“Drumya hey you awake,” said Ang, poking at him.
“Yes, I’m awake. My head hurts, what happened?”
“My Gupa thinks your mind got stretched too much too quickly, so you passed out. Ang and I just got a little dizzy,” said Kartegus appearing in his peripheral.
“Wait, we can all understand each other,” said Drumya blinking hard and swiveling his eyes between the boys.
“Yeah, Thramuny tried it after you since Gupa and Azurumene already speak a bunch of languages. She didn’t experience any side effects, so me and Ang went next.”
Drumya sat up. “Where are we?”
“Were back in Kebv, in the Nebzulu garden. We're just here for some supplies and then we're going to check on Kyxichen to make sure all the malignance is gone,” said Kartegus.
“Guess what, Kartegus and Zurtegus are coming with us to Brexcen, and were taking Couraderi, you should come too,” said Ang.
“Morp Morp.” Dungii came flying in with everyone else.
“Drumya you’re awake, we’re about to return home,” said Thramuny jumping off Dungii. Tial-Meh lay just on the other edge.
“Pukuto come help me with this bag.” Drumya approached, and he threw a large bag down to him.
“What’s all this?”
“Just some memorabilia from visiting a land in the sky. If you could follow me to my room. It’s time for a checkup.” He went into the vessel with Drumya close behind him. While the others prepared for departure and supper.
“How have you been, are you still having fire flashes?” Asked Azurumene once they were alone in his room.
“Yes, I still get them.”
“How frequently are they getting worse?”
“They happen every few hours, but I think they are becoming more frequent and painful. I managed to suppress one while we were defending Couraderi. I even took back control of my arms from Vyranya.”
“That’s a good start. How is Vyranya?”
“He’s fine he’s trying to assimilate, but he also wants to protect me.”
“You and your dragon have a deep connection and actually care for one another. That’s probably the only reason you’ve lasted this long, and why you have a chance of succeeding.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, what was your tribe trying to do by tearing apart people’s souls?”
“They were trying to make more druids like myself, and hopefully you. Chief Onagumene took care of me and my mother’s tiger Euyene after she passed away giving birth to me, but I suspect the real reason was because of my rare abilities. He was a brilliant man and teacher, but also a bit envious of me. He wanted to find a way to replicate my abilities and bestow them upon everyone. He figured it would make us better, stronger, safer. See, a damaged soul like mine is unfit for soulmating, but I don’t need a familiar to survive. I believe his intentions started out honorable, but then he started experimenting, on kin, on himself, on me. He tore his own soul and mind apart trying to become the Alpha beast to rival even the dragons.”
“Why do we have this nest beast system? Why can’t we just choose whatever method we want to use to survive?”
“You know pukuto that would make sense, but our people are rooted in rivalry and tradition, and stuck in their ways. Things used to be more liberal a long time ago. Our ancestors experimented with many different methods of survival and found that surviving is much easier when you have a familiar. Then someone got it in their head that their method, or beast was superior to all the rest and they started fighting over it. Travumuny the founder of the Pyoxien was the first to make a pact with the coveted dragons; to this day no one knows exactly how he did it. His brother Uagamene the founder of the Oskien, made a pact with Saberfang tigers, and working together they were unstoppable, on land and in the sky. They conquered most of Kyxichen and forced the lesser tribes to work under their ‘protection.’ There was peace for a time until the oppressed grew tired of working the fields and not getting a fair share of the harvest. They started tearing out their own souls and began the practice of soul leashing. Which has a lot of drawbacks, but as you witnessed can create strong and versatile familiars that can be as big as temples, or as small as spiders.”
“Well, I think it’s time we changed that, let everyone decide how they want to survive and live. You know I just thought of this, how is Eio able to tame Tial-Meh? I thought he was just clinging to her somewhere and staying invisible while casting some illusion to calm her, but he has been maintaining that for a long time now.”
“Well, you know, if he stopped casting, she might kill us all.”
“But he must be near his limit, shouldn’t we be in more of a hurry to get back?”
“Chimera worms don’t tire easily. You’re right pukuto we should try to convince our tribes to give up the whole nest beast system. Trouble is, how are we going to do that? I’ve been juggling a few ideas in my head, but what do you think?”
“What if we exploit the faults of relying on one type of creature as familiars? Like how the Saberfangs are weak to air attacks, and if dragons fall in the water they can be easily subdued.”
“How are we going to do that? Have Tial-Meh scorch the Oskien and say ‘This is why you need flying familiars.’ Then borrow a Kraken and hope it can spit a few wyverns out of the sky so we can say ‘see dragons aren’t the apex predator.’ I don’t see that working without pissing off a lot of people.”
“What if we showed them how other people survive? Like how Xisgrett use those golems. Zurtegus and Kartegus can demonstrate for them.”
“For soul sealing to work, you first need to craft an ethereal cord using one's umbilical cord, which unfortunately everyone except newborns have lost. There is also the issue of, if the golem moves too far away, or if the cord is severed, it will lose power and deactivate until reconnected. Also, the Pyoxien, I’m certain, would want to battle with either Kartegus or Zurtegus as proof of strength. While they are both capable. The Pyoxien have produced some fearsome warriors. Imagine Zurtegus fighting Thramuny. I’d rather not put them through that.”
“What about Dungii and Angdraoni? They already have a close bond, if we convince them to partake in the soul mating ritual, maybe they’ll see that even being soulmated with a strange creature like Dungii can be beneficial.”
“They would probably take offense if they heard you say that, but I see your point. Actually, that just might work! We’ll tell them the wall and spores were created by Dungii, and Ang befriended him and together they survived for years in the jungle. The only hard part will be convincing Ang and Dungii to go along with the idea.”
“Their bond is like the one Vyranya and I share. I think I know how to convince them.”
“Eager to put your new language skills to use. If you’re confident, then I’ll leave it to you pukuto.” As Drumya exited the room, he saw Thramuny approaching.
“Hey, I came to tell you guys that we’re ready to depart and we’re having food up there.”
“Well, I’m done checking in with Azurumene, I think he’s still organizing his things.”
“What did he say? I told him about your fire flash and asked him to check on you when you woke up.”
“He said I’m making good progress, unlike other dragons Vyranya is trying to help. I’ll be the first dragon druid,” said Drumya flexing his biceps. Thramuny turned her head and lowered it so her braids fell over her face, but Drumya saw two glints fall. “Thramuny are you?”
With a quick motion, she swept her hair away, revealing a smiling face with damp eyes. She took his hand. “Let's go before they eat all the food.”
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He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his broad chest. He could feel the warmth of her fire braids and the cool of her water ones. “I will not burn away.”
“You’d better not, now let’s hurry.” They went up the tongue and together stuck the landing. She pulled him to where everyone gathered sitting in a circle laughing and passing bowls of food, while Tial-Meh and Dungii played in the sky.
#
They descended to Kyxichen, followed by the cleansing rains that washed away the last of the malignancy, gradually restoring balance to the land. As the vessel passed over the Prism Peaks, Drumya went to meet with Ang in his room. He found him sitting with Dungii playing his ocarina in harmony with his song, as Rungii swayed from side to side. Drumya could feel the air matching its snake like sway. He cleared his throat. Ang stopped playing and turned to greet him.
“Big man! You came to visit me. Did you wanna hear the song we’ve been practicing?”
“Uh… no… well, I mean yes but… actually, I wanted to… uh… ask you something.”
Ang grabbed his knees and spun around on his bum. “Ask away,” he said with a jovial smile.
“Well… uh, you know you and Dungii seem really close, and… uh I have a really close… well especially close relationship with Vyranya. And… uh, before my accident we were soulmates. That bond kept us safe. So Azurumene and I were talking and we...”
“Meep meep.”
“Uh… well we… or, I think it would be good for the two of you to...”
“He said we’ll do it.”
“Wait… what you will? But I didn’t explain.”
“You were going to ask if we would partake in the soulmating ritual and we both say yes. Why wouldn’t we? I see how it works with Thramuny and Eio and I think it would only be beneficial for us.”
“Meep meep.”
“Oh, alright then, I’ll ask the chief to prepare everything once we arrive.”
“Great! So you wanna hear the song we’ve been practicing?”
“Sure,” Drumya sat down and listened to their enchanting song.
“Hey Ang! That’s a really pretty song. Oh Drumya you’re here.” said Kartegus appearing in the doorway.
“Kar! Want to join us.”
“Sure, I know how to play a few notes.” He sat, Ang handed him the ocarina and he played a different yet equally enchanting song.
“That’s very nice, who taught you how to play?”
“My father did.”
“I learned from my dad too. Is your dad back in Kebv?”
“No he’s always travelling the world fixing any disturbances they come across. It's what Gupa used to do and what I am going to do when I get a little older. Gupa retired from that work a while back ago, but he’s looking forward to this trip to Devdedek and so am I. Drumya do you wanna have a turn?”
“No, I don’t know how to play any instruments.”
“That’s sad, no one even taught you how to sing?” Asked Ang.
“Well as part of our training we’re supposed to learn some song magic but um… my instructor didn’t like my voice. He told me it’s impossible to harmonize with a voice that sounds somewhere between a buzzing mosquito and a pig fart.” Kar and Ang held their bellies and falling over in delightful glee. “I know, go ahead and laugh at me.”
“We aren’t laughing at you, we’re laughing because of you, you’re funny,” said Kar.
“I am…?”
“Yeah you’re always really funny. I’m sure your voice can’t be that bad. Here try harmonizing with my song,” said Ang.
“But what if i sound bad.”
“Then only the two of us will hear it,” said Kar.
“Meep, meep”
“I mean the three of us.”
“Meep.”
“Four of us, only the four of us will hear.”
“Dungii only recently learned how to use song magic himself he’ll sing with you right?” asked Ang.
“Meep.”
“Alright I will try.” Ang played his song. Rungii swayed with the melody, as Dungii harmonized his voice with the song. After a measure Drumya worked up the courage to join. When the song finished Kar and Ang clapped.
“See your voice isn’t bad at all,” said Ang.
“You liked it?”
“Yeah you’re great, a little pitchy here and there but we can all practice until we land,” said Kar.
The three sat around playing music together until Couraderi arrived at the Pyoxien’s city. Drumya told Azurumene that Ang agreed, so they commenced with the plan. Azurumene dispatched his agents, spreading propaganda and whispers of the exploits of Dungii the Floral Dragon, and his rider the young Angdraoni. Who made a pact with a Great Dragon just like the first chief Travumuny. They promptly prepared the soulmating ritual. Which is held beneath the largest pyramid, in a space reminiscent of Tial-Meh’s cave, but much smaller. Six short thick pillars supported the room, with engravings all around them. They permitted only the most important and high ranking of the Pyoxien and his friends to observe. The rest of the populace eagerly waited outside.
“Please remove your clothes,” instructed Chief Frumy. Ang did so with no hesitation. He liked the clothes Kiliyi made him, but always preferred to go natural. A few gasps echoed through the chamber, as the onlookers questioned how someone so small and young could have so much hair covering their chest, back, and face. “Step into the circle.”
“Meep,” They walked into the circle.
“Now you might feel a funny sensation and your head may get foggy, but that’s normal. Now close your eyes, relax, take a deep breath, and we will begin,” said Frumy.
He closed his eyes and heard her chanting. He could see a bright light through his eyelids. The sound of Frumy’s chanting grew distant. His heart raced, blood rushed through his body, tingling his nerves. He gasped for breath, his knees buckled. He let out a low moan. The light faded. His nerves ceased firing. His body went limp.
“Oh, my!” he heard Azurumene say as he fell into his arms.
“What happened, did I soulmate?”
“You did something, but I wouldn’t call it soulmating or mating.”
Ang felt something moist on his hands and looked down. “What is this, what is that, what’s happening to me, is this normal?”
“Child, this is way more normal than what we were intending. Here, take this rag, wipe yourself off and put your clothes back on. Looks like the ones that soulmated were Dungii and Rungii.” Ang looked up and saw that the flower petals around Dungii’s head were closed, and Rungii had green glowing eyes.
“Meep meep meep,” said the voice from Rungii’s jaw.
“Dungii, are you there?” asked Ang. Rungii’s green eyes closed, the flower petals opened, and there was Dungii’s face.
“Meep Meep,” the petals closed and the green eyes opened, “meep meep.”
“Seems we forgot to factor Rungii into the equation,” said an amused Zurtegus.
“How do we convince them now?” asked Drumya.
“Convince who of what?” asked Ang.
“We have a confession to make. We had an ulterior motive to having you soulmate with Dungii,” confessed Azurumene. “The idea was to use you two as an example, that we can survive by soulmating with different creatures, not just dragons and Saberfangs.”
“If that was your intention you could have just spoken with me,” said Frumy
“But you’re the chief, you’re supposed to uphold our traditions,” said Drumya
“I am the chief and I will change those traditions,” said Frumy in a commanding tone. “I’ve long questioned those traditions, for years my father convinced me that dragons were the fiercest predator. That we all must strive to be dragons. Yet the Triphu would have trampled us were it not for Dungii’s intervention. We see phoenixes and storm birds churn the sky, and krakens dominate the shore, yet we scoff at their power because we’re convinced the dragon way is the only way. Tial-Meh has stopped laying eggs for us and left her domain. She and her children do not need our protection; we needed theirs. Well, not anymore from here on out, our children will play with the creatures of the jungle, and whatever creature they form a bond with shall be their soul mating partner once they come of age.”
“A bold decision, I’m proud of you Frumy,” said Thramuny.
“You know I was wondering why you stuck with one animal when there are plenty of dangerous ones out there,” said Ang.
“Ang, I can still see your dwarfling. Put your clothes on.” said Azurumene.
“Alright alright.” After he got dressed, they walked outside. Vlux, and Kartegus waited out there, surrounded by a flock of giant birds with gray spiders on their backs. Next to Vlux stood the blue parrot.”
“So our reinforcements finally caught up to us,” said Vlux.
“Well, I guess better late than never. Though we never needed them,” said Azurumene.
“We do need them. My home is still under siege, and these birds will help, for food, which I can easily provide… I hope. So how did the ritual go?”
“Not quite as expected, but I think it still worked out for the best,” said Azurumene. Dungii demonstrates his new trick with Rungii.
“You know I’m not even surprised. Why do you think I stayed out here? I half expected some kind of magical cataclysm to ensue,” said Vlux. “Looks like they can function more like a single being, good for them. Are we ready to say our goodbyes and headout?”
“Wait, Ang did you ever find your mother?” asked Thramuny.
“Uh… no but it’s alright,” said Ang.
“You know that reminds me, a dwarf healer came through not too long ago. She treated many of the wounded and sick here, so I permitted her to treat Tial-Meh. Looks like she was successful. I owe her my gratitude. Could that have been your mother?” asked Frumy.
“Uh… I don’t know… no it couldn’t have been… she.”
“Hey if he says it’s alright he didn’t find her it’s alright. We found his other family, and you have dear friends waiting for you in Brexcen,” said Vlux with a wink.
Their business concluded in the Land Behind the Sea. They boarded Couraderi, the top packed with an army of birds and spiders, alongside a great dragon. They flew back with powerful reinforcements to liberate the home of the pixie’s.