In the morning, Rubix was told about common sense and the fact that she had to behave as a thinking and responsible being.

Animal impulses were over!

I took her front paw.

"Look. You have claws but also fingers. You have to learn to hold things without breaking them and no longer put them down in the dirt and mud."

She listened to me very carefully.

"Here it is. A stool. You sit on it and not on the ground...Yes, yes, I know you're going to grow up but we have plenty of time and considering the size of your back legs, now we'll say legs!"

OK.

Father Damien's runic plates with pictures were brought out.

"Here is a slate. Do not break it and do not press too hard. "

A sponge. Water and a lead.

"Otherwise use your claw and copy the symbols. You will have to repeat the letters out loud every morning".

We made her a leather bag with her writing tablet and a book with pictures for children. Then I had an idea.

It was hard for her. Very hard.

"Come on, get up!"

She stood up and tilted forward a little.

"You have to use your tail as a balance, not as a support or you'll get hurt!"

Cedric cast a music spell and I took Rubix by the hand and we began to sway to the beat. One step forward. One step back, one step to the side... turn around. jump!

We had to get out of the way or else everything would be blown away with her red tail. Then the music slowed down and Rubix put her front paws on my back, squeezing me like a lover and closed her eyes, and slow danced with me.

Then the music started again and we jumped faster and faster. She loved it. The music was driving her crazy.

But Saphie and Beth were jealous. I had never come so close to another creature.

"See... when you want! You can walk like us... Now think about the music and beat the rhythm!"

Then it was physical training with the students. The groups were each in their corner and Rubix was a little hidden by a cape.

Jim gave me a check and I gave Rubix a check.

"Come on! run! you have to strengthen the muscles here... Here we run! we don't fly!"

We jogged and little by little the dragon caught up with us but had to stop in front of our endurance.

It was the characteristic of the man: He was enduring and could exhaust any other animal, except the horses. Slowly, every day, she progressed, started to say dead people like a child and deciphered the signs and symbols written in children's books.

It was hard because it was also catching up, but we supported her. At night she slept at my feet, refusing to go to another bed.

Often, at night, she would climb onto my bed and lie against me. I was embarrassed to death, but little by little I saw a person and not a dragon anymore.

The dragons remained... animals... even though we tried the same program as for Rubix. The lunar door opening once a month, I could go back to my parents on leave and what a surprise it was for them when I came back with Rubix.

Ragul was surprised to see Rubix... she was the spitting image of Exodus!

Ragul : "My little Torin... Every time I see you, I have the impression that you are growing..."

Rubix was covered and dressed with a cape and a skirt and decorations...

Ragul : "Hello Miss...."

"Rubixxxxxx" she hissed."Hissr Fathhhsserrr!" she tried to pronounce with her forked tongue.

Esme looked at the dragoness and then at her husband...

"She speaks!!!"

Rubix : "Yessssss, Hllloo Essssme...mummyyyy"

I was surprised myself. Rubix wanted me to recognize her as a member of the family.... and it was only natural that it happened. I squeezed her shoulders.

"Rubix is trying very hard to be like us... But she's a real pal!"

Esme saw her walking like us in bipedal fashion but she was very scared... she didn't have a submission collar! Mom looked me in the eyes, pointing discreetly at Rubix's empty neck..

I answered with a smile and caressed the neck of the dragoness who put her head against my heart and purred.

"Ehhh, Rubix, I know you are nice but..."

"rroonn and roooonnn and ronnnn!"

I did not insist. Tenderness being rare in this world...Mom calmed down but looked at her husband and Saphie's eyes that spoke volumes of jealousy, eyes crying...We enjoyed a good meal as a family and we set up a room for Rubix next to mine, I refused straw or anything else for a mount.

Rubix was not a mount even if in the future I was called to climb on her. But in the evening, I heard a whistle... Valtrax!

I rushed over with a souvenir gift, some alcohol and a large honeycomb of bee honey still in its wax. A delight, especially when warmed in the mouth of a dragon where the honeycomb immediately liquefied like a praline in the mouth.

Rubix of course followed me and held me by the arm, terrified. Just by the smell alone, she knew what we were getting into.A nd, at the sight of the shack she began to crawl on all fours.

"NO! Get up... Rubix... I have to introduce you to my best friend.."

At these words, a small hint of jealousy stung the dragoness, letting her escape a sob. Everything was dark and the forest was silent. And... As a veil fell behind our back...

"SQUEEEEEK!" said Rubix, turning and falling flat on her face.

I didn't have time to react as Valtrax had her front paw crushing the dragoness and she looked at me smiling but also a little jealous.

I dropped to my knees. "Valtrax, Lord Valtrax... don't kill her... she is trying to learn and raise the level of dragons..., she is my friend..."

Valtrax began to laugh loudly and it was like a wild roar. Rubix was crying and pleading with Valtrax. The dragoness Valtrax was well 15 times the size of Rubix who was, in fact, just a baby dragon, a dragonette, more towards the teens but still a child.

Valtrax tried to speak in draconic growls to Rubix. She should understand...Faced with an all-powerful lord, the dragonette didn't dare move... Valtrax could take a bite out of her...SNiff SNiff.

Then Valtrax licked Rubix and raised her head.

Valtrax : "MMMhh Rubix..... You have the blood of Exodus in you... very little but still. Who is your mother???""

The little dragoness squeaked, unable to say anything.

"Ah, I see, you were brought up in a dragonnerie... Did they treat you well?"

She shook her head, saying no.

"TOrrrinn.... Torriiinnnn..."

She was scared and called out to me for help. I had my hand on Valtrax's claw to get her to release the small red dragon.

Valtrax: "I see that you don't have the submission collar anymore??? So be very, very careful what you do..... If anything happens to Torin because of you, you know me..."

"Whhhhiiii Yesiiiiii!"

I couldn't understand anything Valtrax was saying, but Rubix was responding in common and I understood what she was saying. Obviously, Valtrax was aware of this and it amused her.

"Rubix...do you know who I am???"

"Whiii your majesty... yoursstre Divinity...."

I was confused...

"Well, who is Torin to you??? What do you want from him? Why do you stick to him?"

Rubix : "I sssssssssssssed... please... I love Torrrin...I love...Me!!! Torin partnerrrrre Rrrrubix....!!!"

I had caught a few words but I was shocked... Rubix would be in love with me??? That was insane....! But I was not shocked. Her attitude of making an effort to be human was attractive and when I looked at her, it was true that she was a beautiful creature. But to make her a wife, there was still a way to go. I wouldn't mind but ....

When she is the size of Valtrax, what will become of me? Will I have to climb into her mouth to kiss her?

It was heartbreaking. Because I also loved Rubix a little bit. If she kept this size, yes, she could have become more than a friend but being huge, flying on my wife's back???

Come on...But there is nothing to prevent love affairs. We are young and we have to take life in our stride.

Valtrax withdrew her paw and the dragoness threw herself on me, crying with fear.

"Yesiiinnn feaarr!!!! Torrrrinnnnn ...Ruuuuubixx to littleuuurrrr from mommy Torrrin......"

Mom???

What did she mean...?

Ah, yes my dragon blood...

Then Valtrax stretched her wing so that Rubix could climb and I did the same. The dragoness was embarrassed and wondered why??? She could fly... but not as well as Valtrax.

Then cooked preys were prepared in the ice dragon's den and a big portion at that.

Valtrax knew in advance... that the dragoness was coming.