Curse of a Dragon

Chapter 8

Xavier Salloway

     "Left. Right. Seriously, Nick, I know you're better than this." Stupid kid. Will he ever learn how to weild a sword?

     Our swords struck together making the most magnificent sound that was pure music to my ears. Nick is new at this and doesn't understand that during battle, he can't stand in one damn place! "Move your damn feet!" Of course he didn't get the message. I twisted my wrist and sent his sword out of his grasp. "Like I said. Move your feet or you will end up dead before the war even begins."

     "No need to be so cruel. The death part was completely unnecessary!" What an ass. Nick got up off the ground and brushed the dirt off of his clothes. The sun began to slowly rise in the horizon, illuminating Nick's shocking red hair. "Damn it! You kept me up all night!" For good reason too.

     "Is that really all can think about right now?" I said picking up his sword from the ground and placing it back on the rack outside the south fort (aka; the male "dorms" which sucks).

     "I'm so tired, Xavier." He said that like a pathetic pleading child.

     "There's not much of a point. Ilmiris will wake everyone else up at any moment now for training." Nick rolled his eyes and flopped down on the south fort steps.

     "Sometimes I wish that an elf with 100 years of combat experience didn't lead the war." He said wiping sweat from his forehead.

     "I have 212 years of combat experience actually. Born to fight." Her sweet, young, formal accent made me jump. I turned around to see her fitt, yet perfect young figure. Her glowing flawless fair skin glowed from the golden sunlight behind her. As usual her long, classic bleach blonde hair was tied gracefully into a braid that hung just right over her shoulder. For crying aloud, she doesn't even look 212!

     "Morning, Ilmiris!" Nick said standing up trying not to look so exhausted. Ilmiris tucked a piece of hair behind her pointy little elf ears.

     "Good morning, Nicholas. How long have you been up?" She said placing her hands on her hips. She has perfect posture and excellent presence. And I haven't even seen her perform in battle yet. I bet she's amazing, though. Look at me! Drooling over an elf! God, I'm not attracted to her, I just find her attractive. I'm a guy, she's nice to look at(it's a bit distracting actually).

    "Xavier kept me up all night hitting me with swords." Ilmiris tilted her head to the side and looked at me.

    "We were practicing sword fighting." I clarified.

    Ilmiris gave us a minor smile and nodded her head. "Ah got it. Well, you two better get ready. Wake up the rest of your clan, Xavier, and then meet me out in the clearing." She smiled, turned around and walked away from us.

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     Nick and I stopped in front of the west fort (where most of the girls are) and waited before opening the door. We learned our lesson last time when we were at the top of the steps when one of our clan members raced out of the door and tackled us to the ground. My ribs still hurt.

     I was just about to take a step when I pumbled by a girl with imense strength. All I remember is a flash of light brown hair. "Oh. I'm sorry, Xavier. I didn't mean for that to happen again." Yeah. She's the same person who brought me down last time.

    "Not a problem, Leonora. Even though my ribs just healed." I said as she jabbed her bony knees into my gut as she got off of me. "What's your hurry anyway?"

    "I woke up this morning and noticed that Corrine and Avery were nowhere to be found." Damn it. Corrine I'm used to sneaking out, but Avery, this is new for her. "Do you think they're okay?" Leonora's pure blue eyes widened with worry.