The passing of the years before the storm P2: Magnitos and Feelings

* One year after arrival to the Capital *

**Magnitos**

"Hey you, come back here!"

I heard a scream behind me, but I went on with the remains of what little food I managed to get.

I managed to hide in an alley and give myself a break. I looked at what I could get and it was enough for them, my brothers, the only family I have in these poor neighborhoods of the Capital. They are not my blood brothers, but we treat each other as if we were a small family of brothers who tries to survive with what little we get.

My name is Magnitos and I am a dragon of the element known as Earth. I have lived in the low streets of the Capital since my mother passed away when I was a child and, although it pains me to say, my father abandoned me, leaving me alone.

I slipped away and climbed a wall so I could enter our little home.

"I'm here!"

"Brother Magnitos, come quickly!"

I heard my wolfish little sister cry as she ran towards me. She looked so worried, maybe something bad must have happened.

"Leno is sick!"

I put the food in a small piece of furniture that I used to sleep in and ran to the smallest of all, Leno, a bear. I knelt and put my hand on his forehead, he was on fire!

"I-I'll try to bring Leno to medicine. I'll be right back."

I ran out as much as I could to look for even a jar of medicine.

While searching the remains of an upper-class shop, something grabbed me and threw me against the wall of the alley from where I was standing.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

I saw that it was a red dragon, perhaps my age, and wearing high-quality clothes, common among the upper class.

"Braisus, Tileo, look what we have here!"

Two other dragons fell from above me. They were one brown and the other was blue. I could only back away as they got closer.

"P-Please, I was just looking for some medicine for my brother." I begged, but they just laughed.

"Let's put an end to this poor neighborhood's plague!"

"Please help!!"

I was begging for someone to help me, but deep down I didn't think that would happen. I would only have to use the almost zero knowledge that I have about my element thanks to my mother, but that would wear me out very quickly.

I generated rocks in my hand and threw it at them. One of the rocks fell into the eye of one of them, which made them even angrier than they were.

"Now you are dead !!!"

I closed my eyes, knowing what to expect. I only thought of my brothers, since they are only children. To my surprise, no-hit came to me.

"What's going on here?"

I heard a voice from behind the three in front of me. I saw them turn around and talk to him. I couldn't see his face because they wouldn't allow it.

"Oh, it's nothing. We were just looking ..."

I thought I heard in the voice of the red dragon the nerves of being in front of someone bigger than him.

While they spoke, I noticed that one of the three who threatened me was hiding his right hand, with his claws ready for an attack.

"I've already told you that I don't trust your words. Let me pass."

I saw that guy push them away. His gaze turned to surprise when he saw me, perhaps because of the state I am in. He turned to see them, he seemed annoyed.

That guy's scales were gray, I guess he's a wind dragon.

"What have you done with h-?"

They attacked him, but he incapacitated them so fast that my eyes weren't able to follow his movements.

"I hate doing this ... They'll wake up in a bit" he said.

"Well and, who are you?" He asked as he turned his gaze to me.

"I-I'm Magnitos" I replied.

"So, Magnitos, why were they threatening you?"

"I was looking for some medicine for my brother in these remains since the usual is that the wealthy throw things away even if still work, but they tried to get rid of me as someone from the poor neighborhood."

"Medicine, huh?" I saw him take out a small bag "It's not much, but it's what I have at this moment."

"What contain that?" I asked when I see the bag

"Has silver coins. Are enough for you to buy medicine and something else."

My eyes filled with tears at receiving such a generous act. I received the small bag of coins in my hands.

"W-What's your name?"

"Ashes. My name is Ashes."

"Ashes, I appreciate it. How can I give it back to you?"

"There's no need." He refused "I can see that you care about someone else. Go and buy the medicine for you to help him."

I saw that he turned and was about to leave.

"W-Where can I find you? I wish I could talk a little more."

He stopped and looked at me.

"You can find me at the Masters' headquarters." He spoke to me with a slight smile "See you."

After that meeting, I was able to buy medicine and improve my brother's health. The money that that generous gray dragon gave me would provide us with twenty days of food.

A week after that meeting, I ran into Ashes a couple of times and we had a chat. He told me that he was a student of the shadow Elementary Master, Senka, and he suggested that I apply for the title of Master. I thought about it for a few days and finally made up my mind to do it. I prepared myself as much as I could and I appeared in front of the Masters.

"Before to say my conclusion, tell me, why did you decide to come here?"

I thought about his question. I remembered all the little ones and young people in the poor neighborhoods, everything they lived through, and how they struggled to survive since it was almost impossible to get out of there.

"I ..." I looked up and looked at the Master "I want to help everyone who lives in the poor neighborhood no matter what race they belong to!"

I watched how he closed his eyes to think about my answer. I was preparing myself to accept a negative or maybe a positive answer, the wait was killing me inside.

"Your answer has convinced me, young Magnitos. As my vote is the most weighty this time, I, the Elemental Master of the earth, accept you as a postulant for the position of Master. I trust that you will keep your word!"

He said that last with a big smile, something unusual for him from what I've heard.

"Yes, I will do it!"

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

**Feelings**

* One month after meeting Magnitos - Minutes before New Year *

*Normal POV*

"It was delicious!" Gladis lay down on the grass. "You cook very well, Ashes. How did you learn to cook so well?"

"It is a secret." Ashes replied with a smile.

Both dragons were on a hill in the valley to which they always came out. They had a very good view of the Capital, a good place to see the fireworks that would go up as the new year was announced.

"It's been a great year, hasn't it?" Gladis asked with a smile.

"Yes ..." Ashes replied with a smile too.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay being a night watchman? I'm worried that will affect your health."

"At the beginning, I had trouble sleeping so little, but now I'm fine."

"Ashes..."

"Seriously, I'm fine."

"Ashes."

The gray dragon sighed.

"I'm not well. It affects me not to get enough sleep. Maybe when I finish training with Master Senka I can get some more sleep."

Ashes dropped his body close to Gladis.

"I think sleeping now will do me good."

"Oh come on, hold on a little longer. It's almost time."

"Fine, fine."

Gladis raised her back first, fixing her gaze on the Capital, where the first firework shot into the night sky.

"Look!" Gladis called with great emotion.

Ashes raised his back and saw the explosion that lit up the sky. Several memories of his past came to his mind, memories of where he was with his family.

"Something happens?" Gladis asked to seeing that Ashes cleaned a few tears.

"No ... it's nothing. Just a few old memories came back to me" then he turn his gaze towards the ice dragoness that was next to him "Happy new year, Gladis".

"Happy new year, Ashes".

After the fireworks show, Gladis laid her head on Ashes's shoulder. Tiredness could be seen in her eyes

"I think we should go back ..."

"Heh. I agree, but I can barely keep my eyes open ... Gladis."

"Hm?"

"There is something I want to tell you..."

Ashes's heart began to race from the nerves he was feeling. He gulped and proceeded to speak.

"For a long time, I've been feeling something in my chest when I'm next to you. You've been with me all this time supporting me through good times and bad. When I've felt like I couldn't take all the training. I ... What I mean is ... Gladis, I love you."

Gladis blushed at the words Ashes had said.

"I ... have also been feeling something when I'm next to you. I didn't know what it was until recently and ... Ashes, I ... love you too" she hugged Ashes's arm "I want you to my side".

"I will do it..."

Ashes used his wings to cover himself and Gladis. They had fallen asleep minutes after confessing their feelings.