The Elementals: Chapter 17 Dragons

I will never call Mr Elm’s Karate class difficult again. His dragon training class is a whole new level of intensity and all we have done is the warm up.
“Ok, I will teach you the words to change and you will try one at a time, there is not enough space in the hall to do it together so please be careful when you say the phrase. I suggest you record me saying it on your phones so that I don’t have to repeat it and change each time. Mr Elm flips the board over to reveal a phrase and then reads it aloud “Draco alas expande tuis”.
I watch in amazement as Mr Elm is covered in a cloud of smoke and as it clears a dragon emerges. It is smaller than I expected, only slightly larger than a tall human, but when he expands his wings I see why space would be an issue as it easily doubles his size. He is as black as charcoal with sharp claws and if you look closely coated in hard sharp scales. He looks magnificent and deadly, but I’m drawn to him rather than afraid, like part of me knows its still my teacher. In another puff of smoke, Mr elm returns to his human form.
“To change back you just have to say human open your arms” Mr Elm instructs.
“Why such a complicated phrase one was and an easy one the other?” Ember asks.
“The first phrase is in latin, the language of the dragons, it roughly translates to dragon spread your wings, to become the dragon you need to ask it in its language, to become the human you have to ask in ours. Interestingly the same phrase will work in any language you know, for example Lily could say Humana abre tus brazos if she remembers enough of her high school Spanish.” Mr Elm explains.
“I want to try first” Ember says and steps forward reading the sentence aloud. She too puffs in a cloud of smoke and her dragon emerges, looking almost identical to Mr Elms, the only difference is her hazel eyes have become a more golden colour where his were a bright green. She flaps her wings and walks in a circle before turning back and strutting back towards us making the whole thing look effortless.
“Well done Ember, Lily your turn” Mr Elm instructs.
I walk more hesitantly forward, hundreds of questions burn in my mind. Will it hurt? Can I get it wrong? Will my bones break and stretch? I don’t ask them though not wanting to show my nerves. I take a breath and read off the sentence “Draco alas expande tuis” bracing myself for the pain, but none comes. The opposite in fact, I feel a pleasant tingling sensation spread over me as my eyes drift shut, when they open less than a second later, my view point has changed, I’m higher up and my vision is much sharper. I test out my new body, but it doesn’t feel strange, just completely natural. I feel the urge to go outside and I realise that i’m feeling the connection to the earth that Sky taught me, only its much stronger in this form. I wish we were outside so I could test this out more, but I know its not safe so I change back to my human form and check that I’m decent before walking back to the others.
“That was amazingly cool!” I say as I watch Sky change and change back. He has the same look of wonder I had.
“How does it work? Changing shape like that?” Sky asks.
“Honestly, even with all of our modern day science, the best explanation is still magic. Dragons are magical beings, as you have seen from your powers, the change is similar. It is thought that the dragon form is our true form and the human one is a defensive disguise, like a camouflage for the young. One which you all must use, no one can see you in your dragon form. Most of the world does not believe in dragons, we need to keep it that way” Mr Elm explains.
I have to bite my tongue not to argue with him, I really want to try flying, but I know he is right and it would be dangerous.
After hours of training and teaching us more about dragons, Mr Elm finally calls it a day and sends us home. I hang back to speak to him alone.
“You said I could see my mother, can you take me to her please?” I ask
“It will take time to arrange, but yes I can. There is more to her story, but it is not for me to explain” He says and walks away.
I find Sky outside waiting for me and we walk in silence for a while until I reach the shop I wanted to visit. I pop in and quickly find what I need.
“So do you want to come back to mine tonight?” Sky asks.
“I do, but I think Rain needs me tonight, it’s a lot for her to process too and I’m not convinced she is handling it as well as she pretends.” I say.
“I understand. I can come and pick you up tomorrow before training if you like?” Sky offers.
“That would be great.” I smile at him gratefully. I turn to walk into my flat but Sky grabs my hand and pulls me in to him so that my chest is pressed up against his chest. He leans over and kisses me gently at first, but becoming more passionate as he slips his tongue into my mouth and grabs my ass to pull me in closer. Another minute of this and I will let him take me right here in the street. Sky saves me by breaking the kiss and stepping away. It takes everything in me not to follow him home. Rain had better appreciate my sacrifice.
I go up to the flat and find Rain in her room reading. “close your eyes, I have a surprise for you” I instruct and she obliges and I place the shopping bag in her hand.
“Whats this for?” She asks confused and opening it to pull out a ski mask with little rain drops on it.
“Powers or not, I always want you on my team” I say and hug her tightly.