Dragon Masters Ch. 3

As Gwen and I walked through the crowded campus of Noreen University, or NU, I kept getting strange looks from the other students. We passed people I was acquainted with and each face I recognized, didn’t recognize me. That is, until they starred long enough to know the once scrawny nerd from their math class changed dramatically overnight.

Now I wasn’t the center of attention, I wasn’t that well known, but the few stares I did get, made me feel uncomfortable. I get it, most people don’t change so dramatically overnight, but I didn’t think it warranted such intense glares.

“Vik? Are you okay?” Gwen asked, nudging my arm with her elbow.

I looked down at her… that was a new experience. I was so used to looking her in the eyes that having to tilt my head down almost made me trip over my own feet, “Yeah. I’m okay, are you okay?”

“Don’t change the subject. I’m asking a legitimate question here. How are you feeling? I heard faulty magic tattoos could kill a person, like my frogs.”

The mental image of myself hopping around and suddenly exploding in a large fire ball. Not something I’d want to happen to me. “No, I’m good. I don’t have any sudden urges to start hopping.”

She rolled her eyes with a smile, “Not what I had in mind, but good enough.”

We entered the main administrative building, the stone work something of an old castle and top of the line magic infused technology making the connection between tradition and advancement. I always thought it was strange to build a college campus around an old castle, but I heard the headmaster was symbolic like that.

Inside, Gwen directed us to the elevators and took us up to the top floor. The top floor wasn’t part of the original castle like the rest of the building; at some point the addition was supposed to be about overcoming our past, but I think during the renovation of the castle, they had more money in the budget than expected and used it up. So now the headmaster had a fancy office on top of a thousand year old castle.

“I’ve never met the headmaster before. Anything I need to know?” I asked the headmaster’s granddaughter.

Gwen scratched at her long ear in thought, “Hmm… Grandfather is quite… eccentric in his old age. His mind isn’t gone, but I think he’s getting bored.”

“Bored?”

“Yeah. I said he was around when the last dragon master lived. During those times, he wasn’t just a scholar, he was an elven soldier. He might be itching for a fight again.”

Again? I’ve heard the headmaster was a bit strange, but I didn’t think he was a battle junkie. I couldn’t imagine looking for a fight for the thrill of it. The elevator doors opened and a polished wooden desk on a red carpet came into view. A prim and proper old woman sat behind the desk, filling out paperwork with an old fashion ink and quill. Did she not believe in pens?

The woman with a grey bun and a hot pink reading glasses looked up us as we exited the elevator, “Ah, Miss Noreen, how nice to see you again.”

“Nice to see you too, Debra. You know I’ve asked you to call me Gwen, I hate it when my friends are overly proper around me.” She said as she approached the desk, “Is my grandfather in?”

Debra smiled, her wrinkles scrunching together, “Yes, he’s in his office.” She leaned into the desk and lowered her voice, “And who may this be? Come to introduce him to your grandfather?”

Gwen stood straight, the tips of her long ears turning pink, “This is Vik, and yes, I’m here to introduce him to Grandfather, but not for the reason you’re implying.”

“And what am I implying, young lady.” Debra said, a grin plastered on her face. She knew what she was doing. Gwen huffed and stomped past the receptionist and toward the large double doors behind Debra’s desk. I followed her and offered the woman a smile and a wave. She smiled back, “Good luck with that family.”

“I’m sorry?” I asked.

Before I got an answer, Gwen called me over, “Vik, come on. We’ll see her on the way out.”

I walked away from the desk and joined Gwen at the doors, “Okay, lets go in.” I reached for the door handle.

Gwen put a hand on my arm, “Hang on. Let me go in first. If he’s in one of his moods, I want to calm him down before he…”

Out of nowhere, the door swung in and a hand wrapped itself around my arm. I could see Gwen’s eyes widen as I was yanked into the main office. I was thrown across office, the room moving in slow motion. A large round room with filled bookshelves lined the walls and a large desk sat in the middle with the biggest leather chair I’ve ever seen. Who needed a chair that big? It looked like it was made for giants.

I looked back at where I was thrown from and there was Gwen, horrified, and an old man with no hair on top of his head, a long beard and long ears starting to run towards me in mid air, that is, until I crashed into the far wall. After I fell to the floor, books fell from the shelves into my lap and around me. The old man was on top of me before I knew it, “Welcome to my office.” Said the old man, smiling like a lunatic.

He grabbed my jaw in one hand and turned my head from side to side, studying my face. The old man looked frail, but his grip felt like a vice grip. Backing up and picking me up off the ground by my face, I could just barely hear Gwen’s voice over the pain, “Grandfather, stop it! Put him down!”

I don’t know if the one’s reading this have ever felt the displeasure of having your entire weight being supported by your chin, but if I could’ve opened my mouth, I would have been screaming. I held onto his thin arm, trying to keep the strain off my poor face. I wasn’t the best looking guy around, but I’d like to keep it how it was currently.

“I can’t believe it.” The Headmaster said, turning to face his granddaughter, my back to her now, “He’s a Dragon Master. I haven’t seen a Dragon Master in nearly five hundred years.”

“Then why are you trying to kill him?” Gwen yelled. I thought I could feel her finger of doom pointing at us.

“Don’t you point at me.” He demanded.

Called it.

Growing frustrated with how much my current holding hurt, I bashed my arm into the bend of his elbow. He dropped me and looked down at me, “About time you started fighting back.” He tilted his head and his neck cracked.

I was in trouble. I could see it in his eyes, like a spark that turned into an inferno. It was that look that told me I wasn’t going to win this fight, my first real fight, but I wasn’t going to lose without getting a few good hits in. I jumped into into his stomach to tackle him to the ground, but I caught nothing but air. In the middle of my jump, something slammed into my back and knocked me to the ground.

I tasted blood in my mouth and the polished floor smelled like wax. I groaned as I peeled my aching body off the floor, “What the hell was that?”

Gwen was in front of me as I managed to get up on my knees, the old man, circling us. The blurred image of her face winced as she took a look at me. Something happened to my glasses, hopefully not broken. “Vik, you’re face.” Said Gwen.

I touched my face and felt something warm and slick on my fingers. Pulling my hand back, blood dripped heavily in my hand. I looked down and saw a small puddle of blood on the ground where my face became aquainted with. “How bad is it?” I asked, looking up at her.

“Vik, there’s nothing there anymore.” She touched my face, looking for the cause of all the blood.

“So you can heal quickly. Tell me, do you feel any pain at the moment?” Asked the old man as he stopped beside Gwen, holding something in his hand.

I took my glasses, a crack had webbed itself in the left lense. Glasses were expensive, I hoped the warranty was still good for them. As for the pain from being tossed across the room, held up by my face and being pummeled into the ground, which I still have no idea how that happened, I felt… Nothing. I mean, I feel discomfort, like a soreness all over, but nothin I would classify as pain. “No, nothing. What’s happening to me?”

The old man walked over to the over sized desk in the middle of the room, the one I flew over upon my arrival. He sat down in the leather chair, dwarfing him in its size. He sat there, hands folded over each other on his desk, waiting for Gwen and I to follow him to his desk. The personality shifts on this guy… my head was starting to spin.

Gwen helped me to my feet and handed me a handkerchief from her pocket to clean the blood off my face. “Thanks… who still carries handkerchiefs?”

“Shut up. You can keep that.” She playfully punched my arm walking past me. I joined her at the headmaster’s desk.

“Okay, Mr. Noreen… headmaster…” I said, looking for a proper title to call the crazy old man.

The headmaster held up his hand, “Please, call me Professor if you are unsure.”

“Professor,” I lamented, “can you tell, without hurting me, what is happening to me?”

The professor chuckled, probably remembering how much fun tossing me around was, “Forgive me. I was merely having a bit of fun. I sensed a great power on the other side of the door and you know the rest.”

I rolled my shoulder, the feeling of hitting the bookshelves still etched into my muscles. Gwen put a hand on her hip and a finger on the desk, “How many times have I and my father had this talk with you? The wars are over, and you are too old to be fighting anyone anymore.”

“But he is unhurt. He is able to heal very quickly.” The professor claimed.

“And if he couldn’t? We’d be looking at another lawsuit, and I definitely wouldn’t be on your side this time.” She snapped back.

I needed to quell this family dispute and get this train back on track. I held my hand up like a child in grade school. The professor jumped at the chance to derail Gwen’s directed fury, “Yes, young man.”

I just realized I haven’t introduced myself. How about that, the guy picked a fight without even knowing my name, “Uh, yeah. My name’s Viktus, but you can call me Vik.” He nodded in acknowledgment and I continued, “You obviously know what’s going on with me, can you finish what you were saying about my condition?”

Gwen huffed and crossed her arms. Her vivid red hair swept over her shoulder. She was pretty when she was angry, but I think I’ll keep that to myself for now. The professor noticed Gwen’s obvious disapproval and told his tale, “Young Viktus, your ‘condition’ is nothing but a miracle. You have been bonded with a dragon, and are dubbed a Dragon Master. You’re healing abilities are no doubt gifts from your dragon’s magic.”

“I know dragons are part magical energy, but I didn’t think dragons could use it.” I said.

“For the most part, they can’t. Dragons unbounded are no more than colorful lizards, but the potential they hold is quite profound in my experience.” The old man shifted in his seat, looking embarrassed, “Can you show me your dragon?”

I was afraid he was going to ask that. I had no idea how to… summon, I guess is the right word, the black beast. “I actually don’t know how to…”

“You need only will it. In my youth, I had taken my time to study the practicalities of dragon magics. So, in your mind, visualize your dragon leaving your body and onto the desk.” Said the Professor.

“Alright, that simple huh?” I said as I put my hand over the desk. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the midnight black lizard coming out of my hand like it had disappeared into it this morning. The image of black mist leaving my body and coming together on the desk. Focus…

A cold chill fell down my arm and I opened my eyes. The black mist spilled from my arm and dispersed on the table. The dragon, it’s bright yellow eyes fixated on me, tilted it’s head like a dog’s and I had the distinct impression that it wanted to know why it was called.

A gasp came from the professor as he stood to examine the beast, “How magnificent. He is truly breathtaking.”

“He?” Gwen asked.

The professor nodded and pointed at the base of the dragon’s tail, “Look there. The ways the scales part where the tail and the body meet indicates it’s a male. A female’s scales would open up further under the tail for easier…”

“Okay, that’s great and all, but how is all this a ‘miracle’ as you say?” I ask, trying to keep us from diverging again.

“It is a miracle, young Viktus. You are one of the few people in history to ever have been bonded with a dragon. The markings on your skin prove your connection to our world’s source of magic.”

Gwen waved her hands in front of her, “Wait, wait. What source of magic? I thought magic was a naturally occurring thing like gravity?”

“Has my son taught you nothing?” The old man stood, stroking his beard. He walked, or waddled, over to a shelf lining the room. He pulled a book from the wall and brought it over to us. It was a small leather bound feild journal like you would see in those old archeology movies. “This is the journal of Randolph Reeves, the last known dragon master before you. In here, he tells his story of his time in this world. He was also my brother in law.”

Finally, some answers. A first hand recording of what being a dragon master was supposed to be like had the exact answers I needed. I reached for the book, “May I?”

The old man put a hand on the book, “I’m sorry. No. The book itself is nearly five hundred years old and too delicate to open by us. I have plans to have the contents examined and preserved by professionals, and until then, the book will remain closed.”

That was disappointing. I put my hand down and the dragon sniffed at the book.

“Then tell us already. What is dragon master magic, and what is the source of magic?” Gwen snapped, demanding answers.

Professor Noreen recoilded from her harsh tone, “Very well. Dragon master magic is a bonding of a sentient soul and a dragon’s soul. Dragons are created with only half a soul by the source of magic, the moons and are directly connected to them. Dragons bond with a full sentient soul to fulfill their lacking one, and in the process allow the master access to the source of our world’s magic.”

That was a lot of unpacked information, and the idea of magic being something bestowed upon us rather than being a naturally occurring phenomenon like electricity or magnetic ores was almost debilitating to think about. “Let’s start with the source of magic. You said it comes from the moons?” I asked, every bit of skepticism leaking into my tone.

The professor’s eyes lit up, excited to tell his tale, “The moon women!”

“The moon women?” Gwen repeated, aggravation building in her tone.

I was getting impatient, “What are ‘Moon women’?”

The professor sat back down in his big chair, stroking his beard as he searched his memory, “The Moon Women are not a ‘what’, my boy. They are in a literal sense, women who are both powerful entities made by the creator himself and the twin celestial bodies orbiting our planet.”

He paused for dramatic effect, but Gwen wasn’t having it, “Quit staling, Grandfather.”

With a heavy sigh, the professor dropped his theatrics and continued, “During Randolphs time as a dragon master, he encountered one of these women, Helene, and uncovered their roles in our world. They themselves supply our world with our magical energies and set the rules in which we are able to use it. The specifics are for us to discover as we develop as a society and as a people. Helene revealed herself to Randolph through her creations, the dragon he was bonded with, for the sole purpose of setting him on the path of stopping the late Demon Lord.”

“And what does ancient history have to do with Vik and squirt here.” Gwen asked, gesturing to the dragon quietly sitting on the desk. Though its eyes narrowed at her when she called it ‘squirt’.

Should I still be calling the dragon an it? The professor did say it was a he.

“I am telling you this, my dear granddaughter, because dragon masters only seem to appear when the world is ready for a great change. When Randolph and the Demon Lord appeared, they brought knowledge and influence into our lives. Everything around us, our technology and machines of industry and war were inspired, if not out right given to us, by those two men. However, they were not the first. Before them, more dragon masters brought different nations and races to extinction and triumph. Magic practices were created in emulation to dragon master magic. In a sense, you Viktus, possess access to the creation of magic. And if the stories of the past are anything to go off of, you will become a driving force for the world to change for better or worse… Or you’ll just have dragon magic. Who’s to say? It’s not like there’s a set legend or prophecy for these kind of things.” The old man laughed and dusted off Randolph’s journal.

The stupid old man, he was starting to get my hopes up. It started to sound like I was chosen for some kind of great destiny, but then he goes and rips that rug out from under me. I wanted to go on an adventure like in novels and movies. Become a hero that hunted wild monsters and defeated evil kingdoms, but now that I think about it, there isn’t much in this world that could live up to those expectations anymore. Monsters were domesticated for centuries now as live stock and boy were they delicious. If you haven’t had a Minotaur steak and potatoes, you’re missing out.

“Is that all?” Gwen asked, “Is there anything Vik should be expecting? Side effects, dragon rampages, attacks from outsiders, anything?”

I nodded in agreement with her, expecting answers. To be completely honest, I didn’t think of any of that. I was flying by the seat of my pants, here, but Gwen was thinking of the consequences. I’d have to get her those bread twists I failed to get her the first time.

“When one is given the potential of overwhelming power, there is the natural pull of conflict. That should be obvious, Girl.”

Gwen’s ears turned as red as her hair, “Don’t talk down to me, old man. I’ll throw you out a window.”

“Bring it, youngling!” Gwen’s grandfather bounced up from his seat and pushed up the sleeves of his robes, prepping for a fight.

Before Gwen could climb over the desk and start a fight, I threw my arms under hers and lifted her off her feet. Yesterday this may have been a chore, but now it was like restraining a small puppy.

Blinded by anger, Gwen kicked and flailed her arms wildly trying to get at her grandfather. I decided we had enough information for the time being, “Thank you, Professor. I think we’ll get out of your hair now.”

“We’re not done here! Let me go, Vik! I’m going to rip that stupid beard right off his face!”

Gwen’s grandfather relaxed and smiled, another personality switch, “Well that’s fine. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other very soon. Oh, and if you’re looking for training in your new abilities, I recommend talking to Thomas Link, the captain of the Magi-ball team.”

“Got it, Thomas. Thanks!” I said as I backed myself out of the room, dragging a kicking and screaming Gwen along with me, “Dragon. Come.”

The small dragon, having patiently watched the entire encounter, jumped from the desk and spread it’s wings. Like before in a flash of black scales, the dragon soared across the room and dematerialized in a cloud of black mist, absorbing into my skin and dissapearing. I don’t think I was ever going to get used to the cold feeling of the dragon leaping into me like that.

It wasn’t until we were in the elevator and passed a laughing Debra did I let go of Gwen. I’ve never seen her act like that, but we all act differently with family; I mean, I’ve had my fair share of fights with my brothers and sisters back home. Though, they were all bigger than me so I don’t know how much of a fight it was, more like a swift beating. But look who was the only one to get into a city college, ha ha ha.

————

“I can’t believe how much of a waste of time that was. Stupid old man… He didn’t tell us anything we couldn’t get from a library.” Gwen ripped a bite out of her burger, chewing angerly.

I’ve never seen a person look so angry while eating. It was actually quite impressive to watch, that is until she noticed me staring and started giving me the stink eye. I broke eye contact and finished off my burger.

The hustle of busy students surrounded us in the campus food court; several stressed and irritated business majors sat a near by table arguing over what would be the best corporation start up plan. It sounded like an ordeal to put on college students, but who was I to judge? I was going into engineering, so I didn’t really have to worry about starting a buisnesss, just getting hired by one.

“Vik, did you hear me?” Gwen asked, pelting me with a small greasy fry.

I picked the fried potato off my shirt and popped it in my mouth, “No. Last thing I heard was ‘stupid old man’.”

She sighed and took a drink from her water, “I asked you if you needed new clothes. You’re like twice as big now.”

Another check on the list of things I never thought of. I didn’t think much of it before, but I was definitely bigger than I was yesterday. “No, I think I’ll be alright. Most of my clothes were hand-me-downs from my older brothers, and they were roughly as big as I am now. I might need new shoes though, the ones I’m wearing now are a bit tight.”

“You know what they say about guys with big feet?” She asked, a smirk spread across her face, “Big shoes.”

Not giving her bad joke any credit, I continued with the conversation, “So, what now?”

She huffed, a little miffed that I didn’t crack at her joke, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what now? I’m a dragon master, okay, am I supposed to just go on with life?”

“Well, yeah.” She sat back in her chair, “You’re going to have to talk to Thomas, figure out how to use your magic so you don’t tear a door off it’s hinges, but other than that, nothing’s really changed. You’re still in college, you still have classes, friends, responsibilities. You just have a little buddy now.”

A little buddy, yeah right. The first time I met my ‘little buddy’, he burrowed himself into my back in a dirty alley. He even destroyed a new jacket I wanted Gwen to see me in, but now that I reflect on it, I was never going to tell anyone that.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I said after thinking on it for a few seconds.

She sat up noticeably straighter, “Of course I am.”

“But I just have one nagging concern. What am I supposed to tell people when they ask what happened to me? Should I keep being a dragon master a secret?”

Gwen stopped; she looked like a deer caught in the head lights. I finally stumped her, until I didn’t, “Do you want to keep it a secret? If so, you could say you got some experimental body enhancing tattoos.”

“Would anyone buy it?” I asked.

She bit off the top half of a fry and frowned, “No, I guess not; but now that I think about it, you should probably keep all this as close to the chest as possible. Why invite trouble?”

My thoughts exactly, and while a healthy dose of anxiety built up inside me, I asked one more question, “What else do you think I can do now?”