Dragon Academy

Missing The Heart

I looked around. Everyone stared. I looked at my wings and body. Its been a long time since I've seen this giant of myself. Bright white and crystal ice blue.
"Winter, can you turn back?" The Spirit user asked.
He had waist length, curly black hair. It was shorter in front of his face. He was about 6'7" and very muscular. His bright but dark, blue sapphire eyes indicated him as a relative of Zandra.
Oh goodness, Zandra didn't know about the Dragon.
"Yes. But I'll be naked." I spoke, the growling sound not threatening.
"Can someone get him a pair of sweatpants?" The man asked.
A man in his late fifties brought me a pair of sweatpants the same color as my eyes. Crystal ice blue. He set them in front of me.
Slowly I pushed my thoughts toward being in my body again. I felt myself being put back together as I shrunk back down from being a twelve feet high and fifteen feet long dragon, back into a 6'4" tall man.
I kept my privates out of view as I slipped into the sweatpants. I stood up.
"Are you going to lock me up now?" I asked, fearful.
"No, we are not." The Headmaster said.
"Are you going to keep me from being her Guardian now?" I asked, pain at the thought of it sounding in my voice.
"No. You'll still be her Guardian no matter what happens here today. And you are going to be a Royal. And no matter what happens, you will not be locked up." He said.
"I thought I had to pass all of your tests before I could be Royal."
"You're not Royal for your magic abilities yet. But you are Prince Winter Ezra of The Stone Dragons." He said, regally.
The relative of Zandra handed me a hair tie.
"I'm the oldest son of the Headmaster. My name is Mark." He said.
Oh yeah, Zandra's dad is in his mid-sixties.
I put my hair up again.
"Okay, this is the next test. We are going to set up multiple items. One you must burn, one you must move with air, another you must fill, and another you must bust apart with your mind. Then you will put it back together. And someone you will bring back to life." Headmaster Hampton said.
"Bring back to life? That's difficult." Mark said, mind-blown.
"You said Spirit was his strongest. No question, he will bring someone back to life. A volunteer."
"It needs to be someone he knows, make it a little easier on him! A friend of his." Mark exclaimed.
"The volunteer can step forward after he does the other tasks."
Then a pile of wood, a long leafed tree, a large clear glass aquarium, and a large rock were brought out.
"You may begin."
I walked to the pile of wood. Summoning up the flames inside me, I did not shoot flames out of my hand or touch the wood like they were expecting.
Instead I stared at it.
"I don't think that will work. He can't be strong enough to do that. He has never had formal practice." The Fire user said to someone.
I heard him gasp as a giant flame engulfed the pile.
I stood in front of the tree. The leaves moved in the wind as I stared and many flew off and circled around me. Then I let them drop and stood in front of the aquarium.
I put the tips of my fingers and thumbs against the glass as I crouched in front of it.
Water welled up inside as I summoned the magic as I had the Fire and the Air.
Quickly it filled and I let it overflow, but not touch the ground. I felt pride at the gasps this time as the water spun in the air and twisted and then surrounded me.
Then I made all of the water outside the aquarium disappear.
I stood in front of the rock. I summoned the mountain from earlier in my mind. I stared and the rock shook violently. And shattered into dust and shards. I stared longer and the entire rock reformed.
I walked to stand quietly in the middle of the platform. My back to most of the crowd, facing my examiners and the opening of the stadium where people go on to the platform.
"I only have one friend." I said.
Silence fell.
And then Zandra was beside me.
"And I volunteer." She said, looking at me, smiling.
The stadium roared, knowing she was the Headmaster's daughter.
"NO!" Her father shouted.
The stadium quieted.
"Yes, Father." She said.
"No!"
"If he can't do it, I can. She's my sister, if she died, it would take no time to build up enough magic." Mark said.
No she can't. I can't watch her die.
"No Zandra. I don't trust myself. Please don't..." I whispered, though everyone could still hear me because of the microphone.
"Winter, yes. I believe in you."
"No... I can't watch you die. I... I love you. I can't... Please don't..." I begged her.
I already felt the magic building up quickly just at the thought of her dying.
"No. Not you. Someone else Zandra!" Headmaster Hampton yelled.
"Yes, Daddy. I know he can do it when it comes to me. Spirit is an emotional magic. You have to give him a more fair shot! You said no question, you can't change your mind now!" Zandra enthused, excited to find a way to help me.
But I can't watch her die.
"NO!" He yelled again.
But she had a knife, and it was in her chest before anyone could stop her. She dropped to her knees. She missed her heart. She got her lung.
I reached to her but Mark pulled me back and the other users on the platform had to help hold me back.
"He said you had to bring someone back to life! You have to let her die first!" The Water user yelled.
I could sense pain bursting from Mark who had his arms wrapped around me from behind.
Her father whimpered. His knees shook and he was in shock.
"NOOO! NO! LET GO OF ME!" I shouted and struggled, almost loose until six guardians joined my restraint.
Zandra looked at me, locking eyes with me. I saw pain and she started to cry. She meant to get her heart so she wouldn't suffer.
Tears fell quickly from her eyes as she struggled for air. She felt me push some into her.
"Take... The... Air... Away..." She garbled, and choked.
She struggled again and as more tears fell, blood poured from her mouth from her lungs.
"No!" I cried, the worst pain I've ever felt seizing my body.
Her dad was still as a statue, mouth open, in shock and pain.
Zandra's mouth poured more blood as she pulled the knife out. She collapsed on the ground.
She still struggled. Crying and choking on blood.
She pulled the knife out and let herself collapse so the blood would suffocate her, killing her faster.
Her back arched and dropped continuously as her body begged for air.
The Air user sensed me.
"She's going to die! If you give her more air, it will make it take longer!" She yelled.
I let out a half strangled yell, filled with pain. Then I sobbed as more tears fell from both mine and Zandra's eyes.
I saw her die, her body stilling, more blood pouring from her mouth. People yelled that she was dead. In that moment that I saw her spirit leave her body, everything else ceased to exist. Only her and I were there. I didn't know what was restraining me, I just fought against it.
She was dead.
"Zandra!"
She didn't move.
I can call her spirit back but I can't finish the healing till I touch her.
"Zandra!" I cried.
I yelled her name over and over again. Other voices came along.
"Let him go, she's dead!"
"We have to give him a minute to build up!"
After a few minutes, Mark yelled.
It had been seven minutes since she died.
"He's already wielding magic!"
"ZANDRA!" I shouted.
Her body jolted and her back arched again. She gasped for air and I pushed some into her lungs. Silence started as she struggled to call my name and her eyes found mine and her body seized.
Her seizure has no choice but to continue until I touch her and finish the healing.
My restraints disappeared and then I was by her. And then she was in my arms. Gasps sounded as her body healed and the seizure ended. Her eyes focused and locked on mine.
"I love you, I had to help you pass your test." She whispered.
The crowd started saying "Aw" when she said that.
I pulled her even closer to me and buried my face in her hair. I cried and kissed her hair, rocking back and forth.
"I'm sorry, I know that hurt you. I had to help you." She said.
"I love you, Zandra. Please don't do that to me again." I said into her hair, my voice raw and rough from crying.
"I won't, I promise."
I suddenly felt as if my mind had been split open and I felt that she had the same feeling.
I felt that.
I know. Her thought sounded in my mind.
"How can I hear her thoughts?" I asked, looking toward Mark.
"Bringing her back to life creates a mental bond between the two of you." He answered.
Headmaster Hampton then collapsed, passing out after all of what just happened.
Oh crap!
Oh no, he's hurt. I know I hurt all of you by doing that but I felt the need to help you!
Don't worry okay? It's going to be okay.
Are you angry?
You can hear and see my thoughts. You should already know that I'm not angry.
I'm trying not to be nosy and go through your head.
*giggle*
Oh such a beautiful giggle...
The thought went through my mind before I could stop it.
She blushed, still in my arms.
I leaned down and kissed her. She seemed surprised by the strength of it.
Omg he's a good kisser!
Oh, you think so?
She blushed again.
Her dad woke up. We both watched him. He stood up. He instantly grabbed her arm and dragged her up. She was sore.
"Don't you ever do something like that again!" He yelled.
He shook her.
She whimpered.
His face changed and he pulled her close to him. He cried.
"Please don't ever do that to me again. Please." He begged, kissing her temple.
"I won't."
"You had me scared out of my mind, baby girl, please. You can't do that to me." He swayed, hugging her.
"Please sissy. You had us all scared senseless." Mark said.
He hugged her at the same time.
He kissed the back of her head, and rubbed her hair.
I still felt the need to hold her. I immediately felt guilty about it too, they are family.
"But you brought her back." Mark said.
He pulled her from her father.
"He feels the need to still hold her, the bond is still forming and he was still healing her. He was taking her soreness away and giving her strength of his own. Can he have her back for now? I don't know when you can really pull her from him. He just brought her back to life, he needs to hold onto her for now."
The Headmaster nodded.
"I can understand that. I can't imagine the emotion that magic created. I would probably feel the same way. But can I hold her for a few moments longer?" He asked me.
Before I could answer, Mark did for me.
"He wasn't going to try to take her back, this is my doing. I'm a Spirit user. I know that even just healing someone of a small injury can do that to you. I think he needs her back."
"It's your daughter..." I said quietly.
"But you brought her back to life." Headmaster Hampton said.
"Healing leaves one weak. Holding onto what you've healed helps you feel stronger again. There are many reasons why he feels the need to hold her still." Mark said.
I suddenly felt pain.