""We need to seperate you two."
"And we need to do it quickly!!"
"The merger process has already begun and the side effects are only going to get worse as it progresses. " Explained the Grans.
"What kind of side effects are we talking about here?" Asked Mimereus.
"As the process progresses, it will become harder for you two to distinguish between each other.
Storm might wake up one morning and think he's an elder dragon and that it's far in the past.
Your mental states will deteriorate as your opposing personalities clashes with each other for dominance.
Eventually we'll be unable to seperate you two without causing significant damage to both your minds." Explained the Grans.
"When you tried to pull Mimereus out earlier, it hurt more than I had ever experienced!!
So what exactly are the potential side effects of separating us?" Asked Storm.
"The reason it hurt so much was because you two are already beginning to merge!!
It would only get more painful as it progresses.
"As for side effects for seperating at a later stage?
You could lose a large portion of your memories.
You could lose the ability to feel emotions.
Or you could feel extreme depression due to feeling 'hollow', as if a portion of your soul has been ripped out."
Storm did not like any of those side effects.
"What would happen to me if you extracted me from his body?!" Asked Mimereus.
"That depends on what you choose to do, Spirit.
Without an anchor to this world, you will naturally move on to wherever the spirits of the dead go."
"If you wish to stay, then we'd need to bind you to something else.
Ideally, we'd need an organic body that doesn't have a resident soul inhabited it."
Mimereus's temper flared at the suggestion.
"I have no intention of being trapped in an undead body again!!" Exclaimed Mimereus.
"We never said the body must be dead!!
Just soulless!! It doesn't happen ofter, but there have been cases where a body keeps living even after a soul has died.
Bring us such a body, and we'll be able to resurrect you.
For now, we could bind you to a gemstone or crystal.
That will give us time to find a more permanent solution." Explained the Grans.
"Wait!! I've got a mission I need to do!!
I might need his help, the life of a fellow dragon is on the line!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"Haven't you been paying attention, young one!!
Your very soul is at risk if you don't stop the merge!!
We could give you the crystal that will house his soul.
That way you two can still communicate.
"I still don't....!!"
"It's all right, Storm.
Let them proceed." Said Mimereus.
"Mimereus?"
"I want them to do this, Storm.
It's best option for both of us.
They can place me in a crystal so that I can continue assisting you for the time being until we find a more permanent solution. "
"Mimereus... do you realize what you're agreeing to?!
Without a body, you would be blind and deaf to the world?!
Unable to manipulate it in any way except by asking others to do it for you!
You'd be trapped in a prison from which there was no escape?!" Explained Storm.
"I know what I'm signing up for, Storm!!
But you heard what they said!! If we don't do this, then we'll both cease to exist!!"
Mimereus tone softened and took up a pitying tone.
"You have a mate, and will eventually have a child that you will be responsible for.
I will not be the reason why a hatchling has to grow up without it's father by it's side!!
This is just a temporary situation, until I can find a more permanent body!" Exclaimed Mimereus.
"And what if we never find you a suitable body?" Asked Storm.
"Then... I will decide whether I want to move on?
Or continue to endure this fate?!" Explained Mimereus.
Storm slowly looked at the Grans and nodded his consent.
"What is it that you wish to do, Spirit? Will you pass on?
Or do you wish to remain in this world?" Asked the Grans.
"I will stay." Mimereus replied.
The Grans nodded their heads.
"We will need a few hours to prepare the ritual.
Is there an empty cave where we can prepare the ritual?"
"Right this way, Grans." Said Augustus.
...
A few hours later..
Storm was standing in the room that the Grans had chosen to perform the ritual in.
An unknown glyph had been drawn on the ground in what appeared to be blood.
3 smaller glyphs were drawn outside the main glyph itself.
Resting on a hastily made pedestal, was a crystal about the size of a candle that was placed near the front of the glyph, close to the 3 seperated glyphs
Several lit candles were scattered around the borders of the glyph.
Their flames were a deep purple color, that bathed the cave in an ominous color.
"Please go stand in the center of the glyph, Storm. " ordered the Grans.
After Storm did as instructed, the Grans explained how the ritual will work.
"We won't lie to you, dragon. This is going to hurt..... alot ...."
You may feel a sense of panic as we start to draw Mimereus out of your body, and may be tempted to resist or pull him back towards you.
You MUST resist this temptation!
It will greatly increase the chances of their being side effects if you attempted to resist the effects of the magic!" Explained the Grans.
Storm nodded his head in understanding.
"I suggest you find a memory where you were at peace and retreat to it!
It will help you resist the temptation of meddling with the ritual ." Suggested The Grans.
After selecting a memory Storm nodded.
The Grans took up positions in the centers of the 3 smaller outlying glyphs.
As soon as they started chanting, Storm was assaulted by extreme, gut wrenching pain.
It felt like someone was slowly sawing off his wing with a dull tool.
He felt something tugging at his being and he instinctively tried to grab onto it, only to remember the Gran's warning a moment earlier and released his hold.
He called up his memories of his and Aurora's night together.
The night they chose bound themselves together for eternity.
The night that he chose to be a father to the next generation.
The pain faded to a dull ache as Storm let the feelings of that memory overflow all other senses.
Storm lost track of time, and occasionally slipped into brief moments of unconsciousness.
But after an unknown amount of time, the sensation ended as the ritual came to an end.
His strength gave out and he collapsed on the ground as he heard the far off voice of the grans.
"It is done!!"
Exhaustion took Storm a moment later.