Children of the Dragon: Chapter 6

“Kyrix. That’s where we’re starting.” Silva gathered her notes together and put them into a journal. “Are you sure the spell is properly crafted?”

Sehren looked at her his eyebrow raised. They were in one of his classrooms, empty at the moment, with the sun setting outside. Sehren was presently clearing the board and Fang sat patiently watching as Silva worked. She was standing over a desk, giving the notes another nervous once over.

“We’ve gone over the spell itself almost a dozen times,” Sehren said. “Tested it twice as many. Each test was more accurate than the last. If Kyrix is where the next portal is most likely to open, then Kyrix is your destination. What’s wrong?”

She looked away and checked over her notes more fervently. “It’s nothing headmaster.”

“Come now Silva. Pretending something isn’t wrong won’t make it any less wrong. It’ll just likely bother you more.”

She looked at him and started to scowl scowled but caught herself and looked down. Fang padded forward licking her hand and she brushed her fingers through his fur. “I know. It’s just. Talking about it makes me feel worse.”

“That’s a sign that something needs to be addressed then.”

Sehren walked over to her and motioned with his hand as a chair flew over to settle in front of the desk beside her. “You’re going on a journey soon. I can’t imagine having something eating at your mind will be good for your enjoyment of things.”

“We’re not going on a vacation headmaster. We’re going to stop dragons from entering our world and find the cause for the damage that’s been caused.”

Sehren laughed softly, “That may be true but your father’s old dragon partner is alive again. Your sister has newly bonded with a dragon. And you will be going with your family.”

She glowered at the table and felt her eyes shift, not to a color of the faerie but of the draconic blood in her veins, “That’s the problem.”

Sehren’s face grew somber as he said, “So it is about your sister after all.”

Silver looked up sharply, “What? Why do you say that?”

“For one, I’m very old Silva. I’ve seen many situations. And two, I have a brother remember? I know a thing or two about difficulties with a sibling.”

Silva’s eyes died down to simple green and she looked away frowning. “I’m sorry headmaster.”

“It’s alright Silva. Just talk freely to me.”

She relaxed slightly her eyes going to an orange hue. But she frowned as she struggled to find the words again. Staring at Fang the dog seemed to smile at her, “Everyone sees my brother as exactly like father. And my sister. First, she was the baby and then the faerie and now she’s the dragon rider. But me. They called me a prodigy but so what. If I’m not always amazing then I’m a failure. It’s not something that makes me special. It’s just what I’m supposed to be. And I hate it! I can’t ever catch up to them!”

“Before I delve into that I have to ask you. Have any of them said that?”

“Who?”

“Madeline, Olivier, or your mothers. Or your father. Did any of them say that you were a failure?”

“No but-“

“Did any of them suddenly treat you differently when your sister was born or when you didn’t display faerie magic?”

She looked away but shook her head, “No. But it’s facts. It’s in every text. Only one faerie child can be born and only they can inherit the magic. It’s in their DNA. I can do any magic I’ve ever tried to do. I’ve studied it all but I can’t use faerie magic. I just have the traits.” She motioned to her hair and eyes.

“Your basing things off documented results. But you forget that you aren’t exactly a textbook faerie,” Sehren replied. “But let’s assume you are correct and you don’t gain faerie powers and you are a simple spellcaster. Do you think less of your mother since she’s just a simple spellcaster? Or your uncle?”

“Never. They’re amazing,” she said defiantly. “This is different.”

“Is it? Even I, when I started out, wasn’t that great of a mage.”

“You?”

“I was terrible when I was first learning. But I studied and kept learning and trying. In time they even called me a prodigy,” Sehren chuckled as he met her eyes, “Silva I’ve taught you, your siblings, your parents, and even worked alongside your grandmothers. I’ve met dozens of young spellcasters over my years. And you are one of the most talented I’ve ever met. But for some reason, you have this complex that you seem to have built for yourself that you aren’t good enough unless you’re more.”

Sehren motioned around them to the classroom and the work they’d done together. “Not one of your siblings could have come up with this locator spell. I doubt at your age your parents could have done something similar.”

“You helped headmaster.”

“I simply gave you suggestions. You did all the work. You are a prodigy and with that comes a level of self sufficiency and also expectation. But it’s time you start defining yourself as who you want to be. I know none of your parents think less of you. If anything, they think the highest of you. I know your siblings certainly do.”

She felt suddenly far more embarrassed, “No they don’t.”

“Sefirin always says you’re the smartest of the three of you. And Sofie is constantly comparing her efforts to yours when you were her age,” Sehren reached out to her squeezing her shoulder. “Despite everything Sofie still looks up to you. And now more than before she’s going to need your help and advice.”

Silva looked down just focusing on Fang, “I’ve tormented my sister. No way she wants anything to do with me. And I don’t know if I can move on.”

“You’d be surprised as to what people will endure and forgive from their siblings. Or the strength we have within us,” Sehren said wistfully. But he shook his head and reached around his neck. He pulled off his pocket watch necklace slowly. He handed it over to her and she stared. “Take this.”

“Professor. I. Are you sure?”

“Yes. Now come along Silva. You still have to prepare after all.”

“Yes professor,” she said gathering her notes finally and setting them into her bag. Fang jumped up taking the bag in his mouth and tossing it over his head. She pet him rewardingly and walked toward the door as Sehren busied himself with cleaning the classroom. As she pushed open the door she stopped and turned to look back at him. “Professor.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She left the classroom taking her course straight over to the dorms. The sun had started to set in the afternoon. She couldn’t stop thinking about her sister, all the knee jerk blame and anger she placed on her shoulders. Her brother was right. It wasn’t fair to saddle her with her own baggage. No matter how much easier it was to do than accept the truth.

So she turned her mind elsewhere onto the coming journey. She had traveled outside of Agrentum before but not like this. This was a mission. Not to have fun. But even then she couldn’t deny she wanted to see the other schools. To see how she stacked up when compared to students of other styles.

As she came up the stairs to the third floor of the girl’s dormitory. She paused seeing Sofie come down from above. Sofie had a wide smile on her face but stopped and immediately looked away as the pair of sisters started going down the hallway. Immediately Silva’s eyes went blue as she regarded her sister. Fang nosed at Sofie until she pet him but her nervousness was obvious.

“Hello Sofia.”

“Hey. Silva,” she mumbled. “Heading back to your room?”

“Yes. It’s almost time to go. Did you just get back in from whatever father wanted to talk about?”

“Yeah. We went flying. It was. Really really awesome.”

Fighting to keep her jealousy out of her voice she nodded, “It sounds amazing.” The silence continued, the third companion for their walk forward. Sofie kept stealing glances at her sister as they walked and was waiting for some snide comment. Some way to put down her experience with her father.

But she didn’t. She was just quiet. If anything, she seemed to be thinking about something intensely. But Sofie was afraid to ask her what she was actually thinking about. But she stopped walking and Sofie stumbled for a bit looking back at her. Silva raised her eyebrow and Sofie realized they were at her own room.

Stumbling back to it she nodded at her sister, “Well. I’ve gotta pack. I’ll see you in a bit I guess.”

Silva nodded and started walking past but before Sofie went inside she paused, “Sofia. I mean. Sofie.”

Sofie started not just at her name but at the name, she chose to use. She looked over her shoulder but Silva hadn’t turned around to look at her yet. “We’re going to Kyrix. Make sure to pack warm. It may be the summer but it’s still much colder than here.”

Sofie blinked quickly stunned and stammered for a second but Silva was already walking, Fang close behind her, “Thanks Silva!”

After half an hour the siblings gathered in front of the school with Sehren waiting for them. When they were gathered together, he opened a portal and wished them luck as they each stepped through. They were deposited in front of the castle and in front of them was Nero along with Fluffy and Fin at his side. Fang barked running over to his brothers.

He waved at them, a bag over his shoulder just like each of his children. But Silva and Sefirin had their eyes wide staring at not one but two dragons. Emeralda sat upright and Silver lying down, raised her head to look at the three of them.

“She’s beautiful,” Silva mumbled. “Exactly like I imagined her.”

“So that’s where we get it from,” Sefirin said looking at his hands and glanced at his sister his eyes blinking to yellow. She looked back doing the same and then both looked over at Silver who was staring at them both intently. She leaned forward her head about as big as them but her gaze was curious.

“You really are his children. And my power flows through you both as well. I meant for it to protect Nero once I was gone. I did not think that it would continue to protect his children,” she seemed to smile despite her draconic face.

Sofie walked forward quickly and wrapped her arms around Emeralda’s head as she lowered it. She hummed gently and Sofie smiled broadly. “Hello hatchling.”

“We haven’t been gone that long but I missed you Em.”

“I understand the feeling.”

Sofie looked at Nero keeping one hand on Emeralda’s hand. “Is it always like this daddy?”

Nero nodded going over to Silver and wrapping his arm around Silver’s head. She shut her eyes rubbing her head against his. “Having a partner like this is something special. As much as I love you all and your moms, it’s different. You feel it right Sofie?”

Sofie frowned and thought about it properly. She looked at her father and the warmth of seeing him filled her. She looked at her siblings and, despite the complicated feelings she had with her sister, she definitely loved them. Thinking of her mothers, it was the same. And yet the notch that Emeralda filled was separate one entirely.

“I get it. It’s so strange. But I get it.”

Nero nodded quickly, “I can’t wait to talk to you about this kind of stuff. What I’ve figured out on my own and what Silver’s helped me understand. It’ll be great to finally have someone to share it with.”

Sofie beamed at him but quickly looked at Silva frowning hard. Silva’s eyes remained blue and calm but Sofie could feel her tenseness. Silva turned and asked, “Emeralda, can you do what Silver does?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Shrink down your form. Like how Silver approached us.”

Silver looked at her and then looked at Emeralda. The jade dragon blinked slowly and then shook her head. “I do not possess this power,” she told her.

“I believe that form is a side effect of my revival. Of the changes to the timeline that were caused by both Daze and Shina’s actions. It’s changed things about myself. Made me powerful.”

“So what’s the plan dad,” Sefirin asked.

“We’re flying to Kyrix. At least starting to. It should take us maybe two to three days to get there,” Nero scratched his head lightly. “Trying to remember how fast we used to be able to fly. Emeralda was keeping pace with us pretty well so things should be smooth.”

“I believe so,” Emeralda said grunting.

“Then we’re going to split up the teams. Me and Silva are going to ride on Silver. Sofie you and your brother ride Emeralda. And we’ll get as far as we can tonight.”

“I mean, I could fly on my own,” Sefirin said pouting. “Kinda.”

“Don’t even try it Seffy,” Silva scolded. “You were barely able to change forms with headmaster Sehren. Take it easy until you’ve properly gotten used to it.”

“Yeah yeah,” he shrugged. “I guess dad’s plan works.”

Nero pouted looking just like his son, “Don’t make me it seem like I’m twisting your arm of son.”

“I like the plan father,” Silva said smiling at him then walked toward Silver. She put her hand on one of her legs and felt the warmth emanating off her. Concentrating for a moment she turned her own hand into a draconic one, covering it in silver scales. She compared their scales and when she saw how similar they were her face lit up and her eyes shined white.

Silver curved her head around and looked at her again. Silva reached out with her newly scaled arm toward her snout but she took it back embarrassed. Silver came forward and touched her snout against her palm. Her eyes turned a bright pink looking at her. “You remind me of Dawn when she was younger little one.”

“My una?” Silver hummed nodding. She blushed looking down. “Thank you. Silv. No.”

“No?”

“Calling you Silver feels. Wrong. Disrespectful.”

Silver laughed, “You really are like Dawn. What would you like to call me then little one?”

“I don’t know. But I’m sure I’ll think of something.”

“Well I’m definitely calling you Silver,” Sefirin said putting both hands on the back of his head.

“I would expect nothing less from Nero’s son.”

Nero smiled approvingly, “Sounds like we’re all ready to go then. Everyone start your dragons!”

Nero turned toward the trio of dogs and he dragged his hand over one of his arms. The dogs glowed and then vanished turning into a tattoo on his arm, three dogs playing upward on his arm. He jumped high landing on Silver’s back in a move that felt as natural as walked. Emeralda looked at Sofie and tilted her head, “What does it mean to start us?”

Sofie sighed, “Don’t mind daddy. He’s weird.”

Sofie and Sefirin climbed up onto Emeralda’s back carefully. Sefirin sat behind Sofie looking around at Emeralda’s back. He touched her wing lightly and brushed his finger across her scales as well. “This is so cool.”

“Your nest mate is very excited,” Emeralda said as she stood up shaking out her wings. “Is he weird as well?”

“Yes. Yes he is,” she said lowering her head.

“Love you too little sister,” Sefirin replied patting her head.

“You comfortable back there?” Nero asked and Silva nodded quickly. “Alright Silver. Let’s go.”

She spread her wings wide and looked toward the sky. With one mighty flap, she took off ascending rapidly. She kept going until she was starting to pass the spires of the castle. She went higher and Silva’s eyes were huge. She’d never gone this far into the sky and she held onto her father even though she knew she wasn’t going to fall off any time soon.

Nero laughed and looked over seeing Sefirin behind his sister. She was definitely arguing with him to sit still as they ascended. If he guessed right he was probably trying to stand up on the dragon’s back. He definitely tried and did that when he was still early with Silver so he couldn’t blame him.

Pressing his hand against Silver’s neck he shut his eyes, “Alright. You remember where Kyrix is right?”

“And you don’t?”

“I didn’t say that,” Nero smirked. “Now let’s go, partner.”