No one spoke, no one moved. Everyone waited patiently for the smoke to settle down. After the dragons appeared from above a light appeared along with them, which causes the people to close their eyes.
After the light disappeared, heavy smoke covered the area where the ritual circle is located. No one can see a thing inside, only we can all hear whimpers every now and then.
I looked up at grandpa, but instead of looking at the place where the dragon appeared, he is still looking at me. As though, I am more interesting than the appearance of new dragons.
“Where did you learn about the chant, Fliz?” He asked again.
“I can’t seem to recall reading about the Vinculum ceremony in your syllabus with your teachers.” He added.
I looked at him and answered honestly, “I once dreamed about it, Grandpa.”
He looked seriously at me, “A dream, you say?”
“Yes, but I guess it was just a silly dream, nothing more.”
He still looked serious for a moment but then his attention was shifted to Zyde, introducing the new dragons.
At the center, three dragons are found curling with each other. Well, they looked more like big lizards than a dragon from here.
Grandpa shrugged our conversation off, and suddenly changed his demeanor. From a curious grandfather to a high and mighty emperor.
He stood up and cleared his throat.
“Citizens of the Draconia Empire, for the past six years, we have suffered immense losses due to the tragedy that struck the empire. Crops withered, the number of resources decreased, and lands were left desolate, but we remain firm. We found ways to cope with the tragedy, and we helped each other through it all. We, the imperial family, are so much grateful for all of your support and diligence. We are grateful for your patience and trust that we can find ways to elevate our situation. Now, we have been blessed with three dragons in our midst. We may take this as an opportunity to make life in the empire. An opportunity that will lead to other opportunities, a stepping stone to build ourselves back up again, a symbol of hope.”
He paused for a moment and looked at the dragons, “A symbol of hope, that though adversaries will reign over our beloved empire, we, an empire blessed by the dragons, will rise above it all. Just like the mighty and superior dragons, we will also reach the skies, with everything underneath us. “
He paused and scanned the people then looked at the dragons.
“My beloved grandsons, you may approach your dragons. Your dragons will know who they are bonded with. Wait for them.”
Their parents put them down on the ground then Ashwin, Ashnor, and Nix slowly walked toward the three dragons at the center.
As they draw closer, the dragons lifted their heads and stared at them as they moved their heads from side to side as if identifying who is their master.
I looked closely and can now identify their colors – golden or kind of yellowish, dark green, and orange-brown. They stood up and stretched their legs from the front and then at the back. They then extended their wings and flapped them gently.
The boys’ eyes lit up as the dragons rose up gently and came forward.
The golden one went to Ashnor, the dark green to Ashwin then the orange-brown to Nix.
It was really cute, the boys being reluctant to touch them but the dragons acted like they want to be petted. They even went to grab their hands for them to touch their heads.
With this scene playing in front of the people, we can hear a series of chuckles and awe. We watch the boys petting their dragons for a little bit more. Then grandpa cleared his throat once again.
“Draconian citizens, we present to you, our empire’s new dragons!”
With that everyone applauded as the music started to play and the streets bustled with cheers. I guess it is the start of the festival.
“Do enjoy the rest of the evening!”
Everyone stopped cheering and bowed down one last time as grandpa then dismissed them.
Grandpa, the nobles, and everyone on the platform are also starting to make light conversations with one other but suddenly Blue, Niveus, and Alaric stood up abruptly and walked to the center. Even the three new dragons stopped playing with the boys and made their way to the center.
Everyone on the platform was confused so they stopped talking.
“What seems to be the problem?” Grandpa asked them curiously but still with dignity.
The six of them had a blank expressions on their faces and said in unison, “The ceremony is not yet done.”
At first, they spoke in a soft voice then they spoke again, this time, much louder, “The ceremony is not yet done!”
“The ceremony is not yet done!” The third time, their voices rang through the capital then thunder was heard from above.
Everyone below us stopped talking and gave their attention again to us.
They still kept on mumbling that the ceremony is not yet done but this time in a whisper.
“What do you mean it is not yet done? What are you talking about?” Emilia walked toward them and asked.
But they continued mumbling.
“What’s wrong with you all?” This time, Emilia almost lose her patience.
The dragons continued to have a black expression as if they are being possessed. They still continued mumbling.
“Your Majesty, it seems that the ceremony is not yet finished.” Zyde approached grandpa.
Grandpa looked at Zyde then at the dragons, this time he calmly asked, “What seems to be the problem?”
The dragons stopped mumbling and then pointed their fingers at me, “Her blood shall call the Dragon as well.” They all said in unison.
Grandpa looked shocked but immediately covered his expression with a look of refined dignity. Others were not so good at controlling their shock and disbelief, especially those noblemen who are still against me being here.
“What do you mean her blood?! She’s not even-” Finnian’s father, Phil, protested but grandpa gave him a sharp gaze.
“You are not allowed to talk unless I command you to do so. Be grateful you are part of the family, if not then your head might have hit the floor the moment you gave your useless opinion.”
Phil looked down then back away, blending into the crowd of distinguished noblemen.
Then grandpa further asked, “You mean Flizeria’s blood? Do explain further, since she is not yet of age.”
But instead of answering the dragons continued saying, “Her blood shall call the Dragon as well.”
With a sigh, grandpa called the attention of the citizen once again.
“It seems we are not yet done with our ceremony. My youngest granddaughter, Flizeria, will call as well. We will proceed with the ceremony,” With that grandpa nodded at Zyde as he picked me up and walked towards the front of the circle.
We can hear silent whispers among the crowd as grandpa continued to walk. Even the noblemen dared to whisper in the presence of the emperor, but grandpa paid them no mind.
Zyde provided a clean new goblet and dagger.
Being held like this reminds me of my dream. Other than the venue and the person holding me, it is all the same.
“It will be alright. It will hurt a little but don’t worry grandpa is here with you.” Grandpa whispered to me as Zyde continued preparing.
I, too, am confused as well but grandpa acted like it was natural for me – an eight-year-old, to undergo the ceremony.
I don’t know much about the rules of the Vinculum Ceremony, but I do know that calling a dragon at the age of eight is not normal nor is it natural.
Everyone continued to have confused expressions, even Zyde but grandpa controlled his perfectly well.
The boys stood at the side with their parents, not fully understanding what is happening. Their dragons returned to their sides but ceased to play with them. Their whole attention is focused on the ceremony in front of them.
Same with Blue, Niveus, and Alaric they watched closely at me as Zyde chanted the chant once again.
They hardly even blinked, it’s as if blinking could cost them their lives.
Zyde then proceeded to cut my hand, as grandpa covered my eyes.
I can feel blood trickling down my palm. Although I can still feel pain, unlike in the dream, the ceremony right now is not that painful.
The ground shook again, the writings on the floor lit up, and the wind blew hard. But unlike earlier, the elements are more aggressive. I looked up at grandpa and he is looking around the capital, maybe worried that the citizens’ houses might collapse.
Unlike earlier when there was light, right now thunder can be heard from above as the writings ascended upwards and thick dark clouds gather above it.
Grandpa kept on looking everywhere then something flickered across his eyes as if he already understood what was happening, he then looked at me.
Then we heard a roar, unlike earlier, this time the roar was more majestic as it vibrated throughout the capital.
Then something appeared from above but because of the thick clouds no one could really see what it was but everyone knew it was a dragon. Unlike earlier, we can hear heavy wings flapping. The creature swiftly dove downward and landed at the center. It shook the whole podium and its impact causes the lights on the torched to go off.
The area inside the circle is dark but unlike the whimpers we heard earlier, we can hear the heavy breathing of something big, something dangerous.
Then dark red eyes greeted me from the darkness.