They never talked again about Elin, nor about their feelings. But sometimes, just sometimes, Leif let himself be vulnerable when he was with Mira, and to show him some parts of himself.

That evening, after a day like many others, the two boys went for a walk at the beach.

- Mira - began Leif, and his serious voice tone made Mira think about the most different things.

Mira, I want to get to know you better too. I want to know the taste of your mouth, the softness of your lips on mine...

No, no, that was one of Mira's thoughts.

Wait, what?

Yes, that was true. He thought about it often, since that evening.

Mira, you have to repay me for all the presents I gave you and you have to find a new home as soon as possible.

That made him worry a bit. He had saved some money, but not much. Surely not enough to repay his presents and to afford a house. But he didn't want to take advantage of his generosity forever.

Mira, I'm still madly in love with Elin.

It would have made him happy that Leif confided in him, that he trusted him that much, but at the same time that admission would have hurt him, he didn't know why.

Mira, Mira, Mira, you should be more honest with yourself.

- You know... you've been living here for a while, now. If you really are a Dragontamer, like the feather on your wrist makes me think, then we have to find you a dragon.

Mira's eyes widened, as he felt both relieved and disappointed at the same time, and a bit surprised. He absolutely had not thought about that.

- E-eh?

- Actually, your dragon has to find you.

Mira stopped, confused as ever. Leif looked at him and chuckled.

- Let's sit here - he said, letting himself fall on the sand. The boy obeyed and sat next to him. Their legs touched. - Mira, there are many wild dragons. A Dragontamer can tame many dragons before finding their own. Before the dragon finds them. The Dragontamer can also choose to keep a dragon they're attached to, even though it might not be their fated dragon. But it's unusual.

- How do I know that a dragon is my dragon?

- You just know. You feel it. And the dragon feels it too.

Mira nodded.

- Will you help me? - he asked shyly. Leif smiled.

- Yes and no. I'll teach you some things about dragons, but you'll have to tame your dragon. I won't be able to help you, you'll have to prove that you're a worthy Dragontamer.

- I don't think I really want a dragon - muttered the boy, worried. The Dragontamer chuckled again and ruffled his hair.

- I'll make you the best Dragontamer, Mira. You'll have to work hard, but you'll have nothing to be afraid of.

- But Leif... what if I'm actually not a Dragontamer?

- You'll become one - affirmed amused the blonde. His hand rested on his friend's hair.

Leif found himself lost in Mira's gaze, in his eyes in which stars were reflected, in his sweet face illuminated by the moon.

He gulped. He thought that Elin had extinguished his fire, but that boy was making it flare up and burn again.

- Let's go back home - he said, grudgingly. - Tomorrow you'll have your first lesson, so you have to be well rested and fit.

***

The next day, with the help of the other Dragontamers (who said they were glad to be helpful, except for Elin who didn't comment), Leif taught him how to recognize dragon footprints.

- Always look where you are walking - he told him. - And listen, always.

He taught him how to recognize the sounds of different dragons and then, with Ruby, he showed him how to read body language.

- Tell me, what does that movement of the tail mean? And that movement he does with his head?

- Is he... annoyed?

Leif laughed. His laugh was wonderful.

- No, he wants to play. Do you see that his eyes are open? If he were annoyed or angry, he would close them a little.

Mira sighed, resigned.

- If I end up eaten by a dragon, I want you to know that I loved you - he said in a melodramatic tone. The Dragontamer caressed his hair, like he often did. A habit that Mira didn't mind at all.

- I love you too, Mira - replied affectionately Leif. They looked at each other for a second and blushed at the same moment. Leif hugged him to hide his embarassment, but that only made increase the pace of his heartbeat.

He was aware that he felt more than simple affection for Mira.

***

The following days Mira learnt how to immobilize a dragon, how to avoid an attack, where to hit a dragon to distract it without hurting it seriously and making it angry, because a dragon that is injured and angry is a dangerous one, and he learnt where to hit it to kill it, but only in case of extreme need.

- We are not dragon hunters, Mira. We tame them, but we don't kill them. Never - had said Leif, serious, while petting Ruby. - And they protect us and are loyal to us all their life.

- And when we die? - had asked the apprentice Dragontamer.

- They go back to their life in the wild and don't bond with any other Dragontamer.

That was the last lesson.

- You're ready - had affirmed Leif, proud, and then he had ruffled his hair.

Mira didn't feel ready at all, surely not while he was walking along the footpath that led into the forest and went up the mountain, the place where dragons went to lay eggs.

If you see an unguarded egg, don't touch it. Run. The mother is near and she'll attack you on sight.

The change of season is coming soon, anyway, and dragons don't lay eggs now, he repeated to himself.

He brought a hand to his belt to check if he had the dagger that Leif had given him.

- I want you to have only the best equipment - had muttered the Dragontamer. - At least until you're an expert. With this equipment nothing can happen to you.

He was afraid that something could happen to him. He was worried about him.

He had bought for him the strongest rope that the shop sold, some calming perfumes and some little treats to attract or distract dragons.

- We do not know what kind of dragon yours will be, so I can't give you the advice I'd give to someone who has to tame a fire dragon. Pay attention and make an effort to remember everything I taught you - he had said, and for a moment he had looked worried.

Mira looked at his wrist, where the feather was, white against his golden skin. He started walking again.

He met some small sized dragons, but they kept their distance from him. From time to time he heard some noises, some sticks getting crushed, but nothing to worry about.

He walked a lot, following the main footpath, and reached the end of the forest. He decided to go on a bit more.

He stopped just to take a break where the path got wider. On the ground he noticed some dragon footprints he had never seen and got down on his knees to look at them. Some very small white feathers were on the footprints, on the ground.

Suddendly he heard a cry, together with a flitter of wings. He raised his head. Two dragons, one white and one red, were fighting, and they were approaching him. He didn't want to get their attention by running, but he had to leave.

He hurried to go back into the forest. Everything was quiet. I'm safe, he told himself.

And then... CRASH! The trees in front of him fell under the weight of the white dragon, that was slammed on the ground by the red dragon. The latter screamed one last warning and flew away.

Mira walked up slowly. Between the fallen trees, decorated by white feathers, laid the white dragon. He had never seen a creature like that: it was smaller than most of the other dragons of the Dragontamers, its paws were bigger and it had feathers.

It was hurt, its feathers were stained with blood on its shoulder, and it breathed heavily.

Mira walked up a bit closer, and the dragon stared at him. It had big purple eyes that stood out on its sweet face, and its pupils were rounder than those of the other dragons.

- Hey - he whispered, taking another step. The dragon got up, stepping on some trees, and growled, defensive. - I don't want to hurt you.

But don't hurt me either, he thought.

He put a hand inside his bag, took a fish and threw it at the dragon. The dragon looked at him sarcastically: am I supposed to eat that thing?

Mira sighed, took another piece of fish and started chewing it. The dragon kept staring at him.

The boy sat down.

- Listen - he said, stopping to think about what he wanted to say. The creature sat down too, like a dog. - It's actually good, you distrustful dragon.

He laughed softly.

- Come on, try it - and he gave it another piece, without throwing it. He waited, with his arm stretched out and the feather on his wrist on sight.

After what seemed an eternity, the dragon leaned in and gently took what was being offered. Mira let it chew and then, slowly, put his hand on its head. The animal gave him a quick look and didn't move. The boy petted it. It was so soft! Like a cloud.

- Cloud - he whispered. Cloud closed its eyes and let him pet it. Mira scratched it softly, then took the fish he had thrown and gave it to the dragon. It ate from his hand, and also ate all the treats he had in his bag.

It seemed that it trusted him, and there was only one way to prove it.

He got up and stepped away a bit, towards the village. Cloud followed him immediately.

(To be continued...)