A/N: This chapter kinda sucks but hey, whatever, I'll go back and edit it someday (probably never) so just fair warning. Some of it's good, some of it's bad, you decide.

Wake up, Zephrine. You need to salvage this kingdom while you still can. Wake up, before destiny takes hold. Wake up.

Zephrine stirred, hearing the voice in her head, which had begun to throb from the blow she was dealt. She felt arms around her shoulders and the feeling of being pulled into someone's chest.

"Go away!" She heard Eetu's voice yelling.

Finally, gathering the strength to open her eyes, the only thing she saw was white. Then scales. Then a full creature.

"A dragon." Zephrine whispered.

"Please tell him to be quiet." The dragon's voice entered Zephrine's head.

"That was you telling me to wake up." Zephrine stood, ignoring Eetu's protests.

"Yes. It was." The dragon bowed its head.

"How are you talking to me? And how did you know my name?"

"I speak in your head. As for your name, you are the most spoken about amongst the magical world and have been for quite some time."

"Magical world?" Zephrine laughed. "What could I have to do with the magical world?"

"You don't know? You're a Dragon Singer, Zephrine. You are the very heart of magic."

"First, I don't have magic. Second, I am not a Dragon Singer. They're dead. All of them." Zephrine stepped back, shaking her head at what the dragon was saying. "Third, I can't be a Singer. No one else in my family was. It's genetic, isn't it?"

"You're quite right. You don't have magic. Not yet. But you are speaking in the dragon tongue. That's not something that a normal human could just do. Your blood belongs to a very long line of Singers, though it's a very rare gene."

"Hold up, dragon tongue? But you're speaking human."

The dragon shook its head. "No, I am speaking the dragon tongue as well. You just perceive it as human."

"So, let's just, right now, suppose I am a Singer. For argument's sake. Where would my dragon be? Don't they have specific dragons?"

"No need to suppose. Your dragon is right here. I'm your dragon."

"So I can only understand you?"

"No. Anything remotely related to the dragons are able to communicate with you. I'm just the easiest one for you to communicate with."

"Anything remotely related to dragons?"

"Yes. Enfields, griffons, zburators, and hippogriffs, to name a few, though they speak in different tongues." The dragon nodded again.

"Okay, supposing time is over," Zephrine held up her hand, "Tell me the absolute truth. Am I or am I not a Singer?"

"You are one of the most powerful Singers that lived, that are alive, and that will be."

"Explain to me your claims." Zephrine crossed her arms and looked straight into the dragon's glowing red eyes.

The dragon laughed. "You deny what you know, know not what you are, are not what you think, and think what you aren't."

"Meaning?"

"You know deep down you are a Singer, but you cannot bring yourself to believe it. How could this be good for you? What purpose does this serve to you?"

"Are you trying to convince me that I am or convince me that I do not want to be?"

"I am trying to convince you to believe in yourself."

"I, Zephrine Geûld, small town girl from Ithia, a Singer. That's what you're saying."

"So you believe it?"

Zephrine sighed, defeated. "I cannot provide any more evidence against your claims. You must be correct. But I want one thing from you."

"Of course, Zephrine. What is it that you desire."

"Your name. You know mine, I wish to know yours."

"I am Seyr, daughter of the Fartventai branch."

"So you're a girl?"

"Yes." Seyr blinked. "Was that not evident?"

"I guess." Zephrine sat back down on the dirty floor, looking up at Seyr.

"Zephrine!" Eetu waved his hand in front of his sister's face. "What was that? You weren't human!"

"Apparently, I'm a Dragon Singer."

"The truth, Zephrine!"

"That is the truth."