Valtrax and Rubix had put themselves in a dry corner of the den and she let me "play" with treasure chests with scrolls and grimoires as well as many items set in gems and gold.

There was a national treasure here and that was just the part she gave me to keep me busy.

I could hear roars and grunts that I didn't understand but the 2 dragons were in the middle of a "discussion".

Meanwhile, I was looking at the warlord's grimoires and I realized that it was the treasure and the notes of Exodus. A treasure among treasures. But the gold didn't really interest me.

In the meantime:

Rubix: "Goddess Valtrax. It is an honor to serve you...."

"My child... I see that you love Torin very much... but is it Torin that you love or what he is?"

The question was treacherous and deep. The young dragoness did not have the subtlety of her elder

"You're not going to eat me? I slept against Torin..."

"HAHAHA... My little one...I'm not jealous but Torin hasn't understood anything and he can't. He's hurt...And it's my fault...."

You can speak his language and that's a feat. I feel that you have noble dragon blood like Exodus.

You are not a descendant but let's say... a cousin...

Exodus certainly had brothers and sisters and it is rare that there is only one brood...I want you to learn as much as you can and humanize yourself as much as possible. You are a dragoness and you will remain one, but Torin will one day undergo an abominable ordeal. He can't stay that way, but his healing will be devastating and he'll need you more than ever.

You will be the only one to support him and I count on you to never abandon him.

It will be hard my child but I will always be there to protect and support you. There are forces at work and take advantage of your youth to have happy moments.

Afterwards, there will be no turning back...

Rubix: "What if one day I carry eggs from him?"

Valtrax looked back at her. "Don't worry my child...."

Rubix : "But there are two humans who want to marry him...!"

Valtrax : "He has dragon blood and he will know how to choose. Trust me... but concubinage also exists in our house... I was not the only wife of Exodus. The others perished but don't worry. Sometimes we are happy that he has concubines...And there is nothing like a blood tie to look after each other. But, you must know what you want, Rubix...This is the blade of Brilliance. I can't use it, but it's a very powerful artifact that can heal Torin or open the door to Thor, the ultimate dragon. This is Exodus' child... and my child too. He has been sealed with this dagger. When Torin is a true dragon rider, he must be sacrificed to the dagger to free Thor. In the meantime, this is your mission. Protect Torin no matter what. You can love him. The dagger just needs to be driven in. Torin will surely survive it. It's designed to liberate but not to kill."

Then the dragons came back to eat with me. I didn't get it, but Rubix was in high spirits. But she didn't understand everything Valtrax was telling her. She was too young, too small.

Rubix: "TOrrrrrin... valtrrrraxxxxx loveeerrrr you very much...."

I smiled and hugged my friend...

Rubix : "Torrin not understand.... Valtrax.... mom Torin!!! "

I don't get it!!!

Rubix: "Valtrax not jealous!"

and Rubix grabbed me and belted me in surprise and kissed me! She quickly pulled back out of fear. And Valtrax was lying smiling!

I started to cry...Valtrax Rubix... those dragons were crazy!

I was afraid knowing that my life depended on them now.

"Valtrax... I want to go home!"

Their smile faded and they left me hanging. They looked at me sadly and went to the bottom of the cave, jumping and flying over an underground lake with frozen water... basically.

There I was, standing there like a leek. Valtrax looked defeated.

"You see, Rubix... There's no point in rushing... He doesn't understand anything, but it's the fault of the arrow that makes him confused and rejects things.This is dangerous and could make him make bad decisions...You have to be careful with this, otherwise I want you to be my eyes and ears in the academy. You are the hope of our race... Look at me... I'm huge and I can't speak properly... but you, you have something of Exodus.

And a dragons advice: don't impose your love on Torin...let him come to you. Learn from the humans, learn their charm, and he will come to you.

Forget that you are a dragoness and fight! Love is a battle without mercy. Worse and more unfair than war. I had to fight to win my male's heart. Now it's your fight!"

Rubix: "Thank you mother and Goddess!"

Valtrax let out a tear.

Rubix: "Mother? "

Valtrax : "When I see you, it's me at your age but don't miss the essential things. Don't forget what I told you."

Valtrax then gave the blade of brilliance to Rubix.

"Follow your heart. "

Rubix knelt down as she received the precious artifact and tucked it into her leather sace from the academy. She flew away and landed near me.

Rubix, in common : "I'm sorry...but I love you too much!..."

I understood then that Rubix had a very big heart and that the emotions are sometimes difficult especially when we change of way of life, that we pass from fantastic animal to half-human citizen...

I stroked her cheek and kissed her on the side."I love you too Rubix..."

I wanted to say "but"

but I stopped myself. It was too soon, too fast and I was confused. My heart was beating but my chest hurt. And in that moment, I could discern the pain of an arrow buried deep within my being.

Love was like a tongue finding a hole or a flaw between its teeth. And here, I was discovering in myself that I had something broken. Valtrax arrived and she motioned to Rubix to translate.

"Torin, we love you no matter what your decision or choices are. Rubix is going to fly and we are going to chase her!"

She has to train too! We arrived then near a bamboo field and I cut spears. Rubix also cut spears and she had to touch me and I had to touch her.

Valtrax would be guided by me, blindfolded. (But even blindfolded, with her senses, she could still "see".)

I was crazy with joy.

Valtrax was starting to fly properly but here, it was a fight!

We gave her a 1 minute head start and she had some bamboo (not sharp) and I had the same. Quickly, Valtrax spotted her but did not show any movement.

I said "Go ahead, go, right, left" but Rubix was hidden!

Valtrax: "Spot it by smell!"

The dragoness complied and looked up behind me.

Like a ninja who had already infiltrated my room, she had pinned herself to a rock wall, knowing that Valtrax would land there, given her size. Quickly Valtrax whistled to warn me and Tchak!

A bamboo went to "lodge" in my thigh. It bounced off but the pain was enough to remind me that I had been hit by a "spear" from the opponents.

Then it was round 2.

Rubix used her small size to sneak between the rocks and along the sides of the ravines. She was fast... very fast for her size. And... by the end, I had bruises...and...more bamboo...

Rubix won every time...Except that she was a dragon, she would make an excellent knight(re).

My legs were on fire and Valtrax left not without giving me an affectionate lick. We both laughed and walked back down from the cabin.

Rubix got dressed and like two buddies, we arrived while singing and whistling at the house where a good meal awaited us all 2.

Finally 6 becauseIn addition to Esme and Ragul, there were Saphie and Beth. They were angry that I went for a walk alone with Rubix.

Me: "Rubix, look... they are angry because they are jealous.."

Rubix : "Parrrrrrdonnn""

"No, Rubix, that's great. It's because they see you as a person!"

Rubix : "Ah... "then, she approached Sapphie and put her front paw (hand) on his: "Parrrrrrdon SSSSSSSaffffffie Rubissssx, friend ssssafffie... Rubixxx friend Beth..."

Saphie then stood up and took Rubix against her heart...

"You are our friend...now..."

The little dragonette jumped from Saphie's lap to play with Rubix...We looked at the dragoness and she was signaled that yes and she could take on Saphie's little one.

They played catching each other's tails and then the dragonette fell asleep and Rubix gave her back to Sapphie.

"She ssssuper Sweet!"

And, meanwhile, Valtrax's eyes glowed in her den.

"I hope you make the right choice, Rubix..."

Indeed, without knowing it, young dragons were put to the test by their ancestors, a bit like a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. And the dagger was no exception. The test was terrible. To choose to love as you are and accept yourself or to love what you would like me to be?

These were difficult choices. Then in the evening, Rubix wanted to sleep at the foot of my bed but Esme said: The girls on the first floor and Torin on the second floor!"

Rubix grumbled but without protesting, she went to join the 2 friends. But soon, she discovered the happiness of having friends and confidants. I had difficulty to sleep after the good meal and I went out in front of the house, looking at the moon.

Sometimes I thought that if I had wings I would be able to land on it, but I was awakened from my slumber by Daddy, who came to sit with me on the threshold of the house.

"You too, can't you sleep?"

Ragul : "When I was your age, I also had a lot of questions and girls started to attract me. Their bodies, their secrets, their differences, what made them happy and their company fun.

We live in a hard time and you saw that others had to endure even worse than you... "

And he nodded his head upwards.

"You mean Rubix..."

Ragul :" I know what they do to rebel dragons...

They saw off their wings... You saved this unfortunate girl but the last thing she needs from you is to feel sorry for her. Consider her a person and not a dragon even if one day you have to ride her.

But personally, I find it humiliating for the dragon. It shows them that their almost extinct species only owes its salvation to being raised like cattle.

One day they will rebel and ... be slaughtered to the last man... Rubix included."

I didn't know what to say in response, then a wolf was heard howling at the moon and Dad resumed

"Beth, Saphie and other girls... Rubix is one too. I've seen her and if you like any of them... I'll be happy. Even if it's Rubix! Well, I say one, but concubines are good, but you have to follow and assume!"

And he finished his sentence with a pat on my back...and..all things considered.... I went back up to bed. Meanwhile, in the girls' room...

Beth "So Rubix... We misjudged you because you are tall like us but you are a younger child than us.... We should have been your big sisters... forgive us..."

Rubix: "Parrrdooonn... forrrcing love Torrrin not think"

Saphie took the dragoness by her paw. Show me your hand. Look at my nails... always very clean!A

nd Saphie took a manicure set and started to clean the dried skins of the molts and inclusions in the talons.

Then she polished them for her. "You see, how much more beautiful it is!!!"

Indeed, the talons shone while being polished. Then Rubix lay on her belly and spread her wings.

Beth asked her what it was like to be a dragoness but was interrupted by Sapphie who showed her back studded with blows and whip marks...

Rubix sobbed..."Hit Rubix... Hit hit hit hit again and again...Rubix nothing hurt not human bite...Rubix cry more hit!"

When Sapphie saw the back hidden by the wings she had tears and hugged her friend.

"I'm sorry for all the bad things we did to you..."

Rubix : "Ssssaphie not mean. Ssssaphie not hit Rubix..."

Beth, who had some druidic knowledge, took a jar from her bag.

"It's a regenerating balm... we're going to rub it on Rubix and heal her ..."

The dragoness trembled with fear at the touch, but Saphie's caresses and Beth's massage with medicinal oil reassured her and did her a world of good. Gently the product penetrated her skin between the bruised scales and the broken tissues slowly returned to their place.

A true friendship was born between the girls and Rubix's wagging tail betrayed her joy.

As the night wore on, Rubix looked at the blade and thought to herself.

"I'm not going to stick this thing in Torin..."

And she put the dagger back in her bag and fell asleep, covering her 2 new friends with her wings.