Birth of a Dragoon

Legends

Cearúil sat quietly beside Gwen, not really paying attention to lecture this time around. He knew what ArchMage Mors was speaking of, they were legends he had learned at a very young age. To him, they weren't just legends, but history. Instead of listening, he studied the girl at his side. She had long, white and red hair, with bright teal eyes. She was also nearly five inches shorter than him. He wasn't quite certain why she couldn't cast any of the spells they had been taught. Gwen had quite a bit of magic buried deep within her; she just hadn't found a way to tap into it yet.

Cearúil had an idea how to help her with that, but the stubborn girl refused to try. Was she afraid? It was possible, though he wasn't sure if she may be afraid of it working or of him. He desperately hoped it wasn't the latter; he was so tired of people being fearful of him and his species. It was one of the reasons he refused to switch partners, everyone else's scents swamped his nose with the stench of fear, though he knew none of them knew the reason behind that fear.

The other reason was Gwen herself. Being abandoned at birth truly screwed up the poor girl's mind. Barely fourteen and she already decided she would live and die alone. The whole inability to summon her sleeping powers made it even worse on her. No one wanted to come near her for fear of her power awakening one day to erupt out of her and harm or kill them. Sighing, Cearúil returned his gaze and thoughts back to the lecture at hand. He would get Gwen to join him for a private lesson…eventually.

I tried not to squirm as I felt Cearúil's gaze steadily on me. It unnerved me, though I wasn't quite sure why. We had known each other for the past two years and never once had he threatened or shown me any animosity. So why did it bother me so? I closed my eyes for a moment, before attempting to shove my nerves aside and focus instead on the ArchMage's lecture. It was about the Draco species…in a way. It concerned the Draco yes, but more in a special and rare ability they contained.

The story intrigued me, which was a very hard thing to do, considering most things didn't spark my interest. I leaned forward as the ArchMage's words caught and held my attention. I no longer cared about my short comings or the fact that Cearúil was still staring intently at me, I just wanted to know how they story ended.

"Legend tells of an extremely rare gift the strongest of the Draco species are able to perform. This gift grants the Draco the ability to create an entirely new species of beings called the Dragoons. Dragoons are supposedly the Warriors of the Draco, their Protectors. Though no one is quite certain if that is truth or not.

Legend states that a Dragoon is created when a Draco merges his or her soul with that of a human's. The human gains supernatural speed and strength from the union, while the Draco…well it is uncertain what the Draco gains in return. Every storyteller differs with that particular part. And with that, there is a tale I would like to recite to you today instead of spells and incantations. A tale that has been spread both, far and wide, about a young girl who was turned into a Dragoon without her consent by a wicked, wicked Draco…"

Sorrow filled Cearúil when ArchMage Mors began speaking of Celestia and Night Shadow's mistake. It was a tale he knew quite well. A lesson taught to every youngster of his species before they even learned to walk. Though he was taught it by his mother.

Night Shadow had been a very strong and wise Draco, who had heard the cries of a tormented soul one night while he hunted. The agony of those cries had called out to him, forcing him to land and seek out the source. He had found her near Mirror Lake's calm waters, sitting atop a rock and crying into her hands. Her entire frame shook from the sobs wracking her body.

Night Shadow called out to her as he slowly approached, hoping not to frighten her into flight. She had jumped at his voice and again at noticing what approached her. After the first few panic-stricken moments on the girl's part, they had eventually fallen into a peaceful conversation. Night Shadow had returned night after night to sit beside Celestia and speak with her about anything and everything.

Cearúil couldn't remember what had originally caused the pain within Celestia, perhaps it, too, had been a ploy?

After a time, Night Shadow had fallen for Celestia and was willing to do anything for her. One night when he arrived at Mirror Lake for their nightly conversation, Night Shadow found Celestia lying still upon the ground, bleeding out from a life-threatening slice out of her midsection. Night Shadow threw all caution aside as he knelt before Celestia and started the incantation to merge his soul with hers.

By the time Night Shadow realized it was all a ploy, the damage was already done. Their souls were already merged together, and he had become Celestia's slave. Night Shadow had been forced to commit atrocity after atrocity, before they were eventually killed by seven other Draco. All of which had suffered great and terrible injuries from the confrontation.

Cearúil's eyes closed; of course no one ever told the true story of Night Shadow's folly. No, they always blamed him for the differences in Celestia, stating he was the reason she killed so many. Taboos were created among the Draco species because of Night Shadow's decision to merge with Celestia. Most of which elicited death upon breaking them. Cearúil couldn't remember all of them, though he did remember the top five instant death ones.

#5 – A Draco can never create a Dragoon from any species other than a human.

The merging of the souls just doesn't work with any other being than a human. Or at least that has been what the elders have always stated. Though if it was the truth, why would it be an instant death if it occurred?

#4 – A Draco could never create a Dragoon from a being who possesses innate magical abilities.

Most of which that had been changed in the past had gone mad and couldn't cope with the added powers the merge granted them. While the others went power hungry or berserk and started killing everything in sight.

#3 – A Draco could never create a Dragoon of the opposite s*x.

The male Draco were territorial enough without the merging of his soul with a female and causing it to quadruple. There was also the whole cross-breeding thing, which didn't make much sense among the elders. Draco couldn't conceive or impregnate another species. Or so everyone believed, he was proof that such a union could happen.

#2 – A Draco can never create a Dragoon without the human's consent.

A bond will never form between the two otherwise. Said bond is needed for both to coexist with each other peaceably. It also allows for the human to have a bit of control over his/her new life, instead of being completely dominated by the Draco.

#1 – A Draco can never, under any circumstance, create a Dragoon from a human who was dying.

Such a merging causes varied results within both, the Draco and human. None of which were good. It drives both insane in the end, while they suffered horribly along the way.

Most of the Draco believed that was what caused Celestia to go on the killing spree. Because she was dying when Night Shadow had merged their souls together, it supposedly caused both to lose their minds. Cearúil knew better, however. He knew Celestia had set Night Shadow up, then used him for her own twisted game.

Cearúil opened his eyes to find his gaze riveted once more upon Gwen. She was leaning forward slightly, with wide eyes, and her rapt attention focused entirely upon ArchMage Mors and the sad tale he was telling. Cearúil's eyebrows lifted at the sight. Gwen was interested in the Draco and Dragoons? That was definitely a first; she had never shown interest in anything, not even her arcane studies. A smile appeared on Cearúil's face when class ended. Perhaps he could use this discovery to his advantage?