Dragonhelm Academy Voice Auditions

Notes & Credits

The headmaster glanced down at the radar he held in his ruby-red talons. The small, stone-gray device was essential to his Receivers, the ones who he trusted to find and guide the new lau’ras to Dragonhaven, and eventually, his school. Deep down, he knew that there should have been ten new dragon-lau'ras this year, but the radar... it only showed nine. The headmaster shrugged it off; after 700 years of age, maybe his powers were starting to fade. He touched his thumb and index talon on his left hand to his temples. Something was wrong. “Sir!” a voice called from his door. “Come in,” he rasped, then cleared his throat. He couldn’t let students see his worry. “Is the radar working?” A small, black-haired girl stepped into the room, her deep brown eyes meeting those of the Headmaster. “The Receivers are ready to fetch the new lau’ras. They’re very excited.” The headmaster smiled weakly down at his Top Receiver. “Yes, it’s working,” he lied. “There are nine new lau’ras this year. I would like you to send Tyler, Renee, Sam, Armani, William, Paul, Gabby, Jake, and yourself to fetch them.” Emily frowned. “One Receiver per newling? Are you sure? We can always make multiple rou-” “I’m sure,” the headmaster snapped, wings whipping out of their folded state and showing large, white teeth. He sighed and refolded his wings, the pale orange membrane rustling. “Times are dangerous these days,” he said softly. “Lau’ras are being hunted more feverishly, and the humans are starting to evolve their weapons beyond what we are easily able to replicate. We need to take upmost caution.” Emily nodded. “Yes, sir. When should we send them out...?” “Now will be fine.” The headmaster tossed the radar to Emily. “Find a Duplicator and give one radar to each receiver. Each of them are to find and bring back one 10-year-old lau’ra.” Emily caught the radar. “Yes, sir.” The headmaster waved her off. “Now go. Find them, and bring them back to Dragonhaven.” Emily quickly bowed and strode out the door, shifting into her dragon form as she went. The headmaster caught a glimpse of her radiant opal scales before she launched into the air and went to the Receiver’s Tower. The headmaster took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and looked into his personal radar, scanning the world through his ancient mind. Something was amiss, he was sure of it. Maybe some fresh air and wind under my wings will help, he thought. He got to his feet and padded over to his enormous window. He tentatively opened it and felt a wave of warm air rush over his snout. He leapt out of the window and soared above Dragonhaven. He longed for the open blue skies of the surface, seeing through the illusion of sky to the bare brown rock that really existed. His deep amber eyes scanned the ground below him. Pure-blooded dragons and lau’ras both went about their days. As normal as you can go about your day in the center of the Earth, the headmaster mused, shaking his great head. He swooped down and landed on an outcropping of rock outlooking the whole village. He folded his vast wings and laid down, sighing. “What is wrong?” a lofty voice breathed in his ear. A faint blue glow showed in the corner of his eye. He turned to the spirit, silver lining his eyes. He saw a tall, female dragon lau’ra, her fire-red hair swishing behind her, great obsidian horns sitting on top of her head. The spirit’s black wings were gently rustling in the breeze, and her tail curled on the ground. “What is wrong, Ancient One?” she repeated, her green eyes soft with sympathy. “Originala,” he said in the Old Language, bowing to the first ever dragon-lau'ra. She snorted. “Rin, Acienta.” Rise, Ancient One. The headmaster smiled at her. “What is the reason for this unexpected- but not unwelcome- visit, Vivianne?” “If we’re going by a first-name basis, should I call you Faro?” Vivianne drawled, chuckling. The headmaster dipped his head. “If you wish.” Vivianne groaned. “Please, drop the formality. I can only stay here in the mortal world for a couple more minutes, so listen.” Her bright green eyes darkened. “You know there was supposed to be a tenth lau’ra.” He nodded. “Yes.” “Do not worry; your powers are fine. I advise you to not waste time and energy on a gut feeling. Just train the nine your radar found. All will be revealed in time.” She started to fade. “Don’t go!” Faro pleaded. “I still have questions!” “All will be revealed,” she promised. “Fia Wvello, Acienta.” Fare well, Ancient One. “Fia Wvello, Originala,” he whispered, as the spirit faded completely, leaving him alone in the cave. As he flew back to the school, thoughts racked his brain. He shoved them aside. All will be revealed, he reassured himself. All will be revealed in time. But one thought pushed above all the others. Will it be too late?