The next morning Ashaedia awoke and found Maylor staring at her with large emerald eyes. Ashaedia was wondering why he looked so alarmed. She hurred to him, telling him to go sit on her night stand for a little bit. He flew onto her night stand and waited patiently. Ashaedia pushed the covers off her and jumped out of bed. She stretched her arms and yawned. She looked down and saw Mydia also waiting for her.
“What do you guys want? It’s like, 6:30 in the morning!” Ashaedia said, yawning again. Mydia flew onto Ashaedia’s computer desk and snatched Maylor’s writing pad. She tossed it up to Maylor and he flew onto Ashaedia’s shoulder. Mydia flew up towards Ashaedia’s face and asked her to sit on her bed. After she did so, Mydia handed her the pad. Ashaedia stared at it in surprise; a name was written on it:
Tearia
“Who’s Tearia?” Ashaedia asked Mydia. Mydia glanced at Maylor. He was shuffling his feet nervously.
“Maylor, who is Tearia?” Ashaedia asked him. Maylor blew a nervous smoke ring. Ashaedia wafted the ring away.
She is a new student in your class. Maylor said, looking down at his feet.
“A new student? How could you be sure?” Ashaedia asked again. Maylor shrugged.
“Well, which class is she in?”
Your Social Studies class and Orchestra class.
“Oh, well, when I get to my class, I’ll look around for a Tearia. Maylor,” Ashaedia said, snapping her fingers and held out her hand. Maylor flew onto. “You will come with me and tell me which one is Tearia, alright?”
Sure thing. Maylor hurred. Ashaedia went to take a shower; got dressed (She takes her clothes she’s going to change into in the bathroom so she can change in there), went downstairs and ate breakfast, got her hair brushed, brushed her teeth, got all her school supplies together, played on her violin for a little bit, then she put away her violin and looked down at her clock. It was 8:00.
“Okay, Maylor, sit inside your pouch and wait there for a minute okay?” Ashaedia said. Maylor nodded and jumped onto her backpack. He unzipped his “secret” pouch. The pouch had everything he did while he was in Ashaedia’s backpack. A small blue pillow was lying off to the side in it and a blanket that Ashaedia had sewn when she first made Maylor. Maylor grabbed his pencil and pad and dropped them inside the backpack.
“Ashaedia! Come on, you’ll be late!” Ashaedia’s mother yelled.
“Oh, we better be off! Goodbye, Mydia! See you when I get home!” Ashaedia said goodbye to her dragon and waved goodbye. She waved back. Ashaedia left her room and went downstairs and out the door to her mother’s car. Ashaedia pulled the car door open and entered the car and shut the door. They pulled out of the driveway and towards school.
Who is Tearia? Mydia asked out loud.
She’s a sign. A sign for Ashaedia’s journey to began. A sudden voice said, and a shadow of a dragon appeared before Mydia. Mydia shrieked out in surprise, but the dragon wasn’t startled by the frightened screech. She wondered if it would go away, but then she considered that the shadow dragon might give her information on Tearia
Does she have a purpose to be here? Mydia hurred. But the dragon ignored her question and blew a ring of blue fire. The center of the fire was empty for one second, and then the next a grayish fire filled the space. A figure appeared in the fire, and it became clear of what the dragon was doing. It was spying on Ashaedia!
She needs no watching over! Mydia hurred angrily.
I know, but I need to know if she is there. The dragon said calmly. It looked back into the fire. Ashaedia was walking across the soccer field towards her first class, P.E. She stopped in a group of students and put her backpack down gently and talked to her friends.


At lunchtime, Ashaedia sat at a table alone and ate her lunch slowly. A girl with long hair was watching her. She had unusual violet hair. A student supervisor walked over to her.
“You better sit down missy. Even though you’re new here, you’ll still receive a slip if you don’t sit down, alright?” The woman said.
“Alright.” The girl said, and walked over to Ashaedia’s table. As she approached, Maylor rattled his scales.
“Um, may I sit here with you?” The girl asked.
“Sure.” Ashaedia said. The girl sat down. She wore a dark blue dress that had a beautiful design of dragons on it. The girl had eerie but beautiful eyes the color of molten brass that seemed to stare into your soul.
“So, um, how’s it going?” Ashaedia asked her.
“Excuse me?” The girl said.
“I meant how are you.” Ashaedia pointed out. Ashaedia glanced at her and noticed her ears were kind of pointed, like an elf.
“I like your hair.” Ashaedia said.
“Why, thank you, um –”
“My name is Ashaedia. And yours is?”
“Tearia. It’s a pleasure to meet you Ashaedia.”
Hrr! Maylor said sharply. Tearia looked down at the pouch.
“Oh, do you have a dragon with you?” Tearia asked. Ashaedia’s heart almost stopped beating when she said that.
“I’m sorry, did I surprise you?” Tearia asked politely.
“How do you know?” Ashaedia whispered. Maylor was struggling to open the pouch and glimpse at Tearia.
“I have one too. He’s a real dragon though.” Tearia said. She pulled open her backpack (it was more like a sack) and pulled out a Maylor-sized dragon. It was a handsome dragon, for its green and blue scales shined like newborn stars and its red-eyed gaze was oddly eerie. The dragon looked kind of bird like, it had four long feathers on its elbows and its wings were feathery and lime green.
“This is Geno, he’s my special dragon. He can come alive anytime he wants, watch him carefully because he won’t move much if there’s like a hundred people who don’t believe in dragons around him.” Tearia said. Ashaedia stared at Geno, and she saw his eyes blink and his arm move slightly. She smiled.
“What does Geno do?” Ashaedia asked, pulling out Maylor.
“Well, Geno is what my people call a Herati, or Fortune Teller and –” But Tearia stopped and looked dumbstruck. She then leaned closer to Ashaedia and whispered, “Can you keep a promise? Or a secret?”
“Of course, Tearia.” Ashaedia said, putting Maylor on the table next to Geno.
“Ok, come with me.” Tearia said, and grabbed Ashaedia’s hand and led her out of the lunch area. She led her out onto a deserted playground and under a slide.
“Ashaedia, you have to promise me to never tell anyone this, alright?” Tearia said.
“I will never tell anyone, Tearia.” Ashaedia said.
“Really? You swear you won’t tell?”
“I swear!”
“You swear to Khaine?”
“Who?”
“Do you swear you won’t tell anyone?”
“I SWEAR TEARIA!”
“Okay, excellent, because I’m about to tell you a special secret,” Tearia said finally, and smiled. “Okay, Ashaedia. Do you know why my ears are pointy?”
“No.”
“It’s because I’m a Shadow Elf.” Tearia said. Ashaedia laughed.
“What?! Ah, Tearia, you’ve got to be joking–”
“No one believes me! I am one! My mother is one! My father is one! Fine, I’ll show you how powerful I am –” Tearia said, and held her hands out in front of her. Her hands glowed with an eerie purple light, and then they burst aflame with purple and blue fire. Ashaedia gasped. Witchcraft! But Ashaedia wasn’t afraid like any other kid would if they saw this happen. Ashaedia grabbed hold of Tearia’s shoulders and shook her. The fire’s light was becoming too bright and anyone would have seen the blaze. Tearia opened her eyes and the fire went out.
“I believe you, Tearia. Please, calm down and tell me more.” Ashaedia said. Tearia sighed.
“I am s-sorry! I have a nasty temper . . .”
“It is alright, Tearia.”
“I don’t have anything else to reveal to you. That’s the prince’s job . . .” Tearia said, standing up.
“Let’s head back to the lunch room. We’ll be late for our next class. Oh and Ashaedia . . .” Tearia said. “Please, you mustn’t tell anyone about my secret. Or about our dragons, it’s dire that the military doesn’t know . . .”
“I have been keeping my secret about my dragons for a long time, Tearia.”
“What? You have more?” Tearia asked, surprised.
“Yes, but she’s real also. I only have two. But she’s also small though. I hope we become good friends, Tearia.” Ashaedia said. Tearia smiled.
“Yeah, perhaps we may . . . aid each other one day.” Tearia said.
“Yeah, hey Tearia, do you think you can teach me how to do magic too?”
“Ashaedia my friend, you can do magic because you believe in the power of the dragons. You seem to be quite . . . powerful in spirit.” Tearia said.
“Really? Wow, thanks.” Ashaedia said. They walked back towards the lunch area. When they got to their tables, Geno and Maylor were gone.
“Ack! My dragon! W-Where did he go?” Tearia said. They looked around and saw that Greg had their dragons. He and his friends were gapping at how the two dragons glowed. But Maylor and Geno didn’t look happy. Their expressions were angry and Maylor looked like he was about to whip around and torch Greg and his friends. Ashaedia and Tearia stormed over there and had a dispute with Greg.
“Hey, their cool okay? I can’t help it!” Greg said. Tearia grabbed his arm and twisted it. He yelped out in pain and Ashaedia grabbed the dragons. Tearia let go of Greg.
“If you want one so bad, then find one!” Tearia shouted, and Ashaedia and she went back to their table.


“Mydia! I met Tearia!” Ashaedia yelled once she entered her room. Mydia gave a happy hrrr when she heard this. Maylor jumped out of his pouch and landed on Ashaedia’s bed.
“She has this dragon she calls Geno. Tearia says he’s a Fortune Teller. Have you heard of a Fortune Dragon?” Ashaedia asked. Maylor shrugged. Mydia flipped through the Book of Dragons. After searching for five minutes, she found a page about Fortune Dragons.
“Did you find it?” Ashaedia asked her.
Yes, it says that Fortune Dragons are said to bring good luck and to warn their masters of impending danger, Mydia said. Only a person that is or was connected to a phoenix or a Phoenix King can have one.
“What’s a Phoenix King?” Ashaedia asked. Mydia went to the table of contents and ran a claw down the title list. None of the titles said “Phoenix King”.
“Oh, well. But she said that she was a ‘Shadow Elf’. Is that term in there?” Ashaedia asked. Mydia searched for Shadow Elf. She didn’t find one.
“Hmm, well they won’t have a definition in the dictionary or on the Internet. But she used magic to prove it to me! She seemed very eager to meet me . . .” Ashaedia said, sitting on her bed.
Perhaps she’s from another world? Mydia said.
“Perhaps she is . . . but I could tell she didn’t look like she lived anywhere here in the U.S. Everyone at school today seemed kind of . . . distraught,” Ashaedia said. “How could that be?”
Maybe they don’t approve of the army? Mydia suggested.
“I don’t know, but something felt strange in the air. Ever since I got to P.E, there was a strange, I don’t know, buzzing noise? But why would you think the military is the problem?” Maylor shrugged.
Perhaps it’s a warning that something’s coming. Mydia said, heating up her scales.
“Perhaps it is a warning. Last night I thought I saw a shadow move quickly across my room. It freaked me out! But I didn’t scream.” Ashaedia said.
Hrr, Mydia went. She suggested that it was the dragon ghost that she saw today when Ashaedia went to school. Mydia retold the story to Ashaedia, and Ashaedia was surprised.
“Ah, I’m so confused right now, but I’m sure that it’ll become clear to me later.” Ashaedia said, and walked over to her desk and started her homework. The sky was darkening and the stars appeared. Mydia looked up at the mysterious star that pulsed a blue and red light. She held up one of her paws as if she wanted to grab it. The star got brighter. Ashaedia looked up at it too.
“Hmm, that’s strange. How’d that happen?” Ashaedia said. She looked down at Mydia. Her scales were reflecting the light and little spots of light shone on the walls. Maylor whipped out his writing pad and pencil and drew on his pad. The light blotches looked like constellations. Maylor drew rapidly, and when he finished, Mydia crawled under the table and curled up into a white ball.
“What are you guys up to now?” Ashaedia asked, suspicion running through her. Her dragons shrugged and played around her room until Ashaedia went to bed.


It was midnight when Maylor awoke to find a shadow standing over him. The specter was his height, but when it moved out of his den, it grew to be as tall as Ashaedia. It was shaped like a child in a black cloak. Maylor growled threateningly at it. But the ghost giggled and flew towards Ashaedia’s closet and opened it to find a dozing Mydia. She was sleeping peacefully but awoke when the ghost child touched her. Mydia snorted and looked up at it.
Hrr? Mydia said. She yawned and blew a faint odorless smoke ring. And then she turned around and literally jumped out of the closet. A shadow of a dragon as big as a macaw was standing by Ashaedia’s coin jar. It had a spiky head and feather-like wings. The arms were covered in feathers and its tail was lined with spikes. It climbed down the closet and stood in front of her.
Who are you? Mydia hurred.
I am a Dragon Assist. Shall I help you? The shadow said. Mydia backed away. The shadow child was standing over Ashaedia, examining her.
Why should I need help from you? Mydia asked.
Because we help accomplish tasks. We give energy to the weak. The dragon ghost whispered.
But I am not weak! Why should you help me? Mydia said.
I am here to help protect Ashaedia from – The specter said, but flapped his wings nervously.
From what? Mydia asked impatiently.
Give this to the Ashaedia. The spirit said, and it reached out for Mydia. In its grasp was a letter. It dropped the letter and disappeared. The shadow child disappeared also. Mydia looked down at the letter. It was a faded blue color and had a seal with a picture of a dragon on it. Mydia decided that she would give it to Ashaedia in the morning.
What was that thing? Mydia hurred, and crawled back into the closet and slept the night away. Ashaedia was fast asleep, dreaming about dragons and hearing a wonderful song when a voice interrupted her song.
Hello, Ashaedia. The voice said. Ashaedia tried to wake up, but she couldn’t. A strange force seemed to keep her asleep. It seemed to trap her in her mind.
Who are you? Ashaedia asked.
I am a Xerain. Where is the Phoenix King? It asked.
I don’t know. I have no knowledge of a Phoenix King. Ashaedia said. A searing pain entered her forehead. Ashaedia wanted to cry out in pain, but the shriek never came out.
Hmm, you seem to have a dragon scent on you, The Xerain said. And a phoenix scent.
I don’t know what you’re talking about! Ashaedia said. The Xerain pierced through her mind and examined her thoughts.
You have seen a boy that seemed to have a phoenix scent. The Xerain said.
That was a mere ghost! Ashaedia yelled.
Ignorant human! The Xerain said, and left Ashaedia’s body. After the interloper left Ashaedia’s body, Ashaedia was able to open her eyes. She sat up and rubbed her forehead. What was that thing? She looked towards the opposite wall of her bedroom and nearly screamed in surprise. A large white-gold mist was hovering in front of her closet mirror. It was staring at her and the mist seemed to shine eerily. Ashaedia couldn’t identify a figure, but when it turned to leave, Ashaedia thought she saw a pair of leathery wings on its back.
The wings of a dragon.