Rose's POV

I meet up with Lucas on the way to the stables.

"Is it true?" He asks me.

"Is what true?" I ask confusedly.

"Is it true that you shot arrows off of Belvedere's back while flying?" He questions.

"Yes." I simply respond. He nods his head and we walk in silence till we reach the dragon stables. Ampiere and Belvedere are already outside waiting for us next to Marcus, Trent, and their companions. Artemis and Apollo perk up at the sight of my dragon.

"Rose, do you have an idea as to what you want your item to be?" Trent asks.

"Yes, I sketched a design of dragon scales that are connected together. I was thinking that this could maybe be on fingerless leather-brown gloves." I say, pulling out my sketch.



My instructors nod and accept the sketch. Marcus clears his throat.

"Today we will be working on strengthening your bonds with your companions." Marcus starts. "Please sit down and get into a meditative position. Close your eyes and follow my instructions as I give them." He continues. Lucas and I sit down crossed legged, closing our eyes.

"I want you to clear your mind, solely thinking of your bond with your dragon. Think of how you want to develop your tie and become stronger. You need to believe that you and your dragon will never part, staying in a life long companionship. Think of all the times you have spent with your dragon. When you have successfully imagined your bond with your companion, you should see a strand of color in your mind space. Grasp it and focus on holding it with your imaginary pull. This strand should disintegrate and a mental image of your dragon should appear when you have successfully strengthened your bond." Trent guides.

I follow his instructions to the very last word, clearing my mind and focusing on strengthening my mental bond. My mind space is completely bland when 7 strands appear in my mind space. I consciously depart from my state to ask a question.

"How will I know which strand to strengthen?" I ask. Marcus and Trent both look dumbfounded.

"There should only be one strand. What do you mean?" Marcus inquires.

"There are 7 strands, two of them are fainter than the other five. All of them are different colors." I reply. Trent's eyes harden.

"Are you able to communicate with other dragons?" He asks lowly. I look up to my companion, silently asking for permission to tell. Belvedere nods.

"Yes, I am." I calmly say.

"You didn't think to tell us." Trent's dark voice almost makes me flinch. "Since when?" He demands.

"Technically, the first night I arrived, but I did not fully understand what was happening until my placement test." I respond. Marcus gapes in shock and Trent sends a glare my way.

"Who? And why didn't you tell us?" Marcus's voice gentler than Trent's, yet still stern.

"I didn't tell you because I was afraid of what might happen. As far as I know, this shouldn't be possible, but it is." I say. A take a deep breath before continuing. "I am able to communicate with Belvedere, Star, Ampiere, Nightshade, and Oceanus. But before you scold them, I begged them not to tell you guys. I was scared that I could be taken advantage of and I didn't want anyone knowing until I was ready." I say, forcing tears to spring in my eyes, my voice slightly cracking.

I know I just lied to my teachers, but I will not let the dragons take the fall for this one. I already know that they are not as appreciated as they should be, so I can't let them be troubled by their riders as well. I guess the dragons and I came to an unspoken conclusion not to tell anyone until it was time. Both of my instructors' eyes soften at the sight of my 'troubled' state.

"Alright, can you explain how you are able to do it?" Trent sighs out. I nod wiping away my 'tears'.

"I don't know if you know this, but nobody is able to enter my mind space without my knowledge of it. I don't understand how, but I can feel one's presence if they are trying to enter my head. So when I allow the dragons to enter my mind space, I am able to communicate with them. It hurts when my mind adjusts to the presence, the more powerful a dragon is, the worse the pain gets. The ache disappears after a minute or two, and that allows me to talk to dragons through both mind-link and bond-link." I say. They absorb the information in silence until Marcus speaks up.

"To answer your previous question, the two fainter strands may be your twin companions. The other strands may be colored based off of the dragon's scales. Try strengthening your ties to your three companions first before attempting to do it with the other dragons." He says. I nod, re-entering my mind space.

I understand what Marcus was talking about, the strands all correlate with the dragons I am able to communicate with. I grasp my hold on the pure white strand first. I keep my grip firm, tugging at it with a pull. The strand begins fading and an image of Belvedere in his strongest state is portrayed in my mind. I continue this process with the twins next, I begin with Artemis. When his image appears, I see a midnight, matte black dragon that is as large as Belvedere's strongest form. The same occurs for Apollo, yet he is a shimmering gold color, a very bright gold, not dull whatsoever. I move onto Oceanus, Star, Nightshade, then Ampiere. I see all of their images in mind after I successfully strengthened our mental connections.

'Why do I feel like I can sense you better than before?' Star asks me from her stable.

'I just strengthened our mental connection. I hope you do not mind.' I say to her, scolding myself for not asking for her permission first.

'It is alright Rose, do not fret.' She tells me. I sigh in relief. I open my eyes and nod towards Trent and Marcus, signaling that I am done. I look over to Lucas and see that he is straining his eyes, his muscles tensed. He opens his eyes and sighs in frustration.

"What is wrong?" I ask him.

"I can't get passed clearing my mind. I try and dispel of all of my thoughts, but I just cannot." He rants. I move behind him and begin massaging his shoulders. His muscles tense at the contact, then slowly relax into my hands.

"What are you doing?" He groans when I soothe a tight knot.

"You must be relaxed. You will never achieve a peaceful mind state if your body is too tensed to begin with. Try again." My soothing voice coaches. I see Lucas close his eyes and begin clearing his mind. I continue rubbing his back, massaging tight areas of his body with my delicate hands. We are in silence for a couple minutes before Lucas opens his eyes again, a huge smile on his face.

"I did it! I saw Ampiere in my mind!" He cheers. I smile back, stopping my movement.

"I knew you could do it." I encourage. His eyes widen as if now realizing the situation, he clears his throat.

"Thank you ... for um .. that." He stutters out, an adorable blush filling his cheeks. I lightly laugh, moving away towards my companion.

"Don't mention it." I say. Trent and Marcus excuse us for the rest of class, with only 30 minutes left.

'Thank you for defending us earlier. I know that Trent otherwise would have punished me.' Nightshade thanks.

'Yes, thank you. I did not want to disappoint my rider by keeping this from him.' Oceanus adds.

'It was nothing. Thank you for waiting until I was ready to acknowledge it to your riders. I would have never forgiven myself if I let you all take the fall for keeping my secret.' I respond truthfully.

I spend the rest of the time with the dragons in silence. I meditate against Belvedere's side, basking in nature for all it has to offer. My twins have their heads in my lap, taking a quick nap. I believe the other dragons are around us as well, savoring the silence, lost in their thoughts. Lucas left a while ago, but Ampiere stayed behind with the rest of us.

'Little one, I believe your class has ended.' Belvedere's voice rings in my head. I wake my companions and get up slowly. I close the gates of all of the dragons when they are inside, bidding them goodbye. I rush to the combat field to make it on time. Thankfully, I arrive a minute before class begins, now standing with my brothers and friends. Roman raises an eyebrow at my young dragons, then Matisse leans in his ear. I assume he is filling them in. I stand next to Tony and hug him tightly.

"Are you okay?" He asks me with worry.

"Yes, it has just been a long day." I say, still hugging his waist. He nods in understanding. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, letting me know that he is here for me. The whistle blows and I sigh, I would rather be meditating than do a workout right now.

"Listen up!" Mr.Howard yells out. "Today we will go to the blacksmith shop and observe your craft. You will each pick out a weapon or have the option to make one." I perk up at his words, excitement filling my bones.

"I will be able to see your preferences, and how you handle your weapons. Because this is your last class, you do not have to worry about the time. Today I will be nominating some of you to be crafters, so impress me. If you know you want to make a weapon, and have the materials in your dorm to do so, retrieve them and go to the blacksmith shop in a timely manner. Those of you who will be picking out weapons, follow me. I expect to see you all in the shop within 10 minutes." With Mr.Howard finishing his words, I dash towards my dorm.

Artemis and Apollo scramble to catch up to me. I arrive at my dorm within minutes, grabbing my chest of imperium, taking my sketchbook out of my backpack with a pencil and head out again. I decide to leave my bag in my dorm, less stuff to carry. I make it to the blacksmith shop at the same time Clay does. I am not breathing hard, mainly because my stamina is very high, though I cannot say the same for Clay. Apollo and Artemis stay against the side of the shop, laying down.

"Are you alright?" I ask, suppressing a giggle. He nods, unable to speak. I laugh at this, walking into the shop where the rest of my class is. I see that about 6 of the 43 students in my class are looking at the weapons. Joel enters the shop next, then Aiden, then Matisse, Tony, and lastly Roman. A few more unrecognizable students fill in the larger than average blacksmith shop, and Mr.Howard begins talking.

"Now that everyone is here, I will let Mr.Gordon take over." He introduces a tanned male with rich brown hair. The man is also an adonis, standing at 6'3.

"Hello students, my name is Mr.Gordon. I am the owner and head blacksmith of the Academy. I only accept 2-3 new crafters a year, and they are the best the Academy has to offer. Right now, only 6 students are employed here. I will be walking around with Mr.Howard, observing your work ethic and craftsmanship. Please take care of everything in my shop and clean up after yourselves. Now roam free and let your artistry flow." Mr.Gordon tells.

I observe the shop, finding an open workspace near a window. I set my things on the small table, my friends occupying the work spaces around me. I see that there is a main area with all of the weapons on display, a separate work space area, and a couple of doors leading to other rooms. I head over to Mr.Gordon who is lightly chatting with Mr.Howard.

"Excuse me sir, but can you please direct me to where the molds are?" I ask. He looks me up and down before responding.

"Yes, follow me." He says. I do so, noticing how Mr.Howard is joining us. "What is your name?" Mr.Gordon asks.

"Rose Wellington." I reply, he nods. He opens a back room where a few others are.

"Here is where you can find anything to your liking." He says, about to exit.

"Thank you Mr.Gordon." I call out before he departs. I don't know if he heard me because he gave me no indication, but I hope so. I take a looks around at all of the weapon molds. I see a lot of sword molds that are being taken as I speak, there are a few dagger molds, a couple of knife molds, and some other ones.

All of these molds are already weapons I have, and I don't want to waste my imperium. I see a familiar machine in the back, ah, a mold maker. I wonder if I will get in trouble for what I am thinking of doing. I head towards it, running my hand along the invention. I decide I will make a katana mold, for I was unable to make one in my village. The machine here is up to date and a newer model than the one in my village.

I take some of the mold material and shape it into a designated fit. The clay mold will solidify and not leave any residue once in the machine. It takes about 13 minutes for the final mold to set, but it was worth the wait. I take my katana mold and head to my work space.

I set it down and look at the materials Mr.Gordon provided for us if we wanted to use it. I grab a pile of gold and an ink engraver. Ink engravers act as a regular engraver, but imprint any melted metal when marking the design. It is another item we did not have in my village, a big reason why I want to use it now.

I set everything down on my table and sketch a few ideas down. Based on the looks of it, the other 36 students and I will be here for a while. I have drawn up a couple of sketches that I will engrave onto my new katana. I have never made one before, but I know that katanas are highly respected in many martial art forms, so I must perfect my weapon. Along the Hamon inbetween the width of the Ha, the inner curve of the weapon, will be my sketch of a dragon. I am going to engrave this design as a show that a dragon rider will wield the craft and as a symbol of who I am.



Specifically along the Mono-Uchi, the upper part of the weapon, still between the width of the Hamon and Ha, will be a tiger sketch. This will not overlap the dragon design because it will be above it with some space separating the drawings. Katanas are admired for embodying the Samurai culture. The weapon is mannered and refined to reflect incredible fierceness. Tigers are often symbolized as fierce animals or an animal of great ferocity.



On the Habaki, the part connecting the metal from the rest of the handle, will be a word in Sanskrit. Although the language is derived from Hinduism, Sanskrit was used as a means of communication between ancient Celestial Gods. The word in Sanskrit means soul, self. In order to properly wield a katana, it has to be an extension of yourself, acting as another limb.



Lastly, along the Shinogi, the 'line' separating the inner and outer parts of the weapon, will be a saying. The Shinogi is a lot like the spine of the sword, just in reference to a katana. The saying will be in cursive and say: she was either wildly naïve or dangerously intelligent. I feel like this quote represents me well and my willingness to act outside of the box within reason. Also, on the casing/covering of the katana, the Saya, will be engravings of cherry blossoms. Because Samurai culture is derived from the Japanese arts, I sketched cherry blossoms because they are often associated with the nature of Japan.



Now that my planning is done, which took about 20 minutes, I get to work. I grab enough imperium from my chest to make the katana and fill in my mold. I clear my mind and transfer my energy into the substance, just as I did when I was making my sword. I cut off my energy flow when I feel the difference in the material's aura.

I place the imperium in the mold and utilize the fire from a flamed torch instead of using a mechanical one. I will the fire to me and melt the imperium, being sure to make the substance fit the mold perfectly. As the imperium is setting in the katana mold, I take the gold and melt it, letting the metal fill in the ink compartment of the engraver. When it is full, I test the 'ink' out on a page of my sketchbook, assuring myself that it will flow smoothly with my movements. As soon as the katana is cooled off enough, I let my inner artist take over and guide my hand.

I work in a daze, my only focus on the precise designs of my sketches. I assume an hour and a half has passed before I am confident in the final look. The designs did not take as long because my sketches were smaller and not as fine detailed as the ones on my sword. Yet, you can tell by the look of it that the utmost concentration was used to design this weapon. The gold detailing along my obsidian katana contrasting wonderfully.



(Think of this as the color reference with the gold and black, just the designs covering the katana casing and the designs along the katana itself as well)

When all is cooled and set, I sharpen my deadly weapon to no end, then begin cleaning up my mess. I wash out the gold in the ink compartment of the engraver, wipe down my work space, and double check that I have everything I need. Confirming that I still have a plentiful amount of imperium in my chest, I take my katana and sketchbook as well and make my way towards the front of the shop.

I take notice that I am one of the few students left in the work space area, us taking more time on our weapons than the others. I reach the main part of the shop where there is a mini line. Three students are in front of me, holding their crafts. I see that Mr.Howard and Mr.Gordon are by the exit, observing every student's craft and asking questions. I don't see anyone I know in the shop, I guess they ended sooner than I. I set down my stuff, knowing that I will be here for a while. As I am waiting in line, I see a year 4 student wearing an apron covered in charcoal, I assume he works here.

The boy is very muscular, his biceps large and toned. He sees me looking at him and smiles at me. I smile and wave back. He sets stops what he is doing and comes to me.

"Hey, my name is Yuri. What is yours?" He asks.

"Rose, a pleasure to meet you." I say.

"You as well. I know that today is weapon crafting day, all Level 1 students do it every year to see if they are capable of working here. You are automatically taken out of the running if you choose to pick a weapon over making your own. Seeing as how you are one of the few students left, what did you make?" Yuri asks me.

"A katana." I simply reply, unsheathing my work from its covering. Yuri stares at my weapon in shock.

"That ... but ... This is incredible! Where did you find the mold? I didn't think we had one." He tells me, eyes wide.

"You didn't so I made the mold. I didn't know where to put it since I made it, so I am going to show and ask Mr.Gordon when it is my turn." I respond.

"This is beautiful. You embodied the design and artistry perfectly. You also used an ink engraver which is out of the ordinary. Not only this, but you designed cherry blossoms on the casing. I would be surprised if Mr.Gordon doesn't offer you a job here before you leave." Yuri compliments. I thank him, once again blushing.

"Did you sketch all of these yourself?" He questions me. I nod.

"I find art calming, it just helps that I have a creative mind." I mutter, a blush still covering my cheeks lightly. He nods, slightly smirking at my embarrassed state.

"You don't have to hide away. If I could craft a weapon as great as this, I would show it to the world." Yuri continues on, making me blush harder. He laughs at my face, aware of what he is doing. "I am just teasing. But seriously, I don't understand how you can be so humble with skills like these." Yuri edges on.

I shrug, modesty is the best policy. I see that the line has diminished and I can go talk to my superiors now. I bid Yuri goodbye and pick up my things from the floor. I walk to my elders and set down everything on a stand by the door.

"What did you make?" Mr.Gordon asks.

"A katana. I made the mold because I did not see one in the back room." I say. Mr.Gordon looks at me surprised, as does Mr.Howard.

"Did I tell you that you could make a mold?" Mr.Gordon raises an eyebrow. This might not end in my favor after all.

"Technically, you made the instructions unclear. Quote on quote you said "Here is where you can find anything to your liking." That could include the pre-made molds or the machine in the back of the room." I voice, handing him the mold. He inspects it and ever so slightly smirks.

"Very well. Show me your weapon." He instructs, setting the mold down. I grab my katana and present it to him. Mr.Gordon snaps his head to me and looks at me in newfound respect.

"You made this?" He asks me. I nod, about to go into the detail of my designs.

"Yes, I used an ink engraver and melted gold to get them to be marked that way. I already knew how it was going to look because I have made another weapon out of imperium before." I start.

"Imperium?" The adults question.

"I named the base substance imperium because when I found it the day before the choosing ceremony, I did not know what it was. Though, I could sense its aura and was drawn to its powerful state. So much so that it made me gravitate towards the substance naturally. Because of this, I called it imperium. The word itself means power in Latin translation, and can be interpreted in many different ways." I say. They nod, beckoning for me to continue.

"I did not own a katana and was unable to make one because our mold machine was more outdated. The only reason I know how to wield a katana is because of my father figure, he had one in his home and taught me the martial art." They nod along to my words.

"I sketched a couple of designs and made a final conclusion of what I wanted to engrave. On the Habaki is a word in Sanskrit, a Hindu based language used to communicate with Celestial Gods. It means soul or self. I have been teaching myself the language for a while and decided to engrave that word because in order to properly use a katana, you must bear it as an extension of yourself. It can't just be like another weapon, you have to utilize it in battle as if it were an actual body part. I engraved cherry blossoms on the covering because Samurai culture is based on Japanese principles. I designed a dragon sketch because it represents who I am, part dragon rider. As well as showing that it takes great skill to wield a katana correctly. I engraved a tiger along the Mono-Uchi because katanas are often refined and symbolized as being incredibly fierce. The tiger design is a symbol of the fierceness of not only the katana, but its master as well. Lastly, I engraved the quote because I feel like it describes me well." I summarize the meanings.

"This is remarkable! No Level 1 at the Academy has ever thought to make a mold, let alone a katana. Then with all of the meanings and symbols on the weapon, it makes it a one of a kind. The colors contrast beautifully and the blade is impeccably sharp. Each design holds a backstory and is drawn in a way that only true artists can. All of this and you are only a year 1 ..... this may be the finest katana I have come across as a blacksmith." Mr.Gordon compliments.

"Yes, the craftsmanship of this katana is extremely precise. I would assume that only a top blacksmith could craft this if I did not see you working on it with my own eyes. May I also see your sword?" Mr.Howard inputs. I nod, unsheathing my sword. He and Mr.Gordon look at my sword in awe.

"I saw your sword from a distance during your placement tests and was fascinated by it. Seeing it up close makes me utterly speechless. You have crafted two of the most beautiful weapons I have lived to see. Each drawing is in such fine detail, it makes me doubt that a even a professional artist could execute them." My combat teacher says, never taking his eyes off of my sword. I explain the meanings behind each engraving for his benefit. I sheathe my sword, breaking the trance my superiors were in.

"I have never done this before for someone I have just met, but I am going to offer you a job. If you are interested, please follow me to my office." Mr.Gordon looks me in my eyes. I break out into a smile and nod.

"I will have your things brought to your dorm, just take your katana with you." Mr.Howard says. I hesitate to leave behind my chest and sketchbook, but follow Mr.Gordon none the less. We walk into a medium sized room with a large desk in the middle, bookshelves lining the walls. Mr.Gordon motions for me to sit in the leather chair in front of his desk. He clears his throat.

"So you accept the job position, correct?" He asks me, I immediately nod. "Great." He smiles widely, continuing on.

"Let me give you a brief run down. The blacksmith shop brings in a lot of revenue in a variety of ways. Sometimes, students use their money to buy weapons or place an order. Our main source of revenue are our exports. Many academies and villages request for us to make weapons and ship them over. Only I and one other student help with the exports. The rest of my staff work with cleaning the shop, sometimes making student orders, delivery, or washing the molds. They are paid on the lower spectrum yet still work here because they have potential. My plan for you is to work on the special orders. I am completely in charge of those as of right now, but you will help me when you start."

"The other student, you may know him as Donovan, makes weapon orders that do not require designs. You have delicate hands and the mind of an artist, so you are going to be helping me share the workload of these special orders. They are quite expensive, and often times many of the important figure heads of the magii community place an order. Because our Academy shop surpasses others, the magii community holds pride in our craftsmanship." He tells me. I just nod, taking in all that he is explaining to me.

"I plan to pay you a little differently than the other students. Donovan and you will follow the same system. For every order you craft, you get a percentage of the cost. So for example, if I place an order that is worth $2,300, and you get 14% of the income, you will get-" He gets cut off by me.

"$322." I say. Mr.Gordon raises an eyebrow, then chuckles.

"I see that I have a math genius on my hands. Anyway, you would get $322. Most orders would not be as expensive, but can be sometimes. The income from each order is divided up by such, up to 20% for the crafter, 25% for the shop, and 55% or more to the Academy. Purchases in the shop stay within the shop's revenue though. My pay grade is determined by the total revenue the shop brings in per month. I want you to start next week. You will work whenever I call you in. I will try and limit your specific work days to Monday and Wednesday, but expect to be called when I have a special order I need you to complete. When you are done crafting each order, run it by me, then we will send it off. Does this seem acceptable to you?" He questions me. I nod my head.

"Give me a minute to type out and print your contract." He says getting up. I stay back in the seat, processing everything that has occurred.

'Belvedere, do you know what just happened?' I ask my companion.

'You got a job?' He asks, reading my thoughts.

'I got the job I wanted most! And I get to design weapons the whole time, which is out of the ordinary for a regular crafter!' I squeal joyously. I can't help but be excited.

'I am proud of you little one. Just wait till I tell the other dragons. They will be over the moon for you.' My companion says. Mr.Gordon walks back into the room, placing three papers on his desk.

"These are the copies of your contract. You will get one, Headmaster Jackson will get one, and I will have one. I have highlighted the main points to you. Although I just met you, I can tell that you are great at what you do and show much promise. Because of this, you will be paid 15% for any order you craft. Most special orders placed range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to the thousands depending on the details. There is no set working time, thus why I will give you a pager. It will vibrate, glow, and beep until you answer it. Every page signifies something, if the light glows green, it means you have an order to make, if it glows yellow, I need to speak with you about something, and if it glows red, it is an emergency and your presence is needed immediately. Please wear it on you at all times. So basically, you work around the clock. I expect that every weapon you craft will have your full effort and attention. You can read over the contract to see if everything is alright." He tells me. I read all three papers, making sure that they are exactly the same and have good conditions. I pick up a pen and sign my name on each copy of the contract. I set down the pen and Mr.Gordon hands me a copy of my contract in a clear protective covering. He then puts away the other copies and hands me a pager with my name on it.

"I just engraved it so that if you happen to lose it, they will know who to return it to. But please refrain from breaking, losing, or damaging your pager. Also, I have sent in a request to set up your bank account. You will receive your card at the beginning of next week when you begin. At the end of every month, I will give you a bank statement detailing how much money has been deposited into your account, then give you a copy of the orders you worked on so that you can keep track of the funds. With that being said, I am glad to have you employed and look forward to seeing your progress." He says, shaking my hand.

"Thank you for the opportunity, I will not let you down." I respond with determination. I bid Mr.Gordon goodbye, grabbing my katana and contract. I walk out of the shop to see my twins curled around each other sleeping. I shake them awake and begin walking towards my dorm.

When I get there, I see my sketchbook and chest. I keep my contract in my desk and put my katana in my activity room drawer. My craftsmanship is far too precious to be carrying around, and katanas are not often made. I put my chest and sketchbook back where they were and take my combat boots out of my bag. I take off my ankle weights as well, putting them both in my closet. I spend the rest of the night sleeping with my dragons, eating, and celebrating my new job with the ones I trust most.

~~~~~~~~~~\\~~~~~~~~~~