While it's a fact that in our world, the bond between a dragon and a dragon rider is most unique. I find that the trifecta bond between a dragon, a dragon rider and a witch—as unusual as it is—to be even more unique. In the opinion of this observer, it's definitely worth studying.
In fighting wars, this bonding may serve as our greatest weapon if utilised well. While it is true that this bond is unpredictable, and the abilities that come with it, sometimes indecipherable. I do not think we should discourage the practice as long as the ability is kept under the control of Royal Dragon Riders.
- 'Dragons, Riders, and Sorcery' by Witch-Dragon Observer Anise.
Despite Vinnandra's reservations to becoming self-aware, whatever that would mean for herself, she still wanted to be of any kind of help to Astrid. With a boldness she summoned from nowhere, she makes a request.
"Can I see it? Astrid's pain and vision?" She asks both Astrid and Xander.
Xander startles at her request. No one, and Vinn meant it, no one in their right minds would request to touch a dragon bonded to another. But of course she had to. Xander glances at Astrid as if seeking her permission. For what seemed like hours but in reality, was less than sixty seconds, they communicated through their bond.
Vinn knew that clearly because Xander wouldn't stop frowning. It was obvious whatever Astrid was saying to him through their bond, he didn't like one bit.
"Go on." He grumbles, giving Vinn his approval. For reasons not yet known to her, Vinn was excited at the prospect of getting closer to the red dragon. And she shouldn't because one fire breath later, she could be reduced to charred crisp. As she approached the dragon, she found that Astrid didn't show signs of being poisoned. The dragon's demeanour was proud, she stood tall.
Astrid lowered her head even further so that Vinn's 5"6 frame could reach her. Adrenaline coursed through Vinn as her hand lingered in the air for a few seconds, before it finally descended and touched the dragon.
The impact, the feelings, was something she couldn't describe. She was immediately transported into a world where everything and nothing existed at the same time. In that world, she saw herself hovering over everyone and everything, her red hair a wild mast of chaos about her.
This was Astrid's vision of her, but the woman looked like her and at the same time, nothing like her. She looked braver, tougher, stronger. Vinn was sure of it, whoever that woman was at the time, she had yet to become. Or might never become.
But then, something else started to happen. She felt hot all over, almost like Astrid was igniting her entire body with dragon's fire. Instinctively, she tried to remove her palm from where it was glued to Astrid's head, but it seemed her body grew a mind of its own.
Next thing, she was panting, feeling out of breath. Vinn tried taking in a huge mouthful of air, but she couldn't. Or maybe she could—she could hardly feel her body anymore so she wouldn't know. The hotness she felt was uncomfortable, and with the startling clarity that she wasn't actually on fire, she realised that the hotness was coming from within.
Then she heard herself screaming. It wasn't filled with anguish per say, it was more like she was letting something out. All of the deception, anguish, and torment in her was let out in her screams. Now, she tried even harder to let go of Astrid, something told her she must.
But then, something else told her she mustn't.
"Xander…." Vinn managed to sputter in her reverie, although she was barely aware of her surroundings. "Please…" she begged, although for what exactly she was unsure.
Vinn felt his presence directly behind her. She was sure it was him because his woody, musky scent filled all of her sensibilities. His icy hands rested on her shoulders as if to tug her away from the dragon, but they remained firmly there. His breath came dangerously close to her ear, and a different kind of hotness took over her body.
"What are you so afraid of?" His whisper managed to penetrate the fog in her brain, and the question too puzzled her.
What was she afraid of?
"Nothing…" her answer came out breathy…and as a lie. Deep down within her, Vinn was afraid of herself, so much afraid that she couldn't bear confronting herself.
While her body was physically present, her mind was elsewhere, in the world that Astrid created for the both of them. While she could manage to communicate with Xander, she was also acutely aware of his physical presence, at the same time, she could now feel him in the other world she was in.
In this other world, she felt a ball of white fire circle around the three of them like a ritual, and her heart started to beat even faster, and she felt even hotter.
Xander, from the physical world clutches her shoulder tightly to the point she whimpers. "Since there's nothing you're scared of, then you've to let go." He says harshly.
But she couldn't let go because she lied.
"You've to let go now." His voice is more persistent now, almost as if he is trying to save her from something. But she doesn't heed him.
Not because she couldn't, but because she wouldn't.
The ball of white fire flames harder, and then goes off instantly. Coldness like Vinn never knew before engulfs her, like ice glued to her skin. She shivers visibly, but realises that she feels heavier. In a sense that she was no longer one person but two.
"Vinnadra…." Xander calls to her, but his voice comes from her mind which jolts her. How was that possible?
"You've started to bond to Astrid and I," he continued as if that answered the questions churning through her mind. "I don't know how that is possible, but it's happening. However the bond is not complete yet, and you can still summon the will to let go. But if you decide to forge ahead, then you have to confront your true self for the bond to be complete."
'A dragon's bond knows no deception', Vinn was reminded of the saying. She felt overwhelmed from a plethora of emotions. But amongst all those emotions was a feeling of… delight? Was she actually bonding with a dragon? Albeit in an unusual way, a trifecta bond was not unheard of, and if it was her witch side carrying the bond then she could never ride Astrid in the way a dragon rider could, but was it really happening?
She couldn't quite believe it. She, Vinnandra the hateful, was bonding with a powerful dragon and an equally powerful dragon rider.
Let go? She wasn't going to do that. Ever.
Barely giving it a thought, Vinn forged ahead to confront her true self, unburying memories she believed she had forgotten. And her new resolution transported her to that fateful day eight years ago.
The day she killed her mother.