You might want to take a step back, Oberi warned.
Magic built up throughout the bond as Oberi shifted into wyvern form. He grew to massive proportions, blocking the sun’s rays from touching my face. Oberi let out a loud roar that seemed to shake the whole beach.
“He’s an impressive beast,” Cassiel stated proudly, before clapping me on the shoulder. “Take his power, Charlie.Becomeas powerful as he is.”
My grandfather walked off, leaving us space so he wouldn’t be squashed by one of Oberi’s massive talons.
I focused on Oberi’s power. His Air magic pulsed through me, more powerful than any of his other forms. I reached out for him, and he ducked his head so I could run my hands over his scales. Our connection ran deep, and magic sizzled over his form. I tangled my Elf magic with his power, and it came flooding into me. I took his magic into my body, willing myself to shift.
My legs elongated, and huge leathery wings grew out of my arms. The temperature of my body dropped, and my skin turned to scales. A warm sensation grew in my throat— the taste of poison I could now use to harm my enemies. I felt massive— over twenty feet long, at least.
My grandfather’s applause came from far below me. “You did it! By the goddesses, you appear identical to your Familiar!”
Wow. I guess I did!I tried to say, but the words didn’t come out. Oberi heard me, though.
I don’t feel a thing, Oberi told me.You aren’t draining my power at all. It’s like I’msharingit with you, but I’m still as strong as ever.
This is awesome!I raved.I wonder what I can?—
I went to take a step, but I stumbled to the side and fell onto my shoulder. My feet werehuge. I wasn’t used to being this big, or moving this much weight around.
Oberi let out a roar that sounded like a laugh.Still a clumsy ass.
From below me, my grandfather said, “You’ll need to be more coordinated than that if we want to use this power in battle.”
I stood straight up and shook off the fall.I’ve got this. Come on, Oberi. Show me how to fly.
You can’t even walk yet, and you want me to teach you how to fly?Oberi joked.
I’m a fast learner, I replied.I don’t want to walk. I want to soar.
It’s not hard at all, Oberi said.All you have to do is open your wings and let the wind carry you off.
Oberi launched into the sky. I spread my leathery wings and kicked off the sand to follow him. My stomach dropped for a mere moment before settling, and as I pumped my wings, I felt the wind underneath me rise to support them. I used Air magic to bolster my place, raising me up quicker than I would without help. If I thought siphoning Oberi’s magic was effortless, it was nothing compared to flying. Flying was as easy as walking down the street— easier, even. I felt like I’d been born to do this. I could fly as an Air Elementai by shifting the wind currents around me, but this was different, as I didn’t have to do anything but allow my wings to carry me to where I wanted to go.
I was acutely aware that I had shifted into a twenty-foot-tall beast, but as I launched myself over the ocean, I felt weightless. My wings kept me up with no effort at all, and I could easily shift my weight from one side or the other to guide my path through the air.
Follow me, Oberi instructed, and he guided me through our bond.
Air rushed across my face as I pumped my wings, and we climbed higher into the sky. Moisture tickled my skin, and then came the warm kiss of the sun on my scales when we broke through the other side of the clouds.
The sky felt so expansive in front of me. I could go anywhere, and nothing could get in my way.
Woohoo!I shouted to Oberi through the bond.
There’s no need to speak through the bond,Oberi said.Use your voice.
I opened my mouth, and a gleeful cry escaped my throat. It was deep and powerful. I tested a terrifying roar and wassurprised to feel my whole body shake. It would certainly make my enemies think twice about facing me.
That’s more like it!Oberi cheered, before letting out a deafening roar of his own.
A grin spread across my face, and I noticed my teeth were razor-sharp. I could snap the Warden’s head off with a single bite. Just the thought gave me so much joy that I let out another cry, which sounded a bit more like a deranged laugh.
I’d like to see the Warden try to stop me now.
I spun through the sky, spiraling upward and downward, and doing flips from side to side. I’d spent so long locked up, but out here, I was free. It felt as natural to exist in this form as it did to be an Elementai.
Check this out!Oberi called through the bond.
