The moonlight penetrated Princess Amida's room. Tama saw the canopy above her, but her eyes were closed. From by her side, sounded Princess Amida's peaceful breathing – she was asleep.
Tama was asleep too, but her mind had awoken. This was her special ability, which she inherited from her mother the Lotus Priestess – to detach one's spirit from one's body and roam about in a dream state, able to see every other spirit and interact with other dream walkers such as dragons, werewolves, and other high-level creatures. The world of dreams, in which these creatures met while asleep, was called Dreamscape.
Seeing Tama's affinity to access Dreamscape, the Lotus Priestess trained her to control her powers. Tama showed high talent in dream walking and spirit control – from the age of eleven, she could move her dream spirit as she wished and even fly around. She left her sleeping body on a whim and knew how to return. At age twelve, she met and befriended Ronna – the green fire-breathing swamp dragon, about whom she often wrote letters to her mother.
The Lotus Priestess was surprised at first that her daughter had bonded with a dragon because no human could establish a pact with those creatures other than the Drahs – the people of Drahvelt – who had been blessed by the Dragon Gods since ancient times. The Lotus Priestess discovered it was the blood of her mother-in-law: Tama's and Yannou's grandmother from their father's side, Hanka Raveene, had been a refugee from Drahvelt. Although Hanka had never had a dragon and neither did her son, Tama established a bond with Ronna because the Drahian blood surged in her veins and she'd inherited the spiritual talents of her mother, the Lotus Priestess.
Thus, Tama had been visiting Dreamscape every night since her childhood. Now, she awakened in her dream state again, ready for another adventure. She rose from her sleeping body, imagined herself in a ponytail and a simple red dress she wore when awake, and the outfit manifested on her. She went to the windows, jumped out onto a tree and looked at the sky.
"Ronna!" she called for her dragon.
A roar sounded from above the clouds, audible only to Tama, and a majestic dragon descended. She was a dream state spirit like Tama, so she didn't disturb anything when she landed, even though she was huge. Her scales were dark green and her eyes glittered golden. Her back was covered in pale yellow cogs and her head carried two long horns of the same colour. Her claws and belly were pale yellow too. Her ears were hidden behind her webbed fins which also covered her gills, allowing her to breathe underwater. She opened her mouth, revealing her serpentine tongue and sharp teeth.
"Hello, Tama!" A mild, low-pitched voice echoed from the dragon's mouth, with hissy undertones. "Fancy flying with me?"
"You bet!" Tama grinned. "Let's go!"
She jumped on the dragon's back amidst her giant cogs and clutched the cog in front of her. Ronna flapped her wings and rushed into the sky.
"Woohoo!" Tama yelled, the wind blowing into her face.
The royal palace looked like a toy castle from above. The great city of Vienrose, the capital of Hasurei, unfolded below, with torches lit up and people roaming the streets, enjoying the busy nightlife. Beyond the city, the blue sea shimmered under the moonlight. The infinite ocean lured Tama in.
"Can we go_" she began.
"To the sea?" Ronna finished her sentence. "Thought you'd never ask!"
She swerved towards the ocean, whirling in the air. Soon, they were above the waving sea. Ronna flew down to the water and Tama felt the waves splashing into her face.
"This is awesome!" she shouted.
Her excitement was brief. A blue serpentine body glimmered amidst the waves. Its back was covered in sharp black cogs and a pair of black horns showed on its head. Its ears were hidden behind webbed fins like Ronna's, but its gills were more massive. Its hands and feet were webbed too, covered in white claws. Unlike Ronna, it didn't have wings but was abnormally long. Tama sensed chills, but it was from awe rather than fear.
"There's a dragon in the sea!" she shouted. "And it's not even in dream state!"
"Oh, he enjoys nighttime swimming," Ronna replied. "That's my big brother, Nörd."
"You have a big brother?" Tama gasped. "You never told me!"
"You never asked!" Ronna chuckled. "My mother is a serpentine water dragon and my father was a fire-breathing forest one. Nörd took mostly after our mother, while I inherited both fire-breathing and water affinity. I prefer swamps, though. They're closer to the earth element – my father's favourite."
"Wow, you've got a diverse family!" Tama smiled. She looked at the blue dragon in the sea, who no longer seemed scary. "Hey there, Nörd!" She waved her hand at him.
Nörd, the blue dragon, grunted in a low-pitched tone. His golden eye glanced at Tama, but he didn't speak. He dived into the waves, vanishing in the depths of the sea.
"Oh… Was it something I said?" Tama asked, perturbed by Nörd's reaction.
"No, he's just shy." Ronna smiled. "He'll be more friendly at your next encounter. He was anxious to meet you. I've talked with him about you and your brother Yannou. Nörd said your brother sounds like an interesting human."
"You mean he wants to form a pact with Yannou?" Tama brightened up. So cool, her brother would get his dragon too!
"That depends on both of them, but yes, he expressed his interest," Ronna replied. "Anyway, we're close to our destination! I'll mask you with my aura like I did last night, so the protective shield won't detect your spirit."
"Wait, the protective shield?!" Tama grew alarmed.
The protective shield against dream walkers existed in very few places. Tama knew three: the Lotus Temple, her home; Lunaria, the kingdom of monsters where her grandfather, uncle and cousin resided; and the kingdom of Drahvelt ruled by the Dragon King. Judging by the fact that Ronna, a dragon, was carrying her towards the "destination", Tama figured it should be Drahvelt like last night.
"No, Ronna, wait!" she shouted, but it was too late.
Ahead of them, loomed a gigantic volcano, its top shimmering red with bubbling lava exuding grey fumes. Tama sensed a bump with an invisible force, through which she passed unharmed, thanks to the green spiritual energy into which Ronna had wrapped her. She remembered the same happening last night when Ronna took her to her swamp. Breaking through the protective shield meant they were now in Drahvelt's territory.
On the volcano slopes glittered city lanterns and torches, highlighting houses and many-roofed temples. The city streets bustled with people. Through the skies, thousands of dragons soared, both in dream state and full flesh. It was Belphezar, the capital of Drahvelt.
"Ronna, why are we in the city?" Tama asked, unnerved. "Don't you live in a swamp?"
"Oh, I'm not taking you to my swamp now," Ronna answered. "We're going to Beilung's home near the crater."
"Near the crater?!" Tama felt chills down her spine. "Ronna, that's where the royal palace of Drahvelt is located! I'm from Hasurei, I can't just waltz in there!"
"Beilung's human said it was alright," Ronna replied. "He wanted to meet you, so Beilung asked me to bring you along. The boy already knows your situation, so you needn't worry."
"What? You told a Drah from the royal palace about me?!" Tama almost fell off Ronna's back from shock. "Ronna, I asked you to tell no one!"
"Tama, you've been complaining for ages about being single while I have a mate!" Ronna grunted. "Now, I'm giving you a chance of a lifetime and you complain?! The divine laws of the Dragon Pact – the sacred bond between dragons and humans – state that if two dragons are mates, their humans are destined partners. And dragons mate for life! Since Beilung and I are together, you and Beilung's boy must be soulmates!"
"What?!" Tama exclaimed. "Ronna, I never asked you for dating advice!"
"Oh, come on! That boy is as hopeless as you, but at least he knows where to seek his girl!" Ronna laughed. "Now, stop whining and talk to a boy at least in your dreams!"
They neared Mt Belphezar, where a granite palace with golden roofs was erected. Its yards comprised thousands of gardens. One lofty gate led onto a stone path into the centre of the volcano crater, where a three-storey temple stood. It was the Dragon Temple, the famous dwelling of the Dragon Priestess, who relaid the Dragon Gods' will upon the world.
"Alright, I'll admit it," Tama said, "this palace looks amazing! Much better than that of Hasurei."
"The Drahs are blessed by the ancient Dragon Gods," Ronna replied. "They believe their kings and the Dragon Priestesses are closest to the gods, so they revere them like heavenly beings. This palace and temple are testaments to their worship."
"It does look like a demigod's dwelling!" Tama said.
Ronna descended to a golden terrace, which opened to peach gardens from one side and the lava crater from another. In the lava, sat the red dragon Tama recognised from last night – Beilung, Ronna's mate. He was as big as Ronna, with black cogs, a pair of black horns, and golden eyes. Unlike last night, Beilung wasn't a dream spirit but awake. It was the first time Tama saw a dragon up close in full flesh, and it was awe-striking.
"Ronna!" Beilung grunted in his low-pitched voice, happy to see his mate. "You've brought the girl too!" He noticed Tama on Ronna's back.
"I promised!" Ronna chuckled, playful and flirty around Beilung.
Tama jumped off Ronna's back but remained near her, wary of the surroundings. The terrace connected with a bedroom through glass doors, but the light was off, so little was visible. Near the balcony balustrade were two armchairs and a dining table full of delicious dishes, some of which Tama had never seen. It increased her unease. She wasn't ready for a date, especially with a stranger from the enemy kingdom! Thankfully, no one was there other than her and the two dragons.
"Hey there, Beilung!" Tama waved her hand at the dragon, smiling. "It's nice to see you again!"
"It's nice to see you too, human!" Beilung replied. "Thanks for agreeing to come!"
"Oh, I was never asked!" Tama glared at Ronna, whose mischievous grin deepened. "But," Tama retook, "I'm glad it's just the three of us! Now, can we please leave?" She turned to Ronna. "I can't stay in the enemy territory!"
"But, you just arrived!" sounded a deep, mild voice behind her.
Tama whipped around. A tall man of about thirty stood there, his pale yellow hair falling down his back and shoulders. He was dressed in golden robes and a crimson cloak wrapped around his shoulders, tied on the front with a golden chain. Tama couldn't make out his face – it looked fuzzy. It was because of the limitations of Dreamscape – if she met a stranger in the dream state, whom she'd never seen in real life, she wouldn't know how they looked unless she established a trusty relationship. The same was true with Ronna when they first met – the dragon's face looked blurry until they formed a bond.
Nevertheless, the young man's voice sounded like a melody. His spiritual body looked alluring, almost ethereal. Tama understood what Ronna meant when she spoke about them being soulmates. At the mere sight of this man, her heart fluttered. On a subconscious level, she knew he felt the same. There was an unspoken understanding between them.
Still, Tama hesitated. Judging by the man's appearance, he was a high statesman. She crossed the protective shield to get here, which meant her spirit couldn't return to her body unless she crossed back, and now that this man knew about her arrival, leaving here might be difficult. What if he alerted the Dragon Temple? They'd capture her spirit and she'd never wake up! Why did Ronna bring her here?! She should've jumped off her back when she had a chance!
"I-I must go!" she said, backing away to Ronna's arm. "Please… I need to return!"
She couldn't see the man's face but sensed his dejection. Her heart churned, which was a reflection of his feelings rather than her sentiment.
"It's alright, Tama!" Ronna wrapped her tail around her, pressing her softly to her arm. "I wouldn't bring you here if it was dangerous. You can trust Beilung's boy!"
"Yes, it's safe here, I promise!" the man said.
"How are you so sure?" Tama squinted her eyes. "Your king is powerful. He might've already detected my presence!"
"Oh… If he were a threat, I'd never have asked Beilung and Ronna to fetch you." The man smiled. "As I told you, it's safe."
He held out his hand, a jade ring shimmering on it. After some hesitation, Tama took it. He must be of a high stance, meaning he knew his king's weaknesses. Her heart longed to stay with him, so she ignored her mind's worry. His smile deepened when he sensed her palm in his. He invited her into an armchair and took the other. Tama heard Ronna's excited grunt from behind her. The green dragon cuddled up with Beilung, proud of her success. Tama couldn't help smiling at her antics. She eyed the dishes and wished she'd been awake. They'd be so much more delicious in real life! Nevertheless, Dreamscape allowed her to have a sense of taste, so she took a strange-looking meat dish onto her plate and had a bite. She moaned with delight.
"It's heavenly!" she said.
"I'm glad you like it!" The man smiled. "It's a beef steak cooked by a dragon's fire."
"Wow, that sounds like a cool cooking method!" Tama muttered through her full mouth. "I wish we had that in Hasurei!"
The man laughed. He leaned on the armrest with his elbow, placed his cheek on the back of his hand and eyed Tama with interest. He seemed fascinated, even though he couldn't see her face.
"So, may I know your name?" he asked.
"Isn't it polite to say yours first?" Tama countered with a smug smile.
"Alright, that's fair!" The man chuckled. "Well, then… I guess, call me Draki?"
"Fine, Draki! I'm Tama," she answered, stuffing another slice into her mouth. "Now, since you seem a decent dude, I'll ask: what's your king like? I mean, in person."
"Oh?" His smile faded. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, it's for a friend." Tama shrugged. Mellowed by the delicious food and the cosy feeling around Draki, and with her rationality somewhat blocked by the dream state (which only allowed a person to act on their first instinct), she opened up. "She's sick, and yet her mom is marrying her to your king! I'm worried."
"Oh, you mean Princess Amida?" Draki's smile reappeared, but now it frightened Tama. It seemed malignant, almost heartless. "As much as I'd love to indulge my soulmate, certain information is classified and I can't share it," he said. "But, I'll tell you one thing… Because the sooner you come to terms with it, the better." He walked over to Tama, placed his hands on her shoulders and whispered: "After your friend enters here, she won't be coming back. Ever."
Tama sensed chills. From up close, Draki's hands seemed to be covered in claws. She gulped, barely able to contain her shivers.
"Y-You mean, Amida will…" she couldn't bear to finish her sentence.
"Why else do you think our king would accept a sickly wife? You seem a smart girl, I bet you were worried because you knew," Draki replied. He looked at the horizon painted scarlet by the dawn. "Oh, I see it's our time to part! It was nice meeting you, Tama, even if briefly."
Before Tama could answer, Ronna scooped her up with her tail and placed her on her back. She ascended the skies, heading to Hasurei. Tama sensed another bump through space, which meant they'd crossed the protective shield of Drahvelt. Freed from the shield's constraints, she felt her spirit longing to rejoin her body. Her head went dizzy and her vision blurred. The flapping of Ronna's wings became less and less audible. Soon, it all went black.
Tama reopened her eyes. She was lying in the bed in Princess Amida's room, but her body was sweating and her heart was pounding. She glanced at Amida by her side, who slept soundly. The dream replayed in Tama's mind, the vile words echoing through her memory:
"After your friend enters here, she won't be coming back. Ever."
She felt a lump in her throat. Tears filled her eyes.
There's no way I'll let that happen! She glared at the canopy. Just you wait, Draki! We'll see who laughs in the end!
A knock came on the window glass. A familiar white pigeon had perched on the sill, carrying a small piece of parchment in the box attached to her leg.
Mom! Tama jumped up. She's sent her reply!
She ran to the window, hoping for some good news.