Dragon seal

Chapter 3: Close call

A week had passed; during the week, it was like Zelos had disappeared. I couldn't find him anywhere. It was probably because of what happened towards the end of his match, thank goodness no one was hurt.
The instructors took this week to evaluate our scores and decide whether or not we passed. I took this time, to come up with a strategy. I needed to get the dragon out of Zelos, in a timely manner, and seal it within me. This was going to be tough.
Today, we were finally going to receive our evaluations and be put into teams. As I walked on my own to the academy, I wondered if Zelos was going to show up or stay hidden.When I entered the familiar classroom, many of the students turned to look my way. Their glances were filled with fear, the same fear they held for Zelos. I dismissed this quickly, taking a seat towards the back of the room; from there I could see the whole room and observe everyone.  Shani stood, surrounded by her friends;  Jike was standing, surrounded by his friends, on the other side of the room.  It seemed like the tension between those two had only increased.  Zelos was nowhere to be found. He probably won't show up, I thought to myself, "He probably failed anyhow".
An instructor soon entered the room, and everyone took their seats. I slouched back in my chair, waiting and listening. One by one, as the names were called, students went to receive their graduation papers and headbands.  Jike's name came first, Shani's was second, and then mine. I walked down the many stairs to the instructor's desk. Everyone looked my way; I couldn't tell if they were compelled by fear or just curiosity. The instructor gave me my graduation paper and headband. They held no meaning to me, for I had failed at my mission. I had failed Danny.
I began to walk back to my seat, when I stopped; Zelos's name was called. Murmurs of disapproval filled the air. The students shifted in their seats, shaking; no one rose from their seats. I turned around and swiftly went up to the desk. "He hasn't been feeling well. I'll take that for him and drop it off by his house," I told the instructor. He eyed me curiously, before handing over the headband and paper.
After all the students received their papers and headbands, they called out our teams. Each team consisted of four people, not including the senior instructor. My team included Jike, Shani,  Zelos, and me; our instructor was Krabnoaks. Sitting in my seat, I sighed, wondering what the instructors were thinking.  Before leaving, the instructor told us to come back tomorrow to meet our senior instructors.
Soon the classroom was cleared out, and everyone was standing on the grounds outside of the academy. I began to walk towards  Zelos's house, when I felt someone grab my shoulder. Instinctively my hand went to grab my blade, as I turned around. Standing right behind me was Shani. I relaxed my hand and looked at her questioningly. "Do you really know where Zelos lives?" she asked me. I could hear the worry in her words.
"I do." I answered.
"Could you take me with you? I need to talk to him, but I haven't been able to find him," she spoke sincerely, with a soft voice.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt, but I'm not certain he'll be there." I said with uncertainty. Shani nodded in agreement. I turned and walked in the direction of the woods, stopping every soften to make sure Shani could keep up. Soon we were surrounded by the foliage of trees and bushes. I watched the crowns of the trees, searching for the rope ladder. Normally I would be traveling through the trees, but I wanted Shani to be able to keep up. Within the battle of branches and leaves, I spied a single piece of rope hidden within the  deep umbrage. I readied my knife and took aim. Sending the blade whipping toward the rope, I watched as the ladder fell to welcome us. We climbed up the ladder and greeted the door. I knocked on the door, although part of me wanted to brake in. I heard footsteps walking up to the door, and felt eyes observing our presence.
"Can't you read?! No girls allowed." Zelos shouted at us. His voice was gruff, filled with hatred and anguish.
"Let us in, Zelos," I shouted back at him. I was frustrated with his disgrace. It was time for the dragon to come out of his den. There was no response.
"We have good news, Zelos." Shani spoke in a soft voice. I looked over at her and noticed she was shaking. It was no surprise to me that Shani felt frightened by the tone of his voice. The blur of events towards the end of their battle would be traumatizing for anyone. Zelos remained silent. I sighed and shook my head. I tried to open the door but, of course, it was locked. I took a deep breath.
Desperate times called for extreme measures. "ZELOS," I shouted his name loud to get his attention. Now my anger and frustration would be put into my words and voice. "IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS DOOR! I WILL BRING IT DOWN!" I took a small breath, settling down my emotions.  "Now, considering the fact that it says H's hangout, I don't believe that it belongs to you and I doubt that you want it getting damaged in any way!" A second after I stopped speaking, the door opened.
There Zelos stood, a beast who no longer cared about his life. "This place was once my father's." His voice had softened, but it still  retained the anguished tone.
"So, are you gonna let us in or are we just gonna stand here?" I asked in an aggravated voice.
Zelos sighed, "Come on in. It ain't much but it's home." he said walking back into the house. He took a seat in the lounge chair. He kept still and laid back, but his hands were constantly fidgeting. Shani and I took seats on the couch, across from the lounge chair. "So what's the good news?" He couldn't look us in the eyes, so he kept his glance on the floor.
I sighed and said simply, "You passed."
Zelos looked up and stared at me blankly, "There's no way that I"
I laid the graduation papers and headband on the coffee table in front of us, before he could finish talking. He stared down at the paper, and his eyes fell upon his name. He then rose from his seat and walked over to face the wall. "There must've been some mistake."
I shook my head, and shrugged my shoulders, "I doubt the academy would make a mistake. Just make sure you come tomorrow, that's when we meet Krabnoaks as a team." I then rose from my seat and walked up behind Zelos. I could tell he was on the edge. In this state he was weakened, and it would be easy to release the seal. I turned around and looked over at Shani. She sat in her seat looking down at her fidgeting fingers. She hadn't said a word. I couldn't tell if it was because of Zelos's presence or the traumatizing events that have come to pass. It was a moment fraught with silence. The distance could have been the width of a forest, stretching out farther and farther apart.
"Why did you come here, Shani," Zelos asked, with sadness in his voice. He had now turned slightly, but he stared down in a depressing manner. "I understand Selina coming, she's a crazy, danger-craving monkey!" His voice had risen with slight anger. He quickly softened his voice. "But you... You shouldn't have come. No one should want be with a monster like me."
"You're not a monster!" I looked over at Shani. Tears were streaming down her face, and her face was darkened with rage. "I came because... because you're an idiot! Hiding in this hut! Making your friends worry. You ran away from the battle injured, bleeding!" She was now standing, and raindrops were falling from her cloud-like eyes. She was shaking with emotion, and her hands were balled up in fists. Zelos turned back to face the wall. He could no longer face her tears.
"People got hurt. I lost control and attacked my own friends. It was because of me that you and Selina were injured! I can't even control my lousy flames," Zelos said, angry with himself. I looked down upon my arm, hidden beneath the sleeve were my scars from the battle. They would never heal. Ignitits's flames held a darkness that could not be purged.  
"It wasn't your fault, it was Jike's, and the damage wasn't as bad as it seemed." I spoke softly, leaning against the nearest wall. I pulled down my sleeve to reveal the marks that pulsated with darkness. "I was the only one who was injured."
Zelos turned and looked at me in bewilderment, "But how? I saw the flames go out of control."
"I was able to freeze most of the flames before anyone got hurt." I looked at Shani; she couldn't stand it anymore. She was sitting on the couch, hugging her knees close to her face. I sighed softly, "The flames that headed toward Shani; I stepped in front  of them and was able to contain them." Zelos's expression changed from surprise to sadness. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but he remained silent. "Zelos, this wound might not heal. Now, I don't say this to make you feel badly; I'm only stating the facts." I watched him closely, trying to sound convincing. I needed him to be able to move on from this. "Zelos, you aren't to blame for this. Now are you just gonna sit in this house, letting the words of simpletons take their toll on you, or are you going to come to the academy tomorrow and learn from this?" My voice was strong and confident. Zelos remained silent staring at the ground. I sighed. "Shani come on let's go." I pulled her off the couch, and we walked out the door.
+++
That night I laid down in my bed, thinking about the events that had scarred Zelos's mind, and my arm. It had all happened so fast; Shani and Zelos were going back and forth with their moves, neither of them backed down or overpowered the other. This battle would have been undecided. It would have, but then came the voice. It was Jike. His voice came loud and clear, "Hey daemon, you might as well forfeit now, because this academy would never let a monster like you pass these tests! In fact, I bet after these tests, the police will come and lock you away!" He was harsh and cruel, with anger in his words. Zelos and Shani jumped back from the fight, taking in deep breaths. They were running low on fumes, but I saw anger burning in Zelos's eyes. The flames, surrounding the arena, towered over the scene. This was going to end badly. I looked to Krabnoaks, yet he had no intention of ending this test. "At least, if you forfeit and leave the village now, you might not be tortured; and," whatever Jike had said after that wasn't heard. Zelos was screaming and holding his head. Whatever was going on in his mind, he was no longer able to control it. Fire erupted from his insides. I had to act fast. The fire wall was growing. I jumped up and over the flames. Instantly, they froze with orange ice.
"Silverus, I need your energy," I thought while running towards Shani. Zelos was charging towards her, radiating with heat. Suddenly, a blue wind-like surge of energy was sent circulating through my veins and out into the air. I knew this feeling well; it was Silverus's energy.
"You'll only have one chance." Silverus warned me. One chance was all I needed. Zelos was a foot away from Shani, and I was only inches. His movements became hesitant, and he stopped.  I kept running. I was almost there. Zelos's arm began to swipe the air right next to Shani. Evidently, she was frozen with fear. In an instant, I leaped out in front of her, holding up my arm encased in ice. Zelos's forearm collided with mine. I held my ground, as my ice began to melt. His force and strength was equivalent to those of a herd of rhinoceros. My ice evaporated into nothingness, and his flames burned deep into my skin. I could feel the darkness entering my veins, like a poison.
I turned my head to look at Shani, "Go run! Get out of here!" She took a couple steps backwards, but then stumbled to the ground. Her body wouldn't move, however her eyes were filled with sadness. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
I looked back to Zelos; his eyes were filled with a fiery anger, but his face cried of sorrow. With the last bit of Silverus's and my energy, I sprouted ice spikes from my arm.  They struck his arm, forcing it to bleed. He quickly jumped back in the horror of realization. His flames extinguished, and my ice evaporated.  Exhausted, I collapsed to the ground. My vision was blurry, but I saw Zelos running off, holding his arm. His arm was dripping with blood.
Shani immediately began to heal my arm. I didn't even try to stop her. After the burns healed, I felt a searing pain. I told her to stop and I looked at my arm. It held scars that coarsened with darkness.