He tugged at her long white sleeve in a whiny manner. Jamie turned back to face the “General Ames” in front of her. Is he a clone? Is he even the General? she wondered.

“Hi, how are you doing?” she said with suspicious eyes.

He laughed. “I’m good, just practicing my cloning magic.” He snapped his fingers and the clone under the whale-blue tree disappeared. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet, the boys and I were planning to eat in the hall soon. Master Edwards isn’t sure if he could join though.”

“I see. You haven’t gotten the chance to explore Mander much. How about I take you and the boys out for lunch? There is a place by the seashore that I would visit on my off days. One of Henry's favorites.”

“Oh, well Master Edwards-”

“He will have his hands full today,” General Ames said. He grabbed her hand, and Jamie’s face reddened on contact.

“Have you ridden on a dragon before?”

“I have ridden on many things but never a dragon,” she answered while still attempting to keep her mana thread spinning on the top of head.

“Really, what are these many things you have ridden on?” he smirked and looked at her flirtatiously.

Jamie tried her best to remain unflustered. Why is he looking at me like that? She wondered.

“Well, a plane, different types of cars, train, metro, hmm,” Jamie pursed her lips, “I guess a boat if you can count that, a motorcycle, scooters.”

He grinned at her. “Is that all?” He held her hand and started to slowly make it run down his chest, her fingertips slowly touching his rock-hard flesh.

Her jaw dropped, her heart slowly picked up the pace of a prey being alerted of a predator. She almost stopped breathing. She attempted to pull her hand back out of embarrassment, but he firmly held on. Jamie’s body felt hot from his touch. She looked up and momentarily got lost in his piercing red eyes, he smiled and leaned in, his lips aiming for her soft pink lips.

Control yourself! I cannot develop any feelings! He is a promiscuous, rich, powerful man, that is just playing with me and my poor virgin heart! Jamie thought and pulled her hand away. She stepped back. General Ames looked surprised before a cheeky grin emerged, his eyes glinted with childish mischief.

Distraught him, think! Say something! That’s right, answer his question! She thought.

Her eyes lit up. “Actually, that’s not all that I’ve ridden. There was one time, I almost got on a horse, but I remembered Superman fell off of one and he was an experienced rider, which I’m not. And he was left paralyzed from the neck down! So I was too scared to get on the horse. Actually, it might’ve been a pony and not a horse, you would think I can tell the difference but I cannot.”

General Ames smiled with his God-like hot features, and advanced closer to Jamie, “That’s all? No one is around. If you’re interested, there is something you could get on now.”

Jamie stepped backward as she frowned. She thought to herself. Why does he keep going on and on about what I’ve ridden? She paused. Aha! I am an idiot!

At this moment, Jamie slipped on a rock from the shock of her epiphany. She fell backward and into General Ames' arms. He had slipped his hand behind her back and caught her. He pulled her closer to him, her nose almost meeting his. He grinned, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Jamie bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. Stop it! You’re falling for it! It’s a man-whore’s trap! She screamed to herself.

“Lord Ames, do you also want tulips planted near the whale-blue tree?” the old-timer gardener from before, asked.

General Ames looked at the old-timer and his eyebrows raised. “I didn’t realize you were here, Master Linflan.”

General Ames gently released Jamie to her feet and bowed to his Master. Jamie looked at the old man. He looks wiser now…is it because he’s the General’s master and not just a random old man planting tulips?… I’m just a shallow person, she thought.

Jamie also bowed her head at the old man but uttered no words.

“You haven’t changed Ames.”

General Ames looked at his Master seriously for a second and then warmly embraced him. “Of course, I’m not a man that changes like the clothes on his back.”

The old man grinned. “Take me to lunch, I’m hungry.”

“Perfect, join us for lunch. Let me get the boys.”

Master Linflan reached for Jamie’s hand but mid-way, placed his hand on top of her chest instead.

Jamie slapped his hand away, too flustered to respond.

“Sorry, I’m blind. I was reaching for your hand,” Master Linflan said.

“Oh, no worries,” Jamie said but waded closer to inspect Master Linflan's eyes.

“I didn’t know you were blind, Master.”

Jamie side-eyed the old man.

“I think I’m losing my memory,” he casually mentioned and chuckled. “Contestant, give me your hand.”

The old man's a pervert. I take back him being wise! Jamie thought.

General Ames grinned at her reaction. He gently grabbed Jamie’s hand and guided it over to Master Linflan.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Jamie’s hand glowed a faint turquoise upon his touch, and he looked at General Ames. “She is indeed a Vaseland. She has the mind’s eye gift for mana wave manipulation, it would be wise for you to teach it to her.”

“Are you not free?”

“I am busy. On your affairs actually. It is in regards to round 3.”

“Ohh, I see. It must be time for the - "

“Hush. Something is going on. I don’t like it! You need to watch your back. You lead too much with your heart.” Master Linflan continued to walk toward the castle followed by Jamie and General Ames.

General Ames nodded and smiled, the breeze blew his platinum white bands over his eyes, hiding a flicker of worry that didn’t go unnoticed by Jamie.

“We’ll take the group to the seashore restaurant. I’ve always wanted to try it,” Master Linflan said.

***

Halfway toward the lake, Jamie felt immense gushes of wind blowing down on her. “OH MY GOD!”

A magnificent, red-scaled dragon flew above them, circling above their heads. Her bangs whipped around her as she looked completely blown away, her eyes glued to the majestic beast.

Master Linflan laughed and formed an “o” with his hand. The dragon took the hint and flames roared from it. “Come down, you silly beast! Stop showing off!” Master Linflan called out to his dragon.

The dragon swooped down and landed by the nearby lake. Jamie, without her usual hesitation, raced down the grassy hills with the boys toward Master Linflan’s vessel animal. Moments earlier, he had informed her that this dragon doesn’t eat people, unlike rain dragons, this was a lie but it did put her at ease.

Henry and Benny zipped up the dragon’s rough scales, clasping at each one like rock climbing, and made their way on top. They started to jump up and down the dragon’s back.

“Be GENTLE!” the Old Master yelled at the boys. “Gin-Gin here is sweet but there’s only so much she can take!”

“It’s okay, we’re jumping on the bouncy mat!” Benny screamed with utter delight.

Jamie stroked Gin-Gin, each scale was tough, calcium-like a stone made out of teeth, yet it was lustrously and the red color varied in shades. She clung onto one and attempted to pull herself up but stopped.

“What’s the matter?” General Ames asked.

“I’m scared of ripping one off.”

“Because of your weight?”

“What?!” Jamie turned lava red.

“Hahaha!” Without warning he grabbed her by her waist and jumped, they smoothly landed on top of the dragon. Jamie couldn’t help but laugh with fantastic glee.

Master Linflan was already up on top, he held on to a silver spear and stood at Gin-Gin’s neck. “Sit down! I’m hungry! I’m in the mood for seafood so we’re off to that little shack my little discipline likes.”

“I’m no longer little, Master,” General Ames replied, his hands still around Jamie.

Upon realizing they were so close together, Jamie forced herself to pull away and scurried over to the boys. On top of the bouncy mat were cushioned seats with seat belts! She ran over and buckled herself in.

“You’re so fast,” General Ames said as he sat by her, grinning.

“Move!” Henry shrieked at General Ames, who laughed.

“Where are you manners Henry,” he asked.

“Move, Jamie wants to sit next to me!”

“Kids without manners can stay home,” General Ames said and gave him a stern look.

Henry leaned down and gave him a big kiss. General Ames smiled happily, “You can sit on my lap, Henry.”

Without warning, the dragon took off! Jamie looked down and then closed her eyes. I should enjoy moments like this. This breeze is heaven.

As they approached the seaside restaurant, amid jokes and laughs, General Ames shouted to the old man, “Master, I’m afraid we have company.”

“Damn air pirates, back in my days, pirates showed up around dinner, not lunch! The audacity!”

“Jamie, you deal with them,” General Ames commanded.

“What, are you mad?” Jamie said and wildly looked around the skies. She saw no one and sensed nothing.

General Ames laughed. “You can’t see or sense them. But use your nose.”

“Pirates have a floral scent. That’s because they love smoking hibiscus weed,” Benny shouted, smugly.

“You mean those picture books about pirates are accurate?” Jamie shouted above the wind.

“Yes, don’t you know?” Benny shouted back, this time with the air of the know-it-all.

“If you know so much, you fight them,” Jamie replied with a grin.

“I will do just that,” Benny said and started to whip up his mana ball. This will kill ‘em, he thought with enough confidence to conquer the world. He blasted the gigantic mana ball above them and destroyed the clouds but nothing else was there. “I could’ve sworn,” Benny complained.

Thick ropes with dolphin-sized hooks at the end flew up from under Gin-Gin.

“Jamie, gather the ropes or Gin-Gin will be pulled down,” General Ames said.

Jamie quickly held out her palm. Focus, she thought.

She created ten mana threads, each managed to wrap itself around the hooks, preventing them from attaching to Gin-Gin.

“Trace it back, where are they?” General Ames guided her.

“I can’t, they concealed it.”

A grin grew on General Ames’ face. “Pirates that conceal their ropes, that’s a new one.”

As they approached the seaside restaurant, Jamie’s jaw dropped as they found themselves surrounded by four other mammoth-sized dragons.

“What’s going on?” Jamie shouted.

Master Linflan created a mana shield over them and another one around Gin-Gin. “It’s an assignation attempt!” he cried.

Who would they want to kill? Jamie thought as she braced herself.

Whoosh! A mana thread pierced through two of the shields and violently wrapped itself around Jamie’s neck. Me?! Jamie thought as she grabbed the mana threads to prevent it from choking her to death.

“Benny, cut the thread! I’m going to see what’s going on!” General Ames shouted and vanished.

Benny sliced through the thread and Jamie gasped for air. Master Linflan turned around with his spear and with incredible accuracy threw it above Jamie’s head, the metal spear penetrated through a figure emerging from a transport portal.

“Boys, get your daggers out.”

“Yes sir!” Benny shouted and pulled out his small dagger, the handle had a cute squirrel carving adorning it.

“I don't have one,” Henry said and started to cry.

“Don’t worry, just do your small mana balls,” Benny said. He inched closer to Henry.

Jamie moved away from the boys. If they’re after me, I’ll put the boys in more danger if I’m around them.

Twenty transport portals appeared, each with an assassin leaping out in a coordinated fashion.

ZIP! As the assassin leaped out, the portal unexpectedly closed on them, slicing them in the location where the portal shut down.

Jamie looked up to see, General Ames watching them from a cloud with his palm out. He’s so strong. Opening one and controlling it already takes a lot of mana and skill, I can’t do it yet. But to close that many that belong to someone else. He’s super legit, Jamie thought.

General Ames flew over to the green dragon and stood on its neck. He proceeded to cast out three mana chains and threw them into the air. The mana chains bee-lined for each of the remaining enemy dragons, each chain wrapped around each dragon’s neck. He held onto the chains and pulled the dragons toward him. “Master, follow me!”

General Ames led the dragons back to the Veinham estate, with Master Linflan and the others closely behind.

“An old man can’t catch a break,” Master Linflan complained as his stomach rumbled.