wake." The mage smiled.

Abel glared at the mage. ^His story sounds stupid. But he isn't lying. Damn it, I should have studied more in the church.^ Abel growled inside. But soon cleared his head. ^No, someone like me can't stay that long in churches anyway.^

"I still don't see how that is any of my business?" Abel growled.

"Dragons will kill everyone, including their own. I believe that includes you, sir Arad." The mage smiled, "Three years till the meteor show up and ends the world. But, there is still hope." The mage pointed at Abel, "Void dragons!"

"The fuck are you talking about?" Abel growled, and Jack stepped forward, "Forget it, let's kill him," He pointed his dagger at the mage.

"The void dragons have picked up on their curse long ago. For several decades now, their bodies have naturally adapted a survival strategy." The mage stood, waving his hands.

"The void dragons started repelling each other. So they won't murder their kind in the inevitable rage. That connection between them and the meteor is priceless. And might be the world's only hope for survival." The mage pointed at Abel.

"The mage tower is seeking to learn more of that. And then use it to deflect the meteor away with a great spell." As the mage spoke, the root finally caught Abel by the ankle.

"GWA!" Abel screamed as his body got flung away, smacking into a tree. BAM! "You bastard!" Jack rushed toward the mage, "I will cut your lying throat!"

"Do you think a mere rogue can stop me?" The mage smiled, pointing his staff at Jack.

BAM! Another root emerged from before the mage, rushing at Jack at an incredible speed.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Jack jumped on the root, running on it toward the mage.

"You nimble bastard!" The mage growled, pointing his wand at Jack, [Magic missile] Several orbs of light flew toward Jack, followed by another two roots.

Jack pulled a smoke bomb from his pocket, throwing it toward the mage. He then dodged the missiles, running on the other two roots.

The mage growled, feeling that his spell missed.

CRACKLE! CLAP! Abel morphed back into his human form, blitzing at the mage engulfed in a lightning bolt [Lightning slash]. He severed the mage's right arm with a sword strike.

BAM! Jack jumped over the mage, landing behind him and swinging his dagger. STAB! He managed to stab the mage's back. "Your lies end here," Jack growled.

BLuh! The mage puked blood, glaring at the sky as he fell on his back, "Damn it fucker! We could have ended this quickly if not for your empty bullshit!"

Jack glared at the mage, "Your journey ends here," He smiled, "I will help myself to any gold you're carrying, but don't worry, I will bury you at least,"

The mage smiled, "We mages want to deflect it, the dragons want to destroy it, and the elves want to dispel the curse," The mage mumbled, "My mission failed..." He growled, "But I warn you. The dragons and the elves are foolish. Seek us in the tower if you wish to help save the world..."

the mage's body started glowing faint blue, disintegrating into a silvery mist.

"You bastard! What did you do?" Abel growled.

"Don't tell me, a trap?" Jack jumped away, hiding behind a tree.

The mage's body silently disappeared, leaving Jack and Abel with more questions than what they started with.

"What is he babbling about?" Abel growled, kicking the dirt where the mage lay.

"He was lying to buy time," Jack replied.

"He wasn't lying. I have magic for that," Abel said, staring at Jack.

"He must have used magic, or at least someone did to make sure he doesn't spill anything.

"You might be right," Abel scratched his head,