Drakonis

Weakling

We had another set of training, and this time we were practicing swimming. Olympia and Elia joined our group, and the participants now included only Nymara, Kairos, Nestor, and the four of us.

"So, you all swim too? Thought you mainly stayed in the air," Uhroh joked, but the Drakonis simply stared, clearly not finding his humor amusing.

"Tough crowd," he muttered to Ashley and me, rolling his eyes.

"We swim to protect ourselves," Nymara began, pointing to the expansive lake before us. "The water leads us to our dragon's nests, which are located far north on that high mountain," she said, gesturing to a towering peak in the distance.

"Nobody really goes up there anymore, though," Nestor added.

"Why not?" I asked, intrigued by the mountain's forbidding presence.

"It's been abandoned for years," Nestor explained coldly. "The mountain is a very active volcano. We built a better nest for our dragons in a safer location."

My gaze lingered on the towering mountain, my curiosity piqued about what lay atop it. But I was jolted back to the present when Nestor poked my shoulder.

"Did you hear what I said?" he asked, his tone carrying a note of irritation. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

"Do you all swim back in the forest?" he repeated, glancing around at us.

We all shook our heads.

"We're more of ground folk and hang from trees," Elia explained, and the Drakonis trio nodded in understanding.

"Alright, let's split up again," Nymara announced, her tone bright as she attempted to maintain morale. "I'll take Olympia, Elia, and Ashley," she said, leaving me with Kairos. His smirk, however, suggested he was looking forward to our pairing for less-than-friendly reasons.

As Nymara led her group away, Kairos and I were left by the lake. The water looked inviting, but as we waded in, its chill took me by surprise. We began with basic strokes, but it was immediately clear that I was struggling.

Kairos moved through the water with a kind of effortless grace, while I flailed beside him. My attempts to mimic his movements were clumsy, and I found myself sinking rather than swimming. Kairos shot me an annoyed look each time I messed up.

"Come on, Loran," Kairos snapped, his patience wearing thin. "You're making this look ridiculously hard. Are you even trying?"

I tried to focus on my strokes, but the more I tried, the more frustrated I became. "I'm trying my best," I shot back, feeling the sting of his criticism.

"Your best isn't good enough," Kairos retorted. "If you're going to struggle this much, maybe you shouldn't have challenged me in the first place."

My face flushed with embarrassment and anger. "I didn't ask for this," I shot back. "I'm here to learn, not to be belittled."

Kairos rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "If you can't handle basic swimming, how are you going to manage anything else? You're making your clan all look weak."

I tried to take a deep breath, but the water seemed to fight back with every attempt. My limbs felt heavy, and every stroke was a struggle. I couldn't help but feel humiliated by his relentless criticism.

Elia and Olympia, who had joined Nymara and Ashley, were also having a tough time. I could see Elia struggling to keep his head above water, and Olympia was making slow progress.

Nymara's voice reached us occasionally, offering tips. "Focus on your breathing and relax your strokes. It's all about finding your balance."

I attempted to follow her advice, but the more I tried, the more exasperated I felt. Kairos' constant jabs didn't help either.

"Alright, enough," Kairos said abruptly. "Just float and get used to the water. Maybe you can handle that."

I glared at him, frustration boiling over. "Why don't you just give me a break? I'm trying to improve, but your constant criticism isn't helping."

Kairos scowled but said nothing. Instead, he demonstrated a basic floating technique, his movements precise and smooth. I tried to mimic him, though it felt like an uphill battle.

As we finished the session, I was drenched and exhausted, my limbs heavy from the effort. Nymara and her group rejoined us, their faces a mix of relief and sympathy.

"Good work today, everyone," Nymara said, though her smile was tinged with concern. "We'll get better with practice. Just keep at it."

"We have dinner with the clan soon. Go home and wash up," Nestor said, his tone respectful and authoritative. My siblings all nodded, heading off to get ready.

"I'll take them back," Ashley offered, picking up a sleepy Olympia and starting to walk toward our quarters.

"I'll help," Uhroh said, following behind them. I began to follow as well, but I was stopped when Nymara gently grasped my wrist.

"Mara, come on," Nestor called out, his voice carrying a hint of impatience.

"Just meet me at dinner," Nymara shouted back, pulling me away from the path. I looked at her in confusion, but her gentle grip and the warmth in her eyes made it hard to refuse.

Nymara guided me back toward the lake. The calm of the water and the serenity of the surroundings contrasted sharply with the earlier frustrations. I followed her, too nervous to speak, but grateful for her presence.

As we reached a quieter spot by the lake, Nymara turned to me, her eyes filled with kindness. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay," she said softly. "I know it was a tough day, and I thought you could use a little break."

Her words, tender and genuine, eased some of the tension I had been carrying. I managed a small smile, feeling a mix of relief and warmth from her concern.

"I appreciate that," I said quietly. "Today was... well, it wasn't easy."

Nymara nodded, her expression sympathetic. "It's alright. You're doing better than you think. Kairos is just a bully sometimes."

I looked at her, feeling a strange but comforting connection. Her support meant a lot, and I could sense a deeper kindness in her actions. "Thank you, Nymara."

She smiled, and the moment seemed to linger between us. "You're welcome. We all need a little encouragement sometimes."

Her smile was reassuring, and I found myself wanting to spend more time with her, to get to know her better. There was something about her warmth and understanding that drew me in.

"Come on, let's head back before everyone starts wondering where we are," Nymara said, her tone light but gentle.