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A hundred-year-old dragon was probably still a child for him, so Fel didn’t mind being called a baby.
The First Mage continued, “I know what people say, I do. They say Ircantari came and got his magic, but it doesn’t really work like that. The magic was already his. He wasn’t sure if he had what it took to become a dragon mage, and wanted advice. These are the words I told him, and I remember them as if they had been said last year:Every second you doubt or complain or think you’re not good enough is a second you could be working towards your goal. How do you want to spend your time?Not much, is it, and yet it was enough. But it wasn’t the words that did it. You know what made him become a dragon mage?”
“He applied the advice.”
“Oh no. Not that. He was lucky.” That odd growl again—a laugh. “I’m kidding. Yes, he applied the advice and worked instead of doubting, moving forward instead of wondering.”
“And yet he was killed.” Perhaps Fel shouldn’t have said that, but the words left his mouth out of their own will.
“Indeed. Did you hear anything I said? Or did you imagine something I didn’t? I’m absolutely sure I never claimed he asked me how to become immortal.”
“Sorry. It’s just… he died so young. If he was so powerful…” Fel sighed. “Do you know what happened?”
“He moved on. Not all of us are meant to stay long in this realm. If you want to know how to remain here forever, I cannot help you. I don’t see everything and I don’t know everything. Now, what are you here for again?”
“To learn to swap to my human body—while keeping my human magic.”
“Learning cannot be given. That said, I can give you your human body, as you can see. I can also give you your human magic, but I need to know I’m giving it to someone who deserves it. I propose a challenge for you. See that peak there?”
He pointed behind Fel, who turned—and saw a huge wall of rock, as if a mountain had been sliced. Previously concealed by the fog, now it stood tall and imposing, extending far in both directions.
The First Mage continued, “There’s a nest there. A special nest belonging to a rare, old, golden bird. I need you to climb there and bring me an egg.”
Going there would be easy as a dragon, with his wings. As a human it wouldn’t be hard either, if he had his metal vest or any metal that he could use to stand on. But like this… “Without magic?”
“Why? Did you expect your challenge to be easy? It doesn’t work like that. I must warn you, though, that if you fall, you may die. The bird is not small either, and might kill you. Do you want to risk death? Do you prefer to risk death than to go back to your beautiful, perfect, dragon form? Show me what this human body is capable of, show me, and I’ll grant you your nasty human magic.”
Fel swallowed. How was he going to climb? “So you want me to bring you an egg from that nest?”
“That’s the challenge, yes.”
He still had no idea how he was going to get up there, but he was sure it was not going to be easy—or quick. “Is there a time limit?”
The great dragon laughed in that strange growl. “The limit is your hurry, child. I’ll be here when you’re finished—unless you die, of course.”
Fel took a deep breath, then mustered all his confidence. “I’ll bring you that egg.”
The First Mage lowered his head even more and approached him, so that his huge mouth almost touched Fel. His lower teeth were as big as Fel’s legs.
“Pass the challenge, child, and you’ll have your human magic back.”
“I will.”
The huge dragon then disappeared, leaving Fel there alone. It was a cruel challenge. While he hadn’t said anything about Fels hands, he’d asked him to do something for which his body wasn’t suitable, a task that made him feel weak and foolish. Azir Umbraar had told him many times that he was perfect, but he wasn’t, was he? He never had to tell Naia she was perfect because she obviously was.
Climbing that wall would be a task hard enough for most people, even if they were physically strong. For Fel? Impossible. The dragon’s laughter came to his mind. Perhaps this was a cruel prank, made to make him quit before even starting. Fel took a deep breath. He wasn’t going to quit. He needed his body, needed his magic, needed to be himself again. He wanted a future, a family. And wanted to kiss Leah, kiss her again, this time knowing that it wasn’t a feverish dream.
Then he also needed to help his father, help Umbraar. If even dragon magic was better wielded in human form, then it was extremely important.
Wings were nice, but he had to save his kingdom—and make love to his girl. Leah was his girl—had always been, and he knew it now, almost as if turning into a dragon had changed how he perceived other people and his own emotions. He could still be a dragon—in human form. Then he’d feel complete, once he had his magic.
He stared at the rock wall again. How was he going to reach that peak?
* * *
The sky wasblue outside the window of the fort. Naia had tumultuous thoughts in her mind, now knowing that everything was so much more complicated than she had imagined at first. But at least River was finally talking, without having to. This was a good change.
He looked at her. “Your magic, it amplifies mine. They combine somehow, they do something, so it was both our powers healing me. That’s why you slept, and why we were both so hungry.”
