A Talented Prince
I awoke the next morning fully refreshed, but hearing the tell tale sound of swords clashing. More confused then alarmed, I slithered groggily out of my bed and stretched out like a cat. If a cat could scar the cobblestone floors and shake the rafters with her roar-like yawn, that was.
The sounds hadn't alerted me due to the fact that we lived right next to a dragoon training ground.
Most mornings it was the sounds of practice that roused me from my slumber.
What was odd, however, was the notable absence of Leon.
I looked over the room, but he definitely was not there. Had he left without me?
It wouldn't be the first time, of course. No one told a wild dragon when they had to get up and go to training. Not if they wanted to make it out with all limbs at any rate. But Leon usually made sure to wake me enough to tell me he was going ahead of me.
Then I remembered my exploits from the night before and froze. Had he already realized?
I made my way over to the dragon sized opening that lead to our room's balcony.
It was wide open to the naked eye, but it was full of spells to let nothing but authorized beings in, yet let everything out.
That way Leon and I wouldn't get drenched in a storm, nor have the wind toss everything in the room all over the place.
Stepping out into the sunlight, I realized that I had really slept in! It had to be nearing midday...
Worried, I looked toward the far end of the training grounds where the noise was emanating and immediately saw a large crowd.
I saw several of the cadets we worked with everyday, even a couple of their dragons, including Neumic and Jarzan.
There were also the small children who were cadet hopefuls, and several teachers.
Seeing no other activity in the yard, I assumed that Leon would be there as well. I leapt from the balcony, flapped my wings to gain a little height, then glided towards the crowd. Of course, now that no one was looking I managed to stick the landing perfectly.
People parted naturally as I approached, making way for the big, pink, wild dragon amongst them.
I noted that all of them had either bright smiles or wide eyed, surprised, looks on their faces.
Some glanced my way, but most had their attention focused on what was happening at the center of the group.
When I saw what it was they were all looking at, I couldn't help but smile as well.
In a wide open clearing were two men locked in a fight.
One I didn't recognize: he was tall and fit, with wind swept brown hair and pale grey eyes.
He was dressed in rather expensive looking leather armor, and sported a very large grin as he traded blows with the other man standing in the circle.
Leon was dressed in his cadet's training clothes, and was a great deal messier than his opponent.
But that didn't seem to diminish the glee on his bright and handsome face.
In his hands was a short training sword, and even to my eyes I could tell that he was wielding it with far more skill than he had shown, even the last time I had watched him training.
Leon was no novice with a blade, and had been able to take on the other dragoon cadets- even with their gods gifted skills- more than half the time.
But today it was evident that something had changed.
The brunette man was clearly as talented as the swords-master, Abram, yet Leon was holding his own.
He was pulling off elaborate stances that he was incapable of before, and as I watched I saw the training sword flash with a bright light.
the crowd cheered, and when I managed to blink the light spots out of my eyes, I could see the pride glowing on my prince's face as he used a skill.
An honest to goodness skill! I felt emotion well up inside me as the two men continued with their practice match.
To think that Leon was finally able to reach the stars after struggling for so long. ..
"Come on now Prince Leon!" The other man laughed, spinning his sword dramatically as both men circled one another.
I saw, on the other side of the dueling pair, stood both Abram and Master Otis, the sword master and older dragoon were deep in conversation as they watched the match.
"No holding back. Show me what you've got. " The man grinned.
"Yes sir." Leon stated, planting a foot and lifting his blade. He charged forward, aiming for the other man's side. "Sunder>!" He called out, and I watched as the sword lit up and the air pressure in the vicinity seemed to change.
The other man laughed and moved to block the blow. "You need to do better than that!" He said, his own ornate blade starting to shimmer.
Leon's sword moved fast, but the other blade still managed to block the blow. But, to everyone's surprise, a sharp gust of wind filled the space and a gash suddenly ripped through the man's leather armor, piercing the skin beneath.
"Shoot!" Said the man, though he didn't look overly put-out, his smile still firmly in place as he disengaged and lowered his blade. "You got me..."
A cheer went up amongst the surrounding spectators, while Leon crouched low, trying to catch his breath. Still grinning, the other man approached the prince and extended a hand.
"Well done!" Cheered Abram as he and Otis walked up to the pair, Magistrix Frida on their heels. I hadn't noticed her till now, but she must have been hidden amongst the crowd.
"This has truly been a miracle from the gods..." The woman beamed. I hadn't seen her be so emotive since I'd met her. "To think the goddess Asteria would bless you right after your sister's ceremony."
Leon extended a hand, leaving it hovering over the stranger's wound. His eyes briefly landed on me, lighting up, but then he focused back on what he was doing. "Asteria's Blessing>" he mumbled, and a dim light lit up his hand. When he moved it the other man's wound had vanished.
"What and amazing skill..." Intoned Abram, examining the now healed patch of flesh. "When you said it was a divine right... well, I never even considered it could be this expansive."
Frida nodded. "It contains sword arts, magical skills, and even healing. As one might imagine a skill gifted in the name of a goddess would be. Truly astonishing!"
"I can't tell you how rare it is for a person with no skills to attain them later on in life." Pondered Otis, watching Leon intently.
As for Leon, he just smiled and walked past them, stepping up to me and wrapping his arms around my neck.
I hummed happily. "Congratulations Leon!" I said, ecstatic. I guess he had a lot of points save up after all.
"Thank you..." He said in a low whisper, catching me off guard.
"...what?" I asked.
Leon chuckled, setting his forehead to my own, his hands either side of my jaw. The others were now talking amongst themselves in excited voices and exaggerated hand gestures. The prince sighed softly and looked me in the eye. "The skill states that it was you who gave it to me."
If I could have blushed, then I would've. It wasn't that I was planning to hide the fact that I was the one who gave him the skill... to be honest I hadn't even thought all that far ahead. But suddenly being the recipient of his gratitude felt rather embarrassing some how.
"I don't know what you are talking about..." I grumbled, avoiding eye contact as best I could with his face plastered right next to my own.
Grinning ear to ear, Leon merely stated. "Sure thing, Allura." Before squeezing my face tightly once again, ignoring my embarrassment. Just as he ignored my discomfort, I also ignored the tears just barely held back in his vibrant eyes.