Tail of the Dragon Read online

  Chapter 9

  Ariel was ecstatic. All of the studying and hard work had been worth it. While the test wasn’t exactly easy, he recognized nearly every location, and besides mixing up a few mountain names, had done quite well.

  He spotted Raphael outside looking over some study notes. ‘How did it go?’

  Raphael looked up, smiling. ‘Very well.’

  ‘Did you get a perfect?’ Ariel couldn’t help but ask, though from past experience he doubted if Raphael would admit it.

  ‘I passed’ was the only reply, though Ariel noticed that the grin on Raphael’s face grew as he spoke.

  ‘You did get a perfect! Awesome job Raphy!’

  ‘What? I didn’t …hey Ariel; don’t say anything to the others, OK?’

  ‘Why not, you should be proud of that.’

  ‘I am, it’s just I don’t want anyone making a big deal out of it. And what if one of them didn’t pass? Telling them my score would make them feel worse. I would just rather no one know.’

  ‘All right, It's forgotten. So are you going to join us on our trip?’

  ‘You know, I think I will this time. Is everyone else coming?’

  ‘I believe so. We are meeting in the main courtyard. Pharzel reserved a chariot for the ride. Can’t wait to try this place out.’

  The place they were heading to was a cafe near the western gates that, according to many, made the best food in the city. The chef was renowned for creating the most incredible dishes with the simplest ingredients. If asked, Raphael would have admitted that this was his main motivation for going, as he hoped to learn some of these secrets for his own cooking.

  They found the others standing around a chariot in the main courtyard, talking in excited tones.

  ‘Hey everyone, we’re here. How did it go?’ Ariel asked.

  The group turned towards the two of them and Gadreel greeted them, ‘We all passed. May I presume that you two did as well?’

  ‘We sure did,’ Ariel answered and noticed an additional member to their group, a short telmid with cropped black hair. 'We haven't met. I am Ariel.’

  ‘Molochel’, the new arella said as he gripped Ariel’s arm. ‘Not only did we all pass, but Helel scored a perfect!’ As he said this he looked up at Helel with what appeared to be adoration on his face.

  ‘Wow! Congratulations, Helel,’ Ariel said.

  ‘Thank you. It was no big deal.’

  ‘No big deal?’ Molochel said. ‘It was brilliant! I haven’t heard of anyone else getting a perfect.’

  Helel looked very pleased at this response and replied, ‘Well, the test was quite difficult for sure.’

  For a reason he couldn’t explain, Ariel was bothered by all the praise being heaped upon Helel and without pausing, blurted out, ‘Raphael also scored a perfect.’ He immediately regretted saying this aloud. Raphael turned red in the face and looked down at his feet. Helel and Molochel both looked shocked at the revelation.

  ‘So, you don’t like to talk about your scores, Raphael? That humility didn’t last long, did it?’ Helel said as he turned to face his housemate.

  Raphael shuffled his feet and said, ‘Er, I didn’t, um he just…’

  ‘Did anyone see your score?’ Molochel asked.

  ‘Uh, no, of course not.’ Raphael looked as if he was regretting his choice to join them after all.

  Luckily, a moderator stepped in at this moment in the form of Gadreel. ‘Congratulations to everyone for passing, but we are wasting time and should get going if we plan to make it.’

  The group agreed and climbed aboard the chariot, though Ariel saw that Helel and his new friend were none too pleased with him. From the expression on Raphael’s face, it was clear that he shared the sentiment. Fortunately, the driver kept up a fast pace and the wind was loud enough to hinder further discussion, so by the time the group arrived at the western gate, the tension subsided.

  They left the chariot outside of a small one-story building hidden from view by the large grove of sycamores in front. Once they made their way up the path towards the cafe they could see round tables set among the trees, where groups of arella sat eating food and talking. A tall, polite angel, dressed in a long black robe with a red sash around the midsection greeted them at the door.

  ‘How many are in your party, sir?’ the greeting angel asked Gadreel, who stood at the head of the group.

  ‘Seven and a half,’ he replied, smirking at Ariel.

  ‘I won’t ask who the half is but will round up and give you a table for eight.’

  ‘Very funny,’ Ariel said to Gadreel, as the group followed him out into the garden.

  He led them to a large table, surrounded by plush pallets that overlooked the area to the north of the city. Ariel chose a seat between Raphael and Gadreel, and opposite of Helel and Molochel. He was surprised how uneasy this new addition to their group made him. It may have been the awkward exchange regarding exam scores, but there seemed to be something else about him that made Ariel uncomfortable. Was it the way that Molochel seemed to never take his eyes off Helel? Or perhaps it was how he kept mentioning Helel’s good qualities? He wasn’t sure, but was glad not to have to make small talk during their celebration dinner.

  An individual, unlike any Ariel had ever seen, greeted them. It stood only half as tall as the average arella, and possessed a face very different from any of them. The one large eye in the middle of its face seemed to be made up of hundreds of smaller eyes. Lacking a nose, the lower portion of its head was dominated by a narrow, slit-like mouth. It walked on short legs, but more than compensated for the lack of height with four arms at least as long as it was tall.

  ‘Greetings telmid,’ the strange individual said. ‘I am aAcholins, and will be serving you today.’

  Although they often ran into interesting looking creatures at the celebration plateau on rest days, this was the first time any of them had seen one outside of that forum. Raphael seemed the most interested and spoke up first.

  ‘Sir, I don’t wish to sound rude, but am very curious to learn about you. We are first years at the academy and have not met many that appear different from us. Are you from the city originally?’

  ‘Oh, no sir, not from the city. In fact, the only individuals who can claim the city as their creation place are arella like you. I am not even from this galaxy. I am from the Achol Solar System, originally, though I have been living in the city for a full millennium. And don’t worry. I get the same looks and questions from most first years that come here. Let me see, you would be in your science module now right? You are in luck, your teacher is dining here at this moment.’

  ‘Well, not yet. We actually start that module next, but you say our trainer is here?’ Raphael asked.

  ‘Yes, Azazel is a regular visitor to our cafe as he lives relatively close by. I will give you a moment to make your selections and will return to deliver your orders to the chef, aAcholins said.

  ‘OK, what was that thing?’ It was Molochel that spoke first. ‘Do we have such a shortage of arella that we need to start recruiting from other worlds?’

  ‘I imagine that arella have more important things to do then serve food,’ Helel said.

  ‘Good point,’ Molochel responded.

  Raphael’s expression changed from one of interest while talking with their server to genuine irritation after hearing his fellows’ responses. ‘Are you two telling me you are bothered by the fact that something other than an arella is serving you?’

  Molochel looked at Helel who replied, ‘No I am not bothered. I could care less who serves me my food.’ With this, Helel’s gaze seemed to intensify. ‘And I promise you Raphael, that in the future, if I am bothered by something, you will be the first to know.’

  Well, so much for the awkwardness being gone.

  ‘Wow, look at all these options,’ Ariel said quickly.

  Picking up on the cue, Gadreel added, ‘Does anyone know what quinoas is?’

  Their tactic seemed to work, as th
e talk changed to the available food choices and the awkwardness subsided into the normal conversation of eight telmid recently finished with a big exam.

  The meal was incredible. They ordered dishes they couldn’t pronounce and things they didn’t realize even existed. Fruits and vegetables covered in the sweetest glazes imaginable. Beans so spicy they made the mouth tingle with an ache bordering on painful. They ate until their sides ached, then spent another hour talking and laughing about all the events of the preceding weeks. The light was beginning to fade when a visitor interrupted them.

  ‘So I am told this is a table of first years.’ A voice spoke, halting their conversation. A tall, distinguished looking angel stood at the head of the table, dressed in a brilliant white robe, with large wings tucked along his back. ‘I am Azazel, your instructor for some of your upcoming science module.’

  Helel found his voice first. Standing up he said, ‘Sir, it is an honor to meet you. I am Helel, and it is true, my companions and I will be in your class tomorrow.’

  ‘A fine group you appear to be.’ Azazel replied, taking the time to grip each of their forearms in greeting. ‘I do not want to intrude on your dinner, as I imagine you are all celebrating completing your geography module and being free of the monotony of that subject, but I wanted to extend an invitation to join me at my estate this evening. I never miss an opportunity to get to know my students outside of class, when it presents itself. If you have other plans, I understand, but if any would like to come by, I am at a table near the entrance for a bit longer.’ With this he gave a short bow, and walked away.

  ‘Who's in? This is a great opportunity,’ Helel said, looking around at the rest of the group.

  The first to agree was Molochel.

  Ariel looked at Gadreel to gauge his reaction.

  ‘I say we do it,’ Gadreel said to him, loud enough that the others heard as well.

  The only two that decided to return home, due to the late hour, were Harah and Raphael. Gabriel approached Azazel and told him about their dilemma. He assured them that his private chariot could take them to his estate and return them to their residence at the conclusion of the evening. So, with their dinner completed, and the group reduced by a pair, they joined their new trainer for a ride to his home.

  Situated in the foothills of the alpine mountains in the northwest of the city, the house sat surrounded by vast hillsides of grape vineyards. The immense marble palace was built on an elevated plateau that offered beautiful views of the green hills and the arid lands beyond. He directed them to a large upper-level porch where they sat on large pallets arranged in a semicircle. Azazel excused himself for a moment and returned with a large flask of purple liquid and seven crystal goblets, into which he poured them each of them a drink.

  Ariel took his glass and sipped it. He expected it to taste sweet, but instead found it unusually bitter. ‘What is this drink, sir?’ he asked.

  ‘This is called yayin. It is the fruit of the vines that cover these hillsides. Each bottle is aged for at least seven years before being served. I believe it to be the finest in the land, though I am likely biased.’

  ‘Sir, seeing as it is aged so long, is this the fermented drink that we were told was not to be consumed during our academy years?’

  ‘Strictly speaking, Gabriel, you are correct. I think that rule is a bit archaic, however, as I find it has the power to calm our minds and bodies. I discovered it as an academy student myself and have grown quite fond of it since. But if you don't wish to partake, than by all means don’t waste it. I assure you I will not be offended.’

  Gabriel didn’t respond to this, but Ariel noticed that as the evening continued, the level of the drink in his glass never changed. Ariel finished one glass and noticed his head seemed fuzzy. He grew more talkative, and he spoke up quite often as the group discussed a range of topics. He wasn’t alone in his lack of inhibition. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Molochel obviously hadn't forgotten the subject of the waiter from a different galaxy and asked Azazel his opinion on the matter.

  ‘I have no problem with it at all. Frees up arella to do more important jobs,’ he responded.

  ‘That is exactly what Helel said,’ Molochel piped up, looking with admiration at his friend.

  Unlike the others, Helel was much less talkative than normal. His sole contribution to the conversation was to give an apology that his companions had not deemed it important enough to join them in accepting Azazel’s hospitality. Azazel assured him that he understood, but Helel still seemed bothered by his interactions with Raphael earlier in the evening. Ariel hoped that this was temporary. He didn’t relish continued awkwardness at their house.

  After a few hours of friendly discussion, and varying amounts of drink, they parted ways and traveled back home. Harah and Raphael were in bed when they returned. One by one the rest of the group followed suit until only Ariel and Gadreel remained.

  ‘Why do we have to study so many different subjects? I mean, I don't wish to work in the sciences. Why is it necessary for me to memorize all the minerals that exist throughout the universe?’ Gadreel asked.

  ‘Maybe we need to have a broader understanding of how things relate to each other,’ Ariel answered.

  ‘Oh. Now you sound like Gabriel,’ Gadreel said. ‘But remember what Azazel told him- that everyone accepts the fact that everything is connected, but no one ever explains how. We shouldn’t just accept that learning about lots of things makes us any more competent.’

  ‘I’m not saying that we just accept things, but in order to be able to make connections between different specialties, we have to at least have a general understanding of those specialties.’

  ‘Goodness, Ariel. You can be exhausting. I’m just saying that some of the subjects that we study don’t seem all that important to me.’

  ‘Perhaps the four glasses of yayin and not me are responsible for your exhaustion,’ Ariel answered with a laugh. ‘Either way, it is probably time for both of us to head off to bed. We have to be at Trainer Azazel’s class early in the morning.’

  Ariel lay awake after he and Gadreel parted. The events of the evening made him uneasy. Their teacher was so dismissive of some of the rules of the academy and openly mocked some of the courses that they would be taking in the coming years. Azazel seemed to believe that much about the school was outdated. He posited these ideas in such a casual manner that it was almost as if they were commonly held opinions among the faculty. Since his head still felt fuzzy from the effects of the yayin, he assumed that it might have something to do with the discomfort.

  These thoughts eventually faded away as the sleek, black body slithered up seductively, while the little yellow bird sat mesmerized, staring into those cold eyes.