here be dragons: School I

I was woken up by the loud music that I had set as the alarm tone on my phone. It was the only tone that i could find, that was loud enough to wake me up. I really do sleep like a log. When I opened my eyes, I first saw Talorath, then I saw what he was holding in his mouth. It was my phone, which was rattling between his teeth, as it vibrated and continued to blare out loud music. Hurriedly, i snatched the phone out of his mouth, lest he damage it. I hastily looked it over, and was relieved to find that it had not be damaged, other than a few scratches here and there on the cover.

<Your brick was making noise, and it woke me up.> He said, sounding somewhat stunned, most probably due to my reaction.

<Did you just call my phone a brick?> I asked, somewhat offended.

<It is a brick isn't it?> was his reply.

<and you are a lizard.> I shot back. <This is far more high tech than a brick!> I continued, ad I switched on the screen.

He seemed unimpressed, saying <It has a light and a picture. So what?>

"A light and picture!" I spluttered, as I unlocked the phone in front of him.

He simply stared at the phone, as the phone went through the normal animation that one would see when unlocking an iPhone. As I launched an application to disable the alarm, his eyes became as wide as dinner plates.

<How does it do that?> he inquired, both amazed and intrigued.

<Welcome to the modern era.> was my simple reply.

I glanced at my phone. It was already five thirty. I hurriedly got out of bed, and made my way to the toilet, that I was going to hose down. As I started to walk to the toilet, I tripped over my own tail, much to Talorath's amusement. "Cut me some slack, would you?" I muttered, as I opened the door. I then spent the next fifteen minutes cleaning the toilet, and the next ten washing up. I discovered that overnight, I had grown a frill where each ear had been, and behind each frill was a hole, which served as my ears now. Also, I discovered that my hair had grown back, much to my surprise. There was hair all along my back, partially concealing the spikes that were also there. The hair on my head was somewhat similar to the hair that I had had as a human, only that it was thinner. The hair was also black.

I then proceeded to my cupboard, took out my school uniform, and started pondering. Although now there was now nothing to see down there, I was still uncomfortable with walking around outside completely nude.  After much pondering, I managed to cram myself into my pants, which were a slightly tight fit, and to think that they were loose just yesterday. However, I still had to wear a belt, as my tail prevented me from pulling my pants all the way up. I then folded the shirt, and a set of PE attire, and put them into my pants. I would be having a PE lesson later, but had no idea how I would put on the shorts and T-shirt. "I will settle that later," I thought, as I shouldered my bag, and grabbed my file. Beckoning to Talorath, I walked out of the room. After several adjustments to the straps of my backpack, I managed to get the bag to rest comfortably on my back, in between my wings. I then grabbed my laptop, shoved it into it's case and walked off.

<Where are we going?> inquired Talorath.

I replied, glancing at the clock as I left the house, and locked up. It was already six o'clock. If I missed the train, I would be late. Well, that should teach me to choose a school that is on the other side of the island. I left without so much as glancing at my shoes. Given my new clawed feet, there was no way I would be able to wear shoes without destroying them. However, the thick pads on the underside of my feet seemed to be a feasible, if not superior replacement for the shoes.

<You still haven't told me what an airport is, nor have you explained anything to me, and how far away is this school of yours?> Talorath said rather pointedly, barging in on my thoughts.

<Oh, right. School is about an hour's train ride away. You know what a seaport is right?> I replied, caught off guard by his statement.

<yes.> was his simple reply.

<an airport serves the same purpose, only that it caters to air traffic and passengers.> I explained.

<Air traffic? Humans can fly?> he replied, puzzled, and cocked his head at me.

<Fly my arse. They use flying machines called air planes.> I replied bluntly.

<flying machines?> He looked even more puzzled, and gave me an incredulous look.

<yes, flying machines.> I replied, as I showed him pictures of a few different types of planes, and explained their functions.

As he looked at the pictures on the phone's screen, his eyes opened bigger and bigger. <how fast can they fly?>

<Up to 920km/h. Yes, I know, you don't know what a kilometre is, and how long an hour is.> I replied.

<I know what an hour is. What is a kilometre?> He replied, sounding mildly indignant.

<A kilometre is 1000 metres, and my height now is about two metres.> I replied.


Talorath then looked up at the train tracks under which we were walking.

<what are those?> he inquired.

<train tracks.> I replied, and proceeded to explain how a train worked.

<so its basically to guide big boxes of people which move past at a high speed?>

<Well, you could put it that way.> I said, and shrugged.

We were almost at the station. As the station came into view, I caught side of the large television screen which shows the time in which the next train would reach the station. One minute till the next train!

Tightening my grip on my file, I sprinted towards the station. If I missed this train, I would be late. However, I found that I had some difficulty running with my new feet, and ended up running is a stumbling manner, nearly falling over several times. As I ran, Talorath stopped and stared at me for a few seconds, probably not knowing why I had suddenly started running. Then, he jumped, and flew over, just as I hurled up the escalator of the station.

<Why are you running? Are there hunters after us?> he asked, sounding a little shaken, and somewhat afraid.

<Nope. No one is after us. I am just trying to catch the train.> I replied, ad I hurriedly tapped my EZ-link card, and ran up the stairs, and stumbled into the train, just in time.

<catch the train? I thought you said that the train is a machine?> he asked, cocking his head at me yet again.

<It's a figure of speech. The train does not stay in the station for that long a time. When I say 'catch the train' I mean that I want to get onto the train before it moves off.> I replied.

<oh.> was his reply, as he looked around the train in interest.

My abrupt entrance into the train coupled with the fact that i was now a dragon caused me to become the object of interest for the passengers, and many of the other commuters were openly staring at me. Still, I was not surprised, and ignored them. Then, a young boy, who looked to be around six years old came up to me and asked, " Why don't you just fly?"

Then, all chatter in the train was silenced, a lady, presumably the boy's mother stared in horror. I looked at him, and smiled. "I don't know if I could fly that far. Believe me, if I could fly there, I would." Then, I reached down and ruffled his hair. It was as if all the passengers heaved a sigh of relief, and people resumed their normal chatter. The boy's mother came over and pulled him away, after muttering an apology.

After around fifteen minutes of standing, I got bored, and started to rummage in my bag, and took out my earphones. I was delighted to find that they still fitted in my new ears, and started listening to music. Then, Talorath jumped up, and perched on my shoulder. He then seized the wire of one of my earphones and yanked it out.

<Hey! What was that for?> I demanded, making my indignance obvious.

<These things are flooding your mind with noise! I am doing you a favour by removing them.> While he proceeded to yank the other earphone out.

<That 'noise' is music you nut!> I retorted, as I replaced the earphones.

<It is not!> He shot back, growling softly. "Seems like dragons don't like club music..." I thought to myself, as i switched the track with my phone. As "Truth Be Told" by Atlas Plug began to play, Talorath looked up at me. <That's music. What you were listening to just now was noise.> Seems like dragons really do like epic music.

There was a chime, as the familiar announcement played. "Paya Lebar Interchange. Passengers who are continuing their journey on the Circle line, please alight." <That's us. Come.> I said, as I proceeded to the door.

<Have we reached the school? I thought you said that we would spend an hour travelling?> He inquired, cocking his head at me as we alighted.

<Nope, we have not reached. We are transferring to a different train.> I replied.

<Why must we transfer?> He asked, cocking his head at me again.

<this train goes in a different direction. We will be transferring again later.> I replied again. At the rate things were going, I would be spending the day being Talorath's textbook and dictionary.

<Oh. This is so troublesome. We should just fly next time, like that little human had suggested.> He replied, and looked at me, offended. He probably heard my last thought.

<now you tell me that I am strong enough to do that.> I retorted, knowing now that I had possessed an alternate form of transport that would render the squeezing into the crowded train unnecessary.

<You did not ask.> He replied, sounding somewhat annoyed.

<Well, don't forget that I was still human yesterday... I don't know anything about my abilities.> I shot back, equally annoyed.

<Then, we shall help each other.> He replied, as I took the escalator down to the underground portion of the station. Talorath's eyes widened as he saw the station, and he looked around in amazement.

<This, is it all underground?> He asked, amazed.

<Yes.> I replied, as I made my way to the relevant platform.

Looking up at the lights, he asked <Those are not windows right? How do they emit light? I do not see any fire...>

"Not again..." I muttered, as I boarded the train. I then proceeded to explain electricity, and it's applications, ignoring the looks that I was getting from the other commuters.

Still explaining, I felt a slight jerk as the train started to move out of the station. However, my explanation was interrupted when someone stepped on my tail. The pain shot up the entire length of my tail, and i roared in pain, much to the alarm of the other commuters. The roar was mostly due to the sudden onset of pain, rather than the severity of the pain instead. I heard someone apologise softly, and I turned to see a young man, who was very smartly dressed backing away quickly. Then, I noticed that everyone had suddenly given me a wide berth. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, and not wanting to be seen as a beast, I knew that something had to be said.

"It's all right. I only roared because the sudden pain caught me off guard." I said, turning to look at the young man. It was as if everyone heaved a sigh of relief, and a sense of normality returned, and I was once again engulfed in the crowd of people. Damn, I missed the extra space. Thankfully, for the rest of the journey, no one stepped on my tail.

The rest of the journey, including the other transfer continued relatively uneventfully. Of course, I was bombarded with questions by Talorath about the various things that whizzed past as the train rattled down the tracks.

"Yio Chu Khang. Please mind the platform gap." The announcement chimed in, and I alighted. Thanks to Talorath's lorry load of questions, i had had no chance to sleep on the train. As I paid my fare, I glanced at my phone. It was almost half-past seven! "Alamak! Five minutes left till assembly!" I exclaimed in shock. I then ran out of the station, bound for the main gate. Although the school is just across the road from the train station, the entrance itself was quite some distance from the station.

As i ran towards the entrance, Talorath flew up beside me. <What's the rush?> he asked, unperturbed.

<I am going to be late!> I snapped, as I hurled towards the gate.

Then, the worst thing happened. I tripped over a stone, and was sent flying.<Spread your wings! You can fly in!> I heard Talorath yell in my head, as I started to plummet to the ground. With no time to loose, I complied, and my instincts took over. I flapped up, and sailed gracefully through the school gate, with the portly security guard staring at me in disbelief. I then flew to my class, and landed in line.

"Now who may you be?" enquired a voice behind me. I turned to come snout to face with my form teacher, Mr Chia.

Smirking, I showed him my identification card. I wanted to stay anonymous to the rest of the class for now, as I wanted to have some fun.

"Ah, you were almost late, as usual." He replied, glancing at the card, and then he turned to continue taking attendance. However, Mr Chia did not mention my name, as he probably knew that I was up to something. I had a reputation for playing pranks, and cracking jokes. I looked around to see my classmates openly staring at me. I gave them a big smile, and continued to look around. I saw a few other dragons scattered around, but they were few and far between.

<Why is everyone wearing the same garments?> Talorath asked, while he glanced around, having landed on my shoulder.

<They are all wearing school uniform. Duh.> I retorted, as I hastily stood to attention, as the national anthem started blaring from the school's ageing PA system, just after the parade commander had hollered the command to stand to attention.

After the singing of the national anthem, and the reciting of the pledge was done, as usual, the vice principal stepped up to make the morning announcements. "Good morning college, announcement from the dragon management committee: All dragons are to meet me in front of the general office after morning assembly for a briefing."

<how long have you been around here for?>I asked, turning to Talorath

<Around two weeks. We had to choose and assess who to change before taking action.> he replied, cocking his head at me, wanting to know why I was asking such a question.

<Well, then that was fast. They managed to set up an entire committee in two weeks. In contrast, it took them three months to return me fifteen dollars.> I replied, trying not to laugh. It was an impressive feat, since bureaucrats run the school.

<One more thing. You said that your family adopted mine. So I am your brother now?> I asked, wanting to clear the air. This had been at the back of my mind since I had left the house.

<Yes. You are my older brother now.> Was his reply, and he surprised me by nuzzling me. Not knowing what to do, I petted his head and he hummed happily.

The parade commander then hollered out the commands to dismiss us for our lessons, and everyone went off to their lessons. It turned out that there had been three absentees in class, not including my 'disappearance'. hence, no there was only speculation on who I was, and luckily, the others also took the same subject combinations as me, which added to the confusion, and speculation.

With Talorath still on my shoulder, I proceeded to the general office.

For once, school was going to be interesting.