The Academy: Detective Stories - Part I

Chapter 10. The Father of The Dragon

That night, Jackie didn't sleep well. The images of the furious reptiles haunted her every time she closed her eyes. When she finally awoke from a short, anxious dream, she sat up, her face covered in a cold sweat. Desperate for some relief, she longed to cool off in the cold water.

The guys were sleeping near the fire, and the eggs were placed close by. Theo had mentioned that they needed to be kept warm to continue developing until the baby dragons were ready to hatch. Jackie looked around, trying to spot Elisa, who was supposed to be on watch tonight. But she was nowhere to be found. Where had she gone? It didn't bode well, so Jackie rose to make her way to the forest.

The pale-orange forest shimmered around her, and the creek bubbled nearby. She discovered Elisa at the shore, kneeling and gazing at the flowing water. A lonely waxing gibbous hung low in the sky above the treetops.

Jackie scooped up some water from the creek and washed her face to freshen up.

"Are you okay?" Elisa inquired.

"Yes," Jackie replied, settling down beside her on the ground. "And you?"

Elisa sighed. "I was reflecting on this whole dragon journey... All I wanted was to impress my friend from the past. But instead, I put all of us in danger and nearly jeopardized our future. What kind of person does that make me?"

"You're an amazing person," Jackie reassured her with a smile. "I would follow you to the ends of the earth if you needed me to."

"Really?"

"Why not?" Jackie replied, gazing up at the night sky. "Remember the lullaby we sang in the caves? We successfully retrieved all the stolen stars, so now we can fulfill our guardian duties and fix everything that's gone awry."

"Sounds like a plan," Elisa agreed with a chuckle.

Jackie turned her attention to the river, marveling at its beauty. "We all risked our lives today. Perhaps it's because we're capable of doing extraordinary things for the people we care about."

"What do you mean?" Elisa asked, looking puzzled.

"When you initially mentioned the wedding, you said it was for your friend. Yet, you ended up stealing from the most dangerous creatures in this world. You must truly love this friend to put yourself in such peril."

Elisa adjusted a lock of her hair. "Okay, I wasn't fully honest about this friendship. I was in love before. Perhaps that's why I took on the challenge – to prove my worth. But I became consumed by it... I must never repeat that mistake."

"It's alright." Jackie offered a sympathetic smile. "We all make mistakes."

"That's true. It took me a while, but I understand now. True love is being able to let that person find happiness, even if it means being happy without you."

Jackie nodded in understanding. "Then, I hope you won't attempt to disrupt the wedding."

"Of course not." Elisa brought her hand to her chest. "I swear, I've learned my lesson."

"That's reassuring to hear," Jackie said, locking eyes with her. "You deserve someone who will love you as much as you love them."

Elisa cast her gaze downward. "You know, for me, the prospect of being loved is slim, so I've learned to live without it."

"But Theo –"

"Oh, please don't," Elisa interjected, shaking her head. "I'm not interested in him, and I never will be."

"Why not?"

Elisa turned towards the creek, the moonlight illuminating the water and casting a somber light on her face. "Because... you are my friend, and I'm asking you to respect that."