“Dragons?” I asked tentatively.
She nodded, touching the bottom of my can and lifting it to my mouth, encouraging me on to drink more.
I took a couple of gulps. The sugar helped, and I could feel the knots in my stomach starting to loosen. “Why didn't I see any of the Dragons?” I was still trying to take it all in.
“You couldn't. They're very good at disguising themselves. But, if the Council thinks they won't be able to contain their true form, especially the Chromatic dragons, they won't grant them a pass. They’re not allowed to invent anything on the other side of the wall, because they could draw too much attention to themselves. On that side they're only allowed to give the humans ideas, and it's usually enough for the humans to fill in the missing pieces.”
“Why does the law forbid them?”
“They're filled with the essence of life, which means they age differently than humans. Most of the Metallic dragons can age up to twelve thousand years.”
“Twelve thousand years?” I exclaimed, stunned.
“The coolest part is if their bond is strong with their Dragonians, they can grant them a part of their essence.”
“How?”
“I'm not a hundred percent sure, but they say it's rare, the same as the dent thing. A normal dragon bond isn't thatstrong, but King Albert had the essence from his dragon. King Albert celebrated his two-hundred-and-fiftieth birthday the year he died.”
“Wow. How do you know if you're part of a dent?” I asked.
“We have a Viden. She's a Moon-Bolt dragon. They have the ability to foretell the future, but they don’t predict it in a way for us to understand. Our Viden lives in the tower behind the boy's dormitories and everyone is required to see her at least once a month. You will too. If she picks up a Dragonian in one of the sessions she has with a dragon, they mostly end up in a brother-hood or sister-hood. She even feels something when it's time for one of her predictions to be fulfilled. That part is amazing, but most of the time she sucks predictions out of her thumb.” She laughed. “Sammy's version is easy; she says the Viden speaks a lot of shit.”
“How will I know whether she speaks the truth then?”
“Believe me, you'll know. It's best to wait until you see her.”
All this new information swirled around in my head and ascending was on my mind again. “So do you know what ability you'll get?” I asked,hoping one day I wouldn’t have to be constantly asking questions.
“No but I have a feeling I'm a Fire Wielder. When that happens, Sammy and I will team up.”
“You're going to claim Sammy?”
“No, the Metallic dragons don't throw tantrums the same way as the Chromatic ones. They usually decide they want to be your dragon and surrender, but there is still a lot of paperwork that is just as painful. You need to register with the Council and give them a statement of intent. Lately, we have to ask the Council permission for everything. That's where I envy Blake. He gets away with everything, especially when it comes to the Council. I think it's because he has so many abilities,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Wait, if he's both, why doesn't he just surrender?” I asked, placing my empty soda can on the coffee table. "I mean, if he needs a Dragonian, and he's half Metallic, why doesn't he choose?"
“Elena, not every story ends with good overcoming evil. In Blake's case, only his Dragonian can keep him from turning."
"But you said his Dragonian doesn't exist.”
She inhaled deeply.
“I'm asking way too─”
“It's not that. Blake can get claimed, but whoever is going to claim him needs a miracle. Arianna, the princess of Tith has tried once and Lucian twice now. He almost had him the last time, but he got a surprise blow from an ability none of us knew Blake had. The problem with a claim like his, and this might sound crazy to you.” She sounded nervous. She put her feet on the couch and hugged her knees to her chest. “There's ways to keep the Chromatic dragons, that don't dent, from becoming evil─”
“What ways?” I asked, intrigued.
“Beating the evil out of them,” she said and shrank into the chair.
“What!” I could feel the nausea beginning to return at the thought.
“I know, sounds pretty awful, but it's the only thing that works.”
“So whoever will claim Blake has to beat the living crap out of him so he won’t become evil?” I said skeptically.
“Pretty much.”
“Lucian knows this?”I asked, though I still couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, Elena. He says it’s a sacrifice he is willing to make in order not to lose the Rubicon this time.”