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vipinmishra · 8 days

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Growth Prospects: Research and Development Activities in India Crop Protection Chemicals Market

Growth in research and development activities is expected to drive the India Crop Protection Chemicals Market growth in the forecast period, 2026-2030.

According to TechSci Research report, “India Crop Protection Chemicals Market- By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2020-2030”, the India Crop Protection Chemicals Market has reached reach USD 1.89 billion by 2024 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 4.65% through 2030.

Initiatives taken by government based on crop protection chemicals has led to favorable market conditions for the India Crop Protection Chemicals Market. Several factors contribute to the growth of various crop protection chemicals products.

The government has adopted IPM (Integrated Pest Management) as the cardinal principle for plant protection in overall crop production. IPM entails the careful consideration and integration of all available pest control techniques, including biological, cultural, and chemical methods, to effectively manage pest populations. By employing a holistic approach, IPM aims to reduce reliance on pesticides and other interventions, while minimizing risks to human health and the environment.

In addition to adopting IPM, the government has been actively providing comprehensive training and education programs to farmers. These initiatives focus on promoting the proper and responsible use of pesticides and other crop protection chemicals. Through these training programs, farmers gain valuable knowledge and skills on pesticide application techniques, dosage calculation, and safety measures. By equipping farmers with the necessary expertise, the government ensures that these chemicals are used effectively and responsibly, thus minimizing their potential impact on the environment and human health.

One of the key drivers of growth in India's agrochemical sector is the strategic implementation of backward integration in production processes. This approach involves meticulous control over all aspects of the production cycle, including the careful sourcing of raw materials and the meticulous manufacture of the final product. By embracing backward integration, companies can effectively reduce their reliance on external suppliers, leading to improved operational efficiency and an elevated standard of product quality. This comprehensive approach enables companies to have a greater degree of control over the entire production process, ensuring a seamless and efficient flow from start to finish.

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The India Crop Protection Chemicals Market is segmented into type, mode of application, regional distribution, and company.

Based on the category of type, the herbicides segment emerged as the fastest-growing category based on type. This growth can be attributed to several factors driving the demand for herbicides in agricultural practices across India. The increasing adoption of modern farming techniques, including mechanization and precision agriculture, has led to a rise in the use of herbicides to control weeds effectively. Herbicides play a crucial role in weed management, ensuring optimal crop growth and yield. The expansion of commercial farming activities, especially in cash crops such as cotton, soybean, and rice, has boosted the demand for herbicides to control weed infestations efficiently.

Moreover, advancements in herbicide formulations, including the development of selective and environmentally friendly products, have further propelled the growth of the herbicides segment in the India Crop Protection Chemicals Market.

Based on its mode of application, the India Crop Protection Chemicals Market, the Seed Treatment segment emerged as the fastest-growing category based on its mode of application. This growth can be attributed to several factors driving the demand for seed treatment chemicals in agricultural practices across India. Seed treatment offers an effective and convenient method for protecting seeds against pests, diseases, and other pathogens.

With the increasing awareness about the importance of seed health and quality, farmers are adopting seed treatment as a preventive measure to ensure better germination rates and crop establishment. The expansion of commercial farming activities and the adoption of high-yielding crop varieties have fueled the demand for seed treatment chemicals. These chemicals help farmers achieve better crop stand, uniform emergence, and ultimately, higher yields.

Moreover, advancements in seed treatment formulations, including the development of novel active ingredients and innovative application technologies, have further accelerated the growth of the Seed Treatment segment in the India Crop Protection Chemicals Market.

Major companies operating in India Crop Protection Chemicals Market are:

BASF India Ltd.

Dow Chemical India Pvt. Ltd.

E.I. du Pont India Pvt. Ltd.

Syngenta India Ltd.

Bayer Cropscience Ltd.

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“The India Crop Protection Chemicals Market has experienced robust growth driven by several key factors. With agriculture being a cornerstone of India's economy, the demand for crop protection chemicals continues to surge. Factors such as the need to increase agricultural productivity, combat pests and diseases, and ensure food security have propelled the market forward. Additionally, the adoption of modern farming practices, including the use of genetically modified crops and high-yield varieties, has led to an increased requirement for crop protection chemicals to safeguard these investments.

Moreover, rising awareness among farmers about the benefits of crop protection chemicals in enhancing crop yields and quality has further boosted market growth. With ongoing technological advancements and innovations in chemical formulations, coupled with supportive government policies, the India Crop Protection Chemicals Market is poised for continued expansion in the coming years,” said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director, TechSci Research, a research-based management consulting firm.

“India Crop Protection Chemicals Market By Type (Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, Plant Growth Regulators, Others), By Mode of Application (Foliar Spray, Seed Treatment, Soil Treatment, Others), By Region, By Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2020-2030F”, has evaluated the future growth potential of India Crop Protection Chemicals Market and provides statistics & information on market size, structure, and future market growth. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges, and opportunities in India Crop Protection Chemicals Market.

Browse Related Research

India Agricultural Commodities Market https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-agricultural-commodities-market/4906.html India Organic Farming Market https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-organic-farming-market/4926.html India Agricultural Micronutrients Market https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-agricultural-micronutrients-market/7776.html

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#India Crop Protection Chemicals Market #India Crop Protection Chemicals Market Size #India Crop Protection Chemicals Market Share #India Crop Protection Chemicals Market Trends #India Crop Protection Chemicals Market Growth

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ananya5400 · 4 months

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The global crop protection chemicals market is forecasted to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1%, leading it to expand from $63.7 billion in 2020 to $74.1 billion by 2025.

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pravalika · 11 months

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Weed Control Market - Forecast (2023 - 2028)

View More @ https://tinyurl.com/57p9bp26

As per the report by The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the global human population is anticipated to increase to 9 billion by 2050, which in turn will increase the demand for food consumption by 50%. The main objective of the government and associated organizations is to increase the agriculture yield without increasing the global agricultural land and also without adverse environmental impacts. This process can only be achieved with weed management strategies and continuous innovations in the field. The emerging global challenges such as climate change, food security, environmental degradation, the evolution of resistance to herbicides, and escalating rates of plant invasion are influencing the weed control market. Moreover, NCBI suggested that weed problems are only going to rise in the coming years and will be becoming more inflexible barrier in efforts towards the sustainable intensification.[1] These challenges provide the opportunities for adoption of weed control which had a market size of $28.2 billion as of 2018. Furthermore, the demand for weed control will witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025.

#weed control market #weed control market size #weed control market shape #weed control market forecast #weed control market analysis #weed control market report #weed control market research #weed control market price #weed control market share #weed control #chemical herbicides #crop protection #crops

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chemicalsnews · 1 year

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Crop Protection Chemicals Market to Witness Excellent Revenue Growth

The key objective of the TMR report is to offer a complete assessment of the global market including major leading stakeholders of the Crop Protection Chemicals industry. The current and historical status of the market together with forecasted market size and trends are demonstrated in the assessment in simple manner. In addition, the report delivers data on the volume, share, revenue, production, and sales in the market.

The report by TMR is the end-product of a study performed using different methodologies including the PESTEL, PORTER, and SWOT analysis. The study with the help of these models shed light on the key financial considerations that players in the Crop Protection Chemicals market need to focus on identifying competition and formulate their marketing strategies for both consumer and industrial markets. The report leverages a wide spectrum of research methods including surveys, interviews, and social media listening to analyze consumer behaviors in its entirety.

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Crop Protection Chemicals Market: Industry Trends and Value Chain

The study on the Crop Protection Chemicals market presents a granular assessment of the macroeconomic and microeconomic factors that have shaped the industry dynamics. An in-depth focus on industry value chain help companies find out effective and pertinent trends that define customer value creation in the market. The analysis presents a data-driven and industry-validated frameworks for understanding the role of government regulations and financial and monetary policies. The analysts offer a deep-dive into the how these factors will shape the value delivery network for companies and firms operating in the market.

Crop Protection Chemicals Market: Branding Strategies and Competitive Strategies

Some of the key questions scrutinized in the study are:

What are some of the recent brand building activities of key players undertaken to create customer value in the Crop Protection Chemicals market?

Which companies are expanding litany of products with the aim to diversify product portfolio?

Which companies have drifted away from their core competencies and how have those impacted the strategic landscape of the Crop Protection Chemicals market?

Which companies have expanded their horizons by engaging in long-term societal considerations?

Which firms have bucked the pandemic trend and what frameworks they adopted to stay resilient?

What are the marketing programs for some of the recent product launches?

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The list of key players operating in the Crop Protection Chemicals market includes following names:

Akzo Nobel N.V., PPG Industries, Inc., Asian Paints Limited, The Valspar Corporation, and Berger Paints India Limited.

Crop Protection Chemicals Market: Assessment of Avenues and Revenue Potential in Key Geographies

Some of the key aspects that the study analyzes and sheds light are:

Which regions are witnessing rise in investments in the supply chain networks?

Which countries seems to have benefitted from recent import and export policies?

Which regions have witnessed decline in consumer demand due to economic and political upheavals?

Which are some the key geographies that are likely to emerge as lucrative markets?

Which regions are expected to lose shares due to pricing pressures?

Which regions leading players are expected to expand their footprints in the near future?

What are some the sustainability trends impacting the logistics and supply chain dynamics in the Crop Protection Chemicals market?

What are some of the demographic and economic environments that create new demand in developing economies?

#Crop Protection Chemicals Market #Crop Protection Chemicals Market Size #Crop Protection Chemicals Market Share #Crop Protection Chemicals Market Growth #Crop Protection Chemicals Market Analysis #Crop Protection Chemicals Market Trends

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markettrend24 · 2 years

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Crop Protection Chemicals Market 2022 Global Industry Extensive Competitive Landscape on Size, Volume, Trends, Share and Revenue| Regional Forecast By 2028

This report studies the Crop Protection Chemicals Market with many aspects of the industry like the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Crop Protection Chemicals Market analysis segmented by companies, region, type and applications in…

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#Covid-19 Impact Analysis #Crop Protection Chemicals #Crop Protection Chemicals forecast #Crop Protection Chemicals Industry #Crop Protection Chemicals Market #Crop Protection Chemicals price #Crop Protection Chemicals report #Crop Protection Chemicals research #Crop Protection Chemicals share #Crop Protection Chemicals trends

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mi-researchreports · 2 years

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African Crop Protection Chemicals Market is poised to grow at CAGR of 4.2 % by 2027. Factors driving African Crop Protection Chemicals Market are growing population, a decrease in arable land, and a rise in food security.

#african crop protection chemicals market #african crop protection chemicals market size #african crop protection chemicals market share #african crop protection chemicals industry #african crop protection chemicals market trends

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growingstories · 11 months

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Farming

High-rolling lawyer James Christophers is a name partner in a prestigious firm, specializing in liability cases for pharmaceutical clients. He is known for his handsome, muscular appearance and confident attitude. Despite his tight schedule, which includes early morning workouts and back-to meetings-back, James enjoys the city and life his spends weekends at bars gay, always with a new boyfriend in town.

Recently, James inherited a vast farm in the middle of nowhere in Northeast Ohio from his late uncle. As he was married to his mother's sister and childless, James is the sole heir. Although James flies to the farm in the company jet during weekends, he finds the intensity of combining the farm and his city life overwhelming.

It is during one of these visits that he meets Jackson, his neighbors' 20-year-old son. Jackson, who prefers to be called Jackie, reveals that he is on the brink of losing his wrestling scholarship if he doesn't win his next match.

In a surprising turn of events, James proposes a deal to Jackie. If Jackie loses the match, James will pay for his last year of tuition In return, Jackie agrees to work on the farm during his free time while attending school. Unfortunately, Jackie loses the match and immediately starts working on the farm. The initial weeks prove to be challenging as he tackles manual tasks such as harvesting and yard work, providing enough physical exercise to maintain his muscular physique. As the holidays approach and there is less work to do on the farm, Jackie realizes he has gained weight due to his continued wrestling diet.

In the spring, James visits the farm and unveils his plan for a flourishing agricultural business. He introduces a new fertilizer for wheat and corn, promising faster growth and larger yields. Although it is not yet available on the market, James decides to conduct a trial season. The whole village becomes interested, and James offers to share the results after the next harvest.

Even though there is a lot of hard labour Jackie keeps eating like he did as a wrestler, during the summer, Jackie continues to gain weight, reaching a staggering 260 pounds.

Also James sees his weight climbing. Despite the weight gain, the crops thrive, and James seizes the opportunity to sell his shares in the law firm and invest the money in expanding his farming business. The town becomes dependent on James for their seed supply, and he even keeps some wheat for the local bakery and corn for his own livestock.

Eventually, Jackie graduates and secures a job at a real estate company out of state. This leaves James in need of a solution the to farm work. He finds Danny, the son of a local baker.

Though Danny lacks ambition, he possesses a strong work ethic. Unfortunately, working alongside this young man becomes detrimental to James' fitness goals, as he gains weight due to the delicious goods from Danny's mom she prepares everyday for them.

Desperate to lose weight, James spends two months at a fitness resort. Upon his return, he successfully sheds the excess fat and gains some muscle, resulting in a weight of 205 pounds.

However, he quickly gains weight yet again after consuming too many pastries from the bakery, reaching 237 pounds. Concerned the about rapid weight gain, James reaches out to his previous clients for the trial reports, only to discover that the hormones in the seed additives cause an increase in appetite and muscle growth, as well as the faster storage of fat in humans and animals.

Faced with this startling revelation, James contemplates his options. After studying the fine prints he realizes that he is legally protected and not liable for the consequences of the seed additives. Unsure whether to inform the baker or Danny's mother, James decides to continue with the next season, planning to visit a fitness resort as soon as the seeds are planted. However, amid the increasing demands of his growing business and the rapid weight gain of his animals, he struggles to find a solution for his own weight.

Frustrated, James strikes a deal with Danny. In exchange for not revealing James' secret of not eating, to his mother, he pays Danny a bit more. Danny agrees to eats both his and James’ food his mother baked. Weeks and months pass, and James remains unable to lose the weight. Without the motivation of his previous lifestyle, he is less concerned about his appearance.

Meanwhile, Danny's newfound popularity because of his new size leads him to overeat even more from his mothers goods.

After a year, Danny has gained an astonishing 220 pounds of pure fat, reveling in his newfound sense of power and masculinity. In town, he becomes popular among girls who appreciate his larger frame. However, the consequences of his actions, as well as his increasing weight, continue to unfold.

#fictionalweightgain #maleweightgain #maleweightgainstories #weightgain #weightgainstories #fictionalstories

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treethymes · 4 months

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“In his study of [the international coffee] market, scholar Joseph Nevins finds that the big changes occurring between the mid-1970s and the mid-1990s are related to the “longer-term struggle over the distribution of income related to the crop.” In the early part of this period, growers pulled in an average of around 20 cents for every dollar of coffee revenue. They were aided by an agreement called the International Coffee Accord (ICA) of 1962, which acted as a sort of cartel plan, constraining and arranging supply. In the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Kennedy administration supported the ICA and its concessions to Third World workers as a Cold War tool to head off communist onshoring in the Western Hemisphere. But as the U.S. strategy changed, the country and its free-market Latin American proxies abandoned the ICA in 1989. The results were quick: By the mid-1990s, the grower share was down from 20 to 13 percent. Roasters, traders, and retailers in the drinking countries improved their share from 54 to 78 percent. That big, fast shift was partly thanks to repressed grower wages, partly thanks to repressed domestic service wages in the West, partly thanks to consolidation in the industry, and partly thanks to new high-priced coffee drinks. Starbucks went public in 1992, and if it seemed to be growing like a tech company in the ’90s, that’s because both thrived on the same social changes.

“Worsening conditions for workers in Mexico and in the rest of the Americas pushed people north, rapidly increasing the undocumented immigrant population in the United States. The Bracero program was over, but the jobs still needed doing. Caught in between employers who were hiring migrants and nationalist restrictionists, the Reagan administration legalized a few million undocumented workers while increasing border enforcement. Even though the vast majority of narcotics came into the country via legal ports of entry, conservatives and liberals alike framed border enforcement as a central front in the war on drugs. Increasing the costs of crossing couldn’t stanch the increase of people—they were responding to larger factors: Out-migration from Mexico’s coffee-producing areas increased after the dissolution of the ICA, for example. This tendency intensified after the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect in 1994, pushing Mexico further toward cheap manufacturing exports and cheap imported American corn.

“The glut of cheap labor and commodities in this period undermined labor protections in the center as well as on the periphery, and the United States lost union jobs at a rapid clip. Reagan undermined the bulwark of government jobs by bringing Boulwarism to the White House. His signature incident occurred in his first year, when he fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers and decertified their union. To the press, the president quoted an air traffic controller who quit the union and reported to work as ordered: “How can I ask my kids to obey the law if I don’t?” Once again, questions of individual criminality put the Reaganites on firm ground. Organized labor took to rearguard action, holding on to its institutions by agreeing to two-tiered contracts that reduced benefits and protections for new or future members. Capital shook off the midcentury labor agreement like a bad habit, reducing its accountability to its own workers the way it previously reduced accountability to the broader communities. The second part didn’t require as many votes.”

Malcolm Harris, Palo Alto

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crop-protection-market · 2 months

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Market Challenges and Future Outlook for Crop Protection

The crop protection industry faces a myriad of challenges ranging from regulatory pressures to environmental concerns. In this blog, we will explore the key challenges confronting the crop protection market and discuss the future outlook for the industry.

Challenges:

Regulatory Hurdles: Regulatory requirements for crop protection products are becoming increasingly stringent, posing challenges for manufacturers seeking to bring new formulations to market. Stringent testing procedures, lengthy approval processes, and evolving regulatory standards contribute to delays in product registration and market entry, hindering innovation and product development efforts.

Pesticide Resistance: Pesticide resistance is a significant challenge facing the crop protection industry, with pests and pathogens developing resistance to commonly used chemicals. Prolonged use of chemical pesticides without proper rotation or integrated pest management (IPM) strategies can accelerate the development of resistance, rendering existing control methods ineffective and necessitating the development of new, more potent formulations.

Environmental Concerns: Environmental sustainability is a growing concern for the crop protection industry, with increasing scrutiny on the impact of pesticides on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Pesticide runoff, soil contamination, and non-target effects on beneficial organisms pose risks to biodiversity and ecosystem health, leading to calls for stricter regulations and safer, more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Public Perception: Public perception of crop protection products and their potential risks to human health and the environment can influence consumer behavior, regulatory decisions, and industry practices. Negative media coverage, public awareness campaigns, and advocacy efforts by environmental and consumer groups can shape public opinion and drive demand for safer, more sustainable alternatives to conventional pesticides.

Click Here – To Know More about Crop Protection Market

Future Outlook:

Innovation and Technology Adoption: Despite the challenges, the future outlook for the crop protection industry remains promising, driven by ongoing innovation and technology adoption. Advances in biotechnology, digitalization, and precision agriculture are revolutionizing crop protection practices, enabling more sustainable, targeted, and effective pest and disease control strategies.

Biological Solutions: Biological crop protection products derived from natural sources such as microbes, plant extracts, and beneficial insects are expected to play an increasingly important role in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Biologicals offer sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides, with lower environmental impact, reduced risks of resistance, and compatibility with organic farming practices.

Digital Tools and Precision Agriculture: Digital technologies such as drones, sensors, and data analytics are transforming crop protection practices, enabling farmers to monitor crops in real-time, optimize pesticide applications, and target pest infestations more accurately. Precision agriculture techniques help reduce input costs, minimize environmental impact, and improve overall farm productivity.

Regulatory Landscape: The regulatory landscape for crop protection products is likely to evolve in response to growing concerns about environmental sustainability and pesticide safety. Regulatory agencies may impose stricter standards for product registration, require additional testing for environmental safety, and promote the adoption of safer, more sustainable alternatives to conventional pesticides.

Conclusion:

The Crop Protection Industry faces numerous challenges, from regulatory hurdles to environmental concerns, but the future outlook remains positive. By embracing innovation, adopting sustainable practices, and addressing public concerns, the industry can overcome these challenges and continue to play a vital role in ensuring global food security, environmental sustainability, and agricultural prosperity. Collaboration among industry stakeholders, regulatory authorities, and research institutions will be essential for navigating the evolving landscape and unlocking new opportunities for growth and advancement in the crop protection sector.

#Crop Protection Market #Crop Protection Industry #Crop Protection Market Share #Crop Protection Market Size #Crop Protection Report #Global Crop Protection Chemicals Market #Crop Protection Market Emerging Players #Crop Protection Market Growth #Crop Protection Market Major Players #Crop Protection Market Opportunities #Crop Protection Market Trends #Crop Protection Market Research Reports #Crop Protection Industry Research Reports

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watcher-with-burned-wings · 7 months

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Bad Thoughts Give Me Bad Dreams

(Dragon Scott au with flower ranchers)

Many years ago, dragons, humans, and hybrids lived in peace. The humans had land and farms, and the dragons had mountains and skies. The hybrids were free to pass through either domain. That was until dragons discovered magic. When the humans found out, they got increasingly jealous. Soon the humans convinced the hybrids that the dragons were too powerful. The hybrids and humans attacked the unsuspecting dragons, wiping out many of them. The remaining dragons refused to fight and turned to hide. The dragons disappeared without a trace. No one knew where they fled as they did not return to the mountains. Even after all these years, many humans were still set on hunting them down.

Somewhere in the sea on the coast, is a cave. Deep within this underwater cave, leads to a hidden civilization. Once a lush cave had grown into a sanctuary for the remaining of the fallen race. The walls shifted from stone alto diorite to calcite. Glow from berries glimmered in the amethyst clusters dotted around the cave. Vines hung from ledge to ledge, from stalactite to stalagmites, and decorated nests. Moss and azaleas were used as bedding and padding, magic growing the azaleas into trees. Using the same magic, crops were grown. Fresh spring water flowed down one side of the cave. Dragons walked around and glided through the air as they chatted and lived peacefully. A market was in the middle of the refuge. Many sold fish, or the more darning ones sold game from the surface.

A pair of dragons watched the bustle of their kind from a small ledge. On the ledge was their nest. Two eggs were resting in the center. A crack appeared on the shell of the larger egg. Both parents turned eagerly and watched as two tiny legs pushed out of the shell, cracking the egg fully. A purple-haired hatching sat in the middle of the eggshell, its black wings were visibly strong, and its horns shone proudly. The parents only admired their hatchling momentarily before the other egg cracked.

Unlike the first hatchling, a small hole was formed, and a small face poked out. The hatchling pushed hard against the shell and popped his head out as the top of the egg cracked. A startled squeak came as he rolled out of the egg. This hatching had cyan hair, small horns, and weak wings, but his claw-like hands were webbed with a fin-like tail. The parents were ecstatic that they had a sky-borne and a sea-borne hatchling. They dubbed them Xornoth and Scott.

As the years passed, the siblings soon grew from hatchlings to fledglings. Xornoth was the first to learn how to fly. Scott struggled to fly due to his features but could glide for long periods. When it came to learning how to swim, Scott flew through the depths, while Xornoth struggled to stay afloat. The cyan-fledging soon learned he had gills on the side of his neck, allowing him to breathe underwater.

While being different, both brothers were extremely close. They played, fought, and shared everything. But one thing they both loved was the days of homecoming. Every six months, they would race to the cave Gate and wait for the exploration team to return. The Gate was the water passage that led to the cavern. It was protected by a strong magic to only allow dragons through. When the older dragon appeared from the water, everyone cheered as they brought new technologies or food for the colony. Scott would watch with stars in his eyes as he admired the team. He made himself a promise they when he was old enough, he would be on that team.

===========

A purple and black blur shot through the cavern air space, a blue flash following beneath. Wedded claws gripped at store roofs, springing across gaps and streets. A fin-like tail flashed behind as he glided from roof to roof. Calling out apologizes as he dodges around clotheslines or startled elders. His sibling’s laughs echo above him as they grips their stomach at their brother’s dilemma. A smirk graces his face as they slam back first into a stalactite. They fell onto a nearby roof.

“You deserved that!” Scott snickered as he stepped around Xornoth’s fallen form. They groaned in response to Scott’s jab. Scott fondly rolled his eyes. “Come on, we’re going to be late for homecoming.” Grabbing his sibling’s arm, he pulled them up. They wobbled before shaking themselves off.

Scott leaped off the building with a laugh as he heard an agitated ‘Hey!’ come from his nestmate. He descended into the middle of the street and took off running towards the Gate. Dragon folks of all ages started to converge on the plaza. Scott slipped into the front of the crowd, tail swaying eagerly as he watched the Gate. Xornoth dropped beside him and pushed his shoulder.

“Jerk! I could have missed it,” They complained, crossing their arms over their chest. “And here you would have been.”

“Oh shush! You were fine.” He responded as he rubbed his shoulder with a cheeky grin. “I’ve seen you take worse falls than that. You’re just being dramatic.” Xornoth pouted at him before a gurgling caught both of their attention.

The water in the Gate began to swirl in a vortex and changed in color as the magic reacted. From the vortex, a sea-borne dragon shot up into the air, followed by two sky-borne dragons and then a nature-born dragon. The group landed in front of the crowd of dragons, their arms full of supplies and new shiny objects. But something was off.

A solemn air surrounded the group of newly returned dragons. A wave of confused whispers and murmurs passed through the crowd. Everyone watched the pool, waiting for the other two members to appear. Like everyone else, Scott and Xornoth were concerned by the absence of two of their kind. The sea-borne stepped up with a solemn air to him, hushing every dragon in the process.

“To my dismay, I must inform you Tilly and Dan have sadly perished during our adventure.” The leader informed. A stunned shock settled on the shoulders of the community. “They sacrificed themselves to allow the rest of us to escape from the humans. So let us not waste their sacrifice and forever remember them and celebrate the supplies they allowed us to forge.” The leader tried to lighten the mood.

The crowd agreed, dispersing around the market. A band had begun to play songs of remembrance to grieve their loss, then switched to a more upbeat one. Couples dance in the square, while game stalls begin to shout for players. Soon laughter lifted the solemn mood. Scott watched from a shadowed corner, sitting on a barrel, Xornoth finding him after spending some time enjoying the festivities.

Approaching cautiously, Xornoth asked, “Scott? What are you doing here? You should be out there, having fun.” They sat down on a crate next to him.

“Just thinking.” He replied, watching a bat fly around. Xornoth gave an unimpressed look.

“Scott.”

He didn’t answer for a moment, fidgeting with his tail. His sibling rested a hand on his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. “I promise, you can tell me anything.”

Scott looked at them finally, taking a deep breath. “I am thinking of joining the group to the outside world.” He admitted, not looking them in the eyes. “I know how dangerous it is, but I want to do something good for the colony.” He closes his eyes, expecting a backlash. Instead, he got a gentle hug.

“I know,” Xornoth whispered. “I will never stop you from pursuing your dream. Just come back to me safe, that's all I ask.” Scott hugged him back tightly, burying his face into his sibling's shoulder.

“I will promise.”

Xornoth cradled his younger brother close to his chest. “You better or I’m hunting you down myself and turning you into a rug.” Scott laughed wetly as he pulled away. Xornoth grinned and grabbed his hand. “Now let’s go play some games, I’m going to beat you so bad!”

Scott smiled as he walked with them, “No you’re not, I’ll win easily.”

===============

It was the third anniversary of the passing of two of the members of the adventure group. It was also the day when Scott joined the team. All the group was reluctant to let the fledging join their ranks but agreed. The first year was spent learning and observing, and Joel made sure of that. Joel was the leader of the group and a sea-borne like Scott. He was a natural-born leader as he gave instructions flawlessly and proficiently. Scott learned many skills from him. Hunting, fighting, and stealing are the main ones.

His partner was Lizzie, one of the two sky-borne dragons. She oversaw planning missions and was a rather good fighter. Many of the plans the group chose were approved by Lizzie. When not prepping for a mission, she was rather protective of their newest member. She would cook great meals and sing songs when they were resting. Scott enjoyed her company late at night when she would point out constellations. Her scales were a shimmering sea green.

Next, Grian. He was the other sky-borne dragon of the group. He was a master of disguise and deception. He loves causing confusion and distraction to humans as much as possible. The red-scaled dragon loved any explosive he could get his hands on. Anything shimmery or a button to be pressed, he pushes or takes. When not on a mission, he plays pranks on them. No matter what, Grian is there to make Scott smile. Learning how to set traps had to be Scott’s favorite memory with him.

Last, but not least, was Scar. The nature-borne dragon was Grian’s significant other. While clumsy, he was a master at magic. All dragons knew of some magic, but Scar could outdo them any day. His skill with a bow was incredible and well-practiced. Scar had taught him how to use magic and recite important spells as well as potion making. Scott’s favorite memory is when he accidentally turned the emerald, green dragon into a vivid lavender purple. Everyone had a great laugh.

The second year he mostly allowed Scott to branch out. Engaging the skills, he had studied into practice. The fledging of seventeen rotations soon expanded his reach. He battled in missions with Joel, stole alongside Grian, cast and prepped spells with Scar, and cooked with Lizzie. Scott couldn’t have been happier.

By the spring of the third season, Scott had nearly surpassed all his teachers. He won a duel against Joel. He created a spell all on his own. He even picked up strategizing from Lizzie, helping her to come up with backup plans and escape routes. Everyone was proud of him. Xornoth and their parents were over the moon every time he came home with stories to tell when he visited.

Homecoming had just wrapped up. The team, minus Scott, was planning where they would go next. Scott walked beside Xornoth, who had grown as well. They were the captain of the guardian force. He was proud of his sibling for making such momentous progress. The two were making idly chit-chat as they headed towards the building where they were residing for the night before heading out the next morning.

Xornoth spoke up suddenly, “Scott… maybe you should hang back this time.”

“What?”

“Just for this year, you know mom is sick so I was just thinking you should be here in case something happens.” They explained, his gaze turned away.

“Xornoth, she has a cold,” Scott deadpanned. “She’s already nearly fully recovered. If something bothers you, just let me know. Don’t dance around it.” He stated bluntly, stopping in his tracks to look at his sibling.

Laughing, “You know me too well. Okay, I guess…” They relent. “I just… have been having horrible dreams about you. In the nightmares, you would be locked in a cage, humans surrounding you. They just seemed so real…” They grabbed his hands, staring him dead in the eyes. “I don’t want to lose you, Scott.”

He pulled his sibling close and engulfed them in a hug. “I vow that I will return to you no matter what. I’ll be careful, I swear.” He pulled away. “Besides, if I’m gone, who’s going to be your annoying little brother?” He gave in a cheeky grin.

Despite looking reassured, Xornoth still seemed troubled. Sighing, Scott compromised, “How about every few weeks I send a letter through flame mail? Will that help?”

“Yeah, just to hear from you.” They agreed.

“Great, now I need to head to the grand hall to meet and plan with the others.” Scott hugged his older sibling once more before letting go.

“Stay safe,” Xornoth called as he walked off. Scott rolled his eyes and called back, “Okay mother hen!” Xornoth squawked in outrage as Scott ran off laughing.

Slipping inside the grand hall, Scott found his companions discussing a map.

“But Lizzie, we can’t go back to Crystal Cliffs, we were just there,” Joel explained. “It would be best if we went to the Southlands.” Lizzie shook her head.

“It’s too far of a journey this time of year. The tides aren’t in our favor.” She pointed to another place; a city built at the mouth of a river. “Midnight Valley is relatively close.”

Grian piped up. “Oh, heck no! We nearly got caught because of that bottlenecked trap!” Using feather-light steps, Scott crept over and gazed at the map. Lizzie huffed in frustration. “Then where do you suggest we head too?”

Grian studied the map and then pointed to a small group of islands. “What about the Coral Isles? They have good resources.”

Scar frowns. “Don’t they have a pufferfish infestation they are taking care of?”

“Ah, I forgot that part…” He slumped in his seat.

“What if we were to head to Ranch Town?” Scott suggested, alarming everyone.

Scar clutched his chest and panted, “Don’t do that! You nearly gave me a stroke!” Scott had the decency to look ashamed. “Sorry Scar.”

Joel looked at the map, considering Scott’s suggestion. “Why would you say that place?” Scott looked up at him and then at the map. “Well, if we were to travel there, we could camp on the small uninhabited shores near the bottom of the edge of civilization without having to cast huge spells. And Joel and I will always have seawater.” Lizzie nodded slowly.

“I see your point, there are plenty of escape routes if we choose to swim upstream.” She traces the river divides, then taps the docks. “They also have the largest world trade port, allowing us to steal some rare necessities.” Joel nodded.

“I agree. We haven’t been there for ages. Looks like we’re heading to Ranch Town.” The leader declared, “We leave in the morning, so prepare accordingly. Ranch Town is a week’s worth of travel.”

Everything was settled, so the adventurers headed off to bed, unknowing of the strife ahead.

==============

Weaving through the crowds, Joel and Scott dashed through the dock. Shouts followed them as knights gave chase. Tucked in Scott’s claws was an book, he had stolen from a royal merchant ship. Twin cloaks flailed behind them as they fled the scene. The chase had been going on for around a good twenty minutes by now.

Scott was starting to tire as Joel gave a nod, signaling to split up.

Scott turned down a small side street, trying to lose the guards. As he ran, he wondered how this had happened. It was supposed to be a simple operation. Get in and out. But everything went wrong right away. The ship that was supposed to be there was a simple merchant ship, not a royal one. Then the guards swamped the boat. Everyone scattered, guards tailing them. This brings us to where he is currently.

Four guards sprinted after him. He glanced at the book and wondered why they wanted it so obsessively. Shotting out of the alley, he ran into the road, sliding under a cart that nearly trapped him. He snickered as he heard a few cusses, dashing swiftly around a corner, only to nearly run into a horse.

He stumbles into the dirt on his butt. He looked up to yell, only to pale, seeing the head of the royal guard. The head of the royal guard was the prince’s fiancé, Tango. He was a hot head blaze hybrid, fiercely protective of the kingdom. Nearly no one had escaped him before, minus his group. But he was about to clean his record. Scott tried to scramble away, but his boots couldn’t get a grip on the sediment.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Tango hopped down and placed his knee into Scott’s spine, nearly on his hidden wings. The book, long forgotten, fell into the dirt as Scott struggled against Tango, trying to escape. Tango manages to wrangle him into chains as the other knights rounded the corner. Falling limp, Scott realized he was outmatched and outnumbered.

He yelped as his hood was grabbed and he tossed over the horse's back. Tango patted him down, confiscating his small, enchanted dagger and a few regenerating potions. Then the royal knight reached for his cloak clasp. Scott stiffened in fear as he was powerless to prevent the inevitable. He curled slightly as his wings and dragon heritage were revealed. Tango seemed to short-circuit for a moment before recovering, placing the cloak down he turned to his men.

In a commanding voice, “Find the other thieves I need to bring this one to the castle.” Tango orders. “Do not kill. Especially if they are anything like him.” The knights saluted before spreading out to search for his friends.

Scott’s stomach dropped when he heard castle. He couldn’t be serious. But as Tango saddled up, and pushed his horse into a trot, he knew he was in big trouble.

==============

Scott cursed as he was thrown roughly into the cell. He hisses at the guard as the wooden door slams and locks, causing the tower to rumble around him. He glares as he brushes himself off, checking himself over. The cyan-scale Dragonborn had been stripped of nearly everything he owned, left with only the clothes on his back. Sadly, his cloak was confiscated, leaving him only in his trousers.

Glancing around, Scott grimaced.

The cell was circular with a barred lancet window situated above his head, allowing fresh air and sea breeze to filter in. Moonlight cased long shadows but provided enough light to see. The tropical summer humidity caused the cobbled stone to gleam with condensation, making the cell damp. A small wooden bench hung, posing as a poor substitute for a bed, under the window. A tiny wooden bucket filled with murky questionable water was placed beside it—the whole cell smelt of mildew.

Trudging over to the bench, Scott sat down heavily. He closed his eyes as he rested his head against the wall, feeling so stupid about getting caught. Opening his eyes, he stared up at the cone-like ceiling with despair. He should have listened to Xornoth. He could have spent six months with him. It wouldn’t have killed him to spend time with his family. Now he might not ever see them again.

Ignoring the burning in his eyes, Scott looked at his hands. He looked at his scaly hands and sharp nails. He cupped them together and mumbled under his breath a spell. A ball of light formed and drifted from his hands. A sudden thought came to him, causing him to spring up for the worn old bench. The light drifted above his head as he approached the door.

He nearly laughed at his idiocy. He crouched down and pressed a hand to the cell door. He smirked as he pronounced the lock-pick spell. A click echoed around the small room as the door unlocked. Relief washes over Scott as he pulls open the cell door. He stepped out of the cell, and a narrow staircase leading downward met him. Eager to leave, the dragon leaped down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Scott couldn’t help but feel victorious as he dashed down the stairs.

However, the feeling didn’t last long.

Halfway down the stairs, Scott turns one of the many curves of the staircase. He was in such a rush, that he didn’t realize until it was too late, hitting the prince directly in the chest. They both tumbled, pushing the second person, Tango, down the stairs as well. The trio rolled down in a jumble of limbs and curses. Finally, they stopped near the bottom of the stairs, very bruised and sore.

Scott groaned as he pulled himself out of the pile, groaning as he held his chin where he hit it. He rubbed it, checking for blood, which thankfully there didn’t seem to be. Another groan caught his attention, and he turned to see Tango rubbing his head a bit. The prince just lay on the stairs, looking dazed. He and Tango locked eyes.

Scott bolted. He heard a curse before another pair of footsteps followed him.

Scrambling down the rest of the stairs, Scott practically fell out of the stairway, Tango hot on his heels. Picking a direction, he fled. Much to his dismay, he met two guards right away. Tango called from behind him, causing the knights to notice him. He dodged out of their reach, before continuing down the hallway.

He turned another corner, only to run into a dead end. Come on, Scott thought. I can’t catch a break. He spun around to meet his pursuers, pressing himself back into the wall of the hallway, wings twitching. Tango stepped in front of the two other guards.

“No one needs to get hurt. The prince and I only wanted to ask you some questions and offer you a deal.” He had his hands in a passive position in front of him.

Getting defensive, Scott snarled, “Let me go. Like I would ever help you.” He barred his teeth, at the blaze hybrid. Tango's face fell in a scowl.

“You were caught stealing. Normally, thieves would be sent to work in the mines for a few years. But you’re a special case.” Tango explained.

“And why’s that?” He snapped, his tail whipping aggressively. Footsteps came from behind the group. The guards moved, revealing a disheveled looking prince. A low growl rumbled from Scott’s throat.

“Because we need your magic knowledge.” The prince stated as he fixed his crown. Scott’s eyes scanned him as he towered over him. The canary hybrid stood nearly head over him. Golden feathers ruffled on his head wings. He had sandy blond hair with muddy tried brown eyes. He was clearly near Scott’s age but his eyes mirrored an elders.

“Why?” The dragon asked suspiciously.

“Please. Humans have begun to invade our land. Many hybrids are dying, like many of your kind did.” To Scott’s surprise, the prince knelt and bowed to him. “Please. We’re desperate. I sincerely apologies for the treatment you had this far. I promise, as Jimmy Solitary, so to be king of Ranch Town, that you and your kind will have protection here for as long as I live.” Jimmy had his forehead practically touching the floor. All the knights copied his movements.

To say Scott was lost was an understatement. First, they imprisoned him, then they asked him for help. He shook his head a bit, feeling overwhelmed. “How do I know this isn’t a sick trick?” Scott deflected.

“Please, if it was trick, do you think we would be bowing and not just torturing you?” Tango said with a bit of an eye roll, but something felt off as Jimmy shot him a glare. Scott gulped at that. It was a good point.

“Fine,” Scott admitted, “But what would you need me to do?” Scott questioned.

Relieved, Jimmy stood up from the floor. “If possible, we need more of those potions you had on you. Plus, if you could perhaps make our weapons enchanted as well.” Jimmy thought for a moment. “We’ll provide everything you need to create them as well.”

Scott couldn’t believe he was hearing. It was like something from a dream. Those simple everyday things dragons could do, but the problem was supplies to create them. So having access to everything was a blessing. Biting his lip, his ear fins flicking with thought.

Scott sighed, “My group and I will help you out as a trial run, until we can trust you.” He spoke. “But know, we will never show you where we hide.” He promised.

“Deal!” Jimmy exclaimed excitedly as he took Scott’s claw and shook it. “Thank you, thank you so much.” Scott awkwardly patted his shoulder, feeling as though he made a deal with the devil.

“Yeah, well as long as we remain behind the scenes, I don’t mind helping.” He added on. “And free meals and comfortable rooms.”

Jimmy laughed, his personality doing a one-eighty. “Of course! In the morning, you can go out to find your friends. But please, allow me to show you to your proper room.” Jimmy grabbed his hand and guided him down a corridor. A staircase later and another hallway later, they reached a door.

Tango opened it, revealing a small bedroom. To be honest, it wasn’t much bigger than the cell had been, but it was furnished with a bed and a dresser. A rug covered the stone floor, but there was no window, only touches for light. Scott reluctantly stepped through the doorway.

“Oh, by the way. Tomorrow we will also discuss your punishment, after all, you still stole royal property.” Jimmy added slyly. “Don’t worry about it too much, Cutie. We can add it into the contract that we’ll create we all your friends are here.” Jimmy gave a Cheshire grin. “Sleep well, little dragon.”

With that the door was slammed closed and locked. Scott could hear something being put in front of the push door, locking him in with no way out. Standing in the dark of the room with only torchlight as company, Scott had a feeling he had just sold his soul.

Scott crawled into the bed and cried himself to sleep that night.

=============

It was four years later; Scott found himself sitting on the arm of King Jimmy’s throne, dressed in the finest clothes, sitting beside the king himself. The war had finally ended. With the dragons’ help enslavement, the hybrids were able to conquer over the humans, restoring balance. During the war, many dragons had moved from the cave to Ranch Town, having decided to be forced to help. After dragons were able to begin normal lives in Ranch Town and live happily above ground, free to fly or swim wherever they please. But as per the agreement, Scott must serve an extra two years for his crime.

Jimmy and Tango had married before the war was announced, officially making Jimmy king. Scott was worked to the bone through the first year in captivity. Many potions and weapons nonstop, his hands would blister from how much nether wart he had to touch. His scales would be dry and flaky by the end of the day due to the heat of the brewing stands. Tango had taken notice one day and had him moved.

From then on, he was Jimmy’s personal servant and guard, much to his friends’ protests. Scott simply told them not to worry and continued with his job. Jimmy soon took a liking to Scott, becoming friendly with him rather quickly while Tango was on the front lines. When Tango was sent back due to an injury, he also had taken to a liking to Scott, but much more slowly. Scott, oblivious to royals’ affection, was focused on protecting everyone he endangered. Even when the war ended, Tango and Jimmy agreed that Scott was theirs.

The royals decided to host a ball celebrating the victory, which is where they are now.

Jimmy leaned over and murmured into Scott’s ear, “Come on Scott, don’t look so glum. I know you want to go be with your family and sibling but we’re your family now as well.” A shiver when down his spin at the hot breath on his ear.

A choked off squeak escaped the cyan dragon as Tango petted his wing. “Yeah, we could have lock you in your room for the night, but we graciously allowed you to be here with us.” Tango gave him a small kiss on the forehead. “So don’t be so ungrateful.” Tango chastised lightly.

Scott early on had learned how to get under their skins. “Yes sirs.” He replied sadly. Both frowned instantly. Neither of them wanted to cause their little dragon to be mad or upset. But they both agreed that sometimes it was needed. But this wasn’t one of those times.

Jimmy tried to recover, “Maybe later you can hang out with Xornoth, they are staying the weekend. But we haven’t seen much of you all week.” He whined, holding Scott’s hand.

“Yeah, and I was only teasing about you room.” Tango added. “We just missed you, cutie.”

Scott smirked internally, having admittedly, started to gain feels of his own towards his to captors. He nodded a bit on the outside, “Okay…” He yawns as he rubs his eyes, having decorated and planned most of the ball himself.

Both Jimmy and Tango melted. Pulling the sleepy dragon into his lap, Jimmy rested him against his chest. Said dragon barely noticed, having done this millions of times, snuggled into Jimmy’s chest. He closed his eyes, falling asleep to the lull of the conversation in the ballroom.

“Sleep well, little dragon.” Both whispered with soft possessive eyes.

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saphirered · 1 year

Note

ooohhh i have a request? maybe one where caleb spared reader’s life when he was a volstrucker and they meet again sometime during the campaign?

Hope this is to your liking. A little angsty. 😘

There is no freedom in names or titles, not for their owners nor their kin. Those who do not benefit from the protection of their resources are victims of the cause, easy targets to be exploited in the name of king and empire. These are the lessons of a Volstrucker. Caleb, no matter how much he might wish to forget them, will always carry them with him. The things he learned will forever haunt him and perhaps worst of all is still even after all these years he still resorts to those lessons for the sake of survival. It eats him up from the inside. His past is a curse upon his future and he cannot shake it. He carries the curse of being a good student; obedient and skilled, until he broke of course. There is very few flaws, even fewer falters he can recall in his time as a student. He had nearly forgotten a particular one, one he did manage to push to the deepest darkest depths of his mind be that for his protection… or yours… A brief lapse in judgement and rise in guilt conscious.

Many many years ago before children grew disillusioned with the ways of an empire forged on the blood of the innocent and riches of the wicked with ambitions far darker, there was one such innocent child strolling through the market greeted kindly by any who passed. Little did you know about the horrors of those you shared a very comfortable roof with. You were innocent to their choices and deeds, their aspirations and their ways. That didn’t matter to the ones seeking to hold leverage over others. By simple coincidence you stumbled into a lanky boy with the bluest eyes you had ever seen and cropped ginger hair. He had a kind smile and his sheer presence radiated a warmth akin to a hearth on a winter’s day. His name was Bren. You’d believed you’d simply run into him as he went about his day gathering supplies for his master, same as you did your household. By coincidence you’d talked about your latest reads and shared some overlap, exchanged some recommendations. It was a mere coincidence when this repeated the week after, and the next, and you seemed to enjoy each other’s company enough to meet up for these weekly trips, until they became more frequent, almost every other day.

It was just a coincidence. It was a coincidence ordered to be by the poor boy’s master. You were just unfortunate enough you had people of some repute that happened to care about you a decent amount. He was ordered to get close to you and so his master would make apparent the threat to your life through your not-so-innocent close ones. When they forbade you from seeing the boy you met in the streets, they neglected to tell you the reasons and rebellious child you were, you simply snuck out to meet with Bren. He showed you some minor magics, hid the truth of his life and played you like a fiddle. He had you wrapped around his finger. You cared about him and looking back now, he cared about you. You were freedom, innocence, and good-hearted. You were everything now looking back he wanted to be. You were everything that was taken from him so cruelly under the guise of a higher purpose.

And then time ran out. His master had no further need for leverage and simply needed to make something very very clear; no one is untouchable. You would be the victim of this message. He would be the one to wield the weapon. He would be the one to end your life. It was his purpose after all. Your people, they were bad people. You had always just been a means to an end. If those things were true then why did his heart ache so much? Why did he not feel bitter for your happiness? Why did he feel incapable of having your blood stain his hands? You were the beginning of his end. You were the key to the truth of his disillusioned life. You didn’t even know it. Still he had orders to follow. He had to be the one. You’d sneak out of your home to go on one of your evening walks with him. You expected to be met with kind sweet Bren. Instead you were met with a soldier forged by the empire in the blood of others.

You walked and talked and had a good time but you felt some distance from Bren even though you held onto his arm as you observed the outskirts of Rexxentrum. You had asked him if he was alright and he had lied to your face. You could see the guilt in his eyes for lying to you but you did not read further. You didn’t press the matter. It was getting late. You’d have to cross back through some of the darker alleys if you wanted to be back on time before anyone would notice your disappearance. When you passed through the first, something felt wrong. The second alley gave you a sneaking suspense as if something would be coming but you were alone, with Bren and no one else. Speaking of Bren, he had been fiddling with something around his neck hidden beneath the neckline of his shirt and jacket.

“No need to be nervous. These alleys are too abandoned for thieves and robbers. Nobody goes here at these hours. It’d be a waste of their time.” You remarked, as if assuring him nothing would happen to the two of you, that you were in no danger out here. There’s a reason he chose this place for that exact reason. No one would be around at night, not until dawn upon which point your corpse would be quickly discovered. That was part of the orders; make sure the news would spread fast.

“You know this city well.” He simply commented with a forced smile. It’s then you stopped him, faced him and took his hands in yours and squeezed them. It’s then he flinched and you felt the bandages around his wrists. You pushed up his sleeve and saw the blood though darkened and dried, stain through. You fussed about him. “Please, don’t.” He begged and you stopped. Though it wasn’t his plea that made you stop. It was the cold sharp metal you felt when you checked his other arm. Your breath stalled and your eyes went wide. You looked at him.

“Bren? What’s going on?” You didn’t push back, not when he muttered under his breath, twisted his fingers and you felt yourself paralyse. A clever trick from his friend and fellow student; the component of this spell could double as a small weapon too. You began to panic but you couldn’t move. The spell willed it so. He unsealed your fingers from his other wrist, until he was free. He grasped onto that small blade with a death grip that turned his knuckles white.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He brought the blade to your side, right between your ribs and held it there not yet breaking through fabric and skin. He couldn’t. He couldn’t do it. His eyes burned. The imaginary words of his master echoed through his head of what he would face should he return not just a failure but exposed. He doesn’t know what he might have faced should you have ran to your family, should you have escaped and hid beyond those walls. His mission would be a failure and he’d have been made a fool. He doesn’t know what would have become of him. He saw your tears beginning to cusp and roll down your cheek, your struggling breath, he saw it all. He hesitated for too long, lost track and the spell ran out. You were still frozen but not by magic. You held onto the hand with the knife. You held on so tight his fingers went numb.

“It’s alright, it’s alright. Just let go of the knife. Everything will be alright.” His grip loosened until you pulled the knife away from him and tossed it to the side out of reach. He made a note of where it went. You threw your arms around him and held him. You rubbed his back and cradled him to you until your knees grew weak and the both of you lowered to the dirt. You pulled back, stroked your thumb along his cheek. You might not know the details nor the reasons but you had pieced things together.

“They-he told me to kill you.” The words are but a silent whisper, an admittance to guilt. He expected you to back off, to run while you still could. You didn’t.

“You haven’t. It’s okay. Just look at me.”

“He won’t let you go.” Bren begged and you just cupped his cheeks.

“It’s alright. You’ll do it. You’ll succeed. It’s alright.” He stills. Freezes, like a deer caught by hunters. You’re supposed to be the one fearing a horrid end, not him. “You’re clever, Bren. I know this city. If I must be dead, they’ll think me dead.” Perhaps your family had instilled more values within you than he had grasped. It became clear then neither of you would be innocent children ever again, you’d always be complicit. He’d have been your downfall either way.

You were clever indeed. You stayed true to your promise. You knew this city well. You knew the busy streets of the back alleys and underbellies, where no one would bat an eye at a committed crime, but the news would spread like wildfire. No secrets there. You’d ran by the butcher’s wastes and gotten as much blood as you could from it, stained your shirt and coat with it. He’d given you his coat to cover up. You’d pushed the knife back up his sleeve where it had been hidden before. You went over the plan once more and then the time came.

The next events were a blur to him to he point where Caleb now does not know wether this story is one fabricated by his mind out of self-preservation, an attempt to cope with your horrid murder, or if this is true because on all accounts your murder had happened, a body was found, and there was no trace of you, not even through magical means. Only after you had screamed and cried and shouted and dragged your supposedly bleeding body into the darkness as he had ran the weight around his neck felt much lighter, the chain and amulet that resided there before had disappeared. You must have taken it when you had embraced him, must have done so as a safety precaution or something. You always were clever. You were never seen again and the story turned as following; a poor innocent child of a reputable family wandered into a bad part of town and met an untimely end at the hands of discontent citizens. You were mourned. His master was proud of him and he could forget this whole ordeal. They congratulated him on being a murderer. Soon after he would commit the sin that would break him.

Much time has passed since then. Bren died a long time ago. Caleb survives now with all the heartache and regret of the life before, the one he so desperately tried to shake but never seemed able to. It took him a long time to open up to his goblin companion, and even when he told his story to the Mighty Nein he still kept many secrets. Slowly his walls came down, slowly the doubt ebbed away until one fateful day in Nicodranas. His curiosity had gotten the better of him. That magic tower in the city called his attention as did the mind and resources of Yussa Errenis. When he spotted a familiar handwriting among the works of Yussa, he thought nothing of it but that handwriting would plague his mind for weeks to come until his next visit where he got confirmation. Without warning the Mighty Nein had used the teleportation circle. Without warning they had been escorted outside but in passing Caleb spotted a familiar being in the sitting room, simply reading.

It was you, undoubtedly. You had gotten older, same as he has. That’s what the years do to a person. You’re no longer children. You look like you’ve faced the hardships of life but you’ve overcome them too. When your eyes met his, he expected something like anger or fear but instead he saw intrigue. You’d made up some bullshit excuse for Wensforth to see to other business and oversaw their escorting out of the tower personally. He was the last one out. You stopped him. You toyed with something around your neck. It reminds him of how he sometimes used to fiddle with the identical version he hides beneath his layers when no one is watching. He’d paid for his in blood. You’d paid for yours with your life. What a cruel thing.

“It seems our paths cross again, Bren. Different tidings this time I hope.” You speak to him before he crosses the threshold. He looks at you before he goes, in a way Caleb is not known to look anyone in the eye. The others know he avoids eye contact whenever he can. You were a strange exception they definitely had some questions and opinions about. Especially since they couldn’t hear your conversation.

“Caleb Widogast.” He corrects. “Different tidings.” He nods.

“Well then, Caleb Widogast, how about an evening walk? For old time’s sake?” You suggest and Caleb finds himself smiling lightly. He nods.

“For old time’s sake.” He repeats to himself. “I’ll see you tonight?” You smile.

“Yo, did Widogast just score a date-“ Fjord covers Beauregard’s mouth before she can continue. You shake your head and close the invisible door as Caleb exits. It’s been a while.

#caleb widogast x reader #mighty nein x reader #critical role x reader #critical role #mighty nein #caleb x reader #caleb widogast #the mighty nein #critical role fanfic #critical role fanfiction

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unfriendlyamazon · 7 days

Text

dueling dragons chapter 2 (wip)

i promise i haven't forgotten about this!! i think i need to spend an hour just plotting things out, but i'm still in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship... i think i finally have an intro i don't hate, so i'm sharing it here as a little bonus content for my fellow kaijou followers!

It had been a hell of a day at Kaiba Corp, and for Yuuto Tanaka, personal assistant to Seto Kaiba himself, he knew hell.

The man was on a rampage today. His first three calls in the morning, he’d chewed out the other executives and given his ultimatums for how they would interact with Kaiba Corp. Inevitably, it would mean sending out the other teams to do damage control and ensure their partners that not every interaction would be like this. It was an outright lie, but egos had to be soothed. For lunch, Tanaka delivered Kaiba’s protein shake as he smashed away on his keyboard, rewriting lines of code he was sure their development team had screwed up. Statistics were delivered, presentations scheduled, and then it was 2:00. Tanaka had been dreading this meeting most of all.

Tanaka hadn’t been around for the Battle City days. He’d only known of Duel Monsters and Kaiba Corp in passing, and from the few international incidents they’d caused, but on moving to Domino City and entering the working world, it’d become unavoidable. He’d known Seto Kaiba and Yugi Muto were the titans of Duel Monsters, their statues holding the foundation for what the game would become, and then there was Joey Wheeler. He’d retained a sort of underdog status thanks to his play style, and his wins were never guarantees. Tanaka only really knew, when he sat behind Seto Kaiba at dueling tournaments, that his boss would regard the field with disdain, and his commentary would get more animated with each card Joey Wheeler played. The two hated each other, that much was clear. What wasn’t clear was exactly why.

When marketing had presented their proposal, Tanaka had figured it would go down in flames. But Isono had worked his magic, and now Tanaka trailed behind Kaiba towards the conference room, where they were greeted by bright eyes, a big smile, and a mess of blond hair.

“Afternoon, Kaiba,” Mai Valentine said. “I was worried you weren’t going to make it.”

The woman sat casually on the end of the conference table. A purple dress hugged her hourglass figure, and a cropped blazer rested on her shoulders. Kaiba stopped in his tracks on seeing her. Sitting in a chair behind her was Joey Wheeler, a smile on his face. He was dressed casually, but with a button up shirt and a brush taken to his hair to suggest professionalism.

Kaiba’s brows twisted up. “What are you doing here?”

“So polite,” she said with a smirk and stuck out her hand. “I’m here as representative for Mr. Joey Wheeler. I’m his agent.”

Kaiba did not take her hand. He remained standing as Tanaka retrieved a chair, unlocking his tablet to take notes. Two lawyers sat at the other end of the table, and Miss Nakamura sat up in her chair, hands folded over the welcome packet reserved for new duelists. Tanaka gave her a smile, and she nodded back.

“Fine,” Kaiba said. “We can begin.”

“Oh, no, we can’t.” Mai picked up the contract that had been forwarded to her, and it was clear she’d marked it with red pen. “When Joey informed me of the nature of your proposal, I took a second look at this. I know Kaiba Corp is used to having total control over their duelists, but you’ve made it clear this isn’t another sponsorship deal. Miss Nakamura was kind enough to show me the drafts.”

Junko’s smile faltered. The lawyers looked at her unhappily.

“You’re definitely not paying my boy enough,” Mai continued. “We’re talking image rights, voice work, and brand protection. My client requires further compensation.”

“This isn’t a negotiation,” Kaiba growled.

“Relax, Kaiba.” She slapped it down. “I’ve only got the one counteroffer. 10% increase across the board. Unless your product is a flop, which is frankly unlikely, that should set up Mr. Wheeler with a nice little nest egg for future endeavors.”

One of the lawyers laughed. “Ten percent is well above what our duelists are signed on for.”

Tanaka’s eyes flitted to Kaiba. He was cold as ice, his face a blank sheet. Normally, counteroffers were laughed at, and Kaiba became a storm his opponents had to weather. But his shoulders had a weariness to them, a desire to see this done.

“Two percent,” he said.

Mai laughed. “You are lowballing me! Eight.”

“Five.”

“Done.” She snatched his hand, giving a firm shake. Kaiba immediately withdrew, and she laughed, sitting down beside her client. “You all heard him. Let’s get this paperwork signed.”

“Not quite,” Kaiba said. A telltale smirk crossed his face. “Before we sign our duelists, we have to ensure they won’t embarrass us on the field. Of course, we check the tournament standings–”

“Top three international duelist,” Wheeler said, leaning back in his seat. “Don’t tell me that doesn’t pass your little test.”

“--but the most important thing is how they stand in a fight. Miss Valentine, if you would like to continue with our lawyers as his representatives, I will take the deadbeat to our training station.”

“You got a lot of nerve–” Wheeler jumped up in his chair, and Mai’s hand flew out to pull him back down.

“Of course, Kaiba,” she said, smiling sweetly at the room. “I know Joey won’t disappoint you.”

Kaiba’s warped smile said otherwise. Tanaka didn’t look away as he typed away at his notes. Junko caught his eye from across the room, worry slapped across her face. He could only offer an unsure smile. As far as Kaiba was involved, nothing ever went smoothly.

“Let’s go then,” Kaiba said. “The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can kick you out.”

Wheeler ground his teeth down, and Mai pinched his cheek in a mock motherly affection.

“Play nice, boys,” she called, waving after them. Tanaka, as always, followed one step behind. It was his job, of course, but he had to admit, it was exciting not knowing what would happen next.

#i'm like embarrassed at how long it took me to write just this #i tried it from like four different perspectives but i kinda want some kaiba corp ocs running around #dueling dragons #my fanfic

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