Destiny (Experimental Heart Book 1) Read online

  “You won’t be able to understand.” He smirked. “It’s all in Draconic.”

  I chuckled. “The book will translate to the reader’s native tongue. In my case, common.”

  His brow furrowed, and his lips twisted as he thought. That’s actually kind of adorable.

  “Don’t think those things about him.”

  I studied him. “That isn’t a problem… right?”

  “No. I don’t see the harm in you knowing.” He scratched his head. “I’m just trying to understand how this all works.”

  I let him ponder that for a moment. Holding my hand expertly over the book, I let the words flow into my mind, and watched as the words flew across the pages. Since my hand wasn’t touching the pages, like I had Raikidan do, the pages flipped automatically after each page, feeding my craving.

  Most of the information I was given was either something I had already figured out, or something Raikidan had told me.

  * * *

  All dragons can shapeshift, although most choose not to. It takes energy to shift between forms, and as long as a dragon has the energy to shift back to his or her original form, he or she will shift back while asleep, otherwise they will remain in their shifted form until the proper energy is regained. Depending on the shifting skill of a dragon, they will be able to shrink their natural size even while sleeping to accommodate for times when space is an issue, although they cannot make themselves larger than their age-appropriate size.

  * * *

  This confirmed my earlier suspicions about Raikidan’s shifting, and I hoped it wouldn’t pose a problem. As long as he had his own room to sleep in, his secret would be safe. I had no intention of telling anyone about what he really was unless he said to. I continued reading.

  * * *

  A majority of dragons are unconcerned about what happens to other species, but some are much more curious, and many of those dragons have a tendency to become obsessive over gaining more knowledge.

  * * *

  I’d have to watch that with Raikidan. I didn’t need any curiosity posing a problem. The rest of the text was uneventful. It touched lightly on dragon loyalties and a few territorial habits, but nothing I either didn’t know already or cared much about. Satisfied, I closed the book.

  “So, what do you think?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “Some of it was informative. I figured half of this stuff out already, though.”

  He held out his hand and I gave it back to him. He looked it over. “So, how does it work? How does someone put information in here?”

  I patted the other book I’d retrieved. “This place uses a lost magic. The only way to add new information or alter information is to use one of these.”

  He rested the Draconic book on the floor to look at the new tome. “How does it work?”

  Leaning closer to him, I placed the book on the arms of our chairs and opened it. “Just as you put your hand over it to read it, you have to do the same to write in it. When you do, the book will enter your mind and you must think of what you want on the page. The book will do the rest.”

  I demonstrated for him. I thought up a few things I wouldn’t mind others knowing and let the tome record them.

  * * *

  I am Eira, former commander of Company 14. Life as an experiment was tough and unrewarding, as I did not enjoy my profession, so when the chance came, I escaped. I left the city altogether, leaving my comrades behind, and I have been running since. Now I’m stuck with a dragon named Raikidan, who has personal-space issues, and has the intelligence of a fish.

  * * *

  Figuring that would be enough, I took my hand off and placed Raikidan’s hand on the pages in my place. “Read.”

  He did, and near the end his brow furrowed. I laughed, knowing full well he had gotten to the part about him.

  He smacked me on the arm. “Rude. Get rid of it.”

  “Fine, fine, you big baby.” I placed my hand back over the book and changed the information about him. He placed his hand over the tome when I was done and read it.

  “Do you mean that?” he asked.

  I avoided his question. “Now, to make it completely permanent, you just think of the word done, and the book will officially log the entry. If an entry of similar topics hasn’t been made, the book will produce a new one in your hands, but since I have made information before, it will automatically transfer to that book.”

  His brow rose, his interest in the topic clear. “You wrote something about yourself?”

  “It has common knowledge in it. Nothing I wouldn’t want others to know.”

  A sly grin spread across his lips. “So, if I looked for it, I wouldn’t find something I wouldn’t already know?”

  I shrugged. “You might, you might not. The major factor is you finding the book. This place is huge, having multiple levels and hundreds of thousands of books, and if the Library doesn’t want to help you find it, you could be searching for some time. Time you don’t really have.”

  He grunted and I smiled inwardly. There actually was information in there I would prefer no one knew, but I had accidentally thought of it while recording. As long as I didn’t encourage him to look, I’d be safe, although I had hidden it well. It would take him forever and a half to find it even if he tried, that was, as long as the Library was on my side.

  Raikidan picked up the Draconic book again. “I’m sorry about your mother.” This sudden change in topic took me by surprise. “I wanted to say it before, but didn’t know how at the time.”

  “I appreciate the sentiment. It won’t bring her back, but I came to terms with that some time ago.”

  Raikidan placed a hand on the entry tome and wrote something in it. When he was done, he gave it back. I read it.

  * * *

  My name is Raikidan, and I’m a solitary dragon. I lived in a small clan that consisted of my mother and my father. That is, until my mother was murdered by humans.

  * * *

  We were the same. We lived alone and lost the one who would always know us the best.

  “Ironic.” I almost laughed. “She was murdered by humans, and yet here you are, helping one.”

  “You didn’t do it to her,” he said calmly. “You don’t deserve their deaths.”

  You don’t really believe that. It was easy to see that was a lie. It explained why he had that anger toward me that I’d catch every now and then. And that meant I needed to be careful around him. This alliance could be a way for him to find those who killed his mother, or it could be a ruse.

  Raikidan regarded me for a moment and then wrote another entry. When he was done, I took the book back.

  * * *

  I travel with a strange nu-human experiment named Eira. I question if that’s her real name, but like she said, ‘Why would I lie about a name?’ She hates others being in her face, and I swear she wants to kill me sometimes when I get too close.

  * * *

  I chuckled but continued reading.

  * * *

  She’s a skilled fighter and can command others as easily as it is to breathe. Eira is the most loyal human I’ve heard of or even seen for that matter. I’ve known her for only a short time, but she defends me as if it has been longer. She has called me a comrade, but I don’t see her as that. I see her as sa dnuyvk.

  * * *

  I listened to those last two words again and my brow furrowed. As I thought, they didn’t translate over. He had figured out how to make it so the words didn’t translate, and I really wanted to know what they meant.

  “Cheeky dragon, what do those words mean?” I asked.

  He smirked. “You’ll know when they become true.”

  Raikidan closed the tome, and I assumed he had told it he was done because a small scroll materialized on top of it. The scroll was sealed shut with a strange wax seal, and when I went to touch it, Raikidan took it away. I crossed my arms and huffed. I knew it was childish, but I wanted to know.

  He looked at the bookshelf across
from us. “Are we able to take books out of here? Some of these might be helpful.”

  I shook my head. “No. The Library doesn’t allow it.”

  He looked at me funny and I laughed. “Like Lumaraeon, this place is a living entity. It knows who and what you are. It knows what you intend to do here, and it knows what information you seek. Sometimes it allows you to search on your own, and other times it will place the book in front of you to find it easier, like the book in your hands.

  “I never came across it until now, so it obviously didn’t want me to see it until now. To protect its secrets, it doesn’t allow those who would harm it to enter, and doesn’t allow books to go out.”

  Raikidan’s lips twisted as he thought, tapping his scroll absentmindedly on the book.

  I pulled the entry tome into my arms. “We don’t have to leave if you want to do some reading.”

  He smiled at me. “Yes, I’d like to do that.”

  I went to stand up to put away the entry tome, but my foot caught on the leg of the crystal chair. Raikidan bolted out of his seat, his book and scroll clattering on the ground, and caught me. “Easy.”

  I looked at up him. “What, no fat jokes?”

  “Why would I make a joke like that?”

  “Because I’m heavy.”

  “You’re not heavy.” His arm secure around behind my back, he leaned over and tucked his arm under my leg and then lifted me up as if I weighed nothing. My body tensed up immediately. “See, not heavy in the slightest.”

  I slammed my palm into his chest. “Put me down this instant!”

  He chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement, and did as I told. “Payback for calling me fat in my true form.”

  I snorted. “I’m sure if I met another dragon I’d be able to prove it.”

  His shoulders pulled back as he crossed his arms. “All muscle here.”

  I couldn’t lie, he was an impressive specimen. Most men would kill for his physique. I tossed my head back as I turned away. “Sure sure. But if I’m right, you’re going on an insect diet.”

  Raikidan’s face scrunched with disgust and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. He then started laughing, too.

  After a moment, I realized how bad that was of me to do. I shouldn’t be laughing with him—making a connection with him. I got myself under control and went about putting the entry tome away.

  Raikidan retrieved his dropped book and scroll, storing the dragon book in the bookshelf. He smiled at me and then perused the shelf selection, his scroll still in hand.

  He was acting oddly. Did it have to do with what I wrote?

  * * *

  …a dragon named Raikidan, who has to be the most loyal and protective creature I’ve ever met.

  * * *

  The approach of a person pulled my attention. I smiled at the blue-eyed man. “Hey, Ken’ichi. Glad to see you up and walking.”

  He smiled. “If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t be.”

  I shrugged. “I do what I can.”

  Ken’ichi nodded. “And for that, I’m helping where I can. The preparations are done. You and your friend should come with me.”

  Raikidan stopped his searching, a frown on his lips. I felt a little bad. He’d really wanted to find something. He bopped me on the head with his scroll before placing it in a pile of other scrolls. I swatted at him and he chuckled.

  Ken’ichi watched Raikidan, the look in his eyes indicating he either didn’t trust Raikidan or didn’t like him. I couldn’t be sure. Even as kind as he was, he didn’t automatically like everyone.

  Ken’ichi motioned for us to follow and led us to this mysterious location in regards to the secret planning for my leave.

  Chapter Nine

  The drumming of fingers on stone echoed through the room as I sat at Shva’sika’s kitchen counter, my cheek resting on my other hand. Ken’ichi, Raikidan, and I had arrived at her house only to find her not there, with a note left for me.

  * * *

  Laz,

  I’ll be right back. I have to do one last-minute thing.

  * * *

  Twenty minutes had passed, and my patience was growing thin. I could have let Raikidan read more if I’d known there wasn’t any rush.

  Raikidan leaned against a wall in the living room, his arms crossed. In the same position, Ken’ichi leaned on a wall near him, the two unmoving. This display was the only thing keeping me from preparing an angry lecture for Shva’sika. I had patience for many things, but this kind of behavior from people didn’t fall into that bubble.

  The front door flew open, and Shva’sika and Valene entered the house. Finally! I stood up, only to notice their subdued expressions. “What’s with the faces?”

  Ken’ichi’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me Maka’shi found out about the plan.”

  Shva’sika let out a long sigh as her shoulders sagged. “I’m afraid so. I just spent the last twenty or so minutes arguing with her about it.”

  I studied her. “Ken’ichi wouldn’t tell us this plan. Said it was best if you relayed it, but from what I can see, you won the battle, but at a heavy cost.”

  She nodded, not able to meet my gaze. “Yes. I wanted to come up with an easy way for you to sneak into Dalatrend. I suspected you had some secret way in, but this would allow you to walk in the front gate, making it less risky.”

  I realized what she was up to. Her needing to take Raikidan’s measurements made sense now. “You wanted to work it out, so we could disguise ourselves as shamans.”

  Shva’sika nodded. “Since you’re a shaman in training, it wouldn’t be a disguise for you.” She glanced Raikidan’s way. “And he’s shown promise for Guard selections, so Ken’ichi agreed to a do a quick assessment to accept him as one in training or not. This will allow for him to also wear the clothes without causing any law issues. Dalatrend soldiers also believe only men can be Guards in our customs, so that thinking can work in our favor keeping you out of the spotlight.”

  It was an excellent idea. Due to customs, not even soldiers could force a shaman to pull down the hook of their cloak to reveal their identities. It wasn’t that complicated of a disguise, but the cloaks obscured the face just enough for people to struggle with facial recognition. I’d seen it happen with something as simple as wearing goggles or a haircut, so a cloak would work just as well.

  But there was one issue with her plan involving Raikidan as a Guard. “But shamans need a connection to the spiritual plane. There isn’t enough time to test for that.”

  Valene giggled. “Guards are an exception. Many Guards with no spiritual connection have been trained in the different tribes, even this one.”

  I nodded. “I didn’t realize that. That’s good to know. But this plan now comes with conditions if I’m guessing correctly.”

  Shva’sika’s hands clenched into tight fists and Valene’s eyes lowered. “Yes. Maka’shi has made some… heavy demands. If the two of you accept this plan, you will be stripped of your shaman status.”

  My eyes narrowed. Even I knew that wasn’t possible. She didn’t have the power to make such decisions. There had to be more to this.

  “And… and you’re banned from ever stepping foot into this village again.”

  Valene flinched and Ken’ichi’s arms fell to his sides, his eyes widening. “She can’t be serious.”

  Shva’sika remained quiet. I could see her struggling to keep her composure.

  “I agree to the terms.” The three of them stared at me with slacked jaws and wide eyes. I shrugged. “I knew she’d do that. You saw how she acted earlier. Even without this plan, she’d try to ban me from this place. This just gives her leverage.”

  Valene’s eyes welled up. “How can you act like it’s not a big deal?”

  “Because there’s nothing that can be done to fight it.” I sighed and shoved my hands into my pocket. “There comes a time where you learn to accept the bad with the good, no matter the ratio.” I chuckled. “You won’t die without me here
. You’ll keep living your life and be happy.”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks and she ran out of the house. Shva’sika sighed and Ken’ichi looked at me. “You could have been nicer.”

  I shook my head. “There’s no nice way to handle that. She’s better off accepting the terms as they are than fighting a pointless battle.”

  He crossed his arms and his lips spread into a line, but he didn’t have a comeback. I knew he didn’t like them any more than she did, but he also understood there were some terms that couldn’t be negotiated.

  “There’s also one more term,” Shva’sika said. “But you don’t have to follow it because she can’t enforce it. Naturally we shamans are to appear neutral, especially with Dalatrend due to the pact we’ve signed. Maka’shi is determined to ensure this stays in place, and has forbidden you to use your attire after you arrive in the city. She’s forbade you to use it as some sort of cover while out and about. But most of us would rather see Zarda’s soul rendered into oblivion. This means, no one is going to stop you if you choose to walk around the city as one of us. You have a right to do so anyway, no matter what she says.”

  She’s really trying to separate me from them. The only thing was, she couldn’t stop me from joining another tribe if I so desired, making the heavy weight of her demands far lighter than she’d want. Too bad for her, I’m too smart for that.

  I nodded. “I’m still accepting the terms, as long as Raikidan also does.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t see a reason not to if you have.”