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