A Dragon's Bond

The Black Rock

     As I opened my eyes I saw a concerned Striker standing next to me. My body was laid out on the couch, a tingling coursing through my muscles as I came to and began taking inventory of my body. I immediately noticed that I felt much different than I did before I touched the scale.

     I couldn't tell exactly what was different... but something was different. I was feeling the elements around me like before, only stronger. The shell seemed to have unlocked something within me, new power was awoken and surged within me.

     I turned my head to the candle flame nearest to me.

     I did not have to search around for it. I knew its location...somewhere in my mind, as if it was an extension of my body. It was about ten feet away, but I could feel it just as if I were touching something with my hands right in front of me. I decided I wanted to pick it up and bring it closer.

     So I just picked it up. I brought it up in front of my face, and could feel the ways to manipulate it. I stretched it wide and then balled it up. I made it flat and round like a disk then grew the flames taller than me. Then I simply turned it off thinking about the flames disappearing.

     I had been so engrossed I had not noticed Striker watching me with a slight amusement while I was playing with my new powers. After putting the flame out I turned my head and finally noticed him looking at me. His expression changed from amusement to slight panic as he began to speak.

"I am sorry my young friend but it is time for you to go. I know that you have not received any answers today as you were hoping, and instead gained more questions. I am sure that someone has noticed your ability in the court today and is already on their way to telling the Queen. It is a risk we simply cannot take...I am so sorry."

     He beckoned as I stood up. We made our way out of the room and through the tower in a new direction.

"I am going to lead you to the secret passageway that will take you out of town and into the forest behind it. The path is rather long and uneventful, but you will have no issues. Once out the next steps in your journey will come to you by themself, I am sure of it."

     He finished speaking as we arrived at a dead end within the tower, I turned my head to give him a look of confusion. He carefully wielded his mage ability to push stones below our feet to the sides where there was a hidden lever he could pull. This opened the wall in a sliding motion to reveal my path.

     I turned to thank him but was suddenly interrupted by yelling from somewhere in the castle.

"One of the other two Mages that were with me did not agree with keeping you hidden from the Queen. So I asked the other to change his mind or keep him silent. It appears he may have been unsuccessful in either attempt. Here take your backpack and go!"

     My backpack! The Book! I needed to ask him about the book!

     I was too late. He shoved me into the passage way and the large stone door was closing behind me before I could even turn around. The tunnel went completely dark at first, I closed my eyes in an attempt to help them adjust to the low light. When I reopened them they were adjusted and there was a faint florescent purple line running through the maze of tunnels. I figured that was as close as I was going to get to directions down here so I decided to follow it.

     I had expected there to be bugs and rodents running through the tunnels but there was no signs of life. It was warm and muggy in the tunnels and I could feel little beads of sweat forming all over my body as I made my way through.