Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

I found power in accepting the truth of who I am. It may not be a truth that others can accept, but I cannot live any other way. How would it be to live a lie every minute of your life.

There was a saying that a man's true character was revealed in defeat. I thought it was also revealed in victory.

You are wrong when you say there is no power in being a woman. When I think of my mother and the women in my tribe, and the hidden women in the harem, I know there are many types of power in this world...I found power in accepting the truth of who I am. It may not be a truth that others can accept, but I cannot live any other way. How would it be to live a lie every minute of your life? I don't think I could do it.

He grunted. 'You have the courage of a warrior.' I watched him turn away and gather the clothes from the ground. He thought me courageous? But I was terrified - always terrified. 'No,' I said flatly. 'I don't." He paused from stuffing the invaluable robe between two bales. 'Are you frightened now?' I nodded, shame flushing my skin. 'Is it going to stop you?' 'No.' 'That is the courage of a warrior.

Even a cornered rabbit will fight with teeth and claws.

A cold realisation washed over me. From now on, my master would not always be there to protect and counsel me. 'This is big. Too big,' I said. 'What do I do?' 'You follow your destiny,' Ryoko said. 'As we all do. With honour and courage.

I felt something stir within me. It took a moment to recognise it. Anger.

A shrieking rise of power rushed into my pathways, rocking me against the wall. Ido's body slammed into mine. He was not going to let go. Not now. The Rat Dragon howled, his heavy blue force driven back by the onslaught of sinuous gold. Raw,rejoicing energy flooded my seven centers of power; opening,pushing, seeking. And behind it all, a presence exulting in the joy of release and reunion. I looked up and finally my mind-sight was clear. I could see the Mirror Dragon. My Dragon.

How brief and hidden were the moments of destiny.

-Vos tenéis el valor de un guerrero -masculló. Vi que se volvía y recogía ropas del suelo. ¿Él creía que yo era valiente? Pero estaba aterrado -siempre aterrado. -No -objeté-. No lo tengo. Él dejó de meter aquella túnica de valor incalculable entre dos fardos y me miró. -¿Tenéis miedo ahora? Asentí, y me ruboricé de verguenza. -¿Y el miedo va a impediros actuar? -No. -Ese es el valor del guerrero." Ryko y Eon

It was Dolana, at the salt farm, who first told me about the gaze of men: that look of temporary possession that some men pressed against female flesh. About its dangers and possibilities. It can be used to survive, Dolana had said softly, showing me the power that lay in reflecting a man's desire. And even at twelve years old, the knowledge of it was already in the way I moved my head, my hands, my shoulders. But Dolana had whispered her secrets to a girl. And I had to become a boy. I had to stop being alert to the turn of a man's head towards me. Stop glancing up to meet his gaze in fleeting connection. Stop falsely veiling my eyes from his momentary interest. It was hard to train out of my body, but I practised and learned to cloak myself in the skin and gaze of a boy.

Un refrán decía que el verdadero carácter de un hombre se demostraba en la derrota. Pero a mi me parecía que también se demostraba en la victoria." Eon

Descubrí que aceptar la verdad de quién era me otorgaba poder. Tal vez no sea una verdad que otros puedan aceptar, pero no puedo vivir de ningún otro modo. ¿Cómo sería vivir una mentira cada minuto de tu vida?" Dama Dela

A drowning man groping for a twig.