My double had no idea the dragon had its head in the window, as busy exploring the room as he waited.

“World won't bother me anymore? Had that monster truly thrown me away?”

Outside the first few snowflakes begins to fall from the night sky, drifting by the window.

“That tear… The one World dropped me in.”

With a claw I drag it along the wood floor to create a cut in the shape of the tear. But my claws are so dull it doesn't even scratch it.

“I'm not even in the same dimension anymore, am i? I could be anywhere.”

I shake my head of the thought and climb onto my pile of pillows, to warm myself.

“That dragon. It spoke english and gifted like me. Is it in- Is he in the same situation as me? Has he been thrown away too?”

Those eyes. I tried to imagine what it would look like being on this side of the window when it had its head inside. Those red glowing eyes looked sinister yet felt soft at the same time somehow.

Can the other dragons here understand english? I dont think ive spoken in front of the two adults.

And what if they can? To them, aren't I a freshly born dragon? Wouldn't I give away that I'm not what they think I am?

I shake my head at that idea. No, that wouldn't make any sense. Sure it would be weird if your kid just suddenly speaks words but would you really instantly think your kid is a grown man in a kids body? After all, maybe your kid just repeated someone that said it?

That's even if they aren't just mindless beasts. Earlier they were trying to teach me their language so maybe they aren't if they can.

I'll just play it safe and say one word or something. Probably something that could easily be considered a coincidence.

Somewhere in the house I hear the sound of a door opening and closing.

Had that gifted return?

I can hear the clicking of claws approaching from the hallway outside the room I'm in. Getting closer and closer. Then another door closer is opened and clicks shut. Then the soft creaking of a bed.

Maybe not.

I attempt to cast a hearing spell but my core rejects it again.

“Who’s core are you? Because you're sure as hell aren't mine, yet I'm not dead.”

I need to be able to use magic again since I can't rely on my physical body. I had been outside for a short time yet I already feel exhausted and sore. Im not bleeding anymore at least but magic could have helped me a lot.

“I'm going to need you to work with me now, not later.” I say as I sit up and get comfortable to concentrate.

“Ok, come here you. I can't have you refusing to work when I need you.”

The room around me fades black as I sink into my own soul. Having done this so many times has made it as simple as breathing.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Inside is a dark void that I float in, my body ethereal like a ghost. A few feet before me is a sphere resembling a glass with blue mana strands reaching out into the void infinitely. Inside the glass instead of the normal wavey calm blue I was used to seeing, it is now a hot inferno of fiery mana. The glass casing keeping it contained looks thin and fragile.

Is this what a dragon’s core looks like? It looks intense and capable of way more that a human could dream of achieving. But its state makes me frown.

That casing looks like its barely containing itself, no wonder it didn't want to listen to me. It's a ticking time bomb waiting to shatter and I'll drop dead.

I have to siphon out and release much of its stored mana to release its pressure. But first I should sever some of the strands feeding it, else it would cause more strain as I siphon.

With a thought a few of the mana strands are cut and fade away, slowing the core’s mana intake significantly. It would cripple my mana regeneration but I can regrow new ones in a few years.

Coming closer to the core i hold out a hand to touch it. A hand.

My soul is still human at least...

Touching it with a hand seems like a bad idea, so i open my palm as much as it can so I can use the softer underside of it.

Please don't break. Please, please, don't break.

As gently as I could I feel my hand make contact with the core.

With ear piercing horror the core's casing shatters into a million pieces and the fiery core inside disperses, gone in the blink of an eye.

Everything goes black.

.

.

.

.

“-ack…”

“Jack~”

“What are you doing here, sweety?”

That familiar voice, the faint creaking of an old cabin, the smell of breakfast. I could barely open my eyes but I could almost see her looking down at me.

“M- mom?”

.

.

.

.

A shock surges through my body and with a deep gasp of breath I push myself up off my side from the floor.

“I’m… alive?”

The bedroom door clicks open and Yellow walks in, the smell of breakfast cooking following after the dragon. Coming to collect its hatchlings with a smile. Morning light shines in from the window.

My core. Had it not shattered?

Yellow, seeing I'm already awake, comes to me and bumps me gently with its nose. Feeling brave I place a paw on its nose to push it away.

Yellow makes soft chuff noises like a laugh, bringing its head up. The dragon reaches for me with a claw but I back away. I can walk by myself, I don't like being manhandled.

How am I even alive right now?

“Rrurg gurr?” Yellow growls a question that I can't understand. I still don't know much at all but I can guess what it's asking.

Its hard to imagine that these dragons can think and talk. Even the way they act is eerily similar to a human. Different faces yet the same expressions are conveyed.

I turn my attention to the window. Last night I could have just left. I could have walked away yet I came right back.

Yellow looks to the window too, wondering what I'm looking at. The hatchling is waking up now.

Even if I did leave, where would I go? I'm not in the same world I knew, everything could work differently here. And even then my magic isn't working so I wouldn't be able to cast anything to warm myself.

“Rr!” The hatchling growls out something to Yellow, catching the dragon’s attention and mine.

Had the hatchling spoken? Already? It's probably just gibberish since not even I know almost anything.

Or did it actually say something? It sounded familiar. Hadn't the dragons tried teaching us something like that one yesterday?

Yellow goes to the hatchling and the two touch noses with affection.

Between leaving and staying it would be best to stay. I'd be protected and can get answers.

As long as they keep that affection away from me…