We were nestled in our tent, sound asleep in the hammock, when Siveth burst in unannounced. “Wake up, you lovebirds!” she exclaimed, giving the hammock a forceful shove. Startled awake, I yelped in surprise and retorted, “What the hell?!” I saw her grinning face as Freya stirred beside me. She greeted Siveth with a sleepy “Good morning”, but my irritation was still fresh. “Please refrain from doing that again. I could have accidentally hurt her. Or bitten you without thinking,” I warned. Siveth laughed it off, saying, “Oh, calm down. No need to get so angry.” I glared at her, feeling slighted.

Just then, Erebus walked in and saw us cuddled together. He smiled and teased, “Aww, you two are so cute. What did you do last night?” I quickly responded, “Nothing. She was cold, so we slept together. Like the couple that we are.” Freya chimed in, “Yeah, and it’s still cold, I see.” Erebus quipped, “It’s not colder than yesterday. Are you feeling sick?” She looked at him and then at me. I examined her and saw that she appeared fine. She didn’t look fatigued or unwell at all. She reassured us, “I don’t think so.” Erebus shrugged and said, “Alright, whatever. I hope you’re not. Now get up. We have to go.” I inquired, “Go where?” He revealed, “We have another lesson today. Caine and Vexus will stay behind and guard the camp. Siveth will accompany us.”

I questioned, “Okay, how far is this place?” He replied, “Not too far. We’ll follow the river. We can fly there.” I asked, “How will she fly?” and glanced at Siveth. She assured, “I’ll swim up the river and follow you. Don’t worry.” Her stomach growled, and she added, “And maybe I’ll catch something to eat on the way.” Caine joked, “Ha ha, don’t eat one of them while you’re at it. You know how you get when you’re hungry.” She didn’t appreciate his humor and snapped at him, “Really? Thanks for telling me something I already know. I could eat you too!”

She lunged at him and bit his neck. Vexus tried to pull her off him, but she let go and yelled at him, “That’s what you get for making fun of me, brother.” Caine groaned in pain with a poisoned bite on his neck and apologized, “Sorry, sorry, I was joking, Siveth.” Vexus looked at him with concern and said, “Siveth, please don’t bite your brother like that. He was just joking.” She gave him the same look she gave Caine earlier and warned, “You’re lucky I ran out of poison. Otherwise, you’d get the same treatment.” He didn’t back down and said, “Damn it, Siveth, why are you always such a bitch with us? We didn’t mean to upset you. Sorry.”

Unforgiving, she pounced on him. She pinned his head to the ground with her claws. He struggled to free himself, but she bit him hard, even without poison. Then, she positioned herself to snap his spine, the same move she had used on me, but stopped short of actually doing it. She hissed, “Now shut up, or I’ll paralyze you for life.” He went silent and still, unable to speak. She was strangling him. He was on the brink of losing consciousness, but she sensed that and released him. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, and tried to get up again. None of us spoke a word. Caine’s neck was turning black, and he was drifting in and out of awareness.

Vexus noticed that and rushed to help him. He bit him without hesitation and watched him as he regained his senses shortly after. The black mark on his neck healed in less than fifteen minutes. Siveth observed everything in silence, but her anger was palpable. She was hungry and irate, and in a moment of audacity, I decided to provoke her. Since I was still in my form like theirs, I proposed, “Maybe, before we leave, I could try to have a duel with such a beast.”

She turned to me and regarded me as if I were one of her kin. She said, “Only because you’re not my brother and have other duties to fulfill, I’ll spare you this time. But maybe we’ll have some fun later if you’re so eager to get your ass kicked.” I retorted, “Uuuh, I can’t wait.” Erebus intervened and said, “Ok, everyone, get over yourself; now please get ready to move. We’ve wasted enough time.” After he said that, I shifted back to my original dragon form, and we headed to the river. Siveth dove into it, and Erebus asked her, “Do you remember the way?” She replied, “Yeah, it’s not like I can get lost. There aren’t many paths in this river.”

We then took flight, and she swam alongside us. She was remarkably fast and agile in the water. It was like watching a crocodile stalking its prey. Even though she was only swimming, she kept pace with us effortlessly.

As we journeyed, we observed a group of quadrupeds crossing the river. Resembling sheep, yet distinctively different, these creatures were not the brightest of animals. Upon sighting Siveth, they did not scatter in fear but rather continued their leisurely water crossing. Siveth, seizing the opportunity, selected her target and submerged herself stealthily. A few moments later, one of the sheep vanished beneath the water's surface, leaving only a triumphant Siveth in its wake.

"What a hunter!" I exclaimed, "You're indeed a cold-blooded killer."

"Oh, thank you," she replied, seemingly satisfied with her breakfast. Plunging once more into the river, she re-emerged having consumed another two sheep.

Emerging from the water, a slight bulge near her stomach testified to her recent feast. Glancing at Freya and me, she stated, "Typically, this is the fate of a shadow dragon who falls into our clutches."

"That's horrifying and cruel," I retorted, shuddering at the thought. She merely chuckled in response and continued to lead the way.

After another hour of flying, Erebus pointed out a distant shimmering lake. "Do you see that?" he asked.

"See what?" I queried.

"Over there," he replied, "We're landing there."

"Oh, finally!" I exclaimed. Freya muttered, "Just keep that twisted dragon away from me."

"Who?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Siveth. How dare she talk to my husband like that?" she hissed. I reassured her, "Don't worry, I doubt I'll ever be on her menu for real."

Erebus interjected, "She's just teasing. Don't take her too seriously."

"What happens if a shadow dragon comes here?" I wondered aloud.

"Well, she wasn't lying about the interrogation. If they cooperate, they'll be released into the wild, wingless. If they don't…" He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

"You kill them?" I asked, prompting him to continue.

"I don't kill them. I don't like killing my own kind. But the Earth Dragon won't hesitate to do so and make them her lunch."

A shiver of fear ran through me. "Please tell me there aren't other creatures like her that do the same thing."

"I’m afraid there are. And maybe, now that you can shapeshift, you should avoid this form," he advised.

Upon landing on the lake's shore, Siveth emerged from the water, looking as if she was about to be sick.

"Are you alright? Did you overeat?" I asked, concerned.

She did not respond, but to my surprise, she regurgitated a pristine bone. Freya shrieked and hid behind me, muttering, "That is so revolting."

I turned to Erebus and whispered, "Is this normal, or is she trying to impress us?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" he retorted.

"I don't know. I doubt she'll be honest with me," I replied cautiously, not wanting her to overhear our conversation.

"She usually disposes of her victims with one of her brothers. Don't ask me why. This is just how they are," he finally added, as Siveth approached us.

Feeling a surge of disgust, I lost any desire to shapeshift into an Earth Dragon. Meanwhile, Siveth reached us and eyed Freya and me with curiosity. Sensing her approach, Erebus instructed, "Stay here. I'll be back soon." But his departure wasn't out of necessity. He was just as repulsed by the scene as we were.

Alone we were: myself, Freya, and Siveth. Siveth continued her grotesque display, ejecting an even larger bone than before, followed by yet another. A macabre pile of bones began to form. "Could you please cease this in our presence?" I implored. She retorted, "Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet." True to her word, we hadn’t. She disgorged a complete skull. A ghastly ovine skull, unlike any I had seen in the kingdom.

Just as we were adjusting to the spectacle, something went awry. Siveth began to cough violently, clutching at her throat. An enormous bone was visibly lodged within her. Her coughing persisted, but the bone remained stubbornly lodged, eventually shifting to an even more precarious position. Panic flickered in her eyes as she gestured desperately for assistance. We were hesitant, reluctant to intervene in her self-inflicted plight, but her feeble utterance of "I can't breathe" compelled us to act.

"What should we do?" I queried. She offered no response, clearly unable to rectify the situation herself. Freya suggested, “Perhaps you could aid her in expelling the bone?” I questioned, “How? By applying pressure to her throat?” She replied, “Do something, anything. You are the stronger one here.” I asked, “Are you certain?” She glanced at Siveth, then stated, “We cannot simply watch her suffocate.” Resignedly, I agreed, “Alright, I’ll help her, but only because you requested it.” I then transformed into the Earth Dragon, a form I had hoped to never assume again.

Swiftly, I positioned myself at her side, wrapping my arms around her and applying a technique I had only briefly observed. I pressed forcefully on her chest, hoping to dislodge the bone. Yet, nothing happened. Siveth gasped for air, her gaze filled with terror. She futilely attempted to remove the obstruction herself, but it was lodged too deeply for her claws to reach.

Her desperate eyes pleaded with me as she gestured towards her throat. I recoiled, “You expect me to insert my arm down there? Absolutely not.” Her panic heightened, gasping for air and frantically clawing at her throat. Observing her fading strength, I made a snap decision. “Hold still. I’ll do it.” I forced open her jaws and did the unthinkable: I thrust my arm down her revolting, slimy gullet until I felt something hard. A bone. I gripped and pulled, causing her unbearable pain. Siveth snapped her mouth shut, trapping my arm between her teeth. Her fangs pierced my flesh, but surprisingly, no venom followed.

Her teeth impaled my arm, holding me captive. I gritted my teeth, waiting for her jaws to relax, praying she wouldn't sever my limb. Eventually, she slightly opened her mouth, and I seized the opportunity, removing the lodged spine. Recoiling in disgust at the bloody, saliva-coated spine, I tossed it aside, exclaiming, “How did you even swallow that? And look at this mess, my arm is ruined. Thanks a lot, Siveth.” She gasped for air, apologizing, “Thank you. I’m sorry for biting you. But I’m afraid there might be two more.” I stared at her in disbelief, “What? How many did you consume?” Although I had anticipated the answer, I blurted out the question. She sheepishly confessed, “Three maybe? They were too delicious.” Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, I wanted to curse every entity in existence, including her. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “So I have to assist you with each one?” She nodded and admitted, “Ehm, probably, eheh.” I retorted, “I’m not your sibling who does this for you. Don’t get accustomed to this.” She looked at me with surprise and queried, “Wait, how do you know that?” I replied, “I was informed. Now, let’s finish this before Erebus returns.”

The ordeal was far from over. She continued to cough and expel bones, each time requiring my intervention when she choked. The second spine came out with relative ease, but the third was a greater challenge. She bit into my arm again, injecting her venom. Overwhelmed with pain and numbness, I quickly switched to my other arm. Realizing her mistake, she tried not to bite me again. I managed to extract the spine, but we were both bleeding heavily. I healed myself first, then moved closer to tend to her injuries.

My arms were a canvas of blood and slime, bearing the stench of death. I attempted to cleanse them in the water, but it provided little relief. Rubbing them with sand, I tried to scrape off the grime. This method proved somewhat effective, unveiling new scales that had grown beneath. A grim thought crossed my mind - should I have just severed my arms and regrown fresh ones? The thought of the pain gave me pause, and I lacked both the courage and the means. I needed to find an alternative solution.

Upon our return from the harrowing experience, Freya and Erebus rejoined us. They had absconded during the ordeal, likely finding one another somewhere. They surveyed the pile of bones that remained. Erebus grimaced, turning to Siveth, “I hope you’re finished with that. Please dispose of them.” He implored. Siveth nodded in agreement, “Yes, apologies, give me a moment.” With that, she collected the bones and vanished.

The shock of what we had done still coursed through me, a sickness nesting in my stomach. The memory of repeatedly plunging my arm down her throat to save her life was nauseating. Freya, noticing my pallor, inquired, “Did you really do that?” I could only respond with a weak nod, “Regrettably, yes, and please don’t remind me. I’m never going to do that again. Next time, I’ll let her choke.” Freya frowned, “So, you would let her die then? Despite everything, you did something commendable.” I shook my head, “I wouldn’t let her die, but I wouldn't willingly repeat that act every time she chokes. Now, PLEASE, can we change the subject? Erebus, why are we here?”

Erebus cleared his throat, “Right, good point. Ehm, we came here expecting to meet some friends who could assist you and Siveth in developing a new ability.” I raised an eyebrow, “What ability are you referring to?” His response was a question, “How good are you at swimming?” I shrugged, “I wouldn't win any medals, but I won’t drown at least. I’d say I’m at a basic level.” He replied, “We should work on that today, then. Maintain this form a bit longer.” I retorted, “Not that I planned on shapeshifting anytime soon.” Erebus scanned the surroundings, then mused, “Where did she go? She’s taking quite a while to dispose of her things.” I added, “That's for the best. The farther she takes those, the less likely I’ll ever have to see them again.”

Freya turned to him, her eyes questioning. “Erebus, what about me? Will you teach me something too?” He shook his head, regret tinging his voice, “I fear only Cyrus could enlighten you further about your element.” Her sigh echoed in the silence, “Ah, Cyrus. Haven't seen him in a while.” He responded, his voice heavy with concern, “I hope they’re all still alive, but I can’t help but fear the worst. Regardless, shall we begin?” I steeled myself, “Why not?” and approached the icy cold water. It stung, but I could bear it.

Erebus raised an eyebrow, “Have you ever swum in this form?” I shook my head, confusion lining my voice, “Not really. How does it work?” He pondered for a moment, “Well, that’s why I was wondering when Siveth would return. But I believe you have to engage your entire body, not just your legs. Did you observe her swimming?”

I nodded, remembering, “Yeah, I can give it a shot.” I attempted to swim as she had, but my efforts were a disaster. I couldn’t even swim straight or manage to dive. Frustrated, I muttered, “I think I could swim better in my other form,” but Erebus was firm, “You need to learn this way for now.” I swallowed my protest and continued to mimic Siveth’s movements. Slowly, I improved, but I was nowhere near as adept as her. I was slow and quickly tired, eventually retreating to the shore to catch my breath. Gasping, I managed to say, “Wow, that’s exhausting.” They were silent, leading me to add, “Isn’t Siveth back yet?”

Freya smirked, “That predator has probably found another catch,” echoing my earlier jibe. Just then, Siveth appeared, a bird's feathers peeking from her mouth, a triumphant gleam in her eyes. I stared, incredulous. “What the hell? How much can you eat?” I blurted. She shrugged nonchalantly, licking her lips, “This was just a dessert I stumbled upon. Apologies for the delay.”

Erebus rolled his eyes, swiftly changing the topic, “Regardless, now that you’re back, could you teach him how to swim?” She nodded, her smile warm, “Of course, Nox, let’s swim together.” I felt a wave of apprehension wash over me. “Keep it professional. I swear, make it weird and you’ll regret it,” I warned. She raised an eyebrow, challenging me, “Oh? What will you do?” I opened my mouth to retort but was speechless. She burst into laughter, “Come on, don’t take it personally. Let’s get back to it.” And so, we plunged back into the water.

Under her guidance, I learned to coordinate my limbs and tail with hers. Observing her movements in person was far more insightful than merely recalling them. She offered numerous tips, which I diligently followed. In no time, I was swimming faster, reveling in the newfound freedom and speed.

Next, she taught me to dive and hold my breath, leading to a competition of who could stay underwater the longest. Surprisingly, I won, discovering that I didn't need air. Somehow, I was producing oxygen.

Emerging from the water, I turned to Erebus, “Quick question. Is it possible that I make my own oxygen underwater? I could stay there for hours.” He pondered this, “Unless you’re a water dragon, that's unusual. Siveth, is this normal?” She shook her head, “No, neither I nor my brothers can breathe underwater. So, that's not normal.” Erebus concluded, “I think you've discovered a new ability. Well done.” I nodded, “Another achievement.” Siveth teased, “Okay, don’t brag too much. You’re not a pro swimmer yet.” I replied, “Don’t worry. I will be soon.” She challenged, “We’ll see. I look forward to watching you try.” We continued to swim, sometimes underwater, sometimes with only our noses above the surface, like alligators. It felt strange, but it was effortless. I felt like I could swim for hours, just as I could hold my breath.

She then demonstrated her speed and agility in the water. I tried to match her, but I fell short.

With every fiber of my being, I pushed myself to the brink, my muscles aching as I sprinted through the water. Each surge forward was swifter than the last, but the exertion was taking its toll. Just as I thought our aquatic escapades were over, she leaped from the water with the grace of a dolphin, daring me to follow suit.

Begging her to demonstrate the technique once more, she obliged. Her body arched gracefully in mid-air before she dove back into the water, before playfully spraying some water at me and teasing, “Poisoned, be careful.” Fully aware it was merely water, I played along, feigning agony, “Oh no, my eyes, they burn. Ahaha.” Her laughter echoed through the air, filling me with a surge of confidence to attempt the move.

Plunging deep into the water, I angled myself upwards and kicked off with all my might. One, two, three, and suddenly, I was airborne, the wind whipping against my face. In my excitement, I forgot to tuck my head down, resulting in a painful landing on my back. Amidst my groans, she commended my efforts, “Good jump, but we should work on the dive.” Agreeing to give it another shot, I attempted the dive again, with a similarly painful outcome.

After a few more failed attempts, she offered some advice. “You should use your wings while you’re out of the water. They can help you change direction while falling. Also, point your head down. It’s just like diving in the air, I guess.”

Despite the differences between diving in air and water, I decided to heed her advice. The result was a slight improvement - I landed on my chest instead of my back. After a second attempt, I finally nailed it. However, the victory was short-lived as water rushed into my nose, causing me to burst out of the water, coughing and sneezing.

“Hey, you just made it! And sorry, I forgot to tell you to exhale through your nose as you dive in the water.” She apologized.

After a few more attempts, I finally managed to complete the dive without any hiccups. Exhilarated, I exclaimed, “This is so cool!” She humored me with a response, “It’s still nothing compared to what a water dragon can do, but fine, you’re good enough for an Earth Dragon.”

With newfound confidence, I thanked her for her guidance. “Thank you. I learned from the best.” Her smile was warm as she responded, “Thanks, I’m so proud. What do you think about trying another race?”

Setting up a course marked by rocks under the water, we prepared ourselves for another race. This time, the stakes were higher, it was a single lap with multiple dives, underwater obstacles, and a jump back into the lake. The thrilling challenge was a great way to put my newly acquired skills to the test. With Erebus and Freya giving the start signal, we took off like rockets.

The initial stages of the race were neck and neck. However, a slight misstep on her part allowed me to take the lead. Despite her best efforts to catch up, I managed to maintain my lead, eventually reaching the finish line first. Basking in the glory of my victory, I declared, “1-0 for Nox!” Unwilling to accept defeat, she immediately challenged me to a rematch, which I gladly accepted.

Our friendly competition continued, with the grand prize going to the first to reach five wins. With the score at 3-1 in my favor, she managed to claw her way back to a 3-2. However, I prevailed in the next race, bringing the score up to 4-3. Exhausted but determined, I won the final race, securing my victory.

Despite her attempts to raise the stakes, I declined. She conceded, “Alright, congratulations. You won. You’re a fast learner.” I replied, “Yeah, but you should race fair and square, you know?” She chuckled, “Hey, we didn’t specify any rules, so anything goes.” I retorted, “Next time, we’ll race with rules. I don’t appreciate getting a rock smashed into my face and you poisoning me.”

As the day drew to a close, we met up with Erebus and Freya. Freya attempted to congratulate me with a hug, but I was too wet and slippery. She admired our aquatic antics, expressing a desire to join us sometime. Agreeing to her request, I asked, “I could, but do you know how to swim?” She replied, “Even though I’m a wind dragon, I know. Not as well as you, but I know how to swim.”

Indeed, our racing had taken up the entire afternoon. Erebus chimed in, “I thought we would meet some water dragons today too, but it seems they didn't show up.” Siveth clarified, “That's because they never show up two days before the full moon, only the day before.” Erebus shrugged, “Oops. My mistake. Anyway, good job. Did you enjoy the swim?”

Reliving the adrenaline rush of the races, I responded, “It was amazing, and I never thought I could be so fast underwater and see so clearly.” He chuckled, “Alright, champion, how about swimming back home with Siveth then? Going down the river is different from being in the lake, and I think you'll like it. Right Siveth?” She confirmed, “Of course, it’s even better. You’ll love it.”

With a sense of apprehension, I agreed but made sure to request, “Alright, but take care of Freya for me. I don't want anything to happen to her while I'm in the water.”

Freya, however, was quick to assert her independence. “I can take care of myself, Nox. Thank you very much.” I hastily apologized, “Alright, sorry.”

We resumed our aquatic journey, with Siveth as my guide. The others had flown back home, leaving us to navigate the waterways alone. During our swim, we encountered the same flock of sheep we'd seen earlier, now returning to the opposite riverbank.

Siveth paused, her eyes narrowing at the wooly creatures, and I quickly interjected, "No, you've had enough for today. You don’t need to hunt anymore. I won’t help you dispose of the bones again.” Her response caught me off guard. “Relax," she said. "I’m not going to hunt them. You are.”

I protested immediately. "No, I’m not hungry, and I don’t want to kill such an innocent creature if I don’t have to.” She insisted, arguing that I needed to learn this skill. Her instructions were simple: catch a sheep, drag it underwater, and deliver a swift, lethal bite.

I hesitated, feeling both reluctant and uneasy. She was persistent, though, and countered my concerns about wasting the sheep. "It won’t go to waste. You could feast on it. Believe me, they’re delicious. If not, something else in the river will—perhaps another dragon.”

With a resigned sigh, I agreed, selecting a lone sheep that had strayed from the flock. I plunged underwater, seized it by the neck, and bit down hard, my strength snapping its neck. The dreadful crack echoed in my ears, and a wave of guilt washed over me. I felt sorry for the creature, and my appetite vanished.

Siveth reappeared then, snatching my prey and swallowing it whole. I watched in shock as she consumed the entire creature, bones and all. She surfaced beside me, asking, "Hey, what’s wrong?” I remained silent, processing the scene I'd just witnessed.

When she pressed me about the sheep, I finally voiced my disgust. “How could you consume a creature that size, raw and whole? I’m appalled.” She shrugged. “You can do it too, you know? In fact, you need to learn. Let’s try it.” I asked for a moment to gather myself, but she was insistent. “No, we don’t have time. We do it now.”

She guided me back into the water, pointing out the last few sheep crossing the river. "Now, catch one and make it your dinner. It’s not hard. It’s like eating a whole fruit. I’ve seen you do that. It’s about the same size.” Despite her encouragement, I remained unconvinced. This was different, and I didn't want to deal with the bones.

But Siveth left me no choice. I was far from home, lost in unfamiliar territory, and she was adamant that we would not continue until I complied. I felt like a child being disciplined by a stern mother. So, I singled out another sheep and repeated the grisly act.

Siveth swam over, expecting me to feast. I defied her, securing the lifeless creature where the current wouldn't sweep it away. Then, trying to deceive myself, I gulped down a mouthful of water and flesh. The taste made me nauseous.

I immediately jumped out of the water, disgusted.

The rain was pouring heavily now, but the weather was the least of my concerns. Siveth swam up to me and said, “You made it! I’m proud of you,” but her words brought me no comfort. I felt shattered and sobbed uncontrollably. This burden was too much to bear.

Siveth seemed to understand my pain. She brushed away the raindrops from my face and tried to reassure me. “You did something completely natural. You need to feed yourself and learn how to hunt. You did it perfectly.”

But I disagreed. “I don’t need to kill to survive and feed myself. You don’t understand.” She argued that I needed to learn, regardless of my powers. “Whatever your power is, you have to be prepared if it ever stops working.”

Overwhelmed, I tried to vomit again, but only water came out. Siveth quickly stopped me. “Don’t do that. You’ll suffocate yourself.” I couldn't understand. She added, “You can’t throw it up.”

I collapsed, feeling a sudden delicious sensation in my mouth. It was the flavor of my prey. Siveth seemed surprised that I hadn't noticed it earlier. I savored the taste, but couldn't accept what I had done. I admitted, “I’m scared of what’s next.” She asked, “What do you mean?” I said, “The bones. How will I deal with them?” She reassured me, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Just like everyone else.”

As the weather took a turn for the worse, the rain intensified, growing so loud it was like a roar. “Nox, we have to go now. We need to get back before the river floods,” she warned. Observing the rapidly rising water level, I concurred, “Alright, we need to hurry.”

Initially, the water was clear, but it didn't take long for it to become muddied and murky. I stayed close to her as we swam. After about twenty minutes, she leaped out of the river, and I followed in suit. However, upon landing, I fell flat on my stomach, groaning as I felt something lodged in my throat. It was a bone.

“Not now. We have to get away from the river,” Siveth urged. I clenched my jaw to suppress the urge, and we sprinted deeper into the jungle. When we finally stopped, she said, “Okay, now you can…”

Before she could finish her sentence, I spat out the bones. The experience was dreadful, but fortunately, even the spine came out easily. It didn’t get stuck like it did for her. “Oh, you’re lucky. Usually that gets stuck for everyone," she remarked.

“I guess I’m different, thankfully,” I replied, then asked, “So, did you like it?”

“No, it was awful. I’ll never eat something so big again, even if the aftertaste was good,” I admitted. She teased me, “Haha, so you admit it was good? We can do it again sometime.” I protested, “No way!”

On our way back, I posed a question, “Why is this process so fast? How can a whole creature like that disappear in less than half an hour?” She explained, “We have to be fast in nature. We absorb and restore energy quickly. Every minute counts in times of danger.”

Pondering her words, I asked another question. “How could you eat three of them? I was stuffed with one.” She responded, “You could do it too. You just didn’t feel the need. And I hadn’t eaten for a whole week, so I was hungry.” I said, “Okay, that makes sense. Thank you.”

As we neared the village, the rain washed away the slimy substance that had coated me during our swim. Intrigued, I asked Siveth, “What was that stuff that made me so slippery? Is it some kind of adaptation for the water?”

She nodded and said, “Exactly. It also makes it harder for anyone to grab us, like you tried to do. You must have noticed that.” Recalling our playful struggle, I replied, “Oh, right. I couldn’t get a hold of you at all. You just slid out of my grasp.” She chuckled, “It was hilarious, wasn’t it?” I agreed, “It was fun. We should do it again sometime.”

As we entered the village, our cheerful voices rang out and caught Freya's attention. She came to greet us, asking, "Oh, you're back. That's lovely! What's the topic of your conversation?" I remained silent, but Siveth saw an opportunity to tease me. "Your husband," she began, "has just learned the art of catching and devouring a sheep. A whole one."

Freya regarded me skeptically. "That doesn't seem likely," she retorted. Siveth, however, insisted, "Oh, it's true. He's even managed to handle the bones and everything." Feeling embarrassed, I burst out, "Okay, enough. I'm leaving." I attempted to slip away, but Freya, now intrigued, turned to Siveth. "Did you do to him what he did to you?" she queried.

Siveth looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" she asked. Freya clarified, "The whole arm-down-the-throat thing." Shaking her head, Siveth replied, "No, he managed that on his own. He's lucky. I can't do that." As I walked away in search of a quiet, dry spot, Freya watched me go.

My hope for peace was short-lived as I soon ran into Erebus. He asked, "So, how was your trip down the river?" With a sigh, I replied, "It was an adventure, until the rain began." He nodded knowingly, "I suppose you were caught in the flood?" "Yes," I admitted, "but that wasn't the worst part. Did you know that I don't feel hunger or need to eat?" His surprise was evident. "No, I didn't. Do tell me more."

I explained, "Well, it's quite simple. I don't need to eat anything. But today, under Siveth's guidance, I killed two of those peculiar sheep for no reason. Do you think that would be considered a crime that could bar me from the Bright City?"

His eyes widened in disbelief. "How do you know about that?" he asked. "The last time I heard about it was from Akira." I took a deep breath and revealed, "I've been to that city after Akira killed me with a light sword. They informed me that each time I die, I would return there, and I could come back safely unless I committed a crime. They were vague about the specifics of the crime, though."

He seemed to gloss over most of my story, focusing on one detail. "Akira summoned a light sword? Really?" he exclaimed in awe. I confirmed, "Yes, and it's an extraordinarily deadly weapon. If it touches you, well, it's over!" His awe deepened. "That's incredible! She never managed to summon that before, although she claimed to have seen it in a vision. It seems she's fulfilling some kind of prophecy."

I frowned. "What prophecy are we talking about now?" He scratched his head, trying to recall. "I'm not quite sure. It's an ancient one. But it foretells of a light dragon who can wield the light sword, bringing back the light dragons to the world." I shrugged. "Well, she's had a son, and he's a light dragon, so hasn't she already fulfilled that?"

He leaned forward eagerly. "Really? Is he a half-blood or a pure element?" I informed him, "He's a half-blood Fire Dragon, but leans more towards the Light Dragon side." He pondered this for a moment. "That should be impossible. Such dragons usually don't survive for long. How old is he?" I replied, "He's not a baby anymore. He's strong and learning the Light Element every day, even without his mother's guidance. We were watching over him until we came here."

Once again, I explained our mission to Erebus and handed him the radio that flashed a red light. Recognizing the device, he confirmed our suspicions. The distress signal was active. He fiddled with some buttons, but to no avail. Suddenly, voices echoed in our heads: “Is the vision connection still working?” I responded affirmatively, “Yes, it is.” Two other voices chimed in, Juno and Luna, who joyfully exclaimed, “Hi dad! We can hear you.” Erebus shot me a stunned look and swiftly cut off the vision connection.

“Who were they?” he asked. “My daughters, Juno and Luna,” I replied. “They discovered Vision Connections by accident, and we've since studied that ability.” His eyes widened. “They can intercept the communication between others. That’s a rare and remarkable skill.” I nodded, adding, “They’re still young, yet they’re learning faster than I can teach them. They’re two little shadow dragons with extraordinary gifts.”

Erebus pressed me for more details, and I shared everything I knew with him. Despite the long years of absence, I felt I could trust him. We then reestablished a Vision Connection with Akira. “I can’t reach her. It’s as if she’s blocking me,” he said, frustration lining his voice. I offered to try, and managed to establish a vision connection with her, not by using the dark element, but using the light one. It worked, but before I could say anything, she demanded, “Who’s contacting me through a vision? Identify yourself!” I calmly replied, “It’s me, Nox, and Erebus.” We engaged in conversation, and I was relieved to hear she was still alive.

Akira inquired about Erebus, stating she didn’t want to hear anything from him but was curious if he had changed at all. We both agreed he hadn’t.

The conversation shifted towards the radio, revealing a problem. They had been trapped in a labyrinthine cavern for days. As we discussed it, a memory flashed in my mind. “Akira,” I asked, “are there some torches in that maze that are not lit?” She confirmed, “Yes, there are. Fyrenthos is lighting them as we go, but they burn out quickly.” A surge of dread washed over me as I told her, “Akira, I believe I've seen that place in a nightmare, and I don’t mean to alarm you, but the dark lord might be there too.” She reassured me, “Don’t worry, he’s not here. I would sense his presence if he was. Anyway, can you see what I see?”

I shook my head. “Not really. I can only talk. Maybe Erebus can, but he says something is blocking him from making a Vision Connection with you.” She exclaimed, “That’s me! I don’t want him snooping around. But since he’s with you, I’ll allow it. Maybe he can help.”

I relayed this to Erebus, and he established a vision connection with her. I joined in, and so did my daughters, whom I promptly asked to leave us alone. They didn’t listen, so Akira threatened them, “Juno and Luna, if you don’t respect our privacy, I’ll lock you out of this connection forever and every other one you could ever make to anyone else.” They apologized and ended their Vision Connection.

As I looked through Erebus’s eyes, I recognized the maze and asked, “Have you been here before?” He nodded. “Yeah, but it was a long time ago. I don’t remember much.” Yet, I did remember, and I told them, “Look for a room with shiny walls. Do you see it?” They said they did and headed towards it. Once they reached the room, I knew the way, so I guided them through the twists and turns of the maze until they saw a faint glimmer of light. It was not much of a light source. The land outside was shrouded in darkness as well. That's when I realized we were in the same timezone. It was dark here too.

Akira exclaimed with relief, “Wow, we made it! Thank you so much.” Erebus suggested, “Hey, why don’t you come over? Nox has been learning a lot from me lately.” After giving her the directions, she said, “Alright, we’ll be on our way. See you soon. And thank you again, really.” We both said in unison, “You’re welcome.”

We ended the Vision Connection. I gazed at Erebus, a surge of relief and satisfaction washing over me. “At last,” I said, “I think we have completed our mission. I hope they can escape from those lands now.” He smiled back at me, his eyes warm and proud. “They will make it. I’m sure of it. And I’m happy for you, for everything you’ve done, and for not going into those lands like you were planning to.” I nodded gratefully, feeling a pang of nostalgia. “Thank you for your wise words,” I said. “By the way, do you mind if I stay here for a while longer?” He shook his head. “Not at all. In fact, I was going to ask you if you wanted to stay. We still have some training to do.”

I nodded and thanked him again, then reverted to my original form and headed to my hammock. The air was chilly, and I felt a strange sensation in my stomach. I shifted into the Earth Dragon again and curled up in the hammock. Soon after, Freya joined me, snuggling close to me. She noticed the bulge in my belly and asked, “Uh, what is that?” I groaned. “Probably just a bone.” She poked it curiously, making it wiggle inside me. I winced. “Hey, stop that. It makes me feel sick.”

Ignoring my plea, she continued to prod it until she hit a sensitive spot. I felt a surge of nausea. I shoved her aside in the hammock and leaped out myself. The bone was lodged in my throat, and I sprinted to the jungle to spit it out. The experience was horrible. I rinsed my mouth with some water and returned to the hammock, where Freya was waiting for me with an apologetic look.

“Can you give me some space?” I asked her. She nodded and hopped off the hammock. I climbed back in, and she jumped on me again, cuddling up to me. “Um, is it okay now?” she asked. I sighed. “Yes, it’s fine now. Thank goodness you didn’t find another one.” She chuckled. “No, no, it’s fine.” I adjusted myself to get comfortable and wrapped my wings around her.

Another day was over. Finally.