Progenitor of Dragons - Chapter 77

The sound of sizzling and frying resonated through the house, competing with the monotone and sleep-inducing voices of new broadcasters. Aurora insisted that I sit and wait while she prepared dinner. It was already pretty late, but I had a feeling we weren’t strangers to late nights.

There was nothing good on TV, so I kinda just let the news run in the background as I scrolled though social media. We were given a study break, and I could tell that people were taking the liberty of taking a break from studying. Partying, going out, having fun, its as if exams don’t exist. To be fair I am one to talk… I went to the Northern quadrant of the country to meet a famous adventurer and face off against a terrorist group.  How eventful…

*Ding!*

A notification came through on WhatsApp. It was from my homeroom teacher. “For the next week, it is consultation week. You are allowed to book time slots with your teachers to ask them your last minute questions. If you don’t book any consultations, this will be the last week of your study break! Good luck for our examinations, and don’t be late!”

I scoffed looking at the message, knowing my class, only a handful of people would even think about doing this. My class was one of the lower classes. We were notorious for our mischievousness and lack of discipline. There are a handful of us who are diligently attempting to study, but most of them aren’t exactly trying the best they could be. I would have to be included in the latter.

“Here.” I heard someone say to me. I put my phone down and looked to my right were I saw Aurora, now in her oversized t-shirt, her standard casual attire. In both of her hands, two steaming hot bowls filled to the brim with fried rice. Its fragrance and appetising beauty made my mouth water..

“Thanks so much.” I said, carefully taking the bowl and spoon she offered me. She took a seat on the couch next to me. I took one big scoop of the rice and shoved it in my mouth. And oh my god… Smokiness, sweetness, saltiness, every flavour you could possibly want in this dish was all present and by god it was amazing. I looked at Aurora who was smiling as she watched my reaction. “You are amazing…” I said in absolute awe.

“Thank you.” She said with a smile and started eating her rice as well. Unlike her, who was taking it nice and slow, I ate quickly, I couldn’t get enough of how amazing this fried rice was! Before I even realised it, I already wolfed down the whole thing. When I went for another scoop, only to realise I already finished the whole thing, I could feel myself deflate.

“Hehe, you look kinda like a puppy right now you know?” Aurora teased. True to form, a small teasing smile crept her way onto her face and her eyes narrowed, as if judging me. Now I am hurt in both my belly and my mind. Realising I wasn’t saying anything, she giggled once more. “Hehe, don’t worry, there is more in the kitchen.” She said.

I have never got up faster in my entire life. I scrambled to the kitchen to fix myself a second serving, popping back on the couch quickly and continued eating to my heart’s content. After that bowl, my hunger was finally satiated. Aurora has also just finished her own serving. We both set our bowls down on the table in front of us.

We both stared idly at the television, not really doing much. “We should turn in early tonight, I’ll be heading to school tomorrow, and you are coming with me.”  She said assertively to break the silence.

“I don’t mind, but what for?” I asked curiously.

“Consultation, my final report is due on the week of exams.” She replied nonchalantly.

“What subject?” I asked to keep the conversation going.

“Magic theory, only the higher up classes have magic related subjects. Its a report on incanted and silent casting. I have a feeling you would have to study it too.”

“What? Me in the higher classes? I think you’ve gone crazy, my grades are garbage.”

“Your grades won’t be the one pushing you there, it will be your performance in Arcanothon. They would probably encourage you to take practical magic. Most people who take practical magic are later recruited into Ourannos’ magic army division.”

“Sounds like fun I suppose, at least it will be more entertaining than math.”

“Whatever you say knucklehead.”

Silence fell once more as the conversation petered out. It wasn’t awkward, to me it was comforting to spend alone time with Aurora. Then, I caught a whiff of the leftover fried rice wafting through the air.

“God, that fried rice you made was amazing, I almost don’t wanna order one from restaurants anymore.”

“I should probably pack it up before you gulp down the rest.” She got to her feet and started walking to the kitchen. She took both our bowl with her as well. “Turn off the TV, I know there’s nothing good on it anyway. You can head downstairs to work off the calories a little if you want to , I will be there in a bit.”

I gladly took her up on her offer and headed to the training room. As I stepped into he massive, empty room that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, Ivis, the AI activated. “Welcome, Kaler.  Would you like to start the simulation?”

“Yes Ivis.” I replied

A humming noise could be heard as holograms in the shape of humans starting running toward me. I was unfaze, they are not real after all. I know I didn’t want to engage in too much use of magic, but with Arcanothon upcoming, that seemed like wishful thinking.

My lightning is my strongest element, while my wind affinity is my weakest, having been the newest element I acquired. As a warmup, I decided to have a good, old fashioned fist fight with these robots. I thrust myself forward with wind magic and infused my fists with lightning magic. Every punch landed would changing to 3 or 5 other enemies.

Bodies fell left and right, any attack that came close, I narrowly dodged and countered just as swiftly. Despite being inhumanly fast, it was still a terrible idea to let myself get surrounded. I had increased speed, not increased senses. While my senses were enhanced to help cope with my speed, it was not as if i could detect a million people all throwing blows at me. I can still tunnel vision and pen myself up to attacks.

While my enemies constantly tried to swarm me and surround me, I forced myself to back up and take a more advantageous position. Noticing that the number of aggressors was increasing and that their encircling manoeuvres were getting quicker and quicker, I created a quick wind repulse, launching everyone away and launching myself back. Those close to the repulse’s epicentre were thrust back into the walls, those on the outer edges were simply pushed back.

It was time to end this. I focus wind magic into the palm of my hand, the gauntlets fading slightly into existence, showing my limit while I was not using them. A bright green orb formed in my hand, a faint semblance of a dragon’s head could be seen on it. “Titanic Typhoon!” I chanted, loosing the orb and throwing it into the middle of the enemies.

The winds rushed from all directions, swirling into a  single singularity in the centre. It was like a black hole, sucking everything into it. The size of the singularity looked the same as a small skyscraper and I am sure was easily capable of destroying a whole city.

Seizing this opportunity, My hands sparked with electricity. I reached them both into the sky and brought them down. Simultaneously, a thunder bolt in the shape of a dragon descended upon the singularity, shocking all those inside with a loud crash.

As the dust settled and the winds died, none were left standing. I wringed my wrist a little. I knew that no one my age should be able to muster this much energy, but I still felt like I could do a little better.

“Nice, you are learning how to combine your powers now.” Aurora called form behind me. I turned back to see her leaning against the door frame, watching on with a  smile.

“Heh, how long have you been watching?” I asked.

“Long enough to see you summon the winds into a singularity capable to destroying whole cities.” She said with a slight sigh of exasperation. “C’mon, take a shower, we should turn in early, remember?” Raising her eyebrows as she asked the question.

“Haha, yes ma’am.” I replied, following her back upstairs. We entered Aurora’s room, or should it be our room now? I took a spare change of clothes and walked into the bath room, taking a quick rinse before bed.. Just thinking of today, being able to spend time with Aurora, to eat the food she make for me, to be with her every hour of the day, to live together, that was a blessing that I will be eternally greatful for.