Dan'enda Struggle

Chapter Six: School

A couple of years later, I was eighteen and fairly proficient in my training. I had been training with offensive techniques for a short while. After the first meeting with Dhana, I began to realize that ranged was more my style of fighting, of defending my people, though I became proficient with a double-ended spear. I had become accustomed to a more stealthy approach, but for hand-to-hand, I liked spears. A bow and spear were made with the bones of our dragon ancestor, Eva, found at the cottage. The spear had the capacity to come undone to become two small dagger-length weapons for use in both hands. They were made for me by Darius the "Salamander," the blacksmith who supplied the guard.

My parents had decided it would be best if I got sent to a school for all the races to be the best they can be. Silverlight was also heavily defended by the strongest people from those races. My parents also decided that Rose and Sevrin would come with me. So, on the morning of the day of our departure, I got up before the light reached the land, and got ready. I harvested some dragosia and put the berries into a small box. I wrapped that box in a cloth, tied it together, and set it down to make two more for Rose and Sevrin. I looked around my room. Everything that I was taking to the school had already been sent out.

I ended my gaze on my bed, where Ivy was just waking up. I set the packages down on the table next to my bow and spear, then I went over to her, and put my hand to her head.

"Are you ready?" I asked her.

She nodded and smiled at me.

I went back over to my table and picked up my quiver, strapped it to my back, and laid my bow across my shoulder. I put my knife inside my right boot to conceal it, and my now apart spear went into the sheaths at my hips. Heading out of my room and through the castle with Ivy on my shoulder, I stopped at the entrance hall, where my mother and father were waiting with Commander Dranovan.

"Good morning." I called out as they stopped talking and looked at me.

My mother came over to me before I could reach them. She wrapped me in a tight embrace. "Be safe, Nydia. There still has been no word of your sister. I don't know if she is still out there, but don't let them take you from us, too."

I hugged her back just as tightly. "I promise I'll be okay. I'll bring her home, too. One way or another, I will eventually bring her home."

We let go of each other, and it was my father's turn. He looked like he was going to cry as he held me. "My beautiful princess. I wish you weren't going."

"I know, but it is something I have to do." I sighed into his shoulder. Inside I was relishing this hug as though I'd never hug him again.

"I know. Make sure you learn as much as you can. I know you have so much power in you that you can do anything you set out to do. Just be safe. We love you so much."

"I know. I love you, too." I nodded and smiled as we started to pull away and he kissed the top of my head. I looked at the commander, who was looking quite awkward. "Farewell, Commander."

"Farewell, Princess. My children are awaiting you by the city gates. Please keep them from killing each other."

I chuckled. "Of course, sir. I will do my best to keep them in line. And I will make sure they both make it back home." I had become quite fond of being around the siblings. They were great company for me on walks around the gardens.

He smiled. "Thank you. When they return, they'll have a sibling to coddle." I smiled, but before I could respond he continued, "Don't tell them, yet. If they knew, they'd probably be torn about accompanying you."

"I promise not to breathe a word until we get settled at the academy. Congratulations." I gave him a hug, though I was sure he didn't expect one and he hugged me back anyway.

I eventually found Sevrin and Rose to give them their berries. Rose said she would fly with me, though Sevrin wanted to relax and take a ground route through the mountains before he met with us.

Quite a few hours later, in the late afternoon, we met up after the mountains, in a town called Druin, another outpost of the Dwarves. Rose and I got there first and we stopped to have a small meal from a street vendor, consisting of thin folded pancakes filled with a custard and fruit. We added a small bit of dragosia from our boxes. When Sevrin finally came through the gate to the tunnel, we had finished up our treats. We were a bit tired after that flight, though we could have continued if we had pushed hard on our wings. Rose thought it best to rest and maybe we could continue at sundown. So we found an inn to stay in for a while and took naps, though I'm sure Sevrin and Rose got less than I did as they kept watch.

Before long into my sleep, I woke to find Rose a little tense talking to Sevrin. Though they ushered me back to sleep, I could tell they were on alert. It was after midnight, and I had gotten a decent amount of sleep, but I could tell they weren't as rested. I still rested as they switched so Rose could get a couple more hours of sleep. Sevrin was quiet as he stared out the window to the room, so I let him be. Just before sunrise, Rose woke and was feeling refreshed, so we decided on another small meal, this one consisting of rice and eggs. Before we left, they told me that during the night Rose had found one of the dwarves to be particularly creepy, watching the building. After our meal, we were back on the road, the three of us walking together as the sun's rays reached us.

After the sun warmed our bones, we took flight, though Sevrin had to ride on Vonskin, who had gained the ability to grow. The land was mostly plains with some scattered farms near Druin. The rest of the way would be even emptier, but for some groups of trees, until we got closer to the school where the trees would become greater in number. On our flight we could see the outline of the woods of Isisia, the land of the nymphs. Those trees were said to be massive, though getting close enough to truly see them was a feat in itself.

A few hours later, I was landing in a clearing in the forest not far from the school. I could see the lake next to the massive set of buildings. Ivy landed on my shoulder. I smiled and scratched Ivy's chin, speaking to her, "Are you still ready for this experience?"

Ivy responded with a playful gurgle, "Of course I am. I am with you."

I smiled and instantly, we both took to the air again. I extended my wings and Ivy flew right underneath my chest. We were heading to Silverlight, eager to get there first and wander around as I had told Rose and Sevrin they could stop for a moment since we were so close to the school. Ivy and I arrived at the academy within minutes and landed on the top of the walls. I looked around, my wings disappearing, and let Ivy go look around, but I told her to be careful and come to me if she needed something. We would need to meet back up with Rose and Sevrin before too long. Ivy left and as I watched her, I noticed movement and looked at who was walking towards the wall. It was a woman wearing the school's emblem on a sort of band around the end of the sleeve of her tunic. When she stopped and looked up the fairly tall wall at me, I jumped down. "Yes?"

"I'm with the school officials. Name?" She had bright red hair and green eyes, and she looked a little older than me.

"Nydia Dragwald." I said, somewhat quietly, as though I felt my family name should be a well-guarded secret.

The woman raised her eyebrows at me in surprise, then handed me a paper. "This is for you. This is where you will find your things."

"Thank you." Though I wondered how she procured the note so fast, I assumed it had to do with the magic of the school. I took the paper and walked across the lawn, looking at the information. I smiled. Ivy and I had gotten the room I requested: the tallest tower. When I was out of sight of the woman, I brought my wings back out and flew through the halls and to the dorms. I found the hallway and flew up the tower, keeping my wings short so I wouldn't scrape them on the walls. I got to the room and saw Ivy, curled up on the bed. I smiled and went to her and opened the suitcase next to the window that my parents had sent over before we left home. I pulled out a dragon tooth. It was the tooth of my mother's dragon and was put onto a chain of silver yarn. Ivy must have found her way here by sensing it. I put it around my neck, kissing it. "We miss you, Jade," I said in the dragon-tongue. Ivy woke up and flew over, brushing the tooth with a small jet of her flame.

"Want to go for another flight and look for them?" I asked her. Ivy responded with an excited jump and I opened the window and made my wings appear. We jumped out and I let myself fall for a moment before expanding my wings and gliding. I flew up and up, feeling the free air across my face. Ivy was flying with a couple of birds so I decided to sit on the top of the tower. Far below, I saw that more students were starting to arrive. I told Ivy, then flew over so that when we were ready, we could land behind the group.

I landed in a tree, my silver hair and short black dress and pants blowing in the wind. Once everyone noticed I was there because of Ivy flying past me, I sat down on the branch and watched the event. I did not receive a bracelet that the other students were receiving from another school official since I had already taken the tests back at the castle.

When the students were let into the grounds to go to their testing areas, a few of the dan'enda and their Sparks came to see me, recognizing me as their princess. But only they would know who I am and I swore them to secrecy. I made a note to myself to visit them whenever I got the chance. As I waited for more instructions, as everyone had left, the Headmistress, a fairy, walked over to me.

"Greetings, Headmistress," I said to her, jumping down from the tree. I was not sure of what I should do then, but had figured I could go around and watch the tests take place if the headmistress didn't say anything. I bowed slightly to Headmistress Tan'nal, who bowed back as well.

"Princess Nydia, how good it is to see you again. How is your sister? And your parents?"

"They are well, thank you," I said after a moment. "Although, my sister.. well, let's just say she is not cooperating right now. She hasn't been seen since the incident."

"Ah. That is unfortunate. I was hoping she would have grown out of that by now."

"Yes. Same with us." I looked for a moment, my ears listening for Ivy flying above. "Headmistress, what shall I do now? Am I free to wander and watch the others?

"Yes. I guess that would be alright. When it starts to get dark, and everyone has finished, dinner will be ready."

"Thank you. I will see you later, then." I summoned my wings and took to the skies towards Ivy, who was flying in circles above us, as Headmistress Tan'nal walked back inside.

We flew towards the dozens of fields that the students were approaching as the test proctors waited with their papers. The students were being called alphabetically and in pairs at their appropriate fields. I glided over to the field with the proctor I had, the field I would have been assigned to, and landed behind the stands where none could see me. I put my wings away and walked around to the front of the stands where there were a number of students sitting at various levels and waiting to take their placement tests.

Before sitting, I glanced around at the few other students nearby. I didn't recognize anyone where I was going to sit but in the next set I noticed a couple dan'enda waiting to take their tests. I could recognize them by name from when I was in school with them and went over to them. "Hello, Madelyn," I said with a smile, then turned to the guy, "Hello, Damien." Madelyn Marlo and Damien Carlem were best friends and were almost always together. There were rumors that they were to be married.

They went to stand up but I stopped them. In a hushed tone, I said, "No one here needs to know about me except our people, a few teachers, and the headmistress. Here, I am not some princess. I am a student. Alright?"

They nodded and Damien spoke, "Then, hello, Nydia."

"Where are your other halves?" I asked.

"They went to play for a little while. They will be back for our tests soon."

"Then I shall watch out for them. They are not a part of the test. She is the one who gave me my test. She may also be our teacher, from what she said to me."

"Okay. Is she nice?"

"Yes," I said as I smiled. "Now I will let you guys prepare, you might be up soon."

They nodded and started discussing their test.

I looked around again, and noticed an elf sitting a couple rows above them, who was watching the students on the field. I thought that he looked a bit nervous so I got up to talk to him. "Hello. My name is Nydia." I said as I knelt down in front of him. "What's your name?"

"My name is Daerae Solmus," he responded.

I smiled at him and glanced over as the other two got up for their test. "Well, Daerae, have you prepared for your test?" I asked quietly. I then pointed at the bracelet, "Those things look uncomfortable."

"These are a bit uncomfortable," he said, looking down at it. "I haven't really prepared. I didn't know what to expect from the tests. But these will just display our level of learning and adapting, so I should be fine. What about you?" he asked, pointing at my bare wrist.

"I just happened to be given a chance to take mine early," I said as I looked at them again, then whipped my head around to see the two dragons fly over to me, realizing their companions were taking the test. They landed on my shoulders and I smiled at them.

"How is that? Are you of high blood or something?" he chuckled.

There was a small sound similar to that of thunder and I looked up at the near clear sky. "Nope. Just someone who wants to learn. Please don't think about it too much." Another rumble, louder, and Ivy came flying in a rush. I watched and looked down at her as she landed in my lap, startling the other two.

Ivy gave a sorrowful hiss, "She's here."