The phoenix and the dragon prince

Chapter 3

Ilse

The hard part was over with, I had shifted in front of everyone. I walk over to Lady Ally and get my schedule, before I head towards the group of students that also have been assessed already. I am deep in my own thoughts, really taking in what the Elder told me.. Maybe I should be grateful.. A little snort escapes my mouth, and I think about Grace and Lena’s reactions. They seemed..accepting? I guess..

Still deep in my own thoughts, I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder, and I turn my head to see, who it is.

…

Damon

I turn back to my human form, and the Elder seems to be pleased with my wolf, as she tells me how much strength he possesses. I nod my head at her, with a mischievous smile on my face. I already knew that, but it sure didn’t hurt to hear it from one of the Elders as well!

I walk away and takes my place with the other students that have been assessed. When I look at the next in line to be assessed, I see that it is a gorgeous girl, with golden curls and ice-blue eyes. I study her with admiration, as she makes her way to the Elder, and in the back of my head, I hear my wolf purring like a kitten. Oh well, he agrees that she is beautiful. I chuckle, and turn my concentration towards the girl again, as I wonder what her shifting animal is..

Oh s**t!! I glare at her, and my jaw drops to the floor, as she turns into the must majestic animal that I had ever seen! It.. it couldn’t be.. she’s a phoenix?! How magnificent! I’m the biggest nerd when it comes to the history about the three biggest kingdoms, the Green Kingdom, Dragonland and the Lumanis Kingdom. A phoenix hadn’t been seen in 414 years! Unbeliable..

The girl shifts back to her human form, and I’m snapped out of my thoughts. She looks nervous and on edge as she walks towards me and the rest of the assessed students. I’m so curious about her! I feel my legs start moving toward where she’s standing, as I put a hand on her shoulder..

“Hello!” I say, a little bit louder than anticipated, as she turns her ice-blue eyes to meet mine.

…

Ilse

“Hello!” The wolf-boy says, as my eyes meet his. His big brown eyes are filled with admiration, and I can’t help but blush. I quickly look down, to hide my pink cheeks, but not before I get a good look on him. He’s tall. At least compared to me. He’s cute!! His hair is brown and curly, and his skin looks sun-kissed. Oh my god, his skin! Sooo smooth.. I can tell that he’s quite muscular as well, so my guess is, that he’s a battle-mage, like me!

I clear my throat before I answer. “Hey, and you are?”

“I am Damon, I’m sorry if I startled you. I just couldn’t help myself, I had to say hello! You’re a phoenix!” He smiles widely at me, as he pulls a strain of his hair behind his ear. Damn, he’s hot! Without thinking, I bite my lips.

“Oh, that’s quite alright.. Yes, I am indeed! The one and only - as far as I know.” I grin. He seems fascinated about the fact, that I’m a phoenix, which makes me feel a little calmer talking to him.

“Well.. Not to sound like the biggest nerd around here.. I have studied phoenixes as well as other mythical creatures, so I am quite shook to actually meet one in real life!” He blushes a little, which makes me smile, and continues then: “Phoenixes are very strong in battle, so I guess I’ll be seeing you at the battle-mage training?” He looks hopeful.

“I guess so..” I’m disrupted mid-sentence, as someone pulls me into a tight hug from behind.

“Ilse!!” You didn’t tell us about your phoenix!” It’s Grace.

“I’m.. I’m sorry, Grace.. I wasn’t quite sure how you guys would react. And.. And I wasn’t ready to lose you as my friends!” I look into her eyes, nervously, as I feel bad about not telling them..

“Lose us??” She snorts. “Uhm excuse me, but that’s a little offensive. Why would that matter to us? It doesn’t change anything!” She grins, as she pulls me tighter in to her, in a reassuring hug.

I sigh of relief, as she’s holding me. Suddenly, I feel ashamed, that I had trusted so little in them. My friends..

I am a little gutted, that I missed Grace’s shifting talking to that guy Damon. Oh my, Damon! I look around the crowd to find him, but can’t see him. Oh well, I’ll talk to him again in battle-mage training. I can feel small butterflies in my stomach at the thought of it..

When everyone is done with their assessments, it’s already time for lunch. I follow Grace and Lena in to the big hall, and we sit at the same table as before. We talk eagerly about the assessments as we eat, and I learn that Grace’s shifting animal is a fox, where as Lena’s is a deer, making neither of them natural warriors, like me. I’m somewhat disappointed, that they won’t be at the battle-mage training with me later that day, but I already sort of knew that.. Mages can sense each other’s energy’s, and theirs were much calmer than the average warriors energy.

We chit-chat about everything and nothing through the rest of the lunch, before we break up, and make our ways to our different classes. As I walk out from the great hall, I see Damon. Quickly I wave at him, as I gesture for him to wait for me whilst running towards him. I didn’t know where to go, and was hoping that he did..

“Hey Damon! Can I follow you? You have battle-mage training as well, right?” I ask, when I finally catch up with him.

“Sure thing”. He smiles, as we start walking together towards class.