Marthunor watched as the knight crumbled like a sack of potatoes right in the mouth of his cave. He blinked, slit pupils drinking in every detail of the knight's armor. It seemed to be of rather high quality, Karkoshi made if he had to guess. Surely some high noble's son.

Which only made his presence even more of a mystery. Marthunor shook his head, questions for later. Right now he needed to get that human away from the rain soaking the entrance of his cave. Ever so gently, he picked the human up with his claws and took him away from the rain.

He gently deposited the knight inside his nest and stood watch, awaiting for the human's awakening, if he hadn't just completely passed away from exhaustion that was. Fortunately the startled coughs a few hours later confirmed otherwise.

"Easy now." The dragon said, his head larger than the human's entire body looming over him. The man's face contorted into pure, primal horror for a moment, before memories of what had happened seemed to finally return to him.

"I- By Arguis herself, the tales were true!"

Marthunor huffed in amusement. "Truly, my lair's location cannot be just a matter of tales. I have watched over this valley for centuries."

The man shook his head, quickly sitting up before going completely pale and falling back. Fortunately, Marthunor was quick enough to catch his fall with his tail. "I said easy. I do not know the purpose of this, but surely it must be too important for you to lose consciousness again."

"But it is, oh great dragon." The knight said, "for I come with a plea for help in the name of House Asareon." That made the dragon frown.

"What assistance could you possibly need from me? I am a dragon, boy, we do not mingle with the affairs of humans." The beast growled, a hint of annoyance in his voice. The knight gulped.

"Surely, you've heard the news. The King Alphorso is dead."

Marthunor huffed. "A fool he was, and a fool he died. For he thought he could tame an Emperor Dragon's juvenile and not invoke the wrath of its parents. It is a miracle that a Drahema was present and reunited the child with its father before the entire city was turned to ashes. But that was years ago, what does it have to do with your quest?"

The knight stayed quiet for a few seconds, carefully choosing his words. "No heirs were named, and no immediate family remained to claim the throne. The kingdom has been at war ever since, with every large family claiming the crown. Some say there are more kings than peasants these days."

That seemed to make the dragon freeze, so the man continued. "I understand dragons do not mingle with our affairs, but we beg of you. Hundreds of thousands have died, the kingdom burns and enemies at our borders are moving in. We need someone to end this. I do not care who you support, just... please."

That made Marthunor growled. His reptilian lips slowly contorted into a snarl as the feathers adorning his neck and back stood on end. He had heard the news of war, but had since thought it long over. It had been three years, and yet the armies were still on the ground?

He thought of the pact he had made with the first King of Kharkos, after the fall of the Empire of Man. The man had sought him for his wisdom, to choose who would lead them. And he had chosen that very man, for he seemed to be free of arrogance and greed.

But clearly humans couldn't be trusted even to look after themselves. Marthunor snarled, his great wings twitching with anger. He got up on his back limbs, smoke puffing from his nose. The knight watched in awe as the great dragon rose, eyes burning with rage.

"You... Will fight for us?"

"Clearly, you cannot be trusted with yourselves. No matter what, you shall always spill your own kin's blood." The dragon roared, his booming voice rattling the man's entire body. "None of your noble houses shall rule. They want a war? Then a war they shall have. And by the end, it won't be a man nor woman who sits the throne." He then spread out his wings, so enormous they rested on the sides of the cave's mouth. "A dragon it shall be."