Magitech Rises (The Exceptional S. Beaufont Book 3)

by Sarah Noffke

  Not only did Sophia not want to sleep in a place with some of the most dangerous animals in the world without magic, but she was sad to leave the Castle. It felt like a strange thing to do on the first day of the New Year. However, Mama Jamba had been adamant Sophia throw herself into training, and this was apparently one of the hardest tasks to complete. If she got through the walkabout with Lunis, hopefully the rest of their training would be considerably easier.

  Lunis was rolling around in the grass like a dog after a bath when they approached. The other dragons were eyeing him with obvious speculation. It seemed to Sophia, the stranger the other dragons found Lunis the more it encouraged his odd behavior. At first, he’d worried about being so different from the others, having been raised at a different time with different influences, but now he seemed to embrace it.

  The blue dragon rolled onto his feet and ran over when Sophia was near. Affectionately she glanced up at the majestic dragon. She sensed he was extra playful this morning, trying to put her fears at ease with his light nature.

  For someone who hadn’t gone a day without magic since she was a toddler, it was bizarre to Sophia to consider not using it for a week. Even weirder was the idea of feeding herself when she’d always had such things provided for her. But that was the point in the training exercise, and although Lunis wasn’t going to allow her to starve, Sophia knew she had to learn how to fend for herself. A dragon’s job wasn’t to support their rider. It was to be a part of an equal partnership.

  Are you ready for this? Lunis asked her, his tone enthusiastic.

  “Of course,” she said, trying to inject excitement into her voice.

  While Lunis is gone, Coral remarked, who is going to make an exorbitant amount of noise in the Cave and go on for hours about who is winning on the Disguise?

  The show is called the Mask, Lunis corrected. And you will just have to survive without me. I’m certain you’ll be bored to death within a day or two.

  The purple dragon scowled at him, impassively batting her eyes. And yet somehow, we’ve survived for hundreds of years without your nonsense.

  Hundreds of long, boring years, Lunis stated. You’re going to miss me. Just you wait.

  Coral shook her head and took off, rising high in the sky and circling around before heading for the flock of sheep on the Eastern hills.

  “Don’t eat the agnostic ones,” Sophia called after the dragon. “Their indecision will give you a stomachache.”

  Lunis cringed. Oh no, you didn’t.

  “What?” Sophia complained. “Mama Jamba said the sheep have religious affiliations. You’re talking to ancient dragons about reality television, but I make a joke about agnostics, and that’s too much?”

  I think Mama Jamba was pulling your leg, Lunis offered. I don’t think sheep are religious.

  “Why, because they aren’t educated on such things?” Sophia asked.

  He shook his head. Because they tend to be more scientifically-minded.

  Sophia laughed. “You’re so ridiculous. I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation with you.”

  “To be honest,” Mahkah cut in, stepping up beside Sophia. “I can’t believe I’m listening to this discussion between a dragon and a rider.”

  Sophia offered him a wink. “We are a unique pair.”

  “Indeed, you are,” he agreed, bowing respectfully. “And I look forward to you both returning. Things won’t be the same here without you. You might have noticed I tend to be of a more serious nature.”

  Get out of town, Lunis said with mock surprise.

  Mahkah flashed a subtle smile. “Having you two around is good for us. I’ve often thought the older dragonriders took themselves too seriously, and you help to liven things up.”

  “I will admit my impression has been the same,” Sophia stated. “Dragonriders do seem serious.”

  That’s because crusty old men, set in their ways, get crotchety, Lunis stated.

  “I won’t argue with that,” Mahkah said, not at all offended by this observation. “Your perspective is refreshing.”

  “Thank you,” Sophia said, returning the slight bow.

  “Now, just one more thing before you leave.” Mahkah held out his hand.

  Without missing a beat, Sophia slapped his palm like he was offering her a high-five.

  He shook his head. “No, I think you know what I want.”

  She sighed and rolled her eyes as she fished into her pocket. Of course, Mahkah knew she’d been trying to smuggle her phone on the trip. She withdrew the iPhone and handed it over. “I was just going to take it so I could chronicle our experiences and later blog about it.”

  “I don’t know what blog is, but you know the rules,” Mahkah instructed.

  She nodded. “Yes, no electronics, magic, or contact with any outsiders.”

  “That’s right,” he affirmed. “Any of those things will end your training, and you’ll have to restart it from the beginning.”

  “One week,” Sophia stated, chewing on her lip. It seemed like a long time to go without her phone or magic, but more than anything, her friends. She could hardly believe how much she’d grown accustomed to having the other dragonriders, Ainsley, and Quiet around.

  She was grateful she’d have her best friend. That would get her through. Even if she didn’t know how to purify water or hunt or anything else, she had Lunis, and that was what mattered most.

  Chapter Seventy-Seven

  The last bit of magic Sophia and Lunis could use for a whole week was to create and close the portal into the Australian Outback. Technically, dragons flew by way of magic, but that was apparently permissible.

  “Seems like there are some loopholes to this magic using business,” Sophia mused as they flew toward the mostly flat red earth sprinkled with vegetation. Mountains framed the area, and a stream ran through the hills.

  I wouldn’t advise pushing any boundaries on this, Lunis said as he landed. If you break a rule and we end up here longer, we’re going to have words.

  Sophia laughed. “You just don’t want to miss the Super Bowl.”

  Don’t be ridiculous, he replied. That’s in February. There’s no way we’ll be out here that long. But going longer than I have to without Netflix and frozen yogurt isn’t advisable for my overall morale.

  “It’s a good thing you were born in the twenty-first century,” she offered. “Could you imagine being born when Bell was?”

  He sighed and shook out his wings before folding them elegantly beside his body. No. Did you know she has never had frozen yogurt?

  Unsurprisingly, it was hot in the Australian Outback. Sophia peeled off her cloak and tied it around her waist. “I’m certain you’re the only dragon ever to have frozen yogurt.”

  The Outback was what Sophia had expected. Miles and miles of trees, bush, mountains, and, she suspected, creepy, crawly creatures waiting to attack her in the night.

  “So, first things first,” she said, surveying the area.

  Where’s the Starbucks? Lunis asked.

  Sophia pointed. “I think it’s on the other side of the ridge.”

  Cool, I’ll race you.

  “Lun, I’ll never win that race, so no.”

  He nodded and ran his long claws through the dirt. Observing how it moved told him something about this place. I think our first order of business should be to find shelter.

  Shielding her eyes, Sophia looked out at the desert before them. “Maybe we should set up camp beside that bush, or that one.” She indicated the two areas. “I don’t know, which bush do you think has the fewest scorpions who will want to crawl into my pants?”

  Hard to say, he muttered, considering the question. I think we’ll want to be close to a water source and have the shade of the mountains.

  Sophia gazed at where the closest water source was, according to her earlier dragon’s-eye view. It was at least a five-mile trek. She wished they had planned better and landed by the river rather than in their current location. Mahk
ah had instructed her to land right after going through the portal. He was very serious about them not using magic, and although Lunis could fly, she wasn’t supposed to ride him until the week was up.

  Sophia wasn’t sure how Mahkah or Hiker would know if she broke the rules, but something told her they had their methods.

  “Okay, let’s hoof it,” Sophia said, starting toward the river.

  Cool, Lunis chirped. He unfurled his wings and instantly received a punishing glare from Sophia. Oh, so now you don’t want me flying because you have to walk?

  “It doesn’t seem fair,” she retorted. “Aren’t we supposed to be together anyway? Bonding.”

  Fine, he surrendered. I’ll walk with you, but if we see a snake, I’m air-bound.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Sophia exclaimed. “You’re a freaking dragon.”

  Have you seen snakes? Lunis argued. I’m still human…I mean, vulnerable. I have feelings, you know. I’m allowed to have fears.

  “Is this when we start bonding, discussing all our memories and whatnot?” Sophia asked.

  Sure, Lunis began, ambling beside her, moving slower than he had to keep pace. Why don’t you share some of your fears with me?

  “Well…” Sophia thought for a moment. “I used to be afraid of the dark but—”

  But now you love it because you know there’s more to fear in the light than otherwise, Lunis interrupted.

  She nodded. “Yeah, I guess you have access to my thoughts.”

  Are there other fears I don’t know about? Lunis asked.

  “Well, I worry about you and I being successful. A lot is resting on our shoulders, and—”

  Of course, you always worry about Liv in her role as Warrior for the House of Fourteen and Clark finding happiness since he’s prone to being overly anxious, Lunis cut in again.

  Sophia slumped. “Is there anything you don’t know about me?”

  He shook his head. Sometimes you say something I know you’re going to say, but you say it in a way I wasn’t expecting.

  She sighed. “Well, how about you? Tell me something about you I didn’t know, like that you’re afraid of snakes.”

  I’m really not, he confessed. I just said that to make you laugh.

  “It worked,” she affirmed.

  Okay, about me… Lunis thought for a moment. Well, when I hatched—

  “I was there,” Sophia interrupted.

  Right, he growled. Well, let’s see, my favorite flavor of fro-yo is—

  “Cookies and cream,” she cut in. “You think you’re allergic to honey, but you have no scientific evidence to back that up.”

  Because you won’t take me to a doctor! the dragon complained.

  Sophia shook her head, ignoring his outburst. “You can read but not phonetically, which is why you mispronounce words so often. You’re a Virgo, which means you think you know everything. You say your favorite show is Nailed it on Netflix, but it’s actually Doctor Who on BBC. You wish you were all Hollywood, but you’re really all nerdy. And Taylor Swift is your spirit animal.”

  Lunis halted and gave her a perturbed expression. First off, reading is hard.

  “You were born with the skill,” Sophia pointed out. “Try having to learn on your own without the collective chi of the dragon to be able to do things.”

  Sounds hard, Lunis said unsympathetically. No, thanks. And I like Nailed It, but how can I not be a fan of David Tennant? He’s so dreamy.

  “You’re so weird,” Sophia laughed.

  And I’m not apologizing for Tay-Tay, Lunis stated. She’s a real American diva. I think we should get tickets for the next show.

  “Why not just fly in and sit on the top of the amphitheater?” Sophia suggested.

  Because I want access to the concessions, Lunis argued. Maybe we get a private box?

  “Maybe…” Sophia’s voice trailed away as she tried to think of something Lunis didn’t know about her or something she didn’t know about him and could ask.

  “I don’t think there’s anything we don’t know about each other,” she finally said.

  “I was going to mention that,” he offered. So a week together? This won’t get boring.

  Sophia shrugged. “It’s like we’re alone with ourselves because you are, in essence, me and I’m you. It would make sense there would be a little less conversation and a lot more introspection.”

  This is when we start contemplating our navels, he said.

  “You don’t have a navel,” she corrected.

  I know, but you do, so I can live vicariously through you.

  “I hope that’s not going to work in all situations,” Sophia muttered.

  Well, I feel like I know what it’s like to have a uterus, he shared.

  “Gross,” Sophia shot back at him.

  Do you feel like you know what it’s like to breathe fire? he asked.

  “No, not at all,” she answered.

  Oh, well, then, you might want to work on your connection to me, he suggested. Maybe if you connect to me during this walkabout, you’ll feel the chi of the dragon more.

  “First, we have to walk about five miles.” She pointed to the mountains in the distance.

  Lunis shook his head. Can I request no more puns for the week?

  “You can, but I can’t guarantee it,” Sophia replied.

  After a long silence of kicking up red dirt and nothing else, Lunis huffed. Soooooo…

  “Yeah, sooooo,” Sophia replied.

  Do you sort of feel like an old married couple? he asked.

  “Yeah, and it didn’t take us that long to get there,” she replied.

  Do you miss the guys?

  “Maybe. Actually, strangely, yes,” she admitted.

  I miss the other dragons.

  “Well, I don’t miss Evan yet, so that’s a good sign.”

  I’m sure we’ll figure it out, Lunis said. This week is supposed to bond us.

  “Or make us hate each other,” Sophia offered.

  Yeah, I’m sure seven days in extreme heat and horrible living conditions with zero chance of frozen yogurt won’t do that for us.

  Sophia looked meaningfully at her dragon. “Please, and I ask this from the bottom of my heart. Please don’t eat me this week.”

  He nodded. I will try. You try not to use bad puns, and hopefully, we will meet in the middle.

  Chapter Seventy-Eight

  By the time Sophia made it to the river, she was starving. She’d been too nervous about the walkabout that morning to eat breakfast, which was now backfiring on her.

  “So, we have to feed ourselves.” Sophia looked around at the dry vegetation.

  “That’s going to be harder for some of us other others,” Lunis said, his gaze drifting to a mob of kangaroos traveling across the bush in the distance. They were quite a distance away, but the chi of the dragon made it so the pair could easily spot them. Lunis gave the mob a hungry glare before giving Sophia a questioning expression.

  “Oh, fine.” She waved him off. “Go on then. Go get a kangaroo. I’ll gather some berries or something.”

  “Don’t eat anything blue,” he suggested. “That’s age-old wisdom.”

  “What about blueberries?” she asked.

  “That’s the exception,” he stated.

  “How about a blue dragon?” she continued to ask.

  He shook his head. “Whatever you do, don’t eat a blue dragon. Bad stomach aches will result in serious cramps.”

  She shrugged. “Doesn’t sound worse than when I eat nachos from Taco Bell.”

  “May I suggest,” he began, “not eating nachos from Taco Bell.”

  “You can,” she offered. “But I reserve the right to ignore such bad advice.”

  “Okay, so I’m going to go hunt a kangaroo,” Lunis said, his eyes hungry as he regarded the mob in the distance.

  “And I’m going to find a platter of nachos somewhere in the near vicinity,” Sophia said, looking around speculatively.

  Luni
s glanced at the area, a skeptical glare in his eyes. “Yeah, good luck with that. If you don’t find any, I’ll share my kangaroo with you.”

  Sophia shook her head. “No, but thank you. I’m catching my own dinner, and then we will set up camp.”

  “And collect water,” Lunis reminded her.

  Sophia sighed. “This whole thing is a lot of work.”

  He nodded. “It’s a full-time job. Just wait. You’ll see.”

  It seemed more like a threat rather than a promise, Sophia mused as her dragon flew off into the clear blue sky, leaving her to fend for herself.

  Chapter Seventy-Nine

  Sophia kicked around the dirt by the tree she was stationed by and considered her options.

  “This is not such a big deal,” she said to herself, realizing she had already started to lose her mind if she was talking to herself in the Outback. Sooner rather than later, she thought. “All I need to do is find dinner. No biggie. People have been doing it since the beginning of time.”

  The sun was still high in the sky, and Lunis looked close to selecting his entrée for dinner. She had a sword and could go and slaughter a beast, but that would mean traveling. She’d already crossed many miles across the Outback and felt as hot as a furnace, the heat really starting to register for her.

  “It would be better if dinner came to me,” she mused, thinking of Uber Eats, but knowing it wasn’t an option.

  A scratching noise from under the base of the tree where she was stationed caught her attention.

  Sophia turned to the sound. “That seems like dinner is calling.”

  She crouched down low and stuck her face into the hole next to the tree. It was deep and dark, and she really didn’t like the idea of digging in there to draw out prey. What she really wanted was whatever was in there to come out and say “hi” to her. Then she could use Inexorabilis to slice it in half and cook it over a fire.

  “Fire,” she said, looking around speculatively. “That’s right, I need to be able to make fire without magic.”