Summoner

Chapter 10

Layla was excited. She was finally out of the infirmary and today was dragon claiming day. She had passed her oral test, missing only two questions. For once when her alarm went off, she was eager to get up and get dressed. It was right after breakfast she would be going with the other first years that plan to attend. The dinning hall wasn't as crowded since it was the weekend and classes weren't in session today so it allowed Layla to quickly get her food and sit down. She practically inhaled her food before following the ones that were already leaving. 

Ash stood beside Hellucio beside the nursery. Hellucio wasn't fond being woken up so early, and not flying. Ash promised to take him flying afterwards to make him feel it was worth waking up early. Hellucio's head perked up when he heard the familiar sound of tinkling metal as a set of summoning keys swished and moved with Layla's hips. "Maybe I don't have to take you flying after all," Ash said to Hellucio as they saw Layla come over the hill with the other first years who were coming. "Try and seem like your usual self until after," Ash muttered only loud enough for Hellucio to hear. "We need to weed out the weak." Hellucio huffed and the other first years looked at him wide eyed. They used Hellucio as a visual test to make those who are too scared and are only here out of dares or those who are trying to prove they're a bad ass but inside they're terrified, pull out before seeing the hatchlings. 

"I'm Ash, Captain of the Dragon Riders," Ash said once they were all gathered. "This is my dragon Hellucio. Don't let him fool you. He is only tame for select few, others he threatens when they get too close. He is a prime example of looks can be deceiving. When he was a hatchling, he looked to be one of the sweetest and calm dragons on the planet. Then as he got older, he became hostile. It's not because of mistreatment, it's just part of his personality. A dragon's personality and looks can range. Hellucio looks menacing, and to most he is. My Co-Captain's dragon, Lania, looks sweet and graceful, but she has a bit of a rebellious streak in her when not competing. If you get a dragon like Hellucio here, and can't tame it, it will face the possibility of being put down, because it will be a threat to you and to others and we can't have that." 

"Why would you have to put it down," a girl asked as she looked at Hellucio nervously. The girl looked sweet and delicate with her flawless skin and bright green eyes framed in thick lashes. She had platinum blonde hair with ice blue highlights. "Because dragons born in captivity lack the skills to be able to survive in the wild," Ash answered. "We also have to keep their claws trimmed, so if they were released, they wouldn't have a chance to defend themselves. Their claws grow at a slow rate so it would be a very long while before they could even try. In the wild it's a worse death sentence for them. Putting them down is merciless compared to releasing them." 

"It's also possible that if in the wild, since they don't know how to hunt for themselves, they may just go to a farm where the animals are easy pickings, then the farmer will have the dragon hunted down," another of the first years pointed out to the girl. 

Ash nodded, "There is also that." Ash went through more of the amount of responsibility that would be going in and some, who thought it would be easy, looked at one another warily. 

"If you're scared or thought being a Dragon Rider would be easy, then being a Dragon Rider isn't for you," Ash said to the group of first years. "Pull out now." More than half the group left. Layla and the girl who spoke had been the only females who remained. 

Ash looked over the group and nodded as Beast Trainer Malakai and Head Master Pilo came forward. "I see you've weeded out the unfit," Beast Trainer Malakai said as he looked at those who remained. "First we'll take you in to see the hatchlings. If a hatchling doesn't claim you, then we'll take you over to the adults who didn't claim anyone from previous years." 

Layla didn't have a hatchling claim her so she stood outside. Hellucio then took that as his chance to get her attention. Ash face palmed as Layla smiled and pet him. "I see this is Hellucio's crush that you complained about," Malakai said with a soft chuckle. Ash nodded, "This is Layla." "I saw you in the games girly, you were impressive," Malakai said with a nod. Layla smiled as she pet Hellucio, "Thank you sir." 

After leaving the nursery they passed a covering where a dragon was chained and muzzled. "This is a prime example of a dragon that couldn't be tamed and is deemed too dangerous. This is Strayia, a vicious female who was the runt of her litter and the other dragons bullied her as a hatchling and she grew to be this dangerous beast you see before you." She was solid black and smaller than most of the dragons Layla had ever seen. If she had her eyes closed you wouldn't be able to see her, she'd appear to be just a shadow cast into the covering. Instead her violet eyes were bright as she locked eyes with Layla. 

Hellucio then bumped Layla forward with his tail, as if encouraging to go toward the beast. "Hellucio," Beast Tamer Malakai scolded. He then looked at Ash, "Maybe he doesn't eat her because he feels a dragon worse than him should." "I think we should let the girl go toward the dragon," Head Master Pilo said. "It's not like it can hurt her the way we have it chained." 

Beast Tamer Malakai looked from Hellucio to the Head Master to Layla. "Approach with caution," Beast Tamer Malakai said to her. "Hey Maribell, you may want to appear as a just in case. This dragon is crafty and unpredictable," Ash said. Maribell then appeared beside Layla, hand on her sword. She looked at the dragon, and the dragon seemed to be studying her as well. 

Layla began to approach and they all tensed. Strayia raised it's head from where she had been resting it on her arms. The dragon lowered it's head to sniff her. Her and Layla had a stare down, and Layla reached out her hand, testing the waters. The dragon slowly pressed it's snout into her hand. Layla pet her and Strayia's eyes closed in content. 

"I guess we can call off putting her down after all," Head Master Pilo said with a smile. "Layla seems to have a talent in being able to handle the unruly," Beast Trainer Malakai said. "Must be years of having to deal with you Ash." Ash rolled his eyes, "The last ten years she had gone on her magic journey, I went ten years without seeing her. The woman survived the Black Woods and who knows what else. No weakling can venture into those Woods and live. The dragons can see her strength and respect it." 

"Careful there hot head, it sounds like you're giving me a compliment," Layla said with a smirk. "In your fucking dreams," Ash said while crossing his arms. "You two get Strayia into a compartment," Beast Trainer Malakai said to him and Layla. Ash nodded as the other two lead the rest of the first years to the unclaimed dragons. 

Ash undid Strayia's chains. "You remove the muzzle," Ash said to Layla as he went to unchain her tail. "Why was her tail chained," Layla asked him. "She slammed it into one of the ones who was caring for her, sent him flying," Ash answered. "When we get her in the compartment, we'll have to feed her. She's been a week without food." "Why," Layla asked him as she slid the muzzle off. "Because the dragons know, once they've brought here, what it means. They've seen dragons come here and get put down. She tried to fight, anytime someone came close, thrashing as much as possible. We couldn't get close to the muzzle to let her eat. Eventually though, she lost the strength to thrash after going so long without food. So she threatened us with smoke." 

"When was she supposed to be put down," Layla asked as she let her hand run over her snout. "This after noon," Ash said as he looked at Strayia.  "I see you decided to live after all girl." Strayia looked at Ash then at Hellucio. She then nudged Ash with her head. "Come on," Ash said as he said to Layla while petting Strayia. They lead Strayia out of there, and it was clear she didn't have much strength to stand. She still pushed herself though. Hellucio walked beside her as they lead them to the stables. The other Dragon Riders looked at Strayia in fear. She gave them a menacing look and growl. Once in the compartment, Ash and Layla got Strayia something to eat and water while also ensuring the bedding was fresh. 

"It will take her a bit to regain her strength so you'll learn to fly by riding with me on Hellucio," Ash told her. "We'll also have to get a saddle fitted for her since she's smaller, I doubt we'll have any that fit her." Layla nodded as she looked over Strayia as she began to eat. Hellucio watched through the window. Ash eyed Hellucio and Strayia before shaking his head. The worst dragons the campus has ever seen, belong to them. It had to be more than a coincidence.