15. A PERFECT PAIR

CHAPTER 15 A PERFECT PAIR The light from the Dragon Stone turned into a single beam. That beam shone right on Val! Their whole body lit up with the green light! "Excellent!" Griffith cheered. "The Dragon Stone usually shows us a new Dragon Master. But Fig's Dragon Master is right here!"

Val's mouth opened in shock. "You mean... it's me? I'm Fig's Dragon Master?" "Indeed you are!" Griffith said. "When a human and a dragon form a bond like the one you have, the Dragon Stone knows. And Fig can use a caring Dragon Master like you." The light from the Dragon Stone faded. Diego smiled. "I know you'll be an excellent Dragon Master, Val." Griffith opened another box and took out a small piece of the Dragon Stone hanging on a gold chain. He slipped it around Val's neck. Val's Dragon Stone immediately began to glow. "I can hear Fig inside my head!" Val cried. "Not words but... feelings."

"The same thing happened when Lalo was just born," Carlos explained. "But now we understand each other's words." Val closed their eyes. "Fig is... hungry!" Laughing, Val hugged Fig. "I will take such good care of you, Fig! I promise." Griffith looked at Diego. "Now Val just needs a wizard to learn from." "Of course I'll do it! You don't need to hint," Diego said. "Carlos and Val are already cousins. Now they can train together."

"I'm excited, but... I can't leave Abuela all by herself," Val said. "I think it's time Abuela came to live with us," Diego replied. "I'll just magic up another room on the cottage for her. She does make a wonderful almond cake." Carlos and Val grinned at each other. Diego turned to Drake. "Do you think Worm would mind getting us all back to Aragon?" "No problem," Drake said, and he looked at his friends. "Be right back!" "Meet us in the Valley of Clouds," Griffith said. "We'll have a welcome-home picnic."

In a flash, Worm transported Drake, Carlos, Val, Diego, Fig, and Lalo back to the wizard's cottage. "Thanks for letting me have a vacation here," Drake told them all. "Maybe one day you can come for a nice, long visit in Bracken." "Lalo and I would love that," Carlos replied. "No vacation for me until I've completed some training!" Val said.

Drake and Worm said good-bye to everyone. Then they transported back to the Valley of Clouds. Their friends were there, staring up at the sky. They looked worried. Normally, white clouds floated in a blue sky above the valley. But now, a strange darkness was creeping across the land. Drake frowned. "Is it nighttime already? Those don't look like storm clouds."