Souls Online: Mythic Ascension
Chapter 184: Dragon Eyes

Chapter 184: Dragon Eyes

So you have made your choice. Not for Mobility. Not for Strength. But for Sight?

Crystal shook her head as even she did not know why she chose what she did.

’It just felt like the right call to make’

Indeed. Your choice, while peculiar, is not without its merits. I will agitate the Dragon Nature of your new blood and focus its effects on your eyes where it will finish the transformation.

Crystal frowned when she heard Eisvir speak, something wasn’t right with what was said.

"What do you mean by ’Finish’ the transformation?!"

Hmm? Did you not notice the change before? Your eyes have already made quite a bit of progress in their Dragonification. Your pupils have even become one of a Dragon’s.

Crystal blanched as she indeed had no idea that had happened. The original process was so painful that she honestly couldn’t remember half of what happened. Her hands flew to her face in a panic.

She blinked rapidly, hoping the motion might help her see something different in her reflection on the polished steel wall nearby. But there it was. A slitted pupil, narrow and sharp, staring back at her.

"I... I didn’t know,"

she murmured, voice tight.

"Why didn’t anyone tell me?"

Your people’s eyes are small in comparison to your body as a whole. It would only be noticeable to those who looked you in the eyes from a close distance. The kind of distance that would be common for a Lover or a Mate. Neither of which I have observed you to have.

Crystal’s face scrunched into an irritated scowl. "Okay, rude."

Rude? I merely stated an observable fact.

"Yeah, well, maybe next time don’t announce to the universe that I’m tragically single like it’s some kind of scientific data point."

There was a long pause.

I do not understand. Is it not true?

"That’s not the point!"

she snapped, cheeks heating.

"You don’t just say things like that! There’s a thing called tact!"

Eisvir remained silent, the faint shimmer of its form curling through the air like mist that didn’t know what it had done wrong.

I will... consider this ’tact’ concept. But the fact remains that your transformation is already underway. Your emotional state, while interesting, does not change this. Shall I proceed?

Crystal let out an exasperated sigh, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yes. Just...Just do it before you decide to comment on my love life again."

Very well. Though I must clarify. I do not detect anything that one might describe as a ’love life’.

"Shut up, Eisvir. Start the process or whatever it is you need to do!"

Her voice rose an octave in frustration at the Tactless Dragon God occupying a corner of her mind. No sooner had she spoken those words, she felt a heavy thump of her heart and Eisvir’s already cold voice become even more solemn.

As you wish. Commencing Ocular Dragonification Process.

Almost immediately, Crystal shut her eyes as she felt like they were on fire while at the same time there was a building pressure behind her eyeballs. She grit her teeth, swallowing her innate desire to scream in pain

Crystal’s fingers dug into the sides of her head. She wanted to pry her eyes out just to make it stop. Every second stretched into something longer than it had any right to be, each heartbeat echoing like a war drum inside her skull.

"Ggh... damn it..."

she hissed through clenched teeth.

"This better be worth it."

I suggest you do not move. Agitation during this phase can cause misalignment in the restructuring.

"Helpful advice. Really,"

she spat with frustration, How could she not be agitated when it felt her skull was on fire!

Your emotions do not match your words. Is this the mortals literary device known as Sarcasm?

Crystal did not respond and instead grit her teeth as another wave of pain assaulted her eyes and now the eye sockets.

I judge that by your lack of response, that I am indeed correct. Fascinating

"Not.Helping!"

She groaned as Eisvir was off in their own little world while observing her

She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, as though that might contain the fire threatening to boil them out of her skull. Her nails scratched against her scalp, desperate for something to anchor her to reality.

Eisvir remained utterly unfazed by her suffering.

The restructuring is proceeding at an unprecedented pace. Your tolerance for pain is higher than predicted. I will make a note of this.

Crystal wanted to scream. Not just from the pain, though that was more than enough. It was the infuriating calm of the voice in her head, commenting on her agony like she was a lab rat with interesting vitals.

"Good for me,"

she croaked, voice dry and fraying.

"Gold star."

A faint hum answered her. Eisvir might not have understood sarcasm fully, but it definitely caught the bitter edge in her tone.

There was a sudden spike, like needles of ice shoved through each nerve behind her eyes. Her breath hitched. Vision exploded into a prism of color and fractal light behind her closed lids. She was certain her brain was cracking apart at the seams. Every inch of her body tensed, feet lifting off the ground slightly as her back arched.

Then as if everything before was a lie, the pain disappeared in an instant.

The Process is Complete. You may now deploy the Eyes of the Dragon on command. However do note, overuse of the Draconic Ability may result in permanent damage to the Eyes.

Crystal fell to her knees, panting as sweat poured off her body as if she had done some sort of gruelling exercise. Even still she did not dare open up her eyes.

Even though her eyes were closed, she could still see which was astounding to her. She wanted to ask what this was but Eisvir answered before she could open her mouth.

Even while Blinded, Dragons are still capable of seeing much more. It is through their physical eyes that they are able to exert dominion and domination over living creatures. My recommendation is that you refrain from using your eyes until you feel they have stabilized.

Crystals lips twitched at the thought that she would be walking around with her eyes closed like some sort of sleepwalker. Yet through her closed eyes, she did feel they were unstable somehow. She couldn’t put her finger on why but she knew Eisvir was right.

With no other choice, she tore a piece of fabric from the sleeve of her cloth armor and tied it into a makeshift blindfold. To the outside world, she would now look like a blind swordsman. For now, only she and the Dragon God knew that she was actually taking her first steps towards Dragonhood.