Virgil coughed.
They were flying over Ellesméra again, and Virgil's stomach ached. He had been flying on Ren's back ever since he woke up. The sight of Rakrhelgr after his dream had only affected him a few minutes after he woke. By then he had been pondering what the dreams meant and why he kept having them. He kept thinking about the dream, and after each thought the feeling worsened, like how when a deer breathed, the python choking it gripped tighter. When he saw Rakrhelgr, she had been about one and a half of Ren's size. Ren was six months old, Rakrhelgr probably a couple weeks or months younger. He hadn't returned to the present until Ren had landed.
But now they were flying again, and Ren accidentally blew smoke in front of them, burning Virgil's lungs. Oops, sorry, Ren apologized. It's okay, just be more careful. Even so, the aftereffects of the smoke made Virgil's eyes sting.
All three dragons, including Fírnen, were heading for the Crags of Tel'naeír to begun their training. Arya had given them the permission to call her as their mistress now, and Fírnen their master. The two ebrithilar were already beginning to teach them with words already. Because Virgil wasn't as good as Alanna in speaking the ancient language, Arya began to teach him more intensively. Lucky I've studied the basics of the ancient language once before, Virgil had reflected. Now Arya was talking to him with her mind, as they were flying fast and low to reach the crags quickly.
What is the literal translation of the elven word 'Skulblaka'?
Scale-flapper.
Good. What is the difference between 'reisa' and 'rïsa?'
'Reisa' means 'raise,' while 'rïsa' means 'to rise'
Correct.
Virgil got most of her questions right, but he did get some wrong. When that happened, Alanna would correct him smugly, which was slightly out of her character. She was probably as excited as Virgil was. At the same time, Fírnen was teaching the two dragons the best techniques for flying efficiently and how to spot weather provocations.
Once they landed, Virgil followed Arya to a small hut near the crags. There they began to train again. Virgil learned to read and write in the Liduen Kvaedhí more quickly. He soon realized that he has advantages, as he had often read when he was young. He knew many words in the ancient language too... or so he thought. Apparently, he was under-educated in the term of the ancient language. He had been too confident. Never underestimate, Fírnen often reminded him.
One of the things he learned was that, in the ancient language, descriptive purposes were set behind each noun. He never knew that, so he noted the attribute in the back of his mind. So I wonder what my 'Skulblaka hvitr' is up to.
Meanwhile, Ren had begun to train with Fírnen. The green dragon was both wise and patient. The white dragon learned how to fight in midair, how to hunt effectively, and deepened his knowledge on weather conditions. Their lives would be dependent on it someday.
Alanna had already known most of what Arya tutored Virgil through, so she was a step ahead. However, when Arya reached the more important lessons of being a Dragon Rider, she began to lend a willing ear.
Her dragon Evarín also learned with Ren. She was more lithe than the white dragon, which gave her different fighting advantages. She was a dragon that would have to rely more on speed and intelligence rather than strength. She could slip between the claws or her enemy in record time, while Ren could only fight back if he were attacked in the same manner.
By exchanging words between partnerships, the four apprentices could answer almost every question that was set before them. One of the things Virgil couldn't fully grasp was the knowledge on politics. They weren't very important, but everyone agreed that, should he be led to Queen Nasuada, he would have to have the correct manners. It had grown to become his least favorite lesson.
Learning to meditate had also been one thing that wasn't easy for Virgil. He usually opened up his mind only to find that others were shielded from him, or that he had been too cautious. It was a complicated task. He had trouble identifying different minds. At first he had assumed that the task would be simple and that he would be able to tell the difference between the sea of inhuman minds immediately. He simply couldn't.
Without his awareness, time passed, resembling an hourglass, being turned around, measuring the chronology that came and went. Virgil spent his days training, practicing magic, and most of all flying. He and Ren were merged as one during those periods, soaring above the trees and magical forests. Today was one of those days.
Ren's claws absorbed the force as he landed, quivering slightly. Virgil knew that it was his excitement to hunt. The Skulblaka's senses were highly alert and tingling. Virgil was sure not to interrupt his dragon. Despite not fully understanding the course of life, he felt unhappy seeing the death of an innocent deer or rabbit. He would feel nauseated, and feel weak hints of red flashes and nothing but panic. Îstalrren had made a deal with him, so that dragon and Rider would stay apart during hunting sessions. So from that dispute, Virgil used his time to meditate.
He only detected few minds. Flickers, so tiny he could have missed them. He couldn't understand why. There was plenty of life around him. Plants, squirrels, mice, ants, dragonflies, and more. Why couldn't he sense them? He could never explain what he felt with his mind-sight.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm and composed. The rush of air flowing in and out of his lungs was controlled, and his mind was empty of unnecessary thoughts. He spread his consciousness, by allowing them to seep out of him and search for new signs of life.
It never worked right.
Virgil let the tendrils of his mind travel back into him, and he breathed in. There were still fragments of his memory left in him when he tried to make his head devoid of thoughts. He couldn't keep his mind empty for long just yet. Discouraged, he walked around, noticing the many plants and trees, growing in an intertwined system. They lived, despite not having the ability to speak or have feelings. Virgil briefly recalled a tale of an elf who became one with a tree, but for now he was content to merely explore.
He wondered what Ren was doing. The Rider was sure not to disturb him yet, so he wandered over to lean on a pine tree. Using his mind once more, he focused on the tree and its surroundings, hoping to be able to understand the personalities they had. However, he was only able to brush a consciousness and not fully grasp its details.
At least he was making progress. He touched minds with a squirrel, but he could not influence it. He was unable to tell it that he would not harm it. Next he met with a snake hidden under vines, but it slithered away. He kept his legs crossed as to keep himself in his state, but felt a faint trigger. He slid out of his meditation to find Ren calling him.
Virgil?
Have you finished hunting? questioned the Rider.
I have. Ren made a wordless contact that Virgil understood, and they agreed for Ren to locate his Rider and then travel back to Ellesméra. Virgil kept his mind open and waited. Soon he heard the flap of wings, and the heavy mass of Ren shook the ground as he landed. Faintly, the Shur'tugal noticed fear from the small animals around him. He tried to ignore them and swung up to his partner's back. Ren, delightful, took of immediately. The beat of his huge wings became steady, and then he glided through the air without having to move the large, curtained limbs.
A sparrow swerved aside as the dragon gained altitude and rose to the clouds, and damp cold had Virgil shivering, with diamond droplets on his brown hair. The misty white made Ren's skular, his scales, gleam and shimmer like a polished stone. The color strongly reminded Virgil of Ren's eggshell. It had seemed like such a long time since the day Ren hatched for him. It's been so long, he reflected. He kept his mind open for his dragon to hear, but Ren did not reply. Instead, a content rumble resounded deep in his throat, only loud enough for Virgil to hear among the exhilarating rushes of air.
Ivory claws impacted on the soft ground after a quick descent. Virgil looked around. He was at the outskirts of Ellesméra, and he noticed a group of elves singing to their plants. One elf sang to his flower, and it grew and blossomed, while another sang to her tree. She was beginning to shape it, but Ren urged his Rider forward before he could make out what it would be.
Arching high above his head were the pine branches, allowing dots of sunlight to decorate the forest floor. Virgil kneeled down to gaze into the throat of a lily, with its string of nectar contrasting against the pinks and purples. It was beautiful. For a moment he thought of one day returning to Carvahall, showing everyone his ability to grow a flower from naught but a tiny little seed. He would have to ask his ebrithilar if he wanted to do that.
He realized that it would be time for him to learn soon. They had promised Arya and Fírnen that they would be at the Crags of Tel'naeír by midday, and the sun was rapidly climbing up above their heads. We'd better go, Ren urged, digging his claws into the ground in anticipation
Virgil nodded and soon, he was pinpointing the location of which they were going. Halfway there they noticed Evarín tucking in her haunches to spring into the sky. The four apprentices shared greetings in the respective elven language, before the dragons' wings synchronized and they, together, were to see their masters.
Arya Dröttning and her great green-scaled dragon Fírnen were already waiting. The enormous Skulblaka took up a hefty space, and even when laying down he was taller than his winged pupils. Ren and Evarín had their heads down as they walked nearer. Virgil and Alanna too held their positions as two lowly ranked students. The elf queen m, on the other hand, was already walking to them, her raven-black hair glossy as ever. The young Riders took their move and greeted her, following the usual phrases used by ancient elves.
Soon, Arya began to explain that today, she would take the task of teaching the dragon's, while Fírnen would teach Virgil and Alanna. Both Riders had no idea how that would help, but they were certain that this was no position to protests. Arya fastened a saddle for two onto Fírnen's back. It was rather odd in shape in Virgil's eyes. So as Arya Dröttning led the dragon duo deep into the forests, Virgil let Alanna climb up the saddle first. She then helped pull him up. Yet again, Virgil was aware of how strong an elf, even a female one, could be. Her arm was sturdy and her grip was unwavering until he managed to settle into the saddle himself.
This time the wings were green instead of the flashing white that Virgil was used to seeing. The darker shades of forest green were strongly reminiscent of the forest as Fírnen took off. He said nothing yet, only allowing his pupils to explore what they were already used to seeing. I wonder what we'll learn, though Virgil, keeping his thoughts private.
I am going through a rewriting process, right from chapter one. However, I wouldn't mind a review c: If you didn't know, my pen name used to be ShruikanGlitch.