Ascent: Day 9

Word Count: 54,006

Summary of Events:

As soon as Master Lyarí left on rounds again Ilyé went to see about getting revenge on his family, only to find that they weren't home. He then went to see where they were, but the pool wouldn't show him any images, so he got mad at it and then was sent into the dreamworld where the queen of legend visited him again. When Master Lyarí returned Ilyé learned how to work magic with snow and then began to build a wall to entrap his family, but was spotted by Nargya, which prompted him to flee and he saw that a dragon was coming to help Master Lyarí figure out what was wrong with the waters. After the waters were restored the dragon turned his attentions to Ilyé . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"Ilyé felt like his master was afraid of the dragon, and like he were trying to placate the dragon, as if it would explode into rage at any moment.

"This youngling shall serve a special purpose," the dragon said.

"The waters have already told me he will have greatness exceeding even my own," Master Lyarí said quickly.

The dragon nodded its great head. "He is already well on his way."

When the dragon released his wing, Ilyé slowly retracted it. The skin felt funny where the dragon had touched it — although it wasn't like he'd ever been touched by a dragon before.

"He does not fear as you feared," the dragon said.

"No, he has much less fear than I," Master Lyarí said, his mouth curled in a bit of a timid smile.

"There is no fear in him even now," the dragon said, putting its great finger on Ilyé's chest.

Ilyé looked down at the golden claw whose point was settled exactly between his collarbone ends at the top of his breastbone. The pad felt odd, almost like it was covered in some sort of a grit, against his skin.

"And yet you are still afraid," the dragon said. "Even your master before you was afraid. He is not. Not now. He will never again fear my people. Not even the greatest among us, despite the fact that he is small enough to be held in one hand."

The dragon raised its fingertip off of Ilyé's chest. He felt the sharp point of the claw digging through the skin at the top of his breastbone, but he didn't cry out. The pain of the waters had been greater than this.

"You feel no pain youngling?" the dragon asked, removing his blood-tipped claw from Ilyé's chest and looking at it with intrigue.

"The waters caused me greater pain," Ilyé replied.

The dragon coiled his head back and looked at Ilyé, almost like his brow was furrowed. "The waters?"

Ilyé turned over his hand so the dragon could see it.

"He struck the waters when they showed an image that displeased him," Master Lyarí explained quickly. "I hadn't given him any instructions on the waters."

The dragon brought his head close to Ilyé's hand so that Ilyé could nearly touch his eye. He then reached out his hand and placed a large fingertip over Ilyé's fingers.

"And you have lived?" the dragon asked.

"Yes," Ilyé replied simply.

The dragon lowered his hand and pulled his head away. "Much, much greatness is in store for this youngling."

Ilyé silently gazed at the dragon's head. The longer the dragon remained here, the more he felt comfortable around it.

"But greatness is a poor prescription for a troubled soul," the dragon said.

Ilyé startled and looked at the dragon with puzzlement as he spread his great wings and took off, his tail sliding after him, dripping with river water as he left them behind to gaze on his retreat."