Thirty years prior…

The city was glorious at twilight. Luminous with the mystical dragon lit orbs floating about the streets. Crowds bustled to and from shops and restaurants, each patron in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some kept their wings out, others walked on hind-legs in shrunken dragon forms, and many took on their human forms with various exotic hair colors.

Inhaling deeply, I soaked in the nostalgic atmosphere and chaotic echoing as I viewed my dragon-kin from the high perch of the Counselor’s Balcony of the Dragon Palace, nestled into the mountainside. Vibrant colors waved through the streets, weaving in and out of shops and diners as everyone bustled around in excitement.

My carmine robes, a symbol of my bloodline in the hierarchy of our society, bellowed in the wind, inviting me to take the plunge as the gusts allowed me to ride them to the top of the mountain range and then back down to join my people. It had been some time since I indulged in such a carefree flight. Years away from home had that odd effect on a person, I supposed.

Just as my foot turned to hop onto the marble railing, the echo of footsteps caught me before my leap began.

I suppose the flight can wait, I thought as my heart deflated at the fleeting opportunity to enjoy a solo flight.

Turning, I didn’t need his voice to greet me to know who it was by the sharp clicks on the marble floor. Aeneus, King of the Dragons, my father, stood just behind me. His youthful face did little to mask the age of his golden eyes as his star-silver hair danced around him with his beard resting trimmed and neat against his chin and cheeks. The man appeared to be in his late twenties to early thirties, and I never asked him for his true age, but it wasn’t a secret that the number was in the thousands.

“Huri,” he smiled and raised out his arms to embrace me, “you’re finally home.”

He sounded as though I had only gone away for a summer rather than five years - and at his request to boot. Dragons may not hold much power on the world stage, but our influence rarely had to be direct or visible - which is why my father utilized my expertise. After these five years of training, traveling, and political maneuvering, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had more Eyes in the world than he did.

“It feels good to be home,” I returned the embrace, taking in his scent. The scent of burning cedar, from his extensive time in his office, I imagined.

The glint in his eyes was bright as he pulled back to face me. He was beaming, making it difficult to ignore the enthusiasm rolling off him in massive waves. I had never known him to be a giddy type of dragon.

“Let’s go for a fly,” he offered, unfurling quicksilver wings, the membranes shimmering in the setting Sun with an iridescent hue, yet with him still keeping his human form.

Letting out my own golden-scaled wings, with my rose-colored membranes not nearly as bright as his, maneuvering through the thin slits in my robes, I took a step towards the railing.

“Sure,” I replied as I jumped up to catch the wind, rising high above the city that was built within the mountain range.

What started as a leisurely trip around the city turned into a high velocity race to the large lake where Hyperion lands met with the border of Ignatia. My father banked before the water, causing a spray to burst upwards. Dodging the mist, I sped up to catch him to then pause my flight so as to not collide with him. Gliding to the ground, I landed and waited for him to do the same.

Through his panting he continued to beam up at me, his grin wide under his whiskers.

Like a teenager, I thought with a hint of amusement playing in the back of my mind.

“I have amazing news, my child,” he began while resting a broad palm on my shoulder. “Your mother is pregnant again.”

The rarity it was for full-blooded dragons, such as ourselves, to have offspring, let alone more than one was near impossible. The mortality rate for dragon mothers was higher than other races, though they were less at risk when they mated with another full-blooded dragon. They couldn’t even transform and rely on their dragon’s blood to heal them if something went wrong. Despite this knowledge, I smiled back. I was sure that my mother was just as happy, and who was I to bring them down?

Everything should be fine…

“This is wonderful news,” I said, attempting to mirror his optimism with a wide smile.

Perhaps this will end his expectations of me remaining as heir apparent.

However, as though he were reading my thoughts, he placed his remaining hand on my other shoulder and trapped my gaze.

“I want you to take this time to really think about who you want to be, my child. Most of our kind have a permanent self by the time their scales come in. Your mutation is a unique one, giving you a choice but you have been stubborn long enough. It’s time to just pick one.”

Stubborn? I couldn’t fight the disappointment from creeping up and leaking onto my face as I had hoped he would understand by now. Releasing a slow breath, I backed away from him, letting his hands fall back to his sides.

“I have no interest in ever finding a mate, not that finding one plays a role in my decision to not go through a permanent change, Father. I’m happy with the way I am and I wish that you would accept me for everything that you find to be a fault,” my voice cracked as I finished my statement. I wish it hadn’t. I wish he hadn’t seen just how much his words hurt. He didn’t need to know how they affected me.

His brow furrowed and his eyes seemed to become hard as they focused on me.

“Huri, it’s not natural and you can’t keep changing between the two. It confuses people,” though his tone was soft his face became more cross as his eyes went from the light of excitement to extinguish into the darker tone of boiling rage.

“I don’t care if others don’t like it. Besides, there have been plenty of others who did not go through a full change,” I countered, finding my voice becoming stronger as the heat of frustration rose up the back of my neck.

“They were not the child of a ruler!” his voice rose as he advanced towards me. “Our people need to know that their next leader can make the tough decisions and that they won't just change their stance on important matters.”

“What does my reproductive organs have to do with signing laws into existence? Nothing!” my voice rose to meet his. “And I never wanted to be your successor, which you have known for many years. Maybe now that you have a new child coming you will redirect your attention to them and stop pressuring me.”

“That’s not how the passing of leadership works, and I have been grooming you since birth to one day take over. No matter if your mother and I have another child, or ten more, the next ruler of our people is going to be you. You cannot run away from your responsibilities, Huri. It’s time you come to terms with that.”

“No,” it came out like ice, and I hoped it would cut through him before I launched myself up into the clouds and as far away from him as possible.