The fourth test: a cute dragon

Akiko got off the broom and quickly entered the barrier. There, she saw Lara, who asked:

— What did you go do?

Akiko replied by making an “X” sign (nothing) with her hands 🙅‍♀️.

They sat on a rock and waited for the test to end. Akiko felt relieved she wouldn’t have to face anyone directly. She felt the wind brushing through her hair and heard the birds singing. Little by little, she started to drift off… and fell asleep.

When the test was over, Lara woke Akiko, who let out a small yawn and stood up. Then they heard the mage say:

— Only one hundred and eleven passed, and now we’re going to cut that down a little more… — the mage said, as if trying to instill fear. — The fourth test will last one day and twelve hours.

Some people looked shocked (Lara included). How could they continue? They hadn’t slept or eaten properly…

For Akiko, this was nothing new. She had spent many nights awake studying without eating, so she was used to it.

— There’s no reason for those shocked faces. A mage must be accustomed to this kind of thing — the mage continued. — You will have to capture a dragon. It can be of any level, low or high. (The lower the level, the weaker it will be, and vice versa). If a dragon attacks you, we won’t be able to do anything but watch. The number of dragons is limited. There are no rules on how to capture them: they can be delivered alive or dead. And the rules from the third test still apply. This challenge will be life or death, so if anyone wants to give up, raise your hand.

Around twenty-one people gave up.

“Now there are ninety-one left… which helps a bit, since there are fewer dragons,” Akiko thought.

The mage went on:

— And another thing: you can capture more than one dragon. Good luck.

With that, she used a flight spell and left the barrier.

Inside the barrier, it wasn’t possible to see outside or leave without permission. However, from the outside, one could see everything happening within. The mage was watching it all, and Akiko already knew this from the style of the barrier.

Akiko started walking, and Lara followed her. Then Akiko stopped, crouched down, and began writing in the dirt: “Let’s split up, because if we stay together, there’s a chance one of us won’t be able to find a dragon.”

Lara understood, but felt sad about parting ways with her new friend. She smiled and left.

Akiko walked for hours until she felt strong, dense mana — probably from a dragon. She went to investigate and found a dragon tangled in vines. Quickly, she cast a wind blast spell, cutting the vines and setting it free.

(Akiko was merciless toward people, but compassionate and kind toward animals. Often, when she defeated dragons, she would simply ask them not to attack people anymore and to leave the villages in peace.)

The dragon began to cry. Seeing a creature with such dense mana and a relatively high level crying made Akiko chuckle and smile softly. But she quickly returned her focus to the test.

— You know I have to capture a dragon, right? — she asked.

It nodded.

— If you come with me, I won’t hurt you. But if you don’t, and someone else finds you, they might not do the same. If you agree, after the test I can… make you my familiar. Of course, only if you want to. Do you?

(A familiar was an animal a witch adopted to be her guardian.)

The dragon nodded again and said “thank you” in the spirit language.

— You can speak the spirit language? Why didn’t you tell me? — Akiko asked.

The dragon was surprised, since humans couldn’t speak that language.

— Don’t be surprised — she whispered. — I’m an elf.

Even for an elf, speaking the spirit language fluently was extremely rare, if not impossible.

(not even the dragon could speak it properly)

— You ride — the dragon said.

She petted it and climbed onto its back. Soon, they were flying.

The mage, who was watching, was startled to see someone riding a high-level dragon.

“Mind control magic? No… that’s too advanced. Maybe luck?” she thought. Casting a spell to get a closer look, she realized it was the funny little girl from earlier.

The mage wondered if the girl might have cheated on the previous test. She kept an eye on her and told the hidden examiners to watch her as well.

— My brother — the dragon said.

— Your brother? Where? — Akiko asked.

Suddenly, the dragon dove quickly.

— Don’t go down so faaaast! — Akiko yelled, afraid of falling.

When they landed, they saw a man mistreating a dragon — likely the vine dragon’s brother. Akiko quickly cast a wind spell, throwing the man far away. She stroked the injured dragon.

The man returned and cast a fire arrow spell. Akiko raised a barrier and, turning her head slightly with narrowed eyes, said angrily:

— These dragons are mine! Don’t hurt them!

The arrows hit the barrier and ricocheted back at the man.

The mage watching shivered — not only because of the girl’s skill or her frightening glare, but because it seemed she had cast the spell without reciting anything.

“Could it be…? No, that’s impossible. But if she really did a spell without chanting, then… she could definitely become a mage,” the mage thought.

Akiko mounted the dragon again, and they flew quickly. She could feel the wind and sunlight on her face, her long hair streaming behind her as they cut through the skies.