by C D Muller
Thanks to her growing nightmares, she barely made it through her first week of basic training. It almost became like clockwork. It was even more difficult as she was ordered to not speak with Thor at all, so even their conversations could not help her through any of it.
However, despite almost finishing the second week, she struggled to keep up with the group when running through the obstacle course. She was always the last one struggling behind and Erik was always ordered to run back for her to help her push forward. She knew that he was irritated and that he probably wanted to run her into the dirt.
When she tripped in the mud fresh from the rain before, Ashur walked over and spat on the ground next to her.
“You are weak. You are a disgrace to the title of dragon rider. If you have any respect for the Imperial Air Force, then you will pack up and go home by tomorrow,” he sneered.
He turned sharply on his heels, and walked away.
Selena did not move from her spot; instead, she tightened her hands into fists with her arms trembling. Her chest swelled as she did her best to hold back her tears, but she could not stop sniffling. His words weighed upon her as if she were carrying a two-ton stone on her shoulders. Before she knew it, she drowned herself in her misery, as she felt demoralized. Perhaps he was right.
However, she picked herself up and started running again with Erik following her.
“Maybe Ashur is right,” he mumbled. “I keep trying to pick you up every single time, but you’re making this worse for me. I don’t like being your bunker buddy.”
She glared at him and forced herself to pick up the pace. She was determined to prove him wrong and that she was more than capable of being part of the Air Force.
They were given bows for the first time. Both Ashur and Silver demonstrated how to use one. Selena also saw that there were many setups with apples laid on a wooden plank balanced over a rock acting like a fulcrum.
Then, simultaneously, the two Captains slammed their feet against their planks and the fruits were thrown into the air. Before the apples fell, they shot arrows through their cores and pinned them to a target that sat in the dead center of the field.
The soldiers were then ordered to line up to their stations and do the same. Many of the arrows shot did not make contact with the apples, let alone their targets that were set to two hundred yards away.
“Perhaps another teaching method?” Silver asked as if he were mocking his partner. Ashur growled at him and yelled at the other recruits.
Selena was not doing well either. She kept losing control over her arrow and the apples kept falling on her toes before she even fired.
They pushed through for the next hour and finished their day with drills once again before being dismissed as the Pyre struck five.
Selena and Erik made their way through the grounds and towards the recreational center that was on site near the cafeteria. For the most part, it was just a large smoking lounge with a few old and torn couches that they could rest on. There were several large wooden tables with decks of cards available that many of the other soldiers took enjoyment from. A couple of others opened up a game of chess while others crowded around them to make bets on who would win the next match.
Despite his earlier remark, Selena motioned for Erik to follow her over to one of the empty tables to play cards.
“I don’t have anything else better to do,” he muttered.
Trying not to allow his words to bother her, she attempted to make small talk. Even as mean as he and Ashur had been to her, she at least understood why Erik felt the way he did.
“What game do you want to play?” she asked him. He shrugged as she shuffled the cards. From the corner of her eye, she saw Azrael strut past them without so much as a hello. She ignored him as best she could.
“What are you playing at?” Erik finally asked her.
She stopped dealing the cards and asked, “what do you mean?”
“You come out of nowhere with your own dragon already before joining the Air Force. I’ve seen you do magic, but you can’t ever keep up with the rest of us during basic training. Are you purposefully not even trying?”
“That’s not true, and you know it,” Selena sternly retorted.
“I have to keep watching after you, I’m always running back to help you. I am punished because you can’t do anything else right. Why are you even here? Why don’t you go back home?”
Selena’s hands trembled, but she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She put the cards down.
“I’m here because I want to keep my dragon. He is such a big part of me, he is my everything. If the Council ever took him away, then I have nothing. I would be nothing. I’m sorry that you have to keep going back to help me. Maybe you’re right. Maybe Ashur is right. I don’t belong here. I really am worthless.”
Erik looked as though he wanted to say more but he held his tongue.
“If you cared that much about your dragon then you would try harder,” he finally muttered as Selena continued dealing the cards.
“What do you mean by trying harder? I am!”
“No, you’re not. You’re down on yourself. I’m sorry for what I said earlier, but if your ambitions are strong enough, then you need to work harder. You need to push yourself more. If you don’t then you will lose your dragon. You’re playing the Council’s game now and we’re just pawns. If you lose then it’s game over for you.”
Selena knew he was right. His words hit harder than being run over by a locomotive.
However, before they could start their game, one of the bulkier new recruits shouted out to her.
“It’s Liongod! What brings you in here?”
She attempted to ignore him, but when she didn’t respond, he got riled up.
“You think you’re too good to speak to me?” He jumped up from the couch he was sitting on and ran over to grab the collar of her robes.
She was yanked out of her chair and held in the air.
“You think you’re too good for us? We’ve all been watching you. You’re nothing but a coward! You can’t even keep up with the rest of us! I bet I could break those scrawny bones of yours!”
“I don’t even know who you are, and I don’t care to know you,” she muttered out. His dark expression changed.
“Looks like Volt is going to have to teach you a lesson,” her aggressor retorted once again. He let go of her robes and she fell to her feet.
“Liongod, just leave while you can. He’s twice the size you are,” Erik grumbled.
Selena swallowed hard but she did not stand down. Volt cracked his knuckles as all the soldiers began to gather around. They started to simultaneously and repeatedly shout, “fight!”
As he delivered the first blow, Selena quickly stepped to the side while keeping her hands behind her back. He fell forward, followed by negative comments from the audience. Volt stood up and attempted to attack her again. Selena watched where he was hitting and avoided every single punch without striking back. Erik pushed his way through the crowd to see her almost dancing around Volt.
Growing weaker and tired, Volt lazily attempted to hit her once more, but Selena finally reached out and grabbed his wrists. While maintaining eye contact with him, she then quickly balanced herself on one leg while using the other to swipe him from underneath. He lost his footing and fell over backwards from her counterattack.
Realizing what she did, she immediately backed away but the soldiers burst out into cheer and crowded around her as if she were a hero. However, her celebration was cut short when she heard Captain Altessa’s voice echoing from the entrance.
“What’s going on here?”
Immediately, the boys cleared away, leaving Selena and the defeated Volt for Silver to see.
“Captain?” Volt immediately stood up and dusted his robes off before offering a salute. Selena made the same gesture.
“What happened? Explain yourself!” Silver shouted to both of them.
Selena attempted to speak, but
Volt interrupted her.
“I was minding my own business when Liongod attacked me. I don’t know why. I didn’t do anything to him.”
“That is not true!” Selena shouted. “I was defending myself from you!”
“Attention!” Silver shouted his command. Everyone brought their heels together and stood up straight without another word. After a moment of silence, he immediately looked over at Erik. “Bjornson, come forward. What say you? What happened here?”
Erik cleared his throat, he explained the truth.
“Volt attacked Liongod on sight. He only defended himself, sir.”
“Is this true?” Silver asked.
“Sir, yes sir!”
“Are you lying to me, soldier?”
“Sir, no sir!”
Silver turned sharply on his heels and faced Volt. He trembled in his spot. Without warning, Captain Altessa punched Volt so hard in the gut, he heaved over and vomited blood.
“You!” he pointed to one of the cadets, “You’re his battle buddy. Take him to the infirmary. Now!”
“Sir, yes sir!”
He helped Volt to his feet and the two of them left the hall.
“The rest of you are dismissed from here, except for you, Liongod. This room is out of order for the night.”
Selena trembled as she watched the room empty within moments. The last person out was Erik. The two exchanged glances before he left to their quarters.
When they were alone, Silver cleared his throat.
“I’m sorry that you had to see that,” he whispered.
“It’s fine. Thank you,” she said with a bow of her head but he stopped her.
“No, that’s not fine. None of my soldiers should be behaving that way. They know better. I knew you didn’t start the fight. I needed a witness to testify for you in front of everyone. Erik is a good buddy to you.”
Selena smiled a little and nodded.
“Yes, he is. But sir, if I may.”
“Please, go on,” Silver stated.
“I know that I’m lacking behind everyone else in training. I want you to know that I want to work harder. I will push myself to do more. I think I’ve been mentally beating myself up. I don’t want to lose my dragon. Can you help me do better?”
Silver blinked a few times but he smiled and nodded.
“Of course. I could never say no to that!”
“Thank you!”
It was unorthodox; she forgot all her manners in their brief moment. She quickly reached out and hugged him tightly.
The gesture took Silver by complete surprise but he returned her embrace.
“I believe in you,” he whispered.
Afterwards, Silver walked her to her quarters where Erik was and said their goodbyes. When he left, Selena looked to Erik.
“I want to say thank you for sticking up for me earlier. I appreciate it,” she whispered.
“You shouldn’t thank me for that. It would have been wrong to lie,” Erik responded.
She passed the key to Erik before heading towards the library in town.
The trip was a bit relaxing for her. It helped take her mind off what happened. She could finally surround herself with books, wanting desperately to bring them to Thor to discuss their topics like they used to when she was permitted. She assumed that he was undergoing training himself, as she knew that dragons practice special flying techniques and maneuvers. Soon enough, Selena would have to join her dragon in the training so that the two could grow used to battling and fighting together. However, she did not know when that would be. It had been almost a fortnight since they were last together. Silver said to her before that since she already had a dragon she would have a few weeks to practice with him but it would depend on if she could follow through with basic training first. If she were to surpass the other soldiers, she could instead be excused for the last three weeks to be with her dragon. Otherwise, she would have to wait until after basic training.
Selena walked past the Alfheim Cemetery and looked up at the grim clock.
The seven-headed beast that circled around the face was directly above her. She flinched slightly, then shrieked as she thought for a moment that one of the heads moved. Selena broke out into a run towards the library, not wanting to look back.
Selena walked into a grassy area. She almost sat down when she felt that the ground beneath her feet was wet probably from water. She sat down when she found a dry spot.
She missed Thor. It was hard for her getting through the day. However, she did appreciate the company with some of her new friends and especially with Silver. It was conflicting though, as her new friends did not know her true identity. It tore her apart to keep up with the lie.
A few tears trickled down her face as she slumped near a tree.
“I cannot even talk to my dragon,” she whispered to herself. She held both the scroll and the book to her heart as Ashur’s words from earlier rang in her head like the bells of a cathedral. It was hard that he was always yelling at her and putting her down. She had began to doubt herself even more and kept telling herself that he was right. She was worthless and would not be able to be fit enough to become a real soldier. She was not worthy of keeping Thor.
Selena closed her eyes, took a deep breath and tried to meditate near the tree to calm down, with her legs crossed and her arms at her knees. However, something rustled in the bushes nearby. She was not quite sure what made the noise, but she ignored it nonetheless.
She twitched a little, as the noise slowly grew a little louder. It sounded like hissing followed by a rattling chain. Selena quickly opened her eyes and looked around. From the corner of her eye, she saw a small glimmer of light within a tall patch of grass.
Selena walked over to it with a confused look on her face. When she got over there, she noticed a small vial sitting on the ground. After picking it up, she saw a couple of drops of a golden liquid and suddenly her thoughts raced over to the wet patch of grass she had stepped in earlier.
Out of reflex, she threw the bottle back down and quickly walked off the grass and tried to head back to the barracks. However, the farther she walked down the road, the louder the hissing sound became. She suddenly broke out into a run, her heart beating harder against her chest.
Thor, where are you? I know we were ordered to not speak at all since our first night here, but I need you now! she called out in false hope. Maybe he would be able to break his silence.
She turned a corner and her legs almost gave out. The same Marcupo that Ashur brought to the training grounds was slithering in her direction at inhuman speed. She screamed and ran away in the other direction.
Where are you? Please answer me! I’m being attacked! No response.
Selena tried to run faster away from the Marcupo with sweat dripping down her forehead. Her arm gripped tightly over the scroll and book not to lose them.
Everyone out on the streets stopped whatever it was they were doing and ran away as the Marcupo chased Selena through the crowd. Its long tongue slithered out of its mouth. She felt it touching the back of her hair.
She quickly turned a corner and managed to escape for a little while. It, too, stopped and sniffed the air with its tongue. Selena held her breath and tried not to make any noise. She ran her index finger along the wall she was leaning against. The snake stopped and so did she. It tasted the air once more and hissed.
It turned a corner and found Selena running in the other direction. It gave out a terrifying screech and slithered after her.
Selena turned another corner, but tripped over a large rock and fell face first. She dropped both her book and scroll to try and break her fall, but ended up skinning her palms. The hissing grew louder.
Her fingers were scraped and covered with blood. She quickly glanced back to see the snake rushing towards her.
Selena forced herself to get up and attempted to clear her mind as she tried to focus on channeling fire energy. However, the snake was too quick for her. It opened its mouth and bit h
er arm just as she summoned a wave of fire from swift movements.
The venom rushed through her veins. Selena screamed out with agony as her body ached and she trembled as she began to suffer from muscle spasms.
Thor! she called out again. Her vision faded, but she saw a pair of talons appear and the giant snake was pushed away from her. Her dragon opened up his mouth and sank his teeth near its neck. It shrieked and tried to rear its fangs to prepare for a strike. Thor snarled and pumped his wings, sending a gush of wind to push the snake farther away. She heard his comforting words at long last.
Selena! I need to get you out of here!
Thor opened up his mouth to bite it again. The snake screeched even louder, and bit Thor in his neck in an attempt to save itself.
Selena watched in horror. Thor tried to bite the Marcupo once again and used his front and back talons to dig through the snake’s scale armor. Its body went limp and Thor threw it to the ground. He gave out a puff of black smoke from his nostrils and winced before falling beside his rider. She looked down at her arm where the Marcupo had bitten her to see its venomous, golden liquid pouring forth from the wound.
“There they are!” she faintly heard Silver’s voice.
“Get them both to the infirmary now!”
She felt her throat swell as every muscle in her body began to contract. She closed her eyes for what seemed like a few moments, but when she forced them open, she found that she was lying in bed with her friends surrounding her. Niamh and Rahim stood on one side of the bed while Silver and Maria were on the other.
Rahim held a worried expression upon his face. Selena looked down at her arm and found that it was tightly wrapped in a white bandage.
Silver was sitting on the edge of her bed with a bowl filled with a liquid substance. He held it up to Selena's lips. Without thinking, she immediately began to drink but she quickly spat it back out. It tasted extremely bitter.
“Did you expect it to taste sweet?” Silver asked sarcastically, “You need to drink more!”