“Room service!” a flamboyant voice chimed, knocking on the door. Animus let themselves in, carrying a tea tray with two plates of eggs and ham. They wore a baggy pink sweater with tight white pants and golden, tear-drop earrings.

"What are you today?” Collin asked bitterly, sitting up in the bed. 

“I’m not quite sure yet.” Animus answered, ignoring Collin’s sarcasm. “This morning seems like one fit for a king, but maybe later I’ll feel like being a queen,” they answered, sipping from a cup of tea. 

Raz unfurled himself from the sheets, stretching out his wings and yawning. Animus tilted their head at him, studying him curiously. 

“How fascinating,” they whispered with a smirk. 

Collin quickly wrapped Raz in the blanket, holding him close to his chest. 

“Isn’t he a cute little thing? He’s a tropical lizardling.” Breven chimed.

“Afraid not.” Animus chuckled, taking a sip from their tea. “Lizardling’s eyes are completely black, and they have gills for swimming underwater.” Animus explained. 

“Then, what is it?” Brevened gasped. 

“You don’t recognize it? You were once a Knight, weren’t you?” purred Animus, swinging their feet like a cat’s tail. “It’s a dragon.”

“Not just any dragon!” Raz spat, scrambling free from Collin’s grasp. 

“Raz…!” Collin yelled, trying to catch him to no avail. Raz climbed up onto the small table Animus was seated at, standing on his hind legs, his wings outstretched.

“I am Razarith Ironhide, King of Beasts-!” Animus picked Raz up by the end of his tail, facing him toward their porcelain teapot. Raz hissed and spat, producing a small flame that burned the bottom of the pot, bringing the tea back to a boil.

“And now you’re as good as a tea kettle.” Animus teased, flinging Raz back toward Collin who caught him in his arms. 

“What are you going to do now that you know?” Collin asked fearfully. 

“Nothing.” Animus sighed. “I’ve never liked those Inferno Knights. Transforming into a dragon was quite fun and I miss it dearly.” They sat down their cup and looked gravely at Collin.  “I would be careful if I were you. People assume all of the dragons were slaughtered. If it got out that not only a dragon is still alive, but the King himself, there would be chaos.”

“You heard them,” Collin scolded, looking down at Raz. Raz snarled in frustration, leaping back into the rune on Collin’s wrist with a puff of smoke.

Animus choked on their tea.

“You’re bonded!?” Animus yelled, tea dripping from their chin. Collin went to speak but the words got stuck in his throat. He looked to Breven and sighed loudly, holding himself. 

“I was...at Kurtz when the war ended.” Collin began, touching the rune gently. “It was a small village, my village, hidden up in the mountains. It was also where the last of the dragons retreated toward the end of the Inferno War. Raz and I-we were both dying. The Knights had come and destroyed everything. Razarith said he had just enough strength to save us. He cast a spell and the next thing I knew he was...a part of me; a soul attached to my own. But we’re still dying, just…more slowly now. And the only way to break the spell is-”

“-unless you have some serious magic.” Animus interrupted. 

“Unless you have the Oracle,” Breven added. 

Animus set down their tea loudly, standing. 

“I’ve decided to join your party.” Animus announced, planting their hands onto their hips. 

“I don’t get it-what’s your catch?” Collin asked, glaring. 

“Everyone wants to use the Oracle for one reason or another, I certainly have my own.” Animus explained. “And a shapeshifter could be very beneficial to your cause, you know.”

“Their powers could come in handy,” Breven said. 

“I suppose,” Collin said. 

Suddenly a loud crash came from downstairs. Their eyes all shot down to the floor.

“Find them!” a man barked, his voice echoing up through the floorboards. 

“The Knights! They've found us,” Collin gasped fearfully. 

Animus walked toward the window, transforming into a lanky, winged creature. They looked back to Collin and Breven, smiling with wide, fanged jaws. 

“I guess this is the perfect opportunity to show how useful I can be,” they purred.