When I got back to the pocket it was to Bob and Uliena arguing.

She won’t do it, Bob.

“Well, she needs to if we’re going to get a look at it and get Rick stronger.”

Maybe, but not anytime soon, and Rick’s got more mana now.”

“Not enough for some of what I have planned. Why do you even care?”

Because I do.

“The old you wouldn’t have.”

Do I really need to tell you of all people, or tomes should I say, that people can change?

“I know that, but considering what you were.”

What I was. I’m not that anymore. I understand what it means to live in torment due to your very body. What you see now is only the latest in a long line of forms made to amuse, and… entertain.

“What the hell are you two talking about?” I asked. They were just outside the cottage. “Bob, what’s this about Litra?”

“We need her mana for some of what I have planned, and she—”

The dragon is in pain whenever she's in her dragon form, and this idiotic tome doesn’t seem to understand that.

Bob’s pages fluttered rapidly, and I quickly stepped in between him and Uliena before they got to blows, which was usually just Bob opening and slamming shut near Uliena and her swiping at him.

“Can’t you use a pain block?” I asked. “And she can use mana in that form.”

“Mana spells don’t seem to work on her,” Bob said, pages fluttering fast. “And her mana is a large pond compared to the vast ocean from when we first saw her.”

“How about you, Uliena?”

I can try. But Rick, she can’t change back when she goes into that form, not that like she used to. And my magic is not what it once was.

“But, I saw her take her tail away.”

That’s minor. Her becoming human was completely an accident as she puts it. She’d never been in that form until you freed her. If she turns back into her normal form, and can’t shift back to a humanoid visage, and we can’t take the pain away, then she’ll be trapped in torment. The only reason it wasn’t as bad when she was caged was that she was asleep most of the time.

“Well fuck. Bob, what do we do?”

“You should have told me that then,” Bob said, opening and slamming shut in front of Uliena who tried to bat him away. “Now, it seems like I was a heartless asshole. This complicates things. Where is Litra?”

“Here!” I looked up just in time to see her crash into me, taking me to the ground. “Got you!”

“Yes,” I said, groaning. The impact had not been light. I grabbed her shoulders, then swallowed when I felt her breast push into me. I had asked her to wear clothes multiple times, but she refused, and when she did, she tore them off the moment I left. “Litra, can you please get off me.” She pushed herself up, her hands resting on either side of my head. “Hello, Rick. Uliena taught me it was polite to introduce yourself.”

“Oh, well good. Now… can you please get off me.“ I was trying very hard not to stare at her breasts and to keep the blood from flowing down south. Luckily she got off me and jumped to her feet. She offered me a hand and easily yanked me up, even enhanced as I was.

Bob floated over. “Litra, how much can you change in that form?”

“Change?”

He means like taking your tail away and claws, or horns.

“Oh.” She smiled. “I can do a lot. I can hide my horns and tail and even make scales.” I watched as she did just that. Her horns seemed to shrink into her head, and her tail shortened, falling into the area above her very enticing behind, which I quickly looked away from. Then, she made scales take the place of her skin, showing that she could over her entire body, easily making her look far more draconic, or she could just cover a few areas.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Is that it?” Bob asked.

She nodded. “I think so.”

Bob moved closer. “Litra… Did Uliena happen to teach you about lying?”

Litra looked away.

“You already know, good. Then please, don’t lie to us.”

Bob, are you using that truth spell again?

I’ve been using a lot since you have so much more mana now, and I don’t need to use mana cells as much.

Will you teach me?

Of course.

Litra looked nervous, taking a few steps back. “I… I don’t want to.”

“Don’t want to what?” Bob asked, floating closer. “You don’t need to do it if you don’t want to, just tell us about it.” Bob’s voice was smooth like he was talking to a cornered animal, which he sort of was I guess. Litra looked like she was about to bolt.

I met her eyes. “Just tell us, that’s all.”

Her shoulders slumped, and Uliena walked over and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I… I can do one more thing, but it hurts. It hurts really bad, and I look… twisted. Like when I was in the cage.”

“A humanoid form that looks twisted like you were in the cage?” I asked.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“Can you use alot of mana in that form?” Bob asked.

She shrugged. “I don't know, but it hurts like when I was caged.”

Bob sighed. “We need more magical energy. The mana cells won’t cut it, and we can’t buy anything bigger without the required paperwork and permission, which means we’ll have to try the blackmarket.”

“I’m guessing that’s not a good thing.”

“It isn’t so bad, now that you can defend yourself at least, but it’s also a risk. We don’t need any unwanted attention, and the price is gonna be higher than using a legal route. But there’s no other way. If we can’t use Litra, then we need another way.”

“Hold on,” I said, turning to Litra. “Can you change back from that twisted form? I mean to this one you’re currently in?”

She nodded after a moment.

“Then we can try alchemy and Uliena. How long does it take to change and change back.”

Litra winced, taking a few more steps back. “Changing is the hardest part. Everything becomes wrong, all wrong, and twisted.”

“Then we give it to her before she changes,” Bob suggested.

And what if the change negates the effect or it doesn’t work?

“We’re not gonna force her to do anything,” I said. “Let’s make that clear.” I looked at Litra. “If you’re willing, then we can try, but if you don’t want to, then it’s fine. Nothing will change.” I wasn’t going to put her through torture especially when I had an idea of what she meant. Her change seemed like she would mutate and if it was like her mutated dragon form, then her flesh would warp, and limbs distend and twist. I shuddered just thinking about it. No, we wouldn’t be forcing her to go through that.

“Bob, we’ll have to think of something else. Do you have anyone we can summon?”

His pages, which had been fluttering, stopped. “Yes, but some are a risk, and some might just not work anymore. There are a few others, and we could do another like Uliena and Litra, although there is a limit to that. And…”

“And?”

“And, let's just say I don’t want word of me getting around, which limits things further. Even if the chance is miniscule, I’m not taking it. You think an ender is bad, they’re nothing compared to who and what would come after us should word spread to… old acquaintances of those with knowledge of me.”

“But we can do it?”

“Yes, but not another bond. There are drawbacks and you’re reaching the edge of your limit. It’ll have to be someone I believe could get the mana we need or another form of magical energy. If only the demon over there could generate essence.”

Oh, burn you. My form is not my fault. Uliena took a threatening step towards Bob.

“Relax,” I said. “I trust you’ll figure something out, Bob.”

“I will, and while I do, it’s back to training for you. No slacking, oh and did you get the ingredients from Han?”

I nodded and walked over to give Litra a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Litra, you don’t have to change it if you don’t want to.”

“I can still have meat?”

“As much as you want,” I said, and when she smiled quickly added, “Within reason.”

She frowned, turning to Uliean. “What does that mean?”

We can go over it inside, these two have work to do. I’ll be in bed later, waiting, Rick. Don’t be too long or I might have to resort to these. She waggled her fingers at me and laughed when I blushed. They headed inside while Bob and I made our way to the workshop, aptly named.