Perilous Skies; Wayward Royalty, Playing with Fire

Chapter 4 This is serious!

Natalia let out a defeated sigh, "Look... I-I am sorry, I am lashing out,"

"It's just that, my dragon is out there, like she's right outside this building, waiting for me," Her expression was starting to get frantic, she reached out and gently grasped my shoulders for support but she clearly lost focus on me. I can sense her anxiety climbing across her heavy arms onto me. I could feel my cheeks getting hot and red, so I looked at the floor to not break composure. If she is to break down on me, what am I supposed to do, I am only thirteen.

"I don't know this girl and yet I am expected to just somehow magically click with her and we'll be best friends for hundreds of years?" She leaned forward slightly, her weight, grip, and especially her attitude were getting too uncomfortable for me to bear. I stepped back to keep my balance and grabbed her wrists for support, after removing one of my gloves just in case. I looked back at her face as the tall 16-year-old looked on behind me, at nothing from when I checked.

I say, "N-Natalia, please get off, you're hur-

She interrupts me, "It's jus- It's just... I don't know!"

"I know they say it's going to be fine, but how do I know that for real?"

"But they're also Archmages, so they do know they're happy but how about us?"

"How do they-AAAHH!!! OOOWWW!!!!" She yelped and leaped back like a startled cat, releasing her grip from me and holding her left arm in pain. I needed to remind her of my boundaries, and activating the pain receptors with a small jolt was quite effective. The shock didn't last more than an instant though as she wasn't injured at all, and she shot me with one of her death glares. Normally she reserved those for people who dared to pick on me, but I wasn't exempt if I really ticked her off.

"Jeez Princess, what the hell was that for!?" She said to me with a growl in her voice, but this time I wasn't having it. I snapped back, "That's enough Natalia, you're freaking me out!"

I stomped one foot, causing the hair on my head to stand straight up, and crackled furiously, "You're not the only one! I've been preparing for this day for as long as I can remember!"

"My parents and shaman were training me non-stop, I had to learn to fight, fly, and use magic to perfection?" I can feel the energy in me building, my dress and pant legs fluttered slightly from the electricity trapped by my boots.

"I had to get my whole back tattooed just days before I left my entire family and home behind to get to this tiny little island!!" My face was getting hotter, my eyes grew heavy and wet. Keep it together, Winter you have to make a point. I fail badly and feel myself begin to sob, I shut my eyes and struggle to continue, "That-that doesn't even have dragons on it!!"

"And for months, I am stuck for months in a place full of big stuck-up jerks that treat me like griffon guano for being small, knowing nothing, and wearing these stupid glasses!!"

"You were cool, you listened to me, you were the only one who made me feel safe here and now you are scaring me on the greatest and scariest day of my life!"

I felt myself coming apart, "Do you... hate me now."

"No, no no no Winter! Shit!... I am so sorry," Natalia said, her voice suddenly gentle and subdued. I vainly attempted to wipe the tears from my face and I saw her rush towards me, all previous anger was gone and replaced with this frenzied worry. I shut my eyes tightly and turned my head. She always hated to see me cry and today was apparently no exception.

Why did I say that to her? Why am I crying? What am I doing? I am not sad, I am- I feel Natalia's gentle hand cradle my cheek and tilt my head upwards. Her power instantaneously snuffed out the static coursing through me, my hair fell back into place. Next, her handkerchief pressed against my face as she carefully wiped away the tears and snot. I tried to protest, but between the cloth and my heart just not being in it. The most I could do was mumble while gripping the hand on my cheek, weakly swiping with the other. This is so embarrassing, you're not my mom! I am an archmage for Imperial's sake! She stroked beneath my shut eyelids with her thumb, enticing me to open them again.

The world had gotten bright and blurry from shutting my eyes so tightly, that I felt a few trapped tears escape. It wasn't long before things took shape again and I saw Natalia smiling back at me. Her head was tilted slightly and her face had a warm and tender expression to it, her eyes the left red and the right golden shimmering from the overhead lights. Which also radiated off her tanned wheatish face and luscious black hair.

Only I am ever given the privilege to see that look, I am not sure why though. What does she see in me? When I first arrived here, I didn't really have much to prove I was anyway important where I lived aside from the blade and I was never letting them see it. I knew nothing about anything or anyone here, and I was nobody to them. If her word and that of her other friends were to be believed, she is from a high-standing family, her great-grandmother founded a clinic that specializes in treating draconic patients, from Dragons to Wyverns and so on. Even beyond that, she's so cool and-

Natalia smirked and put one hand over her mouth, "Pfft! You look like a wide-eyed freckled tomato!!" she burst into a giggling fit, I shook my face at the sudden shift in tone.

"I look like a what?" I retorted trying to hide my embarrassment while she continued, "I am sorry, your face is so red right now," she stopped momentarily to catch her breath.

"And you've been staring at me blankly with big ol eyes of yours, it's just so cute!!" She said after finally regaining her composure. I can sense that my face is dry again, but the heat on my cheeks is still present. I try to defend whatever dignity I have left, "I am NOT 'cute'!

"I am the daughter of a powerful warrior Chief,"

"We hunt monsters for Imperial's Sake!!" I pushed away her hand and slipped my glove back on, stop smiling at me. I am being serious. Natalia stopped laughing but she maintained a blissful grin, my words seemed to only have endeared her more. Before I had time to process it further I felt her arms lift me off the ground to pull me into a massive bear hug. I'd struggle but there was no point, I couldn't even lift my arms in this position. With my head settled on her shoulder looking down the hall she said, "Oh, you're so emotional, Winter,"

"You're a sweet and brave little thing, so stubborn, too pure for this terrible Earth sometimes," She pulled me back so our faces were just inches in front of each other. She had the look of a stern mother or older sister as if making sure I was paying attention, "Never change that, you hear me Piiku,"

"Never let anyone stop you being who you are... got that?" She said and I reluctantly nodded before she put me down. I did whatever I could to fix my hair and clothes as she turned to resume her trek down the hall, another faint roar from the creatures we nearly forgot were outside gave us a momentary pause. She glanced back again and said, "To be honest, I wish my little brothers were more like you, at least you cure my headaches instead of giving another." she continued on ahead at a leisurely pass so I don't get left behind.

I don't have older siblings, or any really as I was an only child. What is it like having siblings? Is it confusing like this or do we just have an odd friendship? Regardless, I need to catch up before I become a drag. Why can't anyone here take me seriously, ever?