Arise the Dragonslayer [The Flash warrior series #1]

Chapter fifteen: A night with her

For many days, the academy's high-ranking warriors had been assigned to travel other lands of the Enchanted world to prepare for another sudden attack of the Devastrigon. Many weeks later, we got a lot of improvement in our training. Too many sweats and breaths were required for our it. But on the bright side, I had a great sleep somehow.

 

During our five-week training, we worked hard to enhance ourselves. Thanks to our fast-learning ability, we made progress in every step accordingly. I sure hope we didn't somehow make mistakes.

 

Monday: We've been taught instant blocking and counterattacks. The hardest part? When we were taught about six ancient Flash warrior martial arts: Kuái-Gónji- Block and attack, Shíyóng-mófa- Using your magic energy to strengthen or enhance yourself, Yidóng- Learning parkour, gymnastic martial arts, and enhanced reflexes, Pankration- Wrestling techniques and hand-to-hand combat (Victor was impressive demonstrating this), Mushin- mental martial arts for our mind to be concentrated in its normal state, and lastly, Shéng-Xinxhén- Making your spirit manipulate your magic together with your physical state. Time passed by as we did every movement to train ourselves. I even grew abs!

 

Tuesday: Thanks to our martial arts training, Claes knew how to train his students with weapons. The amazing and scary part was having a sparring moment with all the neiyads and against each other. In sparring, Chloriette was evading like the wind, Lenard parried with great force as if he knew how to handle this on his own, Victor fought like a gladiator, always focusing on offense and counter. While I, unlike the others, am acting so unpredictable, attacking and defending myself from every attack and blasting them long range with my bow and arrows. I didn't know why, but I could predict where they will strike next due to their movements.

 

Wednesday: Despite my five-week training, I'm still wondering about my complicated self. Victor improved his physical magic if you know what I mean. Lenard sucked in too much knowledge, reciting science and a bunch of spells, I think. Chloriette kept practicing her tone, even humming works. What about me? I still had no clue what my magic is capable of. Here were the things I only knew at least about my magic: I can shoot very deadly energy blasts, I'm fast as if I'm teleporting (At least I know how to catch up if I have a date. Wink, wink)

 

Thursday: Monster taming, Urgh! This was so difficult; I couldn't take it. Claes brought elite creatures such as griffins, pegasi, unicorns, and other amazing creatures that were so hard to tame. Lenard was feeding a D'vour, a gigantic chomper plant with seeds. "Hey, I think it likes me!" Lenard smiled at us. Suddenly, he was eaten.

 

"Yeah, I think he does," Victor said. The three of us rushed towards the plant to rescue our friend. Even Claes spat his juice and came to help. "Crap!" he yelled. I remembered what my father taught me. "Hunters always have great skills in taming every animal in his surroundings. Always remember this, my son. To tame an animal, do not force them to follow you, you have to show trust. With trust, it will follow and guide you everywhere while needing one another." I let myself relax and let it flow. No panicking, no worries. About a few days, I shared good communication with the other beasts as if we're friends. Ha, take that monster taming lessons, I beat you!

 

We also had a few and simple lessons to remember from Claes, he was a very good mentor. "Well, recruits," he said. "Your training has enhanced you. You all showed how capable you are in any kind of environment Equadaux has given. You have proven yourselves worthy enough to handle every journey as a Flash warrior. Great job." But I could still see the worry in his eyes.

 

***

 

In my room, number seventy-eight, I was lying on my bed. Too lazy for self-training. In my palm laid my watch necklace. Dad gave it to me when I was five. "Remember that the watch is really special, always put it on as if this watch is a part of you. Like a body part." Dad's voice came from a flashback. The both of us were in the living room as I watched him kneel in front of me. The snow outside was peaceful and gentle.

 

"That's a very gross dad," I told him. We both laughed and cuddled each other happily before going to dinner. My dad, a Flash warrior? I thought. I haven't worn this watch necklace ever since he never came back. "I miss you, Dad," I muttered before I put my remembrance on. A knock came on my door. Chloriette beamed as I opened it but her smile disappeared the moment she saw my appearance. "Is that the only pajamas you have?" She was wearing a sky blue nightgown. And it was awkward to see me like this.

 

"Two words are the only thing that'll explain this."

 

She chuckles, "Right. Laundry. Sister's fault."

 

I leaned on the door, then asked, "So, what's the knock all about?"

 

She danced and hummed for a few moments. I could tell she was embarrassed. "I'm just wondering if you're awake or asleep."

 

"And you're wondering because . . . ?" I raised both of my eyebrows. Out of all the Flash warriors in this academy, why would she choose me?

 

"Is it okay if a friend will join me watching the fairies and gaze at the moon? I-I'm sorry . . . it's just that . . . I still can't sleep. A company would be nice."

 

Tons of questions raced in my mind. It took me a while to answer. "Yeah, okay. Not awkward at all."

 

***

 

The air was crisp and the night was perfectly quiet. "Why me, exactly? As your company?" I now asked. We were sitting in another garden with waterfalls, roses, and dancing fairies. The moon was never this close, we could see its highly detailed surface.

 

"Not you specifically, but because my other friends were so busy. And I can't convince Victor and Lenard. You know those guys, right?"

 

"Right," I nodded. "Why do you need a company to watch this view?" I looked at her light blue eyes as they gleamed from the moon's glow that made my heart beat faster.

 

"Not just this view, I only wanted to go outside. I've been thinking about things a lot lately, and I couldn't handle them alone. Plus, I am extremely lonely."

 

"You can just sing whatever you want," I told her.

 

"I'll keep that in mind." She tucked herself in. "But I don't sing whenever I want to. I just had to, but it's not easy."

 

Well, that's weird. "Why?"

 

She scoffed and looked down. "Because back when I was a kid, no one ever pays attention to me except when they hear me sing. My family was rigid back then, my parents and my irritating four sisters thought that it's my entire fault as if I'm the one who's doing everything wrong."

 

"That's sad."

 

"Worse than sad." She glared to the moon. "Unfortunately no one is my friend because of them- saying my singing can be bad."

 

"Oh . . ."

 

"Until someone came to me. I've never met a person who was brave enough to meet a child with such a family. I only hang out with him when they're not aware. He showed me a place like this, where I feel isolated yet belonged. Every night, he's the only one who accompanies me to look at the stars and the moon with fireflies or fairies dangling around. We talk, sing, and became best friends. I've . . . never been that free before. This same feeling every night makes me feel free."

 

I didn't say a word. The only thing I did was listen to her story, her life that made her so miserable. Like her, I watched the view as I found it amazing, yet something was keeping me down. "But spending time in the outside world is not the same without a companion. I tried to meet with him, but I was fatefully captured by the wendigo and met Lenard and Victor. And together, we joined the Flash warriors. I never looked back. But I want to look back for him." I looked at her.

 

"What's his name?" I asked.

 

Chloriette brought up a bright smile on her face, "I haven't forgotten his name, not in a single moment. Kato. He was a stray boy who fell victim to the Devastrigon. I felt bad for him."

 

I didn't comment but I felt this guilt inside of me.

 

"You and Kato have the same resemblance you know? But less shy and much worse," she said in a sarcastic tone that made her laugh.

 

My eyes grew wider. She must've missed him very much. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to react. I notice that my right hand was close to hers. She didn't feel my fingers though as she was just looking at the view.

 

I kept on watching as she put herself in a tuck position. She began singing. 

 

"My song shines, like the stars at the sky.

My music thrives as it will never die.

A bird sings as it flies so high,

But I'm in a cage wanted to fly.

And now I am free and no need to cry,

I can again use my voice and sing for a try."

 

A tear streaked from her cheek. She immediately wiped it away. "Sorry lyrics are a bit off. Kato and I were not good at it at that time. So anyway." Chloriette cleared her throat. "Can you keep this a little secret, please?"

 

"Don't worry, I won't." I smiled. Then, Chloriette noticed something on my chest.

 

"That's a nice necklace you got there." She grabbed my watch necklace, thus changing the subject.

 

"It's my watch necklace. It's a precious gift from my father when I was five. He gave this to me because our ancestors usually give this watch as a reminder of our family."

 

"It's been with your ancestors for centuries?" She leaned to get a closer look.

 

"Indeed. It doesn't look old, does it?" I scoffed at the fact that it didn't even look old.

 

"I think it's beautiful." Her eyes met mine. Our noses were four inches away from each other. I scanned her pinkish cheeks and her pale lipstick. Her hair shone together with her eyes like a star. Silence kept us going like this. Silence kept us staring at each other's eyes. The silence made the wind carry the noise.

 

My heart pounded and burned with pressure. For many weeks, we mostly spend a lot of time with the four of us. Now, there's only the two of us, in the warrior academy's garden. Suddenly she shook her hand in pain. "Ow," she winced. I focused and smelled something burning. My hand was on fire. "Oh my sister's horrible cookies, I am so sorry!" I tried to shake the fire away, which it took me a second for it to calm down a bit. As it vanished, I glanced at her hand. "Let me see your hand."

 

"No, no, I'm fine," She protested while holding her burned hand, which doesn't look burned after all. "You better control your magic again."

 

"Well . . . I am trying."

 

In her smile, I can see sadness due to retelling her origin. "Okay, thanks for the company. My nightmares won't bother me for now."

 

"Sure, if you need any help or whatsoever, I am available," I said. Quickly she stood up and we told each other's byes. I stay seated here, with the beautiful view she wanted to see. Thinking randomly about her. A girl I first met by sending me the schedule on my first day. A girl whom I thought seemed to have a normal life. She was Chloriette, a girl with such pain, born with magical abilities in her voice that no one accepts as a gift. No matter how fixed she was, she's still broken inside. A night with her was something else. Something else that only involved the two of us. I feel . . . . . . complicated. Not love, but she just needs a friend.