Summoner

Chapter 5

Ash flipped through the book Layla had given him. He was shocked at how detailed it was. It was clear she had made sure to note down everything she knew about each and every plant she had learned about. He couldn't help but wonder just how many of these plants she had to actually use. He was also surprised to find her very detailed writings on various poisons and antidotes many of the plants were used for. When his alarm for Dragon Rider practice went off, he tucked the book into his desk drawer and got ready. 

He smiled when he saw his dragon, Hellucio. He was massive with maroon scales, black horns on his head, red eyes looking down at every one around him. He was a unruly bastard that the Beast Teacher tried taming, but Hellucio was stubborn. It was Ash in his first year who threw a bucket at him, after Hellucio knocked the bucket from his hands with his tail when Ash tried to feed him. Ash stood his ground when Hellucio let smoke flare from his nostrils as a warning. Ash knew the Beast Trainer was talking with Head Master Pilo about putting Hellucio down because he was too dangerous after snapping and breathing fire at the other students. Ash saw Hellucio as a challenge. "They're gonna put your stubborn ass down if you don't fucking start listening," Ash had yelled at Hellucio when he threw the bucket. "You know what that means right? Means your over grown lizard ass will never get to fly again." Ash had caught Hellucio looking at the skies many times at the dragons who were flying with their riders. The dragons weren't allowed to fly on their own, they always have to have a rider as a precaution because a wild dragon may venture out every now and then and their rider will be able to use their magic to help defend them. The dragons at the school constantly had their claws clipped and maintained to keep them from killing their opponents in practice and in the races. Dragon claws are incredibly sharp and even if that wasn't the dragon's intent, severe injury could happen on accident. It was also to keep the students safe if they have to deal with a stubborn dragon like Hellucio.  Another reason they weren't allowed to fly on their own is because near the schools were a few farms and they didn't want to risk the dragons eating the livestock. 

They couldn't release Hellucio into the wild either because he didn't know how to survive on his own because he was born in captivity. It would be a painful death for him if they did that. So putting him down was their best option. Ash didn't back down from him though, even used his own fire against him. Hellucio became tame just for Ash alone. All others he treated the same. When Ash graduates, the school planned to let him keep Hellucio since no other would be able to ride him. Many get to keep their dragons, some if they're unable to keep them, the school uses them for teaching others lessons or for breeding. Some times they also send them to other schools who are in need of dragons needed for lessons or breeding. Hellucio proved to be the strongest and fastest dragon they had. The Beast Trainer was convinced it was because Hellucio and Ash had the same arrogance and need to prove he was better than the others. 

Hellucio looked at Ash. Hellucio gave him his usual bored look, until he saw Ash start to prepare Hellucio's saddle. Hellucio loved flying and Ash did too. Ash was having to look into the laws of owning a dragon outside of a school, so when the school gave Hellucio to him, he would already know everything he would need. "Come on you over grown lizard, it's time for practice." 

Layla was able to see the Dragon Riders practicing from her dorm room window. She could easily spot Ash among them. He looked completely in his element as he lead the team through their drills. She had more than once come in contact with a dragon, mostly one that wanted to eat her, but she never got to stand close to one. She wondered what it would be like to fly on one. It looked like it was a thrill and she was always eager to experience the next thrill. 

After Ash's practice he went to his room and showered before going to meet Layla in the library. 

"What's it like riding a dragon," she asked him curiously. He raised an eyebrow, "Why?" "I can see you guys practicing from my window," she said to him. "It looks fun." "Have you never ridden one," he asked her. She shook her head, "The only experience I've had with dragons are those that want to eat me, and those I did my best to stay away from." "Hellucio might still try to eat you like he threatens to do to everyone," Ash said to her. "But I would be more than happy to let him eat you." She rolled her eyes, "Just answer my question you fucking hot head." He sighed, "It's amazing. It's a freedom that I love. There's nothing else like it. Now that I've answered your question, let's get to studying." 

While Ash answered the test she made for him to see just how much he was retaining from their study sessions, she worked on her own homework. He looked like he was in pain over one of the questions and she couldn't help but find it amusing. His pain was a bonus for her. 

When he finished it, he handed it back to her. She placed her pencil down and he couldn't help but look at her homework as she read over the paper. "That's wrong," he said when he looked at her first question. "Basilisk fall into serpents, they have no arms or legs." She looked down at the question. "Damn," she muttered before fixing it. "Beasts aren't my forte. They're big, scaley, and dangerous. That's all I really know about them." "You don't have any beast summonings," he asked her. She shook her head, "Nope. I haven't gotten my hands on any Black Rings." 

Black Rings were beast or other animal summonings. She didn't even know where to even find them. She also didn't know anything about beasts so she decided to stick with what she knew. 

While she looked over his work, he looked over hers. He used a pencil to mark what she had wrong. He found it satisfying that she wasn't a know it all in everything. He was also shocked, she easily accepted his help without a fight. Half of what she had done so far had been wrong. Since she wasn't being a bitch to him and was genuinely helping him, he decided to extend the same courtesy. 

Once they swapped back they both felt like groaning as they began to fix their mistakes. They worked for a little longer before leaving the library to go get ready for their practice with the others. 

When she got there, Maxis and Terro were arguing. "What's going on," she asked Cecil. Cecil shrugged, "No clue. They were arguing when I got here." Ash came over, "What the fuck is going on?" "Fucker kissed my girlfriend," Terro said. "As I've said a few times now, I didn't know she was your girlfriend," Maxis snapped. "She told me she was single and didn't even mention knowing you." "When was this," Cecil asked. "At the party we went to last night," Maxis answered. "She and I were making out in the kitchen when he came in. She clearly didn't know he was gonna show up and tried pulling this, she's drunk story and I was taking advantage of her to try and get out of it." 

"Clearly he didn't know," Ash said to Terro. "I fucking know that," Terro said. "Then why are you so mad," Cecil asked him. "Because the fucker got to kiss her before I did and I was with her longer," Terro said. Ash, Cecil, and Layla gave him a deadpan look. "She was a good kisser, I'll giver her that," Maxis said. Terro then made a vine appear to smack him in the back of the head and Maxis retaliated, creating a fight between the two. Layla sighed with a shake of her head. So much for teamwork, she thought before Cecil and Ash broke it up. 

"Stop the shit and lets get to practicing," Ash said to them. The muttered their agreement and the five of them got to work.