The Ether-Knight's Lessons

8

.^^ Fledgling Bergen ^^

— Idun —

I set my Runt on a patch of grass just in Time, and sat down, pushing my hands into the nearest puddle, trying to clean them.

He went quickly, and then peered at me, his head tilted, as if confused.

"Darling, just remember, you cannot do that on people, especially not your elders, okay? When you have to go, just let me know, and I'll try to get you somewhere private, with some grass for you, okay?" I sighed.

He shivered, his scales turning pink, and curled up under me, hiding.

"It's alright, dear, you're very young, no one is angry at you." I pet his spine slowly, and then pulled him into my lap, sitting down. "Though I'd appreciate that to be the last time we have accidents like that in a classroom."

The pink faded slowly to white, and he turned away, pouting.

"Oh, you think you can pout, now?!?" I tickled his ribs gently, scratching at the sensitive scales under his armpits.

He squawked, surprised, and rolled around, trying to escape, his scales turning a mixture of red and yellow, which I took for indignation and laughter, so I wound down, and kissed his nose.

"That's the end of your pouting, huh?" I chuckled.

He copied the sound, deeper in his chest, and wrapped himself around my shoulders comfortably.

"Good boy... you'll need a name, I guess... can't keep calling you 'runt'..." I tickled his chin, smiling, and he purred. "How about..." I stepped over the mountain of dirt that had come out of him, and then grinned. "Bergen! How about that for a name? Bergen." I nodded.

He chuckled softly, and rolled so his stomach was facing the sun.

"Alright, then let's get back to class, hmm?" I sighed.

—

The classroom was busy writing, when I made my way stealthily back in, and waved at the teacher.

She didn't seem to care about my attempt at secrecy, and spoke normally, shaking the stones under everyone's feet. "Ahh, Little one, you have returned! Good. I have tasked everyone with writing an essay on the different types of mixed-breeds that result from intermingling Elder Breeds, and what it means when several types of Elder Dragons are born from a single Mother. The information is in the textbook." She pointed at my seat, where a thick textbook sat on my desk.

I nodded and sat down, opening the book to the first page, and paused.

Bergen saw the crude picture of himself tinkling on the elder dragon, and growled, turning bright, neon red.

"Oh? And what has made you angry, little one?... ah. Rather crude, isn't it? Some humans can't help but be rude to others, in order to cover up their own inefficiencies. Ignore them, child, and your life will be much happier." She hummed, and then turned her head slowly to the only person still working in their essay, simply staring at him.

Bergen hissed, and spat a tiny ball of flame at the boy with surprising accuracy, setting his shirt on fire, then sat down, his scales turning pure gold as he got full of himself for a moment, before the teacher outshined him.

Dulciana casually breathed on the boy, freezing the shirt to his skin. "Oops. Terribly clumsy of me. Perhaps next time you'll think twice, before mocking a Dragon? Yes, I imagine you will. Go on to the nurse, you insolent brat. Shoo." She spoke easily, with no remorse, and then turned to Bergen as the boy fled. "And that was well-struck, little one, though I'd like no more fireballs in my classroom, hmm?"