Seeing as it was already evening, Signy left with Sigurd and Siegfried. Their two guards followed them while Völsung stayed back.
"So you've had a look at their conditions now. When will you be done calibration the spell? "
"I'm already done."
"You didn't say so this morning!"
"Völsung, what do you think Sigurd's reaction would be if I told him I was finished and asked him to wait? Right, he would insist on learning it that very instant. Their bodies have already experienced the first transformation so it will be easier for them. On the other hand, the uncontrolled awakening damaged their bodies. They should rest for a day or two before transforming."
"Then I believe you should receive your first reward."
Völsung went to pull over the wagon. He removed the cover and revealed a bunch of frozen corpses. Those were beasts! And... the size of that one... a savage beast?
"It seemed you needed beast corpses to grow them. This will be your full compensation for teaching them. I'll give them to you once they can transform. You sure you don't want to teach them now."
"It will only do harm to them. Let's wait until tomorrow."
Völsung nodded, grabbed one frozen beast and threw it over. I didn't catch it, no hands and all, but immediately started to absorb it.
I spent the remainder of the night on the deduction of the vampiric viper's blueprint.
To my great surprise, I felt like this was easier and faster than before.
'System, is this an easier blueprint?'
That was certainly convenient for me. With all the beasts Völsung brought along I might be able to decrease the time needed for the savage beast.
Morning came swiftly. Sigurd was already being impatient and asked if I was finished.
"I worked through the whole night. I'm done now, we can start."
It was a rather smooth process. For Siegfried at least. Her body was clad in shining light blue scales, leaving only her face and hands completely human. Her figure retained its rough human proportions and she didn't have wings but her tail was much longer than usual. Her bloodline was from a water dragon, apparently not a combat-oriented species.
These dragons were largely focused on healing and agility. Siegfried was still admiring her neat appearance when she felt a mental tide rushing from the depths of her consciousness. It was the dragon's soul trying to take over!
She tried to hold it off but it kept approaching. She felt like she was about to be taken over. Then, the pressure suddenly eased. A blue barrier was keeping the soul at bay. Sanity lock had finally demonstrated its terrifying effects by completely suppressing a dragon's soul.
However, she was the only one who had learned this spell. She remembered with horror how her brother had rejected this precious spell. Upon hearing a chaotic, pain-ridden roar, she spun around.
Sigurd's scales were a dark shade of red, resembling the fresh blood from a lethal wound. His tail was short but heavy and his wings were like heavy-looking, light red sails.
Like Siegfried, Sigurd's face wasn't covered in scales. From his head, two menacing horns extended backward, their tips a glowing red.
He was gripping his head, guttural roars escaped his throat. Signy had worry written all over her face.
"Lord Eldar, what's happening to him?"
"He's fighting with the dragon's soul for dominance over his body. I'd step back if I were you. If Sigurd loses this battle, the dragon's soul can temporarily take over his body and might attack you."
"I won't be defeated so easily! Stop blabbering you dumb tree!"
Sigurd could actually still talk? I had to admit, that boy's will was quite strong. Still, he spent the next ten minutes kneeling on the ground roaring in pain.
"Please do remember, you can at most stay in this state about half an hour a day without damaging your bodies. The more you rank up the longer you can safely remain in this state and once you reach the same strength as a dragon you'll be able to use it unrestricted."