pecked my shoulder. And then it dawned on me. Dinah was all crimson, even her ears. And Peter pursed his lips, shaking his head. I covered my eyes with hand. It’s a shame. Stupid, stupid habit of speaking out loud my thoughts.
– Dinah, please, forgive me… I am… – I was truly sorry. I didn’t even know how to justify myself. – I’m sorry. I admit. I am fool.
– Fool, – she screamed huffily. – And no, I didn’t fall in love… – she said, and she blushed even more, glancing furtively at Peter.
The magician embarrassedly straightened the dark strand of hair and, holding Dinah’s bag, turned to the gate. Faint sparks of small lightning were visible in the air like a veil.
– Peter Orro and two new arrivals, to dean Dassay! – he said loudly.
The gate swung open and we entered. I trudged a little behind. Inis looked around in silence, as did Dinah. She opened her eyes, which were already round, like two saucers, wider. The academy was pretty far away. The gate locked behind us and Peter stopped.
– Are we waiting for someone? Are there carriages here too? – I asked and stopped, contemplating a light cloud of dust that arose in front of us.
I rubbed my eyes. Dinah coughed slightly. Only our attendant didn’t budge.
A female figure emerged from the dust.
– Pete! You have completely abandoned your trainings. Does the ruler want you to remain an ignoramus? – the voice of a dark-skinned girl about Peter’s age rang out. She threw herself at him. – I had a presentiment of your appearance.
– Aha – the charioteer squinted slyly. – Or rather, you’ve interrogated the dean…
The interlocutress waved him off and snorted.
The girl’s hair was strange: curly, most of it was braided in pigtails in several partings.
Snub nose, sensual lips, chocolate color of skin, this is the first time I’ve seen such a thing. There were holes in her earlobes. I’m not sure, but it looked like golden washers or rings glittered in them. I couldn’t find out.
And her clothes! A brown, almost black scarf on the forearm, with iridescent splashes of gems. A form-fitting shirt in a strange fabric with a stitched diamond pattern. Long sleeve with thumb slits and high collar that covers the neck. The girl also wore black men’s trousers, by the way, also form-fitting. Holy cow! I looked up at Peter embarrassedly.
– This is Eris. She is a magician of earth – Peter introduced us.
The girl lifted her chin proudly.
– Well, and your outfit. Pete, you urgently need to change! And what kind of country bag do you have? Did your grandmother give this gift? – she clicked her tongue.
– Eris, you know perfectly well, I don’t have a grandmother… – Peter dropped her hand. – It is normal travel bag. It belongs to this fiery girl, whose name is Dinara.
The magician grimaced.
– A magician of fire?
– Yes! – Dinah replied boldly.
The girls clearly disliked each other’s company. But I was wondering why.
– Demon, then… – Eris stated.
– What? – Dinah was indignant.
I wanted to object by standing up for her, but…
– Hush, Dinara. This nickname is inoffensive. At the academy, all the Fiery ones are called so, – Peter hastened to calm down her. Dinah frowned and folded her arms across her chest. Eris glanced at my friend.
– Okay. And who is this cutie? – she poked in my direction.
Well, she obviously wasn’t talking about me. I was definitely not cutie. Especially now, after two flights in the monstrous air sphere, disheveled, tired and dusty.
«I think it’s about Inis. He’s definitely a cutie»
– Inis? Ah, a bird… – the girl said and laughed. – You’re funny. Not. I am indifferent to birds, but you are handsome! She patted my cheek and winked.
Demons, I said some of my thoughts out loud again… Loose lips sink ships! I mentally howled and blushed. Peter smiled and Dinah chuckled. Inis made a quacking sound and leaned against my shoulder.
– And what is your name, cutie! – Eris was ingratiating, walking around me in circles.
– I’m not a cutie. My name is Nicholas, – I grunted, setting my bag on the shoulder.
– And, what’s about your family? – she purred.
– He is Lodesco – said Peter. – Listen, Eris, maybe you can take us to the academy. And as you know, movement by air on the territory is prohibited, and walking is pretty far away. And we are tired. Enormously tired.
– Hey you, wait! Lodesco you say? But isn’t…
– Yes. Phirin Lodesco – is my father. Lady Eris, will you help us? – I asked politely.
– Lady? Oh, thanks, honey! Of course, I’ll help. But you need to join your hands, or else you will fall – the girl waited while we hastily joined hands, grabbed my palm and cast a spell.
Dust rose all around. But it didn’t trouble us. I felt a little dizzy and the dust cleared away. By the way, it didn’t interfere with breathing at all and didn’t settle on clothes, as if it was just an illusion. We found ourselves in the middle of a round courtyard by a three-tiered fountain with sculptures of fishes. Water was pouring from their mouths, and in the fountain itself the red backs of carps were flashing. Boys and girls were walking by. Someone was reading books on a bench by the fountain, someone was sitting on the grass, some people gathered in noisy flocks and were zealously discussing the most pressing issues. They looked at us with indifference and without an ounce of curiosity. Well, students, so what? I noticed that almost everyone was wearing bandages or scarves around their necks. The colors were different. Some students waved to us.
– Marsha! – Eris called out to the blonde with a silver scarf around her neck.
She looked back. Blue eyes and elongated ears. Elf?
– Well, bye! See you later! – our new friend said. She took her friend’s arm and blew me a kiss.
I coughed and scratched the back of my head in embarrassment.
Eris disappeared from our sight, and Dinah was clearly glad and sighed with relief.
A guy with a blue scarf around his neck was standing with his back to us and casting aloud a spell by the water. A balloon like a soap bubble soared in front of him and burst right next to his face.
– Demons… – he swore.
– Sheg.
