The breach in the rock was pitch black, as if the walls had been slathered with tar. Victor pulled himself away from the hot spring, carefully treading towards the opening in the rock. A faint light shone far off into the dusk, which could’ve been anything from a trickle of snow to a mere hallucination. The mountain path had reached its end; there was nowhere left to go but to descend into the belly of the mountain.

“I don’t like the looks of this, Celesta.”

“Hmm… The entrance into the shrine shouldn’t be distinguishable from any ordinary cave, and this fits the description perfectly. We’re at the top of the path, so this must be it.”

Far across the mountain, the wind howled ever so solemnly. The glow flickered on, ever so feeble and distant. The red dragon pulled his head back, eyes widened. “No, I’m not going in there. What if another monster attacks us in there?”

Celesta shook her head, the click of her tongue drifting over the wind into Victor’s ears. “But where else can we go, Victor? You wish to shed your scales, and this is the only place that can be done. There’s no turning back...” A smug grin began to materialize. “...Unless you’re having second thoughts about losing the Blessing, that is-”

Victor yelped like a small child. “Nonono, anything but that, anything but that!!” His legs shaked like little twigs holding up a tree. Celesta’s facial muscles froze in response.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean it like- argh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” said Celesta, hanging her head low. “It wasn’t meant to be serious, I thought a little joke would lighten the mood a little… you know.”

Victor looked off into the mountain wilderness, feeling discomforted in his own skin. “For a moment, I thought you were being serious. All my hopes, right down the mountainside.”

The lavender dragoness laid a claw on his shoulder. “Of course not. I wouldn’t ever do something so cruel to anyone, let alone you. Trust me, would I ever have come all the way out here with you if I didn’t support you?” The red dragon gradually turned his head back to see her eye to eye. Celesta was surprised to find one of Victor’s claws holding her own.

“Thanks, Celesta.”

“You’re welcome, Victor. C’mere.”

The lavender wrapped both her legs around the red’s neck. It was a peaceful little moment: Not a word was exchanged, as they lingered in each other’s calming presence. Whatever pains and troubles Victor had went mute, after so long spent suffering in his own shade. Once Victor had calmed down enough, Celesta let go of his neck, and pointed back towards the cave.

“Now then, shall we get going?”

Victor backed off again. “Hold on. Let me clean all this monster blood off first, it’s disgusting.”

Celesta let out a growled chuckle. “Of course, silly. I didn’t mean we’d be diving headfirst into there, did I?”

After some quick hygiene, and they both had drunk their fill, the two ventured forth into the entrance, Celesta leading the way, Victor following suit not far behind her.

It’s cold, it’s dark, and we don’t know what on Terris we’ll find down there. At least it doesn’t snow, that’s something I guess… Is this really where someone would build a shrine? Why am I getting the feeling I won’t like what we’ll find in here?

Once inside, appearances differed little. Walls slathered in dusky tar, the occasional stripe on the wall, little more. Victor grumbled. That glow from earlier was nowhere to be seen, thanks to Celesta walking in between. Must’ve been imagining things, I guess.

The tunnel wound its course, static and cold and dark at every step, the faint glow taunting the two dragons all the while. At a certain point it felt as if they were in a loop, and they were too foolish to tell. Victor looked anxiously back and forth from wall to wall. Maybe it all was a trap, a little game. Perhaps the walls would start to close in on them all of a sudden. He searched for his voice, but was unable to find it.

“Look, Victor! Just ahead!”

After a while spent ruminating in silence, not paying even a grain of attention to the dragoness’ ramblings, Victor was stirred into action by Celesta suddenly picking up the pace. She sprinted through the corridor faster than Victor could’ve ever dreamed of. The red dragon scrambled to catch up, almost stumbling over his feet several times. It was a hopeless endeavor. Celesta didn’t so much as pause or glance back for a second; if anything happened to lurk nearby, wherever it might be possible, now was their chance.

I swear, I’ve ran twice this gods forsaken mountain’s distance now…

Panting, the red dragon finally reached the end of the tunnel. Celesta was there, distracted by the sight in front of her. “Hey, why did you run off?” Victor grumbled, “What if there was another-” A claw tilted his head forwards. “Oh, wow...”

Right before them lay a vast underground lake, shining a bright azure in the glow of the many crystals arrayed around. From the depths of the lake, across the shores and at the highest reaches of the cavern, the crystals sprang forth from the rock, casting their beauty upon every grain of sand and speck of dirt in sight. At the far end of the lake, a small waterfall cast its waters into the lake, replacing that which was being drained away by a small stream on the other side.

The two dragons gazed bug eyed upon the lake from afar, either losing themselves in the crystals, or picturing themselves drinking from or swimming in those waters. Everything was so serene, so clear and pleasant, so much so to make Victor feel petrified.

‘...this is not what you’re here for... is it?...’

A voice sounded from the lake, it’s echoes bouncing off the walls as if someone was yelling at the bottom of a ravine. The red dragon’s eyes spasmed. What was that?

‘...that is not relevant...is it?...’

Wait, who are you? And how do you know what I’m thinking? Am I hallucinating? Celesta, do you- agh!

‘...she can’t hear you right now… neither can she hear me.’

The voice turned sharp and clear, as if the source was speaking directly into his ear. Victor tried to gasp: nothing came out. What is the meaning of this?!

‘There is no meaning. All I have to tell you as you stare away into those crystals, is to enjoy it as best you can. Do not forget to share your experience. It would be quite rude if you forgot. That is all.’

And what do you hope to accomplish with this?

‘You’ll find out soon enough. Farewell for now.’

Wait, wait! You never told me what you are! Answer me!

‘Know this - We have met before.’

As the last echoes faded, the soft sound of the waterfall returned into Victor’s ears.

“Amazing… I knew Divinity was capable of much, but this is new even for me,” Celesta said.

Victor’s eyes twitched, his attention switching back and forth from the lake to Celesta. The echoes of the voice appeared to have gone her by entirely, however implausible it seemed.

“Celesta? Did you hear that too?”

Celesta tilted her head, her brow raised slightly. “Heard what?”

“You didn’t hear that voice just now?”

“No, I didn't hear any voice. Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing,” said Victor, shaking his head.

The purple dragon shined her marble white teeth in a grin. “I think you’re just a little anxious, Vic. I mean, who wouldn’t be in your shoes?” she said, before failing to hold back the butterfly in her throat. All Victor could reply with was a sigh.

“Yes, yes… I suppose there’s some truth to that. Can you please stop laughing now? I swear, I didn’t hallucinate that at all, I know I heard something. Why didn’t she hear it? Or is she playing dumb with me? Besides, what did it say again? ‘Share my experience? What does that even mean? Ugh, my head hurts.

A path ran around the lake, its course marked with the same markers as those on the mountain side. As they travelled deeper into the cavern, the nearby crystals responded to their presence with an intenser glow. There wasn’t any malice to it, as far as either dragon could tell. No secret weapon or further creatures to come and scare them off.

But as they went further, the crystals began to hum. A soft sound permeated throughout the cavern: it sounded alien, yet beautiful.

“Wow, what’s that sound?”

“Who knows? I’ve never heard anything like this before, let alone in a place like this-”

“Look, Victor! Over there!”

All the crystals in the cavern joined in, singing their tune to their small audience. The faraway glows revealed a gate at the end of the path, guarded by two spear bearing guards. Celesta hopped over the path to take a closer look, Victor following timidly behind her.

“That's where we'll have to go. I wonder how those guards haven't noticed us yet.”

Victor clicked his tongue. “Well, they don’t exactly look very alive, do they? They haven’t moved at all, not even a little. They have to be statues of some sort.”

Celesta turned sideways, her attention divided between both sides. “Come to think of it, you’re right. Those texts mentioned it briefly as well. But it’s odd, though. Would anyone be fooled by statues?”

Victor shook his head. “I wouldn’t be, and I doubt anyone else would fall for that either.” Hey, answer me. What is the meaning of all this? You’re still here, I can feel it, say something!

“Hmm...” The dragoness raised a claw to the tip of her snout. “Maybe it’s a decoration of some kind. It wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary, would it? I’d imagine they’d be praying here all happy and warm, knowing they’re kept safe and sound whenever they look at those statues,” she said, smiling. “That’s just my guess.”

To this, the red had but a drawn out groah to give. “After everything else I’ve seen of this religion of yours, nothing surprises me any longer.” No answer… ugh, the longer I’m here, the stranger I feel. “Is there even a way to open that door?”

Celesta chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, Vic. We’ll figure it out, right?” she said with one foot forwards, “we’ll figure it-”

A clash echoed throughout the cavern, sending a ripple through the lake. The crystals replied with a collective hum, a song meant for a king’s ears. Like a rat following the melody of a flute, Victor’s eyes were drawn to the gates. The two statues had clanged their spears against one another, their wielders bearing signs of life. Soon after, a low rumble awakened deep within the mountain.

“c-Celesta?! What’s happening?!”

“I don’t know!!” the dragoness shouted in a panic. Victor threw himself upon the floor, claws over his head, wings pressed into his back, tail nestled against his side. Both his ears now cried out in pain, as the rumbling roared throughout the vessels of the mountain. I’m going to die here, I’m going to die here… Why did I come here, why do I keep doing this to myself?!

* * *

After several minutes had gone by, the rumbling finally stopped. Silence was left in its wake. No humming crystals or running water for the ears to catch, just the hollow winds of the cavern. Victor didn’t dare open his eyes. His stance had all the passion of a dog being yelled at.

“Okay… looks like we’re still alive. That’s good.” The clicks of claws crawled up to Victor’s head. “You can stand up now, Vic. The coast’s clear!”

“Are you sure?”

“Couldn’t be anymore sure if I tried!”

The dragon opened his eyes to the sight of two feet. After a quick roll of his eyes, he lifted his head from the ground, only to find his snout pressed against another. “Ack!” he yelped, pulling his head back to the sounds of Celesta’s amusement.

“Heh, I just couldn’t resist the opportunity, sorry Vic!”

The red dragon growled. This was not the time to be playing games. “I don’t find this very funny, Celesta. I’ve been stressed out enough as is!” Victor picked up a rock by his feet, and threw it past Celesta away into the cave. The dragoness shrank away, a sore gaze lingering on her face. “This is not-” was all Victor managed to get out before his eyes fell upon the gates, now fully open.

“Ergh, my deepest apologies, Victor. You always seem so worried about these things when they happen,” said Celesta. Victor said nothing back. “I really didn’t mean it that way, Victor, I honestly didn’t. You’ve been a good person to me, and I wouldn’t want to hurt you, ever,” she continued. Victor still didn’t say anything. “Is it okay… if… umm, are you listening?”

“The doors are open.”

Celesta craned her head over her shoulder. The temple had opened, its guards now wielding their spears upright. A path of braziers stretched beyond the doors, and at its end shone the dawn’s light through a thin mist.

“This must be it. I hope those texts of yours weren’t wrong.”

The lavender dragoness nodded. “I’m hoping the same, to be honest. Lead the way.”

With nothing standing in their way, the two dragons ventured forth. Victor didn’t have any reservations. Not as his feet crossed the threshold, not as the torches sparked when he walked past, not when the ground turned to marble, not when he tasted the mist upon his tongue. For the time of truth had come at last.

Soon I’ll be rid of this, soon I’ll be myself again. Gods almighty, I’ve had to wait far too long for this day... I’ll have my hands back, my hair back, I’ll be me again. Thank the gods...

Several cloaked figures revealed themselves once Victor had entered the mist. They all appeared dusty, mighty poor like the frailest people in the slums and alleys of Raven’s Hill. None of them said a word, or so much as recognised the presence of the dragon in their midst. All had their hands clasped, muttering in weak voices to themselves.

On the other side of the mist, hundreds more greeted him with a cold welcome. From underneath their cloaks and rags, they stared coldly upon their visitor, their cracked lips practically glued together. It was far too quiet, even with the clicks of claws upon the marble echoing throughout. The scent of incense crept up Victor’s nostrils. It felt as if he had been placed into the pillory, and the whole town had come. Not to gawk. To observe.

Victor didn’t have it in him to say even a simple hello. He pressed on past the masses, the dawnlight guiding him to the far end of the hall. A marble arch led the way into an antechamber of sorts. There was no one there. Victor made his way inside, Celesta following in his footsteps shortly thereafter.

The lights behind dimmed. It was silent f. Neither Victor nor Celesta spoke. It was just them, the emptiness of the mist-shrouded room ahead as their only company. Then, as Victor was on the verge of opening his mouth, the floor ahead announced a presence. A large shadow materialized ahead. Both stood firm, as a dragon the size of Lothar entered the antechamber.

“Divinity foretold of your arrival. Welcome.”

The dragon spoke with a weary, old voice. A somber look rested on his face, as if he had been sick for a long time. Victor bowed, before daring to reply.

“Greetings. Are you the ruler of this place?” he said, shivering a little. The old dragon creaked open his weary lips, stroking over one of his whiskers with a talon.

“If you wish to call me a ruler, I suppose. But I always fancied myself as an elder. The ones who’ve followed me here have placed their trust in me. Without them, I am but a drop of rain in the storm.”

Victor nodded as deep as he could. “Alright. That’s good to know. Now then, do you know anything of a reversing ritual?”

The elder tilted his head. “Reversing ritual?”

“I can explain.” Celesta walked beside Victor, tail playfully dancing around. “My name is Celesta, and this is Victor. We’ve been searching for a way to reverse the Blessing.”

“Why, if I might ask?” The elder asked, lowering himself onto the marble floor.

Celesta nodded. “It is the result of a tragic misunderstanding. By pure mistake, my friend here had been turned into a dragon, but he does not wish to be one. I have been helping him with searching for a way to, well, turn the clock back, so to speak, and it has led us here.”

The elder’s green eyes widened. “Oh… I see. Tell me, how pressing is this matter, exactly?”

Victor stomped a foreleg into the floor. “I need to know now. How do I turn human again? I’ve been suffering through this for too long. I’ve spent so many days beating myself over what has happened. Please, you’ve got to cure me...” he said, his face appearing battered.

“Oh...” The elder’s lowered his head. “Divinity has told me of this too. Young one, I know little of any such ritual you speak of.”

An unknown force tugged onto Victor’s mind. “What…?”

“Young one… my deepest apologies, but I have no means by which to help you. All of us here are as mystified on this matter. My apologies. We have not had any visitors in a long time.”

Victor’s legs began to shake. Celesta pushed him aside, her breaths rapidly descending and ascending through her throat. “This has got to be a misunderstanding, right?! The texts all told of-”

The elder shook his head. “I am afraid, that the truth is what it is. It is debatable whether or not such a ritual even exists.”

“No, don’t say-”

All four of the red dragon’s legs gave way. He rolled onto its side, eyes staring dead ahead, without the faintest response to whatever was taking place around him. Not even to the one who rushed to his side. It was as if a switch had been flicked, and the soul had been turned off.

* * *

“Hey there.”

Victor found himself lying face down on an acre. Slowly, and with little effort, he used his hands to push himself back upon his two feet, brushing the dirt off of his face afterwards. A familiar smell hit him head on. He was in Riverside. A hand graced his shoulder. It was Eric.

“How’s the day been?”

Victor’s mouth opened slightly. "I thought you were-"

“I’m not here. You know that already.”

“What’s… going on here?”

“What do you think is going on here, Victor? You of all people ought to know what happens when you dip your toes into something dangerous.”

“Eric? What are you-”

“Come on now, Victor. Do you honestly think I’d ever accept an apology? I've had my life taken away from me, and I get a frontal seat to see my family cry for me every night. How dare you try and apologise! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, monster!. You expect the world to come and pat you on the back as usual, tell you it’s all going to be okay. Well, ‘s not going to happen, let me tell you. You’ve made your bed. I hope you suffer in it.”

Before Victor had the chance to answer, a little girl walked in from the side, glimmering trails running down her cheeks. “Big brother… why did you do that?”

Victor’s head suddenly cried out in agony, as if he was burning from the inside out. He stumbled a step backwards. “c-Charlotte?! No, I didn’t-”

“b-Big brother...” Charlotte teared up again. And as fate would have it, beside her emerged yet another. Their mother.

“Son… Words cannot describe...”

“Mother...”

“Please, leave me alone. You’ve brought me enough pain as is.”

All of a sudden, Riverside evaporated before his very eyes. Victor clawed at the air, desperate yet hopeless to try and stop it. Within seconds, everything was gone, except for the voices. Except for reality. A sharp pain took him over. His jaws flew open, and the walls began to shake with terror. Those in the underground temple buried their ears, as a hollow roar washed over them. It was the cry of someone who had lost what little hope they had left.