The Ballad Of A Semi-Benevolent Dragon

Chapter 69: The Young Dragon Awakens

It was time.

Flarewing wasn't sure how she knew, but she knew.

It was time.

She had long been considered a young talent, but her slowness to achieve her First Awakening had begun to rankle her. Only the reassurances of her parents and instructors kept her calm. The First Awakening was incredibly important. The more solid her foundation, the more smoothly future Awakenings would go. Better to take her time with it. Better to get it right. Better to find the perfect catalysts.

Meeting Littletooth at the market and obtaining a shard of a nightmare from great Doomwing's horde had been unbelievably lucky. She had kept the nightmare by her side since acquiring it. She had even slept with it clutched in her claws to maximise her familiarity with it. And now she was certain. There was no point in waiting any longer. Her foundation was as solid as it could possibly be. Her catalyst was perfect. And the power that had once ebbed and flowed at the very edges of Awakening was now pushing at that barrier, determined to break through.

So Flarewing did the smart thing. She informed her parents and her instructors, only to learn something shocking. Not only did they all agree that the time to make an attempt had come... but her Awakening would be witnessed by three of the primordial dragons!

Noble Regal Flame, great Doomwing, and wise Dreamsong all wished to observe.

The first was easy enough to understand. Flarewing's parents served Regal Flame, and it was not unusual for the mighty dragon to witness the Awakenings of those that served her, especially those considered promising or talented. As for Doomwing, Littletooth had informed her earlier that he and Doomwing had an interest in watching unusual Awakenings, and hers had the potential to be exactly that. And Dreamsong... if Flarewing had to guess, it would be because of the hint of muse dragon lineage that Littletooth had detected in her blood.

To say that Flarewing was nervous would have been a massive, massive understatement. A dragon's first Awakening was a nerve-wracking occasion under normal circumstances. To have drawn the interest of three primordial dragons was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Still, her parents were overjoyed. It was traditional for those who observed a dragon's First Awakening to offer congratulatory gifts. Primordial dragons were fabulously wealthy, even by the standards of dragons, so their gifts would likely be exceedingly generous.

But to Flarewing what mattered most was the security those three legends offered. It was not uncommon for a young dragon to require multiple attempts to achieve their First Awakening. Each failure typically resulted in damage to the body, mind, and soul. But with those three there, such damage should be minimised. Perhaps, it could even be prevented entirely. Of course, Flarewing had no intention of failing. However, having that added security did allay some of her concerns.

Flarewing took a deep, deep breath. She had expected to attempt her Awakening in one of the special caves in Regal Flame's domain. Such caves were rich in magical power and filled with various magics, runes, and formations designed to assist in Awakenings. However, Regal Flame had led Flarewing and her family out into the desert.

"My lady..." Flarewing asked. "If I may..."

"You want to know why we are here and not in one of the caves?" Regal Flame asked. Her voice, as always, radiated authority, but there was kindness in it, as well as a hint of amusement. "In truth, one of the caves would have suited you well enough. However, Doomwing wishes to observe as closely as possible. There is magic he wishes to deploy that cannot be used in those caves without damaging them, and although he could easily repair any such damage, it is less troublesome to simply conduct your Awakening elsewhere."

Flarewing's claws clenched. The desert around them was lacking in magical power. In fact, it was almost devoid of it, a rarity in lands normally rich in ambient magic. Without that power, she would have to rely solely on her accumulated reserves and her catalyst. She should still be able to manage, but it would certainly increase the difficulty of her Awakening.

"Be at ease," Regal Flame said, sensing her distress. "We are well aware of the power required to achieve a First Awakening. You will have no shortage of magic to draw upon here."

At her words, magic filled the area around them. It belonged to Regal Flame and Dreamsong, and it was of such purity and potency that Flarewing almost forgot how to breathe. The caves used for Awakening could certainly help gather and purify magic, but they could not possibly compare to the sheer quantity and purity offered by two primordial dragons.

"It will help with Doomwing's observations," Littletooth explained. The small dragon had also accompanied them. However, rather than positioning himself next to Doomwing, he had instead positioned himself beside Regal Flame at the red-scaled dragon's insistence. How odd. "Both Regal Flame and Dreamsong have near-perfect control over their magic. As such, it will be easier to account for the influence of their power on your Awakening, in comparison to the less strictly controlled environment in one of the caves."

"Indeed," Doomwing rumbled. "As for the magics, runes, and other measures such caves usually employ, you shall not lack for those either." His golden eyes gleamed. "Have you chosen a spot for your Awakening?"

Flarewing closed her eyes and moved around until she found what felt like the perfect spot for her attempt. It was closer to Regal Flame than Dreamsong, and there was something about it that just felt right. "I think here would be best. It feels right."

"Very well. Do not move." Doomwing waited for her to nod her understanding before the desert sands around her scattered. When they had cleared, a massive formation with her at the centre had appeared. It was wrought of a strange, crystalline material, and it was composed of a combination of spells, runes, magical script, enchantments, and charms.

"What... what is this?" Flarewing murmured.

Doomwing smiled faintly. "A customised Awakening circle based on what I have observed of your inherent qualities. It will maximise your probability of successfully Awakening and provide me with maximum information about the process itself. As for its exact composition and its constituent parts, that is a matter best left for later when you have had at least several centuries of additional magical education."

Dreamsong chuckled. "Do not worry about how it works," she said kindly. "But rest assured that Doomwing spoke truly. It will greatly aid your cause."

"Are you ready to begin?" Regal Flame asked. "I would suggest taking a few moments to calm yourself and steady your mind."

Flarewing closed her eyes and nodded. She had studied First Awakenings extensively during her preparations. Beginning with a calm but confident mind was ideal. To get into the right state of mind, she began to meditate, feeling the flow of magic around her and reminding herself of the resources she had prepared and the things she needed to focus on during the process. None of those present pressured her to proceed more swiftly. They knew very well that Awakening was not a process to be rushed.

At last, Flarewing opened her eyes. "I am ready to begin."

"Then I shall speak the words that were spoken to me on the day of my First Awakening," Regal Flame said. "Flarewing, daughter of Blazehowl and Flamereach, your First Awakening awaits you. Awaken and see the world with new eyes. Awaken and feel the breath of the world upon your scales. Awaken and be reborn." Regal Flame bared her teeth. "Those words were spoken to me by Mother Tree, but they were first given to my father, Sovereign Flame, by the gods themselves. Now, they are yours as well. Remember them, and should the opportunity arise, speak them to others as I have spoken them to you. Become another link in a chain that goes back to the beginning of the world."

"I will remember them," Flarewing replied. "And I will not fail."

She began.

Doomwing had always found Awakenings fascinating, and the first Awakening was especially interesting. Dragons were inherently magical creatures, but only through Awakening could they achieve their full potential. Indeed, the difference between an Awakened dragon and an Unawakened dragon was not simply a matter of quantity. It was a qualitative distinction, something that only dragons that had experienced it for themselves could appreciate. A dragon at the very limits of their Unawakened state might feel powerful, but that strength was hollow, a pale shadow of the power they would wield after Awakening even once.

Flarewing's foundation was extremely solid, a testament to talent, hard work, and excellent education. Although her progress had seemingly slowed in comparison to her peers, Doomwing knew better. Those peers had achieved their First Awakenings earlier because they could no longer improve themselves. They had reached the limits of what they could achieve without Awakening. But Flarewing was different. Her potential was greater, and so she needed a firmer foundation, one whose advantages would only become obvious after Awakening.

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At the centre of the formation, Flarewing had been enveloped by searing flames. That blaze was powered by both her power and the power drawn from her surroundings. Every part of a dragon's body could carry magic, but there were still parts of it that were better suited to carrying large quantities of power. These areas and routes were known by many names. Some called them magical veins or meridians whilst other referred to them as magical channels or the magical circulatory system. One of the key objectives of a First Awakening was the expansion of these areas and routes. No. That wasn't quite right. It was closer to the destruction of those things.

Rather than having areas that were better suited to carrying magic, the objective was to transform the body into a vessel throughout which magic could flow with perfect smoothness. Having a magical circulatory system implied areas or routes that were less able to carry magic, along with blockages and impurities. A perfect First Awakening would turn a dragon's entire body into a perfect conductor of magic, doing away with any blockages or impurities. Of course, perfect Awakenings were, for the most part, theoretical constructs. In practice, one of the chief tasks that a dragon had to complete before undertaking their Second Awakening was to slowly but surely improve their magical circulatory system by expanding its reach and dealing with blockages and impurities until it resembled a 'perfect' state as much as possible.

A poor First Awakening generally resulted in a delayed Second Awakening while the dragon worked hard to optimise their body's condition. Attempting a Second Awakening without dealing with all those problems was a potentially deadly mistake, and even surviving would come with a host of complications... as Doomwing knew all too well.

But Flarewing should not have many problems to deal with. A dragon's First Awakening was akin to purification by fire, and their foundation served as the fuel that fed that fire. Flarewing's foundation was masterful, and she had access to vast quantities of external power, to say nothing of the effects of the Awakening circle and the catalysts and other resources she had gathered.

The fire around Flarewing intensified, and Doomwing paid close attention as it began to shrink. Rather than spilling most of its energy into her surroundings, it was now burning through Flarewing's body, but instead of ashes it left only flesh optimised for the conduction and absorption of magic. The nightmare shard in her claws trembled and then shattered as Flarewing drew upon its power. At once, Doomwing noticed a sudden increase in the amount of energy she was absorbing from Dreamsong's magic.

The flames, once a blazing, searing orange had now turned a deep violet.

Doomwing's eyes narrowed. This was what he had been waiting for! A deviation in the standard process!

He was not alone in his interest. Dreamsong was no longer watching with polite interest. She was now every bit as interested as he was.

The change began subtly but became more and more obvious with each passing moment. Flarewing's body, so greedy for the fire it needed to burn away the old and usher in the new, now hungered for something else. It devoured Dreamsong's magic, and then reached for something else, something it lacked but now needed desperately. All over Flarewing's body, her scales shifted, streaks of violet, magenta, lilac, and amethyst appearing amongst the crimson scales she had possessed her entire life.

It was the energy of the Dreaming Lands that her body craved. Dragons of all kinds could absorb magical energy readily, but only those related to Dreamsong's lineage could properly and completely process the energies of the Dreaming Lands. Flarewing thrashed, clawing at the ground, and the purple scales on her body began to fade. Without the energy of the Dreaming Lands, her Awakening would shift completely to her fire dragon lineage.

But Dreamsong was there.

The muse dragon wrenched open a channel to the Dreaming Lands, and Flarewing gasped, chest heaving as she inhaled frantically, gorging herself on the energy of Dreamsong's domain. It poured into her like a flood, and the streaks of purple upon her body shone, no longer fading but growing more deep and vivid. The flames around her blazed purple and continued to intensify, shrinking and shrinking until they dwelt only upon her scales and within her body. Flarewing shone like a violet star, back arched almost to breaking as she clawed at the earth and roared.

This was the most painful part, the part where she would step away from her mundane, Unawakened existence and truly set foot upon the road of Awakenings. Doomwing watched intently as the raging torrent of power swept through her, smashing through her magical circulatory system like a river bursting its banks to leave only a vast flooded plain behind. Her magical affinity shifted. Previously, Flarewing had a powerful affinity for fire-related magic with her affinities for other forms of magic lagging far behind. Now, that fire affinity had been joined by an affinity for magic related to dreams, thoughts, and illusions. It wasn't as strong as the affinity a pure muse dragon would have, but it was far, far stronger than the affinity a regular fire dragon would have for such magic. Moreover, Doomwing could already sense the two forms of magic mingling and blending...

He smiled, overjoyed. This was beyond his expectations.

Mixed lineages such as his own were almost always present from birth. But it wasn't impossible for them to appear after an Awakening although such cases were vanishingly rare. Indeed, this would be the first time he had encountered one since the Fourth Age! With his keen senses, he could sense the shock of his fellow primordial dragons. The others were more concerned and confused. They lacked the knowledge to understand what they were seeing. But Doomwing, Dreamsong, and Regal Flame knew. They knew, and they marvelled at it.

Finally, the two magics combined, and a shockwave of power rippled outward. Doomwing's Awakening circle shook, and he seized control of the magic around them with his telekinesis. Such a transformation - the appearance of a new mixed lineage in the midst of an Awakening - demanded enormous power, so Flarewing's already long Awakening was far from over. However, she was beginning to flag, her concentration wavering as the sheer length of her Awakening combined with its ever-growing hunger for energy battered at her mind. Rather than stand idle, Doomwing chose to intercede further. With his telekinesis, he fed more magic into the parts of her body that needed it and modified the Awakening circle to better suit her new form. Regal Flame glanced at him for a moment. Such intervention was dangerous, but this situation was almost unprecedented. Flarewing could not possibly have expected it, and the demands of the Awakening were already far beyond what any of them had estimated. At this stage, failure could be catastrophic since her body had already undergone such massive changes.

Sensing his help, Flarewing rallied. The raging tempest of power within her began to calm as she slowly but surely seized control of it. Rather than crashing through her, she was now directing it, each movement timed to her breathing and the beating of her heart. Slowly, little by little, the Awakening ran its course. Doomwing set aside his telekinesis. She no longer needed his help.

Finally, Flarewing slumped to the ground.

Charred scales littered the ground around her, along with broken teeth and shattered claws. In their place were new scales, teeth, and claws. She was almost a quarter larger than she had been, and her size was not all that had changed. Her proportions were different, somewhere between the firm solidity of a fire dragon and the slender, almost ethereal physique common to dream dragons. Vivid streaks of purple ran along her body, and the flames that gathered in her jaws were tinged with violet, ebbing and swaying in a wind that blew not in the physical world but in the land of dreams.

"Flarewing...?" her mother stepped forward, cautious, uncertain, afraid.

"Give her a moment," Doomwing rumbled. "It is not every day that a dragon achieves a new mixed lineage in the midst of an Awakening."

"What?" her parents gasped. "Is... is that what happened?"

"It is," Doomwing replied. "And it is a rare and blessed thing indeed. Not since the Fourth Age have I witnessed it. I had thought she might acquire some hint of power related to dreams, but this... even I do not know what powers she now possesses." He smiled. "How fascinating."

Flarewing stirred. Her eyes struggled to focus. Doomwing could guess the problem.

"You are seeing both this world and the Dreaming Lands," Dreamsong said gently. Magic bloomed around her. "Focus on my magic. Yes, that's it."

Flarewing blinked. Her eyes focused, not on the dreams that dwelt beneath the physical world, but on them. "I... did I fail?"

Regal Flame stared at her for a long moment and then laughed. "No!" she said at last. "You did not!"

"Oh." Flarewing nodded and then staggered before passing out. "That's good then."

"..." Doomwing, Regal Flame, and Dreamsong shared a look.

"It might be best to stay here for the night," Regal Flame said at last. "Until we know more about what powers she has acquired, it might be safest to let her move only under her own power."