"I was told by a colleague that you were trained in guerrilla warfare," the dean addressed Dorin.
"Yes, sir," Dorin replied. They were currently riding a military truck with an open top, on their way to the Military Division. The Dean rode at the back with them while the driver and an aid sat in front.
"How about you?" he faced Johan. "Have you been trained to fight before?"
"Nope," Johan replied, then suddenly remembered his manners. "No, sir."
"How about street fights or brawls? Have you ever been through fights before?"
"Well, yeah of course..." Johan mumbled, he was never good with dealing with men in uniform. "It's quite common in the mines."
"For now we will be having a kind of tournament for the new recruits," said the dean. "You will be divided into groups of 5 and will participate in an emblem smashing event. The purpose of this drill is for us to gauge your combat skills, and also to see how good you can work together in a team."
"Sounds interesting," said Dorin who was trying to hide a huge grin.
Just then, the sky above them darkened as a great wind descended upon then. The truck came into a sudden halt. Dust raised around the area, and when it settled, Dagon came flying towards Johan in his demi human form.
"Daa!" the little dragon called to him and dropped himself on his lap.
"Dagon, come back here!" called Lord Ombra who was suddenly beside the truck. He reached in to try and grab the little whelp, but the boy slipped behind Johan and gave him a dark stare.
"Lord Ombra." the dean called to the dragon lord, seemingly unfazed, "We are on our way to a drill, would you like to join us? I'm sure you will be entertained by this tournament."
Lord Ombra looked at him as if he just noticed a tiny ant on his arm. "A tournament, you say?" he asked. He then looked at the man seated on the passenger seat. The guy quickly got off and ran to the back of the truck, hanging on to the railings, while Ombra disappeared from beside the truck in a puff of darkness, and was suddenly seated primly in front.
"I'm honored that you have decided to join us, Lord Ombra," said the dean as they went on their way. "I am, by the way, Dean Leopold Louise Alcione, third cousin to the current reigning Emperor Gustave Maximilian Alexus Alcione Ignasius." Johan looked up at the mention of his sur name. "He is also known as the Red Emperor of this century," the dean continued. "It has been centuries since a dragon have ascended upon us, this is truly an honor."
"Hm? A red emperor, and an ignasius, too?" Ombra said, sounding bored. "Would you be interested in that, young Dragon Blood?" he asked Johan.
"Huh?" Johan sounded cornered, "Why me?!"
Beside him, Dagon ruffled his wings and spat a ball of flame. "Ignite!" he shouted.
"Hey stop that!" Johan scolded him as part of the front seat was charred, terrifying the driver.
"Dagon." Ombra called his attention and said a few words in an unknown tongue. Dagon looked back at him and stomped his feet on Johan's lap. He then sat back down with a pout.
"Wow, what did you say to him?" Johan asked, "He never listens to what I say!"
"Dragon speech." The other replied. "Dragons are born with the knowedge. In your tongue, it roughly translates to 'behave or I will rake the scales off your tail'."
Johan and Dorin couldn't help but laugh at this. "That's it?" said Johan, still chuckling. He then said the words himself.
"Woah, you can say that?" asked Dorin with a big smile.
"What, you can't?" asked Johan.
"To me it just sounds like a lot of hissing and grunting."
"Only Dragon Bloods can learn the language of the dragons," Ombra replied from the front. He then said some more words which made Johan chuckle.
When they finally reached their destination, Dean Alcione gathered them to one side.
"It is in the interest of the University, as well as your security, that we keep information about your real identities a secret." He looked at Lord Ombra and Dagon in particular. "You must have heard about the events that transpired in the University grounds as of late?" he asked.
"Which one?" Lord Ombra replied.
"The failed abductions, Lord Ombra," Dorin whispered beside him.
"What?!" Ombra suddenly shouted, "Someone tried to abduct a Dragon?!"
"No, sir, it was Dorin and Sebastian," Johan explained.
"Ah, yes the g... This guy beside me here... and that other guy." Lord Ombra stopped talking all together.
"Before anything else, I would like to commend you for passing and being part of the Special Class," Dean Alcione told the two magi before him. "For you, Johan Ignacius," said the Dean, "I have added subjects and courses to help familiarize you with the basics of magic, such as runes, magical symbols, and herblore, as well as language, reading and writing. This may also work into your advantage since your dragon would also need to study the same courses. You may even take the same classes together." He looked at Lord Ombra who stood frowning beside him with his arms crossed over his chest. "I do hope that the young dragon is mature enough to take part of the courses?"
"Of course he is," Lord Ombra replied. "A dragon child grows faster than a mortal in the early stages of life, both physically and mentally," he added with a hint of pride in his voice.
"He can join me in my classes, then." said Johan.
"Then, I would like to request his lordship to refrain from addressing Johan Ignacius as 'Dragon Blood', and that young Dagon does not reveal his wings and his tail?" said the dean.
"I don't think he can really control it yet, though..." said Johan.
Lord Ombra touched Dagon on the head and said some words. A golden ring appeared around the child which suddenly shrunk and sank into his body. Dagon gave a little whelp. His tail, wings, and tiny horn suddenly disappeared.
"It's okay now," said Ombra, "I have locked his image with a spell. He will remain in that human form as long as the sun is up."
"That is good then," the dean said with a professional smile. "Then let us get on our way.