C7: Flight - p1

Summer had just begun. There was no sign of Tyra returning with the information needed, even after so many days had passed by.

The crooked trees on the mountain gorge had grown some evil-looking purple fruits. You only had to look at them to know they were poisonous.

Standing atop the second tallest tower, Melissa gazed down at the remainder of the castle of the Dragons.

Many years ago, they reigned over most of this land. But now, they've been reduced to a dark and greasy mountain where light could hardly touch the surface. They were like vermin thrown into the sewers now.

Down at the castle where the houses of the half-bloods and slaves lie, they were busy working and doing their daily activities. Children had been born to some of these slaves a year ago, and now they've grown up.

Soon, there would not be any space for such children in the castle either.

"Mother," the voice of her youngest daughter came from behind.

Melissa turned with a surprised look on her face, only to see Kaya standing at the doorway wearing a long black dress.

"Kaya? Why did you come here all of a sudden?" she asked, raising her eyebrow.

Kaya has grown to become a beauty in the past years. She was now 14 years old. Kaya had the same mole that Melissa had beside her left eye and the long hair that her big sister Chloe had. However, she was the shortest of Melissa's daughters.

Kaya walked towards Melissa with an uneven expression and gazed at the castle below without replying to her mother.

"Are you going to speak or not?" Melissa asked, slightly irritated.

"I just came to see your little prince's flight training, Mother. Am I a bother to you?" Kaya asked.

"Of course not. I am surprised, though. Why are you suddenly so interested in your little brother?" Melissa got curious.

"Puh ~ as if. I just came here to see how good my brother is at flight. I bet he won't even be able to float in the wind," Kaya huffed with pride. "You think knowledge is everything, but is it? Father had strength, but he did lack a brain. Now it's Xar… he may have knowledge mother, but will he be able to perform just as well in power? Let's see. Brother didn't even perform well at elemental control!"

Melissa sighed and shook her head.

"Guys, why can't you just love each other? What is this sibling jealousy? I'm tired of this. And – your brother only didn't perform elemental magic for the past few days because he's not quite ready yet. I only taught him fire breathing because he needed something to protect himself."

Kaya huffed again, pouting, the jealousy obvious from her expression.

"You are going too easy on him," she snapped.

Melissa didn't speak any further. She knew it was hopeless with Kaya.

Suddenly, a figure appeared above the castle, flying across the air towards Melissa.

The figure circled above the tower with a laugh.

It was Chloe, carrying her brother Xar on her back. Xar loved to ride on Chloe's back and take to the skies.

"Wooohoo!" yelled the young prince. Kaya narrowed her eyes and stared at the boy as he shouted joyously.

'Wild behavior… that Chloe is spoiling that brat,' she snapped inwardly.

Flap! Flap! Flap!

Chloe gently landed on the top of the tower with the usual smile she had on her face.

"Was that good, little bro?" Chloe asked Xar, helping him down.

"Yeah, that was epic," Xar replied with a grin.

There was another flapping sound of wings behind Chloe, and up came Aunt Crystal in her silver armor, carrying Mono, Xar's cousin, holding her from the neck of her dress.

"There you go, kiddo," Crystal dropped the little girl on the stone floor with close to no care. The little girl stumbled down to her knees upon hitting the floor.

Mono suddenly looked at everyone around her nervously. She was not a people person. She liked to stay alone.

"Oh hi, Mono! How have you been??" Chloe asked with a grin, leaning close to the little girl's face.

Mono gulped and looked away in embarrassment, mumbling: "I – I'm fine, big sis."

Chloe patted the little girl. "You're still such a shy one." Mono blushed.

Xar gazed at Mono, shocked to see her after so many days. Mono hardly came out of her room.

She was wearing a long white dress that matched her white hair. Her small necklace had a blue sapphire that matched her eyes. She was a cute young girl.

After that, Xar and Mono lined up at the edge of the tower for their first flight session.

Melissa and Crystal stood behind Xar and Mono, ready to give them the push when they needed it. Chloe and Kaya were standing by the side, observing the two kids intently. Both of them had already mastered their [Flight] skill.

///

I stood at the edge of the tower and gazed below.

There was an incredible fall from the top of the tower, and gladly, this wasn't the tallest one in the castle.

It's already too windy even here.

I slowly moved the wings in my back and unfolded them to get them massaged. Of course, I didn't possess a pair of wings when I was human. These were extra limbs for me now, and it felt unnatural.

The wings were joined with part of my backbone and my arms. With a movement of my shoulders and the will to move, I could easily move the wings. I only recently gained control of moving these wings according to my will.

But that didn't mean my wings could just make me fly.

Apparently, we needed to train for that. So, here I was, standing on a 100 feet tall tower.

Melissa gently laid her hands on my shoulders and began to massage them slowly. Then, she leaned close to my ear and whispered:

"Don't be afraid, ok? Mom's here. If you fall, she'll catch you."

"I know," I replied.

However, jumping from such a place still struck fear into your heart, even if you knew you were safe. I couldn't get over the goosebumps I had as a human for heights like this.

Beside me was Mono, gazing at the height in disappointment for whatever reason. There was no fear in her eyes, just clean disappointment.

"Mono," Crystal laid a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You can do this – but you should stop simply floating and flying this time! Ok? Understand?"

Mono nodded in fear, shutting her eyes. She was not afraid of the fall; she was terrified of her Mother.

"Okay then, big boy, remember what Mom told you," Melissa reminded me, letting her grip on my shoulders lose. "On three."

"Three…"

"Two…"

I breathed in the air and spread my wings wide.

"One."