In Part 1 (Ch. 1-5), we met our Static bookworm narrator Emilie and her friends: the active Mage Jess, the shy Wizard Shannon, and the enthusiastic and Dynamic Alex. But when Emilie was set to research her favorite true dragons, she read a mysterious note saying that she was a true dragon herself.
Thankfully, the remainder of my flight was uneventful, although some beasts flew close enough to see me. They didn’t bother me or Shannon, so I figured it was fine. But I’m a little tired and ready to get going now so I may as well land.
Shannon is still lying in the middle of the field, but she gets up and backs away towards the shelter as I slowly descend. And—oh. Oops. That is a lot of burned grass. Not the whole field, but probably three quarters. With a suspicious circle of flattened-but-otherwise-fine grass right in the middle of it all. I think this might be even worse than the gouges I left last week.
Anyway, I land near where I took off from. But Shannon is still staring at me.
«I’m fine, Shannon! But you need to look away for her to leave.»
Shannon doesn’t budge. What do I need to say? “She protected me, right? And where are you, anyway?” Her light is shining right on me. There’s no way she can’t tell I’m not carrying anyone. And I don’t think my legs are thick enough to hide anyone, even as big as I am. I… suppose there are the rocks; the grass certainly isn’t hiding anything anymore.
«I can chat when she leaves, but you need to look away!»
Then Shannon’s eyes light up and I’m not sure what she’s thinking but she runs towards me and—hugs my leg! “I get it! You’re Emilie!”
I panic. Stuck standing stock still, I hastily deny, «No, I’m a Dragon! Dragons don’t have names!»
She looks up at me as I stare at her and hope that something good will happen. Then she releases me and runs behind the shed.
It takes me another minute before I can gather myself enough to shift. And while I’m not saying I don’t feel the cold in dragon form, it feels absolutely frigid outside the moment I’m fully human again. “Fred’s Thermal Regulator!” I whisper.
With the air around me rapidly warming up, I walk back to where Shannon is hiding. “Where’d you get the feather?” is the first thing she says to me.
I look down. I forgot to tuck it back inside my coat. “Oh.” I lift my head and grin sheepishly. “Jess gave it to me a few years ago, a little after she got her first spell. I guess I think of it as a lucky charm?” It’s definitely something of value to me. I’m just not sure what.
“It’s Jess’s feather?” I nod. “Neat! But, um, maybe we can talk later. I think it’s getting close to sunrise.”
The sky is certainly brighter. “Yep, later,” I agree, and we gather our stuff and bike home.
… Or to the gate, anyway. Did—um—did we miss a beast attack? I frown; looking through the brightening fog, there are quite a few people out here, picking up large objects I can’t see clearly.
On the communications box, the guard is acting a bit strange. He keeps looking away. I look up at the tower, and I think I can see the cause: he keeps standing and sitting. I bet he’s taking looks with his eyes rather than what the communications box is showing him; the box’s magic probably can’t see me. I hope that’s not too strange, but if no other Dragon has gotten caught yet I bet there are spells that block scrying. (Maybe that’s what the DF thought happened last week, too.) And if he can’t see me, I’d better just let Shannon talk with him. Good thing she’s here.
The gate opens and Shannon suddenly stops moving. What could—a lady exits a car a short way down Main Street. Judging by her looks, and by Shannon’s actions, I bet that’s Shannon’s mom. And knowing what Shannon thinks of her parents, now’s a good time to skedaddle.
“Sorry,” I apologize quickly before bolting.
Although my parents could be happier with the time I chose to leave, I did do everything promised, so they didn’t punish me. I did tell Al where I was going (the area near the park) and when I expected to return (a little after sunrise) and I did get back by then. And I took Shannon with me. Shannon didn’t tell her parents, but I’m not sure they even know who I am.
Thankfully, Mom and Dad realize that I couldn’t have possibly known there was going to be a beast attack this morning. If I’d known, I would’ve been home, regardless of my plans. But I was relieved to know that the Defense Force managed to contain the wall breach to the apartment area.
Dad asked if I planned to do this every week, and I confirmed it. As long as it’s not raining. Flying in the rain probably wouldn’t be too bad, but the bike ride would be awful. I’ll spend my magic some other way if it’s raining. He and Mom looked worried, and I wish I could tell them, but I’m not sure how safe that would really sound other than that I don’t need to worry about forest beasts. Plus all my other concerns about telling anyone at all. It’s good I was able to throw Shannon off.
And with all that done, today is the first day of winter break! No homework! Or, well, not today anyway. I have all of next week and the week after for that. Last year, I think I spent all of today at the library, but now I have the Mymoir. Which probably means “library” in some language, but the character for “Mymoir” includes the symbol I’ve learned indicates a name, which means I get to know what it sounds like but not the whole definition.
I probably could try writing “library” and compare the characters. Let me get some paper.
The description of the ability to write sounds a lot like what orange dragons can do, but it says any Dragon can do it. I can apparently engrave the characters of the Mymoir into any surface just by touching it and knowing what I want to write. And if the symbol would go through the target (like with paper, because that’s very thin), it’ll leave a hole without touching the material behind it.
But… that means some paper won’t be attached to anything. I guess if I don’t move it, that’d be fine, but maybe I should use some rocks instead.
Time for some backyard rock hunting.
The fog may be gone now, but it’s still frigid outside. In summer, I might’ve just marked the rocks while I was outside, but even with Fred’s Thermal Regulator I don’t want to spend a ton of time outside today. Especially since I’d have to remove my mittens to engrave the rocks. Instead, I pocket a few large ones and return to my room, closing the door in case I don’t notice someone approaching.
I locate a relatively smooth surface on two of the rocks and clean them off with my fingers. Wow they’re still cold. Um. I use a bit of magic to bring them closer to room temperature, then finish cleaning them and set them on my desk. Let’s see how this works.
With my right palm over the entire rock, and my left hand carefully not touching anything but my thigh, I think “library” with the intent to engrave it on the rock. Removing my hand, the character is clearly present on the rock. It’s actually really easy to read. I could probably sell engravings like this, if nobody minded that only Dragons can read it.
I bet some Dragons actually do that.
Repeating the process, I engrave “Mymoir” on the other rock, then compare the two.
The symbol in the middle of the Mymoir one looks familiar. Let me skim a bit… or maybe I can guess. I heat and clean a third rock, then engrave “Dragon” on it. Since the Mymoir is for Dragons, it’d make sense.
And there it is. Then the word “Mymoir” probably means “Dragons’ Library” or something like that.
Now, what do I do with the rocks?