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Chapter 1

Prove yourself, that's how everyday goes. Some are harder than others, and today just had to be one those days.

Extremely early mornings are made it difficult to get out of bed, I never really have gotten used to it. At least this time of year the sun is up so I can actually see what I am doing in my room. I guess you can't really call it a room, being that it is a barn loft that one of the town's farmers lets me use. At least in spring the mornings are usually warm, this living space is awful in winter. Every morning I had such a hard decision to make, brown pants or darker brown pants. If I made more at my job I could probably afford another set of clothes but I only had enough to feed myself each week. Once and awhile I luck out and have a few coins extra to save up.

"Hmm, I think I'll be wild and go with darker brown today..."

The town I live in is not bad really, smaller than most towns I hear about from traders that come through. The barn I stay in is on the outskirts of town so it is a refreshing walk to get to my job. Most people my age in town have begun figuring out which trades they want to go into. Blacksmiths, leather workers, masons, carpenters, the usual you would find. I was lucky to get a job at all being who I am. Working at the bakers was one of the better trades to be working with because the work was not too bad. Unfortunately I could never learn the trade and was only able to clean the shop and sweep the floors daily while the apprentices and the master baker could produce various baked goods all day.

I was not looking forward to working today as I was excited for the lesson the towns philosopher was lecturing on today, it very sounded interesting. We had an old philosopher that had moved into the town many years ago after he wanted an easier life in his later years. He started teaching the willing kids history, philosophy and some other basic subjects as a way to give back to the community. He believed we should have as much knowledge as possible for whatever lay before us in life. I liked attending his classes each week and learning about the history of our land. Many people did not believe what he had to say on our distant past and many thought he was crazy for thinking of such strange things.

I like that class for another reason; I had made two friends there which made my life much more bearable. Their families did not really like that they made friends with me but I was quite thankful they did not care what their parents told them. I was excited to see them again as class is only once a week and working at the bakery took a lot of my time.

There were still not many people out yet this morning as I ducked into the bakery's doorway. The apprentices always arrived about half an hour before me to begin the fires in the ovens. I headed to the back of the shop to get my supplies. I turned the corner and nearly walked into the master baker.

"You're late"

How could I be late? I am always here at the same time.

"Sorry sir,

"You will need to stay late today"

"But sir today is when Clanit hold class!"

"You can either stay late or find somewhere else to work."

"Yes, sir"

"Good now get to work, I don't know why you care about what that crazy old fox talks about anyway."

At least the aroma of baking bread was inviting. I knew I wasn't late but I needed money to eat so I was not going to argue. Sweeping the shop was easy but cleaning up the mess from the bakers was a constant chore. If I clean up quickly enough and not get in anyone's way they give me old bread that did not sell and that the apprentices did not want. That probably wasn't going to happen for awhile after being late.

I must have zoned out cleaning up when I got in the way of an apprentice.

"Get the hell out of my way dragon, first you're late and now you can't even pay attention."

"I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again"

"It had better not if you know what's good for you!"

My life would probably be much better if I was born as any other species but I got stuck as a dragon. People don't trust dragons; they think we are deceitful and dangerous. It all comes from stories from the past; I learned it all from Sir Clanit. Apparently hundreds of years ago there was a great war, a clan of dragons went on a conquest across the country side. They were eventually defeated but left a massive amount of destruction in their wake. Ever since that war, dragons have been looked down upon and treated awful. I have not even met another dragon traveling through the town; I have never even met my parents.

The day is long and staying late obviously didn't help. I did the best job I possibly could clean up but it wasn't good enough like normal.

"All right you have been here long enough, get out of here."

"Thank you sir, I truly appreciate this."

"Just don't be late again, you are easily replaced."

"Yes sir"

Thankfully he let me leave early enough to still catch part of Clanit's lesson today. As Sir Clanit said last week, today's lesson was going to be on the ancient myth of advanced machines before the time that magic was discovered. I still can't fathom how old that is based on the art of magic was lost over 500 years ago in the wars of that time.

I quietly snuck into the back of his study, usually about 20 kids showed but today there were closer to 30. I quietly slid into one of the back seats, I was glad to see my friends seating near the front taking in every word about Clanit's lecture.

"...and that is why we have theories on ancient technology, a few documents have been found from that time but most have been impossible to restore beyond a few readable fragments. What fragments that have been analyzed speak of a great time of advancement in the sciences leading to a golden age. Obviously this period ended after some time but we do not know how this happened. The fall of this age, which we refer to as the Advancement Period, this was followed by the discovery and utilization of the power in every living creature, which we refer to as magic."

Most of the class was transfixed in every lecture he gave, except for one.

"That's a bunch of bullshit"

"You have something to add Adrian?"

"You expect me to believe that this age came and went with absolutely nothing to show for it?"

"There is indisputable proof in the documents I have studied that is era occurred and drastically affected who we are today."

"Yeah, well fuck it, without proof I don't care. I'm done"

I was glad Adrian got up and left after that, he always was negative at every lesson. Not to mention his family was especially vile to me. Adrian was not as bad as his father but I still avoided him as much as possible. I would not want to give him a reason to start anything with me; he was the strongest in our town, tall and brash.

"That is all for today's lesson, now remember tomorrow we will be hold the Biennial event for coming of age. So get some good rest tonight to be ready for tomorrow."

I had completely forgotten about the coming of age event tomorrow. I had been dreading this for almost a month now.

"Reilan, can I speak with you for a moment?"

Here I was hoping to talk to my friends before they had to head back home for the evening.

"Yes sir, what is it?"

"I have pulled a few strings tomorrow to make sure you are on a team with your friends, Taryn and Alden."

"Thank you sir, but you didn't have to do that for me" I really was more thankful than he probably realized but I had to be respectful.

"Relian, you and I both know that if you were on a team with anyone else, that would absolutely no respect for you on the team and probably would set you up to fail. You wouldn't want to have to wait another 2 years to participate."

"Well I am one of the youngest to participate this year. It may be better if I waited."

"Nonsense! You are ready for this challenge; if you manage this you will probably get a few less dirty looks as you walk through the town"

Ha! I think, wouldn't that be great!

"Sir I really don't know if I am up for the challenge, I am not as strong or as big as the others participating this year. Taryn and Alden have a better chance than I do and I don't want to let them down."

"Relax Reilan, you don't need to worry so much."

"Sorry, I am just not used to succeeding."

"Listen, I have complete confidence in you. I know you can handle to the challenge tomorrow. You and your friends will make a great team."

I watch as Clarnit walks over to his large reading chair as he motions for me join him in the opposite facing chair.

"Reilan, I noticed you came in late today. Are my lectors not as interesting anymore? I know I am getting old, perhaps I am rambling on too much these days."

"No, no everything you teach us is still often unbelievable I am sure most of us would love to come here much more than once a week. The Master Baker believed I was late today and made me stay late despite that today was a lecture day."

That was one reason I loved coming to these lessons every week, Sir Clarnit is one of the only people I can talk to and forget that I am an unwanted dragon.

"Hmm, I sure he is just trying to get you to snap so he can find an excuse to get rid of you. I am sure you were calm and polite about it?"

"Of course, you know that he hates that he can't get a reaction from me, although I admit it is difficult some days."

"Don't worry, most people who have gone through the life you have in your 19 years wouldn't have as much restraint as you do."

One of the great misconceptions of dragons like me is that we are constantly containing our rage and the smallest thing can cause us to go into a fury. I must admit it is fun to constantly prove people wrong.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes as Clarnit lit his pipe and slowly drew in the vapors.

He started to smile, "You know, I hope you win. Can you just imagine the look on the mayor's face if he has to present a medal of achievement to you?"

Laughing at the thought I couldn't help but agree.

"Just remember everything I taught you about the competition tomorrow and you will be great."

"I will"

"Well Reilan you had better head off, it's getting late and you have a long day tomorrow, you will need your strength"

"Yes I better be heading back, thanks."

The ceremony begins at noon tomorrow and thankfully the whole town will be there meaning I won't have to work tomorrow but I couldn't help but still be nervous.

I opened the door and stepped out into the brisk night. I looked around to see if my friends had waited up for me but they hadn't. They probably headed home to make sure they got a good night's rest, hopefully they sleep well as I don't think I can for how nervous I feel. The stars were bright tonight making my walk home a lot of staring up at the sky. I open the barn door and climb the ladder up to the loft. I'm pleased to find it had warmed nicely during the day. I strip off my cloths, toss them in the corner slide under the covers of my makeshift bed. My mind is still running with all of the possible outcomes of tomorrow, but I settle on the only one I will accept, victory.