Master of Dragons, Part 1 (complete)
Chapter 18

Averil slowly made her way inside, and then sat leaning against the wall. Pink lashes shadowed her apple green eyes, and she chewed on her lower lip. It looked like she wanted to say something.

A small hum caught her attention. Her dragon was staring up at her endearingly, with a paw on her leg. She placed a hand on the dragon’s head, silently thanking her. Somehow she knew it was her dragon that saved her in that situation.

“Is… It okay for you to reject the Doctor..?” Averil spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. The pinkette started to chew her nail, her eyes still downcast. Her small shoulders shook, it was obvious she was scared.

Why? She was but a youth, why did she look as if she was hiding so much on her small shoulders? Was it the doctor? Someone else?

She had to stop and take in a steady breath. It was hard not to lash out, and go seek out whomever had hurt the woman in front of her. After all, she no longer feared what men could do to her. After her brother, she decided to never let a man have that control over her again.

But how did she convince this girl she could do the same? Convince her that she did not need to follow the rules that have been placed in front of her? This was the world they grew up knowing, but that world was unfair.

Yes. She could protect her. Easily.

If she could, she would protect everyone she came across. That’s why she fought the Goblin Lord. But what about when she left the caravan? Who would protect the girl then?

The pinkette had paled, much like the doctor had.

“Averil, come here.” Sher said, patting the floor next to her. She was trying to remain calm as possible. The girl snuck closer, still looking frightened. She needed to hold in the anger. She placed her hands on her own thighs, and closed her eyes. Deep breaths. “Averil…” She took another long breath, then finally turned to look at the pinkette. The girl squirmed under her gaze. “You are stronger t-than you give yourself credit for.” Women were considered to be weak. Yet, look at who she was. It wasn't just her height that gave her strength. After all, she was able to fight a Goblin Lord and win. “Th-This world…” She tried to keep the growl in her throat from coming forward. “Th-this world is fucked-” She watched Averil’s eyes widen in horror at her use of a curse word. “But I th-think it can be changed.” She looked from the girl, to her dragon. The dragon purred, eyes full of affection.

“How?” The girl asked, lips pursed. She looked to be deep in thought.

How?

How does one change the world?

“One person at a t-time, and one battle at a t-time…” She paused, looking to the swirling marks on her chest. It looked like it had grown since she last seen it. The marks now stretched across her collar bone. “I will fight for us.” She said, trying to encourage the pinkette.

“But… I am not strong like you.” Averil whined, clutching the sides of her dress.

“Everybody is different, and that is good too. You don’t need to be like me. Be how you want to be.” She said, hoping the words helped. She was never good at giving encouragement. Averil went to open her lips, but the door creaked.

Vivva peaked in.

“Vivva!” She brightened and waved at the man, forgetting her state of undress. Dark eyes fell on her, before he quickly covered them with his own hand. She blushed, covering her breasts with her arm. Luckily, her dragon understood and covered her neither region from site. But, what happened next surprised her.

“I am sorry!! Please forgive me!” Vivva dropped to his knees, and bowed his head. She tried to stand, but her body did not allow it. Why was he acting like this? Seeing her naked was bad- yes. But he was asking as if she was about to scorn him.

“Vivva, please. It’s okay-” She tried to comfort him, but he quickly backed away while bowing.

“Please forgive me!” The door closed, and he was gone.

“What happened..?” She asked Averil, who blinked in return.

“You don’t know? Landborn usually get punished severely for such mistakes. Not in our Caravan, but others sometimes do.” Averil said. She was still a bit pale, but looked as if a weight had been lifted from her. Probably from the conversation they had.

“Why, how?” Verrine asked. She did not know much about Landborn. She only ever had a passing conversation with a few, but it was rare to see them in her city.

“Verrine…” Averil blinked, tilting her head. “Do you not know that Land Born don’t have rights off their Reservations?”

Reservations? No rights?

“I need you to t-tell me more, p-please.”

“Of course!” The pinkette chirped and puffed up, like a happy bird.

“What do you mean by Reservations?” She asked.

“It’s small plots of lands that are protected. The United Scholars of Empyrean purchased the lands for them after they started to see the population dwindling due to the massacres-”

“Massacres?”

“Yes, I heard it was because they did not want to give up land-”

“Give up l-land?” Opps, she was interrupting too much. But... How could she not? There was so much she was missing. Did Elric know all this? He was working on becoming a Scholar of Empyrean! No, he was different. She would not doubt her friends intentions.

“Yes, they were on ideal farming land- or top fishing and mining areas- and they weren’t using it properly so people started pushed them out by killing-” Averil explained, but was cut short by her again.

“So-” She stopped her. “Lets back up. They have no rights..?” She asked the girl.

“Yes.” Averil knew a lot. She appreciated that, however… How had she not heard about any of this?! Averil continued on talking. “Off their Reservations they do not have any protections- unless they are hired by someone. Did you see the metal bracelet on Vivva’s wrist? That is his proof of his contract with our Caravan. It means that he is under the protection of our Caravan, and if any trafficker tries to take him, we can reject them.”

“Trafficker?” Like an animal trafficker? Were Landborn being treated like animals all along and she had no idea?! No wonder the Land Born always seemed to be scared of her! Not the ones of this Caravan, but any other she met in the past.

“Traffickers are these scary people that hunt any unclaimed Landborn and sell them, or kill them depending on the demand.”

Unclaimed? Sell? Kill? Demand?

This… Was… Horrible.