4 Chapter 4

As the days rolled by, Jay found life in Naath rather comfortable, especially for someone who enjoyed taking it easy. He spent most of his time reclining, gazing out over the lush forest, occasionally indulging in snacks from the sea or the nearby woods. The once-bustling gatherings of people had dwindled, leaving only the young and daring individuals, along with the playful children.

Jay attempted to communicate with them, using the same mysterious ability that allowed him to understand their intentions, despite not knowing their language. After a while, he decided to try some stunts, harnessing an almost imperceptible energy that surrounded him. He envisioned creating a mere floating flame, but to his surprise, the energy conjured a massive fireball.

This discovery led Jay to realize something intriguing. Valyrian dragons possessed a latent ability for magic, a fact not mentioned in any of the books. He reasoned that the dragons' intelligence was limited, which hindered their exploration of their own capabilities. Even with a thin presence of this magical energy, Jay could amplify it, thanks to his dragon nature.

This revelation shed light on why Valyrians of old, before the fall of Valyria, used dragons as conduits for powerful pyromagic and other forms of intense sorcery. It was because such magic demanded an immense reserve of mana, which only a dragon could provide.

Despite his best efforts, Jay couldn't manage to communicate directly with the people of Naath, even though he could understand their intentions.

One day, out of curiosity and a desire to connect, Jay attempted to use the mana around him as a conduit to delve into the thoughts of an elderly man who had approached him. However, in his eagerness, Jay ended up using too much mana, ended up killing the old man.

But, in a strange turn of events, Jay found himself inheriting the memories of the man he had unintentionally killed.

Even in his passing, the old man harbored a lingering resentment for what Jay had inadvertently done to him. As Jay absorbed the man's memories, an unexpected emotion surged within him—envy. In his previous life, Jay has been single, but the old man had lived a long and indulgent life. He had relished in every pleasure the island could offer.

The man had taken pleasure with abandon, regardless of age, in the village he left behind. In Naathi society, the concept of marriage and loyalty was foreign. People engaged in intimate affairs freely, as long as both parties were willing.

As time passed, more Naathi gathered around the old man, eager to understand what had transpired. Jay, however, stayed laid out, making it clear he had nothing to do with the old man's passing. To the other Naathi, it was puzzling for an elder like him to depart so suddenly.

Although there were no signs of injury or burns on the old man's body, they couldn't shake the feeling that Jay was somehow connected to the event. Eventually, they decided to give the old man a respectful burial, attributing his passing to the natural course of old age.

Days continued to pass, and the young Naathi would visit Jay. One day, Jay decided to try something different. He used the mana around him to manipulate the air, creating vibrations that formed a kind of communication with a young man he deemed worth talking to. Jay addressed the young man with a simple "Young human."

The young man was taken aback for a moment when he heard the sound. His response was an unending barrage of questions, fired at Jay without pause. Jay soon regretted initiating the conversation. He had become a new focal point of attention again among the Naathi people, who marveled at the fact that their guardian beast could speak.

Although Jay initially regretted his decision to communicate, he soon realized its value. He might have the appearance of a dragon, but his inner self remained human, susceptible to boredom over time. The ability to talk and engage with the Naathi people helped alleviate that sense of monotony.

One day, Jay sensed the approach of ships from a distance, but he didn't think much of it. However, after a couple of hours, the young man rushed to Jay in a state of panic. Jay looked at him, puzzled by the urgency in the man's voice. The young man implored, "My lord, please save our people from evil men. They've come to take away my sisters and brothers. Please, you must save us."

Jay now realized the identity of the incoming ships. They were slavers.