TF story part 2
-part 2-
"My name is Gavenji" replied the new dragon.
"And so I will call you, Gavenji" reassured his teacher. Kiantis went to pick up both bags, handing one to him: "Here, you'll carry one, I will the other." - "Oh... OK?" - "What's wrong now?" - "I was expecting to be your servant, didn't think you would share carrying the bags, but... if that's what you ask..." but he was stopped by the other dragon, which rested the free hand on his shoulder "I have my own hands. And I prefer sharing a burden than just unloading it all into you. Even if I am your master and teacher, we are both into this. Remember that." then pulled back this hand, continued "Now, this was just a quick place to hold this new stuff, that needs to be brought to where I actually live, follow me." - "Is it far?" - "A bit out of city, we'll move by the night, and go into the wilds for a while. We'll be there before time for sleep."
And so they went outside again, being very careful to exit the city both unseen. The first hour of walk was the most difficult, by moving undetected. But his guide was well expert of the route, surely this was not the first time. Onward, at the corner of the park, it was confining to a pack of houses, not even a block, where all lights were off. A couple motorbikes were parked in that shallow alley, and a big trash box at the opening in the end. Kiantis stopped to check for a clear passage before signaling Gavenji to a safe way. They were carefully avoiding any light, especially at the street crossings.
The zone they walked into was a deserted one, a mix of industrial blocks closed by night. No one was walking around there, it was only a passage point at that time connecting different parts of the city. And surely no house laid in those spots. But in order to follow that path, they didn't go on a straight line: which increased time quite a lot. With exception of some cars occasionally passing by, it was safe enough for them. Gavenji started to adapt to the new feelings and senses he was gaining. He could perceive better in darkness, and oh, the sounds! They were so sharp and distinctive. It was a bit hard to fight those new senses, not knowing how to adapt the sensitivity. There must've been a way to do it. Or so he thought: Kiantis seemed unaffected and perfectly able to balance its own.
Not to mention the smell. He was feeling constantly smacked by all those scents around him, even if, there was a clear distinction about what was alive, and what was not. He could detect living beings: mostly they were cats and rats of the streets. All the other smells were unknown to him, like they were completely new ones even. And since they started to move outside the city, it was even worse. All scents were either covered, masked, or shifted from one to another, that drove him crazy. Should he had to learn everything again?
They were now quite distant from the city lights, still bright but far behind them, so they could walk in a more relaxed pace. Surely no one would be around here at this time. The uninhabited area on that side was used as a renewable power source zone, in a mixed set of solar panels and some wind turbines. With no sun, only the turbines really produced power, along with their strange noise. Probably some night watchman could have been around, but a single human was easily detected by the two, even before they could be pointed out with a light. And the noise in the area was already covering their steps beyond recognition, even by the same two dragons, that had a very acute hearing.
It didn't take much longer to reach the place. They only had to enter a forest at last, but it was just a common wooden house, one floor, like many others scattered in solitude and isolation. Gavenji knew there were many of these around, but to find a single one, a specific one, it was like searching for a needle. They didn't approach for a path, in fact, there was no path at all. Considering that, and the state of the nearby area, it was definitely abandoned since a while.
Kiantis got onward to the door and opened it, apparently it was unlocked. The other dragon just realized now there were no glass in the house: no openings that had a glass, that is. They were all closed by wooden windows, and just had a couple of them. What it seemed to be a classic house now seemed a bit like a scary place in the night. He followed inside, and even there, it was almost empty. A table in a corner of the big room, where a kitchen maybe used to be? He was quite doubtful that his mentor had lived in a place like this, so asked away "Is this the place?" - "This is the house, yes, but not the place. Down here, look" Kiantis lifted the wooden pavement to reveal a passage, and stairs going down.
"Go on, enter" continued while holding the wooden boards. And so he did. It was completely dark down there, and yet he could see decently every step. Behind him, Kiantis followed and closed the passage, advising the way: "Straight on, third room right". The walls, rooms and anything was carved into rock, perhaps wood would have been a bad choice for humidity? That's what Gavenji was thinking at least. Reached the third entrance, he awaited for the other dragon to enter first. There were no doors, yet Kiantis stopped at the entrance, and turned back.
"Now, we will be going to start immediately for your training. The first thing you will need to learn is to regain mobility of your new limbs. The tail will be fairly easy, but the wings will be the challenge." Gavenji just nodded to that, while he was continuing to listen "But we cannot wait for years for you to master it: we only got one. For this, I will need to use extreme measures." - "Aren't we safe here? No one can find us right? We can use all the time, and... extreme *how*?" - "You will see. Time is limited, but I cannot tell you why. But don't worry, at the end of the training everything will be revealed to you. Only remember the deal and who you have to trust." Gavenji nodded again.
And so he was led into the room. A small room, but comfortable enough to stretch the wings. Wings... he moved his wings already, just when he transformed, why he needed to train for that? So he asked "But, I did already move my wings once, right?" - "Oh yes. You opened your arms, and the wings followed. But you could not open the wings alone and control them perfectly, or separately. Do try it now." and so he did. He could not open the wings without opening the arms and let them follow. He had to stretch the hands at his sides, and then the wings opened. It was the second time he was staring at them, and was already starting to lose himself into that before being interrupted by Kiantis "Come here, to me."
It was standing by a strange thing on the ground, right at the center of the room. It seemed a metal plate of some sort, with something on top of it. Some kind of fittings? Socket? It took quite some seconds for him to realize, but in the end, they seemed some sort of shackles! The wings of the other dragon stretched forward in the meanwhile, grasping gently with its claws on Gavenji's shoulders, before he could even think about making a step back. "Come. I will not hurt you, trust me."
"B...But...is that needed? Do I need to stay... there???" was shockingly replying and yet trying to step back, but as soon as trying to do that, the grip on his shoulders got stronger. "Remember? You have to obey, we have no time for this. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll get out from it." continued Kiantis, while starting to pull him towards its side, and he, reluctantly, stepped forward, continuing to argue: "But how do you know it doesn't hurt or... whatever else?" - "I did it too. The same way." that was a bit of unexpected by him, -did it the same way before me, maybe, then maybe it's not really bad, is it?- thought to himself. He swallowed hard before finally deciding to try it.
So he followed the lead, knelt down over that kind of contraption, while Kiantis was closing the shackles. First on both ankles, along with another couple ones upper in the legs. He was not able to lift them up now, held them strongly by the sturdy metal over the plate. He turned his head on a side to analyze them, and then he realized they were closed with padlocks!
He was about to reach and grasp one of those locks but all he felt in that moment was something pulling him from the neck. That pull dismissed the thoughts of catching the lock, and led him forward. His hands leaned instinctively in front in order to prevent his fall, just nearby the open bindings left. The other dragon was indeed pulling him, not too hard, by the collar, and attaching a chain to it, padlocked too. He tried to pull his neck upwards, but without being able raise himself anymore now, the collar was keeping him down!
He was quite concerned at this point, and asked again "What??? Are you *locking* me into this thing??? And you're telling me you did it the same way too???" - "Yes, I did" replied the other dragon, while continuing to mess with the manacles "I said it was an extreme measure, I'm sorry." - "Why did you have to put locks into it? What's the point of that even?" - "Because you must not escape, of course, that's why. The locks will make sure of that, with no possible way out. While your human limbs will not be able to move, you will start instinctively to learn how to twitch your wings alone. It's the only way, otherwise it would take at least a full year!" - "And how long does it take with this method?" asked Gavenji, without realizing his right arm was already closed and locked in place by the other dragon, and the other arm was held down by its hands! "A couple of months, give or take?", and said that, Kiantis closed and locked the last piece, completing his work, making the bound dragon helpless and with no hope to escape.
As soon as he assimilated the response, he tried to struggle, in vain. He squirmed into that sort of cage, clenching his hands, moving the feet. After a few minutes he realized there was no way ever for him to exit from that trap. He was completely unable to move his arms and legs, not even by an inch. And so he resigned himself to it. There was nothing he could do now to turn back. Kiantis noticed the worry in him, and caressing below his snout first, then lightly lifting it so both dragons could look at each other, reassured him: "Trust me, there is no other way. But don't get get it wrong, it's only for the nights. You'll stay out on the days. If you're very good at it, four weeks could be enough. Remember: I did the same. I've been there like that just before you, so don't be too much worried."
Gavenji was still worried though "I... but, this isn't fair...". But then, he just sighed, after a few seconds of silence "fine, I'll do my best" - "Now though, I think we could use a good sleep. I will remain here with you, all the time, so don't worry." - "Sleep... while being here, like this???" - "You will get involuntary movements while in the sleep, it's actually the only moment that matters." and in saying so, Kiantis snugged a cushion under the trapped dragon's belly, to make him comfortable, then laid down and started sleeping, as Gavenji tried too. At least he was decently comfortable. As much as that word could even pass to his mind, in the state he was.
The morning afterwards Kiantis opened it to let him out and stretch. Then they started both exercising with their wings. He was not even starting to move them at all yet. It was very demoralizing. "Don't worry" reassured his trainer after they finished "it only takes time, we can do it together." Then it went along the bags in the corner, the ones they took along in the travel, to pull out some bottles of water and some pack of soluble food, -funny enough- Gavenji though just before asking "Don't tell me you went shopping?" - "I didn't pay for them, if that's what you ask." - "You stole them?" - "Yes, it was pretty much implied" replied Kiantis with a normal tone. It seemed like it was always a very balanced and tranquil dragon, no matter which strange question Gavenji did ask. So he continued, since it seemed normal, and they ended up talking about how dragons are living outside of the human world, and they had to make their own rules. If someone found out about them, surely there would have been troubles, broken law or not, they were seen as enemies and monsters by the vast majority of people.
Those nights were not so bad in the end, he thought the days next. Gavenji managed now to do almost anything just by using wings aone. Open the hut's door for a starter, but also pick up objects and even manipulate them. And worked even more to build up its muscles. Three months were passed from his transformation and now this would have been his first day of flight. They gathered to a nearby cliff, less than an hundred meters tall, ad his master was alongside him proud: "Now, nothing I can say will prepare you for this, so beware, and this time, start to trust yourself too. Because from the moment you will take your flight, even if I'll be at your side, in the end you'll be alone." It was in fact quite difficult for Gavenji to understand what his teacher told him, strange and confused concepts. But it was time, he could not wait anymore. Already feeling for the moment to be, his awaited moment for so long. He already learned all the movements with his wings, and everything he needed to know about flight: "Well what we are waiting for? Let's go!" his trust in himself was already there, that Kiantis could see for sure, and with the hand opening, signaled him to go on, to take the leap, while immediately jumped himself onward down the cliff, to fly. So he followed.
He didn't really jump from the edge like the other dragon though, but rather let himself go down onwards, to the fall. He liked that way better, it was letting him lose himself to it, speed building up while the fast wind started to embrace him. That was the moment he stretched the wings, decisively but smoothly at the same time, in a fluid movement. The falling speed was gradually being transformed into a forward thrust, while he started to slowly adapt his balance over the supporting wind. At first he was concentrated only in the movements: the leap and start of flight were quite an important step that required all his attention, especially for the first time. But after doing so, he was just there soaring, alone, with the earth passing by below him. Sure, it was a low gliding, not even a real flight yet, but the feelings were already starting to outbalance him! He was so lost in it, that he just didn't realize to end up nearly touching the ground. He immediately retracted to begin a stall, but too much hard, resulting in his speed slowing down too fast. It was a mix of fall and stumble afterwards. He didn't even realize where Kiantis was in all those moments, maybe he understood what it meant to be alone about it.
But of course, it got better in the next months. Flight was the best thing ever about being a dragon, but also the most difficult. More things followed on that, anything he could learn about his new body, even how to turn another human into a dragon! His training was just about to complete now. At the beginning Gavenji was already wondering about what to do after that. Would he have stayed with Kiantis, or flew away? He liked that place and wanted to rest, but also knew that there was no more training for him. What would he do then? But, after passing a whole year with Kiantis, and all the things they did, he decided he would remain with it, forever.
It was one of the last days, in the evening, when Kiantis called him up, in the house room. The basement wasn't really useful anymore, just a matter of remaining protected through the day. "You can close the passage now. It won't be needed for a while" The waiting dragon also had something in his hand, it was a small box, similar of those holding up precious jewelry or rings. That was a bit heart taking for Gavenji, was he giving him a ring or something? They had a lot of chances for... intimate moments though the year, which he enjoyed a lot. Which was also the reason he didn't want to leave his... master? No, he stopped thinking about that word since quite a while now. It was his lover now.
Kiantis approached close to him, laying its hands in the chest. "This will be our last night." That was very sudden, and rude! They were together in all now -how could it tell something like that?- Gavenji started thinking, while a heavy stone just struck in his heart. "NO! I want to stay with you! You promised that if I wanted, you would not case me away, remember?" - "I remember yes. And do you remember when I said that everything will be revealed at the end?" - "Of course! And what does that mean???" The dragon holding the box opened it now, and inside there was a strange orange marble, which had a sort of glow of its own, then explained "I don't really know what this thing is, I only know what it does. When I got mine, I did break it in my hands, that's how it works." - "What does it do?" - "It's for you to use. It will take you back in time."
That was even more unexpected now! So Gavenji started thinking for a long time -back in... time? and for doing what? Time... but if I go back in time, and how much time anyway?- he continued on these confused thoughts without replying, but Kiantis knew what he was thinking and the reason of that was in its explanation: "Because I am you. From the future. We are the same dragon. And your duty is now to go back in time, transform yourself, like I did, and start the training. After your training as master will end, like mine ended just right now, then we'll be free to go wherever we want. Trust me, it hurts more on me than you. I know you will have another year of great things, while mine has just ended." And in saying so, he handed over the orange glowing pearl to him, continuing: "Yes, you are also Kiantis, you are me. That will be your name now."
There was clearly not much time left, something that had to do with the power of that strange object, Kiantis explained afterwards. It was indeed a sad moment, for both of them. But they needed to rush. He needed to rush. He was remembering the time it all happened, and the night was about to fall down in a few hours. He took that strange object, and embraced himself, the other self, in a long moment of goodbye. He needed to say nothing, for he was now starting that path himself. The detachment afterwards was hurting, but he took a deep breath, and before jumping away in flight, waved his hand.