Upon awakening, a gnawing hunger immediately made its presence known. I attempted to disregard it, hoping to fall back into the comforting embrace of sleep, but it was a futile effort. My stomach growled and grumbled, disrupting Freya’s tranquil slumber beneath my wings. In a vain attempt to avoid disturbing her further, I feigned sleep. However, she wasn't fooled.

She nudged me gently, her voice a soft whisper in the darkness, “Hey, Nox, are you awake?”

I responded with a snort of annoyance, eyes remaining firmly shut.

“I know you’re not asleep,” she said, a note of certainty in her voice.

“Alright, alright, what is it?” I muttered, conceding defeat.

“The morning’s upon us. Perhaps you're hungry?"

The moment I opened my eyes, I saw her gaze fixed on me, a bizarre blend of curiosity and fear. She quickly retreated from my sight.

“Nox, your eyes! They resemble a viper’s,” she gasped out.

“Excuse me?” I said, confused. Rising from the hammock, I sought a reflective surface. Upon finding one, I realized the truth in her words. My eyes had morphed, becoming slitted and yellow. I quickly shapeshifted them back to their usual appearance. “I have no idea how that happened,” I confessed.

“I was afraid you were going to eat me with those eyes,” she admitted.

“Eat you? I could never consume another dragon, let alone my one true love. Please, don’t even entertain such a thought,” I reassured her.

She seemed to relax, replying with a simple "Ok, sorry."

In my earth dragon form, we decided it was time to venture outside in search of sustenance. The rest of the camp remained in slumber. “I could do with some food. Do you know where they keep the fruit?” I asked her.

“Yes, I can lead you there. Follow me!” she responded.

We trekked into the jungle, not far from our camp. Upon reaching a cluster of trees laden with fruit, we were greeted by a sweet aroma. The fruits were round, red, and appeared utterly inviting. I selected a ripe, juicy one and offered it to Freya. “Would you like one as well?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” she responded.

Handing her the fruit, I plucked another for myself. As she accepted it, she smiled, commenting, “Fresh fruit for breakfast is always a good idea.”

I couldn't help but agree as I devoured my fruit in a few bites. “Definitely. Would you like another?” I asked.

“I’m still working on this one. I think I’m good for now,” she replied.

“Fair enough. I think I’ll have a second helping though.” And so, I climbed the tree to get more. One fruit turned into two, then three, and before I knew it, I had consumed fifteen. By this point, Freya had finished her fruit. She looked at me, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and said, “You certainly have a large appetite.”

I shrugged, responding, “Well, what can I say? Perhaps I'm just a growing, hungry dragon. Ahah.”

We returned to the village just as Siveth and her brothers were waking up. They greeted us with an air of curiosity, asking, “Hey, where were you?” Freya responded, saying, “We felt a bit peckish, so we decided to gather some fruits from the trees.”

Vexus replied, “Oh well, I guess we’ll do the same then. I hope you didn’t eat them all.” I reassured him, “There are plenty left for you. They are especially juicy and sweet after the rain.” They wished us a pleasant morning and set off for the jungle orchard.

Meanwhile, Freya and I decided to explore the surroundings a bit more, relishing each other’s company. Erebus was still sound asleep and wouldn’t be stirring for a while. We meandered to the river and found that the water was not as chilly as we had anticipated.

Freya turned to me with a playful smile and proposed, “What do you think of having a morning swim together?” I queried her, “Are you sure you can handle the river's current?” She confidently replied, “I know how to swim. Besides, you’ll catch me if anything happens, right?” I assured her, “Of course I will. I’ll be your personal lifeguard.” We plunged into the water, but soon grew tired of it.

She said wistfully, “You know, I’d love to experience swimming as fast as you.” I responded, “All you have to do is ask.” She looked puzzled and inquired, “Ehm, what do I have to do?” I instructed, “Just hold on to one of my horns. I’ll take you for a ride. Trust me, it will be fun.” She eagerly complied.

As I felt her weight on my shoulders, her voice echoed in my ear. “I’m ready,” she declared, and I launched into the river. The water splashed around us as I swam against the current, faster and faster. I kept my head above the surface, but then a thought occurred to me. “What if we go underwater?” I asked her. She giggled and encouraged, “Ahaha, do it.” I warned, “Alright, hold on,” and plunged into the depths with her.

She wrapped her arms around me, holding her breath as we glided through the water. After a few seconds, I slowed down and emerged again, allowing her to breathe. She gasped in awe, exclaiming, “That’s incredible. I love it.” I smiled and replied, “I knew you would, ahah.”

I turned around to face the other direction, where the river flowed faster. I asked, “Ready for the second ride?” She excitedly responded, “I can’t wait.” I felt a surge of joy and excitement as I swam with the current, picking up speed. She laughed and cheered as we zoomed past the rocks and trees, except when we went underwater again. There she was, silent, holding on tight.

I even leaped out of the water and executed a perfect dive, causing her to squeal. I found myself laughing too, even underwater. She was a little scared but also thrilled. I swiftly swam back to the shore with her and asked, “Are you okay? Little dragonrider?” She panted and replied, “That was awesome. I want to do it again, please!” I said, “As you wish, I’m not tired yet, my lovely queen.”

I gave her another ride along the river, but this time we encountered some friends on the way. Three earth dragons were swimming towards us, blocking our path. I recognized them as Siveth, Caine, and Vexus. They were also heading to the lake, where Erebus was waiting for us. I dove under them and then jumped over them with a splash.

She waved at them and shouted “Hi!” and I stopped behind them. I called out, “Hey, what are you doing here?” They responded, “We’re heading to the lake. Erebus is looking for you.” I thanked them, “Oh well, thank you for telling us.” They wished us well, “See you at the lake! Have a nice trip!” and we exited the water.

I dried myself with fire, a new trick for me but highly effective.

As we gazed at the sky, a dragon soared above us. It was Erebus. We waved and called out to him, “We’re here!” Recognizing us, he greeted us warmly. “Good morning, Freya and Nox,” he said, landing gracefully to join us. “We just ran into the others,” I informed him, “They mentioned that we should head back to the lake, correct?” He nodded in affirmation, “Yes, that’s right. Today, we have a meeting with the water dragons.” I smiled, “Great, see you there then.” “Sure, be careful!” He responded before taking off once again.

Turning to Freya, I asked, “So, how do you want to get there? Do you want to fly, or should I carry you in the water again?” She gave me a playful look, “Is that even a question? Of course, I want you to carry me.” I chuckled, “That sounds almost peculiar to say, but alright. Get ready.” I dove into the water, waiting for her to climb onto my shoulders. This time, however, she didn't hold onto my horns, “I’m ready. Let’s go to the lake,” she said. Concerned, I asked, “Are you sure you won’t fall like this?” “Look where my wings are,” she responded. Glancing behind me, I saw that her wings were tucked between mine. She lay on her back, enjoying the view of the sky and our surroundings. “Alright, I’ll be careful not to accidentally move my wings and cause you to fall then, eheh.” And so, we set off, trying to catch up with the others.

Upon reaching the lake, we saw that the water dragons were already there. Recognizing them from afar, I stopped before they could see us. Before I could say anything, Freya asked, “Is that Hydra?” “I’m pretty sure it is. But how? Did she come all this way?” I responded. “Well, she was a representative of the water dragons. Maybe she used to travel a lot for her work and still does.” She reasoned. “Oh no, I can’t show myself like this,” I exclaimed. She reminded me, “I think she already knows that you’re a shapeshifter. She will understand.” “Okay, I trust you. Let’s go,” I said, and we moved forward, making an impressive entrance that further enhanced the queen’s majesty.

Upon sighting Freya, Hydra exclaimed, “Freya?” The water dragoness bowed her head and greeted her, “Good morning, my gracious Hydra. You look well today.” She added with a deferential tone, “Thank you for your kindness, my queen.” She was obliged to show such respect as she lived under our domain and protection in the kingdom. Then she turned to me and introduced herself, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Hydra.” I responded politely, “Good morning, Hydra. I’m Nox.” Recognizing my voice, she gasped in surprise, “What? Is that you, King?” I confirmed, “Yes, it is. Along with my queen.”

She stared at me incredulously, “How long have you been able to take on the appearance of an Earth Dragon?” I explained, “Ever since I came here and encountered one. Amazing, isn’t it?” She hesitated, “It’s rather strange. Do you mind if I say that you look a bit wild like this?” I shrugged, “It suits this environment better. Of course, it looks wild.” She nodded, “Alright, fair enough. What brings you here?” I told her, “I’m on a mission with my queen. And you?” She gestured to the others, “My king, these are my brothers and sisters. We like to meet here once in a while. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

I wondered aloud, “So you’ve known about Erebus all this time?” She opened her mouth to answer, but he intervened, “She was following my order to keep my identity a secret from everyone, and I see that she obeyed faithfully.” She looked at him with awe, “As the Guardian commanded, I couldn’t reveal anything to you. Please forgive me.” I reassured her, “It’s alright; don’t worry. I found out by myself.” I had to speak to her as the noble that I was because I didn't want to alter her perception of me. She regarded me with reverence as a king.

Soon after, Erebus asked me casually, “I hope you don’t mind if your old friend here joins us as a Water Dragon for a while, do you?” I felt nervous as I looked at him. I didn’t know the others. I only knew Hydra. Then Freya said earnestly, “If he wishes to do so and you have no objection, I would be very grateful .” They agreed, and one of the males said respectfully, “We will welcome the king as a brother, no matter what form he takes.” I heard that and thought to myself, “Why would they? Are they from the allied kingdom of the water dragons? That's too convenient.” I eyed him curiously and asked, “What is your name, young one?” He replied solemnly, “I’m a brother of Hydra. My name is Hydron, your highness.” I could tell they were related by their appearance and their names. He spoke like her sister did. I scanned them all and then asked them cautiously, “Would any of you be offended if I took inspiration from one of you and shapeshifted? We want to avoid any trouble.” No one answered except for Hydra and Hydron, who both said humbly, “It would be an honor, your highness.” So I made up my mind, and after examining each one of them, I liked both the look of Hydron and another water dragon.

I dissolved into a luminous mist and gradually assumed my new shape: a water dragon of blue and matte black scales, with twin horns that forked like tridents and membranes that ran along my spine and limbs. My tail was adorned with white spirals and two pairs of shark-like fins at the end. My head resembled the one I had in my original dragon form, with the same markings. Erebus remarked, “You know, you look a lot like a shadow dragon in disguise like that.” I shrugged, “So what? I like how I look,” and I admired my reflection in the water. Hydra complimented, “You look beautiful, truly.” I tilted my head, “Do you really think so? Forgive me if I doubt your standards,” I said. She smiled and said, “I’m sincere. You look splendid, Nox.” I thanked her, feeling flattered. I was smaller than before, and Freya lamented, “Oh damn, I can’t ride you anymore like this.” I offered, “I can still change back to the Earth Dragon if you want later.” She shook her head and said, “No, don’t worry. Take your time and enjoy your new appearance.”

Erebus addressed the group of water dragons, "Our friend here has just learned to swim in his Earth Dragon form. Today, I beseech you to guide him in the ways of the Water Dragon. Be patient and kind, he is eager to learn and will heed your instructions." They all showed deference to the Guardian, treating him with a reverence that suggested he was above us all. For me, however, the Guardian had ceased to be a superior figure. He was on par with me, just like everyone else, despite the pretense of superiority I sometimes projected. They nodded in agreement, respectfully acknowledging, "Yes, Guardian Erebus." Following this, they invited me to join them in the water.

Swimming was not new to me, but it felt unfamiliar in this form. Not entirely alien, but the fins and webbed hands served a purpose, and I discovered hidden gills concealed under membranes near my head. These allowed me to breathe underwater as long as I kept moving. It was a stark contrast to breathing with my lungs, and required me to keep my mouth shut to prevent water from entering. A peculiar ability I retained was the power to speak underwater. Despite defying the laws of physics, it worked - the water didn't reach my lungs when I spoke and I could hear perfectly. Underwater, my vision was even sharper than that of an Earth Dragon. Once accustomed to the darkness, I could perceive every detail in the deepest recesses of the lake.

The initial lessons were basic. I had already instinctively mastered the art of breathing and speaking underwater before formal instructions began. Next, I learned to navigate the depths with my new form's adaptations. This experience lacked the excitement of my first swim, but was gratifying nonetheless. I found myself faster and more agile, and I explored the lake's depths with newfound curiosity. Hydra proved to be a diligent and helpful instructor. She even taught me how to manipulate bubbles underwater, a trivial yet amusing skill that I readily enjoyed.

One of the most challenging tasks was hunting for fish. The lake was teeming with a school of fish that we strategically encircled and herded to our advantage. Once cornered, we seized a few for our meal. Overeager, I managed to catch the only fish that stood out - a predator that fed on its brethren. However, I was a step higher in the food chain, and it became my prey. The fish had one disadvantage - it was spiky. Hydra guided me on how to remove these spikes before consumption. The others ate their catch bones and all, a concept that initially made me apprehensive. Hydra, however, reassured me that it was harmless - our bodies could digest the fish bones.

As a shadow dragon, I would have never consumed raw food without cleaning and cooking it first. But as a Water or Earth Dragon, raw food was tantalizing. There was nothing repugnant about it; on the contrary, it left me craving for more. Consuming fish didn't evoke the guilt that killing a sheep did, and it was also less substantial. We all participated in a second round of hunting, each catching a regular fish. The third round was a free-for-all, and amidst the chaos, we each managed to catch several. It was exhilarating to collaborate on something as primal as hunting for food. I was gaining insights into the nature of this world with every lesson. However, with each new experience, I felt my connection to my origin weaken. I could sense my humanity fading away.