Dragon Prince AU: A New Fate

Chapter Six: A Visitor

After Prince Azymondias had hatched from his egg, all the members of the Dragon Guard have been keeping an eye for trouble. While Ibis is more than happy enough to teach Callum some more Sky spells with Sierra. Despite Callum's initial hesitation, Ibis had wholeheartedly embraced Callum and readily agreed to take him on as an apprentice just as well.
Several days pass by, and Callum is improving thanks to Ibis's timely training. He's chosen to wield a staff. Ibis has shown him that his staff has a bright blue stone in the middle, curled by metal plates resembling the wings of a bird.
But at the moment, the two students were learning how to handle their mage wings. The wind was soft against their skin, a feel that they'd grown to enjoy. It didn't matter what others thought, a flenimu and a human doing Sky Magic, they could laugh all they want, make fun of them for all they cared. But the fact stood strong; they enjoyed the sky. It had been there form birth, a natural sense of connection to the vast blue ocean that lay above them each day.
Sierra was joyfully aware of the wind all around her. She could takes the cloud spray and smell the raw, endless sky. She heard the rush of the air as it parted to make for her body.
She was soaring.
She pumped her wide mage wings up and down, enjoying the way she pushed the air around, currents tense and smooth as water, the tips of her wings brushing lightly against the sky. She stretched them out to their fullest span, so that she could see the sun glinting beige and blue of the feathers underneath her wings. 
She felt at home in the skies, ducking and diving through the clouds. But she's not alone. Over the past few weeks, Callum had explored much of the surrounding area around the Storm Spire. Sometimes, a few curious Skywing Elves would fly up to see him, all of them had the same reaction: shock.
Callum smiled, the warmth he felt in his chest as he flapped his wings, watching the land of Xadia below, it was a sense that he enjoyed, a feeling that just gave him great joy. He felt free up there, alongside the birds and dragons and the other creatures that ruled the skies.
He heard someone flying alongside him and laughed softly when he saw Sierra flying on her beige mage wings too.
"Catch me if you can!" Sierra challenged Callum playfully.
"You're on!" At that, the two of them started flying around in a game of chase. After a few moments of gliding, the wind, chilly as it was, felt like a god's touch on her skin. She closed her eyes and reveled in the feeling of absolute freedom.
They flown like that for a few more minutes, both enjoying the gradually raising sunlight, dipping into and out of the cloudbanks like a pair of playful dolphins.
"Kids!" Callum and Sierra almost collided into each other from the shock. They both looked down and saw Ibis looking for them. "Time to come inside!"
"And just when I was getting the hang of flying." Sierra rolled her eyes fondly at Callum's playful compliant.
Coming to the ground with a touch, his wings faded, allowing his arms to take their original form. He glanced over at Ibis who smiled at his presence. It wasn't long for Sierra to land lightly behind Callum. Ibis felt his heart go out to the two kids and felt glad that both of them are now under his care.
"Come on you two." Ibis gently ruffled his daughter's hair that made her yelp in surprise and placed a hand on Callum's shoulder. "King Avizandum is about to get a storm." At that, the three of them headed back inside and to the meal room.
As the trio approached the dining table, Gaia finished cooking moonberry soup, fireball juice, and chocolate and marshmallow pie. "Come and get it!"
As everyone started eating lunch, they heard a sudden bark echoed out in the dining room as they all turned to see the Dragon Prince. He had come to see the Dragon Guard. He smelt the food in the room, some of the members sighed with joy. A gentle femnine growl soon followed as Zym turned around, knowing he had been called to bed he ran back out to Queen Zubeia as everyone returned to dinner.
Far above the Dragon Guard, King Avizandum and Queen Zubeia both smiled as they watched the flenimu, the human, and the elves talk excitedly amongst each other as they ate their meal. It brought peace to their hearts to know that each and every member of the Dragon Guard stood with unwavering loyalty at their side, guarding their family from any threat. They were asked to give up everything they had ever known to protect the future of Xadia, and they did so perfectly.
For seven years, they stood ready on the Storm Spire, patrolling it, searching for any sign of danger, guarding the inner chamber where they both made their lair, carrying out their duties faithfully since the day they swore their oaths. Seven years, they had guarded the future of Xadia. Not just that, but King Avizandum respects the young human who had left everything behind to save him and his family's life.
Ibis was conversing with Callum and Sierra about the Sky Arcanum and the Sky spells. But out of nowhere, a certain baby dragon jumped in the center of the table and started sniffing their food curiously.
"Zym, this is our lunch," Sierra gently scolded the baby dragon.
They looked down at Zym, who was looking up at them and letting out a playful bark. Zym started running a circle and wagging his tail, ready to play with them.
"Zym!" The three Sky mages exchanged amused glances as the baby dragon ran back to his parents. After lunch, Ibis led Callum and Sierra all walked towards one of the training rooms together.
Callum stood silently within the room, while Sierra watched their training session with a proud smile. Ibis stood, standing before several target dummies. "Today, you shall learn about the advanced versions of Aspiro." Ibis drew a rune in the air before. "The first you shall learn is this one." He paused as he drew in a breath. "Aspiro Frigis!"
A wave of ice spikes surged forward, encasing the dummies within ice. Ibis then turned to face Callum. "The way the spell works is similar to the other forms of Aspiro, they all require you to blow out air." He started walking to the side before drawing the rune for Fulminis. "Fulminis." He sent a bolt of lightning towards the encased dummies, blowing the ice apart and freeing the dummies from their prison. "It is now your turn. The rune looks like this." He produced the rune on a piece of paper for Callum to see.
Callum eyed the rune closely before he nodded, he took a stand before the training dummies. Closing his eyes, he pictured the rune. Opening them, he drew the rune before taking a deep breath. "Aspiro Frigis."
A wave of icy spikes emerged forth, once more trapping the dummies in a tomb of ice. Ibis nodded in response. "You are a fast learner. Perhaps it is time to teach you the most advanced form of Aspiro. Aspiro Tonitrus."
Ibis stood before Callum. "You may wish to stand behind me for this one." Callum nodded and quickly retreated behind Ibis, making sure to watch the demonstration before him. Ibis narrowed his eyes as he drew a rune, a hybrid between Aspiro and Fulminis. Once done, he took a deep breath. "Aspiro Tonitrus."
A great gust of wind, far stronger than Aspiro blew forth, things that were bolted down moved slightly from the strong thunder like winds. A loud clap followed as the winds made contact with the dummies. "This spell is a great combat spell; the thunderclap dazes your foes while the intense winds unbalance them."
Callum nodded. "So, is it my turn to try the spell?" He watched as the winds died down.
Ibis nodded. "Yes, it is. This is the rune you shall need to memorize." He held up the rune drawn upon the paper.
Callum smirked, stepping forward as Ibis made sure to stand behind him with Sierra by his side. Drawing the rune, he breathed in. "Aspiro Tonitrus." He blew out. The same result as before came, strong winds with thunderous claps.
Sierra clapped for her friend and Ibis smiled proudly at his apprentice. "That was great Callum." Ibis placed a hand on Callum's shoulder, making him smile up at his mentor.
"Sure was." Sierra smiled at him and gently nudged him. The three mages went to the lair of the royal dragons, the two kids took turns playing with Zym and were watched by the proud adults. But the moment was ruined when Reva had ran in.
"Ah. Reva." The deep, rumbling voice of the Dragon King greeted as the Skywing elf entered the lair of the Dragon King and the Dragon Queen. His great yellow eyes blinked at the elf as she bowed in respect. He folded his talons over each other, looking at the elf calmly. Beside him, his mate lifted her great head, before shifting and settling back down, heaving a great sigh. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes and no." The three Sky mages and Zym looked at each other in confusion. Callum gently held onto Zym in his arms and Ibis placed his hands on the two kids' shoulders protectively. "General Janai is coming this way, but... she has a deaf human general with her." The two Storm dragons glanced at each other. "The reason for it, I don't know."
King Avizandum hummed thoughtfully. "If this human has a white flag, let them land... and does this human general have been tested for a pure heart?" Reva nodded. "Then, let them come to the Storm Spire." The Dragon King looked at the children and watched as one of them returned Zym to Queen Zubeia. "But just in case this is a trick, you four hide yourselves in a fair distance."
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Callum, Sierra, and Zym hid themselves from the visitors with Ibis protecting them. Tiadrin and Lain suddenly heard flapping wings and a faint scent of burning fire in the air. They soon saw a Twin-Tailed Inferno-Tooth Tiger landing gracefully in a patch of fiery sunlight. It is a unique sight to see. He has bright orange and creamy fur with streaks of teal and has a pair of long horns on his head and twin tails that sport flames at the tips. His front paws lack fur and resemble scaled bird feet, and have a thick mane around his neck. He looked at them with his teal eyes. But the magical feline has two riders on his back. One of those two riders had excitedly dismounted the animal. 
They soon saw the Sunfire Elf coming towards the Dragon King and Dragon Queen. Next to the beast is a female Sunfire Elf warrior wearing a golden headdress, her armor glinting in the sunlight. Her yellow-gold face paint highlighted her dark brown eyes and fierce expression. She stood still — calm and confident.
"Your Majesties." She bowed down to the royal dragons and they both acknowledged her with a nod. "I apologize for bothering you two."
"What is wrong?" King Avizandum glanced at the human warily. "And why did you bring a human general with you?"
The other rider dismounted Janai's mount and stood by her side. "She gave herself up to me. From what I've managed to understand, Kazi told me that she's looking for her eldest nephew. He was taken by you, Your Majesty."
King Avizandum narrowed his yellow eyes at the deaf general. "What's your nephew's name?"
But Amaya didn't say anything to him — she had been born deaf and signed to communicate.
"Callum," signed the human general with Gaia translating for everyone.
Queen Zubeia's expression softened at the sound of the name. But King Avizandum was keeping his guard up. "Reva, go and get the kids."
In the next few minutes, Reva and Ibis both came back with Sierra and Callum following them into the lair. The general, heavily armored and radiating confidence. Sierra's eyes widened as she recognizes the warrior.
"Aunt Amaya!" Callum cried out joyfully.
Amaya shook out her cropped, jet-black hair and brushed it from her face, revealing a long scar on her cheek. Amaya was the princes' mother's sister. She was a great general and a fearless leader, known across the land for her brilliant battlefield strategy and improvisation.
She swept Callum into a bone-crushing bear hug and lifted him off the ground, clearly overjoyed to see her missing nephew is safe and sound.