The Dragon's mate-2

What fate had in store for me

Emily

“How long before ‘The Sword Lady’ chooses her next victim?”

“Both of you had better be careful lest she chooses to make an example of the two of you.”

“Silver, why are you so serious all the time?”

“Because the two of you always expect me to clean your mess.”

“Naturally, you are our chum, our most loved…..”

“Enough….stop trying to fool me.”

The twins became quiet and had a look of having been wronged, while Silver Hair’s face had a slight smile. Their banter was quite amusing for a bystander and the three of them, standing close to me, were in their own way providing me with company.”

Flashback

“Your realm often defines who you are, Emily,” spoke my grandmother.

“I understand but…”

“Let me finish, Emily. Your realm is your family. This was the initial intention of all our ancestors when the Supernatural Dimension was divided into different realms. You see each being magical or non- magical has certain dominant traits. Living with those who are similarly predisposed is desirable as they are the ones who get you. While in certain realms there are divisions, in the Solar and the Anodyne, no such distinction exists in reality. I might be The Honorable Deity, but, apart from this position that I inherited partly due to birth and my abilities, all other positions within the realm are open to all.”

“So you want to tell me that, if I am incapable, then…..”

“You do not have a choice but to be excellent, Emily. Don’t look at me with such a terrible expression. Why do you think has the Solar Realm been able to retain its strength and is feared by all? It is simply because each generation strives to surpass the previous ones.”

“In that case, I really pity the rest who have a tall order before they were born.”

“This is precisely the problem with you. You do not appreciate what you have been blessed with. Take a look around the Solar Realm and you will understand what I said.”

When I had travelled around the realm inside the “Obscurity Mirror’ which hid me, I came across many kids, including Silver, Stelare and Stellare. My opinion of them being burdened changed. The harmony that existed amongst them was infectious. The older members imparted their knowledge to the younger people, who readily absorbed it. Their love for my grandmother and hope that she might find me one day, moved me.

As one said, “I hope we can find the child. She belongs to our place and it is unfair for her to grow up in any other place. If she turns out to be weak, then….”

Silver Hair interrupted and said, “No matter where she grows up, she will be outstanding. And magical talent, every child of the Solar Realm inherits the very best from their ancestors. We should not doubt her abilities. If she is lacking in any aspects, then we as fellow members of the realm will support her. We are her family.”

“Yes we are….” This sentiment was echoed by many others.

At that point in time, I was moved. My grandmother’s point had still not sunk in completely but, I was sure that, loyalty, sincerity and integrity were the backbone of this realm’s strength. I was happy that egalitarianism was the hallmark of the Solar Realm.

End

“What do you think, Emily?”

“Hmm…” Silver interrupted me and I was lost for a moment before Stellare spoke on my behalf, “Emily is on our side, Silver.”

“She is on my side as well. Don’t forget all of us, our Solar spoke Stelare and Silver Hair together.”

Stellare made a face while I too smiled. Their words warmed my heart and, for the first time, I felt that I was not alone. 

######

We realized that The Sword Lady had arrived for the Warrior’s Entry Test when she said, “If both of you continue fooling around, I will disqualify you from moving onto the next stage.”

 Stelare and Stellare, who were set on fooling around, a moment ago became quiet.

“Emily, I think that you are an applicant. You should stand with other applicants.” When The Sword Lady spoke to me, the three of them immediately left my side after wishing them the “best of luck”.

I too joined Weare and Fae, who smiled at me.

“Umm….”

It was slightly awkward to suddenly resume conversation but Fae, “Finished moping around…”

“You…”

“Emily, I can tell that someone broke your heart.  I am a fairy and fairies are the most perceptive . Therefore, it is fine even if you ignore us. The heart needs time to heal.”

“Fae you really bore people with your words of wisdom and exaggeration about how talented fairies are. You make it seem as if the rest of us are inept at magic.”

“I don’t know about others, but you are way below the mark, Weare. You had better pull up your socks.”

The two had started arguing again and I stopped feeling uncomfortable. The three of us had reverted to our previous selves, before my break-up happened. I was happy that these two had respected my need for privacy.

The two would have continued had it not been for The Sword Lady’s sudden attention, “The werewolf………..Somer’s brother…………if I correctly remember.”

“Sword Lady I am Weare not……”

The twins’ faces bore a smile. It seemed as if Weare’s answer had somehow spared them from The Sword Lady’s wrath.

“Just say yes or no…….,”

Weare had a blank expression which irritated The Sword Lady, who asked impatiently, “Are you or are you not Somer’s brother?”

“Yes Sword Lady…….. I am.”

“Then come out. Since you are an aspiring warrior who has taken some training in his realm, we’ll just measure your strength.”

The Sword Lady chanted something unintelligible, but when she stopped, the flapping sound of wings could be heard. I was surprised that one of the Flammaen avia had arrived on the school grounds. The grounds were suddenly very quiet and I could listen to all breathing collectively. For once, even the twins looked tongue-tied.

“For all those of you who have grown up in the Supernatural Dimension, I do not need to introduce the legendary bird here. I am sure that in your respective realms there must be enough information for those who have been interested in knowing. As for the Anodyne…you are more familiar with Flammaen avia than the rest as the bird’s origin can be traced to the Mortal Dimension.”

The Anodyne boy who was with us was vigorously nodding his head.

“So it is one of the Flammaen avia that will first test whether or not you have the ability to train as a warrior.”

“Just a bird……….I thought that it must have been something more special. What can a bird do?” Drake, the dragon boy in our class spoke along with two werewolf kids who were close friends with him.

Fae seemed to be thinking hard. Weare looked terrified and the twins and Silver Hair watched from their sides. The three of them had passed this test with flying colors and had been placed in the ‘Advanced Intermediate’ stage of Flammaen avia at the beginning itself. While Silver Hair’s results were expected, Stellare and Stelare had indeed surprised everyone with their competence.

Flashback

“You know these twins…..everyone thinks that they fool around but, the reality is that they are as powerful as Silver Hair. Trust me Emily, even the fairies have never succeeded in hoodwinking them and this is huge, as the fairies specialize in deception and can deceive almost all magical beings. My hypnotic charm does not work on them. In fact, when I tried, I was the one whom they hypnotized.”

I recalled when, during my initial days at school, I had once seen the twins angry with Fae.

“Don’t ever play such games on us kids…they said. It was only when Silver Hair intervened that they let Fae go.

My day-dream ended when I heard Weare’s scream. Weare had tried to attack the bird in its werewolf form and had been burnt by the fire ball that it threw from its mouth. Nevertheless, the fight got interesting as Weare too refused to give up and after sometime when it seemed as if the bird was just humoring itself, The Sword Lady announced the end of the confrontation between the two by asking the bird to retreat. Weare, bloodied and bruised, stood grinning. The Sword Lady looked at Flammaen avia, who then let out a blue ball of fire which rearranged itself in the air. The words are spelled ‘Superior Beginner’. We clapped and Drake looked unhappy.

When Fae was called, she seemed to deal with Flammaen avia better than many before her, including Weare. Weare swore that the bird went with her easily. “She was enamored by your beauty,” he said.

“Even birds know how to distinguish between pretty and ugly. Naturally, it would choose me over you.”

The twins said, letting out a low whistle, while Silver Hair turned his face away. His image of being serious was always under threat and I realized that Weare and Fae’s arguments were found to be quite cute and amusing by the top students at school as well.

 Flammaen avia was now confronting Drake, who too, like Weare, did not fare well and was, after a very difficult battle, allotted the same stage as Weare. Lin used her wits and, while unable to subdue Flammaen avia, only had a burnt finger. Both she and Fae were on the ‘Junior Intermediate’ stage. Finally, my turn arrived and Drake placed a wager with one of the werewolves that I would lose.

While the Flammaen avia had pledged their loyalty to me in the ‘Corridor of Fire’, I was uncertain as to how things would play out at that juncture. I looked at The Sword Lady. I failed to read her and waited to see what fate had in store for me.