Temple Academy Series
Here's part two, enjoy, my fans, enjoy.
Chapter 12- Fighting & Survival Part2
The young dragons shuffled into the packed classrooms, wondering who their next teacher was. Digit hoped the individual wasn't as strict as Cyril or talkative like Volteer. But what concerned him more was the next subject to be learned.
Hurriedly, he took a seat at a vacant table with Jinx, Faerie, Arcanel, Lupe, Sora, and two dragons he hadn't seen before. The first one had dark brown scales with tribal markings and a beaded necklace. As for the second one, he had golden brown scales and sat close to Sora casting her bright yet mischievous smiles. New students, Digit thought. This school is full of surprises.
But the biggest surprise was the teacher. He was neither Cyril nor Volteer or Terrador, but a cloaked anthropomorphic dragon. Something about the shadowy demeanor the teacher exhibited beneath the habiliments struck Digit as if he had an edge to him. Who is this dragon, the young earth dragon mused timidly. I've never seen him before. Is a he new? I wonder what subject he'll teach us…
"Good morning, students," said the dragon, removing the hood of his cloak swiftly. Underneath he had plum-colored scales, straight ivory horns, a strange marking on his forehead, and piercing red eyes like molten lava. Digit shuddered at the sight of his uncanny dark smile. Something about it manifested a mix of clashing forces such as light and dark or good and evil, as if his disposition constantly shifted from one end to the other—conflicting forever.
"My name's Kyo, said the teacher, smile fading. His hawk-like gaze swept over the students like a thunderstorm's whipping gales. He made count of the large assembly of students fidgeting anxiously in their seats. Every pupil was here. When he was satisfied, he continued in a gruff voice.
"I'm your new instructor and will be training you in fighting and survival tactics. And as your first lesson, you'll be tested on survival. Come, I've a surprise for you."
Consequently, the dark purple dragon turned and marched outside, beckoning them to follow with the flick of his tail. Reluctantly, the young dragons followed Kyo with quick footfalls, claws clicking on stone. They shared quiet conversation and wondered what the mysterious teacher had in store for them as their first lesson. Digit kept a close eye on Kyo trying to compare him to Cynder who was eerily quiet.
As the young dragons turned left, then right, and left again, Digit walked beside Jinx and whispered,
"Don't you find it odd he resembles Cynder?"
"Who?"
"Kyo."
Jinx nodded. To her Kyo did bear a striking resemblance to the shadow dragoness. Both had the same ivory horns and shape, the same distinct markings, but a difference in scale color. Jinx and Digit looked at each other thinking: Was it a coincidence or was this teacher some how connected to Cynder by blood relation?
Neither understood for sure and only guessed that they would learn the truth sooner or later. Digit finally pushed the thoughts away and concentrated on the next lesson. Whatever this next lesson was wasn't going to be a cake walk. He felt his heart quicken with anticipation. His brain poured out many thoughts, some that were redundant, and some that were new. Most of all, he hopped not to embarrass himself by farting.
"Ah, so you are the gassy one," a voice said. He turned to his left to see the dark brown dragoness and Lupe walking beside him. She smiled toothily like a tiger, her beaded necklace jingling like keys.
Digit managed a weak smile. "Yeah, that's me, the timed stink bomb. My name's…"
"Digit, correct," she interjected. When she noticed his look of surprise, she explained. "The spirits know all and see all, my friend, and I'm their vessel of communication. You may call me, Nubia, by the way."
Before he could ask her what she meant, Kyo shot him a stern look and stopped at a round heartwood door. He stared absentmindedly for a moment before opening it with a swift kick. Ribbons of sunlight streamed through the interior illuminating the dim lit stone walls. Kyo lead them outside into the Temple Academy Courtyard. Digit winced feeling the corrugated, sharp surface under his paws and the sun beating furiously on his head like a bongo.
When they finally reached their destination, Kyo stopped and turned to the young dragons with another faint but toothy smile. His crimson eyes brimmed with a solemn glare and little amusement.
"This class," Kyo gestured to the obstacle course, "is your first lesson, students—Fight & Survival Obstacle Course."
Digit's jaw dropped lower than the Titanic. In front of him was an obstacle course that was dangerous as far as the dragon eye could see. Giant logs fastened to ropes swung back and forth in an oscillating movement. A twenty foot brick wall with two climbing ropes towered behind the swinging logs. A chasm of churning water full of what sounded like snapping piranhas came after, only to be traversed by a single driftwood plank. Moreover, there was a thick barbed wire fence and twenty wooden apes waiting at the end of it all.
Digit's heart sank into his claws, his knees wobbled, and without realizing it; he let out a loud fart. All eyes snapped in his direction and Kyo glared at him intensely, peeved by the disruption.
"Well, well, well, since you like to joke with your farts," Kyo growled. "You get to go first."
"But it was an accident," Jinx objected. "He didn't mean it."
The combat instructor aimed his fiery gaze at the black and green dragoness. A slow smile spread across his face. "Is that so? Then you will also be the first to go."
And now for part 3, the final part; in the next chapter, you will learn what secret Kyo and Cynder share and what happens to Digit tries to work out the mess his Curse of Zephyr as placed him in.
