《The Jade Chakra Dragon’s Grimoire: Death's Best Tale》 The Burden of Saving Tash墨 Dal膩i-Ch. 1.0 The Burden of Saving Tash¨© Dal¨¡i-Ch. 1.0 The Jade Chakra Dragon thundered first; her glimmering surface shimmered and rippled like liquid light, slicing through the skies as the avalanche roared and crashed below. Thud! The violet, barky text-block manuscript slipped from my hands and struck the soft, deep snow. My heart jumped as the sound rang out¡ªa sharp, rumbling clatter that shouldn¡¯t have been possible. Drakos froze, his ears pinned back, a low growl rumbling in his throat. I stiffened,my breath hitching, and my fingers instinctively twitched as if trying to grasp the fallen grimoire. But there was no thud. At least, not as it should have been. The noise swelled unnaturally, echoing through the icy air like a bell tolling a warning. My stomach churned, a cold knot twisting deeper with every beat of the reverberation. Emblazoned on the cover, its title seemed to glare at me, heavy with disapproval: Grimoire of the Chronicle Stages of Dying and Living. Snowflakes scattered around the grimoire, the pristine surface now marred by my carelessness. Drakos barked, his tone sharp and insistent. His ears flattened, and he circled the book as if it were alive, something dangerous. A chill crawled up my spine, but it wasn¡¯t from the cold. Master¡¯s head turned toward me, her gaze settling on the fallen text. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. She said nothing, didn¡¯t so much as frown. Instead, she closed her eyes and began to chant, low and steady at first, then rising in intensity. Her voice cut through the storm, resonating in a way I didn¡¯t understand but could feel deep in my chest. This was no ordinary chant¡ªit was raw, commanding. And then the sky split open. They called me a jinx, a walking curse¡ªa Harbinger of Doom. In my hometown, they spat the words like venom: Wretched Witch. The truth they believed about me cut deep, like a blade slicing through the brittle air. I shouldn¡¯t have defied my grandmother, no matter the shadow her lineage cast over me. Or my mother, who begged me to stay behind. If I had obeyed, worked quietly as a kitchen hand in Master¡¯s practice house, none of this would be happening. But no. I had to beg Master to bring me and Drakos along. To climb these cursed Himalayan peaks. To try and save Tash¨© Dal¨¡i¡¯s soul¡ªor his life, or whatever bound me to this impossible mission. The storm screamed around us, biting through my patched parka and into my skin. My shawl flapped wildly as I gripped it tighter around my shoulders. Loose strands of raven-black hair stuck to my wind-burned cheeks, flushed red against the olive tone of my skin. The air burned my lungs, my breath a pale fog that vanished as quickly as it came. My eyes, darkened to shades of brown and blue by the storm¡¯s fury, seemed sharper, more almond-shaped¡ªlike the crisis itself had carved them this way. The irises caught the faint light and swirling snow, wide, frantic, searching. My lips quivered, already cracked and bloodied from the cold. I looked like a stray goat caught in a blizzard¡ªfragile, out of place. My boots barely clung to my feet, soaked and scuffed from days of trudging through snow. Even my grandmother¡¯s woven tunic beneath the parka was soaked, heavy against my thin frame. The worst part? I¡¯d dragged them both into this¡ªMaster, unshakable as the mountains, and Drakos, his barking sharp and nervous as he circled my feet. The weight of my guilt pressed harder than the avalanche that roared in the distance. My chest tightened as I stared at the jagged peaks, their shadows cast like judges over me. ¡°Get a grip,¡± I whispered, but my voice was swallowed by the wind. My nails bit into my palms through the coarse wool of my gloves. Deep down, I knew¡ªI was no heroine. Just a stubborn girl from the snowy mountains, leading us all toward ruin. When Dying Tashi Called Out Every Force - Ch. 1.1 When Dying Tash¨© Dal¨¡i Called Out Every Force - Ch. 1.1 A deep, bone-shaking rumble filled the air. Above us, the Jade Chakra Dragon emerged, her shimmering form slicing through the storm-clouded sky. Scales of molten jade rippled like liquid light, bending the storm¡¯s fury into something eerily beautiful. My breath caught, and a knot twisted deep in my stomach. I knew this was my doing. Somehow, the book¡¯s fall had awakened something ancient¡ªsomething that should have stayed buried. The dragon¡¯s gaze swept across the snowfield, vast and unyielding, as though it were weighing the fate of all beneath her shadow. ¡°Maybe... if I put it back...¡± My words barely formed, the thought dissolving as quickly as it came. The grimoire lay in the snow, its title glaring at me: Grimoire of the Chronicle Stages of Dying and Living. The snow crunched beneath my knees as I scrambled to retrieve it, my fingers trembling from the cold and fear. The storm¡¯s howling wind tugged at my shawl, and Drakos whined, circling nervously. The dragon thundered again, her body shimmering with swirling maps¡ªlongitudes and latitudes glowing across her scales, shifting like living universes. Faces flickered within the patterns, serene yet unknowable, their meditative forms etched in lotus positions. ¡°Drakos...¡± My voice broke, barely audible. ¡°Do you see it? East, West, South, North... all of it.¡± My hands clenched tighter around the grimoire as tears blurred my vision. ¡°Why does it feel like I suddenly know how to describe this to you?¡± The dragon surged forward, her glowing tendrils reaching out as if to pierce the void, seeking something beyond comprehension. Was she crossing worlds? Connecting them? Or carrying us toward destruction? Master¡¯s hand gripped mine, pulling me back to my feet. ¡°Focus,¡± she said, her voice steady even as the storm roared. The avalanche crashed below, its fury drowning the world in chaos. My heart pounded louder than the storm, guilt pressing heavier than the snow. I had dragged them both into this¡ªMaster, calm as the mountains, and Drakos, shivering against my chest. I looked up at the dragon, bracing for death. ¡°Maybe this is it,¡± I whispered. ¡°Maybe this is where it ends.¡± Master shouted something else, but it was lost to the roar of the storm. The ground beneath me cracked, the world tilting as if the mountains themselves were giving way. And just like that, everything fell. But deep down, I wasn¡¯t ready. How could I be? How could anyone be? Not yet. The world shifted as softly as snowfall, leaving me in a silence so weighty it felt like I was both floating and sinking at once. And I thought I had gone deaf. ¡°?ri¡¯vera.¡± The voice¡ªlow, soft, and impossibly familiar¡ªcame from behind me. I turned, breath catching, and saw Drakos. No longer the shaggy, mud-streaked shepherd dog I had grown up with but something... different.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. His fur gleamed, still fluffy and warm, but now rippling with shades of jade, gold, and the faintest hint of twilight blue. His deep amber eyes held the same gentle loyalty, yet they sparkled with a strange, knowing light. He wasn¡¯t monstrous; he wasn¡¯t draconic, either. Instead, he seemed caught between forms, like an artist still painting his masterpiece. ¡°Drakos?¡± I whispered. My knees felt weak as I took a shaky step toward him. He stood tall, his head reaching my waist, his presence commanding yet calming. The snow swirled around us, though not a single flake landed on his shimmering coat. I thought of how he''d shielded me from the avalanche. I thought of the energy that had erupted from the mountain, the brilliance that had seared the skies. ¡°You can hear me,¡± he said, his voice like a faint bell carried on the wind. He wasn¡¯t speaking aloud. I felt his words deep in my chest, resonating. ¡°What happened to you?¡± I asked, my voice trembling. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering his answer. ¡°I¡¯ve become... what I was meant to be. A Vehicle of the Cosmic Path. A guide for what lies ahead¡ªfor you, and for me.¡ªAnd together with the change, you can understand these concepts now. You are like 16 years old now.¡± As if, I saw him grinned. The terms landed strangely in my ears, yet they felt natural, as though I¡¯d always known what they meant. The world shifted as softly as snowfall, leaving me in a silence so weighty I thought I had gone deaf. Drakos nudged me gently, snow cascading off his newly transformed figure. ¡°What happened?¡± I tilted my head, my voice barely above a whisper. It wasn¡¯t just curiosity. It was disbelief, awe, and something else¡ªa deep-rooted fear that the world had just tilted on its axis. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering his answer. ¡°I¡¯ve become... what I was meant to be. A Vehicle of the Cosmic Path. A guide for what lies ahead¡ªfor you, and for me.¡ªAnd together with the change, you can understand these concepts now. You are like 16 years old now.¡± As if, I saw him grinned. ¡°Cosmic Vehicle?¡± I repeated. I still had to ask, how do you think a 16-year-old could grasp it overnight? My fingers brushed his fur. Warm. Solid. Real. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Drakos hesitated, his amber eyes darkening for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t know every everything yet,¡± he admitted. ¡°But, I know I am continuing my past practices.¡± Past practices? His words stirred something deep in me¡ªa mix of excitement, anguish, curiosity, and wonder. For a long moment, I couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t even think straight. Snow crunched under my boots as I shifted my weight, steadying myself against the tidal wave of questions crashing into my mind. I stared up at Drakos¡ªtaller now, almost at my waist when he was seated. His fur shimmered in the faint, ethereal glow of dusk, shifting colors like a river of molten gemstones. ¡°This change,¡± I began, carefully choosing my words, ¡°did it¡­ happen because of me?¡± He met my gaze, his expression unreadable. ¡°You were the reason I stayed on this path,¡± he admitted. ¡°But the cause? No, ?r¨©-ver¨¡. The avalanche, the celestial energy¡ªthose forces were ancient and beyond us both. They simply¡­ awakened what already existed within me.¡± I frowned, trying to make sense of it. ¡°So, you were always meant to be this?¡± He tilted his head again, his soft ears twitching, though his fur now bore no resemblance to the dog I¡¯d known all my life. ¡°I was always more than you could see,¡± he said gently. ¡°And now, I must embrace it fully¡ªbecause we¡¯re running out of time.¡± ¡°Time for what?¡± My voice cracked, betraying my unease. Drakos¡¯s silence was answer enough. The air shifted, colder now, and I pulled my coat tighter around me. My thoughts spiraled back to the moments before the avalanche¡ªthe blinding lights, the vibrations in the earth, the echo of voices that didn¡¯t belong. The faces. They lingered at the edge of my memory, half-formed and taunting, like a dream slipping through my fingers. ¡°What about the faces?¡± I asked suddenly, my voice louder than I intended. ¡°I saw them¡ªfelt them. And then you¡­ you changed. Were they¡­ were they trying to hurt us?¡± Drakos¡¯s amber eyes flickered with something I couldn¡¯t name¡ªan emotion too deep, too raw. ¡°The faces were fragments of what lies between worlds,¡± he said at last. ¡°Echoes of the dying and the dead, reaching out for meaning¡­ for you. Their presence here was not by accident.¡± ¡°For me?¡± My breath hitched. ¡°Why would they want anything from me?¡± ¡°You have a role to play, ?r¨©-ver¨¡,¡± Drakos said, his voice quieter now. ¡°A role that even I cannot fully understand yet. But I do know this: the avalanche was not an end. It was a beginning.¡± His words left me reeling. A role? In what? And why did it feel like I was being dragged into something far beyond my control? The Breath of Change: ?ri and the Wind Element-Ch. 1.2 The Breath of Change: ?ri and the Wind Element-Ch. 1.2 We began to move¡ªDrakos leading, his glowing fur casting faint patterns across the snow as the sun dipped below the horizon. The mountains around us seemed larger now, the peaks towering like silent sentinels watching our every step. I stumbled more than once, my boots slipping on the uneven terrain, but Drakos stayed close, his steady presence keeping me grounded. ¡°Where are we even going?¡± I asked, my voice edged with frustration. ¡°To the Master,¡± he said simply. I froze. ¡°The Master? What does she have to do with this?¡± Drakos turned to me, his gaze steady. ¡°She has been preparing for this longer than either of us. She will help you understand what lies ahead.¡± Something about his tone made me uneasy. ¡°And what if I don¡¯t want to understand?¡± I asked, crossing my arms. ¡°What if I just want to go back to how things were?¡± Drakos¡¯s expression softened, but there was a sadness in his eyes that made my chest ache. ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± he said gently. ¡°The world has changed, ?r¨©-ver¨¡. And so have you.¡± By the time we reached the Master¡¯s location since we parted during the avalanche¡ªa small cave perched precariously on a cliffside¡ªthe stars had begun to appear, their light faint against the lingering glow of the horizon. The wind had picked up, biting at my exposed skin and carrying with it a faint, almost musical hum. Drakos nudged the entrance with his snout, his movements as graceful as ever despite his newfound size. Inside, the warmth was immediate, the air thick with the scent of herbs and something faintly metallic. The Master was waiting for us, her form silhouetted against the firelight. She was older than I remembered¡ªnot that it could have happened in the past few hours, her silver hair tied back in a loose braid, but her eyes were as sharp as ever. ¡°You¡¯ve brought her,¡± she said, her voice low and measured. It wasn¡¯t a question.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Drakos inclined his head. ¡°She is ready.¡± I bristled at his words. ¡°Ready for what?¡± I demanded, stepping forward. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s happening!¡± The Master¡¯s gaze shifted to me, her expression unreadable. ¡°Patience, child,¡± she said, her tone calm but firm. ¡°All will be revealed in time.¡± The hours that followed were a blur. The Master spoke in riddles, her words weaving a tapestry of history and prophecy that I struggled to keep up with. She spoke of the Cosmic Path, of the Senders and the Vehicles, of a world teetering on the edge of transformation. And she spoke of me¡ªof a girl plucked from obscurity, thrust into a role she neither wanted nor understood. ¡°You are not here by chance, ?r¨©-ver¨¡,¡± the Master said, her eyes piercing. ¡°The forces that called to you are ancient and deliberate. They see something in you that you have yet to see in yourself.¡± I shook my head, my hands clenched into fists. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this,¡± I said, my voice trembling. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for any of this.¡± ¡°No one ever does,¡± the Master replied. ¡°But the path is not chosen by those who walk it. It is simply¡­ revealed.¡± As the fire burned low, the Master turned her attention to Drakos. ¡°And you,¡± she said, her tone softening. ¡°You have taken the first steps toward your true purpose. But there is still much for you to learn.¡± Drakos lowered his head, his expression one of quiet humility. ¡°I will do whatever is required,¡± he said simply. The Master smiled faintly. ¡°That remains to be seen.¡± I watched their exchange, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. They spoke as if the world rested on their shoulders¡ªas if the fate of everything depended on them. On us. And for the first time, I felt the weight of it all pressing down on me, threatening to crush me. When the Master finally dismissed us for her Chants of Escaping-Living-and-Dying Practice, the night was deep and still. Drakos led me to a small alcove carved into the cliffside, where the stars seemed impossibly close, their light bright and unwavering. I sat down, my back against the cold stone, and let out a shaky breath. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s right?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°About me? About all of this?¡± Drakos settled beside me, his fur brushing against my arm. ¡°I think the path is rarely clear at the beginning,¡± he said. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean it isn¡¯t worth walking.¡± I stared up at the stars, their light blurring as tears filled my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± I admitted, my voice breaking. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can do this.¡± Drakos turned his head, his amber eyes meeting mine. ¡°Fear is a part of the journey,¡± he said gently. ¡°It is what drives us to grow. To become more than we are.¡± I nodded, swallowing hard. ¡°But what if I fail?¡± Drakos¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Then you will learn,¡± he said simply. ¡°And you will try again.¡± As the night deepened, I found myself leaning against Drakos, his warmth a small comfort against the chill of the mountain air. The stars seemed to pulse with a faint, rhythmic energy, as if they were alive and watching us. I closed my eyes, letting the sounds of the night wash over me¡ªthe wind, the distant crackle of the fire, the steady rhythm of Drakos¡¯s breathing. For the first time since the avalanche, I felt a sliver of peace. It was fragile and fleeting, but it was enough. Enough to remind me that I wasn¡¯t alone. That, no matter what lay ahead, we would face it together. And for now, that was all I needed. Why Drakos鈥檚 Face Shifts to Fierce?-Ch. 1.3 Why Drakos¡¯s Face Shifts to Fierce?-Ch. 1.3 ¡°Drakos... this whole thing about dying¡ªit makes my skin crawl,¡± I said, my voice breaking. My words felt heavier than the wind pressing against us. ¡°Maybe Mom was right. I should¡¯ve stayed at the Practice House, just a kitchen hand, like she wanted. I shouldn¡¯t have¡ª¡± I swallowed hard, my fingers brushing against his fur. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have argued with her. Grandma was against it too, you know? She called Master¡¯s teachings... satanic.¡± Drakos tilted his head, amber eyes softening. ¡°And yet, your mom still sent you. She believed in something for you, little one¡ªsomething beyond what you can see now. You do know she had her reasons, don¡¯t you? She fought for this, for you, even when it meant going against what others thought was best. Don¡¯t let the past misfortunes¡ªthe fear, the pain¡ªtake root in you now. Her sacrifices weren¡¯t meant to weigh you down. They were meant to lift you.¡± His words struck like the first crack of dawn¡ªharsh and blinding yet warm. I looked away, the wind biting at my face. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about something else,¡± I said quickly, my voice trembling. ¡°The Wind Element. Master¡¯s been trying so hard to teach it to me... maybe if we focus on that, I¡¯ll feel less... less like this.¡± Drakos leaned closer, his voice low and steady. ¡°Are you sure? I know the dying thing unsettles you¡ªit unsettles everyone. But running from it won¡¯t help. It¡¯s... part of what we¡¯re here to understand. Especially you.¡± He paused, and his gaze flickered with hesitation. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard, not that I mean to bring up your dad¡¯s death, but...¡± He shifted the subject swiftly to my dad''s and trailed off, letting the words hang like a storm cloud between us. The wind. It seemed like such a simple thing, didn¡¯t it? Just air, brushing against you, sometimes warm, sometimes cold. But there was more to it. It carried memories, whispers of what was, and maybe echoes of what could be. Drakos nodded, sensing my thoughts. His voice softened, reverent, like a hymn. ¡°The wind isn¡¯t just something you feel on your skin, ?ri. It¡¯s the breath of the world itself. It¡¯s the link between all things¡ªbetween consciousness and form, between realms.¡± I thought back to Master¡¯s words: The wind is the bridge between what is and what was. Between what is present and what flows beyond. The thought struck me again, heavy but true: could wind really be that important? Drakos¡¯s words earlier about Tashi drifted back, their weight undeniable. ¡°So, the wind... it carries everything we see today¡ªall the lights, all the shadows, all the faces, forms, sounds, smells, tastes. And, of course, the ultimate consciousness: our souls.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I said softly, ¡°it whispers and roars all that we are made of¡ªour feelings, our thoughts, our movements, our consciousness. The wind holds it all.¡± ¡°And through the four elements, we understand the whole: ? Earth for stability, ? Water for adaptability, The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.? Fire for transformation, and ? Wind for movement.¡± Drakos nodded, a small smile gracing his face. ¡°Yes. And beyond movement, Wind is the all-encompassing force of consciousness. It¡¯s the energy vehicle of all existence. Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± I hesitated, but the words felt true. ¡°Together, they carry the grounding force of our being. Wind carries... everything. And when we exhale for the last time, when we die, it¡¯s wind¡ªconsciousness¡ªthat carries our soul out of our body.¡± Drakos¡¯s voice grew quieter, almost a whisper. ¡°That is why, ?ri, the Wind Element matters so much. It is the energy vehicle to break through... to help us reach full potential when the time comes. When you saw Tashi¡¯s dying consciousness, the power you witnessed was the revelation of our full potential. Now, do you see? Wind isn¡¯t just an element¡ªit¡¯s the movement of everything within us, of everything we are.¡± My breath hitched. His words seemed to echo within me, lighting up corners of my mind I hadn¡¯t dared to explore before. I wanted to believe it all. "Say no more, Drakos. I believe it now, after all the opinions thrown at me over the years. I can¡¯t understand how people could have been so ignorant about such an important truth¡ªtruth of Wind Element, the breaths--to our being. Yes, dear Drakos, eternally, I salute Master, I love you, and all who teach. But I couldn¡¯t lie to myself: fear and desperation still gripped me." ¡°Enough with the shenanigans, Drakos,¡± I snapped, my voice sharp, the wild side returning. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid anymore.¡± I wanted my words to sound solid, confident, but I felt the cracks forming inside me. I wasn¡¯t ready for this¡ªwhatever this was. And Drakos, I¡¯m sorry¡ªthere was fear. Real fear. And now, I understood¡ªdesperation. ¡°You¡¯re restless,¡± he murmured, his amber eyes soft as they studied me. ¡°Restless?¡± I shot back, crossing my arms tightly. ¡°Try cornered. I¡¯ve spent my life feeling like this, Drakos¡ªlike the world¡¯s constantly trying to shove me into a box that doesn¡¯t fit. Don¡¯t talk to me about restless.¡± His expression didn¡¯t waver. Instead, he tilted his head, his voice even. ¡°Life hasn¡¯t been kind to you, ?ri. But you¡¯ve made it this far. There¡¯s more strength in you than you realize. Don¡¯t let the ghosts of what¡¯s past keep you from what¡¯s ahead.¡± I wanted to argue. To tell him he didn¡¯t understand. But the words froze in my throat, trapped between fear and something unnameable. Above us, the sky pulsed with an eerie light¡ªviolets and golds spilling across the horizon, shimmering like celestial veins. ¡°What... was that?¡± I whispered, the words catching in my throat. ¡°That,¡± Drakos said softly, ¡°is what lingers when consciousness is pushed to its limits. The dragon¡¯s¡ªJC Draggon¡¯s¡ªessence wasn¡¯t just power, ?ri. It was something greater. Something tied to us all.¡± I turned to him, my breath catching. ¡°What were you before all this?¡± He paused, his tail flicking in a measured rhythm. ¡°A dog. A big mountain dog¡ªHimalayan Sheepdog, they called me.¡± ¡°And now? Are you... charmed? Or...?¡± Before I could finish, the air cracked like thunder, a jagged ripple of sound splitting through the cold. The violet and gold streaks burned brighter, swirling into shapes that felt alive, almost sentient. And then I saw it¡ªDrakos¡¯s face. Drakos¡¯s face shifted in an instant, his features morphing into something fierce and primal. His soft amber eyes blazed, no longer gentle but sharp and wild, reflecting a depth I couldn¡¯t fathom. It was as if the calm, steadfast Drakos I knew had been replaced by something... untamed. The sight struck me like a blow. My chest tightened, my legs trembling under the weight of it. ¡°Why, Drakos?¡± My voice wavered, barely a whisper. ¡°Why did you change?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. The fierceness in his gaze was unbearable, pressing down on me like the weight of a thousand unspoken truths. It wasn¡¯t just a change¡ªit was a revelation. Something inside him had been unlocked, and I wasn¡¯t ready to face what that meant. I staggered back, my mind racing. ¡°This isn¡¯t you...¡± I stammered, my voice trailing off. ¡°It¡¯s not... you...¡± But he said nothing, his silence more unsettling than any roar or growl could have been. A sudden thunderous crack split the air, shaking the ground beneath me. My vision blurred as the sky seemed to fold in on itself, the violet and gold hues twisting into shapes that pulsed with raw energy. The ground tilted, and I gasped for breath, clutching my chest as a strange, suffocating pressure closed in around me. My body couldn¡¯t take it. My knees buckled, and I collapsed, the world spinning as my senses were overwhelmed. As darkness crept in, fragments of memories surfaced¡ªmemories I had buried deep, memories I wasn¡¯t ready to confront. I saw my mother¡¯s face, her voice urgent as she told me to run. The chaos, the cries of those caught in the sweep of persecution. The whispers of her fears... her illness... her sacrifices. I Collapsed. And then, silence.