The Azra-El Series Ch. 17

He glanced up at Jie Er.

"That was good!" she praised him.

"Good? I thought you'd say it was reckless!"

"It's only reckless if you haven't practiced it enough," she smiled at him, with a glint in her eye.

Blaze groaned. He had begun to dislike that particular smile of hers

***

Over the next week, Blaze made sure to give Elyssa a call whenever he was free and they talked about a lot of things. He learnt that the Malakim were finally making moves to undermine his claim for the Quetzal. They seemed to be insinuating that he was a naïve young angel with a penchant for rashness, qualities not suitable for a knight. Blaze couldn't disagree more. I like pretending to be naïve, and maybe I am a tad hormonal but I am not rash!

The Aranyan Weekly, however, was trying its best to support Blaze. It highlighted the importance of the connection between a rider and a mount, and extolled the bond Sky had with Blaze. Its papers were littered with first hand accounts of Pegasi knights speaking about their friendship with their steeds.

Elyssa also told him that Agatha had contacted Astrid. The Countess had been quite excited about working on the more fashionable side of the clothing line. Astrid, don't corrupt my brand! It's for kids!

As for training, it went on as usual. However, Jie Er did not frustrate him like before. When things got tough, she let him settle his heat. That made the training much more bearable, and he was able to think over what he was learning, instead of just going through the motions.

Jie Er realized that Blaze was a natural at fighting. He could pick up any weapon and use it with some proficiency but she knew that mastery of any weapon would take time and effort that he didn't currently have, but could come later. Thus, she wanted to focus on fully bringing out his innate ability by pushing him against the barrier of his limits.

She refused to go easy on him, and as a result, he didn't even come close to landing a hit on her. However, as the Goddess of clichés seemed to deem fit, he managed to clip her shoulder on the last day before they headed back to Tir.

It was a stormy evening, with dark clouds looming over the horizon and around the mountain. Thunder struck the land with resounding booms and blinding glares, scattering the birds and animals of the forest surrounding the foothills of Mt. Raivataka. The sun was about to set, and behind the dark skies, it appeared as a beautiful but overbearing orange.

As it was the final day of their training, Blaze fought against Jie Er with renewed vigor. A few minutes into their duel, lightning struck half a yonder behind him. A silvery glow surrounded them as Jie Er was momentarily blinded.

Taking the opportunity, he zoomed towards her like a God of thunder, and swung his club from above using one hand. Sensing his attack, she held her bardiche horizontally over her head and weathered the blow.

Blaze used his free hand to grab onto the shaft and tried pulling it away, but as soon as she felt his hand, Jie Er spun the bardiche around. He tightened his grip and let her spin him in the air.

As he spun, he chucked away his bat, and used his hardened wings as levers to swing his body behind her. He grabbed her left wing with both hands, and pushed against her back with his feet, making sure she couldn't fly.

Jie Er struggled as gravity took over and she fell towards the snow. Ten feet off the ground, Blaze pushed off her back and came into a hover, as Jie Er crashed into the snow on her feet. Seismic Toss!

Blaze was jubilant. Jie Er had finally joined the ranks of the innumerable Blazing snow-holes.

"Excellent!" she said, looking up with a happy smile on her face. "I guess that ends this time's training on a positive note."

"But that was just luck!" Blaze protested. If not for the lightning, his result would have been no different than the past twenty days.

"Maybe so, but you used your wings, your weapon, your flexibility, and your ingenuity. All in one move. I think that is the essence of what I was trying to make you learn. Let's go celebrate with a nice dinner at Puhar. Duel with your friends at school, I am sure you will notice the difference," Jie Er explained, brushing the snow from her body.

Blaze wasn't too convinced, but decided not to voice his thoughts. "Can we have some Xianian food?" He had noticed a Xianian restaurant at Puhar and had been craving to try it.

"Of course, dear. Let's clear out our campsite before we head to town. We can sleep at an inn tonight."

"Auntie, can we make a stop here tomorrow? I want to leave Jefferey a gift."

The two angels took no time in clearing up their campsite before they were ready. As they manifested their wings, Blaze gazed at the clearing that had been their home for the past three weeks. An intense wave of nostalgia washed over him as he looked at the rocky projection, the fallen tree, and the remnants of their fireplace.

Somewhere only we know.

There had been ebbs and surges in his training, and at times, he had hated the place. However, Mt. Raivataka was a breathtaking place that would never be erased from his memory. He knew the paths like the back of his hand from the time he'd spent exploring, whenever he had a little time for himself.

Bending down, he felt the cold earth, damp from the slight drizzle that had begun, and remembered the time he sat by the stream, staring into its hurried flow down the mountain. It was a couple of days after his visit to Puhar.

In this moment, he realized how much he loved Jie Er. True, it was complicated because he had begun to see her as a true parent, and could not reconcile with all the sex he was having with her. But, he was trying and learning to do justice to both aspects of their relationship. For that, he had to come to terms with things himself, as Jie Er couldn't understand the complexity and emotions of Earthly relationships.

He took a deep breath of the mountain air and exhaled loudly, before taking off ahead of Jie Er.

The two angels quickly flew back to town and found the Xian restaurant. They ordered a couple of noodle bowls, fried rice, and a side dish of string beans.

"Where can I buy a lot of mamgi?" he asked the waitress when she came back to serve their food.

"How many do you want?" she asked with a knowing smile. Their town's mamgi were well known for their unique sweetness.

"4 or 5 dozen."

"Oh, then you should try your luck at the town center in the morning, but you'd be sure to get them if you visit the keeper who lives in the mamgi groves."

The Xianian food did not taste like he had expected. He was craving for some salty food, but it proved to be otherwise. However, it was still delicious, and the two angels had a good meal before they found an inn to spend the night. It felt good to finally sleep in a real bed.

"Blaze Er," Jie Er said to him as she held him against her bosom that night. "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I am already grown up, he protested in his mind. "What do you want me to be, aunty?" he asked her in return.

"Anything you want to be. I am just curious to know what you wish to do in the future."

"I am not entirely sure, aunty. I told the Wise One of the Ophanim that I wanted to be good at everything - knowledge, wisdom, and skill. I think that's what I am going to aim for."

"What do you think of power and responsibility?" she asked softly.

"Don't really care much for it. You know I am a lazy chap. I would rather have fun, learn, and spend time with people I care about."

"I thought so," she smiled at him. "But Blaze Er, the world may not always allow you to be so carefree. Just being the first angelic Quetzal rider will bring you both power and responsibility, and you may not be able to shirk the duties that come along with them. I do not want you to do that either."

"Aunty..."

"I am not telling to change who you are. I am also not asking you to give up on Sky, but you do need to think about such things. I will support you with whatever you decide. If you do not choose to be Sky's rider, we may even be able to strike a deal with the Malakim to have you meet him regularly," she told him.

"I am not giving Sky away, aunty. He is mine. As for any responsibility that comes with owning him, I will take it on. I may be disinclined towards duty, but I wouldn't neglect it. I would rather take all the responsibility in the world rather than lose someone I love. You know that, don't you?"

"I know. I just wanted to make sure," she said. "For both our sakes," she muttered under her breath.

***

Early the next morning, after purchasing two sacks of mamgi, Jie Er asked their carriage driver to take a quick detour to Mt. Raivataka.

Blaze had once followed Jefferey to see where he lived, so he had a rough idea of where he would find him.

"I will stay in the carriage. Do not go into its cave," Jie Er warned him before he jumped off the hovering carriage.

Jefferey's lair was a large rocky opening in the side of the mountain. The cave was deep and its insides very dark. Blaze couldn't make out anything inside it, except the smells of dead animals and berries wafting from its depths.

"Jeffery!" he called out, landing twenty feet away from the cave entrance. He got no response. "I am leaving, and I got you something. Come out!" he called out again. He always got the feeling that Jefferey understood him to a certain extent.

A few moments later, the lumbering bear beast rambled out of its cave. He looked at Blaze and gave him an irritated growl, warning him to keep away.

"Don't be a tart!" he said, using Aahna's goto swear word. "You come to my place all the time but I cannot visit yours?" he asked the animal as if he expected it to understand his words.

The Arctot growled again, a low rumbling growl that scattered the nearby birds. "Fine, have it your way. It stinks, anyway. I probably won't like it inside," he said before bringing out a sack of mamgi.

"These are for you. As a thank you for all the berries and company, you provided me these past few days. You helped me in more ways than one, Jefferey," he told it sincerely, before placing the sack on the ground.

Jefferey slowly cantered up to him on all fours and sniffed at the sack before flopping down on his behind and opening it. He seemed to like what he saw as he began rolling around the mamgi, as if checking for bad fruit. Blaze walked up to him and placed a palm on his head, between the two massive branch-like antlers. The arctot was now quite used to his touchy-feely nature. Jefferey let him brush his mane for a little while before it gave a snort, rolled up the sack, and got up on two feet.

He placed the bag on his shoulder and turned around, giving him one final look and a little grunt, before walking back into his cave like an old codger.

Blaze shook his head. The bear was hilarious, and it reminded him a bit of his grandpa.

***

By Sunday afternoon, their carriage was back in Varan, where they found Rebecca waiting for them. Blaze got out of the carriage to talk to her before he continued his journey to school. They had originally intended for the training to be over by the weekend, but his inability to land a hit on Jie Er had extended their stay.

"How do you make friends with the wildest of creatures?" Rebecca asked in astonishment as he told her about Jefferey. "Carnike, Quetzal, Arctot," she said counting on her fingers. "What next? A Cerafent?"

"Don't forget Splash," Blaze corrected her, brushing the otters head as it lay cuddled in his arms.

oOo

When Blaze returned to Tir that evening, he immediately flew to the Pegasi stables. Sky's new home was a wooden barn with its exterior covered in thick, hard bark that could be used by the bird to climb up the barn.

Blaze landed in front of the of the coop's door. The words 'Sky's Home' were painted on it in cerulean blue. It wasn't the neatest of handwriting, but it somehow fit with the rustic barn and its surroundings.

Peering inside, he found the coop to be quite spacious, with numerous wooden perches and a large straw bed. It looked very comfortable, but the bird he was looking for was currently not residing in it.

He turned around and found the stable doors open to reveal a sight he did not expect. Badava, the Pegasus, walked out the doorway with Siofra on her back, and a massive bird perched on the pixie's shoulder.

The tawny and white colors of the Pegasus, Siofra's orange, and Sky's cerulean made for a flamboyant yet pretty sight. The pixie was dressed in a green skirt and a tight, full sleeved white blouse that made her look very prim.

However, the image didn't last for long as Sky took off from her perch and zipped towards him, barreling into his chest and knocking him over.

"Ow ow ow," Blaze cried as the bird wrapped his soft feathery wings around his face and rapped on his forehead with his beak, before proceeding to hold his face between his peckers and lick him all over his face.

"I am sorry Sky," he told the bird, brushing his tail feathers. "I am back, for now."

It took a minute or two for the bird to calm down, before Blaze pried him off his face. Setting him on his lap, he began to soothingly brush the feathers behind his crest. "What are you doing here?" he asked Siofra.

Her apparent comfort with the usually taciturn animals mystified him. If he remembered correctly, Sky had not cared too much for Siofra's attention when he first came to Tir, and he had never perched on anyone else's shoulder besides his. Meanwhile, Badava still refused to let him ride her.

"Claudis is feeding the Pegasi. I am helping her keep an eye on Sky - Tonya left yesterday. She is a nice angel, though she doesn't seem to like you very much," she answered as she got off the Pegasus.

She gave a rap on Badava's rump to tell her that she was free to roam, but the animal stood her ground and eyed at Blaze.

"Oh."

Claudis walked out before he could question the pixie further.

"Welcome back, Blaze. I hope your training has been fruitful," she said. "Siofra's been a great help. The Pegasi absolutely adore her, and so does Tonya," she said wiping her hands on a napkin. The top of her right arm was wrapped up in heavy bandages.

"What happened?" he asked, looking at the cloth wraps.

"It's nothing. Just a-"

"Sky bit her," Siofra answered.

"Sky!" Blaze cried, turning him around in his lap and staring angrily into his eyes.

"It's not his fault Blaze," Claudis shook her head. "He was just very agitated when he realized that you were gone. He tried to get away and I tried to stop him. He bit me out of instinct. Thankfully, Siofra managed to calm him down."

"I am really sorry Claudis," Blaze apologized before turning to Sky. "Bad Sky! You can't bite nice angels," he said, gently rapping him on his beak. Sky gave him a guilty coo.

"It is alright, Blaze. I knew what I was getting into when I chose to take care of a Quetzal. The wound is not as bad it looks. I have received worse from their kind," she laughed. "Anyway, I will leave you lot to catch up. I have a few more chores to finish for the day," she said before going back inside.

"Thank you, Claudis," he said and turned to Siofra as Claudis stepped back inside. "So, Sky likes you, eh? How did that happen?"

He pulled out a couple of ripe mamgi from his space ring and tossed one to the pixie. She caught the fruit and turned it around for a moment, before putting it into her space ring.

"I like them chilled and cut," she told him. "How was your training?"

"Went well, I suppose. Learned a lot. I've got something to show you later. How about yours?"

"Not too good. I can't seem to defeat Priscilla," she replied through gritted teeth.

"You lost to Ms. Prissy?" Blaze asked her unbelievingly. His duels with the pixie had been mostly even, while he had easily won both his bouts against Priscilla.

"You know she counters me! But, I still want to defeat her," she told him resolutely. "I fought her five times over the break and lost every time. The third time I lost, I was really distraught, and needed someone to talk to. So, I came here to find Sky. Just to play with him..." she said with a flurry of her slim hands. "I found him inside the coop, in a struggle with Claudis and Tonya. Claudis was bleeding all over the floor..." she said, her words tuckering away towards the end.

Maybe I will finally get a chance to find out if my healing works on physical wounds. Hehe.

"You managed to calm him down?"

"I think he managed to calm himself down. I was just there at the right time," she shook her head. "I simply stepped in to help and he somehow ended up in my arms. I think by that time, he realized that he had hurt Claudis, so he calmed down and began to coo apologetically. It is amazing how he can show emotions with his voice," she said, giving the bird a look of wonder.

"Thanks, Siof," he told her sincerely as he began to peel the mamgi.

"No," she shook her head. "Sky has helped me more than I helped him. Just playing with him makes me feel better, and it gave me the conviction to train harder. You will be fighting against Nikolett Lovag in order to not lose him. Why should I be worried about a mere Priscilla? However, I will defeat her even if it is just to give you the confidence to defeat Nokolett," she said, pulling her skirt against the back of her thighs and sitting down in front of Blaze to caress Sky's back.

Blaze pinched a bit of the flesh from the fruit and put it between the bird's open beak. The bird rolled it around with his tongue before flapping his wings in excitement, stirring up the dust around them.

Blaze noticed Badava watching them as he fed the fruit to the bird, making him remember Rachel's words about jealousy. However, he immediately pushed the thought aside. It was a quick fix solution, and it was such thinking that made him mistreat the animal in the first place.

He handed Sky to Siofra, and walked up to the tawny flying horse with wings of pure white and a magnificent red patch on his forehead. Badava eyed him with suspicion but did not retreat.

Over the first quarter, Blaze had grown to like the Pegasus. The animal was temperamental at times, but she was a clever and sensitive animal. She had also become friends with Sky, despite most of the other Pegasi's instinctive aversion to the bird. The only other exception was Claudi's Gyrill. But she was a war Pegasi, and had faced off against Quetzals on battlefields.

He pulled out another mamgi from his space ring and presented it to the creature. Her nostrils flared as she grunted and sniffed at the fruit; she liked apples, but a mamgi would do just fine.

A long tongue rolled out of her mouth and took the mamgi whole. She chewed the fruit for a while, before spitting the seed out with a mighty grunt. It flew to the place where Blaze had previously chucked the other seed.

She gave him happy neigh before nudging at his hand for more.

"Sorry buddy, I only have a few more and sixty ravenous classmates to share them with," he said reaching out his hand to caress her cheek.

The Pegasus let him brush her hair for a moment before she began to turn away. However, Blaze gently tugged at her reins to make her stop. He made her lower her head as he placed his own against her red tuft of hair. "I am sorry about before, Badava. I hope you'll forgive me," he said gently and sincerely, hoping he could get the message across.

The Pegasus held his gaze for a moment. Finally, she gave him another happy neigh and licked his forehead before trotting over to Siofra and Sky. Blaze didn't like licky animals besides Sky as his tongue was dry, but this one time, he couldn't help feeling delighted. It was a sign of acceptance.