The Fire-Ring Ceremony is one of the biggest events for dragons in the Flaming Forest. Six years ago, Xynuss brought me to the festival and had to argue several times for me to gain entry. After that, I was always welcome, which I took my invitation quite seriously. This year, I would be able to participate in the sky activities as I was now able to fly on my own. Xynuss had promised to teach me how to fly the loops and turns beforehand as I only knew the basics from Ananta.

My mother hadn't gotten up yet when I left so I put out her breakfast with a note saying I'd be back by sundown. I grabbed the spell book, just in case there was more to flying in its many pages. Xynuss picked me up a couple hundred yards from the house where there was enough space for his large body to fit. His long, scaly tail curled around to lift me onto his back before taking off, blowing loose leaves off of nearby trees.

I had Xynuss glide slowly over the treetops so I could read the book I had brought. Leaning back against his spinal frills, the book was propped on my knees so it was at eye level.

Hey Xynuss, did you know dragon bones were hollow, yet practically indestructible? I asked, reading a dragon bone spell.

Yes, I did, cause I'm a dragon. Xynuss proceeded to shake his head in disapproval.

I mentally facepalmed before settling back into my book, not aware of the thunder of young dragons coming up from behind me. Wind hit the pages of my book, flipping them quickly past my face.

You brought a bunch of dragons to watch me attempt to fly? I questioned angrily in my head.

They are there to learn as well. I have been requested by the king of dragons to polish their flight skills for the Fire-Ring Ceremony. Xynuss was so calm when I was angry.

It bothered me at how his mood didn't match my temper, how he seemed unaffected by my sudden explosion. Shaking my head, I returned to my book, turning to the page my mother had shown me.

My finger traced the deep blue and gold bookmark, three ancient runes inscribed with metallic gold thread. Gazing at them, their familiar strokes, I realized I could read them.

Years ago, my mother taught me to read these runes, ancient spells that I may one day use. Alas Draco Formare, the characters read. It's a dragon spell, written in Latin. I recognized two words from my newly acquired spell, Alas Dracones. The last rune, Formare, meant form. The spell turns you into a dragon, like the old tale of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent becomes a dragon. Although the story may be fiction, the spell is quite real, and I just so happened to have stumbled upon it.

You can get off now, we've arrived. Xynuss poked me with his tail half scaring me off his back. I hadn't been paying attention along the trip so looking up to unfamiliar surroundings was a shock. I closed the book and jumped down from Xynuss's back, taking in my new surroundings. An old dusty path wound through the forest where large trees stood tall, reaching up to the sky. We were on the western border of the Flaming forest. Perched upon the large branches were Xynuss's class of young dragons not much older than me. It wasn't quite noon as the sun cast moderately long shadows across the clearing. Light poured through the canopy into the forest floor, glinting on shiny leaves of the underbrush, the occasional tree branch or two on fire. Dragging my gaze along the line of dragons, I spotted Ananta. Clumsy dragon can't fly in a straight line! Xynuss turned from me to his class, probably giving instructions.

I opened my book to the marked page and read out the spell. "Alas Draco Formare," I said. An odd feeling sparked in me as I was lifted into the air a couple of feet. I was enveloped in dark black and grey smoke. I could barely see Xynuss as I was lifted from the ground. I felt strange, my head arms and legs, like a tingling feeling creeping up my limbs and down my spine.

Novia! I heard Xynuss freaking out on the other side of the impenetrable sphere surrounding me, screaming my name in his head.

My skin felt cold, my head a little heavier, and my senses a little sharper. I felt my wings extend from my back, their jet black leathery skin poking through the smoke barrier. Something grabbed them and I tumbled out of the ball onto the ground. Oddly, I could barely feel a thing.The world was spinning for a second as I regained my focus. Shaking my head, I sat up to see what happened. To my unexpected surprise, everything looked normal, however, everyone was staring at me. I looked down and nearly jumped out of my skin, well, scales. My whole body was covered in black metallic dragon scales except my face. Deep blue scales formed arrow-like stripes up my forearms and horns stuck out from my head. My jet black wings matched my still human-shaped body while my horns poked through my thick hair. I knew all eyes were on me, watching as I stood up.

Y-you're a dragon? Ananta had crawled down from her perch and up to me, circling me to get a good look at what I had become.

Nice, right? Found the spell in my book. I looked from Ananta to Xynuss for their approval.

Much better for the ceremony. Xynuss nodded his large head in satisfaction. Now try flying, it's a little different from human skin, you'll have to learn to feel the wind along your scaled body.

I extended my wings and pushed off from the ground, feeling the light breeze ripple through my scales. Ananta followed close behind, wobbling when my wings pushed wind her way. One by one, the young dragons took off, following me.

Okay, you're the leader in this lesson. Xynuss's voice rang in my head.

Alright, so what am I supposed to do? I'm not a dragon. I couldn't fly too much higher or the trees would look like twigs.

I want you to lead them through the trees below. Make a subtle barrel roll dive and through the burnt hole in the canopy. Xynuss started giving me directions. Much to my relief, I won't make a fool of myself. Now, to do a barrel roll...

Xynuss, Ananta used to drop me from the sky, I know how to barrel roll. I cut him off and folded my wings. Lowering the front half of my body, I shot straight down out of the sky, beginning to spin as my hair flapped wildly behind me. Ananta shot down after me, her rolls a little less tidy as she struggled to control her dive. Like a giant swarm of flies, each dragon dove out of the sky after me.

Nearing the canopy, I slowly extended my wings and straightened my body. Tilting left and right, I made my way to the underbrush, dodging trunks and branches. It reminded me of running along the treetops, up, down, left, and right. Rounding a corner, a couple of dragons passed me, blowing smoke rings and flying through them.

Beat that! The green one said and grinned, teeth sticking out.

I didn't say anything, but I wish I could breathe fire. My thought distracted me as a branch came out of nowhere, hitting me smack in the face. Stunned, I lost control and fell, the branch balling alongside me. I looked up to see the green dragon with his friend snickering, sparks cracking at the sides of their mouths. Something exploded inside me as a flipped and pushed down hard with my wings, pushing me rapidly toward the unexpecting dragons. I aimed for impact, head butting the green one hard in the side.

What was that for! He yelled in my head.

You threw a tree branch at me! I had enough of this. I shouldered past them and sped through the rest of the wooded area, back to the clearing where Xynuss awaited for us to return. I didn't look back once. I knew they were chasing me, not ready to forfeit the fight. At least that's how I think dragons sort things out. No matter how, I was done and they couldn't do anything about it.

Xynuss was still sitting in the same regal position, watching through the gaps in the trees. His gaze trailed over to me as I burst out of the woods and took a rough landing on the ground.

You have to slow down first, and don't pull your wings out so abruptly. Xynuss looked at me with a mix of disapproval and pity.

Determined, I shot back up into the sky and barrel rolled down again, circling the edge of the clearing, gaining speed as the trees began to blur. I slowly pulled my wings out, feeling the wind hit them hard as I slowed to a gliding pace. Putting my feet below me, I touched down and landed, watching Ananta clumsily land next to me. Xynuss smile at me before giving Ananta a hard stare. Ananta shook her head, eyes wide and looking upward it attempt to roll them.

Now, to loop, it's like what you humans call, oh what's the word, a somersault? It's just a little wider. Xynuss's right arm waved in a circular motion, trying to clarify his directions.

Back up in the sky, I gathered some speed and rolled, tucking my wings in. Big mistake. I felt myself losing altitude mid-loop. I managed to flip on my stomach before slamming into Xynuss's raised tail.

Thanks. I said, expecting my ribs to be sore, but they weren't.

You have to keep your wings out. That's what happens when there's nothing to catch the wind. Xynuss pushed me back into the clouds.

Keeping my wings extended, I flipped, my rotation a little too tight. Ananta flew up beside me and looped, her rotation a little wobbly, but still wider than mine. I watched her arch her back a little and keep her body from rolling into a tight ball. Following her lead, I did a couple of loops through the clouds, breaking out the other end, looping the whole way.

The sun was setting when we finished. I had to be back in time for dinner and the dragons were tired from the lessons. I felt good about today's progress and Ananta seemed to have gotten the hang of straight flying. On the way home, I flew next to Xynuss, doing a few more loops for practice before the ceremony in a couple of days.

At home, I retracted my wings and entered the house. It smelled of fresh bread and toasted hazelnuts. The warmth of the fire hit my face the second I walked in. Steaming bowls of hot soup sat on the table as my mother walked in. This was home, and I wouldn't want it any other way.