Maya's POV
CRASH! My dragon egg rolled off the edge and onto the floor, and I jumped from my desk. My heart nearly stopped. What would happen if I broke it? What if I lost everything and this was my only chance?
I knelt down and picked up the egg with care. It was chilly. It was so cold that it was like holding a rock out of a frozen lake. I put it to my ear and listened for any noise or sign of life. Nothing.
The other girls in my dorm room were playing with their baby dragons and laughing all around me. Above her bed, Aria's golden dragon was practicing flying in small loops. Little puffs of fire were being practiced by Emma's silver dragon. Even the reserved Sarah had a lovely purple dragon that sang lovely tunes. However, my egg? Quiet. Completely quiet.
"Are you okay, Maya?" Aria asked without raising her eyes from her dragon. She was too busy giving it small pieces of meat.
I lied and said, "Yeah, I'm fine." I wasn't okay. I was anything but fine. At Sky Wing Academy, I was the only twelve-year-old whose dragon egg had not hatched. The sole one.
I returned to my desk and gazed at the egg. I thought it was gray, but it was meant to be cream colored with golden specks. Lately, everything looked gray.
Emma finally looked over and said, "Don't worry. Dragons can take longer to hatch at times. It took four months to raise my cousin's dragon."
Four months. I had already spent three months here. For three months, I stayed silent and cold while everyone else's dragons hatched. Being the strange kid who couldn't use magic for three months.
Sarah said, "Perhaps you ought to ask Master Frost for assistance. Every morning, he gives you that special tea. He might be able to give you more."
My hand went to my throat. Master Frost gave me a tea that tasted terrible, like dirt mixed with bitter herbs. I felt weaker every day, but he assured me it would make my magic stronger. Even more exhausted. More... nothing.
"I already drink it every morning," I replied. "Perhaps my magic is insufficient."
"Don't say that!" Aria's voice sounded fake-cheerful, but she snapped. "Magic is a part of everyone. All you have to do is locate yours."
However, what if I didn't? What if I was the first person in history to arrive at Sky Wing Academy totally devoid of magic? What if moving me here cost my parents everything?
I got up and went to the window. I could make out the Underground Academy etched into the mountain far below. The unsuccessful classmates went there. Those who were unable to attend Sky Wing. Those who were expelled. Did I belong there?
"Maya?" Aria's words had changed in tone. Concerned. "Your egg is glowing."
I turned around. I quickly believed I saw a flash of golden light while my dragon egg was resting on my desk. But it was cold and dark once more when I blinked.
"No, it's not," I replied. "You're seeing things."
"But I noticed—"
"You saw nothing!" I took hold of the egg. "Alright, it's dead. Similar to my magic. Similar to everything else about me."
There was silence in the room. The baby dragons even ceased to make noise. Tears burned in my eyes, but I fought the urge to cry. Not in their presence. Not when they already believed that I was weak.
Emma whispered, "Maya, that's not true. You're not—"
"Yes, I am!" I let the words fly out of me. "I am unable to make wind. I am unable to call lightning. Not even a candle will light for me! Additionally, it has been three months since my dragon egg died."
I hurried to my bed and stuffed the egg beneath my pillow. I had had enough of looking at it. I had given up on hope.
Aria said, "Maya, wait." She approached and took a seat on my bed's edge. "Look, I understand how tough this is. However, perhaps you ought to speak with someone. Similar to a teacher or—"
"How about? About how I'm the worst student Sky Wing Academy has ever had?"
She said, "About how you're trying so hard. About how, even when things seem impossible, you never give up."
I gave her a look. Observe her closely. Since we were eight years old, Aria had been my best friend. We had fantasized about entering Sky Wing Academy together, where we would learn how to control the weather and fly dragons. Now, however, I had nothing and she had everything we had imagined.
"Are you sure I'm capable of doing this?" I inquired. "Are you certain my dragon will hatch?"
Aria stopped. I saw it, but only for a moment. She nearly told me the truth during that short pause. Her voice was too bright, but she said, "Of course I do." Too fake. She didn't think I was real. My best friend didn't think I was ready.
"I'm going to bed," I announced. "Tomorrow is my skill test day."
The test of skills. To stay at Sky Wing Academy, we had to demonstrate our progress each month. Students who failed to make progress were dismissed. To places such as Underground Academy.
Sarah said, "Maya, you'll do great. I'm sure you'll."
But I knew the truth as I lay in bed with my quiet, cold egg pressed to my chest. My last day at Sky Wing Academy would be tomorrow, the day of the test. I would have to leave the one dream I had ever had and pack my bags tomorrow.
I tried to fall asleep by closing my eyes, but my thoughts were constantly rushing. What would I say to my parents? What would I say to my family back home? How do you explain not being worthy of your own aspirations?
Then, however, an odd thing happened. I felt a feeling of warmth against my chest as I was drifting off to sleep. My dragon egg was a tiny, nearly impossible source of warmth.
Pulling the egg out from under my shirt, I opened my eyes. I thought I saw a faint golden glow in the darkness. However, it disappeared when I blinked. Was I dreaming? Was I seeing things that weren't there because I was so desperate?
I put the egg to my ear again. I briefly believed I heard something. A beating heart. A rumble. I nearly missed a voice that was so quiet.
"Maya..."
I nearly dropped the egg because I sat up so quickly. Was my name all that was said? However, there was silence in the room. My roommates were in bed. They were curled up in their beds with their baby dragons. Everything was as usual. With the exception of the now-warm egg in my hands. Incredibly warm.
And I heard it again from deep within. This time, it's clearer.
"Maya... I'm present. I'm holding out."
My hands began to shake. Was my dragon trying to hatch at last? Was it finally happening after three months of nothing?
Then I heard another sound. Footsteps in the hallway. There are heavy footsteps approaching our room. Master Frost's face peered in as the door barely cracked open. His face changed when he saw me sitting up in bed. His face turned irate. Furious.
"Maya Chen," he muttered. "Come along with me. Right now."