Tale of a Shadow Guardian: Chapter 1

-Alright kids, I think that's enough for today.
Vidra clapped her hands together as a sign of stopping the training of two students exercising in a large room filled with obstacles and four large pillars a meter or two away from the corners. Stairs came down to a lowered floor in the center of the room working as an arena, where the two young students stood and stopped their fighting.
-Especially you, Leavan, you're way too aggressive today. What's up with you?
Vidra glared down from the upper floor of the room towards the green young male who was panting heavily. He seemed frustrated, as if he was proving something to himself. Or his opponent.
-I'm sorry Vidra, Gelia has been picking on me today, saying that she's stronger than I am and that I can't handle the training. Not that she speaks the truth, of course, because she's wrong!
-Save it Leavan... You shouldn't let such mockery get into your head. Remember, it requires a calm and concentrated mind to gain strength over the standard level of a drachenian. Speaking of which, you should concentrate more on your mind training sessions. Not everything is about physical strength you know?
Gelia hummed arrogantly.
-I told you Leavan. But noooooo! You didn't listen! You are just-!
-Stop it Gelia. You're not helping him at all. Although you do well in the mind training sessions, you do not harness what you have learned. So you also need more practice.
Vidra looked down on Gelia with her eyes narrowed to make her point clear.
-Understand?
Leavan made a slight grin of a satisfaction as he looked at Gelia freaking out of Vidra's words.
-What do you mean?! I'm perfect!
-And arrogant. You lack respect of others as you cannot hold in your words which may harm them. The next time you want to make a smart remark, you better save your words. And have some respect towards your training partner too. You're slowing him down and his lack of progress affects yours aswell.
Gelia bowed her head down feeling ashamed and sighed.
-Yes, Vidra. I understand... It's just no fun here at times... and Leavan is not fun to fight with.
-Perhaps you would find fights with him more fun if you actually don't look at him as an inferior, but as a friend, a partner.
Gelia made a slight nod with her head down and turned it to look at Leavan on his right. He seemed to be expecting an apology, looking as if he was holding tears, being hurt by Gelia's words from the past. Gelia noticed this and she opened her mouth taking a slight gap of air and spoke out.
-I'm sorry Leavan for mocking you earlier. I hope you're not mad at me.
Leavan seemed to have trouble holding his tears, releasing a few of them, but still holding back. Gelia held her arm out towards Leavan for a handshake of an apology.
-Friends?
She looked down, not expecting his hand in return. After holding back for a moment he took Gelia's hand and gave briefly a little smile in tears of joy as he couldn't hold them back anymore. Gelia raised her head in wonder and smiled back. Leavan let go of her hand.
-Friends.
-Good that you had that settled. Dry your tears Leavan. You talk about your issue later on your own time. Letting all the tears go will make you feel better, Leavan. But that is for later. Now, go wash yourselves from your sweat and dirt and come to the lookout for dinner. The sun is setting if you didn't notice.

Vidra took a step back, turned around and walked outside in elegance and closed the sliding doors behind her. Leavan and Gelia were still catching their breaths after training. Leavan had watched Vidra leaving and was thinking.
-You know, Gelia, Vidra looks very beautiful, but I wonder why she is still alone. Don't take any hints from this though, I'm just trying to build trust in you, by telling my thoughts.
-She wasn't always alone you know? Have you ever seen the look in her eyes at times? She clearly has someone in her mind, but I don't know who could it be... Maybe we can ask her during the dinner?
Gelia raised her head and looked at Leavan. He seemed to agree, balancing his breath and stood up.
-Yeah, we could. I hope she won't mind though.
-Come on, let's go wash. The sooner we do that, the sooner we eat. I'm starving and I bet you're starving too.
-Yeah, you said it. Let's go. I hope there's something good.
The two smiled for a second, ran up the stairs, slided the doors open and closed them behind. Meanwhile Vidra was preparing dinner at a fire at the lookout.