Look into her heart

(Click here to start at Part 1)

After the dragon exited, the magician was left questioning himself, testing his ethics.

Was I right to refuse my son's request? Magic is not a bunch of sideshow tricks. Magic comes from my respect for the soul circle. Free will in its highest form. Every being must follow their own path, and live by their own choices ...He challenged me to use magic against these principles.

But another thought plagued him. Why do I feel I was wrong to refuse him?

Then, several days later, the moment of enlightenment struck him. I trust my son. If he challenges me I should understand why. He called to the invisible dragon. "Come, my boy. Return."

Many miles away, the dragon sensed the supra-conscious call of his father, but purposely ignored it. He was still in a huff over their dispute, and was a bit sulky. If a dragon could pout, he would have pouted.

The magician looked quizzically up at the sky. Why doesn't he come? He always comes when I call. He intuited that the situation needed some persuasive words. "Dragon, I want to meet Rose, the little turtle you spoke of..."

The dragon halted in mid-air as the words reached him. Then he broke out in an enormous invisible grin, banked in a steep 180 degree turn, and zoomed back to the magician's castle...

They were soon soaring over Egypt, with the magician riding the on the invisible dragon's enormous shoulders. The dragon searched in vain for the tiny turtle. Where was she? All the tributaries around the Nile looked the same. "Father, can you help me find her again?"

The magician was a little amused by his son's confusion. "You are looking in the wrong place. Look inside for what you seek..."

The dragon turned his gaze within, and found words of the tiny turtle were still circling there, cared for like fragile rose petals. I live in a world of my imagination. I bleed music, breath love. He drifted aimlessly, but her words mysteriously guided him towards a particular sunny place. "There, father. Among the reeds."

The magician needed to understand better. "Descend, good dragon, but not too close." He observed Rose from above. She seemed to be an ordinary little turtle, no different to any other, enjoying her peaceful existence in the shallow waters. "Now, my good son, tell me again... Why she is different? Why should all the rules of existence be bent for her sake?"

The dragon's gaze remained on Rose. "Look into her heart."

The magician did a little more than that. With a sweep of his hand, he projected the visions and dreams in her soul in front of them as they hovered in the sky. The magical, imaginary world of the little turtle came to life, and they observed her inner world like you or I would watch a movie. A world filled with beautiful words, books, perfumes, and Victorian elegance, all cherished with 5-year-old wonder and adoration.

The magician was overwhelmed. "Dragon, you did well to bring me here. Take us down."
His son dared not to hope, but he asked again. "Will you grant her wish, father? Will you transform her into a human being?"
The magician spoke softly as they drew closer. "No, my excellent son. She will transform herself."

...Part 4
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