11.2
This time I wanted to figure out if I could jump to different shadows without emerging from them. I flicked my tail, and tried pushing the border of the shadow into another shadow. I pushed on the edge of the shadow, and found I could stretch the shadow, but not very far. I couldn't stretch the shadows very far. I went all around the edges of the shadow until I managed to stretch one side enough to touch another shadow.
I poured into the shadow I just touched with the one I was in. Shadows were like little rooms with big openings that allowed me to jump out. There was no gravity within a shadow. The slightest movement was enough to propel me through the space. A flick of my tail was enough for me to push me out of the shadow just as easily as it could push me around the shadow.
I jumped out of the shadows, and allowed them to return to being normal shadows. Enemies that could do something similar would be problematic. The change in shadows wasn't obvious. It would be pretty much invisible at night. The shadows I'd slipped into were much smaller then myself so I was curious how small of a shadow I could slide into.
It would be fun to experiment with my new ability. I flicked my tail excitedly. This would be fun. I checked the surroundings right quick, and laid down to perform the exercise again. It was helping to level up my affinities.
I tried using darkness to do the exercise, but it was difficult to force shadows to form in the light. I started trying to manipulate darkness within the shadow of one of the trees. It suddenly became much easier to do the exercise using darkness. I spent a few hours just trying to advance my affinity for darkness. It gave me a headache.
Once again I hoped I would actually fall asleep tonight instead of entering my inner world. I leapt into the air with a quick snap of my wings. It would take me less then a minute to return to the guild. I circled down in front of the warehouse. Landing lightly.
Well lightly for me. I stopped before going into the warehouse. Bryce was talking to Savannah animatedly. Slightly irritated, and agitated.
"What's the problem?" I interrupted before the discussion could turn into an argument.
"My mobile forge weighs over a thousand pounds," Bryce sounded agitated, "It's not fragile but I don't see how we're going to transport something like that, and she refuses to explain how it's going to work."
He did not seem to realize who he'd just talked to. Nor did he seem to realize just how big I was. I started laughing. The slight hiss that accompanied the laughing made me want to laugh even more. I managed to get it back under control, and return to my serious demeanor.
"She hadn't asked me if I was willing yet," I smirked slowly, "And she refused to tell you because it's none of your business."
Bryce suddenly realized exactly who he was talking to. He looked me over slowly, and it dawned upon him. My wings twitched as I strode the rest of the way into the warehouse. Giving him a full view of my broad side as I circled around behind Savannah. Smoothly laying behind her as I flicked my tail at the button.
Barely touching the button with the tip of my tail. It was enough to press the button, and get the big doors moving.
"I am willing to carry the forge," I curled my tail in a loose loop around where Savannah was standing, "Provided you're willing to keep making tools, and armor for my bonded."
Bryce's brows furrowed a bit. He was willing to work with my scales I knew that. He just didn't like being told to do so. I'd probably react the same way. I didn't really care how much he didn't like it right now.
Once he learned of what I might offer him, and what I could do he wouldn't complain anymore. It was getting fairly late.
"Did you cause that light show earlier?" Bryce had a hint of awe behind those eyes.
"I failed to create an elemental crystal, and it exploded," I exhaled slowly, "Not something to be proud of."
"What's an elemental crystal?" he genuinely wanted to know.
"Maybe I'll show you when I manage to make one," I answered vaguely.
"At least I don't have to worry about my projects exploding in my face unless I'm mixing incompatible cores," Bryce chuckled.
"Should we bring the mobile forge here for transport in the morning?" Savannah smiled.
It was a false smile. She didn't want Bryce getting a good read on her personality yet. Reminding me once again how little I should have trusted her before we were bonded. She would have had me strung up within a week if I hadn't bonded to her.
"Only if it'll help us depart faster," Bryce sounded more nervous then excited.
"Fine by me," I rose to my feet slowly, "I'll carry whatever you wish to bring."
{Ethan,} I pressed the button, and the doors started opening.
Ethan was already outside waiting for us. Wearing that black dragon scale armor that he'd grown to like so much. Ethan jumped straight from the ground to his spot on my back as soon as I cleared the building. Bryce looked a little jealous, but managed to wipe the expression off his face fairly quickly. I pretended not to notice it.
I was secretly a little happy. That meant he was going to love what I was planning to suggest. He should make a good bonded. I'd have to keep an eye out for any red flags now that we were going to be in close proximity for a while. If I saw even a single red flag before the egg hatched then I wouldn't allow him to bond with the drakeling.