| Geness | Ira the Mage-Knight and Ivram the Dragon |
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| Anniversary | February 12th, 2025 |
Ira the Mage-Knight and Ivram the Dragon
(Art of Ivram and Ira is and “Two Stories” beneath the spoiler is new for June).
Somehow now I’m drinking, and I’m lifting my glass
To that last good man grace
Who has left me, he’s left me at last
And I laugh, and I laugh
‘Cause laughing right now, it’s all, all that I have“You’re better than this”
He says as a hand slaps my face and I stand
And say, “No good man grace”
I can’t do this (you can)
I can’t do this (you can)
I can’t do this (you can)
I can’t do this, you don’t understandOh, sleep now, oh, she pleads
You’re not a coward ‘cause you cower
You’re brave because they broke you
Yet broken still you breathe
So breathe, breathe, just breatheThen the hollow folk pour me another shard full of glass
And I toast to their talents and I forgive them at last
‘Cause I know, oh, I know, I knowYou are in the earth of me
You are in the earth of me
My head’s not yours, it’s mine
And I’ll take my fucking time
‘Cause I know, I know, I knowLet’s bury this
I’m all yours, but you’re all mine
Let’s dance together, you and I
‘Cause I’m not trapped with you, you see
You’re the one who’s trapped with me‘Cause I’ve been here so many times before
Don’t you think I look pretty
Curled up on this bathroom floor?
But where you see weakness, I see wit
Sometimes I fall to pieces
Just to see what bits of me don’t fit‘Cause I when I stand oh those folks will run
And tell the tales of what I’ve become
They’ll speak of me, oh in whispered tones
And say my name like it shakes their bones‘Cause we’ll dance together so close we’re sharing breath
But now I’m leading, doesn’t that just scare you to death?‘Cause I’m all yours, you’re all mine
Let’s dance together, you and I
‘Cause I’m not trapped, oh with you, you see
You’re the one who’s trapped with me‘Cause you are in the earth of me
You are in the earth of me
My head’s not yours, it’s mine
And I’ll take my fucking time
‘Cause I know, I know, I know
Geness Quote
“Kill the dragon.” Those were the words, the orders, that sent the loyal knight from the city.
He heeded those words. He obeyed the orders and went into the forest where the dragon lurked.
He fought his way through thicket, vine, monsters, and a fog cast by the dragon that clouded the mind.
A voice in his head told him to run, to leave, to live. Just turn back little knight.
But the knight was loyal or perhaps foolish. Or perhaps it was his own desperation that forced his heavy feet to trudge forward and further into the forest. To kill the dragon or die. Because death stood in front of him, nothing was at his back. And wasn’t that the same thing? Or was it worse? He had nothing but a fancy title and a duty to do. For there was nothing in his life and he knew.
He had no family, no friends, just a fear that he would end up alone, on the streets, and truly with nothing again. A boy turned a beggar who the world turned a blind eye to. He felt despised.
But when he met the the dragon. Truly met him as he pointed his spear at his skull. Ready to ‘kill the dragon’ as he was ordered, the knight heard the dragon’s voice.
The dragon asked, “Is this what you truly want?”
For the first time he was give a chance to choose. To direct his life in any way and direction he could.
For the first time he was shown kindness. Kindness only from a creature who he had only thought of as a beast and a vicious monster before this.
He realized his order’s were wrong. That he was wrong too.
The knight threw aside his spear.
With this one meeting the knight and the dragon’s lives were changed.
Ira - [In his Mage-Knight armor]
Ira - In Mage-Knight armor v2
Ira - In casual clothing.
Ivram - [In his human form]
Ivram - [Demi-Dragon form]
Ivram - [Demi-Dragon form.]
#1
Once long long ago a loyal and beautiful knight was tasked to slay a dragon.
Into Aureli Woods he went.
And there amongst the vines that swallowed men and threaten countries he too was snared amidst their hold.
He became a changed man beholden to the master and king Aureli Forest. The king of beasts with glittering gold for eyes and a forked that whispered sickly sweet things.
And the knight so loyal was tempted as he found himself steeped among the poisonous leaves of Aureli forest.
Oh, he carried bravely he did as he drove himself like a thorn amidst the brambles and breached the innermost dwellings of the dragon’s domain.
There he met the Tyrant King of Aureli and fought the beast near to death.
But that wicked beast had him. Twisted as the very vines around them, he twisted that knight to a beastly shape.
What did he promise to bright and loyal one of Cairn’s highest and most talented of mage-knights?
We can never say.
All we know is he picked to side with the dragon that day.
#2
Once long long long ago a loyal knight beaten and broken by the blood that long stained his hands was burdened with orders foisted upon him by selfish hands. He was burdened with greatness. And burdened by a poor man’s sense of duty. A fear to find himself back upon the streets.
So he was sent to slaughter, to shed more blood, but what was the blood of a beast to a man? To the King of Cairn?
The knight went into Aureli Woods to kill of be killed.
And there amongst the vines the man fought and was changed. Amidst fresh flower and peaceful spring he saw kindness and care that was not afforded to him amongst men.
But this beast, this dragon, was no tyrant among his land. But gardener and caretaker.
Aureli forest did not touch this knight. Did not trap or torment him like beast ensnared amongst a trap.
They saw this sad creature of gleaming silver and how he craved death. And let him steep amidst the sweet and simple delights of life. What sights and smells and feelings that nature could soothe and swerved about free on his feet.
But this knight was so sadly loyal.
Oh, he carried on bravely he did, and drove himself through the forest like a thorn amidst the brambles and breached the innermost dwellings of the dragon’s domain.
And there he met that oh so supposed tyrant and king.
And he would have killed him, for he knew no other way than to be loyal to a fault, if not for the dragon’s single question:
“Is this what you want?”
There were no twists of the tongue, no sweetness to reshape him, but simply a question.
A choice asked with curiosity for this single man.
“Is this what you want?”
And the knight threw down his spear.
“No.” he said, “No!”
He wanted more to life than death and blood that weighed upon him. He wanted more that status and loyalty that only seemed to go one way.
For what did it mean to be loyal if they were loyal back to you?
For he was a sword, a shield, a knight, but not a man,
Not a person.
He was not known or loved.
He was a mere pawn on a board. To be replaced eventually.
This knight knew it though mechanically his feet had dragged him from Cairn and all through Aureli Forest to kill a beast he held no ill will towards.
And that beast, the dragon with more humanity than the knight’s fellow men, knew. He knew and pitied the knight.
And asked him a question again:
“What do you want then? Speak your heart and I will make it real.”
And the knight answered, though only the dragon knows what he said in truth.
Love? Revenge? Freedom?
We do not know what the dragon gave the knight.
But he gave all he could to the knight for he was the first man to ever hold his favor.
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The question comes out of nowhere. Thin air. Or so Ira thought as everything with that question stops. His body as he rushed forward to attack stops. The dragon stops. The forest itself and all its creatures stop. It was as if everything in the confines of these woods turned inward. It all turned inward to look at him. Looking into the others that came before Ira, The Dragon saw what they wanted. What they desired. Fame. Money. Pride. Praise. Self-Preservation. Selfishness. “You’re unlike all the rest.” All those who came before this little knight to slay him knew what they wanted going into this journey. Their minds were were full of selfish desires. “But you on the other hand? You are a blank slate. An empty vessel who is filled with other’s choices and wants and desires.” Always walking one step in front of another. Never looking back. For what reason is there when you are such a loyal dog, who never questions commands? The dragon’s eyes look down upon Ira. They were gold and clear and…beautiful? Was it possible to find beauty in your quarry? “What do you want?” The dragon asks Ira again. It lowers its head, it’s body fully to the ground. At his full height, he stands eye level to the dragon as the dragon laid fully to the ground from snout to tail tip. Ira can feel his breath rush all around him as the dragon breathed heavily. And as his rough voice echoes out again in his woods it rumbles through him. Sending goosebumps trailing across his skin. “What do you want, Mage-Knight? To kill me? To run and live your life? What do you want to do?” 
The Dragon offers him a choice. For the first time you have a choice. And by a dragon no less. A monster. A beast. Ira’s hands tremble at his sides. His spear falls loose in his grip. What do you want? |
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