Zephyria covered her face with her wing and growled slightly as someone dared to try to wake her. "Zeph, c'mon. It's already late in the morning and I need to talk to you about something important." Zephyria rolled over with a crash of something breaking behind her as she faced away from whatever fool was bothering her extremely important sleep. "I hope we don't have to pay for that. Now come on, you lazy lizard. It's time to get up. You can't sleep through the day." Zephyria twisted her neck towards her adversary and opened a single eye, she saw her little dragon dressed up in his armor with his sword on his hip and his arms crossed in stubborn determination. What she didn't expect to see was his eyes. They were a striking, bestial, yellow with vertical slits that glinted slightly in the dim light of the stable. He glared at her as she studied him. She finally responded by saying, "I slept through an entire winter, once, without waking. I assure you I can sleep through a single day." Zephyria rolled back over as the shards of whatever pottery she just broke clattered to the ground. "But that is not important. Your eyes, little dragon." Asher huffed, "I told you I had something I needed to talk to you about. But it's not just the eyes, I don't know if it's normal or not but I feel weak and sick today. Not just physically but my mana core, heart-flame I mean, is smaller than its ever been. I feel awful! What in the void is happening, Zephyria?"

  Zephyria got up and stretched out like a cat while saying, "How should I know, little dragon? We are learning how this works together." She stretched to the side and found herself more flexible than she used to be while Asher gave her a flat unimpressed look. "The heart-flame is a fickle thing. I understand your mortal mana cores are more or less constant, right? A container that empties and fills, but does not change in size?" Asher looked annoyed at her response, but now Zephyria could see the discomfort in his features, he responded by saying, "That's about right. It can change a little with a lot of exercises, or change more with the right potion, but for most it will never meaningfully change." Zephyria padded over and gave the grumpy man a nuzzle, "The heart-flames granted to us by the gods are unreliable things. They swell to incredible heights, but can wane into weakness if not cared for. They are near boundless springs of mana, and yet can be exhausted from overuse. I find myself able to heal much faster than I should, however with every injury my flame weakens, for example. You gained your flame by taking a bite from that snake's heart. But, that is all you have eaten since then, correct? If I had to guess, little dragon, all you need is fresh kill to bolster your flame and you will be fine."

  Asher looked at her curiously now, "That might explain the eyes as well, actually. It explains everything, if it's true. This heart-flame I now have, it could be the source of the transformations. I woke earlier to a horrible itching sensation in my eyes that bordered on pain. I didn't think much of it at the time, but the weakness and nausea only settled in after they finished changing. You think that they use the heart-flame as fuel somehow?" Zephyria gave him the dragon equivalent of a shrug with her head and said, "I do not know, little one, but it as good an understanding as any right now."

  The duo was startled by a knock on the side of the stable, after a second a familiar voice called out, "Asher? Zephyria? It's Conall. Do you have a moment, if your even in there?" Zephyria arched her back in one last stretch and bonked Asher in the chest with her muzzle affectionately giving him a little purr. She nudged open the loose door of the stable and walked out and saw Conall standing outside in his own combat gear. He gave her a bright smile and said, "Ah! Good you are here, I would have felt like a fool calling out to an empty building. Is Asher here- uh." Conall trailed off as Asher stepped out just behind Zephyria, the two men locked eyes and awkwardly stared at each other for a minute. After a tense stare down Asher blushed and looked away, saying, "They aren't too weird, are they?" Conall lifted his hands and said quickly, "No! No, not at all. They look quite attractive on you, actually. I just never realized how similar Zephyria's eyes were to a cat's until they were on someone who isn't a beast. I was only so quiet because it's almost eerie how similar yours are to hers. Identical, even! It's like being stared down by the same dragon twice, somehow."

  Asher smiled a bit and rubbed the back of his neck while Zephyria looked at Asher more intently and said, "Is that what my eyes look like? I have pretty eyes." Asher's face shifted from embarrassment to confusion as he said, "Have you never seen yourself before, Zephyria? I find that hard to believe." Zephyria huffed, "There is only so much one can see in a muddy pond or flowing stream. I've read you mortals have tools called mirrors that allow you to see yourself that are apparently quite normal, I would not be opposed to using one sometime." She turned to Conall and changed the topic, "There was something you needed, little wolf?" Conall nodded and said, "Ah, yes! I've been holding off on practicing my new magic before today due to wanting to make sure I was rested first, and then holding off this morning due to not wanting to risk something new alone. The amount of power you pushed into me feels wild and feral to my senses, I get the feeling my first few casts are going to go wrong. Would you two care to join me for some practice?"

  Zephyria looked to the sun to judge the time and saw it was mid-morning. She glanced down at her two mortals as she had an idea, "Perhaps we can handle multiple problems at once then. Asher needs fresh kill, and you need to practice your magic. Let us go hunting, then. You can hunt for Asher's meal." Conall frowned, "Fresh kill? Does the inn not have something to eat? I have some food at my home if you need it, Asher." Asher smiled, although his discomfort was plain on his face, and said, "I'm feeling sick. Something to do with the transformation and my new heart-flame, maybe. Zeph thinks I need to eat something mana rich to recover, and that means something that's just died. The mana dissipates over time otherwise." Zephyria just nodded along as he spoke.

  Conall looked at Asher compassionately and affectionately and said, "Alright, then we'll go hunting. Does it have to be a dangerous monster again? Or will a regular animal do? I'm not sure I'm ready to fight something dangerous, I only meant to practice the basics because I feel like a novice all over again." The pair looked at Zephyria who gave them both a flat look in return, "How should I know? I already told you we are learning how this works together. It should probably work?" Zephyria put on a gentler look and got close to her little dragon and spoke softly, "I am more concerned if you are correct, little one. I said I would aid you in preventing the transformation if you did not wish it, but dragons will die if their heart-flame goes out. If the transformations are powered by keeping your flame fueled, and if letting your flame diminish makes you sick... The choice may have already been made for you." Asher just pat her on the nose and said, "Then we'll keep going and handle the problems as they come. For now I just want to stop feeling like I'm going to collapse from weakness and throw up. Meat sounds good right now, lets go kill something already." Zephyria purred and stood straight. "Now that is the little dragon I have come to appreciate. 'Let us go kill something already', indeed."

  Asher scampered up Zephyria's side and then held out a hand for the wolf man who took it and swung up alongside him. The trio left immediately and began fly in the general direction of the lake that had nearly taken Zephyria's life in search of prey. What the trio didn't see was an incredibly annoyed Cardinal Guard who had just arrived to personally handle the contract's paperwork only to see them fly off without even so much as telling anyone where they were going. Petra just sighed, swore, and stomped back to her office.

  As the trio found a healthy looking section of the forest they landed and dismounted. "This should be a good a spot as any to practice casting again. Its been so long since I've had a chance to use mana properly. I can't wait." Conall said, his excitement was palpable to Zephyria. She responded, "What is it you need to do, exactly? I am still unfamiliar with mortals and their magic, but I'm intrigued to fight alongside a mortal caster." Conall beamed, "Right! First thing first is to get get a grip on it. When I still had a pact with my previous patron their mana was cold, almost dead feeling, even if it did respond to my control. Your mana feels wild and aggressive, Zephyria. A patron's mana always reflects its origin to an extent and so those of us taught in the Fists are trained to handle a variety of sources." Conall drew his blade and held it out in front of him at a 45 degree angle almost like he was afraid of it burning him. "To handle wild mana, the best technique to start is infusing. Channel your affinity through my blade to empower it. It's low risk and forgiving if I make a mistake. I could try to conjure a lightning bolt to start, but I'm as liable to hit myself with it as I am my target and unlike you I'm not immune to lightning. Easy way to die like an idiot."

  Asher watched on nervously, while Zephyria stared at the wolf with her tail slowly swaying in interest. He held his blade aloft and she stared in rapt attention as the blade slowly thrummed and then suddenly crackled with lightning all over. Conall yelped, dropped the blade, clutched his hand to his chest, and swore under his breath repeatedly. Asher immediately went over to check on him but Conall waved him off while saying "It's fine, It's fine. I'm okay." He wrung his paw-like hand out and looked it over. "I'm entirely fine. Just stung and the lightning made my hand tense around the blade for a moment rather than dropping it. I'll be ready next time."

  Conall raised his blade out and repeated the process only to yelp and drop his blade again. Asher winced and Zephyria's eyes widened like a cat as she stared at him with an intensity that made the wolf nervous. He tried a third, then a fourth time before sheathing his blade and sitting down on the grass with his back to a nearby tree. "I just don't get it. I'm guiding the mana just like I was taught but it won't listen, it's like it has a mind of its own." Zephyria's tail continued to wave slowly as she thought about the wolf's problem. Asher leaned against her side and looked like he struggling to not throw up. "We need to hunt for Asher sooner rather than later. If it is not his heart-flame that is-" Zephyria suddenly stilled, even her tail quit moving. Conall looked at her with a tilted head, "You're making me nervous looking at me like that, what's wrong, Zephyria?" The dragon looked the wolf man in the eyes and said, "Little wolf. You said you are 'guiding' the mana, correct?" Conall nodded. "You are too gentle, and too kind, little wolf." Conall narrowed his eyes at her but didn't interrupt. "This is mana born from a dragon, wolf. Demand it acts to your will. Not just demand, but command its obedience. There is a little bit of a dragon coursing through your veins now, wolf. You must begin to think like one if you wish to be able to wield its strength. The world already belongs to you and you alone, all you must do is reach your claws out and seize it. That is the dragon way."

  Conall frowned and looked incredibly unsure of himself. "I don't think I understand. I'm not a dragon. I'm just some nobody beast-kin who was scraping to get by who got lucky enough to meet you. The world doesn't belong to me, I barely even own my own gear. Why are we even arguing this? Asher needs our help, lets just go get him something to eat already." Zephyria glanced at Asher who looked queasy but otherwise well enough by her estimate. "No, little wolf. You will infuse your blade properly before we leave this spot. Get up, return to your position in the clearing, and try again. I am ordering you as your patron to do this. If you want to help your precious human, then you will not fail." Conall glared at her angrily but returned to his spot in the clearing and held his blade aloft.

  Asher whispered to Zephyria, "Zeph, what are you doing?" She gently nuzzled him and responded in a whisper of her own, "Are you feeling well enough to remain here for a few more minutes, little dragon? I have a hunch on how to help him, but it involves leveraging your newfound sickness against him for a short while." Asher looked at her like she was crazy, "Your not normally this mean, but I trust you Zephyria. I just feel a bit more nauseous, otherwise it's about the same. I'll be fine for a while." Zephyria purred softly and whispered, "Good. Tell me if you begin to feel worse and we can leave before he gets his claws around his mana." Asher nodded and kept leaning against her.

  Conall grimaced, held his blade aloft, his blade crackled with lightning, he yelped, dropped his blade, and bared his teeth slightly at Zephyria in anger. "I don't see the point in this Zephyria." She simply said, "Again." Conall made a sound similar to a growl and raised his blade again only to repeat the entire process once more. Without even bothering to pick his blade up he called out, "I'm too angry to even guide the mana properly. This is a waste of time. Let us go, Zephyria." Zephyria stalked towards him slowly, being sure to not accidentally let Asher fall as she left his side. She got in Conall's face and growled back at him, a deep and throaty growl. "Who are you, wolf?" Conall flinched and bit back angrily, "I don't know what you mean! I'm just me." Zephyria pushed on, "Are you a weak, cowardly, 'nobody beast kin scraping to get by' or are you the brave warlock who was accepted by a dragon to travel alongside her and her chosen? Which one are you, little wolf?"

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  Conall faltered, and took a step back. "I'm... I..." Zephyria became impatient with the man's stammering and pushed him harder, "A dragon does not 'guide'. A dragon is not gentle. A dragon is arrogant. A dragon is domineering. A dragon makes demands and the world obeys. You wield a taste of the heart-flame's magic, Conall. You define yourself by your previous patron and the acts it forced you to do, but you stand in an extraordinarily unique position. You are very likely the only warlock to have ever formed a pact with a dragon. You are exceptional. You are truly unique. You. Are. Mine. I will not have my only warlock treating my magic with gentle cowardice when a fierce bite is required. Take your anger at me, your anger at yourself, your anger at your magic, and grab that anger by the tail and use it as a weapon against your magic. Demand the magic obeys your will. Force it to respect you, because you are owed nothing less than the complete respect of those around you. Now if you want to see your mate recovered sooner, do it again." Zephyria stalked back over to Asher and just stood and watched the speechless warlock gawk at her.

  Asher whispered to her the moment she got close, "Mate?" Zephyria spoke in a hushed tone back, "Apologies, you two seemed closer than before. Did I misread the situation? I feel I can read you two so much better than other mortals, but it's still difficult for me to understand some things." Asher shook his head, "No- I mean. Yes? We're maybe approaching something like that, but we haven't talked about it." Zephyria huffed, "You will have to explain to me mortal courtship rituals later, then. I am not following." The pair were distracted from their hushed discussion by Conall who was snarling as he raised his blade once more. Zephyria stilled as she focused intently on him once more. The warlock's blade crackled with lightning and Zephyria watched as it jumped down into the handle and shock his hand, however unlike all the previous times he didn't stop casting or drop his blade. His snarl mixed with a grimace and Conall let out a roar-like shout that caused several nearby birds to take off. Zephyria rumbled with pleasure as she saw the lightning climb away from his hand and only wrap the blade itself. The wolf man panted as he stared at the blade thrumming and crackling dangerously in his hand. He gave it a few experimental swings before withdrawing his mana and sheathing his blade.

  Conall turned towards Zephyria with anger in his eyes and stomped towards her furiously. Zephyria lowered her head to his level and gave him the most self-satisfied smug look. As he got close he lifted a finger and jabbed it through the air at her angrily and snarled out, "I am extremely annoyed at you. I'm even more pissed that I can tell you goaded me on purpose to intentionally make me angry. What's really pissing me off is that it actually worked and you were absolutely right! Being furious made it significantly easier to bend that unruly and stupid magic to my will! I can't figure out if I should be thankful you immediately helped me figure it out, or mad at you for how you did it." Zephyria moved slightly and nuzzled Conall in the chest. "For what it is worth, little wolf, I am genuinely sorry for provoking you like that. I've already used our pact against you. I said I would avoid doing so, and then went back on my word the very next day. That, and using your affection for my little dragon against you as well."

  Conall relaxed his hand from his angry point and rested it on Zephyria's nose prompting her to nuzzle into his chest a little bit. Conall sighed and said, "Look. I'm annoyed but I see why you did it. Now that I've actually figured it out I'm honest enough to admit I never would have gotten it by doing it my way. You're right, we really are entirely unique and I can't rely on old techniques. I have to keep that in mind going forward. And, apparently, get angry at your magic to make it work." Zephyria pulled back and rumbled out a little laugh, "A dragon's fury is terrifying to behold for more reasons than you might expect, little wolf. Wield it well."

  Asher finally interjected saying, "This has been a wonderful side track and I'm genuinely proud of you for getting that right so fast, Conall. But, I really do feel like shit and need to eat something. Can we hurry that along?" Zephyria turned and said, "Apologies, and thank you for being patient, little dragon. Let us go hunting now, then." The trio made their way back onto Zephyria's back and she carefully and silently stalked her way through the woods in search of prey.

  Within the hour she had found a small herd of deer with oddly speckled hides. Dropping off her mortals in hiding nearby she slowly and silently crept up the biggest of the herd and pounced upon it without even so much as breaking a sick with her footsteps. As Zephyria's fangs clamped down around the deer's throat and she tasted its blood upon her tongue she realized on a primal level just how long it had been since she had had a decent meal or properly killed anything. With the hot blood of her prey upon her fangs she quit thinking and without hesitation twisted and ran full speed after the second largest of the deer. Its head-start and better movement in the complicated forest terrain extended out the chase but Zephyria was simply bigger and faster. She leapt out claws forward and crushed the thing beneath her bulk with a loud chorus of snaps as all of its ribs broke at once. She ripped into its throat ending what little life remained in the creature and she hungrily took several large bites out of it.

  It was only after she had actually thought to eat its heart did her conscious mind click back into place. "That was the most fun I've had in a while. I'd spent so long playing at being a mortal I'd almost forgotten I am a predator before all else." Zephyria raised her head to the sky and savored the feeling of the breeze cooling the steaming hot blood dripping from her maw. "When was the last time I actually ran down my prey like that? I always just ambush them from the shadows. It must have been cycles, tens of cycles maybe. I have to do that more often." Zephyria greedily ate several more large bites from the deer and then left the rest for the scavengers. She made her way back to her mortals who were still in the process of carving her first kill up.

  Asher looked up at her blood soaked face and claws as she approached, "Where in the void did you get off too? You bolted after that deer like you lost your mind." Zephyria gave the dragon equivalent of a shrug, a sticky drop of blood dropping off her face. "The thrill of the hunt. There's nothing like running down your prey and tearing their throat out with your fangs. The feeling of their heart beating its last as they bleed out. It's euphoric. You should try it sometime, little dragon, you would enjoy it." Asher just looked at her like she was crazy and said, "Uh, we'll see. Can you at least wipe your face off in the grass or something? You're absolutely caked in blood. It seems every time you eat you somehow end up coated in blood, how do you even do it? Do you go out of your way to be as messy as possible when eating or something?"

  Zephyria gave a purring laugh and said, "I merely enjoy the hunt to its fullest. But fine, I will go get some of this off. Have you eaten yet?" Asher shook his head and gestured to his bloody hands and the hunting knife he had in the flank of the creature. "Working on getting its heart. You picked the biggest damn one so it's taking some time to get through everything." Asher licked his lips. "I will admit, fresh meat like this looks an awful lot more appetizing than it used to. Conall wandered off to go get firewood to cook it, but do you think I could just...?" Zephyria nearly nudged the man with her muzzle before remembering she was still soaked. "I don't see why not, the flesh of the heart can't be that different from the flesh of the chest." Asher shrugged and cut off a smaller strip as he worked and ate it. "That's really fucking good, the blood..." Zephyria finished for him, "It adds to the flavor, doesn't it? I understand, little dragon."

  She rubbed her face mostly clean on some nearby grass and bushes and by the time she was mostly clean once more Asher had successfully extracted the deer's heart and was looking at it hungrily. Before he could eat it Zephyria interrupted, "Repeat after me little dragon." Asher gave her a nod, "Be honored, worthy prey, you lived and died well with a bright heart. May your soul join the gods of old as your heart-flame burns through me." Asher repeated her words exactly and with a reverence that made her proud. As soon as Zephyria was done leading Asher in prayer, she gave him a little nod and he began to eat.

  Conall walked into view of the pair, and saw a still slightly bloody dragon standing over an odd human eating a deer heart like a starving animal. His arms were full of appropriately dry wood and he just sighed as approached. "I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing that. So gross." Asher couldn't help but laugh as he paused eating, "If you could taste how fucking spectacular this is, you would be here fighting me for it not calling me gross." Conall gave him a skeptical look a and said, "...sure. If you say so. I'll just cook my meal, just like everyone else who isn't the chosen of a dragon." He smiled at the man gently and said, "I can tell it's helping. You're already looking brighter and more energetic. So it was the heart-flame making you sick, then?" Asher smiled back, his fangs bared. "I think it was! I feel almost like when I got my first bite of that snake. But, the rush is more tempered, instead of practically shaking with energy I just feel like I just had a full nights rest and then took one of those energizing potions the alchemists make for adventurers to stay awake during the night. Looks like I'll just need to make regular hunting trips a part of my life. I don't think you'll mind that, Zephyria." Zephyria purred and nuzzled the man's side as he finished the rest of his unusual meal off.

  Conall sat to the side and after carefully carving a cut for himself he roasted it over the open flame with Asher's help. "Conall, I was wondering. I've not had a chance to really study how my fighting has changed since Zephyria's bond influenced me. I remember back in that goblin cave you even noticed that I fought like a wild animal, almost, but with the grace of a dragon. I wonder if I can practice and refine that change. Is there a proper training arena back in Rannoch we can use with wooden blades and safety gear? Until I know my own strength again I don't think it's a good idea to practice with a real blade."

  Conall nodded, "Sure, the fists maintain a training arena that's open to anyone who's willing to pay a small fee. We can afford it easily with what Petra is going to pay us. I'm curious as well to see how we can refine your style, you're already-" Asher growled deeply and clutched his hands to his chest, hiding them from view. He doubled over with his face twisted in pain and he began to breath hard. Conall immediately got close and clutched the man's shoulder, "Asher, what's wrong? Asher!" Zephyria felt the smallest tug on her own flame and put together what was happening. She gently nudged Conall back, saying softly, "Give him some space, wolf, this will pass soon. Little dragon, let us know when they are done changing." Asher managed a strained nod and after several long moments his entire body relaxed and he wobbled unsteadily.

  Conall helped steady Asher to prevent him from falling, while he raised a hand out before him in wonder. Zephyria could see clearly another transformation had taken place. Small patches of scales were now scattered along the back of Asher's hand, growing denser the closer they got to the tips of his fingers. Instead of human nails, short curved claws the same gleaming black as Zephyria's extended off his fingers. A small amount of his blood dripped from the sides of the nails as though they had torn their way through the previous nails, ripping them off the nail bed. Asher flexed his hand a few times and inspected it. He tapped a claw against the small scales and Zephyria could hear a soft but satisfying clink.

  Zephyria placed her head gently against her mortal's side and said, "The claws look good on you." Zephyria sighed as Asher leaned on her muzzle for support. She continued softly, saying, "That is three separate transformations in only two days. I said I would help you try to stop this if you wanted me to, but you are quickly running out of time to choose."

  Asher held his hand in front of him, but didn't actually look at his hands. He gazed blankly into the distance and said, "My heart-flame feels weaker than before. Physically I feel fine, but it's not as bright as it was right after eating. I think..." Asher closed his hand in a fist and let it rest on Zephyria's head. "I think that the concerns you voiced earlier today came true before we even considered them. The moment I took a bite from that snake's heart I was set upon a path of no return. I need to keep the flame fed to survive, but the flame will keep changing me as long as it is fed."

  He was quiet for a moment before continuing. "I've been considering it all morning. I thought about it for a long while before I woke you up, Zephyria. I decided I wasn't going to try to stop the changes, anyways. I want this. I could do without the pain though, fuck, that was awful. I think I can see bits of my nails on the ground. My eyes just itched when they changed! I thought the itching was bad, but now I'm thankful for the mercy of it."

  Asher stood up and wrung his newly altered hands out, and wiped the bit of blood off them, then gestured to the deer they had partially processed. "The meat's still good. We should take what we can back and have the Inn hold it for us to eat later, or serve it today, or something. I'm sure someone will buy it."

  Conall stood close to Asher and didn't even acknowledge his attempt to change the topic, "I was going to try to talk you into accepting the changes sometime today. Even planned out a little speech but held off with how sick you were feeling. I even had a whole thing about the families we are born into and the families we choose to embrace. You and Zephyria are good for each other, and you both clearly want it. I'm almost a little embarrassed to know that it was a moot point this entire time. Just... The point is I want you to know that I'm here for you Asher. I'll be by your side through this whole process and support you however I can. I want to see you happy, Asher, you deserve it."

  Zephyria huffed in annoyance and interjected. "See? This is what I meant. You two are clearly courting each other and therefore mates. And yet you say you aren't. Are you, or are you not, mated to each other? I don't understand mortal courtship and it is frustrating no-one will explain it to me." Asher let out a long and suffering sigh as he held his palm to his face while Conall choked on his own spit and doubled over coughing.

  "Way to ruin the moment, Zephyria."