by K L Rymer
I did get to hold a plastic scroll for my picture though. I just wish the tanning lady at the salon hadn’t gone to town on my spray; I look like I work at Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory now, and I had an abscess last week, so my face is a little swollen (no magic in the world can get rid of dental pain).
But I wouldn’t have missed my graduation for the world. So in the end, I got my picture taken looking like the lovechild between the Elephant Man and an Umpa Lumpa as I smiled for the camera.
And everyone got in the picture too. Myrddin, my mom, and even my Mendacious family. The only three who were missing were Brynmawr Gwyneira, and Azure since they’re a little big...
Angelina got at the back since she’s so tall, and I didn’t want her beauty outshining me. This is my day, not hers.
We won’t be graduating at the academy for another year. Since we all lost a year due to Matthew senior, Myrddin has decided to extend classes. So now we all get to stay together for a little longer.
They even have a dragon-riding class now taught by Mattie himself. A student teaching other students... I never thought I’d see the day.
I hear a roar outside the building, and people shake in the crowd. I peer up at a high window, meeting those massive, golden eyes through the glass.
Everyone relaxes when they see that it’s just the Red Dragon since they all know he’s safe.
Brynmawr has become a living legend. He even does school visits now, and children love him. Gwyneira sometimes joins him, but they have to re-enact their famous ‘fight’ from the tale of Dinas Emrys, becoming temporary enemies once again, but it’s all good fun.
The dragon lovers don’t mind. So long as they don’t re-enact what they were really doing down in that hill, then the kids won’t be scarred for life.
There comes another roar, and now I meet those icy blue eyes of Gwyneira as she peeks through the window on the other side of the room.
People actually scream when they see her, and now people start scrambling out of their chairs. I hear Myrddin calming everyone down up in the nosebleed section then.
“It’s okay, everyone, they mean no harm. They are just here to watch our daughter graduate...”
It’s the White Dragon after all. Run for your lives...
Gwyneira, however, has never looked so affronted.
“Well, I never...” she pouts.
I look up at Brynmawr’s golden eyes, shaking my head. “Way to go, Brynmawr. You and your girlfriend are totally ruining the ceremony...”
His yellow eyes taper like a cat’s, and now I can hear him saying inside my brain, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Human Bryn. Congratulations on finally gaining your lizard degree...”
I sigh. “Herpetology...”
Those big, amber eyes roll. “Whatever... you’ve worked hard after all. I’d say this was your biggest achievement after waking me from my thousand-year slumber...”
I scoff. “Ain’t that the truth. There was no waking your red, scaly ass for weeks, but shut up now. The ceremony is about to commence again.”
The room has finally settled into a state of calm as Myrddin casts one of his happy enchantments, and now there are smiles all around.
Though not as big as that Red Dragon’s Jack-O-lantern of a smile as he beams through the glass of the old, stone building. I blow a sigh, wafting the tassel of my cap as it whacks me in the face.
Dragons...
Looks like DreamWorks lied to me all along: they can’t be trained after all.
...
We all returned to the academy to celebrate, and Myrddin even let me bring Megan’s and Sophie’s families too.
I stay in my cap and gown. Sophie and Megan only got theirs for hire, but I’m going to keep mine forever...
I totally know what I’m going to be for Halloween this year...
A zombie graduate.
Fuck... I’m finally a graduate. I have a degree now, and I still can’t believe I managed to pass.
Three years ago, I had no idea how much my life would change the moment I stepped off the plane a Heathrow, and now look at me. A zoologist on her way to becoming a fully-fledged wizard...
I nurse a cold beer as I gaze into the font in the Grand Hall, remembering the day I first saw Brynmawr...
That vision sealed my fate pretty much, and my life will never be the same again.
I cast my gaze around the hall. My eyes find Zahara and Thomas, who are still together, and they’re pretty tight now. They even think they’re a hotter couple than Damien and Felicity, and as you can imagine, the little pixie was none too pleased.
Nora kisses Orion the hunky merman, and then I spot Jack leaving the room with Clara the succubus, shaking my head.
It’s obvious what they’re both going to do, but who cares... I have a degree!
Angelina leans against the far wall, looking ever the loner. She nurses a glass of red wine, running her finger around the rim. I see she’s staying far from Megan’s and Sophie’s families and good call.
The last thing we need is a bloody massacre...
The humans feel right at home at the academy now. Meg’s Nan still attends Mr. Tanaka’s Tai Chi classes, and she’s become quite the sprightly old woman too. In fact, I spot the mage right now showing her a few moves, and she follows every fluid motion of his arms.
Once again I have commenced sword-fighting lessons with Shankfoot. The dwarf is rotten drunk as he snoozes in a corner of the room. He, like the others, has been drinking since eleven am. That’s when my graduation ceremony started pretty much, and it seems his small stature finally has enough.
It’s now eight pm. The night isn’t over just yet, but hell I am beat. It’s been a long day and I got maybe like three hours sleep. I was too excited of course (and totally dreading tripping up those stairs).
Myrddin and my mom kiss to one side, and I nearly throw up inside the font.
Too soon...
Thankfully, a familiar figure strides toward me, and I smile when I meet those smoldering, gray eyes of Matthew IV.
He looks so sexy in a black suit and tie, deciding to dress up for me on my special day.
Yeah, well... I’m going to enjoy ripping that black tie off him later tonight and go all Fifty Shades on his fine ass.
I’m totally the dominatrix in this relationship (I tie Mattie up and he likes it).
The handsome mage stops at the foot of the stairs that lead to the stage, offering me his hand.
I raise a brow.
He rolls those gray eyes, ones that have settled these days. No longer do they swirl like the clouds of a thunderstorm. Now they’re as peaceful as a serene blue sky, and who knew... Mattie’s eyes were blue all along.
“I want you to join me outside.”
I take a swig of my beer, say goodbye to the font, then walk down the stairs.
He takes my hand and leads me out of the room, and no one notices us leave.
Only Angelina spots us as she raises her glass of wine in salutation. I do the same with my beer, and the three of us are so cool now. It’s no longer awkward, and she will even roll her azure eyes whenever she hears us having sex then laugh.
Nora has disappeared with Orion, following Jack and Clara’s example, so now only Damien, Fel, Zahara, and Thomas remain.
The two couples currently bicker about who has hotter sex, and I urge Mattie to pull me away quicker. Well, only Zahara and Fel argue. Thomas and Damien look as if they’d rather be somewhere else as their women argue.
Finally, Mattie and I leave through the foyer of the building and then out into the grounds, and now he takes me over to the river.
We stay there for some time, watching the rapids as they flow before us. It’s so peaceful. I could stay out here all night.
Unfortunately, the sound of smooth, running water is ruined by a procession of dragons, and Mattie and I look up.
Brynmawr and Gwyneira lead the dragons through the clouds, and I see they’re all celebrating right along wit
h us. They somersault and spin and even race.
It’s a little dark but I can make most of them out. I see Sparkle Hearts and Shadow Stalker, who have become very close since he saved her from Diafol last year. Then I see Maximus’s golden scales and Buddy’s brass armor glinting before the light of the moon.
Then I see Zelina’s bright jade scales, then Azure’s bright cerulean. Elvira looks almost as black as Shadow as the light shines off her dark skin.
Brynmawr and Gwyneira still look as red and white as ever, and there’s no missing those two.
Our dragons...
Mattie takes my cheeks in his hands and stares into my eyes.
A bright light flickers in the sky, even brighter than the Northern Star, and I like to think it’s Patricia watching over her son.
That star appeared the day her soul left this world, and the sky has become brighter ever since.
It seemed heaven really did gain a new angel...
Matthew has been at peace since the day he set her free from the glass orb.
We even gave her a burial as Mattie finally took her body off life support, and I’ve never been so proud of him.
My former enemy/lover then enemy/lover again...
We really do have a complicated relationship.
Regardless, I’m looking forward to spending the rest of my days with him.
So we break into a kiss at last, and that’s where our story ends.
So cliché.
But who cares... I’m going to French this handsome son of a mage, and then I’m going to tie him up as he lets me whip him.
Bring on the X-rated sex.
End
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