# The Dragon's Vow or the Stubborn Bride

Edgars Auziņš

My name is Mirre Blackrock. Not so long ago I was an empty shell and my mage parents shook me like a hothouse flower, but today I go to the Wind and Storm Academy, the best place to train elementals! The only problem is that it's all-male, and as I found out when I arrived, we're not very welcome here – adepts and teachers alike. Especially one senior student. He can't stand me, and I haven't done anything to him. What's this strange tattoo on my arm? It's magic! Wait! Wait! I've seen that before… Mummy!

## Prologue

The office has never been so noisy and “fun”. Writing instruments, pages, dust from the cabinet, and even splashes of saliva flew into the faces of intractable opponents. The rector of the Academy of Wind and Storms, Escher Felsen Schwartz, the onyx dragon, watched this disgrace with a stony face. He had held his position for almost a hundred years, but he had never witnessed such a commotion before.

– Enough! – he couldn’t resist and slammed his fist on the table. Having dispelled several whirlwinds accidentally created by the debaters, the rector delivered a verdict: “It will be as I said, and this is not discussed!”

His words fell like black blocks into the depths of the sea.

“Excuse me, Asher Schwartz, but I…” the dean of the Faculty of Natural Arts, Richard Blackrock, did not want to calm down.

He was unceremoniously interrupted by Estella Krieger, head of the Department of Household Magic, the only woman among the deans:

“But from the very beginning, only boys studied with us!” We are simply not ready to accommodate girls here! You will need separate amenities, a separate house! How will they shower after training? They'll have to run to campus! Surely you haven't even thought about this? So what should we do? – she added sarcastically and hit the nail on the head!

But she didn’t manage to win over the rector with this.

– There’s still a whole month before the adepts arrive, eshsheri. I am sure you will cope with arranging your home. After all, that’s what you teach, isn’t it? Don't disappoint me!

– Pfft! – the Magess snorted arrogantly and turned away, folding her hands on her lush chest.

The quarrel almost flared up with renewed vigor, but the rector kicked everyone out of the office, ordering them to calm down.

– We’ll continue tomorrow, when you’ve cooled down and can absorb the information, but now everyone is free! Free, I said!

Felsen Schwartz pronounced the last phrase with palpable pressure. Yell after that “Vooooon!” I didn't have to. The dissatisfied deans, sensing the smell of something fried, gloomily reached for the exit.

– Blackrock, stay! – the rector suddenly stopped one of them.

When the door closed behind the others, and he and the dean were left alone, the onyx dragon openly showed dissatisfaction with his colleague:

“And from you, Duke, I expected support, and not such fierce resistance.” It seemed to me, or you are personally interested in preventing changes in the academy. I'm right?

The dean hesitated, looked around the room, but still met the rector’s gaze and answered:

“It seems like a waste of time to me.” We'll just cause confusion.

– Richard, I already said that the idea was not mine. The order came from the Bishop’s office, and who are we to contradict? The union of your eldest daughter with Rengold Hallward and the healing of the northern dragons from the Scourge has shaken up the dragon community throughout Balaria. The tradition of marrying true ones has returned to fashion, but you know what?

– What? – Blackrock asked.

– The number of marriages has sharply decreased. For two years, dragons have been regularly visiting the Valley of the Spring Primroses, but, as you know, there are almost no elementals of the required orientation there,” Schwartz shared a secret.

– Is that why the Bishop ordered the creation of a women’s faculty? “Blackrock showed glimpses of understanding.

– Right! It's enough to hide girls in closed boarding houses. You can’t organize a show there, it’s a violation of all foundations and rules. But, as you know, not only dragons have problems, but also magicians.

– What are these? – The dean frowned.

– Elementals are degenerating! Don't you notice this? – the rector flared up, angry at the denseness of his colleague and one of the most skilled elemental magicians. – Every year we receive fewer and fewer students with above-average potential. And all because in these boarding houses of yours they teach dancing and dressing up, and not how to control the weather and pacify hurricanes! A gift that is not in demand dries up as unnecessary! Take your wife, for example,” Felsen Schwartz couldn’t resist making a quip.

The Duke spoke, choosing his words carefully.

“You see, Felsen,” he addressed the rector as if he were an old friend, which he allowed only in private and then rarely. – My youngest daughter Mirre is studying in one of these boarding schools. She is making some progress, but…

– If she is successful, she will definitely be chosen. Don't worry so much, we will easily solve this issue.

The dean's face contorted for a moment as if he had been offered a sip from the latrine. But he immediately pulled himself together and, sourly thanking the rector for his help, left the office.

Felsen Schwartz leaned back in his chair with relief.

It turns out that Blackrock was simply embarrassed that his daughter was not a strong enough magician. There were rumors about the dean's wife: she was beautiful, but the magic was barely there. It is not surprising that my daughter’s gift awakened only at sixteen – four years later than usual. And what kind of gift is that? One name, most likely…

But the rector was not particularly worried. He hoped that all the adepts would quickly find grooms and leave the academy early. Even if they return to their boarding houses, most importantly, already engaged. For the dragons, it didn’t matter at all how strong the magician the true couple was. Everything is arranged differently for them.

So Felsen Schwartz, with a calm soul, promised to place Blackrock’s daughter in an academy closer to daddy. Since the mediocre Crystal Princess grabbed the whole duke and the best elementalist, then their daughter will also look after her future husband. And then, lo and behold, she’ll get married even before finishing her studies. It is not at all necessary for her to study well.

## Chapter 1

Mirre Blackrock, a pupil of the capital's Boarding House for Noble Elementals named after Teresa the Magnanimous in Verlore, Onyx Rocks

Having settled down on a wide window sill in our shared bedroom for twenty pupils, I placed a book under a sheet of paper and hastily wrote a letter to my older sister. My neighbors and the girls from the room opposite gathered with us, sitting on the beds in twos and threes, to admire the lucky one, that is, me, and at the same time express to her, that is, to me, a collective “Fi!”

Fortunately, there were those here who rejoiced at my luck. Unfortunately, they found themselves in the minority, or rather, alone, so skirmishes broke out in the room every now and then. Quiet and even relatively polite. For others, we would be punished – it is not right for noble eshsheri to behave like market women.

Therefore, the girls whispered animatedly and sighed enviously, every now and then glancing sideways in my direction, but they did not allow themselves more than poisonous statements.

– Lucky you, Mirka!

– Still would! Her father is a dean at the academy. It's no surprise that she was chosen.

– That's it! So, did your father bother? I see…

– What are you talking about! I seriously didn’t know?!

– The first time I've heard!

– Don’t be jealous! Or have you forgotten what score Mirre received on testing last year? – my only friend Samantha sarcastically reminded. – A hundred out of a hundred! And Grymza said that she would have made an excellent battle mage if she had been born a boy. So there’s nothing to talk about!

The discussion went in a new circle, but I didn’t listen anymore. During the two years that I spent at the Boarding House of Teresa the Magnanimous, who during her lifetime was still such a bitch, I managed to become completely disillusioned with both local teaching methods and the noble eshcheris in general, which is why I was glad with all my heart that I was leaving. Another dream coming true!

The thrill of anticipation, concentrated at my fingertips, poured out in neat lines onto the paper:

Hello, beloved sister!

I don’t even know where to start… I’ll start, perhaps, with the main news – I’m going to the Academy of Wind and Storms! Yes, yes, you heard right…

I had almost finished the letter when the girls jumped out of their beds and stood with their hands folded on their stomachs, as decency required. Having quickly said goodbye to my sister, I crumpled the scribbled sheet into a ball so that it would fly further and, opening the window sash, threw it outside. True, I didn’t have time to get back into service. So she stretched out in the place where she was found. I don’t know about other educational institutions, but the order in our boarding house was cleaner than in other barracks. The mentors trained their pupils with all their might, trying to make them exemplary eshsheri and ideal future wives for elemental magicians. True, in their opinion, the ideal wife was a submissive, and better yet, a completely weak-willed creature, who did not have her own opinion, but was capable of “carrying out a number of laid down instructions. Somehow: estate management, playing music and other arts, etiquette, politesse and much more.”

Only girls with gifts studied at Teresa the Magnanimous Boarding School, but for some reason very little attention was paid to magical sciences. Basics of elemental magic. The history of the magic of Balaria, general information about the races of Balaria, about magical sources and their influence on all living things, and a few more theoretical subjects, but that’s all!

And practice is only twice a week! And even then, for the most part, we learned to “pacify the gift.”

Certainly! After all, this is so important for the noble eshsheri! Otherwise, if the Mother of All That Existed didn’t bring him, she would smash the crawler in a quarrel with her beloved, or hit him with the fist of the wind in response to impolite treatment, and even smear the unfortunate man against the wall.

In general, the gift of pupils was considered only as a guarantee of the appearance of a strong heir in the family, but nothing more. But I hoped to develop the gift, and not to pacify it, which I repeatedly tried to tell my dad and mom, who traditionally did not hear me.

“This is the best boarding house in the capital, baby! I learned everything there myself,” repeated Calle Blackrock, nicknamed the Crystal Princess.

The first beauty in Onyx Rocks at one time and a very weak mage, whom no one married for a long time, despite all her beauty and excellent marks in home science. Now I couldn’t help but think that my mother put too much effort into taming the gift when she was studying here. I know that when she insisted on studying at this boarding school, she only wanted the best for me. But our understanding of this “best” was very different. In general, there is no hope for my mother, and my father… An experienced dean, he always took the side of the teachers. He said that the mentors were right and knew better. And in general, “they have experience,” “you’ll understand as you grow up,” and stuff like that. So I had to train in secret, fortunately I managed to find opportunities.

Grymza, the director of the boarding house, a terrible woman in every sense – both in face and in character – burst into our bedroom, accompanied by several mentors and a curator. She looked around at those present with a stern look and asked:

– What kind of gathering is this? How did you let this happen?

The second question was addressed to our curator, Ashsheri Tix, an elderly, timid lady who was always afraid of everything, especially the wrath of the headmistress.

– Eshsheri, why not in your rooms? – She began to fuss, showing zeal with all her appearance.

– The girls came to see Mirre off. “She’s leaving early,” simple-minded Samantha tried to cover for everyone.

She always does this – she takes the fire on herself, and then she is punished. And never a word of gratitude from anyone, except me, perhaps. This is probably why we became friends from the first days.

But this time Samantha was rescued by stupid Henrietta, without wanting it herself:

– And Mirre threw the garbage out the window! She deliberately decided to set us up because she was leaving!

A short, fair-haired beauty with a childish, doll-like face and lush eyelashes spoke with a disgusting drawl, which spoiled the entire impression of her appearance.

Mother of All That Is, what a fool she is! Who was pulling her tongue?

I was sure that the silly girl was simply voicing the thought expressed by the snake Ashsher. And exactly! The brunette with a sharp nose narrowed her eyes meanly, carefully hiding her smile. Did you want to spoil me one last time? Oh well…

Ashsheri Tix immediately ran to the window and looked out. I didn’t even move, hoping that Simka had sorted everything out.

Grymza looked at me intently and asked:

– Pupil Blackrock, is this true?

– I didn’t throw garbage out the window, director!

Yes, I wouldn’t dare call the letter to my beloved sister garbage, so I didn’t lie one bit.

“There’s nothing under the window,” Ashsheri Tix confirmed my words.

I couldn’t resist and also turned around, noticing a white speck in the bushes at a distance. A fluffy tail flashed and immediately hid. The paint has washed off Simka again! It's time to update.

– What kind of book is this, Mirre?

Ashsheri Tix took a textbook on the basics of elemental spells from the windowsill, which I used as a backdrop.

– Oh, sorry for the mess, eshsheri. I was just refreshing my knowledge before leaving. You are not allowed to take a textbook with you, and the most powerful elemental magicians and dragons study at the Academy of Wind and Storms. I don’t want to lose face in front of the local adherents and disgrace the glorious name of our boarding house.

I said all this, embarrassed, and in such an unctuous voice that I even felt sick. Ashsher was completely warped, but more because of how cleverly I managed to get out.

“Commendable, Blackrock student, commendable.” – Grymza was flattered by my words. “The rest of us have an extra task for the evening, since there’s nothing else to do besides gossip.” Learn paragraphs thirteen through twenty-eight on obedience theory. Let's do an additional lesson.

– Yes, ashsheri director! – the pupils answered in unison, mentally howling.

There was nothing more humiliating than this trashy book. If there was a will, each pupil would burn it, and feed the ashes to Grymza and her henchmen with a small spoon without salt and pepper.

– Blackrock, follow me! – the headmistress commanded, interrupting the flow of my thoughts.

Picking up my half-empty suitcase and coat, which were already waiting on the bed, I joyfully left the room, hoping that I would never return here again.

Still, something bothered me. For example, exit time. It was planned to leave only in the morning, but now, even though it’s evening, it’s not even dark yet! However, I did not dare to ask why this was so. Once again, it’s better not to contact Grymza first – it’s a bad omen. And it was not a matter of superstition, but of her bad character. Now I was most afraid of frightening off my luck, so I was silent until we went out onto the back porch, next to which a gig with a folded phaeton was already waiting on the driveway, Bathmore, the boarding house’s regular driver, was sitting on the box.

Autumn this year came ahead of time, and as soon as the sun leaned towards the horizon, it became chilly, and at night it was downright cold, so I, instantly shivering, began to hastily put on my coat.

“Bathmore will take you to the South Station of the Travel Bureau,” the director deigned to inform Ashsheri, condescendingly watching my awkward attempts to get into the sleeve.

Out of confusion, I couldn’t catch him, and besides, the bag hanging on the crook of my elbow got in the way.

– Right now? But the academy stagecoach will only arrive in the morning!

I really didn’t like the idea of spending the night right at the station.

– The stagecoach is already waiting at the Travel Bureau station. I was informed a little less than half an hour ago, so I came to hurry you up. Are you ready?

Grymza's question confused me. Usually she was not interested in such trifles as the readiness of her pupils.

“Y-yes…” I answered, finally mastering the sleeve and began to fasten the buttons. But having fastened two, she stopped. – More precisely, no! Ashsheri Director, everything is so sudden! I didn’t have time to prepare to leave… – Seeing that Grymza’s eyebrows were converging on the bridge of her nose, she hastily explained in a whisper: “Can I go to the restroom before the road?”

The face of the woman, whose age had frozen somewhere between the sixth and seventh decades for thirty years, smoothed out.

– Certainly. But hurry up.

– Thank you, eshsheri director!

I put the bag right on the porch and rushed back to the door.

– Blackrock, what kind of gait is that? Why are you rushing like crazy? Where is the dignity? – the whip whistled from behind.

– Sorry!

I straightened up, turned my shoulders and hastily trotted off, as decency required. I broke into a run again when my inappropriate behavior was hidden by the door. I still looked into the toilet. It was true that the matter was necessary, but the main purpose of the absence and the choice of place lay elsewhere. Climbing onto the wide windowsill, I opened the sash of the window overlooking the park and, looking outside, called quietly:

– Simka!

Simka is my familiar Simuran. Actually, elementals don’t have such familiars, but I’m not a completely normal elementalist. I was born an empty nester, and received the gift just two years ago. At sixteen years old, and not at twelve or thirteen, as expected. And even then I received it in an unusual way, but that’s a completely different story*.

My older sister Talaria gave me the SIM card. She saved a little simuran with a broken wing. While he was being treated, the baby’s mother disappeared somewhere, and he had to be left behind. But Simka grew up to be such a hooligan that they willingly gave him away to me, which made me incredibly happy, because I had a pet and a true friend that I had always dreamed of.

Simka and I had love at first sight, but my mother barely survived his stay at the Blackrock estate. Not only did the wolf cub spoil things, but he also scared her on purpose, which is why we all experienced many unpleasant moments. But I was able to insist on my own and pacified both of them – the simuran and my mother too. Surprisingly, my father only chuckled as he watched our battles and flatly refused to take anyone’s side.

– Simka? – I called again, hearing some rustling in the lush thickets of the garden euonymus.

This time we didn’t have to wait long, and from the largest bush, a smiling wolf’s face, white with green spots and stripes, looked out.

– Are you here! “I exhaled with relief and, easily jumping over the window sill, hugged the simuran, who did not stick out of the bushes completely, but only up to his neck. “Is it just me, or have you grown up again?”

Simka licked my nose, making me wince and wipe myself off. I couldn’t talk to him mentally, but the simuran understood me perfectly, and I understood him too.

When I was sent to a boarding school, Simka followed me and lived secretly here in the vast park. How he managed to get food, I never found out. He probably hunted chickens at night in the surrounding villages. Or on rabbits and birds in the mountains, fortunately his wing had grown together long ago, and he flew perfectly. But I would rather believe that Simka steals food from the local kitchen. I heard the housekeeper swear at the cook, and the cook at the unknown thief.

To prevent Simka from being caught, because he is so clean and all white, I regularly tinted his fur with green pigment, which my sister taught me to prepare. Fortunately, the ingredients there were trivial. Now the dye had almost peeled off from the simuran’s fur, and he amused me with his spotted colors, which hid him so well among the white-green leaves and gave my winged wolf a particularly hooligan look of a warrior on a mission. Sometimes they also paint their faces like this in order to be more invisible. As Talaria says: “Rely on magic, but don’t make a mistake yourself!”

– Simka, do you have a letter? – I asked.

The head dived into the bushes, and then looked back, and the simuran put on the ground the leaf crumpled into a ball that I had thrown out the window earlier. I smoothed it out, folded it into a neat rectangle and put it in a special pocket on the magic collar, which was visible only to me and Tali, and also did not interfere with Simka at all.

– Give the letter to Talaria and come back. Yes! I'm leaving right now, not in the morning. First to the Travel Bureau station, remember? My father and I arrived there, and you found me.

Simuran growled affirmatively.

– Here. From there a stagecoach from the academy will pick me up. I’m sure you’ll quickly catch up with us, especially since the road is already familiar to you. All. Fly, don't delay. I want to please my sister with the news as soon as possible.

I kissed my pet right on his wet nose and climbed back out the restroom window. The window was too high. I didn’t calculate something when I jumped out, so I hung on my elbows, vainly groping along the wall with my feet, trying to find at least some kind of support. She found herself. The forehead of a wolf placed itself at my feet and easily lifted me up. Climbing onto the windowsill, I smiled at caring Simka and thanked:

– Thank you!

Simuran wagged his fluffy tail goodbye and took off from the ground with a jump. He opened his mighty wings, the snow-whiteness of which alternated with green, and… He disappeared right into the air, turning into a milky haze, which immediately dissipated. I will never get tired of watching this magic! Not all simurans are capable of this. Probably the only one of mine in all of Balaria.

When Simka delivers the letter to his sister, he will return in the same way to the place where we last saw each other, or where we agreed to meet. True, for the second option it is necessary for the simuran to visit there at least once, otherwise he will have to fly in the usual way and spend more time.

Having finished sending urgent mail, I hurried back. Grymza is probably already tired of waiting and will swear.

– Blackrock, why is it taking so long? Or maybe I should have chosen someone else? “The rebuke came as soon as I appeared on the back porch.

The headmistress, squinting, examined me, as if deciding who would be best to replace me. I went cold. She will do this, and then goodbye to my long-awaited freedom…

– Ashsheri director, please forgive me. I was so excited that I felt sick to my stomach, so I had to stay late,” I began to make excuses.

Even my face became stained from excitement, so Grymza did not doubt my words for a moment.

“That’s great,” she sighed grumpily. – Still, you won’t be able to find another candidate quickly…

Meanwhile, I had already climbed into the gig and sat down on the seat, straightening my back and taking on the most innocent and beautiful appearance, so as not to give her time to come to her senses and doubt me even more.

The headmistress came closer and suddenly covered my hand with hers.

“I want to give you some advice, Blackrock.” Don't rely too much on your father once you get there. And don't boast about his name. Family ties in such matters are not always for the good. And second: the Academy of Wind and Storms is filled to capacity, albeit still young, but already men. Men can be unrestrained in their impulses, so I want to give you something. Here. “She took a pendant on a chain from her pocket and placed it in my palm.

It turned out to be an asymmetrical transparent crystal, lined with black stripes on the inside. All in all, it was about as beautiful as Grymza herself, and would have looked great as her decoration.

– What is this?

I stared at the headmistress, wondering why I needed such a trinket and how it would help at the academy.

Grymza broke into a knowing smile:

– Ugly, huh? “I remained silent so as not to lie to my face, and the headmistress condescended to explain: “This is an artifact of a distortion of appearance.”

– Forgive me, Ashsheri Director, I am sincerely grateful to you and I understand that your gift contains some deep meaning that, due to my age and stupidity, I simply cannot grasp. Could you give me a little hint? – I smiled guiltily, hoping that they wouldn’t drag me out of the gig, completely disappointed in the choice of candidate.

– Why is it unclear? If you need to hide your beauty, just put it on your neck and imagine what you need. Scars, burns, sour mine, just a faded appearance, a tired, painful appearance, warts, whatever!

– Warts?!

I finally stopped understanding what she was talking about and batted my eyelashes.

– Oh, my girl! Nothing can cool a man's ardor more than the right wart at the right time and in the right place. Understood?

– It seems… This is all for disguise, right?

“For camouflage,” Grymza repeated after me and grinned condescendingly. “You’re a smart girl, you’ll figure it out on your own when the time comes.” Do not lose. A rare thing. Most likely, the second one does not exist. The master did it.

Suddenly I realized that she was looking at me almost affectionately. And her face didn’t look so stern now.

– Eshsheri director, and you… Don’t you need it anymore? – Having blurted out the question, I fell silent and swallowed, afraid of my own courage.

It was necessary to blurt out such a thing! And to whom!

But the headmistress only broke into a surprisingly pleasant smile.

“Grymza’s mask has grown on me over the years, baby.” People here are afraid of fire, so I really don’t need the amulet anymore. It’s not like fifty years ago, when I, a girl not much older than you, was forced to take the reins of the boarding house into my own hands. Believe me, it wasn’t easy…” she shared. – All. Enough chatter. Touch it! – the headmistress commanded the elderly, silent driver. – Good luck, Blackrock! Show them all there!

Raising her fist, Grymza smiled at me and, without turning around, headed into the building. I followed her with my gaze until her straight, tall figure disappeared behind the door, and then looked forward to a bright future.

## Chapter 2

There were a dozen Travel Bureau stations in Verlor, the capital of the Onyx Rocks, but I had to leave from the same one where I had once arrived with my father. The journey to it from the guesthouse took about forty minutes, and while we were driving, it began to get dark. Reacting to the deepening twilight, bright magic lanterns began to blink on the streets, flooding the area with a cozy, warm light. I admired the beautiful houses of wealthy capital city residents and the majestic building of the theater, which made an indelible impression on me – I had the opportunity to visit there once with other students.

Sitting in the gig driven by the silent Batmore, I gazed at the noble Eshsheri leisurely strolling in the autumn park with their smart daughters and husbands. At the carriages rushing past. On thoroughbred, well-trained horses with equally thoroughbred riders. To tastefully decorated shop windows. For fountains that don’t freeze even in winter. She looked and smiled involuntarily, sincerely enjoying every moment.

Eh! Still, there are advantages in the life of a magician! Did I think, running around the castle courtyard with the boys, that this would happen to me? That one day I will be able to travel alone without parental supervision?

As we moved away from the center, the houses became darker in appearance. Their narrow dark windows did not please with bright light and pretty curtains, but frightened with bars and iron shutters – the industrial quarter had begun. Buildings of factories and factories stretched out, where magic and craft were intertwined, producing metal products known throughout Balaria: from rune swords to cart wheel rims. From magical jewelry forging to ordinary scythes and sickles. Only at the boarding school did I learn what an important place my native land occupies in the world. How many inventors and scientists are born, and how rich in metals and jewels its depths are, the guardians of which from time immemorial were the ruling families of onyx dragons.

Having passed industrial areas, we found ourselves in residential ones. There were also shops and shops here, but with simpler display windows. Dim lights were burning in the windows, and the shadows of residents preparing dinner flickered. A rollicking melody came from some tavern, and the bright magic lanterns had long since been replaced by dim lanterns that gave off a deathly green color. Because of him, the faces of people rushing from work seemed especially sallow, and a staggering drunkard could easily be mistaken for a zombie.

And in some alleys there was no lighting at all. A noisy group tumbled out of one of these straight onto the roadway, frightening our horse. The driver had to use an air wave to gently push the revelers to the side of the road. Drunken swearing followed, but the phlegmatic Bathmore silently whipped the reins, urging the brown filly on.

My father and I passed these places in the morning, and then they did not look so dangerous. Feeling uncomfortable, I hid deeper into the phaeton and, just in case, grabbed the handle of the bag, regretting that I was not traveling in a carriage, but in an open carriage. There was only a short distance to the station—three or four blocks—when I felt a magical tension in the atmosphere. The hairs on my arms stood up and a specific chill ran down my back. Wary, I turned my head, looking around the street with an unfocused gaze. I was still incapable of doing more, but this simple technique allowed me to see exactly where magic was used.

– Stop! Stop! – I shouted to the driver, but Bathmore was already pulling on the reins.

He managed a moment before a man was thrown out of a nearby alley by the horse's feet, mercilessly slamming onto the pavement.

The air wave at the end reflected from the wall of the building opposite, scattering dust, small debris and dry leaves on the sides. Screaming in fear, I stared wide-eyed at the body that Batmore was trying to avoid. But the filly neighed and fought, not wanting to go further. Meanwhile, the tension of magic intensified. Ahead of us, drifting snow ran from building to building, swirling in the uncertain light of the streetlights like thick steam. Along the line she drew, a real palisade of thick icicles grew. Do not go around or jump over!

Following the driver's quick glance back, I realized that the same fence blocked our way back.

– What’s going on today! – Batmore could not stand it and tried to take it to the left so as not to run over the victim with his wheel.

And I suddenly wondered if I had ever heard his voice before?

“Batmore, is this man… dead?” – she asked quietly, unable to take her eyes off the person lying on the road.

“If he’s a magician, he’ll survive,” the driver tried to reassure me, but he didn’t do a very good job.

– We must help!

I stood up, intending to jump out, but I was stopped by a sudden shout, like the crack of a whip:

– Sit, eshsheri! We don't want any trouble, and the guards will deal with the tramp.

Bathmore pulled on the reins, causing the filly to back up a little. Just a few steps. The gig turned out to be opposite the alley on the other side of the street, but even a fleeting glance made it clear that it was impossible to get through there. The passage was cluttered with some rubbish. So we managed to fall into a trap! If we had driven a little faster, we would have managed to get past…

At the end of the street, from behind the squat houses, the dark silhouette of a gas tank was clearly visible. The large round building in which PR was accumulated, and from there it was used to heat houses and illuminate streets, impressed me even on the day of my arrival. It was located right next to the station. Maybe run to it on foot and ask for help there?

I pulled the bag closer. I can, I can run. Maybe…

But while she was deciding to get out of the gig, which was creating a false impression of security, a group of men appeared from a nearby alley. They were in no hurry, they walked imposingly, laughing and talking. There was no doubt that everything that was happening was their doing.

There were six men, and all were definitely magicians. Not paying much attention to us, they imposingly surrounded the unfortunate man, who lay motionless on the pavement. One of the magicians lit a firefly, illuminating a small space above their heads, and I was surprised to realize that they were all young guys, hardly much older than me.

“Mikael, it seems you’ve gone too far,” stated one, blond and rosy-cheeked, the spitting image of “mom’s little pie,” reproachfully.

– I do not like it! Let's get out of here! – whined another, short and the frailest of all.

I agreed with him, and I myself would gladly follow this advice.

– Splinter, you always don’t like something! Better shut up! – a tall and dark-haired magician, who was named Mikael, barked at him. He poked the victim with the toe of his boot. – Hey, stop being a fool! Get up and start apologizing! I'm waiting!

The man on the pavement moved, and I mentally exhaled. Still not dead!

The scoundrels, and these scumbags could not be called otherwise, began to chatter animatedly in anticipation of entertainment. I couldn’t resist and grabbed the driver’s elbow:

– Bathmore, do something, eh!

– No, eshsheri! My life is dear to me, and these murderers… Ahem! “He glanced sideways at me and corrected himself. – These people are the offspring of noble families in the capital. It's better for us not to shine at all. Maybe they won't pay attention to us.

This was the longest tirade I heard today from the driver of the Teresa the Magnanimous boarding house.

– But that’s not possible! “I objected hesitantly, not taking my eyes off the people on the road.

The bully Mikael bent down and grabbed the victim by the hair, thick dark with contrasting light strands. Their owner suddenly jumped up quickly, simultaneously squeezing the bully's throat and lifting him up at arm's length. So much so that your feet left the ground!

I even stood up in my seat, surprised by such agility and strength.

“Do you want me to apologize to you, morel?” Me, the daughter of Jarl Hedwin from the Coast of Sharp Blades?!

The voice was low, but definitely female!

The stranger stood in profile towards me, and despite the male attire, the features of the female figure stood out clearly from the front. Such decent features, I must say! It's a girl! There could be no mistake. Tall and strong, slightly taller than the bully whose legs dangled helplessly above the ground, she held Mikael by the throat with apparent ease. The guy convulsively clung to her hand and wheezed, trying to free himself.

Judging by what I managed to hear, this strong woman was a northerner and compatriot of Audbjorn Strike, one of the brothers-in-law of my half-sister’s husband. I don’t know why Earl Hedwin’s daughter annoyed these guys so much, but what they did went beyond what was permitted.

– Bathmore! Bathmore! We must help her out! – I became worried, not imagining what I could do against six magicians.

– Eshsheri, calm down, I beg you! – hissed the driver, not wanting to interfere in the squabbles of the rich youth.

Meanwhile, the hooligans, taken aback by such agility of their recent victim, regained their composure.

– Let go of Mikael! – the one called Splinter squealed.

And the most powerful and broad-shouldered of them all suddenly growled and rushed into the fight. I screamed in surprise, believing that he would now trample the northern woman, who was still more fragile than this closet with mezzanines. But the stranger was faster. Throwing the Tuffnut away so that he crashed backwards onto the pavement, she twisted and met the Brute with a direct kick to the head. He, as if hit by a battering ram, silently fell on his back, and three of them attacked the northern woman at once. Subtle Splinter did not participate in the fight, he only caused a fuss by shouting:

– Blood! You're bleeding! – he yelled, staring at the stunned big man.

He was already getting up, pressing his hands to his broken face and looking unkindly towards the fighters.

– Shut up! “He slapped the screamer on the back of the head, and he choked on his next tirade.

Before I decided to do anything, the northern woman scattered the trio, but it wasn’t easy for her. She was breathing heavily and taking care of her left side, and the Big Man, crimson with rage, was already approaching her. The others also pulled themselves up, wincing and rubbing their bruised areas. It would seem that it was time to escape while there was still at least some chance, but the northern woman did not even think about making a move.

– Where is my backpack, pregnant penguins! – she went on the offensive.

The girl was confident in herself and did not seem to be at all afraid of this pack!

The bully made a sign, stopping his henchmen, and asked arrogantly:

– Do you even know who I am?

– Unfortunately. – The girl winced in disgust. “You’re a thief, an idiot, and a bad fighter.” Shame on your father, in general. It will be a miracle if he doesn’t drown in shame when he finds out who your mother’s womb gave birth to.

Well, the stranger really knew how to infuriate.

– How dare you! – Tuffnut hissed, but instead of attacking, on the contrary, he began to retreat.

His comrades did the same, as if they knew in advance what was about to happen. It's clear as day that something is wrong!

– No no! Mika, don't! – Splinter squeaked, but the thug, whose broken nose was dripping blood directly onto his expensive jacket, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck with one hand and dragged him to the wall of the building.

Bathmore did the same, pulling me back into the gig.

– Where, you fool! Sit! – he hissed.

– But…

– Quiet!

The bully extended his hand, fingers spread, and shouted just one word. The ether tensed, and the next moment lightning struck from the sky, deafening with a dry crack and blinding. I screamed, covering myself with my bag, but even through tightly clenched eyelids I saw lightning strike one after another, all over the street and the walls of the houses!

Above us, the absorber shield hummed strainedly, which by some miracle managed to deploy Batmore. The driver himself, no longer embarrassed, hissed dirty curses through his teeth, interspersing them with prayers to the Mother of All That Is. And it seems that she heard him, because the shield withstood the blow. When it was all over and I risked opening my eyes, the girl was lying on the pavement again. The magical firefly was destroyed when lightning struck the area. The windows went out in the houses whose residents were disturbed by unexpected disputes between the nobility.

At a distance, the PR lantern that had somehow miraculously survived was still shining, and the thin wisps of smoke emanating from the girl’s clothes seemed especially ominous in its greenish light.

–You killed her! Killed! – Splinter was the first to break the reigning silence, but he was forced to shut up with a short blow to the nose.

All participants in the incident looked scared and confused, but did not yet take their eyes off the northern woman’s body lying on the ground. Entertainment turned into a real crime, and Batmore and I turned out to be witnesses, and very soon they will pay attention to us…

“Mika, this time you definitely overdid it…” noticed the rather pale “mom’s little pie.”

“We should get rid of… her quickly,” one of the guys suggested.

I couldn’t make out who it was, but I was amazed by the fact that they were so calmly discussing how to hide the crime!

“Batmore…” I breathed out.

At that moment the girl moved again and tried to get up. The whole company recoiled from her, as if from a dead man who had risen without the participation of a necromancer. The guys looked at each other, and something unkind was reflected in their eyes, and I realized: the game had gone too far. With trembling fingers, I felt in my pocket the artifact given by Grymza and threw the chain around my neck, and then, praying to the goddess that it would work as it should, I jumped out of the gig, and this time Bathmore did not have time to stop me.

– Well, stop! – she barked, trying to speak as low as possible.

My throat was dry from fear, successfully adding the hoarseness that was naturally lacking.

All the magicians frowned at me. Under their heavy, unprincipled gazes, I was at a loss, not knowing how to behave further. The same Splinter came to the rescue.

– Oh no! This is Grymza! We're finished! – he screamed nasally because of his broken nose.

“The artifact worked!” – I mentally exhaled.

The image of the strict director of the boarding school, terrifying both the pupils and the staff, was the first thing that came to my mind. Having made sure that everything worked out, and the hooligans see an elderly, strict woman instead of me, I poised myself, raised my chin higher and, squeezing my lips into a tight line, looked around at the guys with a dissatisfied look, focusing on the leader.

– And from you, Mikael, I didn’t expect this! “I’ll have to have a serious conversation with your father,” she said, carefully copying the mournful intonations of the headmistress and she was surprised at how much like Grymza I managed to do.

The pale brunette, whose whole appearance hinted that he had overdone it with the lightning and was now suffering from magical exhaustion, completely turned red. His eyes flashed lightning. True, this time only figuratively.

“Eshsheri…” He opened his mouth.

– Be silent! – I barked and winced with displeasure, not wanting to enter into controversy. If there's any chatter, I'll be found out right away, so I can't give them that opportunity. – Go away! And pray that the girl survives! – I commanded.

The hooligan really didn’t like what was happening. Maybe they would even risk getting rid of Grymza, who appeared on their way at such an inopportune time, but behind me stood the gloomy Batmore. And three corpses are not two for you anymore! There were too many witnesses to the failed entertainment.

An ordinary candle lit up in one of the windows right above us, and a man looking out asked in a drunken voice:

– … ... What … is … happening here … your … ...?

The meaning of the tirade thickly mixed with obscenities, it seems, did not immediately reach the hooligans, but at least they were distracted. The man was immediately dragged deeper into the room by a woman, whose frightened voice tried to persuade her husband not to interfere. He growled in response, but still retreated from the window.

The number of witnesses to the crime instantly increased to five. And how many other dark windows watched the street secretly?

The criminals also understood this, so they became increasingly gloomy, but did nothing. Taking advantage of the pause, I sat down next to the northern woman.

– Hurry up, get up! – she asked in a whisper, offering the girl her shoulder.

Butmore fussed over and grabbed her by the elbow, trying to lead her to the gig.

– I won’t go anywhere without my things! They stole them! “She was in no hurry to get away from the place of potential death.

– Nobody stole anything from you! Just wanted to joke! Who knew that you were completely bruised! – Mom’s Pie lost his nerves.

He was the first of all to arrive and, grabbing Mikael by the arm, tried to lead him into the alley.

– Return everything safe and sound, otherwise the ruler will know about your trick. I'll take care of it! – I threatened, carefully dragging the northern woman in the opposite direction. – Things should be sent…

I looked expressively at the victim.

“To the Academy of Wind and Storms,” she muttered reluctantly.

– To the Academy of Wind and Storms. Clear? – I echoed. “And if I find out that anything is missing or damaged…” without saying anything, I arched my eyebrow meaningfully.

More precisely, I imagined how Grymza does it. I couldn’t do that well myself.

Mikael hesitated, nodded and finally allowed himself to be led away.

Considering the conversation over, I led the northern woman to the gig. She walked not too willingly and did not take her frowning, promising gaze off the backs of the would-be killers disappearing into a dark alley, but she did not provoke them again. She probably decided that it was better to disperse peacefully this time than to continue the obviously losing confrontation.

Once we were in the wagon, Bathmore breathed more freely. Jumping onto the box, he lashed with the reins, and we were pressed into the seat. The ice fence ahead was broken by the same lightning, and its fragments had already melted considerably. Having released an air wave, the driver scattered the remains, clearing the passage, and drove the horse to the station.

– Thank you, eshsheri. But you shouldn’t have taken such risks at your age,” the northern woman expressed her gratitude ambiguously as we drove around the block.

She sat hunched over and winced from time to time when the gig bounced on potholes. The road closer to the station turned out to be completely broken.

“Eshsheri Blackrock, I will have to report to the Ashsheri director about your prank,” Bathmore suddenly said and unexpectedly added: “But you’ve done well.” I don’t know how it all would have ended otherwise.

“Thank you,” I thanked him for the praise and pulled the pendant from my neck.

His hands were shaking like a never-dry drunk. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and the taste of iron appeared in his mouth. It seems that not everything is so simple with this artifact. A full mask sucked out magic faster than maintaining an air funnel, and yet my potential is not below average! No wonder Grymza talked about warts and wrinkles. From now on, you should be careful and not use complete images of other people, only small details.

– So, you’re not an old lady! – the northern woman was sincerely surprised.

She even straightened up, but immediately bent over again, wincing in pain.

I smiled welcomingly, looking at my new acquaintance, and answered:

– No. I am just a future adept at the Academy of Wind and Storms. So that's where you're headed?

## Chapter 3

The girl Batmore and I picked off along the way was called Adalbjorg Hedvin. She was the only daughter of the northern jarl of the Coast of Iron Blades.

“I know our names sound unusual in these lands, but you can call me Ada.” I am in your debt, Mirre.

– Stop doing that. Any person would try to help in my place,” I was embarrassed.

The new acquaintance sat unevenly, leaning on one side, as if she could not fully straighten her back. She winced every now and then, clearly in pain, and I tried to turn the conversation to what was really important now: “No, Mirre!” Not just anyone. Only a very brave person with a caring heart would risk speaking out against six elemental magicians who are not burdened with either reason or conscience,” the northern woman objected, which embarrassed me.

– Did they hurt you?

– Nonsense! “It’s been worse,” the northern woman shrugged it off, but I didn’t believe her.

– Not at all! You should see a healer. Let's go to the station, there is a 24-hour first aid station.

– Perhaps you're right. That’s what I’ll do, only… Only now I have nothing to pay for their services,” she frowned sadly.

– Don’t worry about it, I won’t leave you in trouble.

– Mirre, I…

– No objections, Ada! You almost got killed! And then, when your things return, you can pay me back,” I reassured her.

– Thank you!

The Northern woman touched her forehead with two fingers and, with an unexpectedly graceful gesture, extended her open palm to me. A small ball flashed gold above her. He swam up to me and hovered, and suddenly pleasant shivers ran down my back, like when trying on a tailor.

– What is this? – I asked quietly.

– Oath of purity of intentions. If you accept it, just touch it.

“Ada… Really, it’s not worth it…” I stopped short, catching the northern woman’s gaze, and realized that if I refused, I would offend her to the core.

Sighing, she dipped her finger into the golden light, and her chest felt hot, as if she had sipped the cinnamon wine that we were treated to at the boarding house on New Year’s Eve.

“We are now more connected than sisters.” “You are my kyari, my savior,” Ada explained.

Her face suddenly blurred, and then I blinked, and two tears rolled down my cheeks.

–What are you doing? Are you crying, or what? – The northern woman frowned.

– No no! It's just… Everything is so unexpected. I lived alone for a long time, and just recently met my older sister. And now I have another sister.

The northern woman burst into a smile and hugged me by the shoulders in a familiar way, but immediately shuddered and again took the “hook” pose.

– Hurts?

“Stronger than we would like,” Adalbjorg answered with a dark smile.

Hearing her, Bathmore reined in his horse and began to choose a level road. We were just driving past the giant gas holder, and ahead there was already a station glowing with lights, where life was in full swing day and night.

– Ada, forgive me for the indiscreet question, but why did you need to get involved with this dubious company? Where did you actually come across them? – Unable to bear it, I asked.

– I arrived in Verlor this morning and decided to take a walk around the city. I haven’t been to the capital of Onyx Rocks before. Everything here is structured differently than here. And I accidentally encountered these children of a sick walrus on the street. They stuck to the sole worse than dog shit. No matter how many, it still stinks and stinks. I usually don’t let anyone off the hook, but here I endured it until the last moment. I didn't want any trouble with the locals. “I tried to be taller,” as my mentor punished me.

Ada nodded and continued. “We were taught the same thing at the boarding school,” I interjected into her story.

“By that time it was getting close to dinner, and I was pretty hungry. But in the center they didn’t let me into a single establishment, can you imagine? They said I looked inappropriate. I assured that I had something to pay, but they still did not agree! And those petrified mammoth feces kept trailing behind me. They neighed like sick horses at my shame. And then, as if on purpose, my stomach began to growl…

The northern woman sighed heavily and, wincing, looked at me meaningfully.

– Yeah. I can imagine what kind of food for ridicule this gave to the presumptuous idiots.

– Right! Then I simply caught a cab and asked him to take me to some decent establishment not far from the South Station. The kind where you can eat delicious food and the prices aren’t too bad.

“And he brought you to Rabochiy Gorodok,” Bathmore unexpectedly butted into the conversation.

“I don’t know, but the food here really turned out to be good.” I like it. Everything was fine until Mikael’s company entered the same tavern. These degenerates of the rickety sperm whale began to mock me again. They laughed at me for being so tall. They made fun of my clothes, and then they stole my bag and began demanding insulting things from me for returning it. I am the daughter of Earl Hedwin and I couldn’t let them down! – The northern woman flashed with rage in her eyes.

–Did you get into a fight?

– No. She insulted them back, and they rushed into the fight. They turned out to be not as patient as me. “She grinned almost cheerfully.

– Mother of All That Is! But these are the children of the capital's aristocrats. All elemental magicians…” I grimaced. – What a disgrace! What were they thinking, chasing a foreigner throughout the capital?

“It’s a pack of mad dogs, not children.” People like them ought to have their teeth pulled out before they bite someone to death,” Bathmore opined, stopping the gig next to a large black stagecoach that bore the Wind and Storm Academy emblem on its side.

And next to the stagecoach stood a man, at the sight of whom my mood immediately soared to heaven.

“Uncle Al…” I screamed joyfully, but seeing that he was not alone, I corrected myself: “Eshsher Nett, how glad I am to see you!”

Alan Nett, a teacher from my father’s department, who visited us more than once, saw me and also burst into a smile.

– Mirre Blackrock! Meet girls, this is Mirre Blackrock from Teresa the Magnanimous boarding house. You will study at the academy together. Mirre, this is Lisel Konradine and Hvoyana Holtz,” he introduced them to me. – And Yumi Lo is hiding inside.

– Nice to meet you! – Lisel answered politely.

The Conradine family was rightfully one of the ten most influential in Onyx Rocks. Duke Conradine was the ruler's adviser, and in front of me stood his youngest daughter, about whom they gossiped even in our boarding house.

Slender, tall. With a shock of light brown hair, braided in a loose braid. Her travel outfit fit perfectly and looked as if it had just come from the tailor shop. Lisel was a strong elemental who, according to rumors, had already mastered the control of lightning, and also the most enviable bride of Onyx Rocks. She was predicted to marry one of the dragons of the ruling family.

– Hello! – Khvoyana waved to us.

Judging by the unusual bright blue color of her eyes and the blue tint of her hair, which only remained ash-blond near her face, the girl preferred water to other elements. And her name was unusual – Khvoyana. It would be more suitable for a sorceress from the Old Forest. However, the girl looked so that I would not doubt that she was a native of those places.

Khvoyana wore her long hair in two braids, and another one adorned her head like a wreath. She dressed in the traditional clothes of the peoples from the banks of the Struna. I must say, quite exotic to my eyes. Even more exotic than the northern woman was dressed.

While I was looking at my future classmates, Uncle Alan looked at some list.

– So. All we have to do is wait for Adalbjörg Hedvin, and…

– Adalbjorg is already here, and… She needs the help of a healer! – I realized.

– What's happened? – Lisel immediately looked into the gig.

I quickly introduced Ada to everyone and retold a brief version of the attack, keeping silent only about the artifact that Grymza gave me. Ada did not say a word about him.

– It’s incomprehensible! Where are the parents of these little kids looking? – Uncle Alan lamented. “Sit here, I’ll bring the healer.”

Lanky and awkward, he rushed towards the building with a characteristic bowl and a “healing hand” stretched over it, emitting light.

– Mirre, do you remember any of the attackers? Are you familiar with them? – asked Lisel.

– No, but their leader was called Mikael. And another one, small and fussy, was teased with Splinter.

I described the attackers as best I could, and Ada filled in the details I had missed, telling me what magic they used and what techniques they preferred in battle.

“I will make sure that those responsible are punished,” Lisel promised us with the most serious look.

For some reason I had no doubt that this would be the case.

– Thank you. – Ada smiled wryly, trying not to show too much that she was suffering.

– Girls, what happened to you? “A very young girl’s face suddenly looked out of the stagecoach window.

A frightened look of wide eyes, a slightly open mouth, an unexpectedly short haircut framing the face. Only the eyes shone with a deep blue, and the hair had already turned completely sea green.

Wow! A very strong sorceress comes from the mouth of the Struna! It directly feels close to the sea elements.

– Stop hiding, Yumi! Go out and meet your classmates. This is Mirre and Adalbjorg.

“I’m afraid…” the girl whispered and hid again.

We looked at each other, and then I left the girls and climbed into the stagecoach.

– Hello, Yumi! I'm Mirre.

– I know. “I can clearly hear what’s happening outside,” Yumi answered, for some reason again in a whisper.

– You said you were afraid. And what exactly?

In general, after the attack on Ada, I will not deny that the streets of the capital are not so safe at night, but still the station is guarded, and it is quite light here…

“I’m afraid that I won’t be able to control my magic from excitement.” “I have a lot of dope, but my control is poor,” she shared in her own way, clearly repeating someone else’s words.

I giggled.

– Didn’t they teach you to “pacify the gift” at your boarding school?

– We taught. It just didn't work out very well for me. That's what I'm worried about. When I get excited, I can’t control myself at all.

The girl sighed heavily.

– Don’t worry! “Smiling, I put my hand on her shoulder.

– Do you think it’s not worth it? – She stared at me with hope.

– I think it's useless. Worry or not, it will be difficult for all of us.

Having voiced my secret thoughts, I suddenly realized that I was right.

Until that moment, I carefully hid them even from myself. I was happy to leave the boarding school, looking forward to a new free life, but I was latently afraid that everything would not be as rosy as I had imagined. And what just happened is a clear example of this. After all, these were also those whom we would have to face at the academy. What if all the guys there are just like them?

The thought did not make me happy at all. I could only hope that there were people like my sister’s husband there. Rengold Hallward was for me the ideal man and husband, and I secretly dreamed that someday I too would find such a faithful and reliable life partner.

Uncle Alan returned with an elderly, strong woman in a healing robe. She brought with her a suitcase with drugs and rubbing substances, but did not even open it. She just stated in a hoarse bass voice, briefly examining Ada:

– Yes, two ribs are cracked! Numerous bruises, and that’s just a rough guess! And on the aura there are traces of a blow from elemental magic. No, she definitely needs to stop by the healing room for at least half an hour. We’ll fix everything, she’ll recover in three days, strictly following the recommendations, of course.

– Will you join your friend? – Uncle Alan asked hopefully.

– Certainly! Bathmore, can you take us to the healing room? – I asked, climbing back into the gig.

Uncle Alan breathed a sigh of relief and clarified the essence of his request:

“I don’t want to go away, it’s already night.” We need to keep an eye on you, you never know…

– Don’t worry, Asher Nett. We can handle it. – I winked at him in my own way.

Bathmore stopped the gig right at the healer's porch, and we helped Ada get out.

Having said goodbye to the driver, we hobbled into the healing room. Ada's damage turned out to be much more serious than we thought. As soon as she got out of the gig, she almost lost consciousness from pain and magical exhaustion. I would hardly have been able to hold her alone, but the healer helped. We set off not after the promised half hour, but only after two and a half. When the treatment was completed, I asked how much we owed. “Batmore, tell the director my sincere gratitude for the gift,” I asked. – And tell us in detail about the attackers. Maybe she can call them to order?

– Not at all! – the healer answered dryly. “The invoice will be issued to the Academy of Wind and Storms, and they, if they deem it necessary, will ask the parents for compensation.

After giving us recommendations, some bottles and powders, the healers sent us out. Yawning furtively, we wandered towards the stagecoach, already drawn by six horses. The coachman sat on the box, and Uncle Alan paced impatiently next to him.

– Finally! – he exclaimed when he saw us. – How are you feeling, Hedwin?

“Much better than when we first met,” Ada joked.

She really was now holding herself upright and breathing normally, without wincing from every breath and word.

– That's good! Get in quickly, we have to go. We are already far behind schedule.

Indeed, the time was approaching midnight, as the clock on the high tower told us. According to rumors, there were these at every Travel Bureau station. As soon as Ada and I climbed inside, the stagecoach started moving. Yumi and Hwoyana were already asleep, leaning against each other. Lisel sat apart and dozed, throwing her head back on the seat, but when she heard us, she opened her eyes and nodded slightly, congratulating her on the healing.

– Good night! – Ada muttered and immediately dozed off, exhausted from a difficult day.

And I was prevented from falling asleep so quickly by the impressions that I had more than taken in that day. I couldn’t really see anything outside the window, but a small magic lamp was burning inside, and I looked at the girls, each of whom was dressed differently. An involuntary thought flashed: “But I’m only here in a boarding school uniform, right?”

The measured shaking, the creaking of wheels, the clatter of horseshoes – all this gradually lulled me to sleep. I woke up with a jolt and realized that the stagecoach had stopped, and someone was arguing with Uncle Alan outside. Pulling back the curtain, I closed my eyes against the bright light – it turns out it was already morning! At the same moment, the stagecoach door swung open, and two more curly brown-haired girls climbed inside, who did not even try to be quiet.

– Hey, sleepyheads, sleep away your happiness! – one exclaimed, looking around us all with a perky look.

–What other happiness is there? – Ada, awakened too early, muttered in an unkind voice.

– What is this? Meeting the Dustrasse sisters, of course!

“Dubious happiness, some kind of…” Ada grumbled, looking at them with a dissatisfied look, and closed her eyes again.

And I stared at the twins… No, still at the twins with all my eyes. The girls were so similar, and yet very different. Starting from clothing, facial expressions, and ending with the manner of speaking and the smoothness of movements. Although if they wanted to do it themselves, distinguishing them from each other would become a real challenge.

All my ears were buzzing about cousins of the third or fourth water and their potential success in the magic of the firmament even in early childhood. As soon as I visited Dustrasse’s relatives, they immediately began to drag my mother’s face into the mud, until my father forbade her to take me to visit my grandparents.

I also didn’t like the pitying glances or the sympathetic sighs. And especially the moments when every relative I met tried to express condolences to my mother. As if I was not born a dummy, but completely dead, forgive the Mother of All That Is! But, perhaps, the most disgusting thing was when, sympathizing with my mother, my relatives began to praise their cousins right in front of me. In general, visiting relatives turned into an unpleasant duty, so my father’s ban did not upset me at all.

And now those same Dustrasse twins, my competitors for the attention of my maternal relatives, stood in front of me and smiled. I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I wanted to punch them on the nose with the fact that I was no longer a dummy, and at the same time I was simply scared. I don’t know what exactly? Is it possible that I won’t be able to meet the high standards of Dustrasse? Or that I will remain a dummy in their tea-brown eyes?

But this wasn’t the first time I had to face my own fears, and this time I didn’t look away.

“Introduce yourself properly, eshsheri,” Uncle Alan called the sisters to order.

– I'm Willde. This means wild.

– And I’m Volde. This means a rule.

This sounded somewhat defiant. The girls in the stagecoach looked at each other and also began to introduce themselves. Even Ada deigned to wake up for such an occasion. It was my turn and, having overcome my inner turmoil, I smiled wryly.

– And I’m Mirre. Mirrae Blackrock. “It means fair, reasonable,” she added in tone with her cousins.

It sounded strange, but Dustrasse really had such a tradition.

“And also brave and selfless, don’t even doubt it,” Ada suddenly added additional meanings to my name.

Vilde stared at me incredulously.

– Come on! Are you the same Mirre? – she said in amazement.

– But you’re empty! – Volde blurted out bluntly.

– What stupidity! Would a dummy be invited to the academy? – Khvoyana noted innocently.

– Girls, don’t you think that for boarding school girls, you are all a little… ill-mannered? – Lisel noted.

– What did I say? – Vilde took it personally.

– In your opinion, is it polite to call a relative empty in front of unfamiliar people? – Khvoyana, who had just distinguished herself, chuckled.

– It wasn’t me who called it, it was you and Volde! – Vilde was indignant.

– But it's true! Everyone knows that Mirre Blackrock was born without magic…” Volde tried to justify herself, batting her long, thick eyelashes.

“Then how did I end up on this stagecoach?” – I pretended to think, barely restraining myself from anger.

Here we go again! As soon as someone from Dustrasse is nearby, they start pestering me!

– Well… Maybe your father set it up? – Vilde suggested in all seriousness, lowering her voice.

– Who is your father, Mirre? – Khvoyana suddenly asked.

– Duke of Blackrock! – Volde responded innocently. – He serves as dean at the academy. He could have pulled it off in such a way that Mirre was taken.

The envious girls at the boarding school said the same thing, but for some reason it was the cousins’ words that touched me. I even jumped out of my seat and blurted out:

– What nonsense! I have the highest score on testing! Yes, our Grymza signed me up as a combat magician!

I came to my senses when Ada persistently pulled my hand. It turns out that I was standing over my sisters, clenching my fists and wheezing like an angry yak.

The Dustrasse sisters looked at each other.

– Yes cold!

– Can't be!

– Show me!

– What can you do?

They demanded vying with each other.

– Yes, girls! Stop! Mirre will not demonstrate his skills to you, if only because this is prohibited for first-year adepts,” Uncle Alan stood up for me. – Sit down, and let's move on. We should be at the crossing already an hour ago. There we will change to a vehicle more suitable for traveling across the steppe, and several days of travel await us. I advise you to find a common language during this time.

Having thrown the twins' bags into the luggage compartment on the roof, Uncle Alan joined the driver on the box. It seems he spent the whole night there. The Dustrasse cousins took seats opposite me and began to look at me without a twinge of conscience.

– Mirre, how did it happen that you finally got magic? – Vilde asked a question.

– No, really! It is interesting to us. After all, they said that…” Wolde joined her, but her sister elbowed her in the side.

I realized that questions could not be avoided, and I decided that it would be better to tell them my version. In addition, the other girls watched us with curiosity. Even Yumi, who never said a word except her name.

“Late initiation under stress,” I very briefly described my deadly adventures in the Ancient Forest two years ago.*

– Oh!

– Wow!

The cousins reacted.

– What happened to you? – Vilde asked.

“I was in mortal danger, so the gift woke up.” “It happens,” I gave the version that was agreed upon in the family.

We kept the details of that story secret for obvious reasons.

– Of course…

“I see…” the sisters said in disappointment, hoping for a more detailed story.

The others hoped so too, judging by the way they looked at me.

“Girls, maybe someday we’ll get to know each other better, become friends, and I’ll tell you, but not now.” “Everyone started talking in unison, assuring me that this would definitely happen.” And I decided to take the bull by the horns, and smiling, added: “But on one condition: don’t shout at every corner in the academy that my father is the Duke of Blackrock, agreed?”

## Chapter 4

On the way, we caught up with the gap and arrived at the crossing on time. After warming up and having a snack at the tavern at the Travel Bureau station, we transferred to another stagecoach. More bulky than the previous one, it did not have wheels, but simply hovered above the ground. The steppe stagecoach looked unusual, but it turned out to be spacious. I could even walk upright inside. The cabin had shelves for luggage and special light bunks for sleeping according to the number of passengers.

– The ride is smooth, the load capacity is increased. “Everything is as ordered,” the new driver in the blue bureau uniform muttered nasally.

“I know, I know,” Uncle Alan nodded. – I’ve already traveled on one of these. Please take care of our luggage while I sort out the formalities.

Having overloaded his few belongings, the driver took his place on the box. After waiting for Alan Nett to return, we climbed inside and the stagecoach set off, carried by a team of long-legged steppe wolves. They were much tougher than horses, did not need a good road and were not afraid of the inhabitants of the plains – the Yutars, two-legged nimble lizards who, although they did not eat meat, fiercely defended their territory. There were also plenty of other creatures in the steppe, an encounter with which could have been fatal if wolves had not been with us.

The night on the road was not very comfortable; we had to sleep sitting up, so the girls immediately took their bunks and dozed off. Lying on my own, I looked out the narrow window for a long time and hoped that Simka would catch up with us, but without waiting, I fell asleep too. Simuran appeared only on the third day of the journey. We had just stopped at the next station to have a snack and rest when a white spot appeared in the sky.

Adalbjorg was the first to notice him.

– I can’t believe my eyes! – the northern woman muttered under her breath.

– What's there? – attentive Khvoyana, immediately appeared nearby.

– I give my right hand to be cut off, because I see a simuran! – Ada answered her.

–Where is the simuran? – Vilde shook her head.

– What kind of simuran? Simurans live in the northern lands,” Volde noted.

– This is Simka. My simuran! – I intrigued everyone.

– Your Simuran? – Lisel raised her eyebrows.

– Do you have a live simuran?! – the cousins said in unison.

– This one is clearly not dead. Look how it flutters its wings! – Khvoyana chuckled.

And Simka, noticing such attention to himself from afar, did not miss the opportunity to show off, and having formed a circle above us, he landed spectacularly, raising clouds of dust.

– Simka!

I hugged my friend’s neck, and at the same time checked the pocket on the collar, where I found a long-awaited letter from my sister.

– Oh, how cute! – Volde melted. – Mirre, can I… Can I pet him?

The cousin folded her hands in a pleading gesture.

“We weren’t allowed to keep animals,” her “wild” sister said unusually quietly.

– Iron for good health! If he allows it, of course. I have a Simka with character.

Winking at the winged wolf, I stepped aside. Simka was not at all against affection. In general, he loved attention, treats, and having his belly scratched. While the girls were squeezing and stroking him, Ada came and stood next to me, condescendingly watching the others.

– And you are full of surprises, Kyari.

– This is bad? – I asked.

– It's fun! – the northern woman responded with a smile.

– Ada, do you have a pet at home?

– Was. Large northern wolf. But he died.

– Oh. sorry…

“He died of old age,” Ada explained. – Happy and toothless. He also loved having his belly scratched.

Uncle Alan, who had gone away to replenish water and provisions, was already hurrying to the stagecoach. Noticing Simka, he turned towards us.

– Mirre, about your simuran… I’m not sure that you will be allowed to keep it at the academy. Of course, you can ask your father, but the rector… – He shook his head.

– Ashsher Nett, don’t worry about Simka. It is adapted to wild life and knows how to get food. Or do you think that at the boarding house he lived right in my room?

– Simuran accompanied you to the boarding house?!

The magician's eyes widened twice, and I laughed.

– From the very first day. And somehow he survived, and he ate so many sides!

These same sides were now being scratched with four hands, and Simka was lying in a completely indecent position with his tongue lolling out in pleasure. Hearing our conversation, the girls began to persuade Essher Nett to allow him to take the simuran with him. The twins especially tried. And when the quiet and silent Yumi looked at him with her huge eyes and whispered “please,” the magician’s heart melted.

– OK then. You know better. But be careful, there will always be some detractor.

– Thank you, uncle… Ashsher Nett! – I was happy. “We’ll take note and warn Simka not to stick his head out too much.” He is no stranger to hiding.

And so the simuran, watered, fed, and even loved, slept peacefully on the floor next to my bunk, and I finally got to the letter from Talaria. My sister was sincerely happy for me. She knew how much I didn’t like it at the boarding school, and she took my transfer to the academy positively.

“…But remember, Mirre, it won’t be easy. Try, learn. Prove that you are a really cool naturalist. I believe in you, dear!”, the sister wrote.

Every line I read was filled with love, and I couldn’t help but smile as I read them over and over again.

Tali is my father’s illegitimate daughter, born before mom and dad met. Once upon a time, my mother didn’t want us to communicate with her because she was jealous and afraid that she would have a bad influence on me. How wrong she was!

At the end of the letter there was a warning:

“Mirrae, I’ve been thinking for a long time about how to tell you this… I’ll say it straight: be careful with guys. Scions of glorious families from all over Balaria study at the Academy of Wind and Storms. Including dragon ones. But not everyone is like my Ren. The dragons you know are all grown up and settled. Even Yorni and Yarti, although you can’t tell from them. But you shouldn’t expect the same from your peers. As well as from older guys. They may seem charming and interesting. You may even decide that you have fallen in love, and there is nothing wrong with that, but remain reasonable until the end. I think you know what I mean. And don’t let anyone get on your neck or offend you! Always fight back!

With love, your sister Talaria."

At the end of the fifth day, we picked up another passenger. Deftly jumping into the salon, she looked around at all of us.

– Hello! I'm Zikki! – the new girl greeted so easily and, easily throwing her skinny knapsack onto an empty shelf, sat down directly on the floor, crossing her legs.

Out of surprise, everyone fell silent, looking at her, and the girl shamelessly looked at us with her strange green eyes, as if slightly dusted with ash.

I instantly identified the new girl as a fire-kissed southerner from the Burning Desert. But she was dressed unusually for a native of those regions. Although the leather jacket and trousers were the right size, they looked frankly masculine attire. The girl braided her bright red hair with a wide black lock into two careless braids. This hair color was a sign of a strong fiery gift.

– You’re from the north, aren’t you? – Zikki turned to my friend.

– Right. Call me Ada. And this is my kyari Mirre,” my friend introduced me.

The new girl nodded sedately, as if she understood what this meant. Or maybe she really understood?

– My name is Lisel.

– Khvoyana. And this silent Yumi Lo. And there are those two chatterboxes, Vilde and Wolde – one is wild, the other is correct. For some reason this is important to them,” the girl added, lowering her voice.

The Southern woman nodded to everyone who was introduced.

When the acquaintance took place, Alan Nett looked into the stagecoach.

– Girls, this is Zikkaera Splash. Already met? Great! Zikaera, hold your bunks, there's another night ahead.

He handed her a camp sleeping place that looked like a stretcher when assembled.

– Thank you! “Zikki bowed with dignity and asked Ada: “Can I sit next to you?”

Between my bunks and Lisael’s bunks there was free space where Simka usually slept. Having made room, we widened it enough for another bunk to stand, and Zikki moved from the floor onto them. But before the stagecoach moved, the face of a simuran poked its head inside, who had gone for a walk about his simuran business even earlier.

– Zikki, don’t be scared, this is Simka. “He’s with me,” I warned the firewoman, just in case.

– How cute! “She burst into a smile, and Simka came up to introduce himself.

The fact that he would have to sleep in the aisle today did not bother him at all, but we did not sleep at all this evening. The journey through the monotonous steppe was quite tiring, but by night the landscape changed. The foothills began, and tomorrow morning we were supposed to arrive at the academy, so we were on pins and needles, brightening up the excitement with chatter.

– Zikki, why are you dressed so strangely? – Vilde asked.

– I feel so comfortable. “Besides, leather is more fire-resistant than fabric,” the southern woman answered, not at all offended by the tactlessness.

– What are these marks on your jacket? – kept up with sister Volde.

– And this is so that you don’t get burned. For example, at night, if I have a bad dream. – Ognevichka smiled wryly.

“Apparently, you have the same problems with fire that Yumi has with water.” You also seem like a southern version of Ada to me. There is something of Mirre in you too. I wouldn’t be surprised if I find traits of one of us in you,” Khvoyana unexpectedly declared.

The southern woman shrugged her shoulders and replied:

– You know better. I don't know you at all.

Khvoyana smiled.

– Nothing, let's get acquainted. We still have to study together,” I said.

– Zikki, you’re from the Burning Desert, am I right? How did you get into the academy? – asked Adalbjorg.

“I suspect the same as you.” You are from the Coast of Sharp Blades, am I right? – Zikki retorted.

Ada laughed contentedly.

– And I like you!

“You’re all nothing at first glance either,” the new girl didn’t bother to say anything.

The girls giggled, and the awakened Simka opened one eye.

– Can you tell me how you got into the academy? – Zikki asked Ada.

– Well, what can I tell you? I was sent to one of the boarding houses in Onyx Rocks, in the hope of making a worthy future wife and a noble eshsheri. But the material could not be cut. I turned out to be too much for the boarding house of noble eshsheri, so they simply got rid of the problem pupil at the first opportunity. Do you know what my mentors called me among themselves? Headache! – Ada shared and, in turn, asked: – What is your destiny?

– Ha! I have a slightly different story, although similar. “I ran away from an imposed marriage,” Zikka responded with frankness for frankness.

– You have a fiance!

– Is he handsome? – The Dustrasse twins were seriously excited.

– I have no idea what he looks like. I’ve never seen him and I don’t want to see him! That's actually why I'm here.

Vilde began to furiously twirl a curl of hair around her finger.

– Well, in vain! I should look at him first before running away,” she blurted out.

“I’m afraid that after we met, I would have become his wife that same day.”

– Are your rules so strict? – Lisel was surprised, raising her beautiful eyebrows.

– Something like that. There are too many ancient traditions and conventions in the south. Don’t bother,” Zikki waved it off.

– But how did you end up among the best students? You are not from the boarding house and, in general, not local. This is against the rules! – Volde noted.

– Absolutely not according to the rules! In general, I am a fan of breaking rules and traditions. Especially those that I don’t like,” the fire girl agreed with her and winked dashingly.

– So you also acted through connections, like Mirre? – Vilde frowned darkly.

– I’m not through connections! – I exploded.

– Sorry, cousin. I forget all the time.

This chatterbox made a guilty face. And she really forgot, and didn’t blurt it out to spite me, but I still got angry.

– But I’m definitely through connections. I swear by the sands! An influential acquaintance helped me,” Zikki said without a twinge of conscience, which completely shocked Wolde.

– Is it just me, or is there some kind of romantic story behind this? – Khvoyana narrowed her eyes.

“I don’t think so…” Zikki began and stopped short, but then finished firmly: “No, I don’t think so.” I'm going to study. I want to become a magician of the first circle, and so that no one dares to dictate to me who to marry and who not to marry. Then no. No romance. Only cold calculation.

The twins looked at each other meaningfully.

“And we’re going to look for suitors.” Granny said that studying is a secondary matter, and you need to think about the future first,” Vilde unexpectedly said.

“She even suggested what rules to use to look for suitors,” Volde added.

– No, yes. What a granny, such a future… – I couldn’t restrain myself from teasing.

Here even the silent Yumi could not stand it and smiled.

– Like this! Some are running away from marriage, while others are looking for it. How different our lives are! – Lisel sighed.

– Zikki, who helped you get in? – Vilde asked curiously.

– Let me keep this a secret. Maybe someday I'll tell you later. If we become friends…

–What did I say? This is in you from Mirre! – Khvoyana exclaimed joyfully.

There was a knock on the roof of the stagecoach, and Uncle Alan's voice was heard:

– Chatterboxes! You should calm down, you have to get up early tomorrow!

Heeding his words, we began to settle down for the night. They straightened the pillows in dark blue pillowcases with an embroidered gold wheel – the sign of the Travel Bureau. We wrapped ourselves in thin blue blankets and tried to sleep.

Well, well… For some time there was snoring, the girls were spinning and sighing. Only Adalbjorg almost immediately began to breathe regularly. The northern woman knew how to fall asleep as if on command in any conditions and position.

– Ada? – Zikki called in a whisper, unmistakably choosing the only person who was actually asleep.

– M? – the northern woman answered her, waking up sleepily.

–Where are the other two?

The answer was silence. The other girls also held their breath.

– Who are you talking about? – Ada asked when the silence dragged on.

– Well, there should be ten adepts, but there are only eight of us.

“They will arrive on their own,” Lisel answered instead of Ada.

It seemed like both she and Zikki knew a little more than the others. How interesting!

We arrived at the academy early in the morning. The stagecoach, hovering above the ground, did not make the usual sounds of wheeled transport, and only the paws of the wolves rustled barely audibly on the pavement, and their heavy breathing could be heard. The last part of the journey was constantly uphill, and the animals were quite tired. We entered the tall gate in almost complete silence. Only a huge raven croaked deafeningly as it flew up from the wrought-iron fence. A fine autumn rain was drizzling, and the wind hit the wall of the stagecoach in gusts, causing it to sway.

“It’s a bit gloomy…” Zikki drawled, looking out the window.

“Just like home,” Ada sighed with nostalgia.

The girls, who were sitting at the ready, reached into their bags in search of warm clothes. I didn’t move, I managed to dress properly right away. Another hour before arrival. Ashsher Nett warned us, so I pulled myself together and pushed the sleepy Simka out of the stagecoach.

We soared past dark gray, squat buildings that formed an entire street. Water dripped from the gable roofs, flowing down the drainpipes. Crows sat here and there, and the cries of seagulls could be heard from afar – the Academy of Wind and Storms was located above the sea. Once upon a time there was a castle in which the founder of the educational institution lived. Later, both the castle and a small village nearby were converted into an academy, and people moved a little further away so as not to be at risk. Living next to inexperienced elemental magicians is still fun.

The stagecoach stopped in the driveway of the tallest building where the academy was located.

– Eshsheri, let's go out! – Uncle Alan commanded.

I was the very first one outside, as I was sitting closer to the exit. While the rest of the girls were getting out, I managed to look around. Behind us was a square with a large statue of the founder, on the pedestal of which were embossed the symbols of all four main elements. But from where I was, I saw only two: land and water.

To the right there was a park, standing out as a colorful spot against the background of total grayness. The crimson-brown-green riot was pleasing to the eye, reminding that colors had not disappeared from the world. Turning around, I began to look at the bizarre sculptures on the facade of the building. A massive hulk made of gray stone blocks seemed to prop up the leaden sky with its pointed roofs. Probably, the entire Blackrock estate could fit entirely in one of its halls!

Despite the gloomy view and nasty weather, I wanted to climb everything here from top to bottom. Explore the hidden corners of the park. Look into the underground catacombs going deep into the mountain. Climb into the attic and see if there really is a ghost living there? I couldn’t wait to find out all the secrets that the ancient academy building conceals.

Dad loved this place. He devoted his life to working here and talked a lot about him at home when he came on vacation or holidays, but I had no idea that in reality everything was much more interesting!

Meanwhile, a delegation in uniform robes, led by an impressive man, came out onto the porch. It was Felsen Schwartz, the onyx dragon and rector of the Academy of Wind and Storms, about whom I had heard a lot. Among the men there was only one woman. Tall, with a bun on her head. From my father’s stories, I knew that this was Estella Krieger, the dean of the Faculty of Household Magic. And there was also the Duke of Blackrock – my father.

Finding me with his eyes, dad pursed his lips in displeasure. Well, what does he not like, pray tell? What is he unhappy with? I smiled broadly at him. I missed my beloved daddy and wanted to hug him, but I’ll have to be patient until we’re left alone.

– Girls, line up, please! – Alan Nett asked, and we lined up along the side of the stagecoach.

By this time, the driver had already led away the tired wolves, but the carriage still hovered above the ground, awaiting transportation. This did not require draft power.

The rector stopped on the top step of the porch.

“Eshsheri, we welcome you to the Academy of Wind and Storms…” he began a solemn speech, but was interrupted and, turning to Dean Krieger, asked: “Where are the other two adepts?” There should be ten of them, but I only see eight.

“Eshcheri Ricci seems to be late, and escheri Hugel…” she answered the rector and looked at the sky and added: “Already here.”

I also raised my head and saw a rapidly approaching black dot.

What did the rector say? Ashcheri Hugel? The Hygels were one of the younger branches of the ruling family of dragons. It turns out that a real dragon will study with us! Wow!

“And here comes Escheri Ricci,” said Dean Krieger.

– Wonderful! “Let’s wait a little,” the rector responded complacently.

Indeed, from somewhere on the side of the park, a curvaceous girl with a shock of blond hair and a milky-white fitted coat was trotting towards us on thin heels. She looked like a bright spot against the background of total grayness and involuntarily attracted glances not only with her bright appearance and fashionable outfit, but also with her retinue – she was accompanied by several adherents at once. One was carrying a purse, the other was holding an umbrella over it, trying to keep up. Several more simply accompanied us, but when they saw the rector, they all dispersed somewhere, and Escheri Ricci came up to us alone. The beauty did not see the black dragon landing along the same trajectory, and she landed right in front of her. It was so “successful” that the fashionista’s white coat was covered with small specks of dirt.

– Ah! – the blonde choked with indignation, and then the unexpected happened.

Even more unexpected than the landing of a giant lizard. The blond fashionista swung her hand and hit the dragon with her fashionable handbag on a long handle right in the face!

For a moment everyone was speechless. The silhouette of Eshcheri Hugel became hazy, blurred in space, and a brunette with a short haircut appeared in front of us. Her plump lips delighted the eye with bright scarlet lipstick, and her eyes were an equally bright orange shade, characteristic of the younger branches of the ruling family. The pants and jacket unusually, I would even say indecently, hugged the girl’s body, not hiding a single curve, and in the collar, unbuttoned right down to the neckline, I could clearly see rune marks.

“If you do that again, I’ll bite your head off,” the dragoness stated phlegmatically, turning to the blonde.

– Oh, sorry, eshsheri. “It’s me out of frustration,” the blonde immediately backed down, making her eyes wide. – This coat is from the autumn collection “Snakes”. It cost me a pretty penny…

Escheri Ricci's voice was so sweet that I wanted to drink some water.

“Send me the bill from the laundry, baby,” the dragoness grinned and added seriously: “Duel.” This evening at seven on…” she turned to the rector and unceremoniously asked: “Ascher Schwartz, where do you usually solve problems here?”

– In my office, eshcheri Hugel! – the rector snapped, and then added softer: “Beata, be reasonable and don’t force me to write to your uncle.”

The dragoness frowned with displeasure, and her orange eyes flashed brighter, promising trouble to anyone who dared to stand in her way.

– Who is our uncle? – Ada whispered in my ear.

“Uncle is the ruler of the Onyx Rocks,” I answered just as quietly.

“Oh…” the northern woman was impressed.

– Eshsheri, you are detaining the rector and the others. Remember about decency, finally! – Estella Krieger sternly scolded the girls.

Having measured each other with derogatory glances, the girls stood at different ends of our small formation. The blonde is at the beginning, the dragon is at the end.

– Adepts, for the first time the Academy of Wind and Storms opens its doors to female students. Both for us and for you it will be a new unique experience, hopefully successful. Serious changes are coming, and I am glad to welcome you to these ancient walls! – the rector began again.

He introduced us to the teachers and deans, then we introduced ourselves one by one. By this moment, adherents had gathered on the square near the statue of the founder, on the side of the idle fountain and on the side of the porch, looking at us with interest. Trying not to be distracted by them, I listened carefully to the rector.

Perhaps this would have continued, but I noticed that Asher Schwartz was talking to us, but was now looking somewhere to the side. Following his gaze, I came across a group of guys walking along the driveway past a stagecoach. They hardly paid any attention to us, they just glanced at us with indifferent glances and headed towards the park.

So bright and different, they stood out among other adherents!

One is blond with long hair as gorgeous as that of one of my friend’s northern dragons. The short fiery red hair of the second played with tongues of flame in the breeze. This one of them all smiled at us, as if he was unable to maintain a serious expression on his face for long.

A brown-haired man with wavy hair combed to one side looked from under his brows with squinted eyes, latently evoking a feeling of anxiety. Completely inexperienced in romantic relationships, I instantly realized that it was better to stay away from people like him.

But most of all I was impressed by the brown-haired, gloomy guy who walked with them, but seemed to be on his own. He didn’t even turn his head at us, and I experienced mixed feelings. Slight offense and interest. Offense because he didn’t consider us worthy of attention, but interest because I didn’t have time to see his face and eye color. All that remained was to admire the spread of the shoulders, covered with a uniform jacket, and the neck peeking out from the collar.

I didn't think so, did I? Does he have tattoos there similar to those of Beate Hügel? Is he also a dragon from a junior branch of the ruling family?

Stealthily looking at the broad backs and stately figures, I got distracted, and suddenly something forcefully poked me under the knees! It all happened so suddenly that I almost fell and, in order to maintain my balance, I stepped forward, finding myself out of line.

– Ashsheri Blackrock, did you want something? – Felsen Schwartz immediately drew attention to me.

– Y-yes, escher rector. I… I forgot something on the stagecoach. And now I remember. A very important thing, dear to the heart…

The rector grinned condescendingly, and my father stared at me with disapproval. “Well, since you’re so dear that you decided to interrupt me, so be it.” Go and get it. We will wait.

– Simka, why did you set me up like that? – I hissed at the simuran angrily. “Thank you!” Excuse me… – I stammered, blushing, and hastily disappeared inside the stagecoach. There, as I expected, the culprit of the incident was hiding. That's who pushed me out of line!

My friend looked at me reproachfully and, wagging his tail, placed a ball that had come from out of nowhere on the floor in front of me.

– Do you think now is the right time for games?! – I was indignant.

No! It wasn't a ball! This was something different. A ball as black as darkness itself, covered with orange dragon writing, which suddenly flashed and glowed. In surprise, I stumbled back and grabbed the wall.

Dragon Focus – that's what it was like!

Having survived the first shock, she stretched out her hand to pick it up, but at the very last moment she stopped, without touching the precious surface.

– Where did you take it? – asked Simka in a whisper.

Simuran growled, slightly spread his wings and stamped his paw.

“Are you saying it was flying through the air on its own, and you just intercepted it and brought it to me?” – As always, in some miraculous way I deciphered his explanation.

Simka snorted in agreement, confirming that this was all true.

– Mirre, why are you hiding here? Let's go outside quickly! – Alan Nett looked into the salon and, seeing the simuran, was indignant: – Well, I knew that he would cause problems! Simka, sit here and keep your head down. Soon the stagecoach will be driven to the parking lot, and you will get out there. Understood? Don't let your mistress down again!

Uncle Alan did not notice the artifact lying on the floor.

There was no point in testing the rector’s patience on the first day. Moreover, it was not worth testing my father’s patience. He will try to get me sent back to the boarding school. Even without that, I was already anticipating a severe reprimand from the Duke of Blackrock. It was worth following Uncle Alan's advice as soon as possible.

I sat down next to the artifact again. It was a little scary to touch him, but why not leave him here? If I'm not mistaken, and this is really what I think, then… This is priceless! The Focus cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.

She decisively grabbed the ball, put it in her coat pocket and froze. Moments passed, but nothing happened. No security charms worked and nothing suspicious happened. Exhaling with relief, I got out of the stagecoach and, as if nothing had happened, took my place in the ranks, ignoring Ada’s questioning glance and the curious sisters.

## Chapter 5

Ethan Derberg, onyx dragon, adept of the Academy of Wind and Storms. Border of Onyx Rocks and the Steppe of the Seventeen Winds

Same morning, a little earlier…

The village at the Academy of Wind and Storms was called Dream-on-the-Veterke, but my friends and I simply called it – Village. Here you could find anything, from a sweet shop to accessories from famous fashion houses. From artifacts and tailoring and clothing repair services, to weapons counters where you could forge a unique blade to order. And there were countless different eateries with menus for every taste and budget in the Village. Every famous house that produces anything considered it good form to open a store in this village. In general, there was everything here to make adherents from all over Balaria shake their wallets.

During the first week of autumn, adherents gathered in advance to study. So my friends and I, while waiting for classes, decided to properly celebrate the beginning of the new school year. All that night we openly reveled, so we returned to the academy only in the early morning, which turned out to be surprisingly nasty to the delight of the water spirits. However, as always in these parts.

It was drizzling, the gray walls of the buildings seemed especially gray, and gusts of wind from the sea pierced through the clothes. However, nothing that cannot be corrected with the help of elemental magic. My head was noisy with songs, dances, chatter and guffaws from friends who missed me during the holidays and the whispers of local beauties promising pleasure for just a few silver lire. I dreamed of one thing – to quickly get to my bed and lie down.

– Let's wait a little, the new ones are about to arrive. I want to see if any of them have cute faces,” suggested Jed Flammer.

Despite the sleepless night, he looked very cheerful and cheerful. It’s always the same with redheads, as with fire fighters in general. Even on the gloomiest day they seem to glow.

– Shut down, Jed! Don't fuss! – I lazily growled.

– Come on, Ethan! Isn't it interesting to look at girls? – he asked peacefully.

– Flammer, haven’t you seen enough of girls yet? Your freckled nose didn’t come out of Fat Greta’s neckline all night! – Caius Delamille teased him.

– Look who's Talking! – Jed mimicked him.

“But I think girls have nothing to do here!” – Aiz, who had been gloomily silent all morning, spoke up.

“Goldilocks, are you afraid that one of them will have more beautiful hair than you?” Don't worry. You are beyond competition!

Jed pulled Aiz by a long blond lock and immediately pulled back with a laugh, dodging the blow. But Ezeroth Ramlin didn't even smile. The malachite dragon has always been overly serious. Sighing at Jade's stupidity, he explained as if for a little one:

– Flammer, that's not the point. These girls are dangerous to us.

– What is it? – Kayu grinned condescendingly.

– Don't you understand? They were sent here for a reason. Very soon they will get used to it and start hunting! – Aze explained.

– OU! Well, I don't mind being hunted by a couple of beauties! – Contrary to expectations, the restless Freckled One became inspired.

“Jed, it seems you don’t understand.” These girls are from noble families. Stay away from them if you don't want to die in your prime! – Aiz’s patience was running out, judging by the green lights lighting up in his pupils.

– Why should I die? Do you think I can’t handle two or three at a time? – Freckled arched his eyebrow dashingly.

“I think you’re thinking with the wrong head!” If you make an attempt on even one of these girls, her parents will strangle you! – Malachite flared up.

“For the causal place,” Kayu added with a laugh.

“You’ll just have to get married and that’s all,” I remarked calmly, which scared Freckled Man much more than everyone else.

– Marry?! Nope! I pass! – Jed finally realized, but then added: “But can we look at them?”

In fact, I was also interested in what kind of crazy people agreed to come here, but I didn’t show it. It would not do for the second heir to the Onyx Throne to show excessive interest in girls.

Yielding to an impulse, I put my hand into the pocket of my camisole and felt there the Focus of the Onyx Dragon, which I had stolen from my uncle’s office.

The senior adepts of the Academy of Wind and Storms preferred to use not the main gate, but the secret gate leading to the park. From there you could go straight to campus and not flit around in everyone's sight. Through the same gate, adherents left the territory or returned at odd times when the gates were closed. At times, it seemed to me that it was deliberately invented so that revelers like us would not discredit the glorious institution with their indecent appearance, wandering through the square in front of the academy.

Today, the crimson-clad kerns, euonymus and abelias in the park seemed overly elegant to me. The state of my soul was as gloomy and dark gray as the weather and the ubiquitous stone, but I wanted even more gray, and my unsightly act was to blame. This is probably why I sat alone all night drinking, not taking part in the general fun. I kept thinking about how my uncle was going crazy, how the servants and guards were knocked off their feet, turning the palace upside down, and I was very, very ashamed, but I simply could not do otherwise.

It all started with the fact that my cousin Mikael, to make him feel empty, made things worse again, and in the end we both suffered. My uncle called us for a conversation, and I had to listen to his lectures. Then endure a difficult conversation about how it’s time for the two of us to settle down and not disgrace the glorious Derberg family with our adventures. Although I still don’t understand, what does this have to do with me? And at the very end, my uncle set a condition for us that he would review the order of succession to the throne, in favor of the one of us who would be the first to find a bride. Yes, not just any, but a true couple, as befits a dragon of the ruling family.

This condition greatly complicated the task, but gave me an advantage as the second heir. But Mikael, who was already asleep and saw himself as the ruler of the Onyx Rocks, on the contrary, was seriously worried. He was no longer the first crown prince, just as I was no longer the second. From now on, we are on equal terms, which makes Mika hate me even more. But I didn't care about my cousin's feelings. I just punched him in the face and broke his nose, no matter what the guys said. Did I need at least some kind of compensation for all the shame that I experienced through his fault, listening to my uncle’s reprimands?

Ignoring Mika's threats and scolding, I left. And yet one phrase of his caught my attention and made me think. Mikael swore that he would do everything to ensure that I would never be able to find a bride in my life. Neither true nor any other.

What could this mean?

Yes, anything when it came to Mikael Derberg. To the point that this idiot will decide to deprive everyone of honor who agrees to give me their hand and heart.

The cousin was two years older. Handsome, smart. He graduated from the academy with honors and became an excellent naturalist, as befits the first heir. But much better than studying, Mika knew how to lie and pretend. And also – to humiliate people and mock the weak and those who could not fight back. This was at the top of his list of entertainments. He even indulged in gambling with less enthusiasm.

For a long time I myself did not believe the rumors that occasionally reached me, believing that someone wanted to denigrate the future ruler, until I witnessed how my cousin was having fun in person. And most importantly, he got away with everything! Well, Mika knew how to solve problems. And he chose his victims carefully, taking care of his own reputation. Those who will be easy to cajole, give money or simply intimidate. He did this excellently.

And if something got out of control, Uncle Olaf – his father and my second uncle – got involved. In dealing with the “petty pranks” of his beloved son, he spared no expense.

I have neither father nor mother left, only Uncle Eric. It was he who supported me when the misfortune happened. The misfortune affected not only northern dragons, but also onyx ones. It did not affect anyone, but the ruling family. Six years ago I was left alone, around the same time the Lord of the Onyx Rocks lost his wife and daughter. Both of them changed their hypostasis mid-flight and crashed. Both cases were strictly classified so that panic would not set in, surveillance of the sources was intensified, and my uncle began to leave the house much less often and almost never took off.

Only by supporting each other, we were able to survive.

But in the last two years a lot has changed. The dragons returned to tradition in matters of marriage, and it all started again with the northerners. They coped with the Adversity, and we also became calmer. The sources have indeed stabilized, and the risk of flights has disappeared. But the freedom of choice is gone. And the elements are with her!

– Through the main entrance! – I commanded irritably, walking past the gate.

The guys followed me silently, only Jed frowned:

– Through the main one? Are you serious, Ethan? It's a hook!

Freckled always expressed everything that was on his mind, but he preferred to walk in a roundabout way, as if compensating for his own straightforwardness

–What are you dissatisfied with, Flammer? “He himself wanted to look at the adepts,” Kaya sarcastically told him.

– Then, it's OK! – The fireman instantly became humble and inspired. He was unable to remain silent for a long time, so he pestered Ramlin: “Aiz, I still don’t understand why you were afraid?”

– What are you talking about? – Malachite responded gloomily.

– About hunting! You were so worried that girls would start hunting guys, but you, dragons, now only marry the true ones. What do you have to fear?

“Oh, believe me, this won’t stop some pretty face from dragging him into bed, and then accusing him of all his sins and forcefully marrying him,” answered Kaya instead of Eiz.

– The scheme is too complicated, don’t you think? – Freckled waved him off.

– Proven for centuries! – I smiled crookedly. “Even a dragon won’t be able to escape.” The girls are probably all from noble families, so keep your pants tied, guys.

– N-yes… I'm so glad I was born a human! There is no need to stress when choosing a life partner. Even if they marry by force, it’s not scary, like you dragons,” Jed blurted out without thinking.

– Don't tell me! A marriage with a true couple will always be successful. This is a perfect match of characters, loyalty, healthy offspring,” Eizeroth began to describe the advantages of truth. – And you, the magicians, have pure roulette. If you marry unsuccessfully, you will suffer for the rest of your life. And so that the magic does not burn out, you will have to choose your soul mate not by their figure or cute face, but by the strength of their gift. So there is a high probability of getting a scary or quarrelsome wife, and, moreover, gifted in such a way that it will not seem a little. But who won’t you marry in order to preserve the magic of the family?

– Oh, don't be dramatic! All you have to do is be patient until the children are born, and then you can get a divorce,” retorted the resilient Freckled One. – Again, walk left and right as much as you like. Not like you dragons. Got married, and no, no! I can't do that. “I don’t look at the same neckline twice,” he said with conviction. – I stand for diversity and freedom, here!

“On the contrary, I envy dragons in this regard,” he expressed an unexpected opinion to Kai, who was much more loving than Jed, he just didn’t talk about it. – This is a true couple! With her you will really be happy, and you won’t have to spend your whole life tossing and searching for a fresh neckline. I wish I could do the same… – He sighed sadly.

Aiz nodded contentedly, rejoicing at the unexpected support, and I again put my hand in my pocket and clenched the Focus in my fist, which I stole from under Mika’s nose so that he would not do the same first. I had no doubt that my cousin was going to do this. He planned to accuse me of theft. I accidentally overheard his conversation with Uncle Olaf, so I decided to take the lead. I immediately went to Uncle Eric's office and took the Focus with me. I will return it to him personally, obey him and explain everything when the right time comes. In the meantime, let it stay with me – safe and sound.

By that time, I had time to thoroughly think about what had happened and understood a lot. Uncle Eric started all this for a reason, and Mika’s adventures have nothing to do with it. He had long doubted his eldest nephew’s ability to rule the state, so he put on a whole performance to give me a chance to compete for the throne with my cousin on equal terms. Surely, my uncle will forgive me the same day I present him with the true truth. But there is very little chance of finding her in an academy where only men study. Except that…

I stared at the Travel Bureau stagecoach hovering outside the main building. The deans and teachers, led by the rector, gathered on the porch itself. Come on! I don't think I'll be so lucky.

– The girls have arrived! We’re on time,” Flammer noted. “But you can’t see them from here.”

– But what an intrigue! – He grinned at Kai, and then, turning more serious, added: – Just imagine, the dragon doesn’t even need to see them if he decides to make a choice.

What wise thought did your friend express?

“This is a true couple! With her you will really be happy.”

On impulse, I took the Focus from my pocket.

– Now we’ll check it…

– Fuck! – Freckled cursed, gawking at the artifact in my hand.

“Ethan, is this what I think it is?” – Kayu stared at the Focus, and his eyes flashed greedily.

Aiz somehow got all sorted out. His nostrils flared and his pupils turned emerald.

– How did you get it? – he asked dully.

“I stole it from my uncle,” I answered defiantly.

The friends looked at each other, but said nothing. And I stood, holding Focus at arm’s length, like in the pictures in the children’s books that my mother read to me, and felt like an idiot. What should we do with him next?

My uncle showed me the cache where the Focus was kept only once, and even admitted that he had found it with my aunt’s help. At that time it was not fashionable among young people, and he did everything in secret, without telling anyone anything. It seemed terribly unfair to me that it was Uncle Eric who was touched by the Misfortune, depriving not only his beloved wife, but also a true couple.

There were no instructions for activating the Focus in the cache, but I suspect there was some kind of ritual or spell that I didn’t bother to find out about. But it’s understandable, I didn’t intend to get married. It was a hard pull, I decided to show off! So what's now? Maybe I should ask Aiz?

Oh no! My reputation cannot withstand such a blow. We are both contenders, albeit for different thrones, and competition between authorities in this situation is inevitable, which did not interfere with our friendship. But now is a completely different moment. Moments passed, but still nothing happened. I began to regret starting all this. Maybe pretend he was joking? At least I won’t embarrass myself, otherwise Kai will giggle at my failed attempt for the rest of his days, and Aze will look on with superiority.

– Ethan, can I touch it? – Kaya suddenly asked in a trembling voice. “I’ll just touch it once and that’s it.” Maybe I can figure out how to come up with something similar for magicians?

“I don’t advise you to paw at dragon artifacts unnecessarily,” Aiz warned him menacingly, as if it were his own Focus.

– And why is that? “Kai, who often got into trouble with malachite, squinted his eyes in a bad way.

– Who knows how it works? You never know what the consequences will be! – Jed answered instead of Aiz and laughed obscenely at his own stupid inventions.

– Jerk! – Kayu pushed him in the shoulder.

Grinning, I lightly tossed the Focus in my palm, intending to put it in my pocket and declare that they, like children, fell for my prank. But then everything happened. Taking off much higher than I expected, the artifact hovered in the air. It slowly turned around its own axis and blazed brightly with orange runes!

– Oh, you! – one of the guys exclaimed, but I couldn’t make out who exactly.

And the Focus set off and, picking up speed, flew towards the main building. It flew right over the roof of the stagecoach, barely missing it, and disappeared.

– And… What now? – Kayu asked cautiously, on whose face I had never seen such a childishly admiring expression before.

“I don’t know…” I admitted.

– So did he choose the true one for you, or not? When will it become clear? – Jed Flammer shifted his feet impatiently.

Jed raised his hands in conciliation. I myself would like to know what to do next and how to return Focus. Losing the artifact where the ancestor spirit of the onyx dragons slept was tantamount to a death sentence. These thoughts were reflected on my face as I glanced irritably at the fireman.

– OK OK. I'm not climbing. You're in charge, it's up to you to figure it out.

– Ahem! Ethan… I believe that your true one was indeed among these girls,” Aze hinted.

– Why do you think so? – I asked, becoming more and more irritated.

– Since the Focus was activated, it means she was nearby. You did it, friend! Congratulations! – Malachite slapped me on the back.

It seemed that Ezeroth was indeed aware of how Focus worked.

“Thank you…” I answered without enthusiasm.

Frankly, I did not imagine that everything would turn out this way, and I was in a slight shock. It was necessary to think and digest what happened.

– What's next? – Kayu inquired cautiously. – How will we look for her?

Shrugging my shoulders, I answered vaguely:

– Let's figure it out…

We hurried towards the stagecoach, but as we got closer we slowed down.

“Jed, for the sake of the Mother of All That Is, don’t stare at them like you’ve never seen a girl in your life!” – asked the fireman to Kaya.

– Come on! Me with one eye! – he waved it off.

It was not possible to take a good look at the new arrivals as we walked along the driveway. To do this, they would have to go around the hefty steppe stagecoach that covered them from behind and stop right on the road, but the rector was standing on the porch. Walking past, Jed couldn’t resist looking back first, followed by the others turning their heads. I also took one short glance, convinced that I was right.

– And which of them has Focus? Do you understand? – Ezeroth asked.

“No,” I answered reluctantly.

– The first blonde is just fire! – Freckled smiled joyfully.

– Jed, what did I say about these adepts? – Malachite asked sternly.

– Come on! I don't mind marrying her if I have to. I saw what size she is…

– Shut up! – Aze barked. – What if this is the real Ethan, and you speak about her like that? He'll kill you!

– Oops! I didn't think…

“Jed, do you know why you spend more time talking about girls than actually having fun with them?” – Kayu asked insinuatingly.

– Why? – Freckled naively blinked his eyes.

– You talk too much in vain! Learn to use the language correctly!

– Fuck you! – the fireman was offended.

Cursing and pushing, they turned behind Aiz and me towards the park.

“I still haven’t seen anyone except that blonde girl…” Jed sighed in disappointment when the two-story buildings where the adherents lived appeared ahead.

– It’s not evening yet. They will be settled over there. – Kayu pointed to the previously empty old building, which they were going to demolish back that year, but they changed their minds and started renovations in the last month of summer.

It looked as if the decision had been made at the last moment, and the work was being done in a hurry. Old scaffolding still stood at the end of the building, some things and broken furniture were dumped near the porch, and part of the roof had not been covered or had been completely forgotten.

– Do you suggest stopping by to visit the girls? – The fireman, who cannot grieve for long, immediately perked up.

“I suggest we set up somewhere nearby and wait for them.” “They won’t pass us by,” he expressed a sensible thought to Kai. – Ethan, how do you know which one has your Focus?

“A magical sign appears on the couple’s forearm, like a wide bracelet,” I enlightened him.

– Shall we grab them by the hands and watch? – Jed was inspired and immediately complained: “It’s a pity the weather let us down, all the girls are dressed warmly.”

“Then, let’s think about how to force them to undress,” he winked at Kai.

“You definitely have no equal in this,” I chuckled contentedly.

## Chapter 6

Mirre Blackrock, elemental mage, adept at the Academy of Wind and Storms. Border of Onyx Rocks and the Steppe of the Seventeen Winds.

Felsen Schwartz smiled slyly and asked:

– Adept Blackrock, have you found that little thing you forgot?

– Yes, escher rector.

– That is great! So now I can continue.

I mentally howled: “Why? Why mock me like that on the first day?”

I had not yet become acquainted with fire magic, only with air and quite a bit with water, but now it seemed to me that I was about to burst into flames like a torch. Cheeks are probably abelia color already!

– Sorry! – I whispered, not knowing where to go.

Well, Simka! Well, I'm friendly! Couldn't wait? Now I will remember this until the end of my studies!

“Nothing, nothing, Adept Blackrock.” We are all interested in making you feel comfortable with us, right? “He turned around and looked sternly at the deans.

They vaguely agreed with him, and only my father silently glared at me and walked with red spots.

– Thank you, escher rector. “You are so kind…” I stammered, bowing politely.

And in shame she stared at the toes of her own shoes, clenching her fists so that she could feel her nails even through her leather gloves. I was lucky that I put them on so prudently, otherwise I would have definitely cut myself to the point of bleeding.

The rector continued:

– Well, since we are done with the official part, I propose to feed our new adepts and show them the place where they will live. For any questions, please contact Ashsheri Krieger or me. Everyone here is ready to make your stay at the academy comfortable.

“But don’t forget about studying and the rules,” Estella Krieger put in, smiling at us coldly.

For some reason it seemed to me that she didn’t love us all in advance. And it was not in the words spoken, but in the look. She didn't like us, period!

The delegation led by the rector returned to the building, and the dean of the Faculty of Household Magic came down the steps and, having examined us, remarked:

– It’s good that you don’t have much stuff. It will be easier to get ready if they expel you. “She laughed merrily at her own joke.

The girls and I looked at each other.

– Why should we be expelled? – Vilde asked.

Ashsheri Krieger looked at her as if she were a worm.

– Despite what the rector said, don’t expect any favors, eshsheri. The rules are the same for both boys and girls, is that clear?

– Of course, eshsheri dean! Rules are rules, we understand that,” Volde answered her almost reverently.

Vilde made a face at her sister from behind the dean's back, but remained silent for once.

Zikki stared at the ground, but I noticed a predatory grin on the fire girl’s face. The dragon Beata, on the contrary, tilted her head slightly to the side and raised her eyebrows. She didn’t even think about hiding her reaction. She really doesn't seem to care about any rules. And on eshcheri Krieger too.

Estella Krieger understood this. She pressed her lips into a line and ordered:

– Take your luggage and follow me!

We obeyed, except for Beata and Mallory. The first one didn’t have any luggage, the second one didn’t have it here. But as soon as we had moved a few steps away from the porch, a shout lashed the Utar driver from behind with a whip:

– Adept Blackrock, to my office!

I even cringed in surprise. It was the first time I had seen my father so angry.

– Wow… Your daddy seems upset. I sympathize,” Vilde supported me.

– Still would! She interrupted the speech of the rector himself. This is against the rules! – Volde noted.

– Give me the bag here, kyari. Good luck! “Ada took my bag.”

– Thank you. I hope it will work out…” I sighed.

“Adept Blackrock, don’t keep daddy waiting!” – Ashsheri Krieger sarcastically hurried me.

Without answering her, I hurried onto the porch. At first I hurried, but then I remembered what I was taught at the boarding school and slowed down. She straightened her back, straightened her shoulders, raised her chin and, with a “royal gait” from the hip, as our teacher of graceful gestures at the boarding house called it, walked toward her father, who was shifting impatiently at the door.

– Hello father! I'm terribly glad to see you! – She greeted the Duke in a whisper and smiled disarmingly.

The father's face flashed with adoration for a moment, but then returned to a stern expression.

– Let's go. Let's talk in my office. “The Duke opened the door for me.

We found ourselves in a spacious hall with high ceilings and giant crystal chandeliers. The noble polished stone, still gray, intertwined with black here, sparkled with gold veins and seemed warm to the touch. The tall lancet windows were decorated with colored stained glass windows depicting scenes of magicians training. Busts of famous scientists stood along the walls, and gilded plaques under them told about the achievements of these glorious men. The solemnity and pomp of the hall was brightened up by many plants in large tubs and seating areas on both sides of the massive staircase. Adepts sat and chatted on leather sofas. They followed us with curious glances.

I didn’t have time to read the inscriptions on the signs under the busts or look at the guys, barely keeping up with my father. We climbed up a massive antique staircase and headed down a wide corridor, on both sides of which there were doors. They differed only in the inscriptions on the bronze tablets, and my father chose the one where the inscription read: “Richard Blackrock, Dean.”

“Come in, Mirre,” he invited me inside the office illuminated by magic balls.

I carefully stepped over the threshold and began to examine the situation. A large table on which documents lay in neat stacks, next to an old tome with a leather cover and many protruding bookmarks. The writing instruments were neatly put away in a special box. Behind him stood a bookcase filled with books, and to the left was a window with heavy, deep blue curtains.

And there was such a familiar smell here! This is what my father smelled like when he came home. My heart immediately warmed and, smiling, I turned around and threw myself on the Duke’s neck.

– Daddy! How I miss you!

“Me too, my girl.” Me too…

My father hugged me back, stroked me on the back and sighed heavily, and then seemed to reluctantly push me away. He walked behind the table and sat down in a worn leather chair that creaked under his weight.

– Sit down, Mirre. We need to have a serious conversation.

I sat on the edge of the visitors' chair and folded my hands in my lap.

– I’m listening to you, dad.

The father winced.

– Mirre, I was against your candidacy from the very beginning, but I didn’t think that problems would start so soon. What do you allow yourself, daughter?

– Uh… Dad, but this is an accident! I didn't mean to interrupt the rector. Just Simka, he…

I wanted to explain that my simuran had discovered an artifact somewhere that one of the dragons might have lost, but my father suddenly jumped to his feet, slamming his palms on the table so that all the things jumped, and I closed my eyes and pulled my head into my shoulders.

– Simka?! – the father growled. “Did you bring this animal here too?” I closed my eyes when you tormented their mother! It was necessary to get rid of him even then. But no, you dragged him to the boarding house! But I won't allow…

For the first time in my life, my father scolded me like that and was so unfair. Jumping up, I raised my voice in response:

– Dad, stop it! Simka didn't do anything wrong! On the contrary, he…

– Do you think that if I hold a high position, you can behave as you please? – my father interrupted me again.

The Duke of Blackrock was furious. I knew how much he valued his reputation and even understood him to some extent, so I tried to speak more calmly:

– No, dad, I didn’t even think…

– That's it! You weren't thinking, Mirre! “The Duke of Blackrock was not going to give me the right to speak.” “You didn’t think about what you were agreeing to when you accepted the offer to come here!” You should have refused! I asked you about this in a letter, but you ignored my request! You should have stayed at the boarding school, Mirrae, and completed your studies as befits a noble ashsheri of the Blackrock clan. But no! You did it your way and now I'm disgraced! I failed to raise my daughter properly! All. Tomorrow you are going back to the boarding house. Be ready for the morning.

I even opened my mouth at such a statement and batted my eyelashes. Not only did my father unfairly accuse me, but it also turns out that he initially did not want me to be here.

– I didn’t receive any letter, dad! I don't know what you're talking about. I'm very sorry that I upset you with my arrival. Sorry. But I was so happy just a few minutes ago! So glad to get a glimpse of the academy. You…

Unable to control her emotions, she took a convulsive breath and sobbed, unable to hold back the tears in her eyes, and they rolled down her cheeks. I turned away and, staring unseeingly out the window, snapped:

– I’m not going anywhere, essher dean! I have earned the right to study here, and I will study. Dot!

– Well said, Adept Blackrock! I fully support you! – They applauded from behind.

I turned around sharply and saw Felsen Schwartz on the threshold. And when did he first come in?

Apparently, the father also did not expect a high visit. He managed to sink into a chair, but jumped to his feet again.

– Escher rector! And I… I… And here we are talking with our daughter.

– Yes. “I heard the details of your conversation and decided to intervene,” said Felsen Schwartz.

– Sorry, we made a little family noise. Ha-ha…” Dad tried to justify himself.

Judging by his confused chuckle, he was terribly embarrassed.

– Oh, this noise could be heard even at the stairs! With my dragon hearing, I understood every word.

My father turned red, and I felt a little revenged. At least we embarrassed ourselves together today. One one!

– Frankly, I was quite surprised. I thought you were worried that Mirrae wouldn’t pass the mark and were embarrassed by her weak gift. It turns out I misunderstood you?

“Yes,” the Duke agreed reluctantly. – Mirre’s gift is in order. I was afraid that she would receive unnecessary attention from the adherents. You know them, escher rector! – the father exclaimed in some despair.

Ignoring him, Felsen Schwartz turned to me:

– Do you, adept, think that you are here by right?

– I passed the selection test better than anyone else in the boarding house, escher rector. I suppose so,” I replied.

The rector looked reproachfully at the duke.

– You see, Blackrock. What else do you need? Let Mirre study in peace. You came here to study, right, adept?

– Yes, essher! At the boarding school we were taught only to tame magic, but I want more! – I couldn’t resist complaining.

– Blackrock! – Felsen Schwartz sighed reproachfully. – As far as I know, your daughter had no magic at all, and when she appeared, you forced the girl to pacify her? If I were her, I would bite your head off for this!

Dad and I even looked at each other at such an unexpected statement, and the rector continued.

– Imagine that you just learned to walk, stood on your feet, took your first steps, and they forcibly sat you back down and forbade you to get up. Or you were blind and then regained your sight, but were forced to wear a tight bandage. How would that make you feel?

“I didn’t think in that way…” the Duke responded dully and glanced guiltily in my direction.

– Think about it! Adept Blackrock, while the dean is thinking, you can be free. Go, get settled, and we'll talk a little. If any problems arise, or someone begins to offend you, please contact me directly. Always happy to help. – The rector smiled at me warmly.

My heart jumped with joy. Now even daddy won't be able to get rid of me!

– Thank you! – she thanked the rector with all her heart and headed for the exit.

– Wait, Mirre! Who is Simka? – Felsen Schwartz suddenly asked.

I even felt hot, but I didn’t dare lie.

– Simka is my simuran. He accompanies me everywhere. But don't worry, escher rector, he won't cause any problems. You won't even see him. Simka is very smart and independent, and he also carries my mail to the Ancient Forest and to the north to my sister… – I blurted out in one breath, realizing that without Simka I would be very sad.

– Won’t he chew your shoes? – for some reason Felsen Schwartz asked.

“No,” I said in confusion, not expecting such a question.

– Well, fine! Then let him live, just don’t catch the eye of Ashsheri Krieger. She doesn't like animals.

– Thank you! – I exhaled again, feeling imaginary wings growing behind my back.

I had just nearly been thrown into the abyss of hopelessness, and the rector gave me a helping hand and encouraged me. I got much more than I expected. Official permission to leave simuran!

– Escher rector, but this is an animal! – the father did not let up.

“He’s almost your daughter’s familiar, as I understand it.”

– But the rules of the academy prohibit keeping animals!

– The rules of the academy have become mossy! The time has come to reconsider each one, which is what I decided to do. We will create a fresh code that corresponds to new realities,” said Felsen Schwartz.

Now that everything was resolved and all I could worry about was studying, I could relax. But there was one more important point. I still had the Dragon Focus in my coat pocket. I didn’t know whose it was, but who, if not another dragon, could tell me what to do? My father didn’t even let me open my mouth, so I had no desire to talk to him about the find.

– Asher rector, I…

– There is no need for thanks, adept.

“But I… There on the street…” I made another attempt.

“I already realized that you were simply lost with joy.” It's okay, forget about this little incident. He's not worth a damn. We won't mention this in future. Really, Duke? – the rector said with emphasis.

– Of course, of course, Asher Schwartz! – the father agreed.

He seemed relieved too. Apparently, he was seriously worried about my mistake.

– Thank you, escher rector. Then you can…

I wanted to say: “Can I talk to you in private?”, but Felsen Schwartz interrupted me again:

– Of course, go! And hurry up, or you'll miss breakfast. Go straight to the dining room, it is on the first floor, along the corridor to the left of the main entrance. Don't be confused, there are signs there.

It was inconvenient to insist, and I decided to look at the rector later. Moreover, he himself said to come in if problems arise. I think I have a good reason.

– Thank you. Have a good day! – I said goodbye to everyone and left my father’s office.

The rector did not bend his heart; navigation in the academy turned out to be excellent. As soon as you thought about where this or that place was located, the necessary sign, or even a whole sign with a map, was found nearby. And everything is so fresh, as if it was recently updated. Maybe they did something better before our arrival? I don’t know if this is true, but I found the dining room without difficulty. Having turned into the desired corridor, I soon found myself in a spacious, bright room, where it was crowded, a little noisy, and delicious smells were in the air. The stomach immediately reminded me that the last time I ate food was yesterday and demanded that this be corrected immediately.

The huge hall was lined with large round tables for about ten people, at which the adherents had breakfast. At the very entrance there was a dressing room where you could leave your clothes. She was received and given out by a real elemental! Air. Dad wasn't lying when he talked about this at home.

– Hello! – I greeted a little confused.

I have not yet had the opportunity to communicate with such creatures.

The elemental instantly moved to the counter, blowing a cool wind over me, and immediately I smelled the sea. I pulled off my gloves and put them in my coat pocket, unwound the scarf and handed it all to the elemental, not knowing how to act correctly. Another gust of wind, and all my things were neatly hung on hangers.

– Wow! How amazing! “I clapped my hands and, succumbing to impulse, bowed: “Thank you!”

So, with a smile from ear to ear, I turned to the audience. Vilde waved to me from the table by the window on the right.

– Mirre, we are here! – she announced to the entire dining room, which attracted everyone’s attention to me.

The guys shamelessly began to turn around. One even winked as soon as I accidentally met his gaze. Before that, I lived in a castle and was friends only with the courtyard boys, and even then on the sly from my mother. Then I was imprisoned in a boarding house where there was a women's kingdom. And now I suddenly clearly realized what my father was so afraid of, and I was embarrassed. Trying not to look at anyone else, she hurried to the table where the girls were sitting and, once in their circle, felt calmer.

– How did it go? – Khvoyana asked.

– Differently. At first my father almost sent me home. More precisely, back to the boarding house. But then he changed his mind and allowed me to stay.

– Horrible! – Yumi squeaked, pressing her palms to her cheeks.

“I didn’t think the Duke of Blackrock was so strict.” And how did you manage to talk him out of it? – Vilde asked curiously.

– I didn’t succeed. To the rector. He stood up for me in front of my father, and also allowed me to keep Simka! – I shared the great news.

– What are you talking about!

– Can't be!

The girls started vying with each other. Everyone had already fallen in love with my little simuran, so they were happy.

– How great, Kyari! One less headache! – Ada embraced me in a friendly embrace.

– What will you eat? – Khvoyana asked.

– All! – I answered passionately. – I'm hungry as a wolf! How does everything work here?

I turned my head, but I didn’t see the usual distribution anywhere.

– Look, it's simple. Here's the menu. – Lisel handed me a plump book with a worn red cover. – Look for dishes in the “Breakfast” section, and then touch your finger to what you like.

“Don’t just touch it, but hold it a little so that it works,” Volde added to her instructions.

– Understood! – I nodded and began to study the menu.

It turned out to be rich, even breakfast took up at least five pages. Divided into categories, there were dishes for even the most demanding taste. For example, national breakfasts. Ada was able to order northern raw fish and ate it with pleasure, snacking on crispy croutons.

Having chosen porridge with fruit, tartlets with peach jam and herbal tea, I did as the girls suggested. A few minutes later, another air elemental lowered a tray covered with lamb onto the table in front of me. However, he took the lid with him so as not to interfere.

– How amazing! – I was happy.

– Yes. In our boarding house there were often fights at the checkout. One pupil will knock over the tray, then another… – Vilde said thoughtfully.

“And it’s all about someone with whom the world doesn’t agree,” Volde added sarcastically.

The twins were clearly talking about something painful.

– Here you go. And here you don’t have to go anywhere and you don’t have to stand in line. A complete time saver,” Lisel summed up.

I suddenly realized that not all the girls were gathered at our table. Two places were empty.

– Where is Beata and… That blonde? Ricci, I think?

“Beate said she had breakfast at home, and Mallory is sitting over there with her sycophants.” – Lisel pointed her eyes somewhere to the side.

Indeed, the blonde preferred the guys to our company, and now she sat like a princess surrounded by ladies-in-waiting.

“We are not the right company for her.” – Zikki grinned.

– Well, okay! The guys are nothing but trouble,” Khvoyana noted. – You need to be on your guard. They will take on us again, mark my words.

I even stopped chewing and asked:

– What do you mean?

– You see, Mirre, we are like an irritant for them. Or a challenge,” Lisel explained. “Sooner or later they will try to put us in our place.”

– What for? – I frowned in bewilderment. – We don’t touch them.

– That's it for now! – Vilde broke into an insidious smile.

Khvoyana shook her head disapprovingly.

“We don’t have to touch them, Mirre.” It is enough that we exist. As soon as school starts, we will have to prove our worth every day,” Lisel explained.

Hvoyana nodded in agreement, and Yumi covered her face with her palms and squeaked:

– Mommies!

“But I can’t wait to put someone in their place.” For example, that curly one over there. Look how he's staring! – Zikki said, and then added louder: “What are you looking at?” Your eyes will fall out!

“Zikki, if anything happens, I’m in,” Ada phlegmatically supported her.

– Girls, why are you here? – I moaned.

I didn’t have enough problems this morning, and I also didn’t want to make enemies among the guys casually.

– Don't worry, Kyari. You just don't know men's habits. Their friendship often begins with a good fight. Never show them that you are afraid. They feel fear and uncertainty like animals. They will chase their prey until they catch it.

–Where will they take you? – I batted my eyelashes.

Adalbjorg did not answer, she just said something inarticulate, rolling her eyes to the ceiling.

– To bed! It's clear! – Zikki explained for those naive like me, which made half of our company blush.

Even Lisel's cheeks turned pink.

Today no one was in a particular hurry; there were no classes. But this did not mean that we could sit still. It was necessary to have time to look into the library and get a textbook. View the schedule, prepare for the start of classes and settle into your room. Otherwise there won’t be any time because of lessons.

– Is everyone finished? Maybe we should go? – Lisel suggested.

– Mirre? – Ada turned to me.

– I finished eating. Thank you for waiting.

Rising from her seat, she followed the others towards the exit. A small queue formed at the locker room. I was the last to receive my coat, but didn’t put it on. Remembering that she had left the Focus here, she belatedly became afraid for its safety. A whole treasure trove lay unattended in my pocket while I calmly ate my porridge! What a fool!

He instinctively grabbed me by the waist and barked right in my face: Succumbing to panic, I climbed to check if the artifact was in place, but when I felt a hard round ball through the thick woolen fabric, I exhaled with relief. The girls had already left, so I hurried after and at the door ran into the same guy I had seen earlier. I literally encountered it. You could say I ran into him with a running start!

– Be careful!

– Sorry, essher. “I accidentally…” I stammered in surprise. And then I remembered the girls’ instructions.

“You can’t show fear and uncertainty…” Ada’s voice rang out in my thoughts.

“To bed! It’s clear!” – followed by Zikki.

I blushed and said:

– And, in general, watch where you are going!

It didn't turn out as confidently as I would have liked. Yes, it was rude, but it was still pathetic, which made it even more awkward. Ugh!

I had never been so close to a stranger, and just the fact that I was pressed against his body in an inappropriate way was enough to make me burn with shame. At the boarding school we were taught not to allow this to happen. As far as I knew, this is only permissible with a husband; in all other cases it causes irreparable harm to the reputation of an unmarried eshsheri, especially if everything happens in front of witnesses.

Judging by the fact that the dining room was almost full, and we were among the first to leave, there were plenty of witnesses to my fall. It seems the damage to my reputation has been fatal. I even felt dizzy from shock. From shock, I say! And not from the look of eyes the color of molten gold, a little stern and somehow appraising. And not from the sight of perfectly defined male lips, which are so close to mine that… This is unbearable!

– Let me go! This is not appropriate! – I squeaked in despair and tried to free myself.

Useless. Only the grip on my waist became stronger, and the guy’s muscles seemed to turn to stone. He leaned down slowly and I closed my eyes, frozen like a rabbit in a trap. For some reason, I thought that he was going to kiss me, but instead a hot whisper scorched my ear:

“You don’t know what’s indecent, baby.” It would be indecent if you and I were without clothes right now.

It would be better if he kissed me than listen to this!

Unable to bear it, I found the strength to push him away and, crimson with shame and indignation, jumped out of the dining room. From behind I heard the friendly laughter of the guys, giving me acceleration.

## Chapter 7

Ethan Derberg, onyx dragon, adept of the Academy of Wind and Storms. Border of Onyx Rocks and the Steppe of the Seventeen Winds.

We approached the building where the new ones were supposed to live. The small terrace for relaxation was littered with all sorts of rubbish. There was only a small passage to the door.

– What a mess! – Kayu grimaced with disgust.

And Freckled kicked the leaky bucket, and it rolled with a roar along the wooden flooring. I winced, reacting to the unpleasant sound, and asked:

– Don't be demons! And so my head hurts.

We didn't have to wait long for the girls.

– Hey, guys! They are coming! – Aze stated the obvious when the delegation of adepts turned onto the main street of the campus.

–Who is it with them? – Kayu asked suspiciously.

Human vision was inferior to that of a dragon, and he could not see details at such a distance.

– All the creatures of the Ancient Forest! It's the Ogre! – I cursed at the sight of the dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

No one at the academy liked Estella Krieger.

– If she sees us here, she will deduct points! – Having lost all his bravado, Freckled became worried. “I almost got expelled that year because of her.” The father was very angry and did not want to listen to anything!

“But we’re not doing anything bad.” “We just came to meet you,” said Kayu, not too confidently, whose charm turned out to be powerless against this woman.

– And when did Estella need someone to do something to take off points? – I grinned.

– Stop talking, guys! Let's hide! – Ezeroth commanded.

Without hesitation, the malachite prince jumped over the balustrade and disappeared into the bushes. It never occurred to any of us to make fun of him. Without talking, following his example, we dashed there.

– Move over! – Jed whispered.

– Don't push! – Kayu snapped.

– Are there not enough bushes for you? – Aze hissed with displeasure.

The guys began to push each other, getting more comfortable. The bush really turned out to be too small for four, but it was too late to hide, and it was not worth using magic at all. But if you sit quietly, it’s unlikely that the dean will think of looking for someone here. She is still a household magician, not a combat one, and this difference in thinking often helped us avoid her attention.

– Stop it! They're close! – I hissed at my friends. “The Ogre has hearing like a dragon, so don’t even breathe!”

Estella Krieger also noticed this, judging by the unpleasant smile that played on her thin lips. A few minutes later, the girls, led by Ashsheri Krieger, were nearby. They began to look around in confusion at the housing provided to them, and almost everyone had a look of bewilderment on their faces. Of course! They had no idea where they were. They probably believed that everything here was made entirely of precious stones and silks.

– This is where you will live for the next year. In the attic there is a storage room, where you will find everything you need: bed linen, mattresses, spare furniture. In the basement there is a laundry room and everything you need for cleaning. Yes Yes. You'll have to clean up yourself. You see, the renovations have barely finished, and it’s still a mess, but I’m sure you can figure it out easily, you’re girls,” she added in a tone that made me cringe.

In fact, if adherents were removed from the academy, it was in two cases: as punishment and out of love for art. How will the new kids feel when they find out about this?

– How should we deal with this? – asked a girl in a man’s outfit and with black and red hair casually braided in braids, in whom I recognized a pure fire magician.

She stood with her back to us, and I didn’t see the expression on her face, but I still thought that someone like that would rather burn down this hut than start cleaning. But I could clearly see the Ogre’s face, and his expression did not promise anything good for the firewoman. Of course! They dared to ask her unnecessary questions!

– Listen to the first rule, adherents: do not interrupt teachers! But you're in luck. Today I will not deduct points for misdeeds, and from tomorrow do not expect mercy.

The girl with blue locks in her braids raised her hand.

– Do you have a question, Adept Holtz?

– Yes, eshsheri dean. How do we understand what is considered a violation and what is not?

– Code of Academy Rules. Each of you has it on your nightstand. Study it carefully, and it’s better today, when you’re done with cleaning. Now, watch and remember: call on the elements and tell them to perform everyday actions.

The dean, with several passes, without using spells, called up the air and, carefully picking up the bucket that was still lying on the path, lowered it into a large trash bin.

– You are capable of such simple actions, aren’t you? If not, then you have nothing to do here! Classes start promptly at eight. Don't oversleep! There is also a penalty for being late. Everything about the point system is described in the code. Have a productive day! The cannibal simply left, leaving the newcomers completely at a loss.

– That's it! – Kayu hissed, barely restraining himself from swearing at this unpleasant woman.

– What should we do now? – a pretty girl with short blue hair stammered.

It looked like she was about to cry.

“Get started cleaning,” the tall, strong girl answered her. Looks like a northerner. “Come on, girls, let’s see what’s inside.”

“As you wish, I won’t set foot in this bedbug infestation!” “I already have a place to live,” said the beautiful blonde in a mannered drawl, who impressed Jed so much that he didn’t even mind getting married.

Actively wagging her beautiful butt, she stomped away.

– This is Mallory Ritchie. Her father is not very noble, but rich. Industrialist. He got his start in the construction of gas tanks and the installation of lighting artifacts. Not your kind of bird, Jed. She catches bigger fish, like Aiz or Ethan,” the all-knowing Kai enlightened us.

– And these? – Jed pointed with his eyes at the retinue of guys waiting for her at a distance.

– Fools who are ready to serve for a smile. Some just like to rub shoulders, others hope to gain trust and get a chance, if not to become related to a wealthy family, then to stake out a warm place by the end of their studies. And Mallory just uses them.

– Wow! – Freckled said in surprise.

“Ethan, do you understand which one is yours?” – Aiz suddenly asked.

– Don't know. I don't feel anything. Perhaps we need to take a closer look at the girls. Almost all of them have their backs turned.

– So what are we waiting for?

Jed almost jumped out of the bushes, but I tugged at his sleeve.

– Quiet! We'll embarrass ourselves.

– Why?

“Because hiding in the bushes is unworthy of two princes and such glorious magicians as you and me,” Kayu patiently told him. – This is not very good for the reputation of the toughest guys at the academy.

– Understood. I'm sorry.

Jed sank down into his seat, and one by one the new girls filed into the building, only Beate Hügel remained on the porch. When the door closed behind the girls, she called:

– Hey, get out! Stop hiding!

My distant relative from the younger branch noticed us a long time ago, but did not show it.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you’re peepers,” she said, smiling indulgently when we emerged from hiding.

– Hello, Bea! I didn’t expect to see you here, and even among the new ones,” I told her.

– Hello, Ethan. “I didn’t expect you to spy on these newest ones from the bushes,” she retorted.

Beate Hügel was such a badass, and she didn’t mince words. I walked over and we hugged.

– So what destinies? – I repeated my question

– Uncle Eric made me do it. He said that we need to demonstrate to everyone the seriousness of the upcoming changes. But you understand why they really did all this?

– And for what? – Jed asked, looking with admiration at the bright brunette, who violated all the rules and canons with her appearance, starting from short-cropped hair, styled in a picturesque mess, the color of a raven’s wing and bright scarlet provocative lipstick, and ending with clothing that followed all the curves of the body, in appearance too light for such cool weather.

Beata looked Freckled up and down with an appraising look and said nothing.

– So why were you hiding in the bushes? – she repeated her question.

“Ethan wanted to know which of the…” Jed began again, but Aiz grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the side, whispering something angrily in his ear.

I looked at him gratefully. I had no intention of sharing my plans with Beata yet.

– Well, you wanted to meet the new ones, but the Ogress came with you. “I had to hide,” I explained.

– Ogre? Oh, you're talking about the dean's office! – the distant maternal relative guessed and smiled predatorily. – An unpleasant person, I agree with you. But she can't eat the dragon. By the way, why did she scare you all so much?

– Points are deducted for every sneeze, but do you know how difficult it is to earn them? Oh yes, of course you don’t! – I faked it.

– Are you really afraid of losing some points? You are the heir to the throne! – Beata made an incredulous face.

“I am the heir, but only the second in line, so I must study no worse than Mikael, you understand, right?” Uncle chooses which of us will sit on the throne after him. I can’t concede on anything, but Mika, he’s an excellent student.

– Your Mika is a complete idiot! Do you know what he did the other day?

– No. I was here.

I actually flew to the academy the same day I stole the Focus, and I didn’t know what was happening in the capital.

– ABOUT! So you don't know? – Beata’s eyes sparkled. “Then I’ll tell you the latest news!” Let's go!

Bea grabbed me by the arm and pulled me away.

– How long will you stay? “I’m hungry,” Aiz called out to us.

– And sleep! – the guys added in unison.

We were all not in the best shape after that night and looked rumpled. In my mind, meeting new people was worth postponing at least for the evening in order to be fully prepared.

– Go! See you later. Don't wait for me. If I have time, I'll join you in the dining room.

My sister and I headed towards the park, Bea continued to cling to my elbow to the envy of all the guys I met. I could understand them; my distant sister’s figure was just right. Although there is nothing to envy. Beata is a dragon, and also my, albeit distant, relative, and I knew perfectly well that we were not a couple. Happens between dragons when no Focus is needed to determine the truth. It also works the other way around.

– So what about Mikael? – I hurried my sister, who seemed to be simply enjoying the walk.

The wind changed and died down, the rain stopped, and the sun came out from behind the leaden clouds. The gray stone sparkled, becoming completely not dull, and the foliage began to sparkle with brighter colors. And this time the external did not cause me any contradictions with my internal state. I don’t even know why.

– Mikael is under house arrest, can you imagine? – Beata suddenly said.

I even stopped and pulled myself together.

–What happened?

Bea looked around, and then stood on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear:

“They say something very valuable has gone missing from a cache in the ruler’s office.” The uncle finds no place for himself, the servants have turned the entire palace upside down, the guards and security officers are combing the most dangerous places in the capital. They stirred up everything, and even arrested someone. And this idiot managed to distinguish himself once again. He attacked some girl right on the street. She and Mika's company were seen in several places that day. They say they literally followed her.

– Nothing new. My cousin had done this before, but everyone turned a blind eye for years,” I shrugged it off.

– This time everything is different. Mika almost killed her with his own hands, and in front of witnesses! Used a combat spell. He was seen by residents of houses in the Workers' Quarter and…

– And it’s okay. Uncle Olaf will give them money or scare them, as usual. They will immediately go blind, deaf and forget everything. – I grimaced.

– Do not interrupt! What kind of bad habit do men have of doing this? – Bea pushed me in the side.

– Sorry.

“Sorry,” my sister meowed like a lazy cat. – So, this time Mikael crossed all boundaries. There was a carriage there, and in the carriage was none other than the well-known Grymza, the headmistress of the boarding house for the noble Eshsheri named after Teresa the Magnanimous.

The whole capital knew Grymza, and besides, she was friends with Uncle Eric. I even saw her a couple of times.

– Yes, yes, I know. Who hasn't heard of Grymz?

– Here! Can you imagine, she was not afraid to stand up for the unfortunate woman and even scolded Mikael, threatening to complain to her father. She kept her promise the very next day. But she didn’t go to Uncle Olaf, but went straight to Uncle Eric. I burst into his office without an appointment and laid it out as it was.

– Scary woman! – I admired, and Bea smiled.

“Uncle ordered Mika and his father to appear immediately, and then your cousin made a fatal mistake. From the doorway he screamed that he was not to blame, and that… Tada-a-a-am! You stole the focus.

– Focus?! “I pretended to be surprised, and goosebumps ran down my spine. – But…

– Right! Uncle Eric didn’t tell anyone what exactly was stolen, but Mikael found out about it from somewhere. And he even dared to denigrate you in front of everyone. Can you imagine how angry the ruler was? – Bea smiled contentedly.

She, like me, hated Mikael, and for good reason. One day he humiliated the dragoness in public. I walked over the girl’s pride with dirty boots, one might say. Bea did not forget or forgive.

“It looks like Mika set himself up,” I noted.

– Exactly! After all, Uncle Eric didn’t say why he was calling him and his father. That's why even Uncle Olaf was powerless. He had to put his son under house arrest, and their house is being searched secretly. Can you imagine?

– Beata, how do you know about all this?

– I have my own sources. – The dragoness winked.

– Oh, you'll finish the game! – I shook my head disapprovingly.

– Ethan, the Hyugels have protected the Derbergs from time immemorial, serving them faithfully. I want to do the same thing, that’s why I’m preparing. I have to be aware of everything, because sooner or later you will sit on the throne, and then get married. Your wife will need a bodyguard, and I will be ready to take on this burden.

I shook my head.

“Sister, I…” Even though we were distant relatives, by calling Beata that, I showed her the highest honor, thereby bringing her closer to me. “I am grateful for this with all my heart, but sooner or later there will be a dragon who will take your fancy, and you will get married and have children.” Maybe it would be better to devote yourself to your family rather than someone else’s?

– I don’t want to get married, Ethan! – The girl flushed. – Well, we got it right! I am a dragon and a battle mage of the highest category! – slightly embarrassed, she added: “The future.” And I want to be useful to the throne.

I just shook my head and hugged her tightly.

“Then go and look after the adepts.” Find out everything about them. Who knows, maybe my uncle is right, and my true one will really be found among them?

I grinned, as if I didn’t believe in this whole idea.

– Ethan? – She was worried.

– I just assumed. Anything can happen. That’s exactly why my uncle sent the girls here, to increase my chances, right? I selected only the best. The very best! – I spread my hands and smiled.

– So that's what you think? – The sister opened her scarlet mouth.

Several first-year adepts passing by immediately froze in place, staring at her in fascination.

– Why are you staring? Go away! – she growled at them, waving her hand imperiously.

The guys perked up, as if rising from sleep, and hurried on about their business. The park was getting crowded, and my sister came closer to me:

“Now I understand why uncle is so angry with Mika.” I probably wanted to give Focus to you so that you could try searching here. After all, Miki has a better chance of finding a bride, he is not locked in this male kingdom.

Bea's conclusions were very logical, although I simply made up stories about the adepts to fool her.

We said goodbye warmly, and Beata went to campus, and I went to my room to change clothes and take a shower. There was little time left before breakfast. Standing naked under the elastic hot streams of water, I was thoroughly soaping myself when I suddenly froze, staring at my own hands.

– I'm an idiot! – he cursed and threw the washcloth at his feet in anger.

I did not recognize the true one, simply because she was not among these adepts, otherwise there would have been a pair of bracelets on my forearm! But there was no bracelet, which means the ritual did not take place. So what now? Where to look for the artifact? The dream was cancelled. Until I find Focus, I can’t give up!

I got nervous again. If Bea was right, and Uncle Eric was going to give me the artifact himself, then I was in a hurry. And if I lose him, I won’t lose my mind! I will be accused of rebellion and other sins, and Mika will certainly rule the Onyx Rocks. I'm afraid that he will bully people and they will start a rebellion.

The artifact had to be found as soon as possible. It couldn't be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. Having quickly gathered myself, I went after the guys, but there was no one in the rooms, so I had to act alone. I checked everything carefully at the main porch of the academy building and even attracted a couple of air spirits to comb the bushes and flower beds, but to no avail.

Thinking about what had happened and about the news that Beata had reported, I went to the dining room. There was always a center of attraction there, and if someone found a strange ball, they were probably already chatting about it left and right. The girls walked past me one by one. I had the opportunity to look at them, or even get to know them, but I wasn’t in the mood. And suddenly, already at the entrance, another one crashed into me from a running start.

The girl would have fallen, flying off like a ball, but I instinctively grabbed her by the thin waist and barked before I realized who I was dealing with. She trembled and tried to free herself, looking at me like a rabbit at a boa constrictor. It seems she even babbled something, but the meaning of her words passed by. The delicate aroma of the body caressed the sense of smell. Plump lips, slightly parted in surprise, attracted the eye. Large eyes of an interesting gray color stared at me in fear from under fluffy eyelashes, the shadow of which lay beautifully on delicate porcelain skin… Long silk hair, styled in a travel hairstyle, hung below the waist. Perfection!

Most likely she is an air mage, but I haven’t seen her among the adepts before. And she definitely wasn’t there at the porch. Then where has she been all this time?

– Let me go! This is not appropriate! “The girl once again tried to free herself, but I didn’t even think to listen to her.

Our short dialogue only amused me. Oh, those boarding school girls! They are not taught life at all there. Or they teach, but all sorts of nonsense. Allegedly, men like shy women, so then every second woman pretends to be hard to touch. Oh well.

Having dropped the veneer of charm, I admitted that I had given in a little. I really liked this Shy One. Watching her pour paint was a special pleasure. Yielding to an impulse, he decided to embarrass her even more. Slowly he began to lean towards her lips, pulling her a little closer…

It worked! The girl instinctively closed her eyes in anticipation of a kiss and trembled in my arms.

Here you go! What did I say? She decided that she was more cunning than everyone else, and could so easily get into my pants, and then down my aisle? Attacked the wrong one, Shy One!

I still remembered Mallory’s arrival and her tricks when she tried to get to know me on the first day. But this girl did not have such outstanding charms, so she decided to take me with her virginity?

“You don’t know what’s indecent, baby.” It would be indecent if you and I were without clothes right now,” I whispered obscene language in her ear.

The girl couldn’t stand it and, turning into a hurricane, escaped from my hands. She ran away from the cafeteria to the approving cackling of the guys, and I threw my jacket to the elemental in the locker room and headed to my table, where Jed and Kayu were already sitting.

– What a walker you are, Derberg! Already squeezed one! The account is open! – one of the guys admired when I passed by.

– Don’t repeat it, it’s dangerous for life! – I answered him.

– Why so? – asked his neighbor.

Probably, the dragon spoke in me, which did not recognize competition, but I suddenly realized what needed to be done. Not paying attention to the guys' indignation, he unceremoniously jumped straight onto the table where Curly was sitting and addressed everyone: And I suddenly got thinking. And really, why? But looking at the curly-haired earth mage with protruding incisors, I realized that I didn’t want someone like him to even stand next to my Shy Girl. Only I have the right to embarrass her. That's all. Dot!

– Listen carefully! New times have arrived at our academy. Now girls study with us.

Not everyone, but many, attended the breakfast. Nothing, they will certainly pass everything on to the others. The people started talking. Cheers and whistles were heard. But what they all expected from me was not exactly what I was going to say. Leaning my head forward, I looked around the room at the dragon. My irises have now completely turned yellow, and my pupils have become vertical. I knew what an impression it made.

“So, if I find out that one of the new guys has offended someone, or dared to let go, I won’t spare anyone.” It is clear? – I spoke insinuatingly.

I knew that such a tone was more frightening than a scream.

– Hey, Ethan, why can’t we talk to them now? – someone drawled disappointedly.

– Well, why? Talk as much as you like. Communicate, be friends, but treat with respect. No “squeezing” or other nonsense. If someone has romantic feelings, mutual, naturally, I will not interfere. Just remember, these are not tavern girls, these are noble eshsheri. Act like it, guys!

Against the backdrop of my action, these words seemed unfair, but I had to urgently correct the situation that I myself had created. To nip in the bud the impression that everyone can do exactly the same. It is forbidden! It’s possible – only for me!

There were pops. Ezeroth stood next to me.

– Bravo! Couldn't have said it better, Ethan! Did you all hear? “He looked around the room and nodded with satisfaction.

Jumping off the table, I headed towards my friends, and Aiz followed me. The dining room was as quiet as a graveyard, except for Fat Ben's loud slurping sound. Never learned to eat silently after all these years, idiot!

Something happened in my soul, I couldn’t understand why I did this. First he launched Focus, then he embarrassed the girl, and now he pushed this speech. Three inexplicable actions in a day. Isn't it too much? The theft of the Focus was probably to blame. Once you break the law, you become more and more uncontrollable and do some crazy things.

For example: “The rest are not allowed, is it only possible for me?”

Where did this thought come from in my head?

“What did you tell Dean Blackrock’s daughter that she ran away like a thousand angry wasps were chasing her?” – Kayu asked when Aiz and I took our places.

I didn’t answer, silently grabbing the menu. He opened it to the third page and, without looking, pointed it with his finger. Over the years, I learned by heart where and what was written.

– And you, you cunning ass, Ethan! – Jed admired. “I think I understand what you’re up to.”

“Just keep in mind, if you offend her, she will complain to daddy,” Kayu warned me.

“And what will Dean Blackrock do to him?” – Jed grimaced, but immediately realized. – Exactly! Points!

– How do you know who she is? – I asked Kayu.

– Yes, yes. I managed to ask around a little while you were busy. Do you want me to tell you a little about everyone? – Kayu began to share with us what he managed to find out about the adepts.

– Which one do you think is the one? – Jed asked.

– Nobody. I pointedly pulled up the sleeves of my shirt.

– AND? – the fireman frowned.

Malachite was the first to decipher my hint.

– How so? But… But then… – He quickly looked around and fell silent, not wanting to discuss this in front of possible witnesses.

The spirits brought our order and I began to eat. I ate without rushing. Then I thought about it and ordered more. It turns out that he was quite hungry. We arrived late, and the dining room was quickly emptying. Soon, except for our company, there was no one left here.

“I sympathize, but I was sincerely happy for you,” Aiz suddenly said.

– Everyone is so mysterious! Maybe explain what you're talking about? – Jed couldn’t stand it. – They speak in riddles here. Dragons suck!

Aiz shoved Freckled in the shoulder.

–Watch your language, idiot!

And Kayu smiled contentedly and began to explain:

– When Focus finds the true one, a special mark appears on her hand, right? “He looked at Aiz and me, and we nodded in unison. “I believe that Ethan should have the same mark or something similar on his hand.”

– But there is no sign! – Jed stated the obvious.

– That's it, stupid! That's it!

Fireman was not offended by the dumbass. Instead he asked:

– So what should we do now? So, the Focus is gone?

“It seems so,” I admitted with a sigh. “Someone must have intercepted it, and that’s a problem.” Didn't you hear, no one found him?

My friends shook their heads negatively, and I realized that the artifact would not be found so easily.

– This is a serious problem, Derberg! – Ezeroth sympathized with me. “I wouldn’t want to be in your place, friend.”

And as soon as he finished speaking, something completely incredible happened.

## Chapter 8

Mirre Blackrock, elemental mage, adept at the Academy of Wind and Storms. Border of Onyx Rocks and the Steppe of the Seventeen Winds.

The girls were waiting for me at the end of the corridor at the exit to the hall. I hurried towards them, putting on my coat as I went. At the same time, she tapped her pocket to check if the artifact was in place. For a second I was even afraid that I had dropped it, but the precious ball still remained with me.

– Chiari, is everything okay? – Ada asked quietly when I joined my group.

My confused state did not escape the attentive eyes of the northern woman.

“Yes, yes,” I waved it off, hiding my eyes.

– Ah, it seems to me…

– Everything is fine, Ada! The situation was just awkward, but it’s all over now. Nonsense! – I reassured my friend.

– Right?

– Exactly! “I nodded and turned to the others: “Girls, what are our plans?”

“We’ll go to the library to get textbooks, then to our room to clean up,” Volde answered for everyone.

– Maybe we’ll look at the schedule first and get the form? Just when the flow of visitors will subside,” Lisel suggested.

– Of course, let's go look at the schedule. It's right here!

Khvoyana pointed to a large stand in the center of the hall, to which a line of first-year adepts lined up. They approached one at a time and placed their palm on the large round stone at the bottom right, after which writing appeared on the surface of the stand, giving information about the group, class time and list of items. The stand quickly went out, so some did not have time to rewrite everything and applied their palm again to the displeasure of those waiting.

We walked up and also stood in line. The guys looked sideways at us, but were silent. Some actually blushed, and some looked with interest. I thought that they, like us, were embarrassed. That is OK. We will still study together, we will get to know each other in class and maybe even make friends with some of them.

The line was barely halfway through when a group of older adherents approached the stand, led by the same curly-haired guy who had provoked Zikki with his attention in the cafeteria. They watched us pointedly for a while, and then one asked:

–What are they doing, Harvey?

– What hole did these idiots come out of? – The other one grimaced.

– Disperse, young bastards! “They pushed the freshmen out of the way.

Curly slowly approached the stand and pathetically declared:

– Watch and learn!

He activated the stand, and the others simply came up one by one and applied sheets of paper or notepads to its surface – whoever had what. Harvey himself applied the sheet last, and then turned it over and, holding the top corners with two fingers, showed it to the newcomers.

– Nobody told you, right? “With feigned sympathy, he looked around at the new arrivals.

Next to me, Wolde’s paper rustled out of nowhere. It seems that she was the only one who thought of taking a notebook with her to the dining room.

– Be there! – Kudryaviy’s comrade waved his hand.

And he turned and said:

– Ashers, where are your manners? They could have let the girls go first, after all, they are the weaker sex.

He blew a kiss to Zikkaera, who almost lost her composure.

– Quiet, Zikki. Calm down! – Ada held her by the shoulder.

“I didn’t understand why then they didn’t let us through if those were the rules?” – Volde asked, clutching a notebook to her chest.

“Because they made fun of them and us,” her sister muttered.

“Come in, eshsheri,” the guys, embarrassed and ashamed of the senior student, suggested in disarray.

Kudryaviy’s group settled down in the recreation area. They chatted, looking in our direction every now and then. This seemed suspicious to me, and I decided to watch them too.

“Mirre,” Volde called me and handed me a sheet torn from the notebook. – Hold it.

– Thank you! – I thanked my prudent cousin.

Wolde sacrificed a notebook for us and provided everyone with paper, and Lisel went to the stand.

– Ready? – for some reason she asked and put her palm to the activator stone.

For a long moment we looked at the board in fascination:

“The theory of elemental magic, the history of magical science, the basics of everyday life, the basics of artifacts…” Zikki began to read aloud the list of items, and with each name she read, her eyes widened more and more.

However, the list turned out to be short and was completely different from what we had seen from first-year adherents before.

Something about it also confused me, and then I saw the name of the group: “Byt-0,” while the guys had something like “Sth-0” and “Sth-1” written on them. Meanwhile, the firewoman was pushed aside by Lisel and put her hand in, getting the same result. Then they tried Ada and Vilde. No difference. We were in a separate group for girls.

– The only thing missing is something like meditations to pacify the gift! – Adalbjorg grumbled, reading the schedule. – Was it worth trudging so far for this?

– What does all of this mean? – Zikki turned to us and her face turned red with rage. -Where are the elemental arts? Physical training? Combat meditation?

“Baby, this means that you are not yet trusted with such serious things,” Curly said knowingly, whose company came closer again.

– What do you mean by this, essher? – asked Zikki.

“I want to say that they opaquely hinted to you that your place… is not here,” Harvey smiled.

– And where? – the firewoman asked insinuatingly, unexpectedly gracefully stepping towards him.

I wanted to stop her, but Ada held me back.

– Don't interfere. Let her figure it out herself,” the northern woman whispered.

Having looked around picturesquely, Harvey, in turn, came closer and, putting his arm around Zikki’s shoulders in a familiar manner, said in an intimate tone:

– Your place is somewhere between the bedroom and the kitchen, eshsheri. It suits you best.

I didn’t even understand how it all happened. Here they are standing in an embrace, and to be honest, I’m perplexed why Zikki, with her character, allows this? And the next moment again! And I understood everything!

I don’t know if Curly understood anything, but, lying on the floor with his hand behind his back, he alternately yelled and swore, demanding to be let go immediately. Zikki sat on top and said something quietly. I suspect that she promised to tear off this very hand and insert it into some indecent place. Ognevichka did not study in boarding schools, and freedom of expression of thoughts in her had not yet been brought into the system of decency.

Having come to their senses, Curly’s comrades rushed to help, but a wall of fire that flared up right in front of their noses cooled the ardor. But for some reason I didn’t like the expression on their faces. It was somehow suspiciously pleased. As if something like this was expected.

– Zikki, no! – Lisel screamed, but it was too late.

The alarm sounded. Zikkaera, her defeated opponent, as well as two guys rushing to his aid, froze in the positions in which they were caught. Their figures were shrouded in a shimmering veil, and all they could do was breathe and blink.

– What's going on here? – Dean Krieger’s voice came from the stairs.

“Eshsheri dean, this crazy woman attacked me!” – Harvey blurted out. “I think she even broke my arm!”

– And she also used combat magic in the wrong place! – one of his friends complained.

– What a bat! – Ada hissed.

The word was unfamiliar, but definitely dirty.

– Is that so? – Estella Krieger came closer and carefully examined the scene. – Adepts, it seems to me that you have not yet realized where you are? The Academy is not a boarding school or a nursery; no one here will coddle with you. We have strict rules and you will follow them or we will say goodbye. And so you understand better, as an exception, everyone gets a minus point!

– For what? – Yumi squeaked, and her eyes filled with tears.

– This is unfair! – Khvoyana was indignant.

– Yes, I actually had nothing to do with it this time! – Vilde leaned forward, but her sister grabbed her by the elbow.

Ada and I looked at each other gloomily, but remained silent. It is clear that there is no point in objecting. This bitch hates us by default.

– I disagree! We haven’t had time to study the code yet, so we simply couldn’t know about the rules,” Lisel objected.

“Zikkaera was just defending herself,” I added, unable to remain on the sidelines any longer.

But Harvey did not want to admit the obvious, or was it something else?

– Not true! She was the first to attack. I just came up to talk, and she immediately used force!

– Yes, yes, that’s how it happened! – His comrades nodded.

“You let your hands go, and then the three of you attacked!” – I was indignant.

“We just wanted to help Harvey.”

“Nobody was going to touch your crazy girlfriend.” They would have pulled her aside and that was it!

– Unlike you, we know the rules!

The provocateurs vying with each other pretended to be innocent, and I realized that this was their plan. They set us up in the most trivial way!

The altercation attracted everyone's attention, and a whole crowd gathered in the hall to see what kind of scandal out of the blue. The adherents whispered, but tried not to come close. They were probably afraid of running into the wrath of Dean Krieger.

Suddenly I noticed a lonely figure. Some guy in a white jacket stood apart behind everyone at one of the columns. He was wearing a hood that hid his facial features, and he was definitely using some kind of magic. It seemed that this type simultaneously stood out among the others, and at the same time seemed invisible. It felt as if his gaze was slipping away from him. I had to make an effort to see.

I tugged at the northern woman’s sleeve, intending to show her this strange guy.

– Do you see him?

– Who, Chiara?

But the stranger was not in the same place.

“There’s no one anymore…” I said disappointedly.

“Eshsheri Dean, I could also use magic, but I didn’t even use my skills so as not to hurt the girl!” – Curly continued to make excuses.

The dean's wife waved her hand, and the stopping spell subsided. Zikki got off the defeated Curly and walked aside with a dissatisfied look. Harvey also rose from the floor.

– Adepts, it seems to me that you have a lot to do. Go. Adept Glin, show yourself to the healer. Escort your comrade,” Eshsheri Krieger commanded his henchmen.

Ada and I looked at each other meaningfully. Yeah…

– Thank you for your concern, eshsheri dean, but what could this girl do to me? Everything is fine with me. – Curly smiled.

Zikki started to jerk, wanting to hit him, but she stopped, and it suddenly seemed to me that the symbols on her jacket had darkened. It looked like she was trying her best to contain the flames right now!

– Well, as you know. All. Disperse! – Estella Krieger commanded, clapping her hands twice.

The performance was over, and the audience went in different directions to go about their business.

– And it's all? – Volde asked quietly.

It seems that my cousin is seriously upset.

– Don't worry, little sister. We will take revenge on them all,” the unusually quiet Vilde whispered in response.

– Ashsheri dean! – Zikki suddenly called out to our curator.

Estella Krieger turned around and, raising an eyebrow, looked at the firewoman with bewilderment.

– Did you want something, adept?

– Yes. I apologize if my question seems stupid to you, but I haven’t seen the academy code yet. So, please tell me where it is acceptable to use combat magic? It is advisable that the place be adapted to the fire element.

– Adept…

– Splash. Zikkaera Splash,” Zikki introduced herself.

– So, adept Splash, for this there is a training ground and an arena where competitions are held, as well as duels. This is all?

– Yes. Thank you, ashsheri dean. – Zikki turned and shouted at Harvey, who was heading towards the exit: – Hey, Glynn! Let's find out in the arena which of us is the weaker sex?

Curly turned around and grinned.

– It's covered, baby! Tomorrow at seven pm. I'll be looking forward to it. Wear your best. “He winked and saluted her with the air of a winner.

And I suddenly became interested in how the dean would react to what was happening. What if such behavior is considered unacceptable? To my surprise, Ashsheri Krieger had a nasty, but definitely satisfied smile on her lips, which she hid when she noticed my attention.

Hmm… What could this mean?

Estella Krieger, giving me a promising look, immediately knitted her eyebrows sternly and headed towards the stairs. And suddenly her path was blocked by the same guy I saw at the column. Now he was without a hood and stood closer, I was able to get a better look at him. The symbols on his clothes resembled those of Zikka. Artifacts or decorations in the form of crosses glittered in the ears. Snow-white hair, at first glance, was disheveled, but such a torn hairstyle gave charm. I couldn’t see the color of the eyes, but I noticed the tattoo on the neck. Is it really a dragon too?

“Eshsheri Dean, it’s unfair to punish only new students.” “Both sides are to blame in this conflict,” the stranger stood up for us, and I thought that I liked his voice. Soft, somehow even enveloping. I wanted to listen and listen to him. – You should deduct points from the guys too.

– Adept Dimma, will you tell me who to take points from and who not?! Leave your tricks to fool girls. Minus point!

The guy just shrugged and said:

– It was worth a try. Have a nice day, eshsheri dean, and may all good things return to you a hundredfold. – Bowing gallantly, the guy threw a loose hood over his head, which immediately hid the upper part of his face.

All the girls looked at the unexpected defender as he walked past. He moved smoothly and leisurely, like a large predator. When he caught up with Zikki, she reacted somehow strangely. It seemed to me that she instinctively wanted to follow him, or intended to ask him something, but seemed to change her mind.

– This is what I wanted to show you. So, Dimma? So he's from the royal family of mist dragons? – I expressed my thought out loud.

“Yeah,” Ada confirmed.

Slightly shaken by the incident, we retreated to one of the vacated seating areas to talk calmly there, rather than jostling in the middle of the hall.

– Girls, we need to do something! – said Lisel. -Have you seen the list of items? This is no good!

Everyone started making noise, expressing indignation.

– I think we need to fight for our rights! – said Willde.

– The rules must be the same for everyone! – supported sister Volde.

– Let them give us another curator! – suggested Khvoyana.

– And to whom should we go with such a request? – Ada grimaced skeptically.

– You need to go to the rector. It’s unlikely that anyone else will be able to help,” said the same enveloping voice.

The same guy was sitting on the sofa, crossing his legs. He was watching us from under the hood, and it was unclear how long he had been here?

Volde came closer and, placing her hands on her hips, asked:

–Are you spying on us?

Zikki stood next to her.

– What do you care about us anyway? – she asked.

“I don’t like injustice,” the guy answered.

– Asher, we are grateful to you for your advice and attempt to help, but, perhaps, we will sort out our problems ourselves. You’ve already lost a point because of us, whatever that means,” Lisel entered the conversation.

The guy stood up:

– As you know. Have a nice day eshsheri! And keep your eyes open. Not everyone here likes your presence.

Nodding to us goodbye, he headed away

– And you? – for some reason Zikkaera shouted at him behind him.

The mysterious young man did not respond, only lost his step for a moment.

“He’s kind of strange,” Ada muttered thoughtfully, pulling at her disheveled braid.

I glanced at her briefly, was distracted for just a split moment, and the guy disappeared. I even got a little angry.

– How he does it?

– What are you talking about? – the northern woman asked.

– Yes, he’s like a ghost! It appears and then disappears!

“He’s not a ghost, Mirre.” Dean Krieger was talking to him.

– I know…

Zikki plopped down on the sofa, spreading her arms along the back and crossing her legs. Whether she deliberately copied the misty pose, or whether it happened by accident, it turned out funny.

– Girls, he’s right! It seems that the only way to rectify the situation is to talk to the rector,” she said.

– Who will go? – Khvoyana asked.

From the tone in which she asked the question, it was clear that she was not ready to take on this responsible task.

Yumi immediately turned pale so that even the cypress in the pot could understand that even if she was carried and thrown into the office of Asher Schwartz by force, she still would not be able to utter a word.

– Lisel? – Ada turned to our unspoken leader and the most obvious candidate for the role of envoy.

– I?!

I don’t know why, but the usually brave girl, the daughter of Duke Conradine, suddenly became shy.

And then it dawned on me that of everyone, perhaps only me and Beate Hügel could freely enter the rector’s office without an invitation. But Beata isn’t here, and it also seems to me that the dragoness doesn’t care what subjects they teach us.