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-Crissie POV-

I’m walking towards the hospital, I’ve a morning shift. My hands deep down in my pockets, a beanie on my head and a coat that reaches at my knees. I hate the cold.. It’s the beginning of December, and you can feel it’s starting to get really cold. It’s just a 15 minutes walk, but I’m starting to feel miserable already, I’m such a crybaby when it comes down to temperatures...

I’m thinking about the box mom gave me a few weeks ago. It was strange, although it’s nice to have something from my parents; we couldn’t find out what that dragon picture inside of it means. Why is it there? Why is it in my box? I’ve tried to look for information in the library and we asked Luna Avery too. But like my father said: it’s hard to find any, because nobody believed dragons were real. I mean: we know they existed, but it’s hard to find proof that they live among us right now.

Dragons are strange creatures. They live around 600 to a thousand years, and because of that, they’re always people who hunt them. They’ve been captured, tortured and killed. Not only because they want to know their secret to live that long, they’re strong too. In the past, every army who had a dragon was almost invincible. It takes them a while to develop, but when they’re full grown: they’re powerful. Dad said that it takes around 50 years for them to control the fire that’s burning inside of them. It’s around the same moment they scale for the very first time and shapeshift in a real dragon. Fifty years! That’s old for humans, but you’re a teen when you’re a dragon.

I sigh. The more I think about it, the less it makes sense. Why me? I know I’m a mage, I’ve done multiple weird stuff that was written down in that old book. That proves I’m one, right? There was a book in the box too, but it’s written down in a language I don’t understand. It’s like the words are gathered, and thrown back in the book in just a random order. It’s so weird, and it made me angry and restless. Why did they give me such a weird book?

Finally I’m here. I open the doors to the hospital and welcome the receptionist behind the desk. Hmmm.. I don’t know her, maybe she’s new.

“Hi Crissie! Are you ready for the moment of truth?” my supervisor asks me.

“Good morning Morgan! Uhhhmm, I’m not sure if I know what you mean..?” I say, confused.

“Oh come on, you’re not saying you forgot about your final test, did you?”

Oh crap. The test! To complete this internship, I have to do the test. But I totally forgot, for real. I’m smart, but incredibly chaotic. It drives me crazy sometimes. But I know I can do this, so I clear my throat and answer: “Of course not! How can I? I’m totally ready..”. I hope she doesn’t see through my lies. Morgan hates liars. She hates it when you’re not prepared too.

“Alright then! You can go to mister Johansson. He’s our first patient. I’ll be there in a minute…” And Morgan walks away, leaving me with this horrible feeling that the morning will be hell.

---

“Yes?” I answer my phone.

“Hey pumpkin! I was wondering if we can meet today? I wanted to ask you about your test this morning and I missed you..” I hear Joshua’s voice.

How can it be that everyone remembers my test, but me? I sigh. “I think so, what did you have in mind?”

“Shall we go out for dinner? I can pick you up at seven?”

That really sounds good and it makes me already feel better. “That sounds amazing! Thanks, sweetheart. See you then!”

I passed the test, barely. My hands were shaky and I had troubles acting confidently. Of course Morgan smelled that. But! I passed, so that means I can go to the next semester. That’s a big relief.

“Mom, I’m home! Yes, I passed my test but I’m tired and go to catch some sleep. Oh, by the way: Joshua’s taking me for dinner tonight, so don’t count on me at the dinner table. Bye!” I yell while I run to my room. I’m not even waiting for her response.

I throw my body at my bed, my coat’s still on. I close my eyes and feel the tiredness take over. Wait! I can’t go to sleep - I wanted to look at the box again. Maybe I missed something. Luna Avery told me it’s common for mages to hide information in special boxes like mine. They put clues everywhere in a way only the ones of their own can know. In my case: they hid the dragon’s picture in a way I could only find it with my body fluid. It’s my DNA that opened that box. But it has to be more. Right now: I have a pendant without a collar, a very old book that’s unreadable, the letter and a clue about dragons.

I walk over to my closet and take the box out of the bottom. I open it and spit in it, I’ve discovered it didn’t need tears; any body fluid is fine. I watch how it changes form and shows the beautiful dragon. I’ve seen this a dozen times now, and I never get tired of it. It’s an amazing piece of craftsmanship. I’m not sure where I’m looking for, so after 10 minutes of staring at the dragon, I’m going for the book.

There has to be a special way of opening this information. Like my box: only the eyes who deserve or need to read it, can. But how? I lay down on my belly and start to browse through the pages again. There are pictures in it. Pictures with hand movements, like in the other book I found in the library. But they’re difficult, much more difficult than the movements I learnt before. I also found maps, but I don’t recognize the places - nobody did. I sigh. What do I need to do? Well, I can better start at the beginning. I open the book and watch the first page. I let my fingers caress the pages.. Wait! That feels different! I look closely and it’s like there’s something written on the page! I hurry to my desk and grab myself some modelling clay (leftovers from a one-day-hobby). I put it on the page and press on it. When I lift it, I can see marks on it, like words. But of course I can’t read what it is. But right now, it’s like a stamp! If I can put ink on it, and stamp it on a white piece of paper, I’m able to read it!

I let go a squeal of excitement and after five minutes of gathering all the stuff I look down at the white piece of paper and read:

*Do not light a fire you can’t extinguish*