Dragon Class

Mia Thorne

I tried so hard, I really did. But I couldn’t contain my laughter in the almost silent room. Normally, there would be cheering, but there were only a few claps. But what made it so much better was the look of pure rage on Apollo's face. Neither of us were expecting something like this, not even a hint close enough to joke about it.

I smacked his back and laughed some more. “Go on up there Mr. Vice President.” He side-glanced his death stare at me before standing up and making his way to the front. I whistled in triumph for his victory and others began to cheer and clap as well.

I looked to my side to see a bright red with anger Kestrel Steele. His gripped hands were shaking with rage. Nothing could have made me happier. Kestrel was an angry human being, a royal piece of shit. He had curly black hair with red eyes, almost just saying he is evil.

He believed humans were a superior race to others and should have almost all control over politics. He skipped his first year at the academy to travel with his family to the kingdoms and camps to learn about politics. The little pussy could never actually be a soldier. By this point, Apollo had made it to the front and everyone quieted down.

“Hello everyone, as our dearest President said, my name is Apollo Keating. As some of you may know, I am the younger brother of Major Keating. I am not just human but Elven on my mother's side. I was not expecting to be your Vice President and I am sure not everyone is pleased with Eleanor’s decision. But as some of the people in this room found out this morning, I won’t tolerate discrimination of any sort. Rules or without rules, it will get sorted out.” The last sentence sent chills down almost everyone's spine.

He stepped back and went to the chair Eleanor showed him. He sat down, put one leg over the other, hand on his face, and glared out over everyone with that terrifying look.

“Jesus, is he Vice President or judge, jury and executioner?”

“He seems a bit scary and he’s a first year right?”

“He’s not even royal.”

“What trash.”

A crack let out next to me from the chair Kestrel had been sitting at. He gripped the armrest so hard it had splintered down and cracked open. This as before made me smile, almost laugh.

A new man stepped up the stand, “Hello everyone my name is Patrick Tuntly, I am the principal of this establishment. I don’t really care for introductions beyond that so I will cut to the chase. This academy is a place for the growth of Triad Army soldiers, not specific to anyone. If you have an issue with that, piss off. Not everyone here is wanting to be a soldier and that is okay. Some may be scientists, some politicians, and some may just want to find a way to improve life for your family. We are all here because we are the best, remember that as you go to your classes today.”

Short and sweet, I like it. This also let out some murmurs from people, though I’m unsure why. Did they expect everyone to be kind and heartwarming here? This may be some academy but in the end, it’s a place to teach you to lead and kill.

Rina went back to the stand and raised her hand in the air. Aether began to move around it and the walls behind her started to shake. Five pathways opened up each with an emblem above it. A silver dragon was in the middle, then there was a blue liger, a red phoenix, a green snake, and strangely enough a golden rogue (a creature that looks like a buffalo with a shell on its back).

Kids started to make their way through their doors. I waited a bit not wanting to get trampled in the crowd when a hand gripped my arm from behind. “Mia.”

I turned to see Kestrel holding my arm with a little army of minions behind him. Both Paxton’s, the idiot who Apollo crushed this morning, and a few of the Liger class pions behind them. “What could his glorious Highness want with a lowly girl like me.” I ripped my arm away from him.

“I just wanted to see what side you’re on. Your family’s, or the dog’s?”

“Excuse me.”

“He doesn’t belong in that position, and he’ll figure that out soon enough. Your family is part of mine and so I hope you choose the correct side.” Footsteps began approaching us. Some of the pions began to scurry away to their class pathways.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Apollo with his hands in his pockets as casually as ever, approached us, “What’s wrong, I wanted to hear what you were talking about.” The two of them glared at each other for what felt like an eternity before Kestrel finally smirked and put his hands up.

“Nothing Vice President, was just talking to one of my cousins.” They all turned to walk away before he made one last look over his shoulder toward me. “Choose wisely Mia.” With that, they left towards the dragon hall.

“What was that about?”

“Something tells me they aren’t happy with your recent win in the Vice Presidential race.” I laughed, smacking his chest as I passed by.

He rubbed his head following behind me, “They can join the club, I didn’t ask to get this position. Just what does that girl think she’s doing putting me there.”

“You do fit the role for what she wants you to do.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m the best one for it. Even you would have been a better pick. You are part of a royal family and you have a better head on your shoulders.”

“Says the one who speaks like he’s in his thirties.”

“I mean you think twice before rushing into situations like I do.”

“Sounds like you know what to work on then. Besides, I don't think I’m really cut out for the life of a Vice President. Sounds just a bit too fancy for my taste.”

“Okay, Mrs. Thorne.” We laughed as we approached the hallway where Kira and Mrs. Shem had been waiting.

“I’m glad you two finally decided to join us,” Kira said with an almost demeaning tone. Of course, Apollo had to let out a bow deeper than you would do for even a king.

“Oh my grace, please forgive thou for such a delay to your timely schedule. I promise to scrubith your toilet with my toothbrush and tend to your needs the rest of the evening.” I wanted to laugh but I decided to hold it, which seemed to be for the best. She created a whirlpool of water and thrust it at him, it then surrounded him and lifted him in the air promptly before dropping him.

“Hmph.” She turned and began walking down the hallway without us.

“I do hope you try to not antagonize her so much Mr. Keating. She is a bit of a nuisance sometimes, however, her heart is in the right place. She just hasn’t had as much friendly social interaction due to her position. I hope you can help change that.”

Maybe he hit his head when he fell because instead of making a joke, he only nodded and replied with a yes mam. The three of us made our way through the hall into a large opening where everyone else was waiting.

“Alright now class, let us begin. As you can see this classroom is a bit different from one with desks and boards.” We all looked around at the wide space around us. Though we were indoors, the sun was shining on us, trees and grass filled the room, large rocks, and even a small waterfall and creek.

“As I’m sure you all guessed this room is imbued with aether and manipulated by magic. This is to make your training go as smoothly as possible. As the weeks slowly trickle by the amount of aether radiating from this room will slowly diminish, that way you can become used to low aether areas. You must always be able to fight at your best no matter the terrain.”

A large brutish man came walking out of the hallway. He almost reminded me of my father, but this guy was definitely more of a douche. He pulled the sword off his back and embedded it into the ground to lean on. He had a buzzed haircut and several brow wrinkles. None of which from age so much as probably stress and anger. He had wide shoulders and as much hair on his hands as a fully-aged dwarf.

“My name is Maddox Heller. I will be your physical combat teacher. Hand to hand, swordplay, any weapons honestly.” He scratched his head and yawned as if we were a bore to him. “I don’t expect much from you first years starting out, but I do from the seconds. None of you could match me due to experience or whatever the sort, but you can try.”

A hand raised, a hand next to me. It was my stupid best friend, already starting trouble of course.

“Ahh yes, Mr. Vice President, what is it?”

“Can you and I have a sparring match?” He didn’t smile, not so much as even a grin. This was a straight-faced look Apollo didn’t often have on.

“Well, I usually have first years face a second year to start things off. That way I can get a sense of your skills and whatnot.”

“I don’t want to face a second year though, I want to go against you.”

He grumbled a bit and stroked his long unkempt beard. “Mrs. Shem, do you have a problem with this?”

“Not at all Mr. Heller, be my guest.”

He lifted his sword onto his shoulder, “Alright fine then kid. Don’t worry I’ll make sure to hold back for you.”

“Whatever you say, teach.” Apollo summoned his blades from his bracelet, something I hadn’t noticed is they seemed to get a little longer. Almost as if they had adjusted to his body. Mrs. Shem had us stand back to give the two some room. A lot of people talked about how Apollo was about to get a reality check and such.

Next to me stood Kira who seemed almost worried. “You don’t have to worry about Apollo, he’ll be fine.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I grew up with the idiot, I know.”

With a loud beckoning yell from Mr. Heller, “FIGHT!” They began.