The Dragon Egg Princess Read online

  “So this tunnel travel isn’t magic, huh?” Jiho asked.

  “No, it’s based on aerodynamics,” Koko said. “But I have no idea how it works.”

  Jiho didn’t know either, but he enjoyed the ride.

  “Where are we going now?” he asked.

  “To the wizard’s guild,” his father answered. “It is located on the farthest southern tip of Joson.”

  The tunnel ended at a pathway that led up to the outside world. Jiho could smell the tangy salt air and hear the cawing of seagulls.

  “We’re at the beach!”

  He could see white sand and a vast deep blue ocean. But before they could step out of the cave, his father stopped them.

  “I’ll leave you both here for now,” Ranger Park said. “I will be back in time to take you home at the end of your lesson.”

  The ride in the tunnel had restored some of Koko’s good spirits, and she hugged the ranger goodbye. Jiho went ahead and stepped onto warm sand. In the distance, he could see tall, rocky formations rising up to a cliff with a castle perched on top. It looked completely different from the one in the dragon’s realm. This was an old, dark-looking castle. Slightly sinister, even against the fluffy clouds that filled the bright blue skies.

  “I think that’s where we’re supposed to go, Princess,” Jiho said.

  Koko looked peeved. “Well, if we can’t use magic, how are we supposed to get up there?”

  The namushin murmured, and then the little creatures jumped onto clouds that formed off the ocean waves and floated up into the sky.

  “Oh, how amazing! We’re going to cloud travel!”

  Koko spun around, looking for a large-enough cloud. When she spotted one coming off a wave, she splashed toward it and jumped on with a big bounce. The cloud immediately began to rise up.

  “Hurry up, Jiho!”

  Jiho stood blinking his eyes for a moment before he glared at a nearby cloud that seemed to be floating close to him.

  “I told you magic doesn’t work on me.”

  “This isn’t really magic, it’s more like hybrid science. Cloud physics,” Koko yelled back. “The rising air keeps you on the enhanced cloud as long as it’s moving.”

  “Enhanced with what?”

  He couldn’t hear her response, as Koko had drifted too far from him. Skeptical, Jiho eyed the cloud. But when it began to float away, he took a deep breath and jumped on. To his amazement, the cloud not only held his weight, but it was surprisingly firm.

  The cloud immediately followed Koko’s in a direct trajectory to the castle, catching up rapidly.

  “How is this not magic?” he said to himself. Suddenly, he noted that his butt was sinking through the cloud.

  “Princess! I’m falling through!”

  Koko turned around to stare down at him from her higher cloud height.

  “Quick! Stop sitting all scrunched up and lie down, spread-eagle, before you fall out!”

  Jiho scrambled to throw open his arms, but his butt had already sunk halfway through and he was sinking rapidly.

  He heard Koko giggling above and knew he looked ridiculous. He scowled at her and was about to yell again when his lower torso fell completely through the cloud.

  Trying not to panic, Jiho peeked to see how far up he was. The cloud was as high as the cliffs but still only halfway to the safety of the castle grounds. He looked out and saw he was almost over some dangerous-looking rocks that peppered the shoreline, right before the cliffs. Jiho swung his legs up into the cloud, but then he fell in to his armpits. He was now dangling half in and half out of the cloud.

  “Princess, I’m falling!” he screamed. “I can’t hold on anymore!”

  Desperate, he grabbed at the cloud puffs, only to have them dissipate within his fingers. He was now at chin level, with his legs kicking into the air currents. Before he could scream again, his head sank completely into the cloud and through it. His legs kicked frantically as he fell through the air and landed with a thud onto the back of a vibrant fire-colored phoenix.

  Jiho grabbed on to its feathers as it soared above Koko, who stared up at them in astonishment and excitement. The phoenix flew straight to the castle grounds and landed gently, allowing Jiho to slide down its beautiful tail feathers.

  Koko and the namushin finally arrived and jumped down to greet the phoenix, who bowed its head in return. Its golden eyes blinked solemnly before it soared into the sky once again.

  “Cloud physics, what dog poop!” Jiho muttered. He rounded on Koko. “Those clouds were enhanced by magic. I could’ve died!”

  “It was only a little magic, and don’t worry, the namushin and I wouldn’t have let you die. We would’ve saved you!”

  “How? You can’t use magic on me,” Jiho said.

  Koko opened her mouth to respond and then closed it sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting. But the namushin told me you would be safe.”

  “How would they know?”

  “Because they knew I sent Seraphina to catch you,” Master Remauld said. “And just in time! Another minute and you would have been . . . ahem. Welcome to Kirin Keep!”

  Koko and Jiho were startled by his sudden appearance, but the namushin bowed and began a murmuring conversation with him.

  Master Remauld listened carefully. “Yes, I see what you mean,” he responded to the little creatures. “He nullified one of my strongest magic spells in less than a minute. Amazing. He is more powerful than his father.”

  Jiho scratched his head in consternation. “I’m sorry about that, sir. I didn’t mean to do it. I just can’t help myself.”

  “Hmmmm,” Remauld murmured. “Very intriguing. I think it will be enlightening studying you, Jiho Park.”

  Jiho was confused. “You’re going to study me? Why?”

  “Because I find anomalies fascinating,” Remauld said. “Now follow me.”

  The wizard led them into a large, spectacular courtyard with four trees in the separate corners, each representing a season. One cherry blossom tree was in full springtime bloom, with small pale pink petals blanketing the grass. The second tree was green and leafy and summery. The third tree was bathed in the glorious colors of autumn and falling leaves. The last one was barren and frozen, the only adornment were small icicles that hung from its branches. In the center of the courtyard was a colorful paved design, and Jiho stepped back to take in the large artwork. It was a dragon.

  “That is the great dragon, Kirin, whom this keep is named after,” Remauld said. “He was the strongest and wisest of the dragons. His great-great granddaughter, Nanami, was the most like him and a dear friend of mine. I miss her very much.”

  Jiho did a double take. The wizard didn’t look any older than sixty.

  “I’m seven hundred and ninety-eight years old,” Remauld said with an amused smile. “And I’m not even the oldest of my kind.”

  Remauld then clapped his hands and a curtain of white fog surrounded them in a large circle.

  “Princess, now is the time to begin to tap into your dragon magic. But in order to do so, you must awaken it from within.”

  “Dragon magic? How do I do that?”

  “Only you know that answer,” Remauld said. “But I am here to help you.” He waved his hand and images of many dragons played on the white fog curtain. “Miran, Geroff, Celestine, and Nanami, the great dragon leaders and your ancestors.”

  Jiho and Koko stared at the moving images in awe. Miran was a white dragon with a golden mane, Geroff and Celestine were both blue dragons, and Nanami was a magnificent black dragon. The images shifted between their dragon forms and their human forms.

  “I am eager to see your dragon, Princess,” Remauld said.

  Jiho’s eyes widened. “Oh, wow! How cool! I bet you’ll be a gold dragon with a black mane.”

  Koko backed away. “M-my dragon?” she stuttered.

  “Yes, we are going to teach you how to transform into your dragon form.”

  “I can’t do that!” Koko shouted. �
��What if I can’t shift back?”

  The wizard cast Jiho an amused look. “That is why he is here.”

  “Oh.” Koko looked at Jiho with misery. “That’s right. You nullify magic.”

  “Um, okay. Glad to help,” Jiho said in surprise.

  But Koko wasn’t paying attention. She looked terribly upset. “I thought this was my regular magic-training session. I didn’t know you were going to make me transform. I’m not ready!”

  “That is why we are training,” Remauld replied.

  Koko shook her head violently. “No, I don’t want to do this!”

  It was Remauld’s turn to look surprised. Something that Jiho guessed didn’t happen too often.

  “But why? It is who you are. Who you’re supposed to be.”

  “I don’t want to be a dragon. I want to be a human.”

  Remauld looked saddened for a moment. “I yearn for the days when my dragon friends flew free in the great skies. The glory. The magnificence. I wish you both could have seen it. I miss them all so terribly.”

  His sad eyes became gentle as he gazed at the princess. “You are not human, Princess. You are a dragon taking human form, yes. But that doesn’t make you human.”

  “But why was I like this as a baby?” Koko cried, tears rolling down her face.

  “You bonded with the queen in your egg and shifted to human form,” Remauld said. “Call it a dragon’s instinct for survival. To take on the form most pleasing to its caregivers.”

  She was quiet for a long time. “You mean it was a trick? It was all a lie? This isn’t me?”

  She dropped to the floor and covered her face.

  Remauld waved away the curtain of dragons, bringing Jiho and Koko back to the courtyard. He knelt gently in front of the princess.

  “What is it, child, that frightens you?”

  She shook her head and began to cry. Immediately, the namushin gathered around her to comfort her.

  The wizard stood and gazed thoughtfully at Jiho. “Come, let us leave the princess to gather her composure.” He shooed the namushin out, but when Jiho made to follow, he gestured for him to stay.

  Jiho scratched his head and dug his hands into his pockets. Not knowing what to do, he sat cross-legged in front of the princess. After several long minutes, she lifted her head to meet Jiho’s uncomfortable gaze.

  “I’m scared,” she said. “I don’t want to do this.”

  “Why?” Jiho asked. “You’re the only dragon in the entire world. Isn’t it important to represent them again?”

  “But what if I can’t switch back? What if I remain a dragon forever?”

  “Why does that thought frighten you?”

  Koko looked up and glanced at Jiho. “I like being human.”

  “Maybe you’ll like being a dragon also.”

  “What if I don’t want to be a dragon?”

  “Are you kidding me?” Jiho sputtered. “Who wouldn’t want to be a dragon?”

  “Lots of people,” Koko answered. “The reason the dragons joined Luzee was because humans tried to exterminate them.”

  “Yeah, but they were dumb and didn’t know any better.”

  “What makes you so sure it would be different this time?”

  Jiho couldn’t answer her question. He didn’t know and he couldn’t assure her that all would be fine.

  “I would protect you, Princess. And I would stay by your side.”

  “And you would still like me?”

  “I think I might like you better as a dragon,” he teased. “You know, for a dragon princess, you sure do cry a lot. Didn’t they say dragons don’t cry?”

  Koko nodded, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. “Dragon’s tears are the most powerful medicine in the world. They say they could heal anyone, even those who are dying. But it is almost impossible for a dragon to cry.”

  “Well, I don’t think that’ll be a problem for you.”

  Koko shrugged. “I am a very intense, emotional person,” she said with a slight smile.

  “You must be scary when you’re mad,” Jiho said.

  Her smile faded. “I don’t want to be scary. I don’t want people fearing me.”

  “I didn’t mean it that way. . . .”

  But the princess shook her head and clamped her hands over her ears. “No, no, no. This is all wrong. How can I be a dragon?” she cried. “I thought at most I had a little bit of dragon’s blood. And I was proud of it. But to be a real dragon? To be the last dragon? No! It can’t be! I won’t let it be! I don’t want to be a dragon!”

  Her eyes fierce and angry, Koko stormed out.

  “Princess, come back!” Jiho yelled. “You have to train.”

  “Train for what? To become a dragon?” Koko yelled. “I’m not going to let anyone force me to do anything, Jiho Park! And you should understand that better than anyone.”

  Jiho ran after her but found himself staring down an empty corridor. Koko had disappeared. Jiho ran through the castle and outside, but the princess was nowhere to be found. Nor were any namushin.

  “Not wanting to be a ranger and not wanting to be a dragon isn’t the same,” he muttered to himself. “Dragons are cool.”

  “To you they are,” Remauld said.

  Jiho jumped, as the wizard appeared out of nowhere.

  “But the princess is scared,” Remauld said. “What if I told you that you are not Joson at all but a full-blooded Orion?”

  “I am not!” Jiho was offended at the suggestion.

  The wizard smiled. “Orions and Joson are still human. Imagine finding out that you aren’t even of the same species.”

  Jiho nodded in understanding, appreciating the wizard’s explanation. He turned to ask a question that had been troubling him for a while.

  “Master Remauld, why was there only one dragon egg? Shouldn’t there have been others? How could dragons go extinct so easily?”

  The wizard’s expression turned sad. “The reason there were so few dragons in the world was because of how hard it was for them to breed. If we were lucky, we would see a dragon’s egg once a year. But as time passed, there were many years where no young dragons were hatched at all.”

  “That is so sad,” Jiho said.

  “And that is why we must help the princess fulfill her destiny. Because the world needs dragons again.”

  Remauld vanished, and in his place was Seraphina, the phoenix, who preened and shook out her beautiful sunset wings.

  “That is so rude,” Jiho said peevishly as he petted the phoenix. “Bet he knew I had more questions and he didn’t want to answer them.”

  Seraphina gave him a nudge and lowered her back. With a sigh, Jiho climbed on and held tight as the majestic creature soared into the sky.

  Chapter 15

  JIHO SEARCHED ALL over Mir until he finally found Koko in the dragon queen’s castle.

  “When I first came here, I thought I was only slightly related to her,” Koko said. “Turns out I might actually be her kid.”

  She laughed bitterly. “I just can’t get used to this.”

  Jiho started to speak, but Koko put her hand up to stop him.

  “If you’re going to tell me again how much you wish you were a dragon, I shall scream.”

  He quickly clamped his mouth shut again.

  He looked around the spacious room and noted the rich upholstery of the seating area and the many beautiful vases, jewelry boxes, and artwork decorating the entire space. Paintings with bold, vibrant colors and tapestries with delicate stitchwork framed the many walls, while statues of all sorts of magic folk were showcased. It struck him that everything was at his eye level. The chair he was sitting in was oversize but comfortable. He would not have pictured a dragon queen’s private rooms to feel so human.

  “Princess, if the dragon queen only used her human form around other humans, then why are her chambers here so small and humanlike?”

  The princess sat up and looked around Nanami’s chambers. “These were her private ro
oms,” she said slowly. “For when she wanted to be alone and rest.”

  “She must have liked being in her human form,” Jiho said.

  “The namushin have been teaching me dragon history, and I learned that dragons could shape-shift to any form they wanted. But that they all had one that was their favorite. All royal dragons preferred their human form over all others, because they felt the human brain was closest to that of a dragon’s.”

  “Well, that’s pretty interesting!” Jiho exclaimed. He peered at Koko’s face and noted that she looked deep in thought. “Why do you think that is, Princess?”

  “Probably because a dragon’s brain is quite complex and so is a human’s,” Koko replied absentmindedly. “There was a story about a dragon whose favorite form was an ogre’s. But apparently changing into an ogre affected his dragon’s brain. Made him duller and he became more and more ogre-like until one day he left Mir and never came back. The namushin claim that he lived his life from then on out as an ogre.”

  “So he became too dumb to be a dragon anymore?” Jiho laughed. “Why in the world did he decide to shape-shift into an ogre in the first place? They’re dumb, hideous-looking, and they smell foul.”

  “Especially since dragons hate being dirty!” Koko said. “They’re very fastidious.”

  Jiho looked Koko up and down, taking note of her grass-stained clothing and wild, unbrushed mop of hair.

  “Are you sure you’re a dragon?”

  Koko began pelting Jiho with pillows, as the room echoed with their laughter.

  As Koko’s mood lifted, the namushin appeared and whispered their message to her.

  Koko sighed. “Okay, I’m ready to go back.”

  Back at Kirin Keep, Wizard Remauld smiled at their return.

  “Let us begin the training.”

  Remauld pulled the curtain of fog around them again.

  “Dragon magic is the most powerful magic of all,” Remauld said. “It doesn’t rely on spells or thoughts. It simply is.”