DRAGON ACADEMY: THE CHOSEN

CHAPTER 3

DETENTION CENTRE

In the detention centre, the six of them; Cody, Mila, Kenzy, Jack, Cole and Anna, sat at separate desks in the large room. Ms. Green then entered with an audio box, placed it on her desk and left the room. Principal Diana’s voice came through 

“Welcome to the detention centre. And since you are the first students on the first day to be here, your punishment will require you to write an essay ‘why I came to Dragon Academy’. You have one hour to do so”

A long, heavy silence filled the room. Then, Anna broke it

“I’ve given up”

“So, no one knows why they came here?” Mila asked 

Cole shook his head “nope. It’s not like we paid the fees so…”

Mila took a deep breath “fine, I’ll start. I came to Dragon Academy to improve on my water mastery”

“But you’re like… really good” Cody said, surprised

“Well, my father doesn’t think the same”

“I get you” Jack said quietly

They all turned to his direction.

“My father wants me to be the Alpha of the Northern wolf pack” 

“Isn’t that good?” Kenzy aksed 

“It is. But it’s just that I really don’t like embracing my werewolf side over my human… I just feel I should whichever one I want”

Anna scoffed “mentalities like these is why humans have pride day”

“My father wants me to be a ruler too” Cole shared “but I’ll have to use my hypnotic voice more often… and I don’t want that”  

“Yeah, don’t” Mila agreed

“I just don’t think our voices should be a weapon”

Kenzy then spoke up, her voice bitter “at least your fathers are sane… mine was a psychotic freak” 

“Don’t say that” Mila said softly

“But it’s true. She made me like this; a witch. She made believe witches only want power and should go to any means to get them”

Anna joined in “my mother wasn’t bad. Instead of making friends, she made me train my power and skill”

Cody spoke up, his voice filled with a different type of pain “at least your mothers know you for who you are”

Anna was confused “what is he talking about?”

“He’s a spirit person” Mila answered for him

Anna, Jack and Cole stood up in shock. Anna pulled out her weapons, Cole released his trident while Jack protracted his claws.

“Someone tell me she’s joking” jack breathed

“Yeah, Mila. tell them your joking” Kenzy said, expecting her to lie

“No, I’m not” Mila said

Kenzy smacked her forehead with her palm.

Mila looked around at all of them “the reason I told them was to ensure something”

“What is that?” Cody asked

“Cooperation. Kenzy and I can’t help you alone, but with the six of us, there will be more help. But we can’t be a team without first making some apologies”

Mila then looked pointedly at Anna

Anna grunted heavily “I’m sorry for being a hardass to you both” 

She then looked at Jack “and you too”

Jack sat up “I’m sorry for making you feel bad… but what I wanted to say at that nurse’s office was that I know Sofia cheated” 

A smirk then appeared on his face “she’s can’t beat a mastermind like you clean”

A small, genuine smile finally showed on Anna’s face

Cody turned to Kenzy “I’m sorry for what I did in history class”

Kenzy replied with a nod

Cole faced Mila “I’m sorry for the joke”

“I’m sorry for the tide” Mila smiled

Cody then paused, looking at each of them “it’s strange; how we’re all from different backgrounds… but I feel we’re all here for the same reason”

“And what is that reason?” Cole asked

Cody shook his head slowly “I don’t know. But that’s something we’ll figure out along the way”

Back in the principal’s office, Principal Diana and Ms. Green watched the entire scene unfold in a crystal ball on the desk.

Ms. Green shook her head. “I hate what I did to the werewolf. But your plan worked… they didn’t even do the essay”

Principal Diana watched the six students, now talking and for the first time connecting. A look of seriousness settled on her face.

“They must prepare for what’s coming”

THE NEXT DAY

HALLWAY

In the hallway, Anna, Mila and Kenzy walked together

“I don’t know why, but I just feel happy today” Anna announced

Mila raised an eyebrow “is it because you haven’t done anything mean yet?”

“But that’s about to change,” Anna said with a mischievous grin. “I’m gonna hit this vampire with a stick”

“Please no…” kenzy groaned

But Anna had already created a stick and was poking a passing student with it

“Hey, watch it” the student said, sounding more annoyed than hurt

Anna was surprised “that was supposed to hurt you… badly”

The student looked at the stick “well, the worst it can do is to give me a splinter…”

He then looked at Anna with amazement “wait? Did you create that stick out of thin air?”

“Yes” Anna replied, utterly confused 

“Can you make more?!”

“Sure” Anna changed the stick into a baton, then back again. Other students in the hallway stopped to watch, their eyes with wonder

“I can’t wait to tell my mom I’m seeing this” the student said excitedly

Anna blinked with surprise “Wait? You’re not a vampire?” 

The student laughed “no, I’m human” 

He then walked away, grinning.

Kenzy looked around “I don’t think he’s the only one”

The girl scanned the hallway and indeed saw more human students mingling with the Gifteds. Jack, Cody and Cole hurried over to join them

“Did you know there are humans here?” Jack asked, slightly out of breath

“We figured,” Mila said, gesturing to the humans.

“When did they even arrive?” Cole wondered aloud

A girl vampire named Leslie appeared silently behind them. “In the evening..”

Cole jumped, startled “my..”

Cody shuddered “how did you even know”

Leslie let out a cool smile “I’m a vampire. The night is my day”

She then turned her gaze to Anna, her eyes hardening “and if you dare poke me with a stick… I’ll suck you dry”

She held the gaze with Anna for a long, threatening moment before she walked.

“Are all vampires like this?” Anna said

“C’mon, let’s get us a seat where we can all sit together” Mila urged her friends

MAIN HALL

At the hall, students were filing and taking their seats. Mila managed to secure a row, but as she sat down, she dumped into a dark-skinned boy she didn’t recognize

“Hello, you must be new here” she said warmly

The boy smiled “yes, I am”

“Well, welcome to Dragon Academy.. I’m Mila”

“I’m Daniel”

An awkward silence hung between them. Cody, Kenzy, Anna, Jack and Cole filled the seats beside her.

Daniel tilted his head “you don’t know who I am?”

Mila shook her head apologetically “I’m sorry. but, no”

He then chuckled softly “that’s funny, cause I’m a big deal here…”

Before he could finish, the Principal walked onto the stage. The students applauded and she kept on smiling as she waited for the noise to settle. She kept her posture straight, exerting authority 

“Now, the numbers are complete” she began, her voice carrying across the hall. “Welcome to Dragon Academy. For those of you that were here yesterday, I’m aware that you’re surprised by your new classmates. Considering the fact that they are very different from you. But Dragon Academy was created to protect the Gifteds from humans. Times have changed, so we must change. Just as Albert Einstein said, ‘the only thing that is constant is change’

“So now, Dragon Academy will be a place where the Gifteds and humans can co-exist, because that is what we need for peaceful unity. I hope by the end of the term, I’ll see an improvement in the gifted- human relationship. Thank you, and welcome to Dragon Academy”

The students applauded as she exited the stage. 

Outside the hall, the students poured out of the hall in chattering groups. Principal Diana waited near the entrance. She then spots Cody

“Cody Maxwell?” she called softly

Cody turned around and approached her, and they stood apart from the crowd.

“Yes, ma’am?”

Principal Diana paused, then took a deep breath “Listen, I know you’re a spirit person”

Cody stood in shock as he heard his secret being told to him by the one he’s been keeping it from all along.