Tide's Story

5

The letter arrived early that morning. Tide had not been able to sleep, and was already in the flowers. They didn't want to open it yet... They wanted their friend to be there for them. So they lay the sealed scroll on a rock and waited, their mind spiralling further and further into what this might mean.

Noctiflora joined them around an hour later, when the sun was beginning to peek over the mountains.

"Are the others coming?" Tide said, not looking away from the letter.

"Yes, they're on their way." Nocti sat beside them.

Topaz and Terra joined them within five minutes, Lilly sitting on Terra's head.

Tide opened the letter, terrified.

To: The Seawing animus.

Your education at Jade Mountain Academy is hereby terminated, until further notice. You will begin your journey to the Deep Palace today, with minimal stops along the way. A guide will arrive to assist you shortly. Say your goodbyes, and we will see you soon.
Enclosed, find a list of a few of the spells we expect you to do for your tribe.
Failure comply with any of the above specifications will result in imprisonment and permanent removal from Jade Mountain Academy and its learning program.

-Queen Piper of the Seawings.

Tide couldn't think straight. They handed the letter to Topaz and pulled out the list.

Below are listed a fraction of the spells the Seawing animus is expected to do:
Enchant all illness to leave the Seawing tribe forever.

Enchant the Deep Palace to double in size.
Enchant villages to build themselves throughout the ocean.
Enchant the Skywing Queen to obey anything the Seawings tell her to do.
Enchant the Seawing Queen to become the richest dragon in Pyrrhia.
Enchant the next three Seawing eggs to hatch animus dragons.
Enchant the Seawing Queen to only be able to die in a duel for the throne.
Enchant the Seawings to be the most important tribe in Pyrrhia.

"So... you're leaving?" Topaz said, sounding devastated.

"Looks like it." Tide replied.

"I'm coming with you." Noctiflora said. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Tide handed the list to Nocti, who growled. "I hate this."

"Me too. I don't want to think about- what these spells will do to my soul. I don't want to end up hurting someone I love."

"They don't care!! Dragons see animi as nothing but useful tools half the time and don't care if it hurts their souls, it's no wonder many stay hidden! I have to come with you, they aren't hurting your soul or forcing you to do something you don't want to on my watch."

"You cant come with me. You cant breathe underwater, plus Topaz, Terra, and Lilly need you." Tide replied.

"Please don't go..." Topaz half-whispered.

Tide hugged her tight. "I don't want to. I have this weird feeling- that if I go, something bad will happen." Tide hugged the other three as well.

"Tide, please, I can't have anyone else leave me like that..."

Tide tried to hold on to their calm facade, but they started to cry. "She's m-my Queen. If she wants me to u-use my magic... I have t-to."

Nocti wrapped a wing around Tide.

I should be comforting all of them... not the other way around.

Tide wiped the tears off and spread their wings with a big grin. "I'll be fine- I'm invincible!"

"You'd better come back, when they stop using you." Topaz said. She was clearly trying to hold in tears of her own.

"I promise." Tide smiled.

Topaz smiled back. "I'll hold you to that promise."

"Tide, you can't go. You can't use your magic that much, your poor soul..." Terra frowned. "Imprisonment is better than losing your soul."

Tide looked at Terra. "I know. You always tell me I shouldn't use my magic. But I'll be fine, okay? I'll be fine."

Terra nodded. "You'd better be."

"I have an idea." Tide said. They picked up five little pebbles from the ground. "Enchant these pebbles to become necklaces that each of us like. Enchant these necklaces so that whenever we want, we can talk to each other, especially when we are in danger or making a bad choice... and so we can feel each other's heartbeats." Tide hung the necklaces around their friends' necks with a smile.

A heartbeat was now bumping along next to their own... they didn't understand it, but somehow, they knew the heartbeat belonged to Topaz.

The necklace buzzed to life. 'Does it work?' Lilly's little voice said. Tide grinned. It worked, and their soul didn't feel any different.

"You'll talk a lot, right?" Lilly said.

"Of course." Tide replied.

"Good coz so will I."

A dark blue Seawing walked over to Tide. He grabbed their wrist. "Time to fly." He growled, gruffly.

"Yes sir." Tide whispered.

796 words