Only recently have Shiji-Long found very curious remains in remote areas of Shengdao. It's nothing unusual to find remains of times of war, but these bones seemed different. They had a faint, hollow glow to it, magic still flowing through the material, as if death had not been the end. While usually magic flows back into nature, these individuals had either been cursed or blessed by a very powerful being.
Skulls were found not soon after, illuminated by bright magic from within them, gushing out like burning flames. These skulls were brought to the elders in Tianshu, who sneered the moment they saw these cursed objects. They knew how these Shijis had been created, how they had been changed and they ordered their subjects to be careful around them. It could very well be that the magic within them was still strong enough to change those who were in their presence for too long.
Zhishi had taken one of the skulls for herself, her curiousity too strong to not do so. And she, after days of research in the old tomes of the library, revealed something to the closest members of her clan.
These skulls were still harboring the essence of their late selves, the magic still there. There was no other explanation; these dragons had been created by another elder. Someone powerful and old who gave a part of themselves to their subjects to preserve their magic for all eternity. Why though, was the question. Back in the war there had been a few elders who had been adept in darker magics. Maybe one of them had survived. So Zhishi sent out messengers to see if there were any rumors spreading.
Eventually, they found a Shiji that was changed because of such a skull. Apparently, even the elders' magic cannot undo the transformation.
Hollow Shiji-Long have been in contact with a hollowed skull. These belonged to a cursed/blessed individual, who received their magic from a dark elder. These Shiji-Long are not necessarily evil, but they can be influenced by the magic that belongs to the lost soul.
The magic of the skull turned a lot of their fur into scales. Their colors darken and features grow more calloused. Especially the face, spine, feet and hands are seamed with sturdier scales that can look as if their bones are protruding. Almost all their longer fur is gone and instead, magic pours out of their skin instead. This magic is touchable, almost as if it is smoke. Strangely, the color of this magic stays within the range of purples, blues and greens and always goes from light to darker when it’s fading out. Just like a flame, the magic seems almost white near the Shiji’s skin.
Their eyes seem to burn with the same flame and the researchers wonder whether there is another intention behind those bright orbs.