Chapter 10

A month has passed since my arrival at the Rider's Academy, which is also named Vroengard, in honour of the Riders' homeland back in Alagaesia.

After having a couple of drinks with Erik, I headed to the Eldunari room, easily making myself invisible and cloaking my presence. It was a new ability I discovered in the past month. I had accomplished magical feats that were incredible and powerful. I could easily summon the true essence of silver and gold. I could turn invisible at will.

I knew that there were going to be more surprises in store for me as well. This was a positive but also a negative for being a dragon hybrid. I couldn't exactly control my magic.

I had been training with Umaroth since my arrival in preparation for my "manifestation". According to Umaroth, I was close to revealing my dragon half. I knew it too. Every day, my skin felt like less and less of my own. It felt like I was wearing a disguise.

When I reached the room, Umaroth gave me the usual lessons of containing my magic and energy. The stones in my belt were filled with my energy, the power of it making the hair on my arms rise.

Before he could move on for mental fighting, a current of pain ran under my skin. I gritted my teeth and hissed through my teeth.

Go Elvana! Find Umaring and tell him to take you to the wild dragons! But make sure it's a good distance away from the Academy!

I nodded and raced out, quickly turning invisible. I connected minds with Umaring and he flew to the loading dock. I leapt onto his back and he took off. I tried not to cry out as pain continued to rack my body. My limbs started to shake with the pain and itching crept along my skin.

I scratched and scratched at my skin and my nails started to draw blood. Umaring flew as fast as he could, I could feel the strain in his wings. He dove for a cave in the woods and several dragons waited for us, including the amethyst dragon.

She nosed me in concern when I jumped off Umaring. I stumbled into the cave, tripping on a slumbering dragon. The dragon was huge, with red and gold scales. It opened its huge eye to look at me but otherwise it was undisturbed.

I fell to my knees and panted, sweat starting to stream down my skin. My insides felt hot, making me hot on the outside. I started to strip but I ended up ripping most of my clothing. When my nails dug into my skin, they sank in deep until they encountered something harder underneath.

Blood stained the cave floor as I shed my human skin. Underneath was soft white-silver scales. Wings burst from my shoulder blades, suddenly unfurling. Claws sprouted from my nails. With this new body, I felt strong.

Using the cave wall, I propped myself up, my wings fluttering. It was so strange how they felt so much like a part of me. Umaring waited with the purple dragon just outside the cave. I could feel their awe as they took me in. I melded minds with Umaring and saw through his eyes.

And what I saw was monstrous but also beautiful. Frighteningly beautiful. I still looked the same, except instead of soft human skin, my body was covered with white scales. I could see the tips of white wings peeking over my shoulders.

I didn't look naked exactly but it didn't look like I had any clothes on either. Through Umaring's eyes, I watched myself unfurl my wings with an audible snap. I withdrew from his mind and let out a breath. I bent and jumped into the air, flapping my wings.

It wasn't hard at all. I thought that I would fall from the sky or not be able to fly at all. I rose higher than the trees, the branches brushing my scales. I looked up at the full moon. The moonlight made my scales shimmer slightly and I turned in the air, reveling in my strength.

I felt like I've let my true self free after years of being trapped in my human shell. Umaring and some of the other dragons rose to meet me, circling around me and taking in my scent. I could smell my new scent, more dragon than human. The human scent was there, barely masked by the dragon scent. The result of the scents mixing was an interesting aroma that smelled better than human and dragon.

The other dragons flew off and I followed. Utter joy made me call out. A roar emerged from my throat, echoing in the night. I twisted and turned in the air like water. I could feel the dragons' joy press against my mind.

I smiled and soared with them in the night.