Children of the Dragon: Chapter 11

Sofie’s eyes opened suddenly and she was staring at the ceiling. Sitting up quickly she looked back and forth, looking out the window. Her old room had definitely not aged well for her. It still looked like it belonged to someone who was twelve, not sixteen. Pushing aside an old toy of hers she walked to the window and felt the fresh air on her face.

“It was just a weird and wild dream Sofie. None of it was real. I mean. Zodiac. Daze. Me saving anyone. That’s all insane. I couldn’t do any of that.”

She looked down at her hands and remembered when Daze had her trapped. When he was going to kill her and she freed herself. She had no idea what that was. She just remembered feeling terrified. Feeling hot and overwhelmed with power. She didn’t know how she did it.

Closing her hand into a fist she swung her hand and made a strong gust of wind but blew herself backward and fell on her back. Staring at the ceiling she sighed hard and shook her head.

“Come on Sofie. You’re still bad at magic. Nothing really changed.” But Emeralda’s voice echoed in her mind and she smiled. “Well. Not nothing.”

A hard knock came from her door and she looked up quickly. The knocking didn’t let off and she rolled to her back moving forward slowly. “I’m coming!”

Dragging herself forward she opened the door and was surprised to see both her brother and sister there. They looked like they’d both just got out of bed, wearing their pajamas. She blinked slowly confused. “Hey guys. What’s up?”

“Morning Sofie,” Sefirin said though the usual cheeriness in his voice was gone.

“We need to talk,” Silva said walking inside quickly and going toward the window.

Sofie looked at the two of them confused and rubbed her eyes. She closed the door and went back to her bed sitting on it glancing between them. Silva faced her and asked, “This morning, or at least last night, did you have a dream? Going to a supposed white alternate dimension and talking to a woman in all black? And did she mention the Zodiac. Or Nerodala?”

Sofie’s eyes widened slightly, “How did you have my dream?”

“Cause she had it too little sis,” Sefirin found a chair and turned it around, sitting in it.

“So that was real? That was actually real?” Sofie’s vision swam and she shook her head. “That can’t be right. I mean. How could any of that have been real?”

“Being a goddess helps,” Silva said getting the attention of both her siblings.

“I’m sorry what?” Sefirin asked.

“Did you say a goddess?”

Silva nodded slowly, “I’ve spent a lot of time with professor Sehren. And he’s traveled much further than any of us. I’ve read books and he’s told me himself about Nerodala. They believe in deities and I thought it was just religion but apparently, it’s real. What happened wasn’t some magically induced dream or illusion. That was truly the goddess of Nerodala. The goddess of all of us really.”

“Goddess,” Sefirin shook his head slowly. “Let me get it right. A goddess asked you two to go to a foreign country to stop an insane spellcaster from killing these Zodiac?”

“That’s what it seems like,” Silva said simply.

“We should tell daddy, mommy, and una about this. There’s no way we can go out there and stop Daze ourselves,” Sofie looked at each of them. “Right? I’m not the only one thinking that right?”

Silva remained silent while Sefirin glanced back and forth at his sisters. Sofie looked at Silva and her sister looked up slowly her blue eyes determined. “You’re considering it. You can’t be that crazy right? I’m just reading the room wrong right? Seffy?”

Sefirin looked at his sister and there was a look there between the two of them that Sofie didn’t understand. A shared memory or something more. Both of their eyes turned that draconic yellow that they occasionally did and then returned to normal.

“You’ve seen first hand how dangerous Daze is Sofia,” Silva said softly. “And he needs to be stopped.”

“Which is why we should leave it up to our parents,” she replied.

Silva’s head shot up and her eyes narrowed and they turned a soft red and orange that blurred together, “A goddess came to us Sofia. Directly to us. Not to our parents. Not to our family or friends. Not even to our brother. Us. That means we’re the ones that can stop him.”

Sofie stared at her for a long moment then looked at her brother, “You can’t agree with this right?”

“I don’t know Sofie,” he spun around and motioned out the window. “Dad and his friends. They did a lot when they were our age. More than just fighting the nil. Exploring. Going on adventures. That’s what they did. And they did it without divine intervention. So maybe now it’s our turn, right?”

“Our turn?”

“Haven’t you thought about being one of the greats Sofie?” Sefirin said and that smile was back on his face. “To have stories be told about us?”

She looked away from him and then down at her bed. “I mean. Yeah.  But-“

“No buts,” Silva stood up and walked to her side. “You always told me how you weren’t good enough or you thought you were just a failure. Well, look at you now Sofie. You’re a dragon rider and an actual goddess is asking for your help. Came and asked you personally.” She looked down for a moment her own bitterness eeking into her voice. “This is our chance. Mine, yours, and Seffy’s. We can do this. The three of us together.”

“Nice speech,” Sefirin said cracking a grin.

“Shut up Seffy.”

“No really. I think it was pretty motivating,” he glanced at Sofie. “I know you’re going no matter what I say or do. So as your brother, I’m going to go to make sure nothing happens. Are you in little sis?”

“If you say no you’re going to regret this,” Silva said. “We can do this. Together.”

Sofie looked at her sister and it was the first time in a long time she felt like she was talking to her old sister. And that was more than enough for her. “Okay. Okay. I’m in.”

Sefirin pumped his fist and Silva even clapped smiling brightly. Their excitement was infectious and Sofie grinned glad to be with them.

“Alright, we’re going to need to come up with a plan. We can’t just travel across two countries on a whim,” Silva said. “We need to pack our clothes, prepare for the journey, and most of all hide from our parents. Knowing them they would try to stop us the moment they found out.”

“True,” Sofie frowned. “It feels weird to lie to them.”

“It’s not ideal but its our situation,” Silva told her. “We need to be careful doing this together. Let’s take two weeks. Get things together and meet back up and get ready to go. I’ll be able to buy us some time as well. Are we in agreement?”

“Yeah no problem.” Sefirin folded his arms.

“I can do that,” Sofie nodded quickly.

Silva looked at her siblings and nodded in response, “Alright. Let’s do this.”

They split up and worked their best to prepare for their coming journey. As much as they were told, they went back to live as usual. They pressed for more answers from their parents but the best they got was that they were looking into things and not to worry about it.

So they had no option but to go back to life as usual. Going back to school, going through their classes, and being normal students. The three siblings got to work together as best as they could in secret. Silva studied illusions that could last for long periods of time. It was not in her natural field of study but she was lucky in that Alastor was a master illusionist. And though he was curious as to why she wanted to know them, it wasn’t an odd request nor the first.

While Silva set that up, Sefirin did a lot of research in regards to what they’d need to keep themselves going for a week. Clothing, food, time, everything. It was the most research that he’d ever done in his life. Especially compared to his school work.

And that left Sofie. When she wasn’t training with her dad, she was spending time with Emeralda as much as she could. Spending time flying together, working together, and understanding the nature of their connection. They experimented together with just how far their mental connection could remain strong. They realized that their connection was like opening a window. When they made sure they were open they could hear each other over huge distances. But if the windows closed, they were just aware of one another.

And because of their mental connection, Emeralda knew about the plan the moment they saw one another again. But she kept her mouth shut to everyone else. She’d spent a lot of the early morning with Nero and Silver. A lot of flying exercises rather than proper rider training.  Sofie sat on her back now, hovering in the air on the back of her powerful wings and soaked in the afternoon light.

“It’s almost time for you three to depart,” Emeralda said coasting on the air.

Sofie opened her eyes slowly, feeling the warmth of Emeralda’s neck underneath her, and looked at the dragon’s head. She blinked her large green eyes at her. “Yeah. We’re leaving tonight. So far so good with the planning. Silva has her spell under control and no one is on to us.”

She hummed going higher up into the air near the clouds. Sofie spread her arms, comfortable with how things like this worked. It was so different from when they first went flying, this was second nature now. Being on her back was one of the easiest things for her now thanks to their time together.

“What is it Em?”

“I did not say something was the matter.”

“I can feel it on you,” Sofie frowned turning her green eyes onto her. “You don’t agree with us going do you?”

“Not entirely no,” she hummed softly. “It does fill me with unease to travel to a foreign country and chase after a spellcaster that we know is dangerous. Even at the behest of a God.”

Sofie nodded her head slowly. “I know how it sounds. It’s potentially risky and dangerous. But something about it feels. I don’t know. Like I’m supposed to go there.”

“I know you feel that,” Emeralda said and nodded slowly. “I won’t argue with you. I am just cautious. For your sake and that of your siblings.”

“Thanks Em,” she wrapped her arms around her neck tighter and sighed. “You sure you don’t remember what happened when I was caught by Daze?”

“No. My memory has gaps in it compared to yours because of his magic,” she said angling her body back toward the ground. “But from what you remember, it seems like you awakened a bit of the faerie magic within you. Even if it was just instinctual.”

“What? But I’ve never been able to use it. Heck the wind magic I use is pretty basic as is,” she frowned conjuring a gust beneath her wings to pick them up slightly as she coasted.

“I’ve said before that you simply lack confidence in yourself,” she said softly. “In that moment you were able to do what you always have been able to.”

Rather than argue or play it off she looked at her dragon, her partner. She saw something in her that she didn’t see herself. And it wasn’t like with her parents or siblings. Emeralda was inside her in a way that they couldn’t. So she nodded slowly and stared at her palm.

“Maybe you’re right.”

Emeralda hummed in confirmation, “You are young hatchling. You will be able to get where you are meant to be in your own time. I know it.”

They flew together for a few more hours until it was time for them to meet. Their rendezvous point was where things all began. Out in the middle of the lake. She had previously dropped off her stuff for the trip earlier that day.

When Emeralda landed she spread her wings creating a minor gale that settled once she landed. Sofie slid off her back and both her siblings were there waiting for her. Sefirin had a large bag over his shoulder and Silva a similar one on the ground at her feet. As per the norm her eyes were a clear blue while Sofie had to fight to keep her eyes from being as dark a green as they would have potentially been.

“Right on time Sofia,” Silva smiled at her. “You nervous?”

“Of course I’m nervous!” she said her eyes widening. “How the heck are you so calm? Even Seffy’s nervous!”

“It’s true but I’m more excited,” Sefirin laughed rubbing his nose. “This is insane.”

“You three are adequately prepared correct?” Emeralda asked looking at the three of them slowly.

“Yes. My brother did his research and I checked on his math,” Silva replied.

“I knew what I was doing,” Sefirin said pointing at himself.

Silva shook her head and Sofie giggled, “It’s a marvel you did so well here but you slack off with classes.”

“It’s a mystery really,” Sefirin flashed a draconic grin.

Continuing Silva said, “We have enough to make it more or less to the border of Arkoria with as fast as you fly. If we stop and buy along the way to replenish and stay where we need to be we can make it to Nerodala. In the meantime, I’ve been slowly sowing the illusions that we’ll need to keep our ruse going at least for some time.”

She motioned toward the area around them and a glyph appeared on the ground in a few different spots. A mirror of illusions manifested of them. The one of Sefirin looked at them pointed with wide eyes and turned back toward his illusionary sisters. They said something back and forth, some kind of mild arguing, and illusion Sofie talked to the illusion Emeralda.

Silva made each one disappear one by one and it was just the four of them again. Emeralda turned her head slowly and nodded toward her, “You are a talented one.”

“Thank you,” she dipped her head and then glanced at the rest of them. “Are we ready everyone?”

“No more chances for cold feet,” Sefirin rubbed his hands together and nodded toward both his sisters. “You sure you can carry all three of us Em?”

“Yes. It wouldn’t be too much effort,” she said crouching slightly. Sofie gave them both a thumbs up.

“Let’s do this,” Sofie said her eyes turning orange and she tried to sound confident.

“I feel like I should be surprised by you three. But knowing your parents this feels appropriate.”

All three teenagers jumped and turned around as their headmaster materialized out of thin air. He wasn’t angry, in fact, he looked amused as he glanced between the Niess children.

“Headmaster,” Silva said her eyes widening and finally the blue shifted away into green with tinges of yellow.

“What’re you doing here headmaster,” Sefirin asked spreading his arms. “It’s a great sunset out here at this time of night. Right Sofie?”

“Totally. Great view.”

Sehren looked at them skeptically, raising his eyebrow slowly. “You were doing much better hiding it over the past couple of weeks. You’re going after Daze into Nerodala are you not?”

The three tried to keep their faces blank but it was obvious that they were shocked at him. Finally, Sofie blurted out, “How did you know that?”

Sehren chuckled and tapped his head, “I’ve seen many things in my lifetime. And I know a lot.”

“Are you going to try and stop us,” Silva asked defensively forcing herself under control.

“No. That’s not why I’m here.”

Again, they were shocked. They looked at one another for some kind of confirmation or answer for this not wrench in their plans. “Then. What are you doing here?” Sefirin asked.

“To give you two these,” he said making a motion with his hands. A soft gold burst of light appeared and in his hand were three pocket watches in his palms. They looked at them confused but one by one took them, popping them open. They were gold with similarly golden chains and when opened showed clean glass but no actual symbols or indication for telling time.

“What are these?” Silva asked.

“A precaution for you all,” He held up his finger. “Press it once and a clock face will appear to tell the time. Press it twice and you will know exactly where the other two watches are, to locate one another. Press it thrice and you’ll notify myself. Meaning if you press it three times, I’ll find my way to you no matter the circumstances.”

“What? You can do that?” Sefirin asked eyes wide.

Sehren chuckled, “I can do many things Sefirin.” But his face grew serious. “Under normal circumstances, I would do my best to stop you three. But I know that this isn’t my time to interfere. I can only play my part and be ready to protect you.”

Silva looked down at her own, “Is it like mine?”

“Similar,” he said and waved his hand over her necklace as a golden light passed over it. “And now the same.”

Silva frowned staring at him, “I feel like you aren’t telling us, something headmaster. You know more than you’re telling.”

Sehren did nod to her and smiled, “You’re correct. But I can’t tell you that much yet. Just know that I’ll be watching over you all. Be careful, look after one another, and good luck. You’re going to need it.”

The siblings looked at their headmaster and then exchanged glances at one another. Definitely wasn’t in their plans and neither of them had properly predicted this situation. So they one by one attached the watches to their hips and put them into their pockets. They faced their headmaster and nodded quickly.

“Yes headmaster,” they said together and one by one gathered their bags and climbed onto the back of their emerald dragon.

Sofie sat at the front, Silva behind her, and Sefirin at the rear. Emeralda looked at Sehren as they got into place before spreading her wings. Sehren chuckled softly and smiled at the dragon, waving one hand at her. She flapped once and jumped taking off into the sky.

Sehren watched them go until they became a speck on the horizon for him. He smiled darkly as he tapped his arm, “All according to plan.” Then he was enveloped with an inky black light and disappeared.