A New Life To Be Shared

Shirley

Later in the week, late at night, the leader picks me up. Together we walk through the city and towards a sector I haven't been yet. He stops for a building that had to be a beautiful temple once but has sunken beneath the surface mostly. The leader speaks softly. 'The challenge is simple. Your dragon is waiting in the centre of the temple, where the soul binding will take place. I will fly there as well. You got til morning to reach the center on your own, so you prove worthy as a Rider. Good luck.'

He then takes off and flies away to the top of the building. I walk to the entrance and slide down the mud bank, into the darkness of the temple. With some trouble I cast a small fire spell to light my way and start walking in deeper, past statues that lost their faces and all other details millennia ago. At the end of the statue hallway there is a small opening, which I suspect leads towards the center of the temple. As I walk through it I see a massive maze, but not the center of the temple.

If I had been any good with magic I would have cast a spell I learned from Celeste and flown over the maze. However, as it is I can only walk through it. As I walk through the maze it doesn't take me long to get frustrated and not long after that to get somewhat lost. By pure luck I find some gateway through to what seems to be the second level, where I also hear a loud roar. That can not me good. As quickly as I can I run through the maze, only now wishing I had taken the time to become a Lamia and be a lot more silent. As I turn another corner I see the source of the roar. A massive minotaur stands some distance away, facing me. Without any thought I grab my Elven bow, knock an arrow on and shoot it at the bulky beast. It screams out another roar and charges me. Though I'm fast enough to prevent a full on collision he does knock me to the side. I turn as quickly as I can and release another arrow at the minotaur. This isn't working.

The minotaur roars again. He waits a moment and then charges again. Some hair brain scheme forms in my head and I start running at the minotaur head on releasing a war cry. This is stupid and will get me killed. Right before we are about to hit each other I release an arrow, which hits the minotaur with a deafening boom. I'm blown back from the explosion and the impact with the floor knocks the breath out of me. When I can get myself to get up I see the minotaur faired worse. Well, what is left of the minotaur anyway, as all I can see is a pair of smoking hooves. Well, so far my arrows. I start walking on again.

The third layer is very silent. Either that or I'm still deafened by the explosion. As I walk on I hold my bow raised and an arrow knocked on. My bow is my best weapon and the only one I can rely on. I think I hear the rattle of a snake tail somewhere. The idea pops up in my head to turn myself into a Lamia and slither past them. They won't hurt one of their own kind, will they? I see the scar lighting up green and the details showing clear as day. The rattle I thought I heard is now silent. What is going on? As I keep walking on the scar keeps on glowing, occasionally getting brighter or dimmer. Soon I discover it helps me through the maze.

When I finally exit the maze I just hear a single sound. The hitting of a droplet of water in a pool. Using the small fireball I light up the room and see a pool of incredible depth in front of me, without a boat to cross it. Again I curse myself for not being able to fly as I see the entrance across the room. I can't do this. I cannot cross this pool. Not with what I got at least. I then notice the single sapling and remember Sha'nok's lessons. The magic of the Lamia's is equal exchange. Maybe I can do with this sapling what the great Elves do with their trees. I could... grow it into a boat, using the Lamia magic, can't I?

With my staff in my hand I kneel next to the sapling and focus on it and its surroundings. I feel it is close to touching the water and some nutrient rich dirt. That is it. I have to clear a path for its roots. This is the way the Elves pass this challenge, isn't it? I put all my focus on the small blockages of stone and cast a small ice spell. The effect isn't massive but a small ping can be heard in the cave as one of the blockages shatters. Now the one to the dirt. After melting the ice I cast a second spell, this one a rust spell, to rust the metal in the stone. I can almost see the stone expand rapidly but cracking under the pressure of the stone around it. However my energy is starting to get depleted. As the stone finally shatters I use my last energy to feed the little sapling just enough to reach both the water and the dirt. What happens next I could not predict.

Instead of a boat the sapling grows into a big tree which sucks up most of the water. As I'm about to jump down in the water a small fruit hits me in the head. As I pick it up I see it is a peach. As a thank you I lay my hand on the bark and eat the peach, planting the seed back in the ground. Then I jump in the water and wade through it, climbing onto the other bank and finally into the last room.

When I arrive light is already coming in through the skylight of the circular rooms tall ceiling. I see Rashter standing in front of some half ruined altar looking at another exit. I clear my throat and he looks at me. 'Shirley? How did you... walk the road of nobility? That should have been your downfall...'

The leader then jumps down from somewhere above me. 'She tapped into her limited magic and mostly worked with knowledge. In all aspects she should have failed indeed. She fought of a minotaur and managed to get past the Gorgon sisters with her Lamia sign. Though the Gorgons in this temple despise the Lamia's of the swamp, they respected her. And then at the third room she did what I didn't expect. She used her magic. It nearly killed her as she is still not good at it but she did it. With that done... she made it.'

As Rashter and I stand before the altar the leader closes his eyes. 'Put your hand in the dragon statues claw, Shirley. Dragon please do the same.'

As I put my right hand in the statues claw it closes around my wrist. The same thing happens with Rashter. Then the statues eyes start to light up white. My eyes close and I suddenly feel alone. At first it is just a solitary lone feeling but then I feel something else. Someone else who also feels alone. My mind is pulled toward that person and that person is pulled towards me. Soon I feel... him. I see he has his eyes closed and I feel his deep breath in the distance. Is that... Rashter?

I hear his voice slightly distanced but still in my head. 'Shirley, is that you in my head? Are we... bound?'

I give him a hug in my mind, as much as it is possible. Everything is said with just that. Now I dare open my eyes and see my hand is released but adorned with a golden bracelet with gems in the color of Rashters scales. He has a similar bracelet around his own right paw. What's weirdest is I can see what he sees to. I see he is staring at the bracelet in wonderment. I nudge his mind. You know... you can stare at it back home to. Saves me getting wet and possibly fighting against some Gorgons.'

He looks up and then at me. 'I'm sorry, Shirley. Climb on, I'll fly you back to your place.'

I climb on his back again and let him fly me home.

The next morning I wake up laying against him. As he is still sleeping I decide to try and feel what his mind is like. As I sit there and feel I can see his dreams. He is dreaming about some hunt he once did. As I follow his dream I finally understand what it is like to be a dragon. I'm so distracted by it I don't notice he wakes up. 'Morning, Shirley.'

I get startled by him. 'Oh, Rashter. Good morning...'

He looks down on me. 'You know, looking into peoples dreams can be seen as rude. It is that you are my rider now...'

I put a hand on his paw. 'Relax, Rashter. I didn't mean to peer into your dreams. It just happened as I explored our bond.'

He strokes through my hair. 'Just be careful, Shirley. I have lived for a long time, so long I don't remember all the years I have lived. It is easy to get lost in many a memory I have in my mind. To be bonded with one of my age while you are so young, it means you are at risk. I do suggest you slowly get used to my mind but don't start exploring my mind during my sleep, as I cannot lead you out then.'

I put an arm on his paw and push myself up. 'I will watch out. However... it must feel good to be a dragon, doesn't it?'

He looks at the skies beyond the windows. 'I never thought about it like that. For me it is only natural. However, I will be observing you to see what it is like to be a human...'

I then hear a heavy knock on my door. As I open it I see the leader again. He motions me to follow him. 'Now, as you know from last night, there was more than one path you could follow. There are three doors in the room you enter. The door that best suits you is the one that you see and are drawn to. You went down the path of nobility, which means your new position is that of a Wing Leader in training. Of course your training is not complete yet, but it is time for you to meet your wing. Your new squad.'

We arrive at a room and he gestures for me to open the door. As I walk in I see a somewhat featureless grey room with several bunk beds and spread out in the room six people. One bulky human guy with a large sword and shield is speaking very loud, probably to impress the female Elf with white hairs in full Rider armor who uninterestingly is inspecting her bow. In a corner two dwarves made a makeshift smithing corner and are banging some hot metal with heavy hammers that to me don't look like just smithing tools. Then I'm surprised to see two bulky green skins in the opposite corner. Both are Orks, one with massive tusks, the other with somewhat smaller tusks and slightly more armor.

When I step in the Elf looks up at me and studies me, holding her eyes somewhat closed as if she it critical. The big human turns around and walks towards me. 'Well, well, well. What do we have here? What's your business here, cutie? You wish to be a part of my squad?'

As he approaches me I have a distinct sense I got to put him in his place or he will never stop. This guy will ruin the entire wing. I rapidly draw my Elven bow and draw it with an arrow on it, aiming it for between his eyes. 'No. I'm here because I just got this squad entrusted with me, which means You are in My squad. As you seem to have problems to understand it I'll dumb it down to your level. Listen to me and our trainers and behave or I'll put this arrow between your eyes.'

The entire room is silent. The dwarves are looking up from their forge work, the Orks are both studying me and the Elf is sitting back mostly looking at my bow. The guy steps back with his hands raised. 'Woah, miss. I never meant to anger you...'

I keep the bow aimed at him. 'Leave the Elf and me alone.'

As things return to normal in the room the Elf approaches me. 'You are wielding an Elven bow made for a Lamia, aren't you.'

As I put the bow away I nod. 'An Elf made it for me. You see... the staff I carry is the Staff of Kai'chira. I found it in her statue, hidden behind a mechanism made by a Dwarf. I brought it to her old village where her father, who is the elder, told me to keep it. Later I met some Elf kids in the city who introduced me to an Elven craftsman. He grew the bow for me.'

She nods. 'I would like to see your bow, if you would allow me.'

As I hand it over she grabs it softly. 'I know this... handiwork. It was made by the Exile. He was a good Bowsinger once. Before his betrayal. This seems a lot like his work from before... take good care of it.'

As she hands it back to me I put it away again. Then the leader walks over. 'So, what do you think? Can you work with what you got?'

I nod softly. 'One other master archer, one brute, two close combat specialists and two fine metal crafters. If anything we are self sufficient in anything but magic.'

The leader puts a paw on my shoulder. 'Do not treat them all the same. Everyone is an individual and requires different approaches. If you believe you can lead this wing, I believe you can turn them into a working unit. However, do not just trust on what their strengths are but have them work on their weaknesses. Without magic you have a weakness that can kill you all...'

I put a hand on my staff. 'Then if Sha'nok makes it to becoming a Rider, she has to join us. Even if we all learn magic we cannot just trust that it is enough as none of us will be strong enough in it.'

The leader remains silent and leaves. That leaves me with my new squad. Boy what did I get myself into? I walk over to the Dwarves now. They are hard at work with the metal again, hitting it with hard and precise blows to reshape it. As one of them grabs a pair of tongs and puts it back in the furnace I cough softly. 'Do you have a moment?'

One of them looks at me for a moment. 'For what? Introductions? You are our new wing leader. All we need to know is right there.'

I shake my head. 'No. I'd like to know your names. Also... I'd like to know why you don't have access to the castles forges.'

The one who spoke grumbles. 'I'm Oruk. This is my brother Noruk. We aren't master smiths yet, for our age is not there. Since our kin man the forges they decide who gets to use them.'

I see a knife on Noruks belt. It looks well crafted and very detailed in its carvings. 'Noruk, can I see that knife for a moment?'

Noruk looks at his brother for a moment and then draws the knife. As he hands it over I study the blade. 'It feels so light... it is beautiful. It is true what is said about Dwarven smiths. You truly are the masters of all things metal.'

As I hand it back Noruk nods softly. 'It is one of me own creations. The handle is wrapped in the leather of a wild boar and the blade is forged in one of the hottest forges. It carries me pride.'

I smile softly. 'Maybe you could teach me how to forge one day, so I can make a knife that doesn't cut my own skin when I use it.'

The Dwarf smiles shortly before his stern look returns and he goes back to smithing. With that I walk over to the Orks. They are what seems to be wrestling. As they roll over the floor punching and kicking each other I have to jump away several times before the armored one punches the other one in the gut and gets on top. It brings a smile to my face. Then the winner spots me. 'Nice show you put on earlier on. That guy is quite annoying you know.'

I raise my shoulder for a moment. 'Not all humans know the words "respect" or "listen to the boss". Nothing that an arrow can't fix. Worst case scenario I just need to let that arrow fly at him.'

The Ork laughs. I suspect it is a female but am not very sure. 'I like you. Another fighter. Maybe you humans can be a strong leader after all. At least stronger than those woodland twigs.'

I smile. 'Well, between you and me, my dragon originally attacked my village and from what I've seen, though I didn't beat him up, I did do a number on him.'

She laughingly gives me a punch on the shoulder. 'Now that is a leader with spirit. Just pick the biggest guy in the far reaches and punch him into obedience!'

The other Ork, I suspect a guy from its deeper voice, speaks. 'I respect you for that, as do I respect you for showing who is the boss here. But as a leader you still have to prove yourself, human. An Ork is not some sheep and won't follow someone unless the person has proven themselves to be a true leader.'

I look away for a moment. 'Maybe. We will see in time if I can prove myself to you.'