Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 841 - 840 - Trial of Life Part 1

Lind was running. He could feel it but it was without fear. Elation and laughter filled him as sunlight tried to pierce the canopy of green above him.

He pumped his small arms as hard as he could when the brush on his right shook. Rather than fear, he smiled as a large man appeared and lifted him up with a false growl.

"AH HA HA! I got you! You could not escape the great beast of Eldin Woods!" Giggling came from Lind as he was tickled and then set down. "Now, we should head back or the real beast of the woods will have my hide!"

He nodded and took the callused hand of the man. His dark hair was a bit matted but it was likely due to the mud and moisture of the forest around them. His woolen shirt that stuck out of his leather armor was patched up all over but still good.

The simple woolen pants were odd but the sharp briar he noted now and again made the thicker pants a wise choice.

Lind tried to gather information about the boy he was in but then realized he was not a boy at all, but a girl!

At her current age of 6 or 7, there was little difference but without knowing if it was intentional to swap genders in the trial, he could only adapt.

He recalled the Divine Realm women granting him a new life and assuring him he would be male again as that was what he knew but he now found himself wondering what it would have been like to grow up a woman.

Considering the relation to Altair he had started with, not good.

Still, they quickly navigated the path like they were born to be woodsmen and found a small clearing with a humble cottage that had a slight curl of faint smoke from its chimney. It was so beautiful that Lind would want to paint it if he could.

As they closed in on the house, his soul felt an occupant that was irritated and powerful. The man next to him was only in the Soul Realm but the owner of the cottage was a Heaven Realm Sun Tier!

The simple wooden door was flung open and a gorgeous woman stepped out. Lind was floored as he realized she was a dragon.

"And what were you doing in the woods exactly?!" Her tone was stern and true anger caused her skin to flash violet before a laugh came from the man. Lind actually felt in awe that a human Soul Realm could laugh at the anger of a Sun Tier!

"She has energy to burn and we only went as far as Sun Ridge. She could not escape the great beast of Eldin Wood!" Lind felt flush and looked down pouting but he suddenly heard a giggle from the dragon!

"T-the great what?" She had to grab the waist high handrail to stay upright as she laughed harder before she calmed down.

"Mom! Dad is a fierce beast!" Words left him but unlike the last trial, he had far less control. His parents looked at her with love and a dark feeling came over him. There was no way this happy and idyllic life would be in a trial without a reason.

"Come, dinner is ready!" He was picked up and put on the human's shoulders. The cottage was a simple affair. There was a large main room with a stove and table in a corner with a hearth happily burning with flames.

Lind noted they were dragon flames anchored by a formation so they needed no wood. The heat could be adjusted as well.

They had a satisfying meal of what smelled like rabbit stew and a variety of mushrooms and spices. It was quite good! The father went off to likely make sure the perimeter was secure as the sun was setting.

The dark feeling grew stronger but Lind had no power to stop it.

His little body was tired and the dragon mother carried him to a small but comfy room with a large bed. He was laid down and the body went to sleep but he remained aware. Questions formed on how that worked but maybe the lack of control was important there.

The parents stayed up and spoke sweet nothings while cuddling in front of the fire. Lind prayed very hard he was not about to witness a personal moment but the spirits were not kind to him.

He carefully turned away and tried very hard to see if he could plug his soul ears somehow but to no avail. Burning with shame, they finally stopped!

Being a dragon himself, he knew the woman had held back or that human would have died at his weak realm.

"She is getting faster. So fast I could barely keep up and she is only 5!" Lind was shocked. The girl was only 5?! The size of her body seemed older.

"I told you, her dragon blood, even dormant, will help her be strong. It is foolish to scorn her as the others do. They fear the other races but will not admit they even feel fear." The words piqued his curiosity but his senses finally confirmed his dark feeling.

Auras concealed from a Heaven Realm were approaching. He tried to get the body he was connected to to move but it seemed he had no chance of changing or assisting the current scenario.

A heavy feeling entered his heart and he tried a different tack.

[Your family is in danger. Awaken!] The desired result happened. The girl shot up and was crying.

"Mama! People are coming! Danger!" She forced the words but both parents smiled at her in indulgence.

[The 7 auras are at the Immortal Realm. Tell her!] He tried again but confusion crossed the child's face. [Tell her to smell the wind!]

"Smell the wind, mama!" She was a child and thus limited in what she grasped but something colorful like that got through. Further, the words held special meaning for dragons.

Shock crossed the woman's face but she partially transformed and fear crossed her face.

"They are here! Samon, take Helia and run!" The man looked scared but then resolute before he shook his head.

"They will expect that. I cannot run, but Helia, you need to run. It is a new game! I will come for you in the woods! I promise." Lind knew better. If the auras out there were dragons, none of them could leave but if they were other races, there was a chance.

[I will guide you.] Helia slowly nodded but began to cry. Young as she was, she knew danger. Lind soothed her as best he could as he understood he was mostly an observer.

A panel was revealed under the rug of the room and Helia hopped into the opening underneath. She then moved down a short tunnel until she came up behind a stack of wood.

The wood was camouflage for any passerby but now it became a spirit sent blessing as Helia's tiny form was hidden.

The 7 people in black clothes made no sound as they carefully closed in on the cottage. Lind helped Helia cross the open grass without being spotted by being the eyes to see in the dark.

She looked back and he did not stop her as the attack began.

Sun Tier she may be, but dragons were fearsome opponents even a full realm lower.

The cottage shattered as a violet scaled western style dragon emerged. She had a horn coming out of the middle of her forehead and wings that glittered under the moonlight.

"Mama…" Lind saw the human, Samon, slip into the shadows but holding some kind of spear.

Lind could feel terrifying power from the weapon but it would kill the man to use it even once.

[We need to go. Your parents want you to live!] She nodded but did not move. He could not push her anymore than he had. He was not sure why she even listened to him.

The 7 Immortals were having a hard time. It was clear they specialized in sneak attacks rather than direct attacks. Thus, a dragon, even a realm weaker, was easily able to give them an issue.

Still, it was only a matter of time.

Just as Lind wondered if perhaps it would not be so bad, one of the men suddenly crushed a jade slip.

"NO!" The spear glowed with deadly black light as it pierced the head of the attacker. The backlash broke Samon's hands and arms like twigs, but he lived.

[SAMON!] As if on cue, the 6 living attackers went straight at Samon.

"DADDY!" Helia screamed as her father was ripped apart like nothing. Lind saw one of the heads swivel towards them but a wing slammed into that person and sent them flying.

The sharp crack of bone was clear.

[We have to go, now! Do you want their sacrifice to be in vain?!] Lind wished he could fight. His frustration was in his tone and Helia finally ran off into the night. He helped her avoid roots, small natural pitfalls, and a few beasts, but they ran.

The sounds of attack suddenly stopped as a Shard Tier aura washed over the area.

Out of instinct, Lind wove a shield around Helia. The aura slipped passed without seeing them.

She wept and ran. Guilt flowed from both of them as they just kept running into the Eldin Woods for all they were worth.