"What do you think?" Elixabete asked, twirling and admiring the armor she had just had made for her. She hadn't expected it to be done before the ball, yet somehow Khepri had managed, despite his apprentice taking off partway through the job to pursue a career at the Siren's Call.
Ragna's Shattered Plain Gem Guardian chittered with excitement, admiring the red gleam of the metal. The spirit had appeared not long after the start of the Rockbreaker's Ceremony, and Elixa quite enjoyed the company of someone who wasn't going to talk back to her.
"Exactly, it's much more my style than some fancy ballgown," Elixa grinned. "Besides, I'm going to be there for work, not pleasure."
The gem guardian nodded, looking very proud of itself.
It was true that Elixa would be going there for more than a good time. Everyone had been warned to be on their guard, seeing that both of the previous elemental balls had been interrupted by Jett and his crew. Now that Jett was rising in power, it was likely he'd use this chance to strike again, and the council was certain that he was going to be using her own sister to do it.
There had of course been a patrol led to try to take back Edna from the clutches of her kidnappers after Juliette arrived with the news of what Jett had done, but it appeared the password to the Black Market had been changed since she had been exiled. There was no way to get in, so the mission had been stopped in their tracks and everyone was forced to admit they could do nothing as Edna was slowly brainwashed and turned into a weapon of mass destruction.
That's why Elixa had been trained to counter that. She had relatively little childhood, considering her sister's power was stronger than her own. It would be her destiny to one day face Edna in battle, if it ever were to come to that.
It was very possible that tonight was the night of their fated battle, which was why Elixa had to be at her best.
"Ragna's waiting. Are you ready to go?" Bridget asked, poking her head into Elixa's den.
"Always," Elixa growled in anticipation. "Let's do this thing."
Yellan wanted nothing more than to go to the ball, but she knew there was no way Jett would let her go. The world was a dangerous place, he had said, no place for a hatchling like herself. She was to stay withing the confines of the Black Market, where she would be safe. Even if she tried to sneak away, the mistral minion that Thorburn had given her for her protection would stop her. It followed her everywhere that she went. She had tried to shake it in the past, but never to any avail.
Still, it didn't hurt to try once more.
"Trying to run away, are we?" Edna asked, rounding the corner as Yellan made her move for the border. The imperial hatchling cowered in shame.
"Not exactly," Yellan murmured. "I just wanted to see the outside."
It was impossible to read the ridgeback's expression. Yellan had never seen her without the veil she wore to mask her eyes. Elladen had told her that she had no eyes, but she was pretty sure that the other ridgeback was only saying that to tease her. Still, it was unnerving the way her blank face stared at her, even knowing Edna considered her a friend.
"Your day will come, little one," Edna said softly. "Jett just wants to make sure you stay safe. There are lots of dragons who want to hurt dragons like us out there, because they are scared of our power. Our power must be honed until we are able to control it so we are prepared for anything."
Yellan nodded. She knew the ridgeback was right, but it was so
frustrating! Why couldn't she be big enough and strong enough to go out now?
"Tell you what, I'll bring you back a little something from the ball," Edna promised. "Now, go back to our room. Jett won't like it if you're out wandering."
Yellan sighed and turned back towards the bunkhouse. She knew that the ridgeback was trying to help, but it was still hard to see her friends go when she had to stay. She kicked a pebble in frustration, sending it bouncing down the dusty street until it bounced off the gleaming scales of another ridgeback.
"Sorry!" Yellan squeaked, petrified at what she had done.
"Ey, it's alright, kiddo. No harm done!" Elladan grinned toothily. "Say, have you seen Edna? We were supposed to meet Katie and Kael soon and I haven't been able to find her."
Yellan shrugged and pointed in the direction she had come from.
"Thanks, you're the best!" Elladan said, leaning down to kiss the hatchling's forehead. "Chin up, it won't be long now. Jett can't keep you in forever. Tell you what, I'll sneak you a little something from the ball to make up for it. Maybe I'll borrow something precious! I've never been in a palace before! I'm usually a bit to dirty for such formal locations." He wrinkled his nose.
Yellan couldn't help but smile. Elladan always made her feel better.
As she watched him go, she began to grow restless again. She wished she wasn't staying here alone, with only creepy old Kobe for company. The skydancer didn't talk much, and Yellan didn't trust him. The thought of running into the skydancer made her shiver, so she decided to head back to the room she shared with Edna, and wait for the return of her friends.
Elixa scanned the ballroom, determined to not let her guard down. She tried not to notice the beautiful crystals that adorned the room, they were nothing of consequence. Nor were the tomes detailing the history of the city and the kingdom that preceded this one. The food of course was as delicious as always, but she couldn't let tat distract her either. She had work to do.
The evening began to pass with little consequence. A few of the Black Market dragons had begun to make appearances, but they seemed to be keeping to themselves, not causing any trouble, and Elixa had seen no sign of her sister. Was that
disappointment she felt? Surely she should be glad she wasn't facing such a powerful opponent before she was ready. Still, Elixa found herself itching for a fight.
"Excuse me," Elixa's patrol was suddenly interrupted by Clarissa.
"I'm working," Elixa growled, immediately feeling bad for snapping back.
"I know," Clarissa nodded. "I was just curious. What do you think of the Black Market dragons?"
"They have it out for our kingdom, and out families," Elixa pointed out, surprised at the older mirror for questioning it. "We must protect out own."
"But what about those of our own who are a part of what is going on there?" Clarissa pushed. "What about your sister? Is she really your enemy? You are flesh and blood."
"Loyalty is more than just blood, surely you must know that," Elixa was taken aback.
"But that's just the thing," Clarissa stared into the distance. "Something about the Black Market was so strong, it caused my mother to turn her back on my father, on your family. I feel as though I don't know where I could possibly belong. Am I a part of my father and his legacy, with our family and all that they've built? Or do I belong to my mother's world, the life she gave up everything to live?"
"The Black Market's changed, since Juliette left," Elixa pointed out. "Even your mother and uncle are rumored to have left."
"I know, it's just-" Clarissa sighed. "I don't know, I thought you might understand how this felt, the not knowing, with your sister and all."
"We all make decisions, that's what truly defines us, more than blood, more than any other bond in the world," Elixa said, repeating what Ragna had taught her. "Edna has made hers, whether she knows it or not. And this is a choice you must make. It's not about where you belong, it's about where you
choose to belong. No one can choose that for you."
Clarissa nodded, though Elixa wasn't sure if it was a sign of agreement or not. "I see. Thank you for your conversation."
Elixa watched as Clarissa rejoined the crowd, the mirror's questions sticking in her head more than she would have liked. Was that really why she was so determined to do her job tonight? Was there a part of her that was seeking the sister she had lost? She didn't even remember having a sister! And yet, she couldn't help but wonder if there was some way that her sister could be saved.
That was when the other ridgeback approached her. Her face was masked by a tightly-wrapped veil, and crystal shards rose from her scales, gleaming with what looked to be raw elemental power. On her tail was a lantern, one of the ones fed by the beacon. Her scales were a pale purple. She was slightly shorter than Elixa, which surprised her. For all the talk of her sister's power, she had thought she would be bigger.
"So, you are Elixa," The other ridgeback's head moved as she sized her up. "My opponent, or so I have been told. The one raised to fight against me."
"You know who I am?" Elixa was taken aback.
"Of course I know who you are," Edna snorted. "I take it upon myself to always know my enemies. I came into this world with no one, but the dragons who have raised me have made me strong. I will not let anyone take that away from me."
Elixa's heart dropped. So Edna didn't know they were sisters. She didn't know what she was expecting. This was never going to be a happy family reunion.
"So, do we fight now?" Elixa growled, feeling her dual magic flare up inside of her. She had to be careful not to let it get out of control. She could not wield both without risking her body simply combusting from the sheer amount of energy.
"No. I came tonight so I could see you face to face," Edna lifted her head. "Our fight will come, but it will come another day. It was nice to meet you, Elixa."
The other ridgeback dipped her head in a respectful gesture, then left to join another ridgeback in mingling in the crowd, getting to know their 'enemies.' Her sister had no idea she was among the very dragons who had been searching for her for nearly a year. She was among family, and yet she could not see it.
I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with this generation. I think having both sisters on different sides will provide a good insight to both sides as the story progresses. Also, can I just say, the sheer amount of dragons in this clan that are descendants of Larkin and Topaz is astounding. Then, if you consider Jett's line, which is a different branch of the same tree... the majority of the clan has royal blood in one way or another, or are or have been in relationships with someone who does. It's a pity Topaz isn't here to see it.
Elladan was the dragon from the familiar pull. Yellan is from CleverDual's alphabet legacy challenge, and she's going to be one of the main characters in this next part of the story, if things go my way. So technically it's two new dragons!
Coli was Tiffany (level 5), Jett (level 6) and Caroll (level 3).
There are quite a few I've fallen in love with on sight, and I can't wait for them to be introduced in the story!
