Chapter 1
Fifteen years. Fifteen years since my birth. Honestly, I never thought I'd ever be born. From what Marshal was saying the magic that kept me and mother in suspended animation was thought to have damaged my egg. I somehow had memories of this, but they were always fuzzy and I could never reach them. Oh well, it's not like my mother would have lived from her injuries I am sad I never met her, but I am glad she was found by Marshal. He took me into his home, his life, and always calls me his son. Although, I'm technically his ward due to no blood relation.
Sadly the one thing I wish for, is that I was born Marshal's real son, to be a wind dragon instead. But I was born a shadow dragon. A spy, an assassin, a murderer, and more from what I heard during my fifteen years of life. I never hurt anyone yet, but I've seen the hatred the people of Warfang have for my kind. Probably why the thirteen shadows have hid for the last fifteen years in the Fiefs of the Wind dragons. Same with the fiefs themselves. Nothing.
Hearing Marshal mutter to himself in his home office about the various events I'm more clued in than the average Warfang citizen. I keep hearing how the Granite King and his kingdom hold the line even pushing the dark remnants back in retaking their lost territory from those blasted apes. The lightning dragons managed to retake Concurrent Skies and use the elemental power there to force the dark armies back. However the Ice Dragons got forced back out of Dante's Freezer again, and the fire dragons are being pushed back to their wall.
Waring's situation has improved as well thanks to many Spyro had helped in his journey, allowing Warfang to secure its borders and prepare to vanquish the enemies near the volcano Malefor used to summon the destroyer from. However, I've lived a peaceful…
Suddenly pain shocked Shadow out of his reverie making him reel back from the wind dragon staring down at him disapprovingly. "Pay attention Shadow! You need to stop getting lost in your thoughts during training."
"Sorry Marshal!" Shadow stated staring up at the older dragon rubbing his head as he looked over the lightly armored wind dragon. Shadow looked for weaknesses in the gambesons and leather covering the wind dragon before him. The young dragon circled to his right with Marshal raising an eye ridge before Shadow's senses detected Marshal's wind element gathering.
Shadow countered by channeling his element his shadow expanding to create a black wind whirling around him matching Marshal's actions. Before both elements were launched and clashed. Shadow realized his mistake quickly as he was overpowered and blown back roughly tumbling along the ground and landing in a heap.
"You're distracted Shadow. What's going on? You've never been this distracted before." Marshal asked tilted his head at the shadow dragon who growled and stood up embarrassed as he didn't meet his adoptive father's eyes. "I… I'm nervous about The Academy father. I'm afraid about keeping everything in line and worried about my element. I still need to use shadows to bring up wind…"
Marshal sighed, almost as if he had been expecting and hoping that was all that was wrong. "As long as you wear the amulet you won't need to worry. The glamour spell includes your element son. You shouldn't hate the element you were born with. Shadow dragons are not evil just because a group of them are evil. You know you're not evil that's all that matters to me."
Shadow wanted to argue against his father's point but he looked at his black scales and nodded, "I just wish I didn't have to hide who I am." Shadow told Marshal in a sad tone only to be pulled into a hug from the wind dragon.
"I know… I wish the same thing son. Come we're done for the day. Can't have you exhausted before your big day." His father replied with a soft smile his large hammer-like tail blade scraping the ground briefly.
Shadow nodded and smiled back flicking his tail the trio of scythe tail blades shining in the sun. Marshal spread his massive double-jointed wings to take flight with a flap and bounding leap. Shadow followed suit his wings spreading wide as he took to the air. Reaching into a pouch on his hip Shadow brought out an amulet his father had given him. He didn't remember when, he just remembered always having it. He put it on and his scales flashed turning a silvery, color similar to Marshal's, with black streaks through his scales. As he flew Shadow rubbed the onyx gem set in the amulet briefly.
"Please don't let me down." He thought to the enchanted jewelry. He had been deathly afraid of someone finding out his secret to such a degree he has had nightmares ending with him hanging from the battlements dead. It made his body shiver in fear every time it came across his mind. Shaking his head the young shadow dragon dove down to keep up with Marshal diving from the high cliffs of the mountain they had to be training at.
Soon the two of them leveled out as Marshal casually glided his wide wings and wind element allowing him to. While Shadow had to flap to keep up between stints of gliding to keep from falling into the ground at speed. The two of them flew over the forests and fields as the mighty walls of Warfang came into view. Marshal changed course to join other dragons flying into the massive city where other wind element guards inspected the newcomers. It's here Shadow was glad that his father was their captain. He didn't need them looking closer at the Amulet.
"Hey Captain Marshal, welcome back head-on by." Stated a cloud white dragon said with a grin waving them on by as they approached the inspection point.
"Thank you Cumulus," Marshal replied with a smile waving to Shadow as they continued.
Cumulus smiled to Shadow, "Keep up the hard work there Cyclone. Would love to have you in the guard." The cloud-white dragon added to Shadow. "We'll see! Gotta finish my schooling first!" Came Shadow's response.
Shadow hated having two names. Marshal had officially named him Cyclone as it would be odd a wind dragon having a shadow dragon name. He wanted to go by his true name! The one his mother gave him, Shadow. Not that fake name that meant nothing to him. As Marshal made a point of using his fake name in public but in their own home, he was Shadow, or when they were outside of the city training his element.
It wasn't long until the two of them flew over the central part of the city near the Guardian Academy. Shadow looked at the large building and sighed. He had outgrown his old school and graduated early allowing him to spend a few years honing his skills with Marshal, but it seems tomorrow he had to go there to further improve his skill set. He just wished he didn't need it. He didn't want to risk some dragon stealing his amulet revealing his scales to everyone.
Shaking his head again, Shadow growled at himself for being such a coward. He almost missed Marshal diving down towards a long set of houses in a teardrop section of the main road. As Marshal landed near their home with Shadow landing near him. Looking around his home Shadow sighed as he walked only to pause looking to his right seeing that odd moon white dragon caring for the flowers in front of his family's home.
"Hey, Lunaris!" Shadow called to the white dragon. "Welcome back Cyclone." The white dragon called smiling to Shadow before nodding to Marshal who returned the gesture.
As the two of them approached their door a reddish bronze dragon walked out of his home. This dragon had been here since Shadow was born and every time Marshal saw this dragon Shadow got the feeling Marshal suspected this dragon was hiding something yet he found nothing, and could never place why he felt familiar. Shadow had several times tried to spy on this dragon via his shadows only to get thrown back somehow. Sometimes it was so violently he was knocked across a room! Now, what was this dragon's name? Oh, right it was Scorch!
"Hey, Scorch! How are you?" Shadow asked getting the adult to smile at the young dragon, "Doing pretty good today. Just heading out to get some things for the family." He stated while Shadow nodded.
"You're starting at The Academy with my kids aren't you Cyclone?" He asked Shadow, who nodded in confirmation.
"Yeah. Looking forward to seeing Asha, and Onyx there." Shadow said to the older dragon who nodded before frowning, "You three best keep the pranks down." He warned Shadow.
"Awwww but they're fun!" The shadow dragon quickly countered and retreated into his home before the older dragon could retort with a snicker.
Marshal just rolled his eyes. "Kids." He muttered.
Shadow took off the amulet and placed it on a hook near the door. He had to put it there as he had lost it a few time,s so he put it near the door once it closed so that he could be normal. Shaking himself as he always felt weird when removing the amulet before stretching out his legs, tail, and wings, sighing happily. He enjoyed this rather roomy two-story house.
"I'll make dinner up, Shadow you go wash up," Marshal told him as the young dragon did his stretching.
"Yes, dad. Thanks." Shadow replied as he walked up the stairs his tail blades glinting the lamp lights.
Marshal had given Shadow the entire second floor when he outgrew the little bed he once had sleeping in Marshal's room. Being a shadow dragon he preferred the darkness of his upstairs. He did not need to light the upstairs at all. His night vision was so good the dark looked like it was bathed in light. His golden eye flared without his knowledge as he walked through the darkened shadows of his living area.
Quickly finding the bath he let the water pump out as he climbed in. He sighed as he turned on the shower letting muck and sweat rinse off him. He could never see any of the dirt that coated his body during their training sessions, but he always felt better thanks to the water helping his muscles relax.
"Aaaaah nothing better than a good rinsing," Shadow muttered before beginning to wash.
Marshal heard the water running through the pipes and turned off the sink. The older wind dragon's mind wandered to their training today, his talon tapping the counter. Somehow, he didn't think Shadow would be so distracted. He knew the young dragon was going through a lot and he understood he was overbearing. Yet today Shadow was very distracted. Was it due to school, or was it something else? He sighed and pushed it aside. He knew Shadow was a good lad and tomorrow was a huge step. Marshal wanted him to do well, and sending him to The Academy was the best option for a dragon with his skill and power at his age.
Shadow already knew how to manipulate so much of his element, it shocked him just how flexible the shadow element was. He suspected Shadow held himself back out of fear of discovery or hatred of his element. He remembers earlier training matches there and the young dragon dove in and out of shadows like he always lived in them. Was it his fault for making him hate his power, to fear it? Or did he truly wish to be a wind dragon? Marshal sighed as he hung his head. Parenting was hard. He wondered how his father managed to deal with him for so long. But Marshal knew one thing…. It didn't take this long to wash one's scales!
He quickly flicked on the sink and waited, counting down the seconds on one paw before, "OOOWWWW! WHAT THE HELL DAD?!" And off went the sink as Marshal grinned. Point made.
It wasn't long Shadow came down the stairs dry but gave Marshal the stink eye for that little prank. "What? I needed the water too." He said to him making Shadow snort black flames without thought before he slinks off, mismatched eyes narrowing. Marshal had to keep from snickering during the stare-down.
Shadow sat waiting and listening to his father work. Smelling the food after a few minutes he sighed and got up to grab a pair of plates and set the table as he usually did. Yep, he didn't hold a grudge against his father, he'd get even somehow.
Using his wind magic to stoke the stove's flames to make them burn hotter to help him cook their chicken and rice happily. It wasn't long until he picked the chicken up and placed one on each plate and split the rice. Marshal rubbed Shadow's head making him grunt and push the paw off.
"Hey! I'm not five anymore!" He complained making Marshal snicker.
Shaking his head as he sat opposite of his adopted son, "Doesn't matter. I get to do that no matter your age Son."
Shadow snorted a shadowy mist this time and rolled his eyes in response before he added butter and the gravy from the chicken onto his rice before he began eating. His claws carefully cut and peeled meat from the bones rather easily. Marshal was doing the same.
"Tell me Shadow… Are you nervous about the entrance exam?" Marshal asked suddenly looking at his son. "You were distracted today. It's not like you."
Shadow sighed, he knew this was coming but he met Marshal's eyes. "Yeah. That and I'm worried about what is going to happen after. I couldn't help pondering everything that's happened while I was alive… In case I end up…. well. Dead."
Marshal looked shocked when his son mentioned his possible death and sighed lowering his head slightly. "You shouldn't worry about that. You've done nothing wrong. If it helps the Guardians are aware of your existence and identity. I had to register you after all." Marshal informed his son.
Shadow tilted his head hearing his father speaking of registering him before it clicked. He stiffened and lowered a piece of chicken he was in the middle of lifting to his mouth. He looked down at his meal then up at his father, before glancing about closing his left eye as his right eye began to glow. "If you're thinking they're spying on you right now Shadow, they're not. I made sure of that. They understand the circumstances of your being in my custody. If they weren't I would have had to leave Warfang."
Shadow open his left eye as he relaxed, "S-sorry dad. I-I'm scared of being discovered. I've seen how spies of the thirteen are treated, and what they teach about my kind. It's almost overwhelming at times." Shadow told Marshal who nodded.
"I know. I fear for you every single time we leave this house. Or when you go with Scorch's kids to do whatever you three end up doing. I trust you Shadow, I don't trust them." Marshal said pointing behind him indicating to the city. "For now, let's enjoy this night before you go to The Academy." He told his son before returning to his food.
Shadow smiled at his father and nodded. The two ate in silence as the shadow dragon cleaned his plate. He waited for Marshal to finish before he closed his left golden eye to form two new legs and paws to grab the dishes and carry them to the sink. Once there he began to clean them having reared up to rest his shins and foreleg calves on the counter. Marshal yawned and stretched exhaustion finally hitting him.
"Goodnight son. See you in the morning. Get to bed before it gets late. You're going to need it." He said to the young dragon as he left.
Shadow nodded before turning to reply, "Yes sir. I'll be in bed once the kitchen is clean."
Shadow was true to his word as he finished cleaning the dishes, the counters, the stove, and even the floor. He double-checked his work before nodding satisfied before he climbed up the steps into his room. The lights were off of course as he walked in looking at the double-sized bed looking around to the figurines of his favorite dragons before settling his eyes on Cynder. The only good shadow dragon as far as he knew. She'd never be scared of something like this. Closing his eyes Shadow breathed in deeply before slowly exhaling as he moved to climb into bed.
As he laid on the bed he gazed out his window to the city and smiled softly as he closed the curtains and curled up. His eyes closed mind surrendering to sleep, and gentle dreams.
With the sun rising over the horizon Shadow yawned widely as he stretched his body, out getting all the muscles kinks loosened and popping joints that had gotten stiff from where he slept. Sliding his tongue along the roof of his mouth before smacking his lips sleepily he walked out of his room eyes half-lidded as he walked down the stairs yawning. He walked slowly to keep from tripping so that his dad didn't have something to tease him about.
It wasn't long until he spotted his father in the kitchen brewing some coffee. "How can you be this awake at this ungodly hour," Shadow complained.
"Practice, and it helps that I'm an early riser. Unlike you." Marshal said playfully earning him a scoff from his son.
Shadow got out a pan from last night and set it on the stove, sitting on his haunches as he put the tip of the lighting stick into a lamp to get a flame going before turning on the stove and lighting it so he could begin cooking. Shadow got some eggs, bacon, and toast out as he sat down yawning some more cracking the eggs into the pan with the bacon. Marshal poured out his coffee and took it to the table to drink it and eat his breakfast.
As Shadow clipped his eggs popping the yokes before switching to the bacon he looked to his father.
"Anything of interest today?" He asked curiously
Marshal shook his head, "Nope, just the usual today. You focus on the exam."
Shadow sighed as he took the plate from the rack and put his food on it. Quickly taking his food to the table sitting back down he ate. His focus was on the exam but that wasn't for a few hours yet. So, he could take his time and eat slowly. It was going to take a little bit to fly over there. He probably was going to go early anyway.
"I'm already focused on it, dad. Don't worry. I've got it."
Marshal nodded and smiled at his son's reply as he drank his coffee the older dragon finished it off as he finished his meal and stood up. He had the coat of arms and the draconic tunic uniform of the guard on. Shadow noticed his Rank insignia wasn't on.
"Dad you forgot the rank." Shadow softly reminded him. Marshal checked and cursed before quickly putting them on.
"Thanks, Shadow, now don't forget the amulet, and be safe!" Marshal reminded his son as Shadow smiled and nodded.
Shadow knew better than to argue with his adoptive father as the dragon left out the front as it locked, and he flew off. Shadow was left alone once more but he knew Marshal would be back. Finishing off his breakfast the young dragon put his dish in the sink cleaning up before he walked back upstairs to clean his scales again, and give his horns a good polish along with his scales. Sure, they wouldn't be his scales, but he wanted them to at least shine and translate that into the glamour spell. Once he was well-groomed, he grabbed a pair of packs that sat on his shoulders like saddlebags. If he got in, he figured he should get all the reading material he was going to need.
With everything, he grabbed the amulet and put it on. He watched his scales shift and sighed but he was right about his grooming coming through with the spell. Walking out he put a claw on the rune under the key slot and twisted the door locking with the aid of that spell.
As he walked out, he spotted Asha and Onyx. Onyx looked closer to a shadow dragon with how dark his scales were at a distance. His dark green almost onyx scale color Came out the closer Shadow got. Asha's scales were the polar opposite as she looked as if she was made of gold in the morning sunlight. Shadow couldn't help to admire how beautiful she looked. His smile widened at the thought of going to The Academy with them.
"Hey Asha, Onyx good to see you! On your way to the Temple?" Shadow called as he trotted towards them.
Asha beamed seeing him, "Hey Cyclone! Yep, Onyx and I were just doing the last check on everything we needed." She said cheerfully as she looked at her brother.
"Yup, I got everything. Hey Cy, you flying with us?" Onyx said to his sister before replying to Shadow.
"If you want me to. Hope I get in." Shadow said as Onyx and Asha both giggle.
"Cy they'd have to be crazy not to let you in," Onyx replied and punched Shadow on the shoulder. "Yeah, utterly crazy. You've been at the top of all our classes over the years!" Asha added.
Shadow smiled at his friends, guilt bubbling up at hiding his true name and scales from them, but his smile turned into a cheerful grin. "Well then let's go and conquer this next chapter!" He proclaimed.
Both his friends cheered as they jumped to the sky with him, following behind before slipping in front of their formation. He briefly caught sight of Scorch's wife as she watched them her green scales reflecting in the sun making him blink but when he did, she was gone. Shrugging Shadow flew on towards the massive Temple of the Elements before them. The young shadow dragon flew on, wings flapping as he approached speeding up before he dove down. His wings folded in as he plummeted towards the large crowds of dragons down below. They had been gathering near one of the massive domes, in the shadow of several spires. He figured this was where the exams took place.
His wing flare pumped up some dust as he came out of his dive to skid slightly on the ground, his momentum allowing him to slide into a nice trotting pace. He inwardly grinned at his mastery of that wind dragon landing! It took him years to finally have it down perfectly. Asha and Onyx had to land in a more traditional way to keep from face planting into the stone.
"Geez Cy, slow down would you!" Asha giggled rapping him with a wing as he slowed down.
Shadow grinned, "Sorry I couldn't help it."
"Oh suuuuurrre you couldn't." Onyx jabbed poking the shadow dragon.
Shadow laughed as the three of them followed the crowd filing into a set of massive entranceways. The Shadow dragon walked towards it, as he examined them. The crowd seemed to slow when entering, making a short line. Guards. They were taking packs and marking them it seemed, to check them for something, making shadow's head tilt.
"Oh wow. I didn't think the Guardians would have guards checking for cheaters this early." Onyx stated to Shadow's right being a good foot smaller than the rest of the trio.
"I take it this is not normal?" Shadow asked him.
Onyx looked at him and shook his head. "It's not all that uncommon for schools that teach advanced elements and other things would have entrance exams to weed out the under-qualified, and those who got their grades cheating off of others. But it seems the Guardians take this to an extreme here."
Shadow nodded before he rubbed at his amulet. "What would they be looking for?"
"Oh, the usual culprits such as enchanted items, cheat sheets, etc. Nothing too crazy. Then again, no one knows what this exam entails." Onyx informed the others. Unable to know of the fear gripping Shadow's heart.
The group approached the center doors as the dragons were sent along their way pretty quickly. Shadow let his friends go first to see what the guards would do. They opened up and emptied bags like his and were scanned by what looked like an enchanted staff held by a mole. Onyx was finished first, so Shadow approached his guard.
"Oh, hey, Cy look. Volcania! What is she doing out here?!" Onyx asked when Shadow got close prompting him to look at the guardian.
The older dragoness met his eyes as the two mismatched orbs seemed to make her narrow her eyes right at him! She looked over a clipboard. "Bags sir. Hand them over." Came the dragon guard's voice.
"Oh sorry," Shadow said handing over his bags to the large fire dragon as he was scanned by the mole from tail tip to his neck before the staff flashed.
"Sir, hand me your necklace if you want to take the exam." The older dragon said noticing the glowing staff.
Shadow gripped it fear clenching him hard as he glanced about and right as he was about to take it off and out himself.
"Rasuul. He has special circumstances." Volcania's voice clipped through the air all muttering seemed to stop.
Shadow looked towards her having stopped taking off the Amulet head tilted at her. "Wh-what do you mean Honored Guardian?"
She ignored the dragon named Rasuul and looked down at Shadow. "Cyclone I presume yes?"
Shadow gulped and nodded, "Yes, ma'am. I just want to take the exam."
"No need to worry young dragon. You will. Just making sure you're Guard Captain Marshal's son. You have a different exam area is all." She explained as Shadow nodded to her.
"Thank you for doing your jobs, sirs," Shadow said to the Mole and dragon who smirked and waved it off.
"Now follow me and don't remove anything you'll get your bags back after the exam." She said to Shadow as he watched the guard mark the bag and put it with the others.
"Hurry along Mr. Cyclone!" Shadow heard and gasped having to run to catch up mouthing to his friends, "Sorry!"
Asha made a shooing motion with Onyx telling him to go. Shadow smiled and trotted after Volcania quickly who had kept walking. She stayed silent as she walked through the utterly massive structure. Shadow wondered how many earth dragons had been needed to make this place. She turned to the right following a set of stairs as the flow of dragons seemed to head into the main auditoriums for some reason. He wondered what all that was about. Before he sped back up to catch up to the Guardian again.
"Am I in a different exam dome? Why wasn't I told about this change?" He thought to himself trying to figure out why he had a different exam area than the other students. It was odd, but he went along with it. He had come this far might as well see it to the end.
"What was with that school charter?" Asked an earth dragon looking at the ice dragoness near him.
The Ice dragon shook her head, "No idea. It is a bit odd but they must have their reasons." She replied.
"I understand that they do. I just found it a bit odd." He asked.
"I did too, but just means they take this job seriously." The Ice dragoness responded as Shadow walked by.
Shadow blinked as he looked at the Guardian as they went up another flight of stairs. Then it turned left, and down a winding stairwell. A window made shadow blink as he realized this was the base of one of the towers. He followed Volcania down and down into a one-way corridor. It split off into a T-shaped intersection where she turned left. Shadow had a feeling they were underground. As they kept walking for what felt like thirty minutes. Before they followed another set of stairs as they came out into a small auditorium. Except this place didn't have a big arena like centerpiece. It looked like a waiting room.
"Here we are young Cyclone. Wait here till your call, and all will be made clear." That was all she said before she went into the door to his right where all the dragons were facing.
He caught a glimpse of Terridor and closed his right eye trying to open a shadowed eye in the room only for him to be rejected suddenly. His shadow snapped back to himself as he blinked. "Odd." he thought.
He moved through the crowd of waiting dragons, noticing some groups of three to six had formed. All of them spaced out between those who sat on their own. He found a seat and stretched his quadrupedal form out and sat down. It looked like just a normal rug, but the rug was very comfy on his scales and well padded to prevent the stone from hurting his hip bones as he sat on his haunches. He took a closer look around at the other dragons. It was then he began noticing many of these dragons had Jewelry and family crests on some of their accessories. Shadow gulped as he realized what that meant.
"Ooooh nooo…. Nobles." Shadow thought to himself with some dread. He was a commoner by birth, so was Marshal. Marshal was just the captain of the City Guard. Not the Royal Guard, who protected the nobles. this area was for those truly gifted, connected, or very wealthy!
Shadow was distracted by a door opening leading where the Guardians sat. A young adult red dragon holding a clipboard walked out. Shadow wondered who this dragon was, and why was he here. The dragon then took a deep breath before…
"ATLAS! You're up!" He bellowed loudly making Shadow jump a bit in surprise at his volume.
The dragon known as Atlas stood up showing himself making Shadow's jaw drop. That dragon was a behemoth! He looked as if he had been carved from a mountain rather than hatched from an egg! The gigantic specimen of an earth dragon wasted no time in entering the chamber ahead. The red dragon followed quickly behind shutting the door behind him.
He tried to spy in on the room again only to be rejected once more, and much more violently. He almost fell over from it. He suspected they were warding that room off from shadow dragons somehow. Sighing Shadow shifted to lay down and get comfy on the rug under him. An hour later the door opened calling Shadow's attention to that same red dragon, who called another name. This time a water dragoness stood up and entered before the door shut again.
"Oooooooh! Private exams!" Shadow thought his head smacking a forepaw into his forehead. He should have figured this out earlier!
Shadow quickly picked up on the alphabetical order the dragon seemed to be following and smirked. He looked over his right shoulder as his intuition told him to check over his right shoulder for some reason. He spotted four nobles walking towards him, making his eyes narrow suspiciously. Their Jewelry is a dead giveaway. Shadow did have to admire how well crafted it all was. But he felt that some of them went a little too far with accessorizing. The female of the group was his case and point thanks to the sapphires embedded into her eye ridges. Shadow just wanted to roll his eyes. He never understood their need to flaunt their wealth like this.
A molten red dragon motioned for the group to stop before approaching him, "You look familiar have we met?" he asked.
Shadow met this dragon's gaze to answer, but he notices how the noble's wings and tail twitched when he did. Seemed this noble expected you to grovel at his feet.
"No, we have not. What do you want?" Shadow responded in a neutral tone.
The dragon's eye twitched at Shadow's response. "Why am I not surprised? Nobles are such spoiled brats." Shadow thought to himself.
"Mind telling me how a dragon of common birth isn't with the rest of the rabble? There are already enough commoners here." The dragon stated haughtily.
Now it was Shadow's turn to feel a muscle twitch. "Honestly none of your business. The only reason you're here is you have gold. Or did you use daddy's name?"
The dragon bared his fangs at the insult. His claws dug into the ground angrily, before his leg rose to strike Shadow for his insolent tone when…
"Blaze!" Was bellowed out. Blaze shifted the raised paw to fix his scarf and cloak instead. The fire dragon walked past with a huff in indignation. Shadow then looked at Blaze's group and smugly waved to them, before they walked away glaring daggers at him.
"Geez, tough crowd," Shadow muttered to himself.
The dragon quickly made his way through the Bs after his incident with Blaze. Hearing the Cs start to get called Shadow perked up thinking he'd be called soon. Instead, the crowd around him thinned steadily. No dragons returned making him wonder where they all went. He guessed it was to keep the rejects from being shamed publicly.
Shadow however growled noticing that he hadn't been called upon hearing the Ds being called out. Shadow listened as the red dragon went through the other letters as the minutes turned into hours. He waited unable to leave while the crowd around him thinned.
"I hope they're not to use my real name."Shadow thought while watching dragons enter that chamber.
Only for his fears to be confirmed when that dragon bellowed out, "SOREN!"
A wind dragon with bluish gray scales walked into that chamber seconds later. Shadow's heart sank watching him go. He was getting outed as a shadow dragon! He needed to leave before they called his name. He couldn't just walk out. He had no idea if they'd come looking or chasing after him. He chose to sneak out slowly using the call out to slink closer to the entrance. Except he miscalculated the distance. As he neared the exit, the chamber door opened…
"SHADOW!" The red dragon bellowed!
"No no no no no! Dahanmeh it!" He thought as he stayed where he sat. He was not going to be outed!
"Oh right… CYCLONE!" The red dragon bellowed amending his mistake. But now everyone was paying attention and looking around.
Shadow growled as he stood and walked towards that red dragon. Only to pause to glare at the dragon. A brief glare before pushing past into the chamber. Just as the door shut Shadow's mouth opened to scream at the guardians for outing him!
Only for them to strike first.
"Remove your amulet and give it to Flame. You have no need for it in this examination Shadow." Volcania said before he could start screaming and he blinked.
"But… Why out me?!" He growled grabbing the amulet.
Terrador raised a paw to the ash dragoness so he could answer, "It would have happened eventually. On top of not being able to learn to use your element properly while hiding it. Which means you'd be staying out of combat and element classes to keep your element hidden. It wouldn't have been fair to force you to hide your scales like you've been doing."
Shadow wanted to deny that would have happened, but he stopped. He looked at the amulet and sighed.
"He's right. I would have sabotaged myself and probably lost out and genuinely good opportunities."
Shadow hated that they forced him to show his scales, and judging from Flame's reaction as Shadow removed the amulet this assistant didn't care what he was. It was little comfort realizing that the nobles would raise a stink about him being here.
"Not to worry lad. We made sure that if anyone tries to out you to dragons outside of The Academy they'll be expelled and forced into silence. You have as much a right to learn here as any of these dragons." Cyril stated his calm, cool and classy voice broke the silence as Shadow nodded.
He approached the Guardians and sat where Volteer gestured for him to sit. With ash being breathed on a stack of torches shaped like a campfire Volcanica snapped her jaws shut. Her teeth striking a hidden flint sparking the ash and causing the campfire to burn brightly. Flame snuffed out the lamps and torches throughout the large chamber leaving the only light source being that large bonfire.
"Now. Your Exam like all the others before is to show us how well can you use your element. Mind you because of Marshal's special relation to us, as your father and our scout looking for Windscar, you will be held to a higher standard than the normal trial exams." Tirrador's baritone boomed out shattering the silence.
Volteer nodded, "Quite right. It would be a waste of our efforts to teach if one is limited in their use of their element, but from Marshal's glowing report about you I have no doubt you'll do right by him."
"Sadly, we have lost most of our written knowledge about your element during the wars with the dark army, especially after the old temple was destroyed," Cyril commented grimly.
Volteer however grinned as he moved off his cushion to stand before Shadow. "But from Marshal's word Shadow dragons can mimic other elements. Please show us. Could you for example mimic electricity?"
Shadow looked between the guardians nodding understanding. He was going to show how well he could bend and use what he knew when Volteer asked him about how his element could mimic others. Caught off guard he didn't reply fast enough before Volteer lifted a paw and charged it with his element. Bolts of lightning and electricity coursed over the scales, between his claws in rapid arcs.
Shadow's body reacted before he could clarify. His body moved on its own as if his soul and shadow were angry that he was being challenged. So, he nodded and took control his red eye glowing softly as the pupil shrank so small it looked as if it vanished. his view of the world shifted as if he was looking out at the world from behind a fishbowl lens. Shadow's golden eyes closed as his red eye looked into Volteer's shadow. Raising his right paw Shadow's paw mimicking Volteer's and suddenly blackish red, with indigo mixed in sparked along his claws and scales. He blinked and smiled seeing the shadow lightning crackling along his forepaw, scales, and talons before he cut off the flow of power to allow his paw to return to normal as he sat it back to the ground.
"Fascinating. Truly remarkable to thinkoneyouragecouldactuallymanage tomimicawholeotherelement!" Volteer rambled out his speech speeding up until Shadow blinked unable to follow what he said!
"Volteer please do allow us to test him too," Terrador said his deep voice surprisingly gentle.
"Oh yes please do cease you inane prattling!" Cyril quipped making Volteer whip around, but the thunderclap of Terrador's club tail on stone silenced and ended the fight before it began!
"Now Shadow. What else are you able to use with your element? Other than wind and Electricity what other elements have you mimicked?" The earth guardian asked him.
Shadow took a deep breath and closed his right eye lifting his left paw and throwing it out to his left covering the chamber on his left in pitch black veil. "I can spread my shadow out like this and use it to form blades of shadow, protection, I've drawn energy from shadows as well. I can learn more, but I've been very limited in how and when I can practice for… obvious reasons." Shadow explained the guardians nodded.
"As for other elements well. I can mimic fire fairly easily." He said before breathing out flames mixed with dark indigo that had no heat on them.
"I can mimic water, but just the liquid no elemental powers of that element. It's the same with my other element copies. But I found if it has a shadow, I can mimic it." The shadow dragon said waving his right paw to his right creating leaves, feathers, stones, and flower pedals.
"I've… I've also created copies of myself," Shadow said closing both eyes drawing his shadow in close to have to inky black mimics crawling from his shadow out in the open walking to his left and right before he dismissed them opening his eyes.
Panting from that he smiled softly getting comfortable talking finally about his element.
"What about the rumor of shadow dragons about to walk between shadows?" Volcania asked.
"True," Shadow said his cheerfulness vanishing as he stood up and turned left, and walked out of flame's shadow making him jump away shocked. "This is my most basic ability."
Shadow, now was feeling like a lab rat. Only for the shadows to whisper a warning and he looked up to see Terrador stomp down causing the ground to rumble and Shadow through Flame's shadow to appear behind the Earth Guardian who was smirking.
Shadow growled his tail blades jabbing at the earth guardian, planning to hold them near his neck, until Flame's tail tip intercepted his tail blades making him growl as the older dragon hovered in front of him, holding off his younger foe with ease. Taking a deep breath Shadow blasted out shadow fire with Flame matching shadow flames with his own causing a struggle between their elements.
Shadow felt strained immediately realizing Flame has probably been training under the guardians for a long time, making Shadow snarl as he blasted out more shadow fire. But Flame didn't budge as Shadow felt the pressure as he got pushed back.
"H-how?! How are his flames this strong for so little effort?!" Shadow thought eyes widening seeing those flames approach.
He quickly twisted down to the right. His wings gathering shadow to blast out shadow wind to propel him into Terrador's shadow again only to reappear out of Flame's shadow on the ceiling above them, as he kept his dive up. Twisting and swaying his tail he pulled shadows around creating a shadow wind around it, putting energy into his tail before her rotated trying to smash his tail into Flame!
"Crap!" Flame audibly stated firing a fireball that hit Shadow's tail creating an explosion of wind and fire as Shadow's element smashed through the flames into the ground.
"Huh?! Where did he go?!" Shadow asked aloud suddenly!
Flame wasn't on the ground meaning he must have dodged and begun looking around when a red tail hit him from the left as it exploded sending Shadow tumbling in the air before he impacted the ground in a heap.
The shadow dragon growled and groaned as he stood up, "Nnnngh aaaaah that hurt…. Mmmmm he hits almost as hard as Marshal…" Shadow observed.
"And that is all for now Flame thank you for playing along young one." Terrador boomed making Shadow blink in surprise.
"Um… wha-"
"I do apologize Shadow. As part of the exam, I instigate a spar with Flame by tricking them into attacking. A fair few were caught off guard when the ground smacked into them. With Flame clubbing them with his tail right after." Terrador explained with a nod.
Shadow nodded before he asked, "So, um… How did I do?"
Terrador smirked again before replying, "You passed. On top of being among the few who charged me the moment they sensed I was targeting them. Not many adapted well to Flame suddenly jumping between us. You however struck hard and fast at Flame. You adapted just as quickly after realizing you couldn't win a head-to-head contest."
"No doubt Marshal's combat training paying off," Cyril observed with a neutral tone nodding approvingly.
"I concur with my frosty colleague, and would like to add its obvious you have a good grasp on your element. Despite the fifteen-year handicap of trying to hide in plain sight." Volteer added to Cyril's observation enthusiastically. "Volcania? Thoughts?"
The ash dragoness tapped a claw thoughtfully as she smiled, "He has the intelligence to excel at the Academy according to his teachers, and previous schools."
All dragons looked to Terrador, who nodded. It seemed all four of them were in agreement. Shadow narrowed his eyes thinking they had been testing him from the get-go. If he refused to go with Volcania he figured he'd been thrown out for not following her. Then being forced to wait in that area to test if he'd wait there. He did remember seeing a good number just walking out thinking they were being tricked.
"Everything about these private exams was a test, weren't they?" He blurted his accusation.
Terrador boomed out in laughter, with soft chuckles from Cyril as Volteer just goofily grinned. Volcania sat there eye ridge raised but a proud expression.
"Case and point." She said grinning as Shadow growled eyes narrowed as he was proven right.
"Of course. What better way to make sure we find the best students? We have yet to fail in weeding out the unprepared, unwilling, and unqualified from attending. Including you and the other recommended students who passed, along with those who proved themselves in the mass application trials we will have a full first-year class." Volteer stated with a quick set of nods.
Terrador then made a rumbling growl, "We only started these tests due to the noble class demanding special treatment of their young. As stewards we can't refuse them, so we twisted it to anyone who exceed the norm, the chance to take these private tests."
Shadow had to admit it was a good way to weed out those who skated by on pure talent alone, or due to family name recognition. Yet as he contemplated that it began to dawn on him that he had passed! He was going to The Academy! He began to beam as he caught onto this fact!
"YES!" He shouted before he blinked and sat back down body jittery from the excitement he felt. Making the guardians chuckle or laugh.
Flame just smiled and handed the young dragon a special oval stone. Shadow looked at it oddly before it shifted and began to show The Academy seal. "Present this, to the ticket master tomorrow. You will be given priority passage to The Academy." Flame stated making Shadow blink.
"Wait… The Academy isn't here in Warfang?" he asked Flame who chuckled, "no it is not. For good reason."
Shadow didn't argue as he nodded, "Which ticket master?" He asked as flame smiled leading him to a hidden door that had been behind him as the lamps lit themselves in the chamber.
"Any one of them among the travel stations in Warfang. You are to arrive by this time next week." Flame told him, "We always make it seem like it's here before doing the entry exams. Makes it easier to keep the noble council out of it. If they found out a Shadow dragon was attending, for example."
Shadow didn't need any more of an explanation than that as he simply said, "Understood, loud and clear."
"Now do wear this until you arrive Shadow. See you there. I'm sure your friends are worried." Flame said handing him his amulet.
Shadow smiled becoming Cyclone once more as he put it on and left the room. Only to find a hallway that led back up to where he first entered. Walking right into Asha!
THUNK!
Came the sound of their heads impacting each other's head as they staggered back from each other. "H-hey Asha!"
"Oh, my Ancestors Cy! You had me worried! I figured you'd be done before us!" The fire dragoness stated.
Shadow chuckled, "Sorry Asha, but I kinda lost track of time where I was." He explained.
Asha just snorted some smoke out as she noticed the pouch. "You got it! So did I!" She exclaimed happily.
She showed him the pouch she had around her neck he missed due to the headbutt from earlier. Only to hear a scoff to their right.
"Hey hey can we just get over this mushy stuff we all got in," Onyx said with a playful eye roll giving them both a wing hug.
Asha just giggled at her brother and swatted him with her wing earning her a cheeky grin from Onyx. Shadow was grinning too as he was so happy to be able to stay with his childhood friends! He always felt safe with these two. He just hoped they didn't reject him when he finally removed his amulet…
He wanted to show them the real him! To tell them his real name and not hear that fake name he had been using for his entire life. Right at this moment, Shadow didn't care. He was celebrating with his friends. Nothing could be better at this moment.
Shadow realized they still needed to get their books and stuff. So, they got their bags the pouches seemingly to be all the proof the staff needed to hand them their stuff back. Shadow wondered why they weren't empty and he opened one of the bags to see their study material. He looked to see Onyx and Asha having the same thing happening to them.
Shadow looked at all the others he could see noticing all of them were full! It seemed during the exams the staff gave all the bags the material needed in their first year beforehand. Shadow took note the only things not provided were parchment and ink. The stuff he could get on his own in a single morning.
"Come on Cy let's go tell our folks!" Asha said with a grin as shadow sealed his bags.
He looked to her and chuckled, "Yeah, but my dad is in the opposite direction guys."
"Oh right! Guard Captain!" The fire dragoness said tapping a closed paw to her forehead.
Onyx and Shadow snickered at her as she glared at them. Only to get wide grins in return before Shadow bolted out the Temple and took flight with them both trailing behind!
"Slowpokes!" He called back with snicker, wings flapping as he flew towards the center of the city.
It didn't take long for them to reach the trade district. Shadow always remembers his dad's branch being right next to it. Quickly spotting the building he pointed it out to Asha and Onyx before he dove down at a gentle angle. He landed lightly before pushing right-side door entering the waiting room.
Shadow looked at the other dragons waiting, some were shackled to the wall, the others filling out parchment for something. He went right up to the Dragoness assigned to deal with the public.
"Oh, hey, Cyclone, here to see the Captain?" She asked.
Shadow nodded, "Yes I am Gilda. Is he free?"
Gilda turned as Shadow peeked around her to see his father looking at them before nodding. "Go on in Cy."
"Thanks, Gilda!" He said trotting in with Asha and Onyx walking behind.
"Wow, I forgot that you could just walk in like this," Onyx said looking around warily.
Shadow laughed, "Only when dad's not busy. Otherwise, I gotta wait like everyone else."
Asha nods, "at least you had a fallback job in case. I was soooo nervous! I had nothing to fall back to."
Onyx sighed looking at his sister, "You need to plan better Asha. I had three other schools lined up, and a job just in case."
"Hey, I'm doing just fine!" Asha growled before Shadow looked at them both and shushed them.
Both nodded apologizing in a low whisper as they finally reached Marshal's office. Shadow ran up and hugged Marshal who hugged him back with a wing and foreleg.
"How'd it go?" Marshal asked.
Shadow took off the pouch and handed it to him. "I passed!" he said with a grin.
Marshal beamed, "that's great! Guess you'll be heading off tomorrow, eh?" He asked Shadow who nodded. "Good, just be safe Shadow I'll visit when the bosses let me. I don't think I'll be able to come home tonight."
Shadow nodded to Marshal and smiled understandingly, "Keep everyone safe." He said and nuzzled his father's side. He got a squeeze from Marshal before he broke away to head home with a wave.
Asha and Onyx were quiet. They understood how hard Marshal's job was, but both of them knew Shadow didn't want sympathy about it. Shadow was proud of being Marshal's ward, even if that meant he didn't have the same type of childhood as many dragons his age. He was lucky to have friends like Asha and Onyx.
"I guess we head home?" He asked the others.
Asha nodded, "yeah! Mother's going to love this!"
"She is, but I doubt she's going to be surprised," Onyx stated with a laugh.
Shadow snickered hearing the two of them banter as he followed behind them. It wasn't long till they took to the sky with him following. Seeing their little corner of the world Shadow dove under them landing with a skid in front of his home. Sometimes he loved pretending to be a wind dragon. Unlocking the door with a sneaky pulse of shadow element while making it seem like he pulsed wind element into the lock as Marshal tended to do. Smiling the shadow dragon happily opened the door before looking to his friends as they landed.
"See you tomorrow guys!" he called before Asha tilted her head.
"Come on, come celebrate with us!" Asha called back.
Shadow wasn't sure if he should, as he looked into his empty home as Marshal wasn't home yet and he put his things inside of the door. "Yeah, I'll join you guys."
Shadow grinned and trotted over following both Asha and Onyx inside. It smelled as it always did, spicy, but with a hint of sweet fruits, and gentle flowery scents. It always felt relaxing here. Like he could turn off his mind and just bask in the scents floating around.
"Hey, kids! How'd it go?" Their father asked from his normal space in the house. Right by the fire with a book in hand.
Shadow looked to Scorch taking in his reddish bronze scales, golden neck, chest, and stomach plates, his horns, and strong body. While he certainly was strong-looking Shadow always wondered how Scorch never put on any more muscle working at the smithy, almost as perplexing as to how he never seemed to be covered in soot!
"Oh hey, dad! You're home early!" Onyx called out happily trotting over to him beaming. "It's good you're home though! Where's mom?" Asha asked glancing around.
"I'm here dear." Came the silky smooth yet soft-spoken tones of Vena from behind Shadow.
It did not matter how many times he came over he would never, eeeever get used to how sneaky Vena is. Shadow thought he was stealthy, but this dragoness could stroll past the stealthiest of shadow dragons due to how little noise she made. Marshal had told him a few times that his wind sense hardly registered her at times. That had been unnerving to hear, when he was six years old, and so Shadow always felt nervous around her, shrinking his shadow magic on reflex to keep from being discovered by Vena. It didn't help that whenever Shadowheart met those jade-green eyes of Vena's it was as if she was staring straight at his soul, and past it to gaze at his shadow realm reflection at the same time.
Vena's whip-like tail and curved tail blade flowed behind her with a serpentine-like grace. Matching Vena's practically royal grace. Her lithe, but muscled body always screamed deadly to Shadow despite the gentle voice, gaze, warm smile, and presence she always gave off. How Scorch found this dark Sacramento, and emerald green gem was a mystery to him.
"We made it in!" Came Asha's exclamation snapping Shadow out of the trance he was in trying not to keel over from the effort of hiding what he was from Vena.
Onyx piped up next, "I barely scraped in, while Asha flew into the top spot in her bracket."
"Hey never put yourself down Onyx, you still made it son," Vena said caressing her son's cheek warmly with her left front talon.
"But it's great you two got in! I'm knew you could! Never doubted for a second!" Scorch said with a grin putting his book down hugging Asha and Onyx.
"Oh please! You were pacing like a cat all day muttering like a mother hen!" Vena teased her husband. "I did not mutter! Or pace!" Scorch shot back making Vena bark with laughter.
"I hope they make it! But what if they don't?! They're going to have to go farther out, and split up! What do I do then?!" Vena added pacing back and forth as Scorch sputtered and glared at his wife who grinned at him impishly. Shadow couldn't help snicker watching them.
"How about you Cyclone? Please tell me you made it. You've always kept these two trouble makers in line." Vena asked her tone full of mirth while Asha swatted her mother's leg indignant at that remark.
Shadow laughed but he nodded as he grinned, "yeah I got in. But through the recommendation process." He informed them.
Vena blinked and looked to Asha and Onyx, as they nodded their affirmation of the truth. "Wow, color me impressed. Must have been stiff competition."
Shadow shrugged, "I never saw the others' skill levels. I'd rather have gone through the normal system. I felt sick listening to those High-class morons stroke their egos. Ugh."
Vena chuckled and grinned again, "Oh I know just how you feel. I hate being around those prudes myself."
Scorch just snorted a tuft of smoke, "Wasn't too long ago they were just as destitute as we were. But I guess some people just can't help themselves."
Shadow loved being around these two. Marsha always frowned when he heard them bashing the upper classes, but then again Marshal's job forced him to always deal with them and so he always had to be delicate and politically correct or risk getting an earful from the higher-ups. Shadow never understood why a caste system was even needed, but whatever, he planned on working somewhere far from the noble houses and their sense of entitlement.
"Now enough about others! Let us celebrate your acceptance!" Vena said in a cheery tone suddenly. She carefully swept past Shadow into the kitchens to put the finishing touches on their meal.
Shadow caught the scent of what she was cooking and it nearly floored him. Ancestors this dragoness could cook! As she set down beautifully cooked roast with sat upon a lovely creamy beef stew. It made Shadow drool just smelling it.
Gesturing to the food Cynder gave her blessing, "Dig in." And shadow carefully cut into the food and he almost was floored by how rich it was. "This is the best mom! You gotta teach me this!" Onyx burst out grinning as Asha just savored it looking like her father. Both looked like they were drifting off to heaven.
Complete with a wonderful cider Shadow couldn't help but ask for seconds as he listened to Asha recount her exploits in the brackets. Same with Onyx. His spirit relaxed, as he laughed, and recounted some of their more delinquent exploits getting laughs as he finished his second course.
It was easily around midnight before Shadow had to leave with a grin on his face. Walking into his home the young shadow dragon locked the door and smiled out the window seeing Asha pouncing her father through a window making him laugh. He kept the house dark as he blinked his eyes flashing with shadow magic to let him see in the dark. Once inside he removed the pendant allowing his scales to show once more. He looked at it before sneaking back down and putting it in his pack. He slunk back up stares to avoid being seen. Opening his closet he pulled out a cloak he used to wear when he was younger. It too held the same enchantment as his pendant. It still fit, but he only wore it when it rained.
Shadow sighed and placed it on his desk as he packed up his writing tools into the satchel designed to hold them. He knew where he was going tomorrow and planned on meeting the others at the train as he was sure Vena, and Scorch already bought them their new rolls of parchment, quills, ink, etc. He allowed himself a smile. At least he'd have friends there.
He looked to their house again and saw it dark his night vision allowing him to see into Asha's room as she slept. With a sharp intake of breath, he slipped into the shadow by walking to his right. It parted like water as he flowed out of the shadow on the roof. Sitting down he stared at the moons. Zella was casting its ghoulish glow while Adrano was in a waning quarter crest. He closed his eyes wings extending as he basked in their glow sighing completely relaxed now as sleep threatened to take him.
A yawn hit before he walked back into the shadow of the neighbor's tree he exited from, and into his room. He did one last check if he had everything he'd need before he laid on his bed with a heavy flop. His eyes closed as he sighed and sleep taking him.
Little did he know, his little world would be shattered in the next coming months…..