Remembrance

I groaned as I opened my eyes, squinting as they slowly adjusted to the light streaming in through the open window of the unfamiliar room. What happened? Where am I? My head spun, thoughts half-forming but continually eluding my grasp. I clumsily swept aside the sheet of woven straw that covered me, wincing as my stiff and sore body protested the act. Nearby, in the corner of the small room, I spotted a clay basin filled with water, and tottered out of bed, padding across the rough wooden floor towards it.

There, I leaned against the basin and gripped it with both hands as for the first time, I saw my reflection in the surface of the placid pool. Staring back at me was the face of a young man, with shaggy blonde hair and strange, slitted, blue eyes. I was sure that I had never seen this face before, and yet, I was transfixed. It seemed so…familiar.

A human? I dully wondered, the gears in my brain slow to turn, But I’m…a dragon…

I cried out in pain as a thousand lost memories crashed into me all at once, of two separate lives lived in two separate worlds; thirty years as a human, and one hundred years as a dragon. The crude clay bowl toppled over with me as I collapsed to the floor, shattering loudly and spilling its contents. I cradled my head in my hands as the sudden onslaught of memories drove out any conscious thought, like a spear of molten lead being driven into each of my temples. Gradually, the memories began to mingle as my brain sorted through them, those from one life falling into the gaps of the other.

I stayed there for a long time as the pain finally began to recede, feeling hollow inside despite my frantic heartbeat. “I’ve been reborn into a fantasy world,” I said softly, my mind numbly refusing to accept the reality of the situation. It was exactly what I had always dreamed of. I should have been ecstatic! But, I quickly realized, there was a succinct difference between fantasizing about something and having it actually happen.

It’s been over one hundred years. Maybe more, depending on how long it took for me to actually be reborn. Mom, dad, sis…no, everyone I knew back on Earth, they’re all dead by now. Even if I could go back, there’s no one left who would even remember me, and no one who would care. And it isn’t just on Earth. Andras was my only friend in this world, and now even he’s…

Tears began to roll down my cheeks, falling to mix with the puddle of water in which I knelt as I was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. Everything and everyone I’d ever known or cared about, in both worlds, was now gone, and here I was…all alone. Andras and I had sequestered ourselves away from the world out of fear of being discovered by the dragonslayers, a fate which had come to pass anyway. I had never done anything that mattered, never left anything behind to be remembered by. And without even realizing it, my second chance at life had ended up exactly the same as my first.

The sound of the door opening behind me made me start, and moments later a squeaky voice stuttered hesitantly, “E-excuse me, Mister Dragon…I heard a noise and thought maybe something was wrong?”

The interruption was exactly what I needed, shaking me from my stupor. That’s right, I reminded myself, I’m still alive. My life in this world isn’t over just yet. Despite everything that’s happened, I’m still a dragon! I need to stand proud and figure out what’s going on.

Wiping my tears on the back of my forearm, I stood and faced the newcomer, putting on what I hoped was a haughty expression. This human face might have once been my own, but a century had passed since I had worn it. Luckily, it seemed to have the intended effect as the tiny imp cowered, half-hiding behind the wood-slatted door. In my most commanding voice, I ignored his concern and instead ordered, “You, imp. Tell me what happened. Where am I? How long was I unconscious?” And why am I a human, now?

His already large eyes went even larger, looking as if they would burst out of his head as he stammered, “W-we saw you fall from the sky. You were h-hurt, but we did not know how to help…then you became encased in a crystal cocoon…”

I growled, low in my throat, and the imp yelped. I ignored him as I thought to myself, So, I molted. I suppose that explains why my injuries are healed. Dragons were among one of the few kinds of creatures that could naturally heal their own wounds, as long as they were not too severe, in a process called molting. As a result, we also grew stronger as our bodies adapted to be more resilient to damage in the future. The process was similar to evolution, making dragons unique in that they could, essentially, continue to constantly evolve over time.

“Go on,” I told the imp, and he continued in his squeaky, faltering tone.

“T-that was almost two weeks ago! Yesterday, we f-found the crystal shell had collapsed, and you were lying inside, so we brought you back here to be treated…b-but you appeared entirely healthy, so we decided to let you rest, instead.”

For the first time, I looked down at myself and realized that I was very much naked. I had grown so accustomed to not wearing clothes as a dragon that I had not even thought about it, but now that my human memories had returned, it seemed they had also brought with them my old sense of humility.

Doing my best to hide the heat rising in my cheeks, I cleared my throat and turned my back on the imp, demanding, “First, bring me something to wear. We will talk more then.”

“V-very well, Mister Dragon! I will return shortly!”

The door snapped shut as he left me alone with my thoughts. I wandered over to the window, which had been designed to accommodate an imp, not a human, meaning that I was forced to sit on my knees in order to stare wistfully out over the impish village.

It appeared this room was built into the top of a tree, and my vantage point allowed me to view the entire settlement, not that there was much to see. It was peaceful, though, the impish villagers going about their business as if there was not a dragon resting in their midst.

The thought made me wonder, what even was I anymore? Human, or dragon? I’ve lived over three times as long as a dragon than I did as a human, I debated, But it’s not like I can just forget about my life as a human, either, now that I’ve regained both my memories and my body. Thinking back on it, I realized I must have always known, on some subconscious level, about my past life. It would explain the strong urge I had always felt to protect humanoid beings like the imps, unlike Andras. Well then, I decided, I guess that means I’m both.

Then, just how and why did I change back into a human? Could it have something to do with my memories returning? I pondered this, replaying the moments leading up to my crash-landing in the hope of gaining some kind of clue, but to no avail.

I let my mind wander as I listened to the sounds of songbirds in the trees and the soft bustle of the imps down below. Alicia Gearfield…I thought idly, rolling the name around in my head. Well, if she hasn’t shown up here yet, I suppose that must mean she’s given up or been led astray. Either way, I got lucky. Not only was I able to escape, but I also managed to save…I jumped up as I suddenly remembered, That’s right; the eggs!

Just then, the door creaked open once more, and the small imp reentered, holding a bundle of straw in his arms which he hesitantly laid on the floor in front of me, scampering backwards as I reached out to grab it. It turned out to be clothing in the impish style, a scratchy shirt and pants woven from long grass. I tugged on the set, surprised to find that they fit well, and moved better than expected.

Relieved to no longer be naked, I sat down cross-legged and asked the imp, “Do you have a name?”

The imp seemed confused, but as I narrowed my eyes at him, he squeaked, “E-Enki, Mister Dragon!”

“Hmm,” I rumbled, in a rather poor imitation of Andras, “Very well, Enki. I should have had a set of eggs with me when I fell. Do you know what became of them?”

He swallowed hard, obviously not at all comfortable having a conversation with a dragon, let alone one that his people regarded as a deity. “I-I found two eggs with you, yes…but they were growing cold, so I brought them back here and placed them on a bed of coals to k–”

“You what?” I snapped, causing him to hunker down as if he expected me to eat him right then and there.

“I-I’m sorry, Mister Dragon!” he cried, prostrating himself before me, “It’s just, the legends, they say that dragons like it warm, so I thought this was best! Oh please, please, don’t eat me!”

Calm down, I told myself, after some consideration. Come to think of it, our den was inside a volcanic crater. I don’t know much about the eggs myself, but a bed of coals can’t be much different, heat-wise. Perhaps he instinctively did the right thing, after all?

“Relax. You’ve done well,” I told him, mulling over his words, “Furthermore, it was you who found and cared for me while I was asleep?”

The imp grew still as he raised his head to look at me, even his shaking having abated for a moment. “Y-yes?”

“Then, you have my thanks,” I told him, and his grey face went slack at the words. It was clear that he had been prepared for the worst-case scenario, not a show of gratitude.

Before I could say any more, however, my stomach rumbled loudly, reminding me that it had not been fed in nearly two whole weeks. I opened my mouth, ready to give an order for food, when there was a loud crash from outside, followed by dozens of screams and shouts.

Whatever was happening, it seemed my supper would have to wait.