Through Smoke and Ashes

Twenty Nine||Flying Lessons

A sword was brought down harshly over top of my head. It was aimed at my shoulder. I countered it and fought back, pushing the person back with all the might I had within me. Anger was clearly written on his face as he was being pushed back with my assaults. They had clearly underestimated my abilities with a sword. I had been taught well. But I was not going to let myself become cocky. I knew I needed more training, far more than what I have been put through. But there was something about the anger in the man's eyes before me that stirred something dark behind my breastbone. I felt satisfied to know that I was doing far better than what he thought of me.

My point was proven a moment later when I tried to deflect another strike. I brought my sword up just in time, but the force behind his blow jarred both of my wrists. My grip faltered, and his blade slid past mine, catching my forearm in the process. A thin line opened across my skin before the wound began knitting itself back together almost immediately. It was barely worth noticing.

I shifted my footing, preparing to counter, but I never got the chance as a deep growl rolled across the training grounds.

The student barely had time to glance over his shoulder before Naxan lunged.

The enormous dragon crossed the distance in a heartbeat, knocking the other student off balance and pinning him beneath one massive foreleg. His claws dug into the dirt on either side of the man's body without touching him, but the sheer size of Naxan was enough to leave the student frozen beneath him. Naxan lowered his head until his snout hovered dangerously close to the man's face, hot breath sweeping across his hair and making it flutter wildly.

I stared at my dragon for a moment before letting out an exasperated huff. "Naxan, we're just training."

I stepped closer, placing myself directly within his line of sight. His blue eyes shifted toward me, though the warning rumble in his chest didn't disappear. The student beneath him looked between us, clearly unsure whether he was safer waiting for me to intervene or attempting to escape on his own.

"Hurt, Twoleg," Naxan growled through the bond, his irritation bleeding into my thoughts.

"He barely hurt me." I lifted my arm and held it up for him to see. The shallow cut was already gone, leaving nothing more than smooth skin behind. "See? Fine."

Naxan's gaze dropped toward my arm before returning to the student.

"You're not supposed to interfere with training," I added, giving him a stern look. "You know that."

I was painfully aware of everyone watching us.

The training grounds had gone noticeably quieter, and I could feel the attention of the other students fixed on the scene. From their perspective, it probably looked ridiculous. I was standing in front of a dragon large enough to crush the training yard beneath his claws, calmly scolding him as though he were an unruly child that had wandered somewhere it shouldn't.

Naxan held my gaze for several long seconds, then his growl finally faded. Some of the tension left his massive frame as his expression softened, the fury in his eyes giving way to reluctant understanding. I reached out and placed a hand against his snout before giving him a small push.

"Move."

He stared at me.

"Naxan." I pushed again.

With another low huff, he finally lifted his foreleg and stepped away, though he continued watching the student with unmistakable suspicion.

The poor mans face was still pale, but he accepted my outstretched hand when I offered it and let me pull him fully to his feet.

"Sorry about him," I muttered. "He's a little over protective."