The academy of dragons had become a shadow of itself. In the days of old, the days of the dragons, each classroom was filled with dragons, people who could shapeshift into dragons whenever they wanted to. Now, the classes where filled with ordinary people, people who still believed in the last dragon family, the Ilorukus.

   East Hendosia was still at war with their arch rivals, the West, and the last dragon family had very little of the dragon blood left in them, they could not shapeshift into dragons again, they could only bend fire, and yet the people believed. They believed in the Ilorukus, they believed in the East, they had to believe. It was either that or submitting to the demands of the west.

     They were ahead of the seven other kingdoms of Kahkis in everything, including technology. They were a prosperous people, but the prosperity did not come because they had a family of dragons, the prosperity came because the people believed.

      A gliding drone picked up on Ms. Maopa, a history teacher as she headed to class. At six foot three, she would already have stood out in a crowd but with her hour glass figure, well proportioned face and full afro hair which made her the school’s number one choice for advertisements, she would have been a legend had she decided to pursue a career in modeling. Rumor even had it that she had to give up a fulfilling career to take up the job as history teacher. She never talked about herself however and met people’s curiosity with a polite but dismissive smile and so no one ever got further than mere speculation.

     “Good afternoon Class”, she said as she got to her class for the day, Higher level one B. “May the bright future we see ahead of us not dim as we get closer”.

      “And may our strength not wane as we go faster.” The class replied in a monotone.

       Ms. Maopa sighed inwardly. The beginning of an academic year was always like that- new students eager to get their hands on machinery and start some inventions, Wondering why they were being forced to sit and listen to talk about things that took place even before they were born. It would get better. She knew. It was just that it was always difficult at first. “Please record today, 1st of June, 2022. Ms. Maopa teaching higher level 1 B”, she said for the benefit of the recording system that was latter used for revisions and even in some cases teaching inspections. Turning her full attention to the class, she continued. “Today, I’ll be taking us back to the beginning, to how it all started.

      “The history of Hendosia”, she made a gesture. “Hendosia as we all know it were two sons born of one man, different women. Alki Hendosia was the elder, and even though we might not like to admit it, the weaker. Foe Hendosia was the younger, and smaller.

   In the days of old, fathers did not share property among their children, all he had simply went to the first son. The older Hendosia did nothing to add to his strength or skill because he knew he would inherit his father’s wealth, and so he simply lived on his youthful days in laziness and enjoyment. When it was time for him to inherit his father’s property as he turned thirty, he already had three wives and twelve sons.

   Foe Hendosia, believing he deserved better than to live in his weaker older brother’s shadow, left home to go and find his fortune elsewhere, which he did.

   Fast-forward fifty years later, and a seventy six year old Foe comes back to his homeland with an army, an army that easily took the land and rulership from his brother.

   Over hundred years later, the disgraced leader of the Alki clan must give his daughter to the son of the leader of the Foe clan to prove his loyalty. And now, thanks to the dragon family, our royals, the Alki clan, no longer weak and lazy have decided to break away from For, now called West Hendosia for good.

   And there you have it, East Hendosia at ten. Long live our dragons.”

    A girl at the front raised her hand. “Ms. Maopa, I have a question.”

    “ Yes, go ahead.” Maopa encouraged.

    “ It’s not like what the other students have been asking.” She looked around the class. “ What I want to know is –“

    “ Winifred just ask your question already !” Another boy from behind shouted.

    “ Kostas !” Ms. Maopa scolded him, then turning to Winifred. ‘’ Go on.

    “ You said the leader of clan Alki would give his first daughter to the prince of Foe to prove his loyalty? “

   “ Yes I did”

   “ Well what if the princess was real old like maybe twenty and the prince, the oldest Prince of Foe is only like five.”

   Ms. Maopa laughed “ Then the Princess would be required to wait until the prince came of age before they would be married.”

   “ Well that doesn’t seem fair.”

   “ The olden days was never really fair.” Ms. Maopa answered and the girl sat down with a frown on her face.

   Another hand came up and Ms. Maopa smiled, so they did enjoy the teaching after all. This time, the hand belonged to Chuk, her class rep.

   “Miss Maopa, if East Hendosia doesn’t have a clearly defined way of choosing a new leader, what happens if the Ochia Iloruku well you know……. Unexpectedly goes to meet the ancestors.”