It was early, just before the afternoon sun started to change the colours of sky. Behind the fortress, only two Red River monks sat in discussion—apart on their own.

Ciara, Alphonse and Magtha were waiting. Skye-voice had been mostly quiet the whole afternoon. The trio had the best spot for their view of Skye's proof. The crow hopped on the ground, searching for insects.

The grassy plateau where they sat dipped and rolled off to the distant backdrop of her wide rainbow valley with its forked silhouette of pinnacle peaks that lifted both sides. A great flightpath for Skye! Ciara marvelled, drawing Magtha's cloak closer around her. What will Skye do?

Ciara re-lived the making of rainbows with Skye, her fondest memory already in Aulde—or should her fondest be Sadie coming to her rescue, or Liv's singsongy help? I may now know the name where I'm from, but so many things have happened. This mountain also feels like a place that I know.

The three companions heard a struggling, huffing noise disturbing the peace to their right. Over the crest beside them came TJ, breathing hard from his climb. He stood for a moment surveying the scene. Then he recovered his breath and strode towards them.

"I sent runners to the other outlier camps and told them all to join us." TJ still puffed just a bit as he spoke.

Oh, no. Fourteen camps of students! I won't feel welcome in even a part of their crowd. Ciara dreaded the thought.

"—Don't want them to miss what unfolds here tonight." TJ sat with a grin and a groan.

But Ciara was worried. I can't stay, here. Facing the Council is nothing compared to facing these fledgling magicians. How do I leave before they can get here? I don't see how I could. I'd let Skye-Voice down— What should I do?

She looked to one side and saw Alphonse on his stomach throwing grass seeds to the crow. On the other side, sat Magtha pulling her robe-covered knees towards her plump chest. She rocked in contentment with the world's biggest smile. I've already made some friends, Ciara thought. No matter what this takes, I want to be part of this evening for Skye.

"Ylva's coming, too, I should think. Liv isn't back," TJ relayed.

I guess I do know people here. Alphonse has learned how to fit in, I'm sure. But he has a secret. I wish my secret was better than 'noticing things' or the loss of my home. If I'm going to be at this school, I guess they'll have to get used to just what I am.

Slowly, a magi or two at a time, other monks, then Robasaille gradually joined them. Pinks, mauves, and yellows colored the sky between far crags of rock. Muffled voices of wonder set up a tone—their world was as grand as the sky. Feeling the aura of companionship and the warmth of the day, they all chatted together; the Heart of the World beat softly through all.

Time passed in gentle waves. At last, there were noises of babbling hikers arriving below. Ciara was unable to see from her seat in the grass, but she swallowed—nervous, unsure.

"Some of the others have decided to stake out their spots where the fields meet the mountains, much closer to the farthest outlier camps," TJ said to Alphonse. And soon, five full circles of students began filling the field on the mountainside—one fresh-cheeked group after the other. More gathered below the rim.

"You were right." TJ grabbed the moment to relay to Ciara, "The pen was right where you said it would be."

"I told you—?"

"You were speaking—less conscious— I think you were still in a trance. But you clearly explained where the pen was and Robesaille shared that with me, so I took some time to investigate. I had to, since, it was you who had come up with the theory. I had to trust that you'd noticed some sort of a clue."

"Did you find the artifacts, really—?"

TJ nodded, his lips thrust forward in consideration. "I've spoken to the culprits." He shook his head, somehow amused. "They'll each be let off with a warning. Their tale spilled out rather fast when they were confronted, thanks to your keen noticing eye. I can now understand how it happened. Other than Ylva, no one else knows what they took, so I don't see the harm in keeping their secret. You had a good theory! How did you guess it was anything like that?"

"Oh—I still don't fully know why. But I hadn't felt well. That's how I knew the berries could have been poison and where the artifacts likely all had to be. I realized Drey had said some of the kids were still in the camp, sick from eating pie. I saw Sadie—she had been covered—in bright berry juice. I remembered the ink— I put two and two together. And then the timing, with your reactions to Rondan—it just had to be!"

"I'd never have guessed that from the way you just did."

"It was from the whole picture, taken together, not any one part. Will they be punished—?"

"Not exactly!" TJ was smiling, pleased with himself. "Each of their own reasons, separately, weren't all that bad."

"What did you tell them—?"

His wink was almost as good as a laugh. He watched her face. "—That I was unable to reach the far camp instructors in Guild-mind. That I needed some 'runners'—"

You sent them to run—? Ciara giggled.

A little white humour— TJ spoke clearly, in mind.

Right at that moment, the sky started to change. The air began to whistle and the breeze rearranged skies. The robes of instructors billowed, at once.

All heads turned to the valley to see whatever proof Skye-voice had promised. Iridescent colours danced in the stillness.

Without thinking, Ciara felt drawn towards a small rise. Unnoticed, she dropped Magtha's cloak and made her way there. Skye?

You'll need your white wingssss—

What are we doing—?

Just as she stepped onto the mound, an odd feeling crept over her. She felt lightheaded, but with a lightness of being as well. She strove to keep her balance. An odd transparency appeared, streaming down.

You wanted a tour—

Skye-Voice showed off his majestic wings. They glimmered. He turned mid-twist in the air. His large tail coiled behind him as he lowered himself slowly, exacting—and graceful.

Ciara knew it was all part of being his proxy! Her faith in Skye-Voice was such that she simply stood still. A full dragon-length above her, Skye spoke directly to her. "Lift," was all that he said.

How is it I see you—?

Sky-friends have our own gifts—some of us, this. This is the use of the Flux of the Spire. That's why it was built, by our trainers, in the time of the Ancients. Dragons who travel through time, need a special place. It's a portal for us. We are the guardians of time—in so many ways. Really, I'm both—I'm here and I'm not. Close your eyes—

I thought you were somewhere else?

Only part of my essence will show, when they see me, but you're going to make it look as though I am fully where you are—flying with me. Wait. You will ssssee—

Ciara felt her shoulders shrug in a most potent fashion. Her chest expanded and her light wings reached out to the air on the mountain. Her invisible wings pushed down as she lifted.

And with one pirouette, Sky-Voice was now directly below her. Together they made their way skywards! She felt as if she was right where he was.

In the diminishing light they headed straight for the falling sun. It dipped below the crux of the mountains and its rays still glowed up above.

From the hilltop, the students all oohed and awed. From where most of them stood, they could clearly make out the translucent wisps of a multi-layered dragon-like shape—in the mirrored images of two dragon-shaped rainbows—one slightly more faint than the other so bright, but dancing as one.

"A Spirit Dragon! They're real. He's real. There is a big dragon here!" Magtha the Dragonsworn, played her part well. "Look! There is our proof!" She winked toward Alphonse, who grinned and looked around at the crowd observing Skye's show.

Ciara and Skye appeared to fly well above the height of the sun. The mountains in deep indigo-purple created a backdrop against which the glitter of sunshine's last rays played on Skye's silhouette. He brilliantly sparkled and lit up 'the proof' of his dragon-ness self.

Why are we here—in this spot? Ciara asked.

They wanted their prrrroof.

No, I mean—why is here proof?

Ahrrk. They see us as one. Your practice in the scatter-wing dye cloak. You took on it's aura. And—with my projection—through the portal in time, I'm able to hold you up by my intention. —Right in the sun's rays! With the dark background that they see from where they are—I am able to make you look as though your rainbow form is as big as I am!

And, they'd see a dragon—! Skye, that's so clever!

Yes. Skye did a dip and a soar, but still stayed high, directly in the path of the sun's rays. It's a bit of a trick, sssince only our essence in thought is up here at all, but—yesss—they see a dragon!

Skye! That's great! They can see you! I really did help. They know you are real now! Isn't that great?

It 'tissss very great! And how is your flight—?

It's marvellous, Skye! I can feel it, as well—as if I am flying for real.

You are right—intending your thoughts is a marvellous thing!

They dipped and they dived and circled and shimmied—performing every move a proud dragon could make—all while staying directly in line with the last rays of sun.

That's how you made the sign in the clouds, isn't it?

Sssomething like that.

I wouldn't have believed all the places I've been and how much I still have to see. I know where everything in Mearth's Aulde Mountain is so much better now, having seen it from here.

You're sssatisfied, then—?

Yes, it's beautiful, Skye! How many people have seen the Heart of the World from so high up above?

Practically no one, I would sssuspect.

Ciara could somehow hear the crowd murmuring and sharing shrieks of delight. They talked in excited whispers. They were still trying to comprehend what they'd just seen. This had changed things.

I've remembered where I came from now, Skye. I think I might want to go home.

Yes, when you said you'd found the tree, I knew our time might be—ssshort.

You knew!

In a manner of speaking— You flew here as a creature of hope. You have proven to be so. I wasn't so wrong. You are the 'Sign', but yes, I knew a white dragon could have brought you to us.

Wait! You mean I can go back?

Yes, of course. I said, as my proxy, you could have whatever I could fetch for you or return you to be.

You only said 'fetch', Skye!

I didn't!

Did! Now, stop it, Skye. You mean—I can really go home? —To Mom and to Arvy and Dad?

Perrrfectly sssimple, in fact!

How?

Don't you mean, 'where'? Skye teased.

—My tree! Ciara exclaimed.

I'll set you down so you can say your goodbyes, then I'll take you there, myself, if you want. But please know this—the entire Dragonfly Web will be affected if you tell anyone where the school really issss.

Do I know where—?

Of course you do. It's where you were from. That's why Aspher went through—

And—wait—the white crow! How was he there?

He went to fetch you— Magtha sent him, so Aspher'd stay safe. He was too young to go to your world by himself through a void in the flux.

Whitestuff! I miss him so much—and I've only remembered him now. What must it have been like for him all of this time? He must feel so lost! He only has me. Magtha knew where he was—?

Not so much as the crow could give her directions. And you mustn't either. It's a Proxy Pact Promise!

You're making that up!

Well—yess, I am—

Skye's thoughts of their flight had taken them around the whole rainbow valley—their flips and figures of eight. The force of intent in the air from Skye's transparent wings took Ciara's breath away. It was all as real as if real!

—But you must never share 'the where' of the Dragonfly School.

Where is it—?

Humpff!

What—? Where? Where—Ohhhh! I know. It's in the marsh!

Never ssshare the where! Proxy Pact Promise!

Oh, my—yes, of course! I'll never tell. They really train dragons—?

That's where it starts—

Can I say goodbye to Magtha and Robesaille and Alphonse? I want to climb back down with TJ—to Camp Trackerdoodle. Now she was laughing again from just using the word in her mind. Could I meet you at the cave after, do you think?

As is your wish—!

And then, as if in reversal of Skye-Voice's whole flight, they made their way back in the evening darkness—no longer seen.

To the students and magi it simply looked like as if the sun had winked and gone out, as the sun did every day. But Ciara and Skye were still flying—translucent thoughts in the air beneath the low skyline. They slowed down the feelings of the intended flight back.

Torgney took the lead and turned slightly upwards, broadening his wings in full extension, still invisible without the sun's light—in the dark of the valley. Ciara was with him. As he intended, and as she had agreed, the Proxy, Ciara had flown. She now felt his 'lift and settle' begin to float downwards. Their wings beat in time and they descended with grace.

Skye seemed to gently replace Ciara on the same mound, at an unseen apex—the point she'd left from only moments before. She touched, she wobbled, she stood—her energy wings still electric, engaged but surprisingly strong. They moved up and down with the in and out of her lungs.

This is why you said you saw me fold up my wings! You had seen Whitestuff do this with me! But he seemed older—no baby at all?

He was— This is his future as well—!

~~~

So much to learn! And Ciara could go back to the past now. But that meant she couldn't remain. She looked into the crowd and tried to find where Magtha, TJ and Alphonse would be. She picked up the cloak.

As the audience watched, they had lost sight of Torgney. The sun had set. He had twisted into that odd transparency—then seemed to be gone.

As quickly as he'd appeared before them, he had disappeared with the sun winking out! But none on the ground remained seated.

They still stood, now applauding, well after the 'flight'—a spectacle that would forever change all the students and magi of Mearth.

They had witnessed what no other humans might see and they knew how blessed they had been—and still were. The Spirit Dragon wanted their help! This was their School and their honour to help him. All would be well.

Ciara felt warm with excitement and pride. Skye had said she could go home.

White wings were more than a practice.

≈≈≈/