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Chapter 12- 4 months later

'Concentrate Farren' Serafin said.

'I'm trying' I say straining, I was trying to summon my avatar so far I had been unsuccessful only being able to make objects out of energy. I stopped trying it was Friday afternoon, I was tired 'how is it?' I say frustrated, 'that I'm able to summon an avatar and bisect a dragon but now I can't summon it at all.'

'Well you did give up some of your soul to save me, well I say that but no one, not even Runetide really understands what you did and ever since then you have struggled with the more advanced magic.'

'Yes,' I agreed 'I don't know if I can even summon my avatar anymore, but changing topic did you know we made it to the newspaper after the whole beacon incident, you managed to stain the water a purple-y red.'

'Huh that's kinda cool, I mean that was seven months ago.'

'I only found out because my mum asked me if I had seen the lake.'

Serafin raised her brows, 'that didn't seem sus at all.'

'No, I just think she wanted to know whether or not I knew, I mean this was before she met you.'

'that's true' Serafin said, 'So would you like to continue?'

I sighed 'not really the fact that we have been practising for months and I have gone from avatar summoning to not even being able to make even being able to summon one at all, it's kinda disheartening.'

Serafin scooped up Farren she raised him to eye level, 'I know this is hard for you but Aborwrath I still coming, all we know is that it's going to take her longer.'

I sighed, 'you know you're scarily like my mum sometimes.'

Serafin nodded, 'ok now will you try one more time, for me.'

'Ok,' I said, 'are you going to put me down.'

'No.'

'Ok then, no pressure' I stood on Serafin's palm, I closed my eyes and reached down I felt it deep down I felt it will it to take a form I felt my hand tingling felt the power I willed it I wanted it to I could feel Serafin's excitement at the edge of my conscience a tickling nagging sensation, the link broke I felt it slink back deep down.

'Serafin' I said, just a little annoyed.

'Sorry' she said apologetically, 'I just thought you had it that time.'

'It's fine' I say feeling tired, 'is it ok if we stop now through.'

'Yes, of cores,' Serafin gently lowered me to the ground.

I lay down on the ground Serafin sat down next to me, 'I know we're supposed to get ready to fight Aborwrath but what am I supposed to do I'm not a dragon?'

'That's rather obvious.'

'Serafin, don't interrupt my inner deepest darkest thoughts' I say jokingly.

'Sorry' she said putting her hands up in mock surrender, 'it's kinda hard when I can hear your thoughts.'

'On a more serious note' I say 'what exactly am I going to do if she comes? just cower in some dark whole and hope you Runetide and Alex don't die' I say exasperated, 'like what am I going to do?'

I looked over at Serafin she looked slightly shocked, 'are you ok? I ask.

'Yep yes fine' Serafin shook her head, 'I was just thinking' she trailed off.

'What?' I ask.

'Well if you want, we could start digging the whole now.'

I burst out laughing 'Serafin' I say trying to control myself 'you're supposed to take this seriously.'

Serafin smiled and lay down next to me her hair spread around her like a halo her horns caching some of her hair I rolled over until I was next to her as she brushed away the hair still clinging horns.

'You are the worst person to have a serious conversation with' I say gently, caressing one her cheek she closed her eyes.

'You know' she said, 'I think that it's best to see things in a positive light' she rolled over onto her side looking directly at me 'because I have seen some depressing shit in my time. There's no point in just letting it weigh you down because if you do, you'll end up like me, sitting in a cave depressed with only another depressed unable to use magic human.'

'Are you capable of taking anything seriously?'

'You know' she said rolling on to her back, 'I'm not sure but I do know one thing.'

'What' I ask.

'That cheek rubbing was nice; you should continue doing that.'

I snorted smiling, 'how can you even feel that?'

'It's not about how it feels physically' Serafin said, 'it's about the emotion behind it.'

I sat down leaning against Serafin's head she was massive compared to me, almost thirty meters tall I gently caressed her cheek 'how's that' I asked.

Serafin sighed contentedly and after about a minute fell asleep, I could tell because her tail stopped moving, she lay there unmoving I stood there for a moment then I decided to walk into the approximate middle of the clearing. I clenched my fists and breathed in deep I could do this I believed that was all I needed now all a had to do was channel it into the shape I wanted it to be, I felt the link felt it through me, I felt the tingling in my arms my hands I opened my eyes my hand was glowing and then it started to coalesce into a solid from around me.

'ah-ha' I shouted, 'I did it.' There it was there where arm attached to mine a beeping sound come from the watch on my hand, I looked over intending to wake Serafin up, but she was already awake I flicked my hands and the bigger ones attached evaporated.

'Good timing' she said yawning time 'rtb?'

'Yep,' I said standing, 'ten-minute warning.'

'Aren't you glad I can walk much further than humans?'

'Serafin your legs are like thirteen and a half meters long you can literally step over my house.'

'Yes, I can' she said scooping me up, 'home would bound.'

It took Serafin a little over six minutes make the three-kilometre walk to the top of the valley that hosed base one, prefabricated walls lined the top of the valley they here regularly patrolled and had many emplacements, there were two main entrances to the base one at each end of the valley. Big titanium-tungsten alloy doors and nestled in and along the sides of the valley that base one occupied thousands of people worked, trained and drilled, and off to one side of their northern entrance there two warehouses one were Serafin was working on something with a team of scientists and technicians and the second one where she had taken over Runetide's teaching, in addition to her duties of helping research and development with anti-dragon weapons, improved armour and weapons, this is where the combat armour come into existence designed to counter nagas and improve weapons.

The labs and R&D and testing facilities where all dug into the southern mountains and the western mountains housed the vehicle and maintenance bays, the base had had a light tank division and a heavy tank division The light tanks were small and sleek with three crew members and one main and one secondary armament the main gun fired a napalm-like substance and the secondary armament was a small hull-mounted anti-infantry turret. The heavy thanks were lager and had more armour but were still sleek with five crew a twin-barrel main gun and one hull-mounted anti-infantry and two sponson mounted anti-infantry turrets.

The base also had four separate infantry divisions, three divisions of rife men and woman each was equipped with body armour and a helmet with a half-face visor, with Hud and targeting radical and were armed mission-specific, shotguns for CQC, DMRs for long to medium range etc. and one specialist division the pathfinders like scouts but better armed. Similar to rife men but with carbines and specialist equipment base one also had the new and experimental combat armour, CQC specialist. With enough APCs and gunships to carry all of them, the gunships here small compared to the troop transports but still carried twelve men with two side doors each with a mounted weapon which could either be anti-infantry armour or air depending on the mission and one rear ramp. The APCs were squat six-wheeled and could each carry fifteen riflemen, or ten combat armoured personnel who could exit via a rear ramp or side door it also had one hull-mounted turret.

The base also had technicians, crew, gunners for the numerous implements and the like and let us not forget one dragon, Alex and Runetide where off hunting some sea creature in the Archasian ocean, Serafin and I were taking over Runetide's duties of teaching the art of fighting dragons and Nagas with some assistance.

'It appears we company' Serafin said.

I looked down we did indeed have company; we had reached the main wall and there were three guards at the main gate.

'identification please.' One of the guards asked.

Serafin hunkered down in front of the gatehouse bemused, 'how many dragons are there?'

The guard looked unamused he looked at Serafin appraisingly, she sighed 'Serafin D 3-2-0' she said the gate guard Hendrix was one of the very small group of people that Serafin would actually socially engage with.

'And you're not going to ask for Farren id?'

'No' Hendrix said, 'there is just something out Farren that is memorable.'

Serafin huffed good-naturedly.

'Checks out you may proceed,' Hendrix said smiling, 'you can never be too safe you know what with all the dragons wondering around.'

Serafin shook her head bemused, 'thanks I guess' She said standing up and stepping over the wall surrounding base one.

'Have a nice day' Hendrix said.

I waved to him.

It looked extra busy today people were always moving around drilling and such but today there seemed to be a sense of urgency about it, Serafin strode through the base sticking as close to the wall was posable to avoid accidents she was holding me one hand as she ran her other hand along the wall.

'This is amazing, in only two months' I said.

'Yep.'

'I mean' Serafin shrugged 'it took a while to get the government to fund this.'

'It was mostly you just threatening to eat people.'

'That it was' Serafin said smiling, 'it took almost three years with a quick break to deal with Gellots son and the twins, in fact, that's what changed their minds about this whole after and now they believe me.'

'That's good' I say.

'It is' Serafin said.

'Would you mind putting me down?' I asked having just seen the mess hall and realizing how hungry I was.

'Are you sure?' Serafin seemed concerned.

'Yes I will be fine it's just I want to socialise with some other humans, I know what you're going to say' I said Serafin looked like she was about to say something. 'But hear me out you then to have an effect on people I'm not saying that you're not an amazing dragon with a bubbly personality, but the way you treat people in here, ever since the incident it's like you think everyone is going to attack me.'

'Yes, well I just feel worried' Serafin said.

'And then there was the other time.'

'What other time.'

'Remember that guy he said, that's a she and then you yelled at him and I quote if I had tits the size of your mum's car would that help you identify my gender.'

'Oh yes, I remember didn't he faint?'

'Yes, he did.'

'And also, a do have tits.'

'Yes, I say but there well.'

'Small' Serafin said she narrowed her eyes but couldn't keep the smile off her lips, 'would you like it if my breasts were the side of your mum's car?'

I blushed 'no comment' I said knowing full well Serafin knew what I was thinking, 'anyway back to the topic at hand I am now because of the amount of time I spend with you am deemed unstable, and likely to try to rip the head off anyone who shit talks me or my draconic girlfriend.'

Serafin stopped walking, 'what did you just say.'

'That's is a rumour going around, well they think it's a rumour.'

Serafin almost seemed to be shaking with anger, I could feel the waves of anger radiating from her.

'Farren who-'

'Serafin' I say exasperated, 'this is what I mean you here one rumour and you on the warpath, you just need to calm down and also, it's true.'

Serafin breathed in deep and smashed her fist into the wall.

'Jesus' I yelled I almost fell off Serafin's hand.

'Ok I'm feeling a lot better now,' she said.

'You don't have a lot of experience when it comes to interacting with other humans do you?'

'Admittedly no, well apart from well.' Serafin stopped.

'Well, what?'

'I will tell you later' Serafin lowered me to the ground, 'now run along go and get something to eat.'

Alright, I thought to myself that's going to be an interesting story.

'by Serafin' I said.

She waved back.

'See you soonish' I said, 'then we can both have fun teaching the normal humans.'

And with that, I set off I search of some food and some human company the food way easy the company not so much, not many people recognized me but those who did vehemently avoided eye contact I could feel my ears burning I was standing there looking for somewhere to sit.

'Hey, you there.'

I looked over in the direction of the voice.

'Yes, you the only one here not wearing military uniform'

I walked over to the table, trying not to show how relieved I was I sat down.

'Hello' I said, I was feeling more than a little suspicious.

'Hi, there' three people sitting at the table said introducing themselves.

The first one his name was Mark he looked like a nice guy he had nice eyes and dark brown hair he had a very laid-back sort of look about him.

The second one's name was Petrov he had a slight Slavic inflection on his ascent he looked much, older he had hazel brown eyes and dark hair he looked to me more like a farmer than someone who for an unknown amount of time was going to be fighting fellow humans, nagas and dragons.

And last but not least there was Zane he couldn't have been much older than me seemed to have a very gun-ho attitude towards the whole thing, he had blond hair and dark eyes and seemed very interested in how a relationship between and a dragon worked.

I introduced myself in the standard way, hello my names Farren I'm the resident dragon whisperer, on a more serious note I added in how thankful I was that they were willing to even talk to me.

'No problem after all' he said grabbing Petrov and Zane's shoulders, 'we're all a team here.'

'Yep,' Petrov said, 'even if your friend is a thirty-meter-tall lizard who growls at everyone threateningly and threatens to eat anyone who so much as puts a hand on you.'

'Wait, hold on, that's a thing like Serafin actually said that?' I asked.

'Yep,' Zane said, 'orientation in how you fight nagas, she even demonstrated using holograms.'

I sunk my head into my arms and groaned 'why.'

'Because' Mark said, 'she wants to protect you.'

'You know from all the bad people' he said, pulling a face that I assumed was supposed to look spooky all it did was make a laugh.

'So, you have been here since the start? and I know it's a big base but still.'

'Well after the first time I decided to look around.'

'What are you that kid from like a week ago' Zain said, 'the one kid who got-'

'Yes,' I said 'it took me almost half an hour to persuade Serafin not to hunt down and teach the two guards on patrol a lesson and they were disciplined, but It doesn't help that where linked so felt everything they did but it was an honest mistake, I mean it was kid in the middle of a top-secret base what were they supposed to think.'

'Wow ok, and she felt uncomfortable with you just wondering around on your own?' Zain asked.

Truth be told so was I for a bit but today is the day I start socializing and trying to convince people that I'm not going to get my draconic girlfriend to murder anyone who so much as breaths on me.

'Good plan' Mark said.

We sat in silence eating for a while until all of our bracelets beeped.

'You know what?' I said.

'What?' Petrov asked.

'This is kinda similar to school, but with guns drills and a lot of shouting.'

'So not like school' Mark said.

'No, he has point' Zain said.

'Thank you' I say 'now if you excuse me I have a class to teach.'

'Funny that' Mark said, 'we have class now, with the fill-in Dragon teacher.'

'Well then,' I said, 'this should be fun.'

I was laying on my back breathing heavily after having my ass handed to me by several Naga simulations or more accurately a golems in the shape of a Nagas I was with the second class in the other half of the hanger Serafin was handling the dragon side of things, they were doing theory today I was doing practical simulations without magic before the class started I decided to take on two nagas on my own without magic.

Mark nodded 'I knew you would be fine.'

Petrov frowned 'you sent me to get my med kit.'

'You didn't?' Mark asked.

'No' Petrov replied, 'I had complete faith in Farren.'

'As did I' Zain said.

'Ok, I said I'm pretty sure that the only one who thought I was going to make it out alive was Petrov thanks by the way for your faith in my ability.'

'No problem' he said.

'Anyway' I said forestalling any more banter 'you better go otherwise even I won't be able to save from Serafin's wrath

'Alright,' they said.

'Also' I said as a last-minute thing, 'if you all wanna hang out meet me on the north-west corner.'

Then the class filed it I had an actual instructor to help me out today, first up in the simulation was theta team and they did well in a two to one situation they only lost three members of their ten members after everyone had run through simulations classes swapped and I was helped by the same instructor and Serafin was helping the other humans put into practice what they had learned in theory, which went surprisingly well by the looks of it. After we were done with teaching Serafin disappeared I assumed she was hunting that was the vibe I got from her mind so I made towards her sleeping area I spotted Mark, Petrov and Zain.

'Hello,' I waved to them.

'Hey' Zain replied.

'This guy's not letting us through' Mark said

'Well' I said, as I reached the checkpoint, 'he isn't supposed to let anyone in except me but' I said looking at the gate guard, 'if I was to let them it would be ok.'

The guard shrugged, 'sure.'

'Alright,' I said dramatically, 'follow me, intrepid adventurers.'

Petrov snorted, 'alright then light the way.'

There was a buzz and the boom lifted and I led them into the Serafin's sleeping quarters, it was a walled-off area outside the main base the wall was only seven meters high but it was high enough to stop anyone who wasn't supposed to from seeing her when she was asleep, which in my mind didn't make much sense but I could understand that the government that had a very strong view on dragons would not want to be seen working with them and that it would take monumentally large amount of resources to actually make something big enough to be considered a room.

'Um' Zain said, 'where is the dragon.'

He was right Serafin wasn't actually there.

'Huh,' I said, 'she's usually here at this time eating and or roasting some manner of creature.'

'So that's why you look so healthy' Zain said.

'What?' I said confused.

'You get to eat actual meat'

'You know Serafin - '

'I what?' Serafin said.

I stated Serafin was standing just outside the wall, 'Serafin you scared me.'

'You know' Petrov said, 'you move way to quietly for the thirty-meter-tall lizard.'

'Why thank you' Serafin said, stepping over the wall and sitting down putting the five very unlucky kangaroos behind her, 'now' she said addressing me 'are you going to introduce me to your new friends.'

Then an alarm went off, 'what's that?' I asked Serafin.

Before Serafin could answer the pa system answered me 'an unknown draconic presence had been detected seven kilometres north, north-west all personnel your stations.'

My stomach dropped 'oh no.'

Serafin paled 'its begun.'

'Do you mean?' Mark asked.

'Yes' Serafin said, 'what division are you' Serafin said to Mark Petrov and Zain.

'I'm sorry what?'

'What division' Serafin said frustration creeping into her voice.

'Pathfinders' Mark said.

'Good' Serafin said 'go get your gear then come straight back here.'

'But where supposed- 'Zain said.

Serafin overrode 'him you are now part of my squad.'

'By whose authority.' mark asked

'My authority' Serafin said, 'now go' they turned and left running into the maelstrom that was the base one.

'Serafin, why did you do that?' I asked.

'Because they're your friends and they need protection.'

'They have guns and body armour.'

'Now they have me.'

'Serafin I barely know them, hell I met them today.'

'Well, then I'll just have to make sure that they live long enough for you to get to know them.'

'Oh, my Serafin' I groaned.

'What' she said.

'There are going to be in more danger with us then they would be with everyone else.'

'They won't' Serafin said 'you know how this works it's a miracle that their first insertion point was even remotely close, now was have the chance for a shock assault and we can shut down and then block entry and remember me may not necessarily be fighting dragons.'

'That's true but still- '

'Farren' Serafin said crouching down and looking directly at me, 'I have a plan I'll brief you and everyone else on the way I can't get in contact with Runetide or Alex I just need you to trust me.'

I sighed 'ok I trust you.'

'Good' she said she scooped me up, 'now just make sure you stay alive' she said nuzzling me gently I gently caressed her snout.

'Are we interrupting something' Mark asked walking in the Petrov and Zain all wearing full combat gear armoured gas masks on and bull body armour on.

Serafin looked around 'no.'

I could tell she was blushing.

'Right now,' she said, 'I need y'all to stand still.'

'Why' Zain and Petrov asked in unison.

Serafin reached out and wrapped her hand around all three of them and lifted them up there were some very loud and choice swear words, she bought them up to my level and opened her hand they all got to their feet.

'Would now be a good time to mention that I'm afraid of heights' Petrov said.

'No' Serafin said raising her hand with me to her shoulder 'hop on.'

I stepped onto her shoulder and held onto her hair then Serafin did the same for Mark Petrov and Zain they all hesitantly stepped onto her shoulder.

'Alright,' she said, 'let's go.'

She set off at a run.

'Oh, my oh Fuck' we all said in unison, as the forest blurred below us.