Narrative: Another Departure WHO: Ashton Hartley - Celebrimbor Helyanwë & Barclay Grisholt - Mentions of Headmistress Menides WHEN: July 1, sundown WHERE: Ashton's room, Hydra dorms - Ashton's lair - Under the castle, Courtyard
Most of Ashton's human possessions had already been shipped to Iceland where they would be stored until he had need of them. All that was left behind in his dorm room was clothes to change into for the next few days before he and Barclay boarded the plane to Iceland. On the other side of that plane ride, Ashton would face the man whose father and grandfather and great-grandfather and so on had slain dragonkind, going back centuries. Blake Hartley would answer for his bloodline's filthy deeds, but first, Ashton had some things to take care of at St. Margaret's.
The school was his home. One hundred and one years in Iceland, and Ashton had somehow come to think of the small castle in Maine as his home. Ashton had forged connections there that he never would have if he'd stayed in his lair in Lakagígar and had never been found by humans. The dragon learned tolerance for the species, even though he considered them lesser to his own kind. But it was amazing to him, as he reflected, just how much some of them had come to mean to him. Barclay, of course, would always be his witch. But beyond the druid, others, human or otherwise, had made a lasting impression on the dragon.
Ms. Hallowfen, who had challenged, pushed, and always held him accountable for his actions. Kana, quiet but fiery. Trent, a hard lesson to learn about dragon addictions. Xanthippe, monster friends in solidarity - though she never did come to realize she wasn't a monster, as Ashton had. Claire Fox and Ben Proctor, two reminders that Ashton wasn't doing half as badly as some others were. Corinna, the deer that Ashton had to learn was not his to have dominion over. Jae Song had taught Ashton more about language, poetry, and music than he had ever learned from just one person. Lilie Hoch, who had taught him to enjoy the simple pleasures of otherwise meaningless traditions - parties and dancing in particular. Mickey Torres, the one who had supported Ashton becoming soccer team captain, taught him that leadership was not done by expecting perfection. Andrei, the closest thing to a brother Ashton had ever known. Mr. Cavanaugh tried Ashton's patience, but gave him a link to the only other dragon Ashton had ever met in his century of living. Ambriel had taught Ashton that arrogance could be tempered by courage to protect those weaker than himself - which was, clearly, everyone.
Ashton could even, in a very small way, reluctantly admit that Dallas Gurule had helped shape him into a better being, even if it was through the half-demon's own incompetence. Speaking of incompetence, Alex Jiang would make that list as well. It had been eye opening to Ashton that a human, however small and seemingly useless, could almost utterly destroy him with so little careless effort. It was a lesson Ashton would remember always.
Ashton took one last look around his dorm room. It was bare, all of his meaningful possessions gone, including the curtains and tablecloth Xanthippe had sewn for him. The floor bore marks of his talons when he would transform into his true form. It was time to leave. Ashton was saddened to put the Academy behind him, but he had a task to accomplish. And then the world would be his.
As for the gold in his lair under the castle: Ashton had buried it under tons of rock. It would stay at the Academy, with the Headmistress's blessing. He may come back in a century or two to claim it again, but for now, it was going to stay. Safe, protected, and his.
Walking out of Hydra dorm for the last time, Ashton moved across the grounds to meet Barclay. He wasn't going to let them leave the Academy by cab. Ashton liked being flashy. He was a dragon and he would depart like a dragon - from the middle of the courtyard in his true magnificent form with his Druid on his back. With their teachers and the Headmistress gathered to say farewell, the mighty black dragon who had defended this castle as his own territory gave a trumpeting roar of salute. The pair rose high above the Academy until they were a small black blot, and then sailed away on the wind.