We all came up to the desk, "Solve the riddle, and get it right or else you will not pass the test." the voice said. "Oh, okay." I said.  "I like riddles." Both Kathy and Lotus said. "They are fun." Benny uncertainly. "We'll help you." I assured him. He smiled and nodded. "let's see," Kathy said.  "You heard me before, yet you hear me again, but then I die, until you call me again.  What am I?" Lotus read.  'I already have one, but I want to see what the other's think.' I thought to myself. "By the way, do we only get one guess?" I asked. "Yes, so choose your answer wisely." the voice said. "Thank you." I said. "You're welcome." they replied.  

 

           "So, do you all have any guesses?" Benny asked. "I have a few... but we have to agree on one and hope that it's the right one." Kathy said. "Agreed." Lotus said. "I don't really know..." Benny said. "I like these sorts of things... but... I'm not good at them." he said. "It's okay," I said. I patted him on the back. "Thanks." he said.  "So, you heard me before, yet you hear me again, but then I die, until you call me again. what am I?" Kathy read again.  "The only thing I can think of is Echo." Kathy said. "Same here." Lotus said.

        I nodded.  "Wait... that actually makes sense it's the only thing that does that." Benny said.  "So is that your final answer?" the voice asked. We all looked at each other. "Yes, the answer is Echo common in theatures and caves." Kathy said.  There was a small pause, "That is correct!" the voice said. "Congratualations! You three are the first in a few years to suceed!" they said acutally pleased. "Thank you!" we all said. "You're welcome! now Enter the next door your dragon friends or soon to be friends are waiting for you." the voice said. 

        A door appeared nearby. We did so with excitement, a bright light came from the room and then we emerged to cheers and many people along with the dragons. four of them sat there, I spotted Cole being amongst them he was smilling happily. "Welcome! candiates!" King Darius said happily.  "Congratulations!" King Byron said happily. As we all approached me and Kathy helped Benny. We each  stood at the edge of the stage, "Now! Cole, Ash, Bora and Juniper approach them and begin the bonding ceremony." King Byron said. The dragons came up to us and then lowered themselves. "I knew that you could do it." he said with a smile. "Thank you." I said. After this his snout touched my hand and his forehead touched mine. 

          I briefly heard the king's voice speak but thens something happened, and everything went muffled for a moment. A bright light appeared for a second and then I felt different. A few moments pass and then everything clears up.  I blinked a couple of times, There was more talking but I couldn't fully understand it before I heard Cole's voice in my head. //Breath it's okay, I know this overwhelming, but you're safe... I won't let anything happen to you.// I heard him say. I took slow deep breaths slowly releaseing it. I briefly I saw frost come from it. "Woah..." I murmured.  Cole chuckled. "That's just one element." he said. 'Huh.. neat.' I thought to myself. "Did, everyone else come out okay?" I asked. "Yes, they're fine." Cole said. "Okay that's good." I said. 

           After a moment me, and my friends decided to just sit for a moment. Our families came up to us congratulating us and  hugging us happily. After this, we were taken inside the castle. "Tomorrow there will be other things to discuss but for now just rest." King Darius said. We nodded, "How long were we in there?" I asked Cole. "A couple of hours, the last one lasted a couple of days." Ash said. "Yeah, it was really boring waiting but it was worth it." Juniper said. We were all in the dragon suite. It was the closest place where we could all just rest. I sensed two things emotions and I could tell Cole and Ash were shifting a bit in discomfort. "So with this bond, our sense are bounded too isn't it? you feel our emotions and pain?" I asked. 

        "Indeed, you caught on to that quickly." Ash said. After this some people came in tended Benny's wounds and check on my shoulder, "No heavy lifting or laborus work Got it!" the woman asked. "Yes ma'am." I replied. "That goes for you too." they said to Benny. "Yes ma'am." he replied. "We'll make sure that they don't do too much work." Cole said. "Yep." Ash replied. "So did you all chose us or were we chosen by someone else?" Lotus asked. "We weren't sure whom we were going to bond with, but King Byron hand picked you four. While by default the royals were also chosen, then King Darius chose the two nobles. When more of you were taken out of the trials there weren't many of us who wanted to bond at the moment so that's why we were here, but We're happy to have been bonded to you." Ash said. We nodded. 

       "I had already chosen since the begining of this." Cole said sheepishly. "We figured that out fairly quickly. y'all are almost irrseperable." Bora teased. "Brother..." Cole said sheepishly. "Heh we know you see each other as siblings, and nothing more, you're both have one thing in common as well. You're protective of those who are in need and will be good working together." Bora said quietly. Cole nodded.  Before anyone could say anything else the doors burst open and the royal children came in. 'Oh...no..' I thought to myself.