Dragon Academy

A Protector In Training Being Protected

The Guardians stood in an array of two with the space for another person between them, two side by side behind them and one standing three feet behind them.
They stared at me and it only took me a moment to know why.
I knew as soon as I saw my family crest on the patch on their black military style Barrett.
They are issuing me five Blood Guardians.
The Headmaster was about to speak.
"I don't want Guardians." I said, before he spoke.
"It's required. You are getting five because you are important. And there is only two of you. If you weren't the only multi-elemental Vhramgorion,than maybe you wouldn't have to be guarded at times. You might not always have to be surrounded by your five Blood Guardians." He said.
I put my head in my hands, propped up on the table.
This is going to suck!
"He isn't the only one." Adrian mumbled.
"If you mean your girlfriend December, than that's all the more reason to be even more protective." The Headmaster said.
The table was silent for a moment.
Then Adrian looked around and spoke quietly.
"I mean me." He said.
He held out his right hand and his elements flared on his fingertips. Fire on his thumb, meaning it was strongest.
The Headmaster was shocked once again.
"When can we do Adrian's ceremony?" The Headmaster asked Joseph.
"You're not. Ever." Adrian said.
"But--".
"No." He said.
"But you are special too."
"If you even try it, I will intentionally make you look stupid." He said.
"Then why tell me?"
"So that Winter won't constantly have Guardians up his butt."
"He needs the Guardians. Since you won't do any kind of act to prove it, well then it doesn't matter." The Headmaster said.
"It should matter." Adrian said.
"It doesn't."
"You should really listen to me." Adrian said, with a mischievous grin.
"And why is that, Mr. Droscov? If I remember correctly, do don't really have any power. Or influence."
Adrian's grin dropped.
And I saw the Queen enter.
They wanted to order more things for December, and it's not like I can turn down a gift from the Queen.
Adrian looked up at his grandmother, and she smiled.
I realized then that he was going to compel him, but had felt guilty at the thought.
"How are you, Honey?" She asked him.
He frowned.
"Fine."
"No, you're lying." She said.
"I'm powerless when it doesn't involve magic. I don't have influence in things." He said, looking down.
I could tell that he had felt that way a lot, and hearing it kinda hurt.
The Queen looked angry.
"Who said that to you?"
"It doesn't matter because they were just saying what I already knew to be true." He muttered.
"Its not true."
"Yes, it is. I'm not a Prince. I'm not on Council. I hold no important position, nothing." He said, meeting her eyes.
"Yes, you do. You're one of my grand babies. That gives you one of the strongest positions of influence with me." She said.
"It does?" He asked.
"Yes. Tell me something that you want. Right now. And I will do everything I can to make it happen." She said.
Adrian sat and thought for a moment, not knowing what to ask for.
Then he remembered what he was told he had no influence over.
His face lit up.
"Nay-Nay! Can you help Winter?!" He exclaimed his question.
"With what?"
"He has to be close guarded. Like surrounded, they will be in his room and everything, he won't have any privacy. Can you make it to where he still has five, but that they won't be all up close and he can still have privacy?" He exclaimed again.
She thought for a moment.
Then she turned to The Headmaster.
"You'll have Adrian's request arranged, yes?"
The Headmaster looked between her and Adrian, looking stupefied.
Then he nodded, closing his mouth, which had dropped open.
Adrian looked amazed.
The Guardians spread out in the room, the closest one being ten feet away by a door.
The Headmaster then left.
"He was the one who told you that. I can tell."
He met her eyes, surprised.
"Is that why you told him to arrange it?" He asked.
"Yes." She said, with a grin.
He laughed.
The Queen's smile fell.
She stared at the left side of his face.
"Who bruised your face?" She asked.
He stopped laughing.
He looked down so his hair would fall back around his face.
"No one. I don't know what you mean." He murmured.
"Adrian tell--".
A fight broke out in the cafeteria, interrupting her.
Adrian jumped up and ran to the fight, and I could see why.
Seven Guardians in training were on his twin brother.
They were trying to jump Maxwell.
They had already got some good hits in, and Maxwell kicked into fighting mode just as Adrian joined in.
Together they took down all seven, with only a small amount of damage received.
"Why didn't anyone stop the fight? That was seven Guardian Students against two Royals! Fights between students are only allowed between Student Guardians." I said.
"Does their fighting skills look to match that of being a normal Royal?" Joseph asked.
"No. Not really." I said.
"Maxwell and Adrian are Student Guardians." Mark said.
Well then this makes sense.
Someone had dumped drink on Adrian, washing off his makeup during the fight. But he hasn't noticed it.
When they walked back to us, his entire face was visible.
Along with a lot of bruises.
Ones that looked to be from this morning and the day before that and the day before that...
His dad stared, open-mouthed.
So did the Queen.
And Maxwell.
And, well... Everyone at our table.
Adrian looked at us and started to look confused.
"Who messed up your face, man?" Jake asked.
"What?" Adrian said, confused still.
"Your makeup is gone."
Adrian's face registered understanding and then fear and fell blank.
"I'm fine." He said.
"Adrian." Joseph said.
"I don't want to have this conversation."
"We need to know who is hurting you, come on." Maxwell said, his voice as deep as his father's.
"I don't want to talk about this." Adrian said, defensive.
"Did your mom do this?" Joseph asked.
December whimpered, looking at his bruises.
Sadness took him over as he could tell she was hurt that someone hurt her boy.
"Pweade... Tew ud." She said, little tears rolling down her cheeks.
He knelt in front of her and wiped her tears.
He looked at her and then looked down.
"Yes." He said.
"It was your mom?" The Queen asked, leaning on the table.
He nodded.
"I'm going to fix this, Adrian. Don't worry." Joseph said.
Adrian started frantically shaking his head.
"No. No. You can't. Cause she would know I told you. Daddy, please..." Adrian pleaded.
His dad stayed quiet
After a moment, Joseph nodded.
"Does anyone have any makeup with you?" Adrian asked.
Jake takes out a bag and a small mirror.
Adrian did his makeup, and we sat silently as he did.
When he finished, his makeup perfect again, he gave the bag back to its owner.
My Guardians hovered around the room, watching me closely and watching everyone else. They had handguns and knifes.
One had told me I would start classes again tomorrow.
More magic was practiced for the rest of the day, only stopping again for dinner.
Then it was time for bed and December chose my bed again.