Ignis
Castor's Apprentice
Page 173
Tag(s); Castor (Before), Burn, 346
Whenever she didn't greet him with a lecture, Ignis never really let his guard down in relief. He prayed that the spilled water would be dried before she saw, but unlikely. He wondered how he would be as the head scientist one day. Would he have to be cruel?
Not the time for speculating and whining. Castor had another task for him. It was simple, he had to agree. Dipping soaked q-tips into water, not that hard. He would have to take care to not get any of the jar's contents on himself, though...they didn't look friendly to a dragon's skin. He took the jar with a nod and went to the first bucket...whatever defined 'first'. He chose the one on the left, and carefully took a q-tip out. He transferred it into the water, and the colored liquid threaded and shot through the clear. He continued with each q-tip. A mind-numbing task, while easy, and he was worried that he would fall into a trance and end up spilling something. Luckily, the worry was enough to keep anything from making a mess.
Once done, the water was now mixed with whatever was in that jar. He wondered why she instructed him to insert it by q-tip. Maybe she was saving the rest to put in more buckets, which sounded logical.
Ignis picked up the tainted-water bucket and placed it near Castor, then went off to his next task; helping Burn with 346. He was looking forward to the task.
He exited the lab and navigated the halls of the past Jade Mountain Academy. He could sometimes feel what seemed to be the ghost of lessons, dragonets learning, and actual happiness. Not just little blossoms one found in themselves at this place, but widespread. He carried on, thinking how he would find them. Where were they on the mountain?
Ignis got out of the mountain and flew around. The sky was full of Flamewings carrying on with their duties. The apprentice scanned the mountain's face for 346, who would most certainly be with Burn.
Finally he found them, and quietly landed a few yards away.
Uh, excuse me? He asked, in the hope that he didn't sound rude for 'intruding'.
I was sent by Castor to assist you with the specimen. The last word put a bad taste in his mouth. He hoped he didn't look like someone who agreed with all of Castor's methods.