Chapter 4
She showed them in secret.
Lady Tiamat brought her daughters to a place within the domain, yet she has hidden it from prying eyes for the time being. However, when she showed her daughters, they appeared confused.
"Did… did you lay an egg mom?!" asked Rhea.
She laughed and waved off the comment. "Of course not, but, you ladies saw what happened to Kiyoshi, yes?"
They nodded their heads to her. "I took inspiration from that and am now testing another. I'm using my mate as the test subject…"
They froze. "Toji? You're using Toji?!" demanded Callie.
"Indeed, and so far it's very promising…" her hand gentle rested on top of the odd looking egg. "Within is Toji Fushiguro, at the same time; I had him ingest a cleansed dragon soul. The moment he swallowed it, it stopped his heart."
She turned and saw her daughters appear rather startled. "Why mother? Why would you do this?" Nuwa asked.
"Because, when this works, I want you to do the same to your mates."
They instantly froze.
"Our mates… can be dragons…" whispered Hecate.
"All except Toshi," she said bluntly. Syrax froze to this. "Toshi shares blood with Sukuna, and I had made a rule that he will never become a dragon. However, that rule has bounded itself to Toshi as well. Unless there is a dragon strong enough to overpower the rule… it would only kill him in the end. I'm sorry Syrax…"
Her head hung. Everyone but her will have a dragon mate. "Can… we at least find a way to extend his lifespan?" she asked as the tears came to her eyes.
"But of course child, I wouldn't dare have him leave this world too soon!" Lady Tiamat insisted. "Besides, I do adore him. He's cute and he makes very good sake."
"Mother, how long as he been like this?" asked Melusine.
"Barely a day, I just turned him this afternoon after the little chaotic incident with Kiyoshi. However, I do not intend on rushing this. I don't know how long it would take for him to turn either, which is why I am sitting and waiting until he does."
The sisters nodded.
"When this does work… how do we go about doing so?" Ouida asked.
Tiamat smiled. "First off, you are going to be upfront and honest with them about your true nature. You all have kept the appearance I gave you so they wouldn't be startled nor would any male dragon learn what kind you really are." She said.
All around she watched her daughters fiddle with their hair nervously. "What if it disgusts them?" asked Melusine. "I know… I am not very… good to look at in my natural state…"
"Don't be so hard on yourself, sister! You are a wonderful dragon!" protested Nuwa. "I am certain Tanso would understand you best,"
Tiamat nodded to this. If anything if this works out, she believes the curse wombs would be their best equals once they turn. "At the moment ladies, this is still an on going trial. I suggest you speak with your husbands first and then, once Toji awakens, we will turn them one by one to be safe than sorry."
"Yes mother!" they all said. Yet, once the ladies began to head back, Tiamat noticed Syrax still lingered.
"Mother… are you sure there is no other way to turn him?" she asked gently. "I don't be to sound ungrateful for what had happened, and I know if it didn't he would have died but…"
She could only smile gently to her. "It's the rule I made, the moment he started to hunt the Tooru family, I made certain there would be no way or chance for Sukuna to become a dragon if he found a way… he is one of the few mortals in this world who could have gotten around my rule in his madness. But child, it stands, and since Toshi has his blood and curse energy… he is bounded to this rule like Sukuna."
Her heart sunk. Sadly, there is no other dragon in the heavenly realm that would suffice to alter Toshi. A powerful dragon soul would be needed, and it would have to be stronger than Tiamat's.
But all those dragons are gone. Her brothers and sisters have been killed, and she doubts any of them would have sacrificed their lives to give to a mortal in such a way.
"We will extend his lifespan. I promise you, you will have a husband for at least a thousand years…"
It didn't satisfy her. She wants Toshi to stand next to her as an equal.
"You know how much he loves our children? Every day if he is not helping Sukuna with sake, he is with them. He teaches and plays with them like a natural. He's a proud father…" she said as her voice trailed off.
"I know Syrax…"
"I'll… I'll try and find a way to make him a dragon! If we can bend this rule we can bend that one too!" she said with great determination.
Tiamat merely smiled and nodded. "Just be careful and don't risk your mate's life."
There was a fire in her eyes now. Syrax rushed back to the village as Tiamat turned to the egg once more. "How are you doing in there Toji? I know this was all… very sudden for you but… I do really need this to work for all of our sakes. To think, when you become a dragon, we stand as equals…"
She paused to sit next to the odd egg that contained Toji. "I do wonder though… how will you act towards Megumi after this…"
