Guiding Flames: IGNIS

IGNIS: 1 (edited) ✓

Amala could hear the chatter of other soon-to-be students as they, just like her, flew atop their dragons, following the guide. Just like her, they were all chosen to become the Drogon Continent's next generation of dragoneers from her hometown, Artunville. It may be a simple village, but then again.. would it really be that simple if every family had a dragon of their own, typically bonded with one of the children? But for the Drogon Continent.. it's as normal as seeing a migrating flock of birds.

Eventually, the dragoneer guide shushed the rest of the soon-to-be students. Above the rest of the voices, the guide's was the one Amala could hear best. "Quiet down now! I know you lot are excited. I was like you all when I was your age, too, but we still have a long way to go, we don't want you to have no energy by the time we get there, right?"

Not too long after, she could hear the collective expressions of agreement from her fellow future dragoneers. She sighed as she joined in, too, though her voice blended in quite seamlessly, as she wasn't too loud compared to the rest. "Right," she muttered, just audible enough if anyone bothered to strain their ears, since they were all so high up in the air and whatnot.

As energetic as the girl was, she found herself taking a short little nap atop her dragon's back, uncaring about any possible incidents - after all, if anything happened, Ignis would be there. He would save her. Then.. she indulged herself in a dream that she, quite truthfully, didn't expect. It was the sort of dream that consisted of several memories that transitioned from one memory to another... it wasn't even in a proper chronological order, though she could tell they were all moments that led her up to this day.

∆ ∆ ∆

"Amala! Hey, happy birthday!" Cheered Amala's best friend, Zane R. Sallow, on her 12th birthday, when she stepped out of her family household and encountered him.

"Woahhh. You remembered! I mean.. thanks, Zane!" She laughed. "I think.. today's the day my parents will let me bond with the family dragon."

"Woah! You mean Ignis?! He looks so cool!" Replied her best friend who stuck with her since she was a five-year-old girl.

"I know right? I'm really excited! I daresay I don't need a physical gift this year - Ignis is a great gift! He'll be an awesome best friend..! I mean, you're my real best friend, but--" Amala stammered awkwardly, though she got cut off by Zane. "Chill, chill, I know! Not even a dragon's gonna replace me. I'm so cool. Yeah?"

"Hahaha. Yeah."

∆ ∆ ∆

"My dear, this is for you." Said Amala's mother, Skye Elara - she insisted on keeping her maiden name even after marriage - as she presented her daughter with a gift.

A bracelet of shimmering, undeniably genuine silver. It coiled around one's wrist just like a dragon, as it looked just like one, too. A great, honorable gift found only in the Drogon Continent. Her home continent.

"Woah! It's so pretty! Thank you, mom!" Cheered the young girl who was around ten years of age.

"Of course. Anything for you, little flame. Now here, give me your left hand--" said the mother. Amala did as she was told, and Skye gently slid the bracelet onto her left wrist. She was awed by how pretty it looked, and it seemed as if her black eyes were sparkling too. Her mother chuckled at the sight and gave her daughter a pat on the head.

∆ ∆ ∆

"Zane! Zane! I was one of the chosen!"

"Seriously? Me too! That's so cool, we're going to be learning together!!" Zane cheered excitedly, happy for his friend. "We're going to be the best dragoneers in the sky. Ever!" He proudly announced, quite confident for one who was fifteen at the time, just around the same age as Amala but a few months older.

"Yeah, and most importantly, we'll be like a duo! Or would that be a squad? 'Cause we've got dragons.." she trailed off once more, it seemed to be a habit for little Amala.

"Hahaha. We'll figure that out later, but what's going to be our name?"

"The Two of Flames!" She exclaimed, as if she thought she came up with a great idea.

"Amala, that... sounds like a card." Zane disapproved of the name, shaking his head.

"Aw. So that's a no-go?" She asked, sadly.

∆ ∆ ∆

That was a very short experience, thought Amala. She sighed and groggily rubbed at her eyes, having come to. She took a quick glance at her surroundings, as she's still a bit out of it.

The group of future dragoneers were still in flight. Though, as she tried to look back, she realized Artunville was nowhere in sight, at least not anymore. For her, an old Latin phrase came into mind, though she knew not why. Iacta alea est, huh? Well, it wasn't wrong.. not in the slightest. But it isn't a bad thing, that's for sure! She tried thinking positively. It was a bit too easy for someone of her caliber.

She reveled in the way she felt the wind rushing against her body and all around her. It brought to her a strange, undescribable joy. One that ground dwellers could never experience, she noted. Now that Ignis was with her, neither of her parents would experience the joy and freedom of flight anymore. But that's okay, she'll experience it for them.

Still remembering the dream from earlier, she took a glance at her left wrist that clutched to Ignis' back. There laid the same draconic bracelet. Unbeknownst to her, a smile slowly crept onto her face. When she realized it, she didn't bother to pull it down.