Master of The Dragon King

"Crystal!" The sound of her name echoed through the familiar night sky and green forest as Crystal awakened in her dream. Standing before her, in all its might, was the majestic rooster-head dragon.

The last time she had seen it in her dream, it had turned into a horrid nightmare, leaving her unsure of what to expect this time around. Suddenly she remembered that it was that nightmare where she had heard the name, Madonia. She could not believe how she forgot such a crucial thing.

"Are you doubtful?" asked the dragon, tilting its head along its long neck. Crystal smiled, understanding that she was not having just a bad dream and the dragon really did stand in front of her.

"Undoubtedly, I would be. Who wouldn't be? The last time I saw you, I witnessed an animated corpse gripping my hand and terrorizing me," Crystal complained. The dragon bowed its head, offering an apology for the experience she had to endure.

"You needn't bow down to me. It was not your fault," Crystal mumbled, toying with her maroon gown, the same one she had worn in her previous two dreams. She could sense the dragon's guilt and felt remorseful for making it think that it was responsible.

"How do you perceive your experience at the academy thus far?" asked the dragon, breaking the brief silence. Crystal took a moment to reflect on her feelings before responding.

"I do miss Earth from time to time. Initially, I felt out of place when I first arrived here. But over time, I have grown to appreciate this magical world and feel that I belong here. Especially since I discovered that I could summon--" Crystal's words trailed off as she suddenly remembered her incredible achievement.

"Oh!" Crystal exclaimed in delight. "You know what happened? I was able to summon my water element," said Crystal enthusiastically, and she could sense the flicker of pride radiating from the dragon.

"But it was only one time. I could not do that again," Crystal pouted, sulking that she could not perform the magic again.

"Shall we make an attempt, then?" asked the dragon, sensing her disappointment. Crystal furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"What? Water summons? But there is no water here, and even if there was, you would surely be disappointed," Crystal hummed, putting her hands on her hips, the translucent cape tracing and covering her upper arms gracefully.

"There is no need for you to be concerned about anything," reassured the dragon, as it looked up at the sky. Crystal followed its gaze and before she could comprehend what was happening, they were standing on a beach.

The atmosphere was serene, the silence only broken by the sound of the shushing waves in the middle of the night. The moon cast a soft, silver light on the beach, and Crystal's maroon gown blended with the surroundings, a perfect match for the tranquility of the moment.

"I shall never be disappointed in my esteemed master." Crystal stood awestruck, her mouth agape, as the majestic dragon spoke in a voice that rumbled like thunder in Crystal's head. "For I am the Dragon King, and you are the one who feeds me with powers. So never again should you speak of yourself in such a manner." The dragon glared at Crystal as a way of scolding her for putting herself down.

"Wait!" Crystal exclaimed, her mind racing as she struggled to comprehend what the dragon had just revealed. "You mean to say that I am the master of the dragon king itself? And that you feed on my powers?"

The dragon nodded, a smug smile could be perceived. "Indeed, my master," it said, its aura laced with amusement. "Try for yourself, and see what you are capable of."

“Fine, I just hope that you are not making a fool out of me,” said Crystal nervously as she looked at the sea, biting her lips and praying inside that she would wake up any second and save herself from the embarrassment she was about to face.

With trembling fingers, Crystal stepped forward until her feet touched the wet sand. "Aqua Mobilis," she commanded, twisting her wrist and flicking her fingers in a gesture of magic. And then, like a miracle, a great wave emerged from the sea, rising higher and higher, until it towered over her.

This time, it was not out of control; Crystal could move it freely, by her own will, and she could not believe her eyes and her heart leapt with excitement.

With a flick of her fingers, she directed the wave to move in a swirling double-stranded DNA pattern around her. It was a sight to behold, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and joy.

"I can't believe it," she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "Look at what I'm doing! Me!"

The dragon looked on with pride and affection, its eyes gleaming with admiration. "Now do you have faith in my words, master?" it asked.

Crystal nodded, her eyes shining with wonder. She had never felt so powerful, so alive. She was the master of the dragon king, and her powers were limitless.

"In your dreams, you shall possess complete command over your powers when you end up igniting them once," it explained. "Here, the suppressing magic does not work."

Crystal released her magic, commanding the water to go back to the sea.

“Why are my powers suppressed?” she demanded, her voice growing serious and the dragon went silent.

Once again, the dragon went silent, and Crystal sensed that it was blocking her thoughts and emotions. "You don't even have an excuse for it?" she rolled her eyes, feeling a tinge of irritation.

Despite this setback, Crystal couldn't help but feel grateful to the dragon for showing her what she was truly capable of. "Thank you for telling me about us and showing me these amazing powers within me," she said, smiling at the dragon. "You are losing your stubbornness bit by bit." Crystal teased the dragon for testing her patience who just shook its head.

As the dragon spoke, Crystal felt its determination radiating through its words. "I have never felt it right to hide anything from you, nor for you to hide from others. I am aware of your capabilities and trust in your ability to protect yourself," the dragon proclaimed, its voice filled with conviction.

Crystal was taken aback by the dragon's sudden candor. “But you told me to hide, why would you say that if you believe the opposite?” Crystal asked, unsure of what was going on in the dragon’s mind.

The dragon let out a bitter laugh, "Your father was the wisest faerie who ever lived. His level of knowledge was unmatched, and I held his commands in the highest respect." Crystal couldn't help but wonder why it sounded so bitter, especially when the dragon had been praising her father earlier.

"However, his love for his daughter overtook his wise nature, and he chose to protect you through his own methods, despite knowing that you were more than capable of protecting yourself. And now, we stand here, and find ourselves far from reality," the dragon continued, and Crystal found herself torn between having gratitude for her father's unconditional love or joining the dragon with its bitterness as she would have preferred being with her parents rather than living a protected life.

“I have therefore made the decision to adhere to your father's instructions to shield you from the dangers he foresaw, while acknowledging that shielding you from the inevitable is impossible as no one can change the course of destiny. I will instead equip you with the means to unlock your full potential, and once you do, you shall protect me and make the right choices,” the dragon finished, sending shivers down Crystal's spine.

The sudden change in the dragon's attitude was eerie, but at the same time, she was excited about what lay ahead.