Talon Academy

Chapter 5

"I'm home!" I cried in delight as my mother swallowed me into a bear hug.

She smiled, "How was your day, sweetheart?"

I wished I could tell her the many truths I had heard today but after being told a gazillion times by the teachers that I could not usher a word about what I had learned today I knew I couldn't tell her.

"It was good, I made two new friends who are both incredible. I'm also in Fairburn."

"I was in Fairburn too."

I stared at her in shock and confusion, "You went to Talon Academy?"

"Oh no, not this Academy. I went to another High School a little south from here. Most primary and secondary schools here have houses with these names."

By here she meant Portree, a town in the north of Scotland. Well, more a town on an island in the north of Scotland. A place surrounded by trees and mountains. This was our new home. I liked it here so far. Even though I missed Luton, it was hard not to be amazed by the snow kissed mountains of Scotland. The grass was lush green and my favourite part was the unexpected weather.

I loved the rain, which is what I got here in Portree. Dad, however, hated the unexpected weather as much as he loved the rest of Scotland. When he had moaned about the weather a week after arriving Mum had rolled her eyes and scolded him for being such a child. She too loved the rain, which was the only reason I was allowed out when the clouds decided to pour down onto us.

Gary was at work just now and Rachel hadn't arrived home yet. She was attending her last year at the local academy. When the letter had arrived she had congratulated me with a hint of jealousy. This was a surprise because she hardly ever got jealous of me. It would be so nice if I could tell her that the reason I got enrolled wasn't because I had super good progress or potential or whatever. If academic progress was enough to get you enrolled into Talon Academy then Rachel would be on top of the list.

"Would you like something to eat?" Mum said walking into the kitchen.

"Yes please, what's there to-" I stopped mid sentence as I stared at the pasta that lay on the table. There is one thing you need to know. I'm in love with pasta and have been since I arrived at the Mackay's.

"Have I told you how much I love you mum?"

"Yes many times, now dig in," with a goofy smile she brought out a plate for me.

"Do I smell pasta?!" Rachel shouted as soon as she entered the house. I should also mention that I wasn't the only one that was in love with pasta.

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I lay on my bed staring at the cream coloured ceiling as I played back my day.

After being split into our houses we regrouped in Mr Lewis's room, where he told us more about being a Dragonrider.

He had said that being a Dragonrider was an honour and a responsibility. It was a secret that I could not share with any normal human. It still felt weird calling humans without magic Adranes. Mr Lewis had told us that he was also a Dragonrider that gained his power after his sixteenth birthday.

What he hadn't mentioned were dreams. Nobody throughout the day had said anything about dreams being a normality. At the time, I refused to ask him about it because I didn't want to stand out from the other. When you were introduced into a new world, blending in seemed the safest and easiest option. I knew I had received several curious glances after I had returned from Laura's office. I wondered how things would be different if they knew the truth.

What had been nagging me even more than my dreams was what had happened in the head teacher's office. I had repeated what she said countlessly throughout the last few hours; about my family, about the accident, about the fact that maybe I wasn't worth it. I know she never said the last part but I couldn't help but realise that it was true nonetheless. I hadn't received these powers because of my pure will and strong heart; it was something I gained through my parents. This unsettled me throughout the day.

Desperate for something else to think me about, I steered my train of thoughts back to my dreams.

Who was the cloaked figure? Was Erza really my soulmate? Why was I having these dreams?

I regretted not asking Laura or Mr Lewis about the dreams because I was truly dreading sleep tonight.

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I woke up panting and gasping for air. The dream was the exact same as the night before and without looking at the clock I knew it was 05:30. Sighing I slid out of bed. I wish I could say that having these dreams repeatedly made it easier every night but it wasn't the case.

I splashed cold water onto my face as I silently blinked at my reflection in the mirror. My pyjamas were drenched in sweat. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath but it didn't stop my thoughts from wandering to the dream again.

Stripping my clothes I stood under the cold running water for couple of seconds before stepping back out. Putting on a pair of sport leggings and a top I went back to my bedroom to grab my running shoes before heading downstairs and out the door.

I began jogging as soon as I left the house, picking up my pace the as the seconds ticked by. The ache in my legs and lungs drew my mind away from my awful dreams. I wish they would go away and leave me to sleep in peace without dread throughout the whole night. Well that wasn't entirely true. Staring at the beautiful Erza and the feeling of flying so close to the sky were what made the dream more bearable and it was at those moments that I felt no dread.

I shook my head annoyed. I wasn't meant to be thinking about the dream, I was meant to be focusing on running.

I let my eyes take in the beauty of the world around me. I was running along the edge of a group of trees so I held out my left arm letting it run through the leaves. The leaves felt like liquid water flowing around my arm causing my lips to break into a smile. Time flowed around me and I kept on running while thinking about absolutely nothing.

My hands suddenly escaped from the leaves and cut through the crisp air. I was now running freely in an open field with low cut grass. Gold rose from the ground and soaked through the stunning blue merging together perfectly; Beautiful fire red had been brushed through it. Calm filled my body and I sighed heavily as I slowed down to marvelled the sky. For a little while I was at peace.