Ancient Dragon’s Orenda

”Uuwahh! ”

”… ”

”Hehe! ”

”… ”

”You look funny! ”

”… ”

The girl titled her head as her eyes sparkled with mirth.

”Did I do thomething bad? ” she giggled with a lisp

”… ”

Where was the lightning bolt to smite you when you needed one?

Last night I was running away from some bullies, thinking that the library was a good place to hide, so I took refuge there.

Clearly, I was far- very far from right.

I stared, dumbfounded at the sight before me.

But don get me wrong, Im not an idiot.

No one goes to the library, like ever. Even the most studious bespectacled nerds wouldn step foot in it, saying abandoned isn an overstatement either. The carpet literally had a thick layer of dust on it, and every single tile creaked. There wasn a better place than that to hide.

I may just be trying to justify my actions, but seriously, would you rather get beaten up? Its not like I was expecting to summon a damn demon…

A book had just suddenly dropped from a shelf, effectively giving me a light bruise on the top of my head. It wasn necessarily the worst that could happen and so I decided to take that book with me, in case anyone asked why I was at the library.

Wait… What if I get accused of dark sorcery or something sketchy?

An untalented boy who used magic of unknown origins to gain power didn sound too unrealistic. It was actually a pretty good excuse to expel me, to a bunch of teachers who wanted nothing more than to kick the academys prestigious last place out.

”Ahemm. ”

Ah. Right. Nows not the time for this. I looked at the girl again, this time with more clarity, observing her more clearly.

She looked to be around five, with dead straight sand-yellow hair that reached her ankles, not the beautiful light kind, but the rusty dull type. This contrasted with her mischievous eyes which resembled the ocean, stormy grey hued with aegean blue. Wrapped around her smooth Arabian skin was a tattered cloth.

Ah, I see.

So basically the creator of this book must be a part of a pedophilic cult.

”You look ugly. ” The girl beamed as if she was the smartest cookie in the world.

I snapped out of my thoughts.

This little brat…

I sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm down.

This saint shall be graciously benevolent for once.

I ran my hand through my hair with frustration.

Okay, lets not call anyone in case someone accuses me of anything and overcomplicates this entire mess.

I grabbed the ancient book from my nightstand and skimmed it.

There should be a way to un-summon it right? Right?

My eyes paused on a certain section.

I closed the book and opened it again, in denial.

…What…

I rubbed my eyes and then opened them wider.

Haha… This must be a cruel joke, right? Like, no way I summoned a dragon.

Just think about it. The extinct species that mages spent centuries trying to revive with the DNA of their relatives, was summoned by a 13-year-old that is the epitome of shame and failure.

No? It just wasn possible?

But in the end, I can keep denying it. There were no other species capable of transforming into such a realistic humanoid form. A really powerful demon probably could, but demons were known to have different shaped horns, emit bloodlust, and would be preparing to kill me, not be lying with docility on my bed, chomping on my pillow like Pac man-

Ah…

Cr*p.

I grabbed the girl by the waist and hoisted her up, monetarily stunned by how light she was, considering my non-existent strength. But she didn give up without a fight either, clinging onto my bed sheets, she whimpered, ”Hic, hic, om nommy pillow! ”.

I held back a sigh.

”Hey kid, let go, Ill give you something more yummy. ”

”NO! Nothing more nommy than pillow! ”

She kept squealing as I dropped her and attempted to pry her hands off the blankets instead.

”Hey- trust me, candies are more om nommy than pillows! ”

”Really? More om nommy? ”

”Yes, I promise. ”

I reached into my pocket and got a sweet and sour melon flavoured lolly and handed it to her. She snatched it out of my hand before squinting and eyeing me with reluctance.

…

Did she really give up after I said om nommy rather than yummy? She was such a word-ist.

The girl opened her mouth widely like a suffocated fish before popping the candy into her mouth- … with the wrapper.

”No- wait spit it out- ” I panicked as I pushed her cheeks together to open her mouth.

”But it really nommy! ”

”Do it! ”

”… fine… ” She drooped her head despondently as tears gathered around her eyes.

”Stop being dramatic. ” I snickered as I tossed the packaging in the bin before feeding her it.

She blanched and lunged for the pillow again.

”WHY- I THOUGHT YOU LIKED IT! ” I screamed.

”It not nommy anymore! ” She retorted

… So she liked the wrapper.

If there is any god out there, please have mercy on me.

***

Ten minutes later, I gave up. She clearly had more strength than me, I could always get another pillow anyways.

Tales talk about the mighty, wise dragons and their impressive feats, but they don talk about their kids going apesh*t.

I sighed, before reaching for the book.

The dragon you summon will have the most connection to you. They are the most relatable and you both will grow to care for one another.

What on earth did this twerp have in common with me?!? Im sorry but eating pillows aren exactly on the top of my bucket list right now. Actually they weren even on it. Not now, not in a million years.

Suddenly, a line I had read from the book popped up in my mind.

The dragon will last for twenty-four hours before being obliterated if you don sign a contract with them.

I glanced at the clock, I slept for- 11 hours? So she had 13 hours left.

11 hours… Why did I get a weird feeling from that…

Damn it! I just remembered that I have to meet up with my family at 12! I already spent half an hour trying to appease the dragon, now I have only 30 minutes before the luncheon!

I scrambled to my wardrobe before picking out random clothes.

”Kid, stay here I need to go somewhere. No wandering around and messing up my room yeah? Ill give you cand- er, wrappers to eat! ” I would solve this dilemma afterward, I need to clear my mind right now.

”But… Papa, I want to go with you! ”

”… ”

Papa… This was worse than I thought.

”Im sorry but you can . ”

She looked as if she got slapped.

”I HATE YOU! ” The dragon whined before slumping on the bed and rolling herself into a burrito with the blanket, in the process falling off the mattress. She tried to hold back her tears to look tough but I could hear her sniffling.

I smirked and lifted the dragon burrito onto the bed again. I patted her head but realised I patted her feet instead and bursted out cackling.

”Its not FUNNY! ” She sulked but I could feel her shaking under the covers, trying to suppress her laughter.

I went to the bathroom to change, and when I came back out I found a ring on my desk that I had no recollection of. I quickly dismissed the thought, it was probably something my sister gifted me, but I knew that I would never forget it if Yenila gave me something. So I decided to slip it into my pocket and ask her later.

I grasped the doorknob and turned my head to the blanket roll.

”Im going to go, don go anywhere okay? ”

”… ”

Who knew dragons also used the silent treatment? I chuckled at her childish display and exited my dorm.