Lexiana Acosta: Chapter Thirty-Four

It has been a month since father died. Still a long five years ago before the present day. It still feels like a piece of myself is gone. Made me feel even sadder that it has been so long since we spoke. He has been injured for so long... And then I wanted to leave. I was so selfish. I wanted to escape my life... I had an average life. Hearing stories of heroes and grandeur from my father. He wanted to be a soldier himself. He loved his empire... But mother wished for us to live an average life. Work a simple job, mainly as a handmaiden... Like my sister. Get married and have children. Mother and I always argued because of this. I had to bury my wants... No excitement... No nothing. My older sister found her calling. Jamil is still young... I want to find mine...

But amongst my conflicted feelings. I should have stayed home near my family... I will forever punish myself for my selfishness. But I want more to life! Even though before I returned to the temple mother said she is proud of me.

So try and make it worth of my selfishness. I worked hard every day. I managed to meet some other members of the order. But since I am an outsider. Someone who is raised outside of the temple. Getting to know others has been immensely difficult. Most rather keep to themselves. But at least Kenneth has been good to me. There are other outsiders but I have yet to meet them. I learned early on they didn't want outsiders to meet... To prevent outside influences infesting the halls as Kenneth sarcastically said. Since I am from Fire Ten there are fifteen other apprentices like me from different fire groups. I heard some have been kicked out as they abused the power they started to learn. The risk many of the priests feared... Hence why they tend to adopt orphans and raise them under their gaze.

Kenneth even though he is more open-minded than most priests. He has the habit of remaining to himself every now and then. Being a priest is a lonely life. I didn't realise how lonely this life is... It is always business and very little enjoyment. It is teaching their apprentices, politics, constant vigilance for their country. Even more, so that war is still upon us... many of the priests and apprentices come and go. Like Priestess Adaira and her apprentice, Nessa left soon after we met. Turns out the meeting they had before we met they were being sent away. And like many of the priest business, is secretive.

Through my mode of thinking. All of a sudden felt a fist slam across my face. I fell back and slammed on the ground.

"Ow..." I whimpered.

"I know you're grieving Lexi! But you must concentrate!"

"Sorry, Kenneth!" I raised up my hands as I prepared to fight. I have been practising fighting techniques. Thanks to my soldier training this has been easier to learn. I want to Perfect hand to hand combat. I chose to learn battle axes. Both small and large two-handed axes. I want an axe like Kenneth's battle-axe as it looks amazing. I hope to one day make a weapon like that!

Exhausted after a long day we walked out of the training arena. I see more priests and their apprentices walking around the halls. This feels like its a busy day.

I walk next to my master and we received strange looks. I even said hello passers-by. Some were happy to reply, others not so much. But many of the masters gave judgemental looks. Not just to me but also Kenneth.

"We are in sacred temple space, Lexi. It's weird for apprentices to straight-up talk to other masters. Keep on doing it..." As he chuckles.

I smile in reply to Kenneth. When Kenneth has a small chance of breaking priest social norms. He acts upon it. It does make wonder though... He must resent the priesthood. And I'm guessing he isn't the only one. As I know I'm not the only outsider.

As we walked through the temple we entered an area, That I have never been before. We entered a dragon Stable! A large smile appears on my face. A large multi-level room where all the dragons congregate.

There are Dragons almost as tall as the temple roof. The size took my breath away. How can dragons get so huge!?

They look like they are all having conversations. I have never seen dragons act like this... Through the crowd of dragons, I see Pyromax and wave to him. The dragon smiles and runs towards us.

Kenneth starts talking to him and he responds back in dragon talk. They completely understand each other. It's amazing! I hope to learn these skills. Pyromax gently nudges me and I rub his snout.

Kenneth is talking to Pyromax when I can hear shouting and roaring. We all look at the direction of the random fight. I hear a person talk. But to my complete surprise. It was a dragon!

The dragon laughs and runs over to Pyromax. The dragon had something in his mouth. It must have been a piece of food or something. The older dragon rolls his eyes and speaks to the weird young dragon. Kenneth smiles.

And that was when I met him... My best friend...

"Hello, Iympetus!" Kenneth jesters. "So you managed to steal the last pieces of pork?"

"Sure did! From Elder Azarin! She wasn't happy! As you probably heard. It was delicious!" He sounds so cheery as he swallows the piece whole.

I look at him. And I realise its the dragon who refused to move On the volcano! But along with my annoyance, I have never heard a dragon speak like that! Even though I have very little experience with dragons I know they don't talk like people.

"Hello, there little apprentice. Dragon got your tongue?" He gently uses his tail to close my surprised mouth.

"How do you... How do you talk like a human? I had no idea..." I asked in shock. Is it physically possible for dragons to speak like that? Well, now I know they can...

Kenneth looks at me as he decided to answer. "Some dragons can learn human tongue. When one of the dragons who could talk passed away. The priests many years ago did an autopsy. And it was revealed that the dragon had a mutation in the vocal cords. Not all dragons are born with it. So dragons like Iympetus are taken into the priesthood. "

"Yup... That's how it is. Kidnap and raised in a temple... The priesthood likes to use me as a translator. And be stuck here for the rest of my days... At least here they feed us good." Iympetus says smarmily. Kenneth in response looked awkward. Iympetus turns to speak to Pyromax like a dragon.

Iympetus as a dragon looks young. He must be around my age. His horns are short and still blunt. His back spikes are beginning to grow. He is a two-legged dragon like many dragons here. Long face and wide snout with large teeth. He has no bonemark. Which explains the lack of power emanating compared to many others and Pyromax who have bonemarks.

"Have you found a partner yet Iymp?" Kenneth trying to make conversation.

"No. Why would I?" Iympetus licks his claws.

"Maybe you should... You said you wanted more power. Having a human partner can benefit that. Not only that you might actually make a friend." Kenneth kindly suggests and Iympetus rolls his eyes and Iymp walks off.

For a while, Kenneth talks to each of the dragons. They seem to be nicer than Iymp. But there are a few questions looming in my head.

I felt so fascinated by dragons. Kenneth encourages me to walk around to get used to it. He must think I'm nervous around them. I say hello and many of them nod hello in reply. I did try to have a conversation with one, but he could only roar. So, I struggled hard understanding what he is saying. I felt embarrassed. But the dragon smiles and laughs. Gently tapping my head with his tail.

I walk over to Iymp as he talks with his kind. He doesn't even seem to be nicest to them either. Stealing food and trying to prove himself continuously.

When Kenneth finished his business, we both left the stables and head back to the library for a theory session.

"Kenneth... What did Iympetus mean by kidnap?" I asked.

Kenneth sighs and he takes me into a nearby empty room.

"You might find this out sooner or later... But dragons like Iympetus get taken away from their families. And they have no say in it... He has been raised in this temple his whole life. He was forced to work at a young age as a translator during the separatist war. He wasn't treated with much kindness by the priest elders... He is usually very light-hearted. But I wouldn't be surprised if he spoke to Master Idris this morning. Master Idris was the man who took him from his family..."

And like that, we leave the room and head over to the library. Kenneth gives me a book from a nearby shelf.

"Do you know much about the separatist war?" He asked nicely.

"I was only little, around five when it ended. But the start of it many dragons rebelled and created a war faction. Dragons wanting to fight for their freedoms as they said. They called themselves separatists, the group who wanted to live free of humans. To be separate from us... As the name separatist."

"Good... That's the very basic of it." Kenneth plays with hands as he walks around the table.

"The dragon separatists have been around for years. They have had small rebellions and problems. Nothing too serious until twenty years ago. They managed to murder Gold Emperor Odysseus Ovideus and Grand Prince David Ovideus his heir. Killed by an explosion caused by an ancient bomb made from the Black Empire."

"The Black Empire?" I say surprisingly.

"Yes... But back then it was not common knowledge. Everyone thought it was a basic bomb. Nothing too much involved with it. If only they knew... Where that bomb came from. Things would have played out differently."

I look up at Kenneth as a sadness comes over him. I sit there in silence.

"The dragon separatists became a massive threat as it should have been. The world's most powerful leaders were killed by them. Many dragons started followed their lead... Many fought against the rebels As the Gold Empire treated their dragons as equals for most of their history. More than any other nation... Many dragons wanted to stay and fight for their lost leaders. Calling themselves loyalists. Unlike our nation, we have a history of making dragons servants. Forcing dragons to race against their will. It was slavery in a different name. We were hit hard by the dragon rebels. Many dragons attacked civilians and destroyed many monuments and houses. We were in a civil war..."

"The Empress at the time was pregnant with Princess Regina. Your mother would have been expecting you around that time as well. The war started fifteen years ago and ended ten years ago. Both you would have been five when it ended. But anyway... Because of the pregnancy the royal family except the Emperor went onto hiding. Emperor Pavus sat on the throne to try and sort the situation. It was a difficult task. It was until Princess Regina was born when she went back to her duty as Empress. But by then the war was in full swing and many innocence have died. She was also a target of assassination, but the family did not let that get to them. The loyalist dragons side who want to be with humans alongside us. Was created by Emperor Vatras dragon Valencia."

"I saw her at the princess birth ceremony. She was standing on the balcony with the family. She has crown of her own."

"She never used to have a crown. Valencia never had a title... She was just known as the used empress's dragon back then. There were fears that she would turn into another Marigold."

"Marigold?" I asked curiously. The name sounded familiar.

"Marigold was Empress Mariana's dragon. A pure gold draconium one. And she had a title of dragon leader consort. Who settled delegations with dragons. She was very smart and spoke human tongue. When I met her she was very kind... But she was proven to be the one responsible for the poisoning of Gold Empress Mariana, her human partner. Emperor Odysseus wife and it happened soon after her coronation... I remember the news well... It only made things worse after Marigold's execution. Many of the dragons of the world highly revered her... That action of executing Marigold, in turn, made things worse for us."

I write down everything with an ink and quill. Mother taught us basic knowledge and history. But not in deep like this.

"Valencia over the past three years in the war. Tried to make a peace treaty between the humans and the dragons. She was almost killed many times by her own kind..."

"Kenneth I have heard a rumour once from mother that... Valencia... Had a brother... And that-" Usually I don't delve into the lives of others. But since we are on the topic of history. I might as well see if it's true.

"He turned Lexi... Yes... Valencia's family mostly died from scale rot. But she and her brother survived... Her brother's name was Vasuman. He also worked in the royal court. I think he was jealous of his sister. He wanted power of his own. Just using the war as an excuse. Valencia announced to us that he became a separatist. He murdered his human friend Eshne. Changed his name to Furox and he never looked back."

I nod as I finish off the notes.

"Many events happened during the Separatist war. To get all of the details it's all in the books I gave you. The battle strategies. The speeches, the generals and many soldiers. Written by our priests. Some good old bedroom reading for you!"

I Look at the other books Kenneth gives me. Battle strategies of the separatist war. The life of Valencia and how she made peace. What cause the separatist war and how to try and prevent it next time. So many books...

"In order to be a priest. We must understand the point of view of a dragon. They try to do the same with us. Because when we are together, we can unleash abilities that we cannot do on our own. You will be paired with a dragon in time. And with that, I can teach you the next phase of the priesthood. I will not tell you just yet of what that power entails. We will do that when we are training it."

"Is that why we went to the dragon's stables? To help find me a partner?" I felt so excited. I never had a dragon partner before!

Kenneth smiles at me and nods. "Yes, that is the plan! Many of the dragons did take a shining to you. But they already have partners."

I looked a bit disappointed. But it was a long day and Kenneth wanted us to have a break. After dinner, I decided to sneak into the dragon stables. I stole some meat bits from the kitchen. Breaking many rules in the process... Kenneth won't be happy. But he did tell me to try and understand them.

Kenneth and I say goodnight. So, I pretend that I am going back to my quarters. I had to be careful and make sure no one sees me sneaking around. If I am caught. I can be kicked out... or worse... I have heard rumours of imprisonment. It is how they deal with those who are priests who break the law. The law is different in this temple than it is in the outside world.

I look into the stable at the entrance. Making sure no one is around. Many of them are preparing to go to sleep. Each stable being segregated by stone walls. I want to have a dragon partner. Hope they don't tell me off... I walk inside as some of the dragons look at me in surprise. One imparticular... Iympetus. The other dragons rolled their eyes they wanted to sleep.

"Well isn't someone being a naughty apprentice. Should not be walking alone without your master." He said gleefully.

"Well... Uh... Um... I came to see the dragons. Apparently, I could be getting a dragon partner." That was smooth... Lexi... Very smooth...

"Ah... So, you come to see who is best of the lot? A very human thing to do... "

"Hey! don't judge me like that! I never got to meet dragons all that much. I was never raised with one."

"Oh well, aren't you lucky! So, you are an outsider. Priests are usually afraid of them you know? Spill all their dirty secrets to the public. I am surprised Idris let such a thing a happen."

"I have no secrets to spill... But Kenneth did tell me about you. How you were taken? That must have been horrible."

"Kenneth? You call your master by their first name? That doesn't surprise me. He has always been different compared to the rest. I like him for this. He lets me escape the temple every now and then. Without anyone knowing. So shhh... He is a breath of fresh air amongst this totalitarian priesthood sect."

The way Iympetus spoke. It's like he oozes sarcasm. There is much bitterness inside him emotionally. I can tell that he seems to be very happy go lucky. But the bitterness takes over. I look at him he continues to speak.

"But yes, it is true. I was taken when I was five. I was mimicking what humans were saying. So, without a thought, Master Idris took me to the temple. My mother was not happy with it. But in payment gave her food and swore to never find me again. I don't remember her name or where I lived."

"That is horrible... Do the elders do this a lot?" I asked.

"You would find that there is a very common story you will find in the priesthood. Everyone here is an orphan. As they have been told... But what do I know? I just know for me that is what happened."

I walk closer to him as he remains in his stall. He just looks at me with a curious face.

"Here I got pieces of meat from the kitchens. Will you like some?" I pull out a small brown bag with meat in it. And I stretch my arm out to show him. He chuckles.

"We are not hounds... We do not get bribed with food. Although some stupidly do... If it's their favourite food. But please give us credit..." Even though he was saying it he immediately eats the meat from my hand, and I chuckled.

"Okay then..." As he finished the last piece of meat.

I stand next to him. "Why do you get angry at the other dragons?" Thinking of him stealing food and acting angry around the other dragons.

"Because they don't care... You will be surprised that many dragons want to climb the power ladder. The more powerful and larger they are. The harder they are to defeat. Most of them are at war at this moment. Also, I just like naturally cause havoc. I'm a hyper young dragon who is amongst power climbers."

I smile at him. I know what he means by that. I sit next to him as he lies down. He felt uncomfortable as he edged away from me.

"You know I didn't expect to be chosen to be here... I wanted to be a soldier fighting the war! Being brave and saving lives for our Empress and country! My mother wanted me to be a handmaiden and my father recently passed away. It has been hard emotionally. As I heard Kenneth said, do you want to be in the priesthood. I accepted. But you know... No one from the outside really knows how the priesthood lives. You all live very lonely lives here... I feel like I am a lucky one. Yet this place has all this power and influence in the world. I have only been here for just over six months and still have not made a friend."

Iympetus turns around and looks at me. "The priesthood was never meant to be a place for friends... Or family. Even though we keep telling ourselves we are a family. None of us knows what a family is like. You know your females who get impregnated. Their child gets taken away... While the father gets sent to another convent in the country. Which is why you never see babies. They will get taken somewhere far away where the mother cannot find them..."

I sat there dumbfounded. What? They forcefully take babies away?! What have I gotten myself into?

Iympetus nudges me gently as I froze. "The only thing I can tell you, apprentice. Is that keep at your training. Do what Kenneth tells you to do."

"You know what Iympetus!" I get up with my hand out as if I am making a deal. "Will you be my dragon partner? You know we can be of use for each other. You want more freedoms. I want a friend." I asked him.

He looks at me taken aback. He was not expecting me to ask that.

"You are the first human to ask me that... I have only known you for less than a day!" He sighs as he thinks of what to do. He really doesn't sound too bad.

After a while me standing there as he thinks of an answer. He suddenly turns his head and yells "YES!" waking up all the other dragons in their stables. Many of them roaring in annoyance. I notice that many of them don't get up. Wouldn't they usually check up on what he is screaming about?

"Oh, don't worry! I scream randomly at night just to piss them off every now and then." He chuckles and I chuckle nervously. He then gets his tail and shakes my hand with it.

"Name apprentice?"

"I am Lexiana Acosta."

"You know... There is a thing about the human and dragon partnership deal. You see it is neither me nor you who chooses. We may not end up as partners..."

"What do you mean?" I asked. Kenneth never said anything about the partnership being complicated. But then I did get ahead of myself.

"Get on my back and you will find out human girl" He then lowers his back for me to get on. I looked around me as I was nervous. I have never ridden a dragon before. I put my hands on his back and lifted myself onto him.

Suddenly, I hear Iympetus roar as a burst of red light from him. Lit up the whole stable!