The second birth came from the lands to the south where the clan Minamoto holds sway. It is from them I inherited a love of the all things physical, and mental. I found, Bushido, the way of the blade. Hanging here in my library is the sacred sword I inherited from my grandfather, as it was decreed it should skip every other generation. It is always held in sacred trust by those who are not chosen, waiting for the ones who will come behind and use it.

I grew up the son of a Samurai, and trained in all their traditions and the culture of the Minamoto Clan. This I call my first life. I was happy and content to one day take over my fathers lands and increase our fame and fortune in the world.

It was while practicing with the blade and on my obligated geas to the land of the Ainu that a most strange and wondrous thing happened. I came across a band of brigands taunting and torturing a small dragon. My heart went out to the little fellow.

I rode in among them yelling and screaming as I had always been instructed. Instill fear into your enemies and they will be less likely to prevail. I killed the two closest to the dragon on that first pass and soon the rest scattered into the night. I took the poor thing and gave it what healing I had on me. I was bound to take it to where I might care for it better.

Once I cleared the woods we were in, I was descended upon by a pair of mighty dragons out of the night sky. Why they did not fry me then and there I don't know. There was something about the woods that kept them from hearing the cries of their little one. When I cleared the edge of the woods with the baby in tow, it was almost instantaneously found. Had the poor fellow not been able to talk to them, my fate would have been easy to guess at that point.

He told them of my rescue and then it was his mother that took him away with her. I sat on my horse frozen, unable to even blink an eye. The father spoke to my mind and said : “We are grateful. We shall not forget.” Then he flew off to join the mother.

I camped that night and as I was about to go to sleep, or maybe I was asleep already, a vision came to me. I should go down to the water and look into the pool. I got up and did as I was instructed. There I saw a reflection of myself as myself and yet as a dragon. The Gods had gifted me with the shape of a dragon, by the request of the dragon family. I did not know what an honor this was until later.

This is my life now. I call it my second life, as a shape shifter with the form of dragon. I am very devote and always keep up on my prayers. The Gods have seen fit to bless my life thusly and I look for the higher purpose in their wisdom. My strength is great and my skill even more pronounced than it was.