Icarus had no time to form a fireball, Herbert rushed at him at that very instant, drawing a dagger and with chilling calm, asking.
"How did you know?"
The dagger clashed into Lyras own as she blocked, Icarus ignited the fireball and blasted it toward the man, who leapt back, it tracked onto him and he let out an annoyed grunt and slashed through it.
His blade was clearly augmented as a normal blade wouldn't be able to cut through such magic, even though Icarus' was currently incapable of producing large fireballs.
"It's simple, you lead us here, to one ship, nobody has shown their face out of your other carriages, you are either a wizard or a slaver, and your slaves are in those carriages.
Herbert laughed in a surprised tone "well done!"
The carriages vanished like mirages behind him.
"But both are wrong."
Green scales grew into his face and his eyes changed to appear more reptilian, he smiled and sharp teeth were visible in his mouth.
Icarus cast an earth wall infront of them instantly, turning to Lyra and Fred "Run!"
The earth wall shattered and the man blew through towards him, Icarus quickly raised his hand and formed a later of mana, not having time to change it into an element.
The dragon grunted "Dark blue mana? Such talent! A true shame..."
The mana folded and Icarus was sent flying, the ship and dock were behind him and he would have been sent into the water, however Fred managed to catch him and pull him back down.
Lyra yelled and created a spear of dark magic the dragons eyes widened in surprise.
"And this! Even better! What a surprisingly talented group I've found!"
The dragon clashed back and forth with Lyra, Icarus struggled to his feet and looked to Fred.
"Now go! We don't have much of a chance, fully transform!"
Fred nodded, his muscles bulged and fur grew from his entire body, his large, dog-like ears grew out and his face became Canine, his torso change into a heavily muscled beast with fur of arm length, his claws were sharp and thick, and he walked hunched, almost quadrupedal.
His back legs were even more muscular, and crouched like he was ready to lunge.
He flew toward the dragon, a dark red aura radiating from him.
"Hmm?"
The dragon pushed Lyra away and turned
"Well this is... No good at all!"
Almost annoyed, he slapped Fred away, he flew and slammed into a cliffside with enormous impact, Lyra and Icarus stared in shocked disbelief, more rocks fell onto Fred where he lay in unconscious.
Icarus turned and angrily shouted "What is it you even want!"
The dragon turned "well, I want to eat you! Of course."
Icarus was stunned and the Dragon continued
"Your mana is exceptional, even if you or this girl don't know how to use it, I can make far better use of it, and I don't want to stay a green dragon forever you know these things have their problems bu-"
The dragon was still talking but Icarus used this time and thought as hard as he could.
'If I could just find my gate! It would be so much easier to visualize! Damn it!'
He closed his eyes and intensely felt his whole body, looking for anything, he doubted he could find a way to win but maybe he could get away...
He checked everywhere, the air around him, his arms, legs, body, mind, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, internal organs.
No gate could be found, he shuttered, this made no sense! Gates were something everybody had! Why couldn't he find his!
He concentrated, Desperately visualizing himself entering his own soul, and checking every last hiding place.
He opened his eyes.
An incomprehensible sight lay before him, chained up inside of his body, his eyes stared, no understanding registered behind them.
The dragon stopped talking as it felt a small tremor emanate out from Icarus, Lyra also turned and stared.
"Icarus?"
A bright light cascaded down from the sky, it directly impacted Icarus, the dragon tried to turn and run as it shot outward, it encompassed Lyra and Fred, and the dragon moments later.
.
.
.
Icarus awoke on strange, Frosted ground.
A man stared down at him, Icarus' vision swam, he wondered if he had returned again.
The mans face came into view and Icarus backed up in shock.
The man had long black horns coming out of his head, and black scales on his face and bare arms.
Icarus backed up hastily
There were others around him as he lay panicked and breathing heavily.
All of them, more then he could count on both hands.
Dragons.