Dragon Dream

by Elena Van Peborgh

  “What... Would... This... Mean?” I pushed out the words with a lot of effort.

  I was confused. I had sacrificed my voice to become a dragon. Yet I could talk again now. It was difficult, but I could talk.

  “I don’t know. Your voice is very soft and husky, and you struggle to talk. You don’t heal as fast as a dragon either. Do you think you’re still a dragon?”

  I was pretty sure I was still a dragon. Bernardus and Revan had told me there would be no way back, that there would be no way to reverse their magic. I still wanted to do a small test though. I extended my hand and made contact with the earth through my mind. The earth immediately reacted. The wooden planks in the floor creaked and started to show cracks. I also felt the energy of the element around me; it was present everywhere. I fixed the cracks in the wood again and then directed my attention back to Jon.

  “I’m... Still... A... Dragon,” I uttered with a lot of effort.

  I needed to breathe in and out deeply with every word; I needed to concentrate on each sound. I had actually expected Jon to exhale in relief, but he didn’t. He was still worried. I could feel that.

  “It doesn’t matter to me what you are. I don’t care if you’re a lower shape-shifter or not. I don’t care if you’re a fox or not, or if you’re dragon or not. Really, I wouldn’t even care if you weren’t a shape-shifter or a dragon. I only want you to be alright,” Jon said.

  I hugged him. My chin rested on his shoulder while he held me.

  It will be alright, I reassured him through my mind.

  I meant that. No matter what would happen, I would always have him around. I would always be able to rely on him. We didn’t know what would come next or what the future would hold. We’d probably have to intervene many more times during discussions between shape-shifters or when dragons were in danger. But no matter what would happen, we’d get through it together.

  Thank you

  First of all, I want to thank you as the reader of my book, this means a lot to me. I have worked on this book for five years, and I am so glad it’s finally ready and can be read by everyone. Of course, I’ve had some help and I have been inspired by many people to write this story. I want to put a few people in the spotlight here.

  Thank you, granddad, for always wanting to read and improve my stories. Thank you for motivating me. You know how much I have grown and improved over the years. I wouldn’t want to have anyone else proofreading my stories. You’re simply the best critic in the world because you aren’t a fan of this genre, and it means a lot to me if you approve my story.

  Thank you, grandma, as well. I know you aren’t a fan of fantasy and therefore, you’ll never read this, but I hope you don’t mind me using your last name as my pseudonym as a writer. I couldn’t use my own last name because I have the most common last name in Flanders. I hope I will honour your last name in this way. It is such a nice name, and it is unfortunate it is so rare.

  Thank you, PJ, for listening when I tell you about my ideas and stories. It really helps me with writing because it forces me to think about my world building. I really appreciate it you ask me thorough questions about how things work.

  Thanks to some teachers I’ve had in high school: GG, BVC and KH. You’re great teachers, and you know your subjects and explain the subject matter well. Thanks to you, I became interested in science. Thanks to DS as well, you really are an enthusiastic teacher and teach with passion. I hope DragonDream will once become a classic which pupils will be able to choose to read for an English assignment.

  I have only explicitly mentioned a part of all the people who have helped or inspired me. I would like to thank all my friends in general for listening to my ideas and stories and for pushing me to continue. This is for all of you.