Dragon Guide

Chapter 14: Painful

I sit there, amongst everyone, determined to fulfill my role. This is a new experience for me I since would normally be able to conduct this transformation without all these measures. At most I've had two dragons at once and the change had taken me a full week! Now... I have to oversee ten changes in the same time frame, this is not ideal and I worry about the strain it will have on the children. I fully expect that I may be half dead by the end of this but once their in human form Nova and that others will be much more useful than now.

My eyes catch slight movements on the other side of the bonfire. I focus a bit and I see that Bhikkhu is whispering to another monk who looks at me and leaves shortly after. I look again towards Bhikkhu and as our eyes meet, he calls me forward by extending his hands outwards as if to hold my hand across space. I rise and Aoyun follows close behind. When we are all together the previous monk returns to holding a clay jar which he hands off to Aoyun and leaves us to attend the whelps.

"This is a pill that was made especially for this occasion. Many centuries of research have led us to this final product. many lives have been offered to accomplish this feat and if all goes well with you, we may not have to offer anymore. This pill will amplify your magic powers and it will provide you with enough energy to make it through the coming challenges without sleep or fatigue. The problem is after, everyone reacts differently and I cannot say how your body will react to the change. I have lost monks who could not bear the weight of the exhaustion at the end of the trial and others who have died before even meeting the end and their hearts burst open from the immense pressure. I will not force you to take it but it is here if you need it. There is only this one so please be careful", as Bhikkhu says this he leaves and returns to his seat.

Aoyun and I look at each other, worry, clear as day in both our eyes. What the hell did he just say? People were sacrificed to make this pill?! Before I can ask the question Bhikkhu says firmly, " Every sacrifice was made of their own will, for those seeking higher power and wisdom. They knew the risks and still chose to take the pill. So that their sacrifice is not wasted we improve the formula each time to try and avoid the same effects for the next user."

We stood there silently, letting the words sink in. I keep looking at the jar until I can't take the suspense anymore. I grasp the little nub atop the lid and lift, there is a tiny "clink" as the cover taps the side of the jar, and then underneath I see red satin filling the jar. I peel back the soft, smooth fabric and right in the middle, there is a black ball about two centimeters in diameter. The black ball shines like a gem, I lean in to get a better look. I can see the tiny specs of ground herbs scattered across the surface. I look up at Auyon questioningly.

"This is the traditional way that this temple prepared and presented pills. It is not like the ones in the human world, these have full value and have not been altered. I don't want you to take this but it is your choice, you may not sleep for more than a week and even in the human world the effects will be the same if not worse... ", says Aoyun. We stay still in silence for a while as we take in the scene around us and I think to myself this could possibly be the last time I take in this view. I pick up the pill and roll it between two fingers, feeling the smooth surface and then I pop it into my mount. I chew it but the bitter bite is hard to bare and I fight my hardest to not spit it out. A glass of water is placed in my hand and I quickly wash down the horrid taste in my mouth. It's over and now it's time to begin.

Before we realize it, there I stand, submerged in the pool from my waist down, my clothing stripped down to a simple cotton shift and underwear. The water is cold but it gets warmer the deeper in you go. I look at the banks and I see that all my children are perched all around the area watching me carefully. I search quickly to find Ryuu, he is the calmest and should be the easiest to guide. I silently hope that this will be as perfect of an example as I've pictured in my mind. My eyes find their target and I raise my hands, palm extended open and upwards.

"Ryuu, come to me", I call him gently and he glides over, using the cool airflow of the night. His black eyes glint like glass as they reflect the lights around us. His fiery red scales take on a softer tone in the dark giving off the illusion of being a warm and inviting bonfire that beckons you to step out of the cold and lonely darkness and into the warm, embracing light. I hold him close to my chest, cradling him as I step forward, going deeper into the pool. I turn to look back at Bhikkhu, awaiting his instructions.

"Put him completely underwater, then when his breath runs out, he will begin his journey, with you in tow. From there on I cannot say how his transition will take place. We can only observe and proceed with caution. Be careful, from here I cannot say what will come, each one will have its own journey to follow through. I have heard of stories when even the nature of the dragons had changed from fire to ice. There is no telling what will come. I will watch over your child, go on now we do not have much time left", he shook me with a flick of his wrists.

I look back at Ryuu and I tell him in a quiet voice," Ryuu I will take you to see some things now, they might be scary or they may not be but you have to be strong and trust that I will be with you through it all. I will share everything with you from the start to the end. I love you my darling," I know he understands me clearly and his little black eyes glint with determination. I feel him stiffen his little body in my arms and I take a deep breath. Slowly I start to lower him under the water, being very cautious not to startle him.

I watch as little bubbles float up to the top of the water the longer he remains under. Suddenly I see the color of his scales bleed into the water, panic rises in me and I quickly push it aside. I look again at the water and then at Ryuu, he seems fine and he's not fighting. I suppose this is his approach to The Change. If this is all then I will take it as a win! Just then I feel my pulse pick up and my heart beats loudly in my ears it almost feels like an herb of wild horses is running in my chest.

"Ahhh!' I cry out. I feel a sticking pain in my chest near my heart, like lightning bolds piercing through my sternum. I fight to keep my hands steady. I fight to keep Ryuu calm. "Bǎobèi! Your eyes! You are crying blood!" Aoyun appears by my side and I feel his hands on my shoulders tugging me to leave the water. I pull away from him and through gritted teeth, I say to him, " I cannot leave now, Ryuu has begun and I must go to join him!" As I speak, I feel a new pain building up in my spine. I feel phantom hands pulling my spine apart and before I could register what was happening, I coughed up blood and it blended in with the water around me. I never imagined this would be so painful!