The endless pounding of artillery on our position only made the magic barrier that held us here more potent. Taking energy and storing it into more power to yourself, this was the magical power of Gania. And a perfect cage for those it captured.

  I am cuffed, tied, and left in the mud of the barrier as my captors bring more inside. Kurzehest personnel and Rocinotion troops, all together in a bubble stuck in the middle of the worst barrage in the history of the world. Scales formed on my arms, denoting my heritage as a dragon.

  “Think we can get anything for the scales of that war dragon over there?” Asked one of the greddier guards. I wanted to gut him, make him see the pain of what happened to those who crossed us.

  “Don’t bother, that’s against the orders to bring the lizard in.” Fuck you. Fuck you. The sky is so pure. So blue and all encompassing. “Besides, nothing we can’t wipe away.”

  “Shit fucking pay and shit fucking luck.” I heard him sigh as I strained against the bindings. I needed out. There was a flicker of magic, with the guards audibly gulping. The barrier was reaching its upper limits.

  The barrier failed for the last time as the soldiers began to panic. I took my chance, bringing my powers over amethyst to bear. I broke the cuffs and turned into a dragon one again. Taking the skies.

  One last time before my head was cloven from my body via 152mm anti-dragon shells. I would touch the skies one last time.

  I wasn’t the woman I wanted to be.

  But I am glad I managed to touch the sky one last time before I would die. I die doing the most sacred thing a dragon can do.

  I finally touched the sky again.

  ========================

  A gentle knock of the door woke me from my nightmares. Again the same dream of a dragon taking to the skies one last time before dying. A dragon trying their best to reach for the sky before the world claimed them. Arms...I check my arms again, thinking they had become claws. Fortunately, nothing came about.

  I got out of bed groggily and tried my best to dress myself. The dawn was a welcome friend, since my nights have been utterly claimed by the death of dragons. Beautiful scales of amethyst. I move to the bathroom and begin to shave. I never liked what I saw in the mirror, nor the bath. Keep it out of mind, live life each day like it was the last.

  There wasn’t much left to do, as I left my room, the aroma of bacon, pancakes, and eggs permeated the apartment. Dad was busy finishing his meal as I was about to start mine.

  “Hey champ. Another nightmare?” I nodded to his question as he looked at me with concern. “Another dead dragon...can people really not fucking hunt them? They’re human too.”

  “It’s fine. I think. This one was shorter and tried to escape during...war?” I shrugged it off. “What’s for breakfast, dad?”

  “Bacon, pancakes, and eggs, for my graduating man.” I smiled lightly. Today was the day I would finally come out of my dad’s shadows. “Now, champ, that college invite still good?”

  I held up the envelope that stated my acceptance into the grand college of magic, the best one in the world. He smiled and finished his meal. No shirt day, huh? Guess he wanted to show off his chest scars.

  “Hey, dad, you finally gonna tell me why you have those scars there? I’ve been trying to figure it out myself and you keep quiet about it.”

  “Meh, same answer as before. It’s a proof of my manhood.” He poured himself a cup of black coffee, before setting another cup in front of me filled with my usual coffee, cream and milk included. His eyes looked like they wanted to say something, but didn’t. “I chose to be one, so why not be proud of what marks me as one?”

  I shrugged as I continued my coffee. Today was basically the train ride. Me and my best friends snagged tickets to the city where the college is, though its a four day trip on it. “Yeah yeah. Choosing to be a man…” If I was allowed to choose, I would love to not be one.

  “Anyway, I got work in a bit. I’ll drop you off at the station first thing, then...call me when you get on, okay? My little man’s about to make himself known.”

  =====

  I stretched as I left the car park for the train station. One last big hug from dad before he parted with me, tears cloying his eyes. I...guess this is the last moment that we’ll ever meet before I make it to school.

  I can do it, I am a big man...no, no. Ugh. I shake the disgust away as I climb the steps, wondering what to do next. The station was abuzz with people running around. Two women, my friends, were waving me down, and I ran to them.

  “Yo, Mike.” That was Dizzy, local cat punk girl who didn’t take shit. She has a rapport with dad and is a big ol’ lesbian. She was wearing a new crop top that matched her dark green hair, and her boots were up to her knees now. “Last one here. I was talking with your gf about what we plan to do at the college and shit.”

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Looking over, I saw Minfilia. She was as pretty as ever. We got into a relationship early on when we entered highschool, with us never really being separated. She’s a nomad like me, with her blonde hair loose and wavy as she wore a casual outfit. We entered a kiss, with Dizzy giggling a bit.

  “Sorry, another nightmare.” I said through breathes. “Keeps happening, and it’s like the same thing again and again.”

  “Hels, get diagnosed already.” Dizzy said casually. She leaned on her suitcase as she studied me. “Also, new hoodie?”

  “Yeah. Just got it yesterday to celebrate.” I snuggled Minfilia closer.

  “I’d rather see you out of them, but I know your style.” Minfilia said, snuggling into me. “Now let’s get to the train.”

  ======

  We managed to set up a little bit of new home in the room we were assigned. Turns out mixed lodgings was the norm for the school, and with us being already a group, they just did that. How did they know? Didn’t matter, I was snuggling with Minfilia on the bed. She was busy going through her socials to keep an eye on things. Dizzy was playing a guitar in her bed, practicing her dream.

  I was reading a book on a pair of lovestruck idiots trying to unite their kingdoms together. It was interesting that apparently there was a section where one of them transformed into a woman and they continued on like nothing happen. Not going to read into my own tingly feelings about the matter, nope, nuh uh.

  When we were finally settled into our arrangements for the ride to the college, a new guy barged into the room. Leather jacket, bleached blonde hair, and arranged in spikes, with a scowl on his face. He looked at the three of us in the room, and gagged. “I gotta room with a couple and their pet cat.”

  “Pfft, if anything, I’m the pet gay here.” Dizzy was used to the insults. That earned a snort from the scowling man, before he placed his case next to mine. “Name, nomad?”

  “Nomad? I’m a dragon, unlike you losers!” He scowled again, before rolling up one of his sleeves to show his scales. His arm was a little thinner than expected, but covered in reddish scales that shone in the light. Then they disappeared into his arm again as he stretched. “Names Katarsis. Remember it fuckos.”

  Minfilia looked him up and down and sighed. “Hels, you’re as loud as they come. And tackier than Dizzy. Like she can pull off the punk look, not you.” She snorts, before snuggling into me and peering into the book I was reading to take a break from her socials. I place my hand on her head. “Ohhh, that’s a neat thing right there…” She whispered, looking at the same passage that had that transformation I was looking at.

  “What’s that!? I’ll have you know I was out at the Red Path Rally-” I hear a massive clong as the dragon gets laid out like a blanket by Dizzy. Knocked out faster than most others that piss her off.

  “Damn, a chud like the rest. Ah well, maybe he’s got secrets.” She picks him up and slams him onto the bed that was left for the fourth. Then she went back to practice, trying to get back her rhythm.

  “Planning on fixing him or something?” I joked. It was a fun little game for Dizzy, seeing if they were self hating or not.

  “Probation, remember? Got in trouble with the law for, and I quote, ‘corrupting the pastor’s son’. Not my fault the girl is much happier snuggling with you.” She gets a nice strum, then nods to herself. “Okay, think I can start from here….”

  Minfilia giggles as she leans into my neck. “Gods above, I so much prefer being here. With you, as me. Hehe, if this is being corrupted, then I was already lost.” I pet the head of Minfilia, happy that she’s leaving behind the fuckwad of a family.

  We began to settle into a rhythm soon enough, the chud dragon starting to snore as we started the trip to the college. Two steps into my new life. And then my stomach rumbles. It’s lunch.

  ======

  We managed to find our way to the dining car, where we grabbed a seat. Our fourth wasn’t anywhere near where we were, as he didn’t get up yet. We were given menus by a waiter. The car wasn’t that packed right now, with gilded décor and fancy seats.

  I looked over the menu and browsed the options. Pizza, Ogre Pasta, Troll meat skewers, Orcish soup, Wings of various spices and flavors, and burgers. Prices were absurd though. “Pizza?” I asked, trying to save costs.

  “Yep! They got cockatrice, pepperoni, chicken, beef, pork, mushrooms, veggies, sea serpent...no, nevermind that one, that’s straight five hundred magna for a single slice of sea serpent. Hels, we hit the bougie train.” Dizzy retched. “Nope, I’ll settle for the two hundred eighty orb pizza, thank you.”

  “The fact they have an option for magna, roth, and orbs is astounding. But hels, none of us have that kind of money. Thirty seven thousand orbs for a slice is too much.” Minfilia’s eyes bulged at the price, and yeah fuck that. Pizza with pepperoni and veggies. Should be fine.

  A waiter in a rather formal suit came to our table. “So what will the ruffian students have today? I heard all of your shouting from across the car and it was noisy.” Snobbish mother fucker.

  “A peperoni and veggie pizza for us. We’ll pay for it together, so split the bill three ways.” I stated tersely, trying to not snap at him.

  “I see. That can be arranged.” He disdainfully said, walking off to the kitchen. He snubbed another table on the way, like a full blown jackass.”

  Then a girl walks by. She had heart rimmed pink glasses, which she lowered as she stopped at our table. Her bubblegum pink hair and jacket/shirt combo was very clashing. She looked at us, or more like the center-point between the three of us, then poked at thin air a bit, before nodding.

  Then the door to the car opened from the side we came from. Out comes the chud, looking ripshit pissed at us. “Who the fuck knocks someone out like that?”

  The woman laughs. “Oh, masks, this is going to be a fun time.” She walks past the chud. “Ta ta for now, lovelies. Enjoy the show tonight.” She waves as she leaves the car. The chuddish fucker moves past us and sits alone, flipping Dizzy off. She returns the gesture in kind.

  We got our pizza and dug in. The gooey delight set something alight in my chest, and the warm cheese and meat refreshed this weary soul. Soooo gooooood.

  ===Elsewhere===

  The threads that bind were arrayed in a strange way today. Though, granted, my ability to see them is unique to me. I stretched as I walked the length of the residential car to the back, the detonator I have in my pocket reminding me of what I needed to do.

  For those on the path. Still though, the Amethyst dragon is late. When is she coming back? I yawned into my palm as I walked past the various different rooms.

  Some poor fucker drew the short straw as they rounded the corner. He’s a detective, and seemed like he was cross at me. “Stop right there, Eloise.” Hah, even knew my name. “You are under arrest for terrorism charges against the state of Rocinotion! Surrender yourself.” He gulped audibly as I thumbed the detonator in my pocket.

  Meh, seems his love life is shit from what I can tell. His string is frayed and torn, as if he was in a loveless marriage. Which for a cop like him, is expected. He’s the kind of shit that an old demon would love. I tug at the string that binds him to another…

  Slowly, surely, I separate it. Three, two, one...ring a ding ding, his phone goes off like a timed bomb. He hurriedly answers as he stops me. “What!? What do you mean divorce, honey!?” He holds out his hand while his life is slowly falling apart.

  “Now is not the time for that! Let me get home first- hey, no, it can wait, I am on an important case- what about our daughter- argh, let me talk to her- LET ME FINISH YOU FUCKING WHORE! I will be sure to- recorded? What do you mean recorded? Whose that man you are talking to, you whore!? ANSWER-” Whelp, enough of this shit. I deck him in the jaw to knock him out, grabbing the phone in the air.

  “Arsene? What the hels?” Said the woman on the other side of the line with an indignant tone. For what its worth, I was proud.

  “Hello?” I answered through it, a little concerned. Arsene got what was coming to him. “Sorry your soon to be ex husband had managed to meet his jaw with my fist.”

  She exhaled deeply, as if releasing some stress. “Okay. No good cheating shithead got what he deserved. Did you at least leave him in enough of a state to sign papers when he gets to the capital?”

  “Who said he was making it to the capital?” And like that, the bombs go off.