A Dragon Gets Invited to a Temple
Two weeks went by with Leon and I getting comfortable in our new roles as Dragoon Cadet and dragon in training.
Though, saying that I was in 'training' was a bit of a stretch.
The Dragoon Captain (Trent) and his dragon (Kalon) were still out on a mission, meaning there was no one to train me.
Therefore, the two weeks went by with me watching Leon do his training, or goofing off with the other dragons.
Admittedly, it was really nice to have fellow dragons to interact with, even if they were a bunch of battle-brained males who were not particularly partial to intellectual conversation.
I couldn't get much worldly knowledge from them, but at least I could learn basic dragon knowledge that I was sadly lacking.
For instance, Grysbok was quite good at pointing out certain herbs and the like that would help with indigestion, or aid with nurturing my flame bladder (aiding in getting me to breath fire just a little bit sooner).
Parthus was a wealth of information on the best places of interest in and around Helios, pointing out ideal napping spots, key hunting grounds, and places a girl could curl up and likely not be disturbed for a good while.
The other males were less helpful, most of their brain cells seemed to be dedicated to fighting with one another.
Not that that wasn't entertaining in its own right, and they seemed to appreciate the added audience that I provided them.
I supposed that they liked to show off, which I had to admit, I could relate to.
I was a little sad that I couldn't spend as much time with Leon as I would have liked.
Sure, technically, we spent nearly every day together but most of his time was spent in his studies, either on the field or in the library.
As much as I liked to read, since becoming a dragon I had found that I had broken free of my shut-in ways and turned into an 'outdoor' girl.
Leon pointed out one night, as we settled into the dorm room after a long day, that it was due to my age.
Apparently I was going through my restless teenaged years, despite - technically- being quite young.
That was totally what I always wanted: to go through puberty once again...
Leon joked that if I wasn't careful that the other males might try and convince me to mate with them. I glared at my friend. "They had better not." I stated, making absolutely sure that Neumic and Jarzan- who were standing near by- were clearly able to hear my words and the threat hidden in them.
Look, I knew I was a prime specimen of female dragon.
That was surely obvious to anyone and everyone.
But what made these silly males think that they were worth my time?
Nonsense. They were nice enough, to be sure.
But, aside from Grysbok and Parthus, they all seemed like frat boys.
If I was ever to waste my valuable time on a male, he had best be the best male out there.
Besides, as much as instinct told me that a 'life partner' was not a concept amongst dragons, I felt that starting anything with either of the males here would just make things awkward. Hard pass, thanks.
All that aside, when I got up this morning, I did not expect much to have changed.
Leon would head out to train and then the dragons and I would go about entertaining ourselves.
That, or I would accompany Leon to the library once again.
I probably should buckle down and get to some of those books to be honest.. .
So it was a pleasant surprise when a familiar scent reached my nose as I stretched out like a lazy cat in the sunlight coming through the large window.
It was more like balcony doors really; designed to be opened onto a terrace at the back of the barracks where the dragons could come and go from their rooms at will.
Leon informed me that, in the winter, the glass doors needed to be enchanted to prevent the dorm room from getting too cold.
"We have visitors." I informed Leon happily. He was in the process of pulling his training tunic on over a toned torso and looked toward his door expectantly. He didn't doubt for a second that I might be wrong. Which was the correct response of course.
"Any idea as to who they are? I don't think that Warren would risk coming here early in the morning any time soon." The prince stated with an amused chuckle.
The cocky blonde haired cadet bound to Jarzan had made the mistake of bursting into Leon and I's room a little over a week ago, in some misguided hazing attempt at wrangling Leon into early morning training.
The fool learned fairly quickly that he had better knock re~aly politely before ever daring to disturb my morning ever again.
I might not be able to breath fire yet, but I sure as hell made sure the boy though his tail was alight as I chased him out.
He had been somewhat sheepish around me since then. His dragon, Jarzan, seemed to find great delight in the event, however, and laughed at Warren every time he flinched when making eye contact with me.
"Nope!" I said, giving my body a good shake, urging the chilly morning stiffness out of my wings and limbs. Winter seemed to be not far off, and even if it didn't snow that much here, it did seem to get pretty cold.
There was a wrapping sound on our door and I could hear murmuring on the other side. There was more than one guest, but I decided to do my level best to ignore the other.
"Enter." Leon stated, roughly attempting to get his blonde hair to sit right on his head.
Much like myself, he woke up looking presentable enough.
"Serenity!" He said happily as the door creaked open and the small princess trotted in.
A slightly perturbed look flashed in the prince's eyes when he saw that his sister had been escorted here by her mother, but he hid the dissatisfaction well enough.
"Good morning Brother!" Said the princess with a pretty curtsey, just as pleased. She did not throw herself on Leon as I thought she might have had her stern mother not have been here.
"Greetings Prince Leon and Allura." Said Queen Amanda Orelious.
I couldn't remember which number queen she was, though I didn't think that really mattered much.
The last time I encountered the beautiful brunette queen had not left a very favorable impression upon me.
It seemed as if she was using her adorable daughter for her own gains, and I did not like that even a little bit.
"I hope we are not causing a disturbance.
Serenity insisted on coming right away."
I narrowed my eyes on the woman as Leon offered her the smallest of nods that proper politeness would allow.
She seemed a great deal more serene and proper this time around.
Her blue eyes were gentle and, had I not seen the hardness of them before, I might have just dismissed her.
Right now I was more suspicious than anything.
I got the feeling that she was trying to sooth the tumultuous waters between us, now that she knew I favored her daughter.
Just another way to leverage the princess, it seemed.
"Yes! I really wanted to let you both know first! After Father of course." Beamed the child, her giddy energy enough to dim the somber feeling that seeing Queen Amada had brought.
Leon grinned down at his half sister, perhaps the one least immune to her charms. "Know what?" He asked, patting her on her head as she giggled.
"Is it something fun?" I asked. Best to just put the Queen out of my mind for now. It seemed that Serenity was in much higher spirits, meaning I could put my dislike of the woman aside for now. "I could do with a break from this 'cadet' life." I yawned, clicking my claws on the stone floor.
"You've gotten bigger!" Serenity stated, finally taking notice of me. I suppose I could forgive her lack of understanding that I was the best thing to look at in this room. After all, Leon was the second best and her brother, so it could be seen as understandable.
"I have?" I asked as she trotted over to me and warped her pale arms around the base of my neck. She could just barely reach. "Hmmm... I suppose I have. I hadn't noticed."
"Yes, you are really big now! And even prettier!"
I snorted. "You and your brother are both shameless flatterers."
Leon chuckled. "So what is this news you have rushed here to tell us at the break of dawn?
" His eyes darted from his sister to the queen, who was standing just outside the door, having purposefully not been invited in.
She could stand out there for all I cared.
Still, if Leon invited her in, I wouldn't protest. It was best to keep things civil, if only for Serenity's sake.
The princess bounced on the balls of her feet, looking fit to burst. Finally, she announced: "I have received my Call!"
A wide grin erupted across Leon's face and he scooped his sister off my neck and spun her in a circle as she giggled. It wasn't very 'royal' like, and I saw a slight twitch of irritation flash over Amanda's face before she hid it behind a somewhat pleasant and neutral smile once again.
"Congratulations!! So when will the ceremony be? Soon?"
"Yes! Father was much pleased and said that we will have everything ready for tomorrow." Smiled Serenity as her brother set her back on her feet. "I wanted to make sure that you both would come!" Suddenly she looked at me, somewhat uncertain. "N-not that I would expect you to come Allura..."
I tilted my head in confusion. If it was something she was this excited over, and it was her inviting me, why would I not come? "I don't suppose anyone might want to inform me as to what a 'Call ceremony' is?" I asked.
"When the gods so choose-" Began Amanda, interrupting Leon who looked as if her were about to tell me. "- they send forth the Call to their children. It is then that we go to a temple and receive their Awakening, allowing us to bask in the warmth of the gods and receive their blessing."
Right... that sounded like a bunch of babble to me...
"It isn't the same for dragons, who curry great favor with the gods directly from birth, but it is a right of passage for human children.
" explained Leon, a hand on his sister's shoulder.
"Though we have our skills and the like from birth, as all do, we can't see them, or interact with them, till we receive a 'Calling' and then go through the awakening ceremony performed at a temple of the person's choosing.
Most get the calling between the ages of seven and twelve.
Though there have been rare cases of early or late 'bloomers', as it were. "
"Most hold a simple, family gathering." Stated Amanda, deftly ignoring the mild hostility radiating from both Leon and I.
"But with the royal family, there is a bit of a spectacle.
Only a few are permitted to attend the actual awakening, but there will be a holiday tomorrow, and the whole kingdom will celebrate our Serenity's entry into society. "
"Oh... Well then... why wouldn't I come?" I asked, still confused. She seemed so unsure of my agreement.
"You will?!" Beamed the little princess.
"Normally dragons wouldn't bother with 'silly human events'." Smirked Leon. "It's seen as an absurd waste of time and energy to most of them. The 'Two-foots' over sentimentality"
I snorted. "But it means a lot to Serenity, doesn't it. She is my friend, therefore I would be happy to attend."
"Yay! I am so happy!" She squealed, giddy once again.
Amanda did a much better job hiding her disapproval at the behavior this time.
Though, I suspect it was mainly due to my willingness to attend the ceremony.
I'm sure that having a dragon in attendance- especially a 'wild' one- would make Serenity, and therefore her mother Amanda, look good.
"When do we need to be there? Since it's a holiday, training will be postponed." Said Leon.
"Father says it will be around midday so that the kingdom can spend the whole day celebrating."
"Then you can count on us being there." Leon assured her, patting her head yet again.
"Come then Serenity. There were others you wished to speak to, weren't there?" Beckoned the girls mother, still hilariously left in the doorway, like a servant.
"Yes! I will see you tomorrow Brother and Allura!"
We waved the girl and her mother out and Leon closed the door shut behind them. I could hear Serenity's excited chatter all the way down the hall.
"She seems overjoyed." I stated, stretching once again.
"It's a huge mile stone for any citizen." Leon said, patting my hide affectionately.
I allowed him his morning ritual of examining my scales.
He seemed normal and happy for his sister, but it occurred to me that he must have also had an 'Awakening'.
An event where the whole kingdom was watching, and where- in front of all those people, his family, his father- it was announced that the gods had forsaken him, and denied him even a single skill.
I narrowed my eyes and huffed. "Do you think I am able to bite a god?" I asked off handedly, as if I wasn't secretly raging at the moment, picturing doing just that.
A knowing smile crept over the prince's face and he looked up at me, currently knelt by my side where he had been examining my front leg. "If anyone could do it, it would be you."
"Tch." I clicked my tongue, blowing a gust of wind enough to tussle his bed-head. "So annoying..."
I might still be fuming over the injustice of Leon's situation, but I had to admit that I was looking forward to the coming party. It had mostly been business for me since arriving at the capital, and it would be fun to see such an event. Especially one that Serenity was really looking forward to.
"We should got to the temples early." Stated Leon, continuing his work with a pleased smile still firmly set in place. "I can show you around and give you a run down about the gods and the like. I'm sure the priests would love to see you as well."
"Of course they would. I am amazing." I huffed, still irritated with how well this male could read me. Not that I thought I was all that hard of a book to get your head around.
"True." He said simply. I could tell that he was trying not to laugh.