Long Run

~ 11 ~

Iris opens the office door and we enter a very spacious office. The office has large windows with a lot of natural sunlight.

"Over here, you can place those books on this table." I follow Iris's orders and place the books on the table in the middle of the room.

I take a minute to look around the office and that is when I notice it. The office has a whole display of Bansi trees. They are all exquisite. Rear one to be exact. The blue leaf one catches my attention first. Then the pink one and then there is this tree in the middle. I am drawn to it.

"You like plants? Flowers?" Iris asks me.

"Yes, I like flowers. Which girl doesn't?" I joke.

Iris ignores my comment and says. "This bansi tree is very special to my family. We had it for generations. It's a dragon's blood bansi. My grandpa used to tell folklore stories to my brother and me about this tree. They are pretty wild. You want to hear?"

I am so intrigued."Sure, if you don't mind."

Iris smiles at me and says. "My family is of German descent, you can probably tell from the bleach-blonde hair and the blue eyes. Very similar to yours." She points to my hair and continues. "The legend says there was a population of people that possessed magical powers, they all had white hair and crystal blue eyes. They had great knowledge of plants and herbs. The plant-based potion that were prepared by the white-haired people could even cure cancer."

"If the potion is prepared by the none white-haired witch or wizard did they work the same?" I ask her.

"Nope! The white hair magical begins had to manifest it in combination with the potion for it to work."

I got goosebumps, manifestation. That is something that I can do but without potions. So I ask. "In your grandfather's story can any of the witches or wizards only manifest desires and they would happen without the potions?"

"No. That is why their recipes were so important. They lived in the hills and the valleys of mountain Adelegg and there is a crazy part... They had pets."

"Pets?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Yes, pet dragons." Iris laughs. "Crazy, right?"

I laugh with her.

"The legend says the dragons picked their master when they are born. Then they form a special and unique bond for life. When the human dies then the dragon dies too. A dragon can no longer live without their master." Iris now sits in an armchair next to me and continues.

"One day a Lycan King visited our ancestors. He became obsessed with owning a dragon. He asked if he could
participate in the ritual where a baby dragon choices their master and the white hair people agreed. Ritual after ritual the dragons never picked him. The Lycan King became impatient, after one ritual where he again was not chosen by the baby dragon he demanded to take the dragon by force. The white-haired people did not like that. The disrespect to their culture and traditions so they banned the Lycan King from coming back. The Lycan King became mad and later at night he came back with his army of wolves and killed most of the white-haired population. No one saw them coming even the dragons. Lycans are skilled hunters and fighters the white hair people did not stand a chance. The white hair people never study combat, they were healers, peaceful country people." Every time Iris said the word Lycan it was with so much hatred that it made me cringe.

"One of the things that the Lycans did not know was that once a master of the dragon dies the dragon dies too. They started killing the white-haired people thinking they will take over the dragons. They almost killed off all the white-haired population. They killed kids and women they did not care. Once the Lycan King noticed that the dragons are dying because their masters are dead they stopped the massacre. At that point, it was too last. There were only two dragons left. They try to take them captive but his army was no match for the dragons and he fell back burning the whole village down." Iris takes out her water bottle and takes a couple of sips.

"After that, the white hair people were never the same. They lost everything, their families, their recipes, their herbs seeds, and their dragons. This Bansi was the only plant that survived the fire. His owner was watering it with dragon blood that is why it did not burn."

I am consumed with sadness. I don't know why, it's a folklore story it's not true but it is so sad. I feel Devon's head was up listening.

"Did your grandfather say if the dragon population was restored with the remaining two dragons?" I ask Iris
curiously.

"A dragon can only lay one egg in their lifetime and that is completely dependent on when the dragon is ready. So you can do the math." Iris says.

I look back at the Bansi tree I am so drawn to it. I lift my hand and touch the leaves. I suddenly feel the power surge through my veins. I immediately let go and step away. I hope my hair did not glow. Crap! Crap! I face Iris and she has a soft smile on her face.

"Careful the tree bark can be a little rough and prickly." She tells me. Okay great my hair did not glow otherwise Iris would be freaking out.

I take a deep breath to relax myself. I open my eyes and I hear someone opening the door. I turn around and I see Balthzar entering his office.

"Iris you are already here. Thank you so much for bringing the books I need." He comes over and kisses his daughter on the forehead. I miss my Dad just watching them. I lower my eyes wanting to give them privacy.

"Ivy!? I guess you have met my daughter. Great job on the sweet topping recipe in class today." He now addresses me.

"Thank you, sir," I reply. "I should go."

"Ivy, do you want to see a movie with me this Saturday? I am dying to see The Little Mermaid new movie and no one wants to go. Please, pretty please." Iris puts her hands together begging.

I laugh at her and answer. "Sure. Why not."

"Yay!" Iris claps her hands. "And you said that no one will agree to go with me.' she turns to address her father, joking with him. "Can I have your phone I will type in my number."

I unlock my phone and give it to her. Iris tips in her number and then calls herself. "Great, all set. I will text you on Friday to see what time is best for you. Okay."

"That sounds great," I tell her.

As Iris was about to give me my phone back I get a text message. Iris's natural response kicks in and she glances at my phone.

"You got a text message from Alpha Simon," she tells me and passes the phone back to me.

I take the phone from her immediately and without checking the message put it in my back pocket of my jeans. The excitement consumes me.

"That's a nice nickname for a guy. Alpha male. Cute," Iris tells me.

I smile and say. "I should go. It was great meeting you both today. I will see you later.'

I step out of the office and close the door. I take my phone out of my pocket and with the speed of light unlock it. I need to know what his message says.