Rhiannon woke up with a start. Her two hearts pounding against her rib cage.... Everything was fine. Wait two hearts? Humans do only have one heart. Then her memories resurfaced and she smiled bitterly. Really nice if you can put things you learned about a foreign species to use... On yourself.

Only known species to have two hearts and a ribcage were dragons. It was one of the major differences the clan mutation did even show in human form. She was a dragon now. Once and for all. No turning back once mutated.

Even now after completing the transformation she wasn't angry about what happened to her. Not really at least. Rhiannon felt an all-consuming wave of sadness and despair crushing down on her. She would do anything to become human again.

'isn't it interesting? I am one of the biggest fans of fantasy novels and always dreamed of being a magical creature... When it finally comes to pass... All I can do is drown in self-pity. I am such a hypocrite.' she told the empty room she woke up to.

Looking into the mirror at wall where Mero had been standing, she looked at her reflection. She knew that she was a dragon but when she saw it, she was still startled.

The image was frightening but still beautiful in a way only top predator were. It was hard to recognize herself in anything but the eyes. Even if they were slitted now, they were still hers. Anything else changed.

Right now, she was a scaly dark blue dragon and her blood memories told her that she was at least 10 meters long and about 3 meters tall at the highest point of her shoulder-blades. Her head would be at 5meters if carried at full height. She had strong sail-like wings and a tail of 3 meters in length. Sharp spikes protruded from each of her vertebrae her feet and hands were armed with menacing claws. Her teeth were daggers looking insanely sharp. All in all, she looked like a dragon from a European fairy-tale.

Thinking about those tales Rhiannon wasn't quite sure if those physical changes would be the only ones to come. Every dragon even the nice ones were said to be a tad hot-temperate to put it nicely. Maybe it was just the fact that dragons tend to be impressing when enraged but Rhia could not quite believe it.

It was maybe a childish thought but tempering with her body wasn't half bad compared doing it to her mind. Thinking about its Rhiannon who never thought much about religion froze on spot. If this change was influencing her mind maybe giving her new instincts and stuff what would happen to her soul. The very essence of her being? Would she simply accept what had become of her life and turn into a full-fledged dragon?

Mero seemed quite normal to her but how could, she be sure. Slowly getting agitated her wings unfolded and flapped like a bird. Well, her body seemed to know the body language of her new kin. But were there predatory instincts, too? Her mind racing, she was about to get a major panic attack when someone entered the room.

A wave of calmness washed the fear away and left Rhiannon shaking of exhaustion. The beauty that came into the room smiled at her.

'calm down, my dear. No need to panic. I've got to apologize that you were alone when you woke up. My eldest and me were just changing guards if you know what I mean. I got caught up in a little conversation with my counsellor and didn't make it in time. I am sincerely sorry for not being by your side. At this point there is no business more important than yours. I am Miriam Long by the way. Queen of all European dragons and even a few Asian due to my late husband.' she told the flabbergasted Rhiannon in a carefree way that did not fit the image of a dragon queen.

Rhiannon gulped unable to think of any way to react. But then she thought doing nothing at all would be even ruder than being friendly, even if she felt out of place and didn't know what to do with that new body of hers.

After a little bit of contemplating, she answered in a shy manner 'thank you for the kindness, your majesty. I wish I knew what to think of this new situation. I don't want to be rude but I am sure what it means to be a dragon and all.'

'Don't worry my dear. You're not rude. It's the opposite of what I expected of a dragon just turned. I am really happy to see you this composed. By the way no need for formality at the moment. If we are not in a formal meeting call me Miriam, please.' the dragon queen smiled. Her friendly manner and the calmness that surrounded her comforted Rhiannon in a way she would never have thought possible.

She returned the smile folded her wings back together and was eventually able to put her waving to a rest. Miriam's smile grew brighter. Then she asked 'would you allow me to take a look at your new body so I can be sure you are alright? And maybe even see what kind of dragon you're right now? You have to know that is always an interesting question for every new dragon regardless born or turned.'

Rhiannon nodded. Feeling a little uncomfortable about her new body she just stood still and let the examination pass. Miriam walked slowly around her pulled one of her wings and smiled at the widened eyes of her newest clan member. But even with the queens reassuring smile she could not help herself but feeling like a mare at a horse-show.

She heaved a sigh of relief when Miriam was finally done. The queen on the other hand looked at her with an elated smile. 'you struck gold, my dear Rhiannon. You are a royal. And a quite strong at that.'

'a royal?' the young dragon asked confused. 'oh yes, my dear. That means you belong to highest tier of strength in our kind. It's less than 2,5%of our people. We will guide you properly, don't worry. This is a cause for celebration.'

Rhiannon, who wasn't quite sure if she was okay with being a dragon, didn't know if it was good or bad being powerful. But this was not the time to contemplate about it. ' are there other tiers? You say I'm a royal, I mean. ' she asked and didn't know if she wanted to distract herself or the queen.

'yes of course. There are pawns, plebs, nobles and knights. Pawns are the weakest in power most of them have more human than dragon attributes. They don't even have a dragon form only a draconian. We have to protect them. All of them. Great powers mean great responsibility. ' she told Rhiannon who thought that last phrase was only for superheroes not for monsters frowned. Responsible for people she didn't know. For her new kind.

Miriam was looking at her frown and held up her hands. ' no pressure. You will get all the time in the world to get used to what you are. And even after that... There are many dragons who are not highly involved in clan matters. Just look into your blood memories if you want to. We will educate you in every possible way. Have no fear. After half a year you can even get back to your university for a while. ' she assured her.

' half a year? 'Rhiannon asked shocked. 'Am I not safe before? I mean for others...' the young dragon asked. She feared her queen’s answer.

'well yeah... You will have to deal with some quiet predatory instincts, that means you will have to keep your temper in check. If you, don't you might change into your true form... A dragon even a young and small one like you are now doesn't fit well into lecture halls or laboratories... Not even physically... But after your merging is finalized and your powers in check, you can do whatever you want. ' she said with a smile.

' Merging? What's that? ' Rhiannon asked since it seemed to be important.

' Well, it's some kind of puberty. If you were born a dragon, it would actually take place in it. You have to know that all our children are born in a near human state. It would be troublesome if it wasn't like this.’ she said with a frown and continued to explain 'In the beginning they have near to no power. They slowly grow into them. First the power of fire appears in a small range when they are somewhere between eleven and thirteen. The draconian form appears a year after. When they are about fifteen the true form changes from human to dragon.' she smiled at Rhiannon in a knowing way. Rhia who just experienced the same thing shrugged and cracked a smile. The queen of dragons reached out and patted her shoulder.

'This is a disturbing feeling as you sure can relate to. They lived all their life as near humans and suddenly they have a hard time staying in the body they are used to. Changing at every mood swing into a dragon. And they are teens at this point.' Miriam said with a short laugh before she continued. Rhiannon was secretly happy that she wasn't the only one feeling that way and relaxed a bit.

' The merging itself starts at the age of seventeen. All powers multiply and the human mind that has been developed over the past few years merges with the instincts and wisdom of the dragon race. No need to fear losing your personality. You won't. You will be yourself. It is a gradual assimilation that takes place in the course of half a year’s time. You will be grateful it's this slow because even at that rate it will be overwhelming at times. Especially the blood memories. But have no fear. We won't leave you alone. You're family now. ' she assured Rhia. The new-born dragon didn't know what to make of this information and contemplated in silence.

' do you have any other questions? ' Miriam asked after a while. Rhia shook her head. 'If not, I will explain you how to change forms. You have to concentrate on your human body and it will appear. It will be hard at first to stay in human form and even later on your true form will be your default. You always change into it if you run out energy. You can't change that. It's your true nature now. Don't fight it for it will only hurt you if you do. ' she told her student in a serious tone.

Rhiannon nodded and changed forms. It was a little staining but not much. Soon her new near human appearance reflected in the mirror. She still resembled her old self. Still a pale complexion, black curls and full lips. Her eyes were similar to her old ones. The only difference was that they had slitted pupilless now.

She had the same thin scale lines at her aristocratic cheek bones she had seen in Mero’s and Miriam's face. Hers were in the same colour her scales were in dragonform dark blue. Small decorative horns sprouted out her skull and her overall body condition seemed to be at the best possible state. She looked like an athlete ready for competition.

After a while Miriam reached her some clothes. Rhiannon blushed and asked herself why she hadn't been embarrassed when she was naked in front of a stranger. Although Miriam didn't feel like a stranger to her.

'don't worry it's just one of the more positive things the dragon is doing to your character. We don't care much about nudity and such. It's not easy to get ashamed by it if your clothes don't survive your changing. You will see lots of nude people in future. But right now, you should get yourself dressed. I will show you your room in the living quarters of our mountain. Right now, we in the infirmary. ' Miriam said and took Rhiannon by her hand.

The young dragon herself was still thinking about the information she had gotten including slight changes in personality.

The dragon queen led her through a labyrinth of corridors and tunnels. When they reached a brightly lit corridor with a few doors on the one side and an open balcony to the other side. The balcony seemed to lead a crater. There was no parapet but an open space high and big enough for a dragon form several times bigger than her current. It was a dizzying sight. But a part of her new it was a good place to take off. She shook her head and followed Miriam.

Miriam who still held her hand stopped in front of wooden door opened it. It led into a suite like in high-class hotel. The only difference was the size. It was all dragon-sized. Only a few things were built for humans. It had a giant bed some kind of a living area and a bathroom ensuite. At the same time, she saw the bed Rhiannon felt how tired she was.

Miriam must have guessed it said 'this your room. Make yourself a home. We took the liberty to get all your things over from your apartment. You will find them and everything else you might need in the drawers. You should sleep a little. We will get you in a bit for lunch. If you need us just touch the blue crystal and think your message. If you want someone to have it personally say the name in advance. Otherwise, it will be directed to the household’s manager who will sort it out or get someone to help you. Sleep well. ' afterwards she left the room with a kind smile.

Rhiannon took off her clothes and changed forms since it felt the right thing to do. And she suspected it would have happened anyway as soon as she slept.

The moment she lay on the bed and had arranged her body in a comfortable way, she fell asleep.