Merlin was a passionate master who didn't understand the meaning of the word patience.

His standards were high and he couldn't see any reasons for imperfect results. She had long since given up on explaining that she did the things he expected for the first time. It simply didn't matter to the centuries-old dragon. After a few weeks of time, she had finally seen his point. Her advancement was terrific.

She had mastered the machine, he had brought on her first day in the Rehab-Cave, as she called her momentary residence, in no time. Rhiannon laughed inwardly thinking about her childish joy when she mastered the first clear round. Right now, it was the first thing in the morning serving as a mere warm-up before starting the real work-out. She had been happy she had scales and a sturdier body- more than ones. Her master had used his claws and magic quite freely leaving burns and gashes all over her flanks. And every other part she had left open in their spars. The only parts of her he had only batted verbally were her wings and her face for those parts wouldn't heal as fast and as completely as the others. Those parts were regarded as vital-points in clan-culture and attacking them was ignominious. But still not everyone fought honourably so it was better to keep them well-guarded...

But fighting in dragon-form was not all she had been taught. Merlin had helped her first reducing the time she took for her transformation and later instant changing them in a fight. Spitting fire and basics of magic had been added to her schedule, too. She would have liked to do some history and science lessons, too, since she found out that Merlin corresponded with some of the most important scientist in the world on regular basis.

It had been a week since Merlin started teaching her, when they were interrupted by Mero, who entered the cave holding a mobile in his hand.

'Elder Merlin... they've got an emergency in the laboratories...' he stammered out of breath holding out the mobile. Merlin sighed and changed into his human-form, a smooth change, that looked completely effortless. Rhiannon sighed and envied him for being able to do so, since she was still stuck at that point of time. Slightly surprised she noticed that Merlin’s human-form was the handsome and arrogant silver-haired young man she met in the library. He fixated Mero with his silver eyes and growled 'If you have to disturb my work why don't you reach me that damned phone. I really curse the day it was invented. Can't finish a thing undisturbed. I remember taking Arthur away for months when he was a child, no one cared, no one asked and no on fretted. It was normal.' Mero shrunk back and held out the phone. 'Sorry to disturb, great-uncle.' he whispered shyly. 'You really are a Long. None of our Drake line would ever be so timid. But you really take after that nuisance of a father. Left without a word. No honour. Those Asians barely count as our kin.' Merlin grumbled displeased as he took the phone from the blushing Mero.

The young dragon-prince examined his bare feet as if they were the most interesting thing he could find. 'heads up, Mero. He's been like this all day.' Rhiannon tried to comfort the younger dragon. If she had been able the transform, she would have patted his shoulder, but right now all she could do was lower her big head and nudge him as light as she could, still unable to properly control her new body. He smiled slightly and patted her head. His reaction relieved her. Her instincts had told the right thing to do. She was still unsure about the dragon-clan's etiquette.

'what did he mean by the way', she asked curiously and added quickly 'only if you want to talk about it...' when she saw him flinch. 'No problem. Everyone besides you knows so it's better I tell you before you get to hear a spiced-up version of events.' he sighed and began his story.

'My mother has been the dragon-queen for quite some time, but she did not marry nor produce any other heirs. We dragons do not flinch about marriage and stuff. We tend to live for too long to care. Well, a royal dragon not producing any heirs is a completely different affair, so to speak.' he said with a tiny smile before he continued 'All elders but Merlin pressed her to look into possible partner to produce at least offspring. As it is the law every royal dragon has to do so, even more so if you are part of the royal line. Royals are sparse enough without letting opportunities slip.' Rhiannon gulped as she thought about herself being a royal dragon. She didn't even know whether she wanted to have children... well the dragon-side told her she wanted... another topic for another day... '… they pestered her so long that she really did as she was told. She held some kind of ball for all royal dragon bachelors in the world... many came but none of them could compare to my father, or so mum told me. His name was Kim Long and he was the second prince of the Asian dragon-clan. Well, that's of course the problem... he was a Chinese... and on top of that a water dragon. Nothing like our fire dragon ancestors. His dragon-form didn't have wings, it was really snake-like. Just like those pictures, you know. The whole clan was in an uproar both clans by the way. But love had its way even though they were told there was a possibility of disabled or less powerful offspring.' he told his family's story as if he wasn't part of it. But the pain in his light-blue eyes gave him away. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, as he saw her expression.

When he looked at her again, he wore a sad smile. 'Well, my brother's birth told them differently. He was more than capable and his dragon-form is pure European. The perfect heir and crown-prince overpowered by inheriting both water and fire attributes. A royal dragon as powerful and dignified as one should be. All beautiful and perfect. A happy couple a happy family. Congrats from all clans. A rising star.' he spat in a tone that couldn't hide his envy. Rhiannon wondered why. His older brother seemed to adore him. 'Don't get me wrong. Though I envy him I dearly love my brother but he is perfect to a fault and it sucks sometimes. ‘he mumbled as he saw the questioning look in the night-blue dragon’s eyes. '... and then they lived happily ever after... well sadly no. They loved each other and stood against all others... even when I was born a fire dragon but an Asian. We are the weakest of our kind our power is capped at dragon knight at very best. I am a disaster to both royal lines. But most of all to my own brother since every royal dragon is going to question if he is able to produce royal dragon offspring or if they might be stuck with some waste like me.' he explained and the deep abyss of sadness lurking inside his eyes made Rhiannon want to hug him. 'You are no waste. You can't say such a thing about yourself. It's bad enough you have to endure others telling you that.' the blue dragon growled angrily.

Mero who seemed shocked by her outburst smiled thankfully and continued his tale. 'well thank you. But that wasn't the worst yet. My father didn't take it well being a prideful dragon and all. He wanted to take down whoever spoke badly of his family. Broke the connection to his own family in china as they were the loudest to blame him. He tried everything to ensure a bright future for us, until... until he disappeared without a word or anything. ...Had always been a loner, if not for the three of us he wouldn't have left his laboratories at all. The clan's laboratories are his legacy, his and Merlin’s, who was his best friend around here. You know the people who love you most are the one to suffer most when you disappear.' his voice trailed off. He had loved his father with all his heart that was for sure. That and the fact he hadn't forgiven him. Rhiannon ones again felt the urge to hug him. Seeing him hurt like that hurt her physically. She nudged him again. 'you are hurt to. No one has the right to blame you for him leaving... not even yourself... it's not your fault.' Rhiannon told him as she looked him deep in the eyes trying to assure, he got her message.

'Morgan says so, too. He gets more than angry if I doubt myself.' Mero smiled shyly 'He likes you by the way. But don't tell him I told you... he is brave to a fault on the battlefield but when it comes to you... well he spent most of the last few days anxiously waiting outside and getting on mother's nerves for news about you.' he told her smilingly, successfully changing the topic. Rhiannon was more than a little confused about his declaration and her own feelings. Though she felt her heart beating faster.

They did a little small talk and Rhiannon felt as welcome as she had when she talked to Morgan. Then Mero left and Rhia’s training continued.

When she thought of this conversation, she felt she had learned a lot about dragon-clan's society. And her master... Though she wasn't entirely sure she liked it.

Merlin was a friend to her. He and his training did mean a great deal to her. Due to that she had agreed to continue her training after leaving the cave. Though it would be much more wide-spread than it was right now. He promised to teach her all his scientific knowledge as well as clan-politics and history. And of course, more magic.

She remembered clearly when he had told her about their shared ancestry. Her druid-heritage. Self-doubts and her being uncomfortable about her incapability to deal with her situation had amounted to a huge dung heap of frustration. She threw a fit.

'Dear calm down. You are doing alright. Stop flaying yourself.' Merlin as she broke into tears.

'I don't why I should calm down... I am a mess... not even able to leave this damned cave... unable to deal with my merging, though I really want to...' she cried out stomping her half-transformed foot like a little kid. Merlin smiled and sighed.

'Don't blame yourself, dear. You have got it harder than most. It's a triple-merging you've to overcome. You are quite far regarding human and dragon, but right now you can't advance any further if you leave out your magic-heritage. Your druid-heritage. You are like me; we are more than most. This heritage is a chance as well as a burden. Sometimes it will slow down your growth in a certain extend. But it also carries the opportunity to do and be what you dream of.' he had told her reaching out his hand and patting her shoulder.

'Druid-heritage?' she asked distracted from her childish fit and wiped her eyes. Merlin smiled as he answered 'Yes, dear, even before you were transformed you were part of the clans, a distant descendent of the lost, fifth clan. The Druids. Just like me.' he explained. 'The lost clan?' she asked curiously. 'Well, dear, that's a topic for when we have left this cave for, I don't want to spoil a part of history as important by a half-assed explanation without proper material. But now let's do some magic.' he had evaded her question and went quickly to show her how to cast a fire spell in human form. It was quite easy for any dragon was attuned to his element and she was a fire dragon. Well not only that but she was yet to find out.

The fire spell itself mainly served as an easy example to show her how magic worked. Merlin’s scientist through and through had studied it as a magician as well as for, a scientist. He had corresponded with Albert Einstein and several other trustworthy scientists regarding that topic. Right now, he believed that magic was merely a change of conformation at quantum-level. Or whatever. Rhiannon had decided to simply do magic, since she felt physics at this level were way beyond her. Maybe in the future. She was a nigh-immortal dragon, now. So never say never.

Right now, Merlin was using such a simple fire spell to wake her from her thoughts. Thankfully not only her understanding and technique had improved but also her dragon-forms inborn battlefield-instincts had merged with her. She had even improved them. Due to this she was wide-awake and ready to battle, when the fire spell arrived and avoided it swiftly.

Today's sparring would be airborne and the dragon trembled in anticipation. She had decided to go all out. She had to. Merlin had explained that her leaving the cave was directly effected by her behaviour. Dragons were none to shrink back whilst battling. They tended to go all out no matter what and so would Rhiannon.

A few seconds later a big silver dragon- Merlin had shrunken his size since it was not very practical being this huge whilst fighting against a more agile and smaller opponent. He chased her as usual. Tried to tie her down using his fire breath, claws and teeth. She followed his directions as if she was directed by his manoeuvres. He chased her towards the cave's ground.

His wings created a swirl she felt clearly. He was near. A lightning brushed her left wings tip and left the stench of ozone. She felt excited. Truly alive. Diving down towards a gorge in the very back of the cave. It was small only wide enough for her to pass but not wide enough for her mentor’s wingspread. She laughed when she heard him curse as he had to slow down. It seemed like the first part of her plan had worked.

Time for the second part. The gorge led to a tunnel in the cave's wall that ended right under the cave's roof but not in one but in several different small caves. Merlin could not survey all of them. Even if he had cast several guarding spells, he would not be able to evade her attack. She smiled inwardly as she manoeuvred carefully through the wall. That was when she felt the flame column approaching. Merlin had literally set her ass on fire. She sped up to avoid burning her tale. This was a mere distraction trying to hasten her plan. To goad her into making mistakes. But not today. Today would be the day she regained her freedom.

When she left through the topmost exit, tight slit barely visible hidden behind vegetation, she could believe her eyes. This was much better than what she had hoped for. Merlin was directly under her guarding a lower exit seemingly the most obvious choice to him. The second part had succeeded.

The third and final part would decide whether her plan as whole had succeeded. She dived down casting a binding spell the same moment she attacked physically. Success. 'I really did it.' she thought euphorically. Her claw had drawn the first blood and her binding spell assured the victory as she forced her mentor to land by blocking his wings. Shortly before arriving on the ground her master said 'I concede. You win. Well done.' she freed him and they landed peacefully side by side.