Soul of a Dragon

13

Taehyung blinked as the man said this. "The embodiments of our world?" He asked, slightly perturbed.

The man nodded. "I am the earth spirit, what many would call...the Mother Earth." he said, black eyes wide with what appeared to be barely suppressed youthful amusement as he watched Taehyung's compelling reaction. "My brethren are the air, fire, and water spirits."

Skepticism was Taehyung's inevitable reaction, and he now looked at him again in this new light. Ironic, he thought, that Mother Earth would be a young man.

"Right now, you are doubting my credibility..." he murmured knowingly. "I understand that it is hard to get past my outer appearance, but be assured; I am who I claim to be."

"And how do you expect me to believe that?" He asked almost indifferently, now surreptitiously glancing around for the weapons he could feel were no longer on his person.

With a slight nod, as if he had expected the question, which was quite possible, he moved over to the stone wall, raising a small hand to its smooth length, a trail of new spring grass and flowers trailing behind every step.

"Your companions are not far from here..." he murmured. "They are searching for you both. The elvish commander does not wish to remain, but the others still wish to search further. They fear for the worst..."

Taehyung angled his dark gaze to him as he said this.

"How do you know these things?" He asked. He glanced back at him, those starry black eyes peering straight into his soul with a clarity even Taehyung himself could see. Then he traced a light circle against the wall, touching it with his fingertips.

Much to Taehyung's wonder, the stone there changed, becoming transparent. Then he realized, not transparent, but a window of sorts, as a picture of the elvish party came into view.

"I can see all that happens on my ground. As my ground consists of all the world, I have but to think of a place and can then see it and all that transpires." He again looked back at him. "You have no idea how far back a world can remember..." he murmured, with a hint of sadness it seemed.

Directing his attention back to the view portal, he swiped his hand across it, changing the picture. The elves blurred away, and Jimin and Yoongi came into view. Taehyung was almost surprised to see Hoseok there as well, but then again, Jimin had his methods.

"They have parted ways." he said, voice back to the cheery, yet paradoxically undermining tone. "The elven leader wanted to continue hunting the black dragon, whilst your companions wished to be certain you both were lost beyond their aid."

They should have continued with the mission, Taehyung thought, while Gaia, Jin, passively watched him.

"They care about you too much..." he said, again reading his thoughts. He angled a glare at him, but he didn't show any inclination to react to it.

"Your dream..." he instead began, turning from the stone wall as the pictures faded and again became so much rock. "You never answered me as to what you dreamt."

The sudden change of subject threw him for only a second. He considered not answering him, but for some reason he did believe that he was who he said he was. Perhaps the way his eyes had bored into his core being, looking past all the barriers, and the inhuman coldness that had grown within him to the still living, breathing center.

"I saw a great animal..." He began slowly, hesitantly. Standing was tiring his already sore body, so he sat on the edge of the bed he had previously occupied. "Black. I believe it was a dragon. It rose from the flames that were the ground, and flew towards me. Then the flames grew, shaping themselves into a bird equal in size to the dragon, wreathed in flames. A bolt of lightning struck the ground between them, then they both attacked whatever caused it in unison, killing it, but it killed the dragon in the process..." He paused for a moment after the unusually long string of words left his lips. "The bird...it cried its loss...and then I woke up." That cry still made him shiver as he recalled its horrible pain.