Powers

“We dragons are nothing more than slaves to humans.” She said.

“How could that even happen? Aren’t dragons too strong for humans? Even with magic, I feel that shouldn’t be possible.” He was very confused about how this could happen.

“It was not always like this. For a long time, humans and dragons coexisted peacefully.” She sighed, “I do not know the full details as it was so long ago now, but what I do know is that a human found ancient magic that could suppress our strength.”

“Let me guess, war started after that.”

“You would be correct. I hear it was a long war; many dragons and humans died.”

“How did it end?” 

“Dragons, along with humans who didn’t want to use dragons as tools, gave up. The ones who wanted control had too much power at their command.”

“May I ask why you are alone out here?”

“…”

“Sorry, you don’t have to tell me.”

There was silence for a bit.

“I shouldn’t pry too much. This all just feels crazy. Feels like a dream, but then again…” He touched the rocks that were around him. “It feels too real to be a dream.”

“How did they know you weren’t already owned?” He asked.

“There is a magical collar that gets put on that binds that dragon to a human.”

“I see, so you could be commanded to do anything then.”

There was silence again.

“That’s just horrible. Dragons are too majestic to be slaves.” She smiled at his comment.

“It is nice to meet a human like you.”

“I have always been fascinated by dragons.”

“I thought you said dragons do not exist where you are from?”

“They don’t, but in books, movies, and games, they do. Lots of times they are the bad guys, but I always hated that.”

She started laughing.

“Is what I said funny?”

“More amusing than anything.” Her laughter subsides. “To talk to a human that doesn’t want to control a dragon is rare.”

“There must still be some humans who don’t want this.”

“Of course there is, but they and the dragons they tried to save end up dead. There hasn’t been an attempt to free dragons in almost fifty years.”

“I see…” Aiden leaned his head against the wall behind him, still trying to process everything.

“Your blue fire magic is also rare.”

“That was the sword, not me.”

“That is not true. I can tell that sword is unique, but it is still only a tool. That blue fire magic came from you.” 

“Me?”

She nodded.

“I have magic? Well, might as well give it a go.” He brought his hands up and tried to focus, but nothing happened. He tried again… still nothing.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Trying to make blue fire.”

She shook her head.

“You do not create the magic you wield. Magic flows through you; it is a part of you. Draw from your body, not from the air.”

“Flows through me…” He said quietly and tried again. He focused this time on pulling from his body. He felt… Something, a tiny tug within him. Focusing on that feeling, he felt a surge of warmth throughout his body. Between his hands, a tiny flame appeared.

*FWOOOSH*

The tiny flame became a ball of blue fire about the size of his head.

“Wow! I did it!” Aiden exclaimed with happiness.

“Very good.” Said the dragon.

Aiden smiled as he absorbed the blue flame back into himself.

“If I am not mistaken, blue fire is said to have healing properties if used right.”

“Heal?” Aiden looked at her wounded wing, “Does that mean I could heal your wing?”

“Perhaps, you are the first I have seen with blue fire magic, so I do not know for certain.”

“Could I try?”

“Yes, you may try.”

Aiden stood up and walked over to her wing that was still tucked to her side. He looked up at her, and she nodded to go ahead. He put both hands on her wing and focused like he did before. Only this time, instead of making a fireball, it was to heal. How did that look? He wasn’t sure. Just like with the fire, there was a tug. Focusing on that feeling, his hands started glowing blue. It spread to her wing.

“Does it hurt?” He asked.

“No, but it tingles a bit.”

He took that as a sign to continue. Focusing more, the glow started covering her whole body. The huge cut on her wing started to close up, but he could feel something else he was healing. He didn’t know what, but whatever it was, he wanted it gone. She shivered a bit before he felt he was done. The glow from her and his hands was now gone.

“How do you feel?” He asked.

“I feel amazing. Like I could…” She roared before blowing super-hot fire out of her mouth down the deep cave, lighting it up.

Aiden held out his arms in front of his face to try to block the immense heat as she continued to blow fire for a few seconds. When she was done, she roared again.

“I sure hope nothing was down that way.”

“My full strength is back. I have not been able to breathe fire since I was just a little one.”

“But how?”

“Slavers have a ring that is imbued with the ancient magic. It seals away our full strength along with our fire breath to make it easier to capture. You magic undid it, it seems.”

“So, if you get near another ring, will it happen again?”

“I am not sure.”

“Well, if it does, I’ll just undo it again.” Aiden went to sit down again. He didn’t feel tired from using his magic, but sort of mentally exhausted from everything that had happened.

“My name is Veltheryn.” She said as she laid down on her stomach like a cat or dog would, bringing her head closer to him.

“Nice to meet you, Veltheryn. My name is Aiden.”

“You know, Aiden, I think we met for a reason.”

“And what reason would that be?”

“To free dragons, of course.”