Reborn Evolution

by Koren Rabe

  Magic-aHerbs-awere-aa-aresource-athat-apowerful-abeasts-arelied-aupon-ato-agrow.-aThe-astronger-aa-acreature-agot,-athe-aharder-ait-awas-ato-aincrease-ain-astrength.-a

  This-awas-aespecially-aso-afor-abeasts-ain-athe-aMaster-aClass-aand-aGrandmaster-aClass.-aIt-awent-awithout-asaying-athat-aany-aamount-aof-agrowth-afor-aincredibly-arare-aLord-aClass-aor-aKing-aClass-abeasts-awas-aeven-aharder.-a

  Magic-aHerbs-aspawned-anaturally-athroughout-athe-aworld,-aone-aof-athe-anatural-alaws-aof-athis-auniverse.-aGreater-anumbers-aof-athem-acould-abe-afound-ain-alocations-athat-awere-aleft-ato-athe-awild,-athough-athe-aexact-areasons-afor-athis-ahad-ayet-ato-abe-afully-aunderstood.-a

  Not-aall-aMagic-aHerbs-awere-amade-aequal.-aSome-acontained-aenormous-aamounts-aof-aenergy,-asome-ahad-aenergy-aaspected-atowards-aa-acertain-aelement,-asome-aeven-ahad-aintelligence.-a

  For-aa-anormal-aor-aeven-aa-agenius-adragon-aof-aDrago's-acurrent-agrowth,-athis-awould-abe-aan-aextremely-avaluable-areward,-aeven-aif-aall-athe-aMagic-aHerbs-awere-aof-athe-aworst-atype.-a

  Drago,-ahowever,-amaintained-aa-astrict-apoker-aface,-aaided-aby-athe-afact-athat-ahe-adidn't-aknow-ahow-ato-aproperly-adisplay-aemotions-aon-ahis-acurrent-avisage.-aThe-afact-athat-ahe-ahad-agrown-afrom-aa-ababy-adrake-ato-aa-ayoung-aadult-ain-ajust-aminutes-ahad-abeen-aseen-athrough-aby-athe-aWizard,-aunfortunately,-abut-ahe-adidn't-aseem-ato-amake-aany-aother-acomment-aon-ait.-a

  "Magic-aHerbs-alike-athat-aare-auseful,-abut-aif-ayou-aare-abestowing-ayour-aknowledge-aof-amagic-aupon-asomeone,-awhy-anot-ado-athat-afor-aboth-aof-aus?-aYou-acan-agive-ayou-aMagic-aHerbs-ato-ayour-aSuccessor,-aI'll-atake-athat-aas-amy-areward."-aDrago's-aeye-aflashed-aas-ahe-aenvisioned-ahimself-acasting-aspells-aleft-aand-aright.-a

  The-afloating-aspirit-ashook-ahis-ahead,

  "Young-aDrake,-aif-athat-awas-apossible-aI-awould-aconsider-athat-aoption.-aUnfortunately,-aI-aam-aunable-ato-afulfill-ait.-aTo-atransfer-amy-aknowledge-ato-aanother-abeing-arequires-ame-ato-asacrifice-awhat-ais-aleft-aof-amy-aessence,-aessentially-akilling-ame.-aIt-ais-anot-asomething-aI-acan-ado-atwice."-aThe-aman-acontinued,-a

  "Further,-ayour-asoul-awould-amost-alikely-abe-aunable-ato-aaccept-amy-ainheritance.-aFrom-awhat-aI-acan-asense,-ayou-ahave-anever-astudied-amagic,-aand-ahave-ayet-ato-aexperience-aany-abaptism-aof-athe-asoul-arelated-ato-amagic.-aMy-ainheritance-awould-asimply-aflush-aoff-ayour-asoul,-aunable-ato-atake-aroot."-a

  Drago-afrowned-awhen-ahe-aheard-athis,-anot-agiving-aup,

  "My-asoul-ais-aunique,-aas-afar-aas-asouls-aand-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrixes-ago.-aHow-acan-ayou-abe-acertain?"-a

  Horhavil-apaused,-aand-athen-astared-aat-ahim-aclosely.-a

  "While-ayou-awere-aundergoing-athat-aodd-agrowth-asession-aof-ayours-aunderground,-aI-atook-athe-atime-ato-acommunicate-awith-athe-ainjured-aWizard."-aHe-asaid-aslowly,-ahis-aeyes-astudying-aDrago.-a

  "I-awas-amade-aaware-athat-ayou-aare-aat-athe-acenter-aof-aa-agreat-ainvestigation,-ainto-aa-abeing-athat-ahas-adisturbed-aFate."-aThe-aold-aman-astroked-ahis-along,-atrailing-awhite-abeard.-aHis-aeyes-agrew-aslightly-aunfocused-aas-ahe-alooked-aat-aDrago,-aand-athen-aseemed-ato-alook-athrough-ahim.-a

  "And-anow-athat-aI-alook-aat-ayou-aclosely…-aI-acan-asense-athat-ayour-asoul-ais-aindeed-aunique.-aThough-amy-afield-aof-astudy-awas-anot-aclosely-arelated-ato-aFate,-aafter-areaching-anear-athe-apeak-aof-athe-aDao-aof-aLight,-aI-acame-ato-apossess-aa-avision-aof-athe-aworld-athat-awas-aexpansive,-aletting-ame-asee-athrough-athings.-aIn-aaddition,-awhile-aI-aam-ain-athis-aform,-athe-asouls-aof-aother-abeings-ahave-abecome-avery-aclear-ato-ame."-aHe-awaved-ahis-ahands-aat-ahimself,

  "I-aam-ano-aFate-aexpert,-abut-aI-acan-atell-athat-aFate-aseems-ato-abe-atwisted-aaround-ayou.-aPeople-aand-aevents-awill-abe-adrawn-ato-ayou,-afor-ainexplicable-areasons.-aOdd-athings-amay-ahappen-aaround-ayou,-aand-aeven-achance-aitself-amay-abecome-atwisted.-aThis-ameeting-abetween-aus-ais-aprobably-aa-aresult-aof-athat."-aHe-ashook-ahis-ahead-ahere,

  "However,-athat-adoes-anot-amean-ayour-asoul-ais-aa-asuitable-aone-afor-amy-ainheritance.-aWhile-athere-aare-adefinitely-aunique-aaspects-asurrounding-ait,-ayou-astill-ahave-ayet-ato-areceive-aeven-athe-amost-abasic-abaptism-afrom-athe-alaws-aof-athe-auniverse-ain-aregards-ato-amagic.-aWithout-athat,-ait-ais-aimpossible-afor-amy-ainheritance-ato-atake-aroot."-a

  Drago-afrowned.-a

  'Ausra,-acan-aI-alearn-amagic?'-aHe-aasked-aa-ageneral-aquestion-athat-ahe'd-athought-aof-abefore,-abut-anever-aactually-aasked.-a

  'Yes,-athough-athe-ahost's-acurrent-aphysical-aform-aand-asoul-aare-asomewhat-aunsuited-afor-ait.-aWith-athe-aabsorption-aof-abloodlines-aof-abeings-athat-aare-aaspected-aor-askilled-ain-amagic,-aunderstanding-aand-aimplementing-amagic-awill-abecome-aeasier,-athough-ayour-asoul-awill-aneed-ato-aundergo-abaptism-aof-athe-alaws-aof-athis-auniverse-alike-aany-aother-aWizard.'-aAusra's-avoice-areplied-acooly-ain-ahis-ahead.-a

  He-afrowned-aagain.-aIt-aseemed-ahe-acould-alearn-amagic,-abut-anot-aas-ahe-awas-ayet.-aHe-awasn't-awilling-ato-alet-athis-aold-amage-aknow-aabout-ahis-aunique-aabilities,-aand-ait-adidn't-aseem-alike-ahe-awould-ahave-aany-achance-aright-anow-ato-afind-aa-asuitable-aform.-a

  "Do-ayou-ahave-aany-amagical-aartifacts-aor-atools,-aor-atreasures-athat-acontain-amagical-aenergy?"-aHe-aasked,-ataking-aa-adifferent-aapproach.-aHe-acould-aonly-aeat-aa-asingle-aMagic-aHerb-aa-aday,-aso-athe-agrowth-ahe-acould-again-afrom-athat,-awhile-asignificant,-awould-atake-atime.-a

  The-aold-aman-arubbed-ahis-achin,-aresponding,-a

  "Much-aof-awhat-aI-aused-acame-apurely-afrom-amy-aown-amagic.-aI-ado-ahave-aa-afew-aold-atreasures-athat-acontain-amagic-aenergy,-abut-anothing-asignificant.-aMost-aWizards-ado-anot-aheavily-arely-aupon-aexternal-aobjects,-asave-afor-aspells-ainvolving-amultiple-acasters."-aThe-aghostly-aWizard-aseemed-ato-anotice-athat-aDrago-awas-apulling-aback,-aand-ahurriedly-aoffered,

  "While-aI-adon't-ahave-aany-aparticular-atreasures,-aI-ado-aknow-athe-alocation-aof-aa-ahuge-astore-aof-atreasure,-aon-amy-ahome-aplanet."-aHe-agave-aDrago-aa-asmile,-a

  "There-aare-averitable-amountains-aof-atreasures-awith-amagic-aenergy-ain-athem-athere.-aShould-ayou-aagree-ato-ahelp-amy-aSuccessor-ahere,-aI-awill-asend-aover-athe-aspecific-ainformation-aon-awhere-aand-awhat-athat-alocation-ais,-aalongside-athe-aroughly-a200-aMagic-aHerbs-aI-astill-ahave-astored."-a

  Drago's-aeyes-alit-aup-ain-aexcitement,-aconsidering-ait-acarefully.-aAll-ahe-aneeded-ato-agive-aup-awas-asome-ablood,-aand-ahe'd-areceive-aa-alarge-areward-aimmediately,-aas-awell-aas-athe-apotential-afor-aa-alarge-areward-alater.-aAs-along-aas-ahe-aremained-aon-aguard-aand-atreated-athis-acarefully,-ahe-adidn't-asee-aany-adownsides.-a

  As-afor-athat-aWizard-abeing-ahis-aenemy...-aHe-awas-aa-aMaster-aClass-aDragon-anow.-aHe-awasn't-aafraid-aof-ahim,-aand-ahe-awas-aalready-aplanning-aon-afleeing-ahere-aas-asoon-aas-ahe-awrapped-athis-aup.-a

  "Alright.-aGive-ame-athe-aMagic-aHerbs-afirst,-aand-ayou-ahave-ayourself-aa-adeal,-aold-aman!"-a

  ..

  Thousands-aof-amiles-aaway,-aa-aragged-alooking-apair-acould-abe-aseen,-aboarding-aa-alarge-acaravan.-aHundreds-aof-ahuge-awagons,-aof-aall-ashapes-aand-asizes-acould-abe-aseen,-asome-amade-aof-aodd-ametals,-aothers-amade-aof-awood.

  These-awagons-awere-acurrently-aleaving-athrough-athe-amain-agate-aof-aa-avery-alarge-acity-ain-athe-aTandor-aEmpire,-aone-aof-athe-athree-alarge-aempires-aon-athe-aplanet-aof-aHasnorth,-aYum-aCity.-aThe-acity-awas-afamed-afor-aits-abeautiful-aroofs-aand-aroads,-acreated-afrom-amany-adifferent-atypes-aof-acolored-aclay.-a

  "Just-akeep-ait-atogether,-aGaia..."-aBrutus-amuttered,-ahis-avoice-afilled-awith-aconcern-aas-ahe-alooked-aat-ahis-apale-afaced-acompanion.-aGaia-alay-aresting-ainside-aone-aof-athese-acaravan's-aprivate-arooms,-astill-aunconscious.-aHer-abody-alooked-apeaceful,-abut-ahaggard,-awith-alight-afluttering-abehind-aher-aeyes.-a

  He-aturned-ato-alook-aout-aa-awindow-atowards-athe-afront-aof-athe-acaravan.-aTowards-awhat-awas-ain-afront-aof-ait.-a

  A-amassive-aWorld-aBridge,-amore-athan-asixty-amiles-awide,-awhere-ahuge-agrassy-aplains-aspread-aacross-aa-asavanna-ateeming-awith-alife.-a

  "We're-aalmost-aoff-world,-aG
aia."-aHe-asaid,-ahis-aeyes-aclouded.

  "Just-aone-amore-aweek-aand-awe-acan-aget-ayou-ahelp,-aand-ainform-athe-aHighlord."

  ###-aChapter-a18-a--aNecessities

  The-abranches-awere-aa-amix-aof-apale-awhite-aand-awarm-abrown,-aspread-aout-ain-aa-asmall,-acocoon-ashape.-aThey-aseemed-ato-ahave-arisen-adirectly-afrom-athe-aground-aand-agave-aoff-aa-avery-afaint,-awarm-aaura.-aA-apair-aof-acracked-atrees-astood-anext-ato-athem,-abroken-abark-adangling.-a

  Drago-astudied-athem-aas-ahe-astood-anext-ato-athe-apile,-ahis-aeyes-acurious.-aTied-aaround-ahis-aneck-awith-aa-apiece-aof-athick,-amagic-enhanced-aleather,-awas-aa-asmall-aSpatial-aPouch,-aone-aof-athe-amost-auseful-amagic-aartifacts-ain-athe-a30,000-aworlds.-a

  Created-aby-aWizards-awho-astudied-aa-abranch-aof-aSpace-aMagic,-athe-apouch-acontained-aa-aspace-afor-astorage-afar-alarger-athan-aits-aoutside-aappearance.-aThis-aparticular-aone-awas-aa-avery-ahigh-aclass-aone,-awith-awell-aover-athirty-acubic-ameters-aof-astorage-aspace.-a

  In-athe-apouch-awere-aa-averitable-aplethora-aof-aMagic-aHerbs,-aso-amany-athat-athe-ascents-aof-athem-aalmost-aoverwhelmed-aDrago's-amind-awhen-ahe-aopened-athe-apouch.-aHe-aused-aa-avery-atiny-aamount-aof-aenergy-afrom-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-ato-aform-aa-aconnection-awith-athe-apouch,-aallowing-ahim-ato-aaccess-ait.

  "How-amuch-ablood-ado-aI-aneed-ato-aspill?"-aHe-aasked-aaloud,-aturning-ato-alook-aat-athe-aghostly-afigure.-a

  The-adead-aWizard-aseemed-aa-abit-afainter-athan-ahe-ahad-abefore.-aAfter-aHorhavil-ahad-aagreed-awith-aDrago-aon-atheir-adeal,-ahe'd-awaved-ahis-ahands-atogether,-apulling-aa-aSpatial-aPouch-aout-aof-athin-aair-asomehow.-aThe-aact-aof-adoing-aso,-ahowever,-aseemed-ato-aweaken-ahim.-a

  He-awould-agive-aDrago-athe-adetails-ato-athe-ahidden-astash-aof-atreasure-aafter-ahe-ahelped-athe-adying-aWizard.-a

  "Enough-ato-acover-athe-abranches,-aand-aset-athe-alight-athey-agive-aoff-ato-aa-ared-atinge.-aIt-ashouldn't-abe-atoo-atrying."-aThe-aelderly-aman's-avoice-awas-acalm-aand-aplacid,-aas-aif-ahe-awas-aordering-aa-ameal-aat-aa-arestaurant.-a

  Drago-alooked-adown-aat-ahis-abody,-ahis-agreen-ascales-aglistening-abrightly-ain-athe-amidmorning-alight.-aHe-athen-astepped-aforward-atill-ahe-awas-ahovering-aover-athe-atree-abranches.-a

  "Very-awell."-aHe-asaid,-aand-astabbed-aa-aclaw-ainto-athe-aside-aof-ahis-achest,-apulling-ait-adown.-a

  He-awinced-ain-apain-aas-ablood-abegan-ato-aspill-afrom-athe-awound.-aHis-apain-atolerance-aseemed-ato-ahave-ajumped-aimmensely-aafter-acoming-ato-athis-aworld-abecause-adespite-ahow-aacute-ahis-asenses-awere,-aand-ahow-aaware-ahe-awas-aof-athe-ainjury,-ahe-aonly-afelt-aa-afaint-asense-aof-aworry.-a

  Beings-awith-aa-aMaster-aClass-aphysical-aform-ahave-adecently-astrong-anatural-aregenerative-aabilities.-aDragons,-aeven-aMyyr-aDragons,-aa-alesser-aoffshoot,-ahave-avery-astrong-aregenerative-aproperties.-aThese-acombined-ameant-athat-ahis-ainjury-awas-aalready-aattempting-ato-ascab-aover,-ajust-aseconds-aafter-ahe-amade-athe-acut.-a

  Drago-afrowned-awhen-ahe-asaw-athis,-acutting-ahimself-aagain,-aand-athis-atime-aforcing-ahis-ablood-ato-aspatter-aover-athe-atree-abranches.-a

  Several-aseconds-apassed-aas-ahe-awatched,-adispassionately,-aas-athe-abranches-agradually-atook-aon-aa-areddish-atint.-aSoon-athey-abegan-ato-aemit-aa-avery-afaint,-acrimson-aglow.-a

  As-asoon-aas-ahe-asaw-athis-aDrago-astepped-aback,-aallowing-ahis-ainjuries-ato-astart-ahealing.-aHe-afelt-aslightly-alightheaded-aat-athe-ablood-aloss-abut-awas-aotherwise-afine.-a

  The-atree-abranches-abegan-ato-awrithe,-athe-ared-aglow-abecoming-astronger.-aThey-avisibly-agrew-athicker,-aworming-aand-awrithing-ain-aunnatural,-afaintly-adisturbing-amovements.-a

  As-athey-awrithed,-agradually-athe-afigure-aof-aa-ahuman-abeing-acame-ainto-aview.-aA-aman-awith-aa-aslim,-ahandsome-aface-aand-apiercing-ablue-aeyes,-athough-aa-aface-athat-awas-anow-aquite-apale.-aHe-aappeared-ato-abe-aunconscious.-aGradually-ahis-ahead-aand-ashoulders-aappeared-aabove-athe-abranches-abefore-astopping,-athe-ahealing-amagic-acontinuing-ato-awork-aon-athe-aother-ainjured-aparts-aof-ahis-abody.-a

  "My-adeepest-athanks,-ayoung-adragon."-aThe-aold-aman's-avoice-aechoed-ain-aDrago's-aears-aas-athe-aman-afloated-aforward,-alooking-adown-aat-athe-atree-abranch-acocoon.-aHis-abody-aseemed-ato-abe-ashifting,-apieces-aof-ait-adrifting-aoff.-a

  The-aman-aturned-ato-alook-aat-aDrago-aand-athen-araised-aa-ahand-ato-ahis-ahead,-atapping-ait-awith-aa-afinger.-aInstantly-aan-ainch-awide-aball-aof-alight-aappeared.-aHe-agave-aa-asmooth-abow.-a

  "This-acontains-athe-ainformation-aI-ahave-aof-athe-atreasure-afound-ain-athe-aruins,-aspecifically-ain-athe-aEmber-aGorge.-aThis-astash-aof-atreasure-awill-anot-abe-aeasy-ato-aclaim,-abut-afor-asomeone-aof-ayour-acapabilities,-ayou-ashould-abe-aable-ato-ahandle-ait.-aI-adiscovered-ait-ajust-aa-afew-ayears-abefore-amy-adeath,-afinding-aseveral-aclues-aI-aneeded-ain-amy-ajourney-ato-areach-aAscension.-aAlas…"-aHorhavil's-avoice-awas-atired-aas-ahe-aspoke,-aregret-afilling-ahis-avoice.-a

  'Ausra,-awhat-ais-ait?'-aHe-aasked,-ajust-ato-abe-asafe.-aThe-aold-aman-ahadn't-alied-ato-ahim-ayet,-abut-ait-awas-abetter-ato-abe-asafe.-a

  'A-asmall-aorb-aof-aenergy-aand-aessence,-aextracted-afrom-aa-asoul-ain-athe-amidst-aof-adissipation.-aSomething-alike-athis-awould-abe-aused-ain-athe-atransfer-aof-ainformation-aor-amemories.'-aAusra's-avoice-ain-ahis-amind-aconfirmed-athat-ait-awas-awhat-ait-awas.-a

  Drago-aaccepted-athe-aorb,-aletting-ait-afloat-ainto-ahis-ahand.-aAs-asoon-aas-ahe-adid,-ahe-afelt-aa-aflood-aof-ainformation-apour-ainto-ahis-amind.-aInformation-aabout-aa-amysterious-amountain-arange-aand-aa-alarge-acanyon,-afraught-awith-aperil-aand-adanger,-aon-aanother-aworld.-a

  He-apushed-athat-aaside-afor-athe-amoment,-ahowever,-afocusing-aon-awhat-awas-ahappening-ain-afront-aof-ahim.-a

  "Ah,-ayoung-aWizard."-aThe-aold-aman-abegan,-alooking-adown-aat-athe-awooden-abranches,-ahis-avoice-afilled-awith-asorrow.-a

  "I-awish-aI-acould-astay-alonger,-ato-atalk-awith-ayou-amore.-aAlas,-amy-asoul-ais-abut-aminutes-afrom-aperishing.-aFrom-alife-ato-alife,-afrom-adeath-ato-adeath,-athe-aCycle-acontinues,-aunabated."-aThe-aghostly-aold-aman-afolded-ahis-ahands-atogether.-aGradually,-athe-agolden-aball-aof-alight-athat-afloated-aat-athe-acenter-aof-ahis-abody-abegan-ato-acrack,-aminuscule-aparticles-afloating-aoff-ainto-athe-aair.-a

  These-aparticles-aslowly-aformed-ainto-aa-awrithing-ariver,-aflowing-atowards-athe-ahead-aof-athe-aunconscious-aWizard.-a

  Drago-awatched-ait-aall-awith-ainterest.-aThe-aprocessed-awent-aon-asmoothly,-athe-agolden-aball-aof-alight-agradually-agrowing-asmaller-aand-asmaller.-a

  Abruptly,-ahowever,-athe-abody-aof-athe-ainjured-aWizard-abegan-ato-ashake,-ahis-amouth-atwitching.-aOdd-anoises-aemerged-afrom-ahis-athroat,-akeening-aechoes.-a

  "No!"-aThe-aold-aman's-avoice-awas-aweak-aas-ahe-ayelled-aout,-ahis-aeyes-awidening.-a

  "What's-ahappening?"-aDrago-astepped-aforward,-ahis-aeyes-aalert.-aAt-ahis-acore,-aDrago-atried-ato-abe-aa-agood-aperson.-aHis-afather,-aback-aon-aearth,-ahad-aalways-atold-ahim-athat-athe-amost-aimportant-achoices-ayou-amade-awere-athe-aones-athat-ano-awould-abe-athere-ato-asee.-a

  Maybe-ahe-acouldn't-abe-athe-asame-aeasygoing-anice-aguy-afrom-aearth-aanymore,-abut-athat-adidn't-amean-ahe-awould-aabandon-ahis-amoral-astandards.-a

  Since-ahe-ahad-aalready-acommitted-ato-ahelping,-aand-afound-aout-ait-awas-apossible-ato-ahelp-aat-aall,-ahe-awould-ago-aall-athe-away.-aThat-awas-asimply-awho-ahe-awas,-aregardless-aof-awhether-aor-anot-ait-awould-abe-athe-adecision-athat-abenefited-ahim-amost.-a

  "His-asoul-ais-aserving-aas-aa-areceptacle,-aand-ataking-ain-athe-aroot-aof-amy-aexperience-aand-aknowledge.-aHis-abody,-ahowever,-ais-arejecting-athe-amagic-aand-achanges,-acausing-ahim-ato-aundergo-aDiscordancy,-aa-arejection-abetween-athe-abody-aand-asoul."-aHorhavil-aquickly-aexplained,-astaring-aat-athe-atrembling-aWizard,

  "His-asoul-ahas-abeen-abaptized-awith-athe-alaws-aof-amagic-aseveral-atimes,-abut-ahis-abody-aisn't-arecognizing-athat-amy-ainheritance-aisn't-aan-aattack,-aand-ais-aactively-aresisting."-aThe-aghostly-aWizard-aseemed-ato-awring-ahis-ahands,-aan-aodd-asight.-a

  "Do-ayou-awant-ame-ato-atry-aand-ak
nock-ahim-aunconscious?"-aDrago-aasked.-aPerhaps-aif-athe-aman-awas-aforced-ato-abe-acompletely-aunconscious-ait-awould-aforce-ahis-abody-ato-aaccept-athe-achange.-a

  "If-ahis-abody-adoes-anot-acalm-adown-aand-aaccept-athe-achanges,-ahe-awill-adie.-aPhysically-aforcing-ahim-ainto-aunconsciousness-alike-athat-awould-adisturb-ahis-amind."-aThe-aold-aman's-avoice-awas-aquiet-aand-asmall-aas-ahe-asighed-ato-ahimself.

  "Alas."-aHe-ashook-ahis-ahead-aslowly,-ahis-aeyes-acast-adownward.-aGradually,-athe-aparticles-aaround-ahim-abegan-ato-atremble,-aas-aif-ahe-awas-aabout-ato-atruly-avanish.-a

  Drago-alooked-aat-athe-asituation-aand-afrowned.-aAn-aidea-aabruptly-acame-ainto-ahis-ahead.-aHe-arealized-ahe-ahad-aa-away-ato-aresolve-athis.-aBut-athe-asheer-acoincidence-aof-ahis-amethod-acaught-ahim-aoff-aguard-afor-aa-amoment.-a

  "I-atwist-aFate-awith-amy-asoul-anow,-aeh?-aIs-athis-aa-apart-aof-athat-atoo?"-aHe-asaid-aaloud-aas-ahe-astepped-aforward,-astill-afrowning.-a

  The-aold-aWizard-athat-awas-aabout-ato-adissipate-apaused,-awatching-aDrago-ain-aconfusion.-a

  "I-ahave-aan-aidea-athat-amight-awork.-aYou-asaid-aphysically-aknocking-ahim-aout-awon't-acut-ait,-aright?"-aDrago-aresponded,-aturning-ato-aglance-aat-athe-aelderly-awizard.-a

  The-aWizard-asimply-anodded.-a

  "What-aif-aI-ause-aa-acalming-asedative?"-aIn-aDrago's-amind-aa-amessage-apopped-aup.-a

  -Brown-aTreasure-aClam-a(Growth-aStage-a2/2)-aVenom-

  Stored-aAmount:-a63-amL

  The-avenom-ahe-ahad-astored-aseveral-adays-aago-awas-afrom-aa-amystical-acreature-awith-aunique-aties-ato-afate.-aFurther,-ait-awas-aa-atype-aof-avenom-athat-aacted-aas-aa-asedative.-aThere-awasn't-amuch-aof-ait,-aso-ait-awould-aonly-alast-afor-aa-afew-abrief-aminutes-aat-amost,-abut-ait-ashould-abe-aenough.-a

  Drago-awilled-athis-avenom-ato-aappear,-afollowing-athe-ainstructions-aAusra-ahad-atold-ahim-aabout-ait.-aGradually,-ahis-aclaws-abegan-ato-atake-aon-aa-asheen,-atipped-awith-athe-asedative.-a