Chapter 10

Thena wasn't waking up. Her sleep induced state was probably from the transformation but I didn't know, I undid some of the tight straps that she had on so she could relax and breath better. She lied there peacefully in a dreamlike state. She was really quite beautiful when she wasn't trying to use you for something.

I stopped staring at her and investigated the yellow stone she was carrying. "Why isn't it glowing anymore?" I was just thinking out loud but agnir responded.

"a transformation crystal absorbs the power of the user and allows a transformation. She used it twice so she could return to her human form. Smart move honestly" agnir seemed impressed.

I didn't know dragons still existed, of course she would want to keep it hidden. I'm likely the only one who has seen it since it drains so much from her.

"if you eat dragon powers, then does that mean Tristan, the king of flame was a dragon?" I couldn't quite piece it all together yet, but I needed to know more about the kings flame.

Agnir was still her playful cute sounding self today, "hmm you could say that Tristan is my dad!" She seemed to be thinking about how to explain what she meant. "The first flame I ever ate was Tristan's. I was born from his flame and desire. But Tristan is not a dragon. I was born to slay dragons. Do you wonder why there aren't any dragons anymore Torin?"

I stayed quiet so agnir could finish, "I ate them! Isn't that awesome?" She said it like it was a really good thing. It almost felt like she wanted my approval.

"you ate them? Like just their powers right?" I asked slightly mortified at the thought of killing a majestic creature like a dragon.

Agnir giggled, "no, I burned them up!" Oh so she really did eat them. She continued, "Tristan wanted to bring peace and unify the land. The dragons were a big problem though. Dragons are greedy and devious creatures, they lie and decieve you until they get what they want, then they kill you. Tristan actually wanted to work with the dragons, that's where he met Fireheart."

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The young red haired man lit a small flame in his palm then threw it up into the air. The cave was suddenly filled with a bright light, "Fireheart! Oh great elder dragon of flames, show yourself!" He shouted into an empty abyss, Tristan was standing at the edge of a cliff in a cave.

Two red eyes opened and glowed in the dark. The pupils were like cat eyes with vertical slits. A wise, beautiful, womanly voice filled the chamber. "Tristan... The flame keeper... And what brings you to my humble prison." The dragons snout came into the edge of the light. Fireheart was giant. Her snout was already the size of a human, Tristan took a step back as he realized he may have stepped a little too close.

"I wish to make a deal with the dragons to bring peace to the land!" Tristan shouted with a courageous voice. He was still quite young but he had always faced fear head on.

The dragon began to laugh a deep laugh from the gut, "Ha Ha Ha Ha! Deal with dragons!? How absurd! The youth of humans betrays you! Ha Ha Ha Ha!" Fireheart laughed some more then brought her head further into the light. Tristan could now see most of firehearts face, enough to tell that she was smiling a devilish grin. "What kind of deal did you have in mind?"

Tristan didn't step back this time, he knew he had caught the attention of the dragon. Now he just needed to convince fireheart to help him. "I want to keep the dragons away from the humans and our kingdom. The dragons may roam the rest of the world and I'll set the imprisoned ones free again, but they must never enter our lands!"

Fireheart's eyes gleamed with excitement, "so you wish to set us free? But how can you guarantee we won't enter your kingdom once again, or even leave in the first place? What will you do when we decide to rule over you puny humans?"

Tristan smiled, "that's why I came to you first. You've been imprisoned the longest, surely you understand the value of freedom. If you accept my deal then the others will likely follow."

"HA HA HA HA HA" Fireheart laughed even harder, "you think I have any authority over the other dragons? A dragon takes orders from no one. The moment you set us free we shall devour your entire race!" Fireheart's eyes looked at Tristan with hunger. "I could just eat you right now, it would probably be better for you. After all, when you approach the other dragons one of them will likely gobble you up. It would be far easier to just end it here and now." Fireheart licked her lips. Her tongue was like a snake's.

Tristan held out his hand, "then I need you to give me power so that I can keep the dragons away from our kingdom. I've heard that dragons will sometimes make deals with humans where a transfer of magic takes place, let's do that." Tristan was confident. He had studied Fireheart and had realized that the dragon was anxious to leave her confinement. The first dragon ever captured. It happened over 100 years ago. It required many sacrifices, more people died in that fight than Fireheart had ever killed on her own while free. 100 years of solitude was a long time. This must have been what the sacrifices were all for. A chance to finally bring peace to the land.

Fireheart thought for a moment, "hmmmmm... Do you know what it means to make a deal with the devil, Fire keeper? You shall lose your soul. Is that really want you want?"

Tristan smirked again, "you are no devil, and I'm a red head" He held out his hand, "so lend me your power to drive out the dragons!"

Fireheart laughed one last time, "HA HA! HOW VERY TRUE! Fine, it's a deal." The dragon placed a claw upon Tristan's forehead. "You're power and Part of your soul shall be merged into a new creature, a fairy. This fairy must be nurtured, cared for, raised as your own. It shall live inside you. With its power you shall consume any dragon who defies you!" A flame erupted from Tristan's chest and another swirled around Fireheart illuminating the entire cavern.

"Our souls shall merge to create this child who shall devour my own flesh!" The flames swirled around each other and then finally clashed. A bright light blinded Tristan for a moment. Then a small heart that was beating and pumping drifted down towards Tristan, he held it in his hands. He looked at it and instantly felt a desire to protect this new life with his entire being.

Fireheart spoke once again, "press it into your chest and it shall be nurtured inside you." Tristan pushed the heart towards his chest and it slid through his clothes into his chest. He felt the rhythm of two hearts beating now as one.

"that is also my child, because of the nature of fairies, I shall never be able to betray you. I shall also desire to nurture and care for it." Tristan believed Firehearts words. Something in him told him that it was the truth.

"then I shall free you. You may wander our lands, but you must never reveal yourself to the people." Tristan was about to destroy the magical chains that bound Fireheart but Fireheart stopped him.

"I shall remain here. No one else knows of my presence, plus I no longer have a desire to leave since I would be closest to the child while here. Visit me often and I shall teach you how to raise it." Fireheart lost all of her deceptive nature and almost felt like a longing mother who wished to do everything for her child. "What a truly abhorrent thing you've had me do." Fireheart smiled a warm smile, "but I think I am greatful, I guess it's forbidden for a reason. We dragons almost change our natures entirely after such magic. I would sacrifice myself to save that fairy. I shall remain."

Tristan held his chest with a tear in his eye, he felt connected to this new being that was living inside him. His very own child that he would get to raise as his own.