| Magic is not something to be played with. The caster must understand the craft before their work can be recognized and appreciated. -Dragon�s Teachings, pg. 30 Part 9 That might not be such a big deal normally, but Zidane had never met another human being who also had green eyes, and now here was the first person ever who had green eyes too. Had she been cared for by dragons as well? What was she doing out here all alone? Then she lifted her gaze to him and he was immediately submerged in the wisdom of centuries past. He blinked and took a deep breath. He knew those eyes like he knew the back of his hand. The first thing he remembered seeing and, he hoped, one of the last things he�d ever see. They were so calming . . . so old . . . He�d never forget them. � Kiti!� *~~* He hugged my neck, then pulled back and held my shoulders. � But what happened? How did you get like this?� � Tiovex cast a spell on me. Until it wears off or I figure out how to break it, I believe I�m stuck this way.� As I sat up, Vivi and Freya turned around. Zidane kept his eyes on my face, his cheeks a faint pink. � You did think ahead for something like this, right?� � Of course I did. I�ve been working on a spell that would do this for years!� � You wanted to be human?� � For a bit. To see what living among humans was like. I never managed to perfect it and gave up, but since Tiovex can do it, I need to return the favor.� I summoned clothes from zero space and Zidane immediately turned around. I put on the royal purple silk shirt with puffy sleeves that came and closed around my wrists. The pants were skin-tight solid black jeans and the boots were black and came up to my ankles. In one of the jean�s pockets I found a stretchy hair tie. � Ziaden, can you braid my hair for me?� � Are you dressed?� � Yes.� He lowered his head and turned toward me for a quick glance, sighing when he saw that I was telling the truth. � Okay. Come here and turn around.� I did so and he set to work. � Hey, you�re a lot shorter than normal; probably only about five-nine or -ten.� I humphed, but said nothing. Once he was done we continued to Burmecia, passing through Gizamaluke�s Grotto on the way. There wasn�t much to say, except that the Burmecian soldiers were dead or dying and all they could do was give us a bit of information and a bell before passing on. Vivi was horrified. We�d seen some of the black mages that were under the control of someone else killing the Burmecian soldiers. He�d taken to walking so close to me that I almost tripped over him, or caused him to trip, repeatedly. I finally offered my hand and he took it gratefully. The last soldier warned us that something was wrong with Gizamaluke and we had about five seconds to wonder what he meant before a shape exited a nearby aqueduct. I snarled, rather surprised to find it was dragonic. After a few quick tests, I realized that I still possessed everything about me as before except my form. I was, technically speaking, a dragon in a human body. About a third of the way through the battle, after undergoing so much abuse from Gizamaluke, I went into Trance. To my great amazement--and elation--I became a dragon once more. Now in a familiar form, I began dealing serious damage to Gizamaluke. The Trance, however, eventually wore off and I was human again. But even so, it didn�t take much longer than that for the others to take care of him. We kept going toward Burmecia. Freya was more worried than ever about it, allowing her mind to conjure up images of death and destruction. I could sense that she wasn�t far off. I could smell the fear and destruction even at this distance. Vivi still held my hand in a death grip. On the way there, I found pieces of things I could use as weapons. For now I settled for a set of daggers that the others had found during their travels. They weren�t quite as powerful as Zidane�s, but I could do plenty of damage with my magic if necessary. Burmecia was in ruins. I can�t give much more description than that because there�s really nothing more I could say to make it better or worse. We made it through the city without too much trouble. The castle was ruined even more than the city. Freya seemed to lose hope that the king had survived, but I stepped up and knelt beside her. � Freya, do you have anything that the king gave you?� She gave me a strange look. � Yes. Why?� � Give it to me.� She handed me a small plate of metal that had Burmecian engravings on it. I stared at it for a moment, then gave it back. � He�s alive.� � H . . . How do you know?� � I have pyschic abilities that will work under certain conditions. Since that plate had been in the king�s possession before you got it, I was able to use it to find him and check up on him. I wouldn�t�ve needed the plate normally, but I�ve been unfortunate enough to not meet your king.� She smiled faintly. � Thank you. I wish I could ask you to do me a favor---� � As long as it doesn�t kill me.� She shook her head. � But I don�t have anything of his.� I heard what she wasn�t saying. � He�ll turn up eventually, I promise.� She nodded and I backed off. A bit later she lifted her head and leapt up to the top of a statue and peered into the castle. � Someone�s in there!� She then ran off. Zidane made a face. � How�m I supposed to get up there?� I went over. � I can take you.� He wrapped his arms around my waist tightly. � I�m ready.� I leapt half way up the statue, turned slightly, and finished the jump. Zidane, who hadn�t been able to take the world passing him by so quickly and had his face hidden against me, dared to take a peek around. With a light sigh, he let me go. � Thanks.� � You�re welcome.� He rolled his eyes. � Look, you�re an adult so it doesn�t really matter, but since you�re human, you need to be just a little less proper, okay?� � I see.� � Kiti . . .� � Okay.� � Much better.� <--Part 8 Part 10--> |