"This burden will not only mark you as the bridge between our two races. You will be the only one capable of uniting these lands and returning it to the prosperity we once enjoyed. But there will be a price you must pay if you take up this mantle. This burden is not one you take on lightly, because it will require you to sever all the old ties you have made in your life. You will inherit the suffering and ambition of all the people in this world, and nothing will be as important as bringing them happiness. Therefore, you must make the choice yourself. Are you willing to sacrifice your past in order to save your people?"
Riyala was still in awe of the fact that the dragon had transformed so easily! Riyala had never heard about a transforming dragon before, and she knew that none of the other dragonborn knew about a transforming dragon, but Riyala knew this woman! This face was a familiar one that Riyala had seen whenever she was spying on several high-ranking meetings in the palace with her friends! This woman was always treated with respect by the other nobles, and Riyala remembered that her father and mother would always go to meet with the woman after the meeting! But Riyala had no idea why they respected her so much! Does that mean her parents knew she was the Priestess of Fire?
Leona smiled when she saw the realisation in Riyala’s eyes.
"I’m sure you don’t remember me, child, but I’ve known you all your life. You were blessed by me on the day of your birth, and the special healing you possess was granted to you by Rumunaga. Your presence here is not an accident."
Riyala swallowed in slight surprise. So the woman had known her for that long? Riyala didn’t understand a lot of things about fate or destiny, but from what Leona was saying, Riyala could tell that this was her destiny. Riyala took in a deep breath as the reality of the situation finally began to dawn on her. This was an opportunity to save her people and finally bring them happiness, but there was something that she couldn’t overlook and she had to ask.
"What do you mean by ’sever my ties’? Does that mean I’ll forget everything in my past? I-I don’t want to forget the people in my life."
"I am simply preparing you for the changes you might experience. The feelings you will gain as a priestess will be so great that they will undoubtedly eclipse every other feeling from your past. Unless a feeling is strong enough to withstand the new surge of emotions and power, then there is every chance that it will be eroded. You are not just receiving a title, you are receiving a great responsibility. I will not force this burden on you; therefore, you must allow your heart to guide you in what it is that you should do. It is up to you to decide."
It was obvious from the expression on her face that Riyala was still not fully convinced. Riyala stared at Leona with a questioning gaze, but the old woman turned away calmly and stared at the far wall without bothering to interact with Riyala anymore! What the hell is all this? Riyala had no idea what she should do. Sacrifice her past!? No sane person would agree to sacrifice everything that they had built in their past just like that! Riyala stayed in her position for almost ten whole minutes as she thought about this situation, and for a long time, it didn’t seem like she would be getting the answers that she wanted.
But then, Riyala’s mind went to Jason and the choice that he had made a long time ago. When Riyala first met Jason, Jason didn’t know anything about her. Jason didn’t know what had happened in her world, and he didn’t know if he could trust her or not, but Jason had still decided to help her. Jason had accepted the burden that came with helping her without asking her for anything in return. If Jason was willing to give her that chance, then what right did Riyala have to refuse to help him!? Riyala’s cheeks turned slightly red as she thought about Jason, and the old woman tilted her head to one side and hummed curiously. There was a smile on the woman’s face as she saw Riyala struggling to get some words out.
"I-I have a question."
"Yes, child. What is it?"
"T-There’s this man that I l-love. I love him. If I accept this burden, will I forget about him?"
Riyala looked up at Leona, and she saw that her smile had dimmed slightly. There was sadness in Leona’s eyes, and Riyala almost felt her heart drop into her stomach from despair. But Leona suddenly reached forward and stroked Riyala’s cheek with a smile before Riyala could fall into despair.
"Love is a wonderful emotion, my child. Especially when you find it at such a young age. But I cannot say I have ever felt love for my partner or children as strongly as I felt it for my responsibilities. I cannot promise you anything concerning the future, but I can tell you this: so long as your feelings for this man are as strong as you claim them to be, then you have nothing to fear."
Riyala’s face fell sadly as she felt a storm brewing in her heart. Riyala knew that there shouldn’t even be a debate about what choice she should make. This was a decision between the future of her people and her own happiness. And it was obvious that her people’s future mattered far more. But a small part of Riyala was hesitant. This was the first time Riyala would feel this way about any man, and Riyala didn’t want to let go of this love before she could even tell Jason how she felt! But the larger part of Riyala already knew what she had to do. She couldn’t be selfish! This was something far greater than her feelings, and if she allowed her emotions to get the better of her here, then she would regret it for the rest of her life!
Riyala looked up at the aged dragon with a determined look on her face and steeled her heart! Even though Riyala was scared, she decided that she would do what she believed was right! Her feelings were important, but her people were everything to her! And besides, it wasn’t like she was letting go of these feelings forever! Riyala wanted to believe that her feelings for Jason were strong enough to withstand anything, and she would hold onto those feelings no matter what!
Riyala spoke up with conviction!
"I’ll do it. So long as I can help my people, I don’t mind carrying any burden."
The old woman smiled happily once she saw the conviction in Riyala’s eyes! She could tell that Riyala had really given serious thought to this and she had made this decision all on her own! The old woman’s body slowly began to shine once again, and it wasn’t long before she grew back into the form of a dragon. She spoke up in her usual rumbling voice.
"I will begin the ceremony now. There will be pain for a long time, and you will feel like giving up many times, but you must remain strong. If you hesitate to accept the power, then you will die."
Riyala swallowed in slight nervousness! She didn’t think that they would be going right into it at that moment! But Riyala knew that the faster they did it, the sooner she would be able to help her people, so she simply nodded while steeling her heart once again. An image of Jason’s smiling face appeared in Riyala’s subconscious and Riyala felt an intense feeling of love surge through her heart once again, and her resolve strengthened! It doesn’t matter what she goes through! Riyala swore that she would remember this feeling!
The pressure in the room suddenly intensified, and the lights that were shining from the flowers on the wall all dimmed down! Riyala saw the dragon’s body glowing with a bright blue light, and Riyala’s eyes widened in shock as she immediately realised what was about to happen! Dragonfire!
ROARRR!!!!
An intense surge of pain tore through Riyala’s body like millions of blades! Riyala screamed from within the flames and curled in on herself as the pain immediately got too much for her to bear, and she could sense the flames surrounding her body as it tore away the clothes and artefacts that she had been wearing to leave her completely naked! The dragon’s fire formed a large ball of flames around Riyala’s body, and it slowly started to seep through every pore of her skin, and Riyala cried out as she felt even more pain coursing through her veins!