The room twisted around Jason, but instead of another room materializing, he suddenly felt himself twisted and thrown. He got the impression of falling before a blinding flash of light caused him to shut his eyes. When he opened them, he flinched in shock, not at all where he thought he should be. He was in a beautiful area, with many colorful plants and a serene fountain... in which two beings happened to be standing. Jason turned to Charaustra, who was also looking around in confusion.
Do we know him? he asked her, nodding to the man in the fountain. The man seemed to be an aquatic humanoid of some type, with light lavender skin and lighter hair. To Jason, he looked oddly familiar. Next to him stood a Clarus Dragon who looked surprisingly like Charaustra.
Char examined the people in the fountain as they were helped out by a small woman in a kimono. *I do not think so,* she commented, *but that Clarus seems familiar... I think this is my family, and I also think we are at my Coming of Age Ceremony.*
A few of the people nearby burst into joyful yells, and Jason flinched.
Now? Here? Jason asked rather inarticulately. He wondered where Genhyl and Alexei were and what they were thinking. How on earth did we get here?
*We have been summoned. The invitation said we would be.* Charaustra pointed out. Suddenly, one of the louder people called a direction.
"All bondmates and dragons please follow this red dragon or go to the white line in front of the pavilion over there," he commanded. Jason looked at Charaustra, who immediately started over to follow the other Clarus dragon. After a moment of looking around, Jason followed her. They were led to the white gazebo nearby. In the center of the gazebo was an odd woman in a brilliant red dress. More striking, however, was her set of wings, one feathered and one draconic. She seemed to be the one directing the ceremony, and she looked quite impatient. Finally, when all the dragons and their bondmates had gathered near, she stepped down from the gazebo. Jason barely had time to look around at all the others before she began to speak.
"Welcome bondmates, dragons, and anyone else who is snooping around. I am Hjördis. This is the most important event for a Clarus Dragon. You have all grown up to be very amazing dragons, and now it is time for you to receive your coming of age gifts so you will be able to control your magical powers. Calahir and Kiya please step forward to receive the gift."
At her summons, a Kangaroo dragon with red and blue skin moved forward with his bondmate. They were given a feather, the Feather of Sanatio. Hjördis explained that the feather would give Calahir the ability to heal wounds. Once the two had returned to the main group, Hjördis turned to look at Jason and Charaustra.
"Charaustra and Jason, please come forward," she said. Jason's heart pounded as he and Charaustra walked toward the podium. Jason stopped short of it, and Charaustra glided to a stop next to him, ruffling her wings. Jason could sense the nervous energy coming from her, a faint crackle in the back of his mind. Hjördis smiled at them genially and then clapped her hands.
"You two are an amazing pair!" she exclaimed. "The council and I give you Vis Astrum." She revealed a small object in her hand. It was an eight-pointed crystal star, dark blue in color, that seemed to glint with electricity around its edges. "This belonged to a great Biribiri mage at one time. It will allow you to create large waves of electricity that can kill your enemies or stun them. It will not hurt your friends under any circumstance, unless you lose your sanity or temper completely. This is a very great and powerful weapon, use it wisely and very carefully."
Jason's mind buzzed with all the information as Hjördis stepped forward to hand him the Vis Astrum. It felt cold and alive in his hand. A bit dazed, he moved back to the group with Charaustra at his side.
*It is powerful,* she commented quietly, picking up on the vibrations.
Yes, Jason agreed. He mulled over Hjördis' words as the aquatic man and his Clarus moved forward to receive their gift. "...unless you lose your sanity or temper completely..." she had said. Jason supposed that it could be the Glass reputation that caused her to say this, but it did not help him feel any better.
More dragon-bondmate pairs were called up to receive gifts. *These are not my kin,* Charaustra observed. Jason sent her a questioning impulse. *They are Clarus Dragons, but they are not my siblings,* she explained. Jason nodded. He supposed that was why that other dragon had looked so much like Char. It must be her sister. He began looking around, wondering if Charaustra's parents were there.
*They are,* she projected quietly, answering his question. She directed his mind towards a pair of older Clarus Dragons waiting aside from the group. The female was black with brilliant green eyes, a Serpent type. The male was brilliant Glass coloration, matching Charaustra's own. He had deeper green eyes and was a Kangaroo type.
You are a mix of your parents' types, Char, Jason observed, and you have your father's coloration. I am certain he is proud.
*Proud or worried?* Charaustra asked wryly. She had obviously picked up on Jason's worry about her magical star.
Proud, Jason assured her. You have done wonderfully keeping your temper, even in times of danger, and now the Vis Astrum will help you control and guide Biribiri.
Charaustra said nothing, but Jason felt her nervousness ease slightly. By now, almost all the Clarus had received gifts. They watched as the last dragon, a green male, received a globe that could create earthquakes and giant gardens.
*I suppose it could have been worse,* Charaustra said, looking distastefully at the garden-growing orb. Jason fought to suppress a chuckle.
Be polite, Char, he chided gently. Charaustra smirked at him as Hjördis prepared to bring the ceremony to a close.
"The first Coming of Age has come to an end. You are now all magical adults! You can stay here for a while if you wish to see who some of the possible mates are! Tsuyamono shall send you home when you wish." Hjördis ended her speech and walked off the gazebo and back towards a large structure, a temple of some sort. Jason turned to Charaustra.
"Shall we go chat with your siblings?" he asked her. Charaustra, much to his surprise, seemed to tense up and withdraw.
*I don't think so,* she projected back to him privately.
Char, they are your clutch mates, Jason thought to her, wondering what made her so wary.
*No, I don't want to,* she said stubbornly. *Let us depart, the sooner the better.*
Jason crossed his arms and gave her an annoyed stare. Charaustra, in turn, stared right back at him. While they were having this battle of wills, Charaustra's parents happened to approach them.
*Greetings, Charaustra, my dear daughter,* the black Serpent projected. Her black, feathered wings flapped in excitement as she reached forward to nuzzle the side of Char's face. Charaustra looked slightly surprised, but she didn't jump away. *I am Rauha,* she projected to Jason. She turned to nod to him, and Jason saw that she had a jewel embedded in her forehead.
A Jewel type as well, Jason thought as he made a low bow to her. "I am pleased to meet you," he said aloud. Charaustra's father, the Glass Kangaroo, kept back a bit, but still made a very polite introduction.
*It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Jason,* he said, nodding. *I am named Kippling. I have been hearing a lot about you and my daughter. I will admit I was a bit surprised by your magic concentration in Biribiri, Charaustra, but now that we meet, I see that it suits you well.*
Charaustra made an awkward bow to her father. Jason sensed her mind, full of many questions but too shy to seek answers from a father she barely knew. Instead, she shyly folded her wings and ducked her head. Jason had never seen Charaustra shy around anyone. He stared, but Kippling did not seem to notice. Rauha was looking her daughter up and down.
*Isn't she just an angelic one?* she asked her mate. Jason swore he saw Charaustra blush under her glassy exterior. *She's got your beautiful coloration and my feathered wings.*
*Now, now, Rauha, don't embarrass her,* Kippling said, rescuing Charaustra from further scrutiny. *I am sure she wants to get a chance to meet the other dragons. Charaustra, it was wonderful seeing you again.*
*Oh yes, you must come visit and find a mate... perhaps you will find one today!* Rauha exclaimed, looking around pointedly at the two males from the other dragon clutch. Char ducked her head further, as though trying to make sure the males didn't see her. Jason barely caught the smirk that flitted across Kippling's face.
*Good bye, mother, father,* Charaustra said. Jason bowed to the pair, and they moved off to socialize with their other offspring. When they were out of range, Charaustra sighed in relief.
*Can we please go now?* she begged Jason. He didn't bother to try to convince her otherwise. She obviously had no urge to be social.
Besides, he reasoned, Genhyl will be having a nervous breakdown if I go missing again. He nodded to Char. Let's go talk to Tsuyamonie, or whatever her name is.
They walked over to where the large pink dragon was waiting, hoping for a speedy return to L'mdana.
Your father seemed... mild, Jason observed as they waited for the Jewel type to prepare for their transportation. Then again, so do you... most of the time...
*Except when evil space invaders are trying to cut you in two with laser weaponry,* Charaustra muttered.
Of course, Jason said. He smiled at his bondmate, who flicked out a wing to lightly slap him with affection.
Finally, the pink Clarus was ready. *Stand still,* she commanded, then closed her eyes to concentrate. Jason closed his eyes as well, waiting for the feeling of being flung back to L'mdana and hoping they ended up in the right place.
Read Charaustra's full Coming of Age Ceremony
Background from Absolute Background Textures Archive. Storyline and characters created by and copyright © Rachel "Indyana" Gratis, 2001-2004. Dragon from Veniam Mactare.