Birth of a Dragoon

Unwanted. That's the word that kept coming to mind as I stared at myself in the mirror. I sighed and closed my eyes. Every morning I would wake, come into the bathroom and stare in the mirror, just so that stupid word could flow over and over within my mind. It has been this way since I can remember; guess that's what happens when you were abandoned at birth. It wasn't just my parents who didn't want me, no one did. I passed through at least twenty different pairs of hands before I finally landed here at the Mage's College. At least they didn't seem to have a problem with raising me. They may not actually want me either, but they were willing to give me a chance. It was a good thing that one of my parents had been a Mage, or else the College may have passed me off as well. The Mages didn't want one without a lick of magic to walk, or live, among their students. I had some magic, somewhere, deep within me, but no one seemed able to draw it out. Sighing again, I open my eyes and stared at myself once again. "Gwen?" My head whipped around towards the front door at the deep, masculine voice and loud banging. "Hurry up, we're going to be late to class." A small smile appeared. That would be Cearúil, my partner and only friend. I had been a bit surprised when I was teamed up with him, the Mages required their students to have a 'buddy' in case a spell went awry. Cearúil was an extremely talented student, while I was, and still am, the worst. I still don't know why he puts up with me or even considers me a friend; I'm not the most impressionable being, and I most definitely don't enjoy being around people. "Gwen, do I have to break down your door?" I sighed and left the bathroom, if I didn't hurry he would break in the door. He's done it in the past, though I'm not sure why. The Mages don't punish the student who shows up to class, only the truant one. Perhaps he just didn't want me to get into trouble and be punished? I shook my head as I grabbed my arcane books from the bed and hurried to the door. I don't know why he should care what happens to me, no one else ever has. "Good morning, Gwen." I snorted as I closed the door behind me. "I don't see what is so good about it. It's just another day of wishful thinking on everyone's part that I may yet make something of myself. Honestly, I don't see why you don't just ditch me and get a partner who can actually do a spell or incantation." My gaze lifted to Cearúil's face when he didn't respond. Annoyance filled me, the bastard was laughing at me. "I'm so pleased that you find me amusing, I would just hate for your day to be boring." "I am amused because you seem to think and see yourself as a failure. Just because it takes a bit longer for you to reach your potential, it doesn't mean you are a failure." "A bit longer? I've been here longer than you have and I can't even do the simplest of spells. What am I if not a failure?" "Inexperienced perhaps, but not that. If you would take me up on my offer, instead of running off to sulk in your room, you might be able to cast a simple spell by now." I sighed and started for class once more. This was an old argument between us, every day Cearúil would bring up having lessons after class between just him and I. I never accepted, why should I? The Instructors couldn't help, how could he? As usual, Cearúil held the doors open for me when we reached our class. I gave up a year and a half ago with arguing about such things; as with magic, it was a victory I would never win. The only thing he conceded to me, was allowing me to carry my own books. Everything else, opening doors and holding out chairs, things like that, he refused to stop. Guess I just had to get used to winning the small victories, since they seemed to be the only ones I had a chance at.