I looked directly, searchingly, into Winters' deep, ancient eyes, attempting, with a desperate hope, to discern some subtle hint of humor, some pyful twinkle that might betray a joke within their knowing depths; but as, Winters was, it appeared, entirely, unequivocally serious, and she swiftly, without further preamble, proceeded to put her decred words into decisive action.
I stood rooted to the dusty stone floor, gazing up at the truly colossal book, several metres thick even at its spine, which now y open before me, and in that moment, I found myself profoundly doubting the very nature of my draconic existence and the path it seemed to be taking.
Then, with an almost casual movement, another massive, metal-bound tome was carefully stacked atop the already imposing book that y before my bewildered eyes.
"Besides that foundational text, 'True Dragon's Magic: An Introduction,' this equally vital volume, 'Draconic Language Magic: Fundamental Principles,' is also something you absolutely must peruse with diligence and care, as well as this insightful treatise, 'The Origin and Evolution of Magic,' and, of course, this rather practical guide, 'A Foolproof Compendium of Draconic Language Magic Instruction'—though naturally, you need only truly comprehend the core concepts within this particur one to begin!
In addition to these essential magic-reted volumes, there is also this comprehensive 'Grand Dragon Encyclopedia,' the indispensable 'Compendium of Known Dragon Beasts,' the invaluable 'Herbal Encyclopedia of the Dragon Realms,' the exhaustive 'Master Potioner's Compendium,' the detailed 'All About the Theory and Application of Magic Arrays,' and finally, this rather engaging narrative, 'My Personal Field Adventures and Observations'—that, I believe, should suffice for your initial schorly endeavors, for now at least."
"Among this curated selection of books," Winters continued, her voice taking on a slightly more animated tone, "I would personally, and most highly, recommend this particur volume, 'My Personal Field Adventures and Observations.'
It also, quite conveniently, describes a wealth of practical knowledge concerning various Dragon Beasts; although its perspective is, admittedly, somewhat more one-sided, more subjective, than the strictly factual 'Compendium of Known Dragon Beasts,' the narrative style employed by its author is remarkably, almost captivatingly, engaging.
This, I confess, is one of the very few books within this entire vast collection that does not, with unfailing certainty, induce a profound and immediate state of somnolence in me!"
Saying that, Winters extended one of her massive, scaled cws and gently, almost reverently, tapped the towering stack of books that had already, in a remarkably short span of time, been piled to a truly considerable, almost intimidating, height before me.
"Let me just see now... one, two... ah, yes, precisely ten distinct volumes.
Let us proceed without further dey; let us endeavor to find a suitably spacious and quiet corner for your studies.
Incidentally..." Her voice trailed off for a moment as a new thought seemed to occur to her.
While Winters carefully, yet effortlessly, gathered the ten enormous books into a manageable bundle, she looked down at us five diminutive little ones clustered around her great feet.
"Although it is true that your own inherited memories already contain a significant portion of this foundational knowledge, it is also a fact that each individual dragon's understanding, their personal assimition of these memories, is invariably distinct, unique to them.
Consequently, all bloodline inheritance, by its very nature, invariably carries with it a strong, often subtle, individual draconic coloration, and sometimes, regrettably, even contains unintentional errors or misinterpretations.
Therefore, if you were to diligently read and absorb the wisdom contained within all these selected books, it would undoubtedly prove to be of considerable, sting benefit for your own development as well; thus, I ask you now, do any of you wish to join Vet in this schorly pursuit?"
Consequently, and perhaps predictably, apart from myself, who, it was quite clear, possessed absolutely no viable means of refusal, Celine and the other three young dragons all shook their heads with a frantic, almost desperate, haste, their expressions leaving no room for doubt as to their profound disinclination.
Seeing their unanimous and rather vehement reaction, Winters smiled, though a hint of gentle, almost parental helplessness touched the corners of her eyes.
"Very well then, in that case, Vet and I shall proceed over there to commence his reading.
You others may, if you so choose, wander about and explore this section of the Library, but I must insist that you maintain an absolute, respectful silence; there are, you must understand, many adult, schorly True Dragons currently engrossed in their own studies within the hallowed halls of this Library.
They do not, I assure you, appreciate being unduly disturbed or distracted whilst they are deeply engaged in their reading!"
Hearing this clear, if mildly toned, admonition, Celine and the other three young dragons quickly, and with an almost palpable sense of relief, fled from our immediate vicinity in a flurry of excited, yet commendably quiet, wingbeats.
The towering, ancient stone shelves that filled the vast expanse of the Library, and the truly massive quantity of mysterious, knowledge-den books resting upon them, were, for these curious younglings, suffused with an irresistible, almost magical aura of unexplored wonder.
Had Winters not explicitly spoken of the need for silence, they would undoubtedly have wished to embark upon a thorough, and likely rather boisterous, exploration of this fascinating new environment long before now.
I cast a lingering, undeniably envious gnce at the retreating forms of Celine and the others, then, with a somewhat crestfallen, resigned expression clouding my features, I ran quickly, my small legs pumping, to keep pace with the slowly striding Winters.
"Are these ten colossal volumes," I asked, my voice tinged with a note of hopeful disbelief, "all the books that I am truly expected to finish reading in their entirety today?"
"Assuredly not, little Vet," Winters replied, her tone reassuring. "Do not even speak of attempting to conquer ten such books in a single day; you might not, in all likelihood, even manage to complete the thorough reading of one single, solitary book within the span of an entire sor year."
A wave of relief washed over me.
"Thus," she continued, her words painting a much longer, though perhaps no less daunting, timeline, "this initial selection represents, more realistically, the approximate allotment for a period of perhaps one hundred years of diligent study.
Commencing from this very day, we shall, schedules permitting, make our way here to the Library to engage in your reading every other day, alternating with your other essential training.
Of course," she added, a softer note entering her voice, "you may certainly choose to rest and recuperate if you so desire on any given study day.
After all, we cannot, and should not, allow your entire nascent existence to be entirely, overwhelmingly filled with nothing but rigorous, unceasing studying.
We are, remember, True Dragons, a species blessed with an abundance of time, ample opportunity to patiently and thoroughly acquire the vast wealth of knowledge that awaits us."
Rumble!
Following a sudden, surprisingly loud noise that echoed through the cavernous space, I instinctively fpped my small wings with vigor, attempting to blow away the cloud of fine, ancient dust that had risen around me, disturbed by some unseen movement.
Then, as the dust motes began to settle, I saw that Winters had already prostrated herself comfortably upon the stone floor and had selected one book from the towering stack of ten, carefully opened its massive cover, and pced it with precision directly before her waiting form.
With a surge of renewed curiosity, I flew upwards, hovering expectantly before her.
"Winters, esteemed teacher, what particur subject shall we embark upon learning first?"
"<
"Although this particur tome does not, admittedly, describe the specific, practical methods for actually learning and wielding magic, it does, however, expin in meticulous, illuminating detail the very genesis, the fundamental origin, of all magical elements in our world.
A thorough understanding of its contents can, I assure you, significantly assist you in comprehending the true nature of magic, your own intrinsic connection to it, and indeed, the unfolding path of your future development, far more expeditiously than you might otherwise achieve!"
Saying that, Winters carefully, reverently, opened the massive, metal-wrought cover of the chosen book.
The pages themselves, crafted entirely from some unknown, incredibly resilient type of dark metal, were each several centimetres in thickness, and upon their surfaces were rows upon rows of intricately raised, shimmering golden symbols, which looked impossibly ancient and profoundly majestic, yet, to my surprise and relief, I found that I could easily, almost intuitively, recognize and understand them.
"This," Winters expined, her voice hushed with a certain reverence, "is the Ancient Draconic Language, a tongue that possesses an inherent, mystical power all its own.
Some of these Ancient Draconic Language symbols are, in and of themselves, the actual, potent incantations required for the casting of various forms of ancient Draconic Cn magic.
Although for us, in this present age, these potent incantations are, in essence, simply the sophisticated and nuanced nguage that was commonly employed by the most ancient members of the Draconic Cn in ages long past, such as, for a simple example... Fireball!"
As she spoke the final word, Winters uttered two rather awkward, guttural-sounding sylbles, and immediately thereafter, a colossal, incandescent fireball, radiating a wave of scorching, almost unbearable heat, materialized with a silent whoosh in the palm of her extended hand, pulsing with raw, untamed energy.
My own eyes lit up with a sudden, intense fascination, and then I stared intently, with a dawning sense of purpose, at my own small, right cw.
"Fireball!" I intoned, attempting to replicate the same two awkward, yet powerful, sylbles.
Save for the undeniably childish, higher-pitched timbre of my own voice, there was, I felt, no immediately discernible difference in pronunciation from Winters’ own utterance.
After uttering these two crucial sylbles, I distinctly felt a sudden, focused surge of my Inner Focus concentrating intensely upon my waiting right cw, and then, almost immediately, the ambient fire elements present in the surrounding air began to visibly gather, to coalesce, around it.
However, in the very next second, a mere heartbeat ter, the fire elements that had just so promisingly congregated, even before they could fully coalesce and stabilize into a recognizable, sustainable fireball, were abruptly, almost violently, absorbed, drawn into my own body as if by some irresistible internal vacuum.
Those nascent magical elements, which had initially gathered in response to the inherent power of the Ancient Draconic Language, instantly, and with a disconcerting swiftness, fled, dissipated as if they had never been.
I looked at this rather anticlimactic scene, a distinct hint of profound disappointment shadowing my eyes.
As I had, perhaps, secretly feared all along, it appeared I truly could not wield even the simplest forms of magic.
Seeing my crestfallen expression, Winters sought to comfort me, her voice gentle and reassuring, "It is quite alright, little Vet; do not be disheartened.
The ability to wield magic, while certainly impressive, does not, by any means, represent the entirety of one's worth or potential.
The formidable Terrestrial Dragon Species and indeed, many of our own True Dragon Species, are both exceedingly powerful, highly respected existences within the intricate hierarchy of the Draconic Cn, and it is a known fact that most of them, a significant majority even, cannot directly utilize or manipute magic in this manner.
Besides," she continued, a thoughtful note entering her tone, "even if those nascent fire elements had not been so unexpectedly devoured by the unique properties of your body, you still, in all likelihood, would not have succeeded in effectively employing that particur magic at this stage.
Magic, you see, is not merely, not solely, about the correct recitation of an ancient incantation!
We shall delve into the more complex nuances of this topic in considerable detail on the morrow, during your first formal lesson!
Pray, do not allow yourself to become discouraged by this initial setback.
Not being able to actively use magic at this present moment does not, in any way, mean that the profound mysteries, the intricate wonders of magic, will forever remain closed and inaccessible to you!
What is more," she added, a hint of specution in her voice, "possessing such a potent elemental affinity, where your body automatically captures and absorbs approaching magic elements, is, in its own way, quite remarkable.
This current situation, this absorption, will assuredly not continue indefinitely in this precise manner.
And if, by some extraordinary chance, it *could* somehow continue indefinitely, then you should, in fact, be even more joyous, profoundly eted even!
For that remarkable circumstance would then unequivocally signify that your physical body, your very being, possesses a truly limitless, almost unbounded, potential for growth and power."
I nodded slowly, making a conscious effort to adjust my somewhat defted mood, and then resolutely began to read the ancient, glowing words inscribed within the massive, open book before me.
"The legendary Creation Dragon, Kovi, and the equally formidable World-Destroying Dragon, Iksis, once engaged in a cataclysmic battle amidst the vast, star-dusted expanse of the cosmos.
The primal forces of unbridled creation and utter, absolute destruction collided with such ferocious, unimaginable intensity, causing the scattered, incandescent blood of these two titanic dragons to undergo inexplicable, wondrous transmutations.
Ultimately, from this crucible of cosmic conflict, a brand new, vibrant world was unexpectedly, miraculously formed."
"I know not, nor can any mortal being truly say, how long this monumental conflict had raged, or rather, for such beings as these two primordial dragons, the very concept of linear time likely held little to no intrinsic meaning or relevance.
In any case, the final, inevitable outcome of their cosmic struggle was that the fearsome World-Destroying Dragon, Iksis, was forced to flee in ignominious defeat, and the triumphant Genesis Dragon, Kovi, pursued him relentlessly, closely behind, through the shattered remnants of gaxies.
However, before embarking upon his pursuit and departing from that nascent sphere of existence, Kovi paused, his gaze falling upon the new world that had, quite literally, been born from the commingled power of himself and his vanquished foe, Iksis.
To celebrate this unexpected, wondrous world's miraculous rebirth from chaos, he, in a gesture of profound cosmic significance, left behind a single, potent droplet of his own life-giving blood and, with a thought, integrated it seamlessly, irrevocably, into the very fabric of this nascent world."
"Countless tens of millions of years, an epoch beyond human comprehension, ter, this fledgling world, precisely because of that singur, divinely potent droplet of blood left behind by the benevolent Genesis Dragon, began, slowly but surely, to nurture its own unique, burgeoning forms of life.
And concurrently, almost in perfect synchrony with this gradual nurturing of nascent life, the incredible, multifaceted power inherently possessed by the Genesis Dragon also began to actively manifest, to permeate, this burgeoning world in myriad forms: the steadfast earth, the fluid water, the consuming fire, the invisible wind, the verdant nature, the crackling thunder, the illuminating light, and the encroaching darkness.
The sudden, widespread appearance of these fundamental magical elements served to dramatically accelerate the already ongoing process of life's intricate nurturing.
And then, from this fertile confluence of divine blood and elemental power, She was born, and She was called, by those who would ter come to know of Her, the Mother of All Dragons, the very first, the progenitor, of the entire Draconic Cn in the nascent Dragon Realm, the revered Komoxis."
I turned my head to look up at Winters, a silent question in my eyes.
"Is what is painstakingly written herein, within these ancient pages, actually true?"
Winters emitted a delicate, almost dylike yawn, the effort of prolonged reading evidently taking its toll.
Reading books, it was clear, was simply too arduous, too taxing, a pursuit for her tastes.
Hearing my earnest words, however, Winters visibly perked up, her attention momentarily recaptured.
"No living dragon, not even the wisest among us, truly knows with absolute certainty if the tales inscribed herein are fact or eborate fiction.
Also, it is important to understand that these particur words, this specific narrative, were not originally penned by the unknown author of this particur book; rather, they were painstakingly discovered, etched deep upon an ancient stone wall, a relic from times long past, almost beyond memory.
The relentless, unforgiving baptism of uncounted tens of millions of years has somehow failed to erode or destroy this inscription, a fact which, understandably, lends it a considerable, almost undeniable, degree of credibility within certain respected, schorly Draconic Cn circles."
"But," she paused, a thoughtful expression on her face, "if you wish for me, personally, to state unequivocally whether I believe it to be true or false…
I can only, with complete honesty, say that I truly know not."