Dragon War [not finished]

Cinder Cliffs: Leo

LEO'S POV

“Leonardo!” Hadrian, father’s scribe, calls from the workroom.
“Yes, Hadrian?” Hadrian is a friend of mine. Sometimes my friends, particularly Frederick, teased me for being friends with an old man. But Hadrian was wise, and I loved to learn.
“Come here. Sit.” I obey. He pulls out a roll of paper. I recognize it instantly. It was a book, unbound and unfinished.
“Would you like to read this?” he asks.
I grin. “Of course!” I accept the paper thankfully. I'm lucky I can read. Hadrian had taught me.
“You take good care of it. This is going to be my best yet!” the old man chuckles.
I immediately sit down and begin reading. This one is different from all of the others. It isn’t spiritual, or allegorical, or literal, it is… Pretend. I'm not sure there is a word for it. It's all a made up story, coming from the mind of the writer.
“I love it,” I breathe.
Hadrian chuckles again. “I knew you would. I call it fiction.”
My smile blooms. A new category of books – fiction – would be amazing. I hope this sells, so Hadrian will write many, many more.
I hear shouting outside, coming from Cinder Cliff. Hadrian stands and looks out the window.
“What is it? Is there another dragon?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “You may want to see for yourself, son,” he says. Then he chuckles. “When I was your age, I never had the pleasure of meeting a girl that daring."
I automatically know who he is talking about. “Ryia,” I mutter.
“I have to go,” I call as I walk out the door, leaving the book on the shelf.
“Wait, wait!” he calls. “Take the book with you. Read it.”
I grin and take the book. “Thank you, Hadrian!”
I reach the bottom of Cinder Cliff just in time to see Ryia fall splat on top of Peter.
Oh, brother.