Like burning paper the thin layer above the dragon’s skin slowly vanishes on the air. His eyes blinking under the faint light produced by the lanterns scattered on the floor. Where are the priests? Someone broke the seal and awakened him, but the shrine looks very different from what he remembered. And for how long did he sleep? His last memory a fragment of faces. There was Minerva beside Altus, their first and second-born, and, of course, She was there too...

The clashing of steel draws his attention. Some figures dance in the dim light. They are a few meters ahead, but he can tell it’s an unfair combat: two against too many to count. The lone fighters are having a hard time. The smaller one is somehow keeping her ground with fast movements, but the other is not nearly as nimble. He swings his staff to maintain a safe distance from the foes. Until a sword grazes his hand, making his weapon fall to the ground.

“Guess that will be the mage’s demise.”  Is the thought that crosses the dragon’s mind. Except it doesn’t happen like that. Last minute he rolls backward, losing balance when landing and almost falling. Nevertheless, the man recovers the rod and returns to battle stance. The dragon moves his sharp teeth forming a smile. “Not a lot of technique, but good improvisation.”

The sorcerer is now a lot closer, and the creature’s nose gets wind of something on his clothes. “Smells of home.” His attackers approach too and the face of the beast shows repulse. “They don’t.”

A shriek leaves the dragon’s lips: “Invaders!” Solanus, who had his back to him, is startled, same as his enemies. The summoner turns in time to see the creature transforming: skin blackening and expanding to the point it has grown taller than nine feet. The cleric takes a few steps back. Eyes wide in awe and hands grasping the scepter's handle until his knuckles turn white.

The leader of the soldiers yells for them to attack, but the blades do no harm to the scales on the beast’s paws. The creature is unimpressed and annoyed at their audacity, but guess that’s human nature for you. Always assuming they are better than reality proves. Not that it would have mattered even if they ran.

The dragon inhales and lets out a high-pitched scream that has Kai covering her ears. She moves towards Solanus and watches the imperials fall to their knees. It’s odd how the noise is not doing the same to her or her companion, but she could think about it once they have used this opportunity to escape.

The rogue grabs the summoner by the arm and pulls him to the exit. But before they can leave the beast turns to them. The scales becoming skin as he shrinks to human form. Solanus meets his eyes: golden and slowly closing. The dragon collapses on the floor.

Kai opens her mouth to urge them to go, but of course her ally is already walking to the opposite direction. She huffs and shakes her head, then proceeds to his side. Solanus is squatted and very surprised beside a passed out child.