The pain was indescribable! But it was nothing compared to the sheer terror I felt at that moment. Not only because of what was happening, but because I felt every second of it!

I looked down at my hands, physical and astral, and immediately forgot the pain. What was happening was not possible. I could see the flesh on my hands burning away. Then the muscle, scorched into just so much ash. Finally, the bones in my body crumbled into so much dust and blew away on the wind. All in a matter of seconds. No bonfire can do that!

As my body burned and disintegrated, the real world faded out. Somehow, the flames remained. But not normal fire. Not even like any magickal fire I had ever encountered. The flames were a brilliant silver, like mercury brought to life! It was terrifying, and also the most beautiful thing I had ever seen!

And wherever my body was licked by flame, I was transformed. Astral form gave way to black scales, touched by starlight. I rose up on my hind legs, stretched out my wings, and roared!