Three days later it is time for the trials. I'm standing in the same spot I was tried five years earlier. Arnestalia stands besides me. 'He is ready for the trials. He has behaved admirably, even though I have been less then courteous to him.'

'Do you think he will be a proper civilian?'

'He will make an outstanding civilian. He hasn't been angry at me or my children once even though I haven't exactly been feeding him the proper way, and he hasn't fallen out. He will pass any trials without anger.'

'Arden, do you think you can pass the trials? The trials will test you on the five pillars of our civilization.'

'I believe it. And if you believe you can do anything.'

'Then the trials will begin. Please follow me.'

The dragon who asked the questions turns his back towards me and walks away. I follow him. Arnestalia quickly puts my sword in my hands. I thank her with a gesture. The dragon leads me away from the trial place to a giant arena. 'This is where your first trial will be held. You have to fight against a dragon, to show you have strength. Your opponent will be a dragon who won this battle more than once. Good luck.'

That really settles my mind. First trial is a fight, against a champion. I don't like it. So I just hope for the best and step into the arena. Above me thousands of dragons cheer me on. I find it slightly unsettling. Above and behind me I see Arnestalia and her children. Before me, some distance away from me, stands a big green dragon in golden armour. I check the sharpness of my sword. That is when the entire arena goes silent. The dragon that led me to the arena steps into my line of sight, above the arena. 'As the trial keeper and designer of the first trial, I welcome you all to the first trial of Arden. His first trial will be a fight against our champion. The trial killer. This will be a spectacle for sure!'

The crowd yells their approval. Then I hear a voice behind me yell. 'Stop!'

The entire crowd goes silent. I turn and look towards Ernastel' s brother. I can hear the anger in his voice. 'The trials where created to test the people who where judged for crimes and showed everyone they feel sorry for their crimes. They where meant to test if the people understood the five basic pillars of our civilization. Within that bases you are making three mistakes. One: you never told him what the pillars are. Two: you don't give him time to prepare for the trials. And three: you give him a trial you know not even the suitable people can finish. So what you actually did is making it impossible for him to become a full fledged member of our society.'

'And why would you care about that? You are part of the family he tried to destroy!'

'Isn't honesty one of the pillars of our civilization? This isn't an honest trial. So I object to it.'

Murmurs spread through the crowd. The trial keeper responds. 'What do you want me to do. As soon as the trial is announced it cannot be changed back. You know that.'

'Yes. I know. And I also know that someone who undergoes the trials must do them alone. But there is a gap. A gap I intend to exploit. Arden, my mother has given you a gift she intends to keep a secret for now. Ernastel has given you the chance to undergo the trials. Now let me give you my gift. Let us join together on the deepest level. Let us become one in body and mind, allowing you to finish the trials the way you must.'

Arnestalia is shocked. 'You can't do that. You know the consequences!'

'And I'm willing to accept them. You have given him a gift you kept secret. Ernastel put all this into motion. Now let me make sure that it's not all in vain.'

Before Arnestalia can stop him he jumps down onto the arena floor. He taps against the neckband, and it falls open onto the ground. 'That way she can't order me to stop it in the process.'

Then he pushes his chest against my back. I can feel the dragon mark glowing. The dragon speaks again. 'These might be the last words I ever say in complete sanity, but know this. I've spend long hours shifting through scrolls written by our ancestors, and not one mentioned the kind of misuse of power the trial keepers showed today. So whoever blamed Arden for it should look the other way, because it is not his fault. This is an obvious gesture from the trial keepers that they don't want anyone to pass the trials. And I don't accept it. Arden has served a long time, and if it wasn't for my mother he would be dead either now or very soon. And you repay her by trying to kill him anyway. This is unacceptable. So, Arden. Accept the third of four gifts. Accept me as a part of you.'

'What will happen to you?'

'Don't worry about it. A dragon keeps his word, and this is what I want. You took care of me before I was born, now it is time for the roles to switch. Please don't decline my offer, since it would turn the gifts of my brother and mother into waste.'

I take one more look at my opponent, and look back at the black dragon. 'All right. If you think you can handle the consequences it is not in my place to stop you. I accept your gift.'

I can feel my body melting into his body. My senses disappear for a moment as I feel my very person change. His mind and my mind melt into a single mind, as the final parts of my body become one with the dragon body. The only parts of my body still sticking out are my arms, which are covered by black scales. I feel a bit alien in his body, but it also feels like I've always been like this. The wings on my back, the lengthy neck, the long tail and the extra pair of front legs feel normal. Everything the dragon knows I also know now. The sword is still in my hand. I smile. This might not be a helpless endeavour like I thought before. The trial keeper nods. 'The trial will stay the same, though Arden is now... different. Arden, if you pass this trial you will be allowed to roam the valley free and unchecked. Failure will kill you. Do you understand?'

'I understand.'

'Then let the trial commence.'

The crowd cheers. I can hear some people cheer me on, and others cheering for the champion. At least they some people think my chances are good. Somewhere in my mind I can feel a reprimand. The dragon part of my mind. The champion charges me head-on. I evade. The speed this new body gives me keeps me unharmed. The champion tries two more charges. Then I strike back. Three long, red stripes break the scarred skin on his side. The next couple of minutes the champion and I exchange attacks. Eventually I asses the situation with an as clean as possible mind. I'm getting nowhere with this. We are both bloodied and wounded. I must finish this before it comes down to endurance. That is when I get an idea. I use my newfound dragon speed to quickly close in onto the enemy dragon. I drive the sword through the dragons eye, into the brains. With a loud bang the dragon crashes onto the ground. I killed a dragon. The black dragon and I part, though our minds stay one. Now I understand the consequences. Once you join together with someone on such a deep level you cannot completely break apart. Not completely. I can hear the crowd yell my name. I have never been so loved. The trial keeper tells the crowd to become silent. 'To our surprise Arden has beaten the champion. He has passed the first trial. His next trial will be a closed trial, where he will be tested on his ability to keep it cool in stressful environments. It will be held tomorrow.'

I leave the arena. Arnestalia awaits me outside. 'You have fought well. But I have to ask. Are you two still connected?'

'Our bodies parted without problems. But our minds are still one. I'm sorry.'

'Don't be. He has read everything there is to know. He knew the consequences. He did what he had to do, and you did what you had to do. You survived and won. That is what it is all about. And he did what I should have done a long time ago: to tell everyone the truth. Our leaders have misused their powers ever since they took their positions long ago. Now he showed everyone the truth, and he showed the way we could have been. Just don't abuse your new powers.'

'I won't. I do have to tell you that I have a feeling you are my mother, somehow. Even though I've seen my mother die.'

'That's probably your dragon part speaking. I really hope you don't get an identity crisis because of your... dragon part. This may cause your identity to change. You may have changed already. But know I won't treat you any less.'

'Thank you.'

'No. thank you. You might change the dragon race for the better. Now, take the day off. You might want to rest a bit for tomorrow.'