The Dragoso Series 1: Discovery in Hardship
Chapter 4

Beyond the gates, Trevor gaped at what he could see. What served as the Academy itself was a mansion compared to what he and his siblings knew. It certainly seemed like a safe place. The building was made of a darker more natural color. Neutral. It looked more like a home than a school.

“Come on you four, let us get you set up in your rooms. Your lessons begin in the morning,” Sylark stated. They headed inside and up a few flights of stairs. Sereph went off on her own and Sylark pointed out two rooms across from each other. “Trevor and David take one, Aya and Brenda in the other. Students cannot bunk with the opposite gender.”

“What about students that don’t exactly identify as a single gender?” Brenda questioned, crossing her arms.

“Then students of the same gender identity are placed together.” Sylark snorted and left the kids to themselves.

“Did I say something wrong?” Brenda asked. Trevor shook his head. Brenda had always been a supporter of the LGBT community since she learned about it her Freshman year of high school. Hopefully Sylark wasn’t against her support.

“He’s not exactly the nicest person we’ve met. Don’t think about it too much. Let’s just get some sleep, we’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow,” Trevor stated. David tapped on his shoulder and held up a booklet.

“I found these by the entrance of the building. School booklets,” David stated. He handed one to each of them.

“Schedule, map, activities. It’s a small place but they’re already got a lot of opportunities for students, it’s almost like high school,” Trevor mused. After looking through quickly, the four kids retired to their rooms.

Trevor looked around the room. It was complete with a bathroom, dressers, beds, and nightstands. A standard living arrangement for two students. Trevor dropped his duffel bag on the bed and started unpacking his things. David followed Trevor’s lead and they were sitting on Trevor’s bed in their pjs after clothes were unpacked. David held his dolphin toy while Trevor looked at the picture of their father.

“Do you remember much about Dad?” David asked. Trevor hung his head slightly and exhaled.

“Well, he was a free spirit. Likes to be free and do things that really give you a rush,” Trevor stated. “I don’t understand why he would leave though. He could’ve stayed, you know.”

“Think we’re ever see him again?”

“There’s no telling, buddy.” Trevor ran his fingers through David’s hair before smiling. “Get some sleep, we have to be up early.” David nodded and dropped from Trevor’s bed, climbing into his own. Trevor flipped the light off and laid in his bed. He coughed lightly before looking at his brother curled up.

Don’t worry, David. I’ll keep you and the girls safe from anything that threatens our lives, even if it kills me.

~oOo~

Trevor woke to the pounding of a fist on the door to their room. He cracked his eyes open and had to take a moment to realize he wasn’t at home. Trevor check his watch that sat on his night stand. It wasn’t even time for breakfast yet.

“You boys awake?” A gruff voice called from the other side of the door. Trevor yawned before answering.

“One sec,” he called. He threw the blanket off and stood. He wobbled to the door and opened it to find a man with darker skin, black hair, and sharp green eyes, but cloudy pupils.

“Where’s your brother?” the man asked.

“Heavy sleeper. What’s this about, it’s not even breakfast time according to the schedule in the booklets,” Trevor stated.

“I’m aware, but the newcomers are woken before breakfast to meet with the headmistress. Up and at em now. Be ready in fifteen minutes and head to her office.” Trevor rubbed his eyes as the man walked off. Trevor closed the door and walked over to his bed. He grabbed his pillow and turned to David’s bed. He smacked his brother with the pillow.

“Wake up. We have to go meet the headmistress. Get dressed, buddy.” David groaned into his pillow before lifting his head.

“What time is it?” he mumbled.

“Five thirty, let’s go,” Trevor commanded as he pulled clothes from the dresser and started for the bathroom to shower. The bathroom wasn’t very big. Trevor realized the sink was actually outside of the bathroom. How he overlooked it was beyond him. The bathroom itself contained a shower stall, toilet, and towel rack where fresh towels hung. Trevor started the water in the shower and washed quickly, seeing as he didn’t have much time. After he showered and dressed, Trevor and David shared the sink as they brushed their teeth and Trevor brushed his hair. David pulled his fingers through his hair until Trevor interrupted by combing his brother’s hair.

“Oh c’mon, Trevor, why are you being picky?” David whined.

“Because we’re meeting the headmistress. Look decent and not like you just pulled your fingers through your hair. She’s royalty too you know. That girl at the shop said so. Just try to look decent, ok?” David groaned before taking the comb from Trevor and doing as his brother asked.

Trevor applied his new cologne and checked his hair in the mirror before he nodded. He was dressed in basketball shorts and his old football jersey. David was in khakis and a t-shirt with fish on it. After they tied their shoes on, David opened to door to see Brenda and Aya standing in the hall, waiting for them.

“That guy that woke us seemed pretty mean...” Aya mumbled as Trevor and David walked out.

“He’s just all business. We’ll have to get used to it. So the headmistress office is two floors down and right by the stairs. Let’s go before we get in trouble on our first day,” Trevor said and lead his siblings to the said room. Aya fluffed her hair and Brenda fixed her ponytail before Trevor knocked on the door to the office.

“Come in,” a voice spoke from the other side. Trevor opened the door to find a bedroom/office set up. There was a desk that stood out, but beyond it was a large window, an entertainment center with a 32 inch TV, a full sized bed, a bookshelf, and another smaller desk. Behind the main desk sat a girl who only looked to be as old as Brenda. She had brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She had pale skin and long nails that were sharpened to points and painted pink. The headmistress’ eyes stood out the most. Her right eye was a light green while her left eye was dark green. She appeared to be wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and gym shoes. She had her hands folded by her mouth while her elbows rested on her desk. The siblings lined up side by side as they stood before her. Her eyes looked them over as they stood there.

“Uh...” David mumbled, looking up at Trevor.

“Trevor, Brenda, Aya, and David. I want to start by saying welcome to the Voutneth Academy. I wish you four learned of your powers in a more gentle way. Call me Kathey,” she said and lowered her hands, smiling at them. “We’ll do everything we can to teach you how to control your powers so that you can return to the old lives you once knew. Trevor, the college that was going to give you the full ride for a year, the money has been put into a human bank account earning interest until you are ready. Brenda, Aya, and David, your schools have been informed that you transferred to another school for next year and any other years that are needed. Your mother is being watched by a trusted royal guard as we speak. She’ll be moved should her life be in danger.”

“And our father?” Trevor pressed. Kathey exhaled.

“On the planet Nixes where his dragon breed resides within the Dragoso System. Spending thirteen years away was bad for his health so he returned there to recover and research among the cold.”

“What is a...Nixes...?” Aya questioned.

“It’s a breed of dragon. The Nixes Dragon breed is a mix of water, ice, and air.”

“Isn’t water and ice the same thing?” David asked and Kathey shook her head.

“No, science would say otherwise, but when you’re dealing with dragons, you have to start believing in magic. Now, onto business.” Kathey pulled four papers from her desk and held them out to the kids.

“Here are your schedules. I made sure at least two of you are in the same class at all times. I know how close knit you are and sticking together is something you all truly need right now. There are a few rules that I need you to follow. We have a red alert system here, if it goes off, you listen to any teacher or staff member and do as they tell you. Don’t play hero. Don’t be late to classes, if you don’t want the meals provided here, you can spend meal times in the library, but you must attend all classes listed. If you don’t have a class set for a specific time, don’t cause mayhem in the hallways. This doesn’t apply to you yet because you four don’t know how to use your powers, but no turning dragon in the building unless it’s in the gym for training. No magic within the halls and absolutely no...inappropriate activities in your rooms. That’s all. Any questions?”

“Yeah, about the Underworld situation-” Trevor started but Kathey’s raised hand silenced him.

“We’ll see. If I don’t deem you fit to help, you won’t be assisting us. That is my final word.”

“How did you know what I was going to ask?” Trevor asked.

“I’m a telepath. I read minds and can see memories in your minds. Go on down to breakfast, I hear they’re making pancakes today.” Kathey smiled and the siblings exited her office.

“That was...interesting,” Brenda commented.

“Let’s all agree to just stay on her good side,” Aya advised and they all nodded.

“Now that that’s out of the way, let’s go eat,” David exclaimed, his stomach growling.

“No argument there, buddy,” Trevor agreed and they started downstairs to the first floor. They found the mess hall and spotted Sylark sitting with two others. A man with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, a black vest, yellow shirt, jeans, and riding boots. And a man with short black hair, tan skin and wearing a hoodie, shorts, and gym shoes.

“Seems like the weather doesn’t bother dragons as much as it bothers us. Some wear long pants, some wear shorts,” Brenda whispered to Trevor who nodded. They sat at a table and a man in his twenties with shaggy black hair, black eyes, and wearing all black approached them.

“What kind of pancakes kids?” He asked, notepad and pen in his hands.

“Banana,” Trevor said.

“Strawberry please,” Brenda requested.

“Apple!” Aya exclaimed.

“Chocolate chip!” David added and the younger kids smiled at each other as the man walked off. Trevor watched him walk out of earshot before turning to his siblings.

“Did you guys see his eyes?” Trevor asked.

“Yeah, they were pitch black,” Aya noted.

“Kathey’s eyes were different colors too. No doubt everyone’s eyes relate to what breed they are, it’s gotta be the case!” Brenda stated in a hushed whisper.

“As natural as they can be, no dragon has normal eyes, human born or not. We can’t ignore the fact that Aya’s eyes are almost white,” Trevor pointed out and Aya nodded. They all dropped the subject when their breakfast came.

“We have a lot to learn about this new world that we’ve been thrown into. Let’s live as normally as we can and hopefully we’ll be home before we know it,” Brenda said and shoved a bit in her mouth. “Oh my god these are amazing.” The other three laughed as the continued breakfast.

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