How to Train Your Vaelok: A Splinterlands Story

Hello Splinterlands warriors. My blog this time is an entry to @takeru255 contest. It's about Vaelok the Drakoshan.

This story continues @henruc story from round three.

After their chance encounter, Buns the Unseen (@bunsbagsandcaps) joined the group in their quest to find the warrior Culebro.

"It's getting late, and monsters are abound. We should rest and make camp," Jolius (@iblast) said while finger-combing his luxurious hair. He glanced around the darkening forest, making sure not a single strand was out of place.

"Indeed," Buns agreed as he spit on his glasses and wiped them with the hem of his cloak. "I see a campfire in yonder grove. Perhaps the travelers there will be kind enough to share their fire."

The group made their way toward the flickering light. As they approached, a male voice called out from the darkness.

"Hola, travelers! Who goes there?"

"We are weary adventurers on a quest. May we share your fire for the night? We can share our food in return," Jolius replied, while casually removing a few stray leaves from his hair.

"My name is Shiftrox Treehugger, and this is my grove. Welcome to my campfire," the voice answered.

The group stepped into the clearing and found several other travelers already gathered around the flames. There they sat near the fire, and roasted meat on a stick. One of travelers looked at them curiously.

"Are you adventurers?" she asked.

"The finest adventurers you'll ever meet," Jolius replied with a confident grin.

Ember rolled her eyes. "We are still alive, at least."

Everyone laughed, and the tension of the dark forest seemed to disappear. The group huddled around the fire, sharing dinner, drinks and stories of their travels. Shiftrox told them how he tended to the grove, while the young girl listened to every tale, occasionally interrupting with questions.

"I love open-flame feasts!" said Ember while picking bits of meat from between her teeth. "Food just tastes better when cooked over a proper fire."

The Ember Roast Sows are a militia unit from the foothills of Mount Mox, originally made up of farmers who transformed their harvest festival dances into a unique martial art. Their farm tools became weapons, while their rhythmic movements evolved into strikes and agile combat techniques. Their humorous nickname, inspired by their porky origins and love of open-flame feasts, eventually became their official identity.

"Especially when someone else is doing the cooking," Jolius added.

Ember shot him a look. "You complain too much for someone who eats as much as you do."

Jolius laughed and leaned back.

After a few moments, Jolius suddenly turned toward Buns, who was furiously rubbing his long spear with oil.

"Speaking of dangerous creatures," Jolius said, "what have you heard about Culebro?"

Buns paused his rubbing, gasping for air and looked over the rim of his freshly cleaned glasses.

"Culebro?" he gasped, catching his breath. "I've heard a few things. Most of them sound like tavern gossip."

"That has never stopped you from repeating tavern gossip before," Ember remarked, now cleaning her tusks.

Buns ignored her.

"The latest rumor is that Culebro has been training a dragon."

The crowd gave a collective gasp.

"A dragon?" Jolius finally asked. "How do you train a dragon?"

Buns nodded. "Aye. And not just any dragon."

He leaned closer to the flames, lowering his voice.

"He's training Vaelok the Drakoshan."

A heavy silence fell over the grove.

The name seemed to carry a weight of its own. Even those who had never seen Vaelok had heard the stories.

"It's said to be an unholy offspring of lightning and death..." a traveler whispered a bit loudly.

"Wrong dragon!" Shiftrox interrupted.

Vaelok, born alongside his golden-scaled brother Aurendrak, grew bitter after living in his brother’s shadow and being overlooked by dragonkind. While Aurendrak sought to preserve history through Gold Infusion, Vaelok embraced decay, believing that everything; including kingdoms, heroes, and dragons is destined to disappear. He mastered forbidden Tarnish-Bleed magic, using corrosive runes and acid to destroy not only artifacts but the memories and legends connected to them. Now Vaelok seeks to erase legacy itself, making his conflict with Aurendrak a timeless battle between preservation and oblivion.

"According to the rumor, Culebro found it wounded and trapped in the secluded ravine known as the Cove. Instead of killing it, he nursed it back to health. Since then, the two have been seen traveling together."

"Why didn't he kill it?" Ember asked and began to hiccup.

"Perhaps because Vaelok looked as frightened as Culebro was. He looked at the dragon...and saw himself." Jolius replied.

To be continued.