Pyria and her sisters walked into the castle. Elisen looked at them, "hello, my dears."

"Hi, Mother," Omylia and Vana said. "How was the meeting?" Lythienne asked, tilting her head.

"It was the same as always," Elisen sighed as she wrapped her arms around her eldest. She looked at the rest of her daughters, "how was your class?"

"It was... fine," Delsanra said. Pyria walked to her room and she closed the door. She exhaled, leaning against it.

She closed her eyes for a moment before she concentrated hard. A pair of midnight black wings unfolded from her back and a black dragon tail appeared.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror and nearly jumped back in surprise when she saw that her reflection was different.

It was a midnight black dragon with golden wings traced with white swirls on her back and shoulders. Her forelegs and hind legs were a faded white color and the tip of her tail was a faded white too.

She swallowed as she slowly reached out and touched the mirror. She stared at her reflection.

This was her.

It was who she really was.

She stumbled backwards and sat down on the bed, holding her head in her hands.

There was a knock at the door and she looked up as Elisen opened it.

"Pyria?" She said gently. "Hi, Mother," Pyria sighed. Her mom walked over and sat down next to her.

"Your sisters told me King Raeran and his daughter came today," Elisen said. Pyria looked away, "...are you mad?"

"Little Gem, I'm not mad," her mother replied and she gently pulled her into a hug, "I know it was scary, using your powers."

"I don't feel human," Pyria said, her voice quiet, "I... I don't know what I am."

Elisen gently lifted her head so their eyes could meet. "You're my daughter," she said, "human or dragon or elf, you are so much more than others see you as... and one day, you will prove them wrong."

She kissed her head. "I know it."

Pyria smiled a little and nodded. Elisen stood up, "would you like to see the Mage and his apprentice? I'm sure they have missed seeing you."

Pyria's eyes lit up and she nodded excitedly. Elisen giggled, "go on then."

Pyria ran out of the room. She hurried down another hallway before she ran up the stairs. She knocked on the door.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM NOT TO BE DISTURBED DURING MY WORK?!"

She jumped in surprise as the door opened, revealing an seventeen year old Elf boy. He had porcelain skin, light blonde hair and brown eyes.

He looked at Pyria and smiled, "h-hi, Pyria! I'm sorry for Mage Katyr's outburst."

Pyria giggled, "it's alright, Belanor."

"Ah! I apologize for my outburst, Princess," Mage Katyr Xyrris said, blushing lightly, "most Elves usually come here for hair growth elixirs." He had almond brown skin, raven black hair and dark brown eyes.

Pyria smiled, "it's alright. Really. I should be apologizing for not coming around sooner."

"Princess duties can keep you and your sisters busy," Belanor chuckled, "how have your classes been?"

"They have been... okay," Pyria said with a shrug as she sat down on the bench, "how are your teachings as a mage apprentice?"

"They're alright," Belanor said and he rested his head on her shoulder.

Pyria was in the gardens, picking flowers. She smiled softly as she put them in the basket. She started singing.

"And I was running far away, would I run off the world someday? Nobody knows, nobody knows," she sang, "and I was dancing in the rain. I felt alive and I can't complain."

"But now take me home," another voice said, "take me home, where I belong. I can't take it anymore."

Pyria looked over and she smiled as she saw the Court Mage's apprentice, Belanor Genmoira, smiling at her as he walked over. He picked up a rose and placed it in her hair.

She giggled softly. "Hello to you too, Belanor."

Belanor smiled, bashful.

"I hope I didn't startle you, milady," he said. "You didn't," she said, "I'm just picking flowers."

"May I join you?" He asked. "I don't mind," she replied with a smile.

Pyria nuzzled into Belanor who blushed lightly. Katyr glanced at them before he returned his attention back to the etchings he was creating.

Suddenly the door swung open, revealing a knight. "MAGE KATYR!" The knight exclaimed, looking terrified. Belanor and Pyria both jumped to their feet, startled.

Katyr spun around, snarling, "how dare you enter my quarters without my permission!"

"M-my apologies, sir, but you have to come to quick! Th-there's a Drake in the castle!"

Pyria froze, her eyes widening with fear. "What?! Where is it now?" Katyr demanded.

"It was last seen near the barracks," the knight replied, "the whole castle is looking for it!" Belanor furrowed his eyebrows and he looked at Pyria who was visibly shaking.

"We need to focus on boxing it in- we can't have it finding an opening to escape!" Katyr said and he grabbed his coat, "I will activate the wards to trap it within the castle! Have the archers on the outer walls ready to shoot it down if it makes it outside!"

"Sh-shoot it?" Pyria gasped, "will it really come to that? We don't even know why it's here!"

Katyr looked at her, "you are fortunate enough to not have encountered a dragon before, Princess Pyria. But trust me when I say that there is no good reason for a dragon to be here."

He looked at Belanor, "stay here with Pyria until the threat has passed!"

"W-wait! I want to come!" Pyria exclaimed. "Absolutely not," Katyr said sternly before he quickly closed the doors and he placed an enchantment lock on them.

Pyria banged her fists against the doors. "Katyr! KATYR!" She yelled before she let out a trembling sigh.

"Pyria?" Belanor said worriedly. Pyria closed her eyes tightly before she looked at him. "B-Belanor... please help me get out. I-I need answers," she pleaded.

He frowned before he grabbed a book. "Let's get you those answers then," he said, "this allows you to create a portal."

Pyria nodded before she grabbed a piece of chalk and started to draw the sigil. Once she was done, she looked at Belanor who looked equally nervous.

He exhaled before he knelt down and held his hands over the sigil. Pyria watched with amazement as the sigil glowed brightly.

A portal opened and Belanor looked at her.

"Ready?" He asked. She nodded and she took his hand before the two jumped into the portal. They yelped as they landed on the floor in the middle of the hallway.

Pyria looked around before she got up and peered around the corner. She saw red warps lined against the glass windows and she could tell that they were magic.

She swallowed and fidgeted nervously. She had read about Dragons, Wyverns, Sea Serpents, Drakes and Amphitheres. And she also knew that they were enemies of the Elves.

She exhaled.

"THERE IT IS!" A guard yelled and Pyria spun around to see a dusty brown Drake running towards her.

He widened his amber eyes and so did she. She yelped as he ran into her and the two fell to the floor.

"Pyria!" Belanor exclaimed, his eyes widening. The Drake got to his feet and he looked at Pyria. He growled and he quickly leapt over her head only to roar in pain when a bolt of electricity hit him in the back.

"Belanor!" Pyria said angrily. "Sorry! I'm sorry!" He squeaked, flinching back.

She ran over to the Drake and knelt down. "A-are you okay?"

He glared at her for a moment and hissed. "PYRIA!" The two jumped and Pyria looked to see Elisen, Othorion, Drannor, Rosanhi, Katyr and a few guards running over.

"Apprehend that Drake!" Drannor said to the guards. Othorion gently grabbed Pyria's arm and tugged her away as the guards held down the Drake.

Elisen hugged Pyria. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly. "I-I'm fine, Mother," she said quickly. She looked back at the Drake as he was taken away.

"Wh-where are they taking him?" She asked. "To the dungeons," Katyr said, "but nevermind that for now, what were you thinking? How did you even get out of the tower? I told you this was dangerous!"

"Belanor helped me find a spell in one of your books...," Pyria said nervously. Katyr frowned and looked at Elisen.

"It is fine," she said, "but this was dangerous, Pyria. The last thing I need is that Drake trying to escape and report to it's leader about you."

"Wh-why would he need to do that?" Pyria asked nervously. Drannor looked at Elisen who sighed.

"Nevermind that," she said, "for now, I will have a guard assigned to protect you."

"I-is that necessary? Surely, my sisters will need it more than I," she said quickly, "I'm... I'm not really-" "You are important," Elisen said sternly, "Lythienne, Vana, Malonne, Almithara and Kavrala know how to defend themselves."

"If I may, my queen," an Elf woman said, walking over. She had bronze brown skin, black hair that was tied in a bun and she had had light grey eyes. "How about assigning my son, Melandrach? He is the position of knight and I'm sure he'd be honored to be Princess Pyria's personal guard."

"Very well, Valindra," Elisen said and she looked at Belanor, "please take my daughter to her quarters."

"Y-yes, my queen," Belanor said quickly and the two walked back to Pyria's room.

After the fateful events, the sun had set and Pyria sat in her room, sitting on the windowsill and staring at the orange and pink and purple sky.

She was uneasy because of what had happened. She gripped her knees as she exhaled and leaned against the wall.

She sighed and rubbed her face. 'I thought I would finally get answers but everything is the same,' she thought bitterly before she got up. She walked over to the door and opened it.

She looked at a nineteen year old boy who looked back at her. He had dark brown skin and black hair that was tied into a ponytail and he had dark brown eyes.

He wore black and red armor.

"Hello, milady," he said.

"Hello, Melandrach," she sighed, "...would you like to accompany me to the dungeons?" He tilted his head but nodded.

The two walked down the hallway and went to a large brown door. Pyria pushed it open and she and Melandrach walked down a flight of stairs.

She waited for a guard to walk past before she walked over to a cell and the Drake lifted his head.

"Well, well, well," he chuckled, "if it isn't the human princess, Pyria." "You... know who I am?" Pyria asked.

He chuckled again, "believe me when I say that every Dragon, Drake, Amphithere, Sea Serpent and Wyvern knows about you. From here to the Northern Realms. I'm Hamon."

"It's... nice to meet you, Hamon," Pyria said, "I wish we could have met under better circumstances."

"Trust me, I'm sure I'd still be running away from you," he said, "but I suppose I can say it's nice to meet you too, kid."

He looked at Melandrach who stood by the cell door, arms crossed over his chest.

"That your guard?" He asked. "Yes," Pyria nodded, "don't bother him."

"Wasn't planning on it but fine," Hamon chuckled, "so... what are you down here, visiting me for? It's unlike Queen Elisen for her youngest daughter to come down here."

"I want answers," Pyria said, "from... well, you. You seem to be the only one who can give them."

Hamon arched a scaly eyebrow before he narrowed his eyes. "How much do you know about your magic?"

"I-I control fire and water and earth," Pyria said, "but using it is forbidden; I'm not an Elf."

Hamon sneered, "of course you're not an Elf. You're a Dragon."