3.67

With great difficulty, I'd managed to change my Pheonix form into a smaller bird, with System's help, and spent three weeks traversing the Western Empire alone.

Cautiously approaching the mountain, where the main Draconian forces were supposedly hiding, I rested on a tree branch to observe. 

Being a bird, instead of a human, was a weird experience at first. I would constantly make subconscious human movements finding wings instead of hands. Using a beak to pick things up took some practice. 

In time, my body began to move appropriately. However, this delayed my arrival by a day. The council had promised to notify him in advance, but would he still be waiting for me?

The blazing sun was blinding as I lifted back into the air, following the sound of running water. His campsite should be just ahead.