Dragons, you either hate them or love them. And based on what I had heard from ancient mythology, seeing a dragon was more than a thought. It was a dream — a dream soon to be fulfilled.
'What's this!' I screamed, rebellious as ever as I struggled on the sick bed. I let out a dry cough, triggering a sharp pain in my head.
I was in a hospital, ready to actualize my dreams. I, Noah Hearte, was finally going to be able to see a Dragon. Whether or not people would make fun of me, I didn't care. I knew its worth — the worth of my dream.
I turned my head to my right arm which lay paralyzed on the bed. There seemed to be a syringe injected into my arm. I searched around for the nurse, my anger welling as I was left unaided in the hospital.
'Hey! Isn't there a nurse? Tend to my wounds quickly!' I commanded authoritatively at the top of my voice. I wasn't about to let my life end just before getting to see a Dragon.
'Doesn't this kid know how this works?' I heard other patients, specifically girls, murmur to themselves.
In truth, they weren't truly patients but just people with the same dream I had, but unfortunately, to see a Dragon, you had to undergo some kind of treatment.
Being 15 years old didn't help my rebellious nature as I turned towards the two girls leaning off their beds and conversing. My anger was evident on my face as I opened my mouth to speak.
'Hey, don't start shouting over there. I'm 15 too but I have no idea why you're so angry. You chose this, didn't you? You need magical powers just to even go close to one.
The syringe injects a serum into your body and it's left in your arm just to give an intentional overdose. I don't know why, but that's the rule. How could you forget that?' One of the girls retorted.
The other girl at the far right of me, just after the girl who spoke to me looked slightly timid. She avoided eye contact with me and looked afraid. I shifted my gaze to her as her voice slowly made its way to my hearing.
'Some people forget a few details after getting the syringe. The more you forget, the more likely you'll gain High-Class Magical Abilities.' Her voice was calm and gentle commanding tranquility across the room.
I looked around the room, noticing the multitude of people present. They looked my age, all with syringes stuck in their right arms like bees.
I was slightly intrigued by the words of the timid girl. A slight grin surfaced as I thought,
'High-Class Magical Abilities? Sounds like a treat.'
At school, I never had anyone who shared my dreams. They were all either nerds or just bullies. I didn't fit in any of those categories mainly because I didn't have any pair of glasses to be a nerd and my physical prowess was nothing more than average.
My muscles were thin and hidden beneath the layer of skin. As I thought, I scrutinized my muscles.
'Wait, are these things inflating?' I could see my veins enlarge and my muscles grow bigger.
My eyes searched the room, trying to observe other bodies. It seemed that what was injected into us induced modifications to our bodies and at the moment, mine was most evident.
The usual grin spread across my face — the smile of satisfaction. As I returned my line of vision to my arms, I heard a sudden thud.
I abruptly raised my head, focusing my vision on the far end of the room as I saw papers fly around. It looked like a man, long-haired and pale-skinned.
He advanced like a giant ready for battle, his voice almost bursting out.
'Listen up!' His deep voice echoed, silencing the room, 'Some of you are wondering what we're doing to you while most aren't. It's odd but congratulations if you've lost a piece or two of your memory.
Now, I won't go around explaining everything to you but I'll say the least you need to know. However, this is only the beginning.'
He briefed everyone in the room, mostly teenagers and young youths, before commanding silence. He raised his big arms and pointed at a door with his index finger.
As uncertainty enveloped the room, his deep voice, once again, resounded louder than ever.
'Leave!'
Everyone either lay or sat on the bed with a similar look of confusion written all over their faces. I could hear one or two murmurs beside me, but the girls I had just spoken with remained quiet.
'Leave to where?' A couple of students murmured to themselves.
I looked at the teacher and noticed a slight smirk spreading across his face. He clenched his hands, raising his face in a malevolent manner.
'To the academy of course! Did you think that the journey to see a Dragon ended with the injection? If so, then get out! We only need worthy students.
Look behind you,' he said as everyone turned their faces to the door opposite his direction—the back of the room. 'That door leads to an underground train. If you really want to see a Dragon, feel free to stay but you have only 30 minutes to decide.
Plus, the training with me at the academy will be gruesome.'
His last words; heavy and decisive coupled with his deep voice left a sour taste of suspense in the air as he walked away from the hospital room.
Everyone stared at the door, some on the verge of leaving and others ready to go down the path they had chosen. I was confident, unscathed by the mere words of the man. My dream was too strong to be overthrown by some silly words of a man whom I had just met.
As I looked around, I saw a few teenagers departing the room.
'Where are you going!' I screamed in disgust, my veins bulging in my neck.
To say a few had left was an understatement. A lot of people had fled from the room and I soon accepted it. It was natural, not everyone possessed the same love I had for Dragons.
It was good; I had no intention of training with weak-minded people. Luckily, the girls beside me sat firmly on the bed. I had taken interest in them and their eyes shone brighter than any others.