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Chapter 14

Odd Events

"Who are you?" asked the dragoness. He blinked, surprised that the dragon was asking him a question.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" she asked again.

Malefor had to process the question after the second time it was asked. She was asking him who he was. That didn't make any sense. Moonlight spilled just right enough inside the cave that only he was illuminated at where he was.

She was hiding in the dark, and the only thing Malefor could see was the outlined shape of a dragon. He was wondering if either she was blind or the fact that…she didn't know who he was; because if she did, she wouldn't be asking that question in the first place. Everyone knew who the Dark Master was.

Is it really possible she doesn't know who exactly Malefor was?

"Speak or else death will welcome you!" she said with strong authority.

"Sorry…I am Mal—"

Malefor cut himself off before speaking his whole name. It would seem that she really didn't know who he was. But someone she knows probably may know who he is. It's best that he didn't share his name openly anymore. It did have a sort of stigma now.

"Mal? That's a rather…short name," she said. "So Mal…"

The dragoness then began to walk towards him. She slipped into the light, her features being revealed in front of him. She was an adult dragoness with sun colored scales and a whitish yellow underbelly. She was apparently an electric dragoness.

"What brings you to our humble abode?" she asked in a calm soothing tone. Malefor cringed a little under her watchful gaze. He never felt easy when someone was staring him down, or checking him out. Usually it was him that was doing that.

"'Your…abode'?"

"Our village then, if you do not understand that; what brings you to our village?" asked the dragoness in light hearted manner. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Sera."

"Nice to meet you Sera." Malefor nodded. "A village? I never knew there was a village…here."

There were never any documented times when there ever was a village of dragons at the Ancient Grove. This was the first time he ever heard of it. Usually there were villages found at the Tall Plains and at the Valley of Avalar, and there was even a rare one found at Munitions Forge. But all of those villages were scattered once the war against the Dark Master began. The dragon race reunited in order to survive against the mighty enemy.

"No one should know. And yet…here you are," said Sera. "How did you come upon our village?"

"I-I am sorry for trespassing. I did not know, and that was my fault. I shall take my leave then," said Malefor turning around, heading outside.

"Wait!" she called.

"Yes?"

"Do you expect me to be so territorial? To send someone to the dangers that lurk outside at this time of night due to trespass?"

"…yes?" Malefor was somewhat amused at this, but he didn't know why.

"Then you are mistaken. Get back in here Mal," she said, calling him.

It was then and there that Malefor could just easily tell her that he needed to go, and he'll be out of that patch. But something in him prevented him from leaving. Maybe it was his desire to have some dragon company, since he did not have any for years. Malefor sighed, telling himself that he was insane to this, yet he still did it. He turned around, and headed towards her.

"I cannot stay for long. What do you want?" he asked. Sera smiled.

"Stay with us, for the night that is. My conscience would kill me if I send you out there," she said sincerely.

"Well…okay…but only for the night. Once morning breaks, I am leaving," said Malefor, drawing the line.

"I understand. Follow me," said Sera, leading him inwards to the cave.

Walking ahead, she discreetly slid her tail across Malefor's neck, brushing up against his neck. Malefor was taken aback at the action. He was lost. He wasn't sure if she meant to do that, or did it by accident. Either way, that was a tell tale sign of…he shook his head. It can't be what he thought it was. He was just possibly something else.

Brushing the action aside, he followed her inwards, deeper into the dark cave.

0 0 0 0 0

The Temple was dark and silent. The halls were empty and the only audible sound was the sound of footsteps. Flame yawned as he walked. He had just studied, surprising as it was, studied at the library. He wanted to best Li at his own game, and get good himself at Elemental Redirection. He felt that Li was his rival, even though it was only he that felt it. So, after studying for a few hours, it was night now and he wanted to get some rest.

Continuing down the path, he followed the familiar path that he used to get back to his room. Reaching a fork in the hall, he kept going forward, until he heard voices at the other end of the hall.

Curious, he walked down to it and was surprised to find it coming from the room where the Pool of Visions was located. Thinking it was just the Guardians talking, he was about to turn around and head out until he heard the conversation.

"Is it there?"

"No Master. I am afraid not. But I will try and find it still. There are still some things that have taken my…interest. The dragons here are…interesting."

"I believe they are. Keep searching, the rest has come back with empty paws. We're moving to the next place. I'll keep you informed."

"Thank you Master. How goes your condition?"

"…fine. In the next few days…I'll have enough strength to look up high. I can feel it…somewhere above the mountains. In the meantime…I hope you're…keeping up your guise…"

"Your gift has not been wasted."

"Make it so."

Flame's eyebrow bunched up as he tried to listen in on more of the conversation. The voice seemed familiar…yet…different. He was definitely sure that these aren't the Guardians. And the fact that one of them was referring to the other as Master was unsettling. What was going on? It would seem they were looking for something; but what? Who are these dragons?

"What are you doing?"

Flame jumped and fell flat on the floor. His heart skipped a beat as he tried his best to regain his composure. He was nearly given a heart attack by being scared. He panted and broke a sweat as he looked at the one who gave it to him.

It was Malik, the electric dragon.

He had met him as well earlier. Turns out he was in the same class as he was too. The yellow scaled dragon peered down on him curiously, his faded blue underbelly shining in the dark.

"Don't do that…I nearly died…" Flame panted, wiping the sweat of his face.

"Sorry…in any case, what were you doing? I don't think we're allowed to be here," he replied, whispering to him.

"I know our curfew," Flame replied, a bit annoyed.

"Then why'd you do it?"

"Something came up…"

Malik raised a brow. "Can I ask why?"

"…no."

"Oh…come on, please?" he replied, giving him puppy eyes.

"I'll tell you tomorrow. Right now, I need to sleep." Flame yawned, emphasizing this.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow."

Just as Malik was about to walk away, he stopped.

"Hey Flame…can I ask a favour from you?"

Flame raised a brow. "Yeah?"
"C-can you…teach me how to do the Elemental Redirect…thingy? I still don't get it…and I'm afraid I might flunk it tomorrow afternoon."

Flame smiled. "Oh sure."

Malik smiled back.

After saying their last statements, the two separated. Flame however was still worried. What did he just witness? Was it important? Was something bad going to happen? He wanted to tell what he had heard to the Guardians, thinking it may be important. But he was still unsure at it was all about exactly. The fact that the dragon could seem to use the Pool of Visions was enough to pique ones curiosity. Only a rare few have that ability. Shaking his head Flame walked on, wondering what he had just witness.

0 0 0 0 0

"Wow…" said Malefor, looking up at the place.

They had exited the long and winding tunnel of a cave they were walking on and was now at a totally different place. There were considerable amount of trees and fauna everywhere. There was even a river that was flowing through the place. He was unsure what river it was, but it definitely was a river. It was like a sanctuary. A sanctuary hidden inside a mountain; who would have thought there was something like this hidden among the forests of the Ancient Grove. There was even a hole up top, which he assumed how sunlight got in. It also served as another exit for dragons to fly up there.

Down below, there were standing torches lined at the side, illuminating the stone carved path that led to different caves seemingly etched out of the mountain side. No one seemed to be walking out and about aside from them.

"I take it you didn't expect to see this?" asked Sera.

"No one ever would."

Sera chuckled. "Come on, follow me. I'll show you to my cave."

Malefor's brow rose; her cave?

"Um…we're…sleeping together?" he croaked.

Sera blinked at him. "Is there a problem?"

"Uh…I take it its okay with you?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Don't you find it odd…that…you're letting me sleep with you…in your cave…and I'm a stranger you just met?"

Malefor was feeling apprehensive. And he's the male to begin with. Shouldn't the female be apprehensive with this kind of setup and circumstances?

"Why do you trust me…so fast…so easily?" asked Malefor.

Sera smiled warmly at him. "It's because I trust my instincts. All of them tell me that you won't try anything.

And besides, even if you do try…I'm not going down without a fight," she said, the last part in almost a whisper. Then her expression turned sultry.

"But the real question is…would I really resist?"

Malefor felt like he was struck by a brick. Was this really happening? Or was he just dreaming?

Because he could definitely sense that this dragoness…was flirting with him.

Who is she exactly? Why was there a Dragon Village hidden here? And the fact that it was designed to be secluded raised even more questions. It buzzed around his head, all pointing to no specific conclusions. He needed more information. In the end however, Malefor just found asking himelf.

What did he get himself into?

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