Tales of a Dragon

Chapter Five

        Avril took off, her hair everywhere, the wind stinging her eyes and face. She laughed, her voice ringing in the air, the loud rustle of Lelian's wings echoing. 

        She held on very tightly and sighed, letting go and being more comfortable. She had talked to Axis about going with her, but he had declined, saying he had plans.

        Watching Heliofixe and Axis awkwardly talk to each other was uncomforting. She pitied Axis for having such a... broken... dragon, and also Heliofixe for having to feel the pain of loss. It had been a week and a half now, and it seemed Lelian and Avril herself were getting along quite well. She just didn't feel... What was it? Love... for Lelian? It was a numb feeling.

        She sighed, and then giggled, as she and Lelian dived down, and the air hit her face again.

        Axis was acting very weird and strange and... suspicious. He was keeping something a secret, and sometimes Avril would see things like her flowers growing so quickly as Axis touched them, and the sink turning on and off as Axis washed the dishes. They lived in the house alone, and their father lived in the Great Palace. But what would happen if Father were here?

        She couldn't help but to wonder.

AXIS

        "Alright, you need to close your eyes if that helps," Rastiv said to him in his mentor voice. Axis always listened to him and always did what Rastiv told him, but it never worked! He closed his eyes and groaned in frustration.

        He was learning to control his gifts. Avril was wary of him, and so was his Father. He needed to learn how to dwell down his power before everything--

        "Oh my! Open your-- OPEN YOUR EYES! Oh--" Rastiv waved his hand as Axis fluttered his eyelids open. He had caused a fire and his hands were glowing. 

        The fire was extinguished by a thrust of motion by Rastiv and sprinkles of clear water sprayed out, nearly out of thin air. 

        "I don't understand." Axis sighed. "I'm thinking of peaceful things! I am trying to work with--"

        Rastiv shushed him. "Axis. Calm down. You are not yet calm."

        Suddenly, Axis felt a wave of peace flow over him, and his fingers extended, relaxing. He sighed, this time it was from relief, as if all of the frustration and anger had flowed out from his fingertips. 

        "Keep the calm state. And don't mess up, you imbecile."

        Imbecile?! Axis shuddered, trying to keep his calm, but his fingers warmed, a fiery glow about to take it on.

        "Hey! If you can't do this, then I am wasting my time! Axis!" 

        Axis opened his eyes and screamed, tongues of red-orange fire exploding from his hand, igniting piles of dead leaves and grass. His cries sent Rastiv backward, toppling down. He grunted and looked up at him, smiling.

        "Enough." Rastiv stood and waved his hand once more, speaking a magical chant and the fires extinguished, and wet mist speckled everywhere.

        "Axis, you have power. You just need to control it. Here." Rastiv grabbed his hand, and it pulsed. Once, twice, three times! And then, he could feel it. The power. Livid power was flowing to him.

        "Why?"

        "I am no use of this much power. And I've grown close to you, my boy. I don't want you to die." Axis looked at him. He was a frail and clumsy old man. At least, that's what others would think. But now, this old man was Axis's mentor... and some sort of a parently figure.