image [https://sygnus.org/flames-of-bedlam/story/pic/banner1.jpg]
The light!
In all the transformations I’d forced in the Glade, none had resounded like this!
What had appeared to be a tiny, fragile spirit began to… unfold. Long and slender, it moved with the grace of waves, a gentle blue energy surrounding it as it took a serpentine shape. It kept growing, longer and longer, as if it had no end, the energies calmly wrapping around Levi as he watched with widening eyes.
I recognized the shape. It was a shape similar to what I forced all transformations into. That of a Dragon.
I felt a thrill of shock rush through me. This was the first time someone else was already a Dragon without my influence.
This needed no influence from me. This transformation was already happening. Just that fast, that instant. It didn’t take the countless hours for Levi to learn and embrace and shape himself. He was already there.
The world around me rippled as the spirit-energies engulfed Levi. His form shivered and became light. Then, a colossal Dragon hovered in the Glade, looming huge over me.
image [https://sygnus.org/flames-of-bedlam/story/pic/divider.png]
Leviathan.
I knew this creature’s name by instinct, perhaps in the same way he’d known mine when we first met.
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This was no ordinary Dragon. Not like the ones I’d forced into serpent shape.
Similar to the spirit he chose, this Dragon was long, graceful and slender. His soft hide reflected like light on water, a rainbow of shifting hues between purples, blues and greens. Long whiskers and fins flowed around him, shifting in the elements that bent to his will.
I hate to admit that in those first moments, I felt intimidated. But that moment passed quickly!
I turned my attention instantly to drawing the Flames of Bedlam around me. Was it too late to turn him, to bring him under my command?
I had to try! I needed this monster in my forces!
When I released the Flames, seeking to twist this beast’s will to my own, something happened that I’d never forget. Leviathan’s eyes focused on me sharply, knowingly. The Dragon’s maw opened wide. I felt a tide of water drawing into him, even though there was no pool here to draw from.
My gaze locked with his, Flames bristling around me, ready to release.
The Dragon’s mouth clamped shut, twisting into something that looked almost comical. And with great precision, he spat a stream of shimmering water from between pursed lips into my Flame.
Much to my absolute mortification, they were extinguished.
I stumbled back, shaken.
This… this does not happen! No one simply puts out the Flames of Bedlam!
My face twisted with a rare look of horror as the shadow of Leviathan fell over me. I felt his vastness looming above. I sensed the pure and unfettered power that gathered around him.
I slowly looked up, struggling to wash the fear from my face. I forced myself to glare at him defiantly.
I knew what Leviathan had come for now. He’d come for my head. He’d come to take my title. He would challenge me for all that I’d…
Another squirt of water knocked me on my hindquarters, cutting off my train of thought. I growled in frustration, picking myself up off the ground.
I could see Leviathan watching me from above. His maw was open, twisted into what could only be outright laughter.
Then, he winked at me. “You’re going to have to do a lot better than that, Bahamut.”
He was mocking me!
That worthless, fish-breathed water-snake!
Fury lit the ire within me. I heard myself roar as shadow and flame drew my own Dragon transformation. Without hesitation, I launched, maw wide as I thundered down upon the Tidemaker.