I blinked my eyelids a few times, or at least I thought I did - because one time I saw nothing and another time I saw darkness. I know it sounds strange, but there is a big difference between seeing darkness and nothing. It's like having eyes... you just feel it.

For a moment I felt a slight chill - something like the wind? I wasn't sure until I blinked again and touched my skin.

I strained my eyes and after a while, I got used to the darkness that surrounded me, enough to see my pale skin up close. It was delicate and speckled with light, blue veins here and there.

"Watch out or you'll drown in that self-admiration."

The voice did not sound familiar, but I guessed it was a dragon, although I had only heard it in my mind before. He sounded a little throaty and gloomy.

"Has your desire to fight boredom been satisfied?"

It was strange to hear my own voice. It was a bit alien. And cold.

"I also think that your voice sounds a bit cold."

"Stop reading my mind."

I frowned, annoyed, and thought the same thing that I just said.

[New passive ability acquired: Mind blockade I]

"Interesting. Let it be as you wish. It's the truth that my boredom is vanishing rather fast. But it would be even better if we could get out of here. "

"And for what crime are you imprisoned here?"

"For greed. They lured me here with gold and sealed me. "

Reflecting on his answer, I tried to get up. Hands touched the cool stone but my legs gave away.

I fell.

After that, I felt two more times.

I almost got up and took two steps when I suddenly slipped. I flew forward and prepared for a collision with a cold, wet rock...

Nothing like that happened. I felt something warm and smooth to the touch. Something like scales? I supported myself with hands to hold my balance and to stand on my feet more confidently.

"This shape-shifting is so-so ..."

I heard his voice again.

"What? Why?"

When I was sure I could stand on my own, I've let go of what seemed to be a tail.

"Flat."

"At least I'm smart. It wasn't me who got lured and trapped like a fool. "

"Hey!"

A menacing murmur echoed through the cave.

"Come on... I'm only saying the truth. From what you said, it must've seemed like an obvious trap. "

"You're also here, have you forgot about it, Flower?"

"No. And don't call me 'Flower'. "

There was a long silence. I stood firm, wondering if I had offended him. I was just stating a fact.

"OK. Let it be Omora then. "

"What?"

I felt a movement in front of me and I've narrowed my eyes slightly.

"Omora. Can I call you this way? "

It even sounded interesting, and I needed a name.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ok."

Silence again.

"So, I'm flat... Any more insightful observations Mr. Dragon?"

"You don't have to call me 'Mr. Dragon'."

"Then let's call you 'Dragon'."

"No, if you want, you can call me..."

"I think 'Dragon' is enough."

I was quite firm and leaving all those 'name' things behind me, I started looking around the cave, trying to see as much as possible.

"Such flippancy..."

"You said something Dragon?"

"No, no... Well... Take your time exploring this cave. We'll spend an eternity here. "

"I don't want to."

"Well, do you think I want to stay here?"

"I do not care. What matters is that I don't want it."

I started to slowly walk one way until I touched the wall. I felt a slight vibration on the left.

"What you want Omora, doesn't matter much. What counts is that we can't get out of here. "

"Why?"

"There is a magic barrier here. You would have to be able to cancel the spell or weaken it somehow. You can't destroy these rocks, and that's all I could do under such circumstances, especially since being away from the sun has weakened me. "

I think dragons have bird brains.

I sighed and went towards the place where the vibration was the strongest.

"What would you do if I released you, Dragon?"

"Stop joking Omora."

"I'm just asking..."

I paused to turn in the direction where I thought I saw his outline.

"...what would you do?"

A long silence answered me. But I am a patient flower.

After a while, I heard a fierce laugh.

"Well, if a tiny flower, like you Omora, could get out of such a complicated trap made for a powerful dragon, I would follow such a flower into the fire, oceans, and to the end of the world."

"Would you be faithful and devoted?"

"Ha! Like a loyal and obedient puppy. "

The dragon's laughter echoed through the cave.

"And would you defend such a flower and carry out every order?"

"But of course I would... Such a powerful flower would deserve my respect."

The sarcasm in the reptile's voice was clearly heard in his last sentence.

"Remember your words."

"Omora, dragons never forget. But I have to admit that you have an extremely wild imagination and a huge sense of humor. "

Heard his laugh again.

Let him laugh. I smiled slightly.

"Dragon."

"Hm?"

"I will sleep now. I will sleep for some time. When I wake up, I really hope that your memory will not be selective. "

Without waiting for his reply, I focused on returning to my main body.

[Activation of ability: Shifting I / Transformation into: First form]

I heard the echo of his laughter for a moment longer before I returned to the nothingness. Earlier on, I sounded very confident, but the truth is that I don't know if it will work. But I had a plan and I was going to stick to it.

You only live once... or twice.

All I have to do now is focus on my absorption capacity and it should work.

[Activation of ability: Absorption III / Status: 99% / Activation successful.

The passive ability used: Happiness II / Desperation I]

[New passive ability acquired: Desperation I]

[Information - Time to complete Absorption: 7 days]

Seven days. In seven days I will find out what all of this means and whether I was right.

In seven days I will be either big or sentenced to prison.