※※2※※..

  No, let me take charge! Although it was a lighthearted and most pleasant conversation I’ve had, I gathered myself, showing my true colors.

  “Are you Hammond Hound? Leonberger? Newfoundland? Mastiff? Drakmast? Or maybe a Great Pyrenees?” I worked chores at my village attending to animals, learned to ride, and knew all the breeds. All these years, I never thought of using them in such a scenario, and I blurted, “You’re big, as big as I am… and I like your fluffiness.”

  Drakos laughed wholeheartedly. “Thank you, I suppose. And, to answer you, probably, I’m all of them and none of them.”

  I was enigmatic—delighted—but also annoyed.

  “What makes you think I want a new dog? Or a dog like you? Whatever happened to my real Drakos?”

  Then, before I could stop myself, I blurted out something completely stupid to this new dog—

  “Haha! I saw you blush!”

  “I never blush.”

  His voice was steady, unreadable. “And sometimes, I might show any part of myself depending on your mood. What makes you think this is what I wanted, either? Speaking of which, life doesn’t dictate that one must always get what she wants.

  —That said, you might want to know… you can be restless. And strong. Sometimes.”

  I defended myself immediately.

  “I know the nuance, my friend. You meant to say I can be cocky and arrogant. No, I don’t! Yes—really—I am strong. Look at me! Your baseless accusation is appalling.”

  “See? There you are. And now you’re blushing. Ha!”

  Okay, okay, your caught-you moment. Big deal.

  It’s good you’re comfortable with me here.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  I almost jumped up—it was a pleasant and amazing telepathic connection! He—I mean, you—I mean, we could communicate this way. It’d be fun. Yeah, Drakos! He smiled.

  “And this version of me will be your favorite. I am still your pet. Your loyal companion. But now—you are under my pupilage.”

  “You what? Did you get my permission? My Master’s? My family’s, hmm?”

  I was relentless, not even waiting for his reaction—which, as expected, was calm. As if nothing I said could ever offend him.

  I supposed… perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea. He knows how to distract and sooth me.

  “So, you’re Drakmast now? No—no, you’re not just a pet anymore… You’re—rocking this whole avatar thing. And… as they say, caveat emptor—teller beware. Ha! Yeah. So… what are you, really? Male or female? I mean, you know what I mean…”

  “Where on earth did you even pick up these Western Latin or Greek words? That broken book you got from the travelers, my little one?”

  “Anyway,” he continued, “I am a type of Dharma protector. Dharma is the way of humanity. We don’t need gender to accomplish our job—we remain neutral. Neither male nor female. But from time to time, out of necessity, I may appear differently.”

  And just like that, he transformed—suddenly a young, beautiful demi-god-like figure, silk robes fluffing away in the air.

  “Sometimes, I will show as a young novice. Mainly to blend in. You know, this—a young novice.”

  “Admirable. Drakos—yes, Drakos, Drakmast, and Young Master…”

  “Then what specifically do you protect?”

  “The Lost Arts of After Life as instructed in The Book of the Death, also called the Harmark Avatar Codex.”

  Suddenly, my whole body softened while sitting on the snow. “That’s a lot for me to take in, Drakos…”

  Drakos hesitated, his amber eyes darkening for a moment.

  Instead of saying, “I don’t know everything yet,” he said simply, “But I know I’m continuing my past practices.”

  And as I stood there, my mind racing—Past practices?

  That’s when I heard it—clear as day, not from his lips, but from his thoughts:

  In a timeline spanning both B.C.E. 1st Century, 999,999.1.1; A.D. 1st Century, 999,999.1.1; and now A.D. 2025.1.1, the Lotus-Born Hum—? ??? ????? ???—Avalokiteshvara emerges, riding on the head of the JC Dragon.

  “You didn’t see it. Only a certain state of meditation can reach her dimension.”

  Well, I looked up, wow, from this vantage point in the Himalayas. Drakos bestows the secrets of these Arts to all beings below—including you, a young kitchen hand, your Himalayan shepherd, me, and of course, our Master…

  I stared up at Drakos—taller now, almost at my waist even while seated. His fur shimmered in the faint, ethereal glow of dusk, shifting colors like a river of molten gemstones.

  “This change,” he began, carefully choosing his words, “happened because of my past practices. I embraced a jade dragon-like being by choice as Dharma Protector to further my practices at the Adorned Country and also to confront the minions of Yama. You saw some of my peers at the avalanche. We act as the Destroyers of Death instead.”