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For all K’uhul Ajaw liked to joke about Kinich’s untimely demise, he never thought that it would actually happen so soon. Despite the dangerous life that Kinich led, he was incredibly skilled in the art of staying alive, even while battling dragons and leaping down ravines. Ajaw had come to terms with the fact that Kinich may not die for several decades yet.
Until the Abyss had launched a full-scale attack on Natlan, that is. A war unlike anything that anyone had ever seen. Even Ajaw could not conjure up memories of the last attack of this scale, despite having been alive for centuries.
The skies were dark, a malice that seemed to pierce Ajaw’s soul staring down from where the sun would usually sit on a summer’s day. The attack had been sudden. There hadn’t been a warning. It had hit everywhere all at once.
Ajaw had lost track of how long the battle had been raging.
For a being like him, it was easier to last in such a fight, but for a human, survival was far from guaranteed.
Kinich was struggling against the forces of the Abyss, even before the iridescent glow that surrounded him began to flicker. Even before a monster shot a spear through Kinich’s chest.
Ajaw would have called for help. He tried, though he would later deny that he had felt anything related to fear or panic. But no matter how loud he shouted for someone, anyone, to come to his aid, to save Kinich, who lay on the ground in a growing pool of his own blood as the Abyss forces destroyed the land around him, no one came to their rescue.
Because Mavuika had silenced Ajaw’s only method of communication to the rest of the group. It was his fault, really. He had been immature and annoying, just like Kinich always said.
Ajaw felt the moment that Kinich’s soul began to lose its connection to his body.
This was his chance. He had been waiting for an opportunity to present itself. Kinich’s body was finally empty of its soul, perfect for Ajaw to take and use for himself. He had been patiently awaiting this day since the moment that he and Kinich had forged the contract all those years ago.
But now that the day had arrived, Ajaw didn’t know if he was ready. Kinich had become…something of a friend to him, though he would never admit it. A world without Kinich’s constant presence would be incredibly lonely.
But if Ajaw didn’t act fast, he would lose the opportunity altogether. A wounded body, one that had lost so much blood, would be useless to Ajaw. He could heal and reconstruct the body to some extent, but he could not save it once it completely fell apart. He would also lose the opportunity to avenge his friend.
Ajaw snapped from his hesitation, descending from the skies in a blur of dark green and neon yellow, aiming for the lifeless body on the ground.
The blast of energy produced as his soul fused with Kinich’s body instantly vaporized every enemy in sight, a wave of light spreading out from his location.
The body that had once belonged to Kinich opened its eyes. The Almighty Dragonlord K’uhul Ajaw was alive, and he had never felt more powerful.
He channeled his energy through the new vessel that now housed his soul, healing the various injuries that had been Kinich’s undoing. With stiff movements, Ajaw commanded the body to stand, reaching out to remove the spear that pierced his chest. He sealed the wound with pure draconic energy, which was quick to rebuild the ruined flesh in a new layer of green scales.
Scales. What a great idea. This body was his now, so he could do whatever he wanted with it. Turning it into a vessel more befitting for a Dragonlord would be a good first step.
Ajaw eyed the monsters on the horizon that had risen to take the place of their fallen comrades. He had time before they reached him, he reasoned. He could feel the fear radiating from his enemies, the understanding that they were in the presence of a Dragonlord driving panic into their cold, violence-driven hearts.
He held his new hands up in front of him, concentrating his energy until claws emerged, decorating each human finger with a deadly weapon. Why humans didn’t have claws already had always been a mystery to Ajaw.
Next his teeth, sharpened into draconic fangs. Then his eyes, enhancing his sight so that he could see the fear of his enemies even from such a distance. A pair of horns protruded from his skull. A tail, he thought, would be a good addition. It took more effort and energy to manifest another limb entirely, but the result was magnificent.
A long tail in stripes of yellow and green scales with vibrant spikes running down the back. His scales shone in the eerie light of the evil in the sky, reflecting the teal glow. Ajaw hadn’t been able to see the shine of his own scales in centuries, not since he had been sealed away. He let out a cackling laugh that morphed into a roar, the call of a Dragonlord echoing above the battlefield and bouncing through the canyons.
Ajaw…get……now…
For a moment, Ajaw thought that he had heard Kinich’s voice, fractured and broken, quiet like it had been calling across a great distance.
It must have been the wind, Ajaw decided. Or perhaps a trick of the evil being in the sky, trying to bring down his hopes of winning by calling to him in the voice of his dead friend.
Wings were next, Ajaw decided as he tried to distract himself from the voice, channeling his energy into the small of his back. What would an Almighty Dragonlord be without the ability of flight?
Ajaw, get……now! ……out….Ajaw!
Ajaw paused, looking around for the source of the voice. It sounded exactly like Kinich, but that wasn’t possible.
Ajaw…out of my head…now!
He had definitely heard something that time. He didn’t think it was his imagination. Perhaps it really was the object in the sky.
AJAW! GET OUT!
Ajaw was suddenly thrown from his vessel, flickering back to his pixelated projection, the only form that he could take without a physical body.
Kinich’s body slumped onto the ground, half-formed wings jutting painfully from its back. The body was lifeless no more, a presence now taking residence within the once-dead husk. Ajaw recognized the soul within the body in an instant. The distinct power that had forged half of their contract was too unique to belong to anyone else.
Kinich had fallen unconscious, but Ajaw had a feeling that when he inevitably awoke, he would be very angry.
The first thing that Kinich noticed when he woke up was that he was lying on his stomach. That was strange. He never slept on his stomach. Instead, he would sleep with his back to the wall and his face towards the door, a habit he had picked up during many sleepless nights when he had been younger.
Kinich tried to adjust his position to face the door, seeking the small sense of security that it brought him, only to be met with a searing pain that spread over his body, emanating from his lower back. Even the smallest of movements caused agony.
He forced his eyes open, recognizing the teal-green fabric of his bed beneath him. He couldn’t quite remember how he had gotten back to his bedroom. The last thing he could remember was…
A flash of dark skies and a glowing vortex where the sun should have been. Kinich recoiled, banishing the image from his mind.
The war, he recalled. A true war, unlike anything he had experienced before. There had been something in the sky, something evil. Abyssal. Something beyond mortal comprehension. Even the mere thought of it caused his head to ache more than it already did.
Kinich remembered being on the frontlines, fending off enemies that surged from all sides. He remembered Ajaw’s shadow passing over him as the dragon attacked from above, lending Kinich aid as per their contract.
But his memories became a void after that. Something must have happened between then and now. He had somehow made it home, and judging by the sunlight that managed to sneak in from the curtain-covered window, the dark force in the sky was no longer in control.
That either meant that Kinich’s friends had won the battle, or that he had died and this was some form of afterlife. Kinich doubted that it was the latter.
The war had been won.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Kinich forced himself up and wandered over to the window. There was a strange weight on his back, throwing his balance off by a bit. He pushed back the curtain, looking out over the nation. It was midday, the sun back in its rightful place after it had been usurped by the strange abyssal force.
From his home among the towering cliffs near the Scions of the Canopy, he could see the sharp rock formations and grassy plains of Natlan. The Stadium sat above the lowlands of the Basin of Unnumbered Flames, its bright fires burning like usual. Everything seemed fine.
He took a step away from the window, tripping over something behind him. Kinich stumbled, unable to regain his balance before tumbling to the ground. Pain rocketed through his body as he landed, drawing a stifled cry from his chest.
He sat up, taking a moment to breathe deeply. His back throbbed with a piercing ache, one that seemed to spread down to his bones. He dug his nails into the wooden floor beneath him, desperately fighting to overcome the pain. Kinich felt the wood give way, his nails slicing through the boards like sharpened blades.
He lifted his hands to his face, watching sunlight glint off of sharp points. Claws, he realized. The ends of his fingers transitioned into light green and then turned to claws that narrowed to knife-sharp tips, fading into a yellow tint. Their shape and coloring vaguely resembled the claws of Yumkasaurs, which Kinich had hunted enough to identify from the claws alone.
Perhaps it was a side effect of being exposed to abyssal energy during the battle, he reasoned.
“Ajaw?” Kinich called, looking around the room. Perhaps Ajaw would know something.
“Hold your horses!” Ajaw’s voice replied from the next room. A moment later, he floated through the doorway with a scowl on his face. “What do you want? I was trying to take a nap.”
“Do you know anything about this?” Kinich asked, holding up his hands and displaying the claws that decorated his fingers. “Are they a product of abyssal corruption?”
“Abyssal corruption?” Ajaw snickered. “Far from it. Really, are you so dumb that you can’t even recognize the work of a Dragonlord?”
“What do you mean?”
“How has it taken you this long to notice?” Ajaw grumbled. “I can’t believe that I got stuck with the dumbest person in all of Teyvat. Seriously! You’d think you would’ve realized by now!”
“Realized what?” Kinich asked, growing frustrated by Ajaw’s antics. He was usually a bit better at keeping his anger in check, having long grown accustomed to Ajaw’s personality.
“Try looking in a mirror, lizard-brain.”
Kinich pushed himself up from the ground, taking a moment to steady himself. He turned towards the large mirror that hung on the wall behind a tapestry. He pushed the tapestry to the side, taking in his reflection in the mirror that was dusty from disuse.
He barely recognized himself.
The claws adorning his fingers weren’t the only change. Horns protruded from his head, a draconic tail bobbing in the air behind him. A pair of wings—half-formed, sickly, and misshapen things—sat on his back. His clothes, still bloodstained from the battle, had seen better days, having been torn to accommodate his new form.
“Ajaw,” Kinich breathed. “What have you done?”
“I was just claiming what is rightfully mine. You died, Kinich. You know just as well as I do what that means,” Ajaw grumbled. “Of course, the Ode of Resurrection just had to go and bring your worthless, sorry soul back to the world of the living, but not before I could take control of your dead body.”
“And your first course of action was to turn me into…this?” Kinich spat, trying to keep his anger in check.
“Your stupid human body would have been completely useless had I not stepped in when I did. If I had waited even a moment longer, I would have missed the opportunity,” Ajaw responded. “You should be thanking me, Kinich. Not only do you now look ten times more magnificent, but you probably would have just died again on the battlefield if I hadn’t carried you back home.”
“You want me to thank you? Ajaw, look at me!” Kinich yelled, gesturing at himself. “I’m supposed to be human. Do I look human to you? Can you just change me back already?”
“You look like an ungrateful moron. And no, I can't change you back. That’s not how this works,” Ajaw shot back. “But this is better than being dead, right?”
“The Ode of Resurrection would have—” Kinich let out a long sigh. Anger bubbled in his chest, fighting to be released. He was supposed to be calm, collected, and level-headed, not fuming with frustration. Granted, he had reason to be upset, but the way he lived, the thought process upon which he built his entire life, was to never turn back. Never. He couldn’t get caught up on things that had already passed. But why, then, was he so mad?
“Are you angry, Kinich?” Ajaw taunted, noticing the way his brow furrowed. “You’re angry, aren’t you? The dragonfire in your soul is raging, isn’t it? That’s just what happens when you become a vessel for a being such as myself. You should feel honored that I even made a contract with you in the first place.”
“Get out,” Kinich said, trying to keep his voice level. “I just—I need time alone.”
“Oh yeah? Time to think about how sorry you feel for yourself, I bet. Tell me, Kinich, are you really not even the slightest bit impressed that I was able to turn a worthless human into a proper vessel for a Dragonlord? I mean, it’s the best you’ve ever looked, and that’s saying a lot—”
“Get out!” Kinich yelled, his voice echoing through the room. Pain spread through his back as his wings instinctively flared out. “Get out and leave me alone! If there’s anyone in the world that I don’t ever want to see again, it’s you, Ajaw. So go away!”
Ajaw stared at Kinich’s face, red and fuming, anger evident in every aspect, even in the way his tail lashed angrily behind him. Kinich didn’t get angry. He had never yelled or taken his anger out on anyone, not even Ajaw. So to see him with rage in his heart and his mind set not on the future but turned back to the past was startling. It left Ajaw speechless, unable to come up with an insult to respond with.
“Ok,” Ajaw whispered, floating backwards. He zipped out of the room, leaving Kinich alone with his thoughts.
Kinich wandered back to his bed, closing the curtains as he passed the window. He pulled off his torn, bloodstained clothes and threw them into a pile at his feet as he crawled back into bed, wrapping his twisted, draconic form in the comfort of soft blankets and pillows.
The fabric was soft against his aching scales that barely felt like his own. He ran his hand over his chest, tracing the patch of green scales. He saw a brief flash of a memory, seeing a spear impale his chest in that exact location. A battle scar, one hidden behind the scales of a hatchling dragon.
That’s what he was now. A hatchling compared to Ajaw and other ancient dragons who had been alive for centuries.
Kinich tested his wings, ignoring the pain that ricocheted through his body with even the slightest movements. His wings were frail and malformed, never having been completed. Ajaw had still been in the process of forming them when Kinich’s soul had returned to his body.
Part of him felt bad for yelling at Ajaw. It was part of their contract, after all, that Ajaw would be able to puppeteer Kinich’s body after he had died. Ajaw had been desperate to take what was rightfully his, what he had been longing for ever since the contract had been forged.
Kinich supposed he had also been angry at himself. He wasn’t supposed to turn back. What happened in the past would stay there. That was the basis of his life, the true meaning of his Ancient Name.
He also believed that everything had a price. Perhaps the price of forging a contract with Ajaw had been more than he had known.
Kinich curled in on himself, tucking his knees up to his chest. His tail instinctively wrapped around his body, and Kinich found that it was oddly comforting. He pulled the blankets over himself, hiding away in a warm cocoon where not even the sunlight could reach him.
Ajaw eventually found the courage to check up on Kinich. It had been a day since Kinich had woken up, a day since their argument. Kinich hadn’t emerged from his room, not even in search of something to eat.
“Hey, Kinich, are you just going to stay in bed all day?” Ajaw called through the closed door of Kinich’s bedroom. “It would be really pathetic if you died from malnutrition.”
Ajaw waited a moment, but no reply came.
“Kinich! If you don’t let me in, I’ll just break the door down myself!” Ajaw said. “Kinich! Ugh, that’s it.”
Ajaw threw the door open and floated in. Kinich’s room was a mess, his belongings strewn about the floor. Kinich was curled up in his bed, covered in blankets and surrounded by a multitude of pillows that had been arranged around him. It was a nest, Ajaw realized.
He supposed that the instinct to seek safety, to build a nest where the dangers of the outside world could not reach, was common among young dragons.
It made Ajaw’s heart soften just a bit.
“Kinich?”
Kinich stirred, opening his eyes and blinking up at Ajaw. “Didn’t I just tell you to leave me alone?”
“It’s been a whole day, Kinich. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t starving yourself to death. That would be a stupid way to go,” Ajaw grumbled. “Besides, you haven’t had anything to eat since before the battle. And it’s been nearly a week since then. Seriously, how are you alive?”
“Dragons can go long periods of time without food,” Kinich said. “I guess that means I can too, right? And even so, it takes more than just a week for a human to die of hunger.”
“But—oh, why do I even bother. Go get something to eat. And no, I’m not bringing you any food.”
“I make food for you all the time,” Kinich reminded him. “You could at least try returning the favor.”
“You want me to cook? Absolutely not! You, lowly mortal, can fend for yourself.”
“This is all your fault, Ajaw. If you hadn’t been so eager to change me to fit your idea of a ‘proper vessel,’ then maybe I would be feeling a bit better,” Kinich snapped. “This form is painful, Ajaw. Do you realize that? Humans are not meant to have tails and wings and horns.”
“Maybe if you’d given me time to finish forming the wings, you wouldn’t be in so much pain. You know what? I’ll do you a favor. I’ll finish the job. Give you a full set of wings that don’t hurt. Wings that you can actually fly with,” Ajaw offered. “Doesn’t that sound great? You wouldn’t be stuck on this miserable chunk of rock. The skies would be yours, Kinich.”
“There’s always a price,” Kinich said. “What would I have to pay?”
“Nothing! I’m offering to help. Is that so difficult to accept?”
“Yes! You would never do anything to help me!” Kinich responded. “You would have to be inside my head, wouldn’t you? In order to fix the wings.”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t take control of your body while you’re still alive. I’m not going to break our contract.”
“I’m having a hard time believing that. Besides, I don’t want to fly. I don’t want these wings to be any more visible. I’m already at a loss for how I’ll manage to keep the horns and the tail a secret, and I don’t need a giant pair of wings on top of that.”
“Suit yourself!” Ajaw huffed. “You’d really prefer constant pain to being able to fly?”
“No, I’d prefer to stay as human as possible.”
“It’s a little late for that.”
“You think? Ajaw, I just want you to change me back. I don’t want to be like this.”
“I can’t do that! What’s done is done. Isn't that your whole…I don’t know, way of life?” Ajaw recalled. “Just—look, I’m offering to help you. Take it or leave it, I don’t care.”
“Can I…can I think about it for a bit?”
“Sure,” Ajaw sighed. “But get something to eat first.”
“Are you sure Kinich will be home?” Kachina asked. “What if we’ve gone all this way for nothing?”
“He’ll be there,” Mualani assured. “I mean, we’ve looked everywhere else, so it’s the only place he can be.”
“Are we sure he’s even alive?” Kachina worried.
“Yes, Kachina. Mauvika would have known if he was dead, and she says that he’s fine. Besides, the Ode of Resurrection would have brought him back,” Mualani said. “He’s fine. I’m sure of it.”
“Then why hasn’t anyone seen him since the war? It’s been two weeks already!”
Mualani frowned. She couldn’t come up with an answer for that. After the battle had been won, everyone had met up at the Stadium. Everyone except for Kinich and Ajaw. The “Almighty Dragonlord’s” presence hadn’t been missed, but the fact that Kinich was nowhere to be found was troubling.
When Mualani had gone to Kinich’s last known location, she had found an area in the grassy plains where a blast of Dendro energy had washed over the land. The foliage nearby had grown out of control in a perfect circle that centered on a point in the middle of the battlefield.
Dendro was the element that Kinich and Ajaw used. There had been no sign of either of them. Only the excess Dendro energy, the overgrown plants, and a discarded claymore embedded in the earth, abandoned by the warrior that had carried it. Mualani had conveniently forgotten to tell Kachina about the weapon. Kachina would have worried, and Mualani knew that the girl’s poor soul had been through enough already.
“He’s fine,” Mualani repeated. “Look, we’re almost there!”
They had been climbing up steep inclines all morning, heading towards a small house that was located at the top of a cliff. Kinich’s house was out of the way and difficult to reach, but that was exactly how he liked it. He wasn’t the type to seek out others, and he preferred to be left alone for the most part. Mualani just hoped that he wouldn’t mind a few friends showing up at his door unannounced.
Mualani dashed the rest of the way towards the house, Kachina rushing to keep up with her. The sun shone overhead, and it would have been a perfect day if not for the festering worry that she harbored for Kinich.
“Kinich!” she called, running up to the door. She raised her fist and knocked against the solid wood of the door. “Kinich, it’s me! Kachina is here too!”
“Kinich!” Kachina echoed, gasping for breath as she caught up with Mualani on the porch. “I hope he answers the door.”
The doorknob turned, the door creaking open a moment later.
“Kinich! We were so worried—oh,” Mualani sighed as Ajaw appeared in the doorway. “Hey, Ajaw.”
“What do you want?” the dragon grumbled. “And this better be important. I already have enough to worry about without a couple of annoying mortals who think my time can be so easily usurped.”
“We were just looking for Kinich,” Mualani explained. “You guys never met up with us after the battle, and we’ve been looking all over the nation—”
“He’s not home,” Ajaw said hurriedly. “So scram! Try your luck at the bottom of a ravine. That’s where I’d go if I were Kinich.”
“Ajaw, that’s not funny,” Kachina butted in. “Do you know where he really is?”
“Are those huge ears of yours broken?” Ajaw seethed. “He’s not here. How many more times do I have to say—”
“Ajaw?” a voice called from inside. “Who’s at the door?”
Ajaw cursed under his breath.
“Kinich! It’s me and Kachina!” Mualani called. She pushed past Ajaw, making a beeline for the door to Kinich’s room. The door was slightly ajar, but she pushed it open and stepped inside. “Kinich, are you alright—oh, Archons above!”
Mualani froze as she locked eyes with Kinich, who dived beneath the covers, unable to hide his draconic features in time.
“Woah! What happened? Kinich, are you—are you a saurian?” Mualani exclaimed. “How come you never told me?”
“What’s going on?” Kachina asked as she ran inside, barreling into Mualani and almost causing them both to stumble.
Kinich sighed, his head appearing from the mountain of blankets in his bed. The pair of horns on his head caught the fabric of the blankets, and he shook them off with an exasperated huff. “I’m not a saurian. I just…it’s complicated.”
“When did…all this happen?” Mualani gestured vaguely at Kinich.
“During the war. Again, it’s complicated,” Kinich said, his tail flicking against the blankets. “But it’s Ajaw’s fault.”
“It is not!” Ajaw yelled, floating into the room.
“Yes it is!” Kinich shot back, his temper rising. His wings flared, and he winced slightly against the pain. “This is entirely your fault!”
“Hey, calm down, you two!” Kachina shouted. “Seriously, you’re acting like children!”
“You’re one to talk, pipsqueak!” Ajaw said.
“Ok, everyone, let’s all take a deep breath,” Mualani instructed. “Kinich, you start.”
“Ajaw and I…we have a contract. In exchange for his help, he gets my body when I die. And during the war…well, I died,” Kinich said, letting the blankets fall from his chest to reveal an expanse of green scales. “Ajaw did exactly what the contract said he could do. He turned my body into a ‘proper vessel for a Dragonlord.’ But he didn’t account for the Ode of Resurrection to bring me back when it did. Now there’s nothing I can do, since the damage is irreparable.”
“Oh, Kinich…” Mualani gasped. She turned towards Ajaw, fighting the urge to yell. “Ajaw, how could you?”
“I didn’t think he would come back! He died. And you know what dead people do? They stay dead! But apparently not, since he’s still breathing!” Ajaw grumbled. “Stupid Ode of Resurrection.”
“Are you sure nothing can be done?” Kachina asked. “Surely someone in Natlan will know what to do. Maybe even someone from another nation.”
“It wouldn’t work,” Ajaw said. “So stop acting like you sorry lot know more than me. I think if anyone knows about draconic magic, it’s me. No one else in Natlan knows the first thing about dragons.”
“Not even Granny Itztli?” Kachina suggested. “She knows everything. Oh, or Ifa! He knows all about saurians—”
“We are not going to ask that quack of a doctor for help,” Ajaw interrupted. “How many times do I have to tell you that there’s nothing you can do?”
“He’s right,” Kinich sighed. “I don’t think this is reversible. I shouldn’t focus on what’s already happened. I’ll just have to wait until I’m feeling good enough to return to a somewhat normal way of life, and then carry on like nothing happened.”
“Kinich, are you…are you sure you’re alright with that?” Mualani asked. “What you’re asking of yourself…”
“I’m fine, Mualani,” Kinich assured, meeting her gaze with his draconic eyes. “In fact, I think I’ll be feeling better before too long. I’m just…getting the hang of being a dragon. I’m not sure how I’ll explain this to everyone, though. Maybe I can say that it was a side effect of being exposed to the Abyss. I am a bit concerned about my balance, since that will throw off my accuracy in a fight…”
“What about…” Mualani eyed Kinich’s wings, which were partially hidden beneath the blankets. “Are you able to fly?”
“With these?” Kinich sighed, flaring his wings out. They reached no farther than the length of his arms. “I wouldn't be able to even get myself off the ground.”
“I offered to fix them,” Ajaw started, “but Kinich wasn’t having it.”
“I said I would think about it!” Kinich responded before turning back to Mualani. “The Ode of Resurrection sent me back into my body just as Ajaw was forming the wings. They didn’t have time to fully develop.”
“But if there’s no going back, wouldn’t it be cool to fully take advantage of the situation? You could fly, Kinich! And you wouldn’t just be swinging through the air with a grappling hook. Actual flight, Kinich,” Mualani said.
“That would be so awesome!” Kachina agreed. “I think you should go for it!”
“Flight, huh?” Kinich hummed. “Hearing the two of you say it makes it sound a bit more appealing. Ajaw, how soon can you get my wings in better shape?”
“Whenever you say the word.”
“Would you like us to step outside?” Mualani offered.
“If you don’t mind. I’ll be out in just a bit. Hopefully with wings that actually work.”
Mualani nodded, leading Kachina out of the room and closing the door behind them. The other room of Kinich’s house was a sort of sitting area, with an open doorway connecting to a covered outdoor kitchen. Mualani settled down on the sofa, nervously glancing back at the door to Kinich’s bedroom.
“He’s going to be Ok, right?” Kachina eventually asked.
“Of course! I’m sure this is all very scary for him, though. We have to be extra kind and supportive, which I know you’ll have no problem with,” Mualani said with a smile.
“Mualani? Kachina?” Kinich called. “I think…I think I’m ready.”
“Let’s see it!” Mualani replied.
The door to Kinich’s bedroom opened slowly. Ajaw zipped out through the crack in the door.
“I present to you, ladies and…ladies, the rightful form of a true Dragonlord! Bow before us both, lowly mortals!” Ajaw cackled.
Kinich stepped out into the room. He flared his wings out. They were no longer half-formed and weak. Instead, they were majestic, powerful, with a wingspan large enough to touch each wall of the room if he were to stand in the center.
He wore only a dark-green blanket draped over his body, likely due to the fact that his clothes would need to be altered to accommodate his draconic features. The fabric of the blanket perfectly complemented his lime and yellow scales, which shone like stars in the sunlight that filtered through the window.
“Kinich, you look amazing!” Mualani exclaimed. She ran to his side and threw her arms around him.
Kinich was hesitant, but eventually returned the embrace, his wings wrapping around the two of them.
“That’s enough!” Ajaw shouted. “Ugh. I feel sick just looking at the two of you.”
“Really, Ajaw?” Kinich sighed, his wings folding behind his back once more.
“Kinich, you should try flying!” Mualani suggested.
“I should probably find something to wear first,” Kinich muttered, looking down at his last-minute outfit that he had scrambled to put together only a moment ago. “I can’t exactly go out in this.”
“We can help!” Kachina said. “We can tailor your clothes to accommodate your wings and tail!”
“We can even design clothes especially for flying!” Mualani agreed. “When things like aerodynamics come into play, there’s a lot more that needs to be considered than just fashion.”
Kinich chuckled. “Alright. Ajaw, could you go fetch the sewing kit?”
Ajaw grumbled, but flew off to find what Kinich had requested.
It had taken Kinich a week to work up the courage to leave the house. Mualani had visited every single day, helping to slowly adjust his wardrobe to fit his new form, and to keep him company when Ajaw was being antagonistic. She had told him of how there had been a gathering at the Stadium to celebrate the victory of the battle. An invitation had been extended to Kinich, but he had politely declined, on account of recent draconic events.
But finally, Kinich was ready to attempt flight.
He stood with Mualani and Ajaw at the top of the highest cliff they could find. The winds were strong against the rock face, a steady updraft playing with their hair. Save for the flight range on the other side of the nation, this was the best place to spread one’s wings for the first time.
“Are you ready?” Mualani asked, placing a steady hand on Kinich’s shoulder. The sun was on a descending path, the eastern horizon already turning purple.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Just open your wings and catch the updraft, Ok? Focus on gliding first,” Mualani reminded. “And if something goes wrong—”
“Then he’ll have to fend for himself,” Ajaw interrupted with a maniacal laugh. “I can’t wait to see you fall from the sky like a stupid, flightless hatchling. You’ll probably hit the ground so hard that you’ll leave a Kinich-shaped hole in the rocks down there.”
“Ajaw, you’re not helping!” Mualani cried. “I’m sure you’ll do great, Kinich.”
Kinich nodded, snapping his wings open to their full width. They immediately caught the wind like sails of a boat. He steadied himself against the gust of wind, tucking his wings close to his back again before taking a running start towards the edge of the cliff. He leapt, wind blowing past him as he began to descend.
He spread his wings, feeling the power of the updraft beneath him. Instead of falling, he began to rise, the wind lifting his wings. He heard Mualani shout in excitement from where she stood on the cliff. He realized that he had risen high above where she stood, now floating in the updraft.
Kinich angled his wings, getting a feel for how the wind streamed around his body. With a powerful flap, he flew forward, speeding through the air. It was exhilarating and only slightly terrifying.
He swiveled through the air, heading back to where he had left Mualani and Ajaw. He waved to them as he flew by, flapping his wings to gain more momentum. He turned back over the edge of the cliff, tucking his wings close to his body as he twirled into a dive.
The ground rushed at him, and he snapped his wings open at the last minute. He caught another updraft, riding it back to the top of the cliff. As he passed over Mualani and Ajaw again, he pointed down in the direction of the Scions of the Canopy, signaling that he was going to head in that direction.
Kinich dove down the side of the cliff again, this time aiming for the town constructed in the cliff sides. He wove through ravines and rock formations that stood in the way, swerving through narrow passages.
“Kinich! Over here!”
Kinich turned his head, watching as Mualani sped down an aerial spiritway aboard her surfboard. He adjusted his flight path, gliding alongside her. He had to slow his speed significantly so that Mualani could keep up with him.
“This is so cool!” Mualani shouted.
“Where’s Ajaw? Did you leave him back at the top of that cliff?”
“Maybe,” Mualani laughed. “He might be angry later, but whatever. You know, we’re getting pretty close to the Scions of the Canopy. Do you want to head back?”
“It doesn’t really matter. I’d like to see what the flying conditions are like over there, and I don’t mind if people see me.”
“You sure?”
Kinich nodded. “I mean, it’s inevitable that people will find out before too long.”
“Well, in that case,” Mualani smirked, “the last one to the Scions of the Canopy is a rotten egg!”
Mualani sped forward, carving around a tight curve in the spiritway. Kinich followed close behind, flapping his wings a few times and shooting forward. He tucked his wings closer to his body and began descending to gain momentum, weaving between rock formations as he passed Mualani.
She shouted something that was lost in the roar of the winds, but Kinich kept his gaze locked in front of him. He angled himself upwards again, spiraling around the spiritway as the ravine that they followed opened out into the plains of Natlan, the Stadium shining brightly in the distance.
The Scions of the Canopy was directly below, and Kinich pulled his wings in and started a nosedive towards the city. He flared his wings out suddenly and spun through the air, letting the updrafts of wind carry him higher again.
He swerved back towards the spiritway, waiting for Mualani to catch up.
“I win,” he said, floating directly above her as they traveled down the spiritway as it circled the Scions of the Canopy.
“Fine,” Mualani huffed, spurring her surfboard ahead with a final push of momentum.
Kinich laughed and easily caught up with a single small movement of his wings. He turned his attention to the Scions of the Canopy. Over the steady hum of the powerful winds, he could only barely make out startled shouts from the crowds that had gathered. They watched in awe as what appeared to be a dragon danced through the skies.
“Where to next?” Mualani called.
“The top of that cliff over there,” Kinich said, pointing ahead. The cliff he gestured to towered above the nearby landscape, but the top was peaceful and quiet.
“I don’t think the spiritway leads up there,” Mualani said.
“Don’t worry,” Kinich assured. He swooped down, flying just above Mualani. He reached down, offering his hands. “Want a lift?”
“Are your wings strong enough for that?”
“Of course. Flying is like second nature, and I'm not even tired yet. Probably has something to do with being possessed by a dragon, huh?”
“That’ll do it,” Mualani laughed. She reached up, taking Kinich’s hands.
“Ready?”
“On three!”
“One, two…” Kinich started.
“Three!” they shouted in unison. Kinich pulled Mualani into his arms, cradling her against his chest so that there was no risk of her plummeting towards the ground. He veered away from the course of the spiritway, setting his sights on the plateau at the top of the nearby cliff.
An updraft aided him, lifting him high into the sky. He then angled downwards, taking extra care not to let Mualani fall. His wings flared as he slowed to a stop, landing gently on the grassy earth of the plateau. He released Mualani, setting her down on the ground.
“Kinich, that was so cool!” she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight embrace. “Are you feeling alright?”
Kinich nodded, a rare smile creeping onto his face. “I’m better than alright. I was flying!”
“Hell yeah, you were! You should totally challenge Chasca to a race next time you see her. Or anyone from the Flower-Feather Clan, actually. I’d bet that you’d beat even their best riders!” Mualani said. She released him from the embrace, spinning around in a circle before sitting down on the ground and laying in the grass. “You’d probably be the fastest flier that anyone has ever seen. Ever. In all of Natlan’s history.”
“I don’t know about that,” Kinich chuckled as he settled himself down next to Mualani in the verdant grass.
“Dude. You were going so fast that I could barely see you!” Mualani teased, giving him a playful nudge on the shoulder. “You were faster than a member of the People of the Springs on a spiritway. I’ve hit top speeds of maybe…I don’t actually know, but I was going pretty fast. But, Kinich, you’ve easily topped every single one of my records!”
Kinich chuckled, his tail flicking back and forth playfully. “Well, next time I’ll be sure to let you catch up.”
“I think the Scions of the Canopy liked your little flight show,” Mualani said as she picked a few flowers from the grass nearby. “I could hear them cheering when we went past.”
“I wonder how many of them recognized me. I mean, I’m not well acquainted with many people, but they certainly have seen my face around enough.” Kinich shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, really. I just don’t want to have to deal with the crowds when I eventually show my face in public again. They’ll ask so many questions, which I’ll have to answer, and…”
“You can always just fly away if they’re getting on your nerves,” Mualani suggested, weaving the flowers she had collected together in a chain. “It’s not like they can chase you down once you take to the skies. Maybe someone from the Flower-Feather Clan could, but you’d outrun—outfly? You’d outfly them easily.”
“Maybe I could.” Kinich turned his attention to the chain of flowers that was steadily forming in Mualani’s hands. “What are you making?”
“You’ll see,” Mualani said, connecting the ends of the chain to form a crown. She lifted it in her hands and delicately draped it over Kinich’s horns. “There. Now you’re a real Dragonlord. You can’t be royalty without a crown, after all!”
“Ajaw doesn’t have a crown,” Kinich pointed out.
“He has sunglasses. That’s close enough.” Mualani smiled, leaning her head against Kinich’s shoulder.
Kinich’s wings opened, fanning out around them in a sheltering shroud. On the western horizon, the sun dipped below the mountains. It set on the life of a grounded human, drawing a well-lived chapter to a close, but come morning it would rise on the life of a newly-crowned dragon.