A New Development

For an extended period, I found myself in a state of sensory deprivation. My ability to see or hear had been lost, leaving only touch and smell as my sources of interaction with the world. My memory was a blank slate, leaving me without a clue of who I was or what had occurred to result in my current condition. My mobility was severely limited, yet I was aware that someone was caring for me. My body felt foreign, and for good reason - it was not the one I had been born with.

In my attempts to explore my new form, I discovered that my hands and feet were no longer human. In place of fingers and toes were claws, sharp enough to draw blood if I used them with too much force. My skin was covered with scales that felt cold and rough. The thought crossed my mind that I had died and somehow transformed into a demon. Lying still and totally blind on the hard ground, I waited for a miracle or an explanation.

It didn’t take long before I felt myself being lifted and transported somewhere. My senses indicated that it was most likely a dragon, possibly similar to my new form. I was placed on a soft surface, akin to a pillow. The comfort lulled me back into a peaceful sleep, unaware of the duration of this state of limbo.

Upon waking, my situation remained unchanged. I was still blind and deaf, trapped in a small dragon's body. The fear of the unknown was overwhelming, as I had no knowledge of myself or my surroundings. Attempts to speak were futile, as my mouth and tongue were also different. My words emerged as unintelligible sounds that I couldn't hear. I voiced my confusion and fears, but whether anyone responded, I couldn't tell.

Days morphed into one another, and I found myself not needing to eat or drink. I existed in a state of waiting, my disability confining me to a world of boredom and frustration. Every so often, I was moved from one location to another, completely dependent on the individual or individuals caring for me. Their treatment was gentle and patient. At times, they encouraged me to walk on my four legs, a task that presented its own set of challenges. On one occasion, I was thrown into the air, the wind rushing past me as I fell. In my fear, I instinctively opened my wings and flew blindly until I collided with an unknown object. I was caught and gently placed back on the ground, left to stand on my own.

This routine continued until one day, I perceived a faint sound and a blurry shape in front of me. This was the first indication of an improvement in my condition. Over time, my vision and hearing improved, and I was able to distinguish the faces and voices of the dragons around me. Memories began to resurface, although my attempts to speak were still hindered by my unfamiliar tongue and vocal cords. I practiced speaking to myself with simple words, but there was no one to assist me in relearning speech. Nonetheless, I gradually regained completelymy senses, but my original identity remained elusive.

Recognition of my new form was difficult. I had shapeshifted into a creature I never wanted to be. My memory was inconsistent, my senses were heightened, and my identity was fragmented. I realized that I was surrounded by female dragons who had been caring for me. I pleaded with them to provide a mirror or any reflective surface that could reveal my new form. They complied and led me to a polished surface. The reflection I saw was startling: a young dragon with light blue and matte black scales and unusual markings. I was not fully grown, but my appearance was already monstrous. The sight of myself as a dragon filled me with self-loathing. It felt savage and unnatural. Despite my physical transformation, my soul remained human, and I hated every moment of this accursed existence.

I inquired about Kari and the queen, and was informed that they were in the same palace and I could visit them anytime. Kari, however, did not reside within the palace. I requested their guidance to navigate the unfamiliar corridors, an offer they accepted. They escorted me to a point and gave me directions to the main room, where I had previously encountered the queen. They then departed, leaving me to continue on my own. I thanked them, masking the anger that seethed within me over the inexplicable and unjust events that had transpired.

As I followed their instructions, a familiar voice resonated in my mind, bringing a smile to my face. It was Akira. She began with a hesitant, "Errrhm…" and paused. I quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, it's still me. Raphael." Ensuring that no one was nearby to hear me speaking to seemingly no one, she expressed her disbelief, "Raphael? What happened to you? Are you wearing some kind of dragon costume?" I wished her assumption was correct. With a heavy heart, I replied, "No, Akira. I think I'm a dragon now." Her gasp of surprise was followed by an excited exclamation, "Wow, really? I want to see you. But first, listen: we've got your messengers. Cyrus and Sol are on their way to you. They’ll be there soon." Her voice betrayed a hint of fear. As she spoke, I stopped by another mirror in the hallway and showed her my reflection. The image looking back at me was a smaller version of Zeno - the fallen Zeno. Anxiety coursed through me as I asked, "How soon? Will they even recognize me? Do you know how to change me back?" Her response was curious, "Why would you want to change back? You look more like us now." Desperation crept into my voice as I insisted, "But I’m not one of you, Akira! Please help me!" Her regret was palpable as she replied, "I’m sorry, Raphael. I don’t know what to do." I felt a sense of hopelessness. Neither did I. I sought comfort from her, "Was this supposed to happen? Did you see this in your visions?" She responded confidently, "Yes, it was." My anger flared, "Why didn’t you warn me? I hate this!" She hesitated before responding softly, "I couldn’t tell you. Forgive me." I wanted to argue, but I knew she was bound by the rules of the guardians. Instead, I said, "It’s okay. Can you do me a favor, though?" She cautiously agreed, "Maybe. What is it?" I requested, "Can you tell Cyrus and Sol about this?" Her response was swift, "No, I can’t. This is already too risky for me to talk to you like this. Actually, can you do me a favor? Don’t tell anyone about our vision connection, please." Her voice was filled with sorrow and fear. I reassured her, "Okay, Akira. Don’t worry. Thank you for everything." She didn’t answer. It was as if she had vanished from my mind. I left the mirror behind and headed for the queen’s room.

Before entering, I peeked through the door and saw her sitting on the throne. I cleared my throat and asked for permission, "May I, Raphael, speak with your majesty, Queen Freya?" Her response was cold, "Of course, Raphael. It’s not like we haven’t seen each other in ages." I stepped into the room and bowed to her. "Thank you for helping me get through this. I really appreciate it," I said sincerely. She looked at me with a distant expression, "You’re welcome," she said flatly.

Summoning my courage, I asked, "What happened to me? I still feel strange. And how did you recognize me as Raphael?" She sighed and explained, "One question at a time, please. First of all, Kira brought you here while you were dissolving into white smoke. Fortunately for you, we are wind dragons, and we could keep you together until you regained your form." I nodded and thanked her for the explanation and for saving me. She dismissed it with a wave of her hand, "Don’t mention it. Now, to answer your second question: You came back to life in a new form, but I recognized you with my own eyes. You have grown a lot in these few days. You are the first shapeshifter I have ever seen who can actually grow." I unintentionally interrupted her, "Shapeshifter? Does that mean I can return to my original form?" She shrugged, "Maybe, but I don’t know for sure. I’m not a shapeshifter myself, so you’ll have to figure that out on your own. Anyway, thank you for fixing the supply of health crystals and saving Kari’s tail. He told me about that." I smiled, feeling a sense of pride, "Oh, right. You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help."

At that moment, I noticed a picture on the wall behind her. It was a painting of a small dragon that looked like me, but younger and cuter. I hadn’t noticed it during my first visit, so I asked her about it, "Excuse me, who is that in the picture behind you?" She chuckled, "You’ve changed so much in such a short time. That’s you." I was taken aback, "Really? How adorable. Why did you paint me?" She clarified, "I didn’t paint you. Someone else did. I asked them to do it because I had never seen a little shadow dragon cute like you before. And you were so still and quiet that it was easy to capture your likeness." I responded, "How sweet of you! Now you’ll have a memory of me forever. What an honor." She looked at me and then at the picture with a wistful expression, "Yes, what an honor," she murmured, her voice taking on a tender tone.

Her sudden change in demeanor made me uncomfortable. I decided to leave, hoping to find Kari, who was more friendly and less intimidating than the queen. I excused myself awkwardly, "Ehm, if you don’t mind, I’m going to see Kari now. And then I suppose I’ll resume my previous task, right?" She gave a nonchalant nod, "Sure, sure, sure… Just remember that you’re always welcome here if you need anything or want to thank your caretakers again. We’ll appreciate it." I thanked her again, "I will, thank you, Queen Freya." She frowned, "Oh, please, just call me Freya, Raphael." She repeated it with the same strange tone.

Her tone unsettled me. What if she had fallen in love with me for some unknown reason? I had no romantic feelings for any dragons. And what if I rejected her? Would she punish me for refusing the queen in her own kingdom? These thoughts haunted me as I attempted to fly with my new pair of wings. They were still feathery like before, but darker like my body and much larger. Flying was different now that I was heavier and larger, but their size matched my new form, and everything was fine.