---
Alf wakes up to find himself lying on a river rock, grassland stretching endlessly around him. He notices an injury on his palm.
Alf: Hsh. (Tries to heal the palm with the other, but nothing works.) What... My abilities have disappeared. How? 😳 (Looking forward) Unless...
Behold—in front of him stands the Black Dragon Spirit, its yin symbol hovering between its horns. Its voice is a more elegant version of Alf's.
Ying: (Telepathic communication) Welcome—my successor.
Alf falls forward on his face, and a keen smirk spreads across his lips.
Somewhere in the tunnel, Elva stands firmly, glancing at the vast sky. She lifts her foot from the soft, airy clouds.
Elva: [Is this... an illusion?]
She hears a sound through the clouds as it nears. Taking no chances, she points her dagger at the very being before her eyes. Its voice is a more active version of Elva's.
Yang: (Telepathic communication, paws raised) Whoa, it's just me.
NOTE: For easy reading — '[]' indicates thoughts, '{}' indicates Telepathic communication.
Elva: The White Dragon 😳!
She quickly genuflects. When she looks up, she sees Yang lying flat on its belly, its sparkling sky-blue eyes staring into hers. Elva tilts her head, and Yang does the same. She raises her hand, and Yang mirrors her.
Elva: Why do...?
Yang: {Why do you bow to me?}
Elva: I am a mere Red Draga, just your Crystal Guardian. It is only reasonable that—
Yang: {Fēt Draga?} (Flies about, giggling. Hovering) {You are my chosen.}
Elva: ... Ehn?
NOTE: Fēt Draga translates as Red Dragon.
Somewhere in the tunnel—a fiery island. The Urulókë stands before Raina, its face and attitude stern to the core.
Princess Raina: (Mutters) No, I am being deceived.
Back at Alf's side—
Alf: I thought you were trapped in the Dragons' Cave.
Ying: {Every elemental's spirit is connected to this tunnel. Beneath is our abode—so it is for the Lókï.}
NOTE: Lókï is the plural of "Lókë".
Alf: [So the presence of the elementals creates the illusion against any being of flesh.] Ah, I see.
Ying: {Our Dark Gem and the Bias Gem are still in the Dragons' Cave. Balin III Gulzien must not get his hands on the Bias Gem.}
Alf: (Gently rising to his feet) Then what are we waiting for?
With his sight steady on the transparent wall separating him from his Dragon Spirit, he dashes forward.
Ying: {Wait...}
A light touch on the wall forcibly sends Alf backward, making him hit his back against a rock.
Alf: (Groans)
Ying: {Be careful, the wall is strong.}
Alf: (Lifts head) But our bond is stronger.
The Ying flies about as Alf casts a spell into the Ying symbol. A keen glance passes between them, and they both charge at each other. The ground and walls start to rumble.
Somewhere in the Secret Paths and Passages, a strange color appears in the sky, and Inikhadan notices.
Inikhadan: (Brows furrow)
A sorcerer: That is...
Inikhadan: (Walking away) Proceed as before, but be quicker.
In the tunnel—
The Ying enters Alf through his chest, making him shout in pain. As he opens his arms, a celestial blast occurs, slashing through the hindrance of balance. His white, airy hair flows freely. The surroundings grow calm, and the circulating energies around him gradually soak from his hair down to his clothes, turning them into total blackness.
Elva's eyes shimmer white.
Within minutes, parts of the tunnel begin to rumble and collapse. Alf staggers in weakness, searching for the others, balancing each step with his hand on the wall. He faintly calls out to Raina and Balin.
Luckily, Elva spots him from a distance. He looks up at her—but then, the walls above Elva's head collapse. She freezes as they fall toward her, creating a thick cloud of dust.
And—what is this?
Through the dusty muffle, there is a hemi-shield of white and black energies. Anything touching it shatters. Inside the shield, Alf is kissing Elva with a gentle and timid motion. And Elva doesn't seem to resist.
When the commotion dies down, Alf slowly and hesitantly breaks away from her soft lips. The shield fades. Elva, now coming to her senses, covers her mouth.
Princess Raina: (From a distance) Your Majesty.
She and Balin meet up with them.
EXTRA
The reason why Alf kissed Elva was not because of some romantic feelings.
He did so to absorb in some Yang Energy and in exchange give out some Yin Energy. It's like a transfer of bits of one's Energy for balance.
This act is called the Zboira and it comes in two forms:
Tender Zboira: Transfer of Energy bits through kissing or tender oral fixation.
Abysmal Zboira: Transfer of Energy bits through intercourse and serious oral fixation 😅.
---